✨ Review ✨ 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall; Narrated by Will Watt

This is book 1 in the Material World series -- and while the cover looks just like the Boyfriend Material Series, it's only peripherally connected (apparently one of the MC's appears briefly in the prior series).

Sam works as the manager of a bed and bath super store, and we quickly find out how much he loves his seemingly mediocre employees. When he's called to the main store in reprimand by his boss Jonathan, things go off the rails quickly when Jonathan fires him, Sam trips, gets a concussion, and sort of accidentally feigns amnesia. Jonathan brings him home to watch over him to ensure he doesn't get sued, and the two cohabitate while Jonathan ensures Sam doesn't die and Sam tries to work out a way to save the jobs of him and his staff.

This is the ultimate slow burn grumpy/sunshine and I loved it for all that. And when I say slow burn, I mean SLOWWW BURN. Lying/miscommunication are not my jam and so that soured this a little, as well as that sometimes Jonathan erred toward just straight up MEANness which went beyond typical grump vibes. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the coziness of this. It just was really satisfying and enjoyable.

I also loved the role that Sam's store family and Jonathan's actual family played in this, and I was seriously giggling at points. The Christmas Tree! The tilted bed! Clumsy Brian! So many funny funny things. The POV of Sam was really delightful, and I'd read a whole book just about Sam, Jonathan, and Jonathan's family cooped up together I think!

The audio was delightful - I loved the narrator, and would listen to more books he narrates!

It might not be my favorite of Hall's books, but it was solidly enjoyable and full of holiday spirit! A perfect read for the December cozies!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: contemporary m/m romance
Setting: London / Sheffield
Reminds me of: Boyfriend Material
Pub Date: 17 Oct 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ holiday romances that don't overdo the holiday part
⭕️ sunshine/grumpiness
⭕️ over-the-top families

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Dreamscape Media, and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

4/5. Releases 10/17/2023.

Vibes: Hallmark Christmas movies with a twist, boss/employee, grumpy meets snarky, uptight meets defiant

Sam can't stand his controlling, uptight boss, Jonathan. When they get into a conflict (at the workplace!) right before Christmas, enough is enough, and Jonathan fires Sam... Right before accidentally causing an accident that gives Sam a concussion. Befuddlement and confusion at the hospital leads Jonathan to believe Sam has amnesia... And why not go with it...?

Another charming, funny romcom from Alexis Hall, full of chemistry. It's a little tame, but it's also Christmasy and offers me the same feeling a sugar cookie would. If you're a fan of Alexis--or want a seasonal good time--go for this.

Quick Takes:

--One thing I loved off the bat was that Jonathan was SO. VERY. STARCHED. And he hired Sam despite his lack of managerial experience because he "saw something in him" (or maybe he envisioned Sam inside him idk idk). So of course, he's so, so mad and so, so stuffy about his would-be protegee... kinda sucking at his job (more on that later).

Sam, meanwhile, is like--I wouldn't call this grumpy/sunshine. Sam is too snarky, too snappy, and too confrontational with Jonathan to be a sunshine. They're immediately combative, and you get this great tension, and then like... boom. Jonathan is trying to keep himself from getting sued to hell and Sam is pretending to be an amnesiac in order to keep his job. MESS.

As a sidebar... This is not a true amnesia romance, but if you like amnesia romance, I think you'll enjoy it. Jonathan fully thinks his employee! is an amnesiac and spends this whole time babysitting him, and having him meet his family... You know. Boss stuff.

--One thing I expected going into this book was like, this typical scenario where the millionaire asshole Jonathan was wrong, and Sam's soft managerial approach was entirely right. To me, Sam immediately had some noticeable issues as a manager that I've seen in real life, and they're often brushed off because it's nice and kind of passive.

I should've trusted in Alexis Hall more, because he really handles this well and humanizes both Jonathan and Sam. Neither one of them is perfect. Sam has a lot of growing to do. Romance arc aside (which was obviously good), I seriously appreciated where Sam ended up in this story. It was a very evolved take, and refreshingly realistic in a way I think Alexis handles better than almost any other author.

--The Christmas isn't OVERMUCH, but it's just enough to have that charming, snowflakes in the air over kisses vibe. And it has enough wit and chemistry to really overpower the schmaltzy Hallmark movie sensibility. Although it's nothing like this movie in terms of plot, in terms of romanticism this book reminded me more of Dashing in December, than a Hallmark movie.

The Sex:

This is a closed door romance, and I won't lie, that didn't feel completely right to me. I'm biased, and if anyone is going to sell me on closed door, it's Alexis Hall. And this couple did still feel very sexy--like I said, the chemistry is great. I would recommend this book as a closed door novel that will probably work for people like me (who don't really read closed door ever).

But... they do have sex. It's just not on the page. And I couldn't help but wonder why? It's probably just an artistic choice, and I respect that. Like I said, it works. I just think it would have been a little bit better if we'd seen that sex scene. Or really, those sex scenes. I also just love the way Alexis writes sex. Peggy and Orfeo's first time in Something Spectacular is one of my favorite sex scenes ever. Something on the love of Mortal Follies, a book which was pretty tame in terms of sex but still said a lot with a little, handled this a bit better to me.

With that being said, if you want a cute and witty Christmas romcom with a wacky twist, this will absolutely work for you. It's light, it's fun, it's satisfying. Can't complain about that!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Overall this was a fun read. I'm trying hard to separate my expectations (based on not having read any of this author's books but from having seen them lauded all over bookstagram) from what I experienced in reading this book. I could have used a bit more spice but overall I really enjoyed this forced proximity, kind of fake-dating, workplace (ish?), care-taking romance. Whew that's a lot of tropes!

Sam is on the cusp of being fired when his boss, Jonathan, inadvertently causes him to fall through a shower door and become concussed....and lose some of his memories?

Except that he doesn't....but Jonathan thinks he has and takes him under his wing to care for him (in case Sam decides to sue) and chaos, Christmas - themed, ensues. It's a lovely read and I really enjoyed it. I liked the epilogue too which is rare so yay!

10 Things That Never Happened
Rating: loved/4⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Rom Com

Thanks @netgalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Review to come on bookstagram closer to publication.

Quick synopsis: During a fall during a disciplinary meeting, Sam fakes amnesia, in an attempt to avoid himself and his coworkers getting fired. His boss, Jonathan, takes him under his wing and cares for Sam during his (fake) recovery. Hilarity ensues.

This plot was so far fetched but it WORKED. Only Alexis Hall could pull that off, and I laughed out loud so many times while reading. The author is a master of banter and quips and will forever be an auto read writer for me. This was an opposites attract rom com, that gave me similar vibes to Boyfriend Material (one of my all-time favorites). Overall, this was a fun story, with an equally great cast of supporting characters, that I can’t recommend enough.

Boyfriend Material & Husband Material are a couple of my all time favorite rom-coms. They made me instant fans of Alexis Hall, and seeing that there would be a companion story, even one completely separate from Luc and Oliver, made me ridiculously happy.

Lucky for me, what I really adored about the initial two stories was the contemporary UK setting, the dry British humor, and the ensemble friend group. All of that was well done in this book too. Of course, I could never replace Boyfriend Material in my heart. Still, it was so lovely to have all of that again in a brand new story.

This is a workplace romance with some forced proximity and fake amnesia. In my opinion amnesia is a trope I’m ready to see make a comeback. Sam and Jonathan are very different characters from Oliver and Luc, but the tension in the ‘not-quite-enemies-but-definitely-not-friends to lovers’ setup had just as much tension to it. Few books really capture to movie-esque slice of life comedy style of British romcoms. This definitely does though. I for one am not disappointed in this story, as a companion or as a complete standalone. I’ll be rereading this one with out a doubt, and I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if this grows on me even more on the reread!

*ARC Review*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🇬🇧 M/M Romance 🏳️‍🌈
🇬🇧 Fake Amnesia 🤕
🇬🇧 Grumpy/ Sunshine ☀️
🇬🇧 Enemies to Lovers
🇬🇧 Slow Burn
🇬🇧 Christmas season 🎄

10 Things That Never Happened is Alexis Hall's newest M/M romance novel, set in the same universe as Boyfriend and Husband Material. The story follows Sam, the store manager of a bed and bath superstore, and Jonathan, the owner of the chain. Sam's branch is over budget and underperforming, and Jonathan plans to cut staff to fix the problem. But after Sam suffers a fall, he fakes amnesia in an elaborate plot to get Jonathan to soften his stance on layoffs. However, as Jonathan cares for Sam, feelings grow, and Sam has to live with the guilt of his lie.

What worked:
* The supporting characters were quirky and fun, and the fake amnesia plot was a cute and fresh trope.
* The book was well-written and funny, and I found myself rooting for Sam and Jonathan to get together.

What didn't work:
* Sam's lies went on for too long, and it was difficult to sympathize with him at times.
* Jonathan's grumpy personality was extreme, which made him unlikable at times.
* The couple didn't get together until close to the end of the book, which was almost immediately followed by a third act break up. This left the relationship feeling rushed with the reader wanting more romance.

This book was not perfect, but I do enjoy the ‘London Calling’ world created by Alexis Hall. For me, Boyfriend Material continues to shine as the standout in the series. The book wasn’t perfect for me, but I would recommend it to fans of the author and the genre.

Alexis Hall is one of my favourite authors and I was very excited to receive an ARC for this book and, thankfully, I was not disappointed! As I wait to read more about Luc and Oliver, it was great to dive back into the same universe with Sam and Jonathan!

Jonathan Forest, the owner of a Bed & Bath stores franchise, is a grumpy, busy and hard working man that sees profits and efficiency as the most important things so when Sam Becker, man who cares too much and manager of one of his stores that is failing to meet sales, gets called to meet him in London for a talk, the situation doesn't seem to be good. Things happen, Sam has an unfortunate accident with a display shower and before he knows it he is pretending to have amnesia and living with his boss in order to try to save his whole branch from being fired, himself included. Turns out there is more to Jonathan than he ever expected though and that perhaps it is time to deal with his own issues as well.

These characters are flawed in their own ways but that's just what makes them human and so incredibly lovable and I could not put down the book as I watched them navigate through their own issues to come out at the other end better than they were before. Besides being incredible at writing emotional vulnerability and adults that feel relatable Alexis Hall also manages to write comedy in such a delightful way and it always manages to gets a chuckle out of me. I could not get enough of all the names for the Bed & Bath products mentioned throughout the book.

This is sure to be a hit as a holiday book when it releases to the wide public in October and I will probably re-read it at that time to help me get in the Christmas spirit!

Alexis Hall is an auto-buy for me. I love her characters and her humor, and Boyfriend Material is one of my all-time favorites. That said, this one didn't quite do it for me. Between the amnesia trope and the difficulty I had warming up to "the surly git," Jonathan, it was a bit of a disappointment to me. Sam grew on me, particularly as he grapples with the circumstances that landed him as a manager of a bed and bath chain. The story ends strong, as I had finally become invested in this odd couple and their friends and family. But since it took over half the book to get there, this one isn't probably isn't going on my keeper shelf. But, lovers of this trope, or opposites attract couples, will appreciate Alexis' humor and genuine care for her characters.

I cannot get enough f the author! I loved this book and everything about it. The characters the story line the pace the plot the climax!!!!

A sweet, gay Christmas romcom made possible by fake amnesia.
Jonathan, a prickly and no-nonsense workaholic, unexpectedly has to take in Sam, the employee he's about to fire, when Sam pretends to develop amnesia after a work accident. The enemies to lovers trope works well and the characters were likable. I also enjoyed all the side characters (including the cat).
If you're a fan of Alexis Hall's Boyfriend Material and Husband Material, you'll love this book as well!

I usually don't feel quite so conflicted about an Alexis Hall book, but 10 Things That Never Happened was pretty unexpected. Historically, I've either 5-starred or 1-starred Alexis Hall books with little in between. On one hand, I liked it a lot more than I anticipated after my STRONGLY negative reaction to Husband Material, but I still struggled with aspects of the story.

First of all, there is a lot that the author gets exactly right with 10 Things That Never Happened. The story feels fresh and funny, but not in a way that feels like it's copying characters from his previous books. I really enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine and most of the side characters, even though there were a LOT of them. Actually, the plot was a real stand-out for me, and it kept me wanting to read more.

Where I struggled with this story was with the romance. This is a romance book, after all, and while these two did get together, I had a lot of trouble connecting their personalities. Jonathan would be WAY too much of a jerk, just way too heavy on the conflict, and when the author tried to show a softer side, it always felt like it came out of nowhere and it was out of place. There wasn't enough organic, "getting to know you" kinds of romance-building romances for me. The conflict parts felt like they went on for way too long, and I don't think I got as in depth with Jonathan as a character as I did with the ones in Boyfriend Material or other more successful Alexis Hall books.

I think there was a lot of wasted potential here. The story was set up correctly with fun details that could have set the stage for a nice romantic connection, but both characters came across as kind of crappy people with little romantic chemistry.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I have not read Husband Material yet, so I haven’t been immersed in this world since Boyfriend Material in 2020—but I might actually like 10 Things That Never Happened better? And, if I’m being honest, it reminds me a tiny little bit of a twist on 10 Things I Hate About You, which is never a bad thing! I really liked Sam as a character and all the quirky friends and family, and even though the plot is a little ridiculous (I mean, fake amnesia?), I didn’t even care because I loved every minute of it. Enemies to lovers? Check. Close proximity? Check. One of my favourite reads of the year so far? Giant check, please!

What didn’t work for me

The steam level: Look, I had to find something wrong with it, so I’m going to go with the steam level. Though the sexual tension between the two main characters really jumps off the page, their whole relationship really is quite chaste. I would have appreciated a little more steam.

What I liked

The premise: Amnesia is usually something that screams soap opera, but of course, Alexis Hall has to turn it on its head—because the reader is in on the fact that it’s not real. Enemies to lovers and close proximity tropes are also always favourites of mine. Plus, without spoilers, there still ends up being a piece of information that the reader is missing, so there’s still that satisfaction as the book concludes.

The supporting characters: The main characters are awesome, and I’m so drawn to them—but the side characters (Jonathan’s family and Sam’s coworkers) really make the story shine. They are all quirky but believable and loveable all the same. I’m not sure whether there will be a sequel to this particular book, but if there is, I really hope we get more of these relationships!

4.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of this adorable romantic comedy book! Such a sweet enemies to lovers trope with so many cute elements! I loved both grouchy Johnathan and sweet Sam, and really rooted for them the whole time. The story is very cute and unique and I really enjoyed this one!

This looks is such an entertaining book!! I laughed more times than I can count! Sam and Jonathan fit the sunshine/grumpy trope to a T!! They were such opposites, along with the whole faking-amnesia arc, but they brought out the best in each other! Jonathan’s family and Sam’s employees added chaos and hilarity to this story! Although not billed as such, this is a fantastic holiday romance!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall.

This one was a delight. I have to say that upfront because at times the premise of false amnesia can be cringey, but the story warmed my heart.

At the start of the book Sam is a cheerful, likable guy in imminent danger of being fired for mismanaging the store he runs. His boss, Jonathan, is cold and uncaring and referred to by the stores employees as “His Royal Dickishness”. Sam’s real head injury and fake amnesia are the devices that make him Jonathan’s unwanted houseguest for a few weeks.

What I loved about this book is that both character’s growth is gently and subtly written, moving by inches towards each other, though the story never felt slow. The layers gradually melted away so that the reader understands what’s at the core of Jonathan’s isolation and why someone as naturally likable as Sam is so alone.

This book is sweet and very funny. I’m rounding up from 4 1/2 stars and adding Alexis Hall to my list of authors to watch. I couldn’t put this one down.

4.25 / 5

10 Things That Never Happened has all the Alexis Hall staples I've come to love: humor, extremely loveable characters, and a unique charm that makes his books hard to put down. I enjoyed this one even more than his London Calling series (Boyfriend Material and Husband Material) - both were great books, but I really fell in love with the side characters (especially Gollum) in 10 Things.

I love how slow burn this romance was, Hall gives the 'grumpy' part of the grumpy/sunshine dynamic his time to de-thaw. I do wish we had more time with Ben and Jonathan as a couple; I know things ran long overall but I felt that was where my .75 star deduction really came in. That, and a particular trope pet peeve coming into play near the end - but I don't think it was as annoying in this book as I've read in others.

This really is the perfect book to tuck into as the holiday season approaches, it gave me all the feels, cozy Christmas vibes, and the laughs that I want from a romance going into this time of year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexis Hall, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the way AJH writes characters that are flawed but so loveable and finds way to put them with partners who are also flawed in their own ways but together, they are perfect. I always love reading MCs who are BOTH navigating difficult family relationships, challenging personal traits, or even just general pessimism (looking at you Jonathan). Highly enjoyed this addition to the Boyfriend Material world and hope to read more.

"10 Things That Never Happened" is the first installment in the "Material World" series but in my opinion, is just a continuation of the "London Calling" series with a few tweaks. The story follows Sam, a manager at a bed and bath chain store, and the company's owner/Sam's boss, Jonathan. After a workplace mishap, Sam hits his head and is rushed to the hospital. Through some confusion, Jonathan is under the impression that Sam has amnesia and forgets about the events leading up to his accident as well as the longstanding animosity between them. Due to hospital policy, Jonathan is forced to take care of Sam as he recovers from "amnesia" and a concussion. Meanwhile, Sam is hoping to use this opportunity to win over the affection of the grumpy and money-obsessed Jonathan.

Having read two other Alexis Hall books, I think the author enjoys filling their novels with the standard rom-com tropes. There is witty banter, quirky secondary characters, and the stereotypical tropes of enemies to lovers and forced proximity. For me, "10 Things That Never Happened" fell flat. There was no chemistry between the two main characters. Everything felt a bit over the top and unrealistic that ultimately, I don't think I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Alexis Hall for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When Sam Becker, manager of one branch of a chain of a bed and bath stores, is called to London by the big boss, he knows he's not about to have a good time. Jonathan Forest is a number of things but "empathetic human being" does not seem to be on the list. Then Jonathan fires Sam, Sam falls through a shower door on the display floor, and through a quick series of misunderstandings ends up in Jonathan's care while he recovers from a bout of amnesia. Which he doesn't really have. Oops?

The premise is absolutely wild but it somehow actually manages to work. Alexis Hall is an extremely hit or miss author for me, but he managed to pull together what seems like a terrible soap opera into a character-driven journey that seems surprisingly natural. The focus of the story is absolutely on the character development rather than the romance which may be an unexpected downside for some of the author's typical fans, but I found it enjoyable. With strong pacing and exactly the correct amount of stakes, this is was a fun and not-as-ridiculous-as-expected ride.

Anyone past the "new adult" age range looking for a fun queer romance should give this a go. Younger audiences might struggle with character relatability, and readers looking for more explicit scenes will find themselves disappointed.

it would be a 4.5 if it would let me! I really enjoyed this book, I really, really enjoyed this book. The banter, the general humour imbued into almost every interaction, the unlikely redemption of a terrible boss into a damaged, but determined-to-be-better man, a wild, loud family, and a romance that felt possible.

Alexis Hall is an excellent author of funny books, and romcoms (in my opinion as a person who has only read his romcoms) are where he excels. 10 Things That Never Happened is a tour de force, Hall weaves emotional vulnerability, growing intimacy, banter, searing arguments and moments of intense sadness into a cohesive, hilarious, relatable, and (dare I say) moving story of two people finding each other despite the many things in their way.

Sam, Jonathan and Gollum will capture your hearts. This book sits at the intersection of so many romcom greats it's almost impossible to list them off, it feel likes part of a great romcom tradition. If, like me, you sometimes find yourself bemoaning the loss of the romcom, that is, the loss of the Sandra Bullock / Meg Ryan / Tom Hanks / Julia Roberts romcoms of the 80/90s this novel feels like that. It feels like the British, literary answer to those classics, but perhaps with a bit more honesty.

The 0.5 star loss, the one thing that knocks this down just fractionally for me, was that I did find I got a bit lost when the family got involved. I found it hard to keep track of who was who, which maybe was the point, but made it difficult to keep straight which relationships each person had with Jonathan. This was more an issue for the male relatives, the women felt more distinct.

Overall, an exceptional novel, and the start to, what I'm sure will be, another wonderful series from Alexis Hall.