3.5 rounded down to 3 stars. I don't know what I expected in this book exploring the continuation of Luc and Oliver's relationship but it wasn't this? It was broken into five parts and really tried to build a deep relationship, but Luc's constant Luc-ness (kind of self-centred, inconsiderate, asshole-ness) both had me snorting (some of the internal commentary was funny and quippy, laden with pop culture bromides) and so frustrated. One thing I really enjoyed about Alexis Hall's novel was it's exploration of what it means to be gay--how queer iconography (rainbows etc) can make someone feel included and part of a community, or stuck outside of it. Ultimately, the ending felt solid but I was so frustrated at Luc's lack of self-awareness and inability to communicate well with Oliver (who remained charming).

Really really enjoyed the first book of this series, but didn’t love this one. I felt like there was forced conflict, which they didn’t need to have. I would have loved to see the wedding they deserved without forced conflict. I believe they could have had a happy relationship without all of the issues that didn’t seem super realistic.

First of all I loved, loved, LOVED Boyfriend Material, so much so that I took the opportunity to re-read it before diving into Husband Material and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made! I'd missed Luc and Oliver so much, and I fully enjoyed getting to binge their story which is now extended with the addition of Husband Material!

Husband Material is just as hilarious and heartwarming as Boyfriend Material, with plenty of fun banter and sweet moments between Oliver and Luc or Luc and his friends, as well as more emotional moments thrown in. I've said it before and I'll say it again though, Luc and his friends had me cry laughing, even when the situation was quite dire for them! No matter how emotional it got, no matter how serious the talk, this book remained good vibes only thanks to the humour ensuring things didn't get too dour.

Things do take a serious turn, it's quite literally Four Weddings and a Funeral with a lot of relationship problems to overcome. Luc and Oliver have been together for a while and they embark upon a couple of weddings. One of which, I'll be honest, I didn't really care about and was kind of bitter Luc decided to be the bigger person because evidently I'm not as evolved a human being as he is. Proud of him though, genuinely. Unfortunately there is a death, which struck a sombre note although I feel it was an important step for Luc and Oliver. Both because of the circumstances around it and what it meant to Oliver given everything he'd gotten the chance to voice and what he realised afterwards, and also because of how he and Luc had to work to overcome it and be there for each other. I don't know if that entirely makes sense, I'm trying very hard not to spoil things!

The last positive thing I'll say is that I did really love the ending. I have a personal pet peeve when it comes to romance books and as much as I love Luc and Oliver, I'm glad they didn't succumb to it but again...spoilers so I can't be anything but vague!

However, I do feel like this could have been much shorter and perhaps a novella instead. I wouldn't say this book was entirely necessary as Luc didn't seem to have developed much as a character, although Oliver had quite the journey to go on himself which was both interesting and realistic. However, they have a few hurdles to overcome within their relationship as well as individually and I do feel like things were handled quite immaturely quite often and there was a lack of communication that could have quite easily resolved things and it grew frustrating.

I also wasn't a fan of rehashing the 'how to be gay' debate that came up in Boyfriend Material, and was brought up again in this book because it kind of seemed more like Luc didn't like or approve of the way Oliver wanted to express himself or didn't want to, as the case may be. Like the whole thing was over a rainbow arch and they had this argument repeatedly. Essentially, Oliver doesn't care for rainbow arches and expressing his identity with rainbows etc, and Luc does which is fine. Oliver never says he can't, he's just not a fan personally, especially because he's figuring things out, I think. But Luc makes a huge deal out of it and it's the same argument over and over again as a way to show their differences but I really felt it wasn't necessary for Luc to act like Oliver wasn't being 'gay enough' or something because he didn't want a rainbow arch.

All in all, I really wanted to love this and while it was good vibes for the most part, I did find it a little bit repetitive and frustrating in parts.

This was one of my most looked forward to books of the the year and I feel so sad that I am going to write this review. We join the characters from Boyfriend Material as they are going through changes in their lives, primarily marriage. Our happy couple needs to decide whether they are ready to embrace holy matrimony or not.

This cute quirky banter of the first book was flat, annoying and cliched. We did the "he doesn't understand the joke" and the "James Royce," what is keeping me interested this time around. Not much.

The disaster that is our main character, well, he isn't that anymore, but it felt like the character was lost without that definiing characteristic and so had to cause plot trouble that did not feel realistic at all.

And 7 weddings and a funeral riff. No thanks. Sure it is a rom com classic, but can we also recognize that it is not actually that good, so emulating it, just ends up feeling like a boring rewatch rather than something fun and fresh.

So so so sad. Luc and Oliver were some of my favorites of the past few years and I hated them through much of this book

Alexis Hall is such a prolific writer, with so many different series and standalones coming out at every given moment, that you would think the quality of his writing would begin to suffer. Not so here -- Husband Material is laugh out loud funny, pulling on the heartstrings just as hard as the first in the series, making you simultaneously root for and want to shake Luc and Oliver at every moment of the book. While not perfect (there are a few bewildering, somewhat out of character choices made throughout), this book is a more than worthy follow up to Boyfriend Material, and one that makes me absolutely thrilled that we are getting a third!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read the first book in this series but I will say I found it very easy to pick up from where the gang all left off. It was quite funny in bits and felt like an easy feel good book. I can’t say it was totally for me but I’m sure many people would enjoy it!

I enjoyed the second installment of Boyfriend Material, but I didn't love it as much as the first book. The pacing was rough and I realized early on that I didn't care much for Luc's friends. Overall I think that this book was enjoyable but lacked the magic that Boyfriend Material had. Of course, I will read another installment of this series, I just hope that it recaptures its charm.

This was a lovely sequel. Real, heartfelt, funny and sweet. I love and how their relationship evolves and strengthens throughout the story. A must read for anyone who’s a fan of the series.

There were some wonderful moments in this sequel but ultimately it felt off to me - the charm that matched the first book took a backseat to a lot of avoidable chaos this time. I enjoyed Husband Material because I enjoy Lucien and Oliver and it was lovely to see more of them, but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed too.

That was not the HEA I expected, but it was the perfect one for Oliver and Luc!

What an eye-opening book for a cisgender, heterosexual woman. Really made me think of how heteronormative our society really is.

Sometimes the book got a little tedious because both Luc and Oliver can be a little too over-the-top about their self-loathing and self-doubt. But, all in all, a very touching story and one that I am glad I had the opportunity to read!

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I absolutely adored Boyfriend Material but this book was a horrible follow up to such an amazing story. The entire storyline was centered around every other possible couple in this couple’s world and numerous weddings that were not their own. So much of the read didn’t even have Luc and Oliver together in the scenes! There were some good one liners and laugh out loud moments, but for the most part the story was excruciatingly boring! I skipped from 55% to 90% because I just couldn’t take it anymore. The ending was an absolute let down.

This book was interesting and very well-written. I would likely want to read more from this author and will recommend this to friends.

“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.”

I had a hard time reading this novel. Not that it's not great or entertaining, but it for me it felt occasionally confusing and far too long. And that ending? Uff.

I adored how cute Luc and Oliver are and how supportive they are of each other. Having meltdowns, insecurities and questioning life is hard enough, but when you have your partner with you, life gets better and more tolerable haha. Overall it was adorable, funny and much more than relationships based on spice. And I did like Alexis writing style. Secondary characters were enjoyable too. Luc's mom? haha, she is funny and tells whatever is on her mind. So yes, there were truly fun and lovely moments in this book, but I was not captivated enough to love it.

Thank you to Alexis Hall, publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

Husband Material was an absolute delight!

I laughed, I cried, my heart broke, and I was just utterly captivated from start to finish. Alexis has such a wonderful writing style, and brings such beautifully faceted characters to life. Luc and Oliver own a piece of my heart.

DNF 50%. I just found the second installment extremely boring & the characters completely different. Why are they having these arguments 2 years into their relationship?

This wasn't a very easy book for me to get into and I loved the Boyfriend Material. I'm not saying it's a bad book, it just wasn't for me and I had trouble finishing it.

Thank you #Netgalley for providing me with an early read of #husbandmaterial

I can't say much good about this book. There were great moments of humor and heart, but there were far more moments that felt like a lot like pointless nothing. There was no balance in the pacing or storytelling. If I'm honest, I didn't feel like there was much of a story at all—certainly not over four hundred pages' worth. I could see the end coming from the start, but I kept hoping the book would prove me wrong. I hated that was the way the author took the story. It was insulting how far we were supposed to suspend our disbelief on seventy percent of things that happened in the book, only to have an ending that was supposed to "feel authentic and real to the characters." Instead of the end feeling real, it just felt like a lecture to the audience and a slap in the face to the fans. I truly wish I had not read this. I could've gone on loving Luc and Oliver from Boyfriend Material in peace, but here we are.

I was so excited for this follow up to Boyfriend Material but left feeling disappointed. I think that Luc and Oliver had their HEA in Boyfriend Material and adding extra conflict into their relationship didn't fit. I know that there's a third book for them coming out and I probably will not be picking it up.

I did not finish this book. I did not really like it at all and was really sad it was a follow up to a book I really liked. I couldn't stand the fighting that seemed pointless, I couldn't stand Luc's attitudes towards Oliver at times and I thought pacing wise it just didn't work. Really sad to rate this so lowly, but I couldn't get myself to finish this.

I love Luc and Oliver. This is a perfect romcom for those who are wanting hilarious and ridicoulous hijinks that could only happen in Luc's world. But apart from that, there is a tenderness and realness to the characters that go beyond just the craziness. I love how the author shows real texting and speech patterns and how love is messy, but true.
If you enjoyed Boyfriend Material, you'll LOVE this next installment!