What do you think?
Rate this book
The Model Agency #3
Call Back
Once upon a time, Reuben Langley broke Xavier Conway’s heart.
Five years later, Xavier has convinced himself that he’s over it. Now a famous supermodel, his life is filled with faraway locations, glamorous parties, even more glamorous men, and so much noise. And if his mind still drifts to the quiet and responsible war photographer he loved and lost, then no one else has to know.
Xavier’s living the dream until everything comes tumbling down around him, and when he hits absolute rock bottom, the person there to pick up the pieces is Reuben.
Reuben fell in love with Xavier the first moment he met him—a wild, sassy boy in a hotel bar. When he found out that he was his best friend’s son, it should have stopped him, but it didn’t. That passionate affair came to a disastrous and painful end, and since then, Reuben’s had to be content with the tiny glimpses he’s had of Xavier over the years. But now, Xavier needs him, and Reuben isn’t going to turn away this time.
Set in London and the Inner Hebrides, this is a story of second chances and a constant, hopeful love.
This is the third book in the Model Agency series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Please see the disclaimer at the beginning of the book for content some readers may find triggering.
Five years later, Xavier has convinced himself that he’s over it. Now a famous supermodel, his life is filled with faraway locations, glamorous parties, even more glamorous men, and so much noise. And if his mind still drifts to the quiet and responsible war photographer he loved and lost, then no one else has to know.
Xavier’s living the dream until everything comes tumbling down around him, and when he hits absolute rock bottom, the person there to pick up the pieces is Reuben.
Reuben fell in love with Xavier the first moment he met him—a wild, sassy boy in a hotel bar. When he found out that he was his best friend’s son, it should have stopped him, but it didn’t. That passionate affair came to a disastrous and painful end, and since then, Reuben’s had to be content with the tiny glimpses he’s had of Xavier over the years. But now, Xavier needs him, and Reuben isn’t going to turn away this time.
Set in London and the Inner Hebrides, this is a story of second chances and a constant, hopeful love.
This is the third book in the Model Agency series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Please see the disclaimer at the beginning of the book for content some readers may find triggering.
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2026
About the author
Lily Morton
74 books3,421 followersLily is a bestselling gay romance author.
She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven't had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.
She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?
Her latest release is Call Back, which is a second chance romance between a supermodel and an older war photographer.
https://getbook.at/CallBack
You can keep up with Lily's latest releases and read the exclusive short stories '3 Dates' and ‘Best Love’ by subscribing to her newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/SnarkSquad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000...
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@lilymortonauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilymortonauthor
Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/LilyAuthor
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/lily-morton
She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven't had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.
She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?
Her latest release is Call Back, which is a second chance romance between a supermodel and an older war photographer.
https://getbook.at/CallBack
You can keep up with Lily's latest releases and read the exclusive short stories '3 Dates' and ‘Best Love’ by subscribing to her newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/SnarkSquad
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000...
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@lilymortonauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilymortonauthor
Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/LilyAuthor
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/lily-morton
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 24, 2026
Classic, classic, classic British romance. Lily Morton at the top of her game, again. The way she spins this story is gorgeous. The Daphne Du Maurier quote set the tone and whisked my brain back to the black and white romance/drama movie era.
In this beautiful second chance romance the main theme is undeserved guilt and miscommunication that results in years of spiteful separation and hurtful petty revenge. Right up until saving the man he loves forces Reuben to take matters into his own hands. Xavi is hurt and angry but the burning underlying love he has for Reuben convinces him to stay and forgive.
Another stunning story with many beloved intertwining characters from Lily Morton's world. I pulled an all nighter with this one.
*I saw a couple of flaws that nagged at me throughout, mainly about the timeline the events happened in, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment because in the end all was said and done.
**to reread
* favorites
In this beautiful second chance romance the main theme is undeserved guilt and miscommunication that results in years of spiteful separation and hurtful petty revenge. Right up until saving the man he loves forces Reuben to take matters into his own hands. Xavi is hurt and angry but the burning underlying love he has for Reuben convinces him to stay and forgive.
Another stunning story with many beloved intertwining characters from Lily Morton's world. I pulled an all nighter with this one.
*I saw a couple of flaws that nagged at me throughout, mainly about the timeline the events happened in, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment because in the end all was said and done.
**to reread
* favorites
won-t-read-bc-nopes
June 18, 2026And another second chance that isn't for me. Sigh. When will I get to read more Lily Morton? Alas. Thanks to @Elizabeth for confirming this isn't a Me book. This is another one where an MC uses sex as a weapon for years to hurt the other MC (for hurting him terribly in the first place, but, still, icky ew nope for me.) Hooking up w others during separation, including in front of the other MC...many, many others...I just can't take it. Total weakling here.
Adding a note from the helpful @Daje1968, the MCs are also married (waking up in Vegas style, but never annulled). And while they don't consider themselves truly married and it's presented as not cheating, to me, the one man-ho-ing around absolutely would be cheating. Aka not okay. (although, @Evelyn, I think this book might be the kind of messed up you enjoy! Check it out! Uh. If you see this note. 💕)
Beautiful cover though, and the early reviews are stellar and focus on this being super emotional and satisfying, so yet again, if second chance is your thing? Check it out!
Adding a note from the helpful @Daje1968, the MCs are also married (waking up in Vegas style, but never annulled). And while they don't consider themselves truly married and it's presented as not cheating, to me, the one man-ho-ing around absolutely would be cheating. Aka not okay. (although, @Evelyn, I think this book might be the kind of messed up you enjoy! Check it out! Uh. If you see this note. 💕)
Beautiful cover though, and the early reviews are stellar and focus on this being super emotional and satisfying, so yet again, if second chance is your thing? Check it out!
June 16, 2026
I just loved this so much! First of all, I have not read the other two full length books in this series and it was fine. The characters from those books are in this but not for long. Second of all, to me Lily Morton has a formula. If you are looking for a different sort of book from her this isn’t it. Her books are similar in many ways but I don’t mind that, I don’t read them back to back and I find it comforting in a way. Sometimes it’s nice to know what to expect and I can get into the story and truly enjoy it.
I loved Xavier, he is fun and smart and has a smart mouth to go along with it. He’s 19 when he first meets Reuben and they have a whirlwind type of romance. I think Reuben would be about 35 at this time. If an age gap like that is not your thing then you won’t like this. It didn’t bother me because Xavier never struck me as a typical 19 year old. He brought much needed light into Reuben’s life and I thought they just fit so well together.
The story does go from present to past then back to present and it worked really well, we need to see what happened five years ago to cause this rift. It’s a matter of communication of course and nothing surprising but I just had so much fun reading this.
I loved the setting in Scotland, Lily Morton always has me wanting to pack up and visit the locations she writes about. If I had as much money as her fictional characters I would. The setting seemed like a third main character and I think it helped heal the relationship between Xavier and Reuben (or Xavi and Roo. Best nicknames!).
Reuben has so much baggage and PTSD that my heart broke for him. He was a loyal friend and cared so much about everyone he loved. I don’t think he was truly alive until he met Xavier. This was such a lovely love story.
ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own
I loved Xavier, he is fun and smart and has a smart mouth to go along with it. He’s 19 when he first meets Reuben and they have a whirlwind type of romance. I think Reuben would be about 35 at this time. If an age gap like that is not your thing then you won’t like this. It didn’t bother me because Xavier never struck me as a typical 19 year old. He brought much needed light into Reuben’s life and I thought they just fit so well together.
The story does go from present to past then back to present and it worked really well, we need to see what happened five years ago to cause this rift. It’s a matter of communication of course and nothing surprising but I just had so much fun reading this.
I loved the setting in Scotland, Lily Morton always has me wanting to pack up and visit the locations she writes about. If I had as much money as her fictional characters I would. The setting seemed like a third main character and I think it helped heal the relationship between Xavier and Reuben (or Xavi and Roo. Best nicknames!).
Reuben has so much baggage and PTSD that my heart broke for him. He was a loyal friend and cared so much about everyone he loved. I don’t think he was truly alive until he met Xavier. This was such a lovely love story.
ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own
June 24, 2026
It feels like Xavier's love story was a long time coming and boy did it not disappoint in the least.
Reuben is Xavier's estranged father's best friend - not as juicy than it was a regular situation, and if Jez was at all a good person or father, but it's still juicy nonetheless - and there's an instant connection between these two before they even know who the other is. Although they do know that Xavier is only 19 from the get go and Reuben still throws caution to the wind and hooks up with him, even though he's 35 years old himself.
We start in the present, with Xavier and Reuben on the outs, and it's clear they're still in love but there's been immense pain and heartbreak that, for the last five years, has prevented them from being together.
It is warned for, but just know that there is Attempted rape and drugging in this. Clothes are taken off but thankfully Reuben gets there to stop it before anything more can happen. But just be aware going into this that that happens.
After that, though, we spend almost half the book in the past, seeing these two fall in love over about a week or so.
It shouldn't work, because it's so rushed and the age gap is so immense, but it does. Their chemistry is so good and they get along from the get go. It is rushed so maybe what happens was for the best in some ways, but that doesn't negate how awful what happens is and why it's understandable how Xavier acts for the next 5 years.
Reuben, to his credit, takes the attitude and more from Xavier because he knows he deserves it, and he does. He kind of ruined it mostly by himself. Motherfucking Jez - not even sure that's 100% his name and if I'm getting it wrong I don't care -had a big role in it too, but Reuben didn't have to decide to end it the way he does and THAT is on him.
But Jez really does emotionally manipulate Reuben and orchestrate things to try to break him and Xavier up so he's a little bitch until the end and just like Xavier, I don't care that
Then they have 5 years of random hook ups every few months or so - very hot, passionate sex, mind you, but just sex all the same. A way by Xavier to try punish and hurt Reuben the way he hurt him. They even, we learn, at some point
So we thankfully never have to see them with anyone else, but it's apparent that for 4 of the 5 years, Xavier is with others - usually, it seems, only when Reuben is around so he can see. So it seems he did it mainly whenever he was able to punish Reuben. Although it seemed he was with Max (from After Felix) as more at least for a few weeks or months. We don't know exactly when so at some point both stop being with others even when they're technically free to be with others, but for some years there, they are with others. (Or at least, we know Xavier is. It seems Reuben might have been with his FWB, Grey, at least once after the events of the past, but who knows, that isn't very clear if they were.
Anyway, once we're back in the present and these two are back in each other's lives in a more permanent way, they are for sure not with anyone else, and it's just focused on them reconnecting and fixing everything that went wrong.
It is pretty crazy, though, that after what Reuben does and says to Xavier to try to break his heart enough to walk away, that Xavier can't help but come back to him over and over again, even if on the surface it's just for sex.
Their love was just too deep to let each other go, even under all the pain and anger and heartache. Even under all the excuses that Reuben gave himself for why they wouldn't work, even under all the PTSD he was dealing with as well.
Seeing their love bloom again in the present day was beautiful, and them reconnecting was perfect. Them finding their way back to each other was *chef's kiss* wonderful.
