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yasidiaz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Just like Boyfriend Material, I found this book hilarious and the characters hilarious, but I was still left wanting more. This time I cared about the side characters a bit more than I did in the first book, but it wasn't much of a difference. I don't hate many of the characters (the exception being Oliver's parents, and that stupid judge), but the only ones I found myself loving and actually caring about were Luc and Oliver.
Now getting that out of the way, I found this book even funnier than the first at times. I also feel that Boyfriend Material was a book where we mostly saw Luc grow, while Husband Material focuses more on Oliver's. There was growth for both of them, but I enjoyed seeing Oliver confront his relationship with his family and that he might harbor internalized homophobia.
I'm not going to spoil the finale but it was the biggest highlight for me. It's so them and I loved it.
If you love Boyfriend Material or already love Alexis Hall, I highly recommend this book.
Now getting that out of the way, I found this book even funnier than the first at times. I also feel that Boyfriend Material was a book where we mostly saw Luc grow, while Husband Material focuses more on Oliver's. There was growth for both of them, but I enjoyed seeing Oliver confront his relationship with his family and that he might harbor internalized homophobia.
I'm not going to spoil the finale but it was the biggest highlight for me. It's so them and I loved it.
If you love Boyfriend Material or already love Alexis Hall, I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Death of parent
ruththereader96's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
A great sequel to boyfriend material
. Lighthearted and funny, great to see the main characters and explore their friends a bit more as well
. Lighthearted and funny, great to see the main characters and explore their friends a bit more as well
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Eating disorder
lonelylooper's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Cursing, and Homophobia
caelfind's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
babyleo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, and Homophobia
mantaray's review
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really like this book, then thought I was going to it, then the end absolutely brought it back. Hilarious as ever but the leads were so frustrating! Love Priya and love escaping internalized heteronormativity!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
kathis_wonderland's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Husband Material by Alexis Hall is the second book in the London Calling series. Luc and Oliver are in a relationship of over two years now and everything seems quite perfect. But people all around them are getting married and Luc feels he should propose too. But things happen and the perfect happy ending seems far away.
After absolutely loving the first book in this series, I was equally excited to read this one. Right at the beginning I have to say that the first book was so much better than the second book, but I am a sucker for the fake-dating trope. Still, I really enjoyed this book. It was good the read about their relationship going quite well (most of the times). Luc is still quite immature, which already annoyed me in the first book.
Throughout the book I was quite scared of the ending.I honestly did not want them to get married. If I were in Oliver's position and someone proposed to me the way Luc proposed, I would have been quite heartbroken. It does not have to be super romantic, but it should be something one thought about and did not do as a knee-jerk reaction. Both of them weren't ready to get married. I hoped that they would properly talk about marriage at some point in the book and call of the wedding. I was ready to not really like this book if they actually got married. But the ending was perfect (for me)! Couldn't have wished for anything else.
Now I am quite excited to read the third and last book in this series. I don't have the highest of hopes for the next book, but I enjoy these books. The writing style is different to those that I am used to and I like that. I still am a massive fan of the first book and will recommend that one whenever someone asks of my opinion.
After absolutely loving the first book in this series, I was equally excited to read this one. Right at the beginning I have to say that the first book was so much better than the second book, but I am a sucker for the fake-dating trope. Still, I really enjoyed this book. It was good the read about their relationship going quite well (most of the times). Luc is still quite immature, which already annoyed me in the first book.
Throughout the book I was quite scared of the ending.
Now I am quite excited to read the third and last book in this series. I don't have the highest of hopes for the next book, but I enjoy these books. The writing style is different to those that I am used to and I like that. I still am a massive fan of the first book and will recommend that one whenever someone asks of my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
Minor: Gaslighting, Vomit, Eating disorder, and Sexual content
amyteurhour's review against another edition
4.75
Content warning: homophobia, death of a parent, disordered eating, cheating characters think it's possible cheating
I enjoyed that Luc continued to grow and develop as a character in this book. I also think his friend group is fleshed out and less frustrating to read about. The ending, similar to Book 1, seemed a bit rushed and uneven.I found Luc to be incredibly hypocritical, and it was frustrating that he acknowledged that and continued to give Oliver crap about doing exactly what he was planning on doing. It just felt very petty, as though he was upset Oliver stole his call-off-the-wedding thunder, and for me it didn't feel fair to Oliver that the book ended on such a note. Although, I guess I had similar feelings but flipped about the ending of Book 1 so perhaps it evens out??? lol
I enjoyed that Luc continued to grow and develop as a character in this book. I also think his friend group is fleshed out and less frustrating to read about. The ending, similar to Book 1, seemed a bit rushed and uneven.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity and Eating disorder
sam_gartley91's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Cute, the ending stressed me out but the last page or so resolution did turn out well. They just really need to learn to communicate!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content and Eating disorder
gracetiblem's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
So, major spoilers ahead, but I unfortunately hated this book, which sucked because I really enjoyed Boyfriend Material! While I was ultimately relieved that Oliver and Luc did not get married, I felt that it was a bad idea from the moment Luc first proposed. They spent the entire book fighting and arguing. There was heavy implication that Oliver really needed to be in therapy while Luc also obviously has a traumatic past himself that he hasn't properly addressed either, but never any acknowledgement that maybe he needed to do some personal growth himself. I understand that Luc is supposed to be an unreliable narrator, but So Much of the book was spent fighting, it made me resent them both entirely. The entire first half of the book is all about how Luc is completely neglecting his relationship with Oliver in order to support his friends. While having strong relationships outside of romantic ones is crucial, the way he completely ignored Oliver for weeks was never really resolved. Finally, the fact that Luc was so upset at Oliver for calling off the wedding when he had had the same thought a mere week before felt incredibly frustrating. As I mentioned earlier, I felt it was best that they didn't get married, but it was also disappointing to me there wasn't more time spent exploring the ways that marriage enforces heteronormative ideas and was just a solution reached within the last seconds of the book.
I must add, the eulogy was a wonderful moment, and a loved the line about avoiding being "allonormative."
I must add, the eulogy was a wonderful moment, and a loved the line about avoiding being "allonormative."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content