Review: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
SYNOPSIS:
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.
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
Hands down, one of the top 5 books I will read this year. Yes, it’s only April, but I am already calling it. This book was pure male-male magic. Heartbreakingly beautiful, a truly captivating story about finding love and finding yourself. It’s the kind of whimsical story that I want to read in one sitting but also slowly savor because I am not ready for it to end so fast.
First off, I should start with Luc and Oliver. Luc was such a wonderfully written character, complex, torn, and damaged; his character arc was inspiring. He found his voice, was able to get his footing, and really did a 180 over the course of the story. In contrast, Oliver’s issues were buried deeper but he was the portrait of perfection. Where Luc was all sarcasm and jokes, Oliver was all sexy and serious. Together they balanced each other out in a seamless way that only two halves of one whole could.
While the premise starts with a fake relationship, Luc and Oliver are so much more than that. Each misunderstanding Luc and Oliver had literally made my heart ache. But let me tell you, when they finally get in sync and get rid of all the b*llsh*t, my heart was soaring. The first kiss, first touch, first time was so perfect. Honestly, it was everything. The characters raw emotions were palpable and in that moment, their pain and struggles felt like my own. I swear at one moment I just stopped reading and sighed longingly at just how wonderful each scene was. *chef’s kiss*
Alexis Hall masterfully balances out the drama and tension with secondary characters who bring a layer of humor and charming banter. Luc’s mum was the absolute best, she had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. From her quirky personality to her unique way to expressing love, she was lovely. Luc’s best friend, Bridge was the cheerleader you could call at 3 a.m. to talk through life with and would always be there. Bridge was an adorable, determined fire-ball who was set on setting Oliver and Luc up.
If the effortless conversations weren’t enough, I felt like I was transported into London. I adored all the references, such as taking the Tube, they left me with a cheesy grin on my face. And at the end of the book, I just sighed and hugged my Kindle because its the type of story that is going to linger long after it ends. Filled with charisma, charm, and enchanting scenes, this story is not one to be missed.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
