Have you ever read a book where the prose was just so snappy and witty that practically every sentence sparkled? That's this book, which was technically my introduction to Hall as an author but it definitely won't be the last. Disgraced son of a famous rocker and a quirky French singer decides to start a fake relationship with a buttoned-up barrister (aka lawyer) in order to salvage his reputation at his job. Of course, every time you try to start a fake relationship in romance, it never stays fake for long. I was enamored with this book from start to finish. Perfect for fans of Red, White and Royal Blue if you want something that brings the humor as well as the feels and the delightful opposites attract tension that eventually manifests in a very satisfying way. (Plus if you're a fan of characters in romance who yell at their love interest's terrible families, this delivers on that BIG TIME.)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What is this about?
Luc need a boyfriend to save his career, such as it is, raising money for dung beetles. One too many photos of him stumbling out clubs, drunk and/ or high and the donors he works with have had it — he’s not the right kind of homosexual they want to give their hard-earned millions to. So Luc needs a boyfriend for a couple of months to show everyone he is the kind of homosexual they want to give their money too. Enter Oliver.

What else is this about?
This is Luc’s coming of age and coming to terms with his life story. He could ditch a job that needs him to be the right kind of homosexual for rich people to give him money, but this job is his and he wants it to work. And underneath all of this, is Oliver’s story.

Boyfriend Material was my refuge this past two weeks.

God knows, I’ve complained enough in my #5Books posts just how stressful things were getting, and for a bit getting into the groove of reading… well, I couldn’t get into the groove.

And I know it’s a cliche, but my goodness, was this book just a bright spot in a stressful time.

Lucien is in big, big trouble
Luc doesn’t have the perfect life, but it’s his. Yes, he may work for a dung beetle charity, and his co-workers might be the most rich, obtuse people who couldn’t see a joke even if it knock-knocked on their door, but it’s his life. And after a lifetime of being known for being the son of former rock stars — a mum who is wonderfully eccentric, and loves him to bits, and a father who walked out of him years ago, and is now making a comeback via a talent show: think the UK’s Got Talent — Luc is discovering that his past is coming back to haunt him.

Dung beetles aren’t the sexiest thing to give money to, and Luc has worked his butt off to make sure the charity ball they are holding is going to be a success — except, when the paparazzi catch up in a not-respectable snap outside a club, his boss starts getting emails from donors pulling out of the ball, citing Luc’s behaviour.

So what is Luc to do? Be, as the donors say, the right kind of homosexual with the right boyfriend — and that’s Oliver.

Humour
This book made me laugh so much.

I know the right kind of homosexual line isn’t going to sit well, right, with some people, but Hall has turned the characters delivering these lines into the most hilarious, self-involved caricatures of high (read: rich) society.

Hall has such a talent for humour, and a healthy dose of snark that made me laugh: whether he’s making fun of the rich and out-of-touch with anything close to reality characters, or drawing readers into the snark-filled fest and banter than is Luc’s friends group, it’s just such a pleasure to read.

And then there’s the different kind of humour — the one that’s filled with a little bit of romance, and a little bit of not-so-fake flirting with Oliver.

Lucien and Oliver
Luc has been coasting through life since an ex sold the story of their relationship to the papers — an ex Luc loved and trusted. So he’s burned out on committing to a relationship, and just too scared to in essence. But when a paparazzi snap threatens the one thing that is important to him — his job — he decides he will do whatever it takes to save it, including dating Oliver.

It needs to be said that Oliver is the only person that calls Lucien by his full name in the book, which is why this review uses both. And I dare you not to melt when Lucien describes what it means/ sounds/ feels like to have only Oliver use his name.

Luc and Oliver do have a wee bit of a history before they start dating — namely Lucien was often drunk when in Oliver’s company, so okay, it’s even less than a wee bit of history. But he still agrees to fake-date him if Luc agrees to attend a family event after the dung-beetle ball. So deal struck, so beings the best-fated romance.

To say these two are opposites is an understatement. Oliver controls everything in his life — his career, his diet, and everything that can be controlled, he controls it. But he also has the ability to see through Lucien’s bullshit, and when he isn’t controlling everything around him, he’s actually remarkably sweet to Lucien.

(and easy on the eyes)

Lucien is entirely the opposite, and is given to dramatics from time to time. But here’s the thing, with Oliver, he finds himself changing, wanting more from Oliver, wanting to explain, wanting Oliver to understand, and most importantly, listening to Oliver’s advice.

