Zora Books Her Happy Ever After

Starred review from November 21, 2022
McCoy (Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell) doesn’t miss a romantic beat in her swoonworthy sophomore rom-com. Operating the Opus Northeast bookstore in Washington, D.C., is a dream come true for Black curvy bibliophile Zora Dizon—and even more so when she books Lawrence Michaels, her favorite mystery author and fangirl crush, for an in-store reading. He’s exactly as handsome and charming as she expected, but her experience of the event is interrupted by snarky comments from writing teacher Reid Hughes, who, it turns out, is Lawrence’s best friend. When both men pursue her, Zora’s torn between the man she’s always wanted based on his writing and public persona and the brooding yet intelligent Reid, who she suspects harbors a secret. Nicknamed “Zor-lock” by her best friend and roommate, Emma, Zora has an uncanny gift for sniffing out and solving mysteries—but investigating Reid threatens her shot at love, Reid and Lawrence’s friendship, and both men’s careers. 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.

Starred review from January 1, 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 clich�s 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

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2023
Zora knows that her Granny Marion would love nothing more than for Zora to give her some grandbabies, but right now the only baby Zora has time for is her bookstore, Opus Northeast. Managing the bookstore takes every minute of Zora's days and nights, leaving her zero time for dating. However, when bestselling mystery writer Lawrence Michaels agrees to do a signing at the bookstore, Zora begins to wonder if she can't maybe carve an hour or two out of her busy schedule to spend with him. Meanwhile, curmudgeonly literary arts teacher Reid Hughes, who just happens to be Lawrence's best friend, is doing his best to convince Zora that he is the one she should be dating. After making her romance debut with Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell (2022), 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.

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March 15, 2023
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.

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