- Title: Boyfriend Material
- Author: Alexis Hall
- Genre: Queer romance fiction
- Rating: ★★★★✩
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I love my characters queer and complicated. Alexis Hall is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance writers for his snarky and diverse characters who are anything but perfect and yet wildly relatable.
The Trope
Boyfriend Material is a little bit enemies to lovers, but primarily a fake dating trope premise. The plot goes like this: Lucien is the son of formerly famous rockstar parents. His aging father has spent the past couple decades burned out and cycling through rehab programs, but when the rockstar starts to make a comeback, Luc finds himself reluctantly thrust into the spotlight once more.
Unfortunately for Luc, he also has a tabloid-worthy history that makes him reluctant to let his guard down. Wanting to prove that he isn’t like his father, he and his supportive friend group devise a plot to get him on the front page in a good way – the perfect boyfriend.
Enter Oliver, a mature and morally ethical barrister who is a complete stranger to the limelight. Though their previous encounters with each other have left much to be desired on both sides, Oliver happens to also be looking to impress at an upcoming family event.
The Problem
Every good romance arc needs a good problem, right? Well, as with all fake dating tropes, the problem with fake dating is that it comes with all the problems of real dating. Luc and Oliver both have histories and familial trauma to overcome if they’re going to make things work for their respective needs.
Luckily StoryGraph has your back if you want to check out content warnings before reading. Check them out here. To be clear, this book is very far from what would be referred to as “trauma porn” but there are a few themes that might be triggering for some readers so it’s always a good idea to check those out before diving in.
The Best Part?
One of my favorite things happened with this book. The book was recommended to me by one of my Twitter friends and I was loving the book so much I didn’t want it to end. I knew I would miss the characters, especially Luc, who I have such a soft spot for.
But then… I looked it up and there is a SEQUEL coming out in 2022. Trust me, when you finish the book you’ll see why a sequel is 100% necessary. I’m so excited to check it out later this summer. Thoughts and prayers that I can get an ARC!
Another thing I’ve noticed with Hall’s books is that each one has a collection of distinct side characters who are diverse, interesting, and fun. Boyfriend Material is no exception. I found myself loving Lucien’s mom, his best friend, even his coworker. All of the characters are quirky and unique, but also feel like people you might meet in real life. I appreciate the detail and effort Hall put into this cast of characters.
Final Thoughts
The only thing I hoped for when finishing this book was that we’d gotten to learn more about Oliver and his family earlier in the book. I was so relieved to see that there’s a sequel coming out because, for a romance book that’s over 400 pages long, I felt like there was a lot more to discover about Oliver and a lot more to explore with Luc and Oliver’s relationship. That’s why I’m so excite for the sequel.
Now, please join me in manifesting an ARC because I can’t wait until August!
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