“The apotheosis of the rom-com.” —Entertainment Weekly, A+ ReviewNamed a best book of the year by Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Goodreads, The Washington Post, and more!
WANTED:One (fake) boyfriendPractically perfect in every way
Luc O’Donnell is tangentially—and reluctantly—famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he’s never met spent the next twenty years … rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he’s never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad’s making a comeback, Luc’s back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.
To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship…and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He’s a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he’s never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately, apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.
But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that’s when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don’t ever want to let them go.
Discover the LGBT romance about exact opposites falling in perfectly imperfect love that New York Times and USA Today bestselling author CHRISTINA LAUREN calls “hilarious, witty, tender, and stunning.”
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Happy Pub Day to this FUN romantic comedy about a M/M relationship that blew me away!
Poor Luc is adjacent to famous because of his rock star father that walked out on him more than 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the paparazzi don’t care that he doesn’t he even know his dad. Luc’s every taboo, drunken mishap, and clumsy moment is shared in tabloids. The paparazzi seem to have a way of being there whenever he doesn’t need them to be. He works at a charitable foundation to save dung beetles and his job is on the line because of his wild escapades and some homophobia.
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Luc’s coworker and friends help him fake a relationship that appears healthy to solidify his job and get him a bit of good press. He ends up with Oliver a man he loves to dislike as his new fake man!
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Their relationship struggles and issues were the perfect escape! I honestly loved both characters, laughed out loud a lot, was immersed in corny jokes, London, and two men fumbling to figure out family dramas and relationships together.
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I’m always here for the hate to love trope! I fall for it every time! I just plan enjoyed this one! If you still swoon for Red, White, and Royal Blue I think you’ll love this one too!
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/5 stars! This gem is out today so pick it up and laugh out loud! Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebookscasa for an advanced copy of the book for my honest review!
In short, I loved this book! The main characters are realistically screwed up and messy, and I like how that manifests in their relationship with one another. The dialogue is so smart. I was always cringing at the way Luc would misinterpret people’s intentions through the lens of his worldview and self-perception, then respond in a way that seemed inappropriate or defensive. It can be frustrating, but since we know what’s happening in his head, it feels realistic. The writing overall is witty and funny, striking the perfect tone for this romantic comedy.
My only complaints are that the character development feels uneven between the two main characters, and the supporting cast feels a bit caricature-y for me. But they do provide some good humor and a fun backdrop for the story. The romance at the heart of it all is charming and takes the reader on a full, satisfying journey.
This was my first read by Alexis Hall and I found it to be a really fun read. Completely amazing and witty banter among all the characters not just the main characters. A fun, fake-boyfriend storyline. Some parts had me picturing Love, Actually with all the campy, former star, dance routines (there weren’t any dance routines in the book mind you, it just brought that entire movie to mind, up to and including the late night, door step grovels). Luc needs to clean up his act and Oliver just needs a buffer of his own. These two should never work, but when they do find a common ground it is amazingly beautiful and fun. I’m needing more Alexis Hall in my future.
Glorious queer Brit romantic comedy with a diverse cast of best friends, two seriously damaged men attempting the fake boyfriend trope because neither of them are cut out for a real relationship and a sharp sense of humour.
The only thing I don’t like about this book is that it ENDED and now I’m not reading it any more. Luc is such a wry, witty protagonist that somehow his overwhelming self-loathing isn’t remotely off-putting, which is such a clever author trick that I cannot see how it was done.
I read this in a single afternoon.
5 hilarious and wonderfully entertaining stars!
Oh, I loved this book! A witty, intelligent, delightfully entertaining m/m opposites-attract romantic comedy with a fake relationship setup and a fantastic duo of flawed but fabulous heroes that you cannot help but cheer for. I read it in a day, absolutely captivated from start to finish, and enjoyed every moment!
Lucien (Luc) O’Donnell is an absolute hot mess. The son of now-almost-forgotten 80s rockstars, he is a sort-of-celebrity whose life is splashed across the tabloids, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of questionable behaviour as he gets closer and closer to rock bottom. He’s pretty much there when his work with a local charity tells him he needs to improve his public image by entering into a suitable, stable relationship.
He is set up by a friend with snooty, serious barrister, Oliver Blackwood. They have met before, but it didn’t really go well, and neither of them think too highly of the other. But a temporary fake relationship also suits Oliver’s needs, so they agree to spend time together – both in and out of the public eye – to make their relationship look as real as possible until they go their separate ways.
“Explain to me again,” said Oliver finally, “why you need a boyfriend?”
It was the least I owed him. “Mainly for this big fundraiser we’ve got coming up at the end of April. Our donors all think I’m a bad gay.”
He frowned. “What’s a good gay?”
“Someone like you.”
“I see.”
OMG, I love these two boys! They are so well developed, as different as can be, and watching them bicker, argue and tease is so much fun!
“You know you’re wearing pyjamas wrong, right?”
He didn’t look up. “Oh?”
“Yeah, you’re supposed to just wear the bottoms, and have them hanging low on your hips, displaying your perfectly chiselled V-cut.”
“Maybe next time.”
I thought about this for a moment. “Are you saying you have a perfectly chiselled v-cut?”
“I’m not sure that’s any of your business.”
“What if someone asks? I should know for verisimilitude.”
The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. “You can say I’m a gentleman and we haven’t got that far.”
“You” – I gave a thwarted sigh – “are a terrible fake boyfriend.”
“I’m building fake anticipation.”
“You’d better be fake worth it.”
“I am.”
I love their snappy dialogue and their text conversations are a real treat. But underneath it all, they both have their vulnerabilities, characterised by sweetly tender moments and adorably endearing awkwardness.
“I miss you.
Sorry. Was that too much?
I know it’s only been a few days.
Maybe this is why people don’t want to go out with me.
Not that you’re really going out with me anyway.
I hope I didn’t sound presumptuous.
I’m probably sounding really weird now.
I’m assuming you’re not texting back because you’re still asleep. Not because you think I’m disgustingly clingy.
If you’re awake and think I’m disgustingly clingy, could you at least tell me.
Right. You’re probably asleep.
And now you’re going to wake up and read all this and I’m going to die of embarrassment.
Sorry.”
And as they get to know each other, they begin to understand each other, and of course things start to change. They form a connection which sparks change in both of their lives, and watching them slowly evolve was just gorgeous! There are, understandably, some anxieties there, but they just go with it, which I loved, and the slow burn of their relationship plays out beautifully!
“I don’t want fine. Fine isn’t enough. Isn’t not about the open fire or whatever other clichés you can conjure up, but yes, I want a connection. I want you to care as much as I care. I want you to need it and want it and mean it. I want it to matter.”
And the love story is so lovely. It’s sweet and funny with great chemistry, and these two guys genuinely care for each other. They are thoughtful and kind with each other, but still with this sense of fun and playfulness, and seeing them together seriously gave me happy tingles! There is intimacy, but there are no actual sex scenes, so if you’re new to the m/m genre, this is a pretty tame one to start with.
“These weren’t just yeah whatever kisses. They weren’t take it or leave it, get your coat you’ve pulled kisses. They were everything I thought I could never have, everything I’d been pretending I never wanted, telling me that I was worth it, that he’d be there for me and put up with me and wouldn’t let me drive him away.
Oliver Blackwood was giving all that to me, and I was giving it right back.”
The book is written entirely from Luc’s perspective, and though we get a really good sense of Oliver (who I adore), I loved that we got to experience everything through Luc. He is such a disaster, and he has created a disaster of his life, and as much as this is a love story, he also has other issues that he needs to work through and I loved that we get to see him deal with his problems, work to get himself out of his funk and get his life back on track.
