I had a hard time getting into the story at first. It was all pretty wordy in a casual kind of way which I am not used to. But the more I read, the easier it became for me.

When I learned about Luc O’Donnell’s famous rock star dad, I already had a pretty accurate picture of him in my mind: I was picturing an arrogant, aloof prick with an ego the size of Big Ben. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Luc was a loving, smart, and funny guy and didn’t like to be seen as “that 80s rock star kid”. He was also alone, self-conscious, and confused. He took a few wrong turns along the road and couldn’t seem to find his way back. Not even with the help of his hilarious, French mother or his friends. Enter Oliver Blackwood.

Oliver was amazing. He was a calm anchor and a rational kind of guy who had his life – mostly – figured out. There was more to the quiet, polite barrister than initially assumed, though. The more the story progressed, the more we learned about Oliver and found out that he had to deal with his own issues and insecurities. Here, I wished Hall had decided for a double POV. I would have loved to read about Oliver’s thoughts and feelings instead of guessing his train of thoughts.

Then there were Luc’s friends and co-workers. They were all pretty weird and really annoying if I’m being honest. I would have been okay with less friends/co-worker scenes. Less is more.

I really liked Luc and Oliver’s story which was more than just your typical M/M Romance. Hall set great value on self-love and self-acceptance which made the story that more real and honest.

“You should never let anyone tell you it is wrong to be how you are.”

Luc is in need of a pretend boyfriend. Oliver is in need is a pretend boyfriend. The rest as they say is a perfectly balanced, hilarious yet incredibly heartwarming and touching history that is impossible for me to have loved more.

The characters were all spot on. From Luc's daft/posh work friends, his academically clever but socially challenged boss, his wonderfully funny mum and his squabbling gaggle of friends, who all are in need of their own individual books because they were just so brilliant.

Luc isn't likeable and he's fully aware of that fact, but he is so unbelievably messed up, insecure and funny that I honestly can't think of a POV character I've enjoyed reading more. Oliver is absolutely imperfectly perfect and I wish I actually was friends with literally all of these people.

5 MASSIVE STARS!!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much @SourceBooksCasa, @SourceBooks & @NetGalley for giving me a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 07 July 2020)

SYNOPSIS | Luc O'Donnell comes from two rockstar parents who split when he was young and unfortunately he has a reputation for going off the rails a bit. He works at a dung beetle charity and is at risk of losing some high profile donors if he doesn't clean up his act. Oliver Blackwood on the other hand is a barrister who has never inspired a moment of scandal in his life e.g. he is the perfect boyfriend material. A fake-dating situation ensues except fake-dating starts to feel a lot like real-dating.

WHAT I LIKED:
- Luc is actually rather insufferable, but Luc & Oliver are precious and without realising it they grew on me like a fungus
- the fake-dating trope
- slow burn romance
- the ridiculously snarky British humour had me scoffing out loud on multiple occasions to the point where my husband asked me if I was okay

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- commentary on celebrity culture (I just don't really care about any celebrities...)

I absolutely loved this sweet book. Luc is the son of a famous rockstar who’s reputation is in tatters. Oliver is a stuffy Barrister who can’t seem to keep a boyfriend (and might have an eating disorder). They both need a boyfriend to help their image so they agree to fake date and of course romance insues. If you were looking for a queer Bridget Jones’ Diary look no further. This story is a quick romantic romp filled with witty banter, zany side characters, and so many bad jokes. I loved it!! Luc and Oliver perfectly compliment each other and I loved watching their romance blossom. I also had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version and it is lovely. I think Luc’s mom is my favorite side character and audiobook perfectly brings her to life. But I also loved the comic relief of our resident twit Alex Twaddle. The side characters are so well developed and wonderful. If you’re looking for a light-hearted romance this summer this is your book. Honestly just read the dang thing. I LOVED IT!

I am a long time fan of Alexis Hall and this has been one of my most anticipated romance releases of year and it lived up to my expectations and well beyond them. I loved everything about that story, the main and side characters, the romance, the growing up both Luc and Oliver go through, the humour that made me laugh out loud more than once. It's a truly hilarious story, I can't remember when was the last time a book made me laugh so much! There are so many memorable lines in it - the dick pics jokes, Alex and Miffy (short for Clara), the CRAPP foundation, and more.

It’s a light-hearted romcom with unexpected depths of feelings. It’s mostly drama-free though some serious life issues show their heads. It’s an opposites attract fake romance that gets real pretty fast. The story is told from Luc’s POV and we get to see a messy young man find his way towards a more fulfilling life. Oliver is all prim and proper (on the surface), with a good career, seemingly in complete control of his life. As the story progresses we see that he has his own issues, just like the rest of us. It does take him a while to accept that and the allow himself to be loved for who he is and get the help and support he needs.

