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Quick answer: If you loved Boyfriend Material, read its sequel Husband Material, then Red, White & Royal Blue, The Charm Offensive, One Last Stop and Game Changer. All are funny, heartfelt queer romances with fake dating, banter and big feelings.
Alexis Hall's 2020 romantic comedy follows Luc O'Donnell, a London man famous for his rock-star parents, who needs a fake boyfriend to save his reputation and meets the dependable Oliver Blackwood. It is witty, warm and very British. The books below offer similar queer romcoms, charming leads and plenty of laughs.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husband Material | Alexis Hall | Adult | the sequel |
| Red, White & Royal Blue | Casey McQuiston | Adult | queer romcom |
| The Charm Offensive | Alison Cochrun | Adult | reality TV romance |
| One Last Stop | Casey McQuiston | Adult | time-slip romance |
| Game Changer | Rachel Reid | Adult | hockey romance |
| Check, Please! | Ngozi Ukazu | Teen | college hockey graphic novel |
| The Hating Game | Sally Thorne | Adult | office rivals |
| Get a Life, Chloe Brown | Talia Hibbert | Adult | chronic illness romance |
| Beach Read | Emily Henry | Adult | writers in love |
| Honey Girl | Morgan Rogers | Adult | quiet love |
| Book Lovers | Emily Henry | Adult | witty small-town romance |
| Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell | Teen | college romance |
| Heartstopper | Alice Oseman | Teen | graphic romance |
| The Flatshare | Beth O'Leary | Adult | sharing a space |
| Seven Days in June | Tia Williams | Adult | second chances |
1. Husband Material by Alexis Hall
Luc and Oliver face weddings and families. Funny and tender.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The president's son falls for a British prince. Funny and big-hearted.
Best for: queer romcom.
3. The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
A producer and the star of a dating show fall for each other. Sweet and honest.
Best for: reality TV romance.
4. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
A young woman falls for a girl displaced in time on the subway. Sweet and dreamy.
Best for: time-slip romance.
5. Game Changer by Rachel Reid
A star hockey player comes out and finds love with a younger man. Sweet and emotional.
Best for: hockey romance.
6. Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
A baker joins his college hockey team. Charming and funny.
Best for: college hockey graphic novel.
7. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Two assistants compete for a promotion. Banter and tension.
Best for: office rivals.
8. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
A woman with chronic pain makes a list to live fully. Funny and moving.
Best for: chronic illness romance.
9. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Two rival authors swap genres for a summer. Sharp and sweet.
Best for: writers in love.
10. Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
A young woman marries a stranger in Vegas. Gentle and lyrical.
Best for: quiet love.
11. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
A cynical literary agent and a grumpy editor keep running into each other. Funny and bookish.
Best for: witty small-town romance.
12. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A shy writer starts university and slowly opens up. Warm and bookish.
Best for: college romance.
13. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Two schoolboys fall in love. Gentle and joyful.
Best for: graphic romance.
14. The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Two strangers share a flat and a bed, never meeting. Sweet and quirky.
Best for: sharing a space.
15. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Two writers reunite after years apart. Sharp and emotional.
Best for: second chances.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Boyfriend Material: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Hall start with Husband Material. For queer romcoms choose Red, White & Royal Blue, The Charm Offensive or One Last Stop. For sports pick Game Changer or Check, Please! For banter read The Hating Game or Beach Read. For gentle love stories try Heartstopper or Honey Girl. Boyfriend Material has some explicit scenes, so check ratings for the younger titles. Alexis Hall writes in many genres under several names, so readers who enjoy his comic voice can explore his fantasy and historical romances too. If you enjoy the British setting and banter, Alexis Hall's other romances are worth trying. If you enjoy the fake-dating trope, look for other rom-coms that use it, such as Red, White & Royal Blue. If you enjoy the tenderness, Honey Girl and The Charm Offensive are warm. Audiobooks bring out the jokes. Alexis Hall's humour often comes from awkward moments, so readers who enjoy cringe comedy will love Luc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Boyfriend Material about?
A man needs a fake boyfriend to save his reputation and ends up falling for him.
Who wrote it?
Alexis Hall.
When was it published?
2020.
Is it funny?
Yes, with sharp, British humour.
Is it spicy?
Moderately, with some sex scenes.
Is there a film?
Check current listings for any adaptation.
Is it a series?
Yes, with Husband Material as the sequel.
What should I read next?
Try Husband Material or Red, White & Royal Blue.
Do I need to read Boyfriend Material before Husband Material?
Yes, they follow the same couple.
Is Boyfriend Material suitable for teens?
It is written for adults and includes sex scenes.
Does Boyfriend Material have a happy ending?
Yes, it follows the conventions of a romantic comedy.
Is Husband Material as good as Boyfriend Material?
Many readers think it is, though some prefer the first.
Is Boyfriend Material good for fans of Heartstopper?
It is for adults, but it shares warmth and humour.