Jasmine Guillory (The Proposal; Drunk on Love) returns to California's Napa Valley in Flirting Lessons. Avery is a reserved and successful event planner, just out of a relationship with the wrong person when she encounters Taylor, an outgoing flirt who never seems to have the same girlfriend for more than a few months. Taylor happens to be looking for a distraction from her own love life, so she offers to help Avery learn to flirt, especially with women. As the pair explores queer events and Avery begins to navigate the queer community, Taylor soon realizes she wants Avery--and not just for a quick tryst.
As in all of Guillory's romances, the central couple is surrounded by a diverse and well-depicted community of friends that enhance and propel the plot. Guillory deftly develops her characters and realistically portrays how relationships change as life moves forward, as well as how Avery finds herself after her breakup. Of course, she delivers on the spice as well, which serves as a means to deepen the characters and their relationship with each other. Readers of Drunk on Love will appreciate appearances by its characters here, but Flirting Lessons can be enjoyed on its own.
Guillory continues to skillfully depict the healthy adult relationships that readers love. She is not shy about illustrating her characters' flaws and includes scenes in which they care for each other and have honest relationship talks that feel true to life. Flirting Lessons is a sweet and sexy escape. --Alyssa Parssinen, freelance review and former bookseller