DNF - I had high expectations for this book, but after starting it, my attention was not grabbed in the way I prefer. This is not necessarily a bad book, but I'm not interested in finishing it at this time.

When you just go through a break up but you need upcoming weddings to go to and you need a date, what do you do. Of course, you could take your best male friend but that’s too predictable and you want to take an actual date. So you get back out there and start dating. Not without you best guy friend lurking in the background in case the date goes wrong. You meet a guy but at the same time you realize you may have feels for someone who’s been there all along.

Maggie had a lot going on a for absolutely no reason. Sometimes she was a little annoying towards her friends and not in a cute way. I do feel like it was predictable who she would choose to be with but it shouldn’t have been because she really didn’t like the other guy so why the back and forth about being with him. If she had been head over heels for him, then it would have been more of a shock when she decided against him. I feel like I just wanted more for the book than what it gave.

Taj McCoy never misses. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I’m in for a good story, plenty of laughs, and a relaxing read. That’s exactly what I got here.

From the first page, I was smiling and felt like I was coming home. It was even more exciting because this book is set in the same world as *Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell*, and we get to catch up with her and Spencer (they're getting married!!).

The plot is fairly simple, but that actually worked in the book's favor, as it gave the characters the space to really shine. I loved Maggie and Garrett from the start, and I was rooting for them the whole way.

It's pretty clear from the blurb and the little quote on the cover who Maggie ends up with, and that’s exactly how it should be! Garrett always had Maggie's best interests at heart. He knew what she wanted before she even did, he sat through countless romance movies with her, and most importantly, he didn’t hire a chef just to make a tiny soup and salad with only four shrimp like SOMEONE we know *cough* Blake *cough*.

The only part that felt a bit unrealistic was that they waited 19 years, dated other people, and Maggie was completely oblivious the whole time. I’d find it a bit more believable if nothing had happened between them during college, but since it did—even if it didn’t go far—you’d think Maggie would’ve realized Garrett was into her, right?

Regardless, I loved them as both friends and lovers, and their shared relationship with food was a fun dynamic. The food descriptions were amazing, and I could never get enough of them.

I also liked that Maggie was an older-than-usual romance protagonist. Both she and Garrett are almost 40, settled in their careers, and ready to settle down.

Am I going to give Blake the time of day? I guess… sort of. I wasn’t a fan of him—not just because I was team Garrett, but because of how Blake was acting with Maggie from the start. I was right about him, and when he showed his true colors, I was hoping Maggie would ditch him immediately. She didn’t, but at least she made the right choice in the end.

If you enjoy friends-to-lovers (done right), you should definitely read this book. It’s sweet, with a bit of a slower burn as they realize their feelings, and there’s a great supportive friend group that’s sure to make you laugh with their antics.

I’m so happy we got another book in this world.

I liked the story, but I wish there had been a bit more drama, and it was kinda easy to guess who the main character would end up with. But overall, it was a fun read!

Final rating: 3.5

Sometimes, friends to lovers can feel a bit childish, but that's not the case here. I thought this was friends to lovers done very maturely and authentically. The chemistry between Garrett and Maggie was pretty obvious from the jump. However, I needed more yearning, a little more conflict. It would have made it a little more rewarding when they both stopped playing and took that next step. I did enjoy the friendship between Maggie, Joan, and Savvy and the peeks into Maggie's career as an attorney.

It's a little too tame for me, but it's still a pretty decent read.

*Thank You to NetGalley for providing me with an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*

I enjoyed the friend group! It was written to feel like a real and supportive group of girlfriends that also keep you accountable. I enjoyed the dates and seeing how Garrett always cared for her and was kind of patiently waiting for her to see what was in front of her, BUT at the same time like giiirllll lol

I was a good read but something was missing to take it up a notch!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Taj McCoy’s The Good Ones Are Taken is a delightful, heartwarming romance that perfectly balances humor, self-discovery, and swoon-worthy moments. Maggie is a relatable, smart, and lovable protagonist, navigating the ups and downs of dating while learning to trust herself and her own desires. The chemistry between her and Garrett is undeniable, making their friends-to-lovers journey feel authentic and deeply satisfying.

McCoy’s writing is engaging, filled with witty dialogue, vibrant descriptions, and characters you can’t help but root for. The representation of a plus-sized Black woman finding love on her own terms is refreshing and empowering. If you love romance with depth, laughter, and a happily-ever-after that feels well-earned, this book is a must-read!

This book was cute from the title it was not what i expected but im glad i was able to read it i would recommend

First of all, this is a phenomenal book. Taj McCoy hasn’t authored and single book that I haven’t enjoyed! The Good Ones Are Taken is in alignment with the characterverse from Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell. If you haven’t read that one, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE? This book centers Maggie, aka Magnolia. She is in a predicament. Her best friends have decided to have a joint wedding. While Mags is good with being the consummate auntie, pop bottles extraordinaire, and career maven, her love life isn’t quite up to par. Savvy pulls a gotcha. Maggie put her on a dating app when she was single, and well…that worked out. Nowww it’s time for Saav to return the favor. Her best friends have challenged her to have a date to their joint wedding. This book takes us through the journey of Maggie looking for love and going from looking to choosing. It’s funny how sometimes loves has been right there all along.

