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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
atsuanna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
2.0
( More of a 2.5 but rounded up ) I was way too ace for the amount of sexual humor sometimes and there was little progress for so long that it was very back forth. I think I would’ve liked it more if it wasn’t romance because I loved the character development and the idea but the romance was lackluster for me and not something I was rooting for </3 The GAD was very accurate and relatable for me plus it was very funny and cute at times!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Abandonment
pey333's review against another edition
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: Islamophobia, Abandonment, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
adlane22's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and Abandonment
alisonvh's review against another edition
emotional
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
I didn’t like this book as much as I’ve liked Hall’s other stuff, mostly because I found the main character to be insufferable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Xenophobia, Racism, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
roadesntoades's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
Honestly this book surprised me. I read the back of it, saw the words “classics” and “baking” and thought well I like both do those things so why not. I had little expectations going in but found myself finishing this in a day and also felt like I reading a mirror reflection of things I’ve dealt with that I haven’t seen honestly portrayed before or in a way that didn’t feel preachy or cliche.
The characters are interesting and well developed and the relationship between Paris and Tariq is a refreshing one. They are not a perfect match nor are they ever portrayed as perfect people but it’s the imperfections that I think make their relationship work on page. I don’t think romances should always have the perfect couples who issues and character flaws are just brushed away by rom com magic. Paris is selfish and ignorant of a lot of things. Tariq does have a savior complex and does guilt Paris when he has different expectations regarding their relationship(excluding religious expectations such as intimacy) and PDA. But by the end, not only do they both address those flaws but also make clear steps towards resolving them. Paris is more self aware of the world and himself and is making active steps to not only earn Tariq’s forgiveness but also be a better person. Tariq by the end is being more selfish and is considering what is best for him before what is best for Paris in regards to the state of their relationship and better understands that expectations and wants are two different things and will not always align perfectly with the person you’re with. They are not perfect, and the ending does leave their relationship a bit open in regards to the future. But I think that’s what makes it good.
My only complaint is that there are so many monologues that are so self deprecating and intense that it can get a bit tiring after awhile. But all in all this is a great book to read if you want something light hearted with a solid concept. I know other reviews will say this book is bad and list all the ways that you shouldn’t read it but honestly, I think a few of them missed the point. Rom coms don’t have to have a perfect couple or a perfect ending or people. The characters can be messy and complicated, and make big mistakes that many of us wouldn’t easily forgive. But why should that stop people from loving it for what it is?
The characters are interesting and well developed and the relationship between Paris and Tariq is a refreshing one. They are not a perfect match nor are they ever portrayed as perfect people but it’s the imperfections that I think make their relationship work on page. I don’t think romances should always have the perfect couples who issues and character flaws are just brushed away by rom com magic. Paris is selfish and ignorant of a lot of things. Tariq does have a savior complex and does guilt Paris when he has different expectations regarding their relationship(excluding religious expectations such as intimacy) and PDA. But by the end, not only do they both address those flaws but also make clear steps towards resolving them. Paris is more self aware of the world and himself and is making active steps to not only earn Tariq’s forgiveness but also be a better person. Tariq by the end is being more selfish and is considering what is best for him before what is best for Paris in regards to the state of their relationship and better understands that expectations and wants are two different things and will not always align perfectly with the person you’re with. They are not perfect, and the ending does leave their relationship a bit open in regards to the future. But I think that’s what makes it good.
My only complaint is that there are so many monologues that are so self deprecating and intense that it can get a bit tiring after awhile. But all in all this is a great book to read if you want something light hearted with a solid concept. I know other reviews will say this book is bad and list all the ways that you shouldn’t read it but honestly, I think a few of them missed the point. Rom coms don’t have to have a perfect couple or a perfect ending or people. The characters can be messy and complicated, and make big mistakes that many of us wouldn’t easily forgive. But why should that stop people from loving it for what it is?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Islamophobia, and Racism
blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.0
I know it's kind of the point, but I had such a hard time with the main character. Usually I find the supporting characters in Alexis Hall books feel very engaging and fleshed out, but I didn't feel that enough here, and it was more missed because Paris himself was tough to connect with. Still a good book and a fun series, but not my favorite entry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racism and Abandonment
astropova's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
I'm glad Paris finally got the help to work on himself that he desperately needed, though I wish it could have happened a lot earlier in the book. If I had known how long it would take, I may have DNF'd the book earlier because it was a bit awful to sit there and suffer through it too.
I also thought that some of the parts set at the baking show seemed a little abbreviated. At some points, there wasn't even anything important happening, but the plot timeline still had to get moved on.
Loved Morag! So cool to have such a positive depiction of a fat (side-)character!
I also thought that some of the parts set at the baking show seemed a little abbreviated. At some points, there wasn't even anything important happening, but the plot timeline still had to get moved on.
Loved Morag! So cool to have such a positive depiction of a fat (side-)character!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Racism
Huge warning for anxiety. The firstjkneebone's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
3.0
Paris Daillencourt is a young man with extreme anxiety (although he isn’t aware of it at the beginning of the book), who is entered by his best friend/housemate for the competition show Bake Expectations (essentially GBBO). While on the show, he meets and develops feelings for fellow competitor Tariq, but at the same time his anxiety spirals, threatening both his success on the show and his new relationship.
This was an engaging, quick read. The descriptions of Paris’s anxiety were tough to read and almost constant for the first 2/3 or so of the book -which I say more as a warning if that’s the kind of thing that will bother you. I felt for Paris and it didn’t impede my reading experience, but I wished that we’d been able to see Paris get help sooner. While the way the book was structured made sense with the conceit of the show, the pacing felt a little skewed to me. I spent a bit too much of the first bit wondering why no one had ever suggested Paris find helpand why Tariq was still with him despite not seeming to get much from the relationship, although obviously his patience ran out eventually - one of my biggest pet peeves in romance is when you can’t understand why both characters want the other, even if one is objectively more of a mess. , and wished that we’d gotten a bit more of Paris (and especially his interactions with Tariq) once he got his shit together. Still, it was hard to watch - read? - Paris clearly suffering and not knowing that he could get help. Some of this was addressed (I appreciated the explanation that Morag thought him going on the show would help build his confidence, misguided as it was) but I was still confused as to why no one had suggested it to him sooner, especially after Tariq suggested that he might have anxiety.
I loved all the side characters that filled up the Bake Expectations cast and crew - they were so funny and fun, as were Tariq’s family (in the one scene we got to meet them, lol). Tariq himself was so sweet and brightened up every page he was on. I really enjoyed the arc of the baking competition, even if I wish we had spent more time with the characters after it had filmed. I didn’t realize that the MCs were 20 when I bought the book and probably wouldn’t have bought it had I realized, but I managed to suspend my disbelief where necessary 😂 Final spoiler-y quibble:how did no one realize who Paris’s parents were once he was on the show?? I was expecting some internet troll or super fan to turn that up and use it against him, and/or for that to become a catalyst for his parents to finally contact him - wouldn’t you think that their son going on a well regarded reality show is the kind of thing these presumably very image-conscious people would want to know about and/or manage? But I digress.
Despite my complaints about the plot/pacing, I really did enjoy this book! I read it in a few days because I wanted to know what happened. If you like baking (and won’t be triggered by the descriptions of anxiety) this is definitely one worth checking out!
This was an engaging, quick read. The descriptions of Paris’s anxiety were tough to read and almost constant for the first 2/3 or so of the book -which I say more as a warning if that’s the kind of thing that will bother you. I felt for Paris and it didn’t impede my reading experience, but I wished that we’d been able to see Paris get help sooner. While the way the book was structured made sense with the conceit of the show, the pacing felt a little skewed to me. I spent a bit too much of the first bit wondering why no one had ever suggested Paris find help
I loved all the side characters that filled up the Bake Expectations cast and crew - they were so funny and fun, as were Tariq’s family (in the one scene we got to meet them, lol). Tariq himself was so sweet and brightened up every page he was on. I really enjoyed the arc of the baking competition, even if I wish we had spent more time with the characters after it had filmed. I didn’t realize that the MCs were 20 when I bought the book and probably wouldn’t have bought it had I realized, but I managed to suspend my disbelief where necessary 😂 Final spoiler-y quibble:
Despite my complaints about the plot/pacing, I really did enjoy this book! I read it in a few days because I wanted to know what happened. If you like baking (and won’t be triggered by the descriptions of anxiety) this is definitely one worth checking out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment and Islamophobia
ehmannky's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
If you go into this book expecting a swoon-worthy romance to be the front and center plot, you’re probably going to be disappointed. I think this series is better classified as contemporary instead of contemporary romance, but it’s still good. I think reading a book where someone who had a mental illness actually fucks up and has to work his way back to health, restoring relationships, and finding himself is good actually and I think Hall really did a good job writing a 20 year old going navigating parental abandonment and a mental health crisis. It’s a well-written book, the anxiety felt real (as someone with a tendency to catastrophize, I really related to a lot of what Paris went through), and I think the romantic reconciliation felt appropriate (a very HFN instead of a HEA) for two twenty year olds who both fucked up (and honestly a lot of reviews on here sort of gloss over the fact Tariq did approach Paris as a project to be fixed and then backed out not all that gracefully when the problem could not be solved by love). It’s well done even if it’s not the romance I think the cover sort of builds it up to be. I do think you should mind the page full of trigger warnings in this one and kind of bow out if they’re not for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia