4.75 stars

A cute and fluffy romance about a mixologist diving into her first polyamorous relationship.

Divorced before age 27, Mel is working as a bartender when she meets a striking woman named Bebe who is giving off seriously flirtatious vibes. And then meets Bebe's genderqueer wife Kade. Mel explores polyamory while preparing for a drink concoction competition to hopefully win money to put towards her dream of owning a bar.

This was super lighthearted and fluffy with a few spicy scenes and a great introduction to polyamory. I loved the balance between the romance and Mel's goals. The book is broken into a 3-part romance between Mel and Bebe, Mel and Kade, and then all three of them. This is my second read by TJ Alexander and definitely won't be the last!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

As a bartender at Terror & Virtue, a swanky New York City cocktail lounge known for its romantic atmosphere and Insta-worthy drinks, Mel has witnessed plenty of disastrous dates. That, coupled with her own romantic life being in shambles, has Mel convinced love doesn’t exist. Everything changes when Bebe walks into the bar. She’s beautiful, funny, knows her whiskeys—and is happily married to her partner, Kade. Mel’s resigned to forget the whole thing, but Bebe makes her a unique offer: since she and Kade have an open marriage, she’s interested in taking Mel on a date.

What starts as a fun romp turns into a burgeoning relationship, and soon Mel is trying all sorts of things she’d been avoiding, from grand romantic gestures to steamy exploits. Mel even gets the self-confidence to enter a cocktail competition that would make her dream of opening her own bar a reality. In the chaotic whirl of all these new experiences, Mel realizes there might be a spark between her and Kade, too. As Bebe, Kade, and Mel explore their connections, Mel begins to think that real love might be more expansive than she ever thought possible.

This was an interesting dive into polyamory. I haven't read many, since most of it (reverse harem stuff, primarily) holds little appeal to me. While I felt the plot could have been stronger, I enjoyed these three finding their way around their complicated relationship(s). There wasn't a ton of real conflict in the book, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Triple Sec was a desperately needed breath of fresh air in the trad pub romance genre, because I'm always looking for more romance focused polyam stories and I'm hoping this will encourage publishers to see that there's an audience for them! Alexander created such unique and interesting characters, and some of the humor in this was genuinely SO funny. The writing really pulled me along for a quick read too, and I liked how the book was split into three sections, one for each stage of Mel's love life.

Unfortunately I had some issues with the book feeling kind of clunky due to two main things. The first, is that the writing was really straight forward. There was absolutely nothing left for the reader to infer on their own, which distanced me from the story because rather than exploring the world through Mel's eyes, everything was stated factually. All tell, no show. Which I know is becoming more and more common these days in the media we consume, but it was still frustrating to me. The second, is that while there was a lot of representation in Triple Sec, it felt really forced at times. This might sound like me going all "Old Man Shakes Fist at Cloud," but please, bear with me for a sec (heh). While I really appreciated some of the representation in the novel, such as Kade's discussion of their neurodivergence, and Bebe questioning if she'll be comfortable in a booth, a decent amount of it stuck out as unnecessary. Now, I think part of this was also do to the tell, not show style going on, but there were a bunch of moments that felt preachy, similar to a Tumblr post circa 2012. Rather than feeling like part of a streamlined narrative, they stuck out almost defensively, as if to try to prove a point that the book was inclusive - which it was without them.

Overall I enjoyed Triple Sec, it was a fun romcom, and I'd be willing to try another one of Alexander's books in the future!

I had high hopes for this one, but it reads like a straight man writing a fantasy of what a poly relationship looks like to them. I'm not going to be finishing and will be returning my preorder.

Another poly romance that was a fun time! We meet Mel, a mixologist with dreams of opening her own bar, as she begins dating and falling in love with Bebe. Bebe is in a open, poly relationship with her wife, Kade, who Mel also eventually falls for (👀), and we follow the three as they embark on this new dynamic together.

It was interesting seeing Mel navigate her first poly relationship! I loved the fast burn between Mel and Bebe while simultaneously watching the slow burn unfold between Mel and Kade. Both couple’s dynamics were drastically different, but so intriguing that I was never interested in one relationship more than the other. I also loved the emphasis on open communication, honesty, and consent within the relationships. It was so refreshing to see!

I was also surprisingly engrossed in the cocktail competition portion of the story. Even though you see the resolution coming from a mile away, the focus on the competition never felt unbalanced with the rest of the plot because Mel’s passion for mixology shines throughout.

I wish we got to explore a bit more about Kade and Bebe’s personal lives, since I really liked them as characters, so I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing more of these three in the future!

You can tell that Alexander really treats all of their topics with care and I’m looking forward to reading more from them!

Rating: 2.5

This book wasn't bad. I was just bored the entire time. The only character I cared for was Kade.

