I have had this arc for a while and finally got around to reading it. I finished this book SO FAST. I love seeing poly romance get some love. I think it was great to see the diversity of sexualities & gender expressions. I also loved that this wasn't a unicorn situation, but 3 separate relationship and then together. I think the spicy scene were also written really well and didn't get repetitive. What I didn't like, I felt like there was little to no conflict. It felt unrealistic that a person new to polyamory would experience no jealousy, no internal conflicts or questions about how to go public. Every minor conflict was solved within the next chapter. Everyone in the story was a great communicator, polite, understanding, but that didn't make for a very exciting story. Also, there was a huge financial difference between the characters that was never discussed.

Overall I had a good time reading this. It was my 2nd book by TJ Alexander, and I will continue to read their books in the future!

This is an absolute delight. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the three novels by TJ Alexander and went into Triple Sec expecting to enjoy it, and I did! Alexander’s writing and characters are currently some of my favorites.

I love when books are a joy to read, and Triple Sec was.

I’ve also been looking for positive polyamory representation, and am so glad that Triple Sec exists and will be recommending it.

I will most definitely be pre-ordering the audiobook and look forward to enjoying that version too.

I ADORED this novel and highly recommend it.

Mel, a bartender, thinks that Bebe is flirting with her. But when Bebe is joined at the bar by her wife, Cade (an AMAB non-binary artist), Mel assumes she misinterpreted Bebe’s comments.  

Mel is surprised to learn that Bebe and Cade are polyamorous, and that Bebe was indeed flirting with Mel and wants to date her. I loved watching the relationship between Bebe and Mel develop through the novel – they are so sweet together and have amazing chemistry.

Mel is new to polyamory, so the reader follows Mel as she learns about polyamory and corrects the misconceptions she has. That aspect of the book felt educational, without being preachy.

Mel and Cade eventually realize that they too have feelings for each other. The book carefully shows how their relationship between all three characters grows and changes over time. We get to see their polyamory negotiations, including their frequently revised relationship guidelines.  

The sex scenes in this book were great and added a lot to the character development and plot. I loved seeing such open communication about sexual preferences and body positivity (yay having sex without shaving your legs). Plus, the sex scenes are super hot.

This book is charmingly flawed. The premise felt new and a welcome modern addition to a genre that can get bogged down in traditional gender norms. I loved how the book made room for nuanced sexual expression. While the smut may be sparse, it is full of chemistry. Also, maybe it’s because I’ve read a lot of insta-love lately but I deeply enjoyed the build of the first relationship. There wasn’t pressure to make it fit into a timeline that happened entirely on page (although pacing had other issues as noted below). The issues that came up felt organic and understandable but also, unfortunately, frequent.

For being a romance novel, this book seems more comfortable in the conflict than it does in the love. It’s almost like watching a movie where someone keeps pressing fast forward anytime things get emotional in a positive way. Time jumps summarize the happy stuff where the relationships form to get back to the part where our narrator is uncomfortable in whatever phase she finds herself in.

This is especially egregious when it comes to adding the second relationship to our narrator’s life. There are no hints of attraction or small moments of affection leading up to the confession. They simply aren’t until they are, miscommunicating every step of the way in between.

Speaking of Kade, the author never names Kade as being autistic but she does have a line comparing someone else’s neurodivergence to the character and they’re certainly coded as such in mannerism. As someone who is autistic, I didn’t love this portrayal. Kade is written in a way that seems almost incapable of feeling joy. They aren’t just devoid of expressions on their face, they give very little verbal emotion too outside of sex. They’re given the chance at depth in philosophy alone, constantly intellectualizing every moment of vulnerability. It is hard to capture the nuance of autistic emotion but this landed very one dimensional. If the narrator had been able to pick up on the subtleties of Kade without so much judgement or dismissal, maybe I’d feel differently.

Despite all of that, I genuinely enjoyed this book. It depicts polyamory in all its messy glory. The philosophy of poly vs the practical execution of it often takes a lot of communication and I appreciate how the author emphasized that. I liked the constant checking in with other partners as new lines were crossed. The running gag of the agreement was a perfect representation of that.

DNF 30%…just wasn’t feeling it or any type of connect to the characters.

The writing was done well, the characters seemed cool and the story was there! I just couldn’t get into it.

