Drive-by booking
45. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Luc needs a boyfriend for some damage control. Oliver needs a date to a family 'do. I read this book and bounce around the room squeeing.
*ahem*
28-year-old Luc is the son of two aging rock stars, his French mom who raised him and the British father who abandoned him at the age of 3. He's constantly harassed by the British paparazzi, and after a breakup in which his former boyfriend sells his story to the press, Luc acts out (think one-night-stands and the odd drunken puke in an alleyway.) His job as a fundraiser for a charity is threatened unless he can redeem his reputation, STAT. Enter Oliver, a rather uptight, health-conscious, highly-educated barrister who also needs someone to pretend to be his boyfriend for a family event.
Will these two fake boyfriends end up falling in love? Is the Pope Catholic?
BUT. This is the most amusing, banter-filled, honest, real and emotionally connected version of fake boyfriends to real boyfriends that I have ever read. There is simply not a single inauthentic note. The story is told from Luc's POV, and through his encounters with his friends and eccentric coworkers, his mom and his estranged dad, we watch his evolution. Through the brilliant writing and perfect pacing, we watch as Luc changes and grows and becomes a better person by being loved. He learns to open up at first because he has to in order to work the trope, and then because he wants to - even though it's difficult for him, and finally because to do so is the best way that he can help Oliver. And best of all, there are no formulaic answers here, no pat and expected conclusions. How refreshing! I didn't want this one to end.
5/5 stars
LJ Summer Book Bingo 01 - set on an island
434 words
Books Read: 45/60
Goodreads Challenge: 43/52
Popsugar Challenge: 23/50
Goodreads Summer Challenge: 10/12
LJ Book Bingo June 20-August 31: 3/9
LJ Book Bingo Jan-March: 12/12
LJ Book Bingo April-June 20: 9/9
Total Page Count: 13681 pages
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