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curliesstories's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mmhidalgo98's review against another edition
2.0
First off, Luc is an absolute disaster. Second, I don’t know the last time I’ve been this upset about an ending. The entire time I thought “these two have no business getting married” and then they didn't. But it felt like they called off the wedding because it was a heteronormative institution. Also, if I heard one more mention about the stupid rainbow balloon arch I was gonna throw this book away. Glad things ended up working out for these two but I don’t imagine I’ll read the next book when it comes out.
hogwartsherms's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
klb72's review against another edition
5.0
Laughed out loud several times and would happily read again, hence five stars.
theo_iwan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ashction's review against another edition
3.0
Okay. You know how when you finish a romance book and you think to yourself, Gee, I'd read about their life forever and it's a shame I can't!, and then if you're particularly obsessed you read or write fanfiction or create headcanons to fill the gaps? Except that in this case, Alexis Hall said "I hear you" and actually wrote the domestic follow-up to a book I truly adored. It can't be anything but good!, I say to myself as I eagerly jump through non-Kindle friendly DRC hoops to get this ARC on my Android phone, using an app that no longer gets updates. Because I'm just that excited to read it!
I would do anything to be forty-eight hours ago me. Because she was living in delusion, and I would like to be her again. Sadly, this book has taught me a valuable lesson. I don't think we actually need to see our end game couples after the fact. Or, at least, not this version of them.
I am FULLY AWARE some of you are going to find this review controversial. I want to preface my thoughts by saying I still loved the writing, and the humor, and Luc and Oliver. Truly. And I think that you can still have fun with this even if you, too, feel it is pointless. I still laughed a LOT, and it was still enjoyable since I was fond of them.
That being said, Husband Material is, at best, unnecessary, and at worst, a directionless book that seems to completely lose the heart of what we loved about Luc and Oliver to begin with. The plot is almost literally Four Weddings and a Funeral, which you would think would please me since I loved that movie AND the underrated Hulu TV reboot! However, it mostly did not work for me. Not until the ending - really, the last 150 pages - did I finally and truly begin to feel like the people I was seeing on-page were the same people from Boyfriend Material. And the ending was perfect, if not a completely moot point. But all in all, my feelings on this - and, god forbid, another sequel - are complicated. And that's the last thing I expected to feel about a follow-up to one of my all-time favorite books.
Very spoilery opiniated review below! Read at your own risk!
I also felt like the characterization of Luc and Oliver were both so off for the majority of the book for no real reason. It isn't until we get to the funeral that the book really finds its stride, which is 300 pages in. Everything prior to that felt like pulling teeth. I'd go from deliriously happy to flabbergasted that anything I was reading was real, because it felt stale and bland. I hated the ex-boyfriend returns plot, I hated the way the story characterized Oliver's trauma and insecurities into pettiness, and I hated the way these two characters who'd never struck me as people who need convention anyway went through the entire plan-a-wedding thing, at each other's THROATS, only to skip out of the chapel. (Which, to be clear, was perfect for them and a wonderful end to an otherwise lukewarm book, but my GOD.)
The best part of the book was Oliver getting up at his father's funeral and giving a multiple pages (at least ten!) long ramble about how much of an utter DICK his dead dad was. I would have much preferred an Oliver POV novella, or even novel, than more Luc. Especially since Luc barely grew, other than being more emotionally stable than before. It would have been compelling to work through Oliver's trauma from his own eyes. So much of the book was centered around Oliver's feelings and fears, via Luc's eyes, which just didn't quite work and never quite rang true. Because we didn't need to keep seeing Luc grow; he'd done it in Boyfriend Material.
Also, the more I think about it, the more I'm realizing this book paints Oliver as worryingly codependent. Like, he needs to up his therapy sessions codependent.
Also, I hate to say it, but it turns out that the domestic version of your dramatic, tension filled hate-to-love romances is pretty dull. Especially when they're arguing about who's version of gay is correct 2.5 years into a relationship, engaged.
But, given the book is what it is, I think I could have liked it more sans two of the weddings and if it were a novella. Frankly, I am terrified at the concept of reading a third book after this. I will, because I still really love the characters and Hall's writing. But if I pretend this one never happened for a while, no one can fault me.
I received a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing me access!
I would do anything to be forty-eight hours ago me. Because she was living in delusion, and I would like to be her again. Sadly, this book has taught me a valuable lesson. I don't think we actually need to see our end game couples after the fact. Or, at least, not this version of them.
I am FULLY AWARE some of you are going to find this review controversial. I want to preface my thoughts by saying I still loved the writing, and the humor, and Luc and Oliver. Truly. And I think that you can still have fun with this even if you, too, feel it is pointless. I still laughed a LOT, and it was still enjoyable since I was fond of them.
That being said, Husband Material is, at best, unnecessary, and at worst, a directionless book that seems to completely lose the heart of what we loved about Luc and Oliver to begin with. The plot is almost literally Four Weddings and a Funeral, which you would think would please me since I loved that movie AND the underrated Hulu TV reboot! However, it mostly did not work for me. Not until the ending - really, the last 150 pages - did I finally and truly begin to feel like the people I was seeing on-page were the same people from Boyfriend Material. And the ending was perfect, if not a completely moot point. But all in all, my feelings on this - and, god forbid, another sequel - are complicated. And that's the last thing I expected to feel about a follow-up to one of my all-time favorite books.
