Oh, how I adored this book! Alexis Hall is the WORLD LEADER of unique devices and best humor. The amount of times I laughed out loud while reading this book… too many to count!

If you loved Boyfriend Material, you’ll love this. The magic and banter Luc and Oliver had in BM is present here, but in a refreshing way. I was completely engrossed in this story and didn’t put it down until I finished.

I can’t wait for everyone to read 10 Things That Never Happened!

*ARC received from NetGalley with thanks in exchange for an honest review*

Take one sunshine with hidden hurts, a grumpy git with a secret cinnamon centre, and unfortunate yet handy concussion courtesy of Nexa by MERLYN 8mm sliding door shower enclosure, one grumpy cat, an unruly lock of white streaked hair, a mahoossive Christmas tree and you get a pretty perfect holiday read to clutch upon your chest.

Set in the same universe as Boyfriend Material and Husband Material, 10 things that never happened is the first book in the Material World Series. In bears all the AJH hallmarks I’ve come to expect from his writing: highly nuanced, imperfect yet most lovable characters, laugh out loud humour, touching moments of togetherness, grief and longing. If you like your books with a keen, intelligent and always kind and compassionate take on human fallibility and lovability, here’s yet another book for you. It was in equal measures funny and very very moving, yet another reminder of Hall’s mastery as a rom com writer.

Samwise Becker is like no other AJH character I’ve met. Born and raised in Liverpool, a laid back northern lad through and through, we meet him as a kindly, staff oriented manager of a Sheffield based bath and bedroom superstore. He’d internalised the company ethos and the products therein in just the right irreverent piss taking way. Sam’s team of employees is far from perfect and stain free, yet he leads them with kindness and fond exasperation. Much as he cares for his impervious cat Gollum. Sam’s levels of tolerance for imperfection are tested by his encounters with the owner of the chain of stores, Jonathan Forest (who we first met at Miles and Jojo’s wedding in HM where Luc refers to him as a human version of a Christmas cracker joke - bringing people together by getting them to agree how awful the joke is. My poor baby!). Gruff and grumpy and aloof and anxious with a soft cuddly centre in all the best ways. Thrown together by circumstance in a forced proximity set up, we get to see and enjoy the layers being uncovered one by one as the argument gets made as to why these two are such an excellent fit. Not despite their flaws and hurts but very much because of them.

I loved getting to know the main characters and watching them inevitably drawn towards one another as both their stories gradually unfold. I wish more books utilised a cat as a judge of character. The amnesia plot is deftly handled and held my interest all the way through. As ever, the cast of side characters, here mainly Sam’s colleagues and Jonathan’s larger (and louder) than life family preparing for Christmas, are sketched and brought to life with such attention to detail! I cannot wait to listen to the audio once available and super look forward to continuing this series. A will most definitely read again 5⭐️ from me.

This stand-alone rom-com is so funny, witty, and adorable. I devoured this book in one day and laughed the whole way through. I struggled a bit to get into it at first because the first couple chapters are a whole lot of retail management. As someone who worked in retail management for quite some time and absolutely hated every minute of it, it was a tad bit hard to push through the first 2-3 chapters since it literally feels like you're there in the showroom working with the characters. Which kudos to the author there for writing it so well that it really feels like you're there working it. Otherwise, I loved every single bit of this story. I love the SUPER grump and sunshine dynamic between Samwise and Johnathan. Johnathans family dynamic was also super relatable. By the end of this book you will have fallen in love with all the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book ahead of the release date in exchange for a honest review. All opinions stated are fully my own.

This was a delightful installment from Alexis Hall that I'm thrilled to recommend to other rom com lovers. This is a classic grumpyxsunshine romance with two characters who are both in need of change and, of course, romance. As with other Alexis Hall books, the grumpy character is sometimes so startlingly grumpy at the beginning that I feel confused as to how these two characters will connect, but inevitably they fit together really well.

