The Dating Prohibition: A Novel

by Taj McCoy

“Taj McCoy’s writing positively crackles with energy, wit and humor.” —Jayci Lee, author of Booked on a Feeling

In this spicy new rom-com, an ambitious entrepreneur working to get her speakeasy supper club off the ground is pushed off balance when her childhood crush turns up, hotter than ever––then tells her she's off-limits.

Now that Kendra’s returned home, she can’t help feeling like a kid again—back in her big brother’s shadow, trying to get her restaurant off the ground while his new venture is flying high right out the gate. It doesn’t help that everyone refuses to stop calling her Keke, the childhood nickname she loathes.

The only bright spot is her longtime crush BJ. He’s been her big brother’s best friend for most of her life, and he’s always been that cool, chill guy who was easy to talk to and made her laugh. Now he’s looking at her like she’s all grown up, and there’s nothing childish about the chemistry brewing between them. Even better, he takes her dreams seriously, and he’s ready to help her make her supper club a reality.

But then BJ extinguishes the sparks flying between them, insisting nothing romantic can ever happen because she’s “off limits.” As her investors fall through and her best chance at fulfilling her professional dreams points toward leaving home again for a fresh start, will BJ be ready for love before Kendra moves on? Or will he sweep her off her feet when she least expects it?

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, African American Romance, Contemporary Romance, Family Drama, Adult

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

Oakland native and law grad, Taj McCoy, is committed to writing stories championing Black and biracial women of color, plus-sized protagonists, Black love, and characters with a strong sense of sisterhood and familial bonds. Taj started writing as a small child, enjoying the success of her first publications in elementary school. Since then, her dream has always been to become a professional writer. As a law student, she attempted her first novels and joined the Twitter writing community. Though Taj has spent more than ten years working in higher education administration, she continued to pursue her goal and ultimately finished her first novel in 2018, securing her agent in 2019.

When she’s not writing, Taj may be on Twitter boosting other marginalized writers, trying to zen out in yoga, sharing recipes on her website, binge-watching her favorite reality tv, or cooking private supper club meals for close friends. Catch her producing and co-hosting the Fat Like Me Podcast, which celebrates body diversity in publishing and entertainment, or watch her join forces with several writer friends on Sundays for the Better Than Brunch video podcast.

Reviews

[Norell Alesse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t give The Dating Prohibition more than two stars because the central romance was too frustrating. Kendra, our FMC, honestly deserved better. For nearly 90% of the book the MMC Ben is telling Kendra he can’t be with her because of some misguided belief that if they don’t work out he’ll lose access to her family, which has become like a family to him. It’s a half baked excuse that’s never fully explored. Ben says he can’t be with her romantically, but he’s fine having sex with her on a regular basis. After the first time they sleep together (which he can’t remember because he was so drunk, but he still was able to get it up?) he tells her that it was a mistake and shouldn’t have happened, but literally a handful of lines later, on the same page, he’s asking her to have sex again.

I just really didn’t like the dynamics of the relationship between Kendra and Ben, and Ben is never redeemed in the book. He drags her along emotionally for most of the book, and when he suddenly decides at the end he wants to be with her she accepts with no questions. While Ben was being wishy-washy, I also didn’t appreciate how several of Kendra’s family members were pushing her to try and reconcile with him.

Lastly, there’s a plotline in the story of how Kendra’s family, in particular her parents, aren’t as supportive of her as they are of her brother. There’s several instances of them belittling her dreams and ambition, but then that plot is just dropped. There’s never a moment where the parents admit their shortcomings when it comes to their daughter. They just show up when her dreams are finally realized and everything is okay.

Thank you to netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!!
Have you ever read a book where you want to talk back to the characters and give them the what for…

I really enjoyed this book in many ways. But the story frustrated me in several ways, too. Let’s start with the likes.

* Strong female lead
* Focused and driven
* Hard working
* Major crush on a hottie
* Loads of steamy, hot scenes

The female lead has great relationships with her brother (luv him) and some close relatives. That is a strong part of the overall story. The relationships were fun and supportive (mostly). McCoy tapped into the family connections, dinners, business acumen, and tight support systems.

But with that came some of the issues that frustrated this reader:

* Nothing is sacred – not keeping secrets and talking behind other people’s backs
* Some family members were not supportive and condescending
* Man crush is using her and not forthcoming with his issues
* Communication between them was terrible
* Main focus of the story is finding a location for her restaurant – Space descriptions ad nauseum
* She forgave him everything, while he had to “choose her”

The plot was enjoyable and included some great twists. The romance was hot, and that man was delicious, but he carried baggage he would not share.

Overall, McCoy delivered a story that is fresh and real, which makes it a standout. I will definitely be reading her works again!

~~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-dating-p...

[Lisette · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh Kendra! You deserved so much better from everyone in your life. Your brother was pretty cool, as was Aunt Mack, but everyone else...they are not for you. This story really took me through it because Kendra was really a nice person that just wanted to forge her way through life doing what she loved most. I almost wish that it was just a story about her and how she navigated life as an aspiring entrepreneur because ol boy, he's not even worth mentioning to me, ruined the plot for me. He was not a good man. He may have some good qualities, but I don't believe he liked Kendra, let alone, loved her. He was selfish and never considered Kendra or her feelings. Even Kendra's best friend/cousin didn't have her best interest at heart. I think a good audiobook narrator can really add a softer layer to this story and make these characters more likable. The story is written really well and I love the plot, just not the relationships, unfortunately.

This Avanced Ready Copy was received courtesy of NetGalley and the author.

[♥Milica♥]

New Taj McCoy 👁️👄👁️

[Alisha 🦋💗 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really cute! I loved the banter between Kendra and BJ and it didn’t really feel too forced. I read a lot of friends to lovers so I think this one was done well. I did find it to be a little repetitive near the end of the book but it wasn’t anything that drew me out of the story. I do feel like the spice towards the end kinda drew me out a little. It got to be a lot and took away from what was going on. Overall good story and I would recommend! The narrator brought it to life for sure and Adenrele is slowly becoming my favorite narrator!

[⋆.˚ · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank u netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc and alc, unfortunately this one wasn’t really for me, i felt like it got spicy too soon and i hate how ben was playing with her feelings for honestly almost the whole book..

[Keesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dating Prohibition is a cute enough rom-com. I wish the book was shorter. It started off cute but I felt like it dragged after a while. It could work as palate cleanser listen.
Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ALC.

[DyaaReads_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Taj McCoy fan, I am disappointed. The characters were insufferable.

Kendra clearly had low self-esteem and lacked boundaries. I get living in your brother’s shadow and how tricky family dynamics can be, but get a backbone.

Also, when it came to Ben? Girl, be serious with yourself. I feel like she hurt her own feelings and instead of dusting herself off, she doubled down on it. Never let a man have to tell you he doesn’t want you twice. I don’t care how sticky it feels.

When Ben finally came around, it wasn’t a feeling of gooey-ness. I responded with an eye roll. Then, the conversation in front of the family? CRINGE. Exactly why the family is always in her business. She invites them. Speaking of, Lani & Shonda = trash excuses for breaking her trust and the fact that she’s always responding with “it’s fine” when it’s not is the reason they did it.

I was annoyed throughout this ENTIRE read. The family dynamic is spot on but that doesn’t make it right or something I’d want to read/enjoy in my spare time.

[Wind · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dating Prohibition is a sweet contemporary romance that follows Kendra, a woman determined to live life on her own terms instead of following her family’s expectations. When she returns home to help her brother, she reconnects with her longtime crush who also happens to be her brother’s best friend.
Despite warnings not to get too attached, Kendra can’t help but fall for him. While her parents failed to give her the love and support she deserved, her aunt stepped in as her cheerleader, encouraging her to believe in herself.
I really enjoyed watching Kendra find love and getting her business step on without changing for anyone. I do wish the communication between her and BJ had been stronger earlier on, he held back far too much until the end. Overall this was a charming, Hallmark-style romance that left me smiling.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute romcom. I read the arc in tandem with the audiobook and it was great as an immersive read. I loved the fmc and all she was doing to try and start her own business. There is a lot of family in this book and I liked how close they were and how that ties into the fmc getting funding for her career. The mmc is the fmcs brothers friends who she’s always had a little crush on. We saw the fmc navigate her crush for him when she gets back home especially since he’s one of the few people to actually listen to her and take her business plans seriously. The banter between the characters was a lot of fun and the chemistry between the main characters was on point. I liked the mmc was careful about starting the relationship and the dynamics when they did get together. This is a steamy book with hot moments and a fun romance. Thank you HTP for this arc!

