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The characters are so unlikable. I didn’t even get to meet Oliver before I put the book down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a delight. I love Alexis Hall's sense of humor, and the narrator was very talented. I wish the ending hadn't been quite so abrupt, but knowing there's a sequel, I guess I get it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Classism
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
I adore Alexis Hall, and I adore Boyfriend Material.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
BOYFRIEND MATERIAL is a fake-dating-turned-real-feelings story between two gay men who both need the appearance of a relationship long enough to get through some big upcoming events. A mutual friend pairs them up for their fake relationship, and somehow this fake boyfriend thing is one of the most stable relationships Luc has ever had.
This is the first book in a series, which slightly hints at the direction of the ending. The ending fits their relationship very well, and I like their overall dynamic. The ongoing status of their relationship is established for future books, and several major plot points are resolved. There are secondary plots related to each of their relationships with their parents. Luc's father walked out of his life twenty-five years ago, and has walked back into it with no warning and a declaration that he has cancer and would like to get to know Luc better. Luc's mother, who was also abandoned by Luc's father (her husband and musical collaborator), is supportive of any decision Luc might make, all the way from reconciliation to telling his father to go fuck himself. I adore Luc's mother, she's written very well and I love the audiobook performance for her. Oliver's parents only appear briefly, during the event for which he needed Luc as a fake boyfriend, but they cast a long shadow which has implications for later books.
The dung beetle charity and Luc's co-workers there are an endless source of exasperation and delight for me. Between his co-workers, his friends, and Oliver's friends, there are so many vibrant and specific people that it wasn't difficult for me to keep track of anyone. Normally I have trouble keeping track of characters (let alone their names) when the cast gets past five or so, but I had no issues here.
Things I love, in no particular order: Luc telling jokes to Alex, everything dung-beetle-related, Oliver being pedantic about law, Luc's friends, Bridget's publishing fiascos.
This is the first book in a series, which slightly hints at the direction of the ending. The ending fits their relationship very well, and I like their overall dynamic. The ongoing status of their relationship is established for future books, and several major plot points are resolved. There are secondary plots related to each of their relationships with their parents. Luc's father walked out of his life twenty-five years ago, and has walked back into it with no warning and a declaration that he has cancer and would like to get to know Luc better. Luc's mother, who was also abandoned by Luc's father (her husband and musical collaborator), is supportive of any decision Luc might make, all the way from reconciliation to telling his father to go fuck himself. I adore Luc's mother, she's written very well and I love the audiobook performance for her. Oliver's parents only appear briefly, during the event for which he needed Luc as a fake boyfriend, but they cast a long shadow which has implications for later books.
The dung beetle charity and Luc's co-workers there are an endless source of exasperation and delight for me. Between his co-workers, his friends, and Oliver's friends, there are so many vibrant and specific people that it wasn't difficult for me to keep track of anyone. Normally I have trouble keeping track of characters (let alone their names) when the cast gets past five or so, but I had no issues here.
Things I love, in no particular order: Luc telling jokes to Alex, everything dung-beetle-related, Oliver being pedantic about law, Luc's friends, Bridget's publishing fiascos.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
I would highly recommend the audio book because the narrator was so incredible that I actually liked the book more than the last time I read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Classism
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use
emotional
funny
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Drug use, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
I love Alexis Hall and I can't WAIT to read Husband Material.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
Minor: Eating disorder
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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, Alcohol