And then there’s the fantastic crew of supporting characters. Luc’s friends and colleagues are a fantastically developed group of weird and wonderful personalities – all very realistic (some of them scarily so) – that add so much to the story. From the bland and truly idiotic to the devastatingly selfish, the lovingly devoted and everything in between. Watching Luc’s interactions with the people in his life is a real highlight of the book.
“Mum patted him reassuringly. “Oh, Oliver … I am sure you are one of the best gays.”
I glanced back to find Oliver looking faintly flustered. “Mum, stop ranking homosexuals. It doesn’t work like that.”
If you’re a fan of wonderfully character-driven English comedy movies Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, you’ll love this book. So many times while reading, I thought of those movies with their imperfect characters and diverse and quirky friend groups, and then all of those fantastic British-isms that add so much charm. This book is an experience that sucks you in and doesn’t let go until the final pages.
There is a bit of drama to bring the emotion, but mostly this is an angst-free read that made me smile, laugh out loud and fall in love, and I just adored it!
I absolutely adored this novel. I felt for Luc right from the start, and even though he can be a jerk, the author did a great job of showing the reader where he was coming from. It was often funny, sometimes tragic, and the writing kept me so engrossed that I stayed up WAY past my bedtime to finish reading. There’s something about the story that kept having me say “just one more chapter.”
Luc’s character growth throughout the novel was steady and realistic. He does experience setbacks as he grows, and he hurts people along the way, but at his core he’s simply trying to protect himself from getting hurt again. Oliver was equally endearing. I loved him so much. I would like my own Oliver, please and thank you. I even loved the antics of Luc’s coworkers even though you might have to suspend disbelief here.
What kept it from being a five-star read was the cast of zany characters that make up Luc’s friends. I liked some more than others, and found some to be offensive and OTT. And a second thing is the ending. It felt a touch rushed. I needed a little more to show me that Luc and Oliver are happy, whether that was an extra chapter or an epilogue.
Overall, this was a fun novel full of British humour that I’ll admit, I didn’t always understand, quirky characters, a sympathetic MC, and a swoon-worthy love interest. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.
I loved this book. This is my first book by this author and it’s funny and emotional and a perfect rom-com. The FEELS though! It hits you right in the gut!! And I’m always a sucker for a good fake dating novel.
The entire book is from Luc’s POV and honestly he’s a complete mess. I sort of envy his brain though because the way he thinks is delighfully quirky. I adored Oliver. I just wrap him in bubble-wrap and protect him. They are so cute together.
I love the banter and some of the lines are unexpectedly hilarious and made me laugh out loud. Loved the secondary characters, especially Luc’s best friends. I also really liked Oliver’s friends.
It’s fun and entertaining and a bit angsty and really well written. I would have loved a more solid ending though. Maybe an epilogue? It just feels a bit abrupt.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book!
*ARC provided by Sourcebooks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
I loved this book so much.
The writing was great and kept me glued to my kindle until the last page.
It’s funny, smart and heartwarming. I loved both of them and all the awkward moments and slow burn love story.
Highly recommend it.
This is the first book I’ve read by Alexis Hall, and after such a beautiful, witty, and at times intense story I discovered in the pages of BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, this most definitely won’t be the last.
With perfectly timed humour, one that captures quintessential British wit and sarcasm so perfectly, it was impossible to not get sucked into Luc’s story as he navigates his journey of acceptance and self-belief while finding a man who is so perfectly opposite, it’s clear that these men are wonderfully right for each other.
The narrative managed to punch me in the gut a time or two, just as it gripped my heart, making it impossible not to be moved by Luc and Oliver’s journeys.
Simply put, I adored both characters. Loved their distinctive voices, their unique personalities, and their connection. And boy was their chemistry off the charts incredible—all without an explicit sex scene.
A truly beautiful romance offering the perfect indulgent escapism.
Quirky but endearing characters, sweet and lovely romance, but setting that is so realistic and psychological issues that anyone can relate to…This was a page turner. The beginning parts of the book can be slightly slow so we can be introduced to the background. One might wander how is this character so lost? But all will be cleared up after few chapters, it will be hard to put down.
