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London Calling #3
Father Material
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes...what was that, exactly?
Luc and Oliver have been through it all: fake dating to save Luc's career, I-guess-this-is-actually-for-real dating when all of that blew up spectacularly, (briefly) breaking up over irreconcilable differences, (definitively) getting back together over perfectly reconcilable everything else, (almost) getting married, (finally) moving in together, and ultimately celebrating years of perfect domestic bliss.
But as all their very grown-up-now friends begin reaching new life milestones, advancing careers and having babies, Luc and Oliver decide it's time to open their hearts and lives to something new: a tiny, squirming, adorable bundle of furry joy named Spud.
And maybe now that hearts-and-lives are already open, there's room for someone else. Something more. Something that may require them to find in themselves a little father material.
Luc and Oliver have been through it all: fake dating to save Luc's career, I-guess-this-is-actually-for-real dating when all of that blew up spectacularly, (briefly) breaking up over irreconcilable differences, (definitively) getting back together over perfectly reconcilable everything else, (almost) getting married, (finally) moving in together, and ultimately celebrating years of perfect domestic bliss.
But as all their very grown-up-now friends begin reaching new life milestones, advancing careers and having babies, Luc and Oliver decide it's time to open their hearts and lives to something new: a tiny, squirming, adorable bundle of furry joy named Spud.
And maybe now that hearts-and-lives are already open, there's room for someone else. Something more. Something that may require them to find in themselves a little father material.
500 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Alexis Hall
62 books15.5k followersOne of those intricate British queers.
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 697 reviews
Want to Read
August 15, 2022Please tell me it's a direct sequel of "Husband Material". Luc and Oliver needs a better hea...Even better if they're thinking about 'expanding' the family...😏
Want to Read
August 22, 2022After the terrible ending of Husband Material I am going to assume that these two MCs don't actually become fathers. I'll read the reviews before I decide to read this book. I don't want to be set up for disappointment again.
Want to Read
April 20, 2023I dunno. I'm more excited about the unannounced fourth book in the series: Grandfather Material.
Want to Read
August 10, 2022I just finished Husband Material (after reading Boyfriend Material over the weekend), and I am excited about Father Material...although trying to cage the excitement a wee bit given it's 2 years away!! Can't wait to catch up with Lucien and Oliver again. They are by far my favourite romance novel couple..and that's saying a lot seen as I've been on somewhat of a binge lately!
June 15, 2026
I know this book teaches us that 'You're not beat till they're shoving sawdust up your bum.' but dammit, that ending.
Ugh.
I knew from the presence of the dog on the cover that them being 'dog parents' wouldn't be the entirety of the fatherhood, not to mention I'd have led the crusade asking for his head if Alexis Hall had done to us AGAIN what he did in Husband Material.
But I also didn't expect it to end quite like this. Even if I enjoyed the journey there.
I'll be the first to say I'm an Oliver apologist. I love that man maybe more than Luc does and I'm not even joking BUT I'm totally convinced he absolutely expected fatherhood to be easier for him than it was for Luc😂
And so did I. Sue me.
Therefore, it was extremely amusing to watch him fumble it with Olympic adeptness, while Luc(LUC!) took to it like a duck to water.
Well, maybe not exactly like a duck to water but he absolutely took to it more easily than I (or Oliver, or probably any one of their friends) expected.
I lovedddddddddddd how much thought they put into it, though. Clearly Oliver was already there, but Luc? My heart. So much consideration and worry and anxiety that he may not be good enough.
Him being scared to even talk about it outright and hiding behind dog adoption. Them having moved to a place with a beautiful park and not disclosing why it was important, even to themselves.
I loved the way they chose to do it, maybe because it's usually a last ditch effort for many but it was their first viable option, even though Oliver had thought further into the options than Luc had, initially.
I love how patient Oliver continues to be with Luc and his Luc-ness.
(I also love how he continues to be the only one who calls him Lucian. But I digress.)
I ALSO loved how much Oliver struggled. Not just because he's always the rational steady one but because that doesn't always necessarily translate well to parenting, irrespective of the child's age. But especially so, given the specific circumstances. Felt for them because Jas is a baptism of fire.
Seeing him slowly pushed to the edge (and then over it) really worked for me.
I love the dynamic where Luc's the calming influence on him.
That said, while I love the running gag of the office miscommunication with Luc's failed jokes in their meetings, this book went a little (a lot) further into the office stuff than I personally cared for.
Sixteen and a half hour audiobook and at least two could have been cut if we'd lost the Saint subplot. Hijinks for the sake of hijinks. And yes, I'm complaining for the sake of complaining but I found the book funny enough without all that. Minus half a star for two hours of my life I won't get back.
That said, I loved this as much as I hoped to. I was worried going into this that I might not, because Boyfriend Material was one of the first ever MM romances I read and it did a lot to push me into MM romance in general, but I've found over the years that sometimes, your first loves don't hold up so I avoid rereading many.
I'm so fucking glad for me that I still got just as much enjoyment reading about Luc and Oliver as I did back then.
I want them to have more shots at this. I WANT THEM TO HAVE MORE SHOTS AT THIS.
There's no sawdust up Luc or Oliver's bums. Yet. I want them to have more shots at this. So what if it will potentially result in Oliver going grey decades before his time?
So what, I ask?
Ugh.
I knew from the presence of the dog on the cover that them being 'dog parents' wouldn't be the entirety of the fatherhood, not to mention I'd have led the crusade asking for his head if Alexis Hall had done to us AGAIN what he did in Husband Material.
But I also didn't expect it to end quite like this. Even if I enjoyed the journey there.
