Book Review: "The Wedding Party" by Jasmine Guillory

Jasmine Guillory has really become one of my go-to authors when I'm in the mood for a great rom-com. Her books are fun to read as well as well-written and steamy, and I find her characters so appealing that it feels like hanging out with friends, especially because the characters in all three of her books are linked in some way.

Her newest book, The Wedding Party, follows that age-old story of two people who can't stand each other yet one crazy night something changes. Maddie and Theo have known each other for years through their mutual best friend, Alexa.

There's no denying that they find each other physically attractive, but they're seriously turned off by their personalities. Maddie thinks Theo is pedantic and condescending, Theo thinks Maddie is superficial and a bit of a bitch. They do everything they can to avoid one another, or stick to mere pleasantries if they have to interact.

When an emotionally vulnerable Alexa takes Maddie to Theo's birthday party, it's the last place she wants to be, and Theo isn't thrilled to see Maddie there. But why can't they take their eyes off each other? Why are they thinking of each other that way? It must be the alcohol. When Maddie agrees to drive Theo home and somehow she challenges him to show her his dance moves, one thing leads to another, and...an amazing night and morning ensue.

But once the afterglow dissipates, Maddie realizes underneath the sexual skill and the hot body, it's still condescending Theo, and Maddie can't help but get an attitude, even when he tries to say the right thing. They acknowledge this was a mistake, and Alexa must never know about it. Until it happens again, and it's even better and hotter than the first time.

When Alexa asks both Maddie and Theo to be in her wedding party (as bridesmaid and bridesman), the two realize they're going to be thrown together constantly, and suddenly, that seems like a good thing, since they can't stop thinking about each other. They agree that they can continue to spend time together as long as they still keep it a secret from Alexa, and they need to recognize that this is a time-limited deal: once the wedding is over, they can go their separate ways and go back to hating each other.

It should come as no surprise that this situation turns out to be far more complicated than they imagined. How can you be so drawn to someone that makes you so angry half the time? Where is the line between love and hate? Does telling people about a relationship you've kept secret have the potential to change the dynamics?

When an incident occurs that shakes both Maddie and Theo, they need to examine their feelings and decide whether their relationship has a future, or if they're just not right for each other. But first they have to survive the wedding...

We've seen this story so many times before, but in Guillory's hands it still feels fresh and appealing, and you find yourself rooting for Theo and Maddie. I know I wanted to smack both of them at least a few times when they either misinterpreted something the other said, or said the wrong thing. I like the way Guillory kept the plot from getting too melodramatic or slapstick-y, so while elements of the story are certainly familiar, she didn't resort to clichés to advance the action.

This may be the sexiest of all three of her books, and I'd really love to see an adaptation of this on television or in the movies, because it would be great to see what everyone looks like after forming pictures of them in my head. (You don't need to read Guillory's books in order, although characters from the first two books do appear.)

If you're a fan of hate-you, love-you romances, this will definitely be up your alley. I for one can't wait for her next book now!!