And he gives great advice: especially when Luc’s estranged father comes back into the picture wanting a reconciliation. Luc has never had a relationship with his father, and he most certainly doesn’t want to now. But circumstances are such that it’s a chance he has to take this time, and Oliver is the one who takes him to meet Jon, who stands up for Lucien when he needs it — and who understands just why Luc had to try.

The book is filled with moments like this when Luc needs Oliver, and Oliver is there for him, and because Luc is this big, bold character he can overshadow Oliver. But Hall sprinkles the book with clues to Oliver’s issues, culminating in chapters that offer more understanding of him. It might be too heavy handed and stuck on at the end of the book for some, but I think Hall effectively shows that Oliver has his issues too.

For once, Luc gets to be the hero, gets to stand up for Oliver to his parents and friends and of course, nothing is the same after that.

Everyone else is fantastic too
I loved every single character in this book — even the obtuse rich ones who wouldn’t know a good joke if you spelled it out for them. And most especially, the wonderful friends who supported Luc through this book, and then called him on his shit too.

The ending gleefully subverts everything you’d expect from a rom-com this good
All I am going to say about the ending, is that it took one of my most favourite scenes from a favourite rom-com and then instead of giving me what I was expecting, gave me something I needed — and what Lucien and Oliver needed too.

This is the feel good kind of read that makes the days seem a little brighter. Go read it right now.

I wasn't completely with this book at the start - Luc is a bit of a disaster in more ways than one, and I was looking forward to the stability Oliver was sure to bring. And what'dya know, he did.

The good:

- Once I got into the groove of things I laughed out loud every few chapters - some of the characters are ridiculous and over the top in good ways. If you're looking for a rom com bordering on lovingly silly this book is for you.

- There's complex emotional stuff going on here with both heroes, including with their families. Luc and Oliver support each other as best as they are able and pull away when they need a break, but it's never left to fester long. Both are dealing with some fairly major stuff and we get to watch them talk about it and grow, both as people and in the relationship.

- I love that some situations aren't cut and dry - hard conversations with no right answers. No best way to console someone who's crying his heart out. But our heroes do their best and it ends up being enough. More than enough.

- I think it's interesting that while Luc and Oliver are both gay they surround themselves with completely different kinds of people. Luc found a home in the LGBTQIA+ community when he needed one most, while Oliver's circle of friends is almost completely straight. Both are presented as okay and valid - having mostly straight friends doesn't make you any less queer.

- The side characters are fleshed out and interesting. From Luc's parents to the posh donors at a charity party, we get a solid feel for everyone as people.

- There's a nod at how difficult family can be when a couple decides they don't want children ('but we want grandbabies!') and as someone without children myself I appreciate it.

- Thanks to libro.fm I received the audiobook for review and my god, Joe Jameson does an amazing job with the narration. Luc's fumbling is natural, more natural than it looks printed on a page, Oliver's baritone is sexy, and the voices of women, especially, blew me away.

The neither-good-nor-bad:

- The sex is infrequent and of the fade-to-black variety. If you've been wanting to try an m/m romance but were looking for something more tame in that department, this book is a great place to start.

The not-so-good:

- I'm sad that we don't have any chapters from Oliver's point of view. At first I wanted to get out of Luc's head for a while - he really is a disaster in the beginning - but I think seeing some scenes from Oliver's POV would have added some depth.

- It wouldn't have worked for plot reasons, but I was dying to see Oliver get mixed up in Luc's group of friends. How would he react? Would he become looser or clam up? Love them or like them? (There are no other options, natch.)

- Some scenes got long, especially in posh dining rooms.

All in all I had a fun time with the read and am looking forward to whatever Hall brings next, hopefully with this cast of characters!

