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kathis_wonderland's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Paris Daillencourt Is about to Crumble by Alexis Hall is the second book in the Winner Bakes All series. Paris was entered by his flatmate into the baking competition to boost his self-esteem. There he meets Tariq, another contestant, and they start to date. However, Paris' anxiety and the pressure and opinions from the outside are too strong for the relationship to last. It is not easy for him to work through his troubles, but he realises that it might be worth it.
After really liking Rosaline's story, I was excited to read Paris' story. However, I did not enjoy it as much as the first book. Even though I can relate to Paris' thoughts and troubles, he annoyed me. His anxiety was over the top and made me nervous while reading. He is poor and I feel so sorry for him, but I did not enjoy his behaviour. Tariq is a cutie, but he is desperately trying to kind of fix Paris, even though he says he does not. I am not 100% convinced that they are the perfect couple.
It still was a nice read. I absolutely loved the diversity in the book. We rarely see a Muslim representation in books. Quite fitting that Ramadan is currently happening. However, I hated the religious bigotry happening in the book.
The book was not bad, but I enjoyed the first one more. Nonetheless, I pre-ordered the next book in the series and am excited for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Islamophobia
Minor: Bullying, Sexual content, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
mirandyli's review
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
stormeno's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Islamophobia
Minor: Sexual content and Classism
bzliz's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This was much tougher to get through than Rosaline’s story. Paris has severe undiagnosed anxiety and panic disorders and it was challenging to keep going. There’s a lot of spiraling in fits of anxiety that was minorly triggering for me and I don’t typically find that’s something I experience.
Not only does Paris have real issues he needs to see a medical professional about but Tariq is trying to fix him without realizing it and without being equipped to help. On top of that, Paris keeps reaching out to his parents and gets nothing in return in a way that really hurt my heart. Honestly, my favorite character was the cat.
The structure also suffered in my opinion, because there was so much to cover post-filming. There were relatively few mid-week scenes which made everything feel like a rinse and repeat of Paris buried so deeply in his own head that he can scarcely function. Over all, I didn’t hate it but I certainly wouldn’t read it again.
Not only does Paris have real issues he needs to see a medical professional about but Tariq is trying to fix him without realizing it and without being equipped to help. On top of that, Paris keeps reaching out to his parents and gets nothing in return in a way that really hurt my heart. Honestly, my favorite character was the cat.
The structure also suffered in my opinion, because there was so much to cover post-filming. There were relatively few mid-week scenes which made everything feel like a rinse and repeat of Paris buried so deeply in his own head that he can scarcely function. Over all, I didn’t hate it but I certainly wouldn’t read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Cursing and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
All the phobias and isms are from a particular contestant and from discussion surrounding the show on social media. Otherwise they are merely mentioned in the same way someone would say “I’m from X place, nothing can scare me.”amarreth's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ready! Set! Bake! It's another season of The Great British Baking Show Bake Expectations and Paris is ready to take home the win – if he can keep his crumpling anxiety in check (he can't) and his growing relationship with a fellow contestant on track (he can't). Paris is an excellent, if frustrating main character as he frequently experiences panic attacks or, just generally, being mashed potatoes under the stress of generally existing. But under Alexis Hall's pen you feel for him and want to see him navigate these issues, while not being demonized for them. Hall's patent style is flirty, fun, and funny while remaining grounded is shown to great affect here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia
pey333's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Islamophobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content
lportilla's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Islamophobia
a_win_in_clear_rain's review
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It was cute... Not my favorite though.
I went into this expecting an adorable baking show romantic comedy, and it definitely was not that.
It was a good book, but it was much more focused on the main character and his struggles.
I did appreciate the huge character growth,especially near the end, and that they verbally recognized that they both made mistakes!
Overall, wouldn't recommend if you're looking for a cute, lighthearted romance, but if you like contemporary books in general you'll probably enjoy this one!
I went into this expecting an adorable baking show romantic comedy, and it definitely was not that.
It was a good book, but it was much more focused on the main character and his struggles.
I did appreciate the huge character growth,
Overall, wouldn't recommend if you're looking for a cute, lighthearted romance, but if you like contemporary books in general you'll probably enjoy this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Islamophobia, and Abandonment
mikaclapson's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content
jazhandz's review against another edition
DNF at 35%. First, as other reviews have said, I have dealt with anxiety and I found Paris’s anxiety spirals to be really, really difficult to read. Second, while the book itself had warnings for Islamophobia (and yay for content warnings in the book!) it does not mention that the Islamophobia is directed from Paris at Tariq, which makes a BIG difference in my opinion, and as I kept reading past that scene I found myself really struggling to get over that. I didn’t think Paris was likable to begin with but this was a whole other level.
Aside from that, this book just wasn’t good enough to be worth my time. If you want anxious protags on reality TV figuring it out you can read The Charm Offensive; if you want another cooking reality TV romance you can read Love and Other Disasters. Both are better, and more worth your time, than Paris Daillencourt.
Aside from that, this book just wasn’t good enough to be worth my time. If you want anxious protags on reality TV figuring it out you can read The Charm Offensive; if you want another cooking reality TV romance you can read Love and Other Disasters. Both are better, and more worth your time, than Paris Daillencourt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Islamophobia
Minor: Sexual content
This isn’t quite sexual harassment but during Paris and Tariq’s first date,