A Book A Week

First comes love.

Luc and Oliver have come a long way in their relationship. When we first met them in Boyfriend Material, the pair were fake-dating in an effort to save Luc's job. Spoiler alert: they actually fell in love. Sure, Luc had to reconcile with his son-of-a-rock-star, caution-to-the-wind tendencies, while Oliver worked through the emotional baggage left behind by years of overbearing parents. But together, they made it work.

Then comes marriage.

When we last saw the couple in Husband Material, they were grappling with what comes next. They'd already gotten their happily-ever-after, so marriage seemed like the logical next step. Of course, nothing is ever straightforward with these two. The novel ended on a note that divided readers, even if it felt like a natural progression for Luc and Oliver's relationship.

Then comes...

What exactly comes after that?

With Father Material, Alexis Hall returns to the beloved couple once more, and as the title not-so-subtly suggests, Luc and Oliver are beginning to think about expanding their family. It's a question that starts creeping into many people's lives in their thirties. Friends get married. Babies arrive. Suddenly, the idea of children of your own no longer feels hypothetical.

For Luc and Oliver, however, the prospect of parenthood feels more than a little daunting. A child is a huge responsibility, and neither is entirely convinced they're ready for that step. So they start smaller. Much smaller. They bring home a puppy. After all, if they can keep a dog alive, happy, and reasonably well-adjusted, how much harder can a child really be?

I can't say enough great things about this series. Seriously, for someone who generally shies away from romance as a genre, I've become completely enamored with the characters that Alexis Hall has created. Not just Luc and Oliver, but the entire supporting cast as well. They all feel authentically human, navigating the emotional highs and lows of life in a way that feels far more grounded than what I've typically encountered in the genre.

Father Material brings their story to a natural and satisfying conclusion. Luc and Oliver still face challenges, and Hall continues to balance those conflicts with the sharp humor and quick wit that have become hallmarks of the series. But what struck me most was realizing just how much these characters have grown over the course of three books. The people we meet in Boyfriend Material are not the same people we leave here, and watching that evolution unfold has been a real joy.

Hall once again balances humor with genuine emotional insight, creating a story that is funny, heartfelt, and full of compassion. The epilogue landed exactly the way I wanted it to, offering one last visit with characters I've come to care about immensely. By the final page, I wasn't ready to say goodbye, which is perhaps the highest compliment I can give a series.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2026, 47)