Triple Sec is a triple threat (ha) romance with an excellent cast, lots of heart, and a handful of delightful spicy scenes.

Jaded bartender Mel no longer believes in love after the ending of her decade-long marriage. She meets Bebe and is instantly drawn to her. Bebe and Mel begin dating, and eventually, Mel begins dating Kade, Bebe’s wife as well, until they form a triad, all while Mel is practicing for a cocktail competition.

The pacing of this one is <i> so fast </i>, like I was at 50% and five seconds (probably actually an hour) later, I looked down and was at 75%. Triple Sec is a fast easy read that focuses more on the here and now of Mel’s relationship(s) than having her wallow in the past with lots of internal dialogue as romance with divorced characters are sometimes wont to do, understably. But with Mel we get this fresh forwarness that I really enjoyed. Every problem our intrepid heroes encounter is discussed and problem-solved like well-adjusted adults. There is no contrived interpersonal drama, which was GLORIOUS TO READ. Even a tense run-in with Mel’s ex-wife was awkward but fine. And that is something that we see so rarely in romances, and I honestly loved it and I think it’s a big part of why I read this book in a 24 hour period. It was delightful and I will be checking out TJ Alexander’s backlist based off this read!

Triple Sec is much like Mel’s favorite drink, a paloma—refreshing, light, and easy to consume in one sitting.

I received an advanced copy for review. Thanks to Netgalley, Atria/Emily Bestler, and TJ Alexander for the ARC.

Thank you @atriabooks for a copy of this book. Mel is a bartender at one of the hottest spot and meets Bebe and there's instant connection. Mel learns that Bebe is is married but is in an open relationship. The story explores how an open relationship develops between Mel, Bebe and Kade. I thought the story was cute but I felt like I didn't get to know the characters and the love develop.

A 3.5 for me that I feel comfortable rounding up to a 4. This was my first foray into fiction that focused heavily on an open relationship/polyamory dynamics. I don't know much about all of the rules of ethical non-monogamy and have never been in the lifestyle myself so I can't speak about the accuracies/ethics or not in this book. I can say that I enjoyed reading it but I didn't find myself overly connected to the characters or blown away by their connections. I bought all of it but it wasn't a butterflies level romance for me so it sits at the 3.5 rather than higher.

The story follows Mel working at a fancy cocktail bar. Mel is super passionate about the art of drinking cocktails but her passion is being smothered a bit by the restrictions of the cocktail bar. One night she meets an enchanting lady, Bebe, who she has a little crush on and flirts with only to find out later she's married to a stoic, nonbinary human named Kade. Mel is even more confused when she is invited to a brunch at their home. Turns out Bebe wants to date Mel as the marriage to Kade is an open situation. Mel ends up on a journey not only of dating within an existing couple but also entering a cocktail competition she hopes can put her closer to her dream of owning her own bar.

It was interesting to see how this book was plotted. Like the relationships portrayed within it, it couldn't follow the "standard" romance timeline because of the many relationships that had to be explored and built. The author billed it as 3 romances for the price of one and that feels pretty accurate. The middle part felt a little disconnected and not as flushed out for me almost as if this could have been a series of three books rather than just the one. I don't know but I thought Alexander did a good job at making me as the reader invested in seeing what would happen and keeping me interested and informed along the way. I continue to be excited to see what Alexander does as they continue to write.

I received a free ebook copy of this from Atria Marketing for review. I also ended up coincidently receiving a physical ARC copy from Goodreads.

T.J. Alexander is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. I love how they take tropes or types of relationships I’ve seen before, but present them in a completely new way. In the past when I’ve read polyamorous romances they’ve been about an existing couple that adds a third and instantly becomes a triad. So I thought it was really interesting in Triple Sec that Mel starts dating Bebe, but initially Bebe’s wife Kade is not involved at all with Mel. Later on Mel and Kade do begin their own romance, and it was a lot of fun seeing everything evolve separately and then together.

I loved all of the characters individually. Mel is a bartender who is apprehensive about a new romance after her divorce. She has a lot of development when it comes to opening up and trusting romantic partners again alongside her professional development of creating new cocktails and wanting to open her own bar. I also loved how Bebe and Kade seemed like complete opposites. Bebe is very bubbly and easygoing while Kade is a more serious, reserved artist. I especially enjoyed watching the scenes where Kade lets their guard down a little bit and starts to get closer with Mel.

Something that I really appreciate with T.J. Alexander’s writing is how they use descriptions of food and drinks. Everything is just bursting off the page, it adds so much atmosphere to the story. And it’s not just extraneous description, Mel is so passionate about mixology and cocktails, so seeing her love for her career intensifies those parts of the plot.

Definitely check this one out if you’re in the market for a queer, polyamorous romance. It’s a fun, sexy read that also touches on topics like healing after a serious breakup and learning to trust again.

Triple Sec is a beautiful representation of one of the many forms love can take. The story follows Mel, a divorced bartender at a high-end cocktail lounge in NYC, as she embarks on a journey into the world of polyamorous dating. Her path is filled with discovery, personal growth, and unexpected connections.

This was an entertaining, uplifting, and spicy read. TJ Alexander does a remarkable job creating characters that are both relatable and deeply human. Even though I don't have personal experience with polyamory, Alexander made it easy to connect with the characters' journeys and emotions. Themes of healthy communication, honesty, love, and support are delightfully front and center, making the relationships feel authentic and inspiring.

In addition to the compelling romance, I enjoyed the detailed depiction of the cocktail scene in NYC, complete with intriguing recipes and insights into life in the service industry. It added a unique and enjoyable layer to the story.

Triple Sec is perfect for readers seeking a romance that breaks traditional molds with its heartfelt and spicy narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I've never read a poly romance before, so I wasn't totally sure what to expect. And I liked this! The communication was absolutely next level and I really enjoyed each character individually as well as their relationships with each other. I do wish there had been more of their dynamic as the three of them together. The cocktail competition subplot gets a little bit buried, but I do really enjoy it. This was a fun read!

I'm consistently entertained and impressed with the work that TJ Alexander does.

Somehow Alexander has managed to capture and center a polyamorous relationship in a way that seems both genuine and real. I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry between all three parties: Mel, Bebe, and Kade. However, I think my favorite character was Bebe - solely because her energy matches mine the most.

This is a lovely and uplifting story about love and the many forms that it can take. It's a feel good experience!

There is spice sprinkled throughout - though I don't think takes away from the plot, and if anything adds to the chemistry between the characters.

It's also a really great insight into examples of polyamory and what it -could- look like. I think that it's incredible that it's being traditional published and I cannot wait to see this one in stores!

Also, LOVED the cabin scene. I could read a whole book of just that trip.

This book will have you wanting to grab a nice cold cocktail while you read. I enjoyed this book, it was a fun and light quick read. I liked the dynamics between Mel, Kade, and Bebe. This book did leave me wanting more though, I wish there was a little more emotional depth on the page (and a few more spicy scenes because the ones that were in the book were fab). This is a great book for people wanting to dive into their first book involving a polyamorous relationship. I think fans of Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly would enjoy this one.

BOOK REVIEW - TRIPLE SEC by TJ Alexander

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just wanted to thank NetGalley, Atria Books, and TJ Alexander for providing me with an eARC of "Triple Sec" for review. I enjoyed reading it!

The world that TJ Alexander created in Triple Sec is both immersive and refreshingly modern, which I found very engaging. As someone who appreciates a good romance, I felt this book offered a unique take on polyamorous relationships, done with much more depth and realism than some of my other recent reads.

One thing that stood out to me was the chemistry between Mel, Bebe, and Kade. As individuals navigating the complexities of their own lives and relationships, their dynamics felt authentic and deeply relatable. Mel's internal struggles and evolving feelings were portrayed with a blend of humour and sincerity that made her journey both entertaining and touching.

The mixology competition and Mel's career as a bartender added a layer of fun and excitement to the narrative, highlighting the importance of personal growth and self-discovery. I loved how Mel's involvement in the cocktail world led her to unexpected realizations about herself and her relationships. The exploration of polyamorous relationships and the intricacies of trust and communication was both heartwarming and insightful.

This book was so cute!!

I loved the cocktail aspect of it and how the author included all these details that immersed you into the world they created.

I loved all 3 characters and relationships but I think Kade might be my favorite. Kade is very standoffish at first but eventually falls under Mel's spell and they start to build a relationship that's 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Overall I loved how the author wrote the characters and interpersonal relationships. You get to go through each phase of the polycule getting to feel those feelings along with Mel.

Mel, a talented bartender still recovering from her divorce, meets Bebe, a charming and sexy lawyer, during a shift one night. Even when she finds out that Bebe is married and polyamorous, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to her, as well as Bebe's wife, Kade. And while she figures out her place in the relationship, Mel is also preparing for a major bartending competition that could open so many professional doors...

If you don't already know much about polyamorous relationships, this book will teach you. Though the build up is a bit slow and there is a lot of secondhand embarrassment to go around, Alexander creates a realistic relationship between Mel, Bebe, and Kade that addresses the complexity of poly relationships and the difficulty of trusting your feelings again after heartbreak. Approachable and educational without being pedantic, Triple Sec is also a love letter to cocktails and mixology without being pretentious. Spicy, enjoyable, intoxicating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read Triple Sec early in exchange for a review.

In a lot of ways, this is a quieter love story. It involves three people who begin as a married couple and a person one is interested in. It evolves over time with lots of communication and growing pains into a poly relationship.
I loved watching Mel navigate this new relationship as well as her evolution as a bartender with mad cocktail skills.
I would have liked to see a bit more of Bebe outside her partners.

This is one of my favorite books of 2024 so far! I love a sapphic poly romance with character development. Will be swooning over this book and its characters for a long time! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to Atria and Net Galley for this advanced copy.

This book is a beautiful ode to New York, and finding and becoming yourself in it. Mel showed we’re never really done growing or learning, even after we’ve been hurt. Triple Sec taught me about intersectionality, genderfluidity, and just—love. I loved Kade’s take on jealousy and its place in healthy relationships, queer or otherwise. And Bebe is magnetic. I want her as my friend. This was my first TJ Alexander, but it won’t be my last!

This is a hard DNF! I stopped at the 41% mark. I was bored the entire time and it never picked up. The polyamory did not feel real and just no connection at all. Not even the bartending part was interesting. This was disappointing.

After reading and loving Second Chances in New Port Stephen, I was thrilled to get hold of a copy of Triple Sec and could hardly wait to start reading. TJ Alexander's new novel stretched my boundaries, as this is the first polyamorous romance I have read, but I really enjoyed the story, loved the characters, and was completely smitten with each of them. As an added plus, I really enjoy a good cocktail, so the high-end mixology was a fun aspect of this novel.

For readers who prefer the spice to be closed door, this is definitely not the book for you! I am not a prudish reader, but that was one aspect of the book that I found a little bit much even for my spicy tastes. Overall, it was not a deal breaker, I just didn't feel that the explicit scenes were entirely necessary and to a small degree interfered with the believability of the emotional love story.

I respect TJ Alexander's forays into representing queer persons in their novels with wit and compassion very much, and look forward to their next novel very much! Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the digital ARC of Triple Sec by TJ Alexander. The opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC via Net Galley!

I have been trying to get more into romance as a genre, particularly queer romance, more this year since I am becoming more comfortable with my own queer journey. “Triple Sec” was the wonderful blend of flirtation, spice, and genuine human connection that I was looking for. It was breathtaking for some poly representation that was handled with care and reality. I enjoyed the read so much, and I look forward to looking more into TJ Alexander’s other works.

Mel is a bartender at Terror & Virtue, a swanky New York City cocktail. And that’s pretty much her life, as her recovery from divorce has been…not going well. But, that all changes when Bebe walks into the bar. They have an instant connection that Mel decides to take a gamble on, when Bebe offers to take her on a date, since she and her wife, Kade, have an open marriage. Things progress pretty quickly, emotionally and physically, and quite soon, Mel finds herself in over her head (or at least, that’s what it feels like) with Bebe. And not just with Bebe. Despite thinking Kade hated her, it turns out, they just express themselves in a much more subdued way. And the attraction/connection between Mel and Kade morphs into something greater as well. So, of course, then all three must figure out how they fit together in a way that works for each/all. At the same time, Mel is facing some low-key terrible workplace admin changes and enters a cocktail competition that has the potential to completely change her future. Honestly there are a lot of things going on that could completely change Mel’s life…and all for the better, if she can figure them out. Fingers crossed.

Alright y’all. It is with a *very* heavy heart that I say: I have extremely mixed feelings on this book. Now, to be fair, there is a chance I had really built it up in my head before starting, because I was so excited about it, and therefore my expectations were too high. Like, that’s totally possible. And yet…here I am, heartbroken that I didn’t just all out love it. Now, give me a chance to explain my feelings through this review to decide to give it a try (or not) yourself, because my reactions were so mixed, that if the things I did love (the plot, the pacing, the writing) appeal to you, then I would absolutely suggest giving it a go. Because maybe what I didn’t love (the chemistry) was a me problem and wouldn’t affect you in the slightest.

So, the things I loved. The setup was great. Mel as a bartender, the cocktail competition, her life plans, her relationship with her roomie/coworker/bestie Daniel, etc. I enjoyed some of the tropes too, like Mel and Kade getting snowed in together. I was super into all the art (and the inclusive look at what “counts” as art) and all the tattoos. The spicy scenes were few, but they were diverse (as far as preferences/light kinks), and well written. Towards the end, when Mel (finally) faces and gets closure with her ex-wife, I loved that it was satisfyingly “take that,” but also mature. And, of course, I loved the poly relationship that was central: the complexity of figuring out what that means for each involved party and how there is no prescription for how to be poly; it’s as varied and diverse as the people in the relationship. Beautiful and accepting and heart-filling. And just really, the general plot and pacing and storytelling were all smooth and compelling.

The things I wasn’t as into. Or, to be most clear, the one thing that was also big enough that it affected everything: the chemistry. I honestly never bought into Mel and Bebe and Kade. And to be clear, because I want to be very clear about this, it’s not because it’s queer and poly. I honestly couldn’t really buy into any of the paired off combinations either. I felt the Bebe/Mel spark right away, but it fizzled quickly for me and never came back. I feel like there was a lot of telling me the characters were attracted to each other and cared for each other. And if I’m being honest, quite a few times their actions absolutely followed that up. But the depth of believability in their connections – especially the deeper emotional ones, which are personally super important as far as investment in their outcomes – just never clicked for me. Maybe it’s because it’s told from Mel’s perspective, and she’s the one that’s a little walled off, unsure if she’s good enough/can handle the situation, spending all her time questioning, to such an extreme that, when she finally “gives in,” as it were, it didn’t feel right. Too fast of a switch? Maybe not enough reasoning why? And since she wasn’t super impulsive prior, it just felt off. I mean, all her choices prove she’s emotionally involved, and wants it all…so I don’t know why I didn’t feel it when she finally decided with her brain to follow what her heart was already doing. But the plain truth is, I didn’t.

As a small addition to this, I felt like the socioeconomic differences between Mel and Bebe/Kade were defensively/bitterly brought up in conversations a number of times, but never actually addressed, and in my heart of hearts, I feel like that’s going to be a point of stress moving forwards. Oh, and I really felt uncomfortable with the way Mel talked to/thought about Kade’s emotions/reactions. It felt a bit close-minded and I know it was likely from her own discomfort, but I was annoyed that Bebe never did much to help ease that for either side and that. And while Mel was willing to publicly fight for Kade, she also never really did much to question her own assumptions about them. That felt…not great, to me.

So here we are. The greater framework and story and relationship vibes were exactly what I wanted and I enjoyed the hell out of them. And the title and cover are damn gorgeous. But I didn’t vibe with the actual three individuals that were a part of this story and relationship. I wish I felt different. I look forward to reading more (including backlist) from Alexander though – the promise is there!

This is my first poly contemporary romance being published traditionally. I’m so glad that Atria is releasing this book to the world. I hope that someone is able to see themself or their relationship on paper and feel joy at being seen and represented.

“Triple Sec” as a title is a cute play on words and admittedly is what caused me to request the book in the first place. I’m absolutely in my margarita era, and apparently so is the rest of the world according to Mel.

I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters separately and in their relationships together. I felt a little bit disconnected to the emotional aspects of this book since it was written in 3rd person. I think had it been written in first person it would have pulled a little harder on my heart strings, and had me more invested than I ended up being. That being said, it was such a quick read, very fast paced and entertaining, and I never knew what was going to happen next so TJ Alexander kept me on my toes.

I loved this book so much. I love the trope of the jaded bartender. It is a trope that I, for some reason, just gravitate towards and love to read about. I've not read a lot of romance books about polyamorous relationships despite looking for them, so I loved being able to read this one and greatly enjoyed it. I love the dynamics between them and watching them figure out their relationships. This was such a good book that I loved to read, and if you are looking for a queer romance that also involved poly relationships, this is the book for you.