Before devouring Alexis Hall’s sequel, “Husband Material,” I simply had to reread “Boyfriend Material” for its sizzling comic wit and insights. (While Mr. Halls new romance could be a standalone, the original is too fabulous to miss.) And then I worried. How could Mr. Hall match, much less top the original’s exquisite balance between Luc, who was snarky and insecure, but self-aware and successful, considerate, but cluelessly perfectionistic Oliver.

I shouldn’t have concerned myself. “Husband Material” is as different as new relationships are from deepening ones. Though it’s lightly patterned after 80’s rom coms. like “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” and certainly opens farcically, we quickly learn that “Husband Material” is far deeper. Luc’s self-respect has improved, so he can be emotionally supportive of Oliver, who has finally faced his parent’s lifelong degradation.

Through Luc’s voice, Mr. Hall examines the different roles Oliver’s parents, and society have forced upon LGBTQ individuals, and how this “othering” by the wealthy and powerful, maintains their insular world ,with all its advantages. Sounds terribly preachy and boring, right?

Nope, that’s Mr. Hall’s brilliance. He creates situations where his protagonists stumble into their perceptions and through which these realizations are refined. Over and over my mouth gaped as I asked myself, “how did he find throw away words for the unexpressed sentiments rolling around my brain?” For example, “That’s what death is really, isn’t it? A lot of things you’ll never know.”

Luc and Oliver have different opinions about responsibility, family, sexual identity, relationships, marriage and even food. As their relationship adjusts, they learn to hold these variations despite the discomfort. And thus they model mutual respect. Better yet, their acceptance comes with superb banter, like when Luc makes Oliver French toast.

Luc starts. “’I want you to know that I am eating in the full knowledge that this is a bribe.’
Oliver looked faintly guilty. As well he might. ‘I prefer to think of it as me doing something thoughtful for you because I know you’re going to do something thoughtful for me.’
‘Yeah, that’s literally what a bribe is.’
‘No, a bribe is contingent. A bribe comes with expectation. This came after you’d agreed to do the thing I wanted so it’s legally a thank-you gift.’”

Come for the snark, stay for the soul-searching, such as a eulogy which reminded me of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The eulogizer’s image of himself and of the deceased morphs in front of our eyes, the same way death transforms the departed in our hearts. Simply put, wow, wow, wow and wow!

And if Mr. Hall has penetrated death, he is even more astute about the course of love. “I wanted to keep this. This almost fragile feeling of everything being what it was and being for its own sake and not needing to go anywhere or become anything else. But that was how relationships began. It wasn’t how they lasted.”

As a psychologist, I’ve always thought Mr. Hall chose the wrong profession. I’d gladly use him as my therapist. But then I might lose one of my all time favorite authors. And this world needs Mr. Hall’s authentic voice, his insights, pessimism, lightness, social commentary, romance, hope and linguistic prowess. “I was fine. Well. Fine-ish. Fineoid. Definitely heading in a fineular direction.” Don’t miss out on this well-deserved Bestseller Material!

I was really looking forward to reading this as a follow-up to Boyfriend Material. This book picks up from that book and we are immediately thrown into the life with Luc and Oliver. As with the first book this was humor filled, british, queer and witty. However while I enjoyed this for the most part, I do think it was a bit long and some parts were drawn out. If you liked the first book, you'll love this sequel.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

With Boyfriend Material one of my favorite romcoms, its sequel, Husband Material, had pretty massive shoes to fill. Y’all, it way more than surpassed my expectations! It’s funny, romantic, moving, goofy, tender, and just such an absolute joy to read from start to finish. ⁣
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Husband Material finds the perfect, delicate balance between allowing its characters to grow and learn, and still giving them plenty of baggage and conflict to deal with. It was such a relief to open this up and find that Luc and Oliver really hadn’t regressed, that they weren’t just rehashing all the same old issues; they’ve matured, they’ve worked on some stuff, they have all new issues now! They feel so much like real people - flawed and messy and trying their hardest. Their story touches on so much bigger than just their single relationship but it always, always brings both the rom and the com. ⁣
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I adored Boyfriend Material, I was overjoyed to adore Husband Material, and I can’t wait for the future of the series!

[Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]

REVIEW IN ENGLISH SOON

3'5 estrellitas
Es un gustazo total leer algo de Alexis Hall, sobre todo si te reencuentras con unos personajes a los que quiero tanto como Oliver y Lucl, leeré todo lo que Alexis Hall escriba sobre ellos.
He disfrutado de Husband Material pero creo que, como conjunto, es un libro más irregular y menos redondo que Boyfriend Material. Alexis Hall pasa medio libro dándonos poca pareja y, aunque se lee bien y resulta entretenido y divertido, no lograba engancharme como yo quería que lo hiciera. El último tercio del libro me ha resultado mucho mejor, con Oliver y Luc como eje central y con cositas que se saca Hall de la manga para acrecentar nuestro interés.
Reconozco que no lo he leído en las mejores circunstancias (tónica general de este año) y que leer a Alexis Hall en inglés siempre me cuesta, lo que probablemente pueda haber afectado a mi lectura.
En cualquier caso ha sido un gustito volver a saber sobre esta pareja tan adorable.

There's very little in the world more perfect than a perfect Alexis Hall romance, and Husband Material manages this perfection in the most perfect of ways. If you haven't had the chance to read Boyfriend Material yet, you must grab it up immediately... Luc and his unique viewpoint are just too good to miss!

There are so many wonderful moments. From laugh out loud, to groaning in empathy, to wanting to shake some sense into these two misfits - too many to even begin to recount. I know I'll be thinking of them for months to come.

(I'm sorry, but is it wrong that the whole way through I kept hoping Oliver was going to get those tickets to Pretty Woman, The Musical reissued?)


I love how much more we get to know Oliver in this novel. His take on what's expected, how and where he fits, and how he fits with Luc. This is just a beautifully written story, about so much more than boy meets boy.

Simply put, I think Husband Material is one of the best first person, single pov, opposites attract, romances out there. I love these guys, and it's going to be so hard to wait for book three!

It was great to be with Oliver and Luc again. To hear their voices again. To see that they had survived. I loved being back with the good people of CRAPP, especially to revisit the absurd poshness of Alex Twaddle. But this book was not for me. For reasons I don’t know how to talk about without discussing some

***SPOILERS! RIGHT AHEAD!**

I have two big thoughts to share, one fairly substantive and one that is more personal. Consequently, I will talk more about the personal than the substantive thanks both to not wanting to be a total asshole in this review and also because you know *waves hands* social media, self-absorption, etc.

Look, it doesn’t say anything about this on the dust jacket and lots of reviewers on Booksta haven’t caught this–of course, many have–so you, reader, may not know this, but Husband Material is meant to be a remake of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Here’s the personal part. Four Weddings is one of my favorite movies–I know: rom coms and nonsense conceptions of love and romance are toxic, etc. But it is in the top three movies I watch when I’m feeling down, and as I threatened my son when I made him watch it once, I could recite it for you. Only queers of a certain age may understand how much I loved this funny-ass movie that came out as the AIDS epidemic was beginning to slow. I was a young baby queer that cheered when the gay couple was held up as the literal pinnacle of romantic and committed love. Look, is it heteronormative? Yes. Is it naive? Sure. Was it about middle-class to VERY rich white people? Absolutely. But back then, I couldn’t find queer books to read on the tables at Barnes and Noble, especially where everyone stayed alive, and TV rep was nonexistent–Will & Grace, maybe? Four Weddings makes me laugh and I love it. Also, I defy you not to cry during the funeral.

All this is to say, at least for me, if you’re gonna do it, you better do it right. And this book didn’t. It wasn’t funny enough or poignant enough and there were so many missed opportunities. The third wedding had opportunities to lambast the wealthy and for the hijinks to be hijinks-ier. The second wedding could have fondly made fun of queer folks but it was mean instead, and the last wedding. Well. While it had great call-backs to the movie, it was just a let down. Also, throughout, there was no hilarious vicar and no disastrous toasts. As a friend said, the first wedding might have made a great epilogue to Boyfriend Material, and the rest of the book was a bummer.