I liked the very Britishmess of the setting and characters, it shone through in every scene and it made me very happy. What I like the most about Alexis Hall’s stories in general is how real and relatable his characters feel to me. Yes, there are over-the-top moments and situations, all the more here since it’s a romcom, but at the same time it all feels real - the relationships, their fears and dreams and coping mechanisms and the things that bring them joy and frustration. We see a multitude of characters here, both straight and queer, upper and middle class, successful and struggling. All of them stand on their own, have their quirks and weaknesses and make mistakes and grand gestures.

It's a low-heat romance with more focus on the getting the characters to talk honestly to each other than of their sexual relationship. The heart-to-hearts of Luc and Oliver were most tender ones, so much truth and feelings in simple, everyday words and actions.

We get to meet found and bio families in all their glory and heart-break, they both can be amazing and fun and supporting but also destructive and abusive and we see it here.

My only minor complaint is that the ending felt rushed, or I simply wanted more time with Luc and Oliver dealing with their personal issues together as a couple that loves and supports each other.


CW: homophobia, cancer scare, gaslighting, emotional manipulation

3.75 stars out of 5

This was a lot of fun to read. I laughed out loud on a few different occasions and I had a smile on my face throughout most of the book!

However, there was A LOT of build-up to the two events that were the reason Oliver and Luc started their fake relationship, but the execution of the events fell flat. I don't think there was enough time spent at them or in the direct aftermath.

There were also a few jumpy timeline moments that I think could have been fleshed out a bit more.

Overall, this was such a fun, light-hearted M/M rom-com and exactly what I needed. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author!

I adored this book soooo much!

Que hilariousness - sass galore - sarcasm - and an adorable swoon worthy love story between enemies-esk to lovers.

Also, that last line of the book 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I was excited to read this book, often times seeing it compared to Red, White, and Royal Blue (which I really enjoyed and definitely recommend!) Unfortunately, Boyfriend Material just didn't live up to that at all and I have to say that this one wasn't what I had been expecting or hoping for at all.

Everyone in this story was immature and silly at times, and honestly none of them acted their ages. It drove me nuts most of the time, there were times that I found things funny though. This one was just so over the top at times though that I struggled. That coupled with the fact that the main characters were unlikable for good portions of this book just didn't work for me. I really wanted to love them and see them get on the right track, but it was just setback after setback. I also wasn't totally feeling the romance. They had chemistry and a connection, but they also doubted each other as often as they doubted themselves. While I don't need a book to be super steamy, we saw them be affectionate but everything else was closed door and I really would have liked to see them getting to know one another better both in and out of the bedroom.

By the time I reached the ending, I was just hoping that we would get a satisfying ending and I felt this one was rushed. I have heard that Alexis Hall has great books, but this was my first read and I'm not sure if i'd give any others a shot or not. I have seen a lot of really positive reviews for this one though, so it might be for you if you like OTT rom-coms and don't mind some immaturity.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

The writing was not for me. I had a hard time immersing myself in the story. I also had difficulty connecting with the characters and knowing who was who. Many introduced at one time and that left me confused. I had to DNF.

I absolutely loved this one. Luc and Oliver are the perfect couple. Luc is a bit of a mess and Oliver is a bit uptight, but it works for their relationship and they complement each other well. The humor really took me by surprise. I had no idea Alexis Hall was so funny! The supporting cast is over the top, but they are all so charming that it works. Luc's interactions with his friends, family, and coworkers were endearing and hilarious. I fell in love with everyone and laughed through nearly every page of the book. I really can't recommend this book enough and am planning on rereading it again in the future.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks for review.

This was SO cute!!!

I love me a good fake dating romance, and this one doesn't disappoint. Luc and Oliver's relationship was so precious, and I think they made such a great couple. The story contains several tropes that I absolutely love, including the famous "there's only one bed" (one of my personal faves).

I also wasn't expecting this book to be so funny. Luc was an absolutely hilarious narrator, I laughed out loud several times while reading it!

Overall, I had such a great time and I can totally foresee this book becoming one of my favorite romances of the year!

Luc O'Donnell is famous for having famous parents. His father, who is a known musician, walked out when Luc was three and Luc doesn’t even know the man. Yet, the paparazzi follow Luc and the ones Luc thought he could trust sell him out. Luc needs a respectable boyfriend and barrister Oliver Blackwood looks good on paper. He is also just looks good to Luc but Oliver does not care for Luc at all, or so Luc thinks. Oliver needs a date as well and the men start a relationship that they try and convince themselves isn’t real at all.

Boyfriend Material is a character driven novel and there is great depth shown for both Luc and Oliver. There is much more going on with both of them then it appears a t first glance and while the men think they have nothing in common, they are exactly what the other needs.

The book is long and the pace did slow down in a few places and there are many side characters here that may have been too much at times for the amount of page time they had. At the end, I would have liked to see more time with them as a solid couple, but there is a great sense of both men and the relationship they are working on together.

Boyfriend Material is a rom-com done right. This book actually made me laugh out loud, and frequently, too. It's adorable, funny, and with lovable characters. The plot is cute, the cast of characters is eccentric without feeling unbelievable, and I really, really loved Oliver.

