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foleyzac's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
I don’t know what happened in the last 2 years, but after loving Boyfriend Material I HATED this book.
I guess for starters, I’m not sure it needed to exist! And then every character is just too quirky, there is just too much hi-jinx, too much internal monologuing.
Luc is always right. Always. Even when he is wrong, everyone has to come to him and baby him and let him be right in the end. He’s judgemental and selfish throughout this entire book and never has any growth!? He actually has negative growth compared to the end of the first book. He was always telling you how he accepts every member of the queer community, but he doesn’t accept his own fiancé for *checks notes* not wanting to get married under a rainbow balloon arch because that isn’t the way he expresses his own personal queerness!? And also when he said that he TRIED to be supportive of Oliver’s body dysmorphia but it was hard because Oliver is HOT and so if Oliver doesn’t love his own body then really, when he’s saying that, he’s really making a statement about Luc’s body. That’s….supremely messed up? And shows like, a fundamental misunderstanding of what Oliver is going through!?
Then there were the jokes!
- James Royce-Royce and James Royce-Royce having a baby and naming the baby….James Royce-Royce!? Absolutely not. Too much. Too far.
- Every time the character Ana is mentioned it is “Ana with one n” but she doesn’t introduce herself that way, there isn’t another Anna to distinguish her from, and she generally seems fine so what’s the point of acting like she’s annoying!?
- Alex and Rhys from the office….they hit the same note over and over and over again and eventually it’s like. Okay. Got it.
Also….Oliver is MIA from a lot of this book it felt like. Didn’t love that!
It’s just SO long and for WHAT.
I guess for starters, I’m not sure it needed to exist! And then every character is just too quirky, there is just too much hi-jinx, too much internal monologuing.
Luc is always right. Always. Even when he is wrong, everyone has to come to him and baby him and let him be right in the end. He’s judgemental and selfish throughout this entire book and never has any growth!? He actually has negative growth compared to the end of the first book.
Then there were the jokes!
- James Royce-Royce and James Royce-Royce having a baby and naming the baby….James Royce-Royce!? Absolutely not. Too much. Too far.
- Every time the character Ana is mentioned it is “Ana with one n” but she doesn’t introduce herself that way, there isn’t another Anna to distinguish her from, and she generally seems fine so what’s the point of acting like she’s annoying!?
- Alex and Rhys from the office….they hit the same note over and over and over again and eventually it’s like. Okay. Got it.
Also….Oliver is MIA from a lot of this book it felt like. Didn’t love that!
It’s just SO long and for WHAT.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
botanicalprofanity's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Vomit
alyxinthestars's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Vomit
spookieboogie's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Homophobia, Alcohol, Classism, and Eating disorder
stardustandrockets's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit and Eating disorder
lethaltea'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia and Grief
Minor: Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Toxic relationship
white_lotus7's review against another edition
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder
savvyrosereads'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
4.0
Out August 2, 2022 [Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 4/5 stars
The sequel to Boyfriend Material, which is all I’ll say here!
I adored Boyfriend Material—as in, it’s now one of my all-time favorite books. I’ll be honest, Husband Material wasn’t *quite* that for me (unlikely it would be, lighting-in-a-bottle books don’t come around every day) but I definitely still loved it!
This book is every bit as funny as its predecessor, and also incredibly heartfelt and deep for a rom-com. The structure (each section being a different formal event) was unique and enjoyable, and the ending…well I think people may have mixed feelings on the ending (I certainly did) but it also feels like a good choice as a send-off to some beloved characters.
In short, if you liked Boyfriend Material, read this. If you didn’t like Boyfriend Material, I’m honestly not sure why you’re here.
Recommended if you like: romance with depth; genuinely funny comedies; Boyfriend Material
CW: Death of parent; grief; homophobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Homophobia
Minor: Eating disorder
stw07's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
4.0
I had a good time reading it and I still love the characters as much as I did in the first book, but by the end I was kind of frustrated that they never just sat down at home, in private, and talked about their feelings. So many misunderstandings could have been cleared up if they didn’t have all their important relationship conversations at extremely inconvenient and public places.
But then again I guess if they did that, there wouldn’t have been much plot…? Which in and of itself is kind of a bad sign for the plot of the book.
Anyway, I still had fun reading it and I’ll continue reading this series if there are more books.
(Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC.)
But then again I guess if they did that, there wouldn’t have been much plot…? Which in and of itself is kind of a bad sign for the plot of the book.
Anyway, I still had fun reading it and I’ll continue reading this series if there are more books.
(Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder and Homophobia
modernmatilda's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Dang it, I hate sequels.
I might edit this review later, but here are my unfiltered 11-pm-full-of-caffine-and-feels thoughts.
I was really vibing with this book. Luc and Oliver were one of my favorite queer literary relationships and it was nice to hear more of their story. There is some BRILLIANT commentary about queer-ness/community/identity (Luc is very rainbow balloon arch and Oliver isn't), an incredible Oliver scene where he gives an EPIC speech, and all the fresh toast making we could ever need.
Buuuuuut the ending, the last chapter, the last few paragraphs were so rushed; we're talking whiplash speed. I feel cheated out of a brilliant ending. The last sentence is poetic, it was a big moment that didn't feel... well, BIG! It closed it feeling angry at the editors for just dropping the reader off the closest bus stop.
Also, I hate to say this, but for the first time, I did not find Luc's sassy-ness charming; his disagreements and lack of resolutions with Olive seemed super harmful and very hypocritical; 9/10 Luc got his way. I kind of wish the entire thing had been written from Oliver's point of view instead and that Luc could have had some redeeming qualities at the end.
Overall, I am thankful to Netgalley for the eARC and I'm glad I got a chance to read this one. Would still HIGHLH recommend Bofrriend Marerial!
I might edit this review later, but here are my unfiltered 11-pm-full-of-caffine-and-feels thoughts.
I was really vibing with this book. Luc and Oliver were one of my favorite queer literary relationships and it was nice to hear more of their story. There is some BRILLIANT commentary about queer-ness/community/identity (Luc is very rainbow balloon arch and Oliver isn't), an incredible Oliver scene where he gives an EPIC speech, and all the fresh toast making we could ever need.
Buuuuuut the ending, the last chapter, the last few paragraphs were so rushed; we're talking whiplash speed. I feel cheated out of a brilliant ending. The last sentence is poetic, it was a big moment that didn't feel... well, BIG! It closed it feeling angry at the editors for just dropping the reader off the closest bus stop.
Also, I hate to say this, but for the first time, I did not find Luc's sassy-ness charming; his disagreements and lack of resolutions with Olive seemed super harmful and very hypocritical; 9/10 Luc got his way. I kind of wish the entire thing had been written from Oliver's point of view instead and that Luc could have had some redeeming qualities at the end.
Overall, I am thankful to Netgalley for the eARC and I'm glad I got a chance to read this one. Would still HIGHLH recommend Bofrriend Marerial!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Eating disorder