Mels spirits have been low since her divorce. That mixed with watching dates go sideways from her spot behind the bar is 100 proof that love isn’t real.
Enter Bebe and her partner Kade, an alluring married couple who shakes up Mels life with an interesting proposition. Bebe would like to date Mel. While Mel was new to polyamory, she sees it as an opportunity to take a shot at dating again. At first, Mel wants to keep things casual, but… sip happens.
TJ Alexander displays their excellence at creating characters that feel authentic and unique. Each relationship’s development was thought out and didn’t feel rushed. There was a perfect cocktail of plot and spice. Also, no third act breakup! Don’t get me wrong, there are times the characters make pour decisions and they have to resolve the conflict like any good romance.
Triple Sec is the perfect romance for anyone who likes their whiskey straight and their books gay!

WARNING, this book will make you thirsty in more ways then one. I cannot get over these characters and I refuse to move on from it until each person I meet knows how good this book is. TJ has a way with describing food and drink that really leaves you pulling up your doordash because there is no way in hell you will stop
reading this page turner. If you watched the Lavender Haze music video and thought, “wow Taylor Swift is both hot and artsy I want to make out with that person TOO”, THIS IS FOR YOU.

Synopsis:

As a bartender at Terror & Virtue, a swanky New York City cocktail lounge known for its romantic atmosphere and Insta-worthy drinks, Mel has witnessed plenty of disastrous dates. That, coupled with her own romantic life being in shambles, has Mel convinced love doesn’t exist.

Everything changes when Bebe walks into the bar. She’s beautiful, funny, knows her whiskeys—and is happily married to her partner, Kade. Mel’s resigned to forget the whole thing, but Bebe makes her a unique offer: since she and Kade have an open marriage, she’s interested in taking Mel on a date.

What starts as a fun romp turns into a burgeoning relationship, and soon Mel is trying all sorts of things she’d been avoiding, from grand romantic gestures to steamy exploits. Mel even gets the self-confidence to enter a cocktail competition that would make her dream of opening her own bar a reality. In the chaotic whirl of all these new experiences, Mel realizes there might be a spark between her and Kade, too. As Bebe, Kade, and Mel explore their connections, Mel begins to think that real love might be more expansive than she ever thought possible.


Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest
review.

Such a great book. I love the dynamics of all the characters, and everything was very well-paced. One of my favorite things was the way that there was no 3/4 of the way break up like there is in most romance novels. Of course they come across struggles, but it seemed so much more real because it didn't follow the stereotypical format. Each person has their own personality, and I loved getting to know each and every one of them (Kade especially). DEFINITELY read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC!

I was very excited for a poly romcom! TJ Alexander has always wrote LGBTQ+ characters with so much depth I knew I'd fall in love with each character in Triple Sec. I found myself instanly drawing in with our main gal Mel who is trying to recover from her divorce and struggling to still believe in love. Then we have our couple: ray of sunshine Bebe, and stoic Kade. Bebe is not only an intelligent woman but funny and absolutely endearing, while Kade is our quiet but charming artist.

What I loved most about this book is the self-discovery Mel goes through in finding what type of love she wants and needs from both partners. For her to have no understanding of Polyamory and to find herself going from divorced, to a partner of a married woman, to dating both individuals is a lot of change mentally. I think this book did excellent on the importance of communication between partners.

Anybody who's met me already knows that TJ Alexander is one of my must-read, go-to authors, and I love putting their books into the hands of other romance readers. Intellectually, I know that not every book they write will end up being a five-star experience for me, that someday one of their books will not quite land and I'll feel mildly disappointed.

Well, I'm happy to report that today is not that day. I thoroughly enjoyed Triple Sec, which follows Mel, my new favorite jaded bartender, as she discovers that love can be richer and more expansive than she ever imagined.

The novel's secondary characters, including Mel's love interests and best friend, are all likeably imperfect and (gasp!) mature, and each one read to me almost like somebody I might know in real life. I loved watching how they supported and encouraged each other, despite their shortcomings and different initial attitudes regarding romance and responsibility. Watching Mel struggle with her shifting perspective throughout the book felt so natural, and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face when she finally became who she needed to be in order to be happy as an individual. That she also found love and happiness with her partners was truly the garnish.

To put it as simply as I can, Triple Sec was a delight from start to finish. I can't wait to read it again and to share it with my favorite romance readers.

Cheers!

Thank you so much to Net Galley, TJ Alexander, and the publisher for this eARC! i had such a fun time reading this refreshing romcom. It was the perfect balance of witty, sexy, and sweet. I loved reading about all three characters which is a hard thing to accomplish. So kudos to Alexander for creating three likable love interests! The subject matter was new and exciting to me as I've never read a modern Poly romcom before. The communication and growth within all the relationships were so lovely and I was so happy for them all. It did not follow the usual romance structure and it was very enjoyable.

