While not my favourite title by Jasmine Guillory, this is a solid addition to the universe she has created. I was expecting a little bit more Alexa, but that is a personal preference with no negative impact on the story. I can't wait to see who gets their love story told next!

Party of Two was an amazing addition to this series. I enjoyed following the characters lives in California and all the sweets and treats that brought. I think the writing was so fun and light-hearted and I enjoyed this romcom immensely!

Olivia relocates to California for work and a night out at a bar leads to meeting Max and sparks fly right away. A couple weeks go by without hearing a word or seeing him and it seems it was just a one time thing. Then, Olivia runs into him at a luncheon except he's nit just the random guy at the bar, he's the Senator and the sparks are still there. Can Olivia deal with a relationship that is in the public eye and very high-profile?

A solid installment, no big surprises, but nothing weird or disappointing either. Olivia and Max are both sweet.

I always love Guillory’s books. She sucks the reader right in with layered, interesting characters and a great feel for setting. I really connected this time with the heroine’s resistance to the relationship after having been strong, single, and independent for a number of years. Plus, the sexiness of her heroes doesn’t hurt!

This is a sweet contemporary romance. Reading the series in order is not required in the slightest-- this is a great book readers could jump into.

The main character's constant need to take days or weeks to make any decision might be a little annoying for some readers. This aspect seemed a little unexplored-- I don't know anyone quite like this.

The author folds in some discussion of topics-- prison reform, climate change, etc.-- that are relevant to the story, but which feel like the author lecturing readers on these issues.

The thing that frustrated my most was that the main character makes a handful of comments throughout the book about the love interest's privileged background, and his awareness of such-- white male, family money, access to education-- but ignores her own. Her parents are still marred. She rents a full house and can go out on her weekend of choice to purchase a new car. She's in her mid- to late-30s but doesn't have student loans. Her explanations about the difficulties she faces as a woman of color working in traditional white-male working environments are valid! And, she also has a lot of resources others don't. It seemed... hypocritical.

(It was also frustrating that the love interest flew coast-to-coast twice every weekend. Talk about climate impacts!)

Still 4 stars, because I loved how the relationship developed. The love interest may have been a little too good to be true, but certainly something we can hope for!

Party of Two is the fifth entry in Jasmine Guillory's Wedding Date series. I snapped up the opportunity to read this novel because I had heard such good things about her previous books on social media. Olivia is a lawyer that has recently moved to LA for work, she meets gorgeous Max Powell in a hotel bar and the chemistry is almost immediate. After that night she finds herself a bit disappointed that nothing more happened, but when she gets a second chance will she take it?

This was my first book by Jasmine and I found her to be a very talented writer and her characters were well formed. It was clear to me from the start why she had gotten so popular with the people I follow on social media. She has a way with words that was engaging and thoughtful that appeals to a broad audience base.

That being said I was not a fan of this story mostly because there was not a lot of page time for Olivia and Max. Due to his work they spent much of the novel apart and there wasn't enough chemistry there to sustain me when they were apart. I think this type of pining and internal conflict works for many other people, it's just not my cup of tea. Also, in the current political climate I was not interested in a senator as a romantic lead, and I didn't like that he seemed kind of wishy-washy in his job. Also as a veteran romance reader it felt needlessly watered down, I think in order to grab that broader audience who don't normally read traditional romance.

I think this novel will be successful despite my concerns since Guillory's writing is so competent and it fits well into the popular crop of new rom-coms. I just didn't feel like this hit enough of the beats I enjoy for me to give it more than 2.5 stars. I think fans of her previous novels will continue to enjoy the series and readers looking for a fairly tame entrance to the world of romance will feel safe in her hands.

ARC Received in return for an honest review.

This is hands down my favorite Jasmine Guillory book so far! I was immediately invested in these characters very early on in reading the book. I think Guillory does such a uniquely good job of combining politics and romance in a way that is so enjoyable to read. I also love that her characters eat food in her books - it's so real!

