10 Things That Never Happened (Material World, #1) (2024)

Just a quick note to clear up any confusion: The Amnesia Plot isn’t a sequel to Boyfriend Material / Husband Material—though it is set in the same world as those books. Instead, it will feature a different couple, and you’ll get to meet one of the MCs (who is an old university friend of Luc’s and an epic grump) in Husband Material <3

PS, I'm pretty sure the title of this is going to change.

some people may think the premise of this book is a little absurd but faking amnesia just to avoid confrontation is exactly the type of dumb ass shit i would do

I don't know who needs to hear this rn but i think it's important to just put this out there, in the wake of readership spaces being attacked and all that. I guess it bears mentioning that just because I intuit this book on a level (or any other book for that matter) does not mean everyone is gonna get this book. This review is representative of how i feel and what is provocative and affects me may not resonate with someone else, because life.

You can love what you love and it's ok if socials don't, and vice versa. Read that again.

There's absolutely NOTHING cookie-cutter about experiencing artistry of any kind, and you are at liberty to love and dive in and perceive differently and change your mind and flex on your level and discover another track and muddy the waters and burn bridges and cry when you're sad and hone in on what you want and break your heart over and over again. Or not. That's your prerogative.

You do you.

Just, if you can, try to be kind. Because you don't know people, and you don't own people, even if you think you do, or feel entitled to their work, time, and effort. You don't have to care. But if you do a little, then I'm asking you to try to go about life with a mind for common decency and respect, for all the human and furbaby hearts out there. So do your best, yeah.

Anyway, thanks in advance for being the reason someone smiles today instead of cries, because it matters, whether or not you care. Being a quality human is sometimes a stretch, i know, but maybe being remembered for your heart, a moment in time down the line, will be worth something to someone more than you can ever imagine. Because life is hard and messy sometimes. But we don't always have to be.

I would like to thank Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This book I felt in my bones. It was torrential and hilarious and distressing and deeply resonating. I was fuckin enchanted. I was fuckin heartbroken. I was everything in between. And i'm still crying a day later.

I dunno why I was expecting something...else...like I thought the time between AH releases would have somehow dulled my capacity to vibe with comedic yet earnest storytelling, resulting in some middling appraisal. Well, whatever i was thinking that made this win feel somewhat like a surprise can just fuck right off because i'd bawled my ass off from 94% on, and there's nothing middling about that reaction. I sort of want to read this again...but i also don't want to for another 10 years or something drastic like that, so i could run with this forgetting business and feel like i'm reading this for the first time again.

For me personally, there was just something toothy and real about the way the story was told, how it unfolded, how it gripped me, how it was impossible to let go of until it was over...and still not even then. It's not pretty or fluffy or lighthearted fun. It was raw and honest in a way that very few writers can convey. I think this'll probably hit more if you've been through some shit and can fucking cry about it, but still push through because life and living has to still get done no matter how heartbroken you are.

I was riveted. I felt feelings all up in my feelings. I feel like if I was going to have a Christmas meltdown it would be exactly like Jonathan's. Sure he's rude as fuck but I mad sympathize with the whole crazy loud family thing. Like he could be me, even if i'm not entirely a renowned cunt.

this story isn't about a grumpy/sunshine and how to be a better person by loving an asshole. Or rather, it's not just about that. It's also satirical and impactful and exposes a bracket of industry that contributes upwards of something like 500 billion to a country's GDP, and yet this sector's entry level staff are treated like they're somehow lesser than say some cubicle grunt who plays on their phone all day and gets full dental. It shows the value of transparency, and the vagaries of clemency and elicits ruthlessness as both a virtue and a bane.

but it doesn't have to be about all that. sometimes a story is just a story and that's ok too.

what it comes down to is that, for me, this book was meaningful, and I loved this 💖 and that's really all there is to it. Reading this was just such a wild and heartfelt, emotional experience for me and I'm just really happy to have had the honour of doing so and being unlocked like this.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! Take care of yourselves and each other!✌🏽

"...I don't know how I'm supposed to go the rest of my life without being kissed by you again."

There's just something about Jonathan Forest saying the most romantic things that makes my heart explode.

I haven't read every Alexis Hall book, yet, but I think Sam Becker might be my favourite character perspective they've written. Only Sam would be able to accidently find himself in a situation where his boss thinks he has amnesia, try to spin it to save his team's jobs, and then fall in love. And all during Christmastime. Goals, honestly.

I laughed. I cried a number of times. I sweat, I danced. I got... a shot, I ate... and... I had many epiphanies.

4.75

"10 Things That Never Happened" was an absolute pleasure to read.
Alexis Hall's latest work stole my heart, and it has, unexpectedly, become one of my favourite reads of the year; or, at least, one I'll remember with joy, and a full, satisfied heart.

It was unexpected.
Because yes, I'm loath to admit it, especially in an arc review, but Hall's latest release in this literary universe of British wit, messy meet-cutes and chaotic disaster characters, "Husband Material" was not my favourite; actually, despite the fact that I did rate it somewhat favourably, every time I think about those last few chapters I still get angry.
So, obviously, I was a bit worried about this novel. Scratch that, I was VERY scared: the blurb sounded too amazing to be true, the cover was *chef's kiss* gorgeous, and Jonathan, in his brief appearance in HM, had already stolen my interest with his grumpiness. I'd been crossing my fingers and toes since then that I'd be able to love this book.

So yes, I was very surprised and damned pleased about the fact that I managed to absolutely adore "10 Things That Never Happened". I devoured this book: I never wanted to leave Sam and Jonathan, and I never wanted to leave Sam's traitorous cat Gollum, and Jonathan's chaotic family, and their shared lives in Jonathan's mansion-like house, their hilarious, heart-warming banter, their unbelievable, unforgettable chemistry.

Both protagonists were damned lovable, and complex and peculiar and felt so, so real.
Sam, god. He's got a bit of Luc's messy, disastrous tendencies, and his witty humour, but none of Luc's most hateful qualities. Sam's generous and a bit (ehm, more like a lot?) naive, he's kind and funny, and also pretty much a bit of an interfering git. He's physically incapable of staying out of things, and he's also convinced that people aren't physically able to do stuff, and grow and save themselves, without his help/interference. And he's also a tiiiiny bit judgemental.
Yes, I know, those don't sound like good qualities, and they're not (I wanted to kick him quite a few times, I admit), BUT they are realistic traits. Real, complex, contradictory traits that make a character feel like a real person, and make them relatable too.

And Jonathan! He's an absolute dick. He's bossy and angry, grumpy and self-involved; he doesn't think before he speaks, he seemingly cares more about his business than actual people, and yes, his cold, hard façade is an acquired taste. And I loved him too.
Angry grumps are my weakness, I admit, so I would have adored him regardless, but Jonathan goes through an amazing character development that left both clutching my heart and applauding Alexis Hall.

< “What,” asks Jonathan Forest with a layer concern hastily dropped over a deep well of contempt, “are you doing?”
“What’s it look like I’m doing?”
“I dread to think.” >

< “What are your thoughts on parsnips?”
"I thought they went downhill after their third album. What do you mean, what are my thoughts on parsnips? I don’t have thoughts on parsnips. Who has thoughts on parsnips? Who has time to have thoughts on parsnips?” >

And oh god, I loved their relationship.
It's built upon quite a lot of assumptions, and lies, and anger and dislike, but it also slowly morphs into something lovely, and true and heartwarming. Their chemistry was unbelievable, and their banter was so hilarious it left me cackling out loud; and their most quiet, intimate and vulnerable moments left me reeling. I loved them together so, so much, and I'm absolutely crushed that my time with them has come to an end.

The world of vibrant, witty characters around them, from Jonathan's chaotic family to traitorous, adorable Gollum and Sam's quirky colleagues, are also completely unforgettable.
I admit, at times they became a bit too much; and also, while I do love quirky characters, snarky banter and witty humour, Alexis Hall's brand of those things doesn't always work for me because at times the line between funny and mean gets quite a bit blurred (re: Luc and his abominable behaviour in regards to Oliver in "Husband Material") (yes, I'm still bitter about that!)

Despite that, I still loved this book and I had such a great time with it. It left me with a full heart, a huge smile, and it's ending left me for once, fully satisfied (even though it's still a quintessential Hall ending, AKA quite brief, it features an unexpected epilogue!).
I can't wait to re-read this book, and I can't wait to see what my fellow reviewers think of it

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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**I received an advance copy of this book from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read this ARC!**

”I kiss him the way he’s maybe scared to be kissed and the way I think he deserves to be kissed."

It’s no secret that I’ve been a fan of Alexis Hall’s books for a while now so this shouldn’t come as a surprise: I absolutely loved “10 Things That Never Happened” and for me it was one of those books that causes you to grin from ear to ear. I had such a good time with this and Hall’s humour is definitely one of the many things I enjoyed about this story. Was it a slightly unrealistic approach to use a “Nexa by MERYLN 8mm Sliding Door Enclosure” as a plot device in order to initiate the storyline? Maybe, but it definitely worked for me! Without the fake amnesia, Jonathan and Sam would have never even gotten a chance to get to know each other so I’m thankful that sliding door enclosure got in their way. Also you don’t want realistic in your romances, you want love and all the cosy and warm feelings that come along with it and Alexis definitely delivered on that front! Before we got to that, there was a strong animosity between Jonathan and Sam, though!

Jonathan’s eyes narrow. “You should really think about the way you speak to your boss.”
“Why? You’re already threatening to fire me, and I don’t see how minding my Ps and Qs around you will help me sell more CoolTouch Elite mattresses.”

Boy, were they at each other’s throat at the beginning of the book. I really liked to see the world through Sam’s eyes and his POV made the story extremely enjoyable. Some might say Sam’s and Jonathan’s budding relationship is a typical grumpy/sunshine trope but I think I’d rather describe it as a pessimist-meets-optimist trope. While Jonathan’s view of the world is very black and white, Sam’s is all shades of grey and he sees the many implications and struggles people have to face. Whereas Jonathan always likes to be in control of everything because he’s afraid of things going wrong, Sam is very chaotic and seems to live from day to day. You might say Jonathan’s tenor is to always expect the worst while Sam always tries to see the positive things. So yes, those two don’t have a lot in common and they are complete opposites, but that’s exactly what makes their relationship work so well.

Folding his arms, Jonathan gazes up at the ceiling like he’s not sure how much to say. “You’re very stubborn and you care too much.”
Somehow I’m expecting the first, but not the second. “I think I’d rather be someone who cares too much than someone who cares too little.”

They are very honest with each other and they have absolutely no qualms to call each other out when it’s necessary. Especially Sam is very straightforward and doesn’t take any of Jonathan’s bullshit which is the reason he got into trouble with him in the first place. No boss likes to hear he’s doing things wrong so I’m not surprised Jonathan was so mad at him. Still, they are good for each other because they force each other to see the world with different eyes and that’s exactly what makes them work somehow. Also they talk things through! I can’t say how much I loved that aspect of the book. Yes, Sam and Jonathan are arguing quite a lot but they are communicating their thoughts and feelings, which is so important if you’re in a relationship. Relationships are hard work and not everything is sunshine and rainbows so to see that they put so much effort into trying to understand where the other was coming from was amazing to read.

”It means he likes you.” I’ve no idea if that’s true, but it seems like a reassuring thing to say. Jonathan shakes his leg very gently but realises he probably doesn’t want to punt my cat across the room. “Can you make it stop?”
“Liking you?” I ask. “Give him time. He’ll work it out.”

I really appreciated their communication and some of their conversations were hilarious! Jonathan and Sam weren’t everything that was great about the book, though. I absolutely fell in love with Gollum – Samwise’s cat (yes, you read right! His name is actually Samwise and he has a cat named Gollum) – and Jonathan’s family! Not to mention Jonathan’s housekeeper Agnieszka! She was really quite something and a very unique voice, which can be said about all the side-characters in this story. Each and every single one of them was fleshed out and the way they interacted with each other was so very relatable. No matter if it was Nanny Barb, Aunt Jack, Uncle Johnny, Barbara Jane – Jonathan’s sister – or his parents, they were such a typical family and gave me all the heart-warming vibes. If you have a huge family you’ll know what I mean.

”You’re his boyfriend. What did you do, Johnny, hypnotise him?”
“I’ve got a concussion,” I say.
“Well” – she smirks – “that explains it.”

Of course there are many simmering conflicts among the family members, but I think that only made everything even more realistic. We all have our faults and flaws and they usually come out whenever we’re together with our family, which is exactly what happens in this book. “10 Things That Never Happened” plays around Christmas after all, and if you’ve never had a chaotic Christmas time with your loved ones where emotions were running high, you clearly did something wrong. ;-) Sam’s presence in Jonathan’s life obviously works like some sort of catalyst for the entire family and brings them back together again and this was beautiful to watch. Sometimes it takes another point of view to put things into perspective and Sam is definitely not holding back from offering his opinion. I swear, there were so many funny scenes in this book and I’m still laughing about the chicken one, but I won’t spoil anything here, you will have to read that one for yourself!

”It’s kind of fucked, how much bad you have to fight through to feel something good. And then the good is so overwhelming it almost hurts again. But Jonathan’s there with me the whole way. Giving me his heat and his breath and his beating heart."

If there is one thing I can criticize about the book, then it’s the fact that all the revelations happened at the ending and that it felt a little rushed for my taste. I get why Alexis Hall built the plot up like that, but I would have liked to see more of the aftermath right after Christmas instead of the epilogue we got. That’s my personal preference, though, and considering it all the ending we actually got was well-rounded and left me satisfied enough to give this book four stars!

Conclusion:

All told, I really enjoyed “10 Things That Never Happened” and it was exactly the kind of book I needed to read! From the enemies-to-lovers slow burn love story between Jonathan and Sam, to the awesome side characters and the marvellous black humour, this story had it all. If you haven’t read a Christmas book already you definitely should consider to pick up this one! It’s such a perfect story for this time of the year!

_____________________________

I was right, this was exactly what I needed and it was the perfect read for me!
Jonathan and Sam were such a grumpy/sunshine trope and I loved it. Those two were great and I enjoyed being in Sam’s head. I wish I had read this in December because it would be a perfect Christmas romance! <3

Full RTC soon! Stay tuned! ;-)

______________________________

I got an ARC for “10 Things That Never Happened” (thank you NetGalley!) and I’m so ready to dive into this book because I think it’s exactly the kind of rom-com I need right now.
I mean an employee that trips and fakes amnesia in order to keep his job and his boss who likes him more than he probably should?! Sounds chaotic and absolutely great. *lol* I’m here for it!

Fingers crossed this will be a good one! =)

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I usually don't feel quite so conflicted about an Alexis Hall book, but 10 Things That Never Happened was pretty unexpected. Historically, I've either 5-starred or 1-starred Alexis Hall books with little in between. On one hand, I liked it a lot more than I anticipated after my STRONGLY negative reaction to Husband Material, but I still struggled with aspects of the story.

First of all, there is a lot that the author gets exactly right with 10 Things That Never Happened. The story feels fresh and funny, but not in a way that feels like it's copying characters from his previous books. I really enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine and most of the side characters, even though there were a LOT of them. Actually, the plot was a real stand-out for me, and it kept me wanting to read more.

