Boyfriend Material was advertised to me as the British answer to Red, White and Royal Blue. I wasn’t inclined for a minute to believe that could be the case, but this really was a super entertaining, emotional, adorable romance that you need in your life for summer 2020.

We follow Luc, son of two 80s icons, though his father walked out on him and his wonderfully eccentric mother when he was young and he’s not seen him since. In person anyway- his father’s comeback is plastered over screens everywhere. This element to the plot examines the harsh realities of growing up as the son of a celebrity, with every gossip rag hoping for a scandal. The tear-down nature of the british media is really explored here, giving personality and a sympathetic nature to the target of gossip ‘news’.

When Luc needs the perfect date to present to high-profile work clients that he is a fully reformed, well behaved, unintimidating gay, in walks Oliver Blackwood. Think young, sexy, gay Mark Darcy. Who also Luc also happens to hate. This book is PACKED with delicious romance tropes – I’m talking enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, fake dating, THERE WAS ONLY ONE BED! So tasty.

Through putting a gay couple, trying to present the ‘perfect’ image, this book really focuses on the unrealistic expectations that are put on gay couples to meet society’s ideals – they can’t be too gay, but also need to fit a heteronormative idea of their relationship dynamics. Being gay is enough of a scandal already, so don’t draw any more attentuon. This comes both from Luc’s need to present himself positively to the media, and also Oliver’s need to present the perfect relationship to his highly strung parents. However, throughout this book Oliver and Luc go on an immense personal journey to realise that they do not need to appease anyone other than themselves.

There’s definitely an element in this book of comparisons of different parental relationships- whilst Luc’s parental relationships seem very disfunctional on the surface, Luc’s mother is incredibly loving though very odd (shoutout to Luc’s mother who is supportive and loving, and has a beautiful platonic companionship with another older woman) and he comes to appreciate this throughout the book. Whilst Oliver’s parents encourage success and provide only the best for their son, but their attitudes are incredibly judgemental and they can be very emotionally manipulative with how they withhold love and praise to bend Oliver to their will.

I would proceed with caution at times though, because the behaviour of Luc’s father is very much emotionally abusive. There’s a lot of gaslighting and manipulation. This is also true of Oliver’s parents.

This truely is story full of really beautiful character growth. The changes in Luc’s mental health and self-worth are so touching, I actually got a little teary. I also laughed and celebrated with our characters. Hall’s writing style is almost painfully quirky at times, and at first I was really unsure, but it quickly became charming and I really fell in love with this caricature of Britain and its inhabitants. It truly was like reading a modern, queer Bridget Jones. If you’re looking for a quintessentially British summer rom-com, then you must pick this up!

This is a "fake dating" trope, so it's pretty obvious what's going to happen, right? I mean, I was totally prepared to be underwhelmed, but I ended up completely charmed!

Our MC Lucien is a freaking hot mess. I really wanted to not like him, but he quickly grew on me and I absolutely fell hard for him! And dude has jokes! Like, I seriously laughed and snorted my way through this book listening to his stream of consciousness! And the quotes!! So many profound and witty statements in here, I love them all!!

And Luc's relationship with perfectly flawed Oliver was such a nice slow burn and achingly sweet and just <sigh>!

So yeah, predictable, but the ride was oh so fun! The supporting cast was amazing, the witty banter was superb and just everything added up to such an entertaining and light read! Absolutely loved it!

What I loved:

- the humor in this book is *chefs kiss*!!! It made the reading experience a million times better.
- the romance! It took me a liiiiittle longer than expected to like their (fake-lol-it's-actually-not-fake) romance, but once I was, I was rooting alllllll the way. Oliver and Luc won my heart and wouldn't give it back!!! Honestly they're so cute. Ahhhhh
- The character development. Both of the main characters have some pretty bad issues, and seeing them grow during the book was amazing. Of course, it's not an easy road and by the end of the book they aren't perfect, but you can tell they're on their way to getting there!
- the characters. While Oliver and Luc were both every once in a while during the book and a lot at the very beginning of said book very annoying, I came to love their annoyingness. huh. And honestly, all the side characters were well rounded and so fun to read about!
- The plot. Just, the plot. I had an amazing time reading the whole entire time. Reading Experience? 1000000/10

What I didn't love so much:

- the semi relevant Cam guy we say at the beginning of the book? I thought he was going to be a much bigger deal since we did spend a reasonable amount of time with him, and was very confused when it turned out not to be the case.
- as a non-British english speaker, sometimes the words used were just too much. When even my kindle dictionary can't tell me what a word means and I have to constantly google things... not a good sign. I'm sure this is fine for British people, but there are more common words the author could use that would make it easier for the general non-British public to read the book.
- I'm not sure if this will be fixed in the finished copy, but the constant typo of the french words "mon cher" – as a native french speaker – really got on my nerves. That, and the amount of french stereotypes used to write Luc's mother.
- as much as I really, truly, loved the humor in this book, I found some jokes were a bit overused and got old toward the end.

In conclusion, even if this wasn't perfect, the things I loved outweigh by FAR those I didn't. I absolutely loved this book and I loved reading it. The characters, the plot, the humor, the romance, made this book, and I absolutely recommend it!!!

luc o'donnell is kind of a disaster. the long-ignored son of a british rockstar and reclusive french singer, he's caught by the paparazzi falling into a ditch and appearing to be drug-addled and on a bender. the reality is more that he tripped while walking home while intoxicated by one margarita too many. but then his job is put on high alert unless he can clean up his reputation and seem like a sober, dependable fellow. and so the boyfriend scheme comes to light.

when his pushy friend bridget suggests he hook up with her other gay friend, oliver, luc is less than enthused. his previous interactions with oliver hadn't gone well. and neither does the date that they attempt. but when luc admits he needs a fake boyfriend, oliver admits he needs one too.

and thus the boyfriend pact is borne. but neither luc nor oliver are quite sure what makes a guy boyfriend material. they're complete opposites, but they also make one another feel supported and whole and less like unmitigated disaster humans. it takes a while to see beneath oliver's façade, you see. but at heart, he's as much a mess as luc. he is just better at hiding it.

once they get their wires uncrossed and realize some hard truths about themselves, they realize that maybe this fake boyfriend thing isn't so much fake after all. and it is delightful.

**boyfriend material will publish on july 7, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/sourcebooks casablanca in exchange for my honest review.

I first picked up Boyfriend Material because @theliteraryheroine said it was a RW&RB readalike and y'all - it did not disappoint! This book was a JOY to read. It has banter, it has friendship, it has heart, it has emotional support sandwiches - and what's more, it's an incredibly moving story about people who are flawed and funny and working to become better. I grinned and laughed out loud so much while reading this that my face hurt. I love Luc's voice and the nods to TV and books (I'm a pop culture junkie). I love how socially aware the book is, and how it reminds us that there's no one right way to be (insert identity here). I love that it's built on one of my favorite romantic tropes: a fake relationship. To borrow from the supreme R. Eric Thomas, Luc is a choas muppet, and I was absolutely delighted to follow his journey. I can only hope that Hall will grace us with more of his writing - I'm here for a sequel to this book, or perhaps a book from one of Luc or Oliver's friends!

Thanks to @netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

I'm a huge fan of the fake dating trope so when I saw that was part of the plot, I knew I had to read this. It's also set in England so I had high hopes for this and was not let down.

Luc O'Donnell is the son of a famous musician. Even though he doesn't have a relationship with his father, that doesn't stop people (including paparazzi) from being interested in his. After ending up in a bit of a scandal, Luc starts to fake date Oliver Blackwood to help clean up his image. Oliver is a type A, lawyer and seemingly exactly what Luc needs.

It was a great, fun summer read and perfect for pride month.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say about this book without sounding like a totally big fan?

I mean, I loved it, I really really did.

Read it in one day, I was obsessed with it, once I started reading it I couldn't stop and it felt so good! To be so immersed in a book again after so long, to be able to enjoy all the fluffy moments all the dramatic moments and the funny ones as well.

Oliver and Luck were amazing characters, both were very well developed and we could see their growing as the book progressed, they both had so much in common from the get go but it was hard to see because the author does an amazing work of writing for each character and giving them their time to shine and grow, I thought I was all invested in Luc (poor tortured soul) but then Oliver gave me quite a shock and so I was totally involved in him and then their relationship kept getting better and better and I just . . . Loved It!

This was one of the cutest most hilarious books I've ever read and I absolutely loved every second of it!!!!!!!!!!

Luc's character, British dry humour and overall existence are on point. I loved how flawed he is, and how throughout the book you get to see his ups and downs. I am LIVING for his relationships with his mother and his friends.

The writing style was great, I flew through the pages and didn't even feel the time pass by.

Overall this was an amazing book and I'm really happy I got the chance to read it!

Boyfriend Material
This book really pulled me in right from the start. Luc O’Donnell’s reputation in the press starts getting the wrong attention at work. The only solution: find a fake boyfriend who can help repair the damage. Luc and Oliver both need fake dates for upcoming events with the caveat that their relationship looks real but stays fake. But what happens when they start having very real feelings for each other?

I really enjoyed this book. The first draw: the gorgeous cover. Second: It has fake dating, one of my favourite romance tropes. I think it’s great when they start realizing they have feelings but then think that’s the worst thing ever because this is all for show and has to end. When it really doesn’t have to.

I also adored Oliver. He’s so stoic and put together and Luc really balances him out well. Together, they’re pretty wonderful.
This book has lots of great moments with the side characters, too. Luc’s mom is hilariously eccentric and all of his friends are wild. And the WhatsApp group names were iconic: “Queer Comes the Sun” and “One Gay More” among others.

The one downside for me: I felt that there were too many moments where they break up and then get back together almost immediately. I get that they had issues to deal with, but it was a lot of back and forth.

All in all, this was a great romance with a really great cast of characters.

*Review copy provided via NetGalley.

I have so much love for this book! I don’t have much time to read when I’m in class, but I stayed up late two nights in a row to finish Boyfriend Material.
Having a rock star for a father isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Luc O’Donell will end a relationship before it starts. It’s better to end it before he winds up in the tabloids with the world wondering how much further he could fall. When his job is at risk, he’ll do whatever he can to keep it. Oliver is the perfect person to help him clean up his image and save his job. Scandal doesn’t happen to Oliver, the barrister and vegetarian. They couldn’t be more different from each other, but they both need someone to take as a plus one.
Luc, bless it, I just wanted to tell him, “It’s okay to be who you are and to live your life.” He doesn’t trust anyone and it’s entirely understandable. He’s had some of his worst moments plastered across the tabloids. Oliver, goodness, he needed all the hugs. He strives to be the best and nothing but the best.

I think why I enjoyed their story so much was because I relate so much to both Luc and Oliver. I don’t trust easily, and I’m awkward and odd. I have my own way of doing things and I don’t appreciate people trying to change that.

The arrangement becomes beneficial and is the worst kept secret. It cracked me up with how many people knew they were fake boyfriends. Despite all the fakery, Luc and Oliver had a legitimate connection with each other. They challenged each other to be better and to learn how to trust again.

I think one of my favorite parts was at Oliver’s parents Ruby Anniversary. Luc makes this amazing gesture and I was sitting in my bed sitting up straight and cheering him on. Someone needed to do this for Oliver. He was worth having someone on his side like Luc was.

There were misunderstandings, through the course of things, but the chemistry and attraction between them, even as fake boyfriends? It burned intense and brightly. It was so damn good when they were together.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is one of the best books, and by far the funniest, I’ve read this year. I’m willing to say her best since Glitterland.

Luc O’Donnell is the C-list celebrity child of B-list ex-rockers. With an unfortunate photo in the gossip column, his job at a dung beetle charity is in jeopardy. Oliver Blackwood is a vegan barrister who needs a plus one for his parent’s anniversary garden party. Hence, the fake boyfriend compromise. The wit, sarcasm, and banter are laugh-out-loud funny. Nothing is saved from mockery — American politicians, pop culture, wine coolers, or Tube stations. (I Googled her Google reviews, and they are real!) The supporting characters range from married friends, James Royce-Royce and James Royce-Royce, to posh nitwits, Clara (call me Miffy) and Alex Twaddle.

My only regret is that it wasn’t longer. I didn’t want it to end.

This was such a sweet story about Luc and Oliver and it built and built the emotional layers in such a way that made the ending such a treat to read! I wish it has gone on for just a few more chapters but the ending was still great. I loved Luc and Oliver's friends and how they all created a family of choice. Recommend for anyone who liked "Red, White, and Royal Blue." I'll be on the lookout for Alexis Hall's next novel!

<p>I freaking loved it so damn much.</p>

<p>Lets talk about the writing, which was amazing. It was immersive and easy to get into and kept me hooked for long enough to wanna blast through the book and know what is gonna happen next.</p>

<p>The plot is super cute and will make you feel happy on the inside and even though there are a lot of serious topics in it, it will made me feel fuzzy on the inside.</p>

<p>Luc and Oliver need a fake boyfriend to parade around at functions for one reason or the other and that's why they decide to fake dating each other and the story starts from there.</p>

<p>Luc and Oliver's relationship is not easy, even though it is fake there is a lot happening there and both characters are growing as people throughout the book, there are a lot of cute scenes scattered throughout the book and reading those scenes made me grin like a fool and there were scenes that made me cry.</p>

<p>Throughout the book they become each others rocks and stand up for each other and I loved seeing them getting closer together and fight for each other and for their relationship</p>

<p>Another thing that I adored a lot in the book was Luc's friends, almost all of them belong to the lgbt community and are amazing friends, they stand by Luc when he needs them and there to pull him out of his misery and are ready to go to lengths to help him.</p>

<p>My only problem with the book was that sometimes the characters acted like teenagers, instead of talking they just made some pretty stupid stuff and the last chapter could have been avoided and it could have been wrapped up very well one chapter short but other than this, I loved the story.</p>

<p>Both of the characters are dealing with a lot</p>

<p>Luc is dealing with betrayal and has trouble accepting people into his life and trusting, that plays a huge part in the book and in the relationship and I loved his growth, his relationship with his mother is also something I adore a lot, it is really admirable. He is also pretty hard working given the fact that he is not really fan of his job (who really is), it is nice seeing him open up and trust people again. He is also kind of an asshole in the beginning but he morphs into a good person later and he is an adorable little bean.</p>

<p>Oliver, he is crushed under the expectations of his parents but overall he is strong man who knows what he wants in his life, he is ready to protect Luc and is extremely lovable and I adore him a lot. He also undergoes a lot of growth in the book as well, he opens up to Luc and he is adorable, a little awkward and a cute dork.</p>

<p>Overall this was a great book, I really loved this book and I adored the characters and the relationships both platonic and romantic and I would love to see how Oliver and Luc's life turns out maybe a novella (hopefully)</p>

<p>I would recommend it to anyone who liked Red, White and Royal Blue (it is adult so be vary of that) and just wants a to read a cute queer book that will tug on your heart strings both in a good and bad way. It will make you feel happy.</p>

This book was a light, fun, enjoyable romance with just enough heart and drama! As a reader I loved Luc and Oliver, as well as their cast of diverse and entertaining friends. Even though anyone could see their "Friends to lovers" plot coming a mile away, this is just the kind of heartfelt happy-ending we all need right now! The book felt a little bit long, but was an enjoyable read.

Luc and Oliver come together because they both need a partner - Luc to salvage his career and Oliver to appease his parents - but aren't very good at holding down real relationships. So they agree to fake date for a while. Rather predictably, they fall in love along the way, with a spattering of humor and rom com shenanigans along the way. It's wonderful.

This is such a delight. I absolutely love tropey fic and fake dating which turns into real feelings is one of my favorite things in the world. A close second is 'human trainwreck character B falls in love with no nonsense well put together character B'. Seeing as those two tropes pretty much sum up this novel, it was love at first sight. (Also a fair amount of daddy issues as a result of a deadbeat, absentee father, which is also depressingly up my alley.)

Both boys are really lovely and endearing in their own way. Luc is a hot mess, but it's because he's hurting and afraid to let people in, something which he becomes more and more aware of the closer he gets to Oliver. Meanwhile, Oliver is the 'perfect' man, a reputation he pretty much relies on to cover up all of his own insecurities. Their fake-turned-real relationship helps them both come to terms with that and start taking steps to improve it. Meanwhile, as a reader, I was just falling more and more in love with them and wanting to wrap them up and give them nothing but good things. Especially whenever they came into contact with Luc's father or Oliver's parents who are, in my totally unbiased opinion, The Worst.

