Jasmine Guillory's books keep getting better and better -- this is the perfect summer beach read, and I devoured it in two sittings. It's so fun, and so hard to put down.

Jasmine Guillory has quickly become a go to author for a well-written and funny romance. Her latest features two friends of Alexa (the female lead in her debut, The Wedding Date) who don’t like each other at all…. Except. One “accidental” night together leads to sneaking around and maybe a real romance? You’ll love these two strong-willed professionals and opposites who find they have more than the physical in common.

I loved this book! The storyline brings together the previous 2 books perfectly. Realistic characters with relatable flaws, sexy scenes, happy ending. I didn't want it to end. Jasmine Guillory, whatever you have in store for your next romance novel, I am there!

Another solid hit from Jasmine Guillory! Her stories consistently have sass, well-developed characters, and just the right amount of romance. This story follows Theo and Maddie, who know each other through Alexa - of The Wedding Date fame. Theo works with Alexa while Maddie has been her best friend since childhood. Theo and Maddie think they hate each other, but we readers know better. Because of Alexa, they're often thrown together in social situations, one thing leads to another and a friends with benefits situation starts up - minus the friendship thing...or so they think.

The rule is that their series of encounters would end by Alexa and Drew's wedding - of which they're both part of as bridesmaid and bridesman, respectively. And of course, it's a secret from Alexa and everyone else, because how could that go wrong?! Spoiler alert: they're in love and everyone knows it.

While I found it a little confusing at first, I always like seeing characters we know and love in a new role. Theo and Maddie's love story overlaps with Alexa and Drew's so we see a lot of them. I found myself trying (and failing!) to remember moments from this story from the perspective of The Wedding Date, but once I let go of how the timeline worked, I found the story to be much more enjoyable. The romance between Theo and Maddie is natural and fun to read. I loved the alternating POVs and I can't wait to see their cameos in the next book!

It is always a pleasure to read anything by Jasmine Guillory. Her books are fun, realistic, and easy to relate to. This book has some overlap with her first book, The Wedding Date. The overlap is in the timeline and the main characaters have the female protagonist from the first book in common. This made the story fun. However, the two main charaters, Maddie and Theo, also have a stereotypical love/hate relationship. What starts out as a "one-night thing" turns into a series of "many nights" and even some booty calls. But that's okay, because you pretty much know where the story is headed. So, if you can look past the predictability, overall it is an entertaining book in which I wouldn't mind hanging out with the characters. Put it on your summer TBR list and enjoy it with a nice, tall, fruity cocktail with an umbrella. Cheers!

I actually think I enjoyed this book even more than The Wedding Date or The Proposal. Enemistry is one of my favorite tropes and she really knocked it out of the park. The chemistry between Maddie and Theo was well developed and believable. She is the best contemporary women's romance author out there right now- she writes books that have depth and still manage to be both sexy and believable.

"Hating to dating" is definitely in my wheelhouse, one of my preferred tropes, if we'll be honest. I'm disappointed to say that while THE WEDDING PARTY is a quick, moderately fun read, it fell flat for me in a number of ways. I appreciate Guillory's emphasis of bringing up relevant social issues, consent, and witticisms in her characters. But Maddie and Theo's journey wasn't as fulfilling as other stories I have read, compared to her excellent debut, THE WEDDING DATE. The synopsis here is a little misleading, as it's less about them being thrust into comical situations due to the wedding planning process, and more about a series of events that occur during their misguided attempt to keep the friends-with-benefits situation under wraps. I had a hard time believing a couple of major plot events thrown in to accelerate the relationship's terms (Theo's event and the book's resolution). One felt unrealistic and unnecessary, the other too convenient. This book may work for many people, but it didn't make the cut for me.

If you liked Jasmine Guillory other books The Wedding Date and The Proposal you will love this one as well. This story follows Maddie and Theo. They are both friends with Alexa and are involved in her wedding. This is a hate to love relationship. I love the over cross back into Alexa and Drew relationship after The Wedding Date. Again this book is cute and romantic. Not only to we get a new romance we get to be apart of Alexa and Drew wedding.

I love Jasmine Guillory's books more and more with each one I read. The enemies-to-secret-lovers plot was so fun! I'll read anything else this author writes, and we better be seeing a movie or TV series out of these stories!