5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! Review to come once I have processed it a little more.
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Now that I have processed a little, I have to say that normally, this isn't the trope I go for. Fake dating is, in my opinion, really hard to get right in terms of chemistry and whether it's believable. Nevertheless, Luc and his many imperfections added authenticity to the story. In the beginning, he came off as a little preoccupied with himself, but over time, Alexis Hall (AH) did a great job of building complexity. Oliver was almost the other way around, where he came off as too perfect at first, but as I learned more about him (along with Luc), he became more and more human with his faults and worries. I think that being able to write complex and layered characters is a critical skill, and in this book, Hall's talent really shone. I can't really comment on much more than the characters because honestly, I'm not sure there was more to the book. It was mostly plotless and just a first-person narrative of Luc's life, but it was still appealing. (see below for more details)

Some things that may bother certain readers (though I either found them charming or wasn't bothered enough by them to change my opinion of the book):

The long, meandering 1st person narrative with pretty much no plot - this isn't my favorite style of writing, but I got into the story enough to get over it. I do think that it really adds to Luc's character because I got to be in his head so-to-speak. I'm not sure if I would have understood or liked him nearly as well otherwise.

The length - This book is long, and some might say it's too long. I think that trying to make it much shorter would really detract from the story, because again, these are complex characters that weren't likable/relatable at first glance (at least for me). The author gave the book enough space to be itself, and I wasn't put off by the length myself.

The character cast - while very diverse and unique, the cast was quite large. I felt like I didn't really understand the whole group dynamic super well sometimes and also struggled to keep the characters straight. This is completely a personal preference though and many people loved the side characters, so to each their own. I prefer a smaller cast that I can understand and really get to know fully rather than a large and varied cast.

Overall, I think this book was beautifully written. It certainly has some potential pitfalls for certain readers, but I would really recommend this book to most people. One last random comment - while I definitely enjoyed the book on my first read, I doubt I will go back and reread it. It just doesn't seem like the kind of book I would like to go back and read again. I think some of the things I pointed out would start to be more irritating and less charming, but for a first read, this was great.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This was billed to me on social media as the answer to Red, White, and Royal Blue. That was one of my very favorite books on 2019. I was INCREDIBLY skeptical about this living up to my expectations...but it really did. I had such a ball reading this book. The humor was remarkable. I laughed OUT LOUD through so much of this book. Apart from the romance itself, the main thing I'll talk away from Boyfriend Material is the way I laughed through it. From the very first handful of pages, I was chuckling.
The romance was lovely. It takes a classic romance book trope of fake dating, moody main characters who butt heads, the whole bit. But! The fullness of the characters and the time Alexis Hall took to develop them on the page, made me not realize that tropes were being used until I finished the book. The love scenes were just enough. Nothing too cheesy or cringe but honest and exceptionally written. I was with these characters the whole time. I was definitely not expecting to fall for these characters as much as I did. It takes a lot for a book to make me laugh AND cry, but Boyfriend Material did it.
This was a really great quarantine choice. It brought me back out into the world in the ways I miss the most. Which is slightly depressing? But it's honest! It brought me back to close human connection, clubs, dating, magical cities full of possibilities and silly boys and sapphic women! Read it. It's wonderful.

Luc is the son of an ex rockstar & has been portrayed negatively in the newspaper one too many times. He needs to find a respectable fake boyfriend for an upcoming fundraiser or he’ll lose his job, so an old acquaintance agrees if Luc will return the favor. Boyfriend Material was laugh out loud funny. The jokes, the banter, & Luc’s thought processes were hilarious. So if you’re looking for an easy, comical, romance you should pick this one up. Unfortunately, that’s where my enjoyment stops with this novel. I found the plot super repetitive and I didn’t find Luc likeable enough to root for him. Although his character did progress slightly throughout the novel, none of the other characters did. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to get through this book to read something else.

SO. MANY. FEEEEEELS! I AM EMOTING AND MY HEART IS SO HAPPY ABOUT IT!!!

CW: homophobia, emotional abuse from a parent, parental neglect, classism

This was so much more than I expected it to me! It was so much more emotional and gut wrenching and sweet and funny and ultimately heart warming. There is so much emotional growth and I loved that it didn’t fall into the “love cures all” bullsh*t, instead showing that love doesn’t cure all but it helps you learn to be better for yourself. Top notch banter, snarky flirtations, and beautiful emotional support, this was everything I wanted it to be and so so much more!

This was definitely a fun book :) The humor is very British so if that isn't your thing- it's probably not for you. Funny, snarky with chemistry. It did seem to drag in the middle. A lot of back and forth. Also too much time spent in Luc's head and breaking the 4th wall. It was still a fun read- I just wanted it to be shorter. I also thought some of the HR issues were not realistic.

Full review on blog (www.acourtofbooksandbrews.com), but if you are looking for a fun, LGBTQ+, laugh out loud rom com, look no further- this is the book for you!

