Reviews with content warning for Classism - Розалина снимает сливки

I was laughing out loud at parts (mostly towards the beginning), it was a fun tongue in cheek take on The Great British Bake Off.
However, ultimately I really was upset by some Things that happened to our lovely Rosaline because she's bi, and also because we spend so much time with that relationship, I felt the ultimate romance to be a bit lackluster (can't really say more detail without spoilers).

Content Warnings

elenushka8's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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booksthatburn's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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

5.0

ROSALINE PALMER TAKES THE CAKE features Rosaline, a single mom on a British baking show, falling for her fellow contestants and doting on her anglerfish-obsessed daughter. She needs the money, and hopes the resulting spotlight will lead to a lucrative cookbook-writing career. This is the first book in a series which seems slated to have different protagonists in each entry, with a fictionalized version of a particular British baking show as the connecting thread. This means that while I'm sure some sort of connecting lore will develop, I can, at least, assess this as if it's a stand-alone book. It isn't trying to leave anything in particular to be resolved later (except that there will be another season of the show), and this story wraps up on schedule.

I was very glad to read about a bisexual protagonist who gets a narrative which doesn't treat her identity as a spectacle. Rosaline does, however, have to deal with some biphobia and some truly awful behavior. One of the potential love interests slowly becomes more and more unpleasant as the show continues, in a way which allows for several possible moments where a reader can realize that something is wrong and this isn't just a choice between two perfectly fine relationship options. I don't want to spoil how things go, but the slow escalation of toxic behavior is a really great example of how this kind of person can stay in someone's life well past the first warning sign, depending on what other pressures and stressors are in play. I've seen some other reviews which were upset at Rosaline for not realizing how bad this person was much earlier, and this frustrated me, because they seemed to not understand the narrative arc and her growth as a character. The book would have been dull and half the length if she'd immediately known who to end up with and just gotten there fast. Instead, her slow realization highlights how insidious classism can be, particularly the way that this person got past her guard because he engaged in the "acceptable" forms of bigotry. By not having Rosaline perfectly clock this person as a socially-adept asshole, there's room for her to have an arc of realization and struggle over how to deal with this new information.

Part of Rosaline's story off-camera is renegotiating her relationship with her parents. They have this idea of who she could have been which is incompatible with who she is, and she's felt bad that she didn't have the career they envisioned because she had Amelie instead. She doesn't regret her daughter, and doesn't particularly seem to long for a career in medicine, but it's hard to be settled and confident in the life she actually has when there's never enough money and her parents don't let her forget for an instant how much they've done to help her make both ends meet.

Things I love, in no particular order: Amelie and her various interests (I also loved anglerfish when I was a kid); the process of filming the baking show; the other cast members; Rosaline's relationship with her ex-girlfriend/best friend.

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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

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emotional 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

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elephantsoups's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This may be one of the funniest books I’ve read in a loooonnngggg time but if you choose to rape your fmc, make the only note of comedy be “haha we need to be more politically correct I’m being an asshole to you but making fun of it so suddenly I can’t be an asshole”, and beat the dead horse of objectification while making your entire emotional arc RELY on objectification and abuse of queer people you’ll never get higher than 3 stars from me. While attempting to identify and subvert objectification and fetishization the author managed to do both. Loudly.

Let’s all stop pretending this is a valid love triangle alright? If the options are between a hardworking, consent-prioritizing, compassionate, funny, protective, dedicated, sturdy, occasionally anxious, reliable hot man and

a fatphobic biphobic RAPIST that can’t even train down to see the mc one. fucking. time. and relied on her to do 98% of the labor in the half-assed situationship

then it’s not quite an equal triangle now is it?

Is it not embarrassing that the most well rounded and well flushed out character of your novel is an 8 year old? Definitely one of the most realistic and charming kids I’ve encountered in a book but why the hell is that the best character here? Would LOVE to know!

Thank you to the previous commenter who stated that there was on-page SA. There was 0 fucking reason for that and it would’ve jarred me without warning so I’m repeating it here for anyone who may come across this.

Shithead parents don’t apologize and reverse a lifetime of disrespect and being antagonistic after one conversation and one cry at them. That’s not how shithead parents work. It is SO wildly disrespectful to your main character to put them in a position where they never once might’ve expressed disappointment towards how her parents treated her.

The lying/miscommunication aspect was never needed in the first place and it felt like the author wrote that and then immediately threw it out the fucking manor window because of how little it impacted the plot/relationships overall. It exclusively existed to justify the red flags and poor treatment of failing triangle leg #1. And that’s gross.

I found book 2 first, learned it was a book 2, and paused to read this one first. I don’t think that was quite needed but oh well.

Cute premise, cute flirting, some good banter, and felt as saccarine as reality tv does. The final chapter was cute and the supporting characters definitely shined but overall definitely a train wreck in my eyes.

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queerloras's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I love Alexis Hall, they own my soul

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bzliz's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The Boyfriend Material series wasn’t my favorite but I liked it well enough that when I saw this at the library, I thought I’d give it a try. I really like the backdrop of a Bake Off style program that gives a lot of structure to the story. It feels so comforting to read and limits the amount of stress. I think cozy readers will love this book.

Rosaline’s growth is due to her defiance of what others want for her. Firstly her parents, who’ve been pretty controlling her whole life. Then Alain, whose control is more subtle because it seems like he’s presenting options but really he just ignores the reality of her life and discounts her child as a huge responsibility but also her greatest source of joy. Rosaline starts standing up for herself and it’s a good moment that I think most quiet people secretly want. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as finally saying everything you’ve been thinking and agonizing over. I was also frustrated with Rosaline because she wastes her time on this dude who might as well be saying “I own a Red Flag manufacturing plant and business is booming!” However, I would lay my life down for Harry even though I only understood about 75% of what he was saying.

Finally, it needs to be mentioned that there is a sexual assault scene. When I was looking for more information prior to starting the book, I couldn’t easily find a description of the event. If you’re sensitive to this subject and want to know what happens prior to reading, see my note below with the content warnings.

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