Jasmine Guillory always writes strong, smart and quirky characters with unique and realistic foibles. Her path to HEA is never straight but it is always delightful. The Wedding Party is book 3 in this series and it has a lot to offer. Maddie knows one thing about her best friend Alexa's dear friend Theo and that is that she does not like him one bit. He is pretentious, pedantic, and patronizing. Theo knows one thing about his best friend Alexa's dearest friend Maddie, and that is that he does not like her one bit. She is stuck up, self-centered and silly. But on Theo's birthday party, after a few too many Maddie takes pity on Theo and drives him home. Now they know one thing about the other- they can't keep their hands to themselves. But they also know that no matter what they have to keep the secret from Alexa because this fling can only last until Alexa's wedding, right? Read on, dear reader, this one sizzles.

This book, and Guillory, continue to be *chefs kiss* I consistently cannot wait to see what she does next.

Jasmine Guillory does is at it again with her charming new contemporary romance. Maddie and Theo hate each other, they always have, but somehow they end up spending the night together again, and again, and again.... and at some point they have to admit they've fallen for one another. But they may be too stubborn to do so! Delightful, romantic, and funny.

Absolutely adored this! While I wasn't a huge fan of The Proposal, this brought me back to the wonderful Wedding Date feelings I had.

Maddie and Theo are sworn adversaries who are sharing responsibilities for the wedding party of their best friend Alexa. In a weak moment, they spent a steamy night, but swore it would never happen again, until it did. Never say "never." Totally enjoyable.

A solid entry in Guillory's series. Though it was not my favorite of the three (so far), it has the representation I prioritize in my reading choices, and I was glad to see these two characters eventually find happiness with each other.

It is a fine line to straddle when playing with a hate you/love you relationship, because it is so easy to lose respect for any character that puts up with someone they dislike simply for great chemistry. However, I think The Wedding Party stops just short of this problem, and instead focuses on assumption making/miscommunication as the source of dislike. I enjoyed watching the characters grow and examine their own preconceived conclusions about each other. I also very much enjoy that Guillory addresses specific challenges her characters experience as people of color, especially the discussion of appearance and performance. In a world where skin color puts someone at an automatic disadvantage , people of color often have to try three times as hard with fewer resources in order to succeed. Topics like that make Guillory's stories and characters feel real, so I root for them, and give me a perspective I may not have considered. It certainly helps balance the pure fantasy and suspension of disbelief the romance genre requires, and I am very much here for it!

This was another win from Jasmine! What a sweet, heartfelt story with lots of laughter and love. I just love Jasmine's writing style. It's like listening to a great friend talk about her life. The characters are always stupendous and full of life, and this book was no different. Just enough steam and sexy time!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, flirty enemies-to-lovers-slash-secret-dating follow-up to Jasmine Guillory’s other two books in the series and I think it will be a very popular summer read. I enjoyed it more than The Proposal but not as much as The Wedding Date - Theo and Maddie are more interesting and well-rounded characters than Carlos and Nik but their emotional beats didn’t tend to land as effectively as Alexa and Drew’s.

Guillory delivers Maddie and Theo’s story with equal parts wit and charm. Their story is wildly sexy, a winning combination of undeniable chemistry and the push and pull of enemies to lovers. I was drawn to the diversity of these characters and the important topics they bring to the forefront. Both characters are funny and extremely likeable. It’s almost comical how hard they try to despise each other.

The pace stalled in the middle a bit for me. I found myself skimming over the sex and wanting to nudge Maddie and Theo toward a more meaningful connection. When the storyline picked up so did my interest. I saw the growth and felt the weight lift as they both realized they were fighting the inevitable. An inevitable they both very much wanted. The reveal is quite hilarious and exactly what I’d expect with this group of friends and family. All in all The Wedding Party is a sweet, sexy, easy summer read.

Guillory writes another fun, summer romance with The Wedding Party. Connecting characters from The Proposal (friends of Carlos, Alexa and Drew are also friends of the main characters in this story), Guillory gives us another great couple to root for: Maddie and Theo. If you love a hate-turns-to-love Pride and Prejudice-type affair, then this is your jam!

Maddie is a stylist in the Bay Area, happy with her business and her best friend, Alexa. However, she can't stand Alexa's close friend from work, Theo. Somehow, after years of barely tolerating one another, Maddie and Theo end up in bed. They vow it won't happen again, but we know where this is headed. What ensues is a sweet and secret romance with a deadline. As the summer nears a close, both characters will have to figure out what they really mean to each other.

This is a quick and fun read. Guillory is great at casting African American characters without making that the story itself (of course race is there, this is modern-day America, after all, but it is not THE story). Diverse readers deserve stories that show all kinds of people living their interesting lives, and this one does that.

I really wanted to love this book. I enjoyed the Proposal but I didn’t love it. I appreciate all the diversity but I just could not get into the characters at all. I also found that this one relied on you reading the other two more than the Proposal relies on knowledge of the Wedding Date. Overall I think most will enjoy it but it just wasn’t for me.