I am convinced Alexis Hall can do no wrong.

In the follow up to Boyfriend Material, one of my all-time favorite books, we are back with Luc and Oliver two years later. Now, they are seeing their friends group start to settle down, get married, and start families, and Luc is feeling the pressure to propose.

What I love so much about this book, and Alexis Hall in general, is how much he can make me laugh while managing to still tug on my heart. Luc's perspective is so funny and relatable, but it's also really vulnerable. Oliver is the perfect balance to that and it was exciting to see their relationship two years on from the events of the previous book. Despite everything going on around them, they always manage to find a way back to each other.

Oliver's character development is absolutely outstanding. He is in therapy to work through his trauma with his family, and it's good to see him break away from that. He's portrayed so realistically and I always love when seeing characters working through trauma. He is confronting his family and how he feels about his sexuality, and I love that both he and Luc are confronting societal pressures. There is a lot of growth for Luc and Oliver both individually and together. They are reacting to realistic events and it's beautiful to see them work through it.

Luc is unwavering in his support, not only of Oliver, but of his friends. Despite the fact that there are a lot of things happening in this book, I never felt like it veered off course. The friend group is one of my favorite aspects and how supportive they are. They are all bonkers, but deep down love each other and are willing to drop anything to support their friends.

I laughed, I swooned, I worried, and I nearly cried. I am so happy the book ended the way that it did because it felt like it is exactly where Luc and Oliver need to be.

I honestly regret reading this book. It added absolutely nothing to Luc and Oliver’s story, and the ending here just makes this entire book feel pointless. Yes, there’s a lesson at the end, but paired with an abrupt ending and trying too hard to hammer a point home to readers? The characters just lost their magic for me with this book. Book three isn’t even about Luc and Oliver, so the ending here feels even less satisfying than the ending we got in Boyfriend Material.

I really wanted to enjoy this much more than I did. I was very excited to catch up with Luc and Oliver since I loved them in Boyfriend Material and was excited to see where they are at now. The book was set up in five parts, each part being centered around a wedding for characters in the book. I personally liked that it was set up this was and thought it was very unique. I liked seeing how each wedding challenged Luc and Oliver for better or worse. At times, the story did not seem to be too centered on Luc and Oliver's relationship though and I felt that their triumphs and challenges were sometimes glanced over or discussed too briefly. I will not go too much into detail about this though, so I do not spoil the book. There were some parts and themes of the book that I wish were more detailed. I enjoyed the ending of the book, but it felt almost too abrupt and I wish there were an epilogue about how Luc and Oliver are doing now. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but I simply just like Boyfriend Material more.

Out August 2, 2022 [Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 4/5 stars

The sequel to BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, which is all I’ll say here!

I adored BOYFRIEND MATERIAL—as in, it’s now one of my all-time favorite books. I’ll be honest, HUSBAND MATERIAL wasn’t *quite* that for me (unlikely it would be, lighting-in-a-bottle books don’t come around every day) but I definitely still loved it!

This book is every bit as funny as its predecessor, and also incredibly heartfelt and deep for a rom-com. The structure (each section being a different formal event) was unique and enjoyable, and the ending…well I think people may have mixed feelings on the ending (I certainly did) but it also feels like a good choice as a send-off to some beloved characters.

In short, if you liked BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, read this. If you didn’t like BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, I’m honestly not sure why you’re here.

Recommended if you like: romance with depth; genuinely funny comedies; BOYFRIEND MATERIAL

CW: Death of parent; grief; homophobia.

So-

I know we all want to see the characters from books we like live out their happily ever after, but I would love it was done...not like this.

It felt vaguely like all the characters regressed and a lot of what worked and held the first story together got thrown out.

The writing was still funny and Alex Twaddle really remains a star but overall, this seems like a disservice to the first book and the fandom it created.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Husband Material. I have yet to meet a book written by Alexis Hall that I didn’t like. I enjoyed getting back into the lives of Oliver and Luc to see what’s next. I found it interesting to see how their relationship continued and grew all while based around their involvement in the marriages of others. Oliver and his family were a nice subplot that had me intrigued. I was worried and confused going into the final few chapters to see how it ended even though it’s a romance so you know what happens, but I was still questioning how Alexis was going to pull the characters together. I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the way it ended and I enjoyed all the conversations and growth that came about because of it. Also highly enjoyed Alex and Rhys with the jokes and attempt at social media. I laughed out loud multiple times. As always, Alexis wrote another winner and can’t wait for more to come! Thank you again for the ARC!!!

Luc and Oliver are already a couple, and it occurs to me that you don't see many romance sequels. Usually, romances are about the beginning of a relationship, but in this sequel to "Boyfriend Material," the rule-following barrister and the party-loving hot mess are an established and loving couple, and we'll follow them as they get engaged and plan their wedding. This book is hilarious, and you could wallpaper a mini-van with the bumper-stickerable quotes, snark, and gay-culture in-jokes on nearly every page. (Luc would absolutely not drive a mini-van, because it is unstylish. Oliver wouldn't drive a mini-van because it is environmentally unsound.) Can these two lovers make it to the altar, or will they overthink and bicker themselves into a breakup instead? And is this author really going to have them attend three weddings and a funeral as part of that journey? (Yes.). I am already looking forward to rereading both books in this series.

'This book was more than book boyfriend material, it was book husband material!' -TheBritishBibliophile

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ebook Advanced Readers Copy via here NetGalley for me to read and leave an honest review.
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Having not picked up Boyfriend Material, Alexis Hall's next book in her series, Husband Material was quite the speed-read in terms of getting myself up to speed with the current set of characters, what had happened in the previous story, and where things were potentially going. I haven't picked up Boyfriend Material not because I'm not interested, but I was too late to catch an ARC copy in time before its release.

That said, I was tempted heavily by Husband Material's blurb and was eager to pick this up regardless of my no prior knowledge of what has happened so far with Luc and Oliver. You'll find, as I did, that regardless of if you pick this book up first, it will not sway you from carrying on reading. The plot was pretty easy to pick up within the first five chapters (with the help of reading the excerpt on NetGalley previously). Alexis' writing is very flowy and easy to follow, and it helps that the characters are pleasant to read about. I find that helps, and doesn't make the story drag or seem slow in pace.

Getting to know Alexis through this novel, I quickly learned that her writing through her characters & situations throughout, that she is able to deliver a read that is both serious as it is woven with hilarity, and there's sharpness with wit and sarcasm teamed with soft, tender romance. Luc and Oliver are two peas in a pod as much as they are two peas in independent pods. Two halves of the same whole that deliver a captivating LGBT romance with all the feels.

I think I do echo quite a few reviews and comments that have already fed back about the journey to and the ending to this novel. Some may have not seen it coming, whereas others may have only known that this was the only logical and plausible outcome (given if they've read Boyfriend Material, or both books). Alexis has chosen to end the book this way for a reason and we should be respectful of her decision as after all, these books are her babies and we're along to watch the babies grow and become what they become. The ending--again echoed in other reviews--did not spoil my deciding to take a chance on reading this novel. I wanted to read an LGBT romance that would take me on a literary adventure, give the nitty gritty as much as sweet (or steamy) romance, and enjoy blind reading a book. And that's exactly what I did. Other than giving the blurb a quick read, I went in blind with this and was satisfied with the results.

Will I be reading another future Alexis Hall novel based off what I've been reading in Husband Material? Yes. Will I be following Alexis hall from now on to watch her journey as an author? Yes. Will I be adding both books to my Amazon paperback Wish List? Yes and yes.

Overall, this a book you should definitely add to your TBR, one-click it on Amazon or grab it where you can. Be prepared for absolutely everything, don't let your own imagination run away with where you want the story to go, and just enjoy every moment. It's worth it.

Four stars!

I enjoyed this a lot. In many ways it felt like coming home, the way that Oliver and Luc are written is so strong and distinctive that I immediately slipped back into the story. They're still such independently different characters who are so ridiculously in love with each other. The dialogue as usual was snappy, sharp, and hilarious and it was paced perfectly for the story.

There were little instances that I felt were a bit redundant but that happens in every novel and I barely paid heed to them. I was scared this wouldn't live up to expectations and whilst I wasn't blown away, I did really enjoy this and it felt completely like what a Boyfriend Material should have felt like.

I'm a little confused with a lot of the shock and surprise over this one. The day before I got this arc I saw a TikTok of someone roasting the ending and everyone in the comments being completely upset and blown over by it, and I'm not going to lie, I was a little worried. But honestly? The ending was the only ending I ever saw possible. Since the title was announced, I was fairly certain that that would be the ending, just because of how Luc and Oliver are presented and how they are as people. So I'm confused as to why everyone seems to be at a loss with this ending. That said, does a little part of me wish it had gone differently? Yeah, but that would have felt disingenuous to the characters and their stories so, thankfully the ending didn't ruin it for me as it did for so many others.

This is charmingly written, witty and authentic, was a solid read for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

How hasn't fallen in love with Luc and Oliver (especially Oliver!) while reading Boyfriend Material?
Often after reading a novel I would so much like to spend more time with the characters and just know what there life will be like after the plot ends.
This is kinda what Husband Material is. It has it's own plot (weddings) but a lot of it is just spending more time with all the wonderful people we met in Boyfriend Material.
It has the same wonderful witty writing style and discusses an abundance of social issues in a funny and charming way. And it has Alex Twaddle in it. I love him!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely adored Boyfriend Material and basically anything written by Alexis Hall, but I’m not sure how I feel about Husband Material. It was not the sequel I was expecting and just sort of flopped 😭😩

I received a free digital advanced copy of the Husband Material through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The story takes place two years after the events of the first book and centers on the changes that happen in the lives of the characters we got to meet in Boyfriend Material. We tag along with Luc and Oliver to four weddings and one funeral and see how their relationship develops and them coming to realise what they want their future to look like.

