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thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I’m clearly in the minority on this one. I really wanted to like it, I mean who goes into a book wanting to hate it? And I don’t hate it, I’m more just disappointed. Maybe Alexis Hall’s writing is just not for me.
My takeaways:
• Unnecessarily dumb (like DUMBBBB, like it’s not even funny it’s just annoying) and insufferable characters like Alex Twaddle
• Takes every chance it can to remind you it’s set in the UK, like every other page. If there’s one thing I’ll never forget about this book it’s that it’s set in England and everything is very British, so British, so silly quirky British all of the time (I love the UK setting and British men are top tier but come on?????)
• The blatant homophobic comments and themes that are glossed over even when one of them is fairly central to the plot? The main dilemma that requires the “fake boyfriend” trope revolves around the fact that Luc is AND THIS IS QUOTED FROM THE BOOK “the wrong kind of gay” and he must find a partner to help clean up his act and thus become “the right kind of gay” in order to save his job. Like????
• The lack of chemistry. Luc was okay but hard to find appealing or connect with. I understand his caveats but they didn’t make sense enough to be believable that he would be with Oliver. Oliver was the saving grace of the story, I enjoyed him and his personality, unfortunately though he didn’t save the whole story. Needed more development, would’ve rather read from Oliver’s POV tbh!!!
Idk. I kinda skimmed through the last half of the book because I lost interest. I wish Luc and Oliver all the best in the other two books but I will not be reading them. Thank you don’t hate me byeeeee
My takeaways:
• Unnecessarily dumb (like DUMBBBB, like it’s not even funny it’s just annoying) and insufferable characters like Alex Twaddle
• Takes every chance it can to remind you it’s set in the UK, like every other page. If there’s one thing I’ll never forget about this book it’s that it’s set in England and everything is very British, so British, so silly quirky British all of the time (I love the UK setting and British men are top tier but come on?????)
• The blatant homophobic comments and themes that are glossed over even when one of them is fairly central to the plot? The main dilemma that requires the “fake boyfriend” trope revolves around the fact that Luc is AND THIS IS QUOTED FROM THE BOOK “the wrong kind of gay” and he must find a partner to help clean up his act and thus become “the right kind of gay” in order to save his job. Like????
• The lack of chemistry. Luc was okay but hard to find appealing or connect with. I understand his caveats but they didn’t make sense enough to be believable that he would be with Oliver. Oliver was the saving grace of the story, I enjoyed him and his personality, unfortunately though he didn’t save the whole story. Needed more development, would’ve rather read from Oliver’s POV tbh!!!
Idk. I kinda skimmed through the last half of the book because I lost interest. I wish Luc and Oliver all the best in the other two books but I will not be reading them. Thank you don’t hate me byeeeee
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Alcohol
cady_sass's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Kinda shocked by all the glowing reviews? Lucien is a miserable, insufferable twat and Oliver deserves so much better. There’s not nearly enough character work done to convince me of why Oliver is into any of this. I get it, luc had a shit dad and it messed him up but you don’t get a free pass to be a dick forever because you have daddy issues. Get some therapy, my guy. There is some truly fantastic banter at times and nearly all the side characters are wonderful but it’s not enough to save it.
Also, Lucien makes him a **bacon sandwich** after they make a point the WHOLE book to clearly say that Oliver doesn’t consume meat for moral/ethical reasons, and Oliver is just like “yeah gimme that bacon” ???? What is happening
Also, Lucien makes him a **bacon sandwich** after they make a point the WHOLE book to clearly say that Oliver doesn’t consume meat for moral/ethical reasons, and Oliver is just like “yeah gimme that bacon” ???? What is happening
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
bumblemee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I guess the most telling thing is that I paused this book for like a year, because I couldn't handle the thought of these two guys getting in even more emotional drama instead of just being happy together. I was too emotionally invested to suffer through that. This book is very .. exaggerated in a lot of ways, and I guess that either annoys you or sucks you in and makes everything feel way more intense than you anticipated. For me it was the latter. Luc and Oliver got me frustrated in the best way possible by being fucked up in ways that made everything so unnecessarily hard for them.
I think the author did a good job at writing these stubborn messes and their relationship and handled emotional situations with a lot of care. Oh, and all that while being very funny.
On the other hand, I think the amount of humor was a little much at times, especially with basically every character that wasn't Luc or Oliver. Yes, the side characters were loveable, but at the same time, they weren't given the depth they would've deserved. They each got their quirk and even when in serious situations, they had to be funny. Not that they didn't say important things and got good points across, but I don't know, I just feel like it wouldn't have been too much to ask to have them be totally serious for once, just to underline that they are in fact human beings. For some characters all I can say is that they were a little absurd. And I get that that was the point and you just had to go with it (which I did for the most part), but it was just a little much.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want a fast read (given you don't have to pause bc you got ridiculously emotional) with a lot of heartfelt and sweet moments. Would also recommend for hurt/comfort enthusiasts.
I think the author did a good job at writing these stubborn messes and their relationship and handled emotional situations with a lot of care. Oh, and all that while being very funny.