They end up together after some grand declarations of love, of course, but not after a long road there full of the humor you'd expect in one of those guilty pleasure British romcoms we all pretend not to watch. That's one of my favorite genres, no guilt involved, so yes. Boyfriend Material was undoubtedly a five stars from me and I'd wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who wants a tropey, funny, sweet romance to read over the summer.

I seriously want to shout from the rooftops HOW MUCH I LOVE ALEXIS HALL. Seriously. I loved the Spires series, and then I found out about this book, and ... wow. It made me laugh and (almost) cry and just be so delighted and in love with the characters and all their complexities and flaws.

The story follows Luc O’Donnell, who is the son of a rockstar - one that left when Luc was three years old, and hasn’t made any type of effort to be a parent ever again. Luc has spent his whole life trying to be someone else than his father’s son and has gotten to the point where he’s given up on being normal or having a relationship (especially after his last boyfriend sold his story to the papers). When a compromising photo gets him in trouble with his job, he has to find a way to salvage what is left of his reputation, and quick.

Salvation comes in the form of Oliver Blackwood, Luc’s complete opposite. Oliver is an ethical vegetarian, Luc loves bacon sandwiches; Oliver’s home is pristine, Luc can’t remember the last time he washed a dish; Oliver’s a lawyer with a pristine reputation, while Luc has to have a Google alert set up with his name so he can find out what scandal he has created this time. The two men are as unalike as they come, but agree to act as boyfriends in order to fulfill upcoming work and family obligations, with an agreement that this fake relationship has an end date.

Of course, there’s always those pesky things called feelings that get in the way.

I absolutely tore through this book - both wanting to find out what happened next, and not wanting the story to end - and loved getting to know Luc and Oliver, plus their friends and coworkers (a hoity-toity peer making me laugh especially hard). The ending was perfect, and I’m just so delighted that this book exists. In my eyes, Alexis Hall can do no wrong.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Book comes out July 7th (and you best believe I preordered my copy the second I knew it existed)!

This book is 5+++++ stars. It is the perfect love story - I loved it so much. I know I've said "oh this book is so stinkin cute. Or that book is so stinkin cute." No, no. Boyfriend Material is the STINKINIEST CUTEST BOOK EVER!!!! I'm so in love with Luc and Oliver, they are flawed and perfect at the same time. The secondary characters are so funny and flawed and perfect in their own way. If you love Love, Actually you will love this book. It is so British I had a hard time at first understanding Luc's voice but after a short time I found it and it was a case of insta-love for me. I want more of this world. Please Alexis Hall write a sequel so we all can know that Luc and Oliver are still the real thing and not fake boyfriends. Be still my beating heart, indeed.

I need to go now and find out what toast racks are. But you need to go right now and get this book. Yes, I know it doesn't come out until July 7 but go and pre-order it! You won't be sorry.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book for an honest review.

I’m so sorry, but this book was just not for me. I tried... but just couldn’t get into the story, or bond to the characters. I sure appreciate the opportunity to read it though.

"You remain the thing I have most chosen for myself. The thing that's most exclusively mind. The one that brings me the deepest joy."

When we first met Luc, I wasn't completely drawn into the story. A non-profit, son of ex-rock stars finds himself in the eye of the media, but not in a good way. To avoid losing donors for his company's major fundraising event, his friends suggest he finds a respectable fake boyfriend to gain positive media attention. Enter: Oliver.

It took me about a third of the way through the book to really be drawn in, which is when Luc began to realize that maybe he had feelings for Oliver. I think Luc's inner dialogue began to change at that point, which is why I started to like the story more. It wasn't all negative self-talk; instead, he began to work through some of the emotional blocks holding him back.

In almost all fake-relationship books, you see the couple hit a point near the end where they call off the fake dating and separate before realizing they are meant for each other. The conflict in this book seemed rushed and out of place to me, especially because the two seemed to know that they were well-matched outside of their fake relationship. The end was very abrupt and left me wanting more.

All in all, it was a pleasant read. I really enjoyed watching Luc and Oliver fall for each other. The romance was light-hearted, and we also get to see some major character development along the way. If you're a fan of British romance and Red, White, and Royal Blue, this book is for you.

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I really loved this book. It reminded me a little of Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston but definitely had its own vibe. I have a lot of teens looking for things similar to that title so this is perfect. Plus I love seeing a good queer romance.