A review by bookishmillennial
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

emotional funny reflective 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? No
 disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial 
 
Okay, admittedly this is more ✨self-discovery✨ than romance but you know your girl latched onto the slow burn, wholesome, friends-to-lovers romance okayyyyyy🥲

I stan Alexis Hall & everything he writes.

I loved SO MUCH about this book. I already know this review will not do it justice. I also recognize I am extremely biased because I:
💓am already a die-hard Alexis Hall fangirly
💜GBBO has been my comfort show foreverrrrr & is what got me into baking in the first place
💙am bisexual & deeeeeply relate to the shit Rosaline has to constantly hear & deal with on a daily mf basis
Despite that, I’m confident you’ll love this little slice of heaven🍰 (see what I did there? Plz don’t unfollow me, corny dad jokes/puns are SO GREAT😅)

As far as the parallels to GBBO: The descriptions of their bakes, the themed weeks, the judges’ banter & feedback, the BTS producer guidance & the challenges.

As far as the interpersonal relationships & Rosaline’s journey, I especially appreciated the discussions of:
-bisexual fetishization (the situations Rosaline was out into rang so damn true & felt authentic. I’ve never felt more seen in regards to sexual orientation💔)
-classism
-feeling good enough for your parents & hoping they could be proud of you & happy for you regardless
-what constitutes as a “full life” (“I want what I’ve got and what I’ve got ✨is✨ enough” 😭😭😭😭😭😭)
-being proud of being a young single mum
-kids not being a burden or just a “responsibility”
-healthy sex lives, consent talk & sex toys
-so much more!!!

I adored how Amelie was so present in the story & showed how amazing kids are. She was fiesty & modeled an open mind so beautifully!

Honorable mention to Rosaline’s ex girlfriend & best friend Lauren, who was hilarious & is the perfect representation of why there’s nothing like found family😭 the support, encouragement & honesty she provided Rosaline with was absolutely lovely. I’m also here for healthy friendships with your exes — sometimes no one is the villain, you’re just not each other’s person.

So grateful for this book & for Alexis Hall🙏🏽 

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