I'll be the first to say I'm an Oliver apologist. I love that man maybe more than Luc does and I'm not even joking BUT I'm totally convinced he absolutely expected fatherhood to be easier for him than it was for Luc😂
And so did I. Sue me.
Therefore, it was extremely amusing to watch him fumble it with Olympic adeptness, while Luc(LUC!) took to it like a duck to water.
Well, maybe not exactly like a duck to water but he absolutely took to it more easily than I (or Oliver, or probably any one of their friends) expected.
I lovedddddddddddd how much thought they put into it, though. Clearly Oliver was already there, but Luc? My heart. So much consideration and worry and anxiety that he may not be good enough.
Him being scared to even talk about it outright and hiding behind dog adoption. Them having moved to a place with a beautiful park and not disclosing why it was important, even to themselves.
I loved the way they chose to do it, maybe because it's usually a last ditch effort for many but it was their first viable option, even though Oliver had thought further into the options than Luc had, initially.
I love how patient Oliver continues to be with Luc and his Luc-ness.
(I also love how he continues to be the only one who calls him Lucian. But I digress.)
I ALSO loved how much Oliver struggled. Not just because he's always the rational steady one but because that doesn't always necessarily translate well to parenting, irrespective of the child's age. But especially so, given the specific circumstances. Felt for them because Jas is a baptism of fire.
Seeing him slowly pushed to the edge (and then over it) really worked for me.
I love the dynamic where Luc's the calming influence on him.
That said, while I love the running gag of the office miscommunication with Luc's failed jokes in their meetings, this book went a little (a lot) further into the office stuff than I personally cared for.
Sixteen and a half hour audiobook and at least two could have been cut if we'd lost the Saint subplot. Hijinks for the sake of hijinks. And yes, I'm complaining for the sake of complaining but I found the book funny enough without all that. Minus half a star for two hours of my life I won't get back.
That said, I loved this as much as I hoped to. I was worried going into this that I might not, because Boyfriend Material was one of the first ever MM romances I read and it did a lot to push me into MM romance in general, but I've found over the years that sometimes, your first loves don't hold up so I avoid rereading many.
I'm so fucking glad for me that I still got just as much enjoyment reading about Luc and Oliver as I did back then.
I want them to have more shots at this. I WANT THEM TO HAVE MORE SHOTS AT THIS.
There's no sawdust up Luc or Oliver's bums. Yet. I want them to have more shots at this. So what if it will potentially result in Oliver going grey decades before his time?
So what, I ask?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i have a lot to say but generally if people complain abt this book i might cut their head off
June 28, 2026
• m/m • romcom • book 3 •
I love this series.
I love Luc and Oliver and was so happy to read about them in this 3rd book.
And… I have to say it, I LOVE Luc’s mum Odile!
They’ve come a long way from their fake dating in book one, to questions of marriage in book two, and now in book three they consider their stance, their ability and their options in starting a family. I generally don’t like books about raising kids (I have enough of that in my real life I don’t want to read fiction about it) but I really liked this!
I also hate OTT medical stuff and I was worried for a minute there with the waters breaking/labour story, but it was done in a way that was fitting I thought (and if you know me you know why that’d be a difficult feat hahah!) 😬😆
Luc and Oliver just have this wholesome vibe, they are complete opposites with Luc being the hot mess and Oliver being the stiff shirt, but they just GET each other. They frustrate each other at times but they are just so united and solid in their togetherness. And at the risk of sounding eyerollingly cliche, they are one of these couples that really do complete each other.
This book they were tested. They really got to see how their different personalities and outlooks could impact their relationship when they have different ideals and opinions about parenting… yes even puppy parenting!
Alexis Hall’s romcoms are perfect for me, a good balance of fun slight OTTness and clever wit and little poignant truth bombs that make you want to take a step back and appreciate the small things.
I highly recommend the audiobooks. The narration is excellent!!
Also I do love this cover - Luc! 🫠🫠💕
4.25⭐️
0.25🌶️ 🤣
I love this series.
I love Luc and Oliver and was so happy to read about them in this 3rd book.
And… I have to say it, I LOVE Luc’s mum Odile!
They’ve come a long way from their fake dating in book one, to questions of marriage in book two, and now in book three they consider their stance, their ability and their options in starting a family. I generally don’t like books about raising kids (I have enough of that in my real life I don’t want to read fiction about it) but I really liked this!
I also hate OTT medical stuff and I was worried for a minute there with the waters breaking/labour story, but it was done in a way that was fitting I thought (and if you know me you know why that’d be a difficult feat hahah!) 😬😆
Luc and Oliver just have this wholesome vibe, they are complete opposites with Luc being the hot mess and Oliver being the stiff shirt, but they just GET each other. They frustrate each other at times but they are just so united and solid in their togetherness. And at the risk of sounding eyerollingly cliche, they are one of these couples that really do complete each other.
This book they were tested. They really got to see how their different personalities and outlooks could impact their relationship when they have different ideals and opinions about parenting… yes even puppy parenting!
“You just get so caught up in wanting to do the right thing that you sometimes lose sight of who it’s meant to be right for.”
Alexis Hall’s romcoms are perfect for me, a good balance of fun slight OTTness and clever wit and little poignant truth bombs that make you want to take a step back and appreciate the small things.
I highly recommend the audiobooks. The narration is excellent!!
Also I do love this cover - Luc! 🫠🫠💕
4.25⭐️
0.25🌶️ 🤣
June 2, 2026
I guess this is controversial, but I really liked Husband Material.
It's not a romance novel, and neither is this. It's what comes after the romance novel for these characters I love. It's their lives and their neuroses and their fights and their often deeply frustrating personalities. That, ultimately, is what I love about this book. Most books by Alexis Hall, really. It's watching these deeply imperfect, highly lovable characters navigate their life together.
I absolutely loved watching these two try to raise a child. Loved as in I was screaming at the book more often than not for them to get their shit together and communicate. I needed Luc to stand up for himself and his parenting abilities and not default to Oliver all the time because he didn't think he was good enough. I needed Oliver to stop and reflect on his behavior. It was frustrating watching them a lot of the time. But like, that's the point?
Husband Material was much the same. Yeah, it was deeply frustrating watching these two argue and refuse to communicate. But all that frustration and tension built up to this ending where they both just looked at each other and went, hang on. We don't have to marry each other if neither of us want to. And the tension immediately snapping was the most satisfying feeling. (Ok it was a tad abrupt and I wish we'd gotten to see a little more of their post-almost-breakup happiness. But still).
All this to say, this book was very satisfying. I loved it. To Alexis Hall, thank you for giving us Luc and Oliver, and I hope you keep writing amazing, kinda fucked-up, lovable, complicated, entirely frustrating characters for us to fall in love with.
It's not a romance novel, and neither is this. It's what comes after the romance novel for these characters I love. It's their lives and their neuroses and their fights and their often deeply frustrating personalities. That, ultimately, is what I love about this book. Most books by Alexis Hall, really. It's watching these deeply imperfect, highly lovable characters navigate their life together.
I absolutely loved watching these two try to raise a child. Loved as in I was screaming at the book more often than not for them to get their shit together and communicate. I needed Luc to stand up for himself and his parenting abilities and not default to Oliver all the time because he didn't think he was good enough. I needed Oliver to stop and reflect on his behavior. It was frustrating watching them a lot of the time. But like, that's the point?
Husband Material was much the same. Yeah, it was deeply frustrating watching these two argue and refuse to communicate. But all that frustration and tension built up to this ending where they both just looked at each other and went, hang on. We don't have to marry each other if neither of us want to. And the tension immediately snapping was the most satisfying feeling. (Ok it was a tad abrupt and I wish we'd gotten to see a little more of their post-almost-breakup happiness. But still).
All this to say, this book was very satisfying. I loved it. To Alexis Hall, thank you for giving us Luc and Oliver, and I hope you keep writing amazing, kinda fucked-up, lovable, complicated, entirely frustrating characters for us to fall in love with.
Want to Read
November 5, 2025father material???? shut up, take my money rn
THIS COVER? gorgeous
⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅
boyfriend material: ★★★★
husband material: ★★★★
ten things that never happened: -
THIS COVER? gorgeous
⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅
boyfriend material: ★★★★
husband material: ★★★★
ten things that never happened: -
Want to Read
June 15, 2024im rather torn on this. for one thing, i want more luc and oliver. but for another, the reason i want more of them is because they were barely in HM in the first place. the book focused so heavily on everyone else, and weddings 2 and 3 really didnt have to happen. i wish they hadn’t happened. i wish we had spent any time at all with the actual supposed main characters together and talking and not just fighting. why was there so much fighting?
book one felt low stakes and like gradual growth. book two nearly gave me my own very real panic attack by the time luc and oliver were conversing in their first date restaurant and possibly breaking up. again? because they never have conversations in that book.
the thing with this third book. is that i dont want them to be fathers. i think akin to the major plotline in the second book, queer couples do not have to do everything “normal” couples do, and it would kind of be nice for them to simply exist as themselves instead of trying to fit into the same structures as everyone around them, because what works for one couple does not work for every couple, queer or not. but if that is the moral and point they end up at in this third book, which i guess is what id hope for but at the same time would find that to be exceptionally repetitive, then i want it discussed in more than 11 pages—which is the amount of screentime oliver and luc actually spent communicating their feelings about marriage, in one final chapter and half a page from “we’re not getting married” to the end of the book.
i don’t usually read reviews for books, but i’m just going to have to for this one. i hope with all my heart that this book can sort of right the bad taste HM left in my mouth considering how much i adore BM, but i currently only see the options being they adopt kids when neither of them really should be a parent, or they dont and its treated rather the same as the entire second book. fingers crossed that something here surprises me, because i quoted BM as one of my favorite books of all time for quite a while, and it pains me to say it but the sequel kind of ruined that for me. i hate jumping to spoiling the end, but it’s the only way i may be able to read this third installment, and i’m frankly more than a little sad about it
book one felt low stakes and like gradual growth. book two nearly gave me my own very real panic attack by the time luc and oliver were conversing in their first date restaurant and possibly breaking up. again? because they never have conversations in that book.
the thing with this third book. is that i dont want them to be fathers. i think akin to the major plotline in the second book, queer couples do not have to do everything “normal” couples do, and it would kind of be nice for them to simply exist as themselves instead of trying to fit into the same structures as everyone around them, because what works for one couple does not work for every couple, queer or not. but if that is the moral and point they end up at in this third book, which i guess is what id hope for but at the same time would find that to be exceptionally repetitive, then i want it discussed in more than 11 pages—which is the amount of screentime oliver and luc actually spent communicating their feelings about marriage, in one final chapter and half a page from “we’re not getting married” to the end of the book.
i don’t usually read reviews for books, but i’m just going to have to for this one. i hope with all my heart that this book can sort of right the bad taste HM left in my mouth considering how much i adore BM, but i currently only see the options being they adopt kids when neither of them really should be a parent, or they dont and its treated rather the same as the entire second book. fingers crossed that something here surprises me, because i quoted BM as one of my favorite books of all time for quite a while, and it pains me to say it but the sequel kind of ruined that for me. i hate jumping to spoiling the end, but it’s the only way i may be able to read this third installment, and i’m frankly more than a little sad about it
June 6, 2026
This was genuinely the most unnecessary book I have ever read. I'm serious when I say that this book should have never been a thing.
