bookcasey's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was a delight. It’s an almost closed door romance for people who like watching GBBO. There is a LOT of cussing, British-style, and discussions of part of the bisexual woman experience that don’t get enough attention (biphobia satisfyingly called out!) I laughed and cheered and cringed (intentionally).
Even if you didn’t love Boyfriend Material, I would recommend still giving this series a chance.
Even if you didn’t love Boyfriend Material, I would recommend still giving this series a chance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Biphobia and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Extensive descriptions of food, like watching GBBO. SA and sexual content are very mild. Accidental pregnancy is a key plot point but occurs years before the book takes place.fromthefoxhole's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I mean it's just a scrummy book! I was outwardly chuckling for like 80% of the book, I got a therapy session, and the leads are insanely hot. Wins all across the board.
Hall does a really excellent job with pacing, everything is whip smart and witty, especially our MC Rosaline. She's honestly a badass (I will never understand how people have the energy to do anything on top of being a parent, it's such involved and hard work) but she's also so genuine. She's balanced, both flawed and fleshed out enough to feel human, like I could pop down the street and she'd greet me with a cup of tea.
Harry, our burly cinnamon roll love interest, is a man of few words who really goes all out with acts of service for those he cares about. There are so many times in this book that I highlighted and my comment is just "😭😭" because he's such a gentle and kind man.
Also, Amelie is the love of my life, and I hope one day she becomes a marine biologist who focuses on deep sea exploration.
Hall does a really excellent job with pacing, everything is whip smart and witty, especially our MC Rosaline. She's honestly a badass (I will never understand how people have the energy to do anything on top of being a parent, it's such involved and hard work) but she's also so genuine. She's balanced, both flawed and fleshed out enough to feel human, like I could pop down the street and she'd greet me with a cup of tea.
Harry, our burly cinnamon roll love interest, is a man of few words who really goes all out with acts of service for those he cares about. There are so many times in this book that I highlighted and my comment is just "😭😭" because he's such a gentle and kind man.
Also, Amelie is the love of my life, and I hope one day she becomes a marine biologist who focuses on deep sea exploration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Cursing, Classism, and Biphobia
Minor: Abortion
cluckieduck's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Biphobia, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
stacy837's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Biphobia, Gaslighting, Classism, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
aimzthereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I LOVED this book and felt sooo seen by it . This book represents a lot of the bisexual experience, the good and the bad. I love that the author was not afraid to call out a lot of shit that lgbtqia+ community has to deal with .
I loved the writing style. I loved the plot especially the setting of it being on the Great bake which is the Great British bake off 100%. It was I reretibg to hear about the competition while having a romance happen at the same time. This id also a story of friendship. The power of standing up for yourself and being your true self and being fine with that and making others realize they need to be accepting and respectful.
The daughter in this is also super cute and that’s a great storyline of seeing Rosaline as a single mother and all the experiences that go along with that.
There were many many moments where I found myself snapping/clapping along at this book, nodding my head and smiling and also getting mad at certain characters. This book also made me watch the great British bake off and I highly recommend that for a
Multimedia experience.
I will read many more books by Alexis hall because to me this book was perfection .
I loved the writing style. I loved the plot especially the setting of it being on the Great bake which is the Great British bake off 100%. It was I reretibg to hear about the competition while having a romance happen at the same time. This id also a story of friendship. The power of standing up for yourself and being your true self and being fine with that and making others realize they need to be accepting and respectful.
The daughter in this is also super cute and that’s a great storyline of seeing Rosaline as a single mother and all the experiences that go along with that.
There were many many moments where I found myself snapping/clapping along at this book, nodding my head and smiling and also getting mad at certain characters. This book also made me watch the great British bake off and I highly recommend that for a
Multimedia experience.
I will read many more books by Alexis hall because to me this book was perfection .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Cursing, Biphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming, Violence, and Medical content
lettuce_read's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Cursing
displacedcactus's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
If a romance featuring a love triangle between a bisexual cisgender single mom and two cis het dudes competing on an obvious GBBO analog sounds like your thing, you will not be disappointed by this book. It does exactly what it promises, delivering:
-A love triangle
-A heroine confident in her sexuality and tired of dealing with casual biphobia
-Two physically attractive love interests
-A colorful cast of fellow contestants and friends and family "back home"
-Lots of descriptions of bakes
-Lots of cheeky inuendo
-Lots of "behind the scenes" reality TV baking competition hijinks
-A precocious plot moppet
-Steamy love scenes
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the structure -- It was broken up by week of filming the show, and then the days within that week. This made it REALLY easy to keep track of where we were in the timeline of the competition and exactly how much time has passed as these relationships developed.
One thing I didn't like was well, the love triangle. Major spoilers ahead:
I always feel a little bad for the love interest who gets chosen by default because the other guy ends up being a jerk/already married/dead by the end of the book. It feels less like Harry gets chosen for who he is, and more like he gets chosen for being Not Alain and being there for Rosaline when Alain goes too far.
A little elaboration on the TW at the start of the book about an attempted assault:
-A love triangle
-A heroine confident in her sexuality and tired of dealing with casual biphobia
-Two physically attractive love interests
-A colorful cast of fellow contestants and friends and family "back home"
-Lots of descriptions of bakes
-Lots of cheeky inuendo
-Lots of "behind the scenes" reality TV baking competition hijinks
-A precocious plot moppet
-Steamy love scenes
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the structure -- It was broken up by week of filming the show, and then the days within that week. This made it REALLY easy to keep track of where we were in the timeline of the competition and exactly how much time has passed as these relationships developed.
One thing I didn't like was well, the love triangle. Major spoilers ahead:
Spoiler
It's pretty obvious to the reader, early on, that Alain is a snob and self-centered and not after the same things in life as Rosaline. Sure, he's good looking and flirtatious, but it's hard to think they're going to end up together at the end. I guess the author may have been hoping the reader would expect a redemption arc for him, making it less of a clear-cut decision between Alain and Harry. But as is so typical in these love triangle plots, rather than making the point of the triangle have to make a difficult decision (or consider ethical non-monogamy), the decision is made for her. In this case, Alain ends up crossing a serious line with Rosaline, which I will explain in further detail in the next spoiler section.I always feel a little bad for the love interest who gets chosen by default because the other guy ends up being a jerk/already married/dead by the end of the book. It feels less like Harry gets chosen for who he is, and more like he gets chosen for being Not Alain and being there for Rosaline when Alain goes too far.
A little elaboration on the TW at the start of the book about an attempted assault:
Spoiler
There is a non-violent assault attempt that Rosaline manages to escape from. It involves someone purposefully intoxicating Rosaline to try to get her defenses down, unwanted kissing/touching/advances, and verbal coercion of the "I thought you were cool" variety with additional tones of slut-shaming and gross attitudes about bisexuality. Things to do not get too far, but it could still be potentially triggering for anyone who has trauma from a similar experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
redphonebooth3's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Fun romance read. It did go quite slow at the start in my opinion. But the second half read so fast!
Spoiler
I really appreciate the way we're supposed to cheer for Rosaline and Alain at the start. It's only very slowly and subtlely you start to realise he's an asshole. I thought that was done so well. I think the balance between the relationship with Alain building before going wrong, and then getting to know Harry more so it makes sense for him to end up with Rosaline was done really well. I was scared at first they would become a couple without really knowing Harry all that well (both Rosaline and the reader I mean), but I feel like we got enough alone time with him to accept him and like him.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Violence, Classism, and Cursing
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Classism, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexism and Mental illness
cheye13's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting, Biphobia, and Cursing
Minor: Bullying and Fatphobia