Entertainment Weekly – “Hot stuff: The 8 best romance novels of spring 2023EBONY magazine – "Required Reading: 10 Books by Black Authors to Add to Your Reading List This April"PopSugar – "45 Swoon-Worthy Romance Novels Hitting Bookshelves in 2023"BuzzFeed – "15 of the Hottest Romance Novels Coming This Spring"Paste Magazine – "Most Anticipated Romance Books of 2023"PW Picks – “Books of the Week, April 24, 2023”BiblioLifestyle – "The Best 2023 Romance Books"Your Tita Kate – "2023 Filipino Book Releases to Put On Your Radar"
“Taj McCoy offers readers a yummy love triangle with her latest — placing bookstore owner Zora between hotshot author Lawrence and his best friend, academic Reid . . . A romp offering readers a heroine who knows what she deserves and two men competing to measure up.” —Entertainment Weekly
“After hosting a book reading for a charming author at her D.C. bookstore, Zora find herself in a love triangle with the writer and his seemingly grumpy best friend in this flirty rom-com read.” —EBONY
“I’m of the opinion that the best romances involve bookstores, and Zora’s love triangle is just proof of that concept.” —BuzzFeed News
“McCoy doesn’t miss a romantic beat in her swoonworthy sophomore rom-com. . . . McCoy expertly crafts a well-balanced love triangle between empathetic and passionate characters—and delivers plenty of comic relief in the form of Zora’s lovable matchmaking grandmother. Readers will delight in cheering on this strong heroine.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED
“McCoy imbues [Zora] with a magnetic, engaging personality; it’s easy to see why Lawrence and Reid are so smitten. VERDICT In the hands of a lesser author, the love-triangle element could feel completely predictable, but McCoy capably avoids tired clichés and gives readers a new perspective on the trope. . . . [An] outstanding novel.” —Nicole Williams, Library Journal, STARRED
“McCoy’s romance is genuine and sexy, and Zora’s drive for honesty makes her a relatable heroine. The two handsome leads are not the true scene-stealers of McCoy’s novel, though—that’s Granny Marion, whose suggestive quips and sage advice will keep you hooked till the last page. Romance with a perfect blend of light mystery and strong female representation.” —Kirkus
“McCoy returns with another soul-satisfying romance featuring a readily relatable, curvy-where-it-counts heroine, whose care and concern for her family, friends, and community provide a bright and shining through-line for this splendidly sexy love story." —Booklist
"Listen, if you haven't read Taj McCoy's books, you are missing out on some seriously stunning love stories! Exactly the kind of representation that so many of us have been hungry for." —Jesse Sutanto, author of Dial A for Aunties
"In this mouth-watering and mysterious romance, Taj McCoy champions writers, celebrates culture, and honors womanhood… all while tempting you with the very best guilty pleasure vibes. Zora Dizon is a sweet and smart heroine who deserves every moment of her happy ever after!" —Kai Harris, author of What the Fireflies Knew
"Books, humor and two handsome men vying for bookstore-owner Zora's affections, what more can you want in a story? Zora Books Her Happy Ever After is the perfect read! It brilliantly mixes sexiness with deep emotion. Taj McCoy has done it again, and I'm anxiously waiting for her next book! —Catherine Adel West, author of The Two Lives of Sara and Saving Ruby King
"Taj McCoy delivers a love triangle that romance fans will go gaga for. . . Heartfelt, hilarious, and deliciously sexy." —Sarah Echavarre Smith, author of Faker and On Location
“A fabulous story about a driven bookstore owner who must figure out if what looks good on paper could be as amazing in the real world. I loved Zora’s fierce commitment to her community, her family, and her friends, but what really sizzled was Zora’s chemistry with both men as she decided which path would lead to her happily ever after. A sexy, affirming, rom-com!” —Farah Heron, Author of Kamila Knows Best
"A beautiful love letter to Washington D.C., #BlackLove, and cozy bookstores. . . . Taj McCoy serves up heart, humor, and spice that romance readers have come to expect, but she doesn't stop there. McCoy flexes her literary muscles with an added mystery that's sure to delight fans.” — Charish Reid, author of The Write Escape
