This is like a really weirdly done GBBO fanfiction, where too much emphasis was on the bakes and the technical aspects of how to set up a TV show, and less on the actual romance. I mean, there was *some* romance, but it felt...weird. Forced. I don't think I ever really liked Rosaline as a character, and I think Hall tried to introduce too many people with quirky personalities. I lost track of who was who, and because of the number of contestants, we don't really get to know many of them in-depth. And I really didn't want to.

And there were these weird moments where Rosaline detailed all of the privileges she'd had (and there was QUITE a bit of it), but had chosen not to take advantage of her life on a silver platter, so she could be independent and raise her daughter. That's fine, but there was a distinct element of martyrdom that didn't sit well with me. Her life didn't have to be as "difficult," as she was making it. I didn't find her relatable or sympathetic. I found her to be a PIA white woman. Yes- a single (white) mom with a problematic (rich) family and feelings of (unnecessary) inadequacy, but still. I don't have the patience to handle you, Palmer. And stop pretending a beetroot cake is the epitome of creativity. It's delicious and not as fancy as you're making it seem.

I will say I still love Hall's writing style. I loved Boyfriend Material, but really struggled with this one. But I'm hoping the next one in the series is better!

And (minor spoiler) to lie about something so fundamental LIKE YOUR CHILD to a man you had never met to try and impress him, also knowing you'd be on TV at some point? How...How did you envision that working?

1.5 stars. The author's note is hilarious as are their discussion questions, which is why this being rounded up.

ARC graciously given by Netgalley in exchange for an honest (I WAS HONEST, NETGALLEY, SORRY) review.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for our gifted review copy.

So much to love about this one:
- incredible narration - like one of the best narrators I've listened to lately
- the daughter is the best & a huge star of the book!
- weekly baking competition show that adds stress, laughs and moves the story along
- really liked Rosaline and I was definitely rooting for her
- loved the relationship with her ex-partner

All of that being said, the romance part of the book didn't work for me. Love triangles aren't my favorite but I almost felt like I didn't need it. Like I would have been fine with a women's fiction rooting and cheering on Rosaline and her daughter. Either way, I'm super glad I opted for the audio because this is a long book!

Alexis Hall stole my heart with Boyfriend Material and I wondered if he could write a followup that matched Boyfriend Material - I honestly can't say which I like more, but Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake is so so so good and not at all what I expected. I can't even tell you how thrilled I am that this seems to be the first in a new series.

Oh gosh, I absolutely adored this book.
For me this had a fantastic premise that sucked me right in. Bake Expectations came around just as I was starting to feel so GBBO withdrawal. I loved that this was still a romance, but it came at it from a different perspective than others. I loved that this was more about self love and discovery than the main romance. For me the happily ever after is what is important in my romances, and I like the journey their to feel authentic. This nailed that for me, and I will be impatiently awaiting the other titles in this series. The audiobook is amazing, and I will probably listen to it again in the future (though might need to skip some Alain parts because he sucks)

4.5

Truly loved this story.
Most of the characters are fabulous. Amelie was freaking awesome.
Went in a bit of a different direction then I expected at the beginning but I liked that. I loved Harry and Rosaline.
The food? I looked up a few of the recipes and I was hungry throughout reading.

I missed out on reading Alexis Hall's Boyfriend Material, though it's on my ereader waiting for me to make time for it, but given how many trusted friends enjoyed it, I knew I needed to read Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake. An #OwnVoices rom com set in England and taking place at a televised baking competition? Sign. Me. Up.

Here's the book's description:
Following the recipe is the key to a successful bake. Rosaline Palmer has always lived by those rules—well, except for when she dropped out of college to raise her daughter, Amelie. Now, with a paycheck as useful as greaseproof paper and a house crumbling faster than biscuits in tea, she’s teetering on the edge of financial disaster. But where there’s a whisk there’s a way . . . and Rosaline has just landed a spot on the nation’s most beloved baking show.
Winning the prize money would give her daughter the life she deserves—and Rosaline is determined to stick to the instructions. However, more than collapsing trifles stand between Rosaline and sweet, sweet victory. Suave, well-educated, and parent-approved Alain Pope knows all the right moves to sweep her off her feet, but it’s shy electrician Harry Dobson who makes Rosaline question her long-held beliefs—about herself, her family, and her desires.