The structure of the book is very peculiar. I saw a booktoker talking about it and it really helped me enjoy the story even more. Husband Material follows the structure of the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral. I have not seen the film nor have I known its plot going in, but having finished the book, I did check out the summary and found more than a couple similarities between the two.

The humor was as nice as in the first book, and the characters stayed loveable in their own unique ways. Bonus points for so much different wedding stuff – I am a sucker for weddings! – and Luc’s and Oliver’s character growth.

I saw some people saying they didn’t like the ending but to me it was perfectly acceptable and didn’t change my impression of the book.

Definitely recommend to read this series and can’t wait for the next instalement!

I enjoyed this because it was a chance to spend more time with the characters I loved in "Boyfriend Material," one of my favorite romance books from the last couple years. But I genuinely regret to report it's not actually a good book, in that it is barely structured and at times entire chapters seem to have forgotten the concept of a plot.

Alexis Hall is one of my favorite authors and his depiction of Luc's anxious, possibly ADHD, internal monologue is charming. Hall's playful use of language and rambling style of storytelling that touches unexpectedly on important topics does ultimately pay off but here I think it needed more constraints (like a trope with specific beats to follow).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy. In this sequel to Boyfriend Material, we follow Oliver and Luc 2 years since we last saw them, as they attend a series of weddings. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sold on this couple like I was in the first installment. Their differences were so obvious and it wasn’t believable to me that they would still be together after 2 years and not resolve these issues or split up because of them. Some of the banter I so dearly loved in the first book was still there, and the writing was great. I just wasn’t invested in the relationship anymore.

2.5ish stars rounded up
Oh, boy. I truly have no clue how I feel about any element of this book, so I'm ditching my usual format.
First of all, the ending-- spoilers ahead. This should be last, but it's making people angry, so let's put it first! I didn't adore this ending, but it made sense. The entire book was leading up to this VERY clearly, so it surprises me when I see people saying it's out of character since it's ENTIRELY in character. I think one complicated thing about this book is that the whole thing is about the juxtaposition of "we don't have to get married just for society" and "we should be able to confidently get married and appreciate queer culture," and someone was going to be angry over which one won out regardless. The prospect of marriage was CLEARLY leading to their demise, and I'm glad they didn't go through with it.
On that, the relationship truly was not it here. Oliver got mad at Luc early on because he went to hang out with his best friend who was potentially getting cheated on, he really shouldn't have been ANGRY. That being said, Luc didn't need to constantly bring up the rainbow balloons as if he was provoking Oliver into an argument about queer culture.
Back to positives, I did think this book was very in character. It had the same humor and the same people, although I'm so tired of the James Royce-Royce's. The issue is just that Boyfriend Material REALLY didn't need a sequel, and this one is already making people angry.
I've already been telling all of my mutuals to stop after book one if they like the romance, because I wouldn't consider this a romance if the first book wasn't. It was readable and I wasn't miserable at all doing so, but it wasn't the most enjoyable experience. I'm honestly just super neutral. Good on Hall for portraying a relationship through the good and bad, though!

2.5 Stars
What did I just read? Boyfriend Material is one of my all time favorite rom-coms. I can't even express adequately my level of disappointment with Husband Materal.
In the first story I saw Luc and Oliver evolve and grow up. I adored both of the men. Yes, there was alot of baggage but they were perfect for each other. In the sequel I started to actally dislike them. In book two they both have changed and not for the better.. What a shock this was as I literally was so thrilled to get Husband Material. The witty funny banter was exchanged for a constant dialog of not wanting to conform, so many self doubts and so much annoying bickering with no resolution. Just repetition of the same arguments. It made the book drag in parts.
The ending felt like a sledehammer destoyed book one. I was so sad and disheartened.. i never read a sequel to a book I adored so much that felt like such a major let down. Hopefully other readers will enjoy this story. As for myself, I have reread Boyfriend Material numeros times however I will never revisit book two.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book for my reading pleasure.

I want to knock it down a full star for the ending, because I was so so so so so so so so disappointed, but I'll keep it at a four because I did enjoy the rest of the book. Honestly, the ending spoiled so much for me, and it was abrupt too. I get that the author was trying to make a statement about marriage and commitment, but I wasn't impressed. (There's also like...legal safety to it and spouses' rights, which was also confusing for me since Oliver's a barrister.) I'm sure there will be other readers who will get behind the author's decision, but hm.