This is a really feel-good rom com that feels perfect for a movie, and I think Hall's fans (particularly fans of Boyfriend Material) will love it!

You want a romcom, Alexis Hall is your guy.

This was such an enjoyable read from start to finish. As is typical for Alexis Hall, he writes characters that are flawed in such relatable ways that there isn’t any reason to not root for them.

Sam is a personable, easy-going manager who thinks of his employees (and they are certainly hilariously quirky and unique and perhaps not as good at their jobs as they should be) as people first and employees second. Jonathan is the opposite. He’s as grumpy and set in his ways as Roy Kent…he’s also Sam’s boss and naturally far more concerned with profits and budgets and keeping his businesses afloat. In a moment where they are butting heads, Sam trips and then pretends that he has amnesia in order to get himself some time to figure out how to save his job and the jobs of everyone that works under him. With nowhere else to go and so far from home, and Sam both amnesiac and with a concussion there is nowhere else he can go but to Jonathan’s house.

It is a recipe in disaster, hilarity, and so much fun for the reader. Truly it does not disappoint. From the moments where they are butting heads and arguing, to them getting to actually know each other and finding value in their opposing perspectives.

This book is also set at Christmas time which serves to bring forth Jonathan’s very loud and very loving family and while at first it’s just full of quirky and fun characters that help to paint a better picture of Jonathan, they are also so essential to the story in terms of everything that Sam is going through and because they are all so warm and welcoming and cozy in a way that family is supposed to be while also of course getting in each other’s nerves.

The best stories are full of depth and nuance in a way that isn’t immediately noticeable. This is one of those. Absolutely such a good read.

10 Things That Never Happened is a wonderful addition to the London Calling series. Just as in Boyfriend Material/Husband Material (and most of his books for that matter), Hall created two perfectly imperfect characters that somehow fit together- and the reader can’t help loving. Combine that with a set of zany circumstances and the whole book is rather delightful.

Well, this book absolutely blew me away, and I devoured it in a day.

10 Things That Never Happened follows Sam(wise), the manager for a struggling branch of midsize bed & bath store Splashes and Snuggles, and his accidental romance with company CEO Jonathan. Sam and his team dread Jonathan's calls, especially when he tells Sam to lay off employees before the holidays, but in a twist of fate, Sam slips and falls in front of Jonathan and ends up faking amnesia while Jonathan becomes his caregiver. Initially, it's to save his team and his own job, but as he discovers who Jonathan is behind his stony facade, he just might be falling in love...

I loved everything about this book. The premise is absolutely bonkers but executed well, the banter is top-notch, and the side characters are hilarious (I'm starting to think Hall does side characters very, very well, because I adored the side characters in Mortal Follies, too). I love how Hall pulls off both the grumpy/sunshine and the enemies(?)/lovers; it feels believable, and though there is a good deal of miscommunication, it didn't feel over the top or annoying. I think the romance between Sam and Jonathan is well developed. I also like Sam's narrative voice a lot; I didn't read an audiobook, but I can imagine the narration would be excellent. If there's one critique, it's that the middle felt a bit weighed down, because some of the banter between the members of Jonathan's (very large) family dragged on.

10 Things That Never Happened lifted me out of my reading slump and scratched my oddly specific itch for a rom-com with the energy of Superstore. It's festive, cute, and heartfelt, and I can imagine it's going to be such a hit this holiday season.

This is my first Alexis Hall rom-com (unless Mortal Follies counts?!), and it definitely won't be my last. Many thanks to NetGalley, SourceBooksCasa, and Alexis Hall for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was an enjoyable grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, fake amnesia romance. Both MCs are average-looking people(!), who are very flawed, but know their flaws and spend the book working on them like real adults. It’s very British, so many of the more regional culture-specific stuff went over my head but not in a way that affected my comprehension of the story itself (maybe a glossary of sorts might help American readers?). Set in the same world as Boyfriend/Husband Material, but a very different vibe. Also, it’s an AJH book, so you’re getting an HFN (vs HEA). This works for me, but your mileage may vary. Oh! And there’s an ugly cat named Gollum who definitely should have gotten cover illustration billing (is it too late for that?). I hope Joe Jameson does the audiobook because his work on the Boyfriend Material books is perfect 🤩

I am begging Alexis Hall to stop writing accents into their dialogue. Please. I am B E G G I N G

tl;dr all the signs pointed to me disliking this but I really liked this

I'm going to get the bad out of the way first: I have a love-hate relationship with Alexis Hall's books in that I usually love the concepts and main characters, but I hate the side characters and b-plots throughout the entire book. 10 Things wasn't different in that regard. Our side characters consist of a chaotic and smarmy extended family, a chaotic and smarmy group of coworkers (this is the group in which we find our token Idiot, which has become a character trope in the Hall-verse in an of itself), and a smarmy cat. I couldn't have cared less about any of them -- maybe three of the whole set got redeeming scenes throughout the book, but there were just! too! many! side! characters!

I also think the publisher should stop advertising this as being set in the same universe as Boyfriend Material, because the lack of any substantial crossover was disappointing considering the marketing for it.

One thing I did not expect when cracking this open (metaphorically, thank you Netgalley for a digital copy, send me a physical one too please, thanks, kisses xoxo) was how much I'd enjoy the conflict between the main couple. I'm not an amnesia fan - it's not a trope I've ever cared about -- so I was predisposed to dislike how strongly that featured in this book. I was wrong. I loved it. It was totally ridiculous and unbelievable, but I still loved it.

Jonathan and Sam are the selling point in this book. They're both more grounded than the other protagonist-pairs I've read of Hall's, and their conflict and developing relationship feels genuine despite the outlandish circumstances surrounding Sam's fake amnesia. That Jonathan could legitimately fall for it became less and less believable over time, and I think I would have liked the twist that he figured it out but went along with it at some point, but that isn't what we get. Still, I liked it, and Hall was never late to the witty banter, which was what drew me to reading Boyfriend Material in the first place.

I think this is probably the best book of Hall's I've read so far, but I do think it's odd only three or four books were listed on the "also by" page when Hall has like .... 20 books on their website...

P.S: I get that writing out the accents is supposed to help us imagine their voices, but after the note that Sam is supposed to sound like The Vivienne, nobody needed to see yez written out every two pages. We only need the reminder one time.

4 out of 5 Stars.

I have loved many other Alexis Hall books, but this one was not my favorite. It could 100% be a me problem because the fake amnesia thing made me really uncomfortable and I dreaded the confrontation when it was inevitably revealed. The banter wasn't quite as sparkling as I have come to expect, either. That's not to say there aren't funny moments--there certainly are. I am just used to a certain amount of joke/banter density that was not achieved here. I will, however, continue to snap his books up as they become available to me.

Charming and funny, 10 Things That Never Happened, is a quirky love story set against the drop of the intensely interesting world of big box bed and bathroom stores in modern Britain. Jonathan Forrest is a self made man….building up a chain of successful stores on his own. He’s driven and humorless and has a fraught relationship with is working class family. Jonathan provides them money but hates that he grew up poor, bullied at school, disdained at university and deeply ashamed of his father for being a failure as a provider. He loves them the only way he’ll allow himself…from afar and being the provider that his Dad never was. He’s cold and all business and his employees think he’s a dick. Sam/Samwise Becker is the manager of the least profitable branch stores and isn’t very good at it. Many of his staffers are really bad and have no ambition. Sam knows all their backstories so he can’t fire any of them because he knows their families will suffer. Hard nosed Jonathan doesn’t care about any of that and call Sam to the main office…probably to fire him and his motley team. During the meeting. Sam makes Jonathan so mad that he uncharacteristically loses it and screams at Sam..marketing Sam back away and into a very expensive, very heavy item in the story. It crashed down on Sam and he has a concussion that may or may not induce amnesia. Sam has no one in his life so Jonathan is guilted into taking him in to watch him and make sure Sam’s head injury doesn’t get worse. Will these 2 wounded souls get together, will Jonathan’s huge and noisy family drive them all crazy during Christmastime, will Sam’s odd cat love Jonathan more that Sam????

