Back in the height of the pandemic I read Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall—and I loved it. I laughed out loud many times, fell in love with the characters (especially Oliver) and got to experience my favourite enemies-to-lovers trope done well. Did I think Luc was a bit of a downer? Sure. But the rest of the cast made up for it. I never dreamed there would be a sequel, and yet, a few years later, I see Husband Material. And though I couldn’t get a copy right away, I was so excited to jump back in with these guys.

Wanted:
One (very real) husband
Nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his best

In Boyfriend Material, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.

Good thing Oliver is such perfect husband material.

This Summer 2022, you’re invited to the event(s) of the season.

You know what I learned here? Not all stories—even ones I really love—need a sequel. And I’m heartbroken about it. I thought Luc and Oliver were fun and witty and their banter was second to none, but in Husband Material, they both seemed whiny, insecure and in serious need of learning how to have a basic conversation with one another. I know this happens often in books, but if Luc and Oliver had just sat down and talked to each other for five minutes, their problems would have been solved—which doesn’t seem cute when these people have been together for years. Though the weddings the couple went to were all super ridiculous, thank goodness for the secondary characters because they saved the day—especially Luc’s work friends. And I did like that we got a bit more insight into Oliver’s family, but I wish we could have seen it from his POV, because Luc is too selfish, self-absorbed and immature to be able to put himself in Oliver’s shoes and show the reader what’s actually happening.

Maybe I just really hate Luc. I think Oliver could do so much better. Give me a book about Luc’s mom now, please. She would tell an interesting story!

2 STARS

“Besides, I’m not with you for your cooking or your ability to wash up. I’m with you because you make me feel better than anyone ever has. And I often wish I could be more like you.”—Alexis Hall, Husband Material