Thank you netgalley for the eARC!

This was an entirely unique romance for me, it was such a refreshing and honest read and I absolutely fell in love with TJ Alexander's witty and fun writing style! It kept the perfect balance between light hearted and diving deeply into different kinds of relationships in a very respectful way.

I also felt like there was a perfect balance of getting to know the characters, having the plot well thought out and followed through and a very enjoyable romance. If anything I just wanted this book to be longer so we could follow the characters even more!

This book will also make you immediately crave every cocktail they describe making!

This book was the queer novel I have been waiting for. It was light hearted while exploring sometimes complicated situation.

All the characters showed emotional maturity and clear communication styles.
Tj Alexander understands their characters very well and I truly enjoy that.

I really enjoyed this book and it was not a genre that I usually would read. I felt while reading this book I didn't want to stop reading. The inclusiveness of characters that aren't usually mainstream in books was exciting to read. I think what I liked is seeing the connections between Mel and Bebe and then see it developed with all three characters. The author did a great job with explaining polyamory in the book.

I loved this book so much! I immediately went and preordered a physical copy. Such a joyful book that truly celebrates queer love in all of its form and brings so much light on poly relationships and their validity!

This story has so much going for it. Whiskey and cocktails, lots of queerness, and polyamory. I loved the representation of Lesbian, Bi, non-binary, and other LGBTQIA+ characters. Mel is working at bar when she falls for a lawyer that comes into the bar for drinks. Bebe isn’t a prissy lawyer, she doesn’t mind getting in the middle to break up a fight. Mel discovers that Bebe is married to Kade, and that they have an open relationship. She decides to give polyamory a shot, which she did not expect after not dating for so long after her divorce These characters really show how to keep the lines of communication open. Is it easy? No. However, they keep working at it. Mel gets to the point where she feels settled enough to enter a cocktail making contest, in hopes of opening up a bar of her own. I really felt it was a great story, and enjoyed the writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Book for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading TRIPLE SEC by TJ Alexander was a joy. It is a very well-written story of relationships and the sometimes complicated roles of profession, likes, and loves set in New York City. The main character is a mixologist still suffering from a breakup, a sunshiny lawyer who befriends her (and more), and a grumpy non-binary artist who is the latter’s live-in lover. Careful and loving coupling and throupling ensue, with some corporate drama and a mixology contest thrown in for fun. It’s really fun! The treatment of polyamory feels true and authentic to an outsider. This reader sees it as carefully handled, with lots of communication and respect. I really loved this book and recommend it to folks wanting to read about queer joy - and especially if you’re shy about reading about polyamory. It is really well-done.

[I will be posting a more thorough review to Goodreads soon.]

4.5 stars rounded up!

The way in which Alexander’s writing blends together the absolute best parts of romance as a genre is what I imagine it would be like to take a sip of a Mel cocktail—perfection!

The book had absolutely everything anyone could want from a throuple romance: emphasis on communication; chemistry between all parties; lots of genuine, believable connection; and the perfect amount of steaminess! Although, with how well Alexander writes steamy scenes? Let’s just say I would’ve been perfectly happy with another fifty pages.

I will now be exploring the rest of Alexander’s novels! Absolutely loved it.

Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC! All opinions are genuine and my own.

When Bartender Mel meets, and flirts, with her customer Bebe, she's enchanted and thinks this could be something. Then she meets Bebe's partner Kade and shuts that down. But then Bebe asks her out. Mel's journey into the world of of a poly couple becomes one that will get you hooked into her day to day life and her romance with Bebe, and more.
The depth of these characters and plotline will keep you reading and make it difficult to put down. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mixology, poly romances, and drama!

Mel is jaded on the idea of relationships but is instantly enthralled when she meets Bebe and the two of them seem to hit it off. Unfortunately, Bebe turns out to be happily married to Kade. Surprisingly, its an open relationship and Bebe asks Mel out on a date. What follows is Mel failing to keep things as casual with Bebe, while also unexpectedly developing feelings for Kade.

This novel was an absolute delight from start to finish. It was different from most of the novels I have read (just featuring a poly relationship) and was executed so incredibly well. The characters were delightful, and all of the relationship permutations were thrilling to experience. There wasn’t too much conflict or angst which I appreciated, and I don’t think it was needed in the slightest. I would recommend this novel to anyone; I think it is one of my new favorites.

