I loved this! The character growth, the character identies and their own self awareness was captivating. Each one brought something truly special to their building relationships & it was so beautifully well done. Will def recommend to anyone who likes sapphic, poly, NB, or just a really well done romance.

This was a pretty fun read overall. The fun parts were just sporadic for me though. Like I would be super interested & then bored, but then a couple chapters later, I would be super into it again. I will say that I really did enjoy Mel's personal story more than the relationships that she was in.
I didn't feel like anyone other than Mel had a strong presence, they were there/around but not dynamic enough. They all felt a bit horizontal for me.
At some points, I was honestly more interested in the Mixology competition than anyone else.
My favorite bit of drama was with Haircut in the first few chapters.

The fact that a story with the poly/queer representation is being traditionally published is such a huge accomplishment in our world today.

Baby’s first poly book!

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this novel but I loved TJ’s prior work (Chef’s Kiss), and I wasn’t disappointed. The writing is top notch, funny and sexy.

Mel is recently divorced when Bebe, a gorgeous blond lawyer, takes a seat at her bar. Bebe is married to Kade, an artist, and the three enter into a polyamorous relationship. At times, the book did feel a little like a how-to guide on polyamory (communication is key, etc etc etc) but the characters and their interactions also felt genuine.

The dedication (to sluts everywhere lol) was reason enough to read this one. Also, I can’t think of a sluttier or sexier setting for this book than a high end cocktail bar - I kept reaching for a drink both to cool myself off from some blush inducing spice and because the cocktail descriptions in here were just so mouth watering. I too am a tequila lover.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

The way I was giggling and kicking my gay little feet the entire time I read this should be studied!!!! I ate this book up and had so much fun with these chaotic queers. TJ’s writing is so witty and heartfelt and they have such an innate way of writing joy-filled and balanced queer love stories.

I found Mel to be a very fun main character, even though she’s kind of a silly goose. I don’t drink but I sure as hell would be a patron at her bar.

I loved this so much!!!!

This was a fun read! It was great to read Mel’s journey throughout the book as she learned to love and let herself be loved again through not just one but two partners.

The patience that Bebe and Kade had with her was fantastic and I loved how they helped her through the hurdles of learning how to be poly as this experience is a first for Mel as well.

Yeah, it had some predictability but there was also a realness to the journey that made this book feel cozy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc of this book to read.

Loved this spicy, quick read. I have never read a poly romance and this one was a great entry into the genre. The romance between three unique humans was special and fun. Will recommend.

I read all of TJ's backlist this year and just love their writing so so much! I can't wait to see what they write next and they've already cemented themselves as an autobuy author for me. So when I heard that their next book was going to be poly with a nonbinary MC...I was in, no questions asked! And boy, did this book deliver! Not necessarily in ways I expected, but I loved every second of the journey and really weas invested in the characters!

Mel is a bartender at a pretty posh bar - she's a little down on her luck and a LOT not looking for a relationship - but then Bebe walks into her life, and she is so vibrant that Mel can't help but be pulled into her orbit. Unfortunately (or so Mel thinks), Bebe is married and her wife Cade shows up to the bar....but here's the good news - it's not a problem because they have an open marriage! Mel is intrigued but wants guidelines of how this relationship is going to work, with one of those stipulations being that her relationship with Bebe remains casual. As Bebe and Mel continue to date, lines blur and Mel finds herself also intrigued by Cade - and catching feelings for both of them.

This book was super easily devourable (I read it in a morning in one sitting) and I think a really good intro to different kinds of relationships! I really felt the chemistry between all the characters and I thought it was so interesting to see how the relationships developed at different times and speeds. This is one of few books that I think really benefits from it's single POV so we can really get inside Mel's head and understand how she is processing this all.

I was somewhat surprised that this book was not quite as spicy as I expected! It was a really interesting moment for me that allowed me to evaluate why I thought it would be spicier - just because it was poly? (really I think it was moreso that I really enjoy reading group scenes so was hoping for a little more of them!) But, I actually think it fit the tone of the book quite well - I think the scenes that are in there are really representative of the characters moving the relationship(s) forward through intimacy. And despite there only being a few spicy scenes, it is HELLA kinky! The communication between the characters throughout the books but also during intimate scenes was also incredibly well done.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.25/5

This was my first book by TJ Alexander and it absolutely won't be my last.

I think the thing I loved the most about this book was TJ Alexander's voice throughout. Their joy is infectious and they had me constantly laughing while reading. Their dialogue is so quick and witty and I absolutely loved watching Mel interact with the people in her life. The banter was top tier, especially between Mel, Bebe, and Kade.

The representation in this book is fantastic. I really enjoyed Mel's journey in forming this relationship with Bebe and navigating her feelings of finding love again. It was so great to watch Mel with Bebe and then see the contrast of Mel with Kade. I really liked how each character was so specific and unique and brought a great dynamic to the polyamorous relationship.