Rosaline fears falling for Harry is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Yet as the competition—and the ovens—heat up, Rosaline starts to realize the most delicious bakes come from the heart.
I have to discuss the love triangle first and it's going to be a bit spoilery so if you hate that, please move onto the second paragraph! I hated what happened between Rosaline and one of the men. Absolutely hated it. It was gross and uncomfortable and I didn't like reading it. It felt like I was misled and betrayed a much as Rosaline was and while I appreciate that Hall used it as an opportunity to have really important conversations about gender and sexuality...I really, really wish it hadn't happened.

Onwards!

I absolutely LOVE Great British Bake Off. So so so much. It is hands down my favourite reality show because it is so soothing and lovely and full of baked goods! So, it was super fun to have Rosaline take part in a GBBO-esque show. My sister told me long ago about how she had read that the hosts will sometimes start swearing or saying brand names when a contestant is having a rough time because then the footage becomes unusable. Hall uses that in the story and I actually laughed out loud. It really added to the feeling that this is what GBBO is actually like and I adored it.

Related to the baking show, the novel is set up by weeks, just like the show is. Contestants go to the filming location every weekend to compete in their themed weekly challenges. I don't know if the format would work for everyone but I really enjoyed it. I found it kept things moving and focused all the action during the times when all the action was taking place. It just made sense to me!




Rosaline has, as is customary for rom coms, a journey in this novel and she really grows as a person. She's always been a great person, you can just tell, but she becomes so much more confident in herself throughout the course of the show and it's so lovely to see.

Amelie, Rosaline's daughter, is an absolute hoot. She's a precocious kid (about seven or eight) and she would tell you she was because she has a very extensive vocabulary. Funnily enough, this was the second book in a very short period of time where I read about a single mom/mum with a feisty and wicked intelligent daughter around the same age. Given I have absolutely no desire to have children of my own, I sometimes avoid single parent rom coms but this is a reason you should always read a little outside your norm because both books portrayed single parenthood really well and I enjoyed them. Back to Amelie...I absolutely loved that she called Harry Mr. Viking and he called her Prime Minister. Their instant connection was so cute.

There's a lot of discussion about gender roles, sexual preferences, sexism, and classism in this book. That may sound like a lot of Topics for some people (and if it is...um, pay attention to the world because these are important things) but Hall weaves it together so well and in an entertaining and educational way. It's clear that Hall isn't trying to have Rosaline speak for all women or all bisexuals but by having her have these important discussions, it can help the reader identify problem spots in their own thoughts and behaviours and can, hopefully, correct them in the future.

All in all, I had a grand time reading Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake. I do think my expectations were a touch high and they weren't quite met but I'll definitely be reading Alexis Hall's previous book and whatever comes next. I laughed and swooned and had a lot of other emotions and that made for a good rom com in my books.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributor, HBG Canada, via Netgalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Well, I didn't think Alexis Hall could write a sweeter love story than Boyfriend Material but oh my gosh, Rosaline definitely take the cake! Written in his signature endearingly quirky style, this novel is simultaneously a coming of age story and a celebration of queerness....and baked goods. Single mom Rosaline is a contestant on a reality baking tv show juggling her love life, raising her inquisitive daughter, setting healthy boundaries with her overbearing parents and trying to be the last baker standing. I adored the authenticity, awkwardness, inclusivity and vulnerability of all the characters. This book is as sweet, decadent and delightful as a piece of cake and as comforting and full of heart as a warm hug.