This was very cute!
It really scratched the itch I had for a ridiculous rom-com. I love grumpy-sunshine, a touch of hurt/comfort, and when characters are sarcastic assholes. There's also an ugly cat named Gollum, which is truly the cherry on top. I found the romance very sweet, it had me kicking my feet while reading. The relationship progression felt very organic (despite the amnesia-related lack of communication). Even the frustrating bits (keeping secrets/miscommunication tropes) were bearable knowing that the payoff would be worth it (and it was!)
xoxo would read again.

If you and your coworkers were on the precipice of being fired, the clear solution to avoid said firing would be to get a concussion, fake amnesia, and move in with your boss during the lead-up to Christmas, right? Right?

Well, that’s the solution Sam (short for Samwise) comes up with in 10 Things That Never Happened. And Alexis Hall’s pairing of the muppet and the miser—both of whom are a bit adrift in their own ways—had me grinning, warmed my heart, and tugged at my heartstrings. It’s a grumpy-sunshine pairing wrapped up in a boss-employee pairing tied up in a forced proximity/roommates-style bow. And it is fantastic.

Jonathan Forest is “all tall and dark and grumpy” and I adored watching him warm up to Gollum, the disfigured cat, and to Sam. As per usual, Hall weaves in heavier themes along with his sense of humor, so you find yourself in turn chuckling and feeling for Sam and Jonathan. And the supporting cast of characters—from the bed and bath store employees to Jonathan’s gregarious family members—are sure to keep you entertained.

I highly recommend it.

I received an advance copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This book was slightly underwhelming but still a nice story! It centers around an overly nice MC and a grumpy boss, and let me tell you...grumpy sunshine tropes are my favorite! I really enjoyed their dynamic, as well as the dynamic each of their crazy "families" (work and biological) added to the storyline.

10 Things That Never Happened is a sweet queer romance with lots of banter. If you enjoy a silly romcom premise with lots of Alexis Hall’s signature quips, you’ll adore this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Samwise is working at a soulless bed and bath superstore in Sheffield, trying to cover up for his inept staff with Jonathan, his uptight boss. But when Jonathan summons Sam to London to account for his store’s lackluster production, Sam accidentally hits his head after Jonathan tells him he’s going to be fired. So naturally Sam pretends to have amnesia so that Jonathan will feel bad and not fire him and his staff after all. In true romcom fashion, Jonathan ends up taking care of concussed and amnesiac Sam, along with his grumpy cat Gollum during his recovery. But when the two begin to develop feelings for each other, how can Sam admit that he remembers everything?

This premise is the kind of ridiculousness that only happens in a romcom, but if you suspend disbelief, it works. How else would this pair be in forced proximity together? I’ll admit that it took me a little while to really get into the story, but once I adjusted to the slower pacing, I settled in for the enjoyable story.

This book is filled with the best banter and quips, which are Alexis Hall’s forte. And Jonathan’s entire extended family is hilarious while feeling realistic too. But, I think this book has a more wistful tone than Boyfriend Material. The romance is a slow burn, and once Sam and Jonathan do get together, it’s definitely closed door.

There is a lot of England-specific geography and observations packed into this book. I loved that it immersed me in Sam’s point of view, but I needed my friend Google’s help a few times to clarify details. It was refreshing, too, that homosexuality is a nonissue in this story. Both Sam and Jonathan are completely comfortable with their identities and the people around them couldn’t care less. Clearly they both have other issues, but their sexuality isn’t one of them.

