I absolutely loved this sapphic romance by Jasmine Guillory!

This novel follows Taylor and Avery, two women who meet at a wine event and become friends when one offers to give the other flirting lessons. Each secretly like the other, and as the friendship grows, so does the intensity of feelings for each other.  

I can always count on Guillory to bring the heat and romance in her books, and this one didn’t disappoint! It was also giving me vibes of The Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert (as far as spiciness scale & having BIPOC characters).

This was pretty much a blind read for me, but I had no regrets. Maybe it’s because my own dating life has had its fair share of fails, but I always come into romance novels a little on edge—while still being obsessed with happy endings, of course.

The dynamic between Avery, dealing with life after heartbreak, and Taylor, still struggling with her own past, was so well done. I loved how both of them went through their own self-discovery while also sharing new experiences together that helped them grow. Avery’s journey, in particular, really resonated with me—her struggles with self-perception and navigating certain spaces hit close to home.

Beyond just being a good story, the novel had some underlying messages that stuck with me. It was a reminder that healing, love, and growth don’t have to be linear, and sometimes, the best things happen when you least expect them.

Avery has always acted appropriately, except now, fresh off a breakup she's ready to get back out there but she wants to learn how to flirt (especially with woman, which will be new to her). Taylor, who is a huge flirt and notorious heartbreaker offers to give Avery flirting lessons (even though she is attracted to her). As they go out every Tuesday nights for Avery's lessons, the two become closer and at some point the attraction between the two can not be denied. Now Taylor, who is relationship phobic, has to figure out what she wants, does she want to continually date and never commit or is Avery worth changing her ways for.

I requested this one because I really enjoyed the Wedding Date, also by the author. I believe this is her first gay romance. This was a cute "opposites attract" sort of story which made the dynamics fun but frustrating at times and I loved Napa as the location for the story. The miscommunication between the two also frustrated me (it's my least favorite trope), but I loved how each character grew throughout the novel aided by the other. I'm not sure the audio for this one worked as well for me as it did for the last one, but I still enjoyed listening while I was packing and getting ready to travel. Now I need to go back and read the other two in the Wedding Date series.

3.75 stars

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory (out April 8, 2025) is a book that reminded me that I do actually like romance novels. If I go too long without reading one because my head is stuck in tragic fantasy-and-horror land, I start to delude myself into thinking that I hate cheesy romance and feel-good stories. Fortunately, books like this exist to snap me out of that mindset.

Flirting Lessons follows Taylor and Avery, two Black women in Napa Valley, California. Taylor has a reputation for being a heartbreaker: most of her relationships end within a month, and her best friend Erica just bet her that she can’t make it the two months until Labor Day without hooking up with somebody. Avery has just gotten out of a relationship with her ex-boyfriend and now wants to date women, but outside of work, she’s terrible at speaking to people, let alone flirting with them. So when the two meet at a wine event and spark up a conversation, Taylor offers to give Avery flirting lessons to help her find the perfect woman.

Naturally, Taylor and Avery start to fall for each other. Each of their flirting lessons are like a date, where Taylor sets Avery a task to complete during whatever activity they’re doing. The very first lesson is at a book signing event, and it’s Avery’s job to talk to five people who aren’t the guest authors. There she makes a new friend, and the lessons continue each week, with Taylor giving instructions on what to wear without telling her where they’re going.

I thought the romance was really sweet! Both Taylor and Avery are compelling characters, and both likeable. They communicate well, to the point where I was wondering when the third-act-breakup was even going to happen. (I’ve read enough romance novels to know that it will happen.) I loved the format of each of the lessons, and the book falls into a steady rhythm because of them that kept me wanting to keep turning the page.

The exploration of friendships in the story, particularly between Taylor and Erica, is also really enjoyable. Erica is married with a baby on the way and has a new friend who Taylor is worried will replace her, because the new friend is also having kids and thus will usurp Taylor’s role as best friend. Over the course of the book, we see this friendship take some ups and downs, but being a feel-good romance novel, it all works out in the end.

I am especially appreciative of the fact that the book doesn’t center exclusively on femme characters. I love to see it when a character, especially a main character, doesn’t wear dresses or keep their hair long, so thank you Taylor for being a light in my dark tunnel of very little masculine representation. Plain t-shirts and hoodies all the way.

Overall, Flirting Lessons was an enjoyable book with a lot of depth in terms of characters and their relationships, both platonic and romantic. It was cute and sweet but not overly saccharine. Flirting Lessons comes out April 8, 2025. Thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley for the review copy!