Also, Luc is a jerk for 85% of the book.

Husband Material is follow up to Boyfriend Material.
A great easy read. I did like the first one a bit better than the second one.

so sweet.
I adore Oliver and love Luc's (mostly)chaotic-good vibe.

-[..] As alone as I’d felt, as little as I’d appreciated them for it, I’d always had all the people that mattered in my corner. [..]-

Boyfriends Material was the story of how two people who are pretty much complete opposites came together. Husband Material is the remarkably well done sequel to their story that deals with their relationship, and as much as Luc and Oliver love and support each other, not everything goes smoothly for them. Especially when outside forces and internalized fears/anxieties get the better of them.

-[..] “[...]Your pain matters, even if other people have it worse.[...]" [..]-
--Truer words cannot be said, no matter the context.

-[..] "Once Oliver had finished greeting the woofles as he occasionally and embarrassingly called them[...]" [..]-
-- yes. to all the cutesy nicknames Oliver gives dogs

Luc and Oliver are back! I thought it was great to get more of these two. As always, the sparks are flying with every single interaction they share. The story pulled me in quickly and sent my emotions spinning. There's lots of drama and tension here so be prepared for the high-energy workout headed straight for your heart!

Just love Alexis Hall books! Great followup in the series! Looking forward to what she does next. Highly recommend for queer books.

Husband Material (London Calling #2) is a queer romcom by Alexis Hall. The book is set two years after Boyfriend Material. Due to everyone around him getting married, Luc finds himself pressured to propose to Oliver. Witness how Luc battles anxiety, social pressure and ultimately finds his happily ever after.

The story is deliciously queer. There’s gender identity and orientation. We got amazing and fun side characters, witty conversations. I love that I got to see more of their companions especially Bridge and I do love how Luc cares so much for his friends and I’ve always admired Oliver’s personality, so understanding, supportive and kind. I do have some concerns about the storyline and relationship between Luc and Miles. I find their encounters purely ridiculous. You’ll find Luc problematic in terms of how he treats Oliver. I commend Oliver for being so tolerant of Luc. Overall, I enjoyed Husband Material although I personally think Boyfriend Material stand on its own and needn't be a sequel.

Husband Material has the same laugh-out-loud humor as Boyfriend Material. Going into the second book, I was worried the story would wear thin for me but it really didn't. Luc and Oliver are happy together but still have things to figure out. The hijinks of their lives unfolding feels simultaneously real and too crazy for reality- but in a great way. It strikes that balance masterfully. I don't want to say much about the story because spoilers are the worst, but I couldn't recommend this book enough. I actually hadn't read Boyfriend Material until I received an ARC of Husband Material, but I'm so glad I did because this was a really fun ride. 10/10 recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5. I adore Luc and Oliver and how much they love each other, and the overall Britishness of the jokes, antics, and, well, general situations is delightful. But that may be part of my problem with this—it feels like a loose adaptation of Four Weddings and a Funeral, a movie that I rewatch about once a year but don’t need to see in a different form (see: the Hulu mini series). Maybe I felt a little bitter about that because it feels a bit like a cop-out. That doesn’t mean I didn’t appreciate Alexis Hall’s more in-depth exploration of Luc, Oliver, and the institution of marriage, but…I wanted something more original.

Thank you to Sourcebooks, NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Dreamscape for the ARC/ALC in exchange for an honest review

This is a sequel to Boyfriend Material so you need to read that (amazing) book first before diving into this one.

CW: (taken from the author’s website): homophobia (challenged), internalised homophobia (challenged), bigoted language spoken by a minor character (presented very much as a bad thing), references (though not graphic) to an eating disorder, mentions of past emotional parental neglect, death of a parent (heart attack; happens off page), grief, and on-page funeral service

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/m contemporary romance
-life after the HFN
-a spin on 3 weddings and a funeral

I'm glad I waited until I had the audiobook for this one because Joe Jameson is these characters for me in so many ways. I loved seeing Oliver and Luc after the events of Boyfriend Material. Falling in love and being in a relationship doesn't magically fix all of a person's relationship hangups or changes them, rather they meld their lives together.