I was always wondering what was going on with Xavier and who his great love was or would be, and now in this we finally got to find out, and it was great. I absolutely loved their HEA, and it was certainly a hard fought for HEA!
Definitely recommend this, it's a great installment to round out this trilogy.
I absolutely can't wait for more from this lovely author, and I can't wait to see what we have in store for us.
Until then! 😘
My Ratings for The Model Agency series:
🔆 The Sunny Side: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 French Fancy: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Call Back: 5 stars
Reuben is Xavier's estranged father's best friend - not as juicy than it was a regular situation, and if Jez was at all a good person or father, but it's still juicy nonetheless - and there's an instant connection between these two before they even know who the other is. Although they do know that Xavier is only 19 from the get go and Reuben still throws caution to the wind and hooks up with him, even though he's 35 years old himself.
We start in the present, with Xavier and Reuben on the outs, and it's clear they're still in love but there's been immense pain and heartbreak that, for the last five years, has prevented them from being together.
It is warned for, but just know that there is Attempted rape and drugging in this. Clothes are taken off but thankfully Reuben gets there to stop it before anything more can happen. But just be aware going into this that that happens.
After that, though, we spend almost half the book in the past, seeing these two fall in love over about a week or so.
It shouldn't work, because it's so rushed and the age gap is so immense, but it does. Their chemistry is so good and they get along from the get go. It is rushed so maybe what happens was for the best in some ways, but that doesn't negate how awful what happens is and why it's understandable how Xavier acts for the next 5 years.
Reuben, to his credit, takes the attitude and more from Xavier because he knows he deserves it, and he does. He kind of ruined it mostly by himself. Motherfucking Jez - not even sure that's 100% his name and if I'm getting it wrong I don't care -had a big role in it too, but Reuben didn't have to decide to end it the way he does and THAT is on him.
But Jez really does emotionally manipulate Reuben and orchestrate things to try to break him and Xavier up so he's a little bitch until the end and just like Xavier, I don't care that
Then they have 5 years of random hook ups every few months or so - very hot, passionate sex, mind you, but just sex all the same. A way by Xavier to try punish and hurt Reuben the way he hurt him. They even, we learn, at some point
So we thankfully never have to see them with anyone else, but it's apparent that for 4 of the 5 years, Xavier is with others - usually, it seems, only when Reuben is around so he can see. So it seems he did it mainly whenever he was able to punish Reuben. Although it seemed he was with Max (from After Felix) as more at least for a few weeks or months. We don't know exactly when so at some point both stop being with others even when they're technically free to be with others, but for some years there, they are with others. (Or at least, we know Xavier is. It seems Reuben might have been with his FWB, Grey, at least once after the events of the past, but who knows, that isn't very clear if they were.
Anyway, once we're back in the present and these two are back in each other's lives in a more permanent way, they are for sure not with anyone else, and it's just focused on them reconnecting and fixing everything that went wrong.
It is pretty crazy, though, that after what Reuben does and says to Xavier to try to break his heart enough to walk away, that Xavier can't help but come back to him over and over again, even if on the surface it's just for sex.
Their love was just too deep to let each other go, even under all the pain and anger and heartache. Even under all the excuses that Reuben gave himself for why they wouldn't work, even under all the PTSD he was dealing with as well.
Seeing their love bloom again in the present day was beautiful, and them reconnecting was perfect. Them finding their way back to each other was *chef's kiss* wonderful.
I was always wondering what was going on with Xavier and who his great love was or would be, and now in this we finally got to find out, and it was great. I absolutely loved their HEA, and it was certainly a hard fought for HEA!
Definitely recommend this, it's a great installment to round out this trilogy.
I absolutely can't wait for more from this lovely author, and I can't wait to see what we have in store for us.
Until then! 😘
My Ratings for The Model Agency series:
🔆 The Sunny Side: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 French Fancy: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Call Back: 5 stars
June 13, 2026
I’m so happy to have finally read the story of Rueben and Xavier! From the tidbits I’ve picked up from other books in the Mortonverse I knew this one was going to be a tear jerker filled with yearning, and it totally delivered! Another stellar 5 star Lily Morton book in the bag ⭐️
Thanks to GRR and the author for the ARC. These opinions are my own.
Thanks to GRR and the author for the ARC. These opinions are my own.
June 23, 2026
Better than Morton's recent books—a touch more grit. And she's still good at couples who do actually feel as if they fitted together. Mind you, she's used the same couple dynamic in almost all her books—the sassy twink and the long-suffering appreciative older man—so it's perhaps not surprising that she's got it down to a tee.
But she still shies away from using conflict productively. Here, there are several potentially strong threads all of which are dealt with off-stage. Instead half the book is dedicated to a week of non-stop sex. Fine if you're one of the lucky pair, but it does pall a bit if you're waiting for real action to start. As a result, this is not a well-structured book. I suspect, though, that an author as successful as Morton is not subjected to much rigorous editing.
Maybe I'm just growing out of Morton.
Also I need to find something that isn't a 2-3 star read.
Credits—
Cover design: Natasha Snow Designs, who didn't clock that Xavier doesn't have a moustache.
Editing: Edie Danford
But she still shies away from using conflict productively. Here, there are several potentially strong threads all of which are dealt with off-stage. Instead half the book is dedicated to a week of non-stop sex. Fine if you're one of the lucky pair, but it does pall a bit if you're waiting for real action to start. As a result, this is not a well-structured book. I suspect, though, that an author as successful as Morton is not subjected to much rigorous editing.
Maybe I'm just growing out of Morton.
Also I need to find something that isn't a 2-3 star read.
Credits—
Cover design: Natasha Snow Designs, who didn't clock that Xavier doesn't have a moustache.
Editing: Edie Danford
June 23, 2026
'Call Back' (The Model Agency series, Book 3) written by Lily Morton (Kindle)
This is one of my all-time favorite series and this new addition socks it into place!
Lots of messed up communications between Xavier (now a fameous super model) and Reuban (a famous war photographer). They pulled each other at a bar when Xavier was 19 and Reuban was a lot older. In fact, unbeknownst to either of them, Reuban was best friends with Xavier's father, Jez, which became clear the next day as they attended the funeral of a friend. Fury and recriminations fly, with a very regrettable outcome!
Set in London and the Inner Hebrides and other locations, this is a tale of massive miscommunications, innate stubbornness, jealosy, lost & found loves, plus dealing with intense trauma and PTSD.
And a big goofy rescue dog named Bernard.
Another great book in this series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, do yourself a big favor and read the series from the beginning so you don't miss any of the drama, the humor, the outright snark & bitchiness of several characters, plus the depth of emotional devastation that grabs these characters when the shit hits the fan and things go to hell...and they do! More than once.
《~~~~~《●》~~~~~》
Trigger warnings:
for on again-off again drug use, for being drugged and the subsequent attempted rape (on page, an MC), for war zone happenings and trauma (some on page), for unwanted pregnancy and child, for parental neglect, for PTSD (a main character), and emotional blackmail)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another great book that held my curiosity and intrigued me, by Lily Morton; loved it!
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
This is one of my all-time favorite series and this new addition socks it into place!
Lots of messed up communications between Xavier (now a fameous super model) and Reuban (a famous war photographer). They pulled each other at a bar when Xavier was 19 and Reuban was a lot older. In fact, unbeknownst to either of them, Reuban was best friends with Xavier's father, Jez, which became clear the next day as they attended the funeral of a friend. Fury and recriminations fly, with a very regrettable outcome!
Set in London and the Inner Hebrides and other locations, this is a tale of massive miscommunications, innate stubbornness, jealosy, lost & found loves, plus dealing with intense trauma and PTSD.
And a big goofy rescue dog named Bernard.
Another great book in this series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, do yourself a big favor and read the series from the beginning so you don't miss any of the drama, the humor, the outright snark & bitchiness of several characters, plus the depth of emotional devastation that grabs these characters when the shit hits the fan and things go to hell...and they do! More than once.
《~~~~~《●》~~~~~》
Trigger warnings:
for on again-off again drug use, for being drugged and the subsequent attempted rape (on page, an MC), for war zone happenings and trauma (some on page), for unwanted pregnancy and child, for parental neglect, for PTSD (a main character), and emotional blackmail)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another great book that held my curiosity and intrigued me, by Lily Morton; loved it!
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2026
This latest book from Lily Morton gives us supermodel, Xavier’s story and it’s fabulous.
They say hate and love are two sides of the same coin, and that dictates the actions in Xavier and Reuben’s age-gap, second chance, lovers, to enemies, to lovers story. When they meet both men are instantly attracted to the other, but each come with broken pasts, Rueben because of his job and the PTSD it’s left him with, and Xavier from his father, and childhood. Deliberate mis-communication and emotional reactions sets the scene for love to turn to hate, making for hurtful decisions, and interactions that are more battles than anything else. Neither of them are really in the right place for a serious relationship when they first meet and their struggles over time are at times heartbreaking, but thankfully when Xavier really needs him Reuben is there for him.
With appearances by the other supermodels and friends, to help them find their way, we are treated to a sweet, emotional and at times funny story that has wonderful characters and beautiful Scottish settings. Plus as usual, throughout it all is the unique banter which this author gives to her characters, and which always elevates her books and makes them special. I loved every second of their story and can’t recommend this book highly enough.
They say hate and love are two sides of the same coin, and that dictates the actions in Xavier and Reuben’s age-gap, second chance, lovers, to enemies, to lovers story. When they meet both men are instantly attracted to the other, but each come with broken pasts, Rueben because of his job and the PTSD it’s left him with, and Xavier from his father, and childhood. Deliberate mis-communication and emotional reactions sets the scene for love to turn to hate, making for hurtful decisions, and interactions that are more battles than anything else. Neither of them are really in the right place for a serious relationship when they first meet and their struggles over time are at times heartbreaking, but thankfully when Xavier really needs him Reuben is there for him.
With appearances by the other supermodels and friends, to help them find their way, we are treated to a sweet, emotional and at times funny story that has wonderful characters and beautiful Scottish settings. Plus as usual, throughout it all is the unique banter which this author gives to her characters, and which always elevates her books and makes them special. I loved every second of their story and can’t recommend this book highly enough.
June 22, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Call Back is the third book in Lily Morton’s The Model Agency series and I just loved this one (as I have all the books so far in this series). This book has a really great format that I think works well for the story. We meet the men in present day, where Xavier is a famous model and Reuben is a prominent photographer. We learn that the men have a past, and they have clearly been circling one another, drawn together but not allowing themselves to be together. Morton sets this portion up so well, really making clear the pining and the sexual tension and all that is pulling these men together, but we don’t yet know what happened between them to tear them apart romantically.
It all comes together into such a great happy ending and I can highly recommend it.
Read Jay's review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Call Back is the third book in Lily Morton’s The Model Agency series and I just loved this one (as I have all the books so far in this series). This book has a really great format that I think works well for the story. We meet the men in present day, where Xavier is a famous model and Reuben is a prominent photographer. We learn that the men have a past, and they have clearly been circling one another, drawn together but not allowing themselves to be together. Morton sets this portion up so well, really making clear the pining and the sexual tension and all that is pulling these men together, but we don’t yet know what happened between them to tear them apart romantically.
