Im not usually one for amnesia trope but the fake one?? sign me up! I loved this story and really you cant go wrong reading this book and falling in love with the MCs.

Sam is my millennial icon. He’s working as a manager in a retail store and he’s okay. He gets stuff done. He’s not amazing at the job but he cares for his people. He’s willing to go to bat for them, even when he doesn’t really have the extra spoons to deal with the issue. We’re pretty much the same, except money figures into my life choices more than it seems to fit into his. While Sam isn’t the sunniest creature, he is sunny in comparison to the grumpy Jonathan. Jonathan has a massive extended family, who love him despite his grumpy attitude. They aren’t mooching off him, either, even though he’s a millionaire. They just want to spend time with him and maybe have him host the Christmas party for once. Sam’s family is conspicuously absent. He doesn’t have anyone to care for him while he recovers from his concussion, and so is forced to stay with Jonathan. With all the snark and emotion I’ve come to expect from Alexis Hall, plus a grumpy cat named Gollum, 10 Things that Never Happened is an excellent addition to anyone’s TBR.

The relationships between all the characters are very flawed and full of problems, just like in real life. And like in real life, they ignore the problems until they explode. And then they deal with them like real adults. Something I should probably try to emulate in my real life. The side characters are so well done, too. I could easily imagine a spin off novel of any one of them, their lives and personalities are so appealing.

There is a lot of healing, and not just from a concussion. We don’t learn much about Sam’s past even though he’s the narrator, but we learn a lot about Jonathan and his family, as well as his reasoning for why he is the way he is. Some of Sam’s character development is cut short because it happens before the epilogue and time jump, but not on the page. That is honestly a shame. The reasoning for his way of living is explained very briefly before the time jump, but I wish more of it had happened on the page.

I really hope there’s a sequel exploring Sam and Jonathan’s relationship more, as well as intersecting with our boys from Boyfriend/Husband Material. I could read books in this universe forever and never get bored of the banter. I highly recommend this cozy novel. It made me laugh out loud several times, and it gave me some hope for the future.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for sharing this ARC!

I adore Alexis Hall's writing, particularly in A Lady for a Duke, but I had a really hard time getting into this book. I had to DNF because I didn't enjoy the characters and the premise did not seem believable. To be fair, I have not yet Boyfriend Material or Husband Material, so maybe I need to start there. I may try to revisit this again in the future but for now it's just not hitting for me.

Boyfriend Material is one of my all time favorite books and I was so excited to be approved for this ARC! The first 30% was excellent - the quips between Sam and his coworkers had me in tears from laughing. Truly, Alexis Hall reigns supreme when it comes to delivering witty banter. The Splashes & Snuggles team reminded me of The Office from their nonsensical arguments to their quirks. They were delightfully annoying and the best part of the book.

I liked Sam, he’s the kind of friend you want in your corner, being full of compassion and loyal to a fault - leading him to retain less than stellar employees… looking at you Brian. But Jonathan. I couldn’t muster up any warm fuzzies for him. It wasn’t just that he was the grumpy part of the trope, he was just maddening. Him holding grudges from his past and pushing all friends and family away in an effort to not be like his father was extreme. Because of his overly grumpy demeanor, I didn’t find the chemistry and attraction between him and Sam believable.

Again, the first 30%ish was fantastic. The pace was quick and the banter was hilarious and sharp… but after Sam’s accident when he begins to fake amnesia (not a spoiler!), the pace screeched to a halt and it felt like wading through mud getting through the rest of the book. There were too many parts that didn’t further the story and I felt like Jonathan and Sam had the same argument no less than seventy times.

Overall, the story was fine and I enjoyed the chaotic squabbles from the supporting cast, but the burn was too slow and even though I liked Sam’s character, I wasn’t a fan of Jonathan enough to cheer for their HEA and thought Sam deserved a better partner.

