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meganpbennett's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Husband Material is one of those books that's really hard to rate, because I'm not sure what I thought about it. I adored Boyfriend Material, and was thrilled when I heard Husband Material was coming out, clicking every single "request now" link I could on NetGalley. And I got it! And parts of it were amazing and wonderful, and even better than other parts (the chapters set at Luc's work? Even better than the last book). But what made Boyfriend Material so good is.... well, it's missing from Husband Material. And then there's the ending. Yeah, no.
Luc and Oliver are fighting over what feels like everything they can, and they're trying to decide if they want to move in together (they really shouldn't, not until Oliver can learn to live with the fact that Luc is a total mess and Luc can learn to start picking up his laundry instead of leaving it on the floor like a toddler). They're having the sort of fights where, were you their friend, you'd tell them not to do any major relationship milestones together. No moving in together, not adopting a dog (or a kid), and certainly, no getting married. They're having the sort of fights where you can't help but wonder if the relationship is toxic. The sort of relationship where it's clear that they both want the other to change to be more like them.
Once the proposal happens (which was pretty darn funny, and very much in character), things, somehow, go downhill, and they fight over everything. There's a subplot about identity and who one is, mixed in with blow up arguments about.... balloon arches, napkin folding, and DJ vs live band/orchestra. While they seem more or less serious, they all represent something - Oliver's unwillingness to be out of control and his unwillingness to bend, and Luc's entire personality in a nutshell is represented by the rainbow balloon arch.
Some of the weddings in the book are wonderful, though I now dislike Tom more than I did in the previous book, we do get some closure with Miles, and Alex's wedding is very Alex. But Luc and Oliver's wedding.... Well, to be completely honest, it's a total let down. Not their reasoning, not their decision, but the fact that they dragged the arguments and thefact that the neither one of them actually wants to get married to the very last page of the book. I felt the last few chapters were a let down. I don't read romance novels for reality, I read them for the romance, and that ending..... wasn't romantic. With everything happening at the end of Husband Material, and how everything plays out, I'm not looking forward to Father Material, either, which is perhaps more of a let down than the ending of Husband Material.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablana for the free eARC.
Luc and Oliver are fighting over what feels like everything they can, and they're trying to decide if they want to move in together (they really shouldn't, not until Oliver can learn to live with the fact that Luc is a total mess and Luc can learn to start picking up his laundry instead of leaving it on the floor like a toddler). They're having the sort of fights where, were you their friend, you'd tell them not to do any major relationship milestones together. No moving in together, not adopting a dog (or a kid), and certainly, no getting married. They're having the sort of fights where you can't help but wonder if the relationship is toxic. The sort of relationship where it's clear that they both want the other to change to be more like them.
Once the proposal happens (which was pretty darn funny, and very much in character), things, somehow, go downhill, and they fight over everything. There's a subplot about identity and who one is, mixed in with blow up arguments about.... balloon arches, napkin folding, and DJ vs live band/orchestra. While they seem more or less serious, they all represent something - Oliver's unwillingness to be out of control and his unwillingness to bend, and Luc's entire personality in a nutshell is represented by the rainbow balloon arch.
Some of the weddings in the book are wonderful, though I now dislike Tom more than I did in the previous book, we do get some closure with Miles, and Alex's wedding is very Alex. But Luc and Oliver's wedding.... Well, to be completely honest, it's a total let down. Not their reasoning, not their decision, but the fact that they dragged the arguments and the
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablana for the free eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Mental illness
dododenise's review against another edition
emotional
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
Update: Review of the whole book
Frankly, this book left me conflicted. Coming fresh out of the ending I completely understand why it is the way that it is. And yet I wish it was different. And I wish it wasn’t as rushed and I could be in the moment of the meaning of that ending more.
But I need to talk about the rest of the book as well. And I really enjoyed that. Alexis’ writing is so much fun. It’s amusing and weird and it makes me smile. I don’t really care about any of these characters to be honest, but the way this is written is enough for me to enjoy myself.
Luc is a mess. Oliver is a mess. They are a wonderful mess together that somehow (sometimes) works. And I’m glad I read this second book and look into their characters more. Because even though I might not like them all that much, Alexis makes me want to read about them anyway.
————
I only read the first five chapters as a preview!
Husband Material is a wonderful continuation of the story of Boyfriend Material. If you liked Boyfriend Material, you will like this one as well. It feels very much the same. Luc is very much the same disaster he has ever been, but happier and with slightly better coping mechanisms. And Oliver is still the same dream boyfriend who is quietly trying to deal with his problems. Of course, in these first five chapters, many more problems arise which feel very much like a continuation of Boyfriend Material. Especially the character arcs had room to be expanded after the first book and so far it very much looks like that is what is happening for this one.
When I first heard about a second part coming out I wasn't sure whether I needed a sequel. I was happy with the ending of Boyfriend Material. This preview, however, is making me question that. Some interesting arcs are being opened and I am curious to see how they will develop.
Frankly, this book left me conflicted. Coming fresh out of the ending I completely understand why it is the way that it is. And yet I wish it was different. And I wish it wasn’t as rushed and I could be in the moment of the meaning of that ending more.
But I need to talk about the rest of the book as well. And I really enjoyed that. Alexis’ writing is so much fun. It’s amusing and weird and it makes me smile. I don’t really care about any of these characters to be honest, but the way this is written is enough for me to enjoy myself.
Luc is a mess. Oliver is a mess. They are a wonderful mess together that somehow (sometimes) works. And I’m glad I read this second book and look into their characters more. Because even though I might not like them all that much, Alexis makes me want to read about them anyway.
————
I only read the first five chapters as a preview!
Husband Material is a wonderful continuation of the story of Boyfriend Material. If you liked Boyfriend Material, you will like this one as well. It feels very much the same. Luc is very much the same disaster he has ever been, but happier and with slightly better coping mechanisms. And Oliver is still the same dream boyfriend who is quietly trying to deal with his problems. Of course, in these first five chapters, many more problems arise which feel very much like a continuation of Boyfriend Material. Especially the character arcs had room to be expanded after the first book and so far it very much looks like that is what is happening for this one.
When I first heard about a second part coming out I wasn't sure whether I needed a sequel. I was happy with the ending of Boyfriend Material. This preview, however, is making me question that. Some interesting arcs are being opened and I am curious to see how they will develop.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Racism, Eating disorder, and Vomit
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