*ARC Review*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🇬🇧 M/M Romance 🏳️‍🌈
🇬🇧 Fake Amnesia 🤕
🇬🇧 Grumpy/ Sunshine ☀️
🇬🇧 Enemies to Lovers
🇬🇧 Slow Burn
🇬🇧 Christmas season 🎄

10 Things That Never Happened is Alexis Hall's newest M/M romance novel, set in the same universe as Boyfriend and Husband Material. The story follows Sam, the store manager of a bed and bath superstore, and Jonathan, the owner of the chain. Sam's branch is over budget and underperforming, and Jonathan plans to cut staff to fix the problem. But after Sam suffers a fall, he fakes amnesia in an elaborate plot to get Jonathan to soften his stance on layoffs. However, as Jonathan cares for Sam, feelings grow, and Sam has to live with the guilt of his lie.

What worked:
* The supporting characters were quirky and fun, and the fake amnesia plot was a cute and fresh trope.
* The book was well-written and funny, and I found myself rooting for Sam and Jonathan to get together.

What didn't work:
* Sam's lies went on for too long, and it was difficult to sympathize with him at times.
* Jonathan's grumpy personality was extreme, which made him unlikable at times.
* The couple didn't get together until close to the end of the book, which was almost immediately followed by a third act break up. This left the relationship feeling rushed with the reader wanting more romance.

This book was not perfect, but I do enjoy the ‘London Calling’ world created by Alexis Hall. For me, Boyfriend Material continues to shine as the standout in the series. The book wasn’t perfect for me, but I would recommend it to fans of the author and the genre.

Alexis Hall is one of my favourite authors and I was very excited to receive an ARC for this book and, thankfully, I was not disappointed! As I wait to read more about Luc and Oliver, it was great to dive back into the same universe with Sam and Jonathan!

Jonathan Forest, the owner of a Bed & Bath stores franchise, is a grumpy, busy and hard working man that sees profits and efficiency as the most important things so when Sam Becker, man who cares too much and manager of one of his stores that is failing to meet sales, gets called to meet him in London for a talk, the situation doesn't seem to be good. Things happen, Sam has an unfortunate accident with a display shower and before he knows it he is pretending to have amnesia and living with his boss in order to try to save his whole branch from being fired, himself included. Turns out there is more to Jonathan than he ever expected though and that perhaps it is time to deal with his own issues as well.

These characters are flawed in their own ways but that's just what makes them human and so incredibly lovable and I could not put down the book as I watched them navigate through their own issues to come out at the other end better than they were before. Besides being incredible at writing emotional vulnerability and adults that feel relatable Alexis Hall also manages to write comedy in such a delightful way and it always manages to gets a chuckle out of me. I could not get enough of all the names for the Bed & Bath products mentioned throughout the book.

This is sure to be a hit as a holiday book when it releases to the wide public in October and I will probably re-read it at that time to help me get in the Christmas spirit!

Alexis Hall is an auto-buy for me. I love her characters and her humor, and Boyfriend Material is one of my all-time favorites. That said, this one didn't quite do it for me. Between the amnesia trope and the difficulty I had warming up to "the surly git," Jonathan, it was a bit of a disappointment to me. Sam grew on me, particularly as he grapples with the circumstances that landed him as a manager of a bed and bath chain. The story ends strong, as I had finally become invested in this odd couple and their friends and family. But since it took over half the book to get there, this one isn't probably isn't going on my keeper shelf. But, lovers of this trope, or opposites attract couples, will appreciate Alexis' humor and genuine care for her characters.

I cannot get enough f the author! I loved this book and everything about it. The characters the story line the pace the plot the climax!!!!

A sweet, gay Christmas romcom made possible by fake amnesia.
Jonathan, a prickly and no-nonsense workaholic, unexpectedly has to take in Sam, the employee he's about to fire, when Sam pretends to develop amnesia after a work accident. The enemies to lovers trope works well and the characters were likable. I also enjoyed all the side characters (including the cat).
If you're a fan of Alexis Hall's Boyfriend Material and Husband Material, you'll love this book as well!

I usually don't feel quite so conflicted about an Alexis Hall book, but 10 Things That Never Happened was pretty unexpected. Historically, I've either 5-starred or 1-starred Alexis Hall books with little in between. On one hand, I liked it a lot more than I anticipated after my STRONGLY negative reaction to Husband Material, but I still struggled with aspects of the story.