It all comes together into such a great happy ending and I can highly recommend it.
Read Jay's review in its entirety here.
June 22, 2026
Did I love the romance, so so much. It’s fabulous. A definite recommendation!
Rating: 4.5🌈
The Model Agency has been a favorite of mine because of its unique characters and wonderful relationships. Their journeys to HEA often set in gorgeous places when it’s not actually in the office of the agency itself.
Reuben Langley is a character we’ve met before. He’s had a tremendous impact on Pip and Olivier as their next door neighbor and friend in the south of France (French Fancy #2). And we caught glimpses of some of the early photographs of Xavier mentioned there.
Xavier Conway is also one of those characters who is notable from previous books and the author’s monthly blog. This due to Pip’s chatty humor and insightful commentary, focusing in on how Xavier’s insane social life and inability to stay on schedule is one of Pip’s greatest challenges. Especially when Pip becomes a model manager.
Yes, Pip will always be my favorite. Let’s get this out of the way. And, marvelously, we see lots of him here. He forever has the best lines.
Call Back is a great second chance at love story. We begin with present day and Xavier’s physical and emotional downward spiral. Too many parties, drugs and forms of self punishment have left him feeling empty. However ,he’s committed to a runway to walk with Dean and Mal.
And in the audience is Rueben, along with Olivier, Jonas and Pip.
It will end up being an emotional event that leads to a dramatic moment.
From present day and then backwards to the past where they first met, we see the circumstances where Rueben and Xavier came together and how disastrously they were parted.
Then the second chance they are given at Rueben’s house on the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides.
Those are wonderfully written and beautifully executed scenes on the island. A love note to the island and the people who live there. And the relationship that resets between them is grown realistically and with depth of detail.
Even Ibiza gets a golden opportunity to shine here as a romantic partner for the couple as a location. I did wonder what would happen to Rueben’s villa in the south of France but Morton had that figured out too. Perfect! Love it when there no drop in continuity.
If I had anything here that took me out of the book (trust an animal lover to obsess about it) , it’s concerning that Bernard, the IW. If Lily Morton had chosen any other breed I’d have been fine probably.
But she chose an Irish Wolfhound as a pet for Xavier, one that had been dumped on the island.
I’ve been lucky to have had three IWs in my lifetime. They aren’t often seen outside of those who’ve gotten theirs from breeders here in the USA, let alone being dumped. Maybe it’s different in the UK. However , IWs are sight hounds with pretty specific behaviors. And retrieving isn’t one of them. I’ll just say that Bernard acts exactly like a Golden Retriever or Lab in the book and nothing like an Irish Wolfhound. Ask me how I know.
That’s my say. Next time pls choose to make the dog a mutt or even a lab who loves its balls. Side eye.
Did I love the romance, so so much. It’s fabulous.
A definite recommendation!
Book cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
The Model Agency (3 book series to date)
The Sunny Side #1 (Dean and Jonas)
French Fancy #2 (Pip and Olivier Durand)❤️🫶
Call Back #3 (Rueben and Xavier)
Rating: 4.5🌈
The Model Agency has been a favorite of mine because of its unique characters and wonderful relationships. Their journeys to HEA often set in gorgeous places when it’s not actually in the office of the agency itself.
Reuben Langley is a character we’ve met before. He’s had a tremendous impact on Pip and Olivier as their next door neighbor and friend in the south of France (French Fancy #2). And we caught glimpses of some of the early photographs of Xavier mentioned there.
Xavier Conway is also one of those characters who is notable from previous books and the author’s monthly blog. This due to Pip’s chatty humor and insightful commentary, focusing in on how Xavier’s insane social life and inability to stay on schedule is one of Pip’s greatest challenges. Especially when Pip becomes a model manager.
Yes, Pip will always be my favorite. Let’s get this out of the way. And, marvelously, we see lots of him here. He forever has the best lines.
Call Back is a great second chance at love story. We begin with present day and Xavier’s physical and emotional downward spiral. Too many parties, drugs and forms of self punishment have left him feeling empty. However ,he’s committed to a runway to walk with Dean and Mal.
And in the audience is Rueben, along with Olivier, Jonas and Pip.
It will end up being an emotional event that leads to a dramatic moment.
From present day and then backwards to the past where they first met, we see the circumstances where Rueben and Xavier came together and how disastrously they were parted.
Then the second chance they are given at Rueben’s house on the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides.
Those are wonderfully written and beautifully executed scenes on the island. A love note to the island and the people who live there. And the relationship that resets between them is grown realistically and with depth of detail.
Even Ibiza gets a golden opportunity to shine here as a romantic partner for the couple as a location. I did wonder what would happen to Rueben’s villa in the south of France but Morton had that figured out too. Perfect! Love it when there no drop in continuity.
If I had anything here that took me out of the book (trust an animal lover to obsess about it) , it’s concerning that Bernard, the IW. If Lily Morton had chosen any other breed I’d have been fine probably.
But she chose an Irish Wolfhound as a pet for Xavier, one that had been dumped on the island.
I’ve been lucky to have had three IWs in my lifetime. They aren’t often seen outside of those who’ve gotten theirs from breeders here in the USA, let alone being dumped. Maybe it’s different in the UK. However , IWs are sight hounds with pretty specific behaviors. And retrieving isn’t one of them. I’ll just say that Bernard acts exactly like a Golden Retriever or Lab in the book and nothing like an Irish Wolfhound. Ask me how I know.
That’s my say. Next time pls choose to make the dog a mutt or even a lab who loves its balls. Side eye.
Did I love the romance, so so much. It’s fabulous.
A definite recommendation!
Book cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
The Model Agency (3 book series to date)
The Sunny Side #1 (Dean and Jonas)
French Fancy #2 (Pip and Olivier Durand)❤️🫶
Call Back #3 (Rueben and Xavier)
June 21, 2026
Call Back by Lily Morton is book 3 in The Model Agency series. We have been around Xavier for a very long time. He was featured as a background character in many pivotal moments (particularly in After Felix which has always been one of my favorite Lily Morton story). His story though was heartbreaking. In some ways, it reminded me of After Felix in that it was very clear that both Reuben and Xavier were different after what went down between them. That time for them was measured in ‘before’ and ‘after’.
Reuben broke Xavier and then paid the price for it when Xavier went out of his way to hurt him. I completely understood where Xavier came from. Roo was so cruel in what he did and the way he pushed Xavi away. It forever changed him.
I love how they were both tired of the antagonism, the push/pull. The way they rekindled their relationship was everything. And can I just say that I HATE Jez. What a complete asshole.
Anyway, this was hard for me to put down and I did cry several times. The sleeping around that Xavi did didn’t bother me as much as it usually would (it was off page and just mentioned). He was hurt and didn’t think that Roo actually loved him. It was snarky and sweet–just the combination that I enjoy. Plus, we got to see a glimpse of how happy Felix and Max were. I love them so much.
I received an ARC from the author and GRR for my honest review.
Reuben broke Xavier and then paid the price for it when Xavier went out of his way to hurt him. I completely understood where Xavier came from. Roo was so cruel in what he did and the way he pushed Xavi away. It forever changed him.
I love how they were both tired of the antagonism, the push/pull. The way they rekindled their relationship was everything. And can I just say that I HATE Jez. What a complete asshole.
Anyway, this was hard for me to put down and I did cry several times. The sleeping around that Xavi did didn’t bother me as much as it usually would (it was off page and just mentioned). He was hurt and didn’t think that Roo actually loved him. It was snarky and sweet–just the combination that I enjoy. Plus, we got to see a glimpse of how happy Felix and Max were. I love them so much.
I received an ARC from the author and GRR for my honest review.
Review of advance copy
I've been sitting on my review for a couple of days because I needed time to absorb this utterly beautiful and heart-capturing book.
Since Pip crossed paths with the sad-eyed Reuben and Xavier Quaver sulked his way into the Model Clinic snippets in Lily's newsletter I've wanted their story. I knew it would have angsty moments, I just didn't expect it would captivate me so much.
There's a time jump back to when Reuben met the sunshine boy who would steal his heart - before he found out that he was his best friend's son - and getting to see all that hopeful youth from Xavier utterly crushed is heart-breaking.
Especially when the reader knows Reuben believes he's doing it for a good reason and that the young man who is just starting his way in life will "get over the old, jaded and suffering photojournalist" but of course, the heart wants what it wants and Xavier is broken by Reuben's deliberate cruelty.
This scene is one of the best Lily's ever written, it's gut-wrenching in its simplicity but also the depth of pain it delivers on both sides of this unlikely match is staggering. What follows beyond that is how we've seen both these men in other instalments of Lily's universe.
What I loved the most about this book though is the way the thread which has tied Reuben and Xavier together from the beginning is so easily seen by the reader. Xavier's used his hurt to inflict pain whenever their paths have crossed, but it's only so Reuben won't forget him.
Reuben's never looked at another man since he lost his heart to his best friend's son, but he's also been a willing participant in Xavier's games because he can't, and won't, move on.
That the whole situation between them is given conflict by a man who didn't deserve Reuben's friendship just makes the whole thing the more tragic, but then also means an even bigger payoff when the inevitable reconciliation occurs.
I'd have liked to have had a few words with Jez, the man wasn't fit to be a father and he didn't deserve the loyalty Reuben gave him either.
But of course, there's a HEA, it wouldn't be a genre Romance - or a Lily Morton book - without it and it's so hard fought for, with proper conversations and a few hard truths delivered to Xavier by a man he's had the wrong impression of for more than half a decade.
I also very much loved the expected guest character appearances of Pip, Mal, Dean and Jonas, and many others in the Model Agency world, but I wasn't expecting, and absolutely loved, seeing Max and Felix and remembering their connection too.
Beauty, in its various forms, is a reoccurring theme throughout Call Back, whether that's in the superficial outward facing way it displays through Xavier's model career and the vacuous people he has to deal with, or in the landscapes Reuben photographs to get away from the traumatic PTSD he gained from his career working in dangerous places.
“I’d already found my beautiful when I met a sassy boy in a little bar. I just never realised it in time.”
This book is beautiful.
It's beautiful in the way Reuben takes care of Xavier without any judgement after he's made some really bad decisions that land him in a very traumatic situation.
It's beautiful in the way the natural landscape of the Inner Hebridean islands of Mull and Iona that Lily uses to have these two men recover together is rugged and unyielding against the wind and waves that constantly crash against them.
And it's the most beautiful in the way that Xavier allows himself to be vulnerable and open his heart again to the one man who has already cut him to the bone and made him bleed and realise that the image he had of that man's actions have never lined up with the knowledge of his real character.
It gives Xavier the courage to accept that he's been inflicting pain not only on Reuben, but his own soul, because of the dreadful actions of someone no longer around to answer for their behaviour.
I don't think Lily could have written a more perfect second chance romance than this one for these two wonderfully broken but ultimately beautiful men.
