3.5 stars.

It was really good, I laughed out loud and was sad at other times.

I enjoyed Olivia's story, but what kept it from 4 stars was the overwhelming sensation that Olivia and Max's relationship was just a repeat of Alexa and Drew. Jasmine Guillory is usually really great at making each story feel different, (none of her books felt like it was the same story over again) even when she uses some of the same basic principles (strong career women, supportive men, etc.) in each of her novels. I was a little disappointed when this book felt SO much like The Wedding Date (which I liked, don't get me wrong) since I had really high expectations.

Still a great read and I definitely recommend.

I enjoyed this one! If you’re looking for a lighthearted, sweet romance getaway book, this ones for you. I thought that Max was lovingly romantic and Olivia was a great driven female lead.

I’d never read a romance that focused on such apolitically-centered couple, which was a fun change! For some reason, I had difficulty connecting to the characters and I supposed that would be the main reason why I wasn’t blown away. Regardless, the story is very cute.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-copy in exchange for a review!

This book was so much fun and enjoyable. I love romance books that incorporate politics and Party of Two does just that!

Party of Two focuses on Olivia Monroe, who recently moved back to California to start her own law firm with her best friend. Before her house is ready, she's staying at a hotel which is where she meets Max. Or as she later finds out, California Senator Max Powell.

Something I loved about this book was that too often in romances it's like the woman is swept off her feet and they're getting married after knowing each other for 7 months. Party of Two felt much more authentic and the struggles that Max and Olivia went through weren't far fetched. Also, the STEAM in this book was exactly what I needed.

I absolutely loved this book and I think most romance lovers will, too. Two smart, witty characters who fall in love despite the obstacles that come with life.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Pub, and Jasmine Guillory for my free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this one! We got to know the main character in small bits through the rest of this series and I was excited to get her story. The meet cute was fun and the love interest was adorable. I hope we get even more in this series!

Every time I read one of Ms. Guillory's books, I finish the last sentence thinking, "I wish she and I were besties so we could get together over drinks and some excellent Mexican food and BS the night away." I always find myself laughing out loud and nodding in agreement to all the snarky narration and witty dialogue.

Her characters are so authentic, so real, that reading one of her books feels like going on a girls trip. The women are strong, smart, funny, and relatable, flawed in ways that reveal their humanity and make them even more inspiring. The men are honest, dedicated, and bigger romantics than the women - and not tied up in toxic definitions of masculinity, even though they, too, are not perfect.

I really liked Olivia. She was unapologetically herself, confident, goal-oriented, and open to embracing life on her own terms. I understood her need for privacy, though her resistance to spontaneity seemed overly cautious to me. However, it helped that she explained her rationale for it later in the book. I appreciate the way Guillory incorporates nuances about race matters in a way that aids understanding, as she did here.

I devoured this most recent installment in less than 24 hours, and after reading about all the burgers, fries, nachos, pie and cake throughout the book, I'm now ready to go devour some actual food!

Olivia Monroe (who you may remember as Alexa’s sister in The Wedding Date) is back in L.A., freshly arrived from NYC to finally start an all-female law firm with an old friend. She hasn’t even had a chance to find a place to live when she meets a cute guy in the hotel bar and enjoys lively banter about her favorite subject: dessert. It’s not until Olivia turns on the tv later that she realizes there’s a reason he looked so familiar: Max is the hot-shot new California senator who is everything Olivia is not: wealthy, privileged, and a total workaholic. This relationship could never work. But when he begins wooing Olivia by sending her baked goods, she decides she’ll see where it goes. Fast and fun.

Party of Two follows the story of Olivia as she starts a new job in a new city and finds herself navigating a relationship with a famous man, and dealing with her own discomfort with becoming vulnerable. The issue of a mixed race couple is also dealt with. While doing all this, the author also includes lots of humor and great cake descriptions !

Jasmine Guillory is a treasure. Her books are entertaining, thoughtful, and real. She manages to weave important and relevant current issues as well as the simple and often humorous realities of being a normal human into a delightful romance.

2.5 * Another installment of the Wedding Date books, and to be honest, they all feel the same. They are predictable but cute. Nothing groundbreaking here, but it's a decent fluff story.

Yet another great story by Jasmine Guillory. I love how all the books are linked by one character. The relationships are all equal and the characters are all strong voices. I loved reading how Olivia and Max’s relationship progresses. It’s a modern day love story!

I'm so glad Jasmine Guillory keeps introducing us to new stories in this world. Party of Two is such a satisfying read. Just like all the other titles in the Wedding Date world, I want to see so much more of Max and Olivia. Maybe a folllw up with President Powell?

