Husband Material (London Calling Book 2)

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and at the same time, we’re taken down a path that is so fresh and unexpected. as a queer person, this book wedged itself in my heart. it was so unexpected and when it hit me, i broke down. i still lie awake at night thinking about it.

This book is also still all from Luc’s first-person POV. Unfortunately, we get nothing from Oliver’s POV. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a single POV book, and sometimes it works. But probably less so with this sequel than the first book by keeping it to only one perspective. You really lose out on connecting with Oliver’s character.Instead, I get the feeling these two have never spoken in their lives. The first time either of them brings up maybe they don't want a wedding or to be married is right beforehand? For Luc, it was the middle of the night before the wedding and he tells his best friend Bridget and not Oliver at all and then decides to go through with the wedding anyway and never once considers talking to Oliver. For Oliver, it's right before their wedding ceremony is meant to start but he, at least, has the decency to tell Luc to his face. Unfortunately, this is regressive Luc we are talking about, so Luc gets incredibly butthurt and throws actual garbage at Oliver who is crying and makes Oliver explain why he doesn't want to get married to Luc when Luc had come to the same realization only hours before! What IS THIS??? It isn't romance and it isn't making me look forward to their next book. For much of the book, all Oliver does is show up to dispense support or wisdom. He has no thoughts or desires beyond what Luc needs at any given moment. I just finished, and I'm going to take some deep breaths before continuing this review. Deep breaths. Oliver says yes, because duh – this is called Husband Material – and just like that there is yet another wedding being planned.

Published on 7 July 2020, Boyfriend Material is the first book in the London Calling series. It’s a book about homosexuality, describing two gays who went from pretending to be lovers to developing real romance. Dripping with comedy and angst, this book has an obvious certain English charm. Was this book… necessary? I’m not sure. It sure added dimension to Luc and Oliver’s relationship, but it showed us sort of an ugly truth that I prefer to avoid in my romance novels. I wanted them to be happy together at least, like, 85% of the time? And I’m not sure they were. I’m not even sure they’ll be together in another five years!!! Boyfriend Material was written in the style of 90s romcoms, and this was Hall’s take specifically on Four Weddings and a Funeral. I know it was part of the style but I personally wish he would have toned down the ridiculousness of the antics in the early part of the book. There were mishaps and bad judgement calls being made merely to drive the plot but I didn’t appreciate the result of these bad calls because they almost invariably ended up hurting Oliver who is the last person who deserves to be hurt or taken for granted. When I read Boyfriend Material almost two weeks ago for the first time, I fell in love with Luc and Oliver. I couldn't believe that I had waited so long to read such a gem. I was seriously missing out. The first book introduced me to Ollie and Luc and all the other interesting characters such as Bridge, Alex, James Royce-Royce and Priya. There was so much wit, humor and colorful characters that made the story not only hilariously funny but also worthwhile.

And Luc is doing really well. He loves Oliver, and he knows Oliver loves him, and he loves his life with Oliver. He is happy. So when he runs into Miles – the ex that sold the details of their sordid sex life to the tabloids for fifty grand before he dumped Luc – his rails are shaken just a little and Luc starts doing all the very Luc things. I am very conscious of the fact that many Alexis Hall fans today, especially new fans who found him through his recent work, engage with the queer community only through or primarily through his work. As a queer person, I find this deeply concerning because many of the ideas presented in this book are patently false. if boyfriend material was about falling in love and working through the baggage, husband material is an ode to love and relationships. the people who matter, those who Know our most raw, intimate selves and still stay. Overall, I did enjoy much of the book. I laughed out loud MANY times and smiled through so much of it. In the course of the story, both Luc and Oliver end up standing up for themselves in various circumstances to people who definitely had it coming and it is ever so satisfying! I was so proud of them in these moments. It just had way too many problems and parts that made NO sense for me to be able to recommend it. Luc & Oliver deserved better than this. And so did we.