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRR Tours, I am voluntarily leaving a review
Since Pip crossed paths with the sad-eyed Reuben and Xavier Quaver sulked his way into the Model Clinic snippets in Lily's newsletter I've wanted their story. I knew it would have angsty moments, I just didn't expect it would captivate me so much.
There's a time jump back to when Reuben met the sunshine boy who would steal his heart - before he found out that he was his best friend's son - and getting to see all that hopeful youth from Xavier utterly crushed is heart-breaking.
Especially when the reader knows Reuben believes he's doing it for a good reason and that the young man who is just starting his way in life will "get over the old, jaded and suffering photojournalist" but of course, the heart wants what it wants and Xavier is broken by Reuben's deliberate cruelty.
This scene is one of the best Lily's ever written, it's gut-wrenching in its simplicity but also the depth of pain it delivers on both sides of this unlikely match is staggering. What follows beyond that is how we've seen both these men in other instalments of Lily's universe.
What I loved the most about this book though is the way the thread which has tied Reuben and Xavier together from the beginning is so easily seen by the reader. Xavier's used his hurt to inflict pain whenever their paths have crossed, but it's only so Reuben won't forget him.
Reuben's never looked at another man since he lost his heart to his best friend's son, but he's also been a willing participant in Xavier's games because he can't, and won't, move on.
That the whole situation between them is given conflict by a man who didn't deserve Reuben's friendship just makes the whole thing the more tragic, but then also means an even bigger payoff when the inevitable reconciliation occurs.
I'd have liked to have had a few words with Jez, the man wasn't fit to be a father and he didn't deserve the loyalty Reuben gave him either.
But of course, there's a HEA, it wouldn't be a genre Romance - or a Lily Morton book - without it and it's so hard fought for, with proper conversations and a few hard truths delivered to Xavier by a man he's had the wrong impression of for more than half a decade.
I also very much loved the expected guest character appearances of Pip, Mal, Dean and Jonas, and many others in the Model Agency world, but I wasn't expecting, and absolutely loved, seeing Max and Felix and remembering their connection too.
Beauty, in its various forms, is a reoccurring theme throughout Call Back, whether that's in the superficial outward facing way it displays through Xavier's model career and the vacuous people he has to deal with, or in the landscapes Reuben photographs to get away from the traumatic PTSD he gained from his career working in dangerous places.
“I’d already found my beautiful when I met a sassy boy in a little bar. I just never realised it in time.”
This book is beautiful.
It's beautiful in the way Reuben takes care of Xavier without any judgement after he's made some really bad decisions that land him in a very traumatic situation.
It's beautiful in the way the natural landscape of the Inner Hebridean islands of Mull and Iona that Lily uses to have these two men recover together is rugged and unyielding against the wind and waves that constantly crash against them.
And it's the most beautiful in the way that Xavier allows himself to be vulnerable and open his heart again to the one man who has already cut him to the bone and made him bleed and realise that the image he had of that man's actions have never lined up with the knowledge of his real character.
It gives Xavier the courage to accept that he's been inflicting pain not only on Reuben, but his own soul, because of the dreadful actions of someone no longer around to answer for their behaviour.
I don't think Lily could have written a more perfect second chance romance than this one for these two wonderfully broken but ultimately beautiful men.
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRR Tours, I am voluntarily leaving a review
Review of advance copy
Warm, funny, romantic, and heartbreaking.
This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way, from the very first page, I could feel the weight of the history between Xavier and Reuben. Their story isn't just a second-chance romance, it's a story about timing, regret, healing, and the kind of love that never really leaves, no matter how much distance or heartbreak gets in the way.
What I loved most was how bittersweet everything felt. There was so much longing woven through every interaction, every memory, every glance.
Xavier completely stole my heart. Beneath the glamour, fame, and larger-than-life persona was a man carrying so much loneliness and hurt. Watching him hit rock bottom was painful, but seeing him slowly allow himself to be vulnerable again felt incredibly rewarding. Reuben was equally compelling; a steady, loving presence who never truly stopped caring, even when he thought he'd lost his chance forever.
Five years of missed opportunities and unresolved feelings hung between them, making every moment of reconnection feel precious. The emotional tension was almost unbearable at times, but that's exactly what made their eventual healing so satisfying.
The chemistry was fantastic, filled with Morton's trademark humor, banter, and emotional vulnerability. I loved watching the relationship develop, especially as old wounds and insecurities slowly came to the surface. There were moments that made me laugh out loud and others that genuinely tugged at my heart.
The romance was tender, mature, and deeply emotional. There were scenes that made me smile, scenes that broke my heart, and more than a few that left me staring at the page with tears in my eyes. The love between Xavier and Reuben felt enduring and hard-won, the kind that survives despite every reason it shouldn't.
This was a beautiful reminder that sometimes the right person isn't the one you move on from; they're the one you find your way back to when you're finally ready.
While each book in the The Model Agency Series, is about a different couple, they're best enjoyed when read in order:
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
I spent the first half of this book thinking I was heading toward a 4-star review. Unfortunately, by the end I landed at 3 stars, largely because of pacing and, more specifically, how the author chose to spend those 450+ pages.
I tend to get nervous when a romance creeps much past 375 pages. (I used to say 350, but apparently I’m getting softer as I progress in my mm romance reading journey.) At over 450 pages, you wouldn’t think my little ADHD brain would come away feeling like important parts of the story were missing, but that’s what happened.
The book opens in the present day before jumping back five years to when Xavier and Rueben first met. We spend a lot of time in both of those period, arguably too much. What confused and frustrated me was how little time we spent on the five years in between, especially since we’re repeatedly told that Xavier and Rueben kept hooking up during that period.
We’re given references to these encounters, but very little detail. How often did they happen? What exactly made Xavier’s behavior so cruel, as is repeatedly mentioned by both of them? His so-called revenge plan was to have intermittent super hot sex with Rueben and say something mean on the way out?
Sounds like a flimsy excuse to have sex with Rueben again.
The most confounding missing piece for me was Vegas. At some point these two apparently got drunk, got married, and then had a spectacular falling out. This sounds like a pivotal event. Instead, we get the highlights reel version. We’re told Rueben said something awful, but not really what. We’re not given much context for why the night mattered so much, and we’re never told exactly where it falls in the five-year timeline, which actually matters to the plot.
Then there’s the throwaway mention that Rueben once got sick in Sicily and Xavier took care of him. Huh..? This is supposed to be an antagonistic relationship. You can’t casually drop “and then one of them lovingly nursed the other through the flu in Sicily” and then expect me to continue buying this cruel treatment and inability to read how they really feel about each other storyline.
Honestly, I would have preferred more flashbacks to these important moments and less time spent in Scotland toward the end. The back half dragged a bit, while the parts that would have deepened my understanding of the relationship were mostly summarized.
There were also a few moments where the author’s sense of time didn’t quite line up with mine. Five years apart is a long time, I agree. But at one point Xavier describes knowing Rueben for “more years than I can count.” I realize it’s hyperbole, but my immediate thought was that most people can count to five using only one hand.
Likewise, the epilogue jumps ahead five years, which felt oddly arbitrary. You’re generally not a tattoo apprentice for five years. Two or three? Sure. Five? Not usually. The plot wouldn’t have changed at all with a shorter, more realistic jump.
That said, Lily Morton remains one of the wittiest writers in the genre. Yes, all of her characters seem to share the same dry British sense of humor, but I don’t really care because the banter works. Writing genuinely witty dialogue is difficult, and she consistently pulls it off.
One final note: this is technically readable as a standalone, but I think readers who have already worked their way through the series will get much more out of it. There are a lot of appearances and references to characters from previous books, and I often felt like I was arriving late to a party where everyone else already knew each other.
Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC.
I tend to get nervous when a romance creeps much past 375 pages. (I used to say 350, but apparently I’m getting softer as I progress in my mm romance reading journey.) At over 450 pages, you wouldn’t think my little ADHD brain would come away feeling like important parts of the story were missing, but that’s what happened.
The book opens in the present day before jumping back five years to when Xavier and Rueben first met. We spend a lot of time in both of those period, arguably too much. What confused and frustrated me was how little time we spent on the five years in between, especially since we’re repeatedly told that Xavier and Rueben kept hooking up during that period.
We’re given references to these encounters, but very little detail. How often did they happen? What exactly made Xavier’s behavior so cruel, as is repeatedly mentioned by both of them? His so-called revenge plan was to have intermittent super hot sex with Rueben and say something mean on the way out?
Sounds like a flimsy excuse to have sex with Rueben again.
The most confounding missing piece for me was Vegas. At some point these two apparently got drunk, got married, and then had a spectacular falling out. This sounds like a pivotal event. Instead, we get the highlights reel version. We’re told Rueben said something awful, but not really what. We’re not given much context for why the night mattered so much, and we’re never told exactly where it falls in the five-year timeline, which actually matters to the plot.
Then there’s the throwaway mention that Rueben once got sick in Sicily and Xavier took care of him. Huh..? This is supposed to be an antagonistic relationship. You can’t casually drop “and then one of them lovingly nursed the other through the flu in Sicily” and then expect me to continue buying this cruel treatment and inability to read how they really feel about each other storyline.
Honestly, I would have preferred more flashbacks to these important moments and less time spent in Scotland toward the end. The back half dragged a bit, while the parts that would have deepened my understanding of the relationship were mostly summarized.
There were also a few moments where the author’s sense of time didn’t quite line up with mine. Five years apart is a long time, I agree. But at one point Xavier describes knowing Rueben for “more years than I can count.” I realize it’s hyperbole, but my immediate thought was that most people can count to five using only one hand.
Likewise, the epilogue jumps ahead five years, which felt oddly arbitrary. You’re generally not a tattoo apprentice for five years. Two or three? Sure. Five? Not usually. The plot wouldn’t have changed at all with a shorter, more realistic jump.
That said, Lily Morton remains one of the wittiest writers in the genre. Yes, all of her characters seem to share the same dry British sense of humor, but I don’t really care because the banter works. Writing genuinely witty dialogue is difficult, and she consistently pulls it off.
One final note: this is technically readable as a standalone, but I think readers who have already worked their way through the series will get much more out of it. There are a lot of appearances and references to characters from previous books, and I often felt like I was arriving late to a party where everyone else already knew each other.
Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
"Let’s be lost together,” he finally says hoarsely. “Until you’re ready to be found.”
I never know where to start when reviewing Lily's books- what can I possibly say other than you should read this book immediately!!! Her name speaks for itself! Every book is so good 🥰. In Call Back, we have second chance, age gap romance with mental health rep and a delicious little foray into best friend's son/dad's best friend.
It’s like he’s woven a spell over me, making everything feel like it’s dusted with happiness. The shiny, freshness of it all makes me recognise this has been missing from my life for far too long. Maybe I’ve never had this. Is it wrong to grab onto it with both hands?
Xavier and Reuben meet by chance, and fall in love over a brief few days. They get to know each other in a stolen moment in time, as two men who never would have met otherwise. They let down their walls and find a rare moment of true connection. Unfortunately the timing just isn't right and they go their separate ways.
There is no spell. Just a boy full of sunshine and an older man who should know better.
Reuben thinks that Xavier- his sunshine boy- will forget about him and find someone younger and less broken to be with. But Reuben is the first man who Xavier ever loved, and he can't forget him. His love turns vengeful and spiteful over the years, with no one else measuring up to his memories of Reuben. He punishes Reuben for walking away from what they could've had together.
I’d consoled myself that wherever he went and whatever he did, I’d linger in his mind, impossible for him to ignore.
Call Back begins in the present, with an older Xavier having become as bruised and dented by life (and his own questionable decisions) as Reuben once was. This time, the roles are reversed: Xavier is a mess, and Reuben is in a more stable place and available to help Xavier through putting his life back in order. Reuben 'kidnaps' Xavier to the beautiful but remote Inner Hebrides in Scotland and the two start tiptoeing their way back together again.
“I’d already found my beautiful when I met a sassy boy in a little bar. I just never realised it in time.”
The story is absolutely beautiful, and Lily smartly spares us the majority of the years where Xavier and Reuben are making each other miserable. Ultimately this is a story of two men giving each other a safe place to heal, and to recover some of what they should have had if they hadn't walked away from each other all those years ago. It's quietly humorous and filled with Lily's trademark charm and wit. They should hire Lily to create travel brochures, because I'd be shocked if the locals on the island aren't soon bemoaning an unusual influx of tourists, all wanting to visit the destinations featured in this book!
The reality is that it’s beautifully imperfect. We’re flawed men who somehow connect in a strange way I’ve never felt with another person.
I love how Lily's books feature popular tropes, but they never feel tropey. The tropes don't feel gratuitous or shoe-horned in, they just flow as a part of a wonderful story. Her writing is so natural and the characters and settings feel so authentic. I really enjoyed this book, and normally age gap and second chance romance are two of my least favourite tropes. If Lily writes it, I'll be lining up to read it!
He kisses me slowly as if we have all the time in the world. I suppose we do now.
I don't think any book in this series can ever top Dean's (The Sunny Side) but Call Back came very very close.
Rating: 4.75 stars
Angst: 3.5/5
Steam: 2.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
June 22, 2026
Rating: 4.5🌈
The Model Agency has been a favorite of mine because of its unique characters and wonderful relationships. Their journeys to HEA often set in gorgeous places when it’s not actually in the office of the agency itself.
Reuben Langley is a character we’ve met before. He’s had a tremendous impact on Pip and Olivier as their next door neighbor and friend in the south of France (French Fancy #2). And we caught glimpses of some of the early photographs of Xavier mentioned there.
Xavier Conway is also one of those characters who is notable from previous books and the author’s monthly blog. This due to Pip’s chatty humor and insightful commentary, focusing in on how Xavier’s insane social life and inability to stay on schedule is one of Pip’s greatest challenges. Especially when Pip becomes a model manager.
Yes, Pip will always be my favorite. Let’s get this out of the way. And, marvelously, we see lots of him here. He forever has the best lines.
Call Back is a great second chance at love story. We begin with present day and Xavier’s physical and emotional downward spiral. Too many parties, drugs and forms of self punishment have left him feeling empty. However ,he’s committed to a runway to walk with Dean and Mal.
And in the audience is Rueben, along with Olivier, Jonas and Pip.
It will end up being an emotional event that leads to a dramatic moment.
From present day and then backwards to the past where they first met, we see the circumstances where Rueben and Xavier came together and how disastrously they were parted.
Then the second chance they are given at Rueben’s house on the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides.
Those are wonderfully written and beautifully executed scenes on the island. A love note to the island and the people who live there. And the relationship that resets between them is grown realistically and with depth of detail.
Even Ibiza gets a golden opportunity to shine here as a romantic partner for the couple as a location. I did wonder what would happen to Rueben’s villa in the south of France but Morton had that figured out too. Perfect! Love it when there no drop in continuity.
If I had anything here that took me out of the book (trust an animal lover to obsess about it) , it’s concerning that Bernard, the IW. If Lily Morton had chosen any other breed I’d have been fine probably.
But she chose an Irish Wolfhound as a pet for Xavier, one that had been dumped on the island.
I’ve been lucky to have had three IWs in my lifetime. They aren’t often seen outside of those who’ve gotten theirs from breeders here in the USA, let alone being dumped. Maybe it’s different in the UK. However , IWs are sight hounds with pretty specific behaviors. And retrieving isn’t one of them. I’ll just say that Bernard acts exactly like a Golden Retriever or Lab in the book and nothing like an Irish Wolfhound. Ask me how I know.
That’s my say. Next time pls choose to make the dog a mutt or even a lab who loves its balls. Side eye.
Did I love the romance, so so much. It’s fabulous.
A definite recommendation!
Book cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
The Model Agency (3 book series to date)
The Sunny Side #1 (Dean and Jonas)
French Fancy #2 (Pip and Olivier Durand)❤️🫶
Call Back #3 (Rueben and Xavier)
The Model Agency has been a favorite of mine because of its unique characters and wonderful relationships. Their journeys to HEA often set in gorgeous places when it’s not actually in the office of the agency itself.
Reuben Langley is a character we’ve met before. He’s had a tremendous impact on Pip and Olivier as their next door neighbor and friend in the south of France (French Fancy #2). And we caught glimpses of some of the early photographs of Xavier mentioned there.
Xavier Conway is also one of those characters who is notable from previous books and the author’s monthly blog. This due to Pip’s chatty humor and insightful commentary, focusing in on how Xavier’s insane social life and inability to stay on schedule is one of Pip’s greatest challenges. Especially when Pip becomes a model manager.
Yes, Pip will always be my favorite. Let’s get this out of the way. And, marvelously, we see lots of him here. He forever has the best lines.
Call Back is a great second chance at love story. We begin with present day and Xavier’s physical and emotional downward spiral. Too many parties, drugs and forms of self punishment have left him feeling empty. However ,he’s committed to a runway to walk with Dean and Mal.
And in the audience is Rueben, along with Olivier, Jonas and Pip.
It will end up being an emotional event that leads to a dramatic moment.
From present day and then backwards to the past where they first met, we see the circumstances where Rueben and Xavier came together and how disastrously they were parted.
Then the second chance they are given at Rueben’s house on the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides.
Those are wonderfully written and beautifully executed scenes on the island. A love note to the island and the people who live there. And the relationship that resets between them is grown realistically and with depth of detail.
Even Ibiza gets a golden opportunity to shine here as a romantic partner for the couple as a location. I did wonder what would happen to Rueben’s villa in the south of France but Morton had that figured out too. Perfect! Love it when there no drop in continuity.
If I had anything here that took me out of the book (trust an animal lover to obsess about it) , it’s concerning that Bernard, the IW. If Lily Morton had chosen any other breed I’d have been fine probably.
But she chose an Irish Wolfhound as a pet for Xavier, one that had been dumped on the island.
I’ve been lucky to have had three IWs in my lifetime. They aren’t often seen outside of those who’ve gotten theirs from breeders here in the USA, let alone being dumped. Maybe it’s different in the UK. However , IWs are sight hounds with pretty specific behaviors. And retrieving isn’t one of them. I’ll just say that Bernard acts exactly like a Golden Retriever or Lab in the book and nothing like an Irish Wolfhound. Ask me how I know.
That’s my say. Next time pls choose to make the dog a mutt or even a lab who loves its balls. Side eye.
Did I love the romance, so so much. It’s fabulous.
A definite recommendation!
Book cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
The Model Agency (3 book series to date)
The Sunny Side #1 (Dean and Jonas)
French Fancy #2 (Pip and Olivier Durand)❤️🫶
Call Back #3 (Rueben and Xavier)
June 25, 2026
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
I really
really
r e a l l y enjoyed this romance! Lily Morton never fails to deliver a richly rewarding love experience for me, and Call Back was no exception!
Things kicked off with a window into the ott world of fashion, cnty male models, and the very bad things that can happen when a troubled beauty meets a malicious twink up to no good, ever. Photo shoots, catwalks and glamour on parade, shiny eyes and pouty lips and some menacing substances early on, really set THIS tone perfectly.
So much so that I found myself having a think after a few pages, about if I was even IN the mood for pretty people being superficial and stupid in YSL/Dior/Durand.
But then,
as soon as that check-in flashed an:
"in Morton we trust"
the narrative went from frameable, badly-behaving, gilded tarts, to a biteable love story with depth, emotional challenges that made a tornado seem stable, PTSD that's still making me feel squirmy and sad, and two very distinctive POVs showcasing how to love someone and live disastrously in order to hide that.
It was mad. It was poignant. Xavier and Reuben were both ridiculous at times. But their banter was radiant and witty and smile inducing. Their messiness was epic. And melodramatic. And dumb.
But ultimately, I was leashed to the two charming, aching beasts, who were so in love with each other that it made them both feral!
So OFC their hurricane-to-HEA was completely worth the ride!
Also, I LOVED how the changes in landscape were a reflection of the emotional ups and downs and everything in between. From enraptured in the Cotswolds, to grimy Victorian warehouse-stark fashion shoot in Edinburgh, to cottagecore healing & recovery on the Isle of Mull. Tobermory and Calgary Bay are now added to my Scotland bucket list.
I'm also saying YES to swaying in a hammock,
poolside,
in an Ibiza villa dripping in bougainvillea,
and napping lazily in happily-ever-after sunshine.
Xavier and Reuben's romance turned out to be more than what I thought it would be, and their captivating, excruciating at times, deeply abiding, gorgeous love story still, to this day, makes my chest ache with how profoundly they loved one another!
Not very many authors have the narrative prowess to turn me inside out but, once again, Lily Morton squeezed my heart into oblivion, and delivered Xavier and Reuben's extraordinarily layered, textured, and emotionally fraught romance with unapologetic messiness, dramatic flair, bright banter, and complications galore, and I absolutely cannot wait to do it all again in the next one!
I really
really
r e a l l y enjoyed this romance! Lily Morton never fails to deliver a richly rewarding love experience for me, and Call Back was no exception!
Things kicked off with a window into the ott world of fashion, cnty male models, and the very bad things that can happen when a troubled beauty meets a malicious twink up to no good, ever. Photo shoots, catwalks and glamour on parade, shiny eyes and pouty lips and some menacing substances early on, really set THIS tone perfectly.
So much so that I found myself having a think after a few pages, about if I was even IN the mood for pretty people being superficial and stupid in YSL/Dior/Durand.
But then,
as soon as that check-in flashed an:
"in Morton we trust"
the narrative went from frameable, badly-behaving, gilded tarts, to a biteable love story with depth, emotional challenges that made a tornado seem stable, PTSD that's still making me feel squirmy and sad, and two very distinctive POVs showcasing how to love someone and live disastrously in order to hide that.
It was mad. It was poignant. Xavier and Reuben were both ridiculous at times. But their banter was radiant and witty and smile inducing. Their messiness was epic. And melodramatic. And dumb.
But ultimately, I was leashed to the two charming, aching beasts, who were so in love with each other that it made them both feral!
