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A review by ashjreads
Husband Material by Alexis Hall
2.0
This review contains spoilers
As someone who LOVED Boyfriend Material, I was excited to read this initially. I feel really disappointed and let down by this sequel and personally I wish I would’ve never read it.
My major issue with Husband Material are the amount of “hijinks” that ensue. No romance novel is intended to be realistic but the structure that this novel seems to follow is desiring realism; meanwhile these shenanigans are often (frankly) annoying things occurring throughout. Forgotten wedding dress, arrested for breaking/entering, etc.
Not only this but Luc turns from what I would define as a “lovable” jerk into just a jerk. He continues to prod at Oliver about not feeling represented by stereotypical pride symbols and presents it as if Oliver is wrong for not connecting to it. This is fought about a total of 3 times, making it repetitive and obnoxious. He also makes Oliver’s clear body dysmorphia all about him. I personally think this novel ruined Luc’s character for me.
The only reason(s) this isn’t a 1 star for me is because of Oliver telling his father to (finally) “go fuck himself”. That alone was satisfying enough to make me glad I finished the book. Additionally, his speech at his father’s funeral was fantastic.
The ending is not very satisfying at all to read but makes sense for the characters. It’s obvious throughout that Luc was not ready/did not want to be married, I just wish it hadn’t gone on as far as it did before being called off.
Alexis Hall is a great author but I feel as if this novel was unnecessary. It almost feels as if Hall didn’t want to write this book at all, and it shows. I hope other works of his are better than this unsatisfactory work.
As someone who LOVED Boyfriend Material, I was excited to read this initially. I feel really disappointed and let down by this sequel and personally I wish I would’ve never read it.
My major issue with Husband Material are the amount of “hijinks” that ensue. No romance novel is intended to be realistic but the structure that this novel seems to follow is desiring realism; meanwhile these shenanigans are often (frankly) annoying things occurring throughout. Forgotten wedding dress, arrested for breaking/entering, etc.
Not only this but Luc turns from what I would define as a “lovable” jerk into just a jerk. He continues to prod at Oliver about not feeling represented by stereotypical pride symbols and presents it as if Oliver is wrong for not connecting to it. This is fought about a total of 3 times, making it repetitive and obnoxious. He also makes Oliver’s clear body dysmorphia all about him. I personally think this novel ruined Luc’s character for me.
The only reason(s) this isn’t a 1 star for me is because of Oliver telling his father to (finally) “go fuck himself”. That alone was satisfying enough to make me glad I finished the book. Additionally, his speech at his father’s funeral was fantastic.
The ending is not very satisfying at all to read but makes sense for the characters. It’s obvious throughout that Luc was not ready/did not want to be married, I just wish it hadn’t gone on as far as it did before being called off.
Alexis Hall is a great author but I feel as if this novel was unnecessary. It almost feels as if Hall didn’t want to write this book at all, and it shows. I hope other works of his are better than this unsatisfactory work.