I enjoyed seeing how Luc and Oliver navigated their HEA as well as their differences in so many ways. This one was a bit more plot driven with the weddings and funeral, but Luc and Oliver were a wonderful constant. Highly recommend listening to this one,

While I won't spoil it, the ending did surprise me some, and I can see how and why it came to be, and very much appreciate the notion that someone's HEA is not necessarily the same as other's, I do wish it was layered a bit more into the story. That said I'm excited to see Luc and Oliver in the third book, which I still believe is Daddy Material and will just be the open door look into the bedroom and will not be told otherwise.

Steam: 2

If you are reading 'Husband Material', you have definitely read 'Boyfriend Material'--and if you have not what are you doing?? This can stand alone but why would you let it when the first is so lovely--and just wanted more from Luc and Oliver.
This book picks up 2-ish years after the first. There're updates for the entire crew, including a baby for the James Royce-Royces.
The general premise really is four weddings and a funeral, and it is four very different weddings of people of varying levels of association.
Luc and Oliver are in love and planning their lives and arguing and trying to figure everything out--when no one really knows what they're doing. I love Alexis Hall's books because the characters are all so tangible--they feel real because we know people just like these characters. The banter is always incredibly fun and believable, and although much of the book was Luc and Oliver having a series of squabbles at other people's major life events, this is still an incredibly fun read because the repartee is diverting and the love between the two is palpable!

Happy release day to Alexis Hall!

Husband Material is one of my most anticipated book releases of the year, and I have to say... I AM TORN.

Plot--
In case anyone is wondering, yes, you need to read the first book in the series before this one. Husband Material is not a standalone novel and is a direct continuation of the relationships and storyline from Boyfriend Material. In this addition, Luc and Oliver have been together for a couple years now and we're all about DOMESTICATION now.

Everyone around them seems to be getting married and Luc is feeling the social pressure big time as he nears thirty. But can a historically-renowned commitment-phobe like Lucien finally take the deep dive into a wedded bliss?


Characters--
One of the biggest things I was hoping for in this follow up was to see all of Luc's friends. I love the supporting characters in Boyfriend Material, so if you're like me, rest assured that you'll be getting a hefty dose of all of Luc's friends, family, and even his CRAPP coworkers.

In fact, the first chunk of the book is Lucien fulfilling his duties as maid of honour to his bestie. And yes, it's as cute as it sounds!


Spoiler-free Review--
I'll readily admit that I'm somewhat torn on this book. It's so difficult to give a clear, levelheaded review when you feel connected to the characters. Hall's witty banter and sarcastic, troubled lead are both relatable and hilarious. But while I initially felt so excited to jump back into the lives of Lucien and Oliver, I found myself getting bored with this book which didn't happen once with the first book in the series.

This book falls into a lot of those annoying romance book cliches that my favorite romance books are moving beyond at this point. The endless antics and miscommunications started getting old quickly. Y'all, just talk. to. each. other. I loved Luc in the first book despite his flaws, but in the second book even I was getting sick of his shit and that is not a good sign.

I really think this was a modern take on Four Weddings and a Funeral (yes, the 90s rom-com) and some of the magic between Lucien and Oliver got lost in that. I just wanted more development from this, but it felt like we were stalled with an insecure lead that I didn't want to be stuck with, even as a reader.

But it's not all bad! All of the humorous elements from the first novel are fully intact, down to Lucien's coworkers who wouldn't understand a joke if it smacked them across the head. Another thing this book tackles is the history of Lucien and Oliver's lives before they met each other. The concept of being a "good" gay which involves heavy partying and being a "bad" gay which involves settling down is something that Lucien and Oliver struggle with given their respective personal histories and I thought that was a really cool addition to the storyline.

