Scan barcode
A review by mezzarella
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
While Boyfriend Material is certainly a romantic comedy novel with plenty of British humor, one of the greatest plot threads throughout the story is Luc's complicated relationship with his famous father. Much of the story is focused on Luc, his feelings of abandonment and inadequacies, and the mistakes he makes as a result. The fake boyfriend trope is used wonderfully here, as Oliver is everything that Luc isn't, creating its own sources of challenges for the main characters as they learn more about each other.
When deciding whether or not to pick up Boyfriend Material, I read many reviews on other websites which viewed this book as an adult version of Casey McQuiston's debut novel Red, White, and Royal Blue. While both books are romantic comedies which execute fake dating tropes, these books aren't that similar in characters, premise, or humor. Boyfriend Material is very British, no doubt due to its author's English origins. Characters talk formally and with slang expected of the regions they are from, which means that other readers from other nationalities may not instantly relate to the humor or certain conversations.
For those looking for a cute novel about a romance written by an Own Voices author, this book will do the trick. I liked Luc and Oliver's slow steps towards a realized relationship and was invested in Luc's journey to meet a middle ground with his father. For the most part though, I felt myself feeling as though there were simply better and more diverse stories featuring two LGBT leads.
When deciding whether or not to pick up Boyfriend Material, I read many reviews on other websites which viewed this book as an adult version of Casey McQuiston's debut novel Red, White, and Royal Blue. While both books are romantic comedies which execute fake dating tropes, these books aren't that similar in characters, premise, or humor. Boyfriend Material is very British, no doubt due to its author's English origins. Characters talk formally and with slang expected of the regions they are from, which means that other readers from other nationalities may not instantly relate to the humor or certain conversations.
For those looking for a cute novel about a romance written by an Own Voices author, this book will do the trick. I liked Luc and Oliver's slow steps towards a realized relationship and was invested in Luc's journey to meet a middle ground with his father. For the most part though, I felt myself feeling as though there were simply better and more diverse stories featuring two LGBT leads.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Drug abuse
Throughout the book, discussions of homophobia and microaggressions occur. One of the main character's father is mentioned to be seeking treatment on and off at a rehabilitation facility.