Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

250 reviews

booksthatburn's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

BOYFRIEND MATERIAL is a fake-dating-turned-real-feelings story between two gay men who both need the appearance of a relationship long enough to get through some big upcoming events. A mutual friend pairs them up for their fake relationship, and somehow this fake boyfriend thing is one of the most stable relationships Luc has ever had. 

This is the first book in a series, which slightly hints at the direction of the ending. The ending fits their relationship very well, and I like their overall dynamic. The ongoing status of their relationship is established for future books, and several major plot points are resolved. There are secondary plots related to each of their relationships with their parents. Luc's father walked out of his life twenty-five years ago, and has walked back into it with no warning and a declaration that he has cancer and would like to get to know Luc better. Luc's mother, who was also abandoned by Luc's father (her husband and musical collaborator), is supportive of any decision Luc might make, all the way from reconciliation to telling his father to go fuck himself. I adore Luc's mother, she's written very well and I love the audiobook performance for her. Oliver's parents only appear briefly, during the event for which he needed Luc as a fake boyfriend, but they cast a long shadow which has implications for later books. 

The dung beetle charity and Luc's co-workers there are an endless source of exasperation and delight for me. Between his co-workers, his friends, and Oliver's friends, there are so many vibrant and specific people that it wasn't difficult for me to keep track of anyone. Normally I have trouble keeping track of characters (let alone their names) when the cast gets past five or so, but I had no issues here. 

Things I love, in no particular order: Luc telling jokes to Alex, everything dung-beetle-related, Oliver being pedantic about law, Luc's friends, Bridget's publishing fiascos.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Homophobia

Minor: Drug use, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Body horror, Death of parent, Cancer, Racism, Child death, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, and Death

m4ferglez's review

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

While I found it wonderful, with a rich cast of complex and quirky characters and a very fun story, I do think this book has a “tumblr-y”, “fanfiction-y” style, that’s the only thing that keeps me from giving it a full 5 stars. Not because this is inherently a bad thing, the author’s writing voice is actually quite charming and hilarious most of the time and very good at dealing with the more serious topics, but it does get slightly tropey at certain points, and I’ve never enjoyed when the source of conflict is people refusing to talk honestly to each other. 

If you found this on AO3 it would probably have the tags #fake dating and #mutual pining, and if you’re into that at all I’m sure you’ll love it. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Eating disorder

madjaz217's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Eating disorder

levilore_'s review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The book legitimately had me laughing out loud during most of it, but still managed to focus on topics of homophobia, found family, mental illness, and what love truly means. I really loved the author took the traditional "fake dating" plot and added in a cast of characters that I genuinely really liked and somehow made me root for a main character who pretty much had zero self-esteem the whole book (which usually find very annoying). The ending was extremely satisfying and although their are 2 more books in the series, I feel as though you could really enjoy this one without reading the others. Only reason its not 5 stars is because sometimes I wanted to shake Luc and Oliver for being so dumb about their emotions, but at the same time its a faked relationship trope, so it comes with the topic.

I would highly recommend the audio book because the narrator was so incredible that I actually liked the book more than the last time I read it. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, Fatphobia, Cancer, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Eating disorder

Minor: Death of parent, Classism, Death, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Pregnancy, Racism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, and Vomit

batchy's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Eating disorder and Terminal illness

violettfrogs's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Eating disorder

its_vendetta's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Cancer

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

caitlinemccann's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Eating disorder, and Bullying

abbie_eibba's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer and Eating disorder

lanie2024's review

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol and Homophobia

Minor: Cancer, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Drug use