Overall, TJ Alexander just excels in queer joy. This book is hopeful while still rooted in reality and is just a fun reading experience.

Thank you TJ Alexander, Atria, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

(I was gifted this ARC by NetGalley and Simon and Schuster in exchange for a fair and honest review). This was somehow my first TJ Alexander read, and I’m so glad I already have more queued up and ready to! I read this as part of the trans rights reads marathon and devoured it in basically one sitting (okay with some mandated sleep and adulting work in between) but in a perfect world I would’ve read it straight through. This is like nothing I’ve ever read before. I was a bit intimidated by it and the idea that there was a polyamorous relationship at the soul of it, because while I’m a member of the queer community, there’s still not a lot of light shed on the poly aspect of it and what that looks like or what variations in could look like. I loved the progression of each relationship and where things ended up, the development of each character and how they approach relationships and love and communication and boundaries. How the book poked fun at poly jokes and misunderstandings while educating and having fun. A great read! I hope there’s a Daniel spin off so I can see what Bebe, Mel and Kade are up to down the road!

Thank you to Atria for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Triple Sec is a fun queer and poly romance that centers around Mel, a down on her luck bartender still reeling from her divorce and struggling to make ends meet. Bebe sits at Mel's bar one night and the two hit it off, until Bebe's wife Kade arrives. Mel thinks that she was looking for vibes that weren't actually there, until Bebe and Kade tell her that they're poly and Mel's world view shifts.
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The book had the potential to be great, but I think it fell flat. Every character in the story was one simple note, and that note always boiled down to their career. Mel was insufferable and childish. I think the exploration of the poly relationship was an attempt at showcasing that all relationships look different, but instead came off as snobbish and elitist. I didn't find any of them to be intriguing or interesting and beyond the reach of the basic romantic plot, I found them quite boring. I haven't read anything by TJ before to know if this book is a good example of their work, but unfortunately it fell really flat for me.

This was a very fun polyamorous romance, and one that I actually felt good about reading and recommending! There were common misconceptions about polyamory, and it felt like a really good intro to people who aren’t invested in polyamory. This would be a great place for people to start with poly romance, because it’s one of the more responsible ones I’ve read– not to mention, the chemistry was great and so were the dynamics between the main trio! I've been looking for and craving a poly romance like this one. Spectacular work from TJ Alexander!!
A fun, sexy romance novel that does polyamory right! If you’re looking for a romance novel to fill you up with butterflies and other sorts of flutters, this is the one for you.

"triple sec" is a charming polyamorous rom-com where mel, a bartender at a fancy bar in new york, is enamored with bebe, a captivating and flirtatious lawyer—who is actually married to kade. as it turns out, bebe and kade have an open marriage, so mel agrees to go out with bebe for some casual, no-strings-attached fun, until she inevitably catches feelings. what follows is a beautiful story about opening your heart up to the possibility of falling in love and a wonderful dynamic between mel, bebe, and kade. i absolutely loved this book and completely ate it up, and i'm pretty sure tj alexander will become one of my auto-buy authors after this. whether you've read polyamorous romances before or you're just starting to dip your toes, i would absolutely recommend "triple sec"!

Did I drop everything I was doing to read this ARC all in one day? Yes. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Was I giggling and blushing like an idiot the entire time reading this? Yup. Is this my new favorite romance? Probably yes.
This was an absolute joy from start to finish. With extremely loveable characters, amazing scenes of communication, spice, and an engaging storyline, I think this might be the perfect romance! Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy when it is released in June!

2.5

Triple Sec is a fun polyamorous that you'll have a good time with if you turn your brain off. It has beach read potential despite its snowy interlude. It's a well-written romance with a great rhythm that makes it a fast and easy read.

Mel, a butch bartender who is not over her divorce, meets a gorgeous stranger who flirts with her. But gorgeous stranger named Bebe has a wife, the nonbinary artistic introvert named Kade. We, the readers, of course, know that this is a polyam romance and can guess Bebe and Kade are in an open couple. However, Mel the lesbian bartender in NYC circa 2023 which I imagine is a pretty queer place never once considers polyamory, in fact, the idea doesn't even cross her mind. Whereas I, someone on the Internet can tell how common polyamory is in certain American queer spaces based on observation. But never mind because this means the author will get to explain to us how it works, indeed the point of queer romances is not to be romances but to teach you about queer identities (please stop).

At one point I almost believed I was reading a litfic satire of the New York liberal upper class. Not because Bebe and Kade are an extremely cliché couple looking for a third but because there are so many instances where Mel feels out of place in their world by being a service worker in a world of rich people who: make fun of her for not knowing the artists en vogue (Bebe’s friend whom she gently chastises), act like not having a college degree is a terrible fate (literally Bebe who brushes the topic away when Mel responds saying she doesn’t have one), forget that skiing is a very expensive trip and that Mel has never been able to afford any of it, etc. Several times Mel is uneasy with this world which I assume is the author's way of grounding the character but it ended up making me feel uncomfortable since it's never addressed. You can have your fun fantasy rich love interests and I'll pretend it's fine because it's a fun romance fantasy but the minute you start pointing out (multiple time) that a food industry worker feels out of place in this world you need to at least examine it in some way. It felt weird because this seemed like a breakup set up that never came.

Then there’s the basic liberal therapy speak that can solve everything and cringy sentences about assuming gender presentation but that’s a classic, you can't have a nonbinary character without a preachy sentence about not assuming people's gender.

But most of all Triple Sec suffers from balancing issues. By separating each of Mel’s relationships with Kade and Bebe and a short conclusion with them both you get two rushed romances. How much do we actually know about Kade? How much does Mel? They’re presented as an aloof (heavily autistic-coded even if the word isn’t used) introverted artist who Mel feels uncomfortable around until? They get some firewood? They take their shirt off? The snowing plot to get them together would have felt less heavy-handed if they had more than one conversation alone prior to that episode.

I do say that it was interesting to address “I thought all nonbinary people were women.” There is a big discrepancy in how the queer community treats certain nonbinary people and the representation we have and accept. Since this read was during the trans rights readathon, it's interesting to note how many of the nonbinary characters that are recommended are characters who will express some sort of dysphoria regarding a feminine identity and perception, which is not relatable to all (I don't like AGAB language so I'm trying really hard to phrase that differently). Kade is genderqueer and I'm not sure a transfeminine label could apply to them (although they are okay with the term wife) but they present a perspective that I rarely see.

Let me say, I loved this book. It’s so rare to see poly representation, let alone poly representation done well. Mel’s evolution of understanding of poly relationships was realistic (and frankly, similar to how I would’ve done).

The characters are fun; I especially loved Kade and Mel. Bebe seemed like a bit of a cliche often times, but not enough to take away from the book much. But I honestly enjoyed Kade and Mel’s relationship much more than Bebe and Mel’s. It honestly felt more real, more deep. Mel and Bebe seemed more about sex in a lot of ways, whereas Kade and Mel seemed more relationship-like. I also loved how Kade was just…non-binary. There weren’t any gender indications for them until the sex scene. And then it was just…a thing, not a big deal.


My biggest complaint would probably be that the big thing moving the plot- the cocktail contest- could largely have been left out of the story, and you would’ve had basically the same story. It doesn’t really feel integral to the poly relationship story being told. That entire plot point could’ve been removed and, aside from providing connections for Mel’s goals to be achieved in the end, it wouldn’t have changed a thing. Frankly, with Bebe and Kade’s financial status, the end goal could’ve been achieved without the contest entirely.

But overall, I loved this book. I read through it so quickly, and I stayed up way too late doing so. I’d love to see more of the triad’s relationship develop, but I know that might be a bit long-winded for some. Maybe some short stories posted to a blog or something?

Triple Sec is like a good cocktail, you want to savor it but also want to keep drinking (reading). TJ Alexander’s characters are so rich and vibrant. Mel is a bartender who is wary of love who meets someone (sometwo) who opens Mel back to love. The realness of the characters was delightful. If you’re looking for a smooth read, Triple Sec is for you!

TRIPLE SEC is a clever, fun polyamorous romance that follows Mel, a bartender grappling to overcome pessimism about love following a divorce. Alongside the expertly written romance, I particularly enjoyed Mel growing not only as a romantic partner, but also as a friend learning to spend more time tending the garden of friendship (as Alexander so beautifully puts it) and as a person learning to go after the things she really loves.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria, and TJ Alexander for this eARC. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

No notes. Perfect in every way.

I learned a lot about the poly community and cocktails, and also had a delightful time. TJ did it again. The sex: hot as all hell. The romance: so sweet and genuine. The story: beautiful and full of growth.

This was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Five Emojis to Describe This Book: 🥰🥂🩷💛❤️ (The hearts are Mel BeBe and Kade in that order. Don’t ask why, it’s vibes based.)

This novel was so much fun!!! This was the first romance I've read with a poly relationship at the heart, and I think it made for some interesting differences from a monogamous romance. For example, you get TWO falling-for-you stories — swoon! And since good communication is at the root of the relationships here, say goodbye to any third-act miscommunications! The only downside is that, to include multiple interwoven love stories and keep the novel at a normal length, everything needs to be succinct. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it was too quickly paced! I just would have loved to linger in some of the moments a bit longer. Overall, this was a home run for me and I hope you give it a shot this summer!

This book was an absolute joy to read! Not only is it the first positive representation of polyamory I've ever read, but the spice is to DIE FOR! Alexander put their alllll into this writing. On top of that we can a look into the main character Mel's life as a bartender which was a fun touch and gave me some ideas for recipes to try at home.. Also can we talk about the cover art?? Five stars for that alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced readers copy for review!