Thank you to Grand Central/Forever Publishing and Netgalley for this advance copy.

Alexis Hall has quickly become a must-read author for me and I really thought this was going to be similar to Rosaline Palmer (you know, a nice, fun, almost cozy romance woven around a reality baking show) but oh my this was not that! Instead of a cozy baking romance, we have a lovely romance centered around someone who is just showing up as best they can and, I don't know, utterly failing at so much for most of the book.

I really didn't know where Hall was going with this story. Tariq is just a fabulous flower, being his best self, and Paris, is, I don't know, not. And for the first two-thirds of the book, I kept thinking "what is actually happening here"? But trust in Hall to turn this around. Paris suffers from General Anxiety Disorder and I'm not sure I've ever seen such a wonderful rep of my own experiences with anxiety in a romance, and just when you think Paris cannot get out of his own head and redeem himself, Hall pivots this journey into self-reflection and the work that it takes to cope with anxiety. Paris redeems himself so nicely, through subtly and genuineness that I almost couldn't believe it. The way Hall moves Tariq and Paris to their happy for now is really incredible and I loved it, I just loved it.

I'm so excited this series is continuing and really appreciate the growth Hall allows his characters. I always get to the end of a Hall novel and think "yup, that's exactly the right thing' and its just great. Such a fabulous story.

Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble is book two in Alexis Hall's Winner Bakes All series. Following up last year's Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, we once again find ourselves on the Bake Expectations set. Though this book is part of the series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone.

The titular Paris is absolutely drowning in anxiety in all areas of his life, and this only intensifies when his roommate enters him in the Bake Expectations show. It is on the show that he meets Tariq, who is a lovely and delightful gay Muslim. And I'm going to stop you right there if you think that this is a light-hearted rom-com. Because it isn't. And it's better for it to be what it is than to gloss over the important bits just for the sake of making it palatable to those who expect this to be another Boyfriend Material.

And this is the point where I'm going to get a bit ranty, because I made the mistake of scrolling through some reviews and that is something I absolutely should not have done. The general theme I keep seeing in some of these reviews is that they didn't like the book because Paris is too whiny, too wound up in his anxiety, just generally "too much." They say that it's exhausting being in Paris's head that much. Well, you know what else is exhausting? Actually living with the degree of anxiety from which Paris suffers. Been there, done that, got the pharmaceutical cocktail.

Another point that folks seem to be fixating on is the racism that is portrayed in the Twitter comments about the show. All I'm seeing is "how can we be writing this in 2022??" Ummmmm...have any of you actually been on Twitter in 2022? Because it's a hellscape filled with the absolute worst of humanity. Hall has fished in that particular cesspool and has reeled in an accurate depiction of people who should not have access to the internet.

Putting my ire behind me now, I will tell you that this book made me feel so much that it tended to overflow out of my eyes. Yes, it has its dark moments and maybe that's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me. And I hope you find that it's for you, too.

Also, Morag is the fat Glaswegian sex goddess we didn't know the world needed. Just saying.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Forever for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I literally don’t know where to start with this book. Firstly I’ll say that it is hands down my favorite book that Alexis Hall has written, and that is saying a lot because I love everything he writes.

I’m sure that a big part of my bias is that I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and reading about a character who struggles in much the same way I did just made me feel seen. I wanted to scoop Paris up and just hold him throughout much of this book. Everything about Paris’ journey, from his unraveling (or crumbling) to his rock bottom, to the book’s conclusion was authentic and real, and made me a sobbing mess.

I haven’t even accounted for just how brilliantly funny this book is and how beautiful the relationships are. And to top it all off, it takes place in the world of Bake Expectations again, which I absolutely adore, because let’s face it, how can you go wrong with a GBBO-esque setting?

Alexis Hall’s works have a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf, and this one is the cream of the crop!

Thank you to Forever Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book!

This is the second book in the bake expectations series. Here we have Paris, who does have crippling anxiety, put himself out there for a baking reality show. While there he meets another contestant Tariq. It’s an interesting book in that it really does delve into the issues of anxiety and how difficult it is for someone to pull themselves out of that crippling feeling. The love story between Paris and Tariq is quite lovely. It is interesting though that what seems more prevalent is the story of Paris learning to love himself and all of his good points and bad. It’s interesting to see how someone with anxiety deals with people judging them on a reality show. All in all the book was well written and the romance felt genuine.

