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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Classism, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Mental illness, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Panic attacks/disorders
queerloras's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Classism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Biphobia, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, Infidelity, and Mental illness
bzliz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Rosaline’s growth is due to her defiance of what others want for her. Firstly her parents, who’ve been pretty controlling her whole life. Then Alain, whose control is more subtle because it seems like he’s presenting options but really he just ignores the reality of her life and discounts her child as a huge responsibility but also her greatest source of joy. Rosaline starts standing up for herself and it’s a good moment that I think most quiet people secretly want. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as finally saying everything you’ve been thinking and agonizing over. I was also frustrated with Rosaline because she wastes her time on this dude who might as well be saying “I own a Red Flag manufacturing plant and business is booming!” However, I would lay my life down for Harry even though I only understood about 75% of what he was saying.
Finally, it needs to be mentioned that there is a sexual assault scene. When I was looking for more information prior to starting the book, I couldn’t easily find a description of the event. If you’re sensitive to this subject and want to know what happens prior to reading, see my note below with the content warnings.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Cursing, Sexual content, Classism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Mental illness, Biphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia
The sexual assault scene happened much later in the book than I expected it would. What happens isrockyroadbutch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Biphobia, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Classism
Moderate: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Mental illness, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
bookcasey's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Even if you didn’t love Boyfriend Material, I would recommend still giving this series a chance.
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Biphobia and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Extensive descriptions of food, like watching GBBO. SA and sexual content are very mild. Accidental pregnancy is a key plot point but occurs years before the book takes place.fromthefoxhole's review
- 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
Hall does a really excellent job with pacing, everything is whip smart and witty, especially our MC Rosaline. She's honestly a badass (I will never understand how people have the energy to do anything on top of being a parent, it's such involved and hard work) but she's also so genuine. She's balanced, both flawed and fleshed out enough to feel human, like I could pop down the street and she'd greet me with a cup of tea.
Harry, our burly cinnamon roll love interest, is a man of few words who really goes all out with acts of service for those he cares about. There are so many times in this book that I highlighted and my comment is just "😭😭" because he's such a gentle and kind man.
Also, Amelie is the love of my life, and I hope one day she becomes a marine biologist who focuses on deep sea exploration.
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Cursing, Classism, and Biphobia
Minor: Abortion
ohheyitskaitlin's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Classism, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Ableism, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Violence, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Medical content
aimzthereader's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I loved the writing style. I loved the plot especially the setting of it being on the Great bake which is the Great British bake off 100%. It was I reretibg to hear about the competition while having a romance happen at the same time. This id also a story of friendship. The power of standing up for yourself and being your true self and being fine with that and making others realize they need to be accepting and respectful.
The daughter in this is also super cute and that’s a great storyline of seeing Rosaline as a single mother and all the experiences that go along with that.
There were many many moments where I found myself snapping/clapping along at this book, nodding my head and smiling and also getting mad at certain characters. This book also made me watch the great British bake off and I highly recommend that for a
Multimedia experience.
I will read many more books by Alexis hall because to me this book was perfection .
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Cursing, Biphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming, Violence, and Medical content
savvyrosereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Rosaline Palmer, a bisexual single mother, hopes that a spot on reality competition show Bake Expectations will be just the change her life needs. But she isn’t counting on the two handsome men that may just throw all her life choices into question…
For some reason, I deeply procrastinated reading this book. Even though I kept telling myself to get to it, I managed to put it off over and over again, until finally the second book in the series came out and I decided I absolutely had to get to this one. And, once again, I am over here questioning all of my choices in life because I waited so long but I LOVE THIS BOOK. It was absolutely hilarious, and charming, and covered deep topics while still being lighthearted. The characters were all fantastic, and I already cannot wait to revisit this world in the next book.
I’m normally not one for a love triangle, but the set-up here makes a lot of sense and really helps to drive the larger plot themes and enable Rosaline’s eventual self-discovery. And her eventual choice is, without exaggeration, now in my top five all-time favorite book boyfriends—I truly may never stop thinking about him, or about this entire story.
I could go on, but really, the bottom line is don’t be like me and procrastinate—go read this book now!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: love triangles; bisexual representation; baking competitions
CW: Sexual assault; biphobia; some discussion of anxiety/mental illness.
Graphic: Biphobia and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Mental illness
amberinpieces's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Classism, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexism and Mental illness