If you're a fan of "The Great British Bake Off" and romance novels (or just Alexis Hall's Rosaline Palmer book) then you are sure to love this next read. Told in week-by-week accounts of Paris and Tariq's journey on a British baking competition show, it is completely adorable. While there's a teensy Easter egg to Rosaline and her HEA here, "Paris Daiikencourt" could stand on its own if you have not read Hall's first book in the series. This work is full of compelling language that pulled me in and, overall, read really quickly.

CW: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Homophobia, Islamophobia

I felt guilty about finding Paris (the character’s voice) very exhausting to read after a while but I’ve now looked at other reviews on GR and this was a common theme. The book did turn better at the end when he got help and the other contestants reappeared. The baking show scenes were good. I love GBBO and this spoof thereof is awesome for me. I always like Hall’s writing on the sentence level. I like that he chose a tough assignment for this one and I did take a break at about the 50% mark but then I finished it and felt it was worth reading.

I loved this so very much. While set in the Bake Expectations-verse this second book in the Winner Bakes All series is very different from Rosaline Palmer. The weekly bake-themed set-up is here, but we spend more time away from the show with the MC, Paris Daillencourt, and I loved it. There's still plenty of "show" with Grace Forsythe, Wilfred Honey, Marianne Wolvercote, and the bakes; but now that readers are familiar with the set-up it felt right to spend a bit more time away from it. I also appreciated the nod to some previous contestants that have appeared on a very similar baking show and the social media hellscape that must surround contestants on these shows.

I absolutely adored Paris - a character with major anxiety issues that are interfering with his daily life. Told from Paris' POV, we see exactly how much he is struggling. It felt very accurate and as someone with a milder form of anxiety than Paris, I recognized many of the signs of excessive, persistent worry and self-doubt. Paris' romance with Tariq Hassan, another contestant on the show is deftly crafted. Tariq is sexy, complicated, and passionate. Both characters are 20 and still growing emotionally and figuring out their lives - or at least this section of their lives. I loved both of them.

It is a truly lovely and wonderful book. I was laughing on the first page and throughout the book and having all the emotions with and for Paris. And while I have loved many a book without a wonderful cover this one is ADORABLE and I cannot wait to have a physical copy.

This book snuck up on me. I thought I knew the kind of light, fluffy (forgive the baking terms) romance this was going to be, but it ended up being a compelling exploration of faith, celebrity, and mental illness. While Paris’s anxiety disorder certainly took center stage, I do feel that I had some good, profound takeaways in the “faith” and “celebrity” arenas, as well. I always say that every great book has to find a balance between plot and philosophy. This one balanced those scales in a really nice way.

This is my first Alexis Hall book. I didn’t actually know that it was part of a series until the author’s book club questions at the end, so I would say it is a successful stand-alone offering.

If I thought this book was lacking anywhere, I would say that the food writing could be punched up a bit. We aren’t really treated to the sumptuous, escapist food lit that this premise could afford. At times, even the baking show challenges seemed a bit too simplistic. I would have liked to indulge in that world just a teensy bit more, but as it stands, the baking competition was merely a backdrop for the romance.

The book's greatest success, though, was Paris’s struggle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. After seeking treatment for this same condition, I recognize and appreciate these same kinds of thought patterns and experiences that this book captures so effectively. Reading Paris’s inner monologue transports the reader and allows us to feel that anxiety-by-proxy. I wanted to give this book to my family members to help them understand my own experiences more clearly.

This book took me a lot longer to get through than most. Being in Paris’ head was exhausting and I needed breaks. I think the author did an amazing job of making me feel his anxiety so if this was changed I would not feel it on the same level as I did. The premise and story itself are unique and fun. I have not read the first book. I like the different representation in the book and one of it felt forced me like oh I need to add an xyz character. They all worked with and helped move the story. The romance element is more of an afterthought of the plot nothing that actually drives the story to me. Would have loved a 5 years later epilogue or something. Overall I enjoyed it and will recommend.

Ooooff. This book by Hall hit me right in the feels. I found myself holding my breath as Paris struggled for portions of this book. The back drop of the baking competition camouflages its meaningful, challenging conversations regarding mental health. I, for one, will always be a Paris fan. We recommend checking this one out - you will smile, experience second hand embarrassment, feel righteous indignation on the characters behalf, and perhaps (read, definitely) cry. Please be sure to consult content warnings before you begin.

Book review📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)

This is my first Alexis Hall novel and it is incredible! I started this novel at around 11pm yesterday and finished at 6pm today. I fell in love with the characters and storyline and could not put my kindle down.

Paris is a student who is participating in the UK's sensational baking competition Bake Expectations. During his time on the show he meets kind, witty, glittery Tariq. We - as readers - are always in Paris' head and as such we get a direct look at his struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and catastrophic thinking throughout his platonic and romantic relationships, the baking show, school, and life.

As someone who has a lot of anxiety, I connected to Paris immediately. I have had similar thought processes and experiences and can say wow, the accuracy was both difficult to read but fantastic representation.

The writing of the baking show is perfection, the banter between all characters is witty, the discussion of consent is wonderful, all characters are well-written and well-rounded and I highly recommend adding this to your TBR.

Paris is an anxiety-ridden, uni student studying the classics. His hilariously bawdy roomie enters him into the Bake Expectations competition in hopes of drawing him out of his shell and allowing him to share his baking prowess with someone other than her and his cat.

Paris agrees to go on the show, despite his increasing anxiety. Things start to look up when he wins the first week. And feels attracted to Tariq, a fellow contestant.

This is a sweet, swoony confection of witty banter, dreamy kisses, and competitive baking swirled with thoughtful handling of social, cultural, and mental health issues.

Paris is the personification of gorgeous, white, monied privilege. Yet he’s riddled with nearly crippling anxiety. Alexis Hall deftly captures the mental tracks that anxiety wears into your brain.

Tariq, a Muslim of Bangladeshi heritage, has a warm, supportive, delightfully quirky, and involved family. He’s hoping to parlay his appearance on Great Expectations into a tv career. Tariq is effortlessly charming, sparkly, and self-assured.

The romantic dance of opposites attract between Paris and Tariq is both sweet and frustrating as they both try to grapple with Paris’s anxiety while they’re competing in the grueling reality competition.

Paris’s fear and anxiety and Tariq’s responses both felt achingly authentic. I appreciated an author recognizing that love doesn’t solve mental health issues. And that people aren’t fixer-upper projects.

The secondary characters, many returning from Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, are a fantastically diverse group, beautifully fleshed out and hysterically familiar in some cases if you’re a GBBO fan. Salty, older white lady. Cardigan-wearing dad who bakes for his fam.

The descriptions are gorgeous and lush. If you’re at all a baked goods fan, you’ll be drooling as you read. Also, you can grapple with the question of whether two differently flavored shortbreads count as two different types of biscuits.

While dealing with mental health, race, class, and cultural issues - Alexis Hall still serves a novel full of sweetness and never-ending humor. The humor is tart enough to prevent the sweetness from being cloying. This is cozy and comforting. A perfect read when your heart needs a hug.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing!

I'm usually a fan of Alexis Hall, and I was looking forward to enjoying this new book in the show'verse! I've recently finished Boyfriend Material, and I thought it very funny that a similar joke was repeated in this one (with similar success). I was looking forward to reading the anxiety rep, as someone with anxiety.

The anxiety was well-written and very true to form-- I recognized many of my thought patterns spirallings, the "I just got lucky", the assumption that hatred/dislike of others is a given, and that for people to put up with you, you do things for them. (Never as a knock on *them*, of course, this is all because you're not great)

Unfortunately, that was where I best was. Tariq and Paris, despite being 20, very much both read as ... older (Tariq's usual endearment of calling everyone "Honey" what seemed like every other page certainly didn't help). After an awkward not-quite meet-cute, an awkwarder conversation after, the relationship started to build and.... not in directions I felt comfortable with. Paris seemed a pretty lousy boyfriend, with Tariq always holding his hand, or trying to help. I couldn't understand from what we've been given of Paris (he's rich, he's lonely, he has anxiety, he's very pretty) what might convince Tariq that the project of Paris was so worth it to stick through all that he's heard?

Tariq truly seemed to deserve better. His family was lovely. He felt strongly about standing up for himself, but it seemed to come out oddly at times, like when he thought he was facing homophobia-- again, because he's supposed to be 20, and youthfully upset-- but it felt... odd. just as Paris taking Tariq to his former school, and the comment that Paris had only graduated a few years ago. Paris's subplot with his parents works best that he's so young, but. . . otherwise, it didn't really feel like they were the age they were supposed to be. Tariq, half the time, is having to explain why what Paris said was offensive-- about his being a practicing Muslim, about why and who he was. It felt a bit much-- I really don't understand what's enough for Tariq want to try again, other than this is a rom-com? That would be the end for me.

I was put in mind of this article by Asia Monet: https://ashiamonetb.medium.com/queer-love-interests-of-color-and-the-white-gaze-8928b7b5e6ad. While I don't think everything in this book reflects the downfalls of the relationship here, parts are far too similar for me.

I understand Paris's anxiety, and thought that very well-written. I wish the relationship had felt the same.

This is not a romcom! I repeat this is not a romcom! Think of a gay Bridget Jones like Henry Fry’s First Time for Everything. The books have the same kind of vibes.

A story like this isn’t for everyone. Paris is a mess and very whiny at times. He causes many cringe-worthy situations, and some might find the story, or Paris in particular, over the top or exhausting. Not me, though.

I don’t see myself as an anxious person, even though I can stress about certain things. And with these stressful situations in mind, I felt I could relate to Paris and understand his worries, his want to have control, and his blackouts in conversations (not being able to speak in full sentences). While reading, I smiled, and I flinched, sometimes simultaneously. Despite Paris being so whiny at times, he also felt endearing to me, and I wanted to protect him at all costs. My chest tightened multiple times when he texted his parents and I wanted to flip my middle finger and say f*ck you to those people.

I loved how Alexis Hall portrayed Tariq, a very gay queen ánd Muslim. The part where Tariq explains to Paris why he can be fully Muslim and fully gay is one of my favorites. And that ending was, well, one that fits the story perfectly, in my opinion.

I really loved Paris Daillencourt! I'm a big fan of GBBO so I knew I would enjoy reading this book series. It was fun to jump back into the same "show" as Rosalie Palmer, but get a completely different experience. Alexis Hall does an excellent job of portraying someone with anxiety and showing how it impacts their life. I left reading this book thoroughly entertained and with a better understanding of how anxiety impacts people. The only thing I could ask for was more detail on thee other contestants because they really enhanced the novel and made Bake Expectations feel real.

Alexis Hall is one of my favorite authors and I’m so excited to review his next book PARIS DAILLENCOURT IS ABOUT TO CRUMBLE. The title really says it all book friends. And in my other posts where the main character is dealing with mental health issues, readers should be cautioned when reading as it is very clear early on that our MC has difficulties with his mental health.

Paris is a wealthy college kid who has many insecurities and fears, but his roommate and only friend, enters him into a bake off in order to help him. Though it does the opposite, Paris eventually finds help after a panic attack that ends him up in a hospital.

Hall deftly writes a story about how people deal with crippling anxiety, relationships that have set boundaries, and new friendships that can help people feel seen.

If you’re a fan of Great British Bake Off and Alexis Hall’s seamless way of combining humor, romance, and wit into a deliciously baked story, then make sure to check this one out.

Happy Reading ~ Cece

Arc provided by Netgalley so thank you!

So this was adorable? Yes. This has the sweetness of Great British Bake-Off and the queer joy of a rainbow. Laugh out loud funny, banter-filled, and heart felt, Paris is the fun read we needed. It deals with identities and mental health too. It’s amazing how someone can take so much and put it all in one story. I need to go back and read the first one! You won’t want to miss this! Love to see queer love represented like this! ❤️❤️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

With thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an instance where I've had to sit with my thoughts for a couple of days in order to process my feelings about a book. Overall I found Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble an engaging read.