So OFC their hurricane-to-HEA was completely worth the ride!
Also, I LOVED how the changes in landscape were a reflection of the emotional ups and downs and everything in between. From enraptured in the Cotswolds, to grimy Victorian warehouse-stark fashion shoot in Edinburgh, to cottagecore healing & recovery on the Isle of Mull. Tobermory and Calgary Bay are now added to my Scotland bucket list.
I'm also saying YES to swaying in a hammock,
poolside,
in an Ibiza villa dripping in bougainvillea,
and napping lazily in happily-ever-after sunshine.
Xavier and Reuben's romance turned out to be more than what I thought it would be, and their captivating, excruciating at times, deeply abiding, gorgeous love story still, to this day, makes my chest ache with how profoundly they loved one another!
Not very many authors have the narrative prowess to turn me inside out but, once again, Lily Morton squeezed my heart into oblivion, and delivered Xavier and Reuben's extraordinarily layered, textured, and emotionally fraught romance with unapologetic messiness, dramatic flair, bright banter, and complications galore, and I absolutely cannot wait to do it all again in the next one!
June 23, 2026
I had no idea when I met sassy, snarky Xavier that he was hiding a Reuben-sized hole in his heart, but what a captivating and emotionally satisfying journey it turned out to be. Lily Morton wrote their book in such a smart way, starting us off in the present day feeling the cracking tension and animosity between them, then flashing us back in time to the swoony first days of their love. Theirs was a classic tale of right guy / wrong time, with an especially big wrench thrown in the form of Jez, Reuben's best friend and Xavier's estranged father. Xavier's starry eyed nineteen year old self couldn't have imagined a more perfect partner than broody Reuben, but Reuben was grappling with his sense of loyalty to his childhood best friend and dealing with a storm of emotions related to his upbringing and fragile mental health. Xavier and Reuben had incredible chemistry from their very first night together, and I genuinely bought into the love at first sight vibes. At the same time, I knew going into this that theirs was a second chance romance, so when the inevitable heartbreak occurred it only served as a catalyst for me to read faster and see how they were going to fix everything back up.
Reuben and Xavier's reconciliation simmered to life in the aftermath of a nearly horrific incident, and I was feeling as protective as Reuben during Xavi's recovery. The gentleness of Reuben's care, coupled with a sprinkling of unexpected heart to hearts, got Xavi to lower his walls enough to truly see the man in front of him. It was wonderful to sit back and watch as the two of them found their way back into each other's arms, and their love felt even stronger from the time they'd been apart. Xavier didn't need to keep his rose colored glasses on to love Reuben with his whole heart, and Reuben needed the extra time to let go of his demons and feel like he was worthy of that love. I had such a massive grin on my face the whole time I was reading, delighted by the snarky banter Lily Morton is so good at writing and filled to the brim with happiness at how emotionally invested Xavi and Reuben became in each other. By the time I reached the end of their book, Reuben and Xavi felt like the kind of couple all other couples are jealous of, the ones who share each other's burdens and delights in equal measure and are just so happy to be together regardless of what's going on. This is definitely going in my favorites list for romances, and I can't wait to see where the Model Agency series is headed next!
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
Reuben and Xavier's reconciliation simmered to life in the aftermath of a nearly horrific incident, and I was feeling as protective as Reuben during Xavi's recovery. The gentleness of Reuben's care, coupled with a sprinkling of unexpected heart to hearts, got Xavi to lower his walls enough to truly see the man in front of him. It was wonderful to sit back and watch as the two of them found their way back into each other's arms, and their love felt even stronger from the time they'd been apart. Xavier didn't need to keep his rose colored glasses on to love Reuben with his whole heart, and Reuben needed the extra time to let go of his demons and feel like he was worthy of that love. I had such a massive grin on my face the whole time I was reading, delighted by the snarky banter Lily Morton is so good at writing and filled to the brim with happiness at how emotionally invested Xavi and Reuben became in each other. By the time I reached the end of their book, Reuben and Xavi felt like the kind of couple all other couples are jealous of, the ones who share each other's burdens and delights in equal measure and are just so happy to be together regardless of what's going on. This is definitely going in my favorites list for romances, and I can't wait to see where the Model Agency series is headed next!
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy
I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.
Reuben is a war journalist suffering from PTSD and has abandoned that career to take photos of beautiful things, like flowers and such. Xavier is a beautiful supermodel who despises Reuben for actions involving the two that took place sometime in the distant past. Reuben finds himself brought in for a fashion shoot because of a accident that befell the original photographer, much to the chagrin of Xavier. After the shoot, Xavier and Reuben find themselves at a club with the rest of the group. While dancing with a model he dislikes, he is slipped a roofie by that model and is taken up to the guy’s room. Before anything can happen, Reuben bursts into the room and saves Xavier from rape, while doing a number on the model’s face. At this point, we’re taken to the past where we find out how the met and why Xavier hates Reuben. We meet Jez, Xavier’s father and Reuben’s best friend. Suffice it to say that when parenting skills were given out in Heaven, Jez was behind the door, as well as being a generally unpleasant, selfish person. Once we move back to the present, it becomes clear that Reuben and Xavier care very much for each other.
I must say upfront that I’m a huge Lily Morton fan. The book is very long at almost 480 pages but does not seem so. The combination of snark and the subject matter, however, belie the apparent length and make it difficult to put down. The story is essentially divided into three parts: the first 4 chapters involve the fashion world and models; the second turns around the events of the past that led to them meeting and splitting up; the third takes place on the island of Mull, part of the Inner Hebrides, where Reuben lives and has brought Xavier to recover from his drug and alcohol abuse. The fashion part has lots of models and studio owners who, apart from Robbie the roofie model, are all hilarious in that dry, British way. Of course, that humour goes through the rest of the book as well. The part that takes pace in the past is steamy when it comes to Reuben and Xavier. I suspect I’m far from the only reader who will find Jez, Xavier’s sperm donor, one of the most unpleasant and manipulative creatures I’ve seen in a very long time. That said, his presence is essential to the storyline, explaining the way they met and split up. The third part on Mull is very intense and works up to revealing their feelings for each other, the reason for their split and what’s behind Reuben’s nightmares. The secondary characters on Mull seem to know exactly who Xavier is and they just love his charming personality. The models and the islanders spend a lot of energy supporting the relationship between the MCs.
This book is wonderful and certainly confirms why the author should be among my very favourites.
Reuben is a war journalist suffering from PTSD and has abandoned that career to take photos of beautiful things, like flowers and such. Xavier is a beautiful supermodel who despises Reuben for actions involving the two that took place sometime in the distant past. Reuben finds himself brought in for a fashion shoot because of a accident that befell the original photographer, much to the chagrin of Xavier. After the shoot, Xavier and Reuben find themselves at a club with the rest of the group. While dancing with a model he dislikes, he is slipped a roofie by that model and is taken up to the guy’s room. Before anything can happen, Reuben bursts into the room and saves Xavier from rape, while doing a number on the model’s face. At this point, we’re taken to the past where we find out how the met and why Xavier hates Reuben. We meet Jez, Xavier’s father and Reuben’s best friend. Suffice it to say that when parenting skills were given out in Heaven, Jez was behind the door, as well as being a generally unpleasant, selfish person. Once we move back to the present, it becomes clear that Reuben and Xavier care very much for each other.
I must say upfront that I’m a huge Lily Morton fan. The book is very long at almost 480 pages but does not seem so. The combination of snark and the subject matter, however, belie the apparent length and make it difficult to put down. The story is essentially divided into three parts: the first 4 chapters involve the fashion world and models; the second turns around the events of the past that led to them meeting and splitting up; the third takes place on the island of Mull, part of the Inner Hebrides, where Reuben lives and has brought Xavier to recover from his drug and alcohol abuse. The fashion part has lots of models and studio owners who, apart from Robbie the roofie model, are all hilarious in that dry, British way. Of course, that humour goes through the rest of the book as well. The part that takes pace in the past is steamy when it comes to Reuben and Xavier. I suspect I’m far from the only reader who will find Jez, Xavier’s sperm donor, one of the most unpleasant and manipulative creatures I’ve seen in a very long time. That said, his presence is essential to the storyline, explaining the way they met and split up. The third part on Mull is very intense and works up to revealing their feelings for each other, the reason for their split and what’s behind Reuben’s nightmares. The secondary characters on Mull seem to know exactly who Xavier is and they just love his charming personality. The models and the islanders spend a lot of energy supporting the relationship between the MCs.
This book is wonderful and certainly confirms why the author should be among my very favourites.
June 22, 2026
**3.5 stars**
Another engaging story that I read in a day and half.
Through Lily’s ability to give each character a believable backstory, flaws and when needed to show a level of vulnerability, she creates characters that are truly loved by the audience, and Xavier and Reuben are no different. I genuinely could believe in these two and see their relationship only growing stronger as the years passed, and for me that is important when I’m reading a romance book.
As always she brought back well loved characters from previous books, even weaving in characters from other series and it has me reaching for these older stories as I remember how much I enjoyed them.
If you want a good bingeable contemporary romance, that has descriptive environments, actual believable romances and full on snark then read no further and go and enjoy this book.
However, as a long time reader even I can admit this book is not without some questionable choices. This is in my opinion, and the following does contain spoilers.
The villian: Robbie has always been a ‘love to hate’ character, I want to say he first appeared in the Mixed Messages series along with Dean, but I could be mistaken. The choice to make him a truly hated character was an interesting choice, and for me, not a believable one as any nastiness on his part has always been a reflection of his insecurities rather than true maliciousness.
The attempted SA: this was a vehicle to explain why Xavier would stay with Reuben, and again felt unnecessary; the story could have easily of been he suffered poor health after after malnourishing his body, not sleeping and taking too many drugs for too many years. It worked for Mal and Caden, and would have had just as much impact here, especially as the fallout from this act (both in Xavier’s exploration of what happened and Robbie’s comeuppance) was undeveloped.
Age gap: now I’ve read everything Lily Morton has written so I’m well versed in an age gap story, but I have to question why it was chosen for Xavier to be 19 when they first met (he is 24 in the present day). Maybe I’m just getting old and reading sex scenes with characters that are in their teens does nothing for me. But I really couldn’t think of a reason he needed to be that young. I really enjoyed his youthful exuberance, but could he not have been just 2 years older.
Another engaging story that I read in a day and half.
Through Lily’s ability to give each character a believable backstory, flaws and when needed to show a level of vulnerability, she creates characters that are truly loved by the audience, and Xavier and Reuben are no different. I genuinely could believe in these two and see their relationship only growing stronger as the years passed, and for me that is important when I’m reading a romance book.
As always she brought back well loved characters from previous books, even weaving in characters from other series and it has me reaching for these older stories as I remember how much I enjoyed them.
If you want a good bingeable contemporary romance, that has descriptive environments, actual believable romances and full on snark then read no further and go and enjoy this book.
However, as a long time reader even I can admit this book is not without some questionable choices. This is in my opinion, and the following does contain spoilers.
