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lydia_hennessy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
daisy_angel75's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 🌟
CW: death of parents, mentions of Jim Crow America and lynching, graphic sexual content
🌟 Love Triangle
🌟 Contemporary Romance
🌈 Black MCs
I don't know how to review this book. It wasn't objectively good, but it wasn't objectively bad either. It just "was". It fell solidly in the middle.
I could've totally vibed if this hadn't been a love triangle. I think part of the problem is the fact that from VERY early on in the book I had already sussed what was the situation. So I didn't have a twist or a moment to catch me off guard, I was more just waiting for it to happen.
I'm annoyed the eventual hero had to apologise to the heroine even though she was the one who messed up. She was such an amazing and inspirational woman, I genuinely adored the FMC, up until someone with SO much knowledge in publishing, didn't think "wait this could get someone seriously sued" 😫
The main thing I loved about the book was the sense of community, and the importance of literature in fostering that community. Zora was the perfect heroine and a genuine inspiration (apart from that fumble with the twist).
CW: death of parents, mentions of Jim Crow America and lynching, graphic sexual content
🌟 Love Triangle
🌟 Contemporary Romance
🌈 Black MCs
I don't know how to review this book. It wasn't objectively good, but it wasn't objectively bad either. It just "was". It fell solidly in the middle.
I could've totally vibed if this hadn't been a love triangle. I think part of the problem is the fact that from VERY early on in the book I had already sussed what was the situation. So I didn't have a twist or a moment to catch me off guard, I was more just waiting for it to happen.
I'm annoyed the eventual hero had to apologise to the heroine even though she was the one who messed up. She was such an amazing and inspirational woman, I genuinely adored the FMC, up until someone with SO much knowledge in publishing, didn't think "wait this could get someone seriously sued" 😫
The main thing I loved about the book was the sense of community, and the importance of literature in fostering that community. Zora was the perfect heroine and a genuine inspiration (apart from that fumble with the twist).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, and Murder
reddreadds's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Very cutesy but predictable
gemmysyl's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
chrisdell21's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
colorcrystals's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
jasminelilymae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chakgilbert's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Zora is dedicated to running her successful DC bookstore and has no time for dating. However, her priorities shift when a beloved mystery author agrees to an event at her store. Lawrence, the charming author, asks her out, while his grumpy best friend, Reid, also shows interest. As Zora spends more time with both men, she realizes they are not who they initially seemed to be. Despite struggling to choose between them, she can't shake the feeling that they are both hiding something. This leads her on a quest to uncover the mystery before she can find her happily ever after.
This is a funny book. I enjoyed its humor because I have family members and friends who act like some of the characters. I would recommend this book for contemporary and African American romance readers.
I think the author does a good job of making the reader care about the character. I saw the genuine love between Zora, her grandmother, and her best friend. I also saw Zora's genuine desire to build her bookstore's success while ensuring it is a pillar of the community. All the main characters were distinct in how they carried themselves, and I understood the decisions Zora would make for the most part. I got invested in who Zora would choose to end up with and why the dynamic between Lawrence and Reid seemed off. The author also did a good job of making me understand the story's internal and external conflicts. Not only did Zora have to understand what she desired in a relationship, she had to get to know both men and why she was hesitant. I understood why Zora needed to brush off the red flags she saw. The external pressure she felt to date and have grandbabies and her tendency to quickly remove men from her life made looking over the red flags easier.
One thing I absolutely loved about the book is how the author captured the vibe of D.C. I felt like I was experiencing the restaurants, the museum, and the bookstore. I enjoyed reading about her excitement about the dates, even if one man seemed more intentional in planning. I enjoyed the subtle ways the author marked the passage of time. It could be a shift in weather or a mention of time. It flowed naturally in the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. However, in some areas, it could have been trimmed. I wish the author had spent more time on the conflict and resolution. The last 20 to 25% felt rushed to me, but my best friend said she didn't feel that way. I laughed a lot, and this was a fast read for my best friend and me. While it is not an all-time favorite, it exceeded my expectations. I can understand why people love it and recommend reading it soon. It's a good book to read between heavier or more dense books.
This is a funny book. I enjoyed its humor because I have family members and friends who act like some of the characters. I would recommend this book for contemporary and African American romance readers.
I think the author does a good job of making the reader care about the character. I saw the genuine love between Zora, her grandmother, and her best friend. I also saw Zora's genuine desire to build her bookstore's success while ensuring it is a pillar of the community. All the main characters were distinct in how they carried themselves, and I understood the decisions Zora would make for the most part. I got invested in who Zora would choose to end up with and why the dynamic between Lawrence and Reid seemed off. The author also did a good job of making me understand the story's internal and external conflicts. Not only did Zora have to understand what she desired in a relationship, she had to get to know both men and why she was hesitant. I understood why Zora needed to brush off the red flags she saw. The external pressure she felt to date and have grandbabies and her tendency to quickly remove men from her life made looking over the red flags easier.
One thing I absolutely loved about the book is how the author captured the vibe of D.C. I felt like I was experiencing the restaurants, the museum, and the bookstore. I enjoyed reading about her excitement about the dates, even if one man seemed more intentional in planning. I enjoyed the subtle ways the author marked the passage of time. It could be a shift in weather or a mention of time. It flowed naturally in the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. However, in some areas, it could have been trimmed. I wish the author had spent more time on the conflict and resolution. The last 20 to 25% felt rushed to me, but my best friend said she didn't feel that way. I laughed a lot, and this was a fast read for my best friend and me. While it is not an all-time favorite, it exceeded my expectations. I can understand why people love it and recommend reading it soon. It's a good book to read between heavier or more dense books.