Some Highlights:
-This novel was very well balanced. There was just the right amount of plot, conflict, and external influences on the story to counterbalance the sweet and spicy relationship development. There was enough plotline to keep the novel interesting and make it feel fuller, yet not distract from the romance (the main point, am I right?). It was all woven together very effectively and worked to create the overall novel.
-Their relationships were all so adorable and perfect. Two (three?) for the price of one novel! Each relationship was very different but all satisfying, and the whole situation simply worked very well. The characters differences and chemistry together worked interestingly and very well, both in and outside of the bedroom. On the surface it was enjoyable to read, but looking a bit deeper it also worked well to demonstrate how relationships vary and can work for you in different ways; not better or worse but simply different.
-The spice was excellent. I just wish there was more of it!!!
-As a (very happily) monogamous person I could empathize and understand Mel’s anxiety about trying out a poly relationship. It was very easy to get into her headspace and gave me a lot to think about and reflect on while reading this novel. This is the first poly romance novel that I have read, and it was very interesting on multiple levels.

I have nothing bad to say about this novel. The closest thing would be complaining that there wasn’t more of it! It could have used so much more spice (but not at the expense of cutting anything else!), more dates, more sweet relationship moments, more working through little issues, more time with the characters following the end of the novel. More everything. I would happily devour a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TJ Alexander’s new novel explores polyamory and love after difficult break-ups. Mel is a divorced mixologist that has been hesitant towards love, until Bebe enters the bar that she works at. She’s everything that Mel is looking for in a partner until Mel finds out Bebe is married. Mel has never been involved in an open relationship before and sets strict boundaries on what is acceptable. But over and over again she finds herself reevaluating these boundaries as a feeling akin to love begins to arise. I loved the character development in this novel as well as the support that each character has for one another. Alexander does a great job of highlighting LGBTQIA characters in a way that also provides eduction.

TJ Alexander’s writing is always fantastic, and Triple Sec is no exception! This romance is sexy, funny, and features characters that jump off the page (Bebe is so charismatic, and Kade as an artsy, neurodivergent genderqueer person made me feel very seen!) I devoured this book in around 24 hours and am already excitedly waiting to recommend it to customers in store.

I think romance books featuring queer polyamory are still far too rare for how common it is in the LGBTQ+ community, and reading this book was really refreshing and features important diversity and representation.

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander is a good fit for those seeking a heartwarming and steamy romance that explores the complexities of polyamory and the power of queer love.

I already posted on good reads! But I’m so happy to have gotten this book. I’ve loved TJ in one past and their writing didn’t disappoint here. It was such a good and fun story, with engaging and fun characters, realistic descriptions, and 🌶️🥵 that was the queer content we need.

This was such a fun poly/queer romance. I loved it!

The characters were all relatable (even though none of them had careers I would succeed in), and somehow, they fit together like the world’s most satisfying puzzle.

Spice: 5 chilis

I also very much loved:
-the cocktail competition
-open communication as a rule
-body positivity
-the blizzard
-Bebe’s bed? I need one of my own

PUBLISH DATE: June 4 2024
Thank you NetGalley + Atria Books for the advanced readers copy, here's my honest review!

This was such a cute, simple, and cozy story that felt very slice-of-life at times!! I hope I get to read more books with great queer & polyamorous representation just like this one in the future!

Unfortunately, I didn't find myself connecting with the characters much, they fell a bit flat for me. I wish that they were more fleshed out. Alongside that, I wanted more relationship development between the 3 of them especially Mel & Kade but I just didn't get that. I felt very detached from their relationship as well as the characters individually.

Surprisingly enough I actually did enjoy the smut scenes in terms of what was going on but if I cared more about the relationship between the characters I would've loved it so much more.

A little bit later on in the book there was a scene where mel basically yells at an employee for misgendering Kade & not only did it add nothing to the plot I kind of felt like it was unnecessary.

I wasn't really interested in Mel's drinking competition & the outcome with how the competition would go was very predictable. I just feel like the time talking about the competition could've instead been more relationship development & going deeper into learning the characters especially since the competition didn't really seem to matter much in the end.

Overall I am really glad I read this book, it was sweet & cozy & a pleasant read.

If you're looking for a queer poly romance I reccommend you check this one out!