Okay, so let’s just get this out of the way: I really enjoyed this book. Alexis Hall is one of those authors whose writing I could happily read for hours, even if absolutely nothing was happening plot-wise. His sense of humor just clicks for me in this very specific way — dry, rambling, a little chaotic, and somehow still super smart. So, yeah, even when the plot wasn’t grabbing me 100%, I was still having a good time.
That said… did this book leave a mark on my soul the way Boyfriend Material did? Not quite. That book was lightning in a bottle for me — this one felt more like a warm afternoon breeze. Nice! Comforting! But not necessarily life-changing.
The Setup
The story follows Sam, who works for a rather grumpy, emotionally constipated boss named Jonathan. After a workplace accident that Jonathan technically caused, Sam fakes amnesia to avoid getting fired. And yes, that sounds completely unhinged — because it kind of is — but somehow Alexis Hall makes it work.
What unfolds is part workplace rom-com, part found-family chaos, and part slow(ish)-burn romance with some emotional healing tossed in. If you like your stories with a little absurdity, a lot of heart, and a healthy dose of quirky side characters, this one delivers.
The Writing
Honestly, the prose was my favorite part of the whole experience. Hall’s voice is just so fun to read. It’s full of sly humor and tangents that somehow end up feeling emotionally resonant. The inner monologues had me smiling constantly, and the dialogue had that rapid-fire wit I’ve come to expect from him.
There’s a particular rhythm to the way Hall writes that I find really addictive — like, I could read Sam’s dramatic spirals and babbling thoughts for days. If this book had been 100 pages longer and just more of random conversations and funny inner monologues, I wouldn’t have complained.
The Romance
So, here’s the thing — I liked Sam and Jonathan as a pairing, but I didn’t quite feel the romance in the way I was hoping. It’s sweet, and there are definitely some tender moments, but I found myself wishing for a bit more emotional weight. More yearning. More tension. More of that breathless “oh no, I like him” energy.
They have a cute dynamic — grumpy/sunshine with a slow thaw — but it just didn’t hit quite as hard as I wanted it to. It didn’t help that so much of their time was spent around other people, which kind of made their romantic development feel slightly diluted. I think I was hoping for more one-on-one time, more intimacy, more moments.
That said, I was very happy that this wasn’t a particularly steamy book. The romance felt more about connection and emotional growth, which worked for me — especially since I tend to be really picky with sex scenes anyway. I appreciated that Hall didn’t force it just for the sake of spice.
The Family Vibes
Surprise hit: the family stuff. Some of my absolute favorite scenes in the book were with Jonathan’s chaotic, well-meaning, and weirdly wholesome family. There’s just something so soft about watching a closed-off character like Jonathan awkwardly navigate his loud, affectionate family — and Sam being not-so-gently pulled into the fold.
It added this warm, messy human element to the story that I really loved. You could tell that, beneath all the awkwardness and passive-aggressive sibling jabs, there was real care and love in that family.
Final Thoughts
So, while 10 Things That Never Happened didn’t sweep me off my feet the way Boyfriend Material did, it was still a really enjoyable read. The writing is fantastic, the humor is right up my alley, and the family stuff made me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy.
If you’re in the mood for a rom-com that’s a little offbeat, a little chaotic, and full of heart (with very little steam), this one is a solid pick. It’s not a book that made me want to clutch it to my chest and cry about it forever, but it did make me smile a lot — and sometimes, that’s exactly what you want.
Discover more from Bookish Delights
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.