A nice little man meets woman love story, nicely written but I would have loved the dialogue to be a bit more witty.

Jasmine Guillory is back will the latest installment of the Wedding Date. It was so nice revisting one of my favorite characters from the first book, Olivia Monroe. Guillory has a knack for writing swoon-worthy romances that still feel so relatable even if our female lead finds love with a hot Senator. The magic she creates on the page is always inviting that you can't seem to put it down. This just makes me excited to see what she comes up with next.

As always, Jasmine Guillory writes interesting, believable characters. This is just what you’d expect: a fun love story where everything turns out okay in the end.

Another fantastic read from Guillory featuring a successful, independent woman who finds an unexpected romance in her life. Set within the world from familiar characters in the Wedding Date series, readers will enjoy getting to know Olivia and Max as they navigate two careers, the spotlight and learning to trust each other. Don't miss this one!

Jasmine Guillory is on fire! Her books are always so great, funny, and heart warming. I love her humor but also how her characters like each other despite themselves. I'll read anything by Jasmine!

Olivia Monroe left New York to start a law firm in Los Angeles with her college friend and now partner Ellie. On the last night of her hotel stay Olivia decides to go to the hotel bar after a long day at work. At the bar Olivia meets an interesting and very handsome man. He looks vaguely familiar. Being it is LA Olivia thinks perhaps he is an actor. Even though the chemistry is apparent Olivia doesn’t take the encounter seriously. Shortly after the meeting Olivia discovers the handsome stranger is Max Powell a junior senate for the state of California. A month or so later Olivia attends a luncheon where Max is the guest speaker. Max spots Olivia in the audience and makes sure he meets her again. The two start dating secretly due to Max’s notoriety as one of the most eligible bachelors on Capital Hill.
Olivia is a careful individual who takes her time and thinks through all the decisions she has to make. Max on the other tends to be impulsive and tends towards making rash decisions. Despite their difference Max and Olivia fall in love. Because of their differences there are bumps in the road that put their relationship in jeopardy.
Party of Two is love story. Olivia and Max are likeable characters. Despite the obstacles in their path the reader wants things to work out for them. One of the appealing features of a romance story is the positive resolution to the storyline. Jasmine Guillory does not disappoint her fans. I noticed on Goodreads Party of Two is identified as the fifth book in the Wedding Guest series. I believe it can be read without having read any of the others. Jasmine builds strong characters in each of her books and pulls in characters from previous books. When a past character comes into the new story it creates a feeling of inclusiveness for the reader.
Great vacation read.
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group and Net Galley for the advanced ebook.
#PartyofTwo
#NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Jasmine Guillory's newest book!

Guillory is an excellent author, and her writing is superb. This book can be read as a standalone, but is part of the series of books that Guillory has written.

Olivia Monroe is a no nonsense career woman, who you respect and root for throughout the book. Max Powell is the good ol' American boy with some actual awareness. I liked both characters, and appreciated their career focus and drive.

I did feel as though some of their interactions were a little awkward, possibly because like Max I make a decision and run with it, so waiting on Olivia fuelled my frustration at times.

Overall, this is an enjoyable romance novel written by an excellent author. I would recommend this book to anyone!

Jasmine Guillory is back! I loved the conclusion to this series though the ending felt a little rushed. But maybe I just didn't want it to end? Can't wait to see what this author does next.

Thoroughly enjoyable! The dilemma of how (and whether) to date a public figure was so interesting to see play out. The dialogue and inner monologues were fun and snappy. I'd love to hang out and eat cake with Olivia and Max!

Totally fun, sexy, smart read with charming characters -- all make for a compulsive read.. Guillory does a great job of giving us a lot of interesting info on her characters careers without any info dumping.

A fun and quite steamy book, great for the beach or vacation. Olivia meets Max in a hotel bar, not realizing he is a Senator. Olivia just moved to LA to start a law firm with her best friend, Ellie, and was not looking for a deep relationship. As Max and Olivia spend more time together, especially in many sexy scenes, it is obvious that there is more to their relationship. Enjoyable,and thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was so fun to revisit this character from her brief moments in The Wedding Date. I loved her and Maxs relationship and it was just such a great read.

My favorite Jasmine Guillory book yet! I'm a huge fan of the Wedding Date series, but something about Olivia and Max's story really stuck with me. I love when romance novels show realistic depictions of relationship issues that all of us in the real world also go through - and Max and Olivia's relationship is not without those real issues! I loved the focus on career and family instead of just the relationship. Here's hoping the Wedding Date series doesn't end here!

Olivia Monroe has zero intentions of dating anyone, particularly not someone as high profile as a US senator. She's got a new firm to launch, a new city to get used to, and a car to (eventually) purchase. Yet there's something about Max Powell that makes her knees go weak, and soon the two are engaged in a clandestine relationship—that's about to go public.

This was super cute!

My twenty were exciting in New York, too, but then I reached that age where I got horrified when someone invited me to something that didn't even start until nine pm.

After reading a bunch of contemporary romances of people in their twenties or early thirties who acted like they were in their twenties, it was a little refreshing to read a book about two protagonists in their middle and late thirties—they both knew exactly what they wanted, and they both were fairly open in their communication with each other. And both were passionate and career driven, and unready to sacrifice their goals for a relationship that wasn't going to last.

I loved that Olivia was a lawyer who had left a big firm in New York to set up her own, and that the realities of a woman of color setting up her own law firm (she had a white partner) was realistically portrayed. It wasn't easy and took a lot of sweat, connections and labor, particularly when she needed to hold her own against potential clients looking to exploit her relationship with a senator for their personal gain.