Alright, time to review Triple Sec by TJ Alexander.
First of all, favorite book of the year; no competition, I will be shouting from the rooftops about this book until I die.
10/5 stars; 4/5 spiciness

Second of all, this will be a short review simply because I don’t even have the words to gush about this book enough. If you like romance, queerness, and low-stakes conflict, go read it. Like, now (or as soon as it’s published).

A poly romance between a bartender, a social-butterfly lawyer, and a nonbinary autistic artist? It was sweet, it was smutty, and it was SO GOOD. I knew within two pages that I would love it, and I did.
You know when authors joke about “The worst part of writing is that I have to actually write my book?” Yeah, my book has been written for me, now. Somehow, someway, TJ Alexander wrote exactly the book I’ve been working on—to the point where it’s a little creepy.
But I adored it. The characters were fantastic and their relationships were adorable. It was fast-paced and I literally read it in four hours. And, as someone who normally hates smut scenes in romance books… the ones in this book, I ate them UP.
The only problem I have with the book is that it’s over /hj. So, I guess that means I gotta write my own (TJ Alexander, if you read this, I love you and would die for you ok thank you bye❤️)

CW: misgendering, sexual content (very much on-page), ableism

I loved this! The character growth, the character identies and their own self awareness was captivating. Each one brought something truly special to their building relationships & it was so beautifully well done. Will def recommend to anyone who likes sapphic, poly, NB, or just a really well done romance.

This was a pretty fun read overall. The fun parts were just sporadic for me though. Like I would be super interested & then bored, but then a couple chapters later, I would be super into it again. I will say that I really did enjoy Mel's personal story more than the relationships that she was in.
I didn't feel like anyone other than Mel had a strong presence, they were there/around but not dynamic enough. They all felt a bit horizontal for me.
At some points, I was honestly more interested in the Mixology competition than anyone else.
My favorite bit of drama was with Haircut in the first few chapters.

The fact that a story with the poly/queer representation is being traditionally published is such a huge accomplishment in our world today.

Baby’s first poly book!

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this novel but I loved TJ’s prior work (Chef’s Kiss), and I wasn’t disappointed. The writing is top notch, funny and sexy.

Mel is recently divorced when Bebe, a gorgeous blond lawyer, takes a seat at her bar. Bebe is married to Kade, an artist, and the three enter into a polyamorous relationship. At times, the book did feel a little like a how-to guide on polyamory (communication is key, etc etc etc) but the characters and their interactions also felt genuine.

The dedication (to sluts everywhere lol) was reason enough to read this one. Also, I can’t think of a sluttier or sexier setting for this book than a high end cocktail bar - I kept reaching for a drink both to cool myself off from some blush inducing spice and because the cocktail descriptions in here were just so mouth watering. I too am a tequila lover.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

The way I was giggling and kicking my gay little feet the entire time I read this should be studied!!!! I ate this book up and had so much fun with these chaotic queers. TJ’s writing is so witty and heartfelt and they have such an innate way of writing joy-filled and balanced queer love stories.

I found Mel to be a very fun main character, even though she’s kind of a silly goose. I don’t drink but I sure as hell would be a patron at her bar.

I loved this so much!!!!

This was a fun read! It was great to read Mel’s journey throughout the book as she learned to love and let herself be loved again through not just one but two partners.

The patience that Bebe and Kade had with her was fantastic and I loved how they helped her through the hurdles of learning how to be poly as this experience is a first for Mel as well.

Yeah, it had some predictability but there was also a realness to the journey that made this book feel cozy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc of this book to read.

Loved this spicy, quick read. I have never read a poly romance and this one was a great entry into the genre. The romance between three unique humans was special and fun. Will recommend.

I read all of TJ's backlist this year and just love their writing so so much! I can't wait to see what they write next and they've already cemented themselves as an autobuy author for me. So when I heard that their next book was going to be poly with a nonbinary MC...I was in, no questions asked! And boy, did this book deliver! Not necessarily in ways I expected, but I loved every second of the journey and really weas invested in the characters!

Mel is a bartender at a pretty posh bar - she's a little down on her luck and a LOT not looking for a relationship - but then Bebe walks into her life, and she is so vibrant that Mel can't help but be pulled into her orbit. Unfortunately (or so Mel thinks), Bebe is married and her wife Cade shows up to the bar....but here's the good news - it's not a problem because they have an open marriage! Mel is intrigued but wants guidelines of how this relationship is going to work, with one of those stipulations being that her relationship with Bebe remains casual. As Bebe and Mel continue to date, lines blur and Mel finds herself also intrigued by Cade - and catching feelings for both of them.

This book was super easily devourable (I read it in a morning in one sitting) and I think a really good intro to different kinds of relationships! I really felt the chemistry between all the characters and I thought it was so interesting to see how the relationships developed at different times and speeds. This is one of few books that I think really benefits from it's single POV so we can really get inside Mel's head and understand how she is processing this all.

