I’ve been wanting to read Taj McCoy for a long time now (Zora Books Her Happily Ever After has been on my TBR for a long time), and I wanted to love this book so much. I mean, look at that BEAUTIFUL book cover! Plus, I have unparalleled respect for fellow authors who always make their FMC either mid-size or plus size. They’re my favorite authors because I can always find myself in these characters. It’s what young me wanted when all my lead characters were skinny, furthering my feeling of inadequacy in my own body. So, thank you to Taj McCoy for letting me see a full-figure woman as the lead character in a book. It’s a beautiful thing.

However, I did DNF this book at the 15% mark. I really, really wanted to like this book, but ultimately I don’t think Taj McCoy’s writing style is my reading preference. Also, from the second chapter, it screamed miscommunication trope, and that isn’t my favorite.

The Good: I loved the girl friend group and the way that they were close and communicated to each other. I also felt like the girl group really held each other accountable. I also really liked the idea of Garret as a character and felt that he was a great friend. I really liked that the FMC Maggie was independent and was making a name for herself.
The not Great: Maggie kind on my nervous a lot as a character and I felt that she was a bit self-centered in her view of herself and the world tbh. I also felt the story was extremely predictable and even the love triangle scene, you know is coming. The book id very RomCom type of vibe which is fine I just couldn’t deal with Maggie and girl how did you not know that man was into you. Plus how was there ever a choice cause that other dude sucked….. ewww #teamGarret.
The book had some spice like a 1 spice level which is fine not ever book needs to be crazy spicy for me it can get old. I just wish the female character wasn’t quite so self-centered and that the other guy had been given some more depth other than being rich but sucking in bed lmao. I give it 2.5 stars, I would check out the other again but this book just didn’t give the vibes for me.

Single and in her 30s, protagonist Maggie finds herself encouraged to start dating online by her friends in order to find a date to said friends' weddings. Her best friend Garrett, who has not-so-secretly been harboring romantic feelings towards her since college, agrees to help her on her quest, and respects her boundaries. Maggie ends up having a meet-cute with a hot surgeon (red flag imo, but whatever) at the gym, so the two of them hit it off and they start to have dates.

Over the course of the book, Maggie has to explore her feelings about both men and decide who to go for-- her best friend who's always been there for her or the seemingly perfect guy, hot commodity catch?

I thought this was a fun, cute read. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC!

I truly adore Taj McCoy and her writing. I always fall in love with her stories of romance and I read this one in 24 hours! Couldn’t put it down! If you read “Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell”, you will know a few of these characters including the main character, Maggie.

Maggie’s bffs Savvy, Beth and Joanie are in amazing relationships and engaged (Beth and Joanie to one another) and she is going through a breakup with a man she that was her forever. Holding her up during this breakup, her best friends including her college bff Garrett, support her when she tries dating again including online dating. Struggling to find a good match, she meets the perfect guy at the gym. But can anyone be perfect? Or could her perfect person be closer than she thinks?

I’m trying to not give as much as I’ve given in past reviews because sometimes I feel like I told y’all the whole story🤣 This book me think, reflect and laugh (there’s a part about Yung Miami in there and I was cackling). Definitely recommend you swoop this one up!

thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for a virtual ARC in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED this book. Maggie was an incredibly developed main character who was easy to root for, and her journey to finding love in the modern age was hilarious and relatable. Maggie is a 38 year old woman who recently had a bad break with her ex. Both her best friends are getting married soon and insist that she needs to get back in the game and find a new man. Throughout this book, we follow Maggie’s journey as she navigates the world of online dating (and in person meet cutes) all the while she has her best friend Garrett helping to guide her. The synopsis gives a bit away as to what happens, but all I’ll say is there is a love triangle and Maggie has to choose between good and better. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it easy to connect with and relate to the main character.

3.5 stars

This book will leave readers swooning.

Hits:
- This book was hilarious. From the character banter to the plot itself.

- I loved Maggie’s relationship with her dad. It was so heart warming and refreshing.

- Provided a realistic depiction of the online dating experience.

