Husband Material is an enjoyable sequel to Boyfriend Material. Taking place not long after where Boyfriend Material left off, we find Luc and Oliver happily in love, but feeling the pressure of their peers getting married and wondering if they should be next. While being with Oliver has improved Luc’s self image in some ways, Luc still struggles with how he sees himself in a very realistic way. I would absolutely recommend Husband Material to anyone who enjoyed Boyfriend Material.

As soon as I found out about the sequel, I dropped everything to read Husband Material by Alexis Hall. Back again with two wonderful characters, Luc and Oliver are overthinking things again. Despite knowing how much they care about each other, there are still obstacles facing them, including the need to wed in order to remain a legitimate couple. This isn’t the best summary, but if you wanted to wrap both of them in blankets and hand them a cuppa by the time you finished the first book, then you better get more blankets ready.

I loved this just as much, if not more than Boyfriend material. I could see myself hanging out with Luc and Oliver's friends, but becoming besties with Luc's mom! I love the mess that Luc and Oliver are and the way they love each other.

It’s rare to like a sequel more than the first book but in this case I really did. I love Luc and Oliver and all of their flaws and watching them navigate four weddings and a funeral in such messy, perfect-for-them ways was a delight.

Wanted:
One (very real) husband
Nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his best

In BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.

Good thing Oliver is such perfect HUSBAND MATERIAL. (Goodreads synopsis)

I hadn’t read an Alexis Hall novel prior to this one.

I found it hard to review this book, because I absolutely loved Luc and Oliver, but I also really hated the ending. No spoilers, but the novel shows how Luc and Oliver spend their time at multiple weddings with the same or similar unnecessary dramatics. My favorite person was probably Luc’s mom. I mean I literally laughed out loud and read random passages to my husband who also laughed. I also enjoyed Luc and Oliver’s friends (it was mainly Luc’s since the novel was in his POV). Though I was very confused with the James Royce-Royces and thought they should have been James Royce-Royce 1 and James Royce-Royce 2.

I only became disgruntled with the last 3 chapters, because I am not quite sure of what I read. I had really hoped the ending would have flowed better or made more sense, but sadly that wasn’t the case.

Overall I settled with rating this novel 4 out of 5 stars, because I really loved the majority of the novel and didn’t feel comfortable to lower the novel below 4 stars since it was only those last chapters that caused such unhappiness.

Heat Factor: Lots of kissing and even some canoodling, but it quickly fades to black
Character Chemistry: There is honestly nothing better than the ways that Luc and Oliver show they love each other, both with little, everyday things and when they both let all their messes hang out
Plot: To wed or not to wed? That is the question. But it’s not really a question because the real grownups all get wed… Right? RIGHT?!
Overall: There is so much humor and love in this book, and I had such a blast reading it, but I also had to check myself in the later sections as the writing on the wall became more and more clear

I was a little afraid that a sequel couldn't measure up to the tarmac joke level of amazing, but I needn't have worried. The no eye deer joke put to rest any lingering doubts I might have had.

"I thought something was wrong with you," said my husband. "Are you…laughing?"

Then he stared at me as I rolled on the couch, wheezing, tears streaming down my face. Two hours later he entered the room again.

"Have you just been laughing this whole time?" he asked as I struggled for breath yet again.

And, no, I hadn’t been. There’s plenty of serious content in this book. But there’s also a lot of humor and hilarity, so I had been laughing frequently, if not the whole time.

We’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Alexis Hall can write. He’s an amazing writer. Husband Material is a beautiful creation. The voice! The words! Playful and serious all at once. I can never resist offering a little taste of Hall's writing, so here's a bit of charming absurdity:

“You can walk me down the aisle or something. But I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking your money, and you’re not buying me cocaine.”
She folded her arms stubbornly. “Luc, if anyone is going to buy you cocaine, it should be your mother. I know the best kinds, I know the best people. Of course, a lot of them are dead because…well. Cocaine dealers, they often have very unhealthy lifestyles. Long hours, bad diet. And it’s a very stressful business.”
“We have some savings.” That was Oliver, poking nervously at the extra-special vegan-special curry. “At least, I have some savings. Lucien made the mistake of going into the charitable sector.”
“Well, that is even worse,” cried Mum. “That means Oliver is paying for the whole thing like you are one of those brides that you order through the mail.”


I thought about offering you an Alex and Rhys bit, but just read the book, okay? You won’t be disappointed.

I didn’t recall until after I’d finished reading, but Hall had tweeted something about writing a book about four weddings and a funeral (unexpected death of a parent, heads up), and it’s true. The book is divided into five sections, the first three centered on weddings of people in Luc’s life, which informs what follows in the last two sections. This structure helped to frame the narrative nicely, and while they’re a structural element of the book for sure, the strong throughline of Luc and Oliver’s relationship at times allowed me to forget that I was in a section until I got to the next one.

