Publishers Weekly
★ 04/13/2020
Hall (Fire & Water) breathes new life into the fake-dating trope with this effervescent queer rom-com. Luc O’Donnell, the hapless son of an aging British rock star, is tired of being a tabloid headline. When his employers at the small environmental charity where he works raise concerns about his public image and prompt him to find a stable relationship, Luc lets his friends set him up with Oliver Blackwood, a stuffy but sexy criminal barrister. Though their first date is a disaster, after Luc confesses his true motives, Oliver agrees to pose as his boyfriend at work events if Luc will return the favor at Oliver’s parents’ anniversary party. Their ruse gets its first test during a fancy work lunch in a hilarious, standout scene reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse. Oliver proves to be “Annoying. And thoughtful. And protective. And secretly kind of funny” as he inspires Luc to take control of his life, supports Luc through his absentee father’s cancer diagnosis, and teaches him sex can be meaningful. But Luc’s efforts to help Oliver cope with his hypercritical parents backfire, leading to a delightfully comedic take on the inevitable grand romantic gesture. The writing is witty, and Luc and Oliver’s chemistry is irresistible, but it’s Hall’s insights about trust and self-worth that set the story apart. This is a triumph. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary. (July)
From the Publisher
"How? How was this book written? My vote is witchcraft. What a study in character development. It’s a how-to without even trying. I’m going to treat this novel like I do my favorite cardigan and buy 5 copies for when one wears out. Everyone needs to read this. Brilliance on every single page. Hilarious, witty, tender, and stunning. I LOVE THIS BOOK." — Christina Lauren, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
"Alexis Hall is the undisputed master of romantic comedy." — Jenny Holiday, USA Today bestselling author of Mermaid Inn
"Every once in a while you read a book that you want to SCREAM FROM ROOFTOPS about. I'm screaming, people!" — Sonali Dev, award-winning author of Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors
"Alexis Hall's Boyfriend Material perfectly balances laugh-out-loud-while-reading-alone-in-an-empty-room with those-aren't-tears-in-my-eyes-just-allergies." — Kris Ripper, author of the Scientific Method Universe
"FAKE DATING, REAL FEELINGS, BEST JOKES." — Olivia Waite, author of The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics
"Boyfriend Material is the joyfully queer British romcom escape book I didn't know I needed. It's absurdly funny and swoonily romantic, with a sharp edge of wit and observation that keeps the story bounding along. An unbridled 'one-more-chapter-oh-no-it's-3am' delight." — KJ Charles
"This is a triumph." — Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review
"Downright hilarious...Hall achieves a true balance between romance and comedy, delightfully succeeding at both. " — Booklist, STARRED Review
"I’m in awe of Alexis Hall’s talent. I don’t want the book to end." — Cathy Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author
Library Journal
06/01/2020
Luc O'Donnell is sort of famous. The son of popular rock stars, he can't do normal things other guys his age do—get drunk, act wild, date bad boys—without popping up in the tabloids. Never mind that he has a perfectly respectable job as a charity fundraiser. Tabloids don't care about that. So Luc enlists his friends to find him the perfect fake boyfriend, and they deliver Oliver Blackwood. Oliver is a barrister, rather conservative, and also happens to need a fake boyfriend for his parents' anniversary in a few weeks. As the two try to figure out how a pretend relationship works, their real lives complicate matters. VERDICT Hall (How To Bang a Billionaire) delivers a comedic romance with a not-very-sympathetic hero who tries to be better, a sexy barrister, and a gaggle of oddball secondary characters. Fans of Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue may enjoy.—Melanie C. Duncan, Washington Memorial Lib., Macon, GA
SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile
Narrator Joe Jameson’s performance amplifies the charms of this sweet and funny contemporary romance. Luc, estranged son of an aging rock star and darling of the British tabloids, needs a way to clean up his image for the sake of the charity he works for. Enter Oliver, a buttoned-up London barrister who’s willing to pose as Luc’s boyfriend. Of course, it doesn’t take long for them to develop real feelings for each other. In addition to showing off a whole range of accents from Luc’s French mother to his Welsh co-worker, Jameson ably communicates Luc’s vulnerable side, ensuring that listeners will be rooting for Luc and Oliver to figure out their happy ending. J.M.D. 2020 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