- I loved Garrett’s character. His respect for Maggie, his patience, and his attentiveness were absolutely *chef’s kiss.*

- Though Blake gave me the ick, I did like his level of maturity once Maggie made her decision. There was a pinch of character growth there.

- This book did well at illustrating what a genuinely healthy platonic friendship looks like between a man and a woman.

Misses:
- I really did not enjoy Maggie’s friends. It seemed like they were trying to force her to date, and it was annoying. While I understood them not wanting her to continue to wallow over her ex, at the same time, I didn’t agree with them forcing her to jump back into dating. Moving on from someone doesn’t automatically equate to wanting/having to jump back into dating. I wished Maddie would’ve set some boundaries with them when it came to this, especially with them taking it upon themselves to create a dating profile for her and pushing her to publish it and start swiping. In addition, pushing her to do this solely so she could find a plus one to their weddings made it even more diabolical. I didn’t understand why she had to have a plus one as a lot of people attend weddings without one.

- Specifically, Maggie’s friend, Savvy, really rubbed me the wrong way. I understood that they had a certain banter and friendship dynamic, but some of the things Savvy would say came off as underlying shade to me.

- Blake had some cringe moments, and I was actually very surprised once his true colors were revealed. I wish Maggie would’ve left him in the dust sooner than she did.

- Maggie’s obliviousness was a bit far-fetched for me. Like, come on now girl. BFFR.

Overall, this was a cute rom com.

Maggie is a 38 year old lawyer who knows what she wants in life. Her job, her family and friends, her food, her men...well maybe not her men. When her best friends Savvy and Joan decide to have a combined wedding in Thailand, they task Maggie with finding herself a date. As she begrudgingly begins online dating, she gets her other best friend - Garret - to help her weed through her picks. Only once she finds someone she's actually interested in, Garret starts to act a bit jealous. Suddenly Maggie is having to choose between what looks good on paper, and what feels right in her heart. But is she willing to risk her greatest friendship in the process?

I'd say most romances are predictable, and I often find myself shouting internally as I read: "HE'S THE ONE FOR YOU, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SEE IT!" This book was no exception to that, but honesty that's part of the charm of romance novels. The thing that really made this book stand-out, however, was the humor and the main character. Maggie is over 30, a Black woman, with a successful career, who knows her worth. It's so refreshing to have a female main character who is over 35, who has her life together, who doesn't NEED a man but instead wants the companionship. I loved her relationships with her friends and her dad, and I loved seeing a woman who stands up for herself.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance, rom-com vibes, some spice (multiple open door scenes), and characters in the 35+ age range. I'll definitely read more from Taj McCoy!

Book publishes on April 23, 2024

Thank you @NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was cute and fun. It had a few steamy moments! I loved how the author made Maggie’s friend group realistic. It reminded me of my girl friends.

Maggie is in search of the perfect guy. Her friends put pressure on her to find that guy in time for their Weddings.

She’s in her 30s and she’s ready to settle, but she hasn’t found the perfect guy yet. Maggie has a bestie of 19 years, that seems to check all of her boxes, but she couldn’t possibly take him serious! One of her girlfriends convince her to explore her options through a dating app. Will she find the one?

Read this book if you enjoy

💕Adult Romance
💕Sisterhood
💕Friends to Lovers
💕Online Dating
💕BIPOC
💕Foodie

This copy had a few writing errors,but it is an arc, so I’m sure that will be fixed before its release. The book was very predictable.

Thank you Hear Our Voice Tours for this ARC!

the premise of this book sounded so good i was so excited but im sorry the format is pdf and its SO HARD to read it i hate it so much im just gonna wait until the book is out

taj mccoy is one of my favorite authors, so i was thrilled when i was approved for an advanced copy of her newest book, "the good ones are taken," and the book absolutely lived up to my expectations. when maggie's boyfriend leaves her for another woman, her friends force her to get on dating apps so she can get back out there. all the men she meets turn out to be duds, until she meets a handsome and successful heart surgeon at the gym. things are going well with him, but she finds herself thinking about garrett, her best friend of 20 years, more and more. one of my favorite things about taj mccoy's writing is that she has a talent for writing love triangles, especially considering this is one of my least favorite tropes. but although blake was a solid candidate, i was rooting for garrett the whole time, because i'm nothing if not a sucker for friends to lovers. along with the enticing and fiery romance in the book, i loved maggie's dynamic with her female friends and their support for each other. this book was an absolute joy to read and i'll be recommending it to everyone i know!

Taj McCoy's "The Good Ones" is like a rom-com rollercoaster you never want to get off!

Maggie's on a quest for Prince Charming after a not-so-great breakup, but her BFF dropping the L-bomb complicates things. The whole "friends-to-lovers" gig is a messy, hilarious ride, and I am here for it!

Her pals, Savvy and Joan, crank up the pressure for her to snag a wedding-worthy date. Online dating ensues, with a parade of maybes and a chorus of hell noes. When she's ready to chuck it all, she enters the swoon-worthy doctor from the gym. Cue the butterflies!

But wait, there's drama from her college bud, Garrett, who's the buzzkill pointing out red flags left and right. The tension peaks when he spills the beans—it turns out he has feelings for Maggie. Plot twist!

Now, Maggie has a choice to make—Mr. Perfect or her ride-or-die friendship with Garrett. It's like a rom-com version of a Choose Your Adventure book, and I'm hooked! Taj McCoy, you've served up a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud masterpiece that's one for the rom-com Hall of Fame. Grab your popcorn and dive into "The Good Ones" ASAP!

This book was a struggle for me to read and it has nothing to do with the author or their writing. I believe it was mainly the fact that you knew two people are meant for each other and they take so long to come to that realization. I also struggled with the denial and naivety of the main character. This author did an amazing job of showing what would happen if you let fear get in the way and motivate your choices in life. So much time wasted but things happen just as they were meant to be no matter the timeframe.

Maggie is a 38 year old female trying to find her Prince Charming after a bad breakup. All the dates she goes on, the men end up not being up to her standards. Her best friends, Savvvy and Joan apply pressure and demand she finds a date worthy of attending their weddings. After multiple dates Maggie is on the verge of giving up until she meets a handsome doctor at the gym who just might be the one. Maggie’s best friend Garrett’s feelings for her start to resurface. Now she must choose.

This was a cute friends to lovers romance. I loved Maggie’s character and the relationship she had with all of her best friends. I didn’t picture Maggie being 38 in the book; it definitely seemed as if she was younger based off of some of her actions. One thing I loved when reading was how realistic/relatable the author made the book.

Blake showed his true colors in the end and tbh, I was looking for it. He seemed a little too perfect. I felt for Maggie as far as not wanting to cross that line with Garrett. No one wants to ruin a good friendship. Throughout the book there were some parts that were slow but right after it picked back up. I laughed a few times throughout the book because of the banter between Maggie and her girls.

I know this is an ARC but there were a lot of errors and repeated words while reading. I’m sure that will be fixed before publication. I absolutely loved the ending although it was predictable.

What a cute story! I loved the characters! Loved the diversity in relationships. Loved the realistic view into online dating and adult friendships. Oh Mags & Garrett! I was rooting for Garrett the whole time, nitpicking every other guy that entered Maggie’s space even Blake. Sometimes you overlook what’s right there in front of you, what was always meant to be but in the end love finds its way! Would love an epilogue or part two to see where the crew ends up! Amazing job author!

This is a case of "My Bad", but I really wanted to read a Taj McCoy book.
First, I'm not a huge "friends to lovers" fan, so that was my first flag. But I wanted to give The Good Ones Are Taken a shot because I wanted to check out a new to me author and I DID like the fact that was it was going to kind of be a love triangle.

In the synopsis we basically get the whole story. No surprises. Maggie is the single one among her friend group and she is of the age where she feels she needs to settle down. She has a good and steady job (tax attorney), she has an amazing friend group (Savvy, Joan and Beth) that are both about to be married and she has a best guy friend from college who she has regular Saturday 'dates' with. The only thing she needs to up her game is to find a man that checks all the boxes. Her friends suggest she try the online dating world after being burned by her latest boyfriend, but again, not the best of luck. FINALLY she meets the perfect Ken Doll Man at the gym. A successful doctor that does and says all the right things. Sort of. Can we say perfect on paper?

Ok, let me say the things I did like.....
I loved the friend group and I loved Maggie's love for food. I'm a big foodie, so that aspect of the book really drew me in. Food and friends? What could be better.
The whole online dating was 100% relatable and so very relevant to this day and age. It was amusing and uncomfortable, which I think online dating can be.
I loved the friendship she had with Garrett and how much they supported one another. I loved how frank they all were with one another and their conversations.

The things that could've worked better.....
I really wish we got Garrett's POV. I think that would have helped with the whole story and understanding where he came from, because NINETEEN YEARS to be on standby?! No!
The dialogue just seemed off. It didn't flow well and the fact that we got so much on page detail of outfits, food, etc really seemed unnecessary. That brings me to the pacing. The pacing and small time jumps didn't help with the believability in the relationship Maggie was fostering with the doc. Whatever they had seemed to move faster than I expected when she goes on a small trip with him.

Overall, it was obvious where this story was going to go and it felt like we really never got to see them actually together until over 3/4 of the way through. I think that's where having his POV would've helped because your girl here doesn't mind slow burns, but this was a slow mess that had a lot of potential, but didn't win any favors for me. Still enjoyed the friend group and hope that since this was an ARC that some of these issues will be cleared up in the final draft. Still would read another book by McCoy, but this one was just ok for me.

The Good Ones Are Taken is all about our girl, Maggie who is looking for love. Both of her best friends are getting married and they want her to be there. However, they want her to have a date so she’s not the fifth wheel. At first, it doesn’t seem possible as Maggie keeps finding red flags everywhere.

Everything feels even more compounded when her best friend, Garrett is helping to weed through her choices. Eventually, she ends up meeting Blake at the gym and the two hit it off but something doesn’t feel right. The two keep trying and every time it falls short which is exactly when Garrett admits that he’s in love with Maggie.

From there, it’s truly all on Maggie to decide who she would rather be with and who makes her happier. While the choice does seem obvious, it does take a while for Maggie to figure it out. I was rooting for one of them all along but I won’t spoil anything. However, the book didn’t just focus on the romance, though.

The Good Ones Are Taken also felt like a slice-of-life story as this is all happening to Maggie in real-time and it’s fun to watch. While you can normally predict where the romance is going to go, Taj McCoy had a few tricks up her sleeve. All in all, I really adored this book and it makes me want to read the rest of her backlist now.

While The Good Ones Are Taken won’t be for everyone, this romance does have its audience so hopefully, that’s you.

I loved this book. It definitely made me laugh. The characters were very down to earth. This book makes women everywhere have hope that their Mr. Right is out there looking for her just like she’s looking for him. Great read!!

The description of the book really grabbed me and I was excited to read it. My favorite part was having a FMC who was in her late thirties but where it fell flat is that she didn't act her age. The overall story was entertaining but found the relationships between everyone needing a bit more work/ tweaking. Garrett came off as controlling at times, everyone in the group felt extremely too easy going aside from Maggie, and the fact Maggie was VERY loved by everyone and cared for but it just felt like something was missing.
I do very much like the premise of the story, but as someone who really looks for character connections and development, this one simply missed the mark for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Overall, this was a fun and light rom-com with a friends-to-lovers trope. This book follows one of the characters from "Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell". I didn't read Savvy Sheldon, but I still found this book easy to follow. I think I would have liked this book more if there was a dual POV from Garrett. Also, the choice between the two MMCs seemed pretty obvious and it was a bit odd that Maggie had such a hard time making a decision. There were several typos throughout the book, but I'm sure that will be corrected before publishing.

If you are looking for a Rom Com with the perfect amount of steam, then this is it. While the pace of this book is a bit slow, it allows the reader the opportunity to get to know and love the characters. Maggie has the friend group every girl dreams of and now her love life is about to take a turn towards something nice. Who doesn’t love a friends to lovers story!! Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC.