Reviews

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

rosecoloredlove's review against another edition

funny 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

rebbemcc's review against another edition

5.0

What a smart charmer of a book. I usually find myself half-reading most contemporary romance novels, but not this one. It was very smart and had me asking Alexa many things, including Godwin’s Law, Voynich manuscript, and any number of British expressions. It was quite funny and quite caustic (in the best possible way) and even the precocious child was entertaining rather than annoying.

liormaleficent's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

philli17's review against another edition

3.5

🫣 I really wanted to like it. I just don’t understand a bunch of choices the author made. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content

Minor: Biphobia and Violence

katreadsalot's review against another edition

5.0

This book was truly phenomenal. Queer romance with a touch of the Great British Baking Show turns out to be exactly want I want to read. Hall also explores class differences, difficult parent relationships, single motherhood, among other difficult topics SO incredibly well. I laughed (very loudly at the coffee shop, earning nasty glances) and cried. Hall is an incredible writer - I can't wait to read more.

jessicastephenson'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I thought this book was absolutely hilarious and had so much good banter and jokes. However, the fact that we had to spend 80% of the book with Rosaline dating a gaslighting asshole was really a downer. This is my second book by Alexis Hall and I really enjoy his writing, so I'll be giving another book of his a shot! 

I will say that I would probably have enjoyed this book more if it hadn't been marked as romance, because the main romance only occured for the last few chapters of the book.

rania_el's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

thesingingbook's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? No

4.0

claire_michelle18's review

emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

purpleushi's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed reading this book, but I would not say that I had strong feelings about it positive or negative. The premise was cute. I liked that the book touched on a lot of real life issues and delved into topics that aren’t commonly covered in literature. My negative comments would be that the setting didn’t contribute as much to the story that I wanted it to, or as I feel like it could have. It felt a little gimmicky. I also did not like either of the two love interests. One was the absolute worst, and the other was a complete white knight. The most interesting part of the book was the main character’s relationship with her parents. I wish that had been developed even further, and I feel like the resolution was a little too easy. But other than that, it was fun and entertaining, and I liked the commentary the author made on interesting topics like class issues in England, erasure and/or fetishization of bisexuality, and single motherhood.