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booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED follows Sam, a manager of a bed-and-bath retailer whose boss, Jonathan, is a dick. His royal dickishness. Generally a frustrating person to work for, someone who is currently determined to fire a number of people proportional to how much Sam has managed to irritate him during Sam's visit to the main branch. Except, right after Jonathan fires everyone in Sam's branch, Sam trips, hits his head, and accidentally lets Jonathan think he has amnesia. Then he purposefully lets him think he has amnesia. What he definitely has is a head injury/concussion, so Sam needs to spend a few weeks at Jonathan's place so someone is looking after him. Jonathan has an enormous, empty house that he refuses to let be filled with his (loud, often annoying) family for Christmas.
They key to the success of 10 THINGS as a(n enemies to lovers) romance is that Jonathan has reasons, very understandable ones, for all the frustrating things he does. Sometimes he's probably right, sometimes he's just very wrong and hasn't had anyone willing to endure his ire long enough to show him a different (gentler) way to do things. He lives for his work, barely uses his enormous house, and only contacts his housekeeper via text message. Even when he is right, he doesn't seem willing to take the time to explain his reasons, which makes him look like a petty tyrant. Sam can't live like that, not even for a couple of weeks. As Sam tries to make a good impression so that Jonathan won't fire everyone for real at the end of this, he starts to understand Jonathan and genuinely like him as a person.
This is the start of a new series, but a few details midway through establish this as occurring in the same universe as BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, some time after the events of HUSBAND MATERIAL. It's not enough to spoil either of those books in any way, but specific enough to be an obvious reference.
This has a lot of genuine sweetness in it, with a melancholy thread which pays off towards the end. The main plot resolves in a way which doesn't specifically indicate what might happen next, I could easily see this series continuing to follow Sam and Jonathan, or following a new couple where at least one person was present in this first book.
Things I love, in no particular order: Sam's cat, everyone listing exact models of the bed/bath furnishings, Jonathan's family, the way the fake amnesia is handled.
They key to the success of 10 THINGS as a(n enemies to lovers) romance is that Jonathan has reasons, very understandable ones, for all the frustrating things he does. Sometimes he's probably right, sometimes he's just very wrong and hasn't had anyone willing to endure his ire long enough to show him a different (gentler) way to do things. He lives for his work, barely uses his enormous house, and only contacts his housekeeper via text message. Even when he is right, he doesn't seem willing to take the time to explain his reasons, which makes him look like a petty tyrant. Sam can't live like that, not even for a couple of weeks. As Sam tries to make a good impression so that Jonathan won't fire everyone for real at the end of this, he starts to understand Jonathan and genuinely like him as a person.
This is the start of a new series, but a few details midway through establish this as occurring in the same universe as BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, some time after the events of HUSBAND MATERIAL. It's not enough to spoil either of those books in any way, but specific enough to be an obvious reference.
This has a lot of genuine sweetness in it, with a melancholy thread which pays off towards the end. The main plot resolves in a way which doesn't specifically indicate what might happen next, I could easily see this series continuing to follow Sam and Jonathan, or following a new couple where at least one person was present in this first book.
Things I love, in no particular order: Sam's cat, everyone listing exact models of the bed/bath furnishings, Jonathan's family, the way the fake amnesia is handled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
historical_drama_queen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Car accident
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Cursing
Moderate: Excrement, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Car accident
pho_ar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.75
I honestly just hugged a book, but it deserved it because I felt like it was giving me a hug this whole time.
Jonathan and Sam are great and their chemistry and how well they get to know each other is so sweet and heart warming.
Did not realize it was a Christmas book, but Christmas is April is seldom a bad thing, it felt nice having the Christmas cheer and family and rom com shennaigans during this stressful time, I honestly wished I could stay there.
The fake amnesia plot was great in setting stakes and just being so laughable, but also like would I do the same, like the probability is not zero.
All in all I had a good time and just couldn't stop smiling/crying(there are some heart wrenching parts too).
Jonathan and Sam are great and their chemistry and how well they get to know each other is so sweet and heart warming.
Did not realize it was a Christmas book, but Christmas is April is seldom a bad thing, it felt nice having the Christmas cheer and family and rom com shennaigans during this stressful time, I honestly wished I could stay there.
The fake amnesia plot was great in setting stakes and just being so laughable, but also like would I do the same, like the probability is not zero.
All in all I had a good time and just couldn't stop smiling/crying(there are some heart wrenching parts too).
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
13_dear_reader_13's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical trauma
noodlebamboo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
mugsncoffee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
Minor: Death of parent
kshertz's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It took me a minute to fall in love with the boss. But once I did I very much enjoyed this love story. They balance each other and the banter is very witty. The smut is minimal!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
kathis_wonderland's review against another edition
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
10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall is the first book in the Material World series. Sam is getting fired by his boss Jonathan, when he trips, hits his head and decides to fake amnesia to get out of the firing. Now Jonathan has to take care of Sam until the concussion and fake amnesia go away. During this time, both grow closer and start to change for the better. But the fake amnesia is still in the room...
After loving the books from the London Calling series, I had to buy his newest publication. Right at the beginning of this review I have to say that I did not love this book as much as I loved Boyfriend Material. However, it was quite a pleasant read. Jonathan is a grumpy boss (and general a*hole) and Sam is quite a sunshine. Jonathan really changed for the better throughout the book and became less a*holey. His family is quite overwhelming, but in a loving way. They radiate love and support. The chemistry between Sam and Jonathan was slow, but I rooted for them. They really needed each other.
This book was a lovely read, but nothing breathtaking. I definitely need to check out Alexis Hall's other books!
After loving the books from the London Calling series, I had to buy his newest publication. Right at the beginning of this review I have to say that I did not love this book as much as I loved Boyfriend Material. However, it was quite a pleasant read. Jonathan is a grumpy boss (and general a*hole) and Sam is quite a sunshine. Jonathan really changed for the better throughout the book and became less a*holey. His family is quite overwhelming, but in a loving way. They radiate love and support. The chemistry between Sam and Jonathan was slow, but I rooted for them. They really needed each other.
This book was a lovely read, but nothing breathtaking. I definitely need to check out Alexis Hall's other books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Death, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Sexual content
adrienanthony's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and Car accident