I loved this so much. From the adorable cover to the sweet ending.
Luc is kind of a mess, and it seems that fake dating a guy who he thinks doesn’t like him is a good solution. Oliver is stuffy and odd but smart and does super well in social situations. They’re both flawed, and watching them try to navigate this not so fake relationship was so entertaining, sweet, and at times a little swoony.
Then there are a couple scenes that seriously made me laugh loud and long, and made my family ask me what in the world I was reading. I haven’t laughed like that in awhile. I do have to admit though, that a lot of terms and references went right over my head, since they are from another country. But maybe I’m just a little not smart enough to know them. Regardless, this was such a great story about two boys finding love in an unexpected way, that I would read tons of books about them as they go through their lives together.
Witty, optimistic, and sweetly romantic!
Boyfriend Material is a sassy, vivacious, delightful tale featuring the affable, fun-loving Luc and the intense, thoughtful Oliver as they discover that there may be more to their relationship than just convenience, pretend feelings, and fake dating.
The writing is humorous and sharp. The characters are charismatic, dependable, and engaging. And the plot is an irresistible blend of tension, humour, sexual innuendoes, sizzling chemistry, flirty banter, familial drama, friendship, awkward mishaps, tender moments, introspection, and tricky situations.
Overall, Boyfriend Material is an amusing, cheeky, brilliant tale by Hall that had everything I look for in a lighthearted rom-com and more. I loved the characters, I loved the storyline, and I loved the happy-ever-after ending. It is without a doubt one of my favourite reads of the year and is definitely the must-read novel for summer 2020. Red, White, and Royal Blue was the must-read novel of 2019 and dare I say it, I think I liked this one even more!
I am such a sucker for “fake” to love relationships, and Boyfriend Material doesn’t disappoint! The book is nicely set up and gives you just enough info on the characters to be interested but not too much where you are bored.
Luc has never met his dad, has been rock star now making a come back, but it doesn’t stop people from using him to sell newspapers and tabloids. It ends up causing him to mentally shut down and even loses his lucrative career. The only place that will hire him is a charity for dung beetles.
A photo taken at the wrong time, makes his life seem out of control; to the point that it is damaging the charity. So either clean up his act for find another job. A fake boyfriend seems perfect on the surface but when it turns out to be Oliver the plan seems impossible. They both take the other at surface value, which leads to their distain. Oliver is a lawyer, who is clean cut and seems to have the perfect life, minus a partner of course.
I loved that both guys had problems to sort through and even the most “perfect” guy was putting on an act to some degrees. This book dives deep but still retains that dry British humor we all know and love.
Excellent book! Give it a try!!
To me this was the perfect romance book. I loved it so much. I loved Luc and Oliver and all their funny flawed friends. I will have to read more from this author and see if her other books are as good as this one. Read it, you’ll love it too.
Boyfriend Material is the epitome of a classic British rom-com in that Bridget Jones-esque kinda way.
Luc is the son of two famous 80/90’s rock stars who still doesn’t have his act together or so the tabloids say. But actually the tabloids are right and he is really in need of cleaning up his act especially if he wants to save his job.
Oliver is a Barrister and is quite straight laced in all aspects of his life but can’t seem to keep a man interested for the long run. When Luc approaches him with the idea of them fake dating he decides to put a little twist in his life to see where it takes him.
These two are so utterly different. About as different as two people can be but you can see how these two might just be the perfect compliment to the other and you’ll be hooting and hollering for them to just see it.
I loved the entirety of this book. The secondary characters are such a blast!! They add so much dimension and a whole other layer to this story and you want them to be your best friends. I really Hope AH decides to do another story from this cast of characters because I would be first in line to see more into their world.
Absolutely brilliant!!!!
**Received review copy through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**
This wasn’t a standout but it was a sorta kinda cute British romance. One of the key components about this novel I really liked was the opposites attract theme. Luc and Olivier worked out beautifully and it was great to watched them grow together. Besides that, there’s not much to rave about. I liked the characters but the rest of the content… was a snoozefest. I just didn’t care much about the storyline. It was dull and bland which is disappointing considering I had high hopes for this. Oh well, I guess you can’t win them all.
Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review
4.5 stars
I go on Netgalley, and sometimes wish for a book. For the first time ever, a wish was granted, and it was for Boyfriend Material – the one I really, really wanted.
And I have to say that this is my favourite Alexis Hall book since Ardy Baby’s series
First of all, I love the cover. I am really liking the cartoon style covers more than photographs these days.
Luc and Oliver’s tale is an adorable story of opposites attracting. They shouldn’t work, but they totally do. I came in expecting a lovely rom-com, however I was not expecting the emotions that I felt. So many feels on Luc’s part.
There were plenty of laughs and adorably quirky moments. Luc is the awkwardish, weirdish but completely lovely to Oliver’s buttoned up, stiff upper lip. They complement each other so, so well.
And there are some secondary character that I insist get a spin off book. Alex and Miffy are so marvelously clueless, that I smiled every single time they were on the page. They made me laugh our loud with the level of dumb – but it is not a stupid level of dumb. Think of Hugo and Alice from The Vicar of Dibley and you have Alex and Miffy.
Boyfriend Material also gave me Bridget Jones’ Diary vibes – and I love that movie hard.
I finished and wanted more.
3.5*
The trope and the plot of Boyfriend Material are top notch. A romance where the fake relationship is used to improve the appeal of one of the other characters, and then they end up falling for each other is basically candy for me. I even enjoyed both of the heroes and their reluctantly budding relationship. As up and down as it may have been. That being said the flow of the writing was what kept me peep sally, from fully investing. I even took some time after I initially finished reading to write this review.
What I did was go back in and read some scenes that I’d highlighted, and reading them as a piece and not as part of the whole made me enjoy them way more. So I think what I’m trying to say is that I enjoyed this read, it’s incredibly well written and entertaining and as it’s my first from this author it felt fresh and fun, but the writing style may just not be for me.
I think that anyone who loves fake dating trope and M/M will enjoy this romance read!
Alexis Hall’s Boyfriend Material is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.
Luc O’Donnell is kind of a mess. The product of two famous rock stars, he constantly finds himself on the wrong side of the paparazzi. In order to save his reputation and his job, he needs to find a fake boyfriend who is stable and… normal. Oliver Blackwood is all of those things, and, he inexplicably agrees to Luc’s plan. Though neither seem to have much in common beyond the fact that they’re both single, the longer they are in their fake relationship, the more real it becomes. Can they both overcome their insecurities to give it a real go? Or will they go their separate ways as initially planned?
Boyfriend Material is one of the wittiest, funniest novels that I’ve read in a long time. Hall’s writing is razor sharp, and his dialogue is a joy to read. The development of Luc and Oliver’s relationship feels so authentic that you feel that you know the characters in real life. I thought the narrative decision to write in first person from Luc’s perspective was perfect for the story. I also enjoyed the friendships and other relationships that were depicted in the book.
In all, I think Boyfriend Material is one of the best romances of 2020 that I’ve read thus far.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Luc is working for a charity who does not appreciate seeing his mistakes in the gossip rags. While he does try his best, his semi-famous father is trying to make a comeback that is putting him in the sort of spotlight. His friends and co-workers think he should try to date someone respectable and fix his good name.
Oliver has always been interested in Luc. This chance to get to know him, and play his significant other is not one he could pass up. Knowing it won’t be easy they agree and get on with their lives. Then the hard part happens……
I liked that this story told the truth. Each characters felt real, open, dark, and rich at the same time. I also loved the friendships, and I cringed at the families who made them hurt. I also really liked the banter and sexy heat.
***This ARC copy was given by Netgalley and its publisher, in exchange for an honest review only.