Flirting Lessons

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.)