In all, the first novel in this series was a 4 or 4.5 for me and this was more around a 3 to 3.5, so still a decent read which felt comfortable, but didn't exactly meet prior expectations either.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sharing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

As excited as I was about the idea of this book, I was very much terrified about the actual real presence of it in my hands and in front of my eyeballs. You see, Boyfriend Material is one of the great loves of my life. I have read it and re-read it and listened to it countless times when I just needed...I don't know... just needed to feel SOMETHING. Had a bad day? Pull Boyfriend Material off the shelf and let Luc's hot-mess-express of a life give me all the giggles. Diving down an anxiety spiral? Cram earbuds into my ears and let myself get lost in this beautiful love story and Joe Jameson's perfect voice. So, all of this is a very long-winded way of saying that I was guarding my heart when I opened to the first page of Husband Material. Luc and Oliver and Bridget and Priya and the James Royce-Royces and all of the other delightful characters are like my best friends at this point, and I desperately wanted this book to measure up to the original.

One thing to never, ever doubt? That Alexis Hall will bring it in every possible way.

I thought I could not be more in love with Luc and Oliver than I was, but as I read this second book, I discovered that I was horribly, horribly wrong. Husband Material is not just a fluffy, "oh they're getting married now!" kind of a sequel. Instead, Hall has taken the characters we already know and has given them even more depth and dimension and some serious obstacles to overcome. Don't get me wrong, Luc is still awkward and insecure, but he has gained a bit of maturity. Oliver is still reserved and too much in his own head, but he is now in therapy to deal with his disordered eating. Taking inspiration from Four Weddings and a Funeral, this book brings us on a journey through a series of events (each challenging in its own way) as the couple considers what's next for their own relationship. And throughout, we are treated to as much mayhem and hilarity and heart as we have come to expect from this crew.

In the intervening years since the first book, Luc and Oliver have developed not only personally, but in their relationship as well, with slightly less of the anxiety and insecurity and angst that was so prevalent between them in Boyfriend Material. They have now grown into loving partners, supporting each other in so many little (and occasionally big) ways, even when circumstances keep them apart (and that happens a lot in this book). My one wish would have been to see more of them together in a domestic setting. Also, quick note to the author - I need more Odile. A very much large amount more of Odile. She is precisely the kind of plain-spoken, no-bullshit woman that I strive to be as I get older. And while we're at it, can we please check in with JoJo? Because - gah! He is my favorite new character. I just want to give him a big hug and make everything lovely for him.

If you're expecting the same mostly-lighthearted tale that Hall gave us with Boyfriend Material, understand that this book is not strictly that. In these pages we see our beloved leads battling with more complex issues, such as the commercial trappings of queer identity, and what it means to not feel represented by things like, say, a rainbow balloon arch. The most difficult part of the whole book for me was the funeral. The pain was palpable. I actually had to stop reading for a bit after the eulogy because it brought up some things in my own life that I wasn't necessarily delighted to think about. And throughout the book, Luc and Oliver find themselves facing the age-old dilemma: I know I'm an adult, but certainly there is, I don't know, an adultier adult somewhere? Maybe? Please? Because I cannot possibly be expected to manage all of these obstacles and worries and FEELINGS all on my own.

Throughout these pages you will laugh (a lot), you will cry (I certainly did), and you will close the book wishing that it didn't have to end. And since Father Material was just announced as a thing that is really happening (insert all the screaming and squealing here), we know that we may now look forward to more of Oliver's gentle, sweet-as-lemon-posset soul, and Luc's snarky, chaotic energy. But this time with (I'm assuming??) babies! *swoon*

A quick note on the audio presentation of this book, since I was blessed to receive both a digital and an audio copy. This second book in the series is once again narrated by Joe Jameson, and he is once again a complete delight to listen to. Each of the many characters in this story has their own unique and easily-identifiable voice, thanks to Jameson's immense talent. And you know that voice you have in your head when you're reading a print or digital copy of a book? The one that is narrating the story for you? For me, that voice now sounds like Joe Jameson, no matter the setting or the nationality of the characters I'm reading about.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC, and to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ALC, in exchange for an honest review.

Husband Material picks up a little time after Boyfriend Material and we see Luc and Oliver facing the typical "all my friends are getting married / having babies" crisis and decide to get engaged. Set across a number of weddings (and one funeral), the story follows the couple as they navigate the dos and don'ts of weddings and try and keep their relationship steady whilst planning their own.

It was lovely to be back with Luc and Oliver but I do think this could have been made in to a novella and not a full length novel, a lot felt quite drawn out and more dramatic / intense than it needed to (or was realistic). That being said, if you enjoyed the first installment I don't doubt you will enjoy this one!

