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bzliz's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
The Boyfriend Material series wasn’t my favorite but I liked it well enough that when I saw this at the library, I thought I’d give it a try. I really like the backdrop of a Bake Off style program that gives a lot of structure to the story. It feels so comforting to read and limits the amount of stress. I think cozy readers will love this book.
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.
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.
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 against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
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
jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Homophobia, and Biphobia
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake was such a sweet treat to read, although I did get quite hungry reading all the food descriptions.
Rosaline Palmer is doing just fine, thank you very much. She is a single mum to her precocious daughter, Amelie, and while working at a stationary shop isn't quite how she envisioned her life, she is fairly happy. She does feel a bit stuck, and so when she applies for the nations greatest baking show, Bake Expectation, she feels it's her chance to do something for herself, and maybe get some nice prize money too. (Said prize money would most be used to pay back her parents, whom she owns a very non trivial amount of money too) She soon meets fellow contestant Alain, a mildly snooty architect with a very put together life. And he's fine. Completely fine. Stability is so much better then fireworks...right? No need to look at anyone else, especially not stone cold hottie electrician Harry, who is as sweet and simple as a peach.
Favorite Moments: Amelie & Lauren banter, Grace Forsythe commentary, Anvita
Least Favorite: Rosaline and her bisexuality was a very strong thread in this story, and it almost feels criminal that there wasn't a lady interest, just two males leads
There is quite a bit of depth in this book, more so than you would expect from what is a seemingly simple romantic comedy. Through the course of the show Rosaline learns to stand up for herself, and realize what she actually wants out life. (And who!) A story about love, baking, and doing what makes you happy, this is another must read by Alexis Hall.
The Cover
By gosh, do I dislike this cover. It just feels so...unoriginal. I keep looking at it trying to find some redeeming quality. The character illustration feels static, and has the horrid trend of simply outlined style, with rather odd proportions. For how much of her personality is being so well Rosaline, there is nothing about it that says anything about her to me. The fonts and title all look like what you would pull from a list of "10 best romance title fonts to use". Honestly this book cover looks like hundreds of other you see when you go in a bookstore, nothing about it makes it intriguing or noteworthy.
Cover design and illustrations throughout by Lila Selle
Rosaline Palmer is doing just fine, thank you very much. She is a single mum to her precocious daughter, Amelie, and while working at a stationary shop isn't quite how she envisioned her life, she is fairly happy. She does feel a bit stuck, and so when she applies for the nations greatest baking show, Bake Expectation, she feels it's her chance to do something for herself, and maybe get some nice prize money too. (Said prize money would most be used to pay back her parents, whom she owns a very non trivial amount of money too) She soon meets fellow contestant Alain, a mildly snooty architect with a very put together life. And he's fine. Completely fine. Stability is so much better then fireworks...right? No need to look at anyone else, especially not stone cold hottie electrician Harry, who is as sweet and simple as a peach.
Favorite Moments: Amelie & Lauren banter, Grace Forsythe commentary, Anvita
Least Favorite: Rosaline and her bisexuality was a very strong thread in this story, and it almost feels criminal that there wasn't a lady interest, just two males leads
There is quite a bit of depth in this book, more so than you would expect from what is a seemingly simple romantic comedy. Through the course of the show Rosaline learns to stand up for herself, and realize what she actually wants out life. (And who!) A story about love, baking, and doing what makes you happy, this is another must read by Alexis Hall.
The Cover
By gosh, do I dislike this cover. It just feels so...unoriginal. I keep looking at it trying to find some redeeming quality. The character illustration feels static, and has the horrid trend of simply outlined style, with rather odd proportions. For how much of her personality is being so well Rosaline, there is nothing about it that says anything about her to me. The fonts and title all look like what you would pull from a list of "10 best romance title fonts to use". Honestly this book cover looks like hundreds of other you see when you go in a bookstore, nothing about it makes it intriguing or noteworthy.
Cover design and illustrations throughout by Lila Selle
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault
ohheyitskaitlin's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
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
shaunashares's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
Moderate: Sexual assault and Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia
aimzthereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
I LOVED this book and felt sooo seen by it . This book represents a lot of the bisexual experience, the good and the bad. I love that the author was not afraid to call out a lot of shit that lgbtqia+ community has to deal with .
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 .
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 .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Cursing, Biphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming, Violence, and Medical content
forthe_girlwhowaited's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Minor: Classism, Biphobia, and Homophobia
nbreezy17's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Biphobia
imds'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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Gaslighting