Thank you @readforeverpub for the #gifted eARC of PARIS DAILLENCOURT IS ABOUT TO CRUMBLE!

I read and loved ROSALIND PALMER TAKES THE CAKE in September so I was thrilled to get a copy of PARIS DAILLENCOURT, Book 2 in the Winner Bakes All series. I loved being back at Patchley House with Grace Forsythe, Marianne Wolvercote, Wilfred Honey, Colin Thrimp and Jennifer Hallet and a new batch of contestants.

Somehow Alexis Hall manages to write in the comfort you get from watching a show like THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW but then also including a behind the scenes feel as you get to know the cast members.

As a person with generalized anxiety disorder, I absolutely adored Paris and my heart just ached for him as he struggled to cope before receiving his diagnosis and the help he needed. I saw so much of pre-diagnosis Amanda in his spiraling thoughts and endless lists of worries about worries.

And omg I just loved Tariq. He was so fully himself at all times. I especially loved the scenes with Tariq’s family and their banter. It reminded me a lot of my family.

I will say that PARIS DAILLENCOURT while technically a romcom, does stray away from the typical romance format. We do have Paris and Tariq dating and falling for each other. But it’s really more a story of Paris finally coming to terms with his anxiety and receiving the help and support he needs.

The love story is just icing on the cake! See what I did there? ;)

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4831857516?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
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To help Paris overcome his self-doubts, his roommate enters him into a nationally televised baking competition. A disastrous meeting with fellow competitor Tariq leads to a tentative friendship that hints at more. Will Paris's anxiety sabotage his chances at personal and professional success?

This is a masterfully told rom com with a strong emphasis on the main character's undiagnosed anxiety disorder (which is eventually diagnosed and treated). The novel is as delicious as the cover promises.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

3.5*

This was... a lot. It's an engaging, endearing read, but it's a lot. And it's definitely not a romcom, so don't go in thinking it is.

I really liked Paris, and my heart broke for him, but this was tough reading at times. He has major anxiety and Alexis Hall wrote this story in such a way that I completely emphasized with Paris and I felt like some of his anxiety transferred to me. There was one point I actually burst into tears, it got to me so much.
It made me so sad that there hadn't been anyone in Paris's life, up until now, to see that he wasn't okay, that he needed help. It frustrated me that his parents pretty much ghosted their son.

When Paris joins the show, Bake Expectations, his mental health really takes a hit. There's a semi-sweet romance with one of his fellow contestants, Tariq, but poor Paris is so overwhelmed that he kind of self-sabotages things between them. For the most part, the romance takes a bit of a backseat to everything that Paris is going through and dealing with, which as I've said before, is a lot. But it's sweetly hopeful, though, and I appreciated how it was handled.
I really enjoyed the ending of the book, it was very fitting for the overall story.

Not a rom-com. In fact, I'm on the fence about if it's a romance. It's definitely romantic fiction, with a probable HEA, but this is a story about Paris and Paris' relationship with his anxiety. And his anxiety is severe.

We're back on the set of Bake Expectations (a pretty great British show about baking), and Paris is a contestant because his roommate signed him up. Tariq is a contestant who wants to be a little bit famous. Paris is not handling it well. He cries a lot. He catastrophizes. His anxiety spirals are epic. And as the book goes on, we see the way in which his anxiety keeps him from making connections with people and existing in the world.

As someone with mild anxiety, it felt very real to me, though I'll leave it to others who deal with extreme anxiety to say whether Alexis got it right.

Tariq, an observant British Muslim, is Paris' love interest. He's an interesting character who doesn't get the chance to be as fully developed as he could. He wants to be a little bit famous, and Bake Expectations is a step on that journey. I think Tariq had more potential. Because the story is so internal to Paris, most of Tariq's growth is set out through conversations with Paris. Which is alright, but... there was more potential there.

This book has Alexis Hall's trademark whimsical background characters who are, as usual, a hoot. But this is a book about Paris. The romance is secondary to Paris' journey.

