I had mixed feelings about this one. On the positive side, I really appreciated the representation of both African American and sapphic romance, which was refreshing to see in a space that often lacks diverse perspectives. The dual POV also allowed me to connect with both Avery and Taylor, giving me a deeper understanding of their personal struggles and growth throughout the story.

Avery’s journey of stepping out of her comfort zone and learning to embrace dating, especially with women, was engaging, and I loved seeing her evolve from being nervous and unsure to more confident and self-assured. Taylor, the flirtatious heartbreaker, was an intriguing contrast to Avery, and their dynamic was enjoyable to follow, even if predictable at times.

However, I found the romance itself to be lacking a bit of depth. For a story about flirting, dating, and personal growth, the chemistry between the characters didn’t fully land for me. The tension was there, but it felt a bit surface-level. I expected more spice and emotional connection, especially considering the build-up. The lessons and flirtation were fun, but the deeper, more intimate moments seemed to be missing, leaving the romance feeling a little flat.

Overall, Flirting Lessons had a lot of promise, especially with its inclusive themes and characters, but I was hoping for more of a spark between the leads. It’s a cute, easy read, but I craved a little more depth in the romance and emotional payoff.

If Jasmine Guillory writes it.... yes, I will always read it. As soon I read page 1, I was hooked especially when I realized it was a sequel to Drunk on Love! Yes!!!!

This was a light hearted, heartwarming, fun, give me all the cute banter, I'm here for the girl's falling in love... yes!!!!

Avery and Taylor definitely checked all the boxes for me....
✅️ Friends to Lovers
✅️ Slow Burn
✅️ Found Family
✅️ Contemporary Romance

Yes! I loved it all! Jasmine is literally my favorite!

Always enjoy reading Jasmine Guillory. Would love to be friends with all of her characters. Avery and Taylor were so relatable and inspiring. Hope there will be more books like this based in Napa, to expand their friend group. Taylor was a great side character in Drunk On Love, so happy to see her getting her own HEA and growing up a little too.

There are so many people who are going to love Guillory’s first queer romance with its fun cover, dual pov, and third person story-telling. However after reading a few different books from this author, I just don’t think her writing style is for me

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.75⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Such a sweet and fun sapphic romance!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Slow burn sapphic romance
Personal growth
Romantic comedies
Emotional depth
Opposites attract
Flirting lessons
Friends to lovers
Great chemistry
Leaning to trust again
Dual POV

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Diverse characters
Napa Valley setting
All the lessons we so fun
The cover!
As an introvert I could relate to Avery

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Predictable plot
The conflict resolution felt a little rushed

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “Flirting isn’t about being someone else; it’s about being the best version of yourself.”
★ “Sometimes, the biggest risk is letting someone see the real you.”
★ “Confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build, one step at a time.”

Flirting Lessons, Jasmine Guillory’s first queer romance, is a welcome and joyful expansion of her already beloved body of work. The novel’s premise is charmingly simple: a recently single woman nearing thirty decides it’s time to break free from self-imposed rules and start living with more openness—and maybe even a little flirtation. Guillory takes this setup and turns it into a tender exploration of self-discovery, vulnerability, and queer joy.

Avery is easy to root for: methodical, a little cautious, and craving the kind of connection she’s never quite allowed herself. The titular “lessons,” given by the flirtatious and emotionally avoidant Taylor, are delightful not just because of their romantic tension but because of how sincerely Avery takes them to heart. Guillory handles her growth with nuance, allowing Avery to expand her social circle, take risks, and make meaningful changes in her life—all while navigating the complexities of new friendships, old wounds, and unexpected attraction.

One small issue I had was with the abrupt point-of-view changes mid-chapter, which occasionally pulled me out of the story until I got my bearings again. Still, the strength of the characters and the warmth of Guillory’s voice pulled me right back in.

Flirting Lessons is not just a romance—it’s a story about choosing joy, taking chances, and letting yourself be seen. Guillory fans will find the emotional honesty they’ve come to love, and readers eager for a queer romcom that balances heart and humor will be glad to have this one on their shelf. I know I am.

A perfect read for those who want a book that's simple, witty, and fun.

I wouldn't say the characters feel extremely realistic to me, but they were definitely entertaining to read about. I didn't feel very emotionally invested or connected to the story, but I would say it's a good pallette cleanser romance.

I did love the plot though. I think the idea of the forced proximity aspect along with flirting lessons is such a great concept, and was lovely to read as well. It worked just as well as a concept as it did on paper.

Although, I would say I wasn't totally impressed with the emotional depth of the story. I felt very disconnected from all the characters, and I would have loved to see more character growth, as well as some more tension to help keep the story together. I felt like there was nothing pushing the characters to be together, and at times their dynamic felt completely sexual and physical, without any romance or emotional connection. That being said, that is my personal preference, as I prefer romances with emotional and romantic connections as the focus.

