Boyfriend Material

The novel Boyfriend Material (2020) is a romantic comedy by Alexis Hall. It follows Luc O’Donnell, the son of a rock star. Luc’s father, the rock star, is making a comeback.

Luc tries to find a suitable partner to help him clean up his party-boy image. He reunites with Oliver Blackwood, a man who seems like his opposite in every possible way. The novel grapples with the difficulties of identity and sexuality, questioning traditional notions of success while exploring adaptability and love.

Hall maintains a strict level of anonymity. He writes romance, science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction. The name Alexis Hall is a pseudonym, which he uses out of respect for his own privacy and a belief that his day job does not coincide with romance writing. He lives in southeast England. (Hall, Alexis. “FAQ: About Me.” Alexis Hall.)

This guide uses the Sourcebooks Casablanca illustrated paperback edition of the novel (ISBN-13 978-1728206141).

Content Warning: Boyfriend Material contains instances of explicit and implicit anti-gay bias. It also contains profanity and references child abandonment and emotional abuse.

Plot Summary

Luc O’Donnell arrives late at a bar and searches for his friends. He meets a man named Cam, and the two briefly flirt before making out.