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Zora Books Her Happy Ever After
Zora has committed every inch of her life to establishing her thriving DC bookstore, making it into a pillar of the community, and she just hasn't had time for romance. But when a mystery author she's been crushing on for years agrees to have an event at her store, she starts to rethink her priorities . . .
Lawrence is every bit as charming as she imagined, even if his understanding of his own books seems just a bit shallow. When he asks her out after his reading, she's almost elated enough to forget about the grumpy guy who sat next to her making snide comments all evening. Apparently the grouch is Lawrence's best friend, Reid, but she can't imagine what kind of friendship that must be. They couldn't be more different.
As she starts seeing Lawrence, and spending more and more time with Reid, Zora finds first impressions can be deceiving. Reid is smart and thoughtful, and also, very interested in Zora. After years of avoiding dating, she suddenly has two handsome men competing for her affection.
But even as she struggles to choose between them, she can't shake the feeling that they're both hiding something - a mystery she's determined to solve before she can find her Happy Ever After.
Lawrence is every bit as charming as she imagined, even if his understanding of his own books seems just a bit shallow. When he asks her out after his reading, she's almost elated enough to forget about the grumpy guy who sat next to her making snide comments all evening. Apparently the grouch is Lawrence's best friend, Reid, but she can't imagine what kind of friendship that must be. They couldn't be more different.
As she starts seeing Lawrence, and spending more and more time with Reid, Zora finds first impressions can be deceiving. Reid is smart and thoughtful, and also, very interested in Zora. After years of avoiding dating, she suddenly has two handsome men competing for her affection.
But even as she struggles to choose between them, she can't shake the feeling that they're both hiding something - a mystery she's determined to solve before she can find her Happy Ever After.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2023
167 people are currently reading
16509 people want to read
About the author
Taj McCoy
6 books754 followersOakland 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 627 reviews
October 17, 2024
API Month
One of my favorite panels at LA Times Festival of Books was Romance: Writing with HEArt. Some authors piqued my interest more than others. Piper Drake mentioned food, spiciness, and being Thai, and Taj piped in all knowingly. So it was a true pleasure to add her new release to my API reads.
The moment I was sold on Zora? When Taj mentioned there was a mediocre sex scene or two in this book. Now, that's not usually what draws us to romance. But it's realistic, yes?
Some people said this was too spicy. I didn't think it was spicy enough. To each their own. If you see me adding Reid to my book boyfriend list, you don't.
One of my favorite panels at LA Times Festival of Books was Romance: Writing with HEArt. Some authors piqued my interest more than others. Piper Drake mentioned food, spiciness, and being Thai, and Taj piped in all knowingly. So it was a true pleasure to add her new release to my API reads.
The moment I was sold on Zora? When Taj mentioned there was a mediocre sex scene or two in this book. Now, that's not usually what draws us to romance. But it's realistic, yes?
Some people said this was too spicy. I didn't think it was spicy enough. To each their own. If you see me adding Reid to my book boyfriend list, you don't.
May 30, 2023
What I liked
1) The cover.
2) Zora owning a book store and being passionate at helping future writers learn the behind the scenes of the publishing industry.
What I didn't like
1) Zora. - Smart regarding her career but has no common sense in her personal life. Ignores multiple blaringly obvious red flags, puts someone else's livelihood in jeopardy, and then proceeds to expect an apology from that same person.
2) The love interests. - They were best friends giving spoiled milk energy. Lawrence was fake and shady from the start and clearly didn't really respect women. Reid began with brat energy but the obvious choice from the beginning.
3) Grandma Marion. - She's nice and supportive of Zora but way too obsessed about getting great grandbabies and details of Zora's sex life. I mean, she was SITTING for it. Why are you that comfortable having your granddaughter tell you about one dude pulling out of her last night? The other being very generous to get her off, how many rounds and lubrication? 🤢🤮 IT'S WEIRD. Her character felt as if she was originally supposed to be younger like a sister or cousin but got changed last minute. Ugh.
4) The 'plot twist' if you can call it that. - The book might as well came with the clues/foreshadowing highlighted already since they were so obvious. They were basically yelling off the pages.
5) The repetition. - It was going to be the death of me. How many times do I need to read about Brian getting coffee and everyone choosing the oat milk option? All the locations by the 50% mark had been mentioned as "black-owned..." so I didn't need to be told anymore in the last half. I got the point. As stated for number 3, grandbabies being brought up constantly. The many reminders of the way the dating scene in DC is very open. Zora's stomach having flutters, butterflies and pits.
6) The ending. - Blah. Weaker than my pinky toe and a soggy Ritz cracker.
April 27, 2023
3.5 stars rounded down. This is a very different rom-com for me, but not just because I’m not the target demographic at my age. I found the love triangle trope rather unsatisfying because of this very, very predictable “mystery” between the male leads & also disliked both men (one was just trash)… plus it was just way too spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ for my personal taste 🙈. However, I did enjoy the D.C. bookstore setting a-lot, and learning about the culture (and food!) there, and I truly appreciated the strength, savvy & size-positivity of the female MC & two female side-characters (save for Granny’s constant baby nagging).
October 11, 2023
3.5/5 ⭐️
- This book was so funny and had so much nuance! I really enjoyed it! I love how the focus was on how we can get so easily caught up in the potential that we see in someone and forget to really ask ourselves how we feel about them. This would have been a great book for a book club!
- I loved seeing Zora choose between both men! I feel like so often in books you don’t have two true contenders but the author really made both guys have great qualities! There was an obvious frontrunner, but I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Zora would actually realize it.
- There was a lot more spice than I excepted, but it still felt believable due to the context of the story. Really loved how much drama was in the entire story. It really kept the plot moving pretty fast towards the end!