Husband Material is one of those books that's really hard to rate, because I'm not sure what I thought about it. I adored Boyfriend Material, and was thrilled when I heard Husband Material was coming out, clicking every single "request now" link I could on NetGalley. And I got it! And parts of it were amazing and wonderful, and even better than other parts (the chapters set at Luc's work? Even better than the last book). But what made Boyfriend Material so good is.... well, it's missing from Husband Material. And then there's the ending. Yeah, no.

Luc and Oliver are fighting over what feels like everything they can, and they're trying to decide if they want to move in together (they really shouldn't, not until Oliver can learn to live with the fact that Luc is a total mess and Luc can learn to start picking up his laundry instead of leaving it on the floor like a toddler). They're having the sort of fights where, were you their friend, you'd tell them not to do any major relationship milestones together. No moving in together, not adopting a dog (or a kid), and certainly, no getting married. They're having the sort of fights where you can't help but wonder if the relationship is toxic. The sort of relationship where it's clear that they both want the other to change to be more like them.

Once the proposal happens (which was pretty darn funny, and very much in character), things, somehow, go downhill, and they fight over everything. There's a subplot about identity and who one is, mixed in with blow up arguments about.... balloon arches, napkin folding, and DJ vs live band/orchestra. While they seem more or less serious, they all represent something - Oliver's unwillingness to be out of control and his unwillingness to bend, and Luc's entire personality in a nutshell is represented by the rainbow balloon arch.

Some of the weddings in the book are wonderful, though I now dislike Tom more than I did in the previous book, we do get some closure with Miles, and Alex's wedding is very Alex. But Luc and Oliver's wedding.... Well, to be completely honest, it's a total let down. Not their reasoning, not their decision, but the fact that they dragged the arguments and the <spoiler>fact that the neither one of them actually wants to get married</spoiler> to the very last page of the book. I felt the last few chapters were a let down. I don't read romance novels for reality, I read them for the romance, and that ending..... wasn't romantic. With everything happening at the end of Husband Material, and how everything plays out, I'm not looking forward to Father Material, either, which is perhaps more of a let down than the ending of Husband Material.

I have always said that I would be willing to read pages and pages of words having to do with my favorite book couples, that I wanted to know everything about them after their HEA. Husband Material really put this to the test.

There's a reason why a lot of romance novels do not have direct sequels and instead have spinoffs or series where the next book focuses on another couple. With a full direct sequel comes full direct problems. Arcs that were seemingly ended, growth that has been done and relationships that are happy will inevitably be upended in a sequel because a sequel means there needs to be more plot, more drama. And in a romance novel sequel, all of that plot and drama comes at the sake of the HEA earned at the end of the first book.

For the most part (and I mean for probably 95% of this book) I loved being back in the world with Oliver and Luc and all their hilarious friends and coworkers. Hall has such a way with language and I laughed and smiled so much through reading this book. It is so clever and thoughtful and Hall isn't afraid to let his characters go through pages and pages of moments of reflection and interrogation. Inspired by Four Weddings and a Funeral, a lot of this book reads like a fun 80s/90s romcom and at every turn there is a new shenanigan for our characters. I was with them the whole time, laughing with them and sometimes at them.

Luc has learned some lessons and grown since Boyfriend Material and I appreciated seeing that with his relationship with himself and with Oliver. There are some moments where he seemed to...overthink a lot and I was very worried that this constant picking and introspection would cause him and Oliver's downfall.

I was partially right, maybe.

I get what Hall wanted to do with this book, I think. It will take a lot more unpacking of my own biases and interrogating my own beliefs for me to maybe get fully around to accepting a lot of what this book espouses. I don't even think I have a problem with what actually happens at the end of this book, I think my issue comes with how it happens and how it plays out. I was left with a bad taste in my mouth from the last two chapters of a book I really, really enjoyed and with characters I love (I've spent over 800 pages with them!).

All of this to say, I enjoyed so much of this book, but I just can't get over some parts of it and how I feel after having read it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and SourceBooks for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.