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kgc8's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
I wouldn't categorize this as a Romance novel. It's really the m/m equivalent of Women's Fiction (a genre name I hate) or New Adult. The focus of the book is on Paris who has pretty debilitating anxiety and his realization he needs to make changes. Meeting cute Tariq is part of the journey, but not the main reason for the changes.
You get a very good look inside Paris' head and his anxious thought spirals - which may be difficult or stressful for some readers. There were some laugh out loud moments and some cringe-inducing ones too. I enjoyed the baking show elements and felt that Paris showed a realistic amount of growth and awareness by the end of the book, which left me feeling hopeful about his future.
You get a very good look inside Paris' head and his anxious thought spirals - which may be difficult or stressful for some readers. There were some laugh out loud moments and some cringe-inducing ones too. I enjoyed the baking show elements and felt that Paris showed a realistic amount of growth and awareness by the end of the book, which left me feeling hopeful about his future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
soph_la's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Islamophobia
Minor: Violence and Murder
kaistephan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
5.0
Alexis Hall once again delivers a story that is seamlessly laugh-until-you-can't-breathe funny, a sharp critique of the British class system, a visceral portrait of living in a brain with mental illness, and a very sincere romance that, even though it is single POV, still have very balanced character arcs. Heck, even the Best Friend manages to feel like a real person and not just a plot device, a true rarity for romance novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia and Islamophobia
lucyhargrave's review against another edition
Paris, the POV character, has really bad untreated generalised anxiety and it’s way too triggering to read from his perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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 Abandonment
Moderate: Islamophobia, Racism, and Homophobia
tlholmes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
gale_bruckner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Alexis does a great job of giving Paris a unique story that's also in the Bake Expectations universe. I appreciate realistic mental health concerns representation. The boundary setting and character growth felt realistic and compelling. At the end of the story, I was whole-heartedly rooting for Tariq and Paris. <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Islamophobia and Homophobia
habibbity's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
I understand that Paris is meant to be unlikable, Alexis Hall makes this clear throughout the entire book. To be fair to Paris, I was probably just as much of a self-loathing, mentally ill mess at 21. Nonetheless, I still found this book unbearable to read. In fact, I only got around to completing it so I could air out my grievances with this review.
Maybe if Paris’ grating personality was surrounded by a likable cast of characters I would have had an easier time reading this? But instead, we have a very one-dimensional, roommate with barely three personality traits and a love interest who is actually very interesting but spends much too much time as Paris’ punching bag and crutch. I loved the concept of the diverse cast of British bakers but we don’t see enough of them to change the quality of the book (in my opinion.)
Ultimately, I appreciate Alexis Hall’s attempt at giving us a self-sabotaging, not so likable protagonist. It was a risky task and for me, it fell flat (insert baking pun about flat cake or bread or something.)
Maybe if Paris’ grating personality was surrounded by a likable cast of characters I would have had an easier time reading this? But instead, we have a very one-dimensional, roommate with barely three personality traits and a love interest who is actually very interesting but spends much too much time as Paris’ punching bag and crutch. I loved the concept of the diverse cast of British bakers but we don’t see enough of them to change the quality of the book (in my opinion.)
Ultimately, I appreciate Alexis Hall’s attempt at giving us a self-sabotaging, not so likable protagonist. It was a risky task and for me, it fell flat (insert baking pun about flat cake or bread or something.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
I understand that Paris is meant to be unlikable, Alexis Hall makes this clear throughout the entire book. To be fair to Paris, I was probably just as much of a self-loathing, mentally ill mess at 21. Nonetheless, I still found this book unbearable to read. In fact, I only got around to completing it so I could air out my grievances with this review. Maybe if Paris’ grating personality was surrounded by a likable cast of characters I would have had an easier time reading this? But instead, we have a very one-dimensional, roommate with barely three personality traits and a love interest who is actually very interesting but spends much too much time as Paris’ punching bag and crutch. I loved the concept of the diverse cast of British bakers but we don’t see enough of them to change the quality of the book (in my opinion.) Ultimately, I appreciate Alexis Hall’s attempt at giving us a self-sabotaging, not so likable protagonist. It was a risky task and for me, it fell flat (insert baking pun about flat cake or bread or something.)the_reading_kat's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Good points about mental health, but only in the last quarter of the book. Until then it’s literally just the main character being a hot mess, not always relatable. Didn’t feel the chemistry between the mc and the love interest until the last twenty pages or so. Understandable with the plot but difficult to read anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Homophobia, and Islamophobia
kharlan3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
wow paris is so anxious
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Abandonment