If you are looking for a steamy romance with sexual tension, this book is perfect for you. But, if you are like me, and prefer something more emotional, then I wouldn't be inclined to recommend it.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for giving me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 ⭐️

Flirting Lessons is Jasmine Guillory’s first sapphic romance, and it’s an easy win, full of charm, chemistry, and genuine emotional growth. Set in sunny Napa Valley, the story follows Avery, a shy introvert fresh off a breakup and still figuring out her attraction to women, and Taylor, a confident flirt with commitment issues and a killer smile. Their dynamic? Electric. Their weekly “flirting lessons” double as low-key dates, think salsa dancing and trivia nights, and the slow burn is so worth it.

Avery’s journey from anxious and unsure to confident and open is one of the best parts of the book. Taylor’s emotional arc is more subtle but just as satisfying as she slowly lets her guard down. Their connection builds through witty banter, soft moments, and—bless—actual communication instead of the dreaded miscommunication trope.

The side cast, especially Taylor’s bestie Erica, adds warmth and a good dose of humour, and the focus on female friendships is a nice bonus. My only minor gripe? The mid-chapter POV shifts made it a bit harder to stay grounded, and I wouldn’t have minded a bit more voice distinction between Avery and Taylor.

Still, this is a sweet, character-driven romance that balances flirtiness with real emotional payoff. If you’re into slow burn sapphic stories with heart, humour, and a bit of sunshine, this one’s worth picking up.

Flirting Lessons
2⭐️/5

The writing style is giving YA romance aside the spicy scenes. A good story but the writing style was bland. I was so close to DNFing this book multiple times. I felt bad because it’s an eARC I requested for 🥹. It reads like a manual or guidebook for flirting.

This was a cute read about Avery one of the fmcs who just went through a breakup and realized that she has no hobbies and doesn't know how to flirt. The other fmc Taylor is known for her flirting and relationships and they agree for Taylor to give Avery lessons and teach her all she knows about flirting and hookups. Of course, they fall for each other and start a benefits relationship.

I liked the premise and I liked the main characters, especially in the beginning. I thought the romance was cute and inevitable. I loved the salsa dancing element and their getting closer during these lessons. I also loved the opposites attract element and showed they complemented each other. I do think that the characters felt surface-level at times without a lot of growth. I also think the writing at times was weird but overall this was a nice and quick read.

I felt like I hit the jackpot when I got my hands on a physical ARC of one of Jasmine Guillory’s books! This isn’t my usual go-to romance trope, but it definitely didn’t disappoint.
✨ Synopsis:
Taylor has a reputation for being a heartbreaker, while Avery is freshly out of a relationship with a man and looking to explore dating women for the first time. The two meet through a mutual friend, Luke, at a function—cue Taylor offering Avery some “flirting lessons.” Taylor is bold, outgoing, and effortlessly charming, while Avery is more reserved and focused, running her own event planning business. They’re total opposites, but the chemistry is undeniable. 🔥
💭 My Thoughts:
This isn’t the typical romance I gravitate toward, but in true Guillory fashion, it’s packed with witty banter, emotional depth, and a good dose of spice. I loved Taylor and Avery’s dynamic—how they balanced each other out and grew together. Also, it was such a treat to see Luke and Margot again from Drunk in Love (one of my all-time favorites)!
If you’re into sapphic romances, opposites-attract vibes, and top-tier writing from a romance queen, Flirting Lessons should be on your TBR. 💘

This wasn’t my favorite Guillory, but it was still ok. It just felt really repetitive. And I was sad because Friends to Lovers is my favorite trope. But this one just didn’t hit exactly the way I did.

Ok so the plot dragged. All it was about was her giving Avery flirting lessons. And you would think it would have something more to help guide it on, but it just….. Wasn’t? Idk how to explain it. But I do know that as it went on, it felt repetitive. It was the same excuses and the same responses. Even when she actually could tell she liked her it was the same. Idk it was a bit annoying lol

The romance itself was cute tho. For this to be Guillory’s first wlw couple I did like it. She didn’t go too much into specifcs so to me it did seem like appreciation. But take this as a grain of salt as I am a straight person and haven’t seen any reviews negating this yet. But they were cute together and I think their progression to get together was cute, albeit slow. And y’all know how I am about slow burns, so yeahhhhh But they were cute.

Otherwise everything was pretty close to all Jasmine Guillory novels. She has the same type characters and the same writing style. I think the only one that was different was the Beauty and the Beast one. But (and I’m being really honest here) I really need to know what Taylor was thinking? Or Avery for that matter. Did they REALLY think they wouldn’t ed up where they were? Likeeeee BFFR lol

I don’t really have much other than that. It just was? I don’t know how else to explain it. It wasn’t great, but it also wasn’t bad? It was cute, but not my favorite. I do wish there was some more dancing lessons tho. At least that part was hot lol

I really loved Taylor and Avery’s dynamic and how they both pushed each other out of their comfort zones—it made their connection feel earned and heartfelt. Their growth felt natural, and I appreciated how they challenged one another in ways that were both vulnerable and empowering.

The Napa setting was so fun and charming! Guillory really brought the atmosphere to life, and it added a relaxed, romantic backdrop to the story. That said, some moments in the middle felt a bit slow, and I wished we got a little more emotional depth as their relationship progressed.

Overall, Flirting Lessons was a sweet, light, and steamy read!