First of all, there is a lot that the author gets exactly right with 10 Things That Never Happened. The story feels fresh and funny, but not in a way that feels like it's copying characters from his previous books. I really enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine and most of the side characters, even though there were a LOT of them. Actually, the plot was a real stand-out for me, and it kept me wanting to read more.

Where I struggled with this story was with the romance. This is a romance book, after all, and while these two did get together, I had a lot of trouble connecting their personalities. Jonathan would be WAY too much of a jerk, just way too heavy on the conflict, and when the author tried to show a softer side, it always felt like it came out of nowhere and it was out of place. There wasn't enough organic, "getting to know you" kinds of romance-building romances for me. The conflict parts felt like they went on for way too long, and I don't think I got as in depth with Jonathan as a character as I did with the ones in Boyfriend Material or other more successful Alexis Hall books.

I think there was a lot of wasted potential here. The story was set up correctly with fun details that could have set the stage for a nice romantic connection, but both characters came across as kind of crappy people with little romantic chemistry.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I have not read Husband Material yet, so I haven’t been immersed in this world since Boyfriend Material in 2020—but I might actually like 10 Things That Never Happened better? And, if I’m being honest, it reminds me a tiny little bit of a twist on 10 Things I Hate About You, which is never a bad thing! I really liked Sam as a character and all the quirky friends and family, and even though the plot is a little ridiculous (I mean, fake amnesia?), I didn’t even care because I loved every minute of it. Enemies to lovers? Check. Close proximity? Check. One of my favourite reads of the year so far? Giant check, please!

What didn’t work for me

The steam level: Look, I had to find something wrong with it, so I’m going to go with the steam level. Though the sexual tension between the two main characters really jumps off the page, their whole relationship really is quite chaste. I would have appreciated a little more steam.

What I liked

The premise: Amnesia is usually something that screams soap opera, but of course, Alexis Hall has to turn it on its head—because the reader is in on the fact that it’s not real. Enemies to lovers and close proximity tropes are also always favourites of mine. Plus, without spoilers, there still ends up being a piece of information that the reader is missing, so there’s still that satisfaction as the book concludes.

The supporting characters: The main characters are awesome, and I’m so drawn to them—but the side characters (Jonathan’s family and Sam’s coworkers) really make the story shine. They are all quirky but believable and loveable all the same. I’m not sure whether there will be a sequel to this particular book, but if there is, I really hope we get more of these relationships!

4.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of this adorable romantic comedy book! Such a sweet enemies to lovers trope with so many cute elements! I loved both grouchy Johnathan and sweet Sam, and really rooted for them the whole time. The story is very cute and unique and I really enjoyed this one!

This looks is such an entertaining book!! I laughed more times than I can count! Sam and Jonathan fit the sunshine/grumpy trope to a T!! They were such opposites, along with the whole faking-amnesia arc, but they brought out the best in each other! Jonathan’s family and Sam’s employees added chaos and hilarity to this story! Although not billed as such, this is a fantastic holiday romance!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall.

This one was a delight. I have to say that upfront because at times the premise of false amnesia can be cringey, but the story warmed my heart.

At the start of the book Sam is a cheerful, likable guy in imminent danger of being fired for mismanaging the store he runs. His boss, Jonathan, is cold and uncaring and referred to by the stores employees as “His Royal Dickishness”. Sam’s real head injury and fake amnesia are the devices that make him Jonathan’s unwanted houseguest for a few weeks.

What I loved about this book is that both character’s growth is gently and subtly written, moving by inches towards each other, though the story never felt slow. The layers gradually melted away so that the reader understands what’s at the core of Jonathan’s isolation and why someone as naturally likable as Sam is so alone.

This book is sweet and very funny. I’m rounding up from 4 1/2 stars and adding Alexis Hall to my list of authors to watch. I couldn’t put this one down.

4.25 / 5

10 Things That Never Happened has all the Alexis Hall staples I've come to love: humor, extremely loveable characters, and a unique charm that makes his books hard to put down. I enjoyed this one even more than his London Calling series (Boyfriend Material and Husband Material) - both were great books, but I really fell in love with the side characters (especially Gollum) in 10 Things.