- This book was so funny and had so much nuance! I really enjoyed it! I love how the focus was on how we can get so easily caught up in the potential that we see in someone and forget to really ask ourselves how we feel about them. This would have been a great book for a book club!
- I loved seeing Zora choose between both men! I feel like so often in books you don’t have two true contenders but the author really made both guys have great qualities! There was an obvious frontrunner, but I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Zora would actually realize it.
- There was a lot more spice than I excepted, but it still felt believable due to the context of the story. Really loved how much drama was in the entire story. It really kept the plot moving pretty fast towards the end!
November 9, 2023
Okay, but does Zora deserve to be happy? I am not so sure. I'll pray for you, Reid. You will need it. 🥴
April 30, 2023
he wrote her the world’s shittest rhyming couplet which had no rhythm whatsoever and her direct response was ‘eat my pussy’ girl get some standards
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
Zora is a bookstore owner who doesn’t have time to date initially (we all know how that goes), but when the right man, or should I say men, come around, she is swept off her feet. Zora ends up dating two best friends, Lawrence and Reid. One guy is a best-selling author, and the other is just a normal guy who teaches a high school creative writing class. Which one will Zora choose? Read to find out.
I will say I initially was rooting for Lawrence until he was dry and showed little interest in my girl Zora. Unlike Lawrence, Reid came off like an asshole at first, but as the story progressed, his personality shone through, and he became a passionate lover and friend to Zora. We love a man who can do both. We also see Reid bring the connection of kids into the book. which made Zora’s selfless and generous personality shine when it came to her community. Zora’s bookstore was not only for books but also for community, making her a solidified presence in the DC area. A boss!
This book had a lot of references (repetitive) to the DC area, and I’m not familiar with any of them, but one thing's for sure: I need someone to point me in the direction of some duck fat fries. The food mentioned in this book always had me ready to eat! I also enjoyed the funny elements and the spice (🌶️🌶️).The supporting characters, like Emma and Zora’s grandma, were so cute! I love how they challenged Zora to go out of her normal routine because life is short and they wanted her to live it to the fullest extent.
The book was a bit slow in the beginning, and Lawrence ended up getting on my nerves, especially when he was such a selfish lover. The grandma also got on my nerves with the repetitive give me some grandbabies rhetoric and also just the overall die-hard interest in Zora’s sex life. It’s giving disgusting. Another thing I had an issue with was Zora’s inability to give grace to Reid and how she was going to cut him off even though she threw him under the bus—a major blindside. All in all, I didn’t like either love interest for Zora, and I really wish the author would’ve just ended the book with Zora being with no one and gaining the self-confidence she needed. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a plus-size rep, a love triangle, and a book-focused novel.
3.5/5⭐️
I will say I initially was rooting for Lawrence until he was dry and showed little interest in my girl Zora. Unlike Lawrence, Reid came off like an asshole at first, but as the story progressed, his personality shone through, and he became a passionate lover and friend to Zora. We love a man who can do both. We also see Reid bring the connection of kids into the book. which made Zora’s selfless and generous personality shine when it came to her community. Zora’s bookstore was not only for books but also for community, making her a solidified presence in the DC area. A boss!
This book had a lot of references (repetitive) to the DC area, and I’m not familiar with any of them, but one thing's for sure: I need someone to point me in the direction of some duck fat fries. The food mentioned in this book always had me ready to eat! I also enjoyed the funny elements and the spice (🌶️🌶️).The supporting characters, like Emma and Zora’s grandma, were so cute! I love how they challenged Zora to go out of her normal routine because life is short and they wanted her to live it to the fullest extent.
The book was a bit slow in the beginning, and Lawrence ended up getting on my nerves, especially when he was such a selfish lover. The grandma also got on my nerves with the repetitive give me some grandbabies rhetoric and also just the overall die-hard interest in Zora’s sex life. It’s giving disgusting. Another thing I had an issue with was Zora’s inability to give grace to Reid and how she was going to cut him off even though she threw him under the bus—a major blindside. All in all, I didn’t like either love interest for Zora, and I really wish the author would’ve just ended the book with Zora being with no one and gaining the self-confidence she needed. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a plus-size rep, a love triangle, and a book-focused novel.
3.5/5⭐️
April 9, 2023
After reading Taj McCoy's first book I knew I'd want to read anything and everything she puts out next. I'm happy to report that Zora Books Her Happy Ever After did not disappoint.
Zora owns a bookstore (one I'd love to visit) and it's there she meets the first potential love interest, Lawrence, and shortly after the second potential love interest, Reid, too. It turns out that both guys are best friends, but Zora decides to date them both and see where that goes.
I had a clear favourite from the start, AND IT WASN'T LAWRENCE!!! He was okay at first, but the more he opened his mouth the less attractive he became. I hated the way he wouldn't listen to what Zora was telling him, wouldn't ask her about herself, and yeah the fact that he was an idiot who seemed to only care about himself.
Reid started off being kind of mean, but as the book went on we got to see that he wasn't like that at all. He was very sweet, attentive, and cared a lot about his students. He also didn't have the memory of a goldfish.
The steamy scenes with Reid were great while the Lawrence ones...let's not go there.
This book even managed to make me cry a few times, I consider that a good thing.
The one thing I didn't like (apart from Lawrence), was how Zora's granny kept pestering her for great grandbabies throughout the whole book. It was funny the first time, maybe even the second, but it felt like every time she entered the scene she was reminding Zora that she wants her to have babies.
I did like her as a character though, and Emma too. The way they were with Zora was so precious. You know the three of them will be tight for life (or until grandma passes, as she liked to remind us).