We have finally reached Olive Monroe's story. She has just moved to LA to start her new law firm with her friend, Ellie. One night after a long day of work, she meets a handsome at the bar of the hotel she's staying at. It wasn't until after leaving (and regretting not spending more time with him) that she realizes she was flirting with Senator Max Powell. She was shocked by how normal and sweet he was. When the two reconnect and decide to go public with their relationship, Olivia is met with the media and their judgements of her.She knows she loves Max, but she isn't sure she can put up with the media scrutiny for much longer...

Jasmine Guillory does it again. LIke her previous books, this was a fun contemporary romance that one could consume on a lazy weekend. The only thing holding this back for me was the romances are beginning to feel a bit repetitive. Perhaps, I have just read too many of Guillory's books!

I love the representation she brings to the table. She's not just writing realistic stories about women, she's writing about realistic stories about women of color. As a WOC, I can really relate to the story and smile when there are those subtle reminders in the book that life and relationships may play out a little bit differently for us.

Overall, this is a cute and funny read that will let you escape the hectic world.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC copy of this book available to me.

Entertaining for sure. I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book, but the later part just didn't quite do it for me. However, the epilogue did a nice job of wrapping up the book. The author has done a fine job with this series, all of the books are quite readable and you don't really need to read them in order;

This is for sure my favorite of Guillory's since The Wedding Date!

This one focuses on Alexa's sister, Olivia. She has recently moved back to California from NYC. While staying at a hotel til she finds a place to live, she meets a man at the hotel bar, they flirt and chat, and when she gets back to her room and turns on the TV- she sees a press conference...with the man she met at the bar. Unknown to her, she had been flirting with the junior senator of California.

The conflicts and issues in this one are totally believable. I love the women Guillory writes- they are strong and willful, but aren't without insecurities.

I love Jasmine Guillory's books for real-life problems and women empowering each other. This one delivered on all fronts and is a perfect escape read.

I love the way that Jasmine Guillory manages to weave real-world problems and issues into the classic romance novel structure. I have to admit that this one fell a little flat for me just after halfway through, but I still tore through it in a couple of days. I can't wait to find out whose love story is next.

I devoured this faster than a three layer cake! This was sweet and charming. I can't wait to read what happens next!

Party of Two is the fifth book, in Jasmine’s Guillory’s Wedding Date Series. Olivia Monroe, an attorney meets a handsome man named Max in a hotel bar, and the two strike up a flirty conversation. Even though, Olivia and Max enjoy their chance meeting, they do not make any plans to see each other, again. Later that night, Olivia sees Max on television and realizes that “Max” is really Maxwell Powell, a rising young senator from California. The two meet again, and decide to go on a date. Max and Olivia discover that their initial attraction was not a fluke. Throughout their relationship, Max and Olivia encounter a few easily fixed problems along the way, but there is little doubt that Olivia and Maxwell will get their happily ever after. At times, the dialogue and some of Olivia and Maxwell’s actions seem a bit immature for characters who are law school graduates, in their late thirties. Still, Jasmine Guillory’s many fans will enjoy this light and fun novel.

Once again, Jasmine Guillory has a page-turner. Party of Two is a delight. If there is a Bechdel-test equivalent for romance novels, Guillory’s work would pass every time. She gives her female characters more than one female friend, and they always talk about things other than men/romance. Her women characters have so much more going on than just thinking about men, and Olivia Monroe in Party of Two is no exception. Olivia meets Max when she is celebrating a career achievement and the importance of her work is threaded into the love story between the two. It’s so refreshing to see Max fall head over heels first and be the first to express that, while Olivia takes her time to process her emotions. My only quibble with Party of Two is how often we have to read about Olivia’s delay in buying a car upon moving to Los Angeles. It’s most likely used to establish that Olivia takes a long time to think through decisions and is not impulsive, like Max is, but it became repetitive and overdone very quickly to the point I worried no one had anything else to talk about. I thought so much car discussion was foreshadowing an accident, but no. I also thought the first intimate scene between Max and Olivia was rushed and lack any real connection between the two. Beyond those moments of shakiness that pulled me from the story, it’s clear that Party of Two is another hit for Guillory, and rightly so.

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!