A recently relocated lawyer meets cute with a generically handsome white guy at her hotel bar, gushing over there love of basic desserts. She regrets not having a one night stand with him, but soon discovers via the nightly news he's the famously hot new California junior Senator. After another run in at a local board meeting, Olivia and Max agree to start dating, agreeing to keep it on the down low. Olivia's reluctance to be thrust into the spotlight and Max's tendency to jump head first into anything he believes in without though lead to struggles in their romance.

I found this romance dull. Olivia and Max spend most of the book apart and in their heads, and the times they do spend on page together are repetitive and lack any spark of real chemistry. The description of the copious amounts of cake, donuts, and food the characters eat are more exciting than the sex scenes.

Also, I am tired of political romances refusing to name political parties. The only allusion to Max's party is that "his date should be wearing blue, not red" and Olivia looking up his stance on the "Black Lives Matter" movement. Max is a Democrat, take a stance.

I'm sure this story will be wildly popular. The cover is cute and the marketing dollars will be pushing it in this 2020 election season.

Wow this is the fifth book in the series and fifth book by Jasmine Guillory. While it wasn't as good or enjoyable as some of her others in the series, it was still a quick, light and easy read. This time we follow Alexa's sister Olivia in her journey in love and in starting her own law firm and the struggles that go with that. I thought the love story was a little too predictable and not very realistic, which contributed to my not liking the book very much. Regardless, I'm still looking forward to Jasmine Guillory's next book!

Bestselling author and rising star in the romance genre, Guillory specializes in tales of modern love featuring high-powered professionals negotiating long distance relationships, and the fifth installment in her popular multicultural romance series (beginning with The Wedding Date) brings this theme full circle featuring Olivia Monroe, big sister to the series’ first heroine, Alexa. Olivia recently moved back to California from New York to start a new law firm and on her first night in L.A. she strikes up a conversation at her hotel bar with a very handsome, yet vaguely familiar, stranger. Assuming he just is another L.A. actor, Olivia is surprised to see him on the news that night and realizes she was flirting with Maxwell Stewart Powell III, hotshot junior US Senator! Luck brings them back together at a fundraiser where Max, who was smitten with Olivia from the start, vows to win her heart, sending her baked goods and promises that they can keep their fledgling romance a secret until Olivia is ready to go public. Being in the spotlight is not her cup of tea, but she’s willing to sacrifice some privacy and be supportive from the sidelines so long as Max can control his impulsive nature while on stage. Perfect for readers who enjoy uplifting, steamy, and diverse contemporary romances similar to authors Jamie Pope and Talia Hibbert.

I love all of Jasmine Guillory's books, so I was pretty sure I'd love this one too. I was right! Party of Two has all the elements that make her books so readable -- relatable characters, appealing and interesting settings, and best of all, a really great pace when it comes to setting up the romance. I can't wait to recommend Party of Two to library readers.

This was a nice, easy read. The characters were fun and the plot was easy to follow but not trite. I look forward to more books from Jasmine Guillory.

Olivia is a lawyer who has moved back to California to open her own firm. Max is the freshman California senator. After a chance meeting at a hotel bar—with some excellent banter and cookies— Olivia and Max start dating. But it’s not easy. She is pragmatic, a planner, and private; he is charming, impulsive, and suave. Can their love survive such drastic personality differences, especially with his job keeping him in DC most of the time and asking more of Olivia than a normal partner’s job would?

I was worried about Guillory’s newest after her previous had been less than stellar. But this one was just like the first several!! But it is also a breath of fresh air in that the protagonists are in their late 30’s (and have never been married before), and lack of communication isn’t what breaks down the relationship in the climax. Bonus: the great way Olivia (African-American) and Max (privileged and white) discuss race issues. It’s not a big part of the story, but it isn’t ignored either.

More, please!!!!

Diverse reads:
- Olivia is African-American and Max is white

I loved this book!! It was refreshing to read a romance novel involving an interracial couple and shining a light on some of the challenges unique to interracial relationships. Sweet, but a little steamy, and with the perfect amount of depth and drama, Jasmine Guillory managed to hit another home run with this latest novel in The Wedding Date series.

I've loved Jasmine Guillory's Wedding Date series; it's fresh and smart and fun (and I love that she's been a major factor in diversifying the romance genre). I was so excited to dip into the latest installment of the series. Party of Two was a cozy blanket to curl up with - not too much conflict or angst, which I really need from a book right now! I liked the slow burn of the romance as Olivia discovers her true feelings. The book also made me really hungry - make sure you have good snacks on hand as you read!

This was a great addition to the Wedding Date series.- the book was well paced and I enjoyed the main characters even if it was all a bit simplified.