I love all of Jasmine Guillory’s books, and Party of Two didn’t disappoint. Fun and sweet, this is a perfect book for summer or if you’re looking for something to make you smile. Can’t wait for her next one!

3.5 stars

A fun rom-com about an African American attorney moving to L.A. to start her own firm with her best friend who meets a charismatic, idealistic white senator in a hotel bar without recognizing who he is. When they meet again by chance, they decide to start dating discreetly, despite Olivia's misgivings relating to Max's high-profile job.

I enjoyed the book very much. It's the fifth in the series, but only the second one I've read so far. It probably helps to have read the others, but it isn't necessary, particularly for this installment. I personally would have liked a bit more time to develop the characters and the relationship, and a bit less angst from Olivia, but it was a fun read nonetheless.

For readers' advisors: story doorway was primary. Several steamy sex scenes, but not terribly graphic. No violence, but plenty of swearing.

I read an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for my honest option.

Sweet and swoony! I really need to read these books in order, but I’m enjoying them all the same.

Here’s what I enjoyed about this one...
Olivia and Max’s relationship. Max is such a sweetheart. A man after my own heart and sweet tooth! Olivia is a girl boss! While they are very different, their chemistry and connection comes across.

I love secret dating books and this was a fun quick paced read. If you’re looking for a sweet and romantic read - GRABBY HANDS!

Didn’t enjoy this one as much as some of Jasmines other books which I have loved! I think it was mostly plot for me as the characters were well developed - I also have been going through my
own reading funk which I know hasn’t helped.

Jasmine Guillory was the author that got me into romance years ago. I adored her books at the time. Unfortunately now that I only read romance I find her writing doesn't work as well for me anymore. This story was cute, and I loved the political aspect, but it wasn't steamy enough for my taste. I can see how others would love it though!

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

I loved this book, thank you for the opportunity to read it! It had great characters and a fun plot. Very enjoyable read!

I always enjoy Jasmine Guillory's books and I love recommending them to readers who are new to romance. They are fun, flirty and sexy, and great for the new or seasoned romance reader.

A lawyer and a politician fall for each other in this super cute romance from Jasmine Guillory. One of my favorite things about Guillory romances is that the drama isn't too drawn out. The relationships aren't uncomplicated and the characters screw up, but the conflicts aren't given overdue attention. Party of Two deals with issues of race and class and incarceration, but it still manages to be uplifting and sweet and exactly the kind of romance I was looking for. I love a book that can manage to handle sensitive and important issues alongside a story that isn't too dark or heavy.

This was such a fun book! This is the 5th book in The Wedding Date series. It can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read all the others in the series, and I was able to follow along just fine! I do plan to go back and read the rest of the series.

The romance in this book is so sweet, and the characters were great. I thought Olivia and Max were a good match, they had good chemistry. I loved how their relationship was centered around food and mostly cake! This book made me super hungry. They ate so much and so many yummy sounding cakes! I feel like this is the perfect spring/summer romance read. I would recommend checking it out!

Really enjoyed this one. Loved that the bulk of the book is about being in a relationship rather than the usual romance will they or won’t they? Still enjoying exploring all the characters from The Wedding Party. Jasmine Guillory writes a great book again!

If anyone is searching for a light-hearted romance I would highly suggest this title. I usually am not drawn to romance novels but I decided to give this one a try. The characters were very likeable and I thought the dialogue between Olivia and Max, as well as Olivia's best friend, was well written. I laughed out loud at parts and really enjoyed this book overall.

this was SO CUTE. I can see why people love Jasmines romances so much!

Olivia was a heroine I'll fin myself thinking about for a long time to come. Smart, not easily swayed, and true to herself.

The romance of this book was so cute and so sweet and Max was a hero I fell for quickly. I appreciated that this wasn't super dramatic, if that makes sense.

Overall, I just ordered the rest of the books in this series to get my hands on ... :) I'm here for it.

Another great book by Jasmine Guillory. Olivia Monroe, a lawyer who has just moved to LA, has no intention of starting a relationship as she is starting her new law firm. However, she meets a handsome man in a bar one evening who turns out to be the next up-and-coming senator from California, Max Powell. Secretly they begin to see each other and date, but many challenges arise for their relationship due to the political and racial climate of today. Do they have what it takes to make this relationship work after all?

PARTY OF TWO is far and away my favorite book of Jasmine Guillory’s! With strong, well-developed characters, witty dialogue, and a relevant political backdrop, Guillory has crafted one of the best romances of the 2020 summer season!

Olivia Monroe is a successful lawyer who recently moved to L.A. to start her own law firm. She meets Max at a hotel bar one night, they have a flirty encounter and only afterwards does she realize that he’s California’s all-star junior senator! The two begin a relationship in secret, but will their love last once they go public?

As someone who studied Politically Science in college, I absolutely love it when an author weaves politics tastefully into a storyline, especially now, when politics are such a critical part of daily life. I love how realistic this plot and the characters are. Olivia is a strong, successful woman, and she’s also a pragmatist. We understand her inner conflict with pursuing a relationship with Max, because of course there are drawbacks to having a romance in the public eye. I like that Max is a character who understands his privilege as a white man, knows he has made bad mistakes in the past, and has resolved to do better, and do what he can to make the world a more equal place. I like that they resolve to strive to change in ways that make them both better people, for each other. And I love Olivia’s love of food/especially desserts. Like I said: relatable.

Guillory’s latest romance is a refreshing take on a relationship in a political world. It is real, sexy, and smart. A perfect beach read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Unfortunately, I read this book first, when I should had stared on box 1. That's OK, because I did enjoy the characters (will go back and get the scoop later), it was funny, engaging, enjoyable. A good plane or car ride to read that keeps you going and interested. That's what a book should do, keep you going back for more.

The book was refreshing, a romance with a likeable senator during a summer when American politics was full of depressing news. How can you not like characters who flirt with cakes and talk about alternatives to criminal punishments for youths? If you’ve read Guillory’s previous books, you’ll recognize Olivia, whose sister had her own book in "The Wedding Date." Serious topics such as interracial dating, recognizing privilege, and the stress of a high-profile relationship are discussed. "Party of Two" is frothy with complex flavor.

Thank you to Netgalley and Jasmine Guillory for my copy of Party of Two, for an honest review. I had so many good reviews of Party of Two and was suspect that it couldn’t hold up. I was pleasantly surprised though that all the reviews were spot on. Olivia Monroe moves to LA to start her own law firm. She has so many things to get started and a relationship isn’t in the plans. Until she meets Max Powell at a hotel bar. The two flirt all night but part ways. Olivia doesn’t think much of it until a cake gets delivered to her office, chocolate cake. which peaks her interest. He winds up being a junior senator who comes from money. She has worked for everything she has. Their differences seem to be insurmountable. But being a true Rom Com.. there will be love and romance. There will be problems along the way and there will be a point where it seems all will be lost. Party of Two was well written and had some good twists. There isn’t drama and the story moves along quickly. If you like a good Rom Com this is your book. This was a four star read for me. It was just what I was looking to read. I have recommended this to friends and family. I have shared my opinions on my bookstagram page and have reviewed it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I was not a fan of this book. This just seemed really boring, and the book was so long and there was so much backstory! I don't think these "cute" romances are for me.

This was my first Jasmine Guillory book and definitely will not be my last!
I was skeptical at first, I didn't know if right now was the time I wanted to read anything involving politics or politicians, I wanted to escape! But the second I "met" Max, I knew I made the right decision.

I love to see a hero who is open and honest with his feelings, albeit impulsive. Clear with his intentions and never made Olivia feel less than wanted, even when things were rough he never wavered on that. Admirable, to say the least. Never for a second did I get the impression that he felt anything other than love for Olivia and I was thankful to read a heroine who also knew exactly who she was already. It was refreshing to read two people fall in love who didn't want to play games. As much as I loved reading Max and Olivia fall for each other, it was seeing how their relationship progressed over time that filled me. To see their ups and downs, to address their anxieties and insecurities together. So often when I read romance, it's all about the falling. It was such a sweet story, I cried a couple of times.

If all of her heroes ruin me for reality like this then I cannot wait to get into another Jasmine Guillory story!