Book Review – Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Wanted:
One (fake) boyfriend
Practically perfect in every way
Luc O’Donnell is tangentially – and reluctantly – famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he’s never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad’s making a comeback, Luc’s back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.
To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship… and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He’s a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he’s never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material.
Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.
But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that’s when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don’t ever want to let them go.
My rating:
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this sort of expecting a british Red, White and Royal Blue. And while similar because they’re both gay adult contemporaries, I ended up being surprised but pleased to discover this delves a little deeper. It’s still largely lighted hearted and it’s a lot of fun, but there’s also moments that challenge gaslighting and the pressures of being famous (or fame adjacent!)
Luc is trying to save his reputation, and Oliver just wants a date to his parents party. I secretly love a fake dating trope and this didn’t disappoint. Though I desperately wanted Oliver to loosen up a bit for the first half – we eventually see him soften and get some insight into him which was lovely. Plus him being uptight really leant into that trope hard! Though as I often do with romances, I was yelling at the book for these boys to just TALK. OMG. 😂
Romance wise it was pretty cute, and I liked that it was a hopeful wrap up, while not completely tidying it all away. It felt honest to who the characters were.
Good fun, and a lovely m/m contemporary read, with fab British humour. 4 stars.
Buy Boyfriend Material from Waterstones.
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