I love Alexis Hall so much. This book is everything I expect from him and more. You have quirky characters who are flawed, but realistic. You have humor, love, romance, discovery, just everything you could wish for in a real romance book. I honestly can not say enough good things about this book. I just loved it all. Sam is fun. He is that person who knows there is something more, but for now okay is good enough. Then you have Jonathan, who is so focused on making a name for himself and making sure his family has everything, that he forgets connection with them is sometimes more important than money. Together they make a hilarious pair, that fits together in all the right ways.
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this amazing book.

“10 Things That Never Happened” by Alexis Hall is a delightful mashup of classic storytelling and the author’s signature quirky British humor. This novel combines elements reminiscent of “A Christmas Carol” and “Overboard” to create a unique and engaging narrative and will have you buying a Nexa by MERLYN 8mm Sliding Door Enclosure for your next holiday gift.

In the story, Sam's feigned amnesia serves as a clever plot device, enabling him to navigate not only the complexities of his boss Jonathan but also to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery during the holiday season. This journey is enriched by the inherent humor and stress that accompanies family gatherings during this time of year. Alexis Hall's adept storytelling is evident as he seamlessly weaves this element into the narrative, resulting in a captivating exploration of identity and self-discovery.

As the plot unfolds, the relationship between Sam and Jonathan takes center stage. Initially, Jonathan presents as a grumpy and seemingly prickish character. However, as Sam continues to feign amnesia, Jonathan's emotional defenses gradually erode, making Sam's decision on how to proceed with his selective memory more challenging to address. This transformation in Jonathan's character is a testament to the depth of character development in the novel, which elicits both laughter and tears, characteristic of Alexis Hall's writing style.

Readers are treated to moments of vulnerability, genuine connection, and surprising revelations as Sam and Jonathan's interactions evolve, becoming increasingly authentic and heartfelt. The contrast between Sam's pretense and Jonathan's growing willingness to open up adds depth and poignancy to their developing relationship.

In "10 Things That Never Happened," Alexis Hall masterfully crafts a story that seamlessly blends humor, introspection, and unexpected connections. This skillful integration is a testament to the author's talent, resulting in a holiday tale that is simultaneously entertaining and emotionally resonant. Thank you Alexis Hall, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the Advanced Readers Copy of 10 Things that Never Happened by Alexis Hall!

I will forever be thoroughly charmed by the way Alexis Hall writes dialogue and internal monologues. His characters were a delight as always. Also, as someone who has worked in retail - the discussions of the way management communicates and treats others was honestly wildly accurate and so funny. Loved this one and can’t wait for more titles in the Material World universe (Claire and BJ please!).

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

I went into this book with extreme hesitation: I loved Boyfriend Material and Husband Material was the most disappointing book I read in 2022. I also had some mixed experiences with other Alexis Hall books in 2022 and 2023. But, the summary was just too good to pass up, and I really enjoy Hall's writing style. While amnesia is not a trope I go for, *faked* amnesia was very interesting. It was very a very interesting read, though, like all of the Alexis Hall books I've read, has an incredibly rushed ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC!

10 Things That Never Happened is a cute, funny romcom with the wit and banter I’ve come to expect from Alexis Hall! He has somehow written a book with both poop jokes and emotional depth, and I really enjoyed it!

Read if you like
- forced proximity
- slightly dysfunctional families
- grumpy/sunshine
- Christmas setting
- fake amnesia
- antagonists to friends to lovers (closed door, euphemisms only)

I will say, I’m not sure why the book is called 10 Things That Never Happened. There’s fake amnesia, but there aren’t fake events… honestly I don’t care I’m just a little confused.

My only complaint is that the climax and resolution of the book felt a tad bit rushed, and there wasn’t quite as much tension in the will-they-won’t-they as I tend to prefer. Still a great book, and I’d definitely recommend! 4 stars.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the review copy. All thoughts are my own. I will post my review to IG between Oct 10-17, and on Amazon on publication day.

Sam Becker is on the brink of getting fired when he falls and gets a head injury. Rather than admit he remembers his boss firing him directly before the accident, he fakes amnesia and his boss becomes his temporary care-taker.

10 things that never happened was such a fun time, I really enjoyed the humor and banter between our two love interests. The romantic in my wanted a little more from the romance, but the character’s personalities really didn’t lend to it.

This was a very cute romance that was really not graphic in the spice scenes so if that’s your cup of tea this one would be perfect!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy of the book. This is my favorite book by Alexis Hall. This book was hands down fantastic and I think the best one from Hall so far. I lived for everything in this book, Samwise, Gollum, Jonathan, and Jonathan's family were the absolute best. The banter and the fact that it was set at Christmas, just hit all the right buttons for me. I will be recommending this to everyone and I will be buying this when it's released.

Samwise "Sam" Becker works as a manager in a bed and bath retailer. Not a particularly glamorous job but he gets on well with his coworkers...all of which are a bit odd, but charming in their way. He's happy enough at his job but unfortunately the owner is a massive prick. Jonathan Forest regrets hiring Sam; he finds him too soft and ineffective as a manager. Determined to turn around Sam's branch, Jonathan forces Sam to come down to London to have a difficult conversation which culminates in Sam tripping and bringing a shower enclosure down on top of himself. Rushed to the hospital, a wayward "who are you..." when confronted with Jonathan appearing to CARE about Sam (though really he just doesn't want to get sued), leads to a misunderstanding and suddenly Sam is faking amnesia. With no one else stepping up to care for Sam, Jonathan brings him to his, honestly massive, home so he can watch Sam. Suddenly the pair who, originally (and, let's be honest, still do) irritate one another are finding that the other isn't quite so bad and maybe they can even get a long....some times.
Faced with his growing feelings for Jonathan (including how much he loves Jonathan's loud family) and the lie that he keeps telling, Sam is quickly regretting the fake amnesia and is completely unsure how to get out of the lie.

I went into this expecting to have a good time and I was entirely satisfied. Alexis Hall has such a specific comedic whit and it always hits me directly where it's supposed to. The banter between Jonathan and Sam is top notch. And, as always, there is a well meaning bumbling idiot of a side character (Brian, in this case) who just brings such me such joy. I had a really good time getting to know these characters and loved watching the grumpy Jonathan be vulnerable with the overly sunshiney Sam...and, at times, watching the pair reverse their roles. You assume that Sam is teaching Jonathan to be more kind to keep his branch open/fully staffed but sometimes Sam recognizes that the decisions that Jonathan makes are in the best interest of everyone involved. It was a joy to watch the pair grow together throughout the book.
I completely devoured this and am a quite sad that it's over. I know there is at least one more book set in this world that isn't directly connected to Luc and Oliver but I could keep living in this fictionalized London for literally forever. The growing cast of characters are always all charming and I hate to see them go.

Definitely recommend to fans of cute rom coms with floppy white streaked haired grumps.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy Alexis Hall's books. I've enjoyed the Material world stories and was excited to read this one as well. This was a pretty slowburn and it was hard to get into at first. Eventually, I really got into this found family story and it was so interesting. I definitely reccomend this for any MM romance fans!

Sam Becker loves—or, okay, likes—his job. Sure, managing a bed and bath retailer isn't exactly glamorous, but it's good work and he gets on well with the band of misfits who keep the store running. He could see himself being content here for the long haul. Too bad, then, that the owner is an infuriating git.
Jonathan Forest should never have hired Sam. It was a sentimental decision, and Jonathan didn't get where he is by following his heart. Determined to set things right, Jonathan orders Sam down to London for a difficult talk…only for a panicking Sam to trip, bump his head, and maybe accidentally imply he doesn't remember anything?
Faking amnesia seemed like a good idea when Sam was afraid he was getting sacked, but now he has to deal with the reality of Jonathan's guilt—as well as the unsettling fact that his surly boss might have a softer side to him. There's an unexpected freedom in getting a second shot at a first impression…but as Sam and Jonathan grow closer, can Sam really bring himself to tell the truth, or will their future be built entirely on one impulsive lie?

Alexis Hall can do no wrong in my eyes, but I miss his older MM romance novels because I feel that he now caters to heterosexual women audiences more than queer readers. That being said, I was really excited to read 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED. Note: I will read any Alexis Hall novel that comes my way so thank you @sourcebookscasa for this advanced copy. Releasing this October, 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED will be a great holiday read for romance readers, and is very reminiscent of a Hallmark movie vibe.

This enemies to lovers story focuses on Sam Becker, a mattress store manager and his boss Jonathan Forest and the development of their relationship. When Jonathan has Sam report to London for a work conversation, specifically about Sam's store's inefficient work practices, Sam ends up getting hurt and getting a concussion. Sam realizes that if he milks this concussion further and pretends to have amnesia (corny romance alert!), he could bide his store some time and manipulate Jonathan to help with Sam's stores woes. What's the worst that could happen?!

This book is a total cornball fest, but it was so much fun. I did roll my eyes at times, but that's because I'm not typically a mainstream romance reader. This book is MAINSTREAM ROMANCE to a T. I am objectively reviewing this book, because I did find it too gimmicky for my particular taste (see above with audience), but I know this will be a hit for romance readers. This book is heavy on the family drama, which I really appreciated because it opened up a second storyline arc that I wasn't expecting, but overall this is your bingeworthy Alexis Hall MM romance novel that you've come to expect. Very little steam, but definitely more steam than Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble (my last recent read by the author), so gays can rejoice about that. I do hope the author goes back to his old style of MM romance storytelling, but I will also binge this author's books and 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED is a total bingeworthy read.

I should start this off by saying that I have not read Boyfriend Material or Husband Material. I have, however, read Halls’ work before and this was really different and enjoyable to read from start to finish. The found family trope is hard to pull off, but when it’s done right it packs a punch. I loved every character in this book, and I’m a picky reader that tends to pick things apart.
I do have to say that the only main con was that the amnesia plot dragged on a little too long for my liking. Essentially it lasted so long that the only way for it to be wrapped up was for it to be overly cliche and predictable. That doesn’t make it bad, but it did take away from the character’s overall bond in some ways. Many opportunities for a resolution arise and they are intercepted without much viable reason. (Imo)

This book had me laughing, which is hard to do. I’m not a romcom kind of person, or someone that likes to read comedy since I don’t find it funny most of the time. 10 Things That Never Happened did it right.

10 Things That Never Happened

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced copy of 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. I got very Red, White, & Royal Blue vibes from the cover, so I had to request.

Sam Becker is a manager of underperforming bed and bath retailer. Jonathan Forest is the owner of said retailer, and he’s growing increasingly more unimpressed with Sam’s managerial prowess. After insisting Sam make some tough staff cuts, Jonathan demands Sam come to London for a reckoning. During an intense confrontation about his potential termination , Sam is backed into a corner figuratively (literally a display shower) and bumps his head. When memory loss is suggested, Sam decides to roll with it and fake amnesia to buy him some time to save his team and their jobs.

Fearing a lawsuit due to his role in the head injury, Jonathan takes Sam to the ER. Since Sam is essentially all alone with no roommates or family members, he must leave the hospital under Jonathan’s care. Slowly, the two start settling into an odd couple domestic situation that includes Sam’s cat. Jonathan’s crazy family is injected into the mix. Sam starts to fall in love with the crazy band of misfits, and quite possibly with Jonathan as well. Fake amnesia, impending firing, vastly conflicting personalities and a potential HR nightmare are all that’s standing in their way.

This is the slowest of all slow burns, but sooo good (maybe the anticipation was just killing me). I loved the banter and felt like I was learning a different language with all the slang I picked up. It’s an immensely different dynamic that most storylines, but I think that’s what makes it amazing. Pick this one up on October 17th!

I was lucky to be gifted an ARC of this book to review. I have loved other books by this author and I couldn’t wait to drive back into his writing. This is a beautiful romance for people who want a huge amount of substance to their relationship, but with all the fuzzy feelings. I think my favorite thing about this story is the progression of the romance. It felt like the most realistic and adult relationship I’ve ever read (which is saying a lot).

This story is mainly a character driven story. It has a plot, obviously, that moves quite quickly. But the characters are what make this story so fulfilling. I don’t just mean our main two. The side characters really made this story more well rounded. We have a group at one of the stores that Sam works with that really are quite eclectic. But we also have Jonathan’s family, which is a bit much at times. Yet I found myself really falling for all of them, and their role within our main character’s lives.

And let's just talk about our main characters: I LOVE Jonathan and Sam! And I think what I love the most about their relationship is how realistic it is. When reading most romances, you do have to have this level of disbelief and just accept what is happening. Not here! They are both very open with their situation (boss and employee) and try to work around what that means. But also, they don’t change who they are for the sake of their relationship. Yes, they do have to compromise and learn about each other. But they are not entirely different people by the end of the book, which I LOVED.

Overall I fell head over heels in love with this story and the writing, which is what I expected from this author. I was hooked by these characters, and devoured this book in a matter of days. I have read a good number of books by this author at this point and he has a fan in me!

I do not know if I was in an emotional mood overall, or if this book just knew what buttons to push, but I laughed, I cried, and I was rooting for these two idiots.

Meet Sam, a bed and bath sweetheart of a manager for the most chaotic team of misfits that’s ever graced fictional Earth. When he’s not acting as a firefighter for Brian-induced disasters, he’s trying very hard to keep everyone’s jobs. Meet His Dickishness—pardon, Jonathan—the typical boss with a stick up where the sun don’t shine and a talent for pushing people away (and also into shower enclosures). Micromanaging was just a concept until this man turned it into his whole personality. And meet Gollum, the world’s ugliest cat, second of his name, betrayer of owners, stealer of hearts. Need I say more?

It's the banter potential (and delivery) for me. Alexis Hall does this very well, and if you’ve read Boyfriend Material, these characters will feel familiar to you—messy MC falls for an apparently closed-off, prickish LI. I liked this one better, because of one specific thing BM did constantly that got impossible to ignore and therefore made me remove a star from the rating. (It was the constant dunk on the LI’s food choices, in case you were wondering.) Here we get the sense that even though they do not start as equals (boss/employee), they do end up on pretty even ground, with both sides helping the other grow.

I’ll say, however, that this book requires some suspension of disbelief, which I allowed, because both characters wanted the lie to be true for different, believable reasons. I also wanted the climax and falling action to have more room to breathe. And I wanted Sam to spend more time on the planning itself. We barely see him do it, and I’m not convinced it was that simple. Lastly, I wanted more of Sam’s backstory. I could see it coming, we got hints, some bits and pieces from his interactions with Jonathan’s family. But I needed more. I still cried, don’t get me wrong. But one line in the end saying he too was trying to push things under the rug isn’t enough for me.

This book is for you if you enjoy:
- chaotic enemies-to-lovers queers
- chaotic forced proximity
- chaotic family dynamics
- chaotic lying-for-the-greater-good plot lines
- chaotic side characters
- chaos.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Alexis Hall and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Justice for Jonathan! Like, he gets hated on for the first 50% of the book before Sam finally wakes up to how adorable he is! I would probably say this about almost any book that wasn’t, but this book really should have been dual POV simply so that I could suffer WITH Jonathan as he struggled with his crush on Sam. My heart was absolutely crushed for him towards the end of the book. Honestly, I’d be good if we had cut out the first 30% or so simply because we don’t get to know the real Jonathan until around the 40% mark.

Sam and Jonathan had great chemistry! If you want some true enemies-to-lovers (meaning they’re actually mean to each other unlike a lot of books marketed that way), this is a great choice! The banter continues throughout the entire book, with each of them basically on a mission to make the other laugh. The LGBTQ+ representation was perfect! Also, have I talked enough about how clearly in love Jonathan was?! It was so adorably sad, how he felt like he didn’t deserve Sam.

I loved Jonathan’s family! They felt like a real and believable family, with the crazy grandparents and the uncle no one likes but gets invited anyway because, hey, “he’s family!” I also loved how Sam, Jonathan, and Gollum made the perfect little family. Jonathan officially became a favorite book boyfriend when he said that Gollum was their fourteenth person for Christmas dinner.

I do still have a question that wasn’t answered though, what’s up with the title? Like I get the whole amnesia thing and that Sam lied a lot, but I still feel like it made no sense.

Anyway, despite a slow beginning, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.