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gcoulsxn's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual content
lexa's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
hrtlss_grl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
alexelli's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Gaslighting
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Vomit
headinthepages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide
anekk78's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Eating disorder and Vomit
ashwaar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Vomit
unsighted_reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Eating disorder and Vomit
tshepiso's review against another edition
4.0
What I loved most about this novel is how it approaches Luc and Oliver's relationship. While the two deeply love each other that doesn't mean their relationship is free from conflict. And rather than the contrived relationship drama most writers force established couples into the struggles these two go through are deeply informed by their previously established characterization. While Luc loves Oliver he's still insecure and impulsive and that impacts their relationship. Getting the guy didn't magically fix all his problems. However, despite still having conflict, Hall never makes Luc and Oliver's relationship flimsy. White lies and misunderstandings never break the two apart in serious ways and the cliched cheating plotlines are completely avoided. Because despite the growing pains in their relationship Hall always keeps a firm grasp on why the two love each other and want to be together.
Another thing I loved about this novel is its themes which I, unfortunately, can't discuss without heading deep into spoiler territory.
I especially appreciated the ways Hall tied Luc and Oliver's contrasting relationships to the queer community into this overarching narrative. I was initially skeptical of the way Oliver's distance from the aesthetic trappings of queerness in contrast to Luc's unabashed embrace of "stereotypical" queer symbols and activities would play out but this ultimately resolved itself well.
I did still have some problems with Husband Material. The biggest was just how much time we spent on the side plots, especially early on in the novel. The most egregious was Luc's best friend Bridge's wedding. While this plotline is thematically relevant to the overarching story I found the hijinks surrounding it more than a little tedious. The antics Bridge and y extension Luc finds themselves in during the leadup to Bridge's wedding were a tad too convoluted for my taste. It didn't help that they took up almost a third of the novel.
This book also highlighted for me that I don't enjoy a lot of Alexis Hall's humour. Outside of Luc and Oliver's banter which continued to be delightful the running gags surrounding most of the side characters started wearing thin very quickly. In hindsight, I didn't find these jokes all that amusing in Boyfriend Material but they comparatively took up much less space in that novel than in this one which made them more tolerable. From the quirkily named James Royce Royce's and Ana with one n (yes, she's referred like to like that the entire time) to Luc's "charmingly" annoying colleagues, it was all getting a little too twee to bear at a certain point.
As I did in Boyfriend Material I continued to long for Oliver's POV throughout the story. He, again, has the most compelling conflict in this story as we follow up on his messy relationship with his controlling, slightly homophobic family. Some of the most emotionally engaging and moving moments in the book centred on his relationship with his family and I wish we'd gotten to see those moments from his perspective.
In this end, I think what made Husband Material so successful despite minor flaws was Alexis Hall's excellent character work and stunning command of romantic storytelling. His work never ceases to amaze me. I can't wait to read the next chapter in Luc and Oliver's story, but until then I'll content myself by binging the rest of his backlist.
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Vomit