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.