The following version of this novel was used in the creation of this study guide: Guillory, Jasmine. Party of Two. Berkley, 2020. Paperback.

After moving to L.A. from New York, Olivia Monroe meets Max in a hotel bar, unaware that he is actually a California Senator Maxwell Powell. The two hit it off and both wish they could spend more time together. Olivia learns who he is from a news broadcast and later attends one of his speeches in the hotel’s ballroom. Bruce, the director of the board of a nonprofit organization, introduces Max to Olivia and the two pretend they have never met each other. He later sends a cake to Olivia’s work and the two agree to go on a date. They go to a diner and Olivia is surprised and disappointed when the date does not turn into a one-night stand, thinking that Max led her on. However, he sends her a message asking to meet again, and Olivia realizes she may have misjudged him.

Max returns to DC and his roommate, Wes, and tells him about Olivia. Wes makes Max promise not to sleep with Olivia as Max always rushes into things. It is also revealed that he had to leave the date because his chief-of-staff, Kara, had learned of a potential press leak. Meanwhile, Olivia lies about how busy work is when she is actually terrified that not much is happening. She volunteers at the community center and meets Jamila who has Olivia making meatballs. The two become friends, and Jamila offers to help Olivia buy a car as she takes her home.

Max and Olivia go to the movies on Friday and Olivia still thinks that Max wants a one night stand. She is surprised when he tells her that he wants a girlfriend. Olivia asks for time to think about it and later admits to Ellie that she does not think she is good enough. Ellie tells Olivia to take a risk. Meanwhile, Max learns that his criminal reform bill is not receiving much support, but he is thrilled when Olivia says she will meet him on Saturday.

Max goes to a ceremony dedicated to the retirement of one of his old teachers. After he gives a speech about her and his criminal reform bill, he meets the brother of a man named Antonio who Max incarcerated during his time as a prosecutor. He is horrified to learn that Antonio is back in jail and blames himself. Later, he and Olivia decide to keep their date at home and Max tells her about Antonio. Olivia tells him that she was arrested as a teenager when she broke into her school to impress a guy she liked. However, the conviction was erased from her record after community service.

Olivia continues to be proud of her work at the community center and Jamila helps her buy a car. At lunch, the women talk about how men often ignore them or take their ideas. In particular, Jamila came up with the meal delivery service, but her boss took credit. Now she worries about presenting the idea of mentoring teenagers. Olivia tells Jamila to do everything by email and CC the board directors so the boss cannot take her ideas.

That weekend, Olivia and Max take a hike to the Hollywood sign and Olivia convinces Max to meet with people who need his reform bill such as children, advocates, and other community members. She then admits she lied about how busy the firm is because she is dealing with anxiety. Max supports her and the two decide they are in a relationship. However, neither are ready to go public. The two sleep together. Max later tells Kara about Olivia’s plan and Kara agrees to it.

However, Olivia is still uncertain about her relationship with Max and wonders if he is showing his true self. When they go bowling, Olivia is shocked when Max is not upset, like most men are, when she plays better than him. Instead, he tells her he loves her. Olivia does not say it back, but feels that things have changed between them. She is glad she found someone who loves who she really is.

The two continue to date but Olivia never responds to his admission of love. When Max learns he has an event in Olivia’s hometown, he convinces her to visit her family so they can see each other. Olivia tells her sister Alexa about Max, and Alexa is supportive. Olivia later meets Max at the hotel before going to her favorite taco truck in the morning. They are almost caught by a reporter, but neither care. Max then goes to the fundraiser where he meets Alexa while talking with the mayor about his reform bill. He meets with Olivia at the hotel room and learns that Alexa liked him. Olivia then says she loves Max.

Five months after the couple first met, Olivia and Max decide to go public with their relationship despite Olivia’s worries. Max still thinks that the news will not care, but Kara disagrees and promises to control what she can. Max and Olivia go to the Hollywood Bowl together where Olivia finally relaxes and enjoys herself. They meet Jamilia at the Bowl who is shocked to recognize Max. Olivia sees photographs of herself in the paper and receives numerous calls at work from reporters who want to speak with her. Meanwhile, Ellie tells her that they have received a request for a pitch from a company called Clementine.

Max decides to visit the community center during the Fourth of July weekend. Olivia goes with him, as she wants to introduce him to those at the center. Once there, she watches Max acting as Senator Powell as he talks to other people and wonders what life would be like if they were married. Afterward, they attend a fundraiser where Olivia is thrilled when Max introduces her as his girlfriend. An hour later, the two enjoy the fireworks from a hilltop and Max tells her they make a good team.

Two weeks later, a reporter learns about Olivia’s arrest and both Olivia and Kara are furious that Max did not tell Kara about it. When the story is released, some reporters claim that Olivia tricked Max into dating her and question her because she is Black. However, Olivia and Ellie decide to pitch Clementine anyway and seemingly impress the men who hire them. However, one asks Olivia to tell her boyfriend about a tax bill, leaving Olivia feeling like they only hired them because of her connection to Max. At home, she is surprised when Max arrives a day early. He apologizes for the story, but she tells him not to worry about writing a counter-press conference. Olivia believes her story can be an example to other people.

A week later, Max decides the two need a vacation, and they go to Hawaii. While they are there, they see a proposal, and Max considers proposing to Olivia. However, Olivia demands that they talk about the more serious things first and says she needs more time. Max says that they both love each other and that is all that should matter.

Later, Olivia and Max go to the community center together where Max gives a speech about his reform bill. However, he catches Olivia off guard when he asks her to share her story in front of everyone. Olivia is furious, refusing to speak and leaving with Jamila as soon as she can. Max comes over and the two argue, with Olivia telling him that she needed more time to prepare and hoped to never talk about her arrest in public.

Eventually, she tells him that she thinks they are too different and, despite her love for him, they need to break up. Max is unable to find a response and leaves. Olivia blames herself for falling in love, and she ignores all of Max’s attempts to win her back. She tells Ellie what happened and Ellie encourages her, promising that their firm is not going to fail. Olivia admits that she still loves Max but has to move on. However, Max is unable to handle his grief and admits his mistakes to Wes. Wes tells Max that he needs to slow down and think more like Olivia if he wants the relationship to work. Max comes up with an unknown plan.

Two-and-a-half weeks later, Olivia watches Max on TV and is surprised when pauses after an accusation from another senator and comes back with a much better response. Jamila comes over and convinces Olivia that she and Max are better with each other. Afterward, Olivia sees an email from Max with two contracts. She eventually travels to DC and the two discuss the relationship contracts. Both agree to try and improve their individual flaws and sign the contract, entering a new relationship. A year later, after many struggles, the couple is happy and in love when they go to Hawaii. Max proposes and Olivia accepts.