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beccaruthe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Blood, Drug use, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
inkdrinkers'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
5.0
Luc O'Donnell is kind of a hot mess, in every definition of the words. He's the son of a rockstar who won't talk to him or have a relationship with him, working at a dung beetle charity aptly named CRAP, and somehow still managing to wind up in the press every other weekend for his drinking benders. When his negative press starts to effect his work life, he decides he has to at least appear like he has his shit together by fake dating a handsome lawyer who might just hate him.
This was my first ever Alexis Hall book and I absolutely ADORED it. I was told multiple times by multiple friends that I had to pick this up in the audiobook version because it was just so enjoyable - and they were right. I did originally try the ebook version of Boyfriend Material and gave up pretty soon into chapter one because I wasn't connecting to Luc's internal monologue, that did a complete 180 with the narration in the audio version! I adored learning about Luc's life and difficult background, I've never seen a book handle the concept of celebrity kids who just want to exist and be normal as well as this one did.
Oliver Blackwood is easily one of my favorite messy male love interests in anything I've read this year. Both him and Luc are total disasters in their own way, but even with that and a lot of their interests being total opposites of each other - it somehow really made it work. I totally adored how loving and adorable Oliver was through a vast majority of this book, and really found myself laughing out loud multiple times a chapter from the hijinks and very British jokes.
The only thing I hated about this book - and hate is a strong word - was the way Luc finds himself agreeing to the fake dating. The entire thing hinges on his very asshole boss saying he needs to be a "better gay" and get his shit together. The rampant casual homophobia in this book was really hard to listen to, though it's easily the most realistic part of the entire plot. I wished there had been moments for Luc to actively fight back against it, though the smaller ways he and Oliver did were good. I'm really hoping this plot gets addressed in Husband Material when I finally get a chance to listen to it!
I will say, I wasn't on board with Luc's friends in the entire first part of the book. They seemed to hinge on the line of being the same level of casually terrible that Andi's friends are in The Devil Wears Prada - but they all really grew on me and if there's anything Alexis Hall can do, it's write a well and fully formed character that I both loathe and love.
I had a great time with this audiobook and would honestly listen to it again and again. It was completely worth picking up and I found myself wanting to just relax and savor how great the narration was as it pulled me along with the story!
Content Warnings: homophobia, panic attacks, and cursing are prevalent throughout. Mild warnings for cancer, fatphobia / eating disorders / body shaming, biphobia, and mentions of alcoholism and addiction.
This was my first ever Alexis Hall book and I absolutely ADORED it. I was told multiple times by multiple friends that I had to pick this up in the audiobook version because it was just so enjoyable - and they were right. I did originally try the ebook version of Boyfriend Material and gave up pretty soon into chapter one because I wasn't connecting to Luc's internal monologue, that did a complete 180 with the narration in the audio version! I adored learning about Luc's life and difficult background, I've never seen a book handle the concept of celebrity kids who just want to exist and be normal as well as this one did.
Oliver Blackwood is easily one of my favorite messy male love interests in anything I've read this year. Both him and Luc are total disasters in their own way, but even with that and a lot of their interests being total opposites of each other - it somehow really made it work. I totally adored how loving and adorable Oliver was through a vast majority of this book, and really found myself laughing out loud multiple times a chapter from the hijinks and very British jokes.
The only thing I hated about this book - and hate is a strong word - was the way Luc finds himself agreeing to the fake dating. The entire thing hinges on his very asshole boss saying he needs to be a "better gay" and get his shit together. The rampant casual homophobia in this book was really hard to listen to, though it's easily the most realistic part of the entire plot. I wished there had been moments for Luc to actively fight back against it, though the smaller ways he and Oliver did were good. I'm really hoping this plot gets addressed in Husband Material when I finally get a chance to listen to it!
I will say, I wasn't on board with Luc's friends in the entire first part of the book. They seemed to hinge on the line of being the same level of casually terrible that Andi's friends are in The Devil Wears Prada - but they all really grew on me and if there's anything Alexis Hall can do, it's write a well and fully formed character that I both loathe and love.
I had a great time with this audiobook and would honestly listen to it again and again. It was completely worth picking up and I found myself wanting to just relax and savor how great the narration was as it pulled me along with the story!
Content Warnings: homophobia, panic attacks, and cursing are prevalent throughout. Mild warnings for cancer, fatphobia / eating disorders / body shaming, biphobia, and mentions of alcoholism and addiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Eating disorder, Cancer, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Biphobia, and Addiction
abby_can_read's review against another edition
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
June 2024-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖
This was a good re-read. I think this book was emotional and it helped me feel more connected to the characters. Luc and Oliver were adorable.
September 2022-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📱
This was good. I liked this book. Luc and Oliver were a cute couple.
📖
This was a good re-read. I think this book was emotional and it helped me feel more connected to the characters. Luc and Oliver were adorable.
September 2022-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📱
This was good. I liked this book. Luc and Oliver were a cute couple.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content and Eating disorder
Minor: Body shaming, Alcohol, and Cancer
botanicalprofanity's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Eating disorder, Cancer, Alcohol, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content and Body shaming
buttermellow's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Toxic relationship
breadbees's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Cancer, Dysphoria, and Homophobia
Minor: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Alcohol, Body shaming, Classism, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
writewithapendragon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Homophobia, Classism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Classism, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Sexual content
gcoulsxn'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
ttumbletree's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Homophobia, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Drug use, and Body shaming
tragedies's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
3.25
I don't know what to say. This has successfully turned me into a puddle of mush. Cozy, heartwarming, and full of feels, it tugged at my heartstrings and melted my cold, dead, ever-cynical heart. It's also funny as hell with its snarky British humor and hilarious banter, making me laugh so many times that my mom entered the room and started questioning my sanity. It was an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. I didn't sign up for it, but here I am, and I have no regrets.
What I really liked about Boyfriend Material was its cast of characters. Though they have their flaws and idiosyncrasies, I grew to love them, especially Luc and Oliver. They went through so much, and I couldn't help but root for them as if they were my actual friends. They felt so much like real people, and with Luc narrating, the book became more of an intimate conversation, as if it were a story shared by a close friend after a long tiring day.
I wish the ending wasn't rushed. I read this through audiobook, and when I suddenly heard the credits rolling in, I was so surprised. I had to double check just to be sure it was over. I felt like it was a few chapters too short, especially given how late Oliver's arc was introduced, leaving little time for his character to be fully fleshed out. I heard there's going to be a sequel though, so I guess the slight cliffhanger at the end is forgivable? I don't know, but I'm just glad that there's more Luc and Oliver to look forward to.
What I really liked about Boyfriend Material was its cast of characters. Though they have their flaws and idiosyncrasies, I grew to love them, especially Luc and Oliver. They went through so much, and I couldn't help but root for them as if they were my actual friends. They felt so much like real people, and with Luc narrating, the book became more of an intimate conversation, as if it were a story shared by a close friend after a long tiring day.
I wish the ending wasn't rushed. I read this through audiobook, and when I suddenly heard the credits rolling in, I was so surprised. I had to double check just to be sure it was over. I felt like it was a few chapters too short, especially given how late Oliver's arc was introduced, leaving little time for his character to be fully fleshed out. I heard there's going to be a sequel though, so I guess the slight cliffhanger at the end is forgivable? I don't know, but I'm just glad that there's more Luc and Oliver to look forward to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body shaming and Eating disorder