10 Things That Never Happened is a slow, slow burn queer romcom. I think it’s a much quieter and introspective book than Boyfriend Material, though. It’s a charming book, and it’s always a treat to spend time with Alexis Hall’s witty and slightly damaged characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first Alexis Hall book so I was very appreciative to have this opportunity! I didn't really enjoy this one which made me sad because this was my first read by him. But, I appreciated the attention to detail to where the characters are based and came from. I also liked the premise so I think it was a decent execution that was a bit lost on me. I also liked the side characters and the idea they were the stars of the show in a way. I didn't particularly care for the other main characters but I enjoyed this. It was different from what I expected but in a good way.

I really enjoyed this book! I though Sam and Jonathan's relationship was really fun to watch unfold, and I enjoyed learning about both of them. The amnesia thing could've seemed a lot cheesier and unrealistic, but somehow it worked. I enjoyed hearing about the workplace antics, and I feel like there's room for another book from Claire's point of view, or something like that. I really loved hearing about what was going on at the store. I am curious to learn more about how Jonathan started the store. I understand his motivations for working hard, but I'm still a bit confused on exactly how successful he is and how he started the company. I will definitely recommend this book, especially to people who are looking for a romance with little spice. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC!

This is the Christmas Rom-Com that needs to be made into a movie, like immediately. Sam is so funny and adorable. Jonathan is so buttoned up and bottom lined. They make no sense until they make perfect sense and all it took was a real concussion and a some fake amnesia. To be fair, I absolutely adored Boyfriend Material and Husband Material so I suspected I was floating back into a world I was already in love with. There are so many wonderful, sweet, hysterical, heartbreaking moments in this story, but I don't want to ruin any of them for anyone. So you'll just have to trust me - READ THIS BOOK!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I'm so damn excited that there are going to be more in this series.

A lovely Hallmark-esque novel. Sam tries to save his job and those of the employees he manages by taking amnesia after an accident involving the owner of the company. Great summer read! For Fans of Red, White and Royal Blue.

The best of Hallmark movies meets Goldie Hawn in Overboard, this was a delightful read – harsh, workaholic businessman Jonathan meets too-kind-for-this-world Sam and amnesia-related shenanigans ensue. Maybe it’s because I’m such a fan of Christmas, but this might be my favourite of Alexis Hall’s books.
The good:
Jonathan is faceted and not just your usual “all I am is a business-y businessman” character. I like that along with Sam, we keep getting surprised when he acts “out of character” or when he shows a softer side. (His attachment to Gollum is ridiculously endearing). Jonathan’s rambunctious family never feels like it strays into caricature when it very easily could. Instead, they come off as maybe the most normal family ever – a little too loud, a little too much, but family all the same and full of love for each other.
The growing feelings between Jonathan and Sam are so well written and fantastically paced to torture the reader just enough without it being too drawn out or too out of the blue.
I also enjoyed that Hall doesn’t fall into the saccharine nonsense that makes Hallmark movies what they are – Jonathan doesn’t have some kind of sudden personality change just because he has feelings from Sam and is making an effort to be a kinder person. It’s a very realistic shift for the character.
The turn when Jonathan finds out that Sam has been lying about amnesia the entire time was well done in my opinion, too – I honestly was waiting for Jonathan to say that he knew the whole time, so his actually being fooled came as a little bit of a surprise to me.
The not-as-good:
I wish that we got more of Sam’s backstory sooner. I think it would add a lot to his character to know a little bit more about why he is the way he is. Learning at the end that he lost the majority of his family in one fell swoop makes his focus on people-over-profit make a lot of sense. There are little crumbs about his relationship with his Nan too, that might make his protectiveness of Brian (who has his own grandmother to care for) make a lot more sense as well. Sam comes off feeling a little two-dimensional in comparison to Jonathan because we get so much more background and context for why Jonathan is the way he is. It would have been nice to have similar attention paid to Sam earlier on in the story.
Overall:
On the whole, like I said, my favourite Alexis Hall book by quite a bit.