Book Review: "Party of Two" by Jasmine Guillory
“Party of Two” by Jasmine Guillory
Synopsis: A chance meeting with a handsome stranger turns into a whirlwind affair that gets everyone talking.
Dating is the last thing on Olivia Monroe's mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm. But when she meets a gorgeous man at a hotel bar and they spend the entire night flirting, she discovers too late that he is none other than hotshot junior senator Max Powell. Olivia has zero interest in dating a politician, but when a cake arrives at her office with the cutest message, she can't resist--it is chocolate cake, after all.
Olivia is surprised to find that Max is sweet, funny, and noble--not just some privileged white politician she assumed him to be. Because of Max's high-profile job, they start seeing each other secretly, which leads to clandestine dates and silly disguises. But when they finally go public, the intense media scrutiny means people are now digging up her rocky past and criticizing her job, even her suitability as a trophy girlfriend. Olivia knows what she has with Max is something special, but is it strong enough to survive the heat of the spotlight? - Berkley Romance
Rating: 4.25
Review: Y’all know I love a good romance, and I am a long-documented fan of Jasmine Guillory’s series, and I have to say — this may be my favorite of her books, even surpassing “The Proposal.” I feel like I’m betraying Nik and Carlos right now, but I have to speak my truth: Liv and Max are the best couple that Jasmine has presented, imo.
Liv has just moved to Los Angeles to start a new law firm after a rough time in Big Law, and she runs into a cute guy in a bar — not knowing he’s the junior senator from California. (Why can’t this happen to me? Give a girl a break). She realizes it after turning on MSNBC, and puts it out of her mind, until he starts wooing her with baked goods. Max is charming and oblivious and such a spoiled white dude, but one with a bent for social justice and criminal reform. Of course, they fall in love, but it isn’t that easy. It never is.
There are issues of interracial dating, of white male patriarchy, and of just not communicating well that plague their relationship — and its complicated by some issues in both of their pasts. I can’t get into more because we are spoiler free, but I assume you’ve all read enough romances to know that there is some darkness before a happy ending. And yes, there is a happy ending.
What makes this romance so good, though, is how Jasmine doesn’t seem to shy away from the hard issues, and she bluntly discusses what it’s like to be in a high-profile interracial relationship in today’s America. But I want to stress that this book isn’t a staid look at this — it’s funny, and it’s sexy, and the characters are some of the most charming I can remember. I fell a little bit in love with Max, and honestly, I want Olivia to be my best friend. She is one of the best and most realistic protagonists I can remember in a while (romance novel or not).
I reviewed “Royal Holiday” last fall, and in that review, I mentioned that I felt that it was a little light on substance; Jasmine has self-corrected, and this book is back to her normal amazingness. She addresses issues of politics, of race, of feminism, and of privilege without pulling any punches, and it is maybe the perfect romance for what my friend Cornelius calls “The Reckoning.”
TL;DR A realistic but very sexy look at being involved in a political romance, full of fun — but that will also make you think about feminism, patriarchy, and Black Lives Matter.
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