I wanted better.

i was expecting better. Ending ruined it for me. Reoccurring issues also weren't the best.

5 people found this helpful

So many mixed feelings

It gives me absolutely no pleasure to write this about an author that I so adore, but I don't think I have ever been so profoundly disappointed with the ending of a book. It felt contrived, unearned and untrue to the characters. I can only think the choice was to subvert expectations, but it felt like an "idea" being imposed onto a shape that didn't fit it. Boyfriend Material has quickly become one of my all time favorites and I will continue with the story because I do enjoy the author and I'm invested in the characters, but I will approach the third book with a great deal more trepidation and a good deal less anticipation. Hopefully the time between now and its publishing will remove some of the sting. I have read Boyfriend Material, in audio and print, an embarrassing number of times since it was first published. I hope that Father Material can bring things back around for me, but I know that I will never, ever, listen to this book again. Or, if I do, I will stop at chapter 39.

For the record, 95% of the book is truly lovely and the narration is absolutely masterful, but the ending just about wiped away all good will I had going in.

4 people found this helpful

A hefty, vegan, nothingburger of a book

If it weren’t for Joe Jameson, this would have a fully egregious endeavor. He is an incredibly gifted voice talent and a delightful narrator. But even he could not make this book palatable.

Let’s establish one thing first, I LOVED Boyfriend Material. I have listened to it more than once and bought the printed version too. I was excited for this book and pre-ordered from Amazon. The day it arrived I saw that the audiobook was also available. I wasted no time buying it.

Then I started. I would say that I will avoid spoilers to not give away the plot - but there’s not really a plot.
Maybe that’s a bit harsh, but it feels like a series of loosely connected stories that only make sense because we met all the significant characters involved here in the first book. The main thing to know going in is that two years have passed since the conclusion of the first book.

Perhaps my biggest problem is that Lucien is relatively insufferable for much of the story. Oliver isn’t too far behind. They have an ongoing disagreement/conflict/nonsense that has them on the verge for the entire book. It is exhausting.

We wait an incredibly long time to interact with Lucien’s parents, same for Oliver’s parents. Lucien’s mother was a delight in the first book and she is missed - quite underutilized in the second.

This issue is the entire book is literally four weddings and a funeral. Five independent stories that do not, in my opinion, constitute a plot. Each wedding attended has its owns trials and tribulations that are mostly tiresome. Especially when cloaked in the ongoing argument between our two guys. One of the loose stories is beautifully written, reminiscent of the first book. But it comes quite late in the book and did not save the overall experience for me.

Keep in mind there is no obstacle to the guys getting married. Not culturally or legally. This is my complaint about the “plot”, such as it is. Both guys in book one had their own demons, and their relationship bloomed from how they helped each grow. There’s very little of that present in this book, and I found the ending a complete letdown. Missed opportunities abound.

3 people found this helpful

Disappointed and Devastated

I am just devastated I enjoyed the 1st book so much and was excited to see where there story took them and where it took them was down a road of utter trash and the ending was by far thee most unfortunate and disappointing story ending I have ever heard. DO BETTER......

3 people found this helpful

Disappointed

Performance by the narrator, Great! The story, not so much.
You know those books where you are like “ yeah, this is pretty good”, then the ending comes and it turns to “nope. Just now I just feel like I wasted my time.” This is one of them.

I am new to Alexis Hall and was a fan of the first book of this series “Boyfriend Material”. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of this one, especially the ending. It feels that I pretty much just wasted my time with the first 90% of the book and could have just finished the last 10% and would have gotten the same out of it. Which sadly means I probably won’t be reading/listening to anything else by this author.

If you like the first book, I would recommend ending it there. It was way better.

2 people found this helpful

I loved it! (but…)

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was nice to revisit the characters, explore the societal pressures of marriage and relationships, and have a good laugh. It’s definitely worth the listen despite the reviews on the ending.

It’s so weird because the book is amazing and the ending makes sense but it felt… wrong? Like the events fit the story perfectly and I love it but it really does just kinda… end. It’s almost like someone wrote this beautiful, well-crafted essay on an exam but they got to the conclusion and ran out of space and time so they scribbled their last thought down.

So… yes, definitely read it because it’s perfectly imperfect. Just like Luc & Oliver. They don’t make sense but they also kinda do in a weird way that we all love.

2 people found this helpful

I need more.

I loved this book the ending was definitely not what I expected and I don’t know how I feel about it. But I know I loved it overall can’t wait for more

1 person found this helpful

I Did like this book.

Overall, I do think that this book is great. But, like other reviewers have said, the ending wasn’t as great as i hoped It would be. I’m not sure if its cause I had unrealistic expectations but the ending seemed to be slightly more different from the rest if the book. I just hope the next book is as good as boyfriend material was; maybe a fresh MC will make me like it more.

1 person found this helpful

Gay 90's Rom-Com, if there were ever such a thing.

I absolutely love this series. Very much a 90's rom-com for me. Without spoilers, parts of it hurt, because I love Oliver and Luc so much. But that only made it more real for me. The returning characters are very well written and feel like old friends. The narration by Joe Jameson brings them to life stunningly. He does the best voices.

Something I absolutely loved about this book, the lack of constant retelling the previous book. I hate recaps and this was mostly recap-free. Thank you Alexis Hall for a 2nd book. Here's hoping for a 3rd. :)

An Absolute Yes

Absolute queer joy and chaos, but also all those complicated and real questions so many of us have that are just as much part of the experience. Quite an anxious read at times but such an absolute bold choice and a thoughtful examination of heteronormativity. I also don’t think anybody could bring the story to life quite like Joe; a true talent. By all means Alexis feel free to tell us more of Luc and Oliver’s stories, I imagine you’d have more than a few happy readers!