I was somewhat surprised that this book was not quite as spicy as I expected! It was a really interesting moment for me that allowed me to evaluate why I thought it would be spicier - just because it was poly? (really I think it was moreso that I really enjoy reading group scenes so was hoping for a little more of them!) But, I actually think it fit the tone of the book quite well - I think the scenes that are in there are really representative of the characters moving the relationship(s) forward through intimacy. And despite there only being a few spicy scenes, it is HELLA kinky! The communication between the characters throughout the books but also during intimate scenes was also incredibly well done.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.25/5

This was my first book by TJ Alexander and it absolutely won't be my last.

I think the thing I loved the most about this book was TJ Alexander's voice throughout. Their joy is infectious and they had me constantly laughing while reading. Their dialogue is so quick and witty and I absolutely loved watching Mel interact with the people in her life. The banter was top tier, especially between Mel, Bebe, and Kade.

The representation in this book is fantastic. I really enjoyed Mel's journey in forming this relationship with Bebe and navigating her feelings of finding love again. It was so great to watch Mel with Bebe and then see the contrast of Mel with Kade. I really liked how each character was so specific and unique and brought a great dynamic to the polyamorous relationship.

Overall, TJ Alexander just excels in queer joy. This book is hopeful while still rooted in reality and is just a fun reading experience.

Thank you TJ Alexander, Atria, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

(I was gifted this ARC by NetGalley and Simon and Schuster in exchange for a fair and honest review). This was somehow my first TJ Alexander read, and I’m so glad I already have more queued up and ready to! I read this as part of the trans rights reads marathon and devoured it in basically one sitting (okay with some mandated sleep and adulting work in between) but in a perfect world I would’ve read it straight through. This is like nothing I’ve ever read before. I was a bit intimidated by it and the idea that there was a polyamorous relationship at the soul of it, because while I’m a member of the queer community, there’s still not a lot of light shed on the poly aspect of it and what that looks like or what variations in could look like. I loved the progression of each relationship and where things ended up, the development of each character and how they approach relationships and love and communication and boundaries. How the book poked fun at poly jokes and misunderstandings while educating and having fun. A great read! I hope there’s a Daniel spin off so I can see what Bebe, Mel and Kade are up to down the road!

Thank you to Atria for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Triple Sec is a fun queer and poly romance that centers around Mel, a down on her luck bartender still reeling from her divorce and struggling to make ends meet. Bebe sits at Mel's bar one night and the two hit it off, until Bebe's wife Kade arrives. Mel thinks that she was looking for vibes that weren't actually there, until Bebe and Kade tell her that they're poly and Mel's world view shifts.
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The book had the potential to be great, but I think it fell flat. Every character in the story was one simple note, and that note always boiled down to their career. Mel was insufferable and childish. I think the exploration of the poly relationship was an attempt at showcasing that all relationships look different, but instead came off as snobbish and elitist. I didn't find any of them to be intriguing or interesting and beyond the reach of the basic romantic plot, I found them quite boring. I haven't read anything by TJ before to know if this book is a good example of their work, but unfortunately it fell really flat for me.

This was a very fun polyamorous romance, and one that I actually felt good about reading and recommending! There were common misconceptions about polyamory, and it felt like a really good intro to people who aren’t invested in polyamory. This would be a great place for people to start with poly romance, because it’s one of the more responsible ones I’ve read– not to mention, the chemistry was great and so were the dynamics between the main trio! I've been looking for and craving a poly romance like this one. Spectacular work from TJ Alexander!!
A fun, sexy romance novel that does polyamory right! If you’re looking for a romance novel to fill you up with butterflies and other sorts of flutters, this is the one for you.

"triple sec" is a charming polyamorous rom-com where mel, a bartender at a fancy bar in new york, is enamored with bebe, a captivating and flirtatious lawyer—who is actually married to kade. as it turns out, bebe and kade have an open marriage, so mel agrees to go out with bebe for some casual, no-strings-attached fun, until she inevitably catches feelings. what follows is a beautiful story about opening your heart up to the possibility of falling in love and a wonderful dynamic between mel, bebe, and kade. i absolutely loved this book and completely ate it up, and i'm pretty sure tj alexander will become one of my auto-buy authors after this. whether you've read polyamorous romances before or you're just starting to dip your toes, i would absolutely recommend "triple sec"!

Did I drop everything I was doing to read this ARC all in one day? Yes. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Was I giggling and blushing like an idiot the entire time reading this? Yup. Is this my new favorite romance? Probably yes.
This was an absolute joy from start to finish. With extremely loveable characters, amazing scenes of communication, spice, and an engaging storyline, I think this might be the perfect romance! Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy when it is released in June!