Read for:
- Black romance
- Diverse read
- Brothers best friend
- Business and career oriented
- Family themed
- Black romance

[Connie J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dating Prohibition
Author: Taj McCoy
Pub Date: September 2, 2025

I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Taj has done it again. This book gave me all the feels. First, if you are a Rom-Com lover then you have found your book, Having a protective sibling is one thing, but having to feel like you are living in his shadow was another. I am glad Logan let go, and let Kendra come to him if she needed his assistance.

The relationship between BJ and Kendra was undeniable and very spicy. I am not going to lie at first I wanted her to forget about BJ, because I felt like he was playing in her face especially when he showed up with that date. Once I realized that BJ was holding on to the past and could not move forward. I knew he had work to do. Kendra wanted to act as if it wasn’t bothering her that they were just physical and not a couple, but being in that position before myself, I knew she was hurting. I am just so glad the distance between the two made them both realize that they wanted to be with each other and they both did what they had to do to make it work.

I recommend that all the rom-comers rad this book!

[ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing was strong and the plot had a lot of heart, but I struggled with the relationships. The chemistry just didn’t fully land for me, and I felt like the FMC deserved better. That said, the concept was great and the story kept me engaged overall.

Expected Release Date: 09/02/2025

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Brooke ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5 stars

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ALC!! this is my second ALC and audiobook ever so I was very grateful for this!

I'll start with what I did like about this book. The writing, the detail, the research that went in the backstory of this book and the whole historical prohibition building research did not go unnoticed! I really loved that part and could tell a lot of effort went into this. Honestly, this part saved the entire book for me.

However. I hated BJ. I HATEDDDDDDD BJ. He did nothing but used Kendra the entire time. Honestly, everyone in this book used Kendra and treated her awfully. Her family did nothing but treat her like she was 5. I couldn't even tell what age everyone was because they were treating her like such a child. The romance and tension started off SO strong and could've been so good, but it became very secondary to all the details about the restaurants and her finding her dream building. It just.....meh. Like honestly I fee like BJ shouldnt even be on the cover. This read more like just general womens fiction. I mean with 5% left in the book they STILL were not together. (It took to the last 2% like pack it up.)

Back to ole boy though, BJ used her the entire time. His excuse didnt make any sense to me either, and just seemed like a bum who didn't want to commit. Everyone was so unsupportive and just shady towards Kendra too. Kendra would ask them not to do something and they would ignore her and disrespect her wishes because they wanted to. Nah I'm good. Like no one fully believed in her and they just seemed like such haters. All BJ did was stump her growth and stop her from flourishing and enjoying herself to the fullest. THENNNN he followed her at the end?? It took her leaving to realize he wanted her? OH BROTHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I wanted to like this. But the MMC was just insufferable. I loved the historic aspect and the focus on how important black history was in this. However, as a romance? No. I just feel like the tension and romance sizzled out, and the moment BJ was ready to finally commit, Kendra had to be ready also (like a dog told to sit/jump and she did it EW). Then her family was able to keep a secret from her but couldnt hold water when SHE NEEDED THEM TO???? UGHHHHTSHRYHREBR HARD PASS. Maybe this needed Dual POV? Idk I could not feel bad for BJ whatsoever.

Maybe I'm just not forgiving enough or something cause i would've told him to DIPPPPPP LMAOO. Also...she said I love you and he never did. Just noticed this.....yall.

[Rae | My Cousin’s Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Ebony Essence · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 - Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Harlequin Audio for my ARC and ALC.

I loved the overall premise of the story and throw in the brothers’s best friend, why not give it a try. The narrator I felt did a really good job because at one point I forgot there was no male narrator. Adenrele Ojo helped bring some life to the characters with great emotions and for her alone I give the audio itself 4 stars. Even with the audio being good i found myself putting the speed on 3x during the last 25% to get the book over with.

The only person I truly liked was the Aunt in Charleston. Sad that we didn’t get a lot of her but she truly loved and supported Kendra without all the comparing. With Kendra she was a strong fmc when it came to her business plan and vision to carry it out. Very ambitious and knew what she wanted. However, when it came to Ben, her family and “best friends” she was not the strong person I hoped she would be. Maybe it’s me but I would have loved if Taj would have made Kendra sit all of them down to get everything off her chest. If they could not respect her then they are to be nonexistent in her life. The comparing and nickname situation was irritating. Those so called best friends are a chop for me. Messy.

With Kendra and Ben the attraction and spice was there but to let that man play with you is going to be a no for me. He told you how he felt about dating and yet your legs still went up. Kendra was not paying attention to the “never let a man tell you more than once he doesn’t want you” lesson. At one point she was giving very much “it’s better to have a piece of a man than no man.” So for that I wish Taj would have fully made Kendra the strong fmc she could have been. Like pay that man no attention and work solely on your business. Then when he finally does pay attention make him actually work for it. Like going on actual dates and dating.

[Amy (amyrose.reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much for NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review!

I went into this audiobook pretty blindly. I had seen some positive mentions of this book online, so I was excited to dive in. I have to say, the beginning is a bit jarring because there are SO MANY characters you meet at an extremely fast pace right at the beginning.

Kendra and BJ were a bit of a frustrating couple to read honestly. The brother’s best friend trope is present, but the real problem is that BJ has some trauma that needs to be processed. I ended up just feeling like a full body cringe when it felt like Kendra was begging BJ to try at a relationship. It was giving, “Pick me, choose me, love me” to a traumatized man. I also think it would’ve helped if I would’ve had a more well-rounded sense of BJ’s past, but that’s missing.

I think that the premise of opening a restaurant was fun. I can appreciate that there’s a sense of generational wealth in this book, like there are some people willing to help Kendra. But I also (okay, to be fair don’t have a super strong sense of timeline in this book) feel like no way things would’ve happened so fast if it wasn’t for nepotism. There, I said it.

This book is also very high on the spice level! So just be prepared if you’re shy about listening to spicier scenes in public. However, it did feel like a majority of Kendra and BJ’s chemistry was in the bedroom. Despite the epilogue, I’m just still not sure about how much non-physical chemistry the two have.

I felt like the narrator did a great job and the audio was very clear and easy to understand. Even listening at higher speeds, I was able to clearly understand the story.

Overall, I’m interested in checking out more books by Taj McCoy and would recommend this book to romance lovers. It’s a bit of a lighter read, so it’s not something I would necessarily highly rate but it’s certainly fun.

[Brisace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy. This was my first Taj McCoy book, and I really enjoyed how she layered family expectations with romance and ambition. Cozy, heartfelt, and sweet I’ll definitely be picking up more from her.

The Dating Prohibition gave me small-town vibes with family, food, and love all tied together. What really stood out was how Kendra was constantly compared to her brother and trying to live up to his success while still being called “Keke” like she wasn’t grown. I hate how family never lets you live down your nickname. I felt for her as she worked so hard to launch her own business, only to get turned down. But when one door closed, another opened, and I loved watching her push through and step into her own lane.

The chemistry between BJ her brother’s best friend and Kendra was undeniable, and I appreciated how he genuinely supported her dreams. That friends-to-lovers pull mixed with the whole “off-limits” struggle made the slow burn feel earned.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

I was not prepared for this to be so spicy but that said I wasn't sad about it either. I enjoyed the focus on starting up a restaurant as Kendra returns home hoping to find a location to bring her speakeasy supper club dreams to fruition. What she wasn't expecting is the instant chemistry she has with her older brother's best friend and widow, Ben (B.J.).

Unfortunately Ben has solidly put Kendra in the off-limits section of his mind as his friend's little sister and because he doesn't think he's emotionally ready to risk his heart again. Great on audio with the perfect blend of strong female MC, emotional depth and heat. Recommended for fans of authors like Kennedy Ryan or Denise Williams. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest reivew!

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about an entrepreneur who’s trying to get her speakeasy supper club up and running. Her childhood crush shows up and tells her she’s off limits because he’s friends with her brother, yet things get steamy between them.

I liked all of the descriptions surrounding the food and the whole speakeasy restaurant setup. These elements really created a nice backdrop for the story.

However, I found the characters in this book to be a little irritating. The whole relationship dynamic didn’t seem healthy at all so it was hard for me to root for it to all work out in the end.

That being said, I loved the overall concept of the book.

Read this if you like:
→ Brother's Best Friend
→ Spicy Rom-Com
→ Childhood Crush
→ Off-limits Romance
→ Ambitious Heroine
→ Second Chances

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy of the book.

