April 15, 2021
Rosaline Palmer is a bisexual, 27-year-old single mother, and contestant on Bake Expectations, a reality-television competition show akin to The Great British Bake Off. Before she even arrives at the filming location, she meets successful and sophisticated Alain, a fellow competitor, and mutual attraction sparks immediately. However, when the competition begins, she's also intrigued by electrician Harry, even as she continually misjudges him. Although readers will realize much earlier on than Rosaline that Harry is the better choice for her, Rosaline has to figure out her priorities and true desires first, with some mistakes and bad bakes along the way. Hall (Boyfriend Material, 2020) has whipped up a delightfully funny story chock-full of lively characters and infused with feeling. The television show framework adds excitement, even though the book is a tad overstuffed. Much of that filling is comprised of sweet desserts, yet Hall has not written a tale that is all fluff and sugar. Instead, this love story grapples with class and sexuality, adding richness and depth. A delicious and easily devoured treat.
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Starred review from May 14, 2021
Rosaline Palmer needs a change. She didn't finish medical school, she had a daughter earlier than she planned, and she's still under the financial thumb of her well-to-do parents. So what do you do as a better-than-average baker in the UK? You try out for Bake Expectations, Britain's top baking show, which is definitely not based on a certain show on a certain streaming service. Hall (Boyfriend Material) seamlessly combines humor, romance, and drama to create a story that is intimately believable and at once cozy and sexy. Refreshingly, Hall writes the heroine's identity as a bisexual woman in a way that addresses and conquers stereotypes; Rosaline isn't picking between a man and a woman, she's not interested in being the third in a relationship, and she rails against fetishization by potential dates, her daughter's teacher, and her Bake Expectations castmates. The book combines sweet escapism and poignant cultural touchstones with well-crafted characters and hilariously familiar settings. VERDICT Hall does it again with this culturally relevant, wonderfully escapist foray into the baking world. This is a must-buy for any library.--Ahliah Bratzler, Indianapolis
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Starred review from May 1, 2021
In this delicious romantic comedy, a British home baker must win a televised cooking competition and navigate her competitors' distractingly good looks to provide a better life for herself and her daughter. Rosaline Palmer loves two things most in this world: her 8-year-old daughter, Amelie, and baking. When the stars align and she's selected to compete in a reality TV baking competition called Bake Expectations, Rosaline is wary of leaving Amelie for filming but knows this could be the path to a more secure future for their little family. Alain Pope is a landscape architect and fellow contestant who winds up stranded with Rosaline on the way to the set when their train breaks down. The two share an easy connection, but while Alain seems like the perfect man on paper, Rosaline begins to question their attraction when another challenger enters the bake tent. Harry Dobson, an electrician, is at first written off by Rosaline as a rough-around-the-edges charmer looking for a good time, but he surprises her at every turn with his empathy and gentle humor. For years, Rosaline has been unhappily single, but since she's bisexual, she's been seen by many in the light of the biphobic idea that bi people can't make up their minds. Now she finds herself trying to choose between two partners in the midst of competing for something that would vastly change her life. Love and romance are central to this rom-com, but the most important journey is Rosaline's as she learns to love herself and discovers that romantic partners don't have to be integral to her own acceptance of herself. Hall creates a memorable cast of characters, from Rosaline's supportive ex-girlfriend to the utterly adorable and scene-stealing Amelie. Setting the book at a reality TV show is a brilliant choice as it not only introduces elements of forced proximity, but also the tensions that come from competition; there's sparkling humor and plenty of baking mishaps. A perfect bake.
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