This book started off so strong. I loved the premise, the GBBO feel and I loved that Paris’ friend entered him in the competition. But outside of that, this book was a rough read. As someone with anxiety and frequent panic attacks, I loved seeing the representation in this book, however, being inside Paris’ head the whole time was so exhausting. I wish the author would have done another POV to give us a break from his overthinking. Because he overthought EVERYTHING. Like every little thing. And I get he was written like that on purpose, but it just became so frustrating and very old, very fast. I skimmed through the last 15% because I couldn’t handle his narration anymore.

- The romance in this book also fell flat. I wasn’t sold on Paris and Tariq at all and I wish they would have just been friends. Their chemistry wasn’t there.
- I also wish we wouldn’t have gotten so much fade to black moments with the actual competition. That’s the main thing that made me interested in this book because I love GBBO so much.
- I am glad Paris got help and therapy in the end. I’m so glad he got better, but I almost wish that would have happened sooner so we could have enjoyed that side of Paris more.
- & the whole parent thing is never even cleared up? They just fuck off somewhere and ignore their kid. I was hoping we would have gotten some clarity on that & we didn’t at all.


My notes while reading:

- Paris is very self-conscious and self-deprecating
- GBBO vibe and I’m HERE for it.
- I get he doesn’t believe in himself, but I do feel like he goes way too far and jumps to conclusions a BIT too much. It’s a little over the top at times.
- This dude has SEVERE anxiety, like top-notch, non-stop, brain-numbing anxiety.
- P&P reference. They literally never get old.
- What is up with his parents? They’re mentioned and he texts them but there’s something weird with them.
- Paris is kind of a sheltered asshole?
- He’s the cringiest main character I’ve ever read and I don’t think I like him (27% in)
- I wish he would stop second guessing himself 100% of the time.
- Paris is the definition of over-thinking
- It’s exhausting being in his head.

* Received copy for review. *
Somehow, Alexis Hall manages to take very complicated characters and put them into a seemingly lighthearted situation and maintain balance. This was a tough read for me because Paris’ anxiety is so clear & present. It felt like I was overwhelmed with him and unraveling with him.
Tariq was interesting. I love a complicated character because we are all complicated. He is very sure of who he is. I love that he is not perfect and that he has some realizations of his own.
I will say that this book is a lot more serious than the setting implies.

This book was not at all what I had expected and and simply is not my cup of tea. I'm sadly abandoning this book at 20%. I have enjoyed most of what I have read but certain aspects I can't get through. I do appreciate the opportunity to read this.

I like how this book really departed from the first. The characters and relationships were so different and really brought a new look at the competition. The portrayal of the main character's anxiety was important to the story; and I feel that it was handled well. I would like to have seen the love interest be a little bit more compassionate at the end but alls well that ends well.

|| 2.5 rounded down ||

This book has a glaring problem — the protagonist.

Unfortunately this is also an issue I had with the first book of this series. Rosaline got on my nerves, but somehow Paris is even worse?

I have struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember, I still do. I appreciate the representation. BUT, I can also say from experience that if you have to at least TRY to treat your illness, for yourself and loved ones. If not you will be absolutely exhausting to deal with. You will have struggle days and be exhausting anyway, I sure as hell do/am. That isn’t your fault. but you have to TRY. If you won’t try, that is your fault.

Paris doesn’t try until the very end. 75% or so mark. Until that point, it’s just constant self-sabotage, being incredibly and repeatedly rude and disrespectful to Tariq (his love interest), his badass room mate Morag, and quite frankly everyone around him. He constantly says sorry but is never sorry. He acts selfishly and somehow always manages to play the victim.

It’s just beyond exhausting and frustrating. He was funny and relatable at first, but it goes down hill so quickly I got whiplash. The romance…meh. It’s hard to support a romance where one of them is inadvertently problematic and does the other dirty over and over.

If you can manage to ignore Paris and his crap, everything and everyone else in the world is a joy. Honestly.

The baking show concept is very well done. Alexis is great at banter and wit. Representation is seamless.

I love some of the other characters — Grace and Jennifer from the crew are really crude and funny characters that I genuinely enjoy.

Tariq is a gay Bangladeshi Muslim who slays at baking and honestly, he should have been the protagonist. Forget Paris. Tariq has more depth, he has a well portrayed internal struggle with his sexuality and religion, and he’s just so kind and open minded. I really liked him.

Morag is a body positive, sex positive babe that cracked me up. She is Paris’s room mate and she frequently called him on his bullshit, which I love. She was such a refreshing addition to the book and I appreciated her.

I love the cover. I love the title. I love the bake show concept. But I do not love Paris Daillencourt. This book would have been light years better without him.

Thank you NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

DNF @ 15%

This book needed an editor, it also needed exponentially less N*zi and antisemitism casual conversations included for something publishing in 2022. Paris' anxiety representation was almost a caricaturization with how surface level "overthink everything" he was, with not much else included. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be exhausting. We're also hit with the Hall specialty of extremely pretentious name and pop-culture dropping throughout the book - it's not as much fun when you need to bring a dictionary along while trying to read a romance. We also have the Hall special of his inability to write women in his books.


Included are some of my least favorite quotes:

Anyway, the point is that I wasn't going to let some lanky Sassenach scare me off with his oh I'm so aloof routine so I pinned him down after lectures one day and asked if he wanted to fuck me hard in the toilets. And he said actually I'm gay, and I said okay do you want to be coffee then. And we've been friends ever since.

- Morag, Paris' roommate explaining how she met him at university.


"... so I entered him - I mean I entered him into the competition, not with one of my many strap-ons - and out of thousands of contestants he's been selected as one of Britain's ten best amateur bakers."

- Morag, explaining how she entered him into the baking competition without his consent.


"Well, I'd say that's because I'm a fat Glaswegian sex goddess, but mostly it's because I fucking ask them if they want to have sex with me."

-Morag responding to Paris telling her that everyone is attracted to her.


It was the Cuban Missile Crisis in biscuit form. And for just a moment, Paris entertained the real possibility that he could be a Kennedy.

-Paris thinking to himself while making biscuits in the competition.


But I more sort of meant you have a" - Tariq framed him in a finger square - "classical vibe."
"Doesn't that just mean 'tiny penis'?"
Tariq's eyes widened. "Um...I...how did you get there? Because I really didn't mean to suggest anything about your penis at all. I'm sure your penis is, um, fine. Lovely even. But none of my business."

-Casual conversation between Paris and Tariq, where penises were discussed for another extra page.



And then the N*zi stuff that doesn't need to be repeated again and again. And Paris' catastrophizing about the fact that he might be secretly antisemitic and/or racist. For not knowing a type of dessert in the bake off competition. Again - exhausting.


I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

You know when you read a book about a character struggling with their mental health and your heart goes out them throughout the entire story? Well, Paris was an asshole most of the time, and I really appreciated it. This is the second book I’ve read, very recently actually, where the main character was pretty much unloveable but also relatable as hell (hi Art Barbara). Dealing with my own mental health, I too, am an asshole a lot of the time and unjustifiably mess up a lot of the time. While it kinda hurts to have this in your face while reading, it’s refreshing not to have these issues sugarcoated with delicacy, and to be called out on them.

I went into this expecting a romcom and got a mirror of my own struggles and insecurities (actually kind of like when I read Honey Girl) that delved way deeper than I expected. And once again, Hall handled it with that perfect amount of care that’s not too much to seem fake and preachy and not too little that it’s lacking empathy. It’s a fine line and I’m not sure how he’s able to balance it so well, but it is definitely something I see in all of his work.

In Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble, Alexis Hall again tackles subjects many authors shy away from, and does so with sensitivity and skill. I thoroughly enjoyed a Lady for a Duke and found Paris and Tariq’s story just as compelling. Framing it through a GBBO style baking program kept it a light read even when dealing with difficult subjects - and the laser tag scene was a real highlight! I loved Tariq’s family and would have liked to have spent more time with them. I really appreciated Paris’s mental health journey, which made me reflect on my own issues with anxiety from an outside perspective.

This book might be new favorite Alexis Hall book!! I couldn't put it down and read the entire book in a day. I love the way Alexis Hall writes. He has such a unique writing style that creates such complex characters. The sarcasm and he writes with never fail to make me laugh out loud multiple times throughout the books

The characters were a bit younger than some of Hall's other books (20/21) but I really enjoyed this aspect and found the way Hall wrote the uncertainties of this age to be so authentic. Paris went through so much growth in this book and I loved reading about his journey. He's an anxious disaster and I was always rooting for him. Tariq is such a complementary love interest for Paris's and while me romance storyline was a bit more background at times all the little moments (the honeys!!) had me screaming !I wasn’t the biggest fan of Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake but I love Alexis Hall's writing so much I decided to give the second book of the series a chance and I'm so glad I did.

In this season of Winner Bakes All, Alexis weaves humor and human-ness in the typical manner I’ve come to expect from all his writing—this time touching on anxiety and loneliness, religion and identity and healthy boundaries with careful kindness and intention. (I underlined so many things.)

Paris is a mess and I want to adopt him. Tariq carries himself with inspiring confidence, and I just want to BE him. And I wouldn’t turn down a cookie from either of them.

Another exquisite read from Alexis Hall. I loved Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake (the 1st in this series), and, of course, Boyfriend Material. This series is a perfect parody of a certain baking show and its associated personalities -- the comedian host and the perpetually sweary producer are just fantastically hilarious and the array of contestants is just spot on also. (Does any one else feel like he's taken Rahul, from 2018's GBBO and kind of split Rahul's ridiculously cute, depressed, insecure, baking genius personality into 2 characters, given them both his heart of gold & built on from there?) 

One of my favorite things about a good romance is intelligent banter and this book has it - there are witty jokes, references and allusions to all kinds of things from classical art to Pride & Prejudice to the political leanings of the BBC, British culture, and a well placed jab at Piers Morgan that are hilarious and clever. 

A description of one of the bakes as 
"like the Cuban Missile Crisis in biscuit form."

On seeing Paris' flat, Tariq says:
"I didn't mean to go all Elizabeth Bennet at you. Remember, I agreed to this date before I saw your magnificent grounds at Pemberley." 

A definition of memes by a character as:
"It's what people my age have instead of well-paying jobs in a stable economy."

And soooo many more. You have to read it all in context to get the full experience. 

As in Rosaline Palmer, some really important social, cultural and mental health issues come to the fore & are dealt with in kind and understanding ways that maybe help break through some historic social norms. The portrayal of Paris's severe anxiety is well illustrated with his speaking in hesitant sentence fragments and the well-worn internal monologue of self-destructive paths his mind forces him to re-tread until they are deep ruts -- I get that that is part of what he's dealing with, the relentlessness of these thought patterns & their effect on his life, but my only complaint is that as the book goes on, this becomes too repetitive at times when reading. 

Even the book club questions at the end are hilarious - e.g. "Do lemon shortbread and vanilla shortbread count as two different kind of biscuit? If so why?" (treading into Jaffa Cake territory there...) and "Favourite '80s movie? Favourite '80s band?"

Over all, really enjoyed it, can't wait for the next installment in the Winner Bakes All series. Luckily, we have Husband Material coming out in a few days' time to tide us over.

The second book in Alexis Hall’s “Winner Bakes All” series takes place in the same world as Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, and is set on the same Bake Expectations competition show with the same hosts & judges (Jennifer is still my favorite), but it has very different themes and a different story structure to Rosaline. It wasn’t cookie-cutter and it felt fresh.

I wouldn’t consider this to be as much of a romcom as Rosaline. Yes it’s very funny and sweet at times, but Paris has severe anxiety which reminded me of The Charm Offensive with its mental health rep. It’s intense at moments, with anxiety spirals and an on-page panic attack, so please go in gently if you find reading about anxiety issues triggering. There is way more off-camera and post-filming life instead of every show detail, which I loved. Now that we know this baking world, Hall decided to take a turn and talk about other things instead: how anxiety affects you and the people around you, being Muslim and queer, being white and privileged, but not happy. Being diagnosed and learning coping mechanisms. It is deftly blended together.

Paris falls for Tariq, a fellow contestant who is a queer Muslim man with strong religious beliefs. They are both 20 and still figuring themselves out, and although there is no sex in this book, I found it refreshing for a romance novel and right for the story as it shows that a romantic connection can exist without it. But there is lots of kissing, talking and banter! Tariq is the cutest thing ever with his nicknames “Honey” and “Angel Cake”, his personal style of mixing patterns and his shimmery nail varnish. Tariq’s own self-worth becomes a safe space for Paris and helps to calm him down. And Paris’s roommate and best friend Morag, the self-titled Glaswegian sex goddess, is one of the best side characters I’ve read lately.

From their very first encounter The BanterTM is so good. Hall writes some of the best banter I’ve ever read and it’s in this book as a way to break up the intensity. It filled me with such joy I had a smile on my face as I was reading it and had me cry laughing at moments. Why are there so many euphemisms and puns in baking terminology? It’s endlessly funny.

Hall writes about anxiety and depression in such a relatable way and it’s shown up in a few of his books. Paris has anxiety in a different way than Ash (Glitterland) or Luc (Boyfriend Material). His anxiety spirals are spoken out loud, while Ash and Luc keep it inside (for the reader to know) and cover it up with sarcastic jokes instead. Because the spirals are so well-written, they felt more intense and it was challenging to read at times. But the growth and discovery they both go on apart and together is very satisfying.

If you are a fan of Rosaline or The Charm Offensive or The Heart Principle where a delightful story is wrapped in depicting mental health issues, I would recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars

I was delighted to receive this ARC. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Forever!!

every romcom has some level of cringe and secondhand embarrassment but at some point it gets too much. this book surpassed that point. it also called taylor swift a “wanker” and i refuse to let that slide.

This felt like a warm hug and it was fantastic. It was also great to see content guidance. Quite simply adored this one more than the first one. Alexis Hall just writes books that make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. I had a great time reading this one.

I honestly think I would read Alexis' shopping lists if they were available! This was a fantastic read with amazing MH representation and such relatable characters that at times I forgot that they weren't my friends. Highly recommend!

Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble is a marvelous read!

The content warnings at the start of the book are super!

I don't know how they did it, but Alexis Hall was inside my head, mining my thoughts, and Paris' inner dialogue is the result! I thought I was the only human who has random thoughts about unlocking and opening the door of a moving car! I asked my partner about it once and he was like, no, I never wonder that. He doesn't have Anxiety and ADHD.

Paris has undiagnosed and untreated Anxiety, and the first part of the book he is really anxious which culminates in a panic attack, hospital stay, and diagnosis. There were parts of the book where I honestly had to remember I was reading a book, and there was no need for my own anxiety to ramp up because the main character is so anxious. If you have Anxiety, take care, it's just a book!

Paris is adorable! Tariq is fabulous! I love Tariq's family too! The baking competition is such a fun story line. I know this review talks about it a lot, but the thing that stuck with me the most was the honest portrayal of anxiety and mental health. Absolutely spectacular!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have so many feelings about Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble and I can’t make sense of any of those thoughts in my head.

Paris is picked to be on Bake Expectations. Paris also doesn’t know why he was picked to be on this show because he is convinced that he is just. not. good. Paris meets Tariq and they become friendly & form a relationship. However, things turn sour (baking or cooking pun anyone??) because Tariq just can’t handle Paris’s issues…

While I knew that Paris was struggling with a lot of anxiety - enough to the point to have a serious mental illness - I really struggled with his character. Enough to the point that I severely disliked his character. He pissed me off. He made me so angry. But I connected with what he was feeling and I just wanted him to get better.

It wasn’t until the last 25% of the book when I really noticed some character development and mainly because of the therapy and him accepting when you have a mental illness, you need help. As someone who also struggles with depression & anxiety, I struggled with the fact that I didn’t like this character for so much of the book. But he hit his downfall and sometimes you have to hit the rocks before you can understand what you need to do to get better.

Overall, I give the book a solid 3. I can’t give higher because of my struggles with the character. Also, I am majorly struggling with the fact that we don’t get closure about his parents. Are they in a coma and no one at the hospital thought to find their family? Did they truly abandon him? Have they been on a 4 month holiday and just don’t have cell service? Are they dead and he can’t accept their passing?

Huge thank you to NetGalley & Forever - Grand Central Publishing for this ARC for my 100% honest (seriously) review!

I really enjoyed the references and nods to GBBO. I could really visualize the show as described-I felt like I was there!

While I appreciated the realistic and relatable mental health representation the book provided, the whole thing felt rather anti-climactic. I enjoyed reading about the contestants and their time on the show, but everything else about the book was a bit boring to be honest.

Paris’s battle with depression and anxiety was extremely relatable, but I just didn’t care for him in general. It was hard to root for a character you didn’t like.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love Alexis hall! She have so many great books out there!
This book was so amazing. I love the concept of everything!
Some of the writing was too much especially with all the crying and some other things.
Truly I love this book! It’s a great read and it might start off slow for some people but it’s amazing!

I love, love, love alexis hall as an author! truly one of the best! with that being said, I really wanted to love this book. I thought the concept was great and the characters had potential but there’s one issue: the anxiety representation.

while I always appreciate the anxiety representation so much and some of his anxiety and stress triggers were relatable, the sheer amount of them was a bit much. the crying, the what-ifs and persistent denial of other characters got exhausting after awhile…

truly, paris could’ve been a fantastic character with absolutely perfect anxiety rep IF this book was written with dual POVs. with dual perspectives, we would’ve had the ability to have more of a connection to the romance and a bit of a break from paris. honestly, he was just too much, 100% of the time.