8.5Loveable, Charismatic, Fun
I’ve not read any other Alexis Hall books but one thing I loved about this was how funny it was. I listened to some of it as an audiobook and it was read so well that I definitely smiled to myself on public transport while reading. Hall also really nailed the characters – there’s an array of people in this book from aristocratic snobs and passionate vegans, to angry lesbians, and Luc’s father, a has been rockstar (not that I’m putting people into boxes of course!) Each personality had depth and their relationships with each other were as plausible as they were loveable.
I love me a good romance and I was so excited to start this. One thing’s for sure, I was obsessed with Luc and Oliver from the start and I was hoping so much for it all to work out. This isn’t a young adult novel so one thing that did get on my nerves was the fact I was screaming into the pages JUST HAVE SEX ALREADY for at least 90% of the book… so it’s safe to say it keeps you waiting.
This book had so many elements to it – there was Luc and Oliver’s sexualities and the difference in how their families view that, Luc’s father’s issues and their relationship, both of their careers, and of course the two of them together so for a 425 page book, it was definitely packed with plot and intrigue and I didn’t find myself thinking it was dragging on (except for the sex part!)
Title: Boyfriend Material
Author: Alexis Hall
Type: Fiction
Published: 2020
Pages: 425
TW: Parent Abandonment, Drug Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Homophobia
“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.”
Review overview
Summary
Luc O’Donnell has a rockstar for a dad so unfortunately that means the papers always want a scoop on what he’s doing. That also means there have been numerous articles touting Luc’s various escapades and his image isn’t looking too good right now. Then his father comes back into his life with some unexpected news and Luck really needs to clean up his act. One of his colleagues suggests is he were to date someone respectable, that would go a long way. In comes Oliver Blackwood – a barrister and normal guy, he couldn’t be less like Luc, but that’s why he’s perfect, so after some negotiation they agree to fake date. But who’s going to catch feelings first because after all, fake dating isn’t much different from real dating…
