This is such a delightful revisiting of these beloved characters. There's just enough plot and tension without calling into question the original HEA ending of the first book, and at the end, readers will feel as if this couple has reached an even more satisfying conclusion to their story.

Although I loved the first book in this series, I just couldn't get into this one. I zoomed through the first one, and this one felt so sluggish. I felt like there were many opportunities where the main character told us he had evolved and everything, but his actions did not point me in that direction. Real people don't just get everything right after having an epiphany but still. I loved hearing from all of the characters again, so anyone who was in love with the characters from the first book should definitely give this book a try.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

Luc and Oliver are back, two years later, and everyone around them is getting married. Luc, of course, panics. Oliver, naturally, is Olivering and the results are equal parts hilarious and endearing. Told again from Luc's perspective, Alexis Hall is masterful at making you feel like they're real - and that they're your friends. Looking forward to book three.

Luc and Oliver are back and seem to be in a great place in their relationship after the angst and heartbreak of Boyfriend Material. Then Luc's ex shows up and spoils everything by making Luc think he needs to be married in order to not still be destroyed by his ex's betrayal. After helping a friend with her wedding, attending his ex's wedding, and observing how happy his other married friends are, Luc decides he must propose to Oliver to prove his love and commitment. When Oliver's straight laced parents are slow to support them, Oliver struggles with his need to please and his need to be his own man. More heartbreak and self-pity are on the way, so if you loved the original, this sequel may be for you. For me there was too much agony and not enough romance on the path to happily ever after.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Sourcebooks CASABLANCA, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Luc O'Donnell and Oliver Blackwood met, fake dated, fell in love, broke up and then managed to make everything work well. Now, two years later, they are surrounded by people getting married and Luc feels the social pressure to propose to Oliver, who accepts.
But not everything goes as planned and with four weddings, a funeral and a contested rainbow ballon, Luc and Oliver will have to navigate their relationship, communicate and try to understand what's right for them.

I loved reading Husband Material! Like Boyfriend Material, the story is hilarious, brilliantly written and with a lovely queer cast impossible not to love. The reader follows Luc with Bridget's wedding, his ex's, Alex's and his own, while navigating dresses' crisis, breaking and entering, resentment and forgiveness, loss and grief, fights and planning going wrong, indecisions and so much more.
I love Luc and Oliver's relationship and how much they love, support and help one other and, mostly, I love how they communicate, through freaking out, fights and talking. Husband Material was an emotional rollercoster of laughs, moving and tender moments, hot ones, fights, while, also, navigating social pressure, social expectations, understanding there's not a right way to be in love or being queer.
Filled with jokes, amazing friends, freaking out, funny mother, this rom-com is sweet, funny and a lovely sequel of Boyfriend Material, where Luc and Oliver are more stable, more confident with one other and themselves, while, also, keeping to navigate their own problems and issues in a strong relationship, filled with love and understanding and communication.

Sometimes sequels fall short. Husband Material definitely does not. Luc and Oliver are just as endearing as ever, and I would continue to read stories about them for so much longer. I loved the representation in this story, the character development, the inherent social critique/commentary, banter, and more than anything the ending. Sometimes sequels fall short. Husband Material definitely does not. Luc and Oliver are just as endearing as ever, and I would continue to read stories about them for so much longer. I loved the representation in this story, the character development, the inherent social critique/commentary, the banter, and more than anything the ending.

“Husband Material” is as sweet as can be. This is along the lines of “Red, White, and Royal Blue”, and a sweet LGBT+ YA romance

Lucien and Oliver's story continues, as each grapple with their relationship deepening and the fact that they've reached the time in their lives when everyone around them is getting married. Both have a number of different insecurities, and sometimes they do not even seem very compatible. But what they feel for each other cannot be denied, and whatever problems they face seem to disappear in light of their commitment. Author Alexis Hall's ending is perceptive and inspired. Luc and Oliver are characters to treasure, and this novel literally made me laugh out loud and touched my heart. Highly recommended.

LOVED IT, obviously. At first glance, Husband Material seemed like a fun, light sequel that takes place over the course of several weddings. But, as Luc and Oliver attend these weddings, old arguments, insecurities, and expectations start to creep up. Alexis Hall cleverly steeped HM in deep family work and pushed questions of homonormativity all the way to the forefront without the reader noticing at first. I was blown away, and loved it so, so much.

When the first five chapters of a book have you laughing out loud at every other sentence, you know you’ve found a good one. Revisiting Luc and Oliver felt like running into the midst of a thunderstorm - a bit messier than you initially thought, but romantic and somewhat magical despite perhaps getting a bit drenched. This book was so clearly a love letter to the queer community, to those looking to feel included but not limited, to be understood while not necessarily defining or confining themselves in the process. Though I am not myself part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I could not help but ache alongside Oliver and Luc as they discover what it means to be true to themselves, even if those selves don’t always perfectly align. Forever full of witty banter, achingly real emotions, and a plot line as staggeringly realistic as it is unpredictable, this book surprised me in ways that at first left me feeling somewhat conflicted over the ending, but only increased my love for this series upon further reflection and introspection. Not for the faint of heart, this story surpasses the traditionally fluffy, happily ever after kind of romance for a realistically resonating romantic journey that shows that true love begins with self love, and through lots of hard work, can grow into something much more.

