A review by unsuccessfulbookclub
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-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

I am absolutely, hopelessly obsessed with the Great British Bake Off, so Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake started on second base. (I realize that is a baseball term which makes it distinctly American but I know nothing about cricket or soccer, so you’re just going to have to deal with it.) I would like to read any and all of the baking/cooking show romance novels now. Also, this one? It’s a GBBO RoNo. 🍰🧁

Aaaaanyway - for once, I read the blurb on the back of the book so I went in expecting a love triangle but was NOT expecting the level of depth this book got into around several heavy topics including intense biphobia, s e x u a l assault, classism, mental health, gender norms, strained family relationships and the pressure of being on a reality TV show. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book and they felt real to me. I wanted to rage, laugh, cry, celebrate and experience things with all of them.

Even so, I laughed while reading this a whole lot - sometimes from Alexis Hall’s extremely dry British humor and other times while listening to the audiobook and enjoying Fiona Hardingham’s absolutely brilliant narration.

My biggest gripe is that I wanted Rosaline to have more time with the guy she ended up with, because he was the sweetest character in this book, and Rosaline deserved someone who loved her just how she was and wasn’t trying to fit her into some mold to suit themselves. 🥺 

Instead, we got 300 pages of the other guy, who is an absolute doorknob. 😤

👍🏻Recommended! This is a sweet, funny, extremely British book that deals with some very intense topics. Please read Hall’s CW at the beginning of the book - there is a SA scene that is intense and Rosaline deals with biphobia from all corners.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings