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olivialandryxo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This was good in the beginning and in the end, but my interest waned during most of the middle. While I did like Rosaline, my favorite characters were side characters—specifically, Anvita and Amelie. The banter was highly entertaining, but there were also times where some of the dialogue and even a couple of characters felt cringey. I liked Alain at first, but then he started to get on my nerves more and more, and then he outed himself as a totally pretentious, jealous asshole. I no longer like him. And while Harry is a sweetheart, no doubt about it, I… didn’t really feel any chemistry between him and Rosaline?? I liked their friendship, but never really got attached to their romance.
Also, it felt pretty obvious to me that Rosaline would win the competition. Books like these almost always either have the protagonist win, or they come in second/third place but still end up getting some sort of prize out of it. I’m happy for her, don’t get me wrong—and definitely glad that Alain didn’t win—but yeah. No surprise factor here.
Overall, this was fine. Not the new favorite I’d hoped it would be when I started, but not bad either. I’d recommend it, but there are other romances I’d recommend first/more. I’ll probably read the next one just because I’m curious, and these books are, at the very least, entertaining.
Representation
Overall, this was fine. Not the new favorite I’d hoped it would be when I started, but not bad either. I’d recommend it, but there are other romances I’d recommend first/more. I’ll probably read the next one just because I’m curious, and these books are, at the very least, entertaining.
Representation
- bisexual protagonist
- lesbian side character
- achillean side character
- Punjabi side character
- side character with an anxiety disorder (unspecified)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Classism, Biphobia, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
The sexual content and sexual assault tags are there separately; there are multiple, consensual sex scenes varying from mild to moderate explicitness. The attempted sexual assault was stopped and challenged. Emotional abuse, gaslighting and classism are all in regards to Rosaline’s parents, with the former two relating to their treatment of her and the latter to their opinions of others. Biphobia is also directed at Rosaline, but from side characters, and she challenges it every step of the way.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
bookedinsideout's review against another edition
funny
reflective
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
This book would have been more fun without Alain, but it was a meaningful arc of a story and the structure covering each weekend of the baking competition was great. (More of what I was hoping for with Love & Other Disasters.) Going in with adjusted expectations helped too… I had barely started reading it last year when I saw reviews talking about how she doesn’t get together with the hero until the end of the book and there’s a total shit of a guy that nobody should touch with a barge pole (those reading guide questions from Alexis Hall were great!) that she’s with for much of it, as well as a sexual assault. At the time I felt it wasn’t for me, but I decided to try again feeling more prepared and falling more in love with Alexis Hall’s writing and wit, which is on full display here.
With all that in mind (i.e., not expecting a light-hearted baking competition), I’m really glad I gave it another go because it was so satisfying to see Rosaline be reminded of her priorities and value, state her boundaries, and… take the cake. The sexual assault was condemned by the book and treated with care, and we got to see people believing the victim and no pressure to forgive or console the perpetrator. As much as I wanted to see more of Rosaline and Harry, it was a great story. And that last chapter sex scene with communication and running off the railroad tracks of heteronormative penetrative sex was perfection.
With all that in mind (i.e., not expecting a light-hearted baking competition), I’m really glad I gave it another go because it was so satisfying to see Rosaline be reminded of her priorities and value, state her boundaries, and… take the cake. The sexual assault was condemned by the book and treated with care, and we got to see people believing the victim and no pressure to forgive or console the perpetrator. As much as I wanted to see more of Rosaline and Harry, it was a great story. And that last chapter sex scene with communication and running off the railroad tracks of heteronormative penetrative sex was perfection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Biphobia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse
Minor: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fatphobia
eamily's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Classism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Mental illness
Minor: Rape, Infidelity, Abortion, Racism, Pregnancy, and Outing
shaipanda's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
I once again have a lot of feelings about a book lol
So my main issues with this book were that it was ridiculously long for what is essentially a rom com and that the first love interest long overstays his welcome in my opinion - like I get that it’s kinda a slow burn but literally 70% of the way through the book Rosaline was still actively dating the first love interest which was kinda infuriating by the end
I did appreciate that you slowly view him as more and more unlikable as the book goes on but gddamn did he have to stay for so long as a main character?
— also I didn’t really like sex scenes in this - I know they’re not a main focus or anything but if you’re looking for a spicy book I definitely wouldn’t recommend this
However I liked the premise and the baking storyline, I loved the bisexual rep and conversations around bisexuality in this, and really enjoyed most of the sorrounding side characters like Harry Anvita Lauren and Amelie
So my main issues with this book were that it was ridiculously long for what is essentially a rom com and that the first love interest long overstays his welcome in my opinion - like I get that it’s kinda a slow burn but literally 70% of the way through the book Rosaline was still actively dating the first love interest which was kinda infuriating by the end
I did appreciate that you slowly view him as more and more unlikable as the book goes on but gddamn did he have to stay for so long as a main character?
— also I didn’t really like sex scenes in this - I know they’re not a main focus or anything but if you’re looking for a spicy book I definitely wouldn’t recommend this
However I liked the premise and the baking storyline, I loved the bisexual rep and conversations around bisexuality in this, and really enjoyed most of the sorrounding side characters like Harry Anvita Lauren and Amelie
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse
karolinaz's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Biphobia
Minor: Cancer, Misogyny, and Mental illness
malin12ccf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
I'm not the first Cannonballer to review this title, and I doubt I will be the last. Last year, I read and absolutely adored Hall's Boyfriend Material. It got me out of a reading slump and I loved both the two protagonists and all of the supporting cast around them. My rather high expectations of this book were somewhat tempered when fellow romance reviewer, Emmalita, read an ARC of the book and admitted to not being able to finish the novel. Naturally, that made me a bit wary, but the reasons she gave for not being comfortable with the contents are not things that necessarily upset me.
Nevertheless, I went into the book with lowered expectations, and that might have been good because Rosaline Palmer is a very different book from Boyfriend Material. The first one is a straight-up romantic comedy, complete with a lot of the tropes we expect from that genre. In this book, there is absolutely romance, but the heroine does spend basically the whole first half of the book with the wrong guy, so to speak and the primary plotline in the book is more about Rosaline's journey of self-discovery and self-determination than it is about her finding lasting romance.
As a huge fan of the Great British Bake Off (or Great British Baking Show, as it is known in the US), the fake baking reality show, complete with esteemed judges, snarky hosts, foul-mouthed and ill-tempered producers and all manner of baking shenanigans was absolutely an added bonus. The fact that Hall is apparently going to write more Bake Off-inspired romances delights me to no end.
One of Hall's strengths, I find, is how well he writes not only his protagonists but makes all the supporting characters feel real and essential as well. Rosaline's daughter could well have been an annoying plot moppet in less skilled hands (seriously, so many writers just don't know how to include realistic children, and should just refrain from including them in their books). Lauren, Rosaline's ex and now best friend was also great (as were the appearances of Lauren's current girlfriend when she occasionally popped up). The various other baking show contestants felt very real, and even Rosaline's demanding and occasionally overbearing parents felt very realistic.
If you don't find self-centred, narcissistic, and emotionally manipulative love interests an instant turn-off (be assured that he is not Rosaline's HEA, and she gets a lovely guy when she just wakes up and stops second-guessing herself), and are OK with this romance being a lot more slow-burn than Oliver and Luc's, this is a fun book, especially for those of us who want more GBBO.
Judging a book by its cover: Possibly in keeping with the central story of this book being Rosaline finding herself and discovering what she wants to do with her future, rather than the romance, this cover doesn't feature any male love interest, only our heroine herself, with a number of delicious baked goods and baking utensils floating in the air around her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
threeara's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
A fun, funny romance novel about finding your own happiness (even when others want to decide that for you). Really excited and curious to see how Hall tells other stories in this faux-GBBO universe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Abortion and Emotional abuse
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
After adoring Boyfriend Material, when I saw that this was written by the same person, well, I had to give it a try! And it was wonderful. Full of Hall's trademark wit, Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake takes the reader on a whirlwind adventure. Rosaline, a single mother, is a contestant on a BBC baking competition that is heavily based on the Great British Bake Off. On her way to the competition (which is, of course, in a town that doesn't get reliable rail service), she and another competitor end up stranded at a random rail stop. And she lies to Alvin, trying to make him think that she's more awesome than she really is. It totally backfires, of course. And then there's Harry. Who's a highly skilled laborer - electrician - and still somehow calls women "love." Rosaline lets him have it, and it sticks. Over the course of the competition, Alvin and Harry compete for the prize and for Rosaline's hand. Except.....
One of them turns out to be a right bastard and the other one a truly nice guy. Read to find out who she end up with, and how bad one shows himself to be a right bastard.
This book was laugh-out-loud funny, and kept me awake too late more than once, since I had to know how it ended.
Update: 2022-08-25: This was an excellent re-read. I noticed so much that I missed during the first read. There's a lot of discussion about class, which this American reader still doesn't quite get, but it was informative and interesting. It was also very cool to see the well-written evidence of what was going to happen between Rosaline and her two guys, as I noticed how they had completely different interactions with Rosaline and how those interactions telegraphed how their various relationships would play out.
One of them turns out to be a right bastard and the other one a truly nice guy. Read to find out who she end up with, and how bad one shows himself to be a right bastard.
This book was laugh-out-loud funny, and kept me awake too late more than once, since I had to know how it ended.
Update: 2022-08-25: This was an excellent re-read. I noticed so much that I missed during the first read. There's a lot of discussion about class, which this American reader still doesn't quite get, but it was informative and interesting. It was also very cool to see the well-written evidence of what was going to happen between Rosaline and her two guys, as I noticed how they had completely different interactions with Rosaline and how those interactions telegraphed how their various relationships would play out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Biphobia, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Pregnancy
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
4.0
Four for now. Might bump it up later. I need to think.
Rep: bisexual single parent female MC, one love interest has social anxiety, lesbian female side character, BIPOC side character (I think south Asian to be specific will follow up), sister of love interest is married to her wife.
CWs: Alcohol consumption, discussion of abortion and reasons why MC did not choose it, biphobia, cursing (including a child cursing), emotional abuse/parental neglect, gaslighting, mental illness (anxiety/social anxiety), past pregnancy, sexual assault, sexual content (graphic and several scenes), toxic relationship, misogyny.
Rep: bisexual single parent female MC, one love interest has social anxiety, lesbian female side character, BIPOC side character (I think south Asian to be specific will follow up), sister of love interest is married to her wife.
CWs: Alcohol consumption, discussion of abortion and reasons why MC did not choose it, biphobia, cursing (including a child cursing), emotional abuse/parental neglect, gaslighting, mental illness (anxiety/social anxiety), past pregnancy, sexual assault, sexual content (graphic and several scenes), toxic relationship, misogyny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy