This book had a lot of great representation and many good qualities, but in the end I felt that everything else in the story overshadowed the actual romance intended in the book.

A good read, but not a GREAT read.

This was an interesting read for me. I considered DNFing this book in the first 15% because I was struggling with Paris. While I understand that for the majority of the book he is suffering from undiagnosed anxiety, I struggled to get through his constant self-doubt and his ability to catastrophize situations. However, after reading a few reviews I decided to keep reading to understand Paris and I’m glad I did. I do think it was a mistake to market this book as a romance and if you are looking for a fun, cute romance this isn’t the book. While there is romance I felt like it took the back burner to the issues Paris was dealing with. This book does have a lot of great representation. I loved Tariq’s character and I wish we could have had alternating POV’s with him and Paris. I would have liked to learn more about things from his perspective.

I do wish we got more resolution on Paris’s parents. I wanted to know more about them and why they treated Paris the way that they did. I feel like as a reader I did not get any resolution regarding them and I would have liked something even small about them.

I struggled a little bit with giving this book a rating but currently I think it falls around a 3.75 star book for me. I can see this rating possibly changing with a little bit more reflection and time.

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

I will be honest, this is the first time I have been disappointed by an Alexis Hall book. In theory, I should have LOVED this book - a baking show, LGBTQ+ characters, I was READY. I appreciated the inclusion of anxiety and mental illness, and not just as a background issue. It really brought it to the front and showed how it affects real lives and relationships. And I loved the cast of the baking show, that was really fun.

Other than that, I was really just trying to get through it as soon as I could. I was sort of annoyed at both Paris and Tariq, for different reasons, and I just couldn’t shake it. I did appreciate the growth that happened with both of their characters, but the rest was just rough for me.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Setting: London, UK
Rep: gay MC with an anxiety disorder; gay Muslim love interest

This shouldn't really be classed as a romance. It's much more general fiction, more of a journey of self discovery. I usually love Alexis Hall's books but this was too much for me. Speaking as someone with a generalized anxiety disorder, there was too much of it in this book. It's 367 pages long, and about 300 of that is inside Paris's head putting himself down and worrying himself into hypothetical. It is. Exhausting. Also probably quite triggering for some people. Also, I thought that Paris tried to blame a lot of his shitty behaviour on his anxiety when some of it was just shitty. He was very judgemental of Tariq for not wanting sex before marriage and for being a gay Muslim and it was all a bit iffy.

I loved the baking aspect and Bernard. He was great. Grace Forsyth is a brilliant character of course too! Also, I loved Morag.

I unfortunately had to DNF this. I was so excited to read a romance book set on a baking show BUT the main character was so annoying to me! He literally lacked any confidence to the point that made him un-relatable. Also the romance felt pretty one sided (at least up until 12% - that’s when I DNFd)
Maybe one day I’ll retry and see if I can push through but life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy!

I always have so much fun reading Alexis Hall's books and this one did not disappoint either! It's definitely not one of my favorites but I think that each book that he writes brings up something very important to the table, be it about mental health, healing, and/or relationships. Plus, it was just really cute in general! Though also stressful (ooph)

Another five star read from Alexis Hall! This book has a similar balance between serious and light moments to the first book in this series (Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake), and has less of a romcom feel than the author’s other recent books, Boyfriend Material and Husband Material. Despite dealing with some fairly heavy themes, the writing sparkles. This is a readable, hard-to-put-down book.

The story is told from Paris’ point of view though I do think the author gives us pretty good insights into Tariq’s perspective too. Paris and Tariq have an unusual meet-cute on the first day of filming of Bake Expectations, and from there fall into an awkward but sweet relationship as the weeks of the reality baking show progress. But it’s also clear that Paris is struggling with some pretty deep-seated mental health issues and things feel like they’re headed for a train wreck. I don’t want to reveal more than that and risk spoiling the story. Suffice to say that things do “crumble” and that both characters have work to do before things can be resolved. I am really glad that this story does *not* make their relationship the “fix” to Paris’ mental health issues.

In addition to Paris’ mental health journey, the story also weaves in experiences of a gay Muslim man, explores a range of friendships and family relationships from healthy to well-meaning but flawed to neglectful, and serves up a good critique of social media fanbases. Even with all the fraught situations in the book, there isn’t any significant homophobia, which I really appreciated.

For a variety of reasons, I read the end as more of a HFN than HEA. I might’ve enjoyed seeing a bit more at the ending, which felt a bit rushed. But overall I really enjoyed this story. Maybe we might see these characters again in the future?!

It baffles me how books can be empowering and infuriating simultaneously. I tried my best to give this book every chance I could. But as someone with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)–well, the frustration was there over how GAD was explored and handled in this novel. Which was surprising, as I do consider Alexis Hall a writer who handles sensitive topics well. Unfortunately, the ball was dropped with this story.

As always, Hall’s writing style takes a few chapters to get used to. As I said in my Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake review, I often struggle with the story balance of Hall’s books. Their books carry a strong character voice but is often lacking in concrete details. Which then leads the narrative to have too much introspection and not enough plot-driving moments.

Much like with the first book, I had a soft spot for the Baked Expectations setting. But I also felt that we didn’t spend enough time in that setting. I know differences need to be made to not make this trilogy feel too formulaic; but, the enchanting parts of these books lie in that setting. Was it enjoyable to fictionally explore other parts of England with Paris? Certainly. But with the baking competition being the crux of the novel’s marketing, I did wish it was more pronounced.

I am now going to address the part of the book that frustrated me and empowered me the most. It’s time to talk about Paris’ anxiety and the questionable depiction of it. I am always open to mental health depictions in novels. I truly believe story is a means that we can use to destigmatize mental illness and help cultivate understanding. (I mean, humanity has been using story as a way of learning for thousands of years...)

However, I must draw the line with anxiety being blamed for/being the cause of all of Paris’ bad behavior. I nearly DNF’ed this novel at the 27% mark–AKA the chapter after Paris insulted Tariq from head to toe about Tariq’s religion and his beliefs about sex after marriage. (Truly, Tariq should have dropped Paris after that. I wasn’t rooting for them as a couple for most of the novel.) Anxiety is not an excuse for, frankly, being an arsehole. It’s just not. And I am exhausted with novels using anxiety as an excuse for bad behavior. Anxiety is more than this negative stigma that keeps being perpetuated.

This book could have been so much better if it explored other parts of anxiety behavior; such as: masking, and carefully filtering out behavior and words. Anxiety is more than just constant panic and blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. It's being overtly aware of what other people think and expect of you, too. It's picking at your own behaviors and words, while constantly sitting in a well of second-hand embarrassment over the smallest things. Being anxious and being an arsehole are two different things. And I'm not sure that this book did a great job of distinguishing the two.

With all that being said, I do think Hall handled the treatment of Paris well. (The diagnosis? Not so much. I was a little offended at how harsh Paris was about the disorder.) However, the plotting balance of this personal arc was off. We spent 80% of the book with Paris constantly spiraling with self-doubt, worries, and everything in between. Between the 80-90% mark, Paris suddenly becomes a champion of his GAD and is telling everyone–including the nation via a television special–that he was diagnosed with it. I wish we had the arc of Paris getting help and treatment for his mental health earlier on. It didn’t deserve to be shoved into the last 20% of the novel.

This novel was a big miss for me. The mishandling of anxiety representation was difficult to read and was often frustrating. Paris’ personal arc could have been more compelling if more time and care had been put into the anxiety exploration. I don’t think I’d re-read this novel in the future, but I’ll still give the third and final novel a chance.

TW: Main character with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder (that does get diagnosed), on page panic attack, hospital stay due to panic attack, treatment plan for anxiety disorder discussed, emotionally unavailable parents, very graphic swearing, cyberbullying, religious and racial microaggressions, Islamophobia (challenged).

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-ARC of this book. This is a super cute, lighthearted Rom-com that will charm you all the way through.

Alexis hall has done it again with this spectacular novel. I absolutely adored it and I think my new favourite genre might just be queer books with a splash of mental illness because I just felt so represented by the experiences shown through Paris. I will definitely be recommending this book, along with the other books I’ve read by this author, to anyone who will listen to me.

I absolutely adored this book. Astrid and her experience was so inspiring and resonated with me so much. This might be better than Delilah *shush don't tell Delilah I said that*. But honestly, it's hot, it's sweet, it's sad. And it's so damn beautiful

wow I haven't shipped a couple this hard since red white and royal blue. I loved both of them so much and I couldn't put it down. I read this in 2 sittings. I love a good lgbtq+ romance.

I'm such a fan of Alexis Hall's writing. I also appreciated the representation and growth depicted in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexis Hall and Forever publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I started this one as something lighter and was a bit disappointed. It’s not all light and fluffy romcom with baking. It was more a story of mental health and finally seeing it and getting help. It was good if you know that going into it, but it wasn’t exactly what I needed at the time.

I really enjoyed this, but I really just wanted to give Paris a hug and a xanax for most of the book.

I have come to love Alexis Hall books and this did not disappoint, plus look at this amazing cover! Bake Expectations is THE baking show and when Paris’ best friend enters him he is sure he is going to be the first one sent home. His insecurities are threatening to take over. What he doesn’t expect is to meet Tariq. He is kind and cute and confident and also his competition. This is a story about overcoming your insecurities, finding your true passion and realizing the joys that you truly deserve.

Thank you #forever and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble is the most accurate and representative title of a book I've read this year. Paris is literally always when wrong word or misstep from falling apart due to his undiagnosed anxiety disorder. He was never taught any skills to deal with it, so he tends to end up quite emotional about certain situations, Throughout all of this Paris has been entered onto Bake Expecatitions where we really see his anxiety flare. With a bevy of supportive and quirky characters Alexis Hall was able to create such a lovable story and honestly this book is such a good reminder to treat people gently because you don't know what they're going through (Catherine Parr types excluded).

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Why are romance books about baking so popular?
Because I will read all of them!

Despite the bright and light cover, Alexis Hall's Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble deals with complex topics. And, I wanted to love this book. Did you see my headline? Unfortunately, the book just falls a bit flat with the character development and the depiction of mental health, which is unduly heavy-handed.

Because I loved Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, I am hoping for best two out of three in the Winner Bakes All series.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I hate comparing books by different authors, but when I read this book, I loved it for the same reason I loved Alison Cochrun's The Charm Offensive. So if you loved The Charm Offensive as much as I did, you will love Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall. Paris Daillencourt is a mess, to say the least. The classically beautiful and wealthy Paris is riddled with feelings of inadequacy. His only friends are his self-identified fat sex goddess of a roommate Morag and his beloved cat Neferneferuaten. The child of incredibly fashionable and distant parents, Paris feels like he never fits in anywhere. Hiding behind tacky, overpriced, and oversized sweaters, Paris tries to hide from the world, hoping to disappear. He only seems comfortable in his skin in front of the oven, baking cookies and cakes to his heart's desire. Hoping to break Paris out of his shell, Morag enters him in his favorite reality TV show, Bake Expectations. The show is a fictionalized send-up of The Great British Bake Off, and the book's main setting. On the set of Bake Expectations, Paris must confront his feelings of inferiority and his constant self-destruction while interacting with a diverse cast of other bakers that includes the self-confident and beautiful Tariq. Tariq, the exact opposite of Paris, is a self-possessed and camera-ready character who one could argue was molded for reality tv if he fit neatly into any box at all. An out-and-proud Queer Muslim, Tariq splashes onto the scene, seemingly daring anyone to challenge his worthiness. As the two characters' paths crash into one another quite literally, they begin an unlikely and challenging romance that makes both question who they are and what they want. I can't sing the praises of this book enough; it was a delightful quick read full of messy characters and unexpected twists.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this ebook through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This review is my real and honest opinion.

Alexis Hall is sort of like the James Patterson of the romance genre: he pumps out a pretty decent bestseller every 4-6 months. In this one, Paris, a wealthy ball of anxiety, goes on a competitive baking show when his larger than life Glaswegian sex goddess roommate signs him up for it, where he meets Tariq a sweet Muslim man abstaining from sex until marriage. They embark on an relationship with an agreement to be honest with one another, but Tariq comes to the honest conclusion he cannot in fact handle Paris’s Parisienne-ness, and they split which prompts Paris to seek a diagnosis and get some professional help in managing his GAD.

Conversations about penises and consent; race, class, colonialism, and religion; celebrity, fame, and social media; and toxic masculinity and mental health are the chunky, hefty, salty peanut butter to the decadent chocolate that is the two weekly baking challenges. That’s not to say that part is going smoothly–except with every challenge Paris is sure he’s getting sent home and he wins the two in a row. The hosts are hilarious caricatures of the worst of competition cooking shows. I did squirm at jokes about Nazis, homophones, and anti-semites, but they were lambasting them, not supporting them. Tariq and Paris work through several misunderstandings and conflicts in very a healthy, mature, and realistic manner. The first half of the narrative is focused on the filming and the crumbling of Paris, while the second half is focused on the airing of the showing and rebuilding of Paris.

Sometimes I’m not sure if Hall is trying too hard or just truly over the top brilliant and funny, but the acknowledgements and book club questions at the end are as screamingly funny as other moments in the books, so I’m going with authentic, real deal. The dialogue is fast paced and whip smart, and Paris is so painfully awkward it’s not to be believed … except I DO know people like that. Hall puts the comedy in romantic comedy for sure. Some readers may find the humor and situations cringe-worthy but I know others will eat it up. Side note: Paris texts his absentee parents once a week, and they never reply; this added a poignant counterpoint to the shenanigans. The recipes at the end are a nice touch. And the cover art is pretty perfect: a rainbow layer cake that hints at the baking theme, the seven-episode art of the competition, the character complexities, the LGBTQIA+ cast, and the delicious story.

Perfect for fans of The Great British Bake-off or Rosaline Parker Takes the Cake (also by Hall) which has some of the best qualities of Paris Daillencourt—great foodie descriptions, warm relationships and quirkier characters—with the anxiety and penis jokes dialed back.

I received a free advance readers review copy of # from #NetGalley.