Review by Booklist Review
Taylor is legendary among her friends in Northern California for being irresistibly desirable and rapidly falling in and out of brief relationships. When pouring wine for a party at the vineyard where she works, her best friend bets her that she can't make it through the summer without having sex with someone. Avery, having just broken up with her longtime boyfriend and unhappily thinking she is bland and uninteresting, strikes up a conversation with Taylor, confessing her fears of all the time she has now to do interesting things and her inability to flirt. Viewing Avery as a safe distraction, Taylor offers her flirting lessons. Each Tuesday they have a lesson in a new setting, from a bookstore event to trivia night, salsa dancing, and burlesque, while making friends in the supportive queer community. Best-selling Guillory's sexy-sweet, opposites-attract, friends-to-lovers romance, enriched with found-family vibes, is an absolute delight.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The mild latest from bestseller Guillory (The Wedding Date) finds buttoned-up bisexual Avery Jensen, 29, ready to try dating women for the first time, though she's unsure how to begin. Enter bartender Taylor Cameron, a newly single lesbian lothario. Taylor offers to give Avery lessons in flirting, which she nervously accepts. Meanwhile, Taylor's best friend bets her that she won't be able to go a whole summer without sleeping with anyone. Taylor begins wingwomaning Avery on a series of outings, including a book signing, salsa dancing, and a burlesque show, that slowly push Avery out of her comfort zone. But when Taylor assigns Avery's flirting lesson midterm--flirting with Taylor herself--sexual tension ignites, leading to a casual physical relationship. Avery is wary of taking things any further and becoming another woman Taylor loves and leaves. Subplots about Avery finding a new hobby and Taylor dealing with growing tension in her closest friendship add some depth, but the plot still feels thin, with little drama and only surface-level chemistry to draw readers in. The result is sweet but forgettable. (Apr.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
A new friendship blossoms into something more in Guillory's (Drunk on Love) first sapphic romance. Taylor Cameron's friends know her as someone who can date any woman she wants but won't stay committed for long. She's fun and flirty and seems like the polar opposite of Avery Jensen. Avery is a successful event planner who's tired of being seen as a boring, upright citizen who always goes to bed on time, and she envies Taylor's apparently effortless confidence. In a moment of vulnerability, Avery asks Taylor for advice on flirting with women; Taylor responds by offering her flirting lessons once a week. Taylor thinks this will help her stay celibate for long enough to win a bet, but as the women get to know one another, they can't stop the sparks from flying. Guillory excels at describing Avery's introduction to queer community and romance. Avery's vulnerability lets her share her insecurities as well, building a relatable romance that emphasizes personal growth, as the women outgrow narratives that no longer suit them. VERDICT Guillory delivers a well-written, satisfying sapphic romance.--Sierra Wilson
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A crash course in learning how to flirt leads to real feelings for two women. Avery Jensen thinks that when people look at her, they see someone too fearful to try anything new; she never knows how to make a strong impression on anyone she has even the slightest romantic interest in. There's no way Avery will be able to break out of her comfort zone without help, but luckily for her, she's just met someone who can teach her how to put her best foot forward--and even flirt a little, while she's at it. Taylor Cameron has a reputation for being a love-'em-and-leave-'em type, and it's well earned. In fact, right before she runs into Avery, Taylor made a bet with a friend that she can make it to Labor Day without sleeping with anyone. Offering to give Avery flirting lessons is the perfect way for Taylor to keep herself too distracted to end up in bed with someone she wouldn't be able to commit to anyway. The only problem is that Avery has to practice flirting with other people, and as their lessons continue, Taylor soon realizes that she has a crush on the very woman she thought she could keep at a distance, while Avery's attraction to Taylor only deepens as the weeks go on. Guillory's latest marks the first romance she's written for two female characters, and while the premise is frankly irresistible--there's a reason courtship lessons have become such a tried-and-true trope in the genre--the surrounding components don't come together. Alternating points of view within chapters would be less confusing if Avery and Taylor had unique perspectives, but they're not written distinctly enough until well into the book. Also, there isn't enough space devoted to a deeper exploration of what an exclusive relationship would mean for both parties--especially Taylor, whose commitment-phobia is a defining trait--making for a resolution that doesn't feel as satisfying as it could have. This flirty romance fails to leave a lingering impression. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
