For your reading list

Credit: Berkley / Andrea Scher

No one writes a rom-com like Jasmine Guillory, and her latest, Party of Two, may be her best yet. As fans already know, Guillory’s books all exist in the same universe of characters, and all the protagonists are Black women. Party of Two focuses on Olivia, who you might remember as Alexa’s older sister in The Wedding Date.

Olivia, a hardworking lawyer in her late 30s, moves from New York to LA to start her own firm, briefly living in a hotel. At the hotel bar one night, she winds up bantering over dessert with a sexy stranger — who, when she returns to her room and switches on the TV, she discovers is none other than Senator Max Powell. Olivia laughs it off, but when their paths cross again weeks later, Max makes it clear he’s interested, even sending her a cake to make his point. With a new law firm and city to get used to, Olivia doesn’t see a new relationship — much less one with a young hotshot politician — fitting into her plans. But despite all their differences — Olivia is Type-A and looks before she leaps, and Max is spontaneous and impulsive — there’s something undeniable between them, and soon they’re seeing each other in secret. When they decide to take their relationship public, the two must navigate the media attention that comes with it, much of which is racist and sexist. Olivia loves Max, but she has to decide — is that enough to make life in the spotlight worth it?

Party of Two is as politically timely as it is charming. Olivia and Max are both such well-developed characters, you can’t help but root for the way they root for each other and their chemistry is off the charts. Just make sure you have some sweet snacks nearby while reading this, because Guillory’s descriptions of food in nearly every scene are mouthwatering. Especially those cakes. Get your copy. —Julia Reinstein