My first book that features a polyamorous crew! There’s multiple layers to this plot and lots of fun mixology — as a former barista, I love hearing about drink combos! They all come from different walks of life and all of their personality are so different, yet complimentary

The development of the relationships is so vulnerable and seamless. I loved all of these characters which is so rare for me lately. It’s been a minute since I’ve had a 5 star read! Love how this progressed. Not too fast, but also not too slow.

Representation is so important! Love that peeps who are polyamorous might see themselves represented in these characters as one lived experience of many. Will definitely read anything that TJ Alexander writes next. :) initially didn’t know much about poly couple dynamics, and of course I’m sure everyone’s experience is different, but grateful for the opportunity to learn.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by this author and I absolutely enjoyed this fun one. A polyamorous plot / story is definitely different for me and outside my usual tropes, but I was all in. I enjoyed meeting all the characters, the story was easy to digest and I found it to be pretty funny. I do love rom coms and I do love a food related competition and in this story - it was a cocktail competition. I do love me a boujee cocktail. It was a 4 star experience for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Atriabooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Oh my gosh I am so in love with this book. I really resonated with Mel and her relationship anxiety, and I appreciated so much how as Mel grew as a person, she still made mistakes. Poly relationships, and relationships in general, involve a lot of 'learning as you go', and Mel navigated this learning curve in such a real way. Bebe and Kade were incredibly written characters as well. They were so lovely to read about, both in their relationship together and their relationships with Mel. As well as growing through her relationships, it was also wonderful to read about Mel growing through her career. Mel is a bartender, and enters a cocktail creation contest. As she goes through this journey, Mel learns a lot about herself and what she wants out of her career. I absolutely loved watching it happen.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc! 🍸

I’ve never read a book like this before and I really enjoyed it!! As the author says “three love stories for the price of one” 😂

I enjoyed all of the characters and thought they were all well thought out and appreciated seeing Mel’s growth throughout the book. She started closed off and not feeling worthy of love after her failed marriage and ends up finding love again with two people. Even the side storyline about Mel’s passion for creating cocktails and the competition were entertaining.
I really liked the connection between Mel and Kade and seeing their relationship develop.

I recommend this poly romance to anyone looking for a charming, sweet, funny, and upbeat romance book!

Contemporary romance
Polyamorous (FFX)
Third person
Love after divorce
Mature characters
NYC

“You’re being dramatic. A cocktail is a nice little thing, a luxury. It’s not going to change the world.” Jackson spoke up from the floor. “I don’t want to live in a world without nice little things. Do you?”

Rating: 3/5 – I enjoyed this book, but it isn’t one that I would re-read.
🌶️: 2/5 – a few explicit intimate scenes and a few closed-door scenes

TLDR: This is a lighthearted, poly romance with some nice lines and variable pacing. It’s enjoyable but not a home run.

When I first started this book, I thought “oh yeah” this is going to be good. It grabbed me. That didn’t last long and then I found that the book dragged until 50%. At 50%, I felt like the pacing picked back up and I was engaged again. Overall, I would say that I liked the relationship dynamics, but it was missing a little “je ne sais quoi” that makes me really invest in the romance of a story. The writing was good and there were a good number of lines throughout that were funny or pointed.

I was very excited about this book but I just struggled to connect with the story and the characters. I think I struggled with the writing as well, I'm not normally someone who has strong opinions on first versus third person, but with a dynamic like this one I wish we had gotten first person perspectives from each character to better understand and connect to them.

Thank you to Atria, Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I requested this e-galley on a whim and I am so glad that I did! The plot sounded intriguing to me and it did not disappoint. I absolutely adored the way that T.J. Alexander wove the story together and the prose was fun and seriously sexy. Seeing Mel grow and accept new things about herself and what love could look like for her was incredibly fun and inspiring. I loved that we got to see her grow confident in herself, her career and how she exists in a relationship. The underlying theme of craft cocktails and the art that goes into them was a perfect addition. I know very little about the word of polyamory and I felt that Alexander portrayed it perfectly. I couldn't wait to see how Bebe, Mel and Kade's relationships would unfold and I found the trials and tribulations they faced to be very realistic. It was also incredibly steamy and since I love a good steamy scene, this was right up my alley. Heartwarming, romantic, funny, and sexy- this romance had it all! I will most definitely be reading T.J. Alexander's backlist and will keep an out for their future books! 10 out 5 stars!

I was drawn to this story because of the polyamorous relationship, and I loved just about every minute of it.
 
I absolutely loved Kade, even though there were moments in the first half that I wasn't quite sure if I liked them or not. I loved the various amounts of representation involved and how the relationships were dealt with. I also absolutely loved the terms of endearment between each pairing, especially the use of last names as endearments.
 
I think for me, the biggest problem I had with the story was the first act and the only breakup scene between Mel and Bebe. I wasn't a fan of the way Mel handled herself, and I wasn't a fan of the end result, even if it was possibly the best result. I do wish we also got to know more about Bebe and her backstory the way we got to know Mel and Kade's. While there was quite a bit of miscommunication and self-sabotage, I do like that the other half of the relationship was willing and wanting to have an open conversation and fix any unwanted situations.
 
In the end, I overall enjoyed the romance as well as Mel's journey with the cocktail contest and her career as a mixologist, and I definitely intend to check out T.J.'s other works and potential future works as well.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 3 chilis
Pub date: 6/4

"Triple Sec" by T.J. Alexander is a refreshing and sizzling polyamorous rom-com set against the backdrop of high-end cocktail bars. Mel, a jaded bartender at the upscale Terror & Virtue in NYC, has sworn off love after witnessing countless disastrous dates and enduring her own divorce. Her outlook changes dramatically when she meets the charming Bebe, who, along with her partner Kade, proposes an unconventional but intriguing relationship.

I loved the unique premise and vibrant characters in this novel. Mel's journey from cynicism to self-discovery is compelling, helped by Bebe's bubbly personality and Kade's brooding yet tender nature. The dynamic between the trio is heartwarming and steamy, making for a read that challenges the traditional notions of love. I loved watching Mel's growth as she found the confidence to pursue her dream of opening her own bar.

As a bartender, I loved the cocktail bar setting and the drink descriptions that made me wish I could taste them myself! The balance of lighthearted fun and deeper emotional exploration made this book stand out.

"Triple Sec" is a delightful mix of romance, humor, and spice that exceeded my expectations. This book is fun and steamy but also moving, redefining what love can be. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria books for my advanced copy.

This was a super fun, STEAMY, queer poly romance between a married couple a recently divorced bar tender who aspires to own their own cocktail bar in NYC and enters a mixologist competition. With fully dimensional characters, emotional depth and a bit of drama, this was a great exploration of what a poly relationship can look like and perfect for fans of books like Timothy Janovsky's You had me at happy hour or Really cute people by Markus Harwood-Jones. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

thanks for the copy of this book for a fair review. This was the best Polyamorous romance book I have read. i hope more well written book with Poly representation come in the future as they have a very different dynamic that's interesting.

Thank you to @TJAlexander for the ARC! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the eARC! I was so thrilled to read this!

Once again, TJ Alexander crafts characters that are so endearing, the reader is imminently glued to the story. Mel, Bebe, and Kade are each so different and so effortlessly characterized - I loved and appreciated all three of them for different reasons. This story was such a compelling tale of emotional growth and redefining success, love and expectations as a human in American society.

On a lighter note, this book was cute 🥰, spicy 🥵 and had me giggling 😂 at times both at the humor and well-written banter between lovers. The various drinks throughout the novel had me wanting to go to the bar, get an adventurous cocktail and tip my bartender! This book will have you thirsty 😉😂
I adored every minute of reading this and I cannot recommend it enough!

T. J. Alexander is a relatively new to me author, but I'm loving what they're putting out. Not only was it a fun read, but I feel like I ended the book having gained a better understanding of relationships that look a little different from what we typically see. If you want an entertaining rom-com that's full of queer joy to add to your Pride reads, this is your book!

Triple Sec isn't the first poly romance I've read, but it's honestly so different from my previous experience with this dynamic that it feels like it is.

The first big difference is that, from the onset, Bebe and Kade have an open relationship where each is allowed relationships outside the marriage. Mel, at least initially, is only dating Bebe. The other books I've read with multiple partners are usually an established couple adding a 3rd or a group of 3 from the onset. I honestly don't know that I HAVE read another story with a couple that's in a true open relationship.

The other thing that really sets this apart is the HUGE focus on communication and building actual relationships. Honestly, that open, mature communication was one of my favorite things about this story. There's no doubt the relationship dynamics were a bit more complicated than a two partner, monogamous relationship, but the way they approached it and handled the changes as they came was refreshing. Where my other experiences with triads in romance novels felt wholly fictional, this book felt like an example of how healthy, respectful poly relationships could function in the real world.

