I love this book so much. I am always excited to read what TJ Alexander writes, but something about this book was so charming. Mel, Bebe, and Kade were all such fleshed out and real characters. The relationships between them all felt so loving and respectful, and the poly representation was so beautiful. I could feel how much they all cared for each other, and the conflicts felt necessary without being a stereotypical third act breakup. My only gripe is that this book wasn’t 50 pages longer so I could’ve gotten to read more about all three characters in a loving relationship.

A fun read! Interesting topics and well written. Great characters!

Thank you NetGalley and TJ Alexander!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Besides the basics, I honestly didn’t know much about polyamory but I felt that the author did a great job of informing readers on it through Mel, Bebe, and Kade’s relationship. I loved how well the communication was between the three of them and seeing their relationship develop. As for the characters themselves, I did wish for a bit more depth that went beyond their jobs. We got bits and pieces, but I just wished those areas had been explored more.

I can see where a certain type of reader would love this but unfortunately, this book did not work for me. I think that the characters were well developed and the story was well planned out I just did not find myself falling in love with the main characters falling in love.

This is the first romance I have come across that has featured a polyamorous relationship as the main focus of the book, and it was way more intriguing to read about than I was expecting. While this may not be a type of relationship I would think about entering into, I loved the levels of respect and communication that these characters had for each other. This was such a beautiful example of how honesty and communication in any relationship can make everything easier. I truly enjoyed this read so much more than I was expecting to since I was a little hesitant to even read it. Mel, Bebe and Kade were so incredibly lovable. I even enjoyed the use of the bartending competition for the plot to move along with. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this read.

Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this is my first encounter wtih tj alexander’s writing, and i find myself pleased to say i had a great time!! a unique poly romance here where our main character mel dates a woman in an open/poly relationship, and then ends up falling for her metamour as well. the steam was steaming, the characters and their chemistry had me fanning myself and kicking my feet, and i love a romance with a wonderful personal growth arc. i also love how food and drink got incorporated and we got to know mel through her bartending journey. i am excited to pick up more of tj alexander’s work!

This was such a fun romp through New York with three very distinct, very well-written characters. It felt like such an honest interpretation of how one could stumble through learning about polyamory for the first time, to being in a polyamorous relationship and learning to thrive.

There were so many little, fun moments and laugh out loud moments. The nod to Mrs. Doubtfire was much appreciated.

“First dates were the worst. It was like having a job interview where you were also expected to be hot.”

I stuggled a little with this one I think only because it is so outside my little boring bubble (white, married to a man for 17 years, 2 kids, living in a suburb of tampa florida!). These people are so cool! I am an ally for sure. You do you, boo, you know.? Maybe i just struggled to connect to the story. I think this author is doing amazing things by writing stories about inclusivity and I commend them for it.!

TJ Alexander is the one author that never fails to bring a smile to my face from the opening pages! In their newest contemporary release, Alexander explores a polyamorous relationship between Mel, a NYC bartender at a swanky cocktail lounge, and married couple Bebe and Kade. I have never been in an open or polyamorous relationship, so I truly learned a lot from reading this book about a F/F/NB romance. That is why I will always read what Alexander writes because I trust their inclusivity and realistic portrayal of a range of topics including gender fluidity, identity, while challenging traditional conventions of heterosexuality and monogamy. There is humor, passion, vulnerability, character growth, and a delicious cocktail competition, making this romance refreshing, fun and sexy!

PS: did you know TJ is writing a regency romance next?! I cannot wait for their take on that subgenre!

I hope this is the first of many polyamorous romances published by mainstream houses!!! TJ Alexander is a sparkling voice in queer fiction and I was thrilled to see non-monogamous love and polycules written about with such empathy, charm and spice. Every time I see this book in a store, I start grinning again.

Triple Sec - what a perfect title for a book about poly relationships and the art of mixology! I truly enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to read more of TJ Alexander’s books that have been on my TBR for far too long. I am not poly and this is the first book I’ve read that involved a poly relationship and I felt like it was really well done (at least from an outsider perspective).

Mel is divorced and a bit jaded when it comes to love and relationships. She’s got a shaved head, tattoos covering her arms, and is super passionate about mixology. Then the illustrious Bebe walks into her bar one night and Mel immediately feels drawn to her. Only to later find out she’s married to Kade, a genderqueer stoic artist. Mel then finds herself thrust into the world of polyamory and learning that love is far more expansive than she would have ever thought possible.

There’s not a lot of drama in this book. And the interpersonal conflicts all resolve pretty quickly. But I really loved seeing how important communication was, especially since Mel was new to all of this. Rules can change. Dynamics can shift. Feelings can expand. The only thing that matters through it all is communication. And I loved how TJ included the ever-evolving list of guidelines throughout the book.

There was also plenty of spice in this book! And I loved seeing the different sexual dynamics at play depending on who was involved. Each of the three of them had different needs and interests and the way they navigated all of that was beautiful.

One of my favorite parts of the story though was all the mixology! I want so many of the cocktail recipes from this book! I wanted to try all of them (even the ones that ended up not being the best lol). The cocktail competition part of the story was great and (without giving spoilers) I love how it all played out in the end. I do wish we had gotten more of the throuple towards the end of the book because I would have loved to see how those relationship dynamics continued to evolve with time. The ending was a bit rushed and while I loved the epilogue, I really wanted more of the story between the final chapter and when the epilogue happened.