The villian: Robbie has always been a ‘love to hate’ character, I want to say he first appeared in the Mixed Messages series along with Dean, but I could be mistaken. The choice to make him a truly hated character was an interesting choice, and for me, not a believable one as any nastiness on his part has always been a reflection of his insecurities rather than true maliciousness.
The attempted SA: this was a vehicle to explain why Xavier would stay with Reuben, and again felt unnecessary; the story could have easily of been he suffered poor health after after malnourishing his body, not sleeping and taking too many drugs for too many years. It worked for Mal and Caden, and would have had just as much impact here, especially as the fallout from this act (both in Xavier’s exploration of what happened and Robbie’s comeuppance) was undeveloped.
Age gap: now I’ve read everything Lily Morton has written so I’m well versed in an age gap story, but I have to question why it was chosen for Xavier to be 19 when they first met (he is 24 in the present day). Maybe I’m just getting old and reading sex scenes with characters that are in their teens does nothing for me. But I really couldn’t think of a reason he needed to be that young. I really enjoyed his youthful exuberance, but could he not have been just 2 years older.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2026
I loved this book. We finally get to see what is behind the mask of party boy that Xavier wears. This book has the tropes of age gap, father's best friend, lovers to enemies to lovers, and hurt/comfort. The book starts 5 years in the past when Xavier is a 19 year old art school student who travels to meet his biological father for the first time. Rueben Langley is war photojournalist with PTSD that he is in denial about and has been best friends with Jez, another war journalist, since they were preteens. He travels with Jez for support when Jez meets his son. Reuben and Xavier meet in the hotel bar the night before Xavier is to meet his father and hook up. Each are surprised to realize exactly who the other is the next day. Xavier is less than impressed with Jez and the feeling is mutual and he is more interested in Rueben than pursuing a relationship with his father. Xavier and Rueben keeping hooking up and find themselves starting to have feelings for each other. When Jez finds out he give Rueben an ultimatum of ending it with Xavier or he will cut Xavier out of his life. Jez can't stand the thought of Rueben having anyone he cares about more than their friendship. Rueben breaks Xavier's heart quite ruthlessly thinking it is for his own good. The two meet off and on throughout the years with Xavier doing his best to hurt Rueben the way Rueben hurt him. It was so devastating to see how Xavier had changed over the years from when he and Rueben first met and how he no longer trusted enough to really let anyone in. He ended up partiyng and using drugs to hide his pain. Rueben ends up rescuing Xavier after someone takes drugs him and tries to take advantage of him. Rueben decides to take Xavier to his home in Scotland to recover and become healthier. It was wonderful to see Xavier let go of his anger towards Rueben and for the two men to realize just how much they still liked as well as loved each other. This book deals with learning to let the past go and focusing on the here and now. I hope we get more books in the Model Agency series.
June 22, 2026
2-1/2 stars. Pretty disappointing.
Only mild spoilers. Lily Morton is one of my favorites, but this book was a big disappointment. I was really looking forward to it, so that bummed me out. For one thing, a 30-something hooking up with a 19 yr old is disgusting. You don’t find that out til you’re already in it though. The dad thing wasn’t done that well either, I don’t think. I mean, dad was an a-hole, that was obvious but it wasn’t that obvious why Rueben would be friends with him or let himself be so manipulated. Also, totally stupid how he didn’t even think of this kid being the long lost kid they were there to meet. Like, how dumb could he be??? Then Xavier just having sex with people even though they were married was ick too. I remember Rueben from the last book but Xavier only had one or two mentions before this. Of course, now I’m going to have to look for them with all the people she makes their friends. Was Rueben friends with Max before? I really like all the connections in this universe, so I’ll keep reading these, but I’m kinda tired of the ultra mush at the end of every book. Life isn’t like that and I don’t know if people even think that dramatically, I don’t on this frequent of a basis. I don’t think the OD thing was handled very well either. I was trying to figure out why he was in the hospital and everyone was freaking out so bad. It was on his tongue half a second, I think it takes longer than that. I have witnessed this kind of thing, and experienced cptsd and the descriptions here were only kind of close. I don’t know, she’s usually better than this.
Only mild spoilers. Lily Morton is one of my favorites, but this book was a big disappointment. I was really looking forward to it, so that bummed me out. For one thing, a 30-something hooking up with a 19 yr old is disgusting. You don’t find that out til you’re already in it though. The dad thing wasn’t done that well either, I don’t think. I mean, dad was an a-hole, that was obvious but it wasn’t that obvious why Rueben would be friends with him or let himself be so manipulated. Also, totally stupid how he didn’t even think of this kid being the long lost kid they were there to meet. Like, how dumb could he be??? Then Xavier just having sex with people even though they were married was ick too. I remember Rueben from the last book but Xavier only had one or two mentions before this. Of course, now I’m going to have to look for them with all the people she makes their friends. Was Rueben friends with Max before? I really like all the connections in this universe, so I’ll keep reading these, but I’m kinda tired of the ultra mush at the end of every book. Life isn’t like that and I don’t know if people even think that dramatically, I don’t on this frequent of a basis. I don’t think the OD thing was handled very well either. I was trying to figure out why he was in the hospital and everyone was freaking out so bad. It was on his tongue half a second, I think it takes longer than that. I have witnessed this kind of thing, and experienced cptsd and the descriptions here were only kind of close. I don’t know, she’s usually better than this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Call Back is the 3rd book in Lily Morton's Model Agency series. Each book of the series can be read as a stand-alone. I have read all of the book in the series, and I think this one is my favorite.
Xavier is a sassy model who uses snark to hide his vulnerabilities. Reuben is a retired photojournalist who is best friends with Xavier’s dad. We first meet them at a fashion show and it's clear they had an affair in the past. We only see bits and pieces to start of what their relationship was.
When Xavier hits rock bottom, Reuben decides he will take care of him. They have been trying so hard to avoid each other but their love never ended. They take care of one another in small, unconscious ways.
The book jumps to a “past” section where we see how they first met and the time they spent together. We don't get all of the history, we have to wait for that to later in the book. In the 3rd part, we jump back to current time and see how Reuben and Xavier find their way back to each other.
In the past section, I could feel how torn Reuben is between Xavier and Jez is. However, Jez doesn’t deserve Reuben’s concern or care.
The snark between Reuben and Xavier at Reuben’s house is fantastic. They snipe at each other thinking they are being mean but I can feel the smiles as they do it.
Please read the trigger warnings. There is on page drug use, PTSD, and attempted SA.
Steam: 4/5
Fun: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Thanks to GRR for providing an ARC and this is my honest review.
Xavier is a sassy model who uses snark to hide his vulnerabilities. Reuben is a retired photojournalist who is best friends with Xavier’s dad. We first meet them at a fashion show and it's clear they had an affair in the past. We only see bits and pieces to start of what their relationship was.
When Xavier hits rock bottom, Reuben decides he will take care of him. They have been trying so hard to avoid each other but their love never ended. They take care of one another in small, unconscious ways.
The book jumps to a “past” section where we see how they first met and the time they spent together. We don't get all of the history, we have to wait for that to later in the book. In the 3rd part, we jump back to current time and see how Reuben and Xavier find their way back to each other.
In the past section, I could feel how torn Reuben is between Xavier and Jez is. However, Jez doesn’t deserve Reuben’s concern or care.
The snark between Reuben and Xavier at Reuben’s house is fantastic. They snipe at each other thinking they are being mean but I can feel the smiles as they do it.
Please read the trigger warnings. There is on page drug use, PTSD, and attempted SA.
Steam: 4/5
Fun: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Thanks to GRR for providing an ARC and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
We are back at the Model Agency and this book is an amazing second chance romance. A trope I normally don't read a lot but Lily Morton is an amazing author and this story really pulls you in and I finished the book in a day.
We got glimpses of Reuben in French Fancy. Xavier is the model we came to love in the model's podcast episodes.
While the book starts in the present, it quickly jumps back 5 years into the past to give us the background of these two and how they meet, fall in love and what happened. This part only covers a handful of days and there is still plenty of interaction between them until the present day not on page but only described in the second part which again is in the present.
I found that these missing years are not well explained, there is quite a lot I felt was important and only little bits are talked about. Nevertheless, when Reuben and Xavier repair their relationship we are treated with a story about two men who have to face feelings they thought valid but are they really what they thought?
It's a story about healing, acceptance, letting go of hurt, conflicting thoughts and a future which may not what they originally planned.
I found the book more emotionally then some of her more funny stories. It has plenty of snark, I mean we have Xavier, there's Mal and Pip, but these two show a deeper connection which is the heart of the story.
Definitely a book to keep and re-read.
We got glimpses of Reuben in French Fancy. Xavier is the model we came to love in the model's podcast episodes.
While the book starts in the present, it quickly jumps back 5 years into the past to give us the background of these two and how they meet, fall in love and what happened. This part only covers a handful of days and there is still plenty of interaction between them until the present day not on page but only described in the second part which again is in the present.
I found that these missing years are not well explained, there is quite a lot I felt was important and only little bits are talked about. Nevertheless, when Reuben and Xavier repair their relationship we are treated with a story about two men who have to face feelings they thought valid but are they really what they thought?
It's a story about healing, acceptance, letting go of hurt, conflicting thoughts and a future which may not what they originally planned.
I found the book more emotionally then some of her more funny stories. It has plenty of snark, I mean we have Xavier, there's Mal and Pip, but these two show a deeper connection which is the heart of the story.
Definitely a book to keep and re-read.
June 24, 2026
Brilliant, Loved it❤️
I don’t think I have ever read a Lily Morton book without a smile on my face. She does banter, humour and snark like the queen she is and she’s pretty good at writing romance as well oh and her epilogues are to die for and usually bring me to tears.
This book was a joy, Xavier and Reuben were a match made in heaven even though they wasted years in a love hate relationship all because of a misunderstanding. Mind you Xavier was nothing if not creative in his revenge attacks!
Reuben instantly fell in love with the beautiful boy who picked him up in a bar but when he finds out that he is the son of his best friend who is meeting his “father” for the first time, Reuben knows he must end it but finds it impossible until the worst happens and his best friend uses pressure to make him end it, breaking Xavier’s heart as well as his own.
I, like most characters in the book, hated Reuben’s best friend Jez, he was obnoxious but Reuben was the only person who couldn’t see it. As young as Xavier was he could see him for what he was and tried to warn Reuben.
Xavier goes on to become a supermodel, living the dream, but when everything crashes down around him it is Reuben who is there to pick up the pieces and put him back together and then they get their second chance.
So enjoyable and the cameos from Mal, Dean and Jonas, Max and Felix, Olivier and the funny and incorrigible Pip were so good, so much snark in one room!
Strongly recommend.
I don’t think I have ever read a Lily Morton book without a smile on my face. She does banter, humour and snark like the queen she is and she’s pretty good at writing romance as well oh and her epilogues are to die for and usually bring me to tears.
This book was a joy, Xavier and Reuben were a match made in heaven even though they wasted years in a love hate relationship all because of a misunderstanding. Mind you Xavier was nothing if not creative in his revenge attacks!
