This was my first time reading a book from this author. I enjoyed the story line, I do feel like the main female character was a tad bit selfish and entitled.

I LOVED THE GIRL GROUP.

There was good banter, entertaining and a quick read.

Also enjoyed the Friends to Lovers trope, only took them more than a decade to get together but when they did it all worked out as it should!

This is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance about Maggie and her best friend, Garret. It follows Maggie’s ‘escapades’ on the online dating scene and the best friend who has been on the sideline all along.

I enjoyed this and felt the slow burn added depth to the plot otherwise the story would have ended even before it started.

Maggie’s relationship with her girlfriends was an highlight for me. I enjoyed their banter and how real they were with each other. They were not afraid to call Maggie out.

It beggars belief it took 19 years for both parties to take their friendship to the next level. I also did not understand how Maggie was able to string both men along before making a choice.

If you love friends to lovers with unforgettable characters then you will love this. I received an advanced copy via NetGalley and the review is mine and voluntary.

I really wanted to love this, because I really loved the author when I heard her speak on writing craft. I did also read Savvy’s story because this is related, and I didn’t love that one either. I do think they are similar and the author’s voice is consistent, so if you liked Savvy, go for this one! This felt more of a friendship novel with romance thrown in, rather than the opposite. And the dueling MMCs just were not my vibe, plot wise. There is good spice, and a lot of fun food scenes! It does have LGBTQ and fat rep, which both felt genuine.

I wanted to like this one more. I actively tried to like this one more than I did. It has things I love: friend groups! body positivity! women of color! I love all of these things. But the maybe love triangle was killing me. Particularly because the guy you know she isn't going to pick is just so...blah. It really is "do I pick the guy who is a great listener who I get along with easily" or "this guy who is good on paper but doesn't jive with anything"?

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.

The Good Ones Are Taken is about Maggie and her journey to try and find her Mr. Right. After a break-up, Maggies friends get her into online dating in order to find a suitable guy to take to their weddings. As she finds out, finding the right guy is incredibly hard, until she meets Blake at the gym. He is a dr. who takes his health seriously and spoils Maggie. However, she comes to find out that her best friend, Garrett, might also have a thing for her. They have all the same interests and they know each other better than anyone else. Maggie has to decide if she wants to continue to try and pursue something with Blake or possibly ruin her friendship with Garrett, if a relationship between the two doesn't work out.

I would give The Good Ones Are Taken a 3.5/5 stars. This book was a bit tough for be to get into at the beginning, but as it kept going I wanted to continue reading. One of my favorite things about this book was the friendships among Maggie, Savvy. Joan, and Beth and also Maggies friendship with Garrett. They were all so close and were there for each other with any situation and I loved that the ladies had a scheduled Zoom meeting to catch up. I also really liked that Maggie was so into food and she wasn't afraid to say that she loved food and was always hungry. I just felt like that was realistic. Maggie and Garretts friendship/relationship was great because he treated her so well and you could genuinely tell that he had feelings for her, even through his messages towards the end of the book.

One of the things I didn't like was that towards the end when Maggie is trying to figure out her feelings, she literally talked to 6 people about what she should do. Each one told her SHE needed to be the one to think about her feelings and what she wanted but then she'd go on and talk to someone else, who would then, tell her the same thing. Then, when she did finally figure it out, she only told him because he was struggling at his job. I just felt like she just strung the guys along. My other dislike was the fact that the way Blake treated her, was never addressed. When he made comments about her then tried to force her to let him into her home, that was never addressed by anyone and then she says he's still a great guy, no I don't think so.

This was definitely a friends to lovers, slow burn romance. It was also a pretty easy read, so if you like that, I would recommend this book.

I enjoyed this story so much and connected to it in so many ways. I love the friendships, and I love the friends to lovers. I loved Maggie character because I see myself in her in so many ways. I've been there done that with dating apps, lol. This was a great ready funny, and it kept me engaged with some spicy 😍

This book had everything in it…friendship, love, comedy, romance, a lil spice. This friends to lovers romantic comedy is a slow burn romance, but keeps you interested throughout the book! Mags and Garrett are just so adorable. I did cry a little about 75% of the way through, but no outright bawling (lol). If you like a slow burn rom-com with a lil spice the. I would highly recon this book!!

This was my first book by this author and I’m not sure if I’ll read another one by her.