I liked it, didn't love it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for sending me a copy of this book! I loved that this book continues the Great British Bake off Vibes and picks up on another season after Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake. A competition as the center of the plot really allows for great character dialogue as well as a plethora of fun secondary characters. Paris and Tariq felt so real and I think Hall discussed GAD really well. The book was pretty light, but covered a lot of mental health topics as well as the hardships faced by LGBTQ+ and Muslim characters. Hall's sense of humor combined with the seriousness and underlying messages found in his stories always bring me joy. I found myself laughing out loud as I usually do with his work and I loved seeing the journey Paris went on throughout the story. Tariq was a star love interest and I loved his vibe so much. This was a fun read and I'm super excited to continue the series!

I almost dnfed this book at page 46 because after 3 nazi jokes and one Hitler joke, our main character is worried that he’ll come off as antisemitic for not knowing what a knish is. Luckily this weird obsession seems to tamper off the rest of the book (with the exception of Jewish Dave and the ugg kosher comment and the Jewish donut.) This book needs some more sensitivity readers. Love the queer and anxiety rep, but I honestly think those jokes should be taken out as they are unnecessary and don’t add anything to the plot. I liked Sadie on a Plate much better than this book.
The anxiety rep - while anxiety is different for everyone I think this book did a good job of showing what is it like for someone to live with it. We see the spiraling thoughts and even how physically a panic attack can manifest. We also see someone begin to get help for it, get in a group therapy and reach out to a therapist. I also liked that we see him have a found family support system.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this arc

Paris Daillencourt is a handsome classics student and anxiety-ridden contestant on Bake Expectations, a British baking show. His anxiety is such that he doesn’t know he has anxiety and just feels like he is a mess and generally awful person. This book is kind of a romance between him and fellow contestant Tariq, but more so about Paris’ mental health journey and growth as a person.

I loved this book so much and it seemed to accurately portray anxiety. I really FELT the ruminating thoughts and “what if?” spirals he had throughout the story.

Tariq was also incredible - kind, lovely, fashionable, and a devout Muslim. He completed Paris so well . Plus, the laser tag scene with his family for his Dad’s 50th birthday was one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time.

Thank you, Alexis Hall, for writing this magnificent novel.

This is not the cozy weekend romcom I was expecting.
While I loved the baking show aspect, and I did chuckle once or twice, this book was a miss for me.

Paris’s mental illness is the real star of the show. And while it was great to see someone struggle with their mental health and actually read about them getting help, instead of
PROLOGUE - ‘I got help and everything was great’
It still didn’t feel like enough.

Aside from anxiety Paris had some serious issues with respect, selfishness and an inability to see passed himself. This was all labeled ‘anxiety’ and I’m not sure how I feel about that one.

This is the kind of book that screams for multiple POVs. I would have loved to see how Tariq was processing his relationship with Paris.

To be totally honest I did not love either character and I found it difficult to cheer them on.

This is a queer M/M romance surrounding a baking competition. I think this might be a “me” issue, but this book was marketed as a rom com and I have to disagree. Paris is a wholly unlikeable character and unreliable narrator. It was exhausting to be so much in Paris’s head.

This felt more like a “getting my life together” book, with a nod to romance. If it had starred a woman, it would have definitely fit into the women’s literature category. This was not my favorite, but I did love the cover!

3.5 stars

I’ve read many books that deal with mental illness, but I’m not sure I’ve ever related to a character quite the way I did with Paris. He could be absolutely exhausting and there were times this book was uncomfortable to read in that way that’s like someone holding up a mirror and making you face the parts of yourself you don’t like. I related to Paris, sympathized with him, and understood him. I wanted to shake him and hug him at the same time, and I felt this huge sense of relief in seeing someone whose thought processes were so similar to mine. Hall shone a bright spotlight on anxiety and wasn’t afraid to delve into every messy corner of it, which I really appreciated, even when it was difficult to read.

While there was a good balance of heavy and light, if you’re looking for a cute, light-hearted romance or romcom, you might want to look elsewhere. Hall excels in the humour department, as always - there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments - but the romance often felt like more of a subplot. Paris was truly the star of this book, and I appreciated how Tariq supported him to the best of his ability, but ultimately the story was about Paris learning to cope with his anxiety and function better both on his own and in his relationships.

🍰Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble 🍰

The second in the Winner Bakes All series, this one revisits the Bake Expectations reality show cast and crew with Paris as a contestant. While there is romance for Paris through the show and book, this is more focused on his journey with mental health and anxiety.
Check it out if you’re looking for laughs as well as self-discovery and growth.

