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

This was a nice pallet cleanser.
Especially since there is not much happening plot wise, I liked the characters and the romance. I do wish we saw more of Kade and Mel's relationship but oh well. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc

Absolutely fabulous from start to finish! A truly wonderful romance with the perfect splash of genuine emotion. TJ Alexander never disappoints. This book is not only perfect for readers who are forever seeking to see more queer love on the page but also for all lovers of romance.
Even with a single POV structure you get a true feel for each character individually. This book gives you the space to not only learn to love each of them, but also see the love story for each couple develop and grow in a truly believable way. Every step they take together feels real and meaningful to their love story.
A romance that perfectly toes the line of sweet syrupy fun and the serious emotions that give the plot more weight.
You will find yourself unable to put this book down, forever chasing down the next chapter. Positively aching to find out how it will end for Mel, Bebe, and Kade. Definitely recommend to all!

A fun read but felt that some of the characters were more 2D than others and maybe needed a slower plot to develop them more.

Triple Sec was the book that just made my heart sing. The story line was FANTASTIC, the character development was *chef's kiss* and the love story that wrapped it all into one. It may be a romance but this book covered many issues plaguing today's society; monogamy, gender fluidness and acceptance, love after heartbreak, polyamory, and over love for oneself. This book was well written and gave a great inside view to the things that many people are looking to understand.

Now, with that said, the book had some confusion for me. All the gender fluidness and pronouns were mostly explained, but one character I didn't really understand till the end and even now I'm not sure what exactly they are. But other than that, this book is a must read! Covers poly lifestyle in a light that most people can understand at it's roots, the characters were loveable and relatable, overall a funny lighthearted read to start your summer TBR!

I loved every second of this story. I love the poly representation and how it brings up worries and concerns in a new relationships. Awesome for new poly readers.

A poly romance between a bartender, a lawyer, and an artist? In this sweet NB/F/F Romance, see how three people navigate a new relationship dynamic and find a sweet romance. The story follows Mel, a bartender at a fancy NYC lounge. She's seen so many relationships and having just gotten out of a divorce herself, she isn't convinced love actually exists.. until she meets Bebe, a stunning and funny lawyer who flirts with her... and then introduces her to her partner Kade, a nonbinary artist. Bebe and Kade are married, but invite Mel to a party... and then to lunch to ask her to be Bebe's new partner, as Bebe and Kade are in a open polyamorous relationship. Mel has never done anything like this and begins to discover more of herself as she gets into this relationship and begins to fall for Kade as well. The three of them will explore their connections and what it means to be in a polyamorous relationship. This was a overall fluffy and sweet read, it was easy to get through and the conflicts were minor. The story itself is a cute one for anyone who is starting to read poly relationship books and wants to learn more. The book itself spends a majority of time educating both Mel and the readers about being in a poly relationship. While it was a cute and easy read, I was hoping for a bit more when it came to Mel and the overall story. I guess I was expecting something more or the characters having a bit more depth or even giving Bebe and Kade POVS would have been great. It's a fine story overall but I was just hoping for a bit more. I would definitely recommend it though!

Release Date: June 4,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

If you're craving a poly cocktail this summer, wrap your thirsty fingers around this sultry, sapphic novel by TJ Alexander (they/them). TRIPLE SEC, the author's fourth published novel, is a twisty mélange of romantic intrigue with a splash of professional hijinx sipped from a heartwarming Nick and Nora coupe glass.

Recently divorced Mel, a stuck-in-a-rut bartender, is in the middle of her shift when Bebe, the high-powered lawyer provocateur, wends her way into her bar. With sex appeal in droves, Bebe gets to the point with Mel: she's a married, polyamorous lesbian who wants Mel to serve her up more than just creative concoctions. Unbeknownst to Mel, however, is that she and Bebe have more in common than superficial allure.

Although Mel plunges enthusiastically into this pool of multiple sex partners, societal guilt about dating a married woman soon surfaces. You don't need an open marriage to love this book, just an open mind. You should also set aside misgivings about polyamorous/non-monogamous relationships to pay attention to the developing plot. In short, it's a delightful love story that develops between three diametrically contrasting characters set in the world of New York City's fancy mixology scene.

Alexander’s mix of protagonists includes a delightful cast of queer characters not often represented in other sapphic books, much less in general fiction. The publishing community could use more authors like Alexander to inject much-needed LGBTQIA+ diversity, equity, and inclusivity into literature today.

Although I enjoyed the novel in whole, my critique is mainly with the prose. Alexander's writing style is verbose and unpolished especially when illustrating the sex scenes; I could have done without the tawdry language. Also, a few chapters seemed underdeveloped, even rushed.

ARC review thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Triple sec was out of my comfort zone as a self-proclaimed prude. I felt a little like Mel, navigating my way around what poly relationships are like. I really enjoyed the characters and the underlying story beyond the relationships. It was written well and engaging. Great start to pride month!

🍸 I devoured this book in just over 24 hours. It was an absolute treat. Thanks to @atriabooks for the sneak peek. It’s out TODAY, and it’s the perfect book for the first pub day of #Pride Month!

🍸 A down-and-out divorced NYC bartender gets picked up by a customer— only to be pitched a polyamorous relationship. This one’s got:
- LGBTQ+ rep (obvi)
- polyamory and non-binary rep
- a deep personal journey

🍸 This was flirty and fun, and made me want to grab a cocktail, honestly! Is polyamory a lifestyle for me? Nope. But I enjoyed reading about how this one worked and the choices that went into everyone’s decision to be involved.

🍸 This also gave us a sneak peek into the thoughts of someone trying a different lifestyle for the first time. I enjoyed Mel’s journey as she sought out non-existent rules and tried to get everything right when there really was no strict right or wrong (minus caring about others, obvi). Her personal journey really made this book sing.

🍸 I’m glad books like this exist in the world. I hope it makes some people feel seen, and others expand their horizons. I’m grateful to authors like @tjalexandernyc for putting art like this into the world. Happy pub day!