A Book A Week

A few weeks ago, I read Boyfriend Material and was completely blown away. Romance isn’t a genre I usually gravitate toward, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Alexis Hall’s fresh take on the fake-dating trope. Hall filled the novel with characters who felt complex, messy, and authentic. While I didn’t necessarily think the story needed a sequel, it didn’t take long for me to pick up Husband Material. And to my surprise, it takes these characters in a direction I never quite expected.

It’s been two years since Luc and Oliver’s unlikely relationship began. What started as a fake-dating arrangement has grown into something real—and, by their standards, surprisingly stable. Oliver remains as careful and reserved as ever, while Luc still wrestles with lingering doubts about his own worth, but together they’ve found a rhythm. They’re solid. They’re in love. They’re, dare I say, happy.

But what comes next?

That question is thrust to the forefront when Luc runs into his ex, the same man who sold their relationship to the tabloids. Luc wants nothing to do with him, but is caught off guard when the man not only apologizes, but invites him to his upcoming wedding. At first, Luc’s answer is easy: absolutely not. But the more he sits with it, the more it begins to feel like something he might need—closure.

And with wedding bells ringing, Luc and Oliver can’t help but turn the question inward. What does their own future look like? Are they ready for that kind of commitment, or is happily ever after more complicated than they imagined?

I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive going into Husband Material. I loved the first book—like, I was genuinely surprised by how much I fell for those characters—and it already felt like they’d earned their happy ending. Add to that the more middling reception this sequel received, and I wasn’t entirely convinced there was a reason for this story to exist.

But as I read, I was reminded exactly why I connected with the first book in the first place. Alexis Hall writes with a blend of humor and compassion that brings these characters to life in such a natural, engaging way. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t really a traditional romance novel like the first book was. Husband Material is more of an exploration of what comes after, as Luc and Oliver navigate the reality of building a life together. That's an important distinction that helped me better understand where the story was going. 

And while the ending isn’t necessarily what I expected, it feels honest to who these characters are and where they find themselves. With a third book on the horizon, I’m still very much invested and eager to see where Hall takes them next.