A review by finesilkflower
Husband Material by Alexis Hall

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

I liked this sequel a bit more than "Boyfriend Material," perhaps because the characters are a little more emotionally mature and their problems seem more real and relatable. I can't really relate to needing a fake boyfriend to make myself seem grounded for the tabloids (?) and my boss (??) but I can relate to being in a long-term relationship, deciding whether and how to take the next step.

Similar to "Boyfriend Material," there's an overwritten, jokey quality to the narrative that I find tiresome. I would prefer a lower key style of humor that comes naturally from characterization.

Stray Observations

I feel like this could have been better from Oliver's point of view as he has more character development in this one. 

I like that Luc and Oliver's love and care for each other shines through in the book; they still bicker but come through for each other in the big ways. 

The way that their disagreements of taste over wedding trappings turn into arguments about values felt realistic and grounded to me, as did their basic disagreement over how to "do" gayness.

I'm not sure I really buy the ending. It's not that I don't support (or find it deeply relatable) the general message that you get to decide, as a queer couple, to embrace commitment but reject formal marriage; it just didn't really feel true to these characters. Despite the blurb, I didn't really see them experiencing social pressure to marry outside of simply attending a lot of weddings, so it felt like it kind of came out nowhere that they decided they didn't want a wedding after all.
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