Personally, I could have done without the constant break up/make up sessions, but it was easy to overlook it because, ultimately, it was such a pleasure seeing personal growth with the main character.

This book provided so many laugh out loud moments that it is hard to track them all. The witty banter and sarcastic undertones made for quite the pleasant read. Though it was only told from one perspective, I really love most the supporting characters and wish I could be friends with them in real life.

Again, thanks to @netgalley and @sourcebookscasa for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was adorable. It was so British and I loved all the British slang. I felt like I was overseas with my friends. The romance in this book was so sweet and I loved everything about both characters! I need more books like these in my life!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebook Casablanca for approving me for this fantastic ARC that is out today!!!!

Luc O'Donnell has always been in the public eye because of his rockstar parents. So one day when he takes a night a little to far he is told either get his act together or he is going to get fired. That is where Oliver a lawyer comes in who decides that a fake relationship would be the best for them. It will show the public eye that Luc is in a stable relationship and Oliver will have somebody to bring home to his parents.

I loved loved loved Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall!!! It was funny, cute and just enjoyed the whole story line.

I just adored this book. The writing pulled me in from the very start, and the witty banter and British humor kept me enthralled. There was just enough drama while watching the growth of the characters. I felt so invested in Luc from the very first scene, Alexis Hall did a wonderful job of making the characters endearing and human. It is always such a joy to read a romance where characters are dealing with real life issues while finding their HEA!

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the eARC of this book!

I'm in love, and their name is self deprecating British men and also British men that say things like 'verisimilitude'. This is a book with the most delightful fake dating trope I think I've ever read.

Luc is the child of ex Rockstars from the 80's, and he's spent much of his adult life in various states of debauchery, being photographed in all sorts of unseemly circumstances. This puts a bit of a damper on his perfectly respectable charity gig, and in order to save his job and his dignity, he sets out to find a perfectly respectable boyfriend. Enter Oliver. Uptight, perfectionist, ethical to a fault, Oliver is the perfect choice, and goes along with Luc's plan to fake date, just until both of their engagements are over.

This book is a whole journey. It had me laughing from the very first page, but here's the thing. It's also a very stark look at what can happen when you believe the things other people think of you. Luc has been stagnant for five years, going through life with the bare minimum effort and believing because he's not worth anyone giving a shit about him, why bother giving a shit about himself? Oliver is the same way in the opposite extreme. Instead of giving up, he's delved into a world of perfection and hard work that's both terribly busy and terribly unfulfilling.

I really love that they come together at this phase in their lives, and together they have to take the journey to belief that there's more, and even though it may end in flames and hurt, it might just be worth it.

The background characters are all well fleshed out even having so little page time, and they're all total dicks (and I mean that in the most loving way possible). They kept me laughing, even through the really hard parts to read.

Funny and sweet and insightful, I would absolutely give this book a read!

5 Stars *****
This was my first book I read by Alexis Hall and I assure you it won't be my last.
Luc has zero self esteem and at first glance appears to be a carefree and happy buffoon that parties too much without taking responsibility for his life. Well it is a part of who he is, rash and ridiculous. When you learn more about Luc you find the caring man that is buried underneath years of neglect and abandonment of his famous musician father and others he had wrongfully trusted. Trying to run from his hurt and turning the anger towards himself he has become a self fulfilling prophecy. He expects so little for his future and has zero expectations. Luc has settled for a life of mediocrity and works as a fund raiser for one of the strangest charities in existence. He somehow manages to create public nightmares for himself by getting caught by the paparazzi while doing "stupid things". He has set up so many invisible barriers to stave off anymore hurt, I actually ached for him.
He once again gets photographed in a compromising position and the donors from his job are backing out. Here is where the fake boyfriend angle comes in. He needs to associate himself with a respectable man to regain their trust. Yes this plot has been done over and over so imagine my surprise when the fake boyfriend scenario actually was believable and realistic!
This probably has a lot to do with the already established chemistry between Luc and the quiet unassuming lawyer Oliver .The noble and ethical barrister is just the best and the key to this story is will Luc finally accept that he really does deserve happiness. Delving further into this story Luc is not the only one with serious issues but I don't want to give away any spoilers.
Luc has a very large and comical posse of friends, some annoying and some endearing and that alone tells you how special Luc really is. The pace is fast and I laughed out loud more times then I can count. Both men equally deserve a life filled with love and acceptance. I found myself desperately rooting that these two mismatched yet perfectly balanced men will take a chance on each other. I strongly urge you to read this tender and sweet book that made me forget the real world for awhile.
Copy provided to me for my reading pleasure by NetGalley, a review wasn't a requirement.
Review has been posted to Good reads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Bub and KOBO.

