
Member Reviews

This is my first Guillory, and I am sold! I have always bought these for the library since she is so popular, but I've never read one myself. I completely get it now. Her character development is so good, they feel like real people and more dimensional than a lot of romance characters. There is a maturity to these women that is sometimes missing (sometimes deliberately), but I like when authors understand that whole mature characters are so much more interesting. Not relying on insecurity as the main plot foil is so refreshing. I also really loved how real the friendship tensions were. The fact that being at different chapters of life can put a lot of strain on even the best friendships is so real and honest and hard. It made the whole book feel more real and honest which in turn made the romance pay off all the more. I'd love to see more queer romance from this author.

Thank you to Berkley for this ARC. Flirting Lessons was such an easy, light read and perfect for summer. As Jasmine Guillory’s first sapphic romance, it beautifully captured the connection between characters, highlighted the nuances of WLW dynamics, and delivered spice that felt true to the story.
As with her previous novels, the steam level wasn’t high, but it was intentional, complete, and meaningful.
I’ve seen some reviews calling Avery and Taylor underdeveloped, but I completely disagree. Having read Drunk on Love, I already had a glimpse into both characters, and in Flirting Lessons, their personalities really came through as they navigated personal growth and built a believable chemistry.
This is a low stakes contemporary sapphic romance that emphasizes the importance of found family and building relationships as adults and Jasmine nailed it. An easy 4-star read.

**3.5-stars rounded up **
After Avery Jensen goes through a break-up, she's realizes her life is stale. She's tired of being well-behaved and reliable. She wants to shake it up; get a hobby, make new friends and flirt with lots of people, men and women. As she considers all of that though, she realizes, she has no clue where to start. She feels like she's lost confidence since her relationship, and is at a loss for how to get it back.
Taylor Cameron is a known flirt and infamous heart-breaker. After her most recent break-up, her best friend bets her that she can't make it 2-months without sleeping with someone new. Taylor, though realizing her history stacks the odds against her, takes the bet. When Avery and Taylor meet at a winery event, Avery spills her concerns to Taylor.
It's not like her to be so open with a stranger, but there's something about Taylor. Taylor feels for Avery and offers to help her. She'll give Avery flirting lessons, her specialty, and in turn, that project will distract Taylor from getting up to no good elsewhere; she's determined to win her bet if she can.
At first, Avery is uncomfortable with their arrangement, but Taylor is so warm and encouraging and soon she begins to look forward to their weekly sessions. The more time the women spend together, the more they start seeing each other in a whole new light. Their chemistry is undeniable and it's becoming impossible to ignore their mutual attraction. Could their flirting lessons lead to love?
Flirting Lessons is a very cute and enjoyable read, with beautiful WLW-representation. I really liked both MCs, particularly Taylor, whose perspective I found so relatable. I did feel the women acted a lot older than their stated ages, they were quite mature and open with their emotions, which is something I would have run a million miles away from in my 20s. Besides that though, I did find their relationship trajectory believable and engrossing.
I loved the lessons Taylor set-up. They were so creative and fun, and helped to draw Avery out of her shell. I also really appreciated Avery's character arc. She was in a real rut at the start and I liked how she took charge of her life and took action to improve things. I can definitely see why Taylor would find that attractive.
I feel like the women were a great match. Their personalities played off each other well, and they both provided strength in areas that the other might lack, or need to work on. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Overall, this was an enjoyable Adult Contemporary story, with well developed characters, fun dates, great chemistry, and not too much steam. I always look forward to new Jasmine Guillory novels and this didn't disappoint for a moment.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm glad I finally made time for this.
A perfect Pride Month read!

I enjoyed getting to know Taylor and Avery over the course of this book and felt like the flirting lessons were a fun concept for the plot. I found their connection to be both sweet and sexy early on.
However, overall, the book dragged for me. There were entire scenes that felt unimportant to the story. With their connection being so immediate from the beginning, I expected the intimate scenes to be electric, but I felt they fell flat. Ultimately, I did not enjoy it as much as I expected to.