Where I struggled with this story was with the romance. This is a romance book, after all, and while these two did get together, I had a lot of trouble connecting their personalities. Jonathan would be WAY too much of a jerk, just way too heavy on the conflict, and when the author tried to show a softer side, it always felt like it came out of nowhere and it was out of place. There wasn't enough organic, "getting to know you" kinds of romance-building romances for me. The conflict parts felt like they went on for way too long, and I don't think I got as in depth with Jonathan as a character as I did with the ones in Boyfriend Material or other more successful Alexis Hall books.

I think there was a lot of wasted potential here. The story was set up correctly with fun details that could have set the stage for a nice romantic connection, but both characters came across as kind of crappy people with little romantic chemistry.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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genuinely considering faking amnesia to solve all my problems rn

“so you like me, then you don’t like me, now you care about me.” jonathan leans his head against the door, looking, if i’m honest, a bit despairing. “and leave gollum out of this.”

“he’s a cat. he’s not an emotionally damaged teenager whose parents are in the middle of a messy divorce.”

my love for alexis hall surprises no one. i’ve put up residence in the halls of his words ever since glitterland and rereading boyfriend material has become an annual tradition. naturally there comes a point where i wonder whether anything can top that. is it even possible to find a new favorite?

as it turns out, yes it is. you do so with this novel.

for absolutely no good reason apart from my own illiteracy, it took me a hot minute to fully grasp what 10 things is about. i knew it had an amnesia plot, but it was only when someone said “but make it fake” that i thought, “there he is. there’s the alexis i know and love”.

because this was so fucking funny. it is absurdity meets chaos and a hoot and a half. ridiculousness in a way that only works with alexis at the helm.

then: a switch. you’re laughing until you’re not, until there comes a reveal that leaves you in pieces. until you finally understand what it’s like to fight through all the bad to feel a sliver of something good, and why that good still hurts. because its so fucking overwhelming.

using humour to cover up grief and an aching loneliness hits extremely close to home. there was such a sadness to this, an emptiness woven through the wit and snark, but also such unimaginable joy. sometimes all you can do is ride that wave. but that’s just life, isn’t it?

I know this story is a tiny tiny bit unbelievable. Or let’s skip the tiny tiny bit. It’s unbelievable okay? And Jonathan’s family is melodramatic. Okay, overly melodramatic. And Jonathan is extremely grumpy. Or let’s rephrase it. Icy. Crude. Anti social. And Sam is a silly sunshine. But you know what? I’m not a fall person with all its wind and rain and shorter days (Don’t yell at me. I know most of you love fall. But I just don’t, okay?!?). So, I needed some light in my life. No thinking, just smiling and cringing and having second-hand embarrassment. Just dreaming away for a few hours. Oh, and I agree with Jonathan (sorry, Sam), cats can be sensitive. So 3.5 stars rounded up to four because this book was all I needed and Alexis Hall delivered.

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✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“My dad always used to say you’ve got to look on the bright side because no one else will look on it for you.”

Well, while reading 10 Things That Never Happened one thing that sadly never happened for me was feeling that same spark of enjoyment that comes from an Alexis Hall book. Even with all the trademark ingredients that would entail for an engaging read, there was just some key element missing that didn't allow for it to deliver as I hoped it would have. 😔

“I think I’d rather be someone who cares too much than someone who cares too little.”

“Trying to care about everything is the same as not caring about anything.”

Right in this moment I’m not sure who we’re pretending to be, but I’m pretty sure the me I want to be right now is the me who calls bullshit on that. “It’s not, though, is it?”

“Yes,” he tells me in his familiar not-used-to-being-disagreed-with tone. “It is.”

Oh, this is such a tough one to review, because I didn't mind it, but I didn't quite like it as much as I wanted it to be liked. The concept behind Sam's amnesia was interesting, enjoyed how it played out, albeit a little too convenient at times, and seeing how Sam was able to finally see a different side to Jonathan Forest - 'difficult to like, I use money as a substitute for affection, and I have a deeply unsophisticated sense of humour'.

The banter was always spot-on - quick quips and irate comments laced with that fierce irresistible urge to get under the other's skin to prove a point. Jonathan was really prickly - really grumpy, but Sam, was the playful, but caring soul, with the softer and kinder side to him, who slowly started to see his boss in a different light. Funny how it takes a memory loss to make you see that? 😅 I liked how tentatively Jonathan revealed the hidden truths about himself - never one to really prove himself worthy in Sam's eyes, just being himself, that makes Sam realize there's more to that countenance of stiff rigidness and bossy demeanor. 'Everybody needs help. And you keep saying you’re too busy for everything. Somebody who’s too busy for everything needs help by definition,' is Sam's motto and I liked how he slowly makes Jonathan appreciate the little joys in life and take help from others. 👌🏻👌🏻

That as a boss, he didn't need to take things too seriously or too lightly - just something just right. It wasn't an immediate 180 to his behavior - that he didn't turn from Scrooge to Santa Claus overnight - more like a gentle coax of bringing a hibernating bear out of his cave, which Sam, while at times chose to let sleeping lions rest, still attempted his level-best to rise to the challenge. There was a lot of inner dialogue as Sam contemplated his actions and his decisions regarding his choices concerning his amnesia, but thankfully, it never seemed to take over the narrative as much as the appearance of Jonathan's rambunctious family did.