I don't understand who said "yea sure, let's make this into a trilogy!"
I liked the first book, disliked the second and I hated the third.
The side characters are fucking annoying. They were tolerable the first time, already annoying the second time but absolutely insufferable the third time around. I HATE Alex, Bridge and those two James to a point where I just wanted to scream.
How you can stretch this out over three books, 1000+ pages and have your mc have such little character development needs to be studied.
SPOILERS
They went from adopting a dog to fostering way too quickly and why was Luc losing sleep over adopting a puppy, but fostering a kid wasn’t that big of an issue for him?! I didn’t give a single fuck about that foster kid at all and in all honesty, having these two foster a teenager was the worst thing you could have done.
And then the whole job in crisis thing and that Saint guy were so unnecessary and just dragged the book out for no good reason. Because this book didn’t need to be 500 pages long at all.
Crazy that book three took four years and this mess is the end result.
I don't understand who said "yea sure, let's make this into a trilogy!"
I liked the first book, disliked the second and I hated the third.
The side characters are fucking annoying. They were tolerable the first time, already annoying the second time but absolutely insufferable the third time around. I HATE Alex, Bridge and those two James to a point where I just wanted to scream.
How you can stretch this out over three books, 1000+ pages and have your mc have such little character development needs to be studied.
SPOILERS
They went from adopting a dog to fostering way too quickly and why was Luc losing sleep over adopting a puppy, but fostering a kid wasn’t that big of an issue for him?! I didn’t give a single fuck about that foster kid at all and in all honesty, having these two foster a teenager was the worst thing you could have done.
And then the whole job in crisis thing and that Saint guy were so unnecessary and just dragged the book out for no good reason. Because this book didn’t need to be 500 pages long at all.
Crazy that book three took four years and this mess is the end result.
Read
June 8, 2026I loved it, what a relief. My most anticipated book ( and the one I was also most nervous to read for multiple reasons) in a long time. The end of an era.
May 25, 2026
I am what you would call an Alexis Hall ‘stan.’ I will read anything they write, and I was so excited to get an ARC of the third London Calling book! Luc and Oliver are one of my favorite couples in romance books (and I read a lot of them), so I was excited to see what they got up to after their wedding-that-didn’t-happen.
Part of the appeal of Luc and Oliver is that they are so vastly different from one another. Luc is scattered, impulsive, has a hard time expressing his feelings (but tries to show them in other ways besides verbally) and doesn’t have a good sense of what he wants in life (although that has changed throughout the books, and he’s very happy with Oliver and their life). Oliver is steady and solid but has a lot of trauma from his oppressive father (and is also dealing with unresolved grief from his death). Somehow, despite all of this, they work well together as a couple - even when they decide to adopt a dog!
I loved Spud, and I totally loved watching Luc & Oliver develop a relationship with a new creature in their household! It was cute and fulfilling and yes, frustrating, because they definitely have different parenting/caregiving styles.
So why, why, WHYYYY did they decide to foster a teen?! After so much tension in the book over taking care of a dog, I was floored when they decided to get into fostering. A solid third of the book was just so frustrating and a slog to get through - I’m all for tension and upheaval in romance books, and I’m sure this is very realistic for couples who decide to do this, but the constant bickering/frustration/dismissal made the book SO hard to read. And yes, they eventually learned how to do things properly, and it was sweet, and we got the HFN, but I just didn’t feel like the fostering was 1) a good decision and 2) necessary to the plot. It’s so sad when a book you’re so excited to read just makes you feel … meh.
Regardless, I’m grateful that I got a copy of this book to review, and I still love Alexis Hall very much. I just feel disappointed by this book in particular.
Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Publishing June 2026.
Part of the appeal of Luc and Oliver is that they are so vastly different from one another. Luc is scattered, impulsive, has a hard time expressing his feelings (but tries to show them in other ways besides verbally) and doesn’t have a good sense of what he wants in life (although that has changed throughout the books, and he’s very happy with Oliver and their life). Oliver is steady and solid but has a lot of trauma from his oppressive father (and is also dealing with unresolved grief from his death). Somehow, despite all of this, they work well together as a couple - even when they decide to adopt a dog!
I loved Spud, and I totally loved watching Luc & Oliver develop a relationship with a new creature in their household! It was cute and fulfilling and yes, frustrating, because they definitely have different parenting/caregiving styles.
So why, why, WHYYYY did they decide to foster a teen?! After so much tension in the book over taking care of a dog, I was floored when they decided to get into fostering. A solid third of the book was just so frustrating and a slog to get through - I’m all for tension and upheaval in romance books, and I’m sure this is very realistic for couples who decide to do this, but the constant bickering/frustration/dismissal made the book SO hard to read. And yes, they eventually learned how to do things properly, and it was sweet, and we got the HFN, but I just didn’t feel like the fostering was 1) a good decision and 2) necessary to the plot. It’s so sad when a book you’re so excited to read just makes you feel … meh.
Regardless, I’m grateful that I got a copy of this book to review, and I still love Alexis Hall very much. I just feel disappointed by this book in particular.
Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Publishing June 2026.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2026
FATHER MATERIAL??? AS IN FATHER??? AS IN DAD???
...wake me up when its 2026
Edit: I wish yall didn’t wake me up.
