When I’m having a bad day at work, my plans get rained out, or I’m sick of everything in my closet, that’s the best time to crack open the latest Jasmine Guillory novel. I get to run away (in my imagination) to the little version of California she has created, full of glamorous jobs, terrific clothes, mouthwatering food and the possibility of romance around every corner.

WHILE WE WERE DATING starts off as a sort of workplace comedy. In this case, the workplace is the production process for a new cell phone advertisement. After years of being overshadowed and dominated by his white colleagues, ad exec Ben Stephens gets his big break when everyone else on his team is running late to a pitch meeting, and he finally gets to present the PowerPoint that he actually developed.

"Just like opening one of Guillory’s novels feels like taking a trip to a more rose-colored version of the world, encountering these characters feels like reuniting with old friends."

All of the decision-makers are impressed by Ben’s presentation, none more so than Anna Gardiner, the actress who will star in the eventual commercial. As a fellow Black professional, Anna wants to see Ben succeed --- and it doesn’t hurt that this former backup dancer is very easy on the eyes. Ben is more than a little star-struck when he meets Anna, especially when his firm lands the ad campaign and they begin a bit of a flirtation on set. But he also soon discovers that she is funny, smart and down-to-earth, in addition to being the most beautiful woman he’s ever met.

Anna is shooting the commercial while hoping to get a juicy part in a new movie --- and maybe a second chance at the Oscar she missed out on last time. Her agent thinks that a high-profile romance could get the film’s director to pay attention to her --- and handsome Ben just might be the ticket. Secretly, Anna and Ben have moved beyond flirting already, but will he be on board to continue their relationship under the very bright lights of the paparazzi’s flash bulbs?

Jasmine Guillory’s novels aren’t pure escapism, of course. As in her other books, here she introduces concepts like white privilege, aging parents, anxiety and the pressures of being a Black woman in Hollywood. A subplot about Ben’s newly discovered biological sister can feel like a bit of an afterthought, though it does lead him to revisit some of his childhood demons. But his story prompts more insights into these characters who are unafraid to be honest with each other about the benefits of therapy.

Longtime fans will love settling back into this familiar world, especially when they get glimpses of beloved characters from previous titles. Just like opening one of Guillory’s novels feels like taking a trip to a more rose-colored version of the world, encountering these characters feels like reuniting with old friends.