Jonathan's family really took up a lot of the story - had a lot of presence, demanded a lot of attention and needed full-on importance. Boy, they were loud - so hard to keep track of them and keep up! But, it was with the British flair of humor and breezing through the scene that I have seen in books and movies, so I guess it's something to be expected. But, rather than finding the verbose banter of hyper-active family members endearing, it was rather irritating and almost a bit too much of a hassle to have around. 😩😩 I didn't mind them - as they did serve as a major part to the plot, which I wish hadn't been the case - for it just detracted so much time that could have been invested in giving more insight into their actual relationship, instead. There was just so much added weight to their being there that I could have very much done without. I suppose it helped with Sam's amnesia-situation, but I just couldn't get by it; see, what I mean about being conflicted about this? 😟

“And when he lip-syncs I Will Never Let You Down with me, I weirdly believe him.

Because I don’t think he would.

Because when we’re like this, I’m happy.”

I may have not really felt the romance, but I liked how it reflected a side to people who feel alone and lonely - that you can be surrounded by so many people, but not actually belong. Sam and Jonathan were alike in that department - Sam, especially, which isn't really touched upon till the end. That feeling of being a part of someone's lives, interacting, and still being on the outside - not really fitting in with anyone - is such a feeling that I resonated with. 🤍 🤍 That as much as you devote so much time and energy to the job - make it your entire personality - you miss out on so much. 'But every connection you make it is based on cash and convenience. It’s not a substitute for— For anything.' So, to see them bond over their similar thoughts - to be on that same bandwidth, despite the many conflicting thoughts lingering in Sam's mind about what would happen if the truth came out - it was a gradual build-up that felt believably so. 🫶🏻🫶🏻

I enjoyed their few intimate moments they had together - that midnight roast chicken scene - one of my favorites. 🥹 The way Jonathan tried to change for Sam - in slow steps - so very thoughtful. The realization for Sam that his cold-hearted boss could have a heart - so very sincere and real. The tenderness and honesty of their kisses - the quiet appreciation that Sam desired to show Jonathan - beautiful. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 The scathing comments and quirky quips that eventually resulted in the feelings of 'admittedly, he’s not a red roses and candlelight kind of feller but, then, neither I am,' - a bond built on believing that they have more in common than they thought - believably done. I just wish there could have been more of them together - rather than the plot focusing so much on the hazards of the job and the troublesome and burdensome family woes and conflicts. 😞

“In a lot of ways, everybody would be better off if we could just all pretend that the whole thing had never happened.”

Suffice to say, it was decent, but it could have been better; I know a lot will relate to the British jargon, the workplace dynamic, the overwhelming family presence, but for me, I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more without it. Sam and Jonathan had a lot of potential to be a memorable couple, if not mired by so much of their problems weighing them down. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

And lest I forget - I loved Gollum - he was the comedic relief you were not expecting, but were blessed to have around. When 'he looks out with huge eyes that say “I will never forgive you for this. My descendants shall haunt your descendants to the end of time and their vengeance shall be legendary.”', I knew I had found the one character who spoke most to my heart. 🥰🥰

Happy belated birthday to this Christmas-esque romcom! Highly recommend getting a copy at your local library/bookstore!

E-ARC generously provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

4 stars. While I had my initial reservations about the love interest, Alexis Hall’s Ten Things That Never Happened successfully combines typical romcom antics with the author’s trademark gritty-ish storytelling.

Audio ARC received from NetGalley, thanks!

Rating upgraded to 5 stars

Oh, good lord, this audiobook is so good. Will Watt does such an amazing job, I will be on the lookout for his name on other audiobooks. The emotion comes through in his voice so well, and that’s what caused me to increase my rating. It made the funny bits funnier, it made the sad bits sadder, it just added a whole nother layer to the characters and to the story.

I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world in just one more month!!!

_____
Received from Edelweiss, thanks!

STRONG 4.5 stars

*VERY MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!*

I really enjoyed this book! I have been so excited for it, and it did not disappoint. After very briefly meeting Jonathan in Husband Material and then the little snippets AJH has shared with us, I couldn’t wait to really meet the characters and see what he did with them.

I swear, Jonathan might be the grumpiest grump I’ve ever read. He really is quite terrible. And, in true AJH fashion, Jonathan was still a grumpy grump at the end, though maybe with his edges worn slightly down. I think that’s one of the things I love so much about AJH’s books: he writes very flawed characters who still have those flaws at the end of the book, but they’ve found a someone who can compliment them and who accepts them and loves them, and it is just the best.

So, at the start of the book we have Sam, who is running a branch of Jonathan’s successful bed and bath superstores. Sam is pretty laid back, Jonathan absolutely is not, and these incompatible management styles leads to Jonathan threatening to fire Sam and Sam faking amnesia to avoid being fired (and hopefully keep the rest of his staff from also being fired). Forced proximity and everything that goes with that ensues.

There is a lot of semi-heavy family stuff in this book, for both characters. Throughout the book it’s quite clear how family has impacted on the decisions made by both Jonathan and Sam.

