You can’t really lose when reading a book by Jasmine Guillory. It was fun, the banter was cute, and I enjoyed it being set in Napa.

I loved this book. I found way too much of myself in it, but the story and romance were so sweet, so comforting.

3.5/5 stars!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC! Although i am quite late lol.

Sooooo I actually thought this was really cute omg. I loved the idea and the execution for the most part, and I had a lot of fun reading this. I ended up immersive reading at the end with the audiobook which helped keep me engaged with the story.

I will not lie though i was not the biggest fan of how the chapters in this were separated. They seemed extremely long and never ending at times which was a little rough during the filler parts of the book, which kind of bored me at times. I also think this book was slightly wordy- and also had a third act breakup and some miscommunication which i am not the biggest fan of.

Overall though i thought Avery and Taylor had great chemistry and i really loved the idea behind their relationship and the uniqueness of how it started.

Jasmine Guillory is one of my favorite romance authors, so I was thrilled to read this one! This is a very sweet story of self-discovery, confidence, and the relationships that make us stronger. I enjoyed the character arcs, but I wanted a bit more growth and depth to the story to make it more compelling and harder to put down. Overall, this is definitely a fun read and a lovely, lighthearted story.

Something about the writing style of this one just didn't click for me. I honestly just couldn't get through it, even though I really wanted to because SAPPHIC.

This was cute but def not my fave of JG’s novels. I always love the premises she picks and her characters always seem like lovely people, but I struggle with her writing style—It typically feels a little detached for me. That said, this was a sweet and easy read. Not to mention, it’s Guillory’s first novel with a queer romance!

I really enjoy this author’s storytelling and pacing. I never find myself wanting the story to move on, it’s always just right. The whole premise of this story was adorable! I loved the outings that they went on, book stores, dance lessons, just so much fun.

Taylor and Avery had such a wonderful set up. Taylor having a bet of not having sex for two months made me think the book would just linger, until we get to the two month mark. Avery just getting out of a long term relationship also made things a little difficult for them.

I can’t wait to read everything Jasmine Guillory writes. I love how diverse the characters always are.

While I enjoyed the novel's premise, I found it to be a bit long. I feel like sapphic "fake dating" or "teaching" tropes can fall very stereotypical and cheesy. I ould sense that the author was prolific in the romance trope but not lesbian relations- not sure if the author was queer.

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory was a light-hearted, friends-to-lovers romance.
Avery is a structured woman who knows how to have fun when it’s organized, and planned well in advance. Whereas Taylor is more of a live-in-the-moment type of woman when it comes to her social and dating life. This made for a sweet opposites attract story between friends that slowly realize its their differences that make them a solid match.

Taylor agrees to mentor Avery through her launch into the queer social scene. Having been in a long and unfulfilling relationship with a man, Avery shyly admits to Taylor that she is interested in dating women but has zero experience to lean on. Taylor is known in Napa for being the non-commitment type, and a magnet for attractive women. Taylor liked Avery enough as an acquaintance to help her gain confidence in her own skin, and feel at ease talking to people outside of her normal comfort zone.

I appreciated that none of the “flirting lessons” felt like a cheesy rom-com.

This wasn’t a story of an ugly nerd suddenly changing her wardrobe, wearing makeup, and now she’s worthy of a second look. Avery was already a beautiful and successful woman. What she gained was a friend that saw her for her true worth right away, and only helped Avery to believe in herself. She never changed clothes, she just paired things a little more adventurously. Her appearance wasn’t what needed work. Taylor took her to events and nights out where Avery could just explore talking to new people, and reach out of her comfort zone in conversations.

Taylor didn’t try to change Avery, she helped set her free.
While Avery learned to love herself, and not shy away from her true desires, she and Taylor together learned how much they liked each other. More than friends. There was a refreshing feel to their conversations as they practiced being refreshingly honest, even in the most uncomfortable conversations. There were several times when Avery was nervous or embarrassed, but she exhaled a breath and was honest with Taylor anyway. It allowed for a minimal-drama love story between them, and I found myself hooked into the beauty of it all.

Taylor agrees to give Avery flirting lessons as a gift to the queer community. Avery, initially hesitant, realizes that she has to put herself out there in order to reap any benefits.

I loved the easy banter between the 2 fmc's as it made the book more enjoyable and easy to get through.

Flirting Lessons totally embodies the reason why the friends-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites.

It was nice to see a few characters from Guillory's previous book Drunk on Love.

Really enjoyed this one and the way that Taylor and Avery’s relationship grew throughout the book. I also found that their friendship’s outside of their relationship were well done and were an interesting addition to the book while still keeping the focus on and adding to the romantic plot.

Continuing in the Noble Family Vineyards universe, we have Avery, an event planner and wallflower who has recently had a relationship end, and Taylor, the social butterfly and major flirt who doesn't do relationships (not really). Taylor offers Avery "flirting lessons" so she can increase her confidence and find love. Meanwhile, Taylor's friends have made a bet that she can't go two months without sleeping with someone. Challenge accepted.

I like the way the author describes friendships among adults; I always want to be sitting at their table. I love that she brings back main characters from other books as side characters or just brief mentions. I found the chemistry between the main characters delicious!

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

💃🏾 This was a sweet, entertaining and easy-to-listen romance. I always enjoy Jasmine Guillory’s work and enjoyed her first attempt at a sapphic romance. Thanks to @berkleyromance for giving me a #gifted copy of this. It is out now!

💃🏾 This story focuses on an uptight, by-the-book MC who enlists the help of a stranger to help teach her how to flirt. You can imagine what happens— I’m sure. 😉 Still it’s cute. The romance is romancing and the spice is spicing. Even though it’s the first time she’s written an LGBTQ+ love story, Guillory’s signature writing is all over this one.

💃🏾 One note on the audio— there’s just one narrator and I kept getting soooo confused about who was who! Just because the MC’s are the same gender doesn’t mean they don’t deserve duet narration!

Jasmine Guillory brings her signature warmth and wit to Flirting Lessons, a sapphic slow-burn romance that feels like a sparkling glass of Napa rosé—sweet, slightly tart, and exactly what you need on a summer afternoon.

Avery Jensen is at a crossroads. Nearly thirty, freshly single, and craving a life less buttoned-up, she’s on a mission to shed her overly cautious shell and try on the kind of fun she skipped in her twenties. Her goals are simple: flirt more, worry less, and maybe—just maybe—fall for a woman. The only problem? Avery has no idea where to start.

Enter Taylor Cameron, Napa Valley’s unapologetic flirt and reigning heartbreaker. She’s fun, effortlessly charming, and on a self-imposed sex hiatus after yet another failed relationship. When Avery and Taylor cross paths, a proposition is made: Taylor will give Avery “flirting lessons,” and Avery will be a harmless distraction to keep Taylor out of trouble. What begins as a lighthearted experiment quickly evolves into something much deeper, and much messier, than either woman anticipated.

Guillory excels at crafting nuanced characters, and in Flirting Lessons, she pairs two opposites whose chemistry is undeniable. Avery’s vulnerability and desire for growth are beautifully balanced by Taylor’s hidden insecurities and fear of emotional intimacy. Their banter is breezy, their tension electric, and their emotional arcs feel refreshingly grounded in reality.

While the setup might sound tropey—a lessons-in-love arrangement that turns real—Guillory gives it fresh life with thoughtful representation, emotional depth, and a swoon-worthy slow burn. Avery’s journey into queerness is handled with empathy and joy, and Taylor’s guarded heart makes for a poignant contrast. Their dynamic explores not just romance, but what it means to be truly seen—and chosen—by someone who gets you.

Flirting Lessons is more than just a fun, flirty romp (though it’s certainly that too). It’s a celebration of reinvention, queer joy, and the courage it takes to admit you want more—from life, from love, and from yourself. Whether you come for the flirting, the fashion glow-up, or the emotional payoff, you’ll leave with a full heart and a satisfied smile.

I had a really great time with this book. It was such a quick read, and I was so invested that I didn’t want to put it down. Both of our main characters were relatable, their chemistry was believable. The flirting lessons were super cute! I think Jasmine Guillory’s first sapphic book was definitely a success!

2/5 🌟
4/5🌶️ (many hot scenes)
Would recommend? Not this one.
Would reread? No

I highly recommend Jasmine Guillory, but not Flirting Lessons. Unless you are looking for something that’s mostly only 2 characters navigating sex and flirting lessons who don’t tell each other they like each other until the last 20mins of the book.

Personally, this one took me ages. I started on ebook, then waited a couple months for the Libby audiobook to come to help me finish.

Was it sexy flirting lessons? Yes. Was that all it was? Yes. And I’m disappointed because the reason I love Jasmine Guillory is for her complex characters. This one fell flat for me. I still enjoyed her writing ideas and style. I did not find myself rooting for either character. I almost DNFed a few times.

Tropes & themes:
-flirting & sex lessons
-LGBTQ+ rep (bi&sapphic)
-lack of communication / major miscommunications
-very self-conscious/nervous x very confident and experienced.

Thank you to the author and Berkley Romance Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did enjoy the writing of the book, Avery and Taylor definitely needs some character development when it comes to their relationship, other than that I think this is a good beginning sapphic read

Unfortunately i didn’t love it as i thought I would. Both main characters were a little annoying. Avery was very insecure about everything and that made me feel really nervous (in a bad way). but i mean overall was okay.

overall i enjoyed reading this. i’ve only read one other jasmine guillory and had few expectations going in. while i found it to be kind of amatonormative and allonormative, i did enjoy the growth of taylor and avery’s relationship. there was miscommunication/misunderstanding that wasn’t drawn out for too long, we as readers really got to see them getting to know each other and hanging out, and their insecurities and subsequent actions were realistic. i connected with avery’s nerves and anxieties and appreciated that she and taylor checked in with each other and didn’t let the other say “im fine” without further discussing what was wrong.

however, i did knock off a full star for mentioning the pandemic and no covid precautions or other mentions. i honestly didn’t need to know this was a post-quarantine book (note i did not say “post-covid” because it’s ongoing), and i am irritated that authors have stopped caring about covid.

overall would recommend.

cws: grief; miscarriage (occurred before the book takes place, mentioned a couple of times)

3.5, rounded up. This is a fun, light, Hallmark-esque romance, so temper your expectations in that regard. I enjoyed seeing Avery and Taylor's relationship develop, and I appreciated that some of the conflict and communication issues came from their friends and external sources and not the two of them (though there's plenty of maddening miscommunication there too).