Review

Review Revisited: Holly’s Take on Husband Material by Alexis Hall (2022)

We’re trying something a little different this week, where we read different books that all have the same title. Our first contender in Who Wore It Best: Smut Edition? Husband Material.

To properly kick off Husband Material week, I figured I should read the book that inspired us to do this in the first place: the version written by Alexis Hall that Erin squeed over. 

Her review is below, but here are three additional things that you should know about this book:

  1. It does not stand alone

You *definitely* have to read Boyfriend Material first. There are approximately a million characters who are vaguely introduced, but the expectation is that the reader already knows what Luc’s job is and who his coworkers are, who his besties are, and the general outline of his history. Luc’s friends Bridge and Priya get the most page time of the secondary characters and feel the most fully fleshed out, but if I hadn’t read Boyfriend Material, I would have been very confused with every interaction Luc has with his fellow CRAPPers.

  1. I would maybe call this book smut-adjacent

Not because of the non-heteronormative HEA, but because I thought it read kind of day-in-the-life women’s fic-y. The focus of most of the book is not Luc and Oliver’s relationship, because their relationship is great, but on the stuff going on around them that’s making them process their various messes.

On the other hand, the conflict and resolution at the very end of the book may have changed my mind about this statement.

  1. The last paragraph is perfect

Just trust me on this one.

Read on for Erin’s review.

Continue reading “Review Revisited: Holly’s Take on Husband Material by Alexis Hall (2022)”
Recommended Read, Review

Review: Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort (2023)

Heat Factor: Coming like a fire tornado

Character Chemistry: They are so hot for each other and it’s fabulous

Plot: Gender-swapped Phantom of the Opera, with an HEA for the Phantom

Overall: I am utterly delighted

Continue reading “Review: Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort (2023)”
Recommended Read, Review Revisited

Review Revisited: Holly’s Take on Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (2020)

So, Erin has been yelling at us about Boyfriend Material and how it’s her favoritest most funniest book ever for a while now, so I figured I should read it. 

Erin and I do not have exactly the same sense of humor, because I was not laughing so hard that my husband had to check on me to make sure I was ok. (Maybe also she laughs harder at things than I do.) And there were some scenes where I could tell that we were going for humor, but it was too over-the-top for me to get a giggle out of it. (Erin and I had similarly divergent reactions to Something Fabulous.) 

BUT. The bit where Luc is telling his coworkers the “interrupting cow” knock-knock joke is fucking hilarious. Alex Twaddle 4-EVA!

I will also say that I read this as part of a larger Alexis Hall binge, which really highlighted to me that his books are not for everyone. They are thoughtful and absolutely brilliantly written, but I find them incredibly stressful to read. The protagonists tend to be messy and unlikable; therefore, being in their heads is not always a pleasant experience.

Read on for all the deets (and lots of squeeing) from Erin.

Continue reading “Review Revisited: Holly’s Take on Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (2020)”
Recommended Read, Review

Review: Husband Material by Alexis Hall (2022)

London Calling, Book #2

Review of London Calling, Book #1

Heat Factor: Lots of kissing and even some canoodling, but it quickly fades to black

Character Chemistry: There is honestly nothing better than the ways that Luc and Oliver show they love each other, both with little, everyday things and when they both let all their messes hang out

Plot: To wed or not to wed? That is the question. But it’s not really a question because the real grownups all get wed… Right? RIGHT?!

Overall: There is so much humor and love in this book, and I had such a blast reading it, but I also had to check myself in the later sections as the writing on the wall became more and more clear

Continue reading “Review: Husband Material by Alexis Hall (2022)”
Review

Review: Mad for a Mate by MaryJanice Davidson (2022)

BeWere My Heart, Book #3 

(It doesn’t say it’s part of the series on Goodreads or NetGalley, but it is.)

Reviews of BeWere My Heart Book #1 and Book #2

Heat Factor: The slowest of horny slow burns, with hot fading to deep purple after 90%

Character Chemistry: I liked them for each other, but there was more focus on the banter and the danger than on the emotional development

Plot: A loner werebear with a checkered past finds a naked woman washed up on his island. Then she hops up and swims off, and he goes after her. Banter ensues.

Overall: I definitely laughed out loud.

Continue reading “Review: Mad for a Mate by MaryJanice Davidson (2022)”