The rest of Husband Material is as charming as the previous book. I've read quite a few books by this author, and I enjoy them. I love the many characters that make up Boyfriend Material & Husband Material, and I adore Lucien's job. CRAPP is still an absolute riot to read about. So, despite the ending, I'm still glad I read this, and I'm super thankful for the ARC.

Husband Material is the follow up book to Boyfriend Material and it does that very well. I thought this was a perfectly good book. I liked the structure of the book being divided up into sections surrounding the different weddings in the main characters' lives. I also thought that the conflicts between the characters felt true and like real thoughts and fights I have had and/or witnessed. Some of the conflicts did however feel a bit repetitive for me, but at the same time, in real life the biggest conflicts are often those that seem to repeat themselves.
All in all I liked reading this, but it did not leave a big impression on me. If you have already read Boyfriend Material and need more of the characters i can definitely recommend it!
Husband Material comes out August 2.!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

After finishing Husband material, I went back to read my review of Boyfriend Material, the first Alexis Hall book I ever read. The review starts like this: “Boyfriend Material is hands down and without question the most hilarious romantic comedy I have ever had the pleasure of reading.” And I have to say—many rom coms later—that this still holds mostly true but it is now tied with Husband Material. Does anyone do rom coms better than Hall? At one point I was laughing so hard I got the giggles and then couldn’t stop laughing for an alarming amount of time.

Reading Husband Material felt like hanging out with your best friends—the ones you’ve known for years and years—where all of the conversations you have together are half inside jokes and everyone is laughing and you feel as if you could explode because you just love them so much. It felt like coming home after a long time away.

When the story opens, Luc and Oliver have been dating for 2 years and find themselves surrounded by friends and co workers getting married and growing their families. One of my favorite aspects of the way Hall writes these two characters is how immensely relatable and vulnerable they are. Even two years in, they don’t have it all together. They aren’t always certain that the other loves them unconditionally and wants to be with them no matter what. They don’t always say the right thing or react the right way. They are insecure and flawed and human and the way they navigate these things together is the most romantic thing I’ve read in a long time.

Husband Material deals with a lot of heavy topics too as Luc and Oliver grapple with Oliver’s unsupportive family, the opposing ways they feel about their place within the queer community, and the numerous ways they are complete opposites. Despite that, the vibe of the book overall was warm and tender and absolutely hilarious. Fans of Boyfriend Material will not want to miss this one. My only complaint was the ending I very much didn’t see coming (but was fitting for the two of them) felt rushed in the last few pages. There is another book coming in this same world that will focus on a different couple, but I’m so excited to keep reading about these characters. Thanks so so much to Sourcebooks for this early copy. Husband Material is out 8/2!

2.5 stars - the "opposites attract" aspect of Boyfriend Material is something that made it really sweet and enjoyable, but in Husband Material it just caused a lot of unnecessary arguments...

On the bright side, I had such a fun time reading the first 3 parts of this book! Luc's narration / viewpoint on everything is so hilarious and each part felt like a separate episode of a sit com, with a fun cast of side characters and wild hijinks that are maybe a liiittle over the top (breaching national security thinking an MI5 agent is cheating on his fiance, missing wedding gowns, accidental B&E in the English countryside, etc.) but you go along with because it's just so funny!!! Based on those first 3 parts alone, this was a solid 4-star read.

The 4th part lost me a bit; I felt for Oliver but I couldn't believe he would actually make that speech - it's the kind of thing you write in your diary or tell to your therapist, not say at a funeral. I did like how he and his brother were able to begin to work things out.

And then the 5th part just lost the plot for me. It made no sense to me: the way Luc and Oliver were acting felt out of character or like they were acting the way they had in the first book before they'd gotten their shit and relationship together. Particularly Oliver - his side of things came out of nowhere for me. The solution they come up with also didn't make sense, because IMO the real issue regarding their relationship is that they have somehow forgotten how to compromise or express their feelings properly on something that they might disagree on. This book is trying to make some sort of commentary on the pressure to have a wedding and the institution of marriage and conformity and queerness and how there's not "correct" way to be gay... but TBH I've seen more nuance in discussions elsewhere, and the resolution is a too-little-too-late cop out. I could have accepted it if we'd had a few more chapters to sit with Luc and Oliver's decision, to understand more about where they're coming from, to see different characters' reactions, etc... but instead the ending was underdeveloped and abrupt.

I think this book is worth reading for the first three parts, which were loads of fun!! And maybe part 4, if you're into funerals for relatives you had a complicated relationship with because they were emotionally distant or potentially homophobic. After which you can pretend that it's over and just imagine how you want things to work out with Luc and Oliver in your head instead.