Overall, this is a book about how two very lonely people find each other due to a set of rather absurd circumstances. It’s also technically a holiday book, but it didn’t really feel like a holiday book. I think the reason it didn’t feel like a holiday book is because, yes, it’s taking place over Christmas, and that does play a role, but it doesn’t feel as prominent as most holiday books that I’ve read? I don’t know if that makes sense? 😅

Also, also, Gollum and Jonathan are basically the best, I love everything about that, it is fucking adorable.

DNF. No rating.

Have you ever listened to Alexis Hall speak? Like at one of his Blue Willow events, for example. He rambles. He's fully aware of it and hopes his audience will hang in there with him as he comes to his point. And bc listening to him speak about…idk…the intricacies of the publishing industry and his place in it is absolutely fascinating, for a long time I hung in there with him. But the meandering path his mind takes as he ruminates on whatever subject just doesn't translate to romcom. For me. It works well in the older stuff - Spires and Arden St. Ives, for example - bc so much of the older books is dedicated to character study and contemplation of interpersonal relationships. But this new stuff? Taking a deep dive into the kind of fluff one might find in a romcom reads like mindless drivel. No Sam, I do not want you to enumerate the merits and pitfalls of your favorite chicken place, nor am I interested in learning the pros and cons of including a protection plan with the sale of a bed or bath product. I do not fucking care. And since I don't care, I can't go on. It's a DNF for me, and I think a no to Alexis Hall for as long as he's writing romcoms.

okay but like, Alexis Hall SLAYED the whole ✨"grumpy man smiles for the first time and it lights up the room"✨ moment in this book, and the fact that it was all tied together with silly jokes about fisting a chicken, just really made me forget that I wanted Jonathan to crawl through glass, to get a flat tyre, and to just be generally inconvenienced every day in some way for the rest of his life for being a complete wank-stain for 85% of this book.

(tbh, Jonathon never redeemed himself properly, he just became... "a softer wank-stain with more humility", and NONE of the plot in this story actually resolved itself and felt like it was open for ✨reader interpretations✨, but the 4 stars I give is for that one scene that featured a toy guinea pig in a Christmas hat that was apart of a family Christmas tradition, because that shit was GAG-INDUCING levels of cute 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Bare with me for a very long monologue about how much I wish everyone in the whole wide world will read this book. (Publication date is 17th October 2023)

Thank you NetGalley and my dear and always favourite Dreamscape media for sending me this audiobook.

I don´t think Alexis Hall needs introductions but if you don´t know him I will just say that he is the perfect combination between a romance genius and comedic prodigy.

This book kicked down the door to my best reads for 2023 with just its first chapter. I knew It would have been five stars from the very beginning.
And if you are wondering why I knew so little into the book, well, it´s because while I was listening I couldn´t stop smiling.
This book made me genuinely happy. I couldn´t stop giggling and listening and smiling again.

💁‍♂️We start the book meeting Samwise ‘Sam’ Becker (his mother was a Lord of the Ring superfan and already with the explenation of the name I was SOLD!!!), the manager for a bed and bath retailer. His branch it’s not the best and his employees are not helping keeping it alive (all the characters we meet in the shop are hilarious. I loved every single one of them)

👔Enter Jonathan Forest, the boss and workaholic owner of the retail shop. He is not very happy with Sam´s management skills and invites him from Sheffild to London to show him how it´s done.

And when the two meet they cannot be more different but what happens when after a small incident Sam starts faking amnesia (yes like in the movies) to con Jonathan into keeping the Sheffield branch intact? And what when the frostry Jonathan shows his true colours to Sam?

I hope with all my heart that everyone will read this book because it is a gem.
🎧Furthermore if you love audiobooks this is for you. The voice actor, Will Watt, does an amazing job voicing Sam. I loved his accent and I truly fell in love with his voice.

The way the romance was developed truly amazed me. Sam and Jonathan are two normal men. Each of whom has his life, his problems and his way of dealing with them.
They are good looking guys but they are not super hot or super charming. They start knowing each other and, like in real life, they understand each other every day a little more.

I find this book relatable and absolutely amazing.

I don’t t know how many times I can say I loved it, but I truly did. So if you arrived reading my word vomit review up until this point, well go and preorder it! IT’S WORTH IT!!

Ah and there is a very ugly cat named Gollum 🐈‍⬛

What happens when you throw together two gay men who dislike each other? They fall in love... and sometimes it's too trope-y, other times it balances well. I felt both in Alexis Hall's novel 10 Things That Never Happened. But I rooted for the couple. And I liked the premise. And some day, in an alternate life, wouldn't it be fun for this to actually happen to me? Don't answer that! LOL Perfect Sunday read, lovely afternoon to relax... a few moments of levity where character's families were incredibly complex. Definitely needed to stray from thrillers this weekend, so it was right in line with my reading needs. Recommended!

You know that feeling when you pick up a silly little rom com for a light audiobook to listen to during your commute but end up with streams coming down your face at 11pm even though your commute ends 6 hours ago? 😭😭😭

Maybe I shouldn’t be writing this review while I’m still an emotional mess but I think it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year 🥹💗

It made me laugh out loud in the car after a bad day at work, it made me repetitively slap my stirring wheel from excitement, it made me blush and swoon on the train and it made me cry in my kitchen making tea in the middle of the night. I felt all these glorious feelings from a silly Christmas rom com and I loved every second of it.