What I enjoyed most in The Good Ones are Taken were the friendship between Maggie and her girlfriends. I found them to be hilarious and like a real life group of friends. The beginning of the book had me hooked and I wanted to pick it up and read it. The further I got along, it became really repetitive. Especially when Maggie began to date…she really didn’t have much chemistry with any of the men she dated. Besides maybe Blake, but then it was very superficial. She spoke mainly about his lifestyle. Even when she broke it off with him, she spoke to his house, money, and career as a surgeon. She didn’t really seem invested in the “man” but more so his status.

I found her and Garrett’s relationship to be very predictable. I feel as if she strung him along and kept him close to make herself feel better. Nineteen years and you didn’t think this guy had any feelings for you?! It was quite obvious. So either she was naive or she kept him to herself until she was ready for a relationship.

The ending gave me the ick. I’m not a fan of showing someone else up at their wedding. It’s tacky. I felt this book was too long and lacked depth. The characters were very flat, personality wise. And the plot was predictable.

I’ rated this book 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3

Thank you to the author and publisher for the Arc! This was a cute friends to lovers, he fell first story. I love a strong, intelligent, independent FMC, which Mags is, but she annoyed me when it came to her love decisions. But is that a lot of us? Yes, so very relatable. The MMC, Garrett, was very liakble. To pine for someone for so long, bless him. And Blake would be damn near perfect if his stroke game was better. I also peeped what he said to Mags when he met Garrett. I read this before Savvys story. Though I know what happens, it makes me excited to go back and read her and Spencer's story! Hope yall find this enjoyable.

I love Taj McCoy's writing - I think she brings together these rich worlds for her main characters that are full of friends and family that feel so real and fun to spend some time in. The Good Ones Are Taken is no exception. I loved Maggie - a little tough, a little bit of an overachiever, deeply soft for the people she loves - and seeing her tender friendship with Garrett absoutely ignite into something more was *chef's kiss*. My only real complaint was that I didn't buy the love triangle; it didn't prevent me from enjoying this book, but Blake was clearly not the man for her so the decision she was making between Blake and Garrett felt a little artificial. That said, I rooted so hard for Maggie to figure out that the one she wanted was right in front of her eyes and I did cry during that last little chapter that put a bow on everything. Also, I LOVED Taj McCoy writing this super successful, beautiful, sharp Black heroine with this incredible support system and life around her so we got to see her black female joy radiate - more of that, please!

In 'The Good Ones Are Taken', we follow Maggie, a 38-year-old lawyer who is ready to find the love of her life. When her best friends decide to have a wedding in Thailand, they send Maggie on the journey of finding a date for the wedding. Maggie turns to online dating with her best friend, Garret, to help her weed out the guys who are not good enough. When she finds a man who is perfect on paper, Garrett starts to act out, and Maggie's love journey begins from here.

This book was extremely charming. What intrigued me the most at the start of the book was that Maggie is a 38-year-old woman. Many romances always center on younger main characters, and this was so refreshing to see. Specifically because the structure of her life at the point was extremely realistic. This is also an honest and refreshing take on the journey of dating in today's society. Overall, the main romance interests were great to see, as was how she navigated her feelings for both. This was a slow-burn but a fun time.

*3.5

I liked the romance between Maggie and Garrett but I don't understand why this was a love triangle. I think that it would have been a great story about her realizing that she's in love with him. He was so good for her and has loved her for so long. Blake was so annoying and the book ends with him still being called a great guy when he's not. He tried to convince her to let him into her apartment even after she said no three times and he was never really concerned about her after he punched her best friend.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Taj McCoy has easily become one of my favorite authors because she knows exactly how to win the hearts of her readers! She writes friendships so well! I love how supportive her girl gang is and let me tell you the way I laugh! I feel like I’m talking to my own friends because it’s so relatable. Now don’t even get me started on the food! Taj can make your mouth water! Honestly it’s her real characters and their real life dilemmas that get me every time. These characters are beautifully flawed and these men love them for it. I love the plus sized rep and just the vulnerability of finding the right man for you. This one hit me at the right time and I loved so many moments!! Thank you for this ARC!

Sometimes we go looking for love in all the wrong places when our Prince Charming has been right in front of us the whole time but we’ve been too blind to see it. That’s what we get with “The Good Ones Are Taken.”