I love this book almost as much as the first one. It is witty and funny and I love Luc and Oliver. This author has been added to my must-buy list. Always.

Alexis Hall was the writer that drew me into the romance genre, and Boyfriend Material remains my go-to comfort read for all occasions. So I feel a little guilty in saying I didn’t love Husband Material as much as its predecessor.

On the positive end of things, I loved getting to see Oliver and Luc further into their relationship, and Luc’s humor blessedly remains intact. Even if the story itself didn’t resonate with me, the character’s still felt like themselves, so reading this sequel felt like coming home, and sometimes that’s all I want from a romance. We also get a follow up on Oliver’s relationship with his own family, and there are some exquisitely satisfying moments that do make me want to give this book a second read.

Alexis Hall has always been a forerunner at writing stories that are inclusive, and there’s so much care in this novel to make sure different communities and individuals can feel seen. I mentioned above that I didn’t love Husband Material as much as the first book, and it's true, but I think others might feel the reverse. It goes into great detail on the different kinds of love, which isn’t always highlighted in romances. In every book, Hall goes through great lengths to show there’s no right way to be queer, and there’s so many different ways to love. Husband Material encompasses all of that. Sometimes it felt more like an essay on queer relationships, which is my largest issue with the book, but really, that itself isn’t a bad thing here. If it means someone can pick up this book and read about someone who views the world in the same way, that they’re not alone, then that’s valuable. This book may not have been written for me, but it also acknowledges that it’s okay for that to happen. Not everything is for everybody, but everybody has something.

So while it may not be my favorite book, I’m still going to buy a physical copy upon release because it delivers a good message packaged in a fun story. Also I want Alexis Hall to have my money.

And if that’s taken as a bribe to write more slice-of-life/smutty Oliver and Luc goodness, so be it.

I am so grateful for Alexis Hall, for Oliver Blackwood, and for Luc O'Donnell. I was anxious about reading Husband Material because I loved Boyfriend Material so much, and though I have faith in Hall I was still nervous there was no way the book could live up to my expectations. I should have known better.

I fully intend to get a paper copy when it's out, but in the meantime, I used my ARC privilege (thank you, NetGalley) and read this as soon as I got my grabby hands on it. I've missed Luc and Oliver (mostly Oliver) so much since my re-read of the first book. Alexis Hall's style and humour are as lovely as ever, and I adored the vast majority of this book, and found the struggles the characters faced immensely relatable. In addition, it was wonderful to read a book that shows the happily-ever-after, warts and all, and makes it both exciting/gripping and comforting to read in the fluff department: the proportion of angst and comfort was pretty much perfect.

My largest (or pretty much only) complaint is the conflict and ending. I'm sure it's just me and for many this will work, but I found the problem the protagonists face and its solution somewhat irritating. But maybe that's just the result of cultural differences.

really enjoyed getting to revisit the characters from Boyfriend Material! There were definitely some hilarious moments. The development of Luc and Oliver’s relationship is pretty realistic and I think the ending was perfect. However, the book seemed to not be a fast read for me. I’m not sure what it was but it just dragged a bit in places for me. Overall, a solid read but I’m not sure it’s on my re-read pile.

Rep: Gay, Lesbian, Poly, Transmasc

Content: All sex is off the page but frequent mention of sex (especially in humorous moments!).

This book is great! Thanks for the Arc NetGalley!!
If you like the humor from boyfriend material, this features the same lovable characters and witty writing. I honestly laughed out loud multiple times in reading this. It’s also a really interesting portrayal of queer identity and also the heteronormativity of marriage. It’s a romantic comedy, yes, but it’s also an examination of important life stages, familial relationships, and chosen family. It’s solid and I loved it!

A delightful book full of adventure, action, and thrills. Fun to read, engrossing world building, and very descriptive imagery made it feel like it was cinematic. It's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. Would recommend.

It was such a delight to return to Luc, Oliver, and their friends for a second adventure. Boyfriend Material became one of my favorite comfort reads that made me laugh when things were really tough, so I was greatly anticipating the sequel. I really loved that this book build on Luc and Oliver's relationship, and showed how they'd grown with each other, but how they still had struggles, and those struggles still came out, even when they were in a place of mutual love and respect. I really adored their friends and all their hijinks both helping and hindering our boys as they work out a wedding that works for them both. This was such a fun journey, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Alexis Hall will return and give us a third book (here's hoping!)

This sequel brings back everything there was to love about the original and adds several dashes of thoughtful commentary on marriage as an institution and as a societal force. Luc and Oliver and all of their friends shine with their witty repartee.

In this sequel, Luc and Oliver have been happily dating for the two years since Boyfriend Material. It is wedding season and as they attend weddings for Luc's ex, then one of his co-workers, and then his best friend, they start to realize more and more potential long term issues between the two of them. Things get more complicated when Luc proposes and they start planning their own wedding. I very much enjoyed being back in Luc & Oliver's world's with their friend group but didn't love the story quite as much as the first one. That said, I think fans of the first will also enjoy and possibly love the second one so I definitely recommend looking out for it on Aug 2/22. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!