This book game me the feels. I loved it so much. The women felt like my friends. Garrett *swoon* ( he reminds me of my wonderful man). This is what I want when I say I want black romance. This gave me the feel good fuzzies. After reading this arc I am going to pick up more from Taj McCoy. I would recommend this book for romance lovers who like a friends to lovers situation.

This book was very slow to me. I wasn't really a fan of Maggie. She was kind of selfish and oblivious and I was just so frustrated with her character. I also feel like her choice should have been obvious but at the same time, I wasn't feeling it because there was no chemistry. Part of me feels like it's because Maggie was so insufferable.

I enjoyed this story, the plot was great. I found myself laughing throughout the book and that’s a plus. Taj McCoy knows how to write a good storyline.

This was a fun read. Relatively low stakes and the perfect amount of spice. I absolutely loved Garrett. He is definitely a keeper, however I really did not understand why Mags kept the other guy around as long as he was, I feel like while I guess it was semi necessary to the plot, it just seemed drawn out. Also I don't believe Mags ever official told him it was over. Like she just dropped him and he disappeared. Otherwise it was enjoyable.

Maggie is coming off a break up and both her besties are getting married in a destination wedding. They have encouraged her to finally get back out there and find a date for their double weddings. Meanwhile Maggie’s best friend Garret is there and ready to help her by tagging along for her dates. When she had a chance meeting with a surgeon things seem to be looking up but Garret has been on her mind more and more.

This book is decent but there are some things that rally bothered me. Maggie is a bit problematic. Although some of her hesitation is understandable, the idea that she can’t make a decision between a guy she finds boring and just met and her friend of nearly 20 years didn’t hold water to me. I think this book would have benefited from another POV. It was also a bit slow for me. Highlights of this book were definitely the friend group. Her friend were ride or die for here even when she made it a challenge and they kept it real when she was hiding from her own feelings. Loved the part of the book. Also Garret is a great MMC. I loved that he was in love with her for years but was there to support her through all their ups and downs. Overall, I am reluctantly giving this book 3 stars because I wanted to like it much more than I did.

I absolutely loved this book and that's coming from someone that has never really enjoyed the main tropes of this book. It was very well done and I was rooting for the MMC the whole time and basically screaming at the FMC to get it together and pick him!

Maggie has just went through a bad breakup and is trying to bounce back by finding dates on a dating app. Her best friend, Garrett, is helping by showing up and playing referee if something goes awry. Along the way, Maggie meets a heart surgeon at the gym and decides to pursue a romance with him. What she doesn't realize until multiple individuals point it out to her is that she may have had the answer to her romantic dilemma in her life already all along.

I really enjoyed as per usual McCoy's dialogue and different friendship that she wrote to add to the story. The spicy bits? Divine! And doesn't it just make sense that who Maggie really needed was her best friend all along?

Thank you so much for the ARC!

⭐️: 4.5/5
🌶️: 3.5
Format: 📱

PICK THIS ONE UP! I loved this, so much. While it was short, and it's true that there weren't a lot of complex plot points, the character development journey knocked this out of the park.

I strongly identified with Maggie. She's plus size, but her challenges aren't about overcoming her size--it's just a fact about her. And she's smart, but she's not perfect, and she just felt so real to me. And while friends-to-lovers isn't my favorite trope, McCoy just made the romance for them feel raw and realistic and true. It was such a visceral read for just 300 pages. It's a feel good romance that truly makes you feel, and I recommend you grab it right away.

This is a quick and fun read that I enjoyed. I laughed. I had to reread a few parts because I was caught off guard in a good way. 😉

If you enjoy romance, friends to lovers, laughing and having a good time reading a novel, then this is the book for you.

Favorite Quotes:
🩷 "You look at me like that, and I'd do just about anything."

🩷 "Yeah but alcohol makes you tell the truth, it doesn't make you lie and say ugly sh^^ on purpose. Like, you say that sh^^ cause you're already thinking that sh^^ and you no longer have the filter of to stop you,"

🩷 "Well, your intuition has always guided you in the right direction, and you have always made sound decisions because you don't make them on a whim. You think them through by giving yourself the time and the space to do so. So don't let anybody rush you. Take your time, talk it out if you have to, but you'll know what to do when the time is right."

🩷 "I don't question your ability to be in a lasting relationship, love. I question your desire to do so."

🩷 "You spoil me rotten, G. What man can compete with this level oftreatment?" "Only one who is worthy," he quipped, half of his mouth curving upward. "If they don't treat you like this, they're not worth considering. Most don't deserve you."

🩷 "Any guy in a relationship with me has to accept you too. We're a package deal."

I couldn't get through this book unfortunately. Garrett felt like such a manipulative bully from the go that I couldn't see a way in which it got better.

The writing style is not for me, so I won't be finishing it. The plot sounds interesting though, which is why I wanted to read it.