I love how slow burn this romance was, Hall gives the 'grumpy' part of the grumpy/sunshine dynamic his time to de-thaw. I do wish we had more time with Ben and Jonathan as a couple; I know things ran long overall but I felt that was where my .75 star deduction really came in. That, and a particular trope pet peeve coming into play near the end - but I don't think it was as annoying in this book as I've read in others.

This really is the perfect book to tuck into as the holiday season approaches, it gave me all the feels, cozy Christmas vibes, and the laughs that I want from a romance going into this time of year.

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

I love the way AJH writes characters that are flawed but so loveable and finds way to put them with partners who are also flawed in their own ways but together, they are perfect. I always love reading MCs who are BOTH navigating difficult family relationships, challenging personal traits, or even just general pessimism (looking at you Jonathan). Highly enjoyed this addition to the Boyfriend Material world and hope to read more.

"10 Things That Never Happened" is the first installment in the "Material World" series but in my opinion, is just a continuation of the "London Calling" series with a few tweaks. The story follows Sam, a manager at a bed and bath chain store, and the company's owner/Sam's boss, Jonathan. After a workplace mishap, Sam hits his head and is rushed to the hospital. Through some confusion, Jonathan is under the impression that Sam has amnesia and forgets about the events leading up to his accident as well as the longstanding animosity between them. Due to hospital policy, Jonathan is forced to take care of Sam as he recovers from "amnesia" and a concussion. Meanwhile, Sam is hoping to use this opportunity to win over the affection of the grumpy and money-obsessed Jonathan.

Having read two other Alexis Hall books, I think the author enjoys filling their novels with the standard rom-com tropes. There is witty banter, quirky secondary characters, and the stereotypical tropes of enemies to lovers and forced proximity. For me, "10 Things That Never Happened" fell flat. There was no chemistry between the two main characters. Everything felt a bit over the top and unrealistic that ultimately, I don't think I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Alexis Hall for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When Sam Becker, manager of one branch of a chain of a bed and bath stores, is called to London by the big boss, he knows he's not about to have a good time. Jonathan Forest is a number of things but "empathetic human being" does not seem to be on the list. Then Jonathan fires Sam, Sam falls through a shower door on the display floor, and through a quick series of misunderstandings ends up in Jonathan's care while he recovers from a bout of amnesia. Which he doesn't really have. Oops?

The premise is absolutely wild but it somehow actually manages to work. Alexis Hall is an extremely hit or miss author for me, but he managed to pull together what seems like a terrible soap opera into a character-driven journey that seems surprisingly natural. The focus of the story is absolutely on the character development rather than the romance which may be an unexpected downside for some of the author's typical fans, but I found it enjoyable. With strong pacing and exactly the correct amount of stakes, this is was a fun and not-as-ridiculous-as-expected ride.

Anyone past the "new adult" age range looking for a fun queer romance should give this a go. Younger audiences might struggle with character relatability, and readers looking for more explicit scenes will find themselves disappointed.

it would be a 4.5 if it would let me! I really enjoyed this book, I really, really enjoyed this book. The banter, the general humour imbued into almost every interaction, the unlikely redemption of a terrible boss into a damaged, but determined-to-be-better man, a wild, loud family, and a romance that felt possible.

Alexis Hall is an excellent author of funny books, and romcoms (in my opinion as a person who has only read his romcoms) are where he excels. 10 Things That Never Happened is a tour de force, Hall weaves emotional vulnerability, growing intimacy, banter, searing arguments and moments of intense sadness into a cohesive, hilarious, relatable, and (dare I say) moving story of two people finding each other despite the many things in their way.

Sam, Jonathan and Gollum will capture your hearts. This book sits at the intersection of so many romcom greats it's almost impossible to list them off, it feel likes part of a great romcom tradition. If, like me, you sometimes find yourself bemoaning the loss of the romcom, that is, the loss of the Sandra Bullock / Meg Ryan / Tom Hanks / Julia Roberts romcoms of the 80/90s this novel feels like that. It feels like the British, literary answer to those classics, but perhaps with a bit more honesty.

The 0.5 star loss, the one thing that knocks this down just fractionally for me, was that I did find I got a bit lost when the family got involved. I found it hard to keep track of who was who, which maybe was the point, but made it difficult to keep straight which relationships each person had with Jonathan. This was more an issue for the male relatives, the women felt more distinct.

Overall, an exceptional novel, and the start to, what I'm sure will be, another wonderful series from Alexis Hall.

Im not usually one for amnesia trope but the fake one?? sign me up! I loved this story and really you cant go wrong reading this book and falling in love with the MCs.

Sam is my millennial icon. He’s working as a manager in a retail store and he’s okay. He gets stuff done. He’s not amazing at the job but he cares for his people. He’s willing to go to bat for them, even when he doesn’t really have the extra spoons to deal with the issue. We’re pretty much the same, except money figures into my life choices more than it seems to fit into his. While Sam isn’t the sunniest creature, he is sunny in comparison to the grumpy Jonathan. Jonathan has a massive extended family, who love him despite his grumpy attitude. They aren’t mooching off him, either, even though he’s a millionaire. They just want to spend time with him and maybe have him host the Christmas party for once. Sam’s family is conspicuously absent. He doesn’t have anyone to care for him while he recovers from his concussion, and so is forced to stay with Jonathan. With all the snark and emotion I’ve come to expect from Alexis Hall, plus a grumpy cat named Gollum, 10 Things that Never Happened is an excellent addition to anyone’s TBR.

The relationships between all the characters are very flawed and full of problems, just like in real life. And like in real life, they ignore the problems until they explode. And then they deal with them like real adults. Something I should probably try to emulate in my real life. The side characters are so well done, too. I could easily imagine a spin off novel of any one of them, their lives and personalities are so appealing.

There is a lot of healing, and not just from a concussion. We don’t learn much about Sam’s past even though he’s the narrator, but we learn a lot about Jonathan and his family, as well as his reasoning for why he is the way he is. Some of Sam’s character development is cut short because it happens before the epilogue and time jump, but not on the page. That is honestly a shame. The reasoning for his way of living is explained very briefly before the time jump, but I wish more of it had happened on the page.

I really hope there’s a sequel exploring Sam and Jonathan’s relationship more, as well as intersecting with our boys from Boyfriend/Husband Material. I could read books in this universe forever and never get bored of the banter. I highly recommend this cozy novel. It made me laugh out loud several times, and it gave me some hope for the future.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for sharing this ARC!

I adore Alexis Hall's writing, particularly in A Lady for a Duke, but I had a really hard time getting into this book. I had to DNF because I didn't enjoy the characters and the premise did not seem believable. To be fair, I have not yet Boyfriend Material or Husband Material, so maybe I need to start there. I may try to revisit this again in the future but for now it's just not hitting for me.

Boyfriend Material is one of my all time favorite books and I was so excited to be approved for this ARC! The first 30% was excellent - the quips between Sam and his coworkers had me in tears from laughing. Truly, Alexis Hall reigns supreme when it comes to delivering witty banter. The Splashes & Snuggles team reminded me of The Office from their nonsensical arguments to their quirks. They were delightfully annoying and the best part of the book.

I liked Sam, he’s the kind of friend you want in your corner, being full of compassion and loyal to a fault - leading him to retain less than stellar employees… looking at you Brian. But Jonathan. I couldn’t muster up any warm fuzzies for him. It wasn’t just that he was the grumpy part of the trope, he was just maddening. Him holding grudges from his past and pushing all friends and family away in an effort to not be like his father was extreme. Because of his overly grumpy demeanor, I didn’t find the chemistry and attraction between him and Sam believable.

Again, the first 30%ish was fantastic. The pace was quick and the banter was hilarious and sharp… but after Sam’s accident when he begins to fake amnesia (not a spoiler!), the pace screeched to a halt and it felt like wading through mud getting through the rest of the book. There were too many parts that didn’t further the story and I felt like Jonathan and Sam had the same argument no less than seventy times.

Overall, the story was fine and I enjoyed the chaotic squabbles from the supporting cast, but the burn was too slow and even though I liked Sam’s character, I wasn’t a fan of Jonathan enough to cheer for their HEA and thought Sam deserved a better partner.

I love Alexis Hall so much. This book is everything I expect from him and more. You have quirky characters who are flawed, but realistic. You have humor, love, romance, discovery, just everything you could wish for in a real romance book. I honestly can not say enough good things about this book. I just loved it all. Sam is fun. He is that person who knows there is something more, but for now okay is good enough. Then you have Jonathan, who is so focused on making a name for himself and making sure his family has everything, that he forgets connection with them is sometimes more important than money. Together they make a hilarious pair, that fits together in all the right ways.
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this amazing book.