3.5⭐️
A super cute sapphic romance—
When Taylor agrees to teach Avery how to flirt with women, neither of them think they are going to fall in love. Avery because she just experienced a bad breakup an Taylor because she “doesn’t do relationships”. But of course they fall for each other. I enjoyed this one just like I’ve enjoyed all of Jasmine Guillory’s romances…but I took off 1/2 a star because it was about 100 pages too long.

I love Jasmine Guillory, so it is no wonder I loved Flirting Lessons too. Although a wlw story is something I'd not read from her before, Guillory did a great job at describing both adult romance and a lesbian romance. Returning to the Napa valley with these characters felt like coming home and I was giddy reading it and all the dates they went on. Not just a romance novel but a story about finding yourself.

Avery and Taylor have always been in each others' orbit, with mutual friends and event attendances, and a simmering attraction between them. But Avery had always been in a relationship and Taylor seems to flirt with everyone, so it's not until an encounter and vineyard brings these two women together. But Avery is stiff and uncomfortable, inexperienced with both men and women. So when Taylor offers to help her loosen up and learn how to flirt, she can't turn down the attractive winery employee.
I am a huge Jasmine Guillory fan--and have been since her very first book, The Wedding Date--so I was very excited to read her first foray into LGBTQ romance. Unfortunately, this one seems to miss the mark. Although the opening pages are great, and the connection between the main characters feels sizzling, the fake dating / flirting lessons premise feels extremely contrived and implausible. I struggled to get into the book and wanting to keep reading, ultimately DNFing this one.
Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3 stars - 4/10

thank you to netgalley for the eArc!
First, the good: I loved these two POV characters. They were so charming and adorable together! The friends throughout the story were also fun. I also liked that a lot of the conflict felt realistic to what actually happens in relationships; being annoyed at friends absolutely does bleed into conversations with other people, and that was well done.
The only negative thing I really have to say is that the dialogue sometimes felt a little awkward or unnecessary. Otherwise this was great!
rep: Black MC and LI and predominantly Black cast. Sapphic love story and side characters
spice: a few vivid sex scenes

Besties what is there to say but that it’s sapphic and it slaps? I love Jasmine Guillory’s books; they’re always full of humor and joy. This is her first queer contemporary romance and it was great! Avery wants to get better at flirting, and who better to help her than Taylor, whose friends all think she can’t possibly commit to anyone or anything. Together they’re electric and the book is so fun. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this queer romance! I loved the concept of flirting lessons as the way the FMCs fall for each other. It kept the book fun and interesting - I was always trying to guess what Taylor would plan next. I also loved the individual character development along the way. The book didn't just focus on the FMCs relationship with each other, but also their personal struggles and areas for growth. Taylor's relationship with her friends was a particularly interesting plot point for me. Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be engaging with just the right amount of spice.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

Really enjoyed this sapphic romance novel. I love Jasmine Guillory's romance universe of diverse characters in California and would love to see subsequent spin off novels. It was a fun read and I will definitely be hand selling.

Thank you to NetGalley / Berkley for an arc.
I’m quite disappointed in this book. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, but it fell really flat for me. There seemed to be really nothing going on plot wise, it was more of every day life kind of read and those just aren’t my cup of tea. I also didn’t like Taylor’s friends or how they spoke of her, and while I could relate to Avery, I got tired of the constant self-deprecation. It felt like reading nonstop about a conversation you happen to hear at the coffee shop. I did like the premise though, of flirting lessons. I’m just somehow who needs something to happen plot wise in an overarching theme and this didn’t give me what I wanted.

Jasmine Guillory is back with a fresh new romance! Avery Jensen is nearing thirty and she's ready to mix things up - finding new talents, new passions, and maybe even new love. Her considerable lack of talent when it comes to flirting, but she has a perfect solution when she meets a gorgeous stranger, and Napa Valley's biggest flirt, Taylor Cameron. She'll learn to flirt, and Taylor will learn to take a break from breaking hearts. What could possibly go wrong?

I wanted to love this book and I'm hearing tons of buzz about it, so I may be in the minority. Ultimately I couldn't care as much about the characters although they were likable. I abandoned at 30%.

I adore Jasmine Guillory books. They are usually so beautiful and full of deep connections. This one just felt a little different for me and missed the mark. I didn’t feel the chemistry as much between Avery & Taylor and the writing was more stilted.

