I had high expectations for this preview based on my experiences with the previous book in the series, Boyfriend Material, and Husband Material has all of that book's strengths, sharing BM's humor, emotional range, insightfulness, character writing, and especially Hall's typically strong narration. One of the hallmarks of Hall's writing for me is the way that he can subsume his own authorial voice within the protagonist's voice; this is one of the qualities that I find particularly immersive about his oeuvre, and what gives them their emotional immediacy. Husband Material is no exception, and Luc's voice in particular is one of my favorites and is exactly as I remembered it

In Boyfriend Material, Luc and Oliver agreed to fake date for instrumental reasons in order to solve some personal or professional problem they had by appearing to be in a relationship, which turned into real dating when they realized that their feelings for one another weren't fake at all. Husband Material begins two years after Boyfriend Material ended, and unless its title and description are wildly misleading will end with Luc and Oliver married—or perhaps engaged.

I don't know that I consciously had specific expectations for what I'd encounter in these five chapters, but they probably had more in the way of emotional crises, relationship drama, and past traumas reopened than I would have guessed. Fortunately these serious moments were frequently allayed by humor that would suffer in the describing, especially mine, so I won't bother.

The one caveat that I have for a potential reader is that if you don't enjoy or want any serious or difficult content in your rom-com, you won't be getting anything unalloyed by complications here. If you only want to experience completely positive vibes, you'll almost certainly find parts of this novel frustrating. That said, I think this will only be a problem for a slim cohort of particularly particular readers , so unless being forewarned that way sends you running away screaming, you'll probably enjoy it.

I can't know if I'll like the rest of the book as much as this start, but I will be very surprised if I don't. Also, don't read this preview as it will make the wait much more difficult.

Husband Material has the same quirky banter and relationship gold as Boyfriend Material. We pick up 2 years after the end of BM and get a look into the world of Luc and Oliver, who are happily boyfriend-ing and being adults about it, which is to say setting and respecting boundaries and giving each other space to be their authentic selves. I loved this little peak at the upcoming book and can’t wait to follow Luc, Oliver, and all of their friends on the next installment!

I absolutely loved the first five chapters and the glimpse we see of the main characters in this preview. I'm looking forward to reading the book now more than ever!!

YOU'RE TELLING ME I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AUGUST FOR THIS WHOLE BOOK?!?!

The first five chapters were incredible. I've missed Luc and Oliver. The banter. The Dick pics. The contrasting personalities that mesh so well together. Boyfriend Material was one of my favorite romance books and to say I am waiting anxiously for the rest of this book is putting it MILDLY. Cannot wait to see what else happens!

All the stars!!!

It is always slightly nerve-wracking when you find out that a book you love is getting another installment. There is always worry that it somehow won't live up to the hype or could even worst tarnish the perfection of the first book. Clearly, that doesn't seem to be a worry with Husband Material based on this 5 chapter preview. Alexis Hall's writing is so strong and his characters are so well defined that it just felt so nice to be back with old friends. The only issue now is that there are endless months to wait until the full length book releases.

A promising preview of what I hope is an excellent sequel to one of my favorite books. What Hall does best, in my opinion, is take the trope and make it new; he reminds me why it was even a trope to begin in, why it’s so valuable and something we return to.

I thought this would be a continuation right efter they got back together right on Luc’s front steps. But this starts two year after. I would like to have more scenes about what happened during their first two year together. Maybe we get more flashbacks in the next chapters.
I hope this will be a thick book with lots of chapters. Some chapters seem a bit rushed and although it is nice with Luc and the office and his friends, I would like to have more on just Oliver and Luc .

I hadn't realised that Husband Material was book #2 in the Boyfriend Material series but thankfully, the preview of the first five chapter's was a great insight and I get to enjoy Boyfriend Material before the release of this (although August feels like a lifetime away!).

Although this was a short preview the characters really shone through. Luc was really charming and I loved his character right away and Oliver is his clear match and equally as charming. I love the, both and can't wait to read more.

This was just like coming home, so good to be back with Luc, Oliver and friends... beyond thrilled that there is more of these two from Alexis Hall... his writing is ALL the good things <3 Bring on the 2nd half of the year and the full release!

As if I could be any more exciting for this book....now I have read the first five chapters and I really want to know what else happens to these delightfully damaged and hilarious people. I will officially read whatever dialogue that Alexis Hall wants to toss in my direction.

5 chapter preview didn’t do much for me. It semi kept my attention but it wasn’t like I needed to finish it right away and need to know what was happening. I love finding LGBTQ+ books but this one is fall flat for me. I might give the whole book a chance when it comes out but it’s not a priority

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC preview of this book

I’m so excited for this to release and the preview just solidified that. I have preordered and am eagerly awaiting until I have a copy in my hands.

Ok so. This book starts off really well and I was not expecting it. And now I’m so excited to read the rest of this book and I wish it were more than 5 chapters. Bit from what’s I’ve read so far this book is so good! AH! I’m so excited! Hopefully it lives up to the first book.

I wasn’t expecting this much to happen in the first five chapters alone, but the mere fact that we have to wait until AUGUST to experience the rest of this sequel is blasphemous!! Luc and Oliver are back at it again in all their witty hilarity and endearing glory, but now equipped with some added growth as both individuals and a couple after two years together. While we catch a few early hints at the angsty ride surely to come, I know the ample layering of Alexis Hall’s exquisite comedic delivery and the lovely cast of characters will carry me through thick and thin. You will definitely find me reading this on release day!

So I read the first five chapters of Husband Material because I love to torture myself. And because I was missing Luc and Oliver after Alexis Hall's many Instagram snippets.

Do I regret reading it? Yes! Because the book isn't out for another SIX MONTHS! I'll never request a five-chapter NetGalley ARC again! It's too painful!

But to "review" this little snippet, I'll just say that Luc has not lost his disaster charm. Oliver is still swoon-worthy in a practical, real-life (but actually fictional) way, and I can't believe they've been together for two years! Feels like just yesterday my babies were all fake-dating and stuff.

I will say that these first 5 chapters are a little sadder/existential crisis than I would've preferred off the bat. I want my cute Luc x Oliver domestic scenes please, of which there are a couple. But a lot happens in those five chapters. A lot. So be prepared to go an emotional disaster journey from the beginning.

4 stars for the sneak peek

I absolutely loved Alexis Hall's other books. This one was just as amazing! I can't wait for this author to write and publish even more novels.

Such a great little preview into their story. I can't wait for full access to this book to get the full story.

I didn't think that anything could make me more excited for this book, but this preview made it possible! I was instantly back in to the world of Luck and Oliver. Even in a just a few short chapters, I had the same combination of humor and heartwarming as the first book. Counting down until August even harder now. (Also, this book made me double check that I did in fact preorder this before I preordered a second time!)

I've read Boyfriend Material and really loved it, and have been excited for the sequel. Since this is only a preview, I can't fully review the book yet, but these first chapters are promising and have definitely sparked my interested even more ton read the whole book!

Luc and Oliver are so delicious.

Five chapters isn’t nearly enough. I need all the chapters.

Luc is just so silly and funny without meaning to be and Oliver is his perfect opposite. He’s the calm to the storm. Of course Luc starts the book wearing a crocheted vulva hat. How could he really be wearing anything else? Alex still doesn’t appreciate a good joke - what’s brown and sticky is my favourite joke ever, followed closely by what’s pink and fluffy. Oliver is still the best boyfriend in the world, and he’s absolutely right, there, most definitely, is a place for socks and it’s not on the floor in the
Irving room.

I love the wittiness of Alexis Hall’s writing. It’s fresh and funny and so brilliantly observed. Release day can’t come soon enough.