...wake me up when its 2026
Edit: I wish yall didn’t wake me up.
June 16, 2026
4.25 ⭐
Ok, I'm positively surprised 🥹
I really, really, loved this.
Book #2, whilst very funny, gave me a bit of the ick because Luc was so frustrating!! Like, Oliver had to LOVE him for real to be okay with his shitty behaviour.
This book #3 began with that exact type of Luc-ish behaviour and I was a.f.r.a.i.d. for my sanity.
BUT, apparently, parenting seems to be his calling in life. Was he perfect? No, and he had no idea of what to do half the time, but he was there, he was present, and he simply cared. He did remind me a bit of Lorelai Gilmore (but make it gay 😆) in his parenting style both towards the dog and the -not exactly- baby.
It was definitely his turn to shine and Oliver's to confront (again, once and for all) his daddy issues in order to be the good and reliable father we all already knew he could be.
What to say about the ending? It was once again bittersweet, but this time in all the right ways.
I really loved everything about this 💗
✎ “I just meant that it doesn’t matter that we don’t know what we’re doing today. Because we’ll always have tomorrow?”
“You,” murmured Oliver, “are the only person I know who can make procrastination sound romantic.”
I shrugged. “Well, maybe that’s because I can’t imagine anything more romantic.”
“Than procrastination?”
“Than being so sure of someone, so completely in love with them, that you can stop worrying about the future on account of how the most important thing about it is already sorted.”
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
Let's see how Luke and Oliver's story ends!
I loved book #1 and then was underwhelmed by book #2... Fingers crossed for this one 🤞🏻✨
Published on Jun 02, 2026 💕
❁ Thank you to Netgalley and Alexis Hall for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion — ARC provided by Dreamscape Media❁
Ok, I'm positively surprised 🥹
I really, really, loved this.
Book #2, whilst very funny, gave me a bit of the ick because Luc was so frustrating!! Like, Oliver had to LOVE him for real to be okay with his shitty behaviour.
This book #3 began with that exact type of Luc-ish behaviour and I was a.f.r.a.i.d. for my sanity.
BUT, apparently, parenting seems to be his calling in life. Was he perfect? No, and he had no idea of what to do half the time, but he was there, he was present, and he simply cared. He did remind me a bit of Lorelai Gilmore (but make it gay 😆) in his parenting style both towards the dog and the -not exactly- baby.
It was definitely his turn to shine and Oliver's to confront (again, once and for all) his daddy issues in order to be the good and reliable father we all already knew he could be.
What to say about the ending? It was once again bittersweet, but this time in all the right ways.
I really loved everything about this 💗
✎ “I just meant that it doesn’t matter that we don’t know what we’re doing today. Because we’ll always have tomorrow?”
“You,” murmured Oliver, “are the only person I know who can make procrastination sound romantic.”
I shrugged. “Well, maybe that’s because I can’t imagine anything more romantic.”
“Than procrastination?”
“Than being so sure of someone, so completely in love with them, that you can stop worrying about the future on account of how the most important thing about it is already sorted.”
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
I loved book #1 and then was underwhelmed by book #2... Fingers crossed for this one 🤞🏻✨
June 27, 2026
Seemingly, several years have passed between husband material and now, and yet Luc hasn’t grown at all????? Luc is having the same arguments with Oliver and his friends over and over again. Every single time he did something wrong, he got self-deprecating about it, so his loved ones had to comfort him yet again instead of having a real conversation about his actions. Another book confronting Luc’s issues, resulting in zero personal growth. I’m a big fan of Alexis Hall and i really loved the other books in this series, but what a disappointing finale.
June 19, 2026
It pains me to write this review. Final rating: 2.50 / 5 stars.
So much potential and so much anticipation leading up to the release of this book, and the final product is - frankly - an enormous letdown.
I never thought I'd see the day where an Alexis Hall book put me into a reading slump that took two weeks to get out of, when in reality I should've been able to read this in a few days.
Why? Well ...
Alexis Hall's signature wit feels ... not quite absent, but inorganic? It doesn't feel like it's coming naturally, it seems a bit too manufactured. Almost-like-the-hyphenating-of-words-to-be-funny-isn't-funny-after-the-fiftieth-time. The bits with Alex not understanding jokes wore out their welcome after the first time it happened. The deadpan delivery of some of the writing feels forced. A lot of the humorous quirks in the writing aren’t creative anymore, just repetitive. And it's a shame, because Alexis Hall's wit and humor has always been what's charming about their writing.
One burning question to preface the rest of this review: Where. Is. The. Levity? Levity is part of Alexis Hall's formula, and it was notably missing for a good portion of the story.
I wasn't sure if the whole book would actually focus on Luc and Oliver raising Spud. I would have loved that. Maybe even more than what we do end up getting. After Luc waffling about feeling unsure as to whether or not he can take care of a dog (which also felt a bit dramatic), let's jump into him and Oliver fostering children. It didn't feel right. More on that in a bit.
One thing was extremely clear from the jump: Luc and Oliver's friends are now noticeably cattier and unlikeable. In the first two books, the scenes with them felt like playful banter. In this book, they feel icy and tense. For instance, blaming Luc for Bridge going into labor on the bridge. They really lay into him, which was insane to me, because Bridge is an adult who told Luc to meet her somewhere, despite his insistence against doing so. The backlash he gets from his friend group was so unfair. He didn't ask her to meet him there. And how dare he even think about calling his best friend in the middle of the night while dealing with anxiety!
And Priya is notably still one of the most obnoxious characters in any Alexis Hall book. When acting angry and being insulting at your only two personality traits, it’s grating.
