Reviews with content warning for Vomit - Forever Material

When Luc called Bridge in the middle of the night to say he couldn't marry Oliver, I KNEW Oliver was going to reciprocate the feelings at the wedding and they'd run off being happily unmarried... but it was just so predictable and anticlimactic for me. I don't need every couple in a book to get married, and honestly, I like that they both said marriage isn't for me, let's do our own thing... but the ENTIRE BOOK was leading up to them being married. I would've loved (a) a sweeter proposal scene, (b) maybe Luc having his freaks out but then realizing that Oliver was the one for him and ending up being happy to marry him, or (c) they should've just broken up lmao. Maybe a 3rd act break up? Anything but what actually transpired.

Also, Luc could not of been MORE ANNOYING. He was endearing in the first book, but in this book, his flaws were so obvious. He was selfish and self centered and woe is me. He only talked to his friends (who were also written to be SO ANNOYING in this book) when he needed them, he was wholly codependent on everyone (especially Oliver), and he didn't even give Oliver the chance to be understood. Luc had the opposite of character development, I feel he undeveloped where Oliver, who has since gone to therapy to deal with his personal traumas, developed a lot and learned more and more about himself as the book went on. He tried so hard to make Luc understand his side of things, especially the queer identity thing, and Luc was just like... BUT I WANT A RAINBOW ARCH *foot stomp*

The queer identity thing was interesting. I have always been an 'in your face' queer, loving to wear rainbows and shirts proclaiming my sexuality and never caring what anyone else thought, much like Luc. But Oliver was the opposite; he saw it as capitalistic and that it didn't fit how he wanted to be represented, which is valid and fair, but I loved reading about a queer character like that since usually both queer characters (especially gay men) are written as being so insanely flamboyant and in your face gay that it's pretty unrealistic. Oliver is my baby, and I love him endlessly, and he tbh deserved a more grown up person than Luc.

I do think that Luc and Oliver brought out the best in one another. I do think they are a good match and all that, but this sequel never should've gone down the road of marriage. Just them living their lives together would've been a good enough sequel, all we need is OliverLuc fluff. Boyfriend Material was a solid 5 star for me, but sadly Husband Material is only a 3 star... sad and disappointing. Still love this series though, Luc and Oliver have officially given me a book hangover!

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jess_always_reading's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Lighthearted and fun. The story leaped around a bit and felt disconnected in some parts and rushed in others though. Still a great, light read for when you're in the mood.

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pinetree_reads's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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levilore_'s review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book! It had a lot of great moments, but be aware that it is very different in vibes from the first book. Rather than Boyfriend Material which was much more "fanfic trope" this book deals with what it is actually like being in an adult relationship, what queer love means, marriage as an institution, and grief. It had a lot of amazing moments, but didn't have the iron grip on my heart like the first book, which honestly worked well for the plot/themes. Had some moments that genuinely made me yell out loud from excitement and other times I fully started crying. I only knocked it down a few points because the beginning was a bit slow for my taste.

Now the ending.

I saw other reviews saying they hated this book because the ending was so disappointing and frustrating. I see where people are coming from, the whole build up to the wedding and then for them to not even get married was somewhat disappointing plus the last chapter felt a bit rushed. However, I do not think the ending didn't make sense and I believe many people missed the point of this story.

Throughout the different weddings, Luc and Oliver obviously have different opinions about what marriage means and in Oliver's case, he is still figuring out what being queer means for him. The other weddings celebrate the joy of marriage and how individualized the experience is for each couple. My main takeaway from the book was that for Luc and Oliver, the act of marriage isn't, well, that important. For them, not being married is more important because it's an act of protest. Neither of them really talk about why they want to be married, rather they are both focused on the expectations that they should want to get married. They already do all the things that a life partner does for each other. Luc shows this when he supports Oliver through his dad's death. Oliver supports Luc when they go to Miles' wedding. The only time their communication fully breaks down is when they are trying to plan an event neither of them want. For the characters, the ending makes sense. Is it extremely dramatic and surprising? Absolutely. But through that act, through their complete honesty with each other, they are able to have their version of what love means, which is them bailing on their own wedding, running into the rain, and making out. (I really enjoyed the sweet touch of the rainbow umbrellas)

In a larger context, I enjoyed this book because it explores the complexity of queerness and marriage. They talk about how marriage is an important right for queer people, but there is no right way to be queer. Having that conventional expression of love, for a relationship that started and continues to be unconventional, just doesn't work for them. And that's the point of the ending. Did it annoy me that they wasted all that time and money just to not get married? Yes, it did. Do I think they could have just had a big party and skipped the ceremony? Absolutely. But I think that's the whole point. From the outside, them running off looks absolutely ridiculous and stupid, but character wise it makes sense because honestly they are both kind of ridiculous and stupid. People want everything to be wrapped up in this beautiful bow of marriage = happiness but I think Alexis Hall uses this book to show how true queerness is about accepting that not being married, not having the flashy rainbow ceremony, should be just as beautiful as all those things. The idea of "love is love" should not just be "love is love if you follow the traditional normative conventions of how love should be expressed", but rather "love is complex and weird and that is beautiful too". And I personally think that is more impactful than them getting married in the first place.

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londonbridget98's review against another edition

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emotional funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

a waste of my time. read boyfriend material as a standalone.

I will say i love Alexis Hall’s writing. The side characters were fun and interesting and well-fleshed out, and the humor was really on point. I just felt like we kept going in circles and circles and circles with the same arguments and zero resolutions. I wish I’d never read it and could have just stayed in my happy boyfriend material bubble.

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kathis_wonderland's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Husband Material by Alexis Hall is the second book in the London Calling series. Luc and Oliver are in a relationship of over two years now and everything seems quite perfect. But people all around them are getting married and Luc feels he should propose too. But things happen and the perfect happy ending seems far away.

After absolutely loving the first book in this series, I was equally excited to read this one. Right at the beginning I have to say that the first book was so much better than the second book, but I am a sucker for the fake-dating trope. Still, I really enjoyed this book. It was good the read about their relationship going quite well (most of the times). Luc is still quite immature, which already annoyed me in the first book.

Throughout the book I was quite scared of the ending.

I honestly did not want them to get married. If I were in Oliver's position and someone proposed to me the way Luc proposed, I would have been quite heartbroken. It does not have to be super romantic, but it should be something one thought about and did not do as a knee-jerk reaction. Both of them weren't ready to get married. I hoped that they would properly talk about marriage at some point in the book and call of the wedding. I was ready to not really like this book if they actually got married.

But the ending was perfect (for me)! Couldn't have wished for anything else.

Now I am quite excited to read the third and last book in this series. I don't have the highest of hopes for the next book, but I enjoy these books. The writing style is different to those that I am used to and I like that. I still am a massive fan of the first book and will recommend that one whenever someone asks of my opinion.

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sam_gartley91's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Cute, the ending stressed me out but the last page or so resolution did turn out well. They just really need to learn to communicate!

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evelynyle_88's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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