Very spoilery opiniated review below! Read at your own risk!
Spoiler
Okay. So my major dilemma with this book is that the entire book spends so much time trying to drive home the fact that Luc and Oliver are... different people. Which would be fine if, for example, this book was taking place 6-12 months into the relationship and not 24-36 months into the relationship. But I get Alexis Hall probably was between a rock and a hard place here. Most couples aren't thinking marriage in a year or less. But, in my opinion, a couple as far along as Luc and Oliver would not be having fights about their fundamental personalities (which Hall seems to want to boil down to "flamboyant gay" and "gay but not in a cliché way") this late in the game. ESPECIALLY after they get engaged! What the fuck! Also, I'm sorry, but driving home Luc being a "flamboyant gay" because he likes... partying and rainbow balloon arches... is a lot? It starts off a funny joke but gets tired so quickly.I also felt like the characterization of Luc and Oliver were both so off for the majority of the book for no real reason. It isn't until we get to the funeral that the book really finds its stride, which is 300 pages in. Everything prior to that felt like pulling teeth. I'd go from deliriously happy to flabbergasted that anything I was reading was real, because it felt stale and bland. I hated the ex-boyfriend returns plot, I hated the way the story characterized Oliver's trauma and insecurities into pettiness, and I hated the way these two characters who'd never struck me as people who need convention anyway went through the entire plan-a-wedding thing, at each other's THROATS, only to skip out of the chapel. (Which, to be clear, was perfect for them and a wonderful end to an otherwise lukewarm book, but my GOD.)
The best part of the book was Oliver getting up at his father's funeral and giving a multiple pages (at least ten!) long ramble about how much of an utter DICK his dead dad was. I would have much preferred an Oliver POV novella, or even novel, than more Luc. Especially since Luc barely grew, other than being more emotionally stable than before. It would have been compelling to work through Oliver's trauma from his own eyes. So much of the book was centered around Oliver's feelings and fears, via Luc's eyes, which just didn't quite work and never quite rang true. Because we didn't need to keep seeing Luc grow; he'd done it in Boyfriend Material.
Also, the more I think about it, the more I'm realizing this book paints Oliver as worryingly codependent. Like, he needs to up his therapy sessions codependent.
Also, I hate to say it, but it turns out that the domestic version of your dramatic, tension filled hate-to-love romances is pretty dull. Especially when they're arguing about who's version of gay is correct 2.5 years into a relationship, engaged.
But, given the book is what it is, I think I could have liked it more sans two of the weddings and if it were a novella. Frankly, I am terrified at the concept of reading a third book after this. I will, because I still really love the characters and Hall's writing. But if I pretend this one never happened for a while, no one can fault me.
I received a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing me access!
purracho's review against another edition
challenging
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
eopacklucas's review against another edition
3.0
quero começar dizendo que não foi uma leitura inteiramente proveitosa pois só ficou interessante pra mim a partir dos 40%, o que pra esse livro é muita chatice até ficar bom. muita cena aleatória sem necessidade, a dinâmica escolhida pela autora de mostrar casamentos dos amigos do Lucien não me colou muito, pois eu não ligo.
ficou legal no 3º casamento, porque trouxe assuntos interessantes e discussões legais, mas antes disso foi tudo muito chato e sem sentido.
pelo menos meu amor pelo luc e oliver permaneceu desde começo, apesar dos pesares, eu simplesmente amo eles sou obcecado. porém, eu esperava mais, o livro já começa dizendo que faz dois anos desde o fim do primeiro livro e já me irritou aí porque eu queria que fosse seguimento do fim do “procura-se um namorado”, mas aí já é problema meu mesmo que criei essa expectativa.
também achei o final estranho, a forma que foi narrada em uma página tudo acontecendo e acabando, foi muito abrupto e corrido, achei estranho, não sei se odiei mas definitivamente não gostei também.
por fim, gostei do livro, não tanto quanto primeiro, mas valeu a pena por eles.
adição: o senso de humor do autor é incrível eu deu risadas até quando tava chato, pq era engraçado mesmo assim. só isso mesmo.
ficou legal no 3º casamento, porque trouxe assuntos interessantes e discussões legais, mas antes disso foi tudo muito chato e sem sentido.
pelo menos meu amor pelo luc e oliver permaneceu desde começo, apesar dos pesares, eu simplesmente amo eles sou obcecado. porém, eu esperava mais, o livro já começa dizendo que faz dois anos desde o fim do primeiro livro e já me irritou aí porque eu queria que fosse seguimento do fim do “procura-se um namorado”, mas aí já é problema meu mesmo que criei essa expectativa.
também achei o final estranho, a forma que foi narrada em uma página tudo acontecendo e acabando, foi muito abrupto e corrido, achei estranho, não sei se odiei mas definitivamente não gostei também.
por fim, gostei do livro, não tanto quanto primeiro, mas valeu a pena por eles.
adição: o senso de humor do autor é incrível eu deu risadas até quando tava chato, pq era engraçado mesmo assim. só isso mesmo.
nataliereinhart's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5