I absolutely loved my time reading this sweet, funny, quirky gay rom-com. The characters and their problems were so real and the complicated dynamics between all the different friends had me hooked! I adored these absolutely ridiculous, disaster main characters. Seriously, how either of them survived to this long is a mystery! But I’m glad they did. I loved the fake dating trope, and this English humour had me cackling! Another perfect summer read that I suggest to anyone looking for a cute contemporary that will have you tearing up and laughing out loud in equal measure!

This book was just what I needed right now. A fun, LGBT, laugh out loud rom com.
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I enjoyed following Luc as he worked through his insecurities and trust issues, while living in the shadow and fame of his famous, absentee father.
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It had been a while since I’ve read a book that has actually made me laugh out loud, but this book did it on more than one occasion. The quirky banter and sarcasm made for quite a fun read.
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And don’t even get me started on Oliver! All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and definitely recommend it to all rom com lovers.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebookscasa for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

One of my favorite romance tropes is fake dating. It’s so awkward and wonderful. I was texting @janaireadsbooks every time I read a funny line – so, a lot. Sorry girl. It gave me a lot of Red, White, and Royal Blue vibes and I thinnnnk I liked it more, which is high praise since I rated that one as five stars and recommend it to everyone. 
 
Boyfriend Material has that wonderful British wit and sarcasm that I love in a book while still being light hearted and adorable. These two men don’t know how to be in a real relationship, so you can only imagine how up and down their fake one is. After finishing this one in about a day, I already I need more of Luc and Oliver please. This was easily one of the top reads of the year for me. 
 
And in a weirdly fun surprise, Alexis Hall will have you caring about dung beetles and their preservation after this book. 
 
PS: How bloody American am I? Does anyone else start texting / writing with -ou-s instead of just o’s (like humour, colour, savour) after reading a British book? No, just me? Cool.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Boyfriend Material follow Luc, the son of once famous rockstar and a French songwriter. Luc cannot stay out of the tabloids for all the wrong reasons. When his job is threatened, Luc strikes a deal with Oliver to fake dating. What follows is a heart warming tale of romance and personal growth.

I really enjoyed this story. While there are definitely parts that I feel could've been done better (like shorting the back and forth on relationship conflict or giving us more conflict with Luc's dad). The fake dating to real relationship trope is quickly becoming my all time favorite romance theme. I love the discussion that was had in regards to how queer people are not all the same and what interests one person (such as Drag Queens) may not interest the other.

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this novel.

I’m a huge fan of enemies to lovers, opposites attract, fake dating troupes and this book has it all! Luc is the son of once famous parents. With his estranged father making a comeback, Luc is thrown back in the spotlight by association and has to watch his step or he’s going to lose his job. After a meeting with his friends, they came up with the idea that Luc should obtain a “fake boyfriend” to clean up his party boy image. Que Oliver, the normal and at times uptight Barrister, who Luc has a past with. He and Oliver both are reluctant at first, but agree that this arrangement would benefit them both. After nights spent together, some misunderstandings and family drama, they grow into better versions of themselves and even grow to like each other.

It took me about 20% to get fully invested in the story, definitely a slow burn, but after the fun conversations and inside jokes over d*ck pics and inner monologues of secret feelings, I began to enjoy the story for what it was. I could have done without Luc always putting himself down or his need to self-sabotage, but he reminded me a little like myself, so I have no room to talk.. *laughs out loud*

In the end, I enjoyed the book as a whole and would recommend it for a light, slow burn, LGBTQ+ romance with a bit of steam.

By the way, I loved Oliver and I’d date him in a heartbeat.. 🥰

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: topics of cancer and family drama.

Thank you so much Sourcebooks Casablanca and netgalley for the e-galley and libro.fm for the ALC of Boyfriend Material in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much.
The writing was great and kept me glued to my kindle until the last page.
It’s funny, smart and heartwarming. I loved both of them and all the awkward moments and slow burn love story.
Highly recommend it.