I expected this book to involve a mess because both Luc and Oliver are pretty messy people, but it was messy in a way I didn’t expect. I expected Luc to be a whole mess, and he was very much himself (if you haven’t read Boyfriend Material, you absolutely should. It’s still one of my all time faves), but Oliver was the one who really got to let it all hang out in this book. Which was endearing. One of many things this story did successfully was to evoke the sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop when a couple is in a committed relationship, but it’s still relatively new, and they still don’t quite trust that forever actually means forever. Conflicts happen, and navigating them can be stressful. And feeling like you just can’t talk about something is the most stressful of all.

There are benefits and drawbacks to a sequel. The most obvious benefit is getting to be back in the world of beloved characters. But the story will be different. The protagonists do not have the same problems they had at the beginning of the prior book. Their relationship might also be playing out differently than the reader envisioned. The happiness and optimism of the previous ending is being rebooted, after all. I appreciated that in Husband Material, Hall was able to largely maintain the same voice for Luc, even though he and Oliver were in a different place in their lives. I also appreciated that the conflicts Luc and Oliver were facing were natural for the stage of their relationship and not dramatically manufactured miscommunications that probably really shouldn’t be occurring in a healthy two-year-old relationship. And most of all, I’m happy Luc and Oliver got to have the HEA that was best suited to themselves.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report. (August)

LOVED this as much as, or maybe a bit more than, Boyfriend Material. I just want to hang out with Luc’s whole group of friends. Or his mom. Or his poop bug charity coworkers. Oliver and Luc are sweet and sexy together and I enjoyed every bit of their story. Maybe Father Material will be next??

Boyfriend Material was my fave book of 2020, so my expectations for Husband Material were very high and I'm pleased to say they were met and exceeded! Reading Husband Material felt like catching up with friends in the best way. As promised by the book blurb, there's all the chaos and drama of Luc navigating four weddings and funeral, with Oliver at his side. It was lovely to see how much both of them have changed and grown, and how they're working through their various issues. They're in love and happy together but that doesn't mean that all of their problems are magically resolved. And they definitely get tested plenty in this book! I feel like Boyfriend Material was focused on Luc and his antics, while Husband Material is about Luc getting pulled into the antics of his friends and colleagues (the number of wedding related debacles is the stuff of romcom legend). Truly I loved every bit of it, including the fraught and emotionally intense parts. I'm smiling as I write this and feeling the best feels, and I can't wait for everyone to read this absolutely sublime sequel!

Alexis Hall has done it again! Reading Husband Material is like a hug from an old friend. If that old friend is Luc, the hug is familiar, all-encompassing, and entirely too short. Hall expertly brings us back into the world of Luc and Oliver, complete with What's App group chats, reminders of the adventures of Boyfriend Material, and the perfect dose of 90's rom-com shenanigans. But what I wasn't expecting (and to be fair—I should have absolutely expected) was the hard truths and unanswerable questions of how queer culture and heteronormative wedding/marriage culture clash in the hearts of many. This book takes the reader through four weddings and a funeral (literally) and it is so raw and honest and authentic that I found my heart clenching and aching in all the ways it is supposed to. It challenged my own ideas of queer love, marriage, and fitting into society's boxes.

I spent half the book cheering for Luc and half the book siding with Oliver and 100% of the book in an un-put-downable spiral just wanting these two to be okay. And, in true Alexis Hall style, they are okay. In whatever sense that makes for the two of them. All this to say, five stars because I cannot give six. This book was not what I expected, but wound up being so much more. And I find myself a week later just grateful. I got to read it a bit early.

Alexis Hall does no wrong! HUSBAND MATERIAL is the rare romance sequel featuring the same characters as the first, to fantastic ends. I loved revisiting Luc and Oliver two years into their relationship as they attend four weddings and a funeral (ha). Hall is just the best at creating warm, delightfully funny supporting characters with complex, idiosyncratic relationships with one another. Any time we get to spend with the workers of CRAPP is time well spent, in my opinion. Also, Oliver and Luc are so swoony but so realistic -- their struggles aren't over-the-top but rather strike at the heart of modern queer love. A can't-miss sequel!!

I did not enjoy Husband Material as much as Boyfriend Material, but still a stellar read! I really enjoyed the ending.

Luc and Oliver are back and better than ever! Fans of Alexis Hall will not be disappointed, and fans of love will feel like they’ve won the lottery with these two!

I just love this series so much! I am a big fan of boyfriend material so I am very pleased to say that this follow-up is just as amazing. Witty and funny and so, so charming! A definite comfort read that I will cherish forever.

Luc and Oliver have been in a very real relationship for two years after the events of Boyfriend Material where they pretended to be a couple for the sake of Luc's career. Friends and not-so-friendly acquaintances are getting married and the guys are celebrating (and not-so-celebrating) their big days with them. Could wedding bells be in the future for our favorite complicated couple?

My two favorite characters are back at it. After reading the journey that was Boyfriend Material, I was comforted to find that Husband Material feels much the same. It's familiar and comforting, but you can see the obvious growth and change in the characters. Luc, especially, has grown so much but is still vulnerable and battles past trauma and current anxieties. I loved going through this journey with them as much as the last.

I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a refreshing romance. It feels very much like a classic rom-com at moments but with definite, refreshing differences. A new spin on a classic genre.

This sequel to Boyfriend Material is as much as the first. Luckily and Oliver have been together now for two years and the couples around them are starting to get married one by one. While Luc gets caught up in trying to be the best maid of honor for Bridget, their friends are all starting to ask when Luc will be next. Will they or won't they? A wonderful summer read and a great British rom-com.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Boyfriend Material is one of my favourite books, so I was a bit nervous about this sequel. I shouldn't have worried because Alexis Hall has crafted yet another beautiful and hilarious LGBTQ+ love story that will have you hooked from the opening sentence.

I devoured this book in a day and am still smiling every time I think about Luc and Oliver. The banter in this book is top-notch and Alexis Hall has such a gripping and hilarious way of writing. I'm convinced that Hall could write a grocery list deserving of a literary award.

I loved seeing the beauty and strength of Luc and Oliver's relationship carry into this book. I also loved the further developments of the relationships between Luc, Oliver, and their circles of friends and family. All the characters in this book are flawed in different ways and they make mistakes that they have to learn from. I loved seeing their growth, especially Oliver going to therapy and Luc being a supportive friend. Honestly, every single character in these books are so engaging that I'd happily read 400 pages of them just going to the store for groceries. (Don't worry though, a lot more happens in these pages than that.)

I can see myself rereading both Boyfriend Material and Husband Material for many years to come. Husband Material is an extremely solid sequel to a book that is difficult to follow up. I loved every minute of this book and am so glad that it exists.

This book was so fun! I loved the first book in the series and this gave me exactly what I wanted in a sequel. I love Alexis Hall’s writing and this just gave me more of what I love.

It’s kind of difficult to articulate my thoughts about this book. If you, like me, love Luc and Oliver, and Alexis Hall’s writing in general, you will enjoy it. In the midst of attending a string of weddings for friends (and a nemesis) and coworkers, Luc and Oliver get engaged in a bumbling, misadventurous way and begin sort-of planning their own wedding. There are a lot of interesting conversations about queer identity and not feeling like one’s identity expression fits with the expectations of the queer community. There’s a lot of sprinkled-in philosophy about the purpose and value of marriage that doesn’t feel heavy-handed, and many lines that delighted me and made me re-read them again.

I’d like to get more romance novels about existing couples navigating the messy day-to-day of loving a person you’re committed to forever, and I think this book was a lovely example. It was satisfying to read about a fictional couple I was already invested in doing the “little things” that matter in a relationship.

Like all of Hall’s books, it’s real and sweet and funny from start to finish. Of course, I recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review coming soon.

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review:

I honestly had to take some time after reading this book to decompress and contemplate how I felt about it. I have mixed feelings but I think that reflects the content of this book. My review below will discuss some of the things that happened in the book, so *spoiler alert* if you plan to continue reading.

When I picked this up, I thought it was going to be a cute, romcom-esque sequel to Boyfriend Material. We follow Oliver and Luc, who have now been dating for 2 years, through multiple events over the next year. A few weddings, an unexpected funeral, and eventually, planning their own nuptials.

While the story definitely has the humor and witty bits that the first was full of, it also goes through a relationship with two people who have gone from “we met when we were both in a bad place” to “in a much healthier place and are we really right for each other or just comfortable now”. They both do some more soul searching, have moments where they wonder what the future looks like for them, and question whether marriage is right for them.

It took me longer to read this book than the first, and I think that is because of the content being more contemplative at times. It also was very raw and real. I think that's part of what threw me off. I'm used to romcoms that, while giving all the feels, aren't quite as realistic in terms of relationship struggles where nothing is really “wrong”. I was expecting a light hearted sequel but instead found myself questioning whether this story would have a HEA. We saw two people who love each other very much but still are arguing and struggling with whether they are still able to be themselves and happy or if they are two different in what they like and want in their wedding and marriage.

The book deals a lot with what can change in a relationship and how much people might change, for good or bad, in a relationship. It also addresses what you're willing to change or give up for your partner. Are you fundamentally changing your person to be what the other wants? Can two people who are fundamentally different, still be compatible?

Overall, I think Alexis did a great job in making us think and bringing us through their continued journey. I like how the story was broken into 5 parts that followed major events (weddings, funerals, etc.) While some of the plot was over the top, it was enjoyable and really made me reflect at times.

I will add, I found the dialogue in this to be the same as the first, that it was not in a manner that I've ever heard anyone speak (for both of them) but on the other hand is so fitting of these characters that I'd find it weird to have a more “normal” dialogue.

While the ending had me thrown, given I think we all expected them to get married (given the title being Husband Material), but I think it was fitting that they didn't. I also liked how they were able to talk through it and realize for themselves that while they wanted to be together, the actual marriage felt wrong for them. We still had our happily ever after, but in a non-traditional way.

While it wasn't the story I was expecting, I think it was well done. However, I don't know that I'd recommend to everyone to read this sequel. I know some people will enjoy and appreciate that it isn't the traditional romcom. However, I could see some people not liking how it deviated from the first in terms of levity.

**I will post my review to Instagram one week prior to publication