Thank you to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for an advanced copy!

Alexis Hall returns to his Winner Bakes All series for a second book. The setting is a new season of Bake Expectations, a fictional equivalent to The Great British Baking Show This is a stand alone novel but the show judges, director Jennifer (my favorite side character) and the comic relief appear in both books.

Paris Daillencourt is entered into the competition by his roommate Morag. Even though he has great baking skills he is always sure he will be the next person sent home. Fellow contestant Tariq Hassan, is cute, self confident, very gay, and very Muslim. They fall into a the beginnings of a relationship while filming. The focus of the book in not romance but on Paris and his debilitating anxiety. Tariq tries to understand Paris and his thinking, but Paris needs more than to be taken on as a project.

The fun parts of the story include roommates Morag and the four Daves. Bake Expectations casts mates, judges and crew add to the fun mix. The filthy language (over 200 f-bombs) and stream of consciousness rants are hilarious. But the reality is the main character has GAD, general anxiety disorder. And the more I read, the more overwhelming and anxiety inducing the character feels. Hall accurately portrays Paris from blanking out, continually catastrophizing, to having a panic attack. I never understood why his parents didn’t contact him, (which is probably the point since Paris doesn’t understand).

I started out laughing and really liking being back in the baking show world. But the further I went the harder it is to read. It gets repetitive as Paris spirals and I had to force myself not to skim read. I was glad where it ends up and it feels realistic to the characters and their situations. I’m giving it 3 stars with big trigger warnings for people who suffer from anxiety.

In this book there are some funny moments that will make you laugh out loud. British humor is my favorite as the book is set in the UK. The story revolves around Paris and Tariq, a gay couple. Considering Paris anxiety issues that I can relate to, I did think their romance was secondary. There were times when Paris anxiety was quite irritating to read due to the writing style.

Baking competition, funny scenes, and a setting made Bake Expectations a delight to read. All the characters were hilarious and dynamic, even the three Daves, I also had a soft spot for Paris despite his whininess at times and the fact that his parents completely abandoned him. Reading this was an overall joy and hilarious experience.

Thanks Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the ARK of this book. This was a honest review.

I love everything Alexis Hall writes. Or at least I try to love them all.
But like everything in life, you can’t just please everyone no matter how and what you do. Unfortunately this one hits too much on many topics that are underdeveloped for my fully understanding and liking side.
I enjoyed the overall story and experience while reading it. But the over the top scenes of collapsing and anxiety felt too much honestly. Nothing wrong with that as in real life I know well enough how hard it is for the people who actually have to live with it daily. And again, this supposed to be a lighter read as it’s fiction and while very reliable and real , it’s way too much for me.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

Paris Daillencourt is about to Crumble is the second book in Alexis Hall’s Bake Expectations series. I love Alexis Hall and I also love The Great British Bake Off so this book was hitting a ton of checks for me. Unfortunately, this installment in the Bake Expectations series didn’t totally do it for me. There were a lot of important topics being discussed in this novel. Anxiety, queerness, religeon, absent parents, and islamaphobia, to name a few. These are all really important topics and I felt that because the main focus was on Paris and his struggle with anxiety they were kind of overshadowed and just felt like extra topics that were sprinkled into the book. Honestly, even the romance part of the book became overshadowed by Paris’ anxiety and I struggled to read some of the chapters. I don’t feel knowledgeable enough about severe anxiety to know if this was a good characterization of it, but I had a hard time reading his inner monologue. One thing about this book that I loved, and that I think is one of the best things from Alexis Hall novels, are all the quirky side characters. They were all so interesting and shone in their own way, whether it was grouchy Catherine Parr or the fat glasweigian sex goddess Morag(she was probably my favorite character). I think the ending tied everything up really nicely. I really loved how Paris was able to find help and support that he needed and all the loose ends were nicely sorted out. While this wasn’t my favorite Alexis Hall novel, I still enjoyed reading it and can’t wait for the next installment of Bake Expectations!

Thank you to Netgalley for my advance copy!

This was so cute! I love baking shows and this really brought it to the pages! I thought the whole depiction of anxiety/panic attacks and anxiety disorder to be realistic and handled with care.

I appreciated the romance and the banter was spot on! This was fun!