Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake

I absolutely adored this book. It got me out of my reading slump! Not only was it a fantastic mix of baking, British vernacular, and romance, but it gave me hope as someone who is quite like Rosaline! I knew how the story would end from about 25% in, but I kept reading because I wanted to know *how*! Hall does a fantastic job at making realistic relationships present in their books. I was very fond of Rosaline's POV and her eventual relationship. I appreciated how even though she had anxiety, she wasn't afraid of letting people know her boundaries. And seeing a kid-positive MC who doesn't back down when people bemoan her having a kid? Refreshing! Overall quite a lovely book.

Content Warnings

livelyghost's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The way this book was laid out, both in pacing and plot, was unique to me. Rosaline is a competitor on Bake Expectations (GBBO by another name) and we only hear from her on their Friday-Sunday filming schedule, so some of the events of the week are relayed to us in the past tense and some happen in real time. The love interests hit close to home for me.

The initial one, Alain, reminded me so much of my high school boyfriend who initially presented as a sort of hipster-y figure and devolves into a giant boundary-violating creep. Harry, the emerging love interest, displays admirable character growth while Alain is imploding and the foil works so well and makes you appreciate Harry so much.

While I’m not a fan of children in general or child characters I appreciated the nuanced descriptions of Rosaline’s feelings about having a kid at a young age and solo parenting and it made me think about my own perceptions of solo parents. The whole story was well paced, engaging, and thoughtful with a sprinkle of joyful baking throughout. Would recommend.

Content Warnings

readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.25

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Alexis Hall has done it again with another wonderful romance book. This is a brilliant, queer adult romance, between two lovable but very different main characters. Set on a Great British Bake Off-inspired baking show, Bake Expectations (I LOVE IT), the book follows Rosaline, an aspiring baker and single mother as she grapples with friendships, a new relationship, and trying to win a baking contest.

I adored Rosaline, she's such a sweet, funny protagonist and it's easy to tell how much she cares for her daughter. Rosaline is openly bisexual and the novel spends a lot of time discussing biphobia, challenging it, and dismantling stereotypes about bi people, which I absolutely loved. Alexis Hall also uses the narrative of Alan's and Rosaline's parents' prejudices to discuss classism and challenge stereotypes about working class people.

Hall's writing is, once again, and absolute triumph of humour and sharp wit. The dialogue and interactions between the contestants and between Rosaline and her best friend were incredibly entertaining. Harry is a cinnamon roll and I would throw my 5 ft 3 self in front of his 6 ft something self to protect him at all costs. Amelie is a sweetheart. Alan is a toad.

I also really want to know if Alexis Hall went undercover on the set of Bake Off to do research for this book because the descriptions of the show, how it works, and all the behind the scenes moments seem SO accurate (to how I imagine it being)??? Alexis Hall, if you're reading this please feel free to DM me, I would LOVE to know.

Overall, this is a DELIGHT, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Alexis Hall just writes brilliant books, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

(One thing to note is that this book contains a sexual assault scene, so be careful going in if that's a trigger for you.)

Content Warnings

theeolian's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful 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

soobooksalot's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.0

Romance for love month. And baking! I'm here for the combination.
Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy of Rosaline Palmer Takes The Cake for review.
There's been a baking/cooking show theme in my rom-com reading as of late - The Holiday Swap, Love & Other Disasters - and this one stands strong among the crew.
The Bake Expectations TV show is the backdrop for the tale of titular Rosaline and her journey with the intriguing suitors and fellow competitors Alain Paul and Harry Dobson.
She's a single mom to eight-year-old Amelie, bi, may or may not want to be a doctor, and remains best friends with her ex-gf.
It's a charming cast of characters, and the read will also make one hungry. (Recipes in the back, friends!)
Alexis Hall can't write a bad book. Sure, this is only my third read of his but I assume this must be the case. I've thoroughly enjoyed all for the inclusiveness and humour. (Humour is a weak word here. Show producer Jennifer Hallett had me expiring!)
Recommended!

Content Warnings

ehmannky's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful 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

I LOVED this. I agree with a bunch of other reviews I've seen online that list this more as women's fiction rather than romance, but I didn't care. I loved the Great British Bakeoff vibes, I loved the witty dialogue, I loved Rosaline (even though her initial taste in men is baaaaaad) and her journey to becoming more self-confidence, and Harry is an absolute delight as the endgame. I just loved every part of this.

I also love Alexis Hall's commitment to emphasizing that rich people suck.

Content Warnings

carodonahue's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

meganpbennett's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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

5.0

After adoring Boyfriend Material, when I saw that this was written by the same person, well, I had to give it a try! And it was wonderful. Full of Hall's trademark wit, Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake takes the reader on a whirlwind adventure. Rosaline, a single mother, is a contestant on a BBC baking competition that is heavily based on the Great British Bake Off. On her way to the competition (which is, of course, in a town that doesn't get reliable rail service), she and another competitor end up stranded at a random rail stop. And she lies to Alvin, trying to make him think that she's more awesome than she really is. It totally backfires, of course. And then there's Harry. Who's a highly skilled laborer - electrician - and still somehow calls women "love." Rosaline lets him have it, and it sticks. Over the course of the competition, Alvin and Harry compete for the prize and for Rosaline's hand. Except.....

One of them turns out to be a right bastard and the other one a truly nice guy. Read to find out who she end up with, and how bad one shows himself to be a right bastard.

This book was laugh-out-loud funny, and kept me awake too late more than once, since I had to know how it ended.

Update: 2022-08-25: This was an excellent re-read. I noticed so much that I missed during the first read. There's a lot of discussion about class, which this American reader still doesn't quite get, but it was informative and interesting. It was also very cool to see the well-written evidence of what was going to happen between Rosaline and her two guys, as I noticed how they had completely different interactions with Rosaline and how those interactions telegraphed how their various relationships would play out.

Content Warnings

More...