Scan barcode
callidoralblack's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
zombiezami's review against another edition
3.75
The love interests seemed a little flat and idealized, but I thought the story was cute overall. I felt like Emma and the Grandmother may as well have been the same person because they wouldn't stop talking about how fine the love interests were, and how much the protag should date them on that reason alone. Also, granny constantly repeating how she wanted Zora to have kids got very annoying, very fast, but that was perhaps the point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Sexual content
Moderate: Outing, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, Cursing, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy, Medical content, Car accident, Police brutality, Cancer, and Body shaming
jaz_gets_literary's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Zora, a bookshop owner, ends up in a love triangle between her favorite author, Lawrence and his best friend, Reid. Zora isn’t keen on the idea of dating them both but the guys are okay with it because they’ve done it before. That’s red flag #1 for me lol. She focused on her bookshop but with her grandmother pressuring her for great-grand babies she decided to date the best friends. She’s leaning more towards one guy when a shocking secret gets revealed that changes everything. Will Zora even find her happily ever with either of the men.
While I liked that Zora, her friend Emma, and grandmother have such a close relationship and that there were there to help guide her through the ups and downs up dating two guys. At times, it was overbearing. I don’t believe anyone should be asking about when you’re having children every time they see you.
While Reid didn’t make the best impression on Zora when they first met, in the end you understand exactly why he did and I don’t fault that against him. Also, I appreciate the author showing a Black male character being vulnerable in front of a whole he’s dating in the African American history museum scene. We need more books with Black male characters showing their vulnerability. I do feel like Zora was way too hard on him with the how can I trust you bit. He literally legally could not tell you and now you think he’s lying about any and everything. But Lawrence literally lied about something on the first date and you were willing to be okay with it. BFFR! <<Sidenote: Did anyone else think that a certain character has something else going on in Atlanta other than book events or what it just me?>>
The book was full of representation. A Black curvy female lead character. A Black male high school English teacher. A Black male author who writes intelligent strong Black female characters, bi rep, several Black owned businesses, in the metro D.C. area.
This was time reading a book by Taj McCoy. I’ve heard nothing but good things about her debut book Saavy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell and after finishing this book I look forward to reading more of her work. Thank you Hear Our Voices Tour and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, and Car accident
More...