Read This Book If…you need some tips of making friends and how to flirt!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

Genre: Queer romance
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, a few explicit scenes
Setting: Napa Valley, CA
POV: dual, 1st person, past tense
Tropes: dating lessons, there’s a bet, opposites attract, miscommunication

My Thoughts:
This was my book by Jasmine and won’t be at the last! I like to go into books blind and didn’t realize this was sapphic and it was so good!

I enjoyed Avery’s journey of exploring a relationship with a woman for the first time and Taylor had some great advice for meeting people. I really thought the bet that Taylor made would have a bigger impact on their relationship, but Avery took it in stride.

While the flirting lessons between these two weren’t exactly steamy, the chemistry sure was! Personally, I felt like most of their relationship was physical would categorize them as a happy-for-now.

Having this story told in 3rd person with mid-chapter POV shifts made for some confusing reading at times, especially during steamy scenes. I will always prefer 1st person for romance novels, but especially with same-sex relationships!

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

This is my favorite sapphic romance because the love & attraction developed so smoothly!

I've read several sapphic romances and often find the romance to be rushed. The push to relationship is usually some overwhelming urge that causes a hasty leap and then consequences are parsed out later. But Jasmine Guillory does an incredible job developing the friendship and admiration between Taylor and Avery before they admit their feelings. Yes, Taylor is attracted to Avery from the jump since she has more experience with women and dating. But when they get to talk to each other, she senses that Avery needs a friend and devotes herself to that category.

Avery just got out of a very dehumanizing relationship and realizes that she hates the idea of having to flirt with someone new. She is so envious of Taylor, who comes to it all so naturally. Taylor takes Avery under her wing and every Tuesday they have a flirting night - practically dates - where Taylor give advices and then challenges Avery to talk to 5 new people. From book parties, to salsa lessons, and trivia nights, Avery builds up her confidence.

They more think the other is the most incredible person in the world and that made this so heartwarming to read. As a girlie with social anxiety, Taylor's tips were always very comforting. Seeing Avery bloom and relax was endearing. Taylor's insecurities rise up in the third act but I felt a lot of empathy for her as the confident person that nobody took seriously. But it was a lot of self doubt to wade through so late in the story and stalled the pacing. It's not really a breakup, just a delay before the HEA so I still enjoyed it.

Jasmine Guillory DOES NOT MISS. I loved her take on fake dating, friends to lovers, and her first queer romance! I've been a big fan since the beginning and Jasmine is absolutely at the top of auto-buy, auto-read authors for me. I'm so glad I got to read this one early!

Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory - this comes out on April 8th.

I've enjoyed Jasmine Guillory's books and Flirting Lessons was no exception, even though one of my least favorite tropes is dating lessons.

I liked Avery and Taylor and seeing the inevitable relationship come together. It was a fun book with some great dates and side characters. It was also fun seeing some favs from Drunk on Love. This was Guillory's first sapphic romance and it had the great characters you expect in her books, a fun story and I loved the Napa setting.

I also liked the changing friendships aspect when you are in different stages of your life and how hard it is. There were a lot of relatable elements for me from both Avery and Taylor.

Recommend reading this one!

Thanks to @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for the free ARC/e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the ALC!

When Taylor’s best friend bets her she can’t make it through the whole summer without sleeping with someone, she decides to channel her sexual frustration into teaching Avery (newly out as bi) how to pick up women. No way this plan could backfire, right?

Their relationship is so sweet. Their friendship and banter made me smile. And the personal growth both women experienced gave the book a lot of emotional depth. I loved reading about their dates and the various friendships they made. The descriptions of Napa made me want to visit! There’s a tiny bit of spice, and a satisfying ending.

My only complaint is that I wish the audiobook had been a duet narration with two different readers. The single narrator did her best with different voices. But sometimes I was confused about which POV I was reading. It didn’t help that the POVs often switched mid-chapter.

Overall though this was a sparkling and joyful read. The perfect romance.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC and PRH Audio for the free audiobook.

Did Not Finish.

I was excited for this one. Sapphic, BIPOC leads, friends to lovers.

But I got bored. I felt like it leaned upon some stereotypes and it just wasn’t working for me. Avery is the super buttoned-up, socially anxious bisexual who has never flirted with a woman. And Taylor is the laissez-faire, has sex with every woman in Napa Valley, who is gonna teach Avery to flirt.

It just felt kind of contrived and both characters felt flat. I didn’t feel interested enough in continuing.

Thanks but sadly, no thanks.

I’ve been a fan of Jasmine Guillory’s other romances so when I was able to read an ARC, I applied for it … not realizing it was a queer romance. As a heterosexual, this was not my typical genre yet I found it fun especially reading about the activities Taylor took Avery to meet people. The ending was a bit predictable but the complexities of marriage and friendship rang true to me. Overall it was worth the read. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARcC.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

Queer flirting lessons? Great, I'm sold. I actually got a lot of date ideas from this book for my husband. I identified a lot with Avery, very type A, plans for everything, and socially anxious. And Taylor is her perfect opposite: spontaneous, goes with the flow, and oozes charisma. I did find myself getting confused in the narration, as we often got both of their PoVs in the same chapter and there was no real narration style switch between the two characters. But that being said, I really liked listening to their story.

The downside of course is that we spend so much of the story teaching Avery how to flirt, that we don't get to spend much time with Avery and Taylor *together*. It also felt like every conflict was resolved within a few pages and didn't get much time to steep. But yay queer romances, especially with BIPOC main characters! More please.

3.5⭐️

I really enjoyed the story with this one! Taylor and Avery were both fun characters who added different elements to the story. Taylor with her “immature, charming, flirts-with-the-whole-town” persona and Avery with her “organized, colour-coded, never flirted with a girl” personality was the epitome of opposites attract.

The whole flirting lessons dynamic to turning into something real had me entertained! I just couldn’t keep up with the perspectives being switched within the chapters. It made the writing feel a little choppy at times. It may be worse on audio, but even with the narrator being so good the POV switching still had me lost! Still enjoyed the story & it was a fun listen! thank you PRH Audio and Berkley for the ARC and ALC!! Releases April 8th!

As a lesbian I wanted to LOVE this book. But I unfortunately had to DNF it. The writing was lackluster, the characters/story lacked depth. Parts of the book felt repetitive and there were moments where I felt like there were parts that added nothing to the story.

I hated how Taylor was written as someone who slept with every woman in Napa Valley. As if her fear or unwillingness to commit was based off of need to connect physically and break hearts. I would have loved if why Taylor had trouble committing was explored.

The fact that there isn’t a lot of Black queer romances featured in traditional publishing, I feel like Jasmine had a chance to do something amazing and THIS WASN’T IT

DNF

Thank you to Berkley Romance for my ARC!

I adored Jasmine Guillory when I first started reading romance books. They’re so cozy and all of the characters are such nice people. But I struggled to engage with this one because it felt too nice. Each character came up with something they wanted to change about themselves, based on offhand remarks instead of some soul-deep yearning, which made the stakes feel too low.

I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a book that is cozy and light and feels like a trip through the Bay Area.

Avery recently broke up with her boyfriend when she tuns into Taylor. Taylor is the woman everyone wants to date, she would never go for Avery. When she offers to teach Avery how to flirt however, Avery jumps at the chance to learn from the best. When Taylor starts to fall for Avery however, her fear jumps in.

Love me a queer romance from our girl Jasmine Guillory! I did the audio for this one and the narration was so good! I think so many people fall into their relationship and lose their hobbies and interests, and I so enjoyed seeing Avery find herself through her flirting lessons. She became so much more confident throughout the book and you just loved to see it!

Thank you to @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for my gifted copy of this book!

Fresh off a break-up, shy and uptight Avery, is ready to put herself out there and date around, with women in particular. Unfortunately, she has no clue where to start. Insert, Taylor, Napa Valley’s biggest flirt and heartbreaker who offers to give sweet ole Avery “flirting lessons.” The premise intrigued me as a horrible flirter myself, though at times the stakes didn’t feel high enough. (Like who cares if you’re not good at flirting? The world will not end, Avery!) But as the story progressed Avery grew on me, and I realized that it wasn’t a matter of flirting so much as self-discovery, confidence, and learning to take a risk. More character-driven than plot-driven but super fun and steamy.

A flirty and witty romance novel about opposites attract in Jasmine Guillory's first queer romance. A cute story of two people finding their way and falling in love in the process. A story about love and friendship and being true to yourself and trusting your gut.

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy.
This was a great addition to Jasmine Guillory's works and I really enjoyed the whole dynamic of this book.

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory had a fun premise, but it didn’t quite deliver for me. Despite the title, there wasn’t enough actual flirting, and the chemistry between the characters felt lacking. I struggled to connect with the protagonists, which made it hard to get invested in their romance. While Guillory’s writing is always engaging, this one just didn’t have the charm and spark I was hoping for. A decent read, but not a standout.