This was such a fun book! I absolutely LOVED Alexis Hall’s sense of humor when I read Boyfriend Material and this definitely follows suit!, I found myself actually laughing out loud. This is the perfect summer read!

I loved that the backdrop for this story was a baking show (think Great British Bake Off)!! That is absolutely what drew me in. It got a little slow for me at times, but overall it was cute! I definitely need to check out Boyfriend Material next!

Hilarious baking scenes, meet-cute that warms your heart and a lot of fun! Alexis creates a fun, heartwarming romance that is as sweet as the baking competition it portrays. Loved it!

I really liked this on so many levels-the romance, the baking, the family relationships. I will suggest this to library patrons. Boyfriend Material was really popular at my library. I expect this will also be a winner. The only complaint: it seemed like Alain was a good guy one day and a villan the next. (Maybe I wasn't picking up on his jerk vibes earlier?)

This was a fun and fast read. Anything about food, I I’ll devour in no time. I loved the easy to follow story and the characters. It was a great read after a much heavier book I recently completed. All in all if you’re looking for something fun to read that will keep you snacking as you go, this is a great choice.

Thank you to NetGalley and (Forever) Grand Central Publishing for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Are you a fan of baking shows? This sweet romance will leave you hungry for all the baked goods. This was a sweet, slow burn romance with lots of heart.

Unfortunately I was not able to finish the book. I got part of the way through and I just couldn't read anymore. I was not enjoying it.
The concept is cool I just wish I could connect more to the book.

Rosaline Palmer Takes The Cake 🎂

Alexis Hall can do no wrong.
After being absolutely obsessed with Boyfriend Material, I knew AH would be one of my favorite new authors.
So when I saw that my favorite publishers @readforeverpub were publishing a book written by him, I just begged and begged for an advanced copy! So thank you @readforeverpub #partner for answering my baking romance prayers! And thank you to @hachetteaudio for the advanced audio copy!

This book is every parts as hysterical and special as Boyfriend Material was.
It’s the romantic version of the Great British Bake Off with a LGBTQ twist and I loved every single minute of it.
Every chapter left me hungry for cake and rooting for the good guy as we watched Rosaline’s relationships unravel.
I love the real-life deep conversations that were had throughout this book and the way that the author made each character relatable in their own way.

I will most definitely be buying every single book Alexis Hall publishes in the future!
Thanks again Forever for the copy!

Alexis Hall is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. This book was so cute and fun. I loved Rosaline so much and couldn’t put this one down.

This was a fun rom-com that kept me entertained. I loved the theme of it being a baking show. As a food network junkie it really hit home for me. But, it got a bit old how often they made everyone so ignorant to gay people. As a lesbian myself, I feel like not EVERY interaction with a straight person has to be negative and it got a bit old in this book. The conversations felt over done and repetitive. Overall I enjoyed, but much less than if some of that would have been less.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book! I’m interested in cooking, so the behind the scenes look at the pretend British Bake Off was great. This is my first book by this author, and I’m looking forward to more in the series.

This book felt very unnatural. The characters were pretty 2 dimensional, the relationships (romantic and platonic) felt very forced, and could've used a lot more development. The banter was witty in places, awkward to read in others. I did enjoy how fast paced and easy to read the story is, which makes for a perfect beach read, but I do wish some parts were more detailed and fleshed out so that the relationships and characterizations made more sense.

Alternatively, the thing I LOVED about this book was how great the bisexual representation was. It's so common for bisexual characters's sexualities to be a footnote, something that exists but isn't seen as a big aspect of their identity, which I've learned in real life from my own experience and my bi peers is never really the case. Bisexuality is very multi-faceted, and very present in the lives of all bisexuals, and this book doesn't shy away from that. I will definitely be adding this book to my list of the best bi rep I've read.

Overall, this book made me laugh in some places and was definitely a fun read, but it just didn't stand out in terms of quality. However, it definitely stood out in terms of bisexual rep, and for that I highly appreciate it. Taking the average of all this, 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!

Heat Factor: There’s a decent amount of mediocre sex, and then some spectacular sex.
Character Chemistry: Well…it’s complicated.
Plot: Love at the Great British Bake Off!!!!! (Obviously Alexis Hall is not looking for a lawsuit, so the name was changed and it’s not in a tent.)
Overall: I was feeling a bit anxious about where this was going in the first chunk of the book, but ended up loving it.

I have a confession to make: I had not read the blurb when I picked up this book. I knew the heroine was a bisexual woman, and that she entered the GBBO, er, Bake Expectations. I was therefore feeling very nervous around Week 2 of the competition, because it seemed like maybe the hero was an enormous wanker. If you would like a similar reading experience, please stop reading this review.

I have another confession to make: I didn’t read Boyfriend Material. I know everyone loved it. Erin reviewed it here at TSR, and she still talks about how much she loved it but…eh. It never called to me. I have read Glitterland, and it was so amazing that I forced Erin and Ingrid to also read it. So I can’t speak to Boyfriend Material comparisons, but this book reminded me a good bit of Glitterland, except it’s much less raw. For better or worse.

Final confession: Reviewers who are categorically stating that this is NOT a romance novel, but rather Women’s Fiction (the horror!!!!) need to chill out, because the genre is not so fucking calcified that a book that has an unconventional courtship arc and centers the growth of the heroine but still has a clear HEA has to be categorized as something other than romance. Does Mariana Zapata write romance? Then this is one too, thanks. As you can see, I’m a bit irritated about this.

Ok, but back to Rosaline Palmer. Single mum, perpetual disappointment to her fancy doctor parents, has qualified as a participant on this season of GBBO. En route for her first weekend at the fancy country house, she has an epic train SNAFU, and is stranded in the countryside—with another contestant. An attractive, male contestant, with whom she trades witty banter. What a meet cute! Too bad Rosaline lies to him to make herself sound more fancy and important, and then immediately regrets it. However, since Rosaline does NOT lie to the other contestants once they arrive at the fancy country house, Alain quickly finds out.

Here’s where the nerves came in: Alain was kinda overly pissy about Rosaline’s deception. And he snarked on the other contestants in a mean-spirited way, but it seemed like Rosaline liked it? I was very not sold on Alain as our romantic lead, but figured, hey, maybe he’ll get better.

He doesn’t. Alain is a complete and utter and unredeemed wanker.

Luckily, he’s not actually the romantic lead, even though Rosaline spends a solid chunk of the book dating him (or rather, boning him with vague feelings of forced enthusiasm).

Enter Harry, another contestant. He and Rosaline get off to a rocky start, because, let’s be real, Rosaline has some snobbery. Harry says “ain’t” and doesn’t know that Rosaline is a minor character in Romeo and Juliet and is an electrician and, oh yes, he’s a stone cold hottie. Harry is also my first ever book boyfriend. I never understood the term, but NOW I DO.

I’m getting long-winded, so I’ll try to wrap this up.

Anyways, so here’s your warning #1: If you don’t like love triangles, you probably shouldn’t read this book.

Warning #2: Rosaline is not exactly a likeable heroine. I have a soft spot for unlikeable heroines, but other readers may find her to be off-putting. She aggressively stands up for herself—sometimes. She is frequently consumed with self-doubt. She self-sabotages because she desperately wants Alain to like her, because he’s the “right kind of person,” and is pretty blind to his wanker-dom. (Look, everyone makes bad dating decisions sometimes.)

Warning #3: Rosaline sometimes gets a bit preachy about gender socialization and consent and bisexuality.

If none of these things are dealbreakers for you, then I highly recommend this book. Hall is an extremely witty writer. The tiny details about the baking show are so recognizably GBBO, complete with bad puns, which is super fun. The supporting cast is amazing, especially Rosaline’s daughter Amelie, who is in no way a plot moppet, and does things like tell her mom all about sarcastic fringeheads.



I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.