Relationship dynamics aside, I especially loved Mel's passion for her career and her creativity with crafting new drinks. I really want to get my hands on that apple butter bourbon, maple syrup, cinnamon concoction that Mel deemed "sickening sweet." I don't even like bourbon, but that sounded delicious 😂

Okay, you truly can't ever count out TJ Alexander. There's nothing they can't do. I'm always a little bit hesitant to read poly stories, just because they can sometimes not feel truly 'all sides are equal'. This feels like that, where each love story (all three!) seems to be given time and space for the romances to develop and be enjoyed by the reader. Truly one of my favorite poly romances from a truly excellent and reliable author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨🍹✨ Happy Pub Day to Triple Sec by TJ Alexander! ✨🍹✨

I love every single book I’ve read by TJ Alexander, and Triple Sec is another new favorite! It’s perfectly crafted to be both humorous and heartfelt while also being packed full of chemistry! Full of NYC nightlife, swanky cocktails, swoon worthy romance, steamy connections and all the emotions - Triple Sec is a 10/10!

💖 Polyamorous Romance
🍹Cocktails
🗓️ Schedules
🌃 NYC
🏆 Competition
😹 Hoot & a Half
❄️ Snowed In
🫶 Friendship
❤️‍🩹 Healing
⛅️ Grumpy/Sunshine
🏷️ 3 Love Stories for the Price of 1!

I absolutely loved Mel, Bebe & Kade’s storylines and can’t wait to see what swoon worthy romances TJ Alexander will mix up next!

Method Read: 📖

Thank you so much Atria Books for the advanced copy! 📚

Happy pub day to this wonderful book! Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the ARC!

As with the other Alexander book I’ve read, I appreciate the representation they include in their stories. I think this might be the first polyamorous romance I’ve read, and it was unique and informative. I loved the MC and would very much like to be a guest at her bar someday. Alexander’s writing is fresh and fun, their characters well-developed and complicated, and the romance was solid. I did think a lot of the tension was way too easily solved, but in the end I didn’t mind it all that much because this book was just a delight to read!

4.5/5

This was not just a great book in terms of poly rep, but also just communication within relationships. I loved that there were hurdles along the way and new dynamics that needed to be navigated and that was all done in a healthy way.

I really enjoy TJ's writing and they way they make these diverse storylines so accessible! I will continue reading this author as well as promoting their work.

Triple Sec is an adorable polyam romance set in NYC. Mel is struggling to recover from a painful divorce and is putting up emotional walls everywhere. Everything changes when she meets Bebe and Kade. T. J. does a great job of easing Mel and the reader into polyamory. There are lots of vulnerable conversations and I loved how they used their relationship agreement. As someone who hates miscommunication tropes, this book was like catnip for me. They do go through struggles, but they work through them without causing significant pain to each other.
I loved that Mel's relationships with Bebe and Kade developed separately. It allowed the reader to get to know each of them individually and not just see Kade as an accent to Bebe. However, I do wish we got to see more of Kade and dive a bit more into their past and art. As they are more reticent, we don't get as much about them as we do Bebe and Mel.
One random pet peeve I had was the lack of family and side characters overall. We get the quick highlights on the three main characters, but none of them having family in their life felt a bit odd, even found family. Bebe and Kade host a brunch near the beginning and I would've loved to see those characters come back a bit more throughout. Daniel was great as Mel's bestie. I appreciated that they had moments of conflict and resolution. It helped keep things well rounded.
Overall, Triple Sec is an excellent romance novel, even better in how it showcases polyamory. Lists of polyamory book recommendations are often just reverse harem (I hate that term so much), which, while valid, is not most peoples polyam experience. It's totally a valid genre and relationship, I just love seeing more! I hope T. J. writes more and we see more in mainstream publishing.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

We need more stories with polyamory and I hope that Alexander's novel is the first of many to come!

Mel is passionate about bartending, specifically mixology. It's her own form of love, knowing that human love doesn't exist nor matter. That is, until Bebe walks into her bar. Bebe, strong, alluring and with a proposition: be apart of her open marriage. Things quickly become serious as Mel involves herself in both the relationship and a high stakes drinks competition. But it isn't anything a few drinks and time spent with friends can't solve.

I really felt like I even learned something while reading Triple Sec. The open communication, with the list being set, had me thinking about my own communication style. Triple Sec had the right amount of spice and I enjoyed how it wasn't just Mel and Bebe but also Kade involved in the relationship. The addition of the drinks competition brought an alluring component and kept my interest, although I felt more invested in these character's overall relationships with one another. Triple Sec flowed well as just Mel's point of view and I found myself binging this read in a few sittings.

Im a huge fan of TJ Alexander and was very excited for this polyamorous romance.

Mel is a divorced mixologist living in New York and doesn’t believe that love works in real life when she meets Bebe and things completely shift. Can love exist and what does that look like?

I thought this was cute and a great introductory into some polyamorous relationships and how that can look in a realistic way. I think with the nature of using this as a great way to teach people terms and functionality, there were times it felt a little tell not show but I really enjoyed the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an eARC