Alexis Hall has done it again! Another spectacular book that engages you from the first page and makes you love characters so deeply, you want to keep reading more of their story.
10 Things That Never Happened is a book that is part of the London Calling universe, but follows one of the minor characters in Husband Material–Jonathan–who owns a small empire of bed and bath shops and his store manager, Sam.
I can't say enough good things about this book. It had me laughing out loud, reveling in the Lord of the Rings references, crying and tearing up again and again.
This book has all the wonderful moments you get with Hall's books: humor, witticisms, three dimensional characters, relatable situations, social commentary, heaps of romance, the many facets of love, emotionally resonant communication, and the reality that love makes things better but it doesn't magically fix everything and doesn't need to.
Sam is the protagonist and narrator and his voice is unique, engaging, and oh so dear to me. I honestly can't wait for the audiobook, to hear his voice out loud. Sam manages one of Jonathan's stores. He is capable, kind, observant and devoted to his staff. His staff, though only in the book for short bursts of time, are all memorable and distinct and quite funny. The attention to detail of retail jargon and the nuances of corporate structure are all so well developed and exposed here. I laughed every time Sam detailed exactly what brand/model/style product he observed. Anyone who has worked in retail will find resonance, even if your store didn't focus on bath and bed.
Jonathan is the grumpy owner of the bed and bath chain. He has a few stores and is growing his brand but he is extremely hands on and quite the micromanager. Sam's store is the weakest performer of his chain and Jonathan is determined to do something about that. At a visit to the store (to likely cut costs by cutting personnel) Jonathan ends up involved in a mishap that leads to Sam being injured and coming up with the idea of faking amnesia as a last ditch effort to save his staff.
Jonathan is tasked with Sam's care in the aftermath and their relationships develops as they are forced into proximity by this arrangement thrust upon them by the harried and busy A&E physicians. Jonathan and Sam are both complicated characters, with pasts that have shaped them and continue to resonate in their daily lives, with hidden (and not so hidden) traumas that affect them and how they interact with the people and world around them. And with each other.
The Christmas setting and Jonathan's unique, eccentric, and utterly relatable family add to the depth of the story. Hall's side characters are always so engaging and vibrant, people you feel you know and want to know more about. I would gladly read books about almost any of his side characters. I am so glad he chose Jonathan–someone I would never have expected to be a protagonist in his own book–someone I found somewhat irritating in Husband Material and now find myself completely devoted to. I would do anything for this man. Anything.
And for Sam as well.
Hall gives us characters with flaws, with their own issues and pasts, characters who grow and progress as the story progresses but who aren't magically fixed by love, or another person, or a new situation. They remain themselves, flawed and unique and relatable, and with a deeper understanding of themselves and each other. With someone at their sides who gets them for who they are and how they are and has compassion and understanding and takes them as they are.
Everyone has a story arc in this book. Jonathan. Sam. The staff at the store. Jonathan's family. Gollum the cat. Everyone.
I laughed. I cried. I literally wanted to hug this book when I finished it. I did not expect to get so fiercely attached to Jonathan and Sam and the rest of the crew in this book but here we are. Hall has done it again. An absolute triumph of a book. One I wanted to start reading again as soon as I finished it, to find all the deeper nuance and care in the storytelling that I might have missed the first time.
Splendid book. I can't recommend it enough. It is a such a wonderful book. It has my whole heart.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This is my honest review.
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10 Things That Never Happened: Material World, Book 1
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Reviews with images
Unique Boss/Employee MM Romance Set During the Holidays
10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall is a unique boss & employee romance set during the holidays with an outlandish premise & delightful results. In the midst of him & his entire team being fired, a heavyweight shower falls on top of San Becker & he stumbles into his grumpy boss, Jonathon Forest, who assumes he has amnesia. During his concussion, Sam kind of accidentally plays into the fake amnesia to try to save him & his friends’ jobs. A whirlwind relationship is formed as they live together to look after Sam’s head & learn & get to know each other all during the holiday season.10 Things That Never Happened is great for fans of…❤️MM Romance❤️Amnesia trope❤️Boss & Employee❤️Forced Proximity❤️Grumpy/SunshineAlexis Hall has a trademark writing style with precarious situations, dry humor, fast-paced banter & just lovely love stories throughout. It took me a bit to get into this story, but I enjoyed the way it came together. It’s a bit of an outlandish tale but it’s one of you stick around for, you’ll quite enjoy the ride along the way.Something I appreciated in this story particularly is the bountiful, realistic & genuine nature that was one of the lead’s perfectly imperfect family. They were messy & bickering, but also relentlessly loyal, always showing up & authentic. Being set at the holidays I couldn’t help but be reminded of the big family from Home Alone.If you are looking for a MM romance &/or are a fan of Alexis Hall, 10 Things That Never Happened is out now!Massive thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.
