What I thought was just going to be a hot polyamorous book really surprised me with the depth of storytelling and likability of its characters. Mel is gender queer, but has always been a one partner kind of gal. But when sultry smart pin-up happily married attorney Bebe walks into Mel’s bar, asking Mel to go on a date with her, it gets Mel thinking about what it means to date. Bebe is so effervescent and fun like a pink fluffy cloud to Mel’s cool kid edge. In a way they’re as opposite as they come, but Bebe has a theory that how ever you are in life is the opposite of how you are in bed. And Mel is very curious to explore this.

From the start, Bebe is very open and explains her marriage even though Mel is unnerved thinking she might be taking someone’s possession. But as Bebe and Mel go from dates to more of a relationship, it’s inevitable that she will meet Kade, Bebe’s partner. I wasn’t sure what to think of Kade at first who seems the epitome of the word aloof, but that’s just hidden behind a veneer of shyness and also protectiveness for Bebe. I absolutely loved the communication aspect of this book. T.J. Alexander does an exceptional job of acknowledging consent, boundaries, and addressing all of the questions that would be expected with a character becoming part of a poly relationship. For something that seems very taboo from the outside, this relationship felt very normal and probably even more secure than a single couple. Dare I say I learned a little about poly couples while reading? Sure! The other aspect of this book is the career paths of each character. Kade is an artist, Bebe and attorney, and Mel a bartender and I felt like sure care was given to what each of them brought to the table via their career. Funnily enough, the individuals shined through the group dynamics and that’s what made this book memorable. I received an early copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I appreciate the glimpse into poly relationships that was portrayed in this book! This book, while it was a fictional story, taught me so much about a community that was truly accepting of individuals whose sole desires were to be loved for being themselves.

The New York City setting is so iconic for the plot line of a bartender pushing limits and wanting to exercise their creativity through mixology! I loved the nods to the city life and found it a perfect fit for the story as a whole.

I enjoyed following Mel on her journey of discovery and overcoming some of her past trauma related to love. Her being new to the world of poly relationships highlighted different parts of this type of lifestyle that I would have never thought about.

This one is not short on steamy moments that's for sure! The snowed in cabin scenes with Mel and Kade...you'll forget about the chilling snowy weather for sure!

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander is a poly romance that was light on bedroom scenes and heavy on relationship building. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Triple Sec is such a fun and chaotic ride! TJ Alexander perfectly blends romance, humor and character development to create a story that’s hard to put down. The main character is sharp and relatable, and the romantic tension is spot on—equal parts sweet and spicy. While a few twists were a bit predictable, the lively writing and clever dialogue kept things fresh. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling and craving a sequel.

Rating: ★★★★☆

While I found the story fine I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry nor did I find myself rooting Mel in the cocktail competition. I really didn’t feel anything for Kade in particular. Bebe and Mel were interesting characters and TJ Alexander is a talented writer but this just missed the mark for me.

3 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot and thought it was a great representation of poly relationships while managing to not be problematic. I don't think I really understood mel and kade together and would have liked to have seen that progressed/developed better. I also found mel to be a bit grating at times but overall really enjoyed the characters and the story.

I felt a real pacing issue with this book that left Kade severely shafted (pardon the pun) in terms of character development. Since the story is from Mel's perspective, more than half of the book at first is focused on her relationship with Bebe, and Kate being closed off to begin with, we really don't get to know them at all and don't get to see how their relationship with Mel develops. I also felt somewhat icky with the power dynamics in the story (and this might just be related to my own experiences and triggers), but with Bebe being older, richer, more powerful and independent at work, and already experienced in ENM and poly relationships and introducing Mel into it, it felt a little icky to me (I intentionally don't want to use a harsher term). And on a personal note, I thought the winning drink (Everything Bagel Boozy Egg Cream) didn't sound like a winning drink at all and without any context on how it was presented at by whom, felt rife with cultural appropriation.

hot! thats all i have to say for this book honestly and it explains everything. just hot! would read more books from this author!

There are parts of this book I really enjoyed, and parts that took me out of the story.

I appreciated the realistic portrayal of polyamory, especially within queer relationships. I also thought the jealousy and struggles to unlearn mono-normativity that Mel experienced were accurate and made her character more interesting. It was also nice to see compersion represented, since I feel like that is not typically part of non-monogamous story arcs.

It was fun to watch Mel develop independent relationships with Bebe and Kade, especially since the two of them are presented as polar opposites. I found Mel's voice and experiences to be relatable, both in terms of rediscovering herself after a breakup and also learning how to navigate polyamorous dynamics. That said, I felt the other characters (including Bebe and Kade) were noticeably less developed than Mel. They both felt a bit one-note, and I would have liked them to have more depth.

The pacing of the story kept me interested all the way through. Although many elements of the story were predictable, I didn't necessarily mind - I'm not reading romcoms for the plot twists! I also found certain parts of the story to be overly sweet and earnest, to the point of being slightly cringe-worthy.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I felt it was a realistic portrayal of what it's like to enter into polyamory for the first time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

This book was really fun and awesome representation for more diverse types of relationships. I really enjoyed the dynamic between all characters and can’t wait to see what TJ releases next.

