Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Boyfriend Material

-- 2nd Review --
While this book is on the longer side, and I'd definitely cut one or two storylines from it (mainly, the whole daddy issues thing), it's an enjoyable book. It made me more than chuckle, even if the brand of humor often relies on cringe, which I admit is a brand of humor I specifically don't enjoy much. However, it's not all it is.

The romance is very sweet, and I do think it's one of the few books that makes a 3rd act breakup work, mainly because "breakups" are part of the plot. I enjoy it. I have the 3rd book in the universe ready to read in my nightstand but I might take a while. I also am thinking of buying the 2nd book to see what it's all about, I guess.

All and all, it's a good romantic comedy, emphasis on comedy, and it's pretty fun! While the book speaks to me in a very personal manner, I also think a bit of what I would consider very important for a romance is kept out. I also think the consumation of the romance, while very wholesome, left me wanting a bit more, even if I could appreciate it.

Because of that, I guess I'mma give it 4.5/5, but rounded down, for once.

-- 1st Review --
I never expected to like this book so much.

I don't want to take anything out of anyone's plate, but as a gay man, I usually find MLM Romance to be extremely lacking - my theory is that, because it's a genre DOMINATED by women, it always feels awfully fetishizing to read sex-related motions described to great and usually also graphic detail. Here's the thing: obviously not all MLM books are written by women, and not all MLM books written by women even get to lean on the fetishistic side...

But I guess I grew disillusioned with the MLM Contemporary Romance genre because the books in it tend to feel highly fetishizing or severely lacking in depth and flavor: either the relationship is set up way too quickly so the book can enter its sex descriptions, which I notice a lot of women enjoy and good for them, I guess; or... it does the exact same thing to make a plot out of breaking and resetting the relationship.

Now, I had on my mind this book was written by a woman. Why did I assume that? Well, because it's usually what happens. The name Alexis Hall did seem female, but then I reached the final page of this book and realized it was actually written by a queer man, and boy does it make sense!

This book will probably be seen as formulaic by many and, sorry to say, I'm pretty sure it is. I haven't read that many MLM Adult Romances because, as stated, I'm usually underwhelmed by them and I find a lot of interesting ones in the Young Adult genre... but this one knocked it out of the park. And I regret I didn't read it sooner, though I also don't regret it, because now it's time to wait for the sequel.

So, as I usually do, I'm going to go into technicals: this is a fake dating romance. People loved those and I decided to try one of them. It's now one of my favorite tropes, not only because of the execution of it in this book but also because I see its IMMENSE potential. In just this book, I understood why fake dating is a great trope, at least for me: it makes for the perfect internal conflict of I shouldn't, but I want to, and as Miss Natalie Wynn once said, That's how you build a plotline, kids. And that is captivating and enticing, since it is one of my favorite types of pining. Not being able to have someone just builds into the tension of wanting them, making it grow and grow. Truly great stuff.

Granted, there are some choices I don't get in this book: this could've gone for an awkward-but-hilarious-first-kiss but it didn't, though it didn't do so as a showcase of Luc's character. Oh, and on the topic of plotline... this book has none, but it truly goes to show that what I've recently seen Shonda Rhimes say about writing stories: If you base it on character, you can get away with anything. This book has no plot, but it's never boring. Is that allowed? Yeah, apparently. It's got great banter, though there were some British mannerisms I truly had to reread to understand from time to time, all was still very fun! Another choice I would like to complain about but kind of won't since I ate it the fuck up - that's how invested I was - were the little temporary roadblocks. They felt realistic and unnecessary, and I had a heart attack with each one, because if the book ended on a bad note I was going to riot as it'd all been fine a few pages ag- OK, I'll just stop there and leave it at that.

This book is hilarious and it has a couple of things I'd call gimmicks, like puns and infuriating characters who never get them - seriously, Alex, what the fuck is wrong with you? - though I guess that was the point. I felt for Luc at every single point of his struggles and Oliver... You're an S Tier love interest, character, person, man. And the fact that their banter was DELICIOUS to read and the best part of the book - and be sure to know that it all pays off in some of the best romance writing I've ever read so far... - made me want them to like each other from their very first non-date.

Side characters are also very much interesting, specially each of the lovebird's friend squad and Luc's mother.

Content Warnings

9magix's review

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emotional funny 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

This was laugh-out-loud funny in places, especially in the first half. I loved Alexis Hall's writing style, and found Luc's character so endearing and messy and lovable. I was really rooting for him throughout. Oliver was, for me, less well-developed. I came away knowing comparatively little about him. The side characters were great - Alex Twaddle was ridiculous, and the James Royce-Royces added to each scene they were in. I loved Bridget and the group chat, too. Even though they take up far less page-space than Oliver, I felt like I knew them better?

Things unravelled for me at the end, the pace of the book rattles on and I didn't enjoy the emotional back-and-forth of the last few chapters. The first 75% of the book was solid though. To be fair, it's relatively light on plot and is more about the main relationship than any particular event. I expected the side plot with Luc's father to go somewhere but it really didn't. I suppose that was the point!

All in all, very funny and witty and sweet. Romantic in places, heart-wrenching in others. I enjoyed this and would definitely read more by this author.

Content Warnings

zuza99's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

crystalmethany's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

Content Warnings

plumpaperbacks's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

I was eager to read this because I’d seen multiple comparisons between it and Red, White and Royal Blue, my favorite romance novel. While Boyfriend Material does feature a similar relationship dynamic and equally hilarious banter, it wasn’t quite as amazing as I’d hoped it would be.

I wasn’t expecting such a focus on Luc’s and Oliver’s complicated family dynamics. The former’s father has been diagnosed with cancer and wants to fix their poor relationship, whereas the latter has emotionally abusive parents. I sympathize with both guys—I wanna give Oliver a hug—and I can especially relate to Luc’s situation, as sans cancer, I have a similar relationship with my own father. However, some of Luc’s comments regarding his father’s diagnosis seemed insensitive, and it rubbed me the wrong way. That is, until

it was revealed that the asshole never had cancer. Are you kidding me??? This discovery had me angry at the character and unsure what to think of the author. I’m sure Hall is great, but I question why he made this choice.

The way Luc and Oliver supported each other warmed my heart. Theirs was a bit of a messy romance, since both of them are the epitome of gay disasters, but I loved it nonetheless. Recently I’ve realized that fake dating is one of my favorite tropes because I love seeing characters’ dynamics shift from an arrangement to real affection, so of course I loved these two, loved their story. And, as an added bonus, they teased each other frequently, which was quite amusing.

This would’ve been a five star read if not for the events of the last hundred pages. Everything seemed to be going well. I was grinning and laughing at almost every page. And then everything went so wildly wrong.

I honestly thought the scene after Luc and Oliver had sex, where Oliver broke up with Luc, was just Luc’s bad dream. I thought he’d wake up, panicking, but find Oliver asleep next to him, cuddled up beside him, and all would be well. All was not well. They really did break up the following morning, and I was *this close* to throwing my book across the room. If not for the fact that I read the scene at four in the morning, thus didn’t want to wake anyone up and also didn’t want to damage my paperback, I might’ve. They didn’t make up until the last few pages, and I was genuinely concerned the book would end with them going their own separate ways. Thank every god it didn’t, because I can’t properly describe how much I would’ve hated that.

While things ultimately worked out, I found the ending to be sadly unsatisfying.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book. It was mostly enjoyable, and quite entertaining. I’d recommend to those looking for a quick romance read, so long as you don’t go in with extremely high expectations.

Representation

gay protagonist and love interest
achillean romance (m/m)
queer side characters (includes gay, bisexual, and lesbian rep; one achillean couple and one sapphic couple (f/f))

Content Warnings

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