There was:
*witty banter aplenty
*two sweet heroes I just wanted to hug tight
*well done anxiety representation
*so much good foodie talk

Paris and Tariq are the type of characters I find myself rooting for from the jump. Tariq was this (mostly) joyful, expressive, loves life kind of fellow while Paris was a little bit awkward, very inside his head, competent but self-sabotaging sweetheart. And I liked seeing them make a connection and try to make it work. But goodness was it also hard at times.

The depiction of anxiety in this book was, as is typical of Alexis Hall, very well done. And there was an overall feeling of this story being a rom-com but I couldn't let myself feel that completely because I was so focused on Paris. Because he spends much of the book with his anxiety disorder undiagnosed, I just felt my heart hurting. Not to mention every interaction, or should we say lack thereof, with his parents. That issue was completely unresolved and I'm not gonna lie it did bother me. Thankfully Tariq's family was a spark of light that was badly needed.

One other note I want to mention is that Paris and Tariq are in their early 20s and the way they were written felt authentic to that age. So in that regard as a romance this very much felt like an HFN rather than an HEA. And I'm okay with that because this story for me was more about character growth...although I did love these sweet angel babies together as a couple.

As someone who finds Alexis Hall's storytelling compulsively readable there was a lot to like in this book but I also know it wasn't perfect and won't connect with everyone. But for me it was a winner.

Finally a book I can relate to!!

I loved Paris as a character and the anxiety representation. I suffer from severe anxiety and as I read what he was thinking, I felt that. DEEPLY!!

I absolutely loved the cooking show aspect!! I’m obsessed with cooking shows and cooking competitions—it’s a problem how much I love them, but I don’t care!! The romance was fun and left me wanting more!!! I loved this book!!

Alexis Hall never disappoints me!! I love all his books and this one is no different!! Definitely a auto-buy author for me!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for gifting me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well, I love Alexis Hall’s books. Which was why I was so excited to get this copy.
Be mindful there were triggers of anxiety, panic attacks and racism to name a few.
If you are in any way familiar with baking shows than you will enjoy the storyline. I thought it was interesting.

Paris’s roommate signed him up to do this popular baking show called Bake Expectations. He admired the show for many years. Unfortunately, his anxiety and tireless thoughts though were overwhelming for him. I liked Paris, and yet I felt bad for him. Tariq, a fellow contestant, brought joy to his life, but he was also the competition. I liked Tariq enough, but wanted more of them together. I have to sadly admit, all the negative head space that occupied Paris’s brain was really exhausting and sad to read. Paris needed help, or something. He was so stressed out.

I thought his parents were awful, his roommate wasn’t too helpful, and Tariq tried to help.
I liked the ending and it did end in a hopeful note which was a relief.
Overall, this was a good story and I’m hoping to read the next book in the series since I’m a huge fan of his previous books.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

I think it's time for me to throw in the towel on Alexis Hall books because this was the latest one that I just couldn't find much to like about in it.

The main problem, as many other reviewers have noted, is that Paris, the protagonist, is just not someone you want to be in the head of for so many pages. His journey with anxiety was absolutely important and while it was relatable, it also did not make for a fun character to stay with. His dialogue is especially glaring because it also seems to infantilize him more than anything, and I don't necessarily relate to that, especially since he is mostly high functioning with his anxiety. His rambles are eye-roll inducing and the constant apologies just made you exasperated by him. It was impossible to understand how Tariq wanted to date him instantly considering that his only personality trait is anxiety.

Then there's Tariq, who quite frankly, I also didn't really like. He's judgmental, he constantly makes digs at Paris, and I didn't buy the romance on either side of the equation with them. I was questioning what they like about each other and by the end of the book, I still didn't really know. Their relationship also develops on such a quick timeline that it seems like by their third date, Paris is already meeting Tariq's entire family which just felt weird.

On the same vein as the quick timeline, Paris' recovery with anxiety also feels super abrupt, as if all of his apologizing and anxiety is solved by a few weeks in therapy... very much not the case in real life.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Paris Daillencourt is a book that is hard to review and I keep changing what I say. It's obviously five stars, but if you have anxiety please read this when you're in a good headspace because Paris' anxiety is soul crushing and seeps into him as a person and just makes his entire life bad. And it's hard to read. 
I also want to mention at the top that I wouldn't really call this a romance novel. The romance plot is stronger in the beginning/end, but most of the middle chunk of this book is about Paris' mental health journey. 

That being said I adored Paris and Tariq and them figuring out their relationship. They get together quickly, which isn't always my favorite and then they work together to try to make this relationship work. 
As with an Alexis Hall book, the humor is here and it's glorious, (Laser Tag! The Daves! The dating your cat joke!) but a big chunk of this book is just sad. Paris is struggling and won't admit it until he hits rock bottom and when he does it hurts. But you see him come out of it and slowly start to heal and get his anxiety under control. 
What I liked about this one compared to Rosaline Palmer was we got to see the show airing which was a fun twist. Rosaline and Harry are mentioned but not on page and I"M FINE IT'S FINE. But there is a cameo from RP that made me set my kindle down and silently scream. 
I don't want to spoil anything with the plot, but Paris' relationship with his parents is interesting and a part of me liked how it was resolved (or not resolved) and there is a text exchange at the end that made me cry. But, also Tariq's family was iconic and I am obsessed with all of them. The Laser Tag scene will live rent free in my mind forever. 
I cried approximately six times while reading this book (all in the last 40% of the book) and had to go to work with puffy eyes so. 
Reading reviews for this one was possibly a mistake, people are complaining that Paris' anxiety is exhausting and A LOT and even criticising him for not getting help earlier and like -- i get it. And that's the point of the book. This is a book that shows how bad anxiety can get and how bad it gets before someone tries to get help. It's not supposed to be fun, it's painful to see someone go through that (or go through it yourself). 
I'm not saying people have to like this book, there is room for criticism and plenty to criticize, it's just like...maybe recognize that your criticisms are the point of the book. 
All I'll say is that some of Paris' anxious/self loathing thoughts are thoughts I've had myself and sure his are a bit worse/dramatic than mine, but it is not fun to read reviews where people call it annoying and make judgements on how Paris should handle himself. 
I don't know how to wrap up this review but I really enjoyed this one. It's not really a romance novel, even though the romance was lovely. 

TW: absent parents, severe anxiety, panic attack, social media harassment, racist comments
(as a note I am not Muslim or South East Asian and cannot comment on the rep, but I beleive Hall used a sensitlity reader, but I would still consider seeking reviews from this community).

As always an Alexis Hall book is bound to have tons of laughter and this book keeps you laughing throughout the entire story.

I think that anyone who reads it should be aware that this book is more a story of Paris, his issues with his mental health, and how he works through that. It's less focused on the romance and the love story. We are in Paris's head most of the book, seeing his real thoughts on dealing with anxiety and how that manifests for him with all his interactions. It's a realistic outlook on someone who is dealing with anxiety, but I will say it is an intense view since there is a lot of constant negative thoughts Paris runs through in his mind.

Coming back to this series, we get to see the host, judges, and production team again from the first in the series. As before, this quirky cast from the baking show is hysterical to encounter throughout the read. I enjoyed seeing the representation in this book. Tariq and his family were so fun to read about because they were so unique.

It was a mixed fun and intense read, but overall quite enjoyable. It was really great to see Paris get help with his issues and ultimately be in such a better headspace by the end of the book.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

Written in Alexis Hall's signature endearingly quirky style, this novel is simultaneously a coming of age story and a celebration of queerness....and baked goods. Paris and Tariq made me swoon, made me cringe, and made me laugh out loud. I adored the authenticity, awkwardness, inclusivity and vulnerability of all the characters as well as the positive mental health rep. This book is as sweet, decadent and delightful as a piece of cake and as comforting and full of heart as a warm hug. I LOVE this Winner Bakes All series and can't wait for more Bake Expectations' love stories!

Thank you so much to Forever and Netgalley for my copy.