Jasmine Guillory once again proves that she is a master in writing characters who can both banter and also deeply care for another. Guillory is a staple in romance writing, and her first shot at writing queer romance was full of charm and character.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this novel. All opinions are honestly and my own.

I’ve been pretty vocal about my love for Jasmine Guillory books.

So, when I saw that she was coming out with a queer romance I was ECSTATIC.

Flirting Lessons takes place in the same world as Drunk on Love, but focuses on a new couple. You don’t NEED to read Drunk on Love to read Flirting Lessons, but I’d still recommend it.

Here’s the thing… I wanted to love this more than I did. I did LIKE it, but I didn’t LOVE it the way I anticipated. The story was a little slow for me, and while there was definitely attraction and the chemistry was fantastic, something felt missing. I don’t know if what we saw on the pages of the book convinced me that the couple was going to be in this for the long haul.

Overall, I’m glad I read it. I’d recommend it. And I’ll continue to read Jasmine Guillory books as fast as she’s able to produce them. it’s just not my favorite Guillory novel.

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: zucchini bread

"Zucchini bread the perfect thing to make when you have a ton of zucchini and you want to learn how to bake. Plus, I have a great recipe. Come over to my place and we can snack and bake and debrief, which you know I've been dying to do for the past two hours."

Triggers: sexual content, miscarriage, pregnancy

This didn't entirely work for me, but the parts that I liked were very cute. I do love to see the author branching out into queer romance!

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory was such a fun, feel-good read! The story’s a mix of romance and self-discovery, and I loved how real the characters felt. The chemistry between the leads was on point, and their banter had me smiling the whole time. I especially appreciated how the book tackled themes like personal growth and navigating relationships in a way that felt fresh and relatable. It’s light, witty, and has that perfect balance of romance and humor. If you're in the mood for a sweet, breezy read, this one's a great pick!

Flirting Lessons was a sweet romance with plenty of charm and chemistry. The story started off a little slow but it really picked up and I found the MCs communication so healthy and refreshing. Overall a good pick if you appreciate a good friends to lovers romance.

Jasmine Guillory's romance novels are always a charming good time. The premise of a baby bisexual being taken under the wing of the biggest flirt in the Napa Valley is a fun one, especially when the banter and chemistry between Taylor and Avery is so strong. I hadn't read the first book in this new connected series but loved the work and friendship dynamics between everyone. I recommend this book for fans of Guillory. While it isn't my favorite of her works, I enjoyed Guillory's first LGBTQ+ romance and hope she writes and publishes more!

I am such a fan of Jasmine Guillory and was so excited to hear she was writing a queer romance. Having read it, I know this is not going to be one of my favorites of hers. The whole thing felt a little flimsy. The setting doesn’t do much to prop up the story and the setup to the titular “flirting lessons” didn’t have much charm for me. The chemistry was there between Avery and Taylor was there and I enjoyed their friendship as it turned romantic quite a bit. A quick and fun read but overall not super memorable.

While not my favorite Jasmine Guillory, this was a lovely bit of escapism! Folks who read Drunk in Love will find the beginning more engaging, but for a standalone, this book includes a lot of references to previous characters (mostly just at the start--some readers will love this, some may find it confusing). This will be released just in time to be featured on summer romance booklists for libraries, and included on displays with its clear, but also demure, cover.

I have loved Jasmine Guillory's previous books, but this one was not my favorite. I did read this one and have listened to her previous books, so perhaps that had something to do with it. Book seemed to light on plot for me. Would be a good purchase ofr libraries needing more lgbtq+ titles in their collection.

Since Jasmine Guillory published her debut novel, "The Wedding Date," in 2018, she has become a top seller in the romance genre, with girl-meets-boy books like "The Proposal" and "Drunk on Love" hitting the best-seller lists. So I was initially surprised when I realized that "Flirting Lessons" was a girl-meets-girl book. It's rare, but not unheard of, to see a romance author known for her straight love stories venturing into LGBTQ+ territory.

"Flirting Lessons" brings back Avery, love interest Luke's best friend in 2022's "Drunk on Love." Avery has recently broken up with her boyfriend, and decides she wants to try dating women; she's long felt attracted to them, but has never acted on her desires. Enter Taylor Cameron, who plays the part of the rake; she's a heartbreaker who is known for her short-term, no-strings relationships. Taylor takes Avery under her wing, promising to teach the shy and awkward woman to become a championship flirt. It seems like the perfect distraction for Taylor, who has made a bet with her friend Erica that she can remain celibate all summer long.

It's obvious that Avery and Taylor will eventually fall for each other, but I wasn't sure how it would happen; since Avery is a baby bisexual, would she sow her wild oats a bit first? The fact that she never does makes me worry a little bit about the future of her relationship with Taylor (this is Jasmine Guillory, you know going in that you'll get an HEA). Cat, the woman Avery flirts with at a pottery painting workshop, seemed nice! I did enjoy the chemistry of the two leads, though, as well as Taylor's somewhat fraught friendship with Erica, who is pregnant and has settled down with her wife. That leads to some conflict with Taylor, who secretly has a lot of self-doubt, covered up with charisma and bravado.