Which brings me to another running issue throughout the book. Luc isn't written like he's "irresponsible" or "new to adulting." He's written like he's a bumbling fucking idiot who can't do simple things like drive. He's portrayed as childish and stupid. It felt like a huge regression in his character from the first two books and didn’t sit right with me.
Now back to the "Father" Material alluded to in the book's title. What we do get from on the Fatherhood front is not at all solid or gratifying.
Oliver becomes a dictator with the way he treats Jaz, and the way he excludes Luc from decisions regarding her and the care they're providing her felt like it undoes the character development that we got in Husband Material. We already established that Oliver never wanted to be like his father. So why does it happen? It's just so uncharacteristic of him and pissed me off.
Let's get to Jasmine. Jaz. I hate the way she was written. She was made into a caricature of the stereotypes and stigma associated with foster children. That they're anti-social, poorly adjusted, traumatized, angry, resentful, violent, and criminal. And that's how she was portrayed. There were almost no redeeming moments with her throughout 500 pages, except in the epilogue - and even that moment was tainted by insincerity. I understand that she was untrusting of the foster care system, and rightfully so. But I've worked in the mental health / substance use / social work space for over a decade now. And knowing firsthand what the reality for clients in those systems really looks like, I couldn't help but think that the portrayal of Jaz actually feels ... irresponsible.
What's more is that Jaz's anger and contempt are almost written like it's supposed to be endearing or funny. It isn't. There are only so many times you can hear her call Luc & Oliver "shit" and say “fuck off” before it actually starts pissing you off. Also, making her put meat into Oliver's food, being a vegan, just felt purely evil. It painted her in an even worse light by showing us that she's spiteful and vindictive. It was so unnecessary.
And because we never end up getting any true heartfelt moments with Jaz, I still ended the book with irritation at how she was written.
The epilogue was a letdown. In a 500 page book called FATHER Material, we get to the end, we skip forward 2 years, and in doing so, miss the genuinely important events of Luc and Oliver actually being fathers and settling into parenthood. Something I desperately wanted more of.
We spend far too much of the book on "CRAPPstonbury" (which felt like such an unnecessary plot point) when we could be getting more about how Jasmine eventually warms up to Luc & Oliver. We spend time with the absolutely insufferable Saint.
The scenes where Luc & Oliver have those simple, intimate, quiet moments to themselves steal the show - I love their dynamic, which is why I wanted so much more from their grand finale.
I started this review off at either 3 or 3.5 stars, but the more I write about my issues with the book, the harder I am finding to even find things I genuinely enjoyed.
The conclusion to Luc and Oliver's story, unfortunately, does not stick the landing and do them justice. It's such a bummer to feel this way about what was one of my most anticipated books of 2026.
I do think others will certainly enjoy it, but this time around, it just wasn't for me.
So much potential and so much anticipation leading up to the release of this book, and the final product is - frankly - an enormous letdown.
I never thought I'd see the day where an Alexis Hall book put me into a reading slump that took two weeks to get out of, when in reality I should've been able to read this in a few days.
Why? Well ...
Alexis Hall's signature wit feels ... not quite absent, but inorganic? It doesn't feel like it's coming naturally, it seems a bit too manufactured. Almost-like-the-hyphenating-of-words-to-be-funny-isn't-funny-after-the-fiftieth-time. The bits with Alex not understanding jokes wore out their welcome after the first time it happened. The deadpan delivery of some of the writing feels forced. A lot of the humorous quirks in the writing aren’t creative anymore, just repetitive. And it's a shame, because Alexis Hall's wit and humor has always been what's charming about their writing.
One burning question to preface the rest of this review: Where. Is. The. Levity? Levity is part of Alexis Hall's formula, and it was notably missing for a good portion of the story.
I wasn't sure if the whole book would actually focus on Luc and Oliver raising Spud. I would have loved that. Maybe even more than what we do end up getting. After Luc waffling about feeling unsure as to whether or not he can take care of a dog (which also felt a bit dramatic), let's jump into him and Oliver fostering children. It didn't feel right. More on that in a bit.
One thing was extremely clear from the jump: Luc and Oliver's friends are now noticeably cattier and unlikeable. In the first two books, the scenes with them felt like playful banter. In this book, they feel icy and tense. For instance, blaming Luc for Bridge going into labor on the bridge. They really lay into him, which was insane to me, because Bridge is an adult who told Luc to meet her somewhere, despite his insistence against doing so. The backlash he gets from his friend group was so unfair. He didn't ask her to meet him there. And how dare he even think about calling his best friend in the middle of the night while dealing with anxiety!
And Priya is notably still one of the most obnoxious characters in any Alexis Hall book. When acting angry and being insulting at your only two personality traits, it’s grating.
Which brings me to another running issue throughout the book. Luc isn't written like he's "irresponsible" or "new to adulting." He's written like he's a bumbling fucking idiot who can't do simple things like drive. He's portrayed as childish and stupid. It felt like a huge regression in his character from the first two books and didn’t sit right with me.
Now back to the "Father" Material alluded to in the book's title. What we do get from on the Fatherhood front is not at all solid or gratifying.
Oliver becomes a dictator with the way he treats Jaz, and the way he excludes Luc from decisions regarding her and the care they're providing her felt like it undoes the character development that we got in Husband Material. We already established that Oliver never wanted to be like his father. So why does it happen? It's just so uncharacteristic of him and pissed me off.
