I have enjoyed all of Jasmine Gillory’s previous books and this one continues the streak. She always has relatable characters and while sometimes the conflicts between the characters can seem a bit predictable I died the mind because I loved spending time with all of the characters. She also always has the best descriptions of food! I always recommend her books to friends and I will be enthusiastically recommending it to people all summer!

Guillory writes books with great relatable curvy heroines. This new title is a pleasurable read, and is sure to delight her fans.

A chance meeting in a bar leaves an impression on both Olivia and Max. When they come across each other unexpectedly at a fundraiser Max starts to woo Olivia with cake. A story of 2 very different people who can't stop thinking about each other. Will they find a way to be very different people together?

This is my first Jasmine Guillory book. I had seen/read a lot of good things about her first two books in her "Wedding Date" series and wanted to check this one out. A successful not-skinny black woman in her mid-late 30s finding love? Sign me up.

Admittedly, it took me some time to get into the story.

I felt more drawn to Max's impulsive, say-before-thinking personality as my personality is somewhat similar. So while I related to Olivia in that we're both 30+ black women trying to make it in a career/world not meant for us and we both have trouble expressing ourselves, I found her skittishness to be a bit annoying. I found myself frustrated like Max that she would leave him hanging during key conversations during their relationship. But I completely understand being upset about being put on blast. A black woman's #1 dating rule is to not embarrass her in public. Don't do it.

I didn't realize this was technically the 5th book in a series, but I'm glad it did well as a standalone. Overall I liked this fluffy and saccharine story. I did think the relationship moved kind of fast for a couple that only saw each other on the weekends, but it worked for them. I would love to see turned into a Hallmark movie.

This ARC was given from Netgalley for an honest review.

I continue to appreciate Guillory's romances so much - so refreshing and fresh, she doesn't shy away from contemporary issues but also doesn't jump on a soapbox and lose sight of what she's writing.

This was a great continuation of the The Wedding Date series by Jasmine Guillory. I've read all of them and they're just plain fun! Party of Two is about cautious lawyer Olivia Monroe (her sister Alexa started off this series in The Wedding Date) and impulsive Senator Max Powell. This totally works as a stand-alone because we don't see previous characters other than Olivia's sister.

This is a perfect summer beach read...or quarantine read. Either way it works!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Party of Two is my favorite of Jasmine's books so far! I love to read romantic fiction, and I really enjoy when the characters have lives of their own and make decisions that feel real to the characters background and lives. I love how the main characters in this book have "real" issues and conversations with each other that moves the plot forward, but it really made me root for the characters as individuals and a couple.

I was excited to see another Jasmine Guillory book! Humor, romance, and passion show up throughout the book. The characters are real; not perfect but the grow during the story.

I have loved all Jasmine Guillory's books and her latest didn't disappoint! Perfect for readers looking for a hero and heroine with clear goals and ambitions who just happen to fall in love. A great fun and sexy read to dig into during an election year.

I don’t think jasmine Guillery can write a bad book. I loved this story and I’m sure it will be popular with all of her fans. Can’t wait for more!

This is such a great romance. I will always love Guillory's books. I love how she connects the characters in each one. I love how the relationships feel real. I especially love how she always seems to talk about food :) This one didn't have as much angst as some of the others, they were together for most of the book. Highly recommend.

Readers won't be disappointed in Guillory's newest rom-com. Olivia meets senator Max at her hotel bar when she first moves to LA to start her own law firm, and they slow begin to hit it off. They have to tread lightly, however, because of how public Max's life is, and choose to keep their relationship a secret for the time being. Will they ever be able to bring their relationship public?

I'll be the first to admit I am not the usual romance reader...but I like when I can swoon for a book, and so this, my second Jasmine Guillory book, was a nice way to take my mind off a pandemic and spend a day or two. I was actually trying to decide if this would be a good pick for a book club, but it was a little to explicit for our audience--but I think most readers will enjoy this book!

Olivia Monroe moves to LA to finally start her own law firm. She's got it planned out, and she's level-headed, but then she meets a guy at her hotel bar and later at a semi-work event, and...things get complicated. Because he's not just any guy. He's the junior Senator from California, and he's an eligible bachelor, and he's SUPER into her. As Max and Olivia fall for each other, she must decide how much of herself she is willing to share with the public and how to balance their very different decision making styles. Max is impulsive and quick to respond and Olivia is a thinker and takes her time with decisions and yet they both love cake and volunteering and each other...but will they be able to take the public scrutiny? It's like Meghan/Harry but stateside and a little less intense, at least on the page, but it's swoony and got good sex scenes--if you're into that sort of stuff--but also a unique little political backstory!

So I've heard hit or miss thing about Guillory's first couple books,but I liked Royal Holiday, and I liked Party of Two! This felt SUPER low stakes to me, but I kind of liked that. The criticism of Olivia didn't lean too heavily into itself--that would have made me just sad--and it does have that HEA we all want, plus it's got cute date ideas and so much cake.I liked it. It's nothing that's going to change the world, but it made me laugh and smile and that's exactly what I wanted it to do. Also, hell yes to strong female characters with full personalities and quirks and interests who don't change for a man!

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.

Jasmine Guillory is so, so good. I recently realized that I most enjoy contemporary romances when the characters get together earlier in the book, and then the will-they/won't-they is more about them working out any difficulties in communication, priorities, or other questions, and I think Guillory is personally responsible for this change in my reading habits! Her male characters are the sexiest in the game, because whatever their other flaws, they listen to the heroines, they learn, and they grow. Plus career is always important to both characters, rather than being an impediment. One worry I had early in Party of Two was the focus on being a New York City type versus a LA type, which did not engage my interest, but it felt like a reasonable discussion for the characters to return to, especially if you've had a big relocation as an adult past your early/mid-20s. Great chemistry, excellent descriptions of food, passion felt real, and all in all, a very enjoyable read.

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.