It'll be interesting to see how longtime Guillory fans react to her pivot to LGBTQ+ fiction, and whether or not the author will go back to male/female pairings next time around. Personally, I very much enjoyed this as a Guillory book, with all of the banter, sex and emotion I always expect from her novels.

A queer romance from my favorite romance author? Sign me up! Great story. Great spice level. Great characters.

Thank you for the early access. JASMINE GULLIROY forever! Keep me in wine country with sexy women going after what makes them happy. Come for the wine, stay for the delicious tension. SWOON.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-f/f contemporary romance
-flirting lessons
-queer rep
-this is just a hookup

A lot of fun and it was so reat to revisit the winery again.

Another amazing read from Jasmine Guillory, with all her trademark wit and sweetness. Lots of laugh out loud moments and really detailed descriptions of setting, food, and spice.

I’ve loved all of Jasmine Guiory’s Napa valley world and this one was no exception. Avery is ready and willing to start saying women and lucky for her she gets lessons from Taylor. We ALL know how dating lessons go by now folks?! It’s a lovely combo of Avery making Taylor feel like she can be herself and Avery feeling more and more confident. The banter and chemistry is amazing as always!

I love, love, love her books. This was no exception I loved all the things. thanks for letting me read this book.

Flirting Lessons is a super fun continuation of Jasmine Guillory's Napa Valley world. It follows Avery, a newly single event planner who's ready to date women, and Taylor, a bona fide heart breaker who's maybe not as tough and self-assured as she lets on. Taylor agrees to teach Avery how to flirt, and Avery provides a safe place for Taylor to be herself. The flirting lessons start to evolve into something more, but will these two be able to get out of their own ways and embrace it? Grab a glass of wine (in honor of the book's setting, of course) and find out.

This is an excellent read for romance, particularly queer romance, fans. With a premise of flirting lessons being the driving force for the two protagonists' developing feelings and relationship, the attraction can be felt through the page. It is also a good representation of those with social anxiety and confidence issues. I felt myself relation to one of the protagonists. I do find myself only giving it three and half to four stars because it seemed a bit hypocritical when they are telling each other the have to trust each other and communicate but literally not set boundaries with their other friends. However, still an enjoyable read and can wait to recommend to my library for purchase.

Okay, I have a deep abiding love for Guillory's romances. This one was different from her normal fare and it was fun to see her do a queer love story. As always with a Guillory novel you've got:
✅ an excellent friend group
✅ food that you're mad you can't eat
✅ incredible chemistry
✅ witty banter

If you're a Guillory fam you'll love this one
(and if you're a seasonal reader like myself save this one for late Spring/early Summer!)

Flirting Lessons follows Taylor and Avery. Taylor has a reputation for being a heartbreaker, and most of her relationships end within a month, and she just entered into a bet with her best friend Erica that she can make it until Labor Day without hooking up with somebody. Avery has just gotten out of a relationship with her ex-boyfriend and now wants to date women, but outside of work, she’s terrible at flirting, let alone speaking to people. So when the two meet at a wine event and spark up a conversation, Taylor offers to give Avery flirting lessons to help her find the perfect woman.

Naturally, Taylor and Avery start to fall for each other. Each of their flirting lessons are like a date, where Taylor sets Avery a task. The very first lesson is at a book signing event and it’s Avery’s job to talk to five people who aren’t the guest authors. There she makes a new friend, and the lessons continue each week, with Taylor giving instructions on what to wear without telling her where they’re going.

I thought the romance was really sweet! Both Taylor and Avery are compelling characters, and both likeable. They communicate well, to the point where I was wondering when the third-act-breakup was even going to happen. (I’ve read enough romance novels to know that it will happen.) I loved the format of each of the lessons, and the book falls into a steady rhythm because of them that kept me wanting to keep turning the page.

I also liked the exploration of friendships, particularly between Taylor and Erica. Erica is married and pregnant, and has a new friend who Taylor is worried will replace her because the new friend is also having kids and thus will usurp Taylor’s role as best friend. Over the course of the book, we see this friendship take some ups and downs, but being a feel-good romance novel, it all works out in the end.

I am especially appreciative of the fact that the book doesn’t center on two femme characters. As a butch, I love to see it when a character doesn’t wear dresses or keep their hair long, so thank you Taylor for being a light in my dark tunnel of masculine representation. T-shirts and hoodies all the way.

Overall, Flirting Lessons was a truly enjoyable book with a lot of depth in terms of characters and how they interact. It was cute and sweet but also not overly saccharine. Flirting Lessons comes out April 5, 2025. Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy! 4/5 stars.