::sigh:: I liked Boyfriend Material. It was fresh and interesting and the characters were adorably flawed. But, it's my opinion after reading Husband Material, that the first book didn't need a sequel. So, you might wonder why one was produced....and I don't have a great answer for you. I listen to a preview for this one, and I was excited. I expected character growth and a storyline that moved forward. What I got was a rehashing and no growth. This book just flat out isn't necessary. Yes, I've heard people say it's a retelling of Four Weddings and a Funeral...and while that may be true, it doesn't make me love this story.

Five stars for the audio… three stars for the story? I’ve sat on this one for awhile, still not exactly how I felt about the overall story. I guess I’m still fairly ambivalent. Husband Material had much of the same essence of Boyfriend Material- Alexis Hall’s witty writing, great side characters– but it felt too meandering at times. I just wanted it to get to a finer point maybe? I like where it tried to go– that growth, especially relationship growth, isn’t linear.

I do know one thing for certain. Joe Jameson crushed the freaking audio. Impeccable comedic timing, incredibly distinct character voices, it was really an excellent listen. Thanks to Dreamscape Media for an ALC!

Luc and Oliver pick up where they left off in the first book in the series - in love, and growing together/apart. When all of Luc's friends seem to be getting married around him, he and Oliver tackle the question of whether or not they should do the same. It's a quick read that's sweet and hilarious.

I wish I'd liked this one as much as Boyfriend Material, but honestly, it felt a lot like more of the same - which is great in that Luc and Oliver are just as cute and stumbly as before, but also...like, it just felt like they hadn't really worked out the problems that they dealt with in the first book. I loved the focus on weddings, seeing all the secondary characters again, but Husband Material ultimately felt like it needed a good edit. The conclusion came way too long after we saw the conflict build. Just okay for me.

While I wanted to love Husband Material, the story fell flat for me.

I'm not sure if it was the choppy audio from the NetGalley provided audiobook or the story as an overall. I'll definitely give it another chance and actually read the book, but as far as audio goes, I would not recommend this book.

Boyfriend Material, the first book in the London Calling series, is one of my favorite books, so I had high hopes of the sequel. In most ways, it delivered. The laughs were still ever-present, well-balanced with the more serious moments. While Luc and Oliver have grown a lot in the past two years, they still have a lot of insecurities and mental health issues, which continues through this book. At times, their misunderstandings could be frustrating, but it also seemed realistic for an actual couple, especially one planning a wedding. Overall I enjoyed the look into their future as a couple, but the ending was unsatisfying and felt rushed after an entire book building up to it.

The audiobook is too robotic and difficult to listen to on NetGalley. I plan to read this book, but I’m going to read the ebook instead.

I really enjoyed this book! It does a great job of showing how messy and complicated relationships can be. I also really loved the theme of not comparing your relationships to others and realizing you don't have to follow the relationship guidelines society says are important. I liked that this ended on a happy note while still recognizing that marriage isn't for everyone.

I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have a feeling this is one of those times where I say, “It’s not you, it’s me.” I don't know what happened between this book and book one but I felt like I was going around and around and around in a circle and just never catching up with the point of this book. I would have been much happier if the author just left this story alone with book one. I just simply didn't care for this one. Not. One. Bit. However, the only reason I’m giving this book three stars is because of the wonderful narrator, Joe Jameson. He did a phenomenal job with not only this book but with book one as well.

That’s all I have to say.


⭐⭐⭐

I did not finish this book, but that's likely because I wasn't invested in any of the characters. I haven't read any of Alexis Hall's previous books so I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into. I wanted it to be more like RED, WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE but it fell flat in the face of that comparison.

I tried this on audio, even after not loving the the first in the series. however, the narrator was awful, could not listen past the first chapter. don't recommend the audiobook.

I love the narrator's voice, he was able to give distinct voices to many of the characters and when he spoke with an American accent it was pretty spot on. I did not read book 1 - Boyfriend Material and I would have enjoyed a small recap of what had happened in the previous book (i.e. Tom & Luc turning into Tom & Brig).
I found Luc & Oliver's indecisiveness throughout the book to be a little frustrating, if they were both honest about their wants and feelings they could have solved those problems sooner. I did like the decision made at the end of the book, that did feel right for these characters. I would read more Alexis Hall books in the future.

Obsessed with this book so freaking much. I fell in love with Luc and Oliver in Boyfriend Material and this baby made me love them even more. I don’t quite understand the hate this book has been getting. Alexis Hall does romance in a way that’s not typical to the genre and that’s so freaking refreshing. I love that this book saw so much of what is realistic in actual relationships. I love that Oliver and Luc questioned heteronormative ideology and where they fit in the queer community. This book was so REAL with a HEA that was unconventional but still amazing. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in the series

Narration: the narration was okay, I think I would have preferred to read the book myself versus the audio. But that’s probably my own fault, I already had a set way of how I “heard” the characters in my mind.

I loved being back with these characters, especially Luc and Oliver. Their banter is so funny. And the friend group? Fantastic. I laughed out loud multiple times.
This book follows a Four Weddings & Funeral format, which was fun!
The only negative is that I continue to not be able to stand Luc, our MC. He struggles with the same issues in the first book and I wish he could just be happy. I was rooting for Luc and Oliver sooooo bad.

This is a book that I truly, truly recommend the audiobook format. The narrator does an amazing job!

The first book - all the stars.
The sequel - three stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy. Husband Material is out now!

Thank you to netgalley and Dreamscape Media for early access to this book.


Firstly, I did not read the “Boyfriend Material” book which proceeds this one. My first introduction to the characters was through this book. I did not have Luc and Oliver’s background or original story of falling in love. For a good portion of the book, I honestly wondered why these people were together, especially why Oliver was with Luc. I did not like Luc at all. Many of his problems were of his own making and he was not the nicest to people around him. He honestly should go to individual therapy, and then him and Oliver should go to couple’s therapy.

The narrator of the audiobook was amazing, the ending was predictable and I did not have fun in this read. I almost decided to not finish. I might not be the target demo for this book and perhaps I can’t understand the relationship as well because I did not read the first book, but I will not read this book again.

I never, never want to read the continuing story of a couple after their first book. It doesn't even matter how much I loved them or their story. But I make an exception for Luc and Oliver every time. I will happily read the future 7th installment which finds them in a retirement home together. I adore them and their group of friends so much.

HUSBAND MATERIAL delivered a continuation of their love story filled with the same laughter, quirk, heat, and sweetness of the first book and I adored it.

I listened to the audiobook version of both books and I am absolutely charmed by the performance of the narrator. Perfection.

I wanted to like this one, but it missed the mark for me.

First of all, I really enjoyed the first book - Boyfriend Material.

I thought that the romance side of things was lacking and it felt more like the side characters were the main characters. I also was not here for their toxic relationship.

Overall, it was a miss which makes me sad.

This narrator could read anything and I’d love it. Really enjoyed being with these characters again!

5✨
A huge thank you to NetGalley & Raincoast books for providing me with an early copy.

I was super hesitant going into this one. I enjoyed Boyfriend Materiel, gave it 3 stars back in 2020 and haven’t thought much of it sense. But I saw this cover and fell in love with it so I knew I have to try it out. I’m so glad I did!

I felt so seen by Luc and this panic of being in your 20s and watching everyone around you get married, have kids, move up in their careers. I love how this also talked about gay timing it really just gave me a sigh of relief? Like oh okay others feel this way I’m not the only one.

I really do love this story and flew through it! Can’t wait for more from Luc & Oliver

100% Honesty here, I think reading Red, White, and Royal Blue first ruined this book for me. I just couldn't get into it. What I did read of it was good, and I like the book for its LGBTQ+ representation, but I think other books ruined my true enjoyment of this one.