bookishmillennial's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless of the lack of stars. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I haven’t read a book with a love triangle in a LONG time and I should have known by the cover, but this story pleasantly surprised me! 😍
The quick premise is that Zora owns a bookstore in DC, and one of her favorite big time authors is the guest of honor for a bookstore event. Lawrence, mystery crime thriller novelist, immediately takes a liking to Zora and asks her out for drinks after the event. Zora -who would love to write a romance novel one day- is understandably excited to get to know an author she admires and to possibly date him, because he seems like the whole catch! Plus, her meddling and curious grandma continues to bother her about giving her great-grand babies lol!
During the event though, Zora also meets Reid, who is best friends with Lawrence but seems grumpy and arrogant. He invites Zora to speak at his school, since he is an educator and fellow aspirational writer👀 With the consent of both men, Zora continues to date them both to play the field and figure out who is a better fit. This reminded me a lot of “Because I Said So” because it felt so clear to me who Zora would choose, but I knew she had to get their on her own!
I would say the steam is about 3/5 & this was another big clue as to who Zora would end up with, because the way men behave in bed tells me SO MUCH about how that translates into them as emotionally intelligent partners!
I never ever thought I’d enjoy a love triangle book, ever, and here Taj McCoy is making a liar out of me 😂 I appreciated Zora’s passion for the book community, for inspiring young readers, her zest for unpacking mystery, & her convictions! I appreciated that she really knew herself and trusted her gut. Her dynamic with her best friend Emma and her grandma was one of the highlights personally for me though; they had me cracking up and I could feel the play and care they shared with each other.
One last thing — the food descriptions!!!! I’m so hungry. All of the food sounded delectable and I need an accompanying recipe book 😂
I haven’t read a book with a love triangle in a LONG time and I should have known by the cover, but this story pleasantly surprised me! 😍
The quick premise is that Zora owns a bookstore in DC, and one of her favorite big time authors is the guest of honor for a bookstore event. Lawrence, mystery crime thriller novelist, immediately takes a liking to Zora and asks her out for drinks after the event. Zora -who would love to write a romance novel one day- is understandably excited to get to know an author she admires and to possibly date him, because he seems like the whole catch! Plus, her meddling and curious grandma continues to bother her about giving her great-grand babies lol!
During the event though, Zora also meets Reid, who is best friends with Lawrence but seems grumpy and arrogant. He invites Zora to speak at his school, since he is an educator and fellow aspirational writer👀 With the consent of both men, Zora continues to date them both to play the field and figure out who is a better fit. This reminded me a lot of “Because I Said So” because it felt so clear to me who Zora would choose, but I knew she had to get their on her own!
I would say the steam is about 3/5 & this was another big clue as to who Zora would end up with, because the way men behave in bed tells me SO MUCH about how that translates into them as emotionally intelligent partners!
I never ever thought I’d enjoy a love triangle book, ever, and here Taj McCoy is making a liar out of me 😂 I appreciated Zora’s passion for the book community, for inspiring young readers, her zest for unpacking mystery, & her convictions! I appreciated that she really knew herself and trusted her gut. Her dynamic with her best friend Emma and her grandma was one of the highlights personally for me though; they had me cracking up and I could feel the play and care they shared with each other.
One last thing — the food descriptions!!!! I’m so hungry. All of the food sounded delectable and I need an accompanying recipe book 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent and Toxic friendship
thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
How is this book not getting more hype??? I don’t usually enjoy love triangle plot points, but this was so well done! Zora is a 35 year old bookseller who is devoted to her job and community. After booking an appearance from her long-time favorite author, the two hit it off and show interest. But there is also the author’s broody and slightly rude best friend. And although he didn’t make the best first impression, Zora finds herself wanting to know more. This book has so many aspects that I loved. A curvy, 35 year old FMC who has solid relationships and ties with her community. Amazing dating representation and ethical non-monogamy. And this story is all things bookish girly without being cringey or cliché. This is my favorite work from Taj McCoy and I hope we see more like this to come!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny
More...