I loved Boyfriend Material, so I was very excited to have the chance to read Husband Material early. I enjoyed this, too, but I can't lie and say I liked it as much as the first. That isn't to say I didn't enjoy reading it, because I definitely did, and I couldn't put it down. But at the end, I just found myself feeling unsatisfied, which was such a disappointment.

Let's start with the good, though, because there was a lot of it! This book brings back the same cast of characters as the first, which is excellent since they're a big group of lovable oddballs. Some of them, including Luc and Oliver, can be quite harsh or rude, but it feels so believable and never as though it's coming from a place of cruelty (with the exception of characters such as Oliver's parents, who are meant to be seen that way). I can relate to Luc saying something and then realizing that perhaps he shouldn't have said it quite that way. Luc and Oliver are both working on being better - to themselves, each other, and those around them - and that's important for a sequel to a book about two people who definitely both had a lot to work on.

The first section of the book, focusing on Bridge's wedding, was easily my favorite; the humor here felt the most like that of Boyfriend Material, and the plot points were ridiculous in the best way. The second section, which spent a lot of time with Luc's coworkers, was also just a joy. There are parts where you think "how could that possibly have gone so wrong?" but Alexis Hall really just convinces you to suspend your disbelief that a group of people could be so out of touch with reality that it works.

The second half of the book was where I found myself not enjoying this one quite as much. While there were certainly extenuating circumstances, I was sometimes frustrated with the way Luc and Oliver communicated (or didn't communicate). It felt like a lot of their progress as a couple was lost, and neither of them seems capable of telling the other how they really feel. Is this realistic? Yes, I can definitely see how this could happen. It just... wasn't what I wanted out of a romance sequel. So, not necessarily a bad thing, but it just didn't work for me.

I also just felt like the book ended really suddenly, which is what really left me feeling unsatisfied at the end. Even a few more pages, or perhaps an epilogue, would have made a difference here. I think maybe what the author was trying to do was not wrap everything up, because life isn't like that, but I don't read romance novels to read about how life is, I read them to, ultimately, feel good at the end of the story. I don't think the ending was bad - I think a lot of people will really like it. And I'm not unhappy with it - it made sense for the characters - but I just wanted a little bit more.

Ultimately, this just didn't give me the same kind of feelings as the first one did and that I want from a romance, and I think that's largely because it was a sequel. We've already seen Luc and Oliver fall in love, and it's implied that they've done a lot of work on their relationship in the time since the first book happened, so this book describes how their relationship is as a result of that work - but they don't grow an awful lot more during the course of this story. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but in terms of the romance itself, there was just something missing.

Overall, though, I still really love Luc, Oliver, and the rest of the characters. I would love to see another book in this world that focuses on someone else but includes Luc's friends in it, because they're so much fun! 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Just another great book from Alexis Hall. All of the characters we loved from the first book are back. A great story of a relationship that isn't new any more but when you are still learning about each other. Just delightful. If you enjoyed the first one you will like this one.

There comes a point in your life when it feels like everyone you know is getting married, and every weekend is another wedding. This is where Luc and Oliver are at the start of this book - surrounded by weddings. Like say, 4 of them. And a funeral, so Hugh Grant would feel right at home. Luc is an anxious mess, and so is Oliver, and honestly, I spent half the book clutching my heart and shouting at all these fictional characters to MAKE GOOD CHOICES PLEASE and TALK TO EACH OTHER. At any rate, the characters are hilarious, messy, uncertain, and Husband Material is a lovely sequel to Boyfriend Material. It's an excellent and funny book, and more of an emotional rollercoaster than I anticipated.

This was the sequel to Boyfriend Material I have been waiting for! The plot paid homage to a popular nineties rom-com, so there were few surprises. However, the journey was a lot of fun! Fans of the first book in the series won't be disappointed.