Triple Sec is a one-of-a-kind polyamorous tale with endearing characters and many sweet and spicy moments. Mel’s a hard-working mixologist serving drinks at one of NYC’s finest cocktail bars when she meets the captivating Bebe. Several minutes of flirting leads Mel on a journey she never expected.

The story is told from Mel’s third person point of view giving readers an up close and personal look into her thoughts, feelings, and actions. Her past made her wary of anything more than casual which is perfect for her to date Bebe, a married woman in an open relationship with Kade. What we learn about Bebe and Kade comes from Mel’s interactions with them leaving an air of mystery surrounding them.

The unique nature of this story makes it a real winner for me. The depth of character development and the evolution of relationships are a compelling aspect of the narrative. The gradual unveiling of Kade's layers adds an intriguing element to the dynamic between the characters.

I highly recommend Triple Sec as it’s different from the usual fair. The characters, plotline, and romance are exquisitely detailed. So grab your favorite cocktail, get comfy, and settle in for a wonderful time!

⭐️: 3.5/5
🌶️: 4/5

I had high hopes coming into this book as I had seen somethings saying it was so fun and hilarious! I was also excited for a polyamorous rom-com! This book got off to a pretty slow start. It did get steadily better as the book went, but it took a long time to get going. By the end it was so cute and happy that I (almost) forgot how slow the beginning was.

I don’t know that I would use the word hilarious to describe this book. It was cute and fun by the end but it really did take a long time to get there. And the frustrating part is that some scenes were SO rushed! If the whole beginning of the book hadn’t been so long and dragged out, those rushed scenes could have been given more time and depth. Even though the end was totally predictable, it was still absolutely enjoyable.

I am happy to see a poly book get somewhat main stream attention and hope to continue to see more books like this showing diverse relationships.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

I enjoyed this book, even more than I thought I would! The characters were strong, fun, and witty, and their individual relationships along with the collective one were sweet and sexy.

Read this if you like:
•fantastic poly rep
•cocktails
•a bit of forced proximity

This book was SO FUN!!! The polyamorous rep was chefs kiss. The pronoun usage (& explanation of & how to talk about) was so so good - everyone should read this book!

Thank you Atria for the eARC!

What a great book! Really enjoyed the concept and the inclusivity in this book a lot!

Mel was a lovable but jaded bartender and she’s seen and been through some shit! So when Bebe sits in her area, she can’t help but be attracted to her until Bebe’s wife enters the bar and Mel is left questioning if the flirting was real.

Bebe and Mel start a relationship as Bebe is poly and Mel starts navigating that with some bumps in the road. When Mel finally accepts that she loves Bebe and pursues it more romantically then enters Kade. Kade and Mel get stuck in a snowstorm together, where they share memories on a deep personal level that makes them both feel seen and understood. They express and explore their feelings for each other. Back home continues the complexities of navigating polyamory, friendships, and work all leading up to a great HEA!

We have a great sub-plot with the drink completion in which Mel tries to figure out the perfect drink for the competition while being supported by her friends and lovers.

This was a great romantic, thoughtful, and spicy read that I absolutely loved! This is the first I’ve ready by this author but I’ll be looking at their other books for my next reads as well!

Cheers!

This book was incredible. I am not much of a romance reader but I was charmed by this novel. The pacing of everything was great, giving details when it matters but leaving out unnecessary moments. I rarely read sapphic novels but this one caught my eye and I must admit I'm glad I picked it up. I didn't know much about polyamory and I love how the author explored it.

This was quite possibly one of my new favorite romances of all time. Mel is still reeling from her divorce, after getting married too young and then getting left behind, the only thing she knows in life is how to mix drinks and that love is not for her. That is until Bebe shows up at the fancy, top of the line bar that Mel works at. After hitting it off and flirting, imagine Mel's surprise when Kade, Bebe's wife shows up.
Confused, she accepts Bebe's invitation to their apartment for brunch, what could possibly happen?
Dealing with the logistics of polyamory, adulthood and following our dreams, Triple Sec is an amazing story. I loved every second with these characters, I loved watching them flirt and fuck and live my new dream.
I also loved the representation! I can't vouch for how authentic it was (as a bisexual cis woman there are only so many of the identities presented in this book I have first hand experience with) but I love love loved it.

3.25

I really enjoyed Alexander's Second Chances in New Port Stephen when I read it last year so I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of this year's release. I was even more thrilled when I saw that this was a poly romance centering a jaded bartender.

Overall, I think this was a fun summer read. I envisioned reading this poolside with a fancy cocktail the whole time and honestly, I think that's how this book is meant to be read. Mel is a jaded bartender that we meet at work where she's getting flirty vibes from a customer and she's into it. Then she finds out this customer, Bebe, is married and her and their wife Kade are in an open relationship. What follows is Mel navigating a relationship with Bebe (and later Kade) and an exploration of how expansive love can be.