I am typically a huge Jasmine Guillory fan - her writing feels fresh and beautiful, and her stories just give me so much. There's always this element of vulnerability with her characters that really stops me in my tracks and makes me think. So needless to say I was rather excited for this one.
However, from the start I found myself struggling - struggling to connect with the characters, struggling to be absorbed into the writing. The 3rd person dual POV's threw me for a loop for some reason. Avery (fresh out of a relationship with a male) is interested in dating females but confused; and Taylor bets her friend that she can make it through the summer without sleeping with anyone. She meets Avery and agrees to give her "flirting lessons".
The romance is physical at best; there's no indication that there is anything more than "Oh, she is hot!" from either woman, and it just is really hard to feel like it's anything more than lust.
Avery showed really no growth; and Taylor has slept with pretty mucheveryone in Napa Valley... there's not much else there. There was a great deal of weird rambling, and the characters just all truly talked the same way - there was no shining personalities standing out or calling for attention, and that for me was a huge let down.
Thank you to NetGalley, and to Berkley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Jasmine Guillory is a must buy/read author for me so I was excited about this new book.
But I had mixed feelings about Flirting Lessons. I loved the Black and sapphic rep—it’s great to see more of that in romance. I do love a duel point of view so loved watching Avery grow more confident in herself and i loved Taylor's flirty ways.
I didn't even mind the predictability of it. It's a romance. BUT the romance didn't quite hit for me. I wanted more..and MORE SPICE. it felt almost..timid?
But Overall, it was a fun, easy read.

The latest read from Jasmine Guillory's Wedding Date universe was sweet and good exploration for Jasmine in the sapphic arena.
Meet Avery, almost thirty and ready to explore her sexuality and queer identity after a breakup (with someone she shouldn't have been with). Low on confidence in the dating arena, but thriving professionally - enter Taylor Cameron, the Napa resident hottie and hot girl dating coach. Taylor also made a terrible bet with her best friend she wouldn't have sex with anyone for the whole summer and of course Taylor thinks coaching Avery (who she thinks is wildly attractive) will keep her distracted.
This was a good first swing for Jasmine. It was more of a friend romance in my opinion with Taylor and Erica figuring things out in their friendship and boundary reset. I love when Jasmine weaves in characters in the Wedding Date universe throughout her books. I would have love more open door scenes like in previous books. The scenes felt timid at times and as if the author was exploring this side of sexuality themselves. It felt like maybe 3 watts up from "Royal Holiday" in terms of spice. It was definitely more timid and maybe because this is the first dance in this arena but give us more spice for sure. We are receiving and us readers will enjoy it.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the E-ARC.
Flirting Lessons is my second book by Jasmine Guillory, so I’m still getting to know her writing style. This story follows Avery and Taylor, set against the lush backdrop of Napa County, California. Avery, fresh out of a long-term heterosexual relationship, is exploring her attraction to women for the first time. That’s when she meets Taylor—a charismatic winery employee with a bit of a “playgirl” reputation and a history of flings within her friend group.
Taylor offers to give Avery “flirting lessons” to help her build confidence connecting with women. Over the course of the summer, the two women spend time together and inevitably start catching feelings for each other—though neither wants to admit it. Avery is hesitant because of Taylor’s reputation, and Taylor holds back because she fears she’ll end up hurting Avery.
Adding to the tension is a bet made by Taylor’s friends: that she can’t make it through the summer without sleeping with anyone. When Taylor and Avery cross that line, it complicates things emotionally—and Taylor ends up having to host a baby shower as part of the bet’s consequences. By that point, they’ve become a full-blown couple, but during the shower, Taylor overhears her friends placing another bet—this time about how long her relationship with Avery will last. The moment is a turning point and causes real strain in the relationship.
There’s more I could share, but I’ll stop to avoid spoilers. What I can say is that things eventually resolve, and Taylor and Avery get their happy ending.
Beyond the central romance, I appreciated the subplots: Avery’s growing friendships at the community garden and her close bond with her friend Luke added extra depth. The book did start slow for me, and at times the many characters and their interwoven relationships felt a bit overwhelming. Still, the story picked up and delivered an enjoyable sapphic romance.
I look forward to reading more from Jasmine Guillory in the future.