2.25 stars - I wanted to like this book but it just did not work for me. I had a really hard time connecting to either of the main characters, almost all of the friends/secondary characters were just awful, and the writing style was not something that I enjoyed.

The whole book felt pretty stilted and it got really repetitive with the different lessons that Taylor and Avery had with each other, the bet and everything involved with that was not great and think it was too long. I found myself skimming more often than not and could tell that I wasn't missing anything important. I wish that this one had worked out for me and I'm grateful to the Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Flirty Lessons was one of my anticipated reads for this year. There were parts that I enjoyed but there were a lot that I didn’t care for. I did like the premise of the storyline and the lessons were cute. It was just okay.

Overall 2.75
Spice 1.5

I was hopeful going into The Flirting Lesson—we need more traditionally published BIPOC sapphic stories, and I was excited to see what Jasmine Guillory would bring to the genre. The opening chapter did capture my attention, but unfortunately, the momentum didn’t build from there. The pacing remained flat, and the story never seemed to deepen or evolve.

Pros:
The book does offer some genuinely thoughtful insights for shy people trying to put themselves out there. It suggests practical ways to meet new people, broaden social circles, and maintain friendships even as personal lives shift. It also touches on some weighty and relatable topics—pregnancy and miscarriage, the changing dynamics when single friends watch others get married, and how to navigate evolving friendships.

Cons:
It was clear this wasn’t a genre or subject the author was fully comfortable with. The sapphic and BIPOC elements felt more like surface-level labels than meaningful representation. Aside from a few brief mentions of the word “Black,” there was little cultural or identity depth to the characters. If you didn’t already know this was a sapphic BIPOC story, it would be easy to miss those aspects altogether. As someone from the sapphic community, I found this disappointing. Each culture brings something distinct to queer experiences, and this book failed to reflect that. It felt more like an afterthought than an intentional part of the narrative.

Final Thoughts:
While The Flirting Lesson attempts to be inclusive and timely, it doesn’t quite deliver on its promise. Representation matters, but it also needs to be done with care, authenticity, and depth.

Did received this as an arc from the publisher.

I really enjoyed this! It took a while to read just because I’ve had so much going on, but I’m glad to have finally finished it. Taylor and Avery were fun characters to follow, and I loved seeing the different dates and activities they got up to. I also really appreciated how much consent was sprinkled throughout this book, particularly during the sex scenes. Sometimes the writing style felt a little…off I guess? But that certainly didn’t make me enjoy it any less. I’m glad to see this author dip her toes into a queer romance, and honestly I’d love to see more in the future!

Also, most of Taylor’s friends really suck. Oof.

Thank you Berkley for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
-
I’m really sad about my feelings towards this book. I was so ready to love it but everything simply wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy how a lot of the characters’ traits were directly told to me instead of shown through actions. Avery’s anxiety and insecurities could feel very overwhelming sometimes. I didn’t like how Taylor’s friends treated her and sometimes vice versa. The miscommunication near the end was also tough to get through.

This book is suited for people who are looking for a quick and simple romance between two queer women who are trying to build love for their identities and find their place in this world.

Jasmine Guillory is an author I can trust to always deliver a good time, and Flirting Lessons was no different!

Avery is coming out of a bad relationship, and isn't the best at approaching people or expressing her interest in them. Taylor is magnetic and the kind of person everyone flocks to—half her group of friends are also her exes. So, because the laws of romance demands it, Taylor starts giving Avery lessons in flirting—in particular, flirting with women, because Avery hasn't explored dating in this sphere before.
I'm a shy little wallflower so a lot of the situations Avery finds herself in were my personal nightmare scenarios but she was always a good sport about it and it made for great reading lol. Taylor takes Avery to a book signing for their first lesson and has her chat up random people—and like, I absolutely adore my booksta peeps but if I saw them out in the wild I'd probably freeze and not know how to behave human 😂

I loved watching Avery grow and become more self assured. She knows exactly what to say or do in professional settings, but has been less confident in her personal life. It was also great to see Taylor realize that her sapphic Casanova persona doesn't define her, and that what everyone thinks of her isn't who she is. How she moves forward is only on her, and no one else's opinion on it matters (even when it hurts!).

I'll say that this book was a tad long and could definitely have been culled, but I'm also in my "whyyyy is this book longer than 8 hours" era 😅 I had the ARC but listened to the audio after it came out—which I absolutely recommend!

Such a fun sapphic romance with flirting lessons leading to more.
Avery thought she was out of Taylor’s league since she was very flirty and popular with everyone but she someone got her to offer flirting lessons.
I was excited when they finally gave in to their feelings. The teacher wanted to be one of her test subjects too!
Taylor’s friends weren’t the best all of the time cause they didn’t think this would last. I had friends like that and happy Taylor was able to talk it out with them. I sadly did not.
Loved all the dates they went on. This was set in Napa where I grew up so I’ve gone to the mud spas and I will tell you they are definitely an experience. So worth it!
The relationship had an expiration but that was insecurity and gossip not what was in their hearts. Don’t worry there is def a hea and tons of new friends!
Loved the wedding idea for the new friend at the end!