When Maggie’s bestfriends Savvy and Joan make her the maid of honor for both their weddings the pressure is on for her to find a date. After dealing with a terrible break up there aren’t many contenders that could successfully fulfill the role so she looks to online dating as an option. But of course her bestie Garrett wouldn’t hesitate to be her stand in date if things don’t work out during Maggie’s manhunt. Which he’s secretly hoping it doesn’t.

After many failed attempts with online dating the universe finally showed up and showed out‼️ Maggie meets this handsome heart surgeon at the gym just when she thought all hope was lost. He appeared to be everything a woman wanted and also the perfect date to her friends wedding. But when Maggie’s best friend admits he’s in love with her she’s now torn between the perfect guy and a friendship she’d hate to ruin with a guy she can’t live without.

The pacing was really slow in the beginning but the dialogue and humor throughout the book made up for it. Loved the connection between Maggie and her friends and we can’t deny the chemistry between her and Garrett. From the beginning I kept thinking he’s the one stop looking for what’s already there sus. The blow up between her, Blake, and Garrett was a highlight moment and to me where the pacing really picked up.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot I’m big on the friends-to-lovers trope, the spicy scene was giving but was killing me with the “that’s my good girl” phrase, and the supporting characters were very relatable. The author tied everything together so well leaving us with such a heartwarming ending. Fans of Jasmine Gulliory would love this one. Special thanks to the author, @hearourvoicestours , @netgalley & @_mira_books_ for my advanced copy‼️

Rating: 3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing (MIRA) for my ARC copy! This review contains my personal thoughts and opinions.

I really enjoyed "The Good Ones Are Taken". I loved the MMC Garrett and the friend-group dynamic. I also enjoyed the intertwined parental element and how they were all there for advice. McCoy's writing style kept me invested and made it easy to envision what was going on throughout the book.

However, the MFC Maggie was insufferable. If it weren't for Garrett and Maggie's friends holding her accountable, I would have struggled to make it through the book. At her big age, the behavior was very questionable. The only thing I found remotely endearing about her was her love for food and how unashamed she was about it.

Overall, it was a good, quick read. Despite Maggie being a piece of work, the strength of the secondary characters and McCoy's engaging writing style makes it a book worth diving into.

Rating: 4/5

If you’re a fan of friend to lovers, and romantic comedy. You will love this book. It’s also kind of a slow burn but it was worth it.
Maggie still single in her late 30s is looking for the perfect guy but of course she’s having a difficult time and on the verge of giving up. When she meets Blake, a handsome doctor that seems too good to be true. Sometimes what’s for you is right under your nose. Cue her best friend Garrett who finally confessed his love for Maggie. But will it be too late??
Whew child this love triangle is something else and of course you have to read it to see what happens. I also really loved the friend group highlighted in this book. For me a friend group can make or break even a love story.
Overall, this book was good! It was cute, hilarious and I enjoyed the ending!

Maggie has a blossoming career as a tax attorney and a great group of friends, including her best friend for over 20 years, Garret. Maggie has commited to her friends Savvy and Joan that she will find a date to their destination wedding. This means putting herself through some gruelling, though hilarious first dates with matches from her online dating profile.

I thoroughly enjoyed Maggie and her friends. Their conversations were so believable and I loved how supportive the women were toward eachother.

thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

#netgalley
#TheGoodOnesAreTaken

Taj McCoy is in autobuy author for me and after reading this, it hasn’t changed! I ate this up!

Maggie thought she found her forever but things didn’t workout. She is now back to trying to date again with the help of her friends. Maggie meets someone online but also might realize her best friend Garrett might be the one for her.

You will have to read to find out. And trust me, you will want to find out 🥵🥵🥵!

When a book can make me laugh and smile, it will always be recommended!

*3.5

It’s a cute story and I like it very much. I love a cute friends to lovers novel and it’s what it is. But I’m really unhappy with Maggie’s friends. They just want her to find a date for their wedding, more than they want her to be happy. I really dislike their attitude.
However the story is cute and Maggie and Garrett had good chemistry.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Wow, just wow! This is my first Taj McCoy novel and I am glad that I had the chance to read and enjoy it before the views of others were floating around. This friends-to- lovers romance was just what the doctor ordered. Fun, funny, descriptive, and extremely satisfying. This was a five star for me, I was just hoping that Maggie would have realized some thing's a bit sooner than she did. 10/10 I would recommend!!!

***Thank you to NetGalley and Taj McCoy for the opportun ity to read and review this gem.***