I really liked the discussion around polyamory and how important communication is, not just when you have multiple romantic partners but in any situation. You can see that as the book progresses both in conversations Mel has and with the evolving guidelines written out as major changes to the relationship occur. I also loved Kade a whole heck of a lot.

I also really enjoyed all the cocktail talk. Throughout the book, Mel is working on perfecting a signature cocktail for a competition and Alexander definitely knows how to write food, drinks, and flavors.

I do think Alexander fell a little too deep into teaching about polyamory. Yes, a lot of it is important because Mel is new to the concept and as a traditionally published romance many readers are probably new to the concept as well. But I think sometimes the explanation took over the actual plot of the story. I also struggled with Mel's friendship with Daniel. We know from the start that they're close but we never actually see them being close. To be honest, Mel is kind of a shitty friend to him for most of the book and then it's "solved" super quickly with a one-line recognition that relationships take work.

Almost too fluffy for me - very little conflict but I liked the characters a lot

Thank you to the author, netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Thanks to TJ Alexander, Atria, and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

This was a fun, sweet, and spicy romance that made me want to go have a cocktail. I think that, while fun and interesting, the cocktail making contest was more of a distraction and so minor to the plot that it could have done without and been just as good if not better. As it was, it felt crammed in to the last 10ish percent.

POV: single third person omniscient

You can expect: bartender FMC, lawyer FMC, artist MC, snowed in, forced proximity, learning to love again, polycule.

Rep: lesbian MC, queer MC, nonbinary MC, gay side character, polyamory, throuple

Spice: 3/5

This was a highly anticipated read for me for 2024. Just from the cover alone I was so ready for poly rep done with care. TLDR this did deliver that but I was expecting a bit more from the story and connections between characters.

My biggest issue with this was the characterization of Bebe. So Mel is a bartender and meets super posh Bebe and then adorably discovers Bebe is married but interested in dating Mel?? And Mel and Bebe lay down some ground rules (at Mel's request) for how they are going to handle their relationship with respect to Bebe's wife Kade. All that part was totally fine and dandy. I loved how the rules changed and it was a part of the plot/image on the page. But Bebe as a person. She is otherworldly. She is described as someone who knows exactly how to dress, where to go for a good date, is experienced in bed, and doesn't speak to Mel condescendingly but more from a place of wisdom Mel nowhere near possesses. The voice and soul of Bebe is like 50 years old to me and this is not an age gap romance, I think she is supposed to be in her 30s. Because of this it felt like an elder queer guiding Mel through a romantic journey that just happened to be with them. This is spicier than the author's other work I read (and LOVED, the second chances in New Port Stephens book) but I felt kind of meh about the scenes because there wasn't a lot of tension or chemistry with the 2 of them to begin with.

Now, a character I loved was Kade. Kade is Bebe's nonbinary wife and is a self-deprecating semi famous artist. They were so vividly described to me and were so real because unlike Bebe they had flaws and that added the bit of conflict in the plot (may not be what you are assuming). I loved Kade's style and dialogue and missteps. Kade is my favorite! So their increased involvement with the second half of the book saved this to 4 stars for me.

Thank you to Atria for the eARC and to the author for winning this book in a giveaway! again, the cover is amazing.

Loved the accurate and positive poly dynamic! It was so great to see this lifestyle shown in a good light, without the usual toxicity I see on reality tv, or being so focused on straight mff. It was a welcome and inclusive story which I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were witty and I laughed out loud at times. Also made me crave a fancy cocktail. Thanks for the opportunity - can’t wait to read more!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199797973

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and TJ Alexander for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very cute read. Loved the characters. I like that the book is split into 3 parts. The progression of Kade & Mel's relationship was a little sudden I thought? But after the initial change in their relationship I liked them together.

2SLGBTQIA+ Kinky Romance that features a jaded New York bartender finds herself being wooed by a charmingly quirky couple and gets the self-confidence to enter a cocktail competition.

5/5 stars: Tackling a polyamorous romance, Alexander's newest stand-alone takes place in New York and follows a divorced bartender who's surprised to find herself being wooed by charmingly quirky couple, a very fem lawyer and her nonbinary artist spouse. Soon she's trying all sorts of things and even gets the self-confidence to enter a cocktail competition that would make her dream of opening her own bar a reality. Not only is Alexander's writing outstanding but the character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Mel's totally relatable, tough and wanting love but afraid of being hurt. It's great seeing her bloom in her relationship with BeBe and Kade. Alexander manages to make all the relationships work effortlessly. Additionally, I love Mel's friendship with Daniel. With plenty of heart and humor that will have you swooning, Alexander also knows how to write steamy OPS scenes, they're deliciously kinky. Oh and I have to say Mel's mixed cocktails all sound to die for! Alexander takes on same tough topics, so take care and check the CWs. Alexander's favorite author and this is a can't miss read, highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.