Let's get to Jasmine. Jaz. I hate the way she was written. She was made into a caricature of the stereotypes and stigma associated with foster children. That they're anti-social, poorly adjusted, traumatized, angry, resentful, violent, and criminal. And that's how she was portrayed. There were almost no redeeming moments with her throughout 500 pages, except in the epilogue - and even that moment was tainted by insincerity. I understand that she was untrusting of the foster care system, and rightfully so. But I've worked in the mental health / substance use / social work space for over a decade now. And knowing firsthand what the reality for clients in those systems really looks like, I couldn't help but think that the portrayal of Jaz actually feels ... irresponsible.
What's more is that Jaz's anger and contempt are almost written like it's supposed to be endearing or funny. It isn't. There are only so many times you can hear her call Luc & Oliver "shit" and say “fuck off” before it actually starts pissing you off. Also, making her put meat into Oliver's food, being a vegan, just felt purely evil. It painted her in an even worse light by showing us that she's spiteful and vindictive. It was so unnecessary.
And because we never end up getting any true heartfelt moments with Jaz, I still ended the book with irritation at how she was written.
The epilogue was a letdown. In a 500 page book called FATHER Material, we get to the end, we skip forward 2 years, and in doing so, miss the genuinely important events of Luc and Oliver actually being fathers and settling into parenthood. Something I desperately wanted more of.
We spend far too much of the book on "CRAPPstonbury" (which felt like such an unnecessary plot point) when we could be getting more about how Jasmine eventually warms up to Luc & Oliver. We spend time with the absolutely insufferable Saint.
The scenes where Luc & Oliver have those simple, intimate, quiet moments to themselves steal the show - I love their dynamic, which is why I wanted so much more from their grand finale.
I started this review off at either 3 or 3.5 stars, but the more I write about my issues with the book, the harder I am finding to even find things I genuinely enjoyed.
The conclusion to Luc and Oliver's story, unfortunately, does not stick the landing and do them justice. It's such a bummer to feel this way about what was one of my most anticipated books of 2026.
I do think others will certainly enjoy it, but this time around, it just wasn't for me.
June 9, 2026
Just wrapped up Father Material, and as a gay man who’s married and has fostered children, this book resonated with me like no other in the series. Oliver and Lucien’s story was incredibly captivating, and it saddens me that this is the final book. I really wish there were more adventures to follow this amazing couple I’ve grown so fond of.
Their journey into becoming dog parents and later fostering was delightful to read! The various challenges in parenting, their relationship, and friendships felt so genuine and emotional. Though I felt a bit caught off guard by Husband Material, I approached Father Material open-mindedly and was truly impressed.
More than anything, this book was about evolution. Observing Luc and Oliver as they learned to care beyond themselves was both amusing and profoundly touching. The portrayal of diverse parenting was beautifully handled and so heartfelt.
I also loved the CRAPP segment—Luc's colleagues are some of my favorites! You’ve made me adore these two characters to bits. Despite their differences, they mesh together perfectly, and I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone seeking an authentic, heartwarming narrative.
It’s bittersweet to bid farewell to this series, as I’ll deeply miss Oliver, Lucien, and the rest of the characters. Thank you for crafting such meaningful characters and stories that have deeply resonated with me.
Their journey into becoming dog parents and later fostering was delightful to read! The various challenges in parenting, their relationship, and friendships felt so genuine and emotional. Though I felt a bit caught off guard by Husband Material, I approached Father Material open-mindedly and was truly impressed.
More than anything, this book was about evolution. Observing Luc and Oliver as they learned to care beyond themselves was both amusing and profoundly touching. The portrayal of diverse parenting was beautifully handled and so heartfelt.
I also loved the CRAPP segment—Luc's colleagues are some of my favorites! You’ve made me adore these two characters to bits. Despite their differences, they mesh together perfectly, and I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone seeking an authentic, heartwarming narrative.
It’s bittersweet to bid farewell to this series, as I’ll deeply miss Oliver, Lucien, and the rest of the characters. Thank you for crafting such meaningful characters and stories that have deeply resonated with me.
Want to Read
August 14, 2022FATHER MATERIAL? FATHER? MATERIAL?
AS IN LUCIEN , OLIVER, BABY? FATHER MATERIAL? MaTerIal?
AS IN LUCIEN , OLIVER, BABY? FATHER MATERIAL? MaTerIal?
June 8, 2026
The next one should be called divorce material because I would never forgive someone who threatened to send our foster child back
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2025
I loved this book so much I can't even describe it. Luc and Oliver are the literal best couple and this was such a lovely addition to their story. I seriously could not stop laughing while reading. At this point you'd think I would know better than to read Alexis Hall books while at work because I always end up cackling like a loon. I know a lot of people hated the way Husband Material ended but I thought it was perfect for their characters and Father Material is a nearly flawless continuation of their relationship. They are not perfect people, they are both incredibly flawed, but they love each other so deeply and that is what makes them so amazing. Also, Tom is, and will probably always be, my favorite side character. He is still unapologetically bisexual and he's still not fucking here for your bi erasure. And I still need a prequel book of him dating Luc and then falling in love with Bridge, even just a short story would be fine, give me something. Anyway, this book, this series, is amazing and I'm looking forward to the spinoffs.
January 20, 2026
I have been watching out for this book ever since Husband Material came out, and it did not disappoint. I was so glad to be back in the world of Luc, Oliver, Odile and Judy, and their excellent group of friends and obnoxious co-workers. In this installment, Luc and Oliver adopt a dog as a trial run at fatherhood before trying out fostering. Hall balances snark, self-deprecation, humor, and genuine emotion in a perfect way so that nothing ever feels too bleak, unserious, or sappy. I liked this installment a little more than Husband Material, and I'm very sad that this is likely to be the last in the series (or, at least, that's what I'm guessing). I highly recommend reading the whole series if you haven't already.
Thanks to Sourcebooks and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Sourcebooks and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2026
An extremely funny book that had me giggling the whole time, with a cute dog named Spud and a foster kid that creates real-life (and hilarious) challenges for Luc & Olivers' long-term partnership. It's emotional and lovely and they actually talk stuff out and it's so relatable and wonderful to see. Overall I loved it and thought it was a fantastic ending for Luc & Oliver. 🖤💜❤️
Luc starts off super neurotic in this one. Sometimes funny, sometimes insufferable, but it's fun watching him get his sh*t together and become wiser. Oliver is as Oliver as ever, which is The Best. There are some seeds from the first 2 books that come to fruition creating fantastic character arcs. It was great to check in with all the friends and I especially loved the CRAPPstonbury storyline (yes that is an actual thing!) which shows Luc at his finest.
I don't want to spoil anything major, but a lot happens! This book is inspired by ABOUT A BOY, the 90s Richard Curtis / Hugh Grant movie, and if you've seen that you'll recognize the fostering storyline and wisecracking kid. A hallmark of Alexis Hall books is a Disaster Dinner Party® at about 80% and this one felt very earned. Luc is a panic, but also gets it. Oliver is stern, but also a force for good. There's an older character who is a posh git and foil for Luc. And the euphemisms throughout the book are so so funny.
I mainly listened to the audiobook since there's nothing more soothing than Joe Jameson's incredible voice reading a Luc & Oliver story to you. Not only does he have dialect and gender range, he can also do any age which really shows up in this performance. He is an incredible talent and I highly recommend listening to this series. He honestly deserves to win an Oscar.
Luc starts off super neurotic in this one. Sometimes funny, sometimes insufferable, but it's fun watching him get his sh*t together and become wiser. Oliver is as Oliver as ever, which is The Best. There are some seeds from the first 2 books that come to fruition creating fantastic character arcs. It was great to check in with all the friends and I especially loved the CRAPPstonbury storyline (yes that is an actual thing!) which shows Luc at his finest.
I don't want to spoil anything major, but a lot happens! This book is inspired by ABOUT A BOY, the 90s Richard Curtis / Hugh Grant movie, and if you've seen that you'll recognize the fostering storyline and wisecracking kid. A hallmark of Alexis Hall books is a Disaster Dinner Party® at about 80% and this one felt very earned. Luc is a panic, but also gets it. Oliver is stern, but also a force for good. There's an older character who is a posh git and foil for Luc. And the euphemisms throughout the book are so so funny.
I mainly listened to the audiobook since there's nothing more soothing than Joe Jameson's incredible voice reading a Luc & Oliver story to you. Not only does he have dialect and gender range, he can also do any age which really shows up in this performance. He is an incredible talent and I highly recommend listening to this series. He honestly deserves to win an Oscar.
June 8, 2026
Just, yes. So sweet, and still funny like the first two. But with more depth.
Want to Read
August 11, 2023god. im not really sure i wanna read this one. Can we all just pretend the second book didnt happen and theyre both actually married? And didnt leave all their guests alone in their wedding venue? How are they gonna be fathers (i assume? by the book name but who knows) if they dont even wanna get married i just dont get it but whatever
Want to Read
November 4, 2025please please please do not be one of those books that endorses surrogacy women's exploitation
new fear unlocked
Alexis Hall DON'T YOU DARE DISAPPOINT ME
new fear unlocked
Alexis Hall DON'T YOU DARE DISAPPOINT ME
Read
June 13, 2026DNF @ 50%
I really tried to keep going, but this book frustrated me more often than not.
The romance is nonexistent because of all the bickering they do and they make awful decisions time and time again.
I really tried to keep going, but this book frustrated me more often than not.
The romance is nonexistent because of all the bickering they do and they make awful decisions time and time again.
June 5, 2026
Honestly a huge step up from book 2. I though Husband Material was pretty meh and wasn't totally sure if I wanted to pick this one up but I'm glad I did. The story in this one did not go the way I had expected but I really like what it did. I think we see actual character growth in this one in a way that was missing in the second book.
June 11, 2026
Hard to review because these characters got me through 2020 - there was a period during one of the COVID lockdowns when the only way I could fall asleep was listening to Joe Jameson narrate Boyfriend Material. That book will always hold a special place in my heart, and any sequels were never going to live up to that.
This third and final book is an improvement on Husband Material and has an astonishingly good low moment (I had a physical reaction - tense muscles, lump in my throat, increased heart rate - which is something that hasn't happened while reading in a while) and a satisfying ending.
Joe Jameson's narration is excellent as always, particularly his characterisation of Spud the dog, which is done purely via different vocalisations of Ruff and Aroo! It was too long and there was a new character that felt recycled and unnecessary, but I had a good time and I would definitely read again via audio.
This third and final book is an improvement on Husband Material and has an astonishingly good low moment (I had a physical reaction - tense muscles, lump in my throat, increased heart rate - which is something that hasn't happened while reading in a while) and a satisfying ending.
Joe Jameson's narration is excellent as always, particularly his characterisation of Spud the dog, which is done purely via different vocalisations of Ruff and Aroo! It was too long and there was a new character that felt recycled and unnecessary, but I had a good time and I would definitely read again via audio.
June 18, 2026
3.5⭐️, fajnie było wrócić do tych bohaterów, humor z dwóch pierwszych tomów pozostał, chociaż pojawiło się też więcej ciężkich tematów. luc, oh luc… still a big baby, ale miał w tym tomie swoje momenty 🤭
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