I can not say enough good things about Husband Material (the follow up to Boyfriend Material). Alexis Hall has an uncanny ability to write characters that are both hilarious and incredibly insightful. Luc and Oliver are both so well written and I felt a deep connection to both of them. It's not often that I spend an entire book guessing about that what will happen next in the character's relationship but this one kept me on my toes. I never quiet knew if Luc and Oliver were going to work things out and overcome all of their issues and I am here for it. I loved every moment of uncertainty and I did not see the ending coming. It was perfect. I also have to mention that Tom is one of my favorite characters and I would 100% read a prequel book about him and Bridge. It's not very often that Bi people who end up in heteronormative relationships get decent writing but Alexis Hall wrote him perfectly, even if Tom is only a background character, and I need more of it.

I really enjoyed Boyfriend Material, and I was hoping I would love this one also. And I did!

I learned from reading the first book what an entertaining writer Alexis Hall is. So witty. I admit that I, in fact, 'laughed out loud' several times while reading this. I still love both Oliver and Luc and enjoyed getting to know them a little further along in their story. One of the things I liked about Boyfriend Material was how both of them had to deal with emotional baggage and how they helped and supported each other. And the same is true for this sequel.

Lots of shenanigans and emotions. It was very fun.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Husband Material!

I was (and maybe still am) a little skeptical of whether or not Boyfriend Material NEEDED a sequel, but it turns out that is irrelevant because I really enjoyed this book.

Written in parts from various weddings (and other, sadder events) Husband Material almost felt like a collection of short stories. Many of the characters from book one made heartfelt and entertaining appearances.

One thing I loved about this book is that it was hilarious while still being sentimental and emotional. Alexis Hall is a genius at comedic timing. It’s so refreshing to find stories that literally make me lol.

It was exciting to see the evolution of Luc and Oliver’s relationship after book one. They seemed to have grown a lot over the two years and were much better at calling themselves and each other out for nonsense.

My only complaint would be that the ending felt a bit rushed.

I think if you enjoyed Boyfriend Material then Husband Material will be a fun and emotional journey that I definitely recommend taking.

I was instantly thrilled when I got the email that galleys for Husband Material were available. That was Wednesday. I finished it on Friday.

When I found out last year that there was more Luc/Oliver content heading out into the world, I was elated. I loved Boyfriend Material so incredibly much, because, I think I saw a bit more of myself than was probably ideal in Lucien. But that’s what makes a good book sometimes: seeing a character and realizing, my god, it’s me. Except, you know, an English gay man, whereas I’m an American gay woman.

Husband Material was not the story I was expecting, but it was infinitely more *real* than I would have imagined. The events that Luc and Oliver have to face felt realistic, plausible, even though they’re sometimes ridiculous. This book was funny (hilarious, actually) and at the same time an emotional gut punch. But a good emotional gut punch!

I love Luc and Oliver. I love their relationship, in all its messy reality. And I loved this book.

This book definitely gave me "feels" as Alexis Hall would say, though I haven't fully worked out what they are yet. I appreciated the opportunity for two complex characters to get further character development in a romance serial. This is not always possible as the typical "happily ever after" ending makes enough conflict for a sequel questionable. This one left room for Luc and Oliver to make a trilogy of it. Hall brought a characteristic humor to the work that made it an absolute delight to read, and also managed to pepper in some really quite profound social commentary and top notch writing.

There is all kinds of queer representation here as well including characters that fall into several less well represented groups. It was nice to see a work featuring bisexual, polyamorous, and transgender characters (even if the trans guy was a kind of token blink and you miss it situation). It centered and celebrated chosen family, which is something I find attractive about queer centered literature in general. Spoiler free. . .I'm not sure I found the ending entirely satisfying, or that a resolution was genuinely reached. I would like to see the full implications play out in a third volume.

If my boss fires me tomorrow it will have been worth it, I have not devoured a book like this in a long time. I downloaded my ARC less than 24 hours ago and after neglecting my desk job in favor it tearing through Luc and Ollie's shenanigans and tomfoolery I feel like I've just reconnected with two old, riotously sassy, vegetarian-now-vegan friends
Luc and Oliver are still a fun, loving and downright frustrating couple trying to navigate a relationship, with their overly dramatic friends, family, and ex's constantly popping up to invite them to weddings, both traditional and otherwise. I love Alexis Hall's sense of humor, and that while he definitely dials up the drama and absurdity of the situations, all the characters, their emotions and their reactions feel genuine and have you laughing one second and screaming the next. I cannot express how much I love this book. It's going to resonate with everyone who feels the love and pressure of getting a wedding invitation every few months.
If you read romance, pick this up. If you don't well now's a good time to start, you have until August to get caught up!

I'm not sure, but I think I might have enjoyed this MORE than I enjoyed Boyfriend Material (and I loved Boyfriend Material). I was thankful that the author did not resort to undoing all the emotional growth from book 1, and in fact, had the characters continue to grow in the two-year interval between books. While there was conflict between them, it felt like mature conflict over real issues - discussions and arguments that are important to have and work out, but not ones that would lead to shallow will-they-won't-they concern on the part of the reader.

Boyfriend Material felt like a book where we watched the characters grow as individuals, but Husband Material feels like one where we get to watch a relationship grow and mature. A great sequel to an already great book.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I waited for this book with extreme excitement and I’m overjoyed to say that it didn’t disappoint, I loved it. I loved every line of it and to be honest, even when I had some doubts while reading, I was in the end satisfied with how it all worked out. Don’t be afraid, no spoilers ahead.

Husband Material, just like Boyfriend Material, is a very personal book for me. Hall is a master of creating wonderful characters and Luc and Oliver occupy a special place in my heart. I find it wonderful how loveable they are being hot mess and having a huge collection of issues at the same time. It’s so relatable and in a way this situation where it is not fully a fantasy with ideal love interest and the MC always being able to do and say the right thing in the end, is the best fantasy I can dream of – the one where you can be loved so much being flawed and acting crappy from time to time. While Boyfriend Material was all about falling in love and coming to terms with one’s issues, this novel reads like an ode to love and to relationships, and to working on said issues, with ups and downs at both.

It’s very moving, I had tears in my eyes a lot, I cried twice but it’s also so damn funny! I laughed aloud on many, many occasions. Also, do not worry if you, like me, have serious holes in the pop culture education. I never watched Pretty Woman or Four Weddings and the Funeral (not because of any prejudice, it sort of happened) and probably many other films the book referred to but I didn’t even catch it. Then, it spoilt me exactly nothing. Surely, if you know all these movies you might find it even more funny but I didn’t feel I missed the context in any essential way, it was perfect without the reference, too.

If something was a tiny bit alienating is the whole wedding industry that I know is a thing in my country as well, but I wasn’t involved in it. Maybe, while I was getting married I was too young or too inexperienced to care about all that (my wedding was the second wedding I ever attended in my life) but I remember the whole planning to take us more about hours than months. And it was fun. My friend did my makeup, my dress was borrowed, the hotel had a club with a poster with a giant ass on the wall (that was covered with a bedsheet) and on the wedding day the whole family of my husband got stuck on a bus in the middle of the country, coming late. After the whole ceremony my mother –in-law disapprovingly told me that she had never seen a bride who laughed so much during her wedding. Well, looking at all the stress different characters in the book feel, I think that’s the better option ;)

But coming back to the book. Did I mention it’s wonderful? It so much is. And it’s all about love, and friendship, and growing as a person, and that sometimes it means not forgiving and all… I know I will read it many, many times. All the hearts ♥

I love these idiots in love!
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In this sequel to 'Boyfriend Material', Oliver and Luc face what most couples their age do: marriage. Between their friends and their exes, everyone has marriage (and the next stages of life) on their minds. So Oliver and Luc should probably start thinking about it, right?

'Husband Material' manages to be as romantic and funny as 'Boyfriend Material' while being pretty realistic about what couples go through once they've been together for any length of time. We get our favorite friend group back and at their best, Luc's amazing mom and plenty of drama and hijinks afoot. In an effort to remain spoiler free, I will not name the British RomCom it reminds me of (starring Hugh Grant, but that could be any number of films!) but about one-third of the way through I started to see some fun similarities and was very excited. I loved this book, it's romantic and funny and silly and has such heart. Alexis Hall is an auto-read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!