On the other hand, I think the amount of humor was a little much at times, especially with basically every character that wasn't Luc or Oliver. Yes, the side characters were loveable, but at the same time, they weren't given the depth they would've deserved. They each got their quirk and even when in serious situations, they had to be funny. Not that they didn't say important things and got good points across, but I don't know, I just feel like it wouldn't have been too much to ask to have them be totally serious for once, just to underline that they are in fact human beings. For some characters all I can say is that they were a little absurd. And I get that that was the point and you just had to go with it (which I did for the most part), but it was just a little much.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want a fast read (given you don't have to pause bc you got ridiculously emotional) with a lot of heartfelt and sweet moments. Would also recommend for hurt/comfort enthusiasts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, and Sexual content
Minor: Eating disorder
augustrogue's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
3.25
Well, that was... fine. I enjoy the fake dating trope, especially with a heap of mutual pining, and this certainly has that. There were quite a few sweet and funny moments. But the ending fizzled a bit for me, and there were just a tad too many abrupt and unrealistically dramatic misunderstandings.
Some other issues I had with it:
* The James Royce-Royce thing was supposed to be funny I think, but there was no real way of differentiating between them so it kind of blobbed into one character.
* Several of the characters, especially Luc's coworkers, are very neurodivergent-coded and kind of bullied and made the butt of the joke a lot. Made me a bit uncomfortable.
The side-plot of the emotionally immature and neglectful parents was somewhat compelling (if frustrating), but I don't know if that pulls the rest of it up enough. So. Three stars it is? Doubtful that I'll read the sequel.
Some other issues I had with it:
* The James Royce-Royce thing was supposed to be funny I think, but there was no real way of differentiating between them so it kind of blobbed into one character.
* Several of the characters, especially Luc's coworkers, are very neurodivergent-coded and kind of bullied and made the butt of the joke a lot. Made me a bit uncomfortable.
The side-plot of the emotionally immature and neglectful parents was somewhat compelling (if frustrating), but I don't know if that pulls the rest of it up enough. So. Three stars it is? Doubtful that I'll read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
valpuri's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Racism
_bobatea_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Classism
_bobatea_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Classism
ashwaar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
I'm not a romance fan.. it just isn't my genre. I find many of the tropes annoying and frustrating, and the dialogue often seems stilted and cliched. I’m actually a little bit of a hater. However, this is the first purely romance book I’ve read that has managed to change my attitude. It’s adorable, witty, cute, and our main characters are so good together that you’re constantly rooting for them.
Lucien is the semi-famous, washed-up son of an 80s rock legend. With his dad and, by extension, Lucien himself, coming back into the spotlight, he needs to find a polite, presentable boyfriend to restore his reputation ahead of an important charity event. He comes to an agreement with Oliver, who also needs a plus-one for a family gathering, to fake date until the events are over and the tabloids have become bored of Lucien’s lack of misbehaving.
However, fake dating is never really a good idea if you don’t want to end up real dating, as inevitably happens in this trope. Lucien doesn’t have the best personality, and he's pretty rude and thinks he’s better than everyone else whilst also being extremely self-deprecating. However, you learn to love him anyway, and it's really rewarding to see him grow as he becomes closer to Oliver. Speaking of Oliver, he is also a really interesting character. At first glance, he's a pretty perfect boyfriend until we start to look closer and see it's all a carefully built façade that he’s trying really hard not to break.
It can be tough to absorb what these characters think of themselves, as they’re their own harshest critics and, as a reader, you don’t want to let them believe that.. you want them to be happy. There are a lot of characters in this book, and for the most part, the personalities are pretty distinct. However, I felt like too many people were introduced at once in certain scenes. Some characters were over-dramatic cartoons or not really there at all and just faded into the background.
But despite this minor issue, I don’t really have any other complaints. I thought this was a solid, well-rounded, character-focused novel with a lot of energy and heart behind it. I’m keen to follow up on Lucien and Oliver, and I’ve already got the second novel, Husband Material, in my queue at the library.
Lucien is the semi-famous, washed-up son of an 80s rock legend. With his dad and, by extension, Lucien himself, coming back into the spotlight, he needs to find a polite, presentable boyfriend to restore his reputation ahead of an important charity event. He comes to an agreement with Oliver, who also needs a plus-one for a family gathering, to fake date until the events are over and the tabloids have become bored of Lucien’s lack of misbehaving.
However, fake dating is never really a good idea if you don’t want to end up real dating, as inevitably happens in this trope. Lucien doesn’t have the best personality, and he's pretty rude and thinks he’s better than everyone else whilst also being extremely self-deprecating. However, you learn to love him anyway, and it's really rewarding to see him grow as he becomes closer to Oliver. Speaking of Oliver, he is also a really interesting character. At first glance, he's a pretty perfect boyfriend until we start to look closer and see it's all a carefully built façade that he’s trying really hard not to break.
It can be tough to absorb what these characters think of themselves, as they’re their own harshest critics and, as a reader, you don’t want to let them believe that.. you want them to be happy. There are a lot of characters in this book, and for the most part, the personalities are pretty distinct. However, I felt like too many people were introduced at once in certain scenes. Some characters were over-dramatic cartoons or not really there at all and just faded into the background.
But despite this minor issue, I don’t really have any other complaints. I thought this was a solid, well-rounded, character-focused novel with a lot of energy and heart behind it. I’m keen to follow up on Lucien and Oliver, and I’ve already got the second novel, Husband Material, in my queue at the library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, and Eating disorder
annahamburger's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, and Classism
Minor: Death and Death of parent
alexelli's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship