Sam Becker leads a normal life as the manager of a bed and bath furniture store called Splashes & Giggles. But little by little, his team is falling apart, and it is filled with well-intentioned but less than helpful employees. When the owner, Jonathan Forest, expresses concern over the productivity of Sam’s branch, Jonathan invites Sam to London for a heart-to-heart. Unfortunately, Jonathan’s plans for adjusting staffing at Sam’s branch are turned on their head when Sam falls into a shower unit and comes away with a concussion. And as Sam feigns amnesia to help save his team, he and Jonathan ultimately cultivate an unlikely connection that can change both of their lives for the better.

This book is filled with British humor from the very beginning, and fans of The Office will recognize many similar antics and character tropes worked into Sam’s life. The intentional use of strong language enhances the candid and accessible nature of the characters, especially for mature young adult and older readers, and the frequent banter and dialogue keep the pacing of the story moving well. Scenes of romance, frustration, and honesty give the novel a feeling of truth, and readers will appreciate the overall delivery of the narrative, especially in time for the Christmas holiday.

Broken into five parts, this story features different stages of Sam and Jonathan’s interactions, and there are several moments that make the reader cringe inwardly. Since the narrative is told in the first person from Sam’s perspective, the reader knows everything Sam is thinking and doing, but other characters only appear whenever they are interacting directly with Sam. This enhances the dramatic tension felt with regards to Sam’s deception, and it also makes readers wonder exactly what is happening behind the scenes with Sam’s companions. Engaging, fast-paced, and romantic, this is a charming friends-to-lovers romance that will please fans of both British humor and the complexity of interactions among everyday people.

10 Things That Never Happened is the first amnesia/fake amnesia story I have ever read. I have to say, I wasn't sure what I was going to think of that kind of storyline, but what I do know is that I've enjoyed the other books I've read by Alexis Hall, so I was willing to give it a chance and I'm glad I did.

Sam Becker is the manager of a bed and bath store in Sheffield and he's having difficulty meeting the sales targets that have been set out for him by his boss, Jonathan Forrest. Sam realizes that if he's going to save his own job, as well as the jobs of his fellow employees, the only way to do it is to fake amnesia, so that's what he does. It turns out that Jonathan is going to take care of him while he "recovers" and things begin to get very complicated at this point. What Sam discovers is that Jonathan has a whole other side to him that isn't as difficult and prickly as he always seems at work. He's got a much softer, gentler side as well. Is Sam's plan going to work or blow up in his face?

There was so much to love about the interactions between Sam and Jonathan. There were so many times I found myself laughing out loud reading their exchanges! Adding in Jonathan's family was also quite entertaining! There is a lot of heart in this novel, that is for sure.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Sam is a manager at a bed and bath retailer who probably cares too much for his employees. So when the store owner sends him down to London and an incident occurs, Sam fakes amnesia as a way to keep his job. With no one else to look after Sam, his boss, Jonathan, is forced to keep an eye on him post-concussion. The more time Sam spends at Jonathan’s house, the more Jonathan’s tough, no nonsense personality starts to break and Sam gets a glimpse of the misunderstood individual who is just trying to protect his heart.

I’m not usually one for a romance told in the first-person however I will admit this one was fun! Jonathan and Sam’s dynamic made for some snappy dialogue and interesting push-and-pull between their polar opposite personalities. The first half of the romance is really just setting up all the ways their personalities are opposite and I admit by half-way I was seeking some change because it was starting to feel a little repetitive. By the second half I was totally enamoured by the two. We started to learn why Jonathan was the “grump” and his story will make you want to wrap him up in a big hug (which he will hate).

The story is set in London during the Christmas holidays and while it isn’t a Christmas story per say, if you are like me and are still mourning summer and barely ready for Halloween, keep this one on your radar for December!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Since Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is one of my all-time favorite reads, I was quite excited to read a new story in the same world. And my excitement was rewarded, because 10 Things That Never Happened is definitely a new favorite by Alexis Hall! It’s a super funny Christmassy rom-com that is filled with awkward shenanigans, slow-burn romance, hilarious secondary characters and a hidden depth underneath it all. It was a super fun ride and I sped through it in a day or two.

So let me recap everything I loved:

Samwise Becker. Yes, our main character is called after my all-time favorite hobbit so that little tidbit alone already endeared him to me. But he’s also such a genuinely nice (maybe too nice) and loyal guy and while he’s making some terrible decisions (see amnesia plot), his heart is in the right place.

The amnesia plot. Does it make any sense that it went on for that long? Ehh, probably not. But who cares? It was fun and caused so many shenanigans and it was a good way to bring Sam closer to Jonathan.

Jonathan Forest. Is Jonathan a likeable character? Nope. Not really. Does he go on an amazing character journey? Not that much, no. Jonathan is a surly grump and he stays that way. So I do think not all readers will warm up to him. But he does show softer sides every now and then (see: his affection towards Sam AND Sam’s cat Gollum) and I actually appreciated that his entire personality didn’t change over the course of a week.

Slow burn romance. I love a good slow burn and let me tell you, this is sloooow. Seriously: at 50%-60% in, Sam and Jonathan have only argued and bickered and argued some more. The sweet moments are also very, extremely subtle. It’s not your typical romance, not even your typical slow-burn romance. But again, I didn’t mind and found it quite refreshing. And it made me appreciate every little smile and touch and kiss that much more when they eventually did happen.

Retail relatability. Okay, just the very first chapter of Sam describing his team of coworkers was absolutely hilarious in it’s relatability. I mean, they may be fictional characters and slightly exaggerated, but we all KNOW someone kind of like them: the loveable klutz you can’t trust with anything but also can’t stay mad at. The coworker who’s always suspiciously off on a break somewhere. The newbie at work who’s waayyy to enthusiastic about the job. But also the joys and pains of team events. It was just fun in its’ relatability.

The secondary characters. There is a whole host of secondary characters (maybe a bit too many) but I love the scenes when they were all together. Jonathan’s family was a hoot and really stood out, but of course also Sam’s coworkers were such a fun band of misfits.

Oh, and did I mention this takes place around Christmas, so technically it’s a Christmas rom-com?

Overall, I highly enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good (though quite silly) amnesia plot, an opposites attract romance between sunshine and the grump, relatable office shenanigans and ugly cats!

4*

This was such a long, but very comforting read! I loved the dynamic between Sam & Jonathan. Jonathan being the uptight, pricky boss and Sam being the outgoing sweet employee. The way you’re being told the story from Sam’s perspective, but are still seeing Jonathan’s character development is done very cleverly and shows Alexis’ craftsmanship in writing. The only thing I didn’t particularly enjoy was how easily Sam was forgiven about lying about such a crucial thing. Especially given the (slow-ish) pace of the rest of the book, I felt that was being skipped over very quickly. However, this was a fabulous read in a festive setting. I noticed this book is the first in a new series and can’t wait to read the next one!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC to read before publishing.

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall is his absolute best!!!
He writes the most compelling queer rom-coms.
Alexis Hall's writing is such a joy to read, and it felt like a treat to be back in this universe with his beloved characters.
I loved Sam and Jonathan, both are great characters.
The humor was absolutely everything and elevated this book from good to unbelievably amazing.
The feelings were so intense I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest.
Honestly, this book was just so fully delightful and wholesome.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Sam and Jonathan. I especially loved Jonathan’s family. And Sam’s cat, Gollum, liking Jonathan more than Sam was quite funny!

I didn’t love that Sam was essentially lying for most of the book, though I understood his reasoning. It just didn’t make the relationship seem authentic.

Ultimately, I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading more of the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

I’ve really enjoyed the previous Alexis Hall books I’ve read (except that one…), but found that about the first two thirds of 10 Things That Never Happened was very slow with not too much happening.

This book is sort of spun-off from the Boyfriend Material books (I read Husband Material right before which is where we’re supposed to meet Jonathan but just must have missed it… though he mentions in this one that he went to school with kids of famous parents including a rock star, which would be Luc).

Jonathan is the uptight boss and owner of bed and bathroom stores, with Sam managing the branch in Sheffield. The staff is poor and numbers are poor, so Sam gets called into London to meet with Jonathan to see how it can be fixed (ie can they let go the one staff who constantly causes stock to be written off or the staff who is always taking time off), but instead an argument about it leads to an accident and head injury, leaving Sam with a split second decision to fake a case of amnesia (the doctor is the one who mentioned it’s possible so he goes along with it). This leads to 2 weeks being monitored by Jonathan in his home, because Sam doesn’t “remember” if he has anyone else, beyond the emergency contact that didn’t work.

The storyline is unique, but the first bit is very slow - I’m glad I stayed with it though because it does end very strong and makes it all worthwhile! I can definitely recommend it in the end, and it wraps up as a solid 4-star read. And yes, now I am looking forward to book 2!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, and this is my honest feedback.

I’ve been equal parts excited and nervous to read this book ever since I got the ARC (thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks). Excited because Alexis Hall is one of my absolute favourite authors + add to that the fact that his 90s-inspired romcoms are some of my favourites of his, and nervous because…well it’s hard to live up to those kinds of expectations.

I’m glad to say that this book delivered exactly the kind of humour that I was hoping to find! Hilarious banter, ridiculous hijinks, and the big sparkling group scenes that I love about Hall’s romcoms were all present in spades.

Sam is the cheery manager of a bed and bath store where he supervises an array of people with…let’s say varying degrees of competence. They are hilarious, and bonus is that the most competent one is called Claire! It’s so rare to have a character with my name in a book :) Jonathan is the grumpy owner of the store, and calls Sam down to London to have an unpleasant discussion about how the store and its employees are doing.

Most of the book involves some forced proximity, as Sam winds up moving into Jonathan’s house for plot reasons that have Sam faking amnesia. We meet Jonathan’s entire extended family as everyone gears up for Christmas. Sam gets to know Jonathan and vice versa, and a nice slow burn romance develops.

This was a fun read, I laughed out loud several times. I am looking forward to checking out the audio book to hear the Scouse accent! My family are big Liverpool Football Club fans, and I am constantly hearing that accent. It’ll be fun hear it in a different context, and to play them excerpts to see what they think!

*******
SLIGHT SPOILERS. I would have liked a bit more character development for Sam. I kept wondering why no one was getting in touch with him, and though that is so what addressed, I felt like it was a bit rushed. We got quite a bit of backstory about Jonathan (with Luc sort of acknowledged in passing!), I would have liked more for Sam. I also felt like there could have been an actual conversation between Sam and Jonathan about their work, where they dug into their strengths and weaknesses as leaders, and see some more explicit discussions and growth from both of them in that sphere.
*********

This is Alexis Hall at his best - great humor, fantastic characters and a lot of heart. I don't think this is quite my favorite book in the Material World/London Calling universe, but that is just because Boyfriend Material exists.

This is the story of Sam, the manager of the worst-performing branch of a bath and bed retail chain, and of his boss, Jonathan, the CEO and founder of the company. When Jonathan threatens to fire him and his entire team and Sam trips and falls into a shower door (and then the door falls on top of him), they end up stuck living together: Sam has no one else who can keep an eye on him, the hospital doesn't have enough beds, and also Sam has accidentally implied he has amnesia and now he doesn't know how to get out of the lie (and possibly he doesn't want to get out of it).

As is pretty common in an Alexis Hall book, both Sam and Jonathan are, while not quite terrible people, objectively quite awful at times. They are, however, also quite great at times, and always likable enough that you can't help but root for them, and it's a real joy to read about them making each other better.

I also really liked the cast of secondary characters, who all had great, distinctive personalities, though my favorite is undoubtedly the cat (Gollum, because if your full name is Samwise you have to lean into the LOTR theme at least a little).

Definitely recommended to anyone who is looking for a romcom!

Yet another Alexis Hall win! I wasn’t sure what to expect in this one and went in blind and it was a delightful and fun romance. .

I really enjoyed 10 Things That Never Happened. It was classic Alexis Hall with quirky characters, laugh-out-loud shenanigans, and great chemistry between the leads.

I had some minor issues with it though, particularly how late in the book we got the final conflict (I think something like 95% of the way through).

Would definitely recommend this book, especially for a holiday/Xmas read. It was very sweet and fun!

I gave this book 4.5/5 stars but rounding to 5 stars for NetGalley.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title. All thoughts are my own.

Alexis Hall, nothing could have prepared me for Sam and Jonathan and I will never forgive you. The opening to this book is Sam faking amnesia to save his and his employees jobs from the total unfeeling Jonathan and that wasn't even the part I Laughed the hardest at. This is the kind of book I will reread just for the excellent plot pacing, slowly blooming romance, and incorrigible cat. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an early read in exchange for an honest review.

10 things that never happened was my first Alexis Hall book. I enjoyed the pacing and the story. I found the amnesia plot line a bit uncomfortable for my personal preference., I was curious how Alexis Hall was going to bring this full circle and bring the characters together, and that my friends is the magic of this writer. However, I enjoyed watching a hard to like Hero find good way to live and acceptance and overall I found the story adorable and enjoyable.

I was so excited for this book only for it to fall incredibly flat. The characters as a whole are pretty unlikeable, and that was with me trying to find a redeeming quality to all. I really thought the dynamic between the love interests would end up as something similar to the K-dramas I've watched with similar premises, but even when Jonathan has "human" moments, he still comes across as a complete troll. Ultimately I have nothing against the writing style, which was really nice, but the characters really deterred me from rating this book higher. I did not finish this book due to the characters and their personalities, which is a bummer, but I felt I was forcing myself to read this without enjoyment.

Having enjoyed both Boyfriend Material and Husband Material well enough, I was intrigued to learn that Alexis Hall was going to be writing some spin-offs set in the same universe. It was a bit confusing trying to follow announcement details of just how the new books would relate to the original series and it turns out there is less direct crossover between them than it first seemed like they would have. But the first of the spin-offs, 10 Things That Never Happened doesn’t really need its ties to the original series (though it certainly won’t hurt the book’s marketing). While the romantic leads of this rom-com fit similar stereotypes to the original series – one laid back, sometimes to a fault, and the other uptight and socially awkward in ways that are somehow endearing – the larger circle of family relationships and friendships in play strike significantly different notes from the original series even as they resonate on a harmonious wavelength (I apologize to anyone who studies music because that metaphor is almost certainly technically inaccurate in painful ways).

What makes a good boss? Well, it depends on who you ask. Sam, the manager at the Sheffield branch of a bed and bath retailer is of the philosophy that compassion for your employees is the top priority… even when they’re not particularly good at their jobs and your branch is maybe not really up to snuff when it comes to profit margins and quarterly goals and such. But to Jonathan, the owner of the retailer, Sam’s approach is nowhere near good enough and it’s time for some serious discussions about major changes for the branch including firing a few folks. When a heated disagreement between the two leads to an accident and serious concussion for Sam, a misunderstanding might just give Sam an opportunity to prove his point and save his employees’ jobs in the bargain. And if he has to fake amnesia, temporarily living at Jonathan’s house so his boss can monitor his condition (to avoid a possible lawsuit), Sam is willing to take that risk. But as he and Jonathan get to know and understand one another better, tensions rise in other directions and Sam is stuck lying to someone he might respect after all (and maybe even care for in deeper ways).

Because it was the author and the connection to the London Calling series that first made me want to read 10 Things That Never Happened, I only skimmed the description. That meant I originally thought the amnesia was going to be real and that it was going to be a little closer to an Overboard scenario than it actually was (though Sam does reference the movie a few times in passing). But fake amnesia proved to be even funnier than I would have thought, especially given the circumstances under which the concussion that inspired the amnesia. Part of me wishes that instead of following Sam’s perspective so closely that it could have switched back and forth between his and Jonathan’s points of view. Sure, it would have messed with the gradual growth in understanding Jonathan on Sam’s part a little bit… and Jonathan’s point of view might have been grating at times (especially early on), but it’s a side to the story that I now can’t stop wondering about.

I’m always a sucker for tales exploring tense family dynamics (especially when those family members are also delightfully quirky). The way that Jonathan’s family functions (or disfunctions) throughout the novel was fascinating to watch unfold and this is where the story following Sam’s perspective so closely really shines. The history of where tensions began and why, the ripples of quiet (and not-so-quiet) resentments, the desire to support but also the frustration of certain expectations, it all works together beautifully. I don’t know that it’s really necessary to withhold so many of the explicit details of Sam’s own family situation so long. There’s a line about how/why he doesn’t really lay things out to the reader clearly earlier, but since those circumstances seemed pretty predictable, it felt weirder not to have them addressed outright earlier.

Overall a fun and easy read, 10 Things That Never Happened is also set in the weeks leading up to Christmas with the holiday playing into the plot pretty heavily so it’ll be a great read to gear up for the holiday season or as a gift for bookworms who enjoy rom coms.

10 Things That Never Happened will be available October 17, 2023.

This is totally a comfort book! It’s a Christmas queer comedy, that reminds me the movie While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock, a classic! The story, however, it’s very different from the movie, it’s original and really wholesome.
The characters are well written and I totally love Sam, he’s my favorite (and it’s a first, because I always fell in love with the super grumpy ones, Jonathan is my type of character, however I prefer Sam. I like Jonathan, I love Jonathan, but Sam is my book boyfriend, sorry not sorry).
I love that Sam is not a classic sunshine. He’s complicated, he’s grumpy, he’s sarcastic, and he’s so good for Jonathan! He pushes Jonathan out of his comfort zones towards the things Jonathan really wants but he denies himself.
The fake amnesia plot is a little bit weak, but it’s not an issue, because the important things are the characters’ growth and the development of their relationship. I love that this book is a real slow burn and I love that Sam and Jonathan really lean to know each other. And I love the big and noisy family of Jonathan. I love them all.
In conclusion, I really love this book and it’s a perfect Christmas reading!

Thank you Netgalley, Alexis Hall and Sourcebooks for the ARC!

3.5/5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This marked my first experience delving into a book that didn't revolve around a heterosexual couple, a shift I'd been eager to embrace for some time. However, I hadn't encountered the right book to begin this journey until I stumbled upon this gem on NetGalley. The moment I laid eyes on it, I knew it was time to dive in, and so I did.

This distinctly British novel, as the author thoughtfully warns at the outset, fully embraced its British identity. The characters effortlessly wielded the vernacular of both the southern and northern dialects of Britain, infusing the story with a rich, authentic charm. It transported me to the heart of London or the far reaches of Great Britain, immersing me in a captivating atmosphere that left a lasting impression.

As a non-native English speaker (it's actually my third language), I initially grappled with the dialect, which posed a unique challenge. However, I gradually acclimated to it, allowing me to immerse myself more deeply in the narrative.

The love story, though endearing, bore a distinctly British aura. It's not meant as a criticism, but rather an observation that it possessed a certain reserved quality. The sweetness of the romance, while present, felt somewhat aloof at times.

Sam, the central character, won me over with his unwavering commitment to the "save everyone" mission, endearing himself to me right from the start. Moreover, the supporting cast of characters—Claire, Wendy, Tiff, and others—enriched the story in their own unique ways, leaving a lasting impression.

I'd like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest and impartial review.

Oof, sorry to say this one was just not for me. I really struggled with getting into this book, and found myself more annoyed with the antics of the characters than charmed by them. I think for those who enjoy characters who are a little over the top and unrelatable, then this book will be good for you. I guess I wasn't in a silly, goofy enough mood to really enjoy.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book!*

If you're reading an Alexis Hall novel, you don't expect realistic scenarios, so this novel where a store manager fakes amnesia after a work accident to prevent his team from being fired but ends up falling in love with his prickish boss should not surprise rom com lovers. While I wasn't very fond of the entire set-up at first, I kinda grew to enjoy it. This might have to do with the fact that I'm in Italy, it's 38° and my brain is half-fried but it was fun. I loved how the prickish boss's family just adopted our protagonist (Samwise btw, I would've liked to see more LOTR jokes apart from his cat Gollum), found family just makes me happy.

So, it was fun, I finished this on the beach of Lake Garda, I don't have any standards at the moment. It's a good summer read. Ciao!

3.5 stars