A daring and unique romance that turns the genre on its head. TRIPLE SEC was a delight to read, and had everything you could want in a romance: sexy scenes, fun dialogue, and drama galore. This poly-romance stands out in a sea of traditional straight romance and I ate up every last word.

I received an advanced copy of Triple Sec by TJ Alexander from the publisher Atria via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: As a bartender at one of the most swanky cocktail lounge known for its romantic atmosphere, Mel has witness plenty of disastrous date and her own romantic life makes Mel convinced love doesn’t exist. But everything changes when Bebe walks into her bar, she’s beautiful, funny, and even knows her whiskey. Mel believes they have an instant connection, but is disappointed to find out that she is happily married to her partner, Kade. Then Bebe invites Mel into their life, and shares that Kade and Bebe have an open marriage, and wants to take her on a date. What starts out as a fun romp turns into a relationship, Mel gains confidence in her romantic life but also professional life, and even starts noticing a spark between her and Kade. As Bebe, Kade, and Mel explore their connections, Mel stars to real love might be more expansive than she thought possible.

My Thoughts: TJ Alexander is a wizard at telling stories. I have only read one of their books but it was one of my favorites of 2023, and so I was eager to read more! When I got an advanced copy of this book, I was a bit skeptical, I had never read polyamorous romance. However, I trusted TJ Alexander and dove in. This book was quite good and I loved so much about this. On the B-plot side, it was really eye opening to see how the high-end bar scene works and the life of a mixologist. I learned so much and I would love to have had a whole book about the competition. The romance is just extraordinary. This book is pitched as three love stories for the cost of one, and I would say that I quite apt and one could say four! I loved the romances here and I loved getting to see three highly capable people in love with open communication and clear discussion of boundaries. The three relationships are all quite different from each other but also piece together well. This is a lovely polyamory romance, my only desire was that I wish we had more time in the book getting to see Kade and Mel together and the three of them establishing their own joint connection.

Who Should Read It: People who love rom-coms. People interested in the NYC high end bar scene. People who love queer romances and want more nonbinary rep.

Summary: Mel finds a connection with Bebe who is an open marriage with Kade but also maybe Mel also has a connection with Kade. Romance abound!

This was not my first TJ Alexander book and it definitely will not be the last either! I loved this one. TJ always does an amazing job writing consent, communication, and setting clear boundaries in their stories, and it was no different in this one. They have a way of taking the most serious conversations about such things and turning them into something so sexy. They include important and meaningful conversations about gender throughout the whole book, which I loved too. I enjoyed how all of the characters were written, and I was constantly rooting for all of them to work out. TJ essentially created three different relationships, and each one had unique qualities, all different in their own special ways, through actions, dialogue, everything. I can't wait to see what they do next, I will absolutely be reading.

Triple Sec is an interesting romance where a bartender is brought into a relationship with a couple after being attracted to one of the people in the formerly mentioned relationship. The story is an interesting reflection on sexuality and determining what one wants from a relationship.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Atria Books for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this if you like: Polyamory, spicy 🔥, cocktails

I don't read very many polyamorous books. I need more! This was an accurate representation. The characters were well done. The communication and the spice are great. I highly recommend it!

The premise for Triple Sec had me intrigued, and, as TJ Alexander is one of my favorite authors, I thought it'd be a great toe dip into queer poly romance. And I think it is. This novel hits the high notes for steam and touches upon some of the obstacles that polyamorous individuals encounter in the workplace and world in general. I found that informative and thought-provoking. Of the three individuals, I definitely liked Mel's character and personality the most, and Bebe's smart and sexy vibe made for some fun scenes throughout. Kade was more of an enigma, and they surprised me a few times (in a good way). Overall, I could see the appeal of their connections with each other, but I wasn't 100% sold on the romance of it all. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! Opinions are 100% my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve last read a poly story, and this is my favorite thus far. Triple Sec is my third read by T.J. Alexander.

The story of Mel, a mixologist/bartender who meets Bebe and her wife Kade, while tending bar, is sweet, sexy and spicy. If you like poly stories with strong characters and equally amazing supporting characters, this book is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Triple Sec by TJ Alexander! They're one of my favorite queer authors, this was another super creative and brutally romantic book!

The first time I tried to read this, I had a hard time getting into it. I recently decided to give it another try and it actually drew me right in. I really loved the characters, spice, and banter. It’s the perfect book to read when you want something light, spicy, and fun!

This was great! This is my second book by TJ Alexander and their voice really works for me. And this book had really lovely and thoughtful poly rep that I enjoyed reading about. The character work is great - especially with only one POV character but three main characters. I did find Mel a bit difficult to spend time with sometimes - especially during the conflict moments (which I didn't love in general), but on the whole I liked her and all the characters.

Like my last TJ Alexander book, I hardly know what to write because I enjoyed the book so much and went through it so fast I don't have much analysis. There were a few things that didn't land quite right but It's well paced, overall well written and kept me entertained. And it was pretty hot too.

Wholeheartedly recommend.