Aaaaaand I saw the twist coming from the second time Reid talked to Zora, I sensed it during the first time, but confirmed my suspicions that second time and I turned out to be right. It didn't hinder my enjoyment though.
P. S. My aunt's name is Zora!!
4.5
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Zora owns a bookstore (one I'd love to visit) and it's there she meets the first potential love interest, Lawrence, and shortly after the second potential love interest, Reid, too. It turns out that both guys are best friends, but Zora decides to date them both and see where that goes.
I had a clear favourite from the start, AND IT WASN'T LAWRENCE!!! He was okay at first, but the more he opened his mouth the less attractive he became. I hated the way he wouldn't listen to what Zora was telling him, wouldn't ask her about herself, and yeah the fact that he was an idiot who seemed to only care about himself.
Reid started off being kind of mean, but as the book went on we got to see that he wasn't like that at all. He was very sweet, attentive, and cared a lot about his students. He also didn't have the memory of a goldfish.
The steamy scenes with Reid were great while the Lawrence ones...let's not go there.
This book even managed to make me cry a few times, I consider that a good thing.
The one thing I didn't like (apart from Lawrence), was how Zora's granny kept pestering her for great grandbabies throughout the whole book. It was funny the first time, maybe even the second, but it felt like every time she entered the scene she was reminding Zora that she wants her to have babies.
I did like her as a character though, and Emma too. The way they were with Zora was so precious. You know the three of them will be tight for life (or until grandma passes, as she liked to remind us).
Aaaaaand I saw the twist coming from the second time Reid talked to Zora, I sensed it during the first time, but confirmed my suspicions that second time and I turned out to be right. It didn't hinder my enjoyment though.
P. S. My aunt's name is Zora!!
4.5
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 29, 2023
Okay, so you know right from the blurb which of two guys she's going to end up with. I mean, it's pretty clear.
However, the journey to get there was entertaining.
The characters are all a little one-dimensional, but they bring their own fun to the book. I did get tired of Grandmama going on and on and on about getting her some grand-babies, and I wanted a couple of interactions with Grandmama and bestie that passed the Bechdel test, but still, they were entertaining and fun.
For the romance aspect—the sex scenes were hot (well, some of them were) and I adored the advice of potential versus whole human. I think so many of us get caught up in the potential of the person we are with that we fail to see who they are right now. We see the future and are disappointed and dissatisfied in the present. Plus, a person can have "potential," but they're not a stock portfolio, they're a human being. And this book captured that very well.
I also loved that this is set in DC, featuring a Black-owned bookstore (giving shades of Solid State Books) and a thriving community.
However, the journey to get there was entertaining.
The characters are all a little one-dimensional, but they bring their own fun to the book. I did get tired of Grandmama going on and on and on about getting her some grand-babies, and I wanted a couple of interactions with Grandmama and bestie that passed the Bechdel test, but still, they were entertaining and fun.
For the romance aspect—the sex scenes were hot (well, some of them were) and I adored the advice of potential versus whole human. I think so many of us get caught up in the potential of the person we are with that we fail to see who they are right now. We see the future and are disappointed and dissatisfied in the present. Plus, a person can have "potential," but they're not a stock portfolio, they're a human being. And this book captured that very well.
I also loved that this is set in DC, featuring a Black-owned bookstore (giving shades of Solid State Books) and a thriving community.
May 3, 2023
I loved the concept, the setting, and the focus on strong black characters and black-owned businesses. There was just too much repetition: Granny hinting about great-grandbabies ad nauseum, Zora constantly thinking about Spidey senses and Zor-locking, the paragraphs about every outfit the characters wore, the paragraphs describing every meal they ate, the mentions of the perfume and/or cologne people were wearing on every date, just to name a few. The book could have been 100 pages shorter without all the excess descriptions. For me, those distracted from the story. Also, I figured out the conflict almost immediately and it took Zora way too long to figure it out which made the book less believable. If she was such a smart and savvy businesswoman it shouldn’t have taken her that long. Unfortunately, I wanted to like this more than I actually did.
May 20, 2023
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this one more than SSFGAH.
It may have been a little predictable but I enjoyed and appreciated the journey the author took me through to get to the end.
I enjoyed this one more than SSFGAH.
It may have been a little predictable but I enjoyed and appreciated the journey the author took me through to get to the end.
January 22, 2023
Fun, enlightening, steamy, and educational.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is a fun and spirited story that entertains and delights! There are so many pluses that McCoy gave us with this rom-com.
First off, two love interests? Yes, why not!
Oh, but how to find the right man for your heart is exactly what Zora is dealing with. A dreamboat who is not all he appears to be and his best friend, who did not make good first impressions, and is not all he seems to be. What a quandary to be in but we walk with her as she dates and dives into truths and untruths along the way.
Surrounding Zora is her grandmother who is absolutely a delight but a bit obsessive with grandbabies. And a fabulous friend and co-worker in Emma, who is definitely a trip and grabs the scene over and over.
McCoy does not shy away from the heat and steam in this one. I love the openness and unashamed acceptance for dating whomever she pleases.
One thing that is questionable and absolutely backfired was the tension and issues between the two men. That should have been something Zora stayed out of instead of stirring the pot. There were other red flags that everyone needs to look for as well in the dating scene to help you choose the right person.
Zora Books Her Happy Ever After is fun, enlightening, steamy, and educational, offering a different twist to the typical romance story we normally find.
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/zora-books-h...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is a fun and spirited story that entertains and delights! There are so many pluses that McCoy gave us with this rom-com.
First off, two love interests? Yes, why not!
Oh, but how to find the right man for your heart is exactly what Zora is dealing with. A dreamboat who is not all he appears to be and his best friend, who did not make good first impressions, and is not all he seems to be. What a quandary to be in but we walk with her as she dates and dives into truths and untruths along the way.