[Brittany Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Harlequin Publishing and Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was so fun! I loved everything about it. From the depth of the relationship, to the side characters you couldn’t help but love. It was just fun. The narrator was absolutely fantastic. They kept me engaged the whole time. I loved the inflection and the audio was well done. Kendra and Ben are the quintessential we shouldn’t but we will couple and I loved watching them come together. It was such a battle, but I’m glad I got to witness it.

I loved the inclusion of the idea of following your dreams, even if you did something else first! I loved watching Keke find herself again while looking for a place to build her restaurant/speakeasy! It was a great way for her and Ben to bond. I loved the tidbits of knowledge of historic buildings and about the prohibition era. Also their chemistry? Off the charts. I was definitely blushing!

This was such a cozy and warm romance. I highly recommend it!

[Vonetta Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis of this book it was like a forbidden romance in a sense because BJ was Kendra’s brother best friend; however, the “off limits” aspect wasn’t quite what I thought it was going to be. When we find out why Kendra was off limits to BJ, while I understood where he was coming from in a way, I also felt like he was toying with her emotions a little especially when certain activities took place with the two of them.

When Kendra decided to just go with the flow of things I felt she was settling a little for what she really wanted with the hope that it would become what she did want which I feel a lot of woman do sometimes. I was happy when she decided to move on with her business plans and not make him a factor and I was also happy how her aunt stepped in to help her out. The parents got on my nerves a little in the book but I liked how everyone was supportive of her in the end. Even though the ending was a little predictable I still enjoyed how it all came together.

Thank you to the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Renée | Book Girl Magic · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Jessica Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Harlequin of Harper Collins Publishing for reaching out to me with an Netgalley eArc of The Dating Prohibition. McCoy has created another novel that feels fresh and new in a genre that is fairly predictable. I enjoyed the family relationships littered with love and stress. The female friendships weren't perfect and neither was the love interest which added a layer of intrigue and emotional investment in the story. I felt equal parts rage and romance when reading this novel while delving into some historical facts I hadn't known before. And the spicy bits delivered! Great book. It is sure to be enjoyed by many in September.

[MJ Barrette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was trying to have a good time, but the MMC brought me down.

Kendra deserved so much better. From BJ first of all. I know we're looking for realness in reading but I don't want to be disappointed by the MMC from beginning to end. Kendra also deserved better from her parents and some of her friends not gonna lie.

I just wanted better for Kendra, and her growth throughout the novel was so good that you just wanted to bop everyone else on the head that it took over all the rest of the positives of the novel.

Thank you to Harlequin, Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for an early copy.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Taj McCoy has been on my TBR list for such a long time, and the stars finally aligned. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and look forward to adding many more of McCoy's books to my roster.

Kendra is a GREAT protagonist. She's layered, interesting, smart, and ambitious, and sadly, those are not the most common qualities in women featured in cishet romance. She's been in the midst of major life changes, but she knows what she wants: to open her own speakeasy. In an effort to make her dream take flight, she's unpacking some family baggage, letting her brother and sister-in-law give her a helping hand, and reconsidering the kind of relationship she has with an old crush, who also happens to be her brother's off limits best friend.

Transparently, I get kind of...grossed out? by some of the more intimate descriptions in many romances, and I did not feel that way during this read. The physical relationship is believable and not filled with disturbing terminology (to be clear, I just read Gretchen Felker-Martin's newest book - disturbing terminology to me is usually in reference to the language people use for their bodies, not so much what they're doing with them). I'm not going to go overboard and say I lived for these scenes; they're still my least favorite part of this read, but I found them less ick than is almost always the case for me in this genre. This may seem like a weird compliment, but hopefully it sways other prospective readers who sometimes also find these scenes hokey or even grotesque. The relationship is respectful, consensual, and occurring between two thinking beings.

I was rooting for Kendra's success from start to finish, and part of the reason for this is that while romance is a central focus, it's not the only thing she cares about. Often, I was as wrapped up if not more so in her professional growth and her family relationships as I was her romantic quest.

The ending is a little over the top even for the genre, but this is a great read overall. I'll enthusiastically recommend this one to fans of romance, and I'll look forward to reading more from McCoy (finally)!

*Special thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Ambur Hostyn at HTP Books for this alc and widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Coffee&Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Taj McCoy, and it won’t be my last. The premise pulled me in right away--Kendra’s determination to open her supper club made for a solid setup, and the chemistry with BJ is (to me) steamy over spicy. I suppose that's subjective, but if you’re looking for constant heat, that’s not this book. The focus is really on Kendra building her dream and the push-pull with BJ.

I always have a nit, of course. Something that just sticks in my craw. First... we are grown. We can ACTUALLY do whatever we want to do and books planned around such a thin conflict as "we can't date because you're friends with my sibling" get dry real fast. But they didn’t stick to the boundary! They were 'overcome with passion' I guess... No talking, just assumptions. then suddenly it mattered again, which was frustrating. Kendra also got a little insufferable, esp after catching her brother and BJ talking about their relationship, but it’s a romance, so you know how it's going to end. Get it out, Kendra. Get it all out.

I liked the tension with her family-- it added to the external conflict that kept the book moving. The way they openly backed her brother while doubting her added weight to her fight to stand on her own and made her wins more satisfying.

The Dating Prohibition is an enjoyable romance that left me curious about what else Taj McCoy has going on. Her voice leans witty and energized, steamy enough to hold your attention, and human enough to stick with you. This was a satisfying ride.

[hey it’s dar · Rating 3 out of 5]

alc review

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Dating Prohibition, is a brothers best friend, forbidden romance. Our FMC Kendra is back in her hometown, Washington DC, staying with her older brother, working on some new career ventures. While she’s a home Kendra’s helping out her brother Logan, at his restaurant business, while she’s putting in the work to launch her own brand and restaurant. While she’s home, Kendra is reconnecting with Ben, her brother’s best friend, who she’s always harbored a crush on.

This audio was an easy listen, and I was able to follow along well. I love dual narration, and the production did a good job with this story. I found some of the cultural aspects woven in to be a bit overkill at times, the plot seemed to excessively lean into these themes at time, and it took away from some of the naturalness of the romcom feel.

Overall this was a good listen, a cute story, with its sweet, swoony, and hot moments.

Thanks to Taj and Netgalley for an early listening copy for my honest review.

[Charell · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Narrated by Adenrele Ojo

Adenrele Ojo is a veteran in the audiobook world, and she absolutely shines here—her delivery keeps the pacing smooth and brings Kendra and BJ’s story to life.

This was such a fun listen! I loved the premise: an ambitious heroine working to launch her speakeasy supper club, her long-time crush who happens to be her brother’s best friend, and all the sparks (and obstacles) between them. The rom-com balance felt just right—plenty of charm and humor, with a few spicy scenes that fit the story well.

If anything, the audio felt a touch long in places; not sure what I’d cut, but it’s the only reason I’m giving this one 4.5 stars instead of 5. Overall, it’s a delightful, heartwarming romance that I’d definitely recommend for fans of “brother’s best friend” and “childhood crush” tropes.

✨ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. ✨

[Edwina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of The Dating Prohibition which I really enjoyed. Taj McCoy creates such warm, relatable characters, and I loved being pulled into Kendra’s world. She's ambitious, a little unsure of herself, and trying to balance family expectations with her own dreams of opening a Speakeasy supper club. Her journey felt real and grounded, and I appreciated how much depth was given to her relationships—especially with her brother and cousins.

The romance with BJ (her brother’s best friend) had great tension. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the "off-limits" dynamic added just the right amount of drama. There were definitely moments where I wished they’d just sit down and talk things through, but I suppose that’s part of what kept me turning pages.

The pacing lagged a bit in the middle, and I found myself wanting a little more development in a few side plots, but overall it was a fun, feel-good read with heart and humor.

Perfect if you like: slow-burn romance, family drama, foodie themes, and stories about women stepping into their own.

Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing!

[WellReadAndRatchet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen, I wanted to love this book. I didn’t but I didn’t hate it either. I loved that Kendra was well-traveled chef that’s trying to open her speakeasy supper club. I love that she’s a former tech girlie trying to follow her dreams. BJ is a smart professor with acts of service as his love language. I wanted to love them so bad but the truth is they both got on my nerves so much! You may call it building tension but I was so close to being over it. I felt like the middle part of the story dragged a little. I still think it’s crazy that my favorite characters were minor (shout to Auntie Mack and the retiring couple. They warmed my heart.) I know it was mentioned that it spicy but I honestly didn’t think it would be spicy as it was. I was pleasantly surprised! I was happy with the ending since these two finally got their act together. Cute, cozy and a little frustrating.

Rating: 3.25 ⭐️