If you are looking for a funny, sexy, romance that is super queer and full of delicious drinks - you should definitely check out Triple Sec! And if you’ve never read a poly romance, why not make this your first one too! Also - how awesome is it to have a queer, poly romcom published by a trad publishing company?! SO FREAKING COOL!

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Queer and Polyamorous, Lesbian MC, Non-Binary MC, Prominent Gay SC

📝Tropes/Themes: Jaded Bartender, High Femme, Butch, Three Love Stories, Cocktail Competition, Lawyer, Artist, Lots of Spice!!, Snowed in Together, Poly F/F/X Relationship

⚠️TW/CW: Sexual Content, Alcohol Use, Homophobia, Transphobia/Misgendering, Ableism, Divorce

I have always loved poly romance, despite not being poly myself. A triad romance is always my go to, and I’m so glad that I was given a chance to read this.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't know where to start! This was refreshing and new. The writing was great, the story flowed nicely, and the pace was fast! I'm always excited to pick up a queer romance, but this was my first polyamorous queer romance. I enjoyed it! I wasn't sure what to expect as I've never experienced or seen very much polyamorous representation and I really liked watching this story unfold.

For the sub-plots, I'm not a drinker, but I liked the bartending aspect of the story. I'm a sucker for delving into the work lives of characters of books, so the more I see of their work, the more I enjoy (this must say something about me).

I would LOVE a deeper dive & backstory on Kade's character - I feel like a whole Kade backstory would be fun.

While on the topic of characters, something that was blatantly screaming in my face was the fact that the characters and their personalities were solely defined by their careers and sexual identities - very little else, in my opinion. While I have a love for the work aspect of it, and I acknowledge those parts of life are major, people <i>typically</i> are more than those things. I would have liked to see a bit more. There were attempts at times with Bebe making comments like "Kade and Mel are sooo alike" but to what extent? Was it off page?

I did a combination of listening & reading on Kindle and both experiences were great. The narrator did a wonderful job and kept me engaged.

After reading this book I’ve come to realize I am not into polyamory. It just wasn’t my vibe but the writing is good and there were moments in the book I enjoyed so I’m still giving it 4 stars.

This was a book I couldn't find myself interested in. Genuinely if I gave it a second chance to have more time to read it, I would probably get through it. But the first few chapters weren't compelling enough to make me want to keep reading.

The perfect poly romance! I love that the story is broken up into 3 parts I feel it really helped with the development of the romance

Mel, a jaded bartender at a swanky New York cocktail spot, attempts to rebound from her divorce with Bebe. When she learns that Bebe is in an open marriage, she enters into a relationship unlike anything she's ever experienced before. I wish Kade had gotten a little more airtime. We knew a lot about Bebe and Mel, but Kade felt like a mystery for 75% of the book. I liked the way Alexander explored the relationship dynamics in here, but without spoiling anything, one of the romantic twists felt a little insta-lovey. I was a fan of what played out, but I would have loved a little more build-up! I also adored the cocktail competition subplot and wanted even more of those details! Mel's dedication to it gave her character some added depth.

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander features Mel, a NYC bartender whose life changes when she meets Bebe, a lively lawyer, and Bebe's stoic artist wife, Kade. It's refreshing to see a traditionally published romcom with kitchen table polyamory, showcasing progress in queer representation. The romance is cute, supportive, and develops well, but the writing felt overly didactic at times, resembling a gender studies lecture. I found the explanations a bit too textbook and the characters somewhat shallow. Despite these issues, it’s an enjoyable, breezy read.

I loved this!! it's really exciting to see a polyamorous queer romance published by a traditional publisher. i enjoyed all three main characters and all the different relationship dynamics between them. the way their relationship unfolded felt really natural and true-to-life. major bonus points to this book for having a main character who works in the service industry, which is something i always want more of in romance!

Triple Sec by T.J. Alexander

Thank you so much Atria Books #AtriaPartner for the gifted copy!

Blurb:
A jaded bartender is wooed by a charmingly quirky couple in this fresh and sizzling polyamorous rom-com, set in the glamorous world of high-end cocktail bars.

✨ My thoughts:
So fun and hot, the only way to read it is to DEVOUR it. I’ve never read a “why choose” so it was new to me but I’m not mad at it. I’m pretty sure my eyebrows were in my hairline and I said “Ooooo!!” Out-loud way more times than I can count. Mel, Bebe, & Kade all stole the show in their own ways and all had lovable traits. I also found myself parched and very thirsty… take that as you will. Ha! But really, between the bright and colorful cover, the colorful story, and the cute cocktails on the chapter pages, what’s not to enjoy? If you’re into the why choose trope, rom coms, or grumpy x sunshine x grumpy (yes you read that right), this is a hot read for the summer! Triple Sec is out NOW!

And from the best Acknowledgments section I’ve ever seen….

“And finally, a soft, tender, well-deserved forehead kiss to everyone who loves their own way, with their whole heart, in defiance of anyone who tries to tell you otherwise. Cheers, my loves.”

Happy reading! 📖