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A review by booklover_zzz
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
3.0
3.5 stars
Let me start with the positives. I loved the premise of the book, the dynamic “voice” Luc had, and the majority of characters. A LOT happens in this novel. It could have easily been a duology but, nope, just a novel. I’ve been where Oliver is (at all points of his character) and found him to be very relatable as a queer growing up surrounded by mostly straight people and having “that” family.
My problems with this book:
The writing was...cringeworthy and there was much, much, much more dialogue in every chapter than descriptions & actions of any kind. It was like the book was a dialogue vomit (or a script trying to be turned into a book.) Very minimal, small actions, gestures, and descriptions of people, places, and things. It was very annoying that I had to imaging the book for the author.
I thought the book ended too rushed (same thing with Luc’s relationship issue with his dad.) They needed to be extended, separated, or cut out entirely. These things could have gone through another round of developmental editing.
Also, what up with the pro-Harry Potter references? I get that this book has to do with the British but a queer supporter (characters or author) would never have been pro-HP and JK Rowling. I was so shocked the amount of times Luc talked good things about HP instead of making jokes like “oh those books where the author thinks Dumbledore’s gay but never wrote it. Is she calling bull or he really?”
**I won this Boyfriend Material ARC in a giveaway. This is an honest review.**
Let me start with the positives. I loved the premise of the book, the dynamic “voice” Luc had, and the majority of characters. A LOT happens in this novel. It could have easily been a duology but, nope, just a novel. I’ve been where Oliver is (at all points of his character) and found him to be very relatable as a queer growing up surrounded by mostly straight people and having “that” family.
My problems with this book:
The writing was...cringeworthy and there was much, much, much more dialogue in every chapter than descriptions & actions of any kind. It was like the book was a dialogue vomit (or a script trying to be turned into a book.) Very minimal, small actions, gestures, and descriptions of people, places, and things. It was very annoying that I had to imaging the book for the author.
I thought the book ended too rushed (same thing with Luc’s relationship issue with his dad.) They needed to be extended, separated, or cut out entirely. These things could have gone through another round of developmental editing.
Also, what up with the pro-Harry Potter references? I get that this book has to do with the British but a queer supporter (characters or author) would never have been pro-HP and JK Rowling. I was so shocked the amount of times Luc talked good things about HP instead of making jokes like “oh those books where the author thinks Dumbledore’s gay but never wrote it. Is she calling bull or he really?”
**I won this Boyfriend Material ARC in a giveaway. This is an honest review.**