I’m super excited to share my book review of Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall today! This was such a fun romp and an excellent palate cleanser from all the fantasy books I’ve been reading lately.
About Boyfriend Material: “When tangentially ― and reluctantly ― famous Luc O’Donnell is forced back into the spotlight in the worst possible way, he has to think fast if he wants to save his floundering reputation. Enter Oliver Blackwood. Stunningly handsome and effortlessly put together, Oliver is successful, an ethical vegetarian, and has never appeared in a scandal mag evenonce. In other words, he’s perfect boyfriend material and exactly what Luc needs to appear respectable again. But when their fake relationship starts to feel like real romance, Luc and Oliver might have to consider whether they’re willing to fight for the truth of their new relationship…scandal, and consequences, be damned.”
YOU GUYS. This book. My word. The fake dating trope just slaps every time. *chef’s kiss*
I absolutely adored diving into the London setting. I realized that I haven’t actually read many books set in London lately (my copy of Red, White & Royal Blue is currently side-eyeing me from its place on my bookshelf right now), and it was a treat to be transported to a setting I hope to visit someday.
Luc as a narrator was witty and self-deprecating and such a relatable mess. I felt for him from page one and rooted for him to find love and healing – however that looked for him – by the end of the book. Enter Oliver, the other relatable mess, and the banter and pining exploded off the page. Oliver seems perfect in every way, which is quite irksome to Luc at first, but as their fake dating escapade goes on and Luc peels Oliver’s layers back one by one, I discovered I just wanted to give the man a hug. Honestly, both these guys need hugs STAT.
There is a third-act breakup, as there is wont to be in romance/romcom novels. However, this was one of the first romcoms I’ve read where I felt it really, truly worked. It wasn’t a simple miscommunication trope that tail-spinned everything and could have been resolved had the characters sat down and just talked about it for five damn minutes. The emotional journey these characters have been on from the start of the book, and the hurts and traumas they’re carrying from their pasts, really made this breakup believable…and made it that much sweeter when they finally reconnected for their happy ending. ❤
Also, can we just talk about the side characters for a minute??? Both Luc’s and Oliver’s friend groups were SO DIFFERENT, but both sets made me laugh out loud and smile goofily at the page. Excellent, excellent work on Hall’s writing, there, to make the side characters not just believable people but people with vastly different personalities. I wanted to be friends with all of them. 🙂
My only “critique” of the book was that the happily ever after wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste… I would have loved more than one chapter for everything to be resolved. But really, that’s a very nitpicky thing, and I’m just so, so happy that the happily ever after happened in the end. ❤
This was my first read by Alexis Hall, but it certainly won’t be my last!
Have you read Boyfriend Material? What are your thoughts on the book? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Dystopian & Fairy Tales 
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