The storyline is basically the grinch (if he was hot and dark and broody and -ahem- rich) falling in love with a kind-of-annoying very-lovable big-mess sunshine, and it has sooo muuchhh soul that my heart grew three sizes ❤️🎄

A book two isn't out and here I am swooning for this!

Get a grip on yourself Pelumi!

Very British, a lot of snarky banter, and a smatter of romance.

It’s not my first book by Alexis Hall, and most of his books follow a certain pattern - you have the stand-off ish, slightly snobby Londoner. And his counterpart, who’s usually from anywhere else BUT London, the sunshine to the Londoner grump, who eventually end up together after a lot of banter, funny moments, OTT situations and usually garnered with a dysfunctional, but lovable family and side characters.

The grump is Jonathan, “his royal dickishness”, the owner of a bed&bath store chain. And the sunshine (whose pov we get) is Sam Becker (actually it’s Samwise Eowyn Becker, and his cat is named Golumn, which I thought was a funny touch 😂). Sam works for Jonathan and is responsible for the Sheffield branch of said stores. A branch that isn’t doing well, and Jonathan is about to fire everyone (including Sam) after a particularly aggravating incident.

It’s just that right after getting fired, Sam stumbles, falls, ends up with a heavy concussion, and decides to fake having an amnesia just to buy himself (and his team) a bit of time to figure out how to NOT lose their jobs.

As per usual with Alexis Hall, the book and the dialogues are VERY funny. Romance wise it’s not really much to be said: they dance around each other until they finally get together, there’s a (thankfully) short breakup, and while I thought I’ll end up rating it with 3 stars for the most part of the book, the ending was so heartwarming that I just HAVE to round it up to 4 stars.

As for the narration: In the beginning I wasn’t sure if I’ll be able to listen to it - the narrator, Will Watt, is excellent, but Sam’s northerner (Liverpool?) accent is quite strong. But I’m happy to say that my ears adjusted pretty quickly and I got completely sucked in by his narration 😊

5 stars for the audio!! 4 for the story. Loved Will Watts performance, I could listen to his Northern UK accent all day and he did a brilliant job with the wide cast of secondary characters. He managed to make the sad parts sadder, the funny parts funnier and gave life to what I imagine would feel like a lot of dribbly details if I was just reading this.

Despite this plot being rather far-fetched I can absolutely emphasise with awkwardly attempting to fake amnesia to get out of a difficult conversation. Sam is my kind of people. I loved the dry humour and there is a cute Christmas rom-com vibe, although I think if I was reading it I’d be getting exasperated with all the family and work goings on and wanting a wee more development between Jonathon and Sam.

Gollum the ugly cat deserves a mention here as a highly valued character.

Disclaimer: I am friendly with the author

This is one of my favourite romances by Alexis Hall. I know I have said this about many of his books and it is true for all of them.

It’s a Christmas romance that is all about the human relationships – family, friends, boss/employees, colleagues, lovers. It has care and kindness at the heart of it, just what I think Christmas should be about.

It's a kind of understated and quiet romance, not big flashy gestures or love declarations, just tiny, everyday signs of care, kindness, respect and appreciation. It spoke directly to my heart. We see Sam and Jonathan opening up to each other, slowly, gradually seeing the other in a new light. They start with animosity but learn that there is much more to the other person than they initially thought. It's especially true for Jonathan, he really hides himself behind distanced, cold, outright hostile demeanor. Sam is more of a wearing-his-heart-on-his-sleeve kind of person. He is the gentlest, sweetest person. Jonathan is controlling, demanding, workaholic, not the easiest person to love. Seeing him open up a bit, relaxing a bit but not changing himself fundamentally just to please the people around him. I super appreciate that. Sam got to love with him with all his rough edges. And behind it all Jonathan really cared about people and showed it by working hard to provide for them.

This is very much a romcom and AJH’s dry, sarcastic humour really works for me.
My overall take of the story is that relationships are complex, they take work and are built on compromises but they are beautiful and a bit of magic.

It’s a very cozy romance, like a comforting warm hug, and reading it brought me so much joy.

CW: death of parents and grandparents (in the past), grief, concussion

✰3.75 stars✰ rounded up

This was comedic, painful, and clever story telling all in one. I like the witty and rambly way Alexis Hall writes.

It’s not just grumpy/sunshine, it’s definitely deeper than that. I think a lot of people might read this and not get some of the deeper meanings that are laced within the comedic timing of this novel. That being said…

Johnathan Forest is an asshole. Samwise Becker is a liar. On the surface they seem like really sh*tty people. They both do some pretty awful things and at no point does the author try to excuse their behavior. BUT they do get a character arc. They do get the chance and new impressions and opening up and becoming better people.

You certainly have to get through the mean actions of Johnathan, and the questionable choices of Sam but I promise that once you look deeper there is more depth and thought put into these characters and why they act the way they do. Generational family trauma is real, people.
If you’ve never snapped at someone, said a mean thing, or had a Christmas meltdown with your family then hey all the power to you. But I’ve certainly done each and every one of those things and learned from them too.

And we have to mention Gollum. What’s a good rom-com without the cat that obviously is going to love our grumpy MC, who in turn softens exponentially for the cat. Can we get a little commotion for that cat, please?

Now my issues… sigh
This is a romance book after all, and well… there wasn’t that much romance. Sprinkled in here and there as the characters grow and understand each other more. Johnathan was maybe too much of an ass at times for Sam to forgive a lot of what he did so easily. A lot of relationship building moments were missing. I wish Jonathan got some of his softer moments sooner, so we could understand him more and understand their connection faster.
It felt like a lot of wasted romance potential.

I do recommend this one, it's funny and clever... but you do have to fill in some romance yourself.

One unpleasant man trips another unpleasant man into a shower display and all hell breaks loose. All zany romcoms have an element of fantasy and this one involves someone constantly swearing at their boss and not getting fired immediately, head injury or no. Alexis Hall is very adept at writing characters straight out of a Richard Curtis movie and this is no exception; the cast includes an overbearing family and a very ugly cat. This is part of the expanded London Calling universe, comprised of Boyfriend Materiel, which I loved, and Husband Material, which I think we all agreed to not talk about. If you want a funny Christmas-time romance between two men who don’t like that they like each other quite so much, look no further.

Alexis Hall always writes an entertaining story, and 10 Things That Never Happened is thoroughly enjoyable. A sweet slow-burn, enemies to lovers romance, this one is super charming.

Hall sets a mellow pace in 10 Things That Never Happened. The characters gradually reveal themselves, and we get to watch as their connection grows from dislike to friendship, and finally to mutual respect and sprking hot attraction.

What a pleasure!

an ARC of 10 Things That Never Happened was provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review

I really liked the main character, Sam and I enjoyed the developing relationship between him and Jonathan. I had a hard time believing the plot and Jonathan's family was too over the top. I would have liked to read more with just Sam and Jonathan than all those scenes with his family. Overall it was a quick read.

Amnesia is That Girl. Even if it’s fake. Why am I crying???? That last chapter and epilogue!!!! Ugh Alexis Hall is so funny, and I really loved this book. Wacky to ill-advised to BAD decisions were made, but Sam was so endearing I simply had to root for him. I really liked how everything played out.

It's also a Christmas book!! No one told me this! I’ll be reading yearly as part of my Christmas lineup because I love big stories about chaotic families, especially around the holidays.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️/5

Thanks so much to Libro.fm for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.

GREAT SIDE CHARACTERS BUT A FLAT ROMANCE

Alexis Hall has been a real hit or miss reading experience for me. This one fall somewhere in between. The plot was fun, but the romance was not to my liking.

👍 What I Liked 👍

👎 What I Disliked 👎

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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This is Alexis Hall at his best - great humor, fantastic characters and a lot of heart. I don't think this is quite my favorite book in the Material World/London Calling universe, but that is just because Boyfriend Material exists.

This is the story of Sam, the manager of the worst-performing branch of a bath and bed retail chain, and of his boss, Jonathan, the CEO and founder of the company. When Jonathan threatens to fire him and his entire team and Sam trips and falls into a shower door (and then the door falls on top of him), they end up stuck living together: Sam has no one else who can keep an eye on him, the hospital doesn't have enough beds, and also Sam has accidentally implied he has amnesia and now he doesn't know how to get out of the lie (and possibly he doesn't want to get out of it).

As is pretty common in an Alexis Hall book, both Sam and Jonathan are, while not quite terrible people, objectively quite awful at times. They are, however, also quite great at times, and always likable enough that you can't help but root for them, and it's a real joy to read about them making each other better.

I also really liked the cast of secondary characters, who all had great, distinctive personalities, though my favorite is undoubtedly the cat (Gollum, because if your full name is Samwise you have to lean into the LOTR theme at least a little).

Definitely recommended to anyone who is looking for a romcom!

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I loved this. My expectations weren't particularly high as I thought it may lean too farcical for my taste what with the amnesia plot and the setting of a bath & bedding superstore (I know fake dating and various other premises for the many romance novels I read are frequently just as nonsensical but for me, amnesia feels like it should be the nonsense step too far). But I was wrong and this was so good; it's very funny, the hi-jinks of the wacky friends and family are not overdone and were central to the plot/character development, and I was really invested in Sam and Jonathan. I found it really moving, a rom-com with moments of fun and utter loveliness but also touching on loneliness, grief, belonging, and family - so kind of the gamut of Xmas emotions, or maybe that's just my gamut of Xmas emotions:-)

My favorite London Calling/Material World book yet, honestly! Of course if there’s anything you can say about these books it’s that your mileage WILL vary lol, but for me this hit really really well.

The thing about this whole series/world that is really underrated/under-acknowledged imo is the layer of toxicity - which is one million percent consistent with the 90s/early 2000s romcoms these books are inspired by. I started this book in the middle of a deeply annoying work phase… I decided to read it because I knew its tone was going to perfectly match my (slightly toxic) energy and I wasn’t wrong haha. On the other hand that toxicity just exactly balances out the sentimentality, so after all that I still found myself tearing up at the end like “how did I get from work annoyances to this!?”

I will say this book is very Alexis Hall in the sense that the amnesia plot is a “someone is missing a key piece of information” Trojan horse - in fact, we as the audience are the ones that are missing a key piece of information. I loved it! The suspense built and then resolved in an incredibly satisfying way.

Yeah, just a very satisfying book!