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.

3.5 stars rounded up to a 4! Boyfriend Material was really stinking cute. It is a QUEER, FAKE DATING, opposites attract romance and I had an absolute blast reading it. I will say, the will-they-won't-they went on for what felt like longer than it needed to which did ultimately make the book as a whole feel a bit long for me. But overall I really did enjoy this one and I'm looking forward to reading more from Alexis Hall in the future!

This book is everything I wanted it too be! It’s a fun fake boyfriend romance between two British men who seem to have nothing in common. We have luc (or Lucien as Oliver calls him) who is a walking mess of a person; dishevelled, career in the toilet, and just emotionally absolutely broken. He pretends to date Oliver for his job as he need an upstanding and decent boyfriend to regain some reputation. Oliver is a lawyer, classically handsome with what seems to be it all together, and a serious control freak in all aspects of his life. Watching these two polar opposites work out they’re own personal demons and rely on someone they never thought they could like much less fall for was absolutely delightful! Not too mention all the British wit and humour this book literally has it all!

Summary
Luc is reluctantly famous. And that means that every single misstep lands him in the tabloids - especially now that is rockstar father is out of rehab and making a comeback. In order to clean up his image, Luc needs to find a nice, stable boyfriend. And Oliver is as nice and normal as they come. Unfortunately, apart from also needing a fake boyfriend, Oliver and Luc have nothing in common. But the more time they spend together, the line between fake and reality blurs.

Overview
➸ POV: 1st Person from Luc's POV

➸ Luc O'Donnell: 28, Reluctantly famous, Has a bad reputation, Works for a dung beetle charity, Needs to clean up his image to win donor approval, Parents are famous rockstars, Terrified of real emotions

➸ Oliver Blackwood: Barrister, Ethical vegetarian, Polite, Younger brother, Has an opinion about everything

➸ Content Warnings: Cancer, Homophobia, Drug Abuse, Eating Disorder, Depression

My Thoughts
Excuse me for my incoherent fangirl of a review - this book was everything I want in a romcom and will easily make my favorites of the year list!

I've read a lot of mediocre rom-coms lately. But this one definitely doesn't land on that list. This book was laugh out loud funny, swoony, steamy, and heartwarming beyond belief. I probably looked like a crazy person listening to this audiobook while I visually swooned over these characters.

Every single character in here had personality and depth. Not only are Luc and Oliver two of my favorite MCs ever, but the side characters were just as strong. Between Luc's mother, the friend groups, and Luc's zany coworkers, this book was jam packed with amazing characters. I was so attached to each and every person - I never wanted this to end.

I loved how Alexis Hall balanced the humor with heavier topics. Luc and Oliver are both dealing with some really difficult things. But despite their struggles - both together and personally - this book had such a warm feeling. There were so many examples of supportive and loving relationships from friends, family, and significant others. I love when books highlight the importance of the family you choose versus the family you're born into. And this did that beautifully.

Luc and Oliver each go through some significant character arcs. They're definitely not perfect, but they both felt so real and relatable. There chemistry was unreal and they balanced each other so well. These are definitely characters I'll be thinking about long after finishing this.

Overall this book just blew me away. I wasn't expecting to be swept away by this characters as wholly as I was. I would read an endless number of books just following these character around. This book has it all - great representation, timely topics, humor, familial drama, and the most swoon worthy romance. Definitely make this the next romance on your list!