A generous 3 stars. Not Alexander's strongest. The characters felt very... flat? And the pacing was all off. Like the third person doesn't become a part of the mix for the MC until 80%?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

TJ Alexander books are a bit hit or miss for me, but I really enjoyed this one!

I absolutely loved the cast of characters in this book. They were so fun, relatable and made me want to be friends with them.

I loved the plot, and I wish I got a bit more of the competition piece.

I would rate this book as a 3.5. Divorced bartender Mel meets bubbly, engaging lawyer Bebe at her bar and soon learns that Bebe's wife, non-binary artist Kade is also in the picture. But Bebe still would like to date Mel. This was a book where I wanted more development (Mel's family is hinted at, but never really discussed; we don't get much of what makes Bebe tick; there isn't as much of the full polycule dynamic as I might have wanted), but not necessarily more book. The length was good, and I don't know how I would have fit more in, but I just needed a little more connection. But overall I enjoyed the evolving relationships and the writing.

2.5 rounded to 3

This one started out promising and ended with a spicy HEA. So that I liked. However, in the middle I sort of lost interest. Almost gave up. Had to skim a little.

I was glad there was an eventual connection between Mel and Kade, the threesome really seemed off with that bond existing. Bebe was definitely the star of the relationship, a real free spirit so I can see why Mel was drawn to her. I think I liked Mel the best.

I didn’t really get the point of the food/beverage competition…it was background noise that popped up here and there. It just didn’t really add anything substantial to the story. If I could’ve swapped that out for more drama I would’ve totally done it lol.

The relationship with Kade and Mel just felt off to me, like there was a disconnect. I guess it was supposed to though since Bebe was like the glue that bound them together.

I think I would’ve liked this one more if there was more witty banter and tension built up and maybe more humor. The write up talked about how funny this one was, I didn’t get humorous vibes though. This one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Netgalley andAtria/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC. This was an honest review.

It was a steamy and enjoyable story. Mel's character and the fact that she was a bartender made me love her. I loved Mels exploration of self discovery and falling in love with a polyamorous couple. I enjoyed reading about how this relationship works.

My favourite part of the story was when Mel wanted to open her own bar and entered a mixology contest. As a reader, I was charmed by the uniqueness of this couple and how they came to love and care for each other.

This is my second book by TJ Alexander and I had so much fun! I had never read a queer polyamorous story before and I feel that this was a great introduction.

I enjoyed all the characters in this book and since I am a sucker for friendships, really loved Daniel and Mel’s banter and the development of Kade and Mel’s relationship.

The fact that this took place in the hospitality industry, and the descriptions of cocktails were just the cherry on top.

I didn't fully know what I was getting into with this book. This story centers around Mel and the various relationships in her life. It explores polyamory and as a first time reader in this category, it read as any other romantic story. I kept wanting to know more and curious how Mel was going to navigate this lifestyle. An exciting story and lovable characters. Would recommend!

My Pride Month reading has been stellar and this book was no exception. This was sweet and spicy and THE BANTER was making me squeal and blush the whole way through. It also left me in desperate need of an invitation to the next party with Mel, Bebe, and Kade.

Top 3 reasons to read this:
🍸 Three new characters to crush on
🥃 Pure queer joy
🍷 Drink inspiration for your next brunch

Thank you so much to Atria and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this poly romcom! It’s fun and sexy and I fell head over heels for all three main characters. For an immersive reading experience I recommend having cocktails and snacks nearby. I also loved the Ray & Simone cameo.

**I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 stars. Even though this was not my usual type of reading I enjoyed it. It was about a poly relationship with Mel being the main character. But Mel is also going thru her own personal stuff she doesn't believe in love anymore and she pretty much doesn't believe in herself at least that is how I felt it. This is not really a love story its more like a journey story it follows Mel as she navigates this new relationship and opening herself up to the new circumstances of being in a poly relationship. Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the E-ARC.

If TJ writes it, I will read it! Clearly, as I never would have thought to find myself reading - and enjoying - a poly-rep romance... but here we are.

What I loved:
- Our NB Royal Kade... seriously my favorite character. I loved their personality and the deadpan humor they brought.
- Low key want Daniel's story and I am not even a fan of follow up stories in the same universe
- I want to try literally ever drink Mel made
- No third-act breakup! I like in TJ's stories that the conflict is external to the relationships
- Bebe was definitely a fierce queen
- Mel was so lovable!

My only critique is that I didn't really feel the "love" connection between Bebe and Mel. I felt it more between Mel and Kade, until they get together as a thruple. I think this was because the story was written in third-person versus first and maybe we would've gotten more if we were in Mel's head.

Otherwise, another sensational read by a new favorite author!

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.