In all honesty, this is the first poly-amorous novel I've read. I appreciated the experience, the cohesive and genuine way different genders and pronouns were woven into the story, and the discussions around different lifestyle/relationship choices. All of that was amazing and great. I love that this book had a positive ending and message and celebrated LGBTQ+ joy and not trauma. I think this would be a nice baby step if anyone is looking to gain access to polyamorous fiction.

That being said, in terms of plotting and writing, I'm going to consider this alongside any other romance in the broad genre. Unfortunately this book didn't really work for me in those aspects. I honestly didn't really care about the characters. Especially the main POV character Mel. I couldn't really get a read on her. She seemed a bit boring and nondescript despite the other characters saying she was so amazing and kind and interesting. I didn't get that from the narration or the way she was acting or her internal thoughts.

I also didn't really care all that much for the cocktail competition or the lengthy descriptions of cocktails. This might be a personal preference as I don't really know anything about alcohol. Some of these descriptions and the hemming and hawing from Mel (who apparently is like an amazing mixologist but then can't mix a cocktail to save her life until the very end???) about what to make really dragged the plot.

I guess I was hoping for a bit more tension. I know, I know... I just said that I loved this book was about LGBTQ joy and not trauma. But the tension doesn't have to be trauma. There was really no obstacles so nothing really happened. Even the almost break-up was contrived and silly, imo. No tension.

Having not read TJ Alexander before, I had no understanding of the spice level of their books. I guess I went in with the expectation that this would involve a lot of spice and more exploration of the threesome aspect of their relationship. This wasn't the case. I would put this at a 3 for spice. There were 2-3 short explicit scenes and the rest fade to black or are mentioned in passing. This isn't a criticism--I don't usually like erotica--but just didn't meet my uneducated expectations (that's on me). Something to be aware of going in.

Overall, I'm glad I read this book. I'm excited to see different pronouns and the spectrum of gender represented. If romance is the conduit to getting more of these stories out there, then I am here for it! I'm just finding that I like tension and a bit of realistic conflict in my stories to keep me compelled to keep reading.

This was so good! I couldn't stop readying for anything. I enjoyed reading this and thought it was a great idea and story line. This was written very well and I enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this new romance by TJ Alexander, they’re an auto-buy author for me now! It was my first poly romance, and I loved Mel, Bebe, and Kade. It was very well-written, and I loved the characters, the banter, the cocktails, the competition… it was honestly pretty low angst which I appreciated, and as the relationships in the book evolved, the communication between the 3 of them was impeccable; rather than letting Mel shut down and retreat, Bebe and Kade brought Mel in to talk it out and revise the “guidelines.” Open door spice was included but the focus was definitely more on the relationship development. There were also reflections on friendships and reckoning with baggage/exes. I would have loved if this had been multiple POV (it was single POV from Mel’s perspective). Definitely give this one a read if you love queer romance with poly, lesbian, and non-binary rep!

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander is a lively and heartwarming romance set in the world of upscale bars. The story follows Mel, a bartender who’s a over love, until she meets the charming lawyerBebea and her nonbinary partner, Kade. The book does a great job of portraying their polyamorous relationship with authenticity and warmth.

Alexander’s writing is witty and insightful, making the characters feel real and relatable. The balance of humor and romance kept me hooked, and I loved how the book touched on themes of love, identity, and community. The chemistry between the characters is fantastic, and the representation is spot on.

Overall, Triple Sec is a fun, steamy read that celebrates love in a refreshing way. If you’re looking for a romance that’s both entertaining and meaningful, this book is a great pick.

this was very fun!! sweet and spicy and smart. I’m not much of a romance book girlie but I had a great time reading this and definitely absolutely recommend!

I really enjoyed this book! I've never read a poly romance before and this one was fun! Alexander's writing made me fall in love with all of the characters and this was a good book club book!

This book is very steamy so if that's up your alley, check this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this one!

This was a fun read and you should definitively grab it if you have enjoyed prior books by the author. This book felt a little slower that second chances in New port and not sure I felt as much emotion in between the main characters as I felt on the other book, It was still interesting to read the dynamics that can go on in a poly romance and the importance of open communication at all times.
I did greatly enjoyed the part of the bartender and the different cocktails created by Mel. I want to prepare them as well!

Flirty, fun, and thoughtful; the perfect cocktail. This novel was refreshing and I really sunk into these characters. More poly romance!

Read if you like: LGBTQ love stories
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Mel is a bartender who dreams of opening her own bar someday. At work she meets Bebe, a fun lawyer who asks her out. But Mel is unsure as she learns that Bebe is married, but Bebe and Kade are in an open relationship, so Mel decides to take a chance and date Bebe.
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This book was so cute. I loved how open all the characters were to exploring love, but with open communication and boundaries. I’m really glad I read this book and highly recommend it!

This was a new to me author and the description intrigued me immediately, especially since any poly or non-binary topic books I’ve read before have all been non-fiction.

Overall, I thought it was refreshing, fun, and spicy a.k.a. a perfect release for summer. I learned a little bit about mixology and loved how the competition theme was weaved into the plot. It wasn’t just a same old romance story that’s mass produced now, it was very modern and had a little more substance and interest to make it stand out. The title of the book totally went over my head at first as a poly x alcoholic beverage pun but it’s so funny!