And I liked that Max was idealistic, but willing to listen to what people actually needed and try to fix it. He wasn't perfect, but he was working on using his privilege to help. It definitely took him a while to get there, however, something that one of his best friends (and a US House Representative) often reminded him when he was being bone-headed. I also liked that his hyper-hectic schedule was shown too.

This was one of those new theaters with reserved seats and big comfortable chairs, and when they sat down, they grinned at each other. "Can you believe we put up with those old, narrow movie theater chairs for so long?" Max asked her.


But I think the thing I liked the most was that both of them liked cozy things. Did I possibly bump this up a star because of the swanky movie theaters with the big, comfy chairs and table service? Um, yes. Because I have horrible movie theater luck and children are loud and these movie theaters are so much nicer. Yes, they're a little more expensive, but fuck it. It's worth it. Just try one and you'll see.

And speaking of cozy and being in your thirties, both of them were homebodies who enjoyed staying home and getting delivery, and both were like, fuck waiting an hour and a half to get food. Seriously, fuck that. No food is that good, not even Mrs. Wilkes in Savannah (although that is pretty damn delicious, I had to get a snack while waiting because we were in line for two hours and my blood sugar was dropping and my back was giving out).

Anywho, this is a book about chasing your dreams, and the realities of being ambitious and a woman of color. It's also a cute contemporary romance, and definitely my favorite of The Wedding Date series so far.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

The perfect sunny Sunday read! (Also PTL for housesitting and an inflatable pool in the backyard!!!)⁣
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Guillory is back on her game with this one! I really liked the first two Wedding Date books by her, hated the third, liked the fourth, and really liked this one. (But I don’t know why they’re all in a “series” when they feel like standalone books?)⁣
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Cute, cheesy, predictable, fun, light... all the ingredients for a great summer read.

3.5 Stars

CWs: Unearthing of criminal records to the public, some incurred misogyny in the workplace, graphic scenes containing sex

I enjoyed this! It's a cute and thoughtful romance between two characters who genuinely care for each other. I always appreciate how forthright the characters are in Guillory's romances, and how they communicate their concerns like adults. That was even more evident in this book, because all the little "secrets" or "issues" you would expect to be hidden away only to be revealed at the worst possible moment were always laid on the table right away.

The stakes in this story felt higher as well. Not wanting your relationship to become public discourse or to unravel into a political issue is a very real complication, and that made the need for discretion more believable. You definitely get the feeling that Olivia and Max have a good thing going on, and that the delicate balance they've achieved in their romance would only be shattered by public scrutiny.

What knocked this story down a bit for me was the pacing of it. Like "The Wedding Party," the domesticity and routine of the romance got a bit repetitive, and then by the time the inevitable breaking point comes in, it feels a bit out of nowhere. Particularly, Olivia takes issue with Max being so spontaneous, pointing out that his ability to make spur of the moment decisions and have them work out is largely due to him being a young, wealthy, attractive white man. This is completely valid and true, but this dynamic of racial power imbalance was never once brought up before; it only came in when there needed to be a problem, even though it deserved more discussion.

I also wish Olivia's work with developing her law firm was more present in the story. I enjoy seeing characters who have goals and dreams outside of their romantic prospects, and while Olivia is certainly driven, I felt like Max's job took more of a spotlight here.

But like I said, this was still an enjoyable romance. Getting to see Olivia fall in love and live her life is still valuable, regardless of craft or conflict. It's funny and sexy as well when it needs to be, which is always a plus for me. If you want to read about earnest romantic partners who take genuine joy in one another, this would be a great one for you!

I always have a good time reading Jasmine Guillory's books and Party of Two is no exception. It's smart, funny, and heartfelt and I read it over a weekend with many smiles and a few misty eyes. Oh and the food descriptions! I don't think I've ever read a book that mentions cakes so much and I loved it. Perfect summer reading, just make sure you have a snack or two on hand because trust me, you are going to need it.

A very enjoyable, self-aware read. The novel lightly navigates the relationship between a gregarious, privileged, US Senator and a private, determined, black lawyer. The differences are what makes them stronger for the most part and leads to a satisfying conclusion.

Jasmine Guillory keeps writing these love stories that make you feel your feelings. You have to read the book to find that gem. I know that when I read a Jasmine Guillory book I am in for the time of my life and making new friends. She writes these characters that I want to know in real life.

Olivia Monroe is the sister of Alexa from her first book The Wedding Date. Olivia has moved back to the LA area to start a law firm with her best friend Ellie. She is staying at a hotel when a handsome stranger strikes up a conversation with her. The two have an instant connection. The two reconnect and Olivia discovers the handsome stranger is none other than Senator Max Powell

The romance was quick but cute. Guillory didn't shy away from Olivia's apprehensions about openly dating a white senator but I needed more. Max was aware of his privilege and acknowledged it but I don't think he really got it. Olivia made a comment that as a black woman she doesn't have the luxury of being as spontaneous as Max. I felt that! As a black woman, I knew exactly the feelings she was expressing. Olivia was my favorite in this book and I liked how she immediately found a cause to champion. She made a friend named Jamila through volunteering. I wouldn't mind reading about Jamila in a book of her own.

Senator Max Powell was handsome and dare I say, dashing? He swept Olivia off her feet and I think he was a little bit in love after their first meeting. I truly love a man who can indulge my sweet tooth and he definitely wooed Olivia with cake deliveries.

I love it when I find an author who can deliver heart-warming stories, with believable plots AND a fully actualized story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one was my favorite in the Wedding Date series! I loved Max and Olivia from the start. Their relationship and problems felt believable and genuine. I love Olivia’s type A planning personality which I definitely connected with. I also loved all of the food they were eating! I just felt giddy while reading this book and I know romance lovers will feel that way too. I highly recommend!