(4.5 rounded up)

TJ Alexander hits it out of the park again with their well-balanced novel, Triple Sec!

NYC bartender Mel is convinced love is a myth—until Bebe, a charming customer with a love for whiskey and an open marriage, walks in and offers her a date. Through her deepening connections with Bebe and Kade, Mel discovers that love can be more complex and fulfilling than she ever imagined. With new experiences on the rocks and a cocktail competition that could fast-forward her dreams of owning her own bar, Mel discovers that love, much like a perfect drink, can have unexpected and delightful twists.

The best part about three romances in one book means you can fit in all of the tropes! We’ve got a meet-cute that turns into a meet DISASTER, opposites attract but then there’s a “secretly alike all along” trope. Oh, and a forced proximity in Banff. BANFF! I’m sure you can see where that plot point is headed.

Every character in this novel- from our three heroes to their close circle of friends- are all people I would want to hang out with in real life. They all scream NYC cool, which makes sense, since they’re all bartenders, unstoppable lawyers, and artistic folks. While I found the end was missing something, I can’t quite put my finger on it. In the defense of Triple Sec, it could be due to the fact that I’ve been hit with a ton of “secretly meaningful” romances.

I also had fun listening to the audiobook copy! Jeremy Carlisle Parker narrates this quick and hilarious romance so seamlessly that you forget Mel, Bebe, and Kade are being voiced by the same person. When I would take an audiobook break and pull out my physical copy, I still could hear Parker’s bold yet bubbly Bebe. It’s the perfect book to listen to while multitasking; I very rarely had to back up to determine what was happening.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s just an all-around fun time, grab a copy of Triple Sec today! Who knows, maybe you’ll have your own meet-cute if you pair it with a visit to your local cocktail bar.

Thank you to Atria for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

I always love a slightly older protagonist with a bit of a messy back story. Lots of found family and a healthy representation of a polycule. Fun for summer.

I loved the love stories in this book! I am not in the queer space, so it was really interesting to learn about terms and different lifestyles from my own. I thought all of the relationships, both romantic and platonic, in this book were really sweet and fun to dive into.

4.5⭐
R🌶️

This romance went down as easily as a fancy cocktail at my tiki dive bar. A must read for the beach this summer (especially during Pride month!) as long as you are with your partner and not your family. 😉

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy and to Simon Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Mel is a bartender with hopes of owning a bar and selling her own craft cocktails. One evening, the mysterious Bebe arrives and flirts with her, inviting her to a brunch party. There Mel meets Kade, Bebe's partner. At first she assumes she misread the flirting, but then she learns they are in a polyamorous relationship.

I thought it was great to see a representation of relationships not often seen in traditionally published romances. And I especially appreciated the emphasis throughout on the importance of good communication and negotiation. I was also impressed by the other storylines that wove through the romance. This book made me want to try some new cocktails.

Jeremy Carlisle Parker was an absolutely phenomenal narrator for the entire book. Kade's voice was especially well done and recognizable, and I appreciated the whole performance.

DNF 30%, the book’s focus isn’t for me. What I read was very well written, and the characters are really interesting. The polyamory plot isn’t my thing, however. 4

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I need to get this book for my shelf!!
I loved the progression and evolution of this poly throuple.
Loved how unique these characters were but also how I could perfectly envision them. Bebe and Kade are a married couple who invite others into their relationship but Mel is different. She is the partner that completes them. My words actually, they are very realistic that not everything lasts forever and as long as they are happy with the situation
I loved the written rules and guidelines. The care that they took with eachother when Mel felt out of place or confused. Mel had a rough divorce and her ex wife made her feel like she was the problem.
The mixology and drink discussions were so fun and made me want a drink so bad lol.
I just loved this representation of a nontraditional perfectly happy queer relationship.

Thank you Netgalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and TJ Alexander for the ARC of Triple Sec. I must admit I didn't completely read the synopsis as I like going into books blind. With that said I also do not read a lot of Romcom, as this is the 3rd one this year and I would place it at the top. Simply put this book was entertaining, educational, and Hot! I purchased the audio narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker. They did a fantastic job. This was a fast read that made me blush and smile. I didn't quite get any tears but definitely read the Acknowledgements at the back as I thought they were a great part of the book. Now available on all formats-Kindle, Paperback, and Audio.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I love a queer romance, and this was my first that featured an ENM relationship. The ENM aspect made this feel like a twist on the typical formula of a romance novel, and I appreciated the epilogue so we could follow up after the drama of the story ended.

Triple Sec is the perfect name for this polyamorous romcom as it features a bartender, Mel, who has a dream of opening up her own bar one day. After serving drinks to a customer named Bebe who is happily married to Kade, Mel feels a strong connection. Bebe has an open marriage and given she is attracted to Mel, she asks her out, with Kade’s blessing. It’s a bit of uncharted territory for Mel, dating a married woman, but she enjoys spending time with Bebe and soon she discovers she has feelings for Kate as well.

I’m always up for a love story and what really drew me to this one is that it featured a polyamorous relationship. It’s not something you come across very often in the contemporary romance genre. I was curious about the dynamics when juggling not 2 but 3 individuals’ emotional needs. The author chose more of a nice and neat, ideal relationship rather than one full of drama. And that’s fine because it’s a romcom but I think it’d make for a more interesting story if there were a few more bumps on the road to happily ever after.

Even though I’m not a big drinker, I liked the bartending aspect of the story. As much as I love food, it can be overdone in stories so hearing all the labor and love that goes into making cocktails was a nice change of pace.

All in all, a good read and the characters had great chemistry.

In Triple Sec, author T.J. Alexander explores the evolution and intricacies of a polyamorous romance from the perspective of disillusioned bartender, Melanie (Mel) Sorrento.

Mel is still recovering from her divorce after a decade long marriage when she meets beautiful and charismatic Bebe when she comes into her bar. It has been 2 years since her marriage ended and Mel hasn’t felt any desire to date until she spends a night getting to know Bebe. Mel is disappointed when she finds out Bebe is married and then shocked when she discovers she is in an open marriage. While Mel and Bebe navigate their new romance, Mel begins to wonder if she has a connection with Kade as well.

Candidly, I don’t know much about polyamory and this book was very informative, but not in a textbook kind of way, just learning through their romance. I thought it was very surprising, from my limited knowledge, how there was little to no jealousy. Although polyamory isn’t for me, it was interesting to learn about the challenges and benefits of poly romance.

I couldn’t put my finger on why this poly romance felt different from prior books I’ve read, and I think it’s because it was single POV. The Katee Robert books I’ve read with this dynamic have all been multiple POV with a heavy focus on spice. While Triple Sec has its fair share of steamy scenes, there is a large focus on developing the bond between the characters as well.

However, I found myself missing the other POV’s… I often wondered what Bebe and Kade were thinking. I understand why Alexander wrote it this way as Triple Sec is focused on Mel’s journey as Kade and Bebe have had previous partners and experience being in an open relationship.

This was my 3rd TJ Alexander book and while I enjoyed it, Second Chances in Newport Stephen remains my favorite of theirs.

What to expect:
•F/F/NB contemporary poly romance
•NYC setting
•Single POV
•Will make you thirsty- Mel makes lots of yummy sounding drinks

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows Mel who works at a bar and meets Bebe who’s in an open relationship with her partner. Though the three begin to explore their connection to see what it can be. I loved the setting taking place in NYC with the three characters have such fun jobs we can explore. The storyline was decent but I won’t say it’s the best. I liked the romantic aspect of the story but the conflicts were lacking and there wasn’t much going on. I wish there was more to the competition like said but it felt like such a filler. I did love all the moments Mel had with Bebe and Kade at each their time. This story is told from Mel’s pov.

Mel works at the bar where she meets Bebe. I liked her character in the beginning but then I kind of stopped liking her. There were just moments that just didn’t make sense. Though I loved the side characters Bebe and Kade. Bebe is a perky, lawyer who cares so much of her people and I just loved that. Kade comes off grumpy but I started loving their character. They started to explain more about the backstory which I wish we got more of. The romance is polyamorous with friends to lovers , grumpy x sunshine trope.

The ending was great and I enjoyed the HEA for these characters. I do wish we got more of their stories and seeing it played out but this was still a cute romance. I just think the conflicts were lacking which kept away my attention at times. Though I know some will love it just for the cute romance.

*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

This was a fun pride month read. Bartender Mel is jaded on love and relationships after her divorce and isn’t looking for either at the moment. But flirty bar patron and lawyer Bebe and her artist wife Kade may change her mind on that. The couple have an open marriage and what starts as a relationship with Bebe and Mel eventually becomes one of them all together over the course of the book.

I wish there was a little bit more of the polycule together. It only makes up a small portion of the plot and the largest scene/plot element with them is a miscommunication which stands out even less enjoyably when the lengthy chapter before it includes Mel talking about how she wants to communicate well then backtracks on everything she just said. There is another big relationship moment with Bebe and Mel that is centered on a miscommunication as well which isn’t my favorite thing either.

But I thought that the conversations regarding gender and language in this book were really well written, including where Kade who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns if fine with being referred to as Bebe’s wife.

Thank you NetGalley and Ateria for an arc of Triple Sec!

It’s not often you see a romance novel centered around polyamory, so I was very excited for Triple Sec. I had been too busy to get into this book right away, but as soon as I had a block of free time I absolutely devoured it. What a fun, steamy, honest story! The book is presented in three parts, giving you a chance to get to know Mel, Bebe and Kade’s dynamics in turn. Mel’s exploration of new connections is sweet, and I appreciated that miscommunications weren't dragged out for the sake of drama. At times some developments felt a little sudden, but the characters were so engaging that I easily fell back in stride with the story. I was particularly attached to Kade, who existed not just as Bebe’s wife, but as an artist and a nonbinary person with a personality in high contrast to other characters. Alongside the romance plot we also see Mel’s foray into a cocktail competition. I initially thought the cocktails/bartender theme being so heavily featured would get old to me, but as someone who worked in food service there were a lot of relatable moments that I enjoyed (...plus the drinks sounded really good).

This was a cute read, but for some reason was not exactly what I was expecting. That being said I did enjoy it for what it was and would recommend it to my friends and audience!
Mel, Bebe, and Kade were all well-written, likeable, and engaging. I found myself super invested in both the individuals, the couples, and the larger relationship as well. I read a lot of why choose and RH books, and I think that this book is a fantastic introductory book for someone who is looking to explore the contemporary polyamory subgenre.
This book was a little bit too surface level, and I was looking for something more. But I did have a good time reading it and am interested in reading more of TJ Alexanders books.

Mel Sorrento is a recently divorced mixologist, working at one of the premier cocktail lounges in New York City. She’s butch and tatted and sure she’ll never find love again. Then, while working one evening, Mel meets Bebe, a gorgeous lawyer who’s giving off all the right signals–until Bebe’s non-binary spouse, Kade, arrives to take her home. Bebe insists on inviting Mel to a brunch party, but Mel has some misgivings–it’s bad form to lust after her married hostess, isn’t it? But, it turns out that Bebe and Kade are poly, and Bebe would love the chance to date Mel, if she’s open to the idea.

Mel isn’t exactly sure she is interested. She’s had this idea of monogamy in her brain a long time, but she married her high school sweetheart, and that marriage went down in flames. Mel’s not had an interest in a partner since, and Bebe’s very tempting. Perhaps a fling with someone who she can’t get too serious about is just the right tonic to set Mel back on track. Meanwhile, one of the brunch attendees tipped Mel off on a big cocktail competition as a part of a food festival coming in the spring, and the winnings could be a stake Mel uses to open her own cocktail bar. If she’s going to broaden her personal world, she may as well get risky professionally, too.

This is a poly romance that features a longtime couple who ultimately woo a third. Kade and Bebe have never shared a lover before, but Bebe has an intuition that Mel could be a good fit for Kade. It’s not long before Kade and Mel are caught in a space that allows greater intimacy, and I loved the communication here. Mel’s first thought is that Kade’s aloofness holds disdain, but Kade is just more contemplative and restrained than Bebe. This experience opens their minds to the possibilities, ones that Bebe had told Kade were very satisfying. I liked how this triad came to be, with discussion and friendship and lots of passion. The pacing is great and the writing is witty. I had lots of chuckles as Mel figured herself out.

The cocktail contest isn’t the focus of the book, but there’s enough mixology in the story for me to grasp that Mel was really good at what she did, and she had a lot of pride in her skills. This was really awesome, because bartending is often a career people assume to be something one does while waiting for the next phase of life to fall into place. And, while it can be, it’s also a career unto itself, one that can be lucrative and rewarding. Mel’s on the top end of her career opportunities, and she’s doing pretty well, though she’d like to use the potential prize money to open a more niche, LGBTQ-friendly space she can run herself. I honestly liked how it all turned out, with just enough fanfare to give us reassurance that Mel’s future is indeed going to be bright.

It’s a happy ending, for sure, and I had a great time getting there with this fun crew. I definitely recommend this story for anyone who enjoys sweet and (a little) sexy poly romance–and connoisseurs of a good cocktail story.

This book is so so so good. My favorite TJ book to date. It was so great to see such good poly romance in trad publishing!

I liked this book. It was only the second poly book I’ve read but I thought the author wrote the storyline well. It did feel like he characters were a little too perfect. But overall I liked it.

I was so intrigued by this one because I think it’s the first time I’ve read a traditionally published romance book with a polyamorous relationship at its center!

But I didn’t quite measure up to my expectations. I think I wanted more development and charisma from the characters and I didn’t quite get that. I was hoping the build up of the relationship(s) would be more central to the story but it felt like it just happened so quickly and then almost not at all. Like it was a given - and in a sense it was, it was clear in what direction the story was going but maybe some push and pull would’ve served the story greatly to make it worthwhile to invest more.

Either way, I think it was wonderful to read about these characters and explore polyamory, with all of its identities and its verbiage. It’s amazing that a book with a F/F/NB relationship is front and center and getting so much attention!

A fun, steamy, and dare I say delicious poly romance from TJ Alexander! Aptly named, Triple Sec is three love stories for the price of one (or one big romance?) with a dash of a cocktail competition to drive the plot.

Told from the perspective of Mel, a cocktail mixologist and divorcee learning to love again. Mel is swept off her feet by Bebe, a fun and curvy lawyer, who quickly sucks Mel into the world of polyamory. Eventually, Mel also meets Kade, Bebe's nonbinary wife. After a weekend snowed in together, things get even cozier...

Alexander delivers another very queery and very fun romance read. I laughed out loud at some of their one liners and highlighted more than a few. This is a fun and very queer romance with some tension but no third act breakup, which is always refreshing.

Read if you want:
- three romances wrapped in one
- to crave a damn good craft cocktail
- big queer found family
- open communication and adulting
- no third act breakup
- single POV
- NYC in winter (and cocktails)
- polyamorous throuple
- steam
- only one bed, by choice
- snowed in together in Canada
- healing from divorce

Thanks to S&S and NetGalley for the e-ARC. As always, all thoughts my own.