Reuben instantly fell in love with the beautiful boy who picked him up in a bar but when he finds out that he is the son of his best friend who is meeting his “father” for the first time, Reuben knows he must end it but finds it impossible until the worst happens and his best friend uses pressure to make him end it, breaking Xavier’s heart as well as his own.
I, like most characters in the book, hated Reuben’s best friend Jez, he was obnoxious but Reuben was the only person who couldn’t see it. As young as Xavier was he could see him for what he was and tried to warn Reuben.
Xavier goes on to become a supermodel, living the dream, but when everything crashes down around him it is Reuben who is there to pick up the pieces and put him back together and then they get their second chance.
So enjoyable and the cameos from Mal, Dean and Jonas, Max and Felix, Olivier and the funny and incorrigible Pip were so good, so much snark in one room!
Strongly recommend.
June 25, 2026
3.5 stars
This was an easy read that’s funny, soft & swoony at times with a good bit of spice. I love the second chance element of this story, although it’s reading about how they got from then to now wasn’t always my favorite. Overall it’s the perfect read for someone who’s looking for a heartfelt romance with a tiny bit of angst and a satisfying emotional payoff.
The age gaps in this series continue to push the boundaries for me, and while I absolutely felt the love and connection between these two in a way that’s real and forever, I didn’t find them particularly enticing at first. Maybe that’s because of the forbidden aspect of them being together, but I think it was more in how the older MC seems genuinely torn up about what they’re doing and the repeated reminders of just how young Xavier is. It was almost as if they’re trying to be extra convincing about how right their relationship is but in doing so, they accomplish the opposite. If not for those repeated mentions of the age gap and Xavier’s father, I most likely would have forgotten about it altogether.
If you’re a fan of Lily Morton, you’ll recognize her trademark humor, wit, and biting sarcasm. You’ll also appreciate the many, many cameos of past characters that pull her world tightly together, weaving together lives and stories in a new way.
Side note: what is up with the butter trend in MM romance? A+ for creativity & resourcefulness, but I don’t know if I’ll ever look at my Kerrygold the same way again.
This was an easy read that’s funny, soft & swoony at times with a good bit of spice. I love the second chance element of this story, although it’s reading about how they got from then to now wasn’t always my favorite. Overall it’s the perfect read for someone who’s looking for a heartfelt romance with a tiny bit of angst and a satisfying emotional payoff.
The age gaps in this series continue to push the boundaries for me, and while I absolutely felt the love and connection between these two in a way that’s real and forever, I didn’t find them particularly enticing at first. Maybe that’s because of the forbidden aspect of them being together, but I think it was more in how the older MC seems genuinely torn up about what they’re doing and the repeated reminders of just how young Xavier is. It was almost as if they’re trying to be extra convincing about how right their relationship is but in doing so, they accomplish the opposite. If not for those repeated mentions of the age gap and Xavier’s father, I most likely would have forgotten about it altogether.
If you’re a fan of Lily Morton, you’ll recognize her trademark humor, wit, and biting sarcasm. You’ll also appreciate the many, many cameos of past characters that pull her world tightly together, weaving together lives and stories in a new way.
Side note: what is up with the butter trend in MM romance? A+ for creativity & resourcefulness, but I don’t know if I’ll ever look at my Kerrygold the same way again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
💖🖤 Call Back ARC Review 🖤💖
Thank you so much to Lily Morton and Gay Romance Reviews for the opportunity to read and review this book
Call Back is a standalone MM romance and book 3 of The Model Agency series. Five years after a devastating heartbreak, Xavier has it all. He’s a famous supermodel, traveling the world and partying with fashion elite. But when everything crashes down and he hits rock bottom, will the one who broke his heart help him put the pieces of his life back together??
This was a fantastic read! Xavier and Reuben are both great characters and I loved how they found common ground despite their differences. The relationship between Xavier and Reuben had so many bumps along the way and I loved their journey together. They had a lot of history and I enjoyed how they slowly worked through their struggles together throughout the story.
This was a wonderful five star read! I adored these characters and their story. This book does have some darker elements, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book had spice throughout the story, so overall three flames for spice
If you’re a fan of MM romance with beautiful characters, second chances and fantastic snark, then absolutely pick this one up! Even though this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order to get the most out of the cameos and Easter Eggs.
Thank you so much to Lily Morton and Gay Romance Reviews for the opportunity to read and review this book
Call Back is a standalone MM romance and book 3 of The Model Agency series. Five years after a devastating heartbreak, Xavier has it all. He’s a famous supermodel, traveling the world and partying with fashion elite. But when everything crashes down and he hits rock bottom, will the one who broke his heart help him put the pieces of his life back together??
This was a fantastic read! Xavier and Reuben are both great characters and I loved how they found common ground despite their differences. The relationship between Xavier and Reuben had so many bumps along the way and I loved their journey together. They had a lot of history and I enjoyed how they slowly worked through their struggles together throughout the story.
This was a wonderful five star read! I adored these characters and their story. This book does have some darker elements, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book had spice throughout the story, so overall three flames for spice
If you’re a fan of MM romance with beautiful characters, second chances and fantastic snark, then absolutely pick this one up! Even though this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order to get the most out of the cameos and Easter Eggs.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Not what I was expecting from Xavier and Rueben, but I enjoyed this story and the setting in the Inner Hebrides sounds so beautiful that I want to go and see it for myself!
I'm not great with time jumps and it did take a while for my brain to accept that we'd gone back in time for a good chunk of the book. I did like seeing how Xavier and Rueben initially got together and how things ended, but I do wish there'd been more of their interactions over the years they weren't officially together because I felt like I didn't really understand how they stayed in each other's orbits. I think if I'd seen the events during the five years that were significant then I could have been more invested in their relationship. As it was, I loved their beginning and I loved their end, there was just no middle...
It was also fun to have cameos from Mal, Pip, Dean, Max and Felix too! I like how Lily's character's all have some kind of six degrees of separation going on - we even get mentions of Ivo and Henry!
Xavier finally getting a life that made him happy was really good to see though, and I hope there's more to come from the Model Agency series.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
I'm not great with time jumps and it did take a while for my brain to accept that we'd gone back in time for a good chunk of the book. I did like seeing how Xavier and Rueben initially got together and how things ended, but I do wish there'd been more of their interactions over the years they weren't officially together because I felt like I didn't really understand how they stayed in each other's orbits. I think if I'd seen the events during the five years that were significant then I could have been more invested in their relationship. As it was, I loved their beginning and I loved their end, there was just no middle...
It was also fun to have cameos from Mal, Pip, Dean, Max and Felix too! I like how Lily's character's all have some kind of six degrees of separation going on - we even get mentions of Ivo and Henry!
Xavier finally getting a life that made him happy was really good to see though, and I hope there's more to come from the Model Agency series.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Author
- age gap
- best friend's son
- second chance
I have a massive problem with Lily Morton books. My problem is that once I start, I can't put it down until I finish it and this was no different. I have wanted Xavier to get a story ever since I met him in Best Man and I was always hopeful he'd get one. I was also keen to see Reuben get his HEA too after meeting him in French Fancy and to find out they got their HEA together, was the icing on this Lily-verse cake. There are cameos galore from previous characters and they're always welcome, but the heart of this story is Reuben and Xavier.
Xavier is as glorious as I remembered he was, and even more so. He's snarky, sassy, super confident and always optimistic. He has an artist's soul which is why it's so not fun to see him in the position he is at the start of the story, with the pressures of the world on him and so utterly alone. I loved Reuben too, but his best friend (and Xavier's bio-dad) was not a good person who took advantage of him to get what he wanted. Cue years of heartbreak and misunderstandings leading up to where we find ourselves at the start.
I of course love that it's set in Scotland and this is where they get their fresh start together. The story is a delight even though it's not all fun, there are some dark parts along the way to a very satisfying HEA and I loved it. I was swept up in the story and loved it all. I'm always happy to step back into the Lily-verse and I loved this.
I received an advance copy and this is my honest review.
- best friend's son
- second chance
I have a massive problem with Lily Morton books. My problem is that once I start, I can't put it down until I finish it and this was no different. I have wanted Xavier to get a story ever since I met him in Best Man and I was always hopeful he'd get one. I was also keen to see Reuben get his HEA too after meeting him in French Fancy and to find out they got their HEA together, was the icing on this Lily-verse cake. There are cameos galore from previous characters and they're always welcome, but the heart of this story is Reuben and Xavier.
Xavier is as glorious as I remembered he was, and even more so. He's snarky, sassy, super confident and always optimistic. He has an artist's soul which is why it's so not fun to see him in the position he is at the start of the story, with the pressures of the world on him and so utterly alone. I loved Reuben too, but his best friend (and Xavier's bio-dad) was not a good person who took advantage of him to get what he wanted. Cue years of heartbreak and misunderstandings leading up to where we find ourselves at the start.
I of course love that it's set in Scotland and this is where they get their fresh start together. The story is a delight even though it's not all fun, there are some dark parts along the way to a very satisfying HEA and I loved it. I was swept up in the story and loved it all. I'm always happy to step back into the Lily-verse and I loved this.
I received an advance copy and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Call Back by Lily Morton is the third book in the Model Agency series. Xavier Conway has been going off the rails for a while but a night at a club after a shoot takes it too far. Reuben Langley steps in and takes away Xavier’s choice, pulling him out of the bustle of London and into the Inner Hebrides. The Scottish Isles prove to be the perfect location for Xavier and Reuben to face their past with nowhere else to run. But with a shared complicated history, both men are afraid of what finally facing each other will mean.
Lily Morton you’ve done it again with Xavier and Reuben. These two men are made for each other even if they both constantly have to be reminded of that. This story straddles the past and the present in a perfect balance without jumping around. Watching Xavier thrive in the Inner Hebrides where Reuben has finally found solace is wonderful since both men have demons that need facing. The level of sass Xavier carries must be heavy but boy does it slay each and every time. Reuben is a perfect balance of dry humor and secret sass. Their chemistry was undeniable, I couldn’t have asked for more.
5 stars for Xavier and Reuben’s ultimate second chance.
Call Back by Lily Morton is the third book in the Model Agency series. Xavier Conway has been going off the rails for a while but a night at a club after a shoot takes it too far. Reuben Langley steps in and takes away Xavier’s choice, pulling him out of the bustle of London and into the Inner Hebrides. The Scottish Isles prove to be the perfect location for Xavier and Reuben to face their past with nowhere else to run. But with a shared complicated history, both men are afraid of what finally facing each other will mean.
Lily Morton you’ve done it again with Xavier and Reuben. These two men are made for each other even if they both constantly have to be reminded of that. This story straddles the past and the present in a perfect balance without jumping around. Watching Xavier thrive in the Inner Hebrides where Reuben has finally found solace is wonderful since both men have demons that need facing. The level of sass Xavier carries must be heavy but boy does it slay each and every time. Reuben is a perfect balance of dry humor and secret sass. Their chemistry was undeniable, I couldn’t have asked for more.
5 stars for Xavier and Reuben’s ultimate second chance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews