This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Delight
When he hit rock bottom, he faceplanted and has the tabloid picture to prove it. Desperation and the aid of friends has him grasping at a unique solution- a fake boyfriend. I have enjoyed Alexis Hall’s books in the past and thought this fake relationship romance between opposites sounded like just the thing.
Review
Boyfriend Material opens with Luc O’Donnell discovering that a really crappy life can get worse. Tripping outside a club dressed in masquerade lands him in the tabloids and his job at the charity in jeopardy. He’s been in the tabloids before as the son of an aged rockstar after an ex splashed his personal life all over the gossip rags, but his rep is now hurting the charity and he’s been given an ultimatum. Find a way to save the fundraiser or lose his job. His friends decide that a solid relationship with a solid guy should do the trick. The only solid guy willing to give his snarky hot mess a chance is staid, boring Oliver Blackwood. At least Luc thought that until he spends time with Oliver who makes him uncomfortable and not because he’s a bore.
It’s not a new story between the fake mates and the opposites attract, but Alexis Hall has a gift for wry humor and characterization that makes it fresh, funny, and loaded with feels. Luc is not an easy guy to like or even want to root for in the beginning. He makes an Olympic sport of wallowing and self-destructing. He creates many of his own problems and is as prickly as they come. I found the early chapters a struggle as a result. That said, I pitied him and was curious to see what had caused him to be this way and the transformation that would pick him up again. His story comes out and it’s not easy and neither is what he has to do. First, he gets the job ultimatum and has to buck up and start fixing it as he pretends with Oliver and there is also the sucker punch of his absentee dad wanting back into his life. I enjoyed having the author bring me around when it came to Luc.
And, just when I thought Oliver was too perfect, the story takes a turn and suddenly Luc isn’t the only one who floundered. I like seeing this because then there is more balance in the relationship and I lost my doubts that these opposites would work out. In the end, I loved this pair together.
All through this story, I enjoyed seeing Luc figure his life out and fall in love for real, but the funniest parts were seeing him with his zany French mom and his friends who were an eclectic group who made every scene they are in dazzling.
All in all, it was another Alexis Hall winner. Those who enjoy m/m romcoms with a lot of character growth, emotion and a snarky amusing hero should give this a try.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges Met
New Release #85
COYER Quarantine #53
Romanceopoly #53 M/M
Romance BINGO #14 Contemporary Romance
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I’m all in for this one! It definitely sounds like there are some similarities to Red, White, and Royal Blue, so that’s just another reason to get this one!
Ethan, it was so fun, but also had good complexity. Great summer reading!
And, yes, it compares well to Red White and Blue!
I already had this one on my wishlist, but after reading your review I am even more convinced I have to buy a copy of this one soon. It sounds like a well done MM romantic comedy. I especially like the sound of how both guys have their struggles and how that creates balance in their romance. Good to know Luc is a bit difficult to like at first, but it gets better later on.
Oh fun! Glad to get you excited for one you already had on the list. Yes, they are quite the pair and as difficult as Luc was, it was great seeing him turn it around.
This sounds delightful and I love the fake relationship trope.
Fun things happen with that trope. 🙂 I feel the same.
I’ve seen good reviews of this one. I don’t read very much M/M though.
I think it’s going to be a hit for several people. 🙂
Just love this cover and the fact that there are snarky moments 😉
Ha! It had some good laugh out loud moments because of the snark. Yes! I adore the cover style, too. I wish we could get the cover artist names on the cover or at least in the book information. 🙂
I had such a wonderful time reading this, and I agree, Luc created a lot of his problems, but they were rooted in his feelings of abandonment and inadequacy. But wow! He could make me laugh. And I loved Oliver and wanted to hurt every person who had hurt him. He was such a lovely soft boy.
True! Luc was a fun character even when he was bumbling about at first. Oliver was a teddy bear and I wished bad things on those people, too. 🙂
This just looks like so much fun! Thanks for the review.
Oh yes! Summer romcom!
Yes, this looks cute and I’ve seen it around a bunch. I’ve read several m-m books recently so I might have to check this one out. Glad you liked it mostly.
I think you’d enjoy this one, Lorna. They are such a pair. 🙂