Surrounding Zora is her grandmother who is absolutely a delight but a bit obsessive with grandbabies. And a fabulous friend and co-worker in Emma, who is definitely a trip and grabs the scene over and over.
McCoy does not shy away from the heat and steam in this one. I love the openness and unashamed acceptance for dating whomever she pleases.
One thing that is questionable and absolutely backfired was the tension and issues between the two men. That should have been something Zora stayed out of instead of stirring the pot. There were other red flags that everyone needs to look for as well in the dating scene to help you choose the right person.
Zora Books Her Happy Ever After is fun, enlightening, steamy, and educational, offering a different twist to the typical romance story we normally find.
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/zora-books-h...
March 4, 2024
3.5 stars, I enjoyed reading about Zora and her bookstore. Of course I knew which guy she would end up with from the love triangle, one was a complete jerk, which I Immediately didn’t like. The main thing that I didn’t like was granny and how she was included in conversations of Zora’s dates, that was just too weird for me, your grandmother does not need to be included with all of the juicy details! 🤦🏾♀️ But other wise this was a good one!!!
October 12, 2023
Updated Oct. 11, 2023: The more I reflect on this book, the dumber I think it is. Zora is one of the worst MCs I've read in a while. She's doesn't display any of the competence or smarts that we're constantly told she has. I still can't get over her calling a marriage therapist to help her figure out which of the two dudes she just met is her perfect match. Someone also pointed out the book's hypocrisy of making a big show out of prayer and saying grace while having the leads jump into bed without nary a conversation.
Downgraded to two stars.
Original review: I'm v. conflicted about this book; for every point I enjoyed, there was something else in the book that annoyed me.
Likes:
Characters in their mid-thirties. Yay!
The plot. The author tried to do something different in regards to the romance, and I respect that. I don't think I've ever seen a traditional contemporary romance that had a love triangle and/or featured two strong romantic interests. While one of them is certainly better for Zora, both are handsome, ambitious, charming and kind to her (at first haha). Often with storylines like this, the chosen one is written to be flawless and perfect, while the other is an ogre. The indecision Zora had surrounding which one to be with felt believable.
Black and bookish. I love the bookstore setting! There was a lot of shop talk about running a bookstore and writing as a craft. Zora also helps organize a teen writing contest, which tied in well with the bigger story. Everyone values supporting Black authors and promoting Black stories.
The bad sex scene. Bad sex scenes (not badly written sex scenes) don't pop up in contemporary romance all that often, but I always have fun with them when they do. We learned a lot more about the two romantic interests and their views on women/Zora through their interactions in the bedroom. It was also just a hilarious plot point. Zora's best lines came at the end of this scene (too bad she didn't ☹️).
And, that's it, honestly. I enjoyed the shape of this book and overall story; the devil's in the details, though, and that's where a lot of my issues are.
Dislikes:
Promotion of charter schools. We don't support that in this house.
Too much detail. There is so much unnecessary writing in this book. We get in-depth descriptions of every outfit Zora wears (down to makeup!), every meal the characters eat and every room they walk into. I like these kinds of detail, but there has to be a balance. Tell me about these things when they matter. For example, . Readers also don't need to know every time someone orders coffee nor should they have to sit through a minimum of four "Good morning! I said 'Good morning!!'" interactions. I swear Zora pulled that every time she spoke to a crowd. EVERY! TIME! (At the contest, she would go on to thank every sponsor of the competition in the dialogue. Unnecessary!)
Grandma Marion. Granny Marion is one of the most annoying and weird characters I've read in a minute. She was constantly asking or telling Zora to make her grandbabies, to the point she asks for updates on Zora's sex life first-hand. I'm here for sex positivity and for people of all ages to get their groove on but boundaries please! I don't want to read as Granny Marion makes jokes about her granddaughter's lubrication. 😭 When she wasn't pushing Zora on her back every time a single man walked past, she was an otherwise sweet, supportive character.
Zora. Zora was the weakest link in this romance. She's so unserious. She goes from meeting Reid and Lawrence to stressing over who to marry in the span of one month. She's making pro/con lists and losing sleep before she's even gone on a date with one of them! The vibes are giving sexy fall fling and she's over here calling up a marriage therapist for advice. Despite her confusion, she still sleeps with both of them. I'm not trying to slut-shame. It's just confusing to hear her bemoan how she feels she can't trust either man while continuing to have sex with them. Foolish behavior.
The third-act breakup. Without spoiling anything, the third-act breakup is all Zora's fault. She meddles in a situation that's none of her business with horrible results. Yet ... it's the man who end's up groveling? Did I miss something? All of the drama was just so unnecessary. It would have been nice to see two Grown & Sexy™ characters handle the situation like the adults they're supposed to be.
Overall, this was a fun read. With a tighter edit, I would have loved it. As is, I'm glad I gave this new author a try and am open to checking out more from her.
Downgraded to two stars.
Original review: I'm v. conflicted about this book; for every point I enjoyed, there was something else in the book that annoyed me.
Likes:
Characters in their mid-thirties. Yay!
The plot. The author tried to do something different in regards to the romance, and I respect that. I don't think I've ever seen a traditional contemporary romance that had a love triangle and/or featured two strong romantic interests. While one of them is certainly better for Zora, both are handsome, ambitious, charming and kind to her (at first haha). Often with storylines like this, the chosen one is written to be flawless and perfect, while the other is an ogre. The indecision Zora had surrounding which one to be with felt believable.
Black and bookish. I love the bookstore setting! There was a lot of shop talk about running a bookstore and writing as a craft. Zora also helps organize a teen writing contest, which tied in well with the bigger story. Everyone values supporting Black authors and promoting Black stories.
The bad sex scene. Bad sex scenes (not badly written sex scenes) don't pop up in contemporary romance all that often, but I always have fun with them when they do. We learned a lot more about the two romantic interests and their views on women/Zora through their interactions in the bedroom. It was also just a hilarious plot point. Zora's best lines came at the end of this scene (too bad she didn't ☹️).
And, that's it, honestly. I enjoyed the shape of this book and overall story; the devil's in the details, though, and that's where a lot of my issues are.
Dislikes:
Promotion of charter schools. We don't support that in this house.
Too much detail. There is so much unnecessary writing in this book. We get in-depth descriptions of every outfit Zora wears (down to makeup!), every meal the characters eat and every room they walk into. I like these kinds of detail, but there has to be a balance. Tell me about these things when they matter. For example, . Readers also don't need to know every time someone orders coffee nor should they have to sit through a minimum of four "Good morning! I said 'Good morning!!'" interactions. I swear Zora pulled that every time she spoke to a crowd. EVERY! TIME! (At the contest, she would go on to thank every sponsor of the competition in the dialogue. Unnecessary!)
Grandma Marion. Granny Marion is one of the most annoying and weird characters I've read in a minute. She was constantly asking or telling Zora to make her grandbabies, to the point she asks for updates on Zora's sex life first-hand. I'm here for sex positivity and for people of all ages to get their groove on but boundaries please! I don't want to read as Granny Marion makes jokes about her granddaughter's lubrication. 😭 When she wasn't pushing Zora on her back every time a single man walked past, she was an otherwise sweet, supportive character.
Zora. Zora was the weakest link in this romance. She's so unserious. She goes from meeting Reid and Lawrence to stressing over who to marry in the span of one month. She's making pro/con lists and losing sleep before she's even gone on a date with one of them! The vibes are giving sexy fall fling and she's over here calling up a marriage therapist for advice. Despite her confusion, she still sleeps with both of them. I'm not trying to slut-shame. It's just confusing to hear her bemoan how she feels she can't trust either man while continuing to have sex with them. Foolish behavior.
The third-act breakup. Without spoiling anything, the third-act breakup is all Zora's fault. She meddles in a situation that's none of her business with horrible results. Yet ... it's the man who end's up groveling? Did I miss something? All of the drama was just so unnecessary. It would have been nice to see two Grown & Sexy™ characters handle the situation like the adults they're supposed to be.
Overall, this was a fun read. With a tighter edit, I would have loved it. As is, I'm glad I gave this new author a try and am open to checking out more from her.
January 23, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ generously rounded up. RTC
June 11, 2023
Good things - The premise because who doesn't love a bookstore and a driven, motivated business-woman who also gives back to the community? Who doesn't love such a woman being chased and wooed by multiple men? Add in books, lots of books, discussions (even just light ones) about writing as a craft, the importance of indie businesses and Black-owned businesses. These are good things. So is the lovely support network Zora has. Emma and Grandma Marion are sometimes too much but they're also sweet. Also food porn. Another good thing is the authentic feel of the book; the author clearly knew this world and culture and community and showed us in action and word.
Bad things - Um... Too much to be honest. I really wanted to like this book but it felt like it needed another round or two of editor's eyes before publication. There was a lot of repetion in the writing style - of words, of phrases, of concepts that could have been just referred to after being covered once. An overabundance of descriptions stopped the flow of action and feeling. Did we really need to know each outfit, down to lipstick color, each bite of food, each adjective on the planet used at least once but more often multiple times? Also, I swear, if Grandma Marion said the words grandbabies One. More Time... I would not have blamed Zora if she had turned the book from a romance into a homicide thriller.
And I'm not saying I'm a genius here at figuring things out because I'm not but the plot twist was so obvious that I picked it up practically since first meeting the two love interests. Zora, honey, get your Zor-lock radar fixed because it took you way too long. Also she ignored so many red flags that I wondered if she was red-green color blind. (Emma was the only one with sense here. Girl knew a poser and dead-end when she say one!)
I think the final straw was wanting to put my head to the table and weep over the inherent illogical approach Zora took at the end. Honey, do you KNOW what an NDA is? How dare you get upset that he hid something from you only because it literally could get his ass sued? (Also why not go to HIM first? I bet Emma would have.)
So, yeah, it was a decent read and I really, really wanted to like this book but, in the end, it just did not work for me because of writing repetition, key failures in an otherwise strong character, and a not-pleasant predictability. On the other hand, I'm strangely interested in reading a complete fluff-fest about Emma and her rotation of Utility Titled Dates. Please do tell about Netflix-and-Chill or Foodie or Ticketmaster.
Bad things - Um... Too much to be honest. I really wanted to like this book but it felt like it needed another round or two of editor's eyes before publication. There was a lot of repetion in the writing style - of words, of phrases, of concepts that could have been just referred to after being covered once. An overabundance of descriptions stopped the flow of action and feeling. Did we really need to know each outfit, down to lipstick color, each bite of food, each adjective on the planet used at least once but more often multiple times? Also, I swear, if Grandma Marion said the words grandbabies One. More Time... I would not have blamed Zora if she had turned the book from a romance into a homicide thriller.
And I'm not saying I'm a genius here at figuring things out because I'm not but the plot twist was so obvious that I picked it up practically since first meeting the two love interests. Zora, honey, get your Zor-lock radar fixed because it took you way too long. Also she ignored so many red flags that I wondered if she was red-green color blind. (Emma was the only one with sense here. Girl knew a poser and dead-end when she say one!)
I think the final straw was wanting to put my head to the table and weep over the inherent illogical approach Zora took at the end. Honey, do you KNOW what an NDA is? How dare you get upset that he hid something from you only because it literally could get his ass sued? (Also why not go to HIM first? I bet Emma would have.)
So, yeah, it was a decent read and I really, really wanted to like this book but, in the end, it just did not work for me because of writing repetition, key failures in an otherwise strong character, and a not-pleasant predictability. On the other hand, I'm strangely interested in reading a complete fluff-fest about Emma and her rotation of Utility Titled Dates. Please do tell about Netflix-and-Chill or Foodie or Ticketmaster.
January 3, 2023
What I enjoyed:
--Zora is a smart and savvy business owner, devoted to her love of books but willing to put in the work to expand her business and find ways to support her community. A+ heroine.
--Zora's loving granny Marion, who knows a thing or two about men.
--Zora's best friend Emma, who's not so flighty as her initial appearance might make you think.
--The young authors in Reid's class: expressive and eager to make their marks on the world.
--The food descriptions.
--The maturity with which the characters initially approached the love triangle trope.
What I didn't enjoy:
--The whole shady vibe between Lawrence and Reid. The tension between the two at the start sent up red flags for me. Where was the side character telling Zora, "Girl, you in danger"???
--Granny's harping on great-grandbabies. Again and again and again...
--Lawrence's evasiveness.
--Lawrence's performance. Both times. (Insert side-eye here.)
--The revelation of what caused that shady vibe mentioned above. I saw that coming, and I mean, if it works for you guys, okay, but that just did not sit well with me. Especially Lawrence's and Reid's reactions to Zora wanting to know the truth.
Look, I love a good romance and a solid happy ever after. After reading McCoy's first outing, Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell, I was hoping for more about Savvy's friend group -- but I thought the synopsis of this book sounded great, too, even with the love triangle. But ultimately I think I would have been happier if Zora had had a good time with both men and then said "Boy, bye" to both. Zora deserved better.
So yes, there was a lot I liked about this book but it just didn't satisfy as a romance. 3 stars.
Thank you, Mira and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
--Zora is a smart and savvy business owner, devoted to her love of books but willing to put in the work to expand her business and find ways to support her community. A+ heroine.
--Zora's loving granny Marion, who knows a thing or two about men.
--Zora's best friend Emma, who's not so flighty as her initial appearance might make you think.
--The young authors in Reid's class: expressive and eager to make their marks on the world.
--The food descriptions.
--The maturity with which the characters initially approached the love triangle trope.
What I didn't enjoy:
--The whole shady vibe between Lawrence and Reid. The tension between the two at the start sent up red flags for me. Where was the side character telling Zora, "Girl, you in danger"???
--Granny's harping on great-grandbabies. Again and again and again...
--Lawrence's evasiveness.
--Lawrence's performance. Both times. (Insert side-eye here.)
--The revelation of what caused that shady vibe mentioned above. I saw that coming, and I mean, if it works for you guys, okay, but that just did not sit well with me. Especially Lawrence's and Reid's reactions to Zora wanting to know the truth.
Look, I love a good romance and a solid happy ever after. After reading McCoy's first outing, Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell, I was hoping for more about Savvy's friend group -- but I thought the synopsis of this book sounded great, too, even with the love triangle. But ultimately I think I would have been happier if Zora had had a good time with both men and then said "Boy, bye" to both. Zora deserved better.
So yes, there was a lot I liked about this book but it just didn't satisfy as a romance. 3 stars.
Thank you, Mira and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
April 25, 2023
got an advanced copy and verrry early on figured out this just isn’t a writing style I enjoy. I love a good intricate detail here and there but this felt like overkill. we knew too much about too much. but mama didn’t raise a quitter so here we are
April 30, 2024
3.25 ⭐️ cute and funny, although quite insta love which is not my fav, overall tho i enjoyed
February 20, 2024
2.5 Stars
Unfortunately, my biggest frustration with this book was Zora herself. While I loved her drive and respect and cultivaton for the community, she lacked some common sense. And yes, Reid and Lawrence need to be better at communication, . It was a little ridiculous and I didn't like that she made it about herself where there are very real consequences that she pushed into action with little regard to the other parties. I did like that this 'love angle' actually had some development on page for both couples and I was happy she ended up with who I preferred (the only option really). But this was kinda underwhelming honestly.
Unfortunately, my biggest frustration with this book was Zora herself. While I loved her drive and respect and cultivaton for the community, she lacked some common sense. And yes, Reid and Lawrence need to be better at communication, . It was a little ridiculous and I didn't like that she made it about herself where there are very real consequences that she pushed into action with little regard to the other parties. I did like that this 'love angle' actually had some development on page for both couples and I was happy she ended up with who I preferred (the only option really). But this was kinda underwhelming honestly.
April 24, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. It is definitely filled with characters that I loved and had a connection with. For the main character Zora she is a bookstore owner that one once to become an author, but she is too focused on making sure the bookstore succeeds. But her Granny who is also known as Miss Marion reminds her that she also needs to enjoy life and to start dating. And so her grannies wish comes true, but Zora is in a dilemma where she dating her author crush Lawerence and his best friend Reid. Who will she choose at the end? Which I am not going to lie I was low key stressing because I already had in mind who she should be with, but I had to be patient and just trying to find out made me not want to put the book down. This is a romance that needs to be read because it's more than just a romance. There is some mystery aspects as well that I enjoyed as well. Overall this is book that I will reread and I can not wait for the world to finally read it.
May 30, 2023
I had high hopes for this book. I really liked the premise of it and loved Zora within the first few chapters. However, the writing in this book was so poor and the idea was not executed well. It needed so much more editing. I started to dislike Zora, and none of the characters were redeemable for me. The writing is filled with lots of unnecessary description (meticulous details about outfit choice), random third person tidbits about side characters not necessary to the plot of the story or even helped develop their character (lots of telling about the characters instead of having the characters speak for themselves), more telling rather than showing, and SO MUCH REPETITION. The running joke of the book is that Granny is always asking Zora for grandbabies. This didn't sit well with me when it was first introduced (because Zora is a successful woman who is focused on her bookstore for the time being without even a love interest at the time), but then it seemed like every other page there was a joke about Granny wanting / asking for grandbabies, and it got annoying, uncomfortable, and super tedious real quick. Additionally, after every date, Zora recounts what happens to Emma and Granny, so you're basically rereading the date over again. It would be one thing if Zora focused on the flaws of the date and her, Emma, and Granny unpacked that ( ,instead, Zora just focused on the most boring aspects of the date that did not need to be repeated). The other running jokes and descriptions got boring real quick too ("Spidey senses", "Zorlocking", Brian always giving them oat milk lattes on the house). Also, I am all for love triangles, but how the heck were two guy friends so chill about being with the same woman? Why was there no competition between them? How was she so comfortable with it too? And there was no tension between them? I know books are fiction, but this was highly unrealistic to me and kinda weird. I would've liked the love triangle to have been with Zora and two guys who were not friends.
I guessed who Zora would end up with and whole "huge" "plot twist" (loose use of the word plot twist because it was so obvious) within the first three chapters. The "plot twist" was made excruciatingly easy to spot from the beginning, and it was frustrating for Zora to not see it at all, espeically since she is described as being smart and having "Zor-lock abilities" and "Spidey senses". Some detective she is.
This book would have been so much better without the romance. I would have loved a book of just Zora running her bookstore and uplifting Black students in the outside community. Also the whole Speakeasy event was hyped up throughout the whole book, but was only a three page somewhat affair. I should've DNF-ed, but I wanted to make sure I was right about the "plot twist" and see how long it took for Zora to figure it out.
I guessed who Zora would end up with and whole "huge" "plot twist" (loose use of the word plot twist because it was so obvious) within the first three chapters. The "plot twist" was made excruciatingly easy to spot from the beginning, and it was frustrating for Zora to not see it at all, espeically since she is described as being smart and having "Zor-lock abilities" and "Spidey senses". Some detective she is.
This book would have been so much better without the romance. I would have loved a book of just Zora running her bookstore and uplifting Black students in the outside community. Also the whole Speakeasy event was hyped up throughout the whole book, but was only a three page somewhat affair. I should've DNF-ed, but I wanted to make sure I was right about the "plot twist" and see how long it took for Zora to figure it out.
April 23, 2023
Can dating multiple guys at once be the solution to finding happiness? What if two of your love interests were best friends?
Meet Zora proud owner of a DC bookstore that has her so tied up these days she just hasn’t had any time for romance. That soon changes after she’s asked on a date by the author she’s been crushing on for years Lawrence Michaels. In Zora’s mind he seems perfect but there’s something about him she can’t put her finger on. Once she’s asked on a date by Lawrence’s bestfriend Reid who initially made a bad first impression things become a little more clear. Could dating two bestfriends actually work in Zora’s favor until she decides what or who she really wants?
The dialogue and humor throughout the book was fantastic. Zora was a really strong character but her Zor-locking was getting a little annoying. The situation that transpired between Lawrence and Reid could’ve been avoided had she stayed in her lane.
I didn’t like Lawrence from the beginning there was something sketchy and pushy about him. In the end my assumptions were accurate. Plus I never felt any chemistry between the two especially with his no PDA in public. Now the natural affection and chemistry between Reid and Zora was so alluring and magnetic. He was more attentive to Zora’s needs and what she wanted unlike Lawrence. I loved seeing their love triangle unfold through the eyes of someone on both receiving ends. I knew who the better suitor would be for Zora before she even made a decision.
Overall, the book was great the pacing started a bit slow but once things pick up you’re hooked. I also enjoyed the plot, the spicy scenes, and the supporting characters they were very relatable. Emma and her Grandma will definitely keep you entertained. The author tied everything together so well leaving us with the perfect ending. Special thanks to the author, hearourvoicestours, & HTPbooks for my advanced copy!!!
Meet Zora proud owner of a DC bookstore that has her so tied up these days she just hasn’t had any time for romance. That soon changes after she’s asked on a date by the author she’s been crushing on for years Lawrence Michaels. In Zora’s mind he seems perfect but there’s something about him she can’t put her finger on. Once she’s asked on a date by Lawrence’s bestfriend Reid who initially made a bad first impression things become a little more clear. Could dating two bestfriends actually work in Zora’s favor until she decides what or who she really wants?
The dialogue and humor throughout the book was fantastic. Zora was a really strong character but her Zor-locking was getting a little annoying. The situation that transpired between Lawrence and Reid could’ve been avoided had she stayed in her lane.
I didn’t like Lawrence from the beginning there was something sketchy and pushy about him. In the end my assumptions were accurate. Plus I never felt any chemistry between the two especially with his no PDA in public. Now the natural affection and chemistry between Reid and Zora was so alluring and magnetic. He was more attentive to Zora’s needs and what she wanted unlike Lawrence. I loved seeing their love triangle unfold through the eyes of someone on both receiving ends. I knew who the better suitor would be for Zora before she even made a decision.
Overall, the book was great the pacing started a bit slow but once things pick up you’re hooked. I also enjoyed the plot, the spicy scenes, and the supporting characters they were very relatable. Emma and her Grandma will definitely keep you entertained. The author tied everything together so well leaving us with the perfect ending. Special thanks to the author, hearourvoicestours, & HTPbooks for my advanced copy!!!
Read
April 24, 2023So honoured to be part of the #hearourvoices tour for Zora Books Her Happily Ever After by Taj McCoy!
