Member Reviews
I really loved the first book but this sequel missed the mark for me. I imagine others will like this book. I will not be reviewing this on my social media account.
It was fun to come back to this couple and their strangely appealing friends. I absolutely loved the ending as it was so perfectly these two. I'm hoping for a 3rd book just to see how these characters continue to grow.
Somehow I missed that this is a sequel, but it didn't matter, it was easy to follow. Clever and fun with a lovely unexpected ending. Now to go back and listen to the first!
This was such an adorable book! This is the second book in the London Calling series. I loved getting to know Luc and Oliver even better in this book. And the supporting characters in this book were so great! This story is a mix of humor and serious moments as well. I thought it was very well written and the hard topics were handled very well. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I recommend starting there first.
Let me start off by saying how much I LOVED Boyfriend Material!! This one however missed the mark, and the audio felt like it dragged on. The friend group was my favorite and I was so happy to be back in it, however the ending was to rushed.
I loved Alexis Hall's Boyfriend Material, so I was delighted to get my hands (and ears) on the audiobook of Husband Material. I'll admit that it took me minute to get in to this one - maybe it was because of diving into the complexities of an established relationship?
The banter is still there, which is the highlight of this one!
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this one with me. All thoughts are my own.
This book gave me more than I was expecting. The growth of Luc and Oliver in this book was beautiful, I wasn't sure what to expect, or if I'd end up rooting for the couple, but in the end all I wanted was Luc and Oliver to be happy. This book gave me all the right feels at all the right moments and I couldn't help but love it. This is my second book by Alexis Hall and I definitely will be checking out more work.
3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced audio copy of this book.
A huge bummer of a sequel! Not really a book that was needed after the first one? I was left unsatisfied and wanting so much more even though I didn’t want the second one in the first place
After reading the first book, Boyfriend Material, I was super excited to receive the arc for Husband Material! The wedding planning did get messy and so did Luc and Oliver’s relationship. I liked that their relationship portrayed something real as we see insecurities and other issues come up as the two figure things out, but I felt a bit disconnected. I feel like this book focused more on Luc’s personal life journey than just the relationship -- which is fine, but it would’ve been nice to see more of Luc. There’s still some fun banter and funny situations with Luc’s coworkers and friends, but also some more complex and serious conversations. Overall, I still enjoyed this book -- Luc and Oliver will always have a special place in my heart, though I still prefer the first book.
Thanks NetGalley for my arc!
The highly-anticipated sequel to Boyfriend Material finds Luc struggling with the pressure of proposing to Oliver, his partner who he formerly orchestrated a fake relationship with.
Alexis Hall's writing is such a joy to read, and it felt like a treat to be back in this universe with such beloved characters. Hall's exploration that HEA can look different to everyone is a message that's incredibly important, especially in the romance genre. And I particularly loved the look at community and Oliver's feelings around not connecting with the queer community and being unsure of where that leaves him. It was real and relatable and something I'd love to see Hall continue to write about in other stories.
Joe Jameson is a fantastic narrator. Boyfriend Material is one of my all-time favorite books definitely in part to his stellar voicing of the characters, so I was thrilled that he returned to narrate the sequel. He does an excellent job here, infusing humor, emotion, and depth in all of the right places. If you're torn between reading the audiobook and the ebook/physical book, my vote is audio all the way!
It was so fun to be back with Luc and Oliver. I missed them a bunch!
The beginning of this book was slow for me. I think that’s why it took so long to finally finish it. Once I really got into it though I definitely enjoyed it more. The typical Alexis Hall humor was back and had me laughing out loud!
My favorite part of this book was Oliver and Luc’s relationship development. It was SO real. I honestly am not one for romance novels in general, so when I do read them I need relationships that are messy and raw. Oliver and Luc definitely fit the bill. It was fun (and stressful) following their wedding planning process! I think I connected personally with Luc and Oliver in this story, as I am also currently planning a wedding. I really connected with Luc and his conflicted feelings of being super excited, but also having self doubt and overthinking literally everything.
Overall, I did enjoy the first book more. That being said, Husband Material progressed Luc and Oliver’s relationship in a complicated and real way, which I appreciated! I am excited to see where these boys go next!
First let me preface this by stating I loved and adored Boyfriend Material. There was just something magical about Luc and Oliver falling for one another.
I still enjoyed Husband Material but it didn’t have that same sparkle, maybe because this book showed them bickering and not always happy together. And selfishly I want them happy and in love always. But I get it. After the HEA, real life intervenes and it can’t always be sunshine and rainbows which this book showed so well.
I cannot wait to see what is in store for these characters next.
I adore Joe Jameson’s narration. He perfectly narrates Luc and his sarcastic wit and the hot mess he can be. But then he also narrates Oliver in a very proper and serious way which perfectly matches Oliver’s personality. The narration is what made me fall for these characters in book 1 and continue to love them even when they make a mess of things along the way.
All the stars for HUSBAND MATERIAL!!
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.
As always, Alexis Hall has written another great love story, with the same charm and witty banter I loved so much in the first book, Boyfriend Material.
I listened to the audiobook format, which was narrated by Joe Jameson, and I just loved it,
*many thanks to Dreamscape Media and netgalley for the gifted copy for review
I listened to Husband Material months ago, but avoided writing a review because I have conflicted opinions. I adored every aspect of Boyfriend Material, so I was hoping for more of the same in book 2. Unfortunately, that was not my experience.
Boyfriend Material was the fun and exciting will-they-or-won't-they beginning to Luc and Oliver's romance, a perfect rom com. Husband Material is the second stage of their relationship where everything gets more complicated. Its plot includes the witty banter I love but also doubts, conversations about serious topics, and disagreements. At times, this felt like it was veering into a Four Weddings and a Funeral retelling.
I was shocked by the ending, although it's realistic for the characters. I've heard there will be a third book (Father Material) but I'm not sure I'll read it. I really wish I I had left Luc and Oliver at the end of book 1 and imagined their bright and happy future together.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the review copy of this audiobook.
I liked this one but it didn't keep my attention the way the first book did. Overall, pretty good follow up to two characters I love!
A wonderful narration, definitely one of my favorite audiobooks I've read this year. As always, Alexis Hall writes with humor and charm. I was thrilled when I found out there will be a third book and I cannot wait.
This book feels like an episode of the Simpsons in that every time I think I know what the main plot point will be we resolve it and move on to someone else.
Also I am begging literally any character in this book to get therapy (I do not believe Oliver when he says he has a therapist).
This was such a great listen! It's one I need to relisten to because I felt rushed the first time. The narrator did a great job and I absolutely love this author! I would totally recommend this one, super cute. Loved it.
--Longer review to come after second listen. Thank you so much for the gifted copy!
I wanted to like this book so much , but I’ll be honest. I didn’t enjoy Boyfriend Material. I decided that I didn’t want to give up on Luc and Oliver. They were literally the same in this book, arguing over almost everything. I get that they are opposite but this was exhausting.
I hated the ending though it wasn’t cliche so I do respect that. I just didn’t feel satisfied.
This audiobook was not what I had hoped it would be.