"Vibrant, scrumptious, and entertaining . . . McCoy's snappy dialogue, witty banter, and sizzling love scenes tackle a tricky feat: a convincing love triangle. Zora is a fabulous and relatable main character, and get ready for the incomparable Granny Marion to steal the show every time she's on page. Washington DC's thriving literary scene is lovingly on display, the food descriptions are delicious, with laugh-out-loud and heartwarming moments mixed in. Taj McCoy is an author to watch!" —Danielle Jackson, author of The Accidental Pinup
"Delightful and perfectly paced, Zora Books Her Happy Ever After had everything I wanted: a strong, independent heroine caught in a deliciously sexy love triangle, laugh-out-loud banter, and a sassy granny to boot. Throw in the bookstore setting and all I wanted was to curl up with these characters and never leave. Simply put, this book is magic." —Allison Ashley, author of Would You Rather
“While book-loving Zora may be falling for a mystery man, it’s no mystery why readers will fall in love with this book! The love McCoy has for literature, D.C. and Black women winning is as authentic as the first editions Zora collects and the two fine Black men vying for her heart. Pour yourself a drink and kick your feet up with this one because McCoy delivered!” —Lane Clarke, author of Love Times Infinity
★ 01/01/2023
Zora, an outgoing, super-organized bookstore owner, is over the moon when Lawrence, her favorite author, agrees to do a reading at her store. He, like Zora, is from the DC area, but what interests her most is that he is an excellent writer who is also very hot. These elements combine to make Lawrence perfect for the plus-sized Zora, so she's surprised by how attracted she also is to his best friend, Reid, who comes to the reading. Zora takes her time and gets to know each of the men, but instead of showing her who she's more compatible with, she finds herself falling for each of them for different reasons. McCoy (Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell) imbues her delightful female protagonist with a magnetic, engaging personality; it's easy to see why Lawrence and Reid are so smitten. VERDICT In the hands of a lesser author, the love-triangle element could feel completely predictable, but McCoy capably avoids tired clichés and gives readers a new perspective on the trope. The romance's secondary characters are funny, supportive, and intrinsic to the success of this outstanding novel, which is recommended for all collections.—Nicole Williams
2023-02-25
An independent bookstore owner finds herself torn between two sexy, secretive men.
At 35, Zora Dizon can’t imagine anything lacking in her life. She’s a successful Black woman, owner of the indie bookstore Opus Northeast, and she lives in Maryland with her best friend, Emma, and her sassy Granny Marion. With a slew of author events up her sleeve and dreams of duplicating her store throughout the D.C. area, Zora has no room in her busy schedule for a man, despite Granny’s insistence on having great-grandbabies. The only guy Zora would dedicate her time to is her author crush, Lawrence Michaels. Lawrence is the brains behind a bestselling mystery series and even has a few film adaptations in the works, so Zora is amazed when he agrees to do a reading at her store. At the event, Zora meets Lawrence’s best friend, high school teacher Reid Hughes, as he grumbles to himself throughout the Q&A. Zora is shocked by Reid’s rude behavior, but she can't help but be charmed by his friend. Lawrence is bold and charismatic, if not a little egotistical—and she agrees to go on a date with him. But when Lawrence bails on an event at Reid’s school and suggests Zora give a speech in his stead, she can’t help but notice how good Reid smells or how attractive he is when he talks about writing. When Zora starts seeing both men, she can’t decide between the smooth charmer or the down-to-earth intellectual, although both men shut down whenever she mentions Lawrence’s mystery series. Zora knows she can get to the bottom of whatever they’re concealing, but will she lose them both in the process? McCoy’s romance is genuine and sexy, and Zora’s drive for honesty makes her a relatable heroine. The two handsome leads are not the true scene-stealers of McCoy’s novel, though—that’s Granny Marion, whose suggestive quips and sage advice will keep you hooked till the last page.
Romance with a perfect blend of light mystery and strong female representation.