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Independent bookstore owner Zora has no time for love, or so she thinks. When longtime crush and one of her favourite authors comes to her bookstore for a book signing, she manages to catch his attention with her beauty and passion.
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She also attracts the attention of his rude, grumpy best friend, who turns out to be not so rude or grumpy after all, and Zora finds herself in a love triangle of dramatic proportions (at least where her sweet grandmother and jovial bestie are concerned 🤣).
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While I was highly entertained by this book and Zora's dilemma and her grannie's and best friend's shenanigans, I found the red flags one of Zora's LI's threw up to be too obvious for Zora to miss. She just kept giving him a pass, every single time something odd popped up, which felt incomparable to the few times the second LI also made her "spidey senses tingle". There is a huge difference between someone hiding something from you for unknown reasons, and someone outright calling your dream to write romance books a "joke". Not to mention leaving you unsatisfied in the bedroom 🫠 But that's just me I guess 😭
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All in all, despite disliking the romance's central conflict and eventual resolution, I still found this book to be highly entertaining. YMMV.
🌸
Thank you so much to @hearourvoicestours and the publisher for the copy! This in no way affects my review.
🌸
Independent bookstore owner Zora has no time for love, or so she thinks. When longtime crush and one of her favourite authors comes to her bookstore for a book signing, she manages to catch his attention with her beauty and passion.
🌸
She also attracts the attention of his rude, grumpy best friend, who turns out to be not so rude or grumpy after all, and Zora finds herself in a love triangle of dramatic proportions (at least where her sweet grandmother and jovial bestie are concerned 🤣).
🌸
While I was highly entertained by this book and Zora's dilemma and her grannie's and best friend's shenanigans, I found the red flags one of Zora's LI's threw up to be too obvious for Zora to miss. She just kept giving him a pass, every single time something odd popped up, which felt incomparable to the few times the second LI also made her "spidey senses tingle". There is a huge difference between someone hiding something from you for unknown reasons, and someone outright calling your dream to write romance books a "joke". Not to mention leaving you unsatisfied in the bedroom 🫠 But that's just me I guess 😭
🌸
All in all, despite disliking the romance's central conflict and eventual resolution, I still found this book to be highly entertaining. YMMV.
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Thank you so much to @hearourvoicestours and the publisher for the copy! This in no way affects my review.
April 25, 2023
“Stop thinking all these fairy tales you sell are going to happen in real life.”
Zora Books Her Happy Ever After is the laugh out loud, sophomore novel by author Taj McCoy. Zora is the owner of an indie bookstore. When author Lawrence Michaels agrees to an event at the bookstore, Zora is delighted. She’s been crushing on him for years and this just might prove to be her chance at romance. But at the end of it all, Zora finds herself with two men vying for her attention. Now to figure out who to choose.
The thing I loved most about Zora Book Her Happy Ever After is the characters. Zora is a great main character but make no mistakes, Granny definitely steals the show. Hilarious! Emma is an awesome best friend and I would love more from her in the future. When it comes to the love triangle aspect of the plot, I knew exactly who I was rooting for from the moment I met him. It was fun watching Zora conclude who, if anyone, she wanted to end up with. The mystery was a nice added element. Zor-lock is the right name for Zora because one thing she is going to do is connect the dots.
Fast paced, entertaining, and light, this rom-com will appeal to many. As a foodie, I really enjoyed the food aspects and descriptions. It was also very detailed on the ins and out of running a bookstore and I loved the bookish talk throughout. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Zora Books Her Happy Ever After is the laugh out loud, sophomore novel by author Taj McCoy. Zora is the owner of an indie bookstore. When author Lawrence Michaels agrees to an event at the bookstore, Zora is delighted. She’s been crushing on him for years and this just might prove to be her chance at romance. But at the end of it all, Zora finds herself with two men vying for her attention. Now to figure out who to choose.
The thing I loved most about Zora Book Her Happy Ever After is the characters. Zora is a great main character but make no mistakes, Granny definitely steals the show. Hilarious! Emma is an awesome best friend and I would love more from her in the future. When it comes to the love triangle aspect of the plot, I knew exactly who I was rooting for from the moment I met him. It was fun watching Zora conclude who, if anyone, she wanted to end up with. The mystery was a nice added element. Zor-lock is the right name for Zora because one thing she is going to do is connect the dots.
Fast paced, entertaining, and light, this rom-com will appeal to many. As a foodie, I really enjoyed the food aspects and descriptions. It was also very detailed on the ins and out of running a bookstore and I loved the bookish talk throughout. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
August 14, 2023
A little predictable but still really cute. I really enjoyed this.
August 6, 2024
3.5 stars rounded down.
May 29, 2024
I wasn’t gone give a verbal review, just put my stars and go, but baby this was…I don’t want to say bad, just not good. I’ve read a million books where the main character annoyed me but this woman here was worse than a teenage YA white girl. Ma’am how you blow up somebody’s NDA then get mad at them cause they didn’t tell you, all the while YOU ARE DATING BEST FRIENDS!!! Then once you blow up buddy spot, you then tell him I can’t date you cause idk how many more secrets you have. Girl what?! You mad at this man cause he not willing to go bankrupt and tell you some shit, when, once again, YOU ARE DATING AND FUCKING HIS BEST FRIEND ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!! I can’t. I can not. I was cool with the date who you want theme UNTIL homegirl lost her damn mind. Then HE had to jump through 16 hoops to get her back and kept apologizing, even though HE WASN’T WRONG. Like with most of my reviews, I’ll say this, read this if you want, just don’t be surprised if you feel your time and money were wasted. Thank god I got this from the library cause I’d be asking for a refund.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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