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!

Audio is narrated by Will Watt who does a lot of the British accent books coming out recently, and I really enjoy his voice! He did another brilliant performance.

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

I honestly don't know why I was supposed to 'root' for Sam.
I'm not a stranger to an unlikeable character - but you need to give me SOMETHING to work with.
Also, faking amnesia so he doesn't get fired for being an incompetent worker? Yikes on so many levels.
Maybe if the 'sunshine' character was, oh, I don't know, actually sunshiney then I might have liked this more. But it was just all kinds of bad to me.

What a wonderful romcom! As always with Alexis Hall, the characters are all so well done and fleshed out that you feel attached to all of them by the end. As this is part of the same universe as Boyfriend/Husband Material, you can expect the same 90s romcom vibes and humor.

The main character and love interest are so well done and so wonderfully flawed and human, I loved them instantly. Even though Johnathan is in fact a MAJOR grumpy jerk. I cannot wait for the final version, as it is it’s difficult to not go back and immediately read it again.

I don't feel like writing an actual review for this book, so here's a list of everything I liked and didn't :]

Liked
Sam can be an empathetic listener and occasionally gives some good advice.
Interesting dynamic between Jonathan's family.
Sam was really dumb but wacky. Not sure if that's good or bad.
Funny and engaging incidents
Nice understanding between Jonathon and Sam blossoms a longgg way in.
Jonathan's family was entertaining.
Decent

Didn't Like
Sam's intentions never translate properly into his actions.
The way Sam speaks to Jonathon makes no sense. How can he speak to his boss that way?
No work ever gets done.
"Family" dynamic in Sam's work branch which felt unreal.
Romance was nonexistent for most of the book and even then, it was very mild.
Jonathon is mostly a jerk.
Very long and dragging plot
Just a mixed bag of tropes, no actual plotline
I wasn't rooting for the characters or for them to end up together.

My review for this is…mixed. The writing and romance is pretty good. A nice, slow burn, but not a burn that waits to the very last pages to get the steam running. It’s an emotional resolution slow-burn. But it’s also a slow-burn on the reader, because at the start, you…you just HATE one of the protagonists.

Okay, so there’s an essential problem with this romance…and that’s capitalism. Or, well, really, it’s about power imbalances, as a result of capitalism. This is a boss/worker romance, where the boss is introduced as a HUGE asshole, and then the book works to redeem him. To an extent, he is humanized, but the fact remains that the boss is pretty ruthless. For example, when employee love interest, Sam, is injured as a result of the boss, Jonathan’s, actions, Jonathan’s first reaction is to…call his lawyer. Not an ambulance. His lawyer. And that never gets explained away. Sam just…is too in love to care.

Alexis Hall is definitely trying to capitalize on their previous series, London Calling, with this cover. Just the color scheme and design is so similar. It is set in the same world–I mean, basically the real-world England–but it’s not really a crossover. You’re getting the same style, though, with the ick of the boss/employee romance, a bit of a different feel.

As romances go, I’m not wild for this particular one. I’ve loved a few of Hall’s books in the past, so I know they write well. They just picked the wrong dynamic, here.

Advanced audio copy provided by the publisher.

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.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Alexis Hall is one of my absolute favorite authors in this genre. Their characters are always very well thought out and interesting and this book is no different. I loved Jonathan and Sam's story.

I really enjoyed Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall and I was very excited to get an ARC of the audiobook for 10 Things That Never Happened!! I will say that when I started the audiobook I was a little intimidated by the narrator’s accent (I listened at less than 1x speed for a hot second, which I NEVER do, I’m at least a 1.5x speed girl), but I quickly acclimated and didn’t have any trouble listening to the rest of the book. And I’m so glad I stuck with it because this was the best audiobook I’ve listened to in a long time!! Will Watt is a genius and brought so much warmth and character to the book. I definitely still would’ve enjoyed the book if I was reading a physical copy but the narrator had me genuinely laughing out loud with his delivery of the lines. This was such a fun and light hearted read and I’m excited to pick up more books by this author!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book so much! This was my first Alexis Hall book, and I’ve now read 6 more since I finished this about 10 days ago.

This is a sweet queer romance with wonderfully relatable characters. Hall does a wonderful job of character development and makes us really care about Sam and Jonathan, and root for them. This book is very tangentially related to the London Calling series (as in Jonathan is mentioned once in passing,) but it’s a stand-alone. If you loved Boyfriend Material though, you will 100% love this book!

The narration was stellar, he had a voice like butter!

This was a really good listen. The narrator was excellent.
It was funny but also at times touching. I found myself really invested in Sam’s initial dilemma and the teams dislike for Jonathan. But I loved how things changed and you saw new sides to the characters.
Definitely an easy listen for when you just need some time to relax and forget things.

Oooh this book... This book gave me all the fluttery feelings I also had with Boyfriend Material.

We have a wild set-up here! Sam is a store manager. When his boss, the owner of the chain, threatens to fire him and his entire team, Sam uses an opportunity and fakes amnesia!

Whut??

Sam believes that, if his boss Jonathan gets to know him better, he will accept Sam's "management style" (which includes keeping people on because they need the job even though they are absolutely actively horrible at it).

As Jonathan feels very guilty for Sam's accident and resulting fake-amnesia, he offers to care for him at his house until Sam is fine again.

Between Jonathan's family and Sam's team, we get to know a very lovable cast of side characters here. That's something I also loved very much about Boyfriend Material and makes the story feel so vivid. Plus, these people just crack me up!

Will Watt did such a delightful narration of this incredibly entertaining RomCom!

Thank you dreamscape media and netgalley for the chance to listen to the audiobook in advance in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Boyfriend Material and Husband Material audiobooks, the narrator is very good, probably one of the best I've listened to, so I hoped this would not disappoint, and it absolutely didn't: the narrator gave a distinct voice to every character and did a brilliant job.
The only setback for me at first was that, not being a native speaker, it took me a moment to get used to the accent, but once I did, I enjoyed the audiobook with little to no problem.

This is the third book by Alexis Hall I read, and they have some things in common: they can be funny; the endings are always a bit too rushed; sometimes the side characters are a bit much, as lovely and hilarious as they are, and it feels like some parts could be either cut or shortened.
All these things are particularly true for this book.

As for the two main characters, I wish there could've been at least a couple of chapters from Jonathan's POV, I think it could've made the reader understand and like him better.
Surprisingly though, despite not having a POV, he feels better fleshed out than Sam, who doesn't open up much about himself, and when he does, we don't really get to witness it.

The couple is not extremely romantic, but I did feel their moments of closeness and intimacy. I couldn't completely buy into their story though, partly because of the whole amnesia misunderstanding that I think should've been addressed sooner, and partly because of Jonathan's extremely prickly nature that would have benefited from having a POV, as I mentioned before.
Endings are not Alexis Hall's forte, and this novel just further proved it.

Being in the same universe as the London Calling books, there are some small references that readers might appreciate.

On the whole it was a funny read with a couple that has their tender moments despite everything, but I didn't like it as much as I had hoped.
The audiobook definitely made the read easier and more enjoyable.

10 Things That Never Happened is out October 17th.

Hey there fellow book friends and audio book lovers! Today, I've got the inside scoop on an excellent story that has had me giggling and grinning like the Cheshire cat: "10 Things That Never Happened" by Alexis Hall. I dove head first into this delightful audiobook adventure and finished it in less than 24 hours!

From the very start, this audiobook had me at the mention of "Lord of the Rings" super-fandom and an 'amnesia con' worthy of a Hollywood plot twist. Yes, you heard that right! You know I am a nerd at heart, so I had to read about Samwise 'Sam' Becker, the manager of a bed and bath retailer (I was sold with a Tolkien-inspired name!), and Jonathan Forest, the frosty, bossy business owner. When these two collide, it's a whirlwind of humor, wit, and unexpected chemistry.

Now my friends, imagine this: Sam faking amnesia to keep his branch alive and his coworkers employed, and Jonathan unleashing his true, frosty self. Especially when Jonathan's family show up. Talk about a comedic collision! I couldn't stop smiling and giggling as their story unfolded, and the banter had me in stitches. The slow-burn romance and the characters' relatability was the icing on the cake.

Now, let's give a round of applause to the talented voice actor, Will Watt, who brought this tale to life in the audiobook version. His voicing of Sam was nothing short of spectacular, I could listen to Will for days, he added an extra layer of charm to an already entertaining narrative. I know I will be looking for more of Will's narration in the future.

The dynamic between Sam and Jonathan is like a rollercoaster, gradually evolving from dislike to friendship and finally sparking with that undeniable attraction. Alexis Hall's genius lies in his ability to craft characters that are flawed yet utterly real and endearing.

This book stole my heart, much like it is sure to do for you, my readers. It's a story of unexpected connections, hilarious mishaps, and heartwarming moments that will stay with you long after the final chapter.

So my friends, if you're a fan of romance, humor, and characters you can't help but root for, do yourself a favor and pick up this book or audiobook. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Happy listening!

I always enjoy Alexis Hall’s romcoms and his newest is equally fun. As a huge fan of Boyfriend Material, I love that this book is set in the same world. The amnesia-caused forced proximity was such a fun trope combo and led to some hilarious but also angsty moments.

I listened on audio and have to note how brilliantly Will Watt narrated. He managed to make every character uniquely their own while also bringing the story and setting to life in such a fun and accessible way. I will definitely be on the hunt for other books he has narrated.

ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
• set in the Boyfriend Material world
• MM romance
• enemies to lovers
• forced proximity
• workplace romance
• amnesia storyline

Thank you Dreamscape Media for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really funny book. I liked the grumpy/sunshine and the utter ridiculous descriptions of the items they sold and in general the entire vibe. It was just really long, and then the ending was so abrupt. Probably could have cut out some of the dithering in the middle and gotten to the romance faster, as the characters really didn't have much chemistry until suddenly they did. Also wished we would have gotten the MCs backstory sooner, rather than finding out way at the end. Other than that, I really enjoyed it, but I found the narrator's accent extremely thick and hard to understand, so unless you are British, you should probably read this one versus doing the audio. I had to slow it way down which also is probably why it felt too long for me. I usually can listen to books at 2.5-3x comfortably and could only go 1.75-2 on this one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Sometimes you need cute. Alexis Hall always delivers on the cute. I fully supported Sam and Jonathan's relationship, even with what should have been some wonky power dynamics causing problems. Because Sam and Jonathan were both very aware of and cautious of those dynamics! Oh these two. I just want to give them hugs. This is the type of story where two decent people realize the other person is good too and slowly fall for each other. Warm Christmas themed hug with plenty to laugh over.

3.5⭐, 0.5🌶️

1st: This is a Christmas romance, and I wish the cover showed it, because I would have read it sooner!

This is a cute miscommunication/ secret romance, where Sam is pretending to have amnesia after a work accident to save his, and his coworkers jobs. But now he's spending Christmas with Jonathan and his wild family. While this is a cute and sweet clean romance, I just never became invested in the two MMC's. The romance didn't come through for me, as Jonathan was always such a shut off character (what I would give for this to be dual POV's!)

Tropes:
🟥Pretend Amnesia for MMC
⬜Forced Proximity/ Workplace-ish Romance
🟦LGBTQIA+
⬜Grumpy/ Sunshine
🟥Christmas Romance

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscapes Media for an ALC of 10 Things That Never Happened, by Alexis Hall, narrated by Will Watt. This is my honest review!

Alexis Hall does it again. This was an absolute delight to read. I was apprehensive about the amnesia plot line, but I thought it was so well done. These characters were so flawed and so human, and ultimately so relatable, even if the circumstances in which they found themselves were a little far fetched. I can't wait to pick up more by Alexis Hall. Thank you to netgalley for an audio-arc of 10 Things that Never Happened.

Absolutely, totally, completely loved this. Listen: this is a contemporary workplace romance written in the first person, present tense, and includes a main character who never thinks directly about his deepest woes, deciding to keep them a secret not only from his romantic partner but from the reader, until the very end. Do all of these things usually give us the ick? YES. Did they in this book? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

The book follows Sam and Jonathan through a farcical setup: Sam, one of Jonathan's managers at "Splashes and Snuggles" (*snort*), suffers an accident on the showroom floor. Said accident is 100% Jonathan's fault, since Jonathan is in the process of firing Sam at the time. Sam suffers a concussion, and basically falls into a fake amnesia scheme when he realizes that it means Jonathan won't think Sam remembers he's been fired. So: Sam is living with Jonathan as he recovers from his concussion and his "amnesia." He's going to try to appeal to Jonathan's better nature (he's sure he has one!) to keep Jonathan from firing all of Sam's staff. He doesn't count on their falling in love...

The book is hilarious, heartfelt, sexy, and just all around too much fun. The audio was amazing (Will Watt's performance was next level!), and the accents really added an extra touch, especially since so much was made of the cultural differences between the north and south of England. We laughed through about 95% of the book, and the other 5% brought real tears to our eyes (or at least, to the eyes of one of us!). Honestly, if you want a truly funny romcom that also brings the emotion, this is the one for you.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

I was lucky enough to receive both the audiobook and digital copies of this book and I can 100% say that the audiobook of 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall was a lot more enjoyable than just reading the book on its own. The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and infusing them with fun. I think all the audiobooks for Alexis Hall's books are worth checking out and while I didn't love 10 Things as much as his other works, I think if you are going to check out this book, you should listen to the audiobook.