Luc is the son of a rockstar, and as a C-list (or lower) celebrity, he's often in the tabloids - which is causing the charity (CRAPP, which is working to save dung beetles) to lose donors. To clean up his reputation and keep his job, Luc enters a fake relationship with Oliver, a barrister who's ethically impeccable, well-mannered, and respectable in every way. The two men are complete opposites, and even maintaining a fake relationship seems impossible, but they have to keep it going until after the charity ball Luc's been organizing for his work. Along the way, Luc's estranged rockstar father suddenly re-enters his life, and Luc has to figure out to stop being such an asshole to everyone.

The story is told in first-person, entirely from Luc's perspective, which makes it difficult to really get inside Oliver's head, since Luc is super self-centered for most of the book - but this also makes relationship anxieties feel more realistic, since we're not getting more information than Luc does. The relationship drama sometimes felt a little tedious, but it was worth it for this delightful couple. Loved this.

I had a difficult time with this one. It was a bit too cheesy in some places. Other places I didn't really like Luc, as he was rude, even when he was trying to be witty. I didn't like the biphobia, or Oliver's friends. I just really didn't like enough things in this book that I would recommend it.

Nicht ganz mein Humor und etwas zu besonders

„Boyfriend Material“ ist mit einem tollen Cover gesegnet und hat mich aufgrund der Kurzbeschreibung angesprochen. Ich habe eine locker flockige, romantische Komödie erwartet, bekommen habe ich einen Liebesroman, der mich ganz gut unterhalten hat, aufgrund des speziellen Humors und der zu besonderen Charaktere für mich aber nicht ideal war.

Den Humor mag man oder nicht, mehr kann ich dazu nicht sagen. Zu den Charakteren kann ich dagegen etwas weiter ausholen. Sie sind allesamt recht komplex und besonders angelegt. Was ich an sich mag, mir in diesem Buch aber zu viel war. Ich hätte mich über ein bis zwei „normale“, bodenständige Charaktere als Gegengewicht zu den anderen gefreut. Und bezogen auf die verschiedenen Problemchen der Hauptcharaktere, wäre für mich weniger wiederum mehr gewesen.

Es gab Momente im Buch, die mich zum Schmunzeln gebracht haben. So richtig mit dem Liebespaar mitgefiebert habe ich aber nicht. Auch war mir das Ende etwas zu knapp, ich hätte mich über einen schönen Epilog gefreut, der alle losen Fäden zusammenbringt.

Denke ich an mein Leseerlebnis, so lande ich bei einer Bewertung von drei Sternen.

4/5 stars

This was super adorable. I will admit I've been hearing this compared to Red, White, and Royal blue, and while It's kinda is but not really similar. I felt a little disappointed because it wasn't up to that level of hype, However It still an awesome book. I loved that we have two perfectly imperfect people. This made me connect to them as characters so much more than I thought I would. It was a very cute romance, even though it took me a minute to get into it, the man did I get invested in this relationship. I completely adored the banter that our couple had between each other, I lived for it. I would highly recommend picking up this book. It's cute, funny and adorable.

Today I finished #BoyfriendMaterial! It was absolutely hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud several times. I really found Luc to be the perfect main character. He was funny and sweet, but also had flaws and i thought he lacked a little ambition. Oliver was the perfect match for Luc because he helped balance him out. I thought Luc’s job was also really interesting and I wondered if there wondered if there really are dung beetle charities? ⁣
⁣
I’ve seen this compared to Red, White and a Royal Blue a lot and I might have a minority opinion here, but I liked Boyfriend Material a lot more. I thought the writing was sharper, the banter funnier, and I loved all the side characters, particularly Alex and Luc’s mother. ⁣

Boyfriend Material was such a cute, fun and real read! Luc was such a relatable character with his self-deprecating ways as he tries to improve his image with a fake boyfriend in order to keep his job.
Luc and Oliver's relationship was adorable and I loved their banter. They're complete opposites but also so compatible! I also adored Luc's group of friends. Each character in the book served a distinct purpose and I love the levity that most of the side characters brought to situations.
This book was absolutely hilarious! I found myself actually laughing at loud many times throughout the book. It was so witty and entertaining while also having serious, real-life moments that made it all seem more realistic.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a fake-dating romcom with captivating characters!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Cute.

So this is a cute male-male haters to lovers romance. I love how the author brought together two different men who both have emotional trauma because of previous relationships and they were able to heal each other. There were miscommunications between the two that led to them arguing and breaking up multiple times. I wish that the author gave us some descriptive sex scenes. Every time they were about to have sex she cut to the next day or played it off as Luc wanting to keep the experience to himself. I feel like in an adult romance I deserve at least one sex scene haha. Also I would've loved to read some chapters from Oliver's perspective because he was such a closed off character. Overall I think this was a good book and I would recommend it to those who are interested.

Thank you netgalley for extending me an invitation to read an advanced copy and give my honest review.

This was a hysterical read! I love seeing queer romance novels becoming more popular and ai hope that that continues. This had the perfect combination of laughter, heart wrenching moments that kept you wanting to keep reading. And then bonus points for making this take place in Britain!