3.5 stars ⭐️

Thank you to Atria, TJ, NetGalley for the e-galley!

It has been a long time since a book has reached my favorite book of all time status. Triple Sec is a love letter to the F&B industry, the queen community, and non-traditional relationships in the best possible way. For anyone who enjoys queer stories about love, connection, most importantly a romance that won't make you frustrated with a miscommunication trope, this is the book for you. TJ Alexander weaves these relationships together so well, making you root for all of them to not only live their best lives together, but as individuals. Love is not finite, it cannot be divided, only multiplied.

I had totally forgotten the book blurb when I started reading. Every once in a while I like to just grab a title in my TBR and be surprised.
It took a bit for me to get into the story. But I honestly just fell in love with the characters. Mel (a divorced lesbian bartender with quite a bit of insecurity going on), Bebe (bombshell hotshot attorney who is all confident sex appeal) and Bebe’s wife Kade (nonbinary artist and a more reserved personality). This book showed a refreshing take on what an honest and open relationship can be no matter how you identify, or who you love., or even how many people you choose to love.
Just a fun summer romance!
I received a ARC of this title from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book was wonderful! I have loved everything I've read by TJ Alexander and this was no exception!

S T U N N I N G.

No notes, TJ writes exceptional characters but this book was definitely a level above the others I've read. I haven't felt so invested in a romance in quite some time and I loved how layered the book was with the themes of cocktails.

Am I searching for my next polyamorous love story now? 1000%

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and TJ Alexander for the advanced copy of Triple Sec!

Hold for full review

I enjoyed this book! Mel, a fancy bartender, is entranced by the woman flirting with her at the bar (Bebe), only to find out that Bebe is married to equally, but very differently, alluring Kade. I think it's really hard to write a triad romance because there are 4 relationships that need to be fleshed out (one between each of the 3, and then another for the unit as a whole). I felt I wanted a little more time with Kade and between Kade and Bebe, but overall this is a very fun read.

Oh I loved this so much!!! This book is such a refreshing summer read! Easy/fast to read, funny, and enjoyable. These characters were so easy to love and relate to. Bebe was my favorite. She’s just so bubbly, but everyone was written very well. I loved Mel trying to figure out her competition drink, it was fun to read about! Overall, this was just a a quick, feel good romance! Will definitely be recommending! Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *Note* Though I received a e-arc for this book, I ended up listening to the audiobook from my library, and this review is based on that experience.

When I requested this book I was intrigued because I liked the premise of a bartender in NYC and being a part of that world. Somehow I skipped over the polyamory parts when I requested, and that made me a little nervous to read this because I have difficulty relating to that world. However, this ended up being a fun and lighthearted story between Mel, the lesbian bartender who is overcoming the grief about her divorce from a few years prior, getting involved with a couple Bebe and Cade. I like how the book was in three parts - first about Bebe, second about Cade, third as a throuple for all intents and purposes. Bebe and Mel seem to have a bit of instalove, which I usually don't go for, but it seemed to work here.

The plot itself was fine, though there were some scenes I'm not sure were needed (almost therapy for 2 drunk bros at the clam shack sticks out). I also thought it was strange for how good of friends Mel is with Daniel that she didn't rely on him more for learning about the poly lifestyle. Also some things seemed convenient -- like, if Mel truly is a lesbian, I'm surprised she would get turned on during sex with a partner with a penis? Or maybe this was more representing healthy sexual exploration, and trying to show that sex and sexual expression is on a spectrum as well. There is a lot of sex in this book, which is written well albeit graphically (if that's not your thing be warned). I kind of wish there had been more exploration of potential jealousy in polyamory situations - or maybe it doesn't happen like that? It just seemed like this was destined to be a happy throuple ending from maybe page 50, and it would have been interesting to go a little deeper than this did to explore the dynamics of love, lust, and friendship in polyamory situations. However, overall I enjoyed this book (even though at first the polyamory aspects were outside my comfort zone) and it felt like a fun summer-time read.

A new romance from Alexander focuses on Mel, a bartender in NYC. When Mel meets BeBe, she is drawn to her. However, she learns Bebe is married and thinks that's it. Soon though, BeBe explains that she and her wife, Kade, are polyamorous and in an open relationship. Mel and BeBe start their own relationship, but Mel also finds herself drawn to Kade. In the middle of all of this, she is entering a cocktail competition, hoping to win so she can open her own bar.

Overall, I enjoyed this one! I had forgotten it was about polyamory by the time I got around to reading it, so that was surprising. But Alexander does a great job at creating chemistry between characters! Even in what eventually becomes a throuple, they do a great job carrying that through.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book demonstrates the importance of communication in relationships (whether they are romantic or not) and also that love can manifest in ways we might not expect for ourselves. I wasn’t sure how I felt at first but I’m glad I stuck with it. I noticed that the structure of this book with the three main parts corresponding to pivotal moments in the story, which I found clever. Bebe and Kade were strong characters, but I didn’t find myself drawn to Mel’s character as much. I liked the focus on the relationships, but I would have liked more character development for Mel especially since she had emotional trauma from a previous relationship. I haven’t read a book with poly representation before, so I enjoyed this one!