Jasmine Guillory, author of seven bestselling romance novels, seems to have singlehandedly brought about an exciting new wave in the romance genre. Party of Two, which came out in 2020, is my favorite Guillory book to date. In this fresh take on the opposites attract narrative, Olivia, a pragmatic lawyer who just moved to L.A. to start her own firm, meets and falls for Max, California’s media-darling senator who thrives on spontaneity. Olivia and Max’s meet-cute at a hotel bar is one of the best I’ve read in a long time; the two strike up a conversation over a shared love of desserts and end up bantering late into the night. Olivia isn’t looking for a relationship, even with a hot, young senator, but when Max sends a chocolate cake to her office she agrees to a date. What follows is a whirlwind of flirty adventures, peppered with real insight into issues like race, criminal justice reform, and workplace discrimination, as Olivia and Max explore what a relationship in the spotlight might look like.

In Party of Two, Guillory showcases her talent for making the mundane feel sparkly. Without stealing focus from the romance, Guillory knows how to highlight all the everyday aspects of her characters’ worlds, like what they eat for dinner and what they text their friends. For instance, instead of taking Olivia out to a generic restaurant, Max whisks her off to her first In-N-Out as a Californian, and they take the burgers to-go to eat on her couch with crisp white wine. Talk about delectable. Also, some of my favorite scenes took place at the food pantry where Olivia volunteered; I loved reading about her friendship with the organization’s coordinator Jamila (who gets a cool side story of her own). Don’t get me wrong, I also loved the love story at the heart of it all. Olivia and Max’s relationship is equal parts sweet and steamy, and it was refreshing to read a romance in which the characters communicate well with each other. Plus, there’s nothing sexier than self-confidence and these two characters have it in spades, making for snappy dialogue and saucy bedroom scenes. Party of Two is my idea of a great romance novel, a satisfying mix of lightness and nuance.

I’d recommend this novel to…

• Anyone who wants to hear both sides of the love story… similar in style to The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
• Anyone who loves a good opposites attract plot line (especially against a background of politics)… similar in theme to Red, White and Royal Blueby Casey McQuiston
• Anyone who looks for female protagonists who are confident and self-assured… similar in tone to The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer