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downtown_kb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ash is struggling with his life, his mental health, his happiness and is very much feeling like he’s at rock bottom. Until a chance meeting with Darian at a club.
It took me way too long to get around to reading this book and I understand the hype. I think it’s well deserved. I appreciated just how unlikely a pair these two are and just how much Darian made Ash happy. This is a great example of a character conflict you could see coming a mile away but knowing there is some growth that needs to happen. Ash’s continued journey of recovery, letting go of who he was and accepting himself for who he is, was heartwarming. I think Alexis Hall has a gift for bringing life to his characters and making things funny amidst the very human struggles. I'm gonna have to say tho, I'm not one that insists on open door romances but it is sad to know just how well a certain author can write them and then to know they hardly ever do anymore.
A great audiobook narration by Nicholas Boulton.
A great audiobook narration by Nicholas Boulton.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide attempt
nalia_danger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my new favorite book, and Darian is my new favorite character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide attempt
sohva's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Both funny and quite deep. Alexis Hall really knows how to make fucked-up characters you want to root for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt
the_lady_librarian's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Excellent! This is the third book from Alexis Hall that I've read and I am continually surprised by how different each of their books are. Giltterland is a bit absurd, the characters are weird and eccentric, yet somehow charming. .Ash and Niall are characters we should categorically dislike- they are not good people. They are shallow and malicious and way too egotistical but somehow you find yourself loving them. Perhaps because of their humanity. Hall brings light to a mental illness that is drowned in negative stigma too often and does a good job of neither romanticizing or sugarcoating it. I do wish the author could have made it clear that this is Ash's life at this point but that it can change-for the better. There is a lot of catastrophizing of Ash's illness and sometimes it felt like there was no hope. Maybe that was the point, to make the reader feel like they are living in a depressive episode but I think it was to the detriment of the work the author put in to destigmatize bipolar depression. It made it seem like people with mental illness can't have long-term, healthy relationship. That the relationship will always be that of the ill person/ caregiver. The narrator did a wonderful job, especially with the Essex accent. Overall, a very enjoyable book with deep and profound moments that could have benefited from a bit more joy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Drug use
lololovesthings's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars!
"Glitterland" is another fantastic, emotional, beautiful book in author Alexis Hall's repertoire. This story is captivating, dark, honest, depressing, and powerful. Please check the trigger warnings as there are quite a few touchy topics discussed here. I appreciate how Hall can touch upon sensitive topics like suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, and mental health with a mix of devastating frankness and shocking mirth. I will be thinking about Ash and Darian for months and years to come. What a couple of characters! This is one of the more interesting grumpy x sunshine books I have read. I have a hunch many readers will be turned off by Ash and his rude and frank but uncouth mannerisms. By all accounts, he is a huge w4nker. Still, I found him slightly endearing even with a mountain of flaws. His struggles are familiar, and I found myself identifying with him on many levels. I also saw a little of myself in Darian, who is a sweetheart of a person who radiates light and love and uniqueness. He knows who he is and isn't afraid to be exactly that person. He is naive where Ash is practical, and together, they complement each other in ways I didn't think would be possible given the selfishness of Ash at the start of the book. Darian tears down Ash's walls slowly but surely. Their pairing is complex and not without its faults and flaws, but they make it work best for them. These characters are spectacularly brought to life by audiobook narrator Nicholas Boulton. Talk about a fantastic performance! his shifting cadence, animated style, and various voices make this one of the best audiobooks I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I just adored this book so, so much. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Alexis Hall, and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Glitterland" is another fantastic, emotional, beautiful book in author Alexis Hall's repertoire. This story is captivating, dark, honest, depressing, and powerful. Please check the trigger warnings as there are quite a few touchy topics discussed here. I appreciate how Hall can touch upon sensitive topics like suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, and mental health with a mix of devastating frankness and shocking mirth. I will be thinking about Ash and Darian for months and years to come. What a couple of characters! This is one of the more interesting grumpy x sunshine books I have read. I have a hunch many readers will be turned off by Ash and his rude and frank but uncouth mannerisms. By all accounts, he is a huge w4nker. Still, I found him slightly endearing even with a mountain of flaws. His struggles are familiar, and I found myself identifying with him on many levels. I also saw a little of myself in Darian, who is a sweetheart of a person who radiates light and love and uniqueness. He knows who he is and isn't afraid to be exactly that person. He is naive where Ash is practical, and together, they complement each other in ways I didn't think would be possible given the selfishness of Ash at the start of the book. Darian tears down Ash's walls slowly but surely. Their pairing is complex and not without its faults and flaws, but they make it work best for them. These characters are spectacularly brought to life by audiobook narrator Nicholas Boulton. Talk about a fantastic performance! his shifting cadence, animated style, and various voices make this one of the best audiobooks I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I just adored this book so, so much. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Alexis Hall, and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
Moderate: Drug use and Homophobia
ruexx's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
[[SPOILERS]]
Okay, I absolutely loved this book. I found the characters like Darian very enjoyable and I liked how it balanced with Ash and how he has his struggles. There is a lot of talk of mental health and triggering scenes but it was done well and I liked how Darian stood by Ash even with not much understanding of bipolar. I found the dynamic of Niall, Ash and Max very interesting. Toxic but interesting in a way that I just want to know so much more about there Uni days. Overall i really loved the book which is why I give it 5 stars. It just made me feel so much emotion and it was done so well. I love Darian and Ash <3
Okay, I absolutely loved this book. I found the characters like Darian very enjoyable and I liked how it balanced with Ash and how he has his struggles. There is a lot of talk of mental health and triggering scenes but it was done well and I liked how Darian stood by Ash even with not much understanding of bipolar. I found the dynamic of Niall, Ash and Max very interesting. Toxic but interesting in a way that I just want to know so much more about there Uni days. Overall i really loved the book which is why I give it 5 stars. It just made me feel so much emotion and it was done so well. I love Darian and Ash <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Self harm, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Drug use
_isabel_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
What a ride. "Glitterland" was absolutely, freaking gorgeous.
I've been waiting for a chance to read this series, and the re-releases seemed like the perfect opportunity; I can't believe I ever doubted these books would work for me. Because wow: I think I love Alexis Hall the best when his writing and his stories are like this, an emotional punch to the gut in book form.
< I seized another kiss, swift and sweet from the corner of his lips. “All my smiles, you can have all my smiles, whenever I can find them.” “See,” he said, as though it was the simplest, most obvious thing in the world. >
I loved this book with my whole soul: it's packed with so much raw, unadultered angst and feels, so many hard, complex themes, and so many beautiful, hideous complicated human emotions. I read it at the precisely right time in my life as well: 2023 was a hard year for me, and seeing Ash struggle with his depression, with his out-of-control feelings, with his hopelessness, with not recognizing himself anymore, was hard, of course, but also cathartic. I think this genre needs more representation like his: it's important, necessary even, to see more mental health rep (and not only that!) on page, authentic, realistic, thought-through rep.
I didn't find the darkness to be overwhelming though: this is still a romance, and oh god, what a romance.
I didn't think it would work for me, but yep, it totally did: Ash and Darian's romance stole my soul. I loved them so damned much. They're so different from one another, but that's why they work; Darian's never known a different Ash, and Ash can be himself around Darian in a way he never could when so many people in his life are expecting the "broken, uncapable of change, bipolar depressive".
< “Darian. Darian.” He rolled over, tousled and lovely, blinking dazedly in the half- light. “What’s wrong, babes?” I stared at him, for a moment utterly speechless at the magnitude of everything. “I’m going to make you so unhappy,” I blurted out. “What? When? Can’t you like do it in the morning?” >
I loved their relationship, I loved how lighthearted and sweet and sexy they were with one another, and I loved their most difficult conversations and moments too.
Darian was a total sweetheart. I don't know how to describe him, but if I knew I person like him in my life, I'd probably be ready to go to war for them. He's lovely. Absolutely, 10000%, one of the loveliest love interests I've ever had the pleasure of meeting on page. He deserves the whole damned universe. He's funny and sweet and genuine and forgiving and friendly and kind, and just, the best person ever.
< “I’m not a fucking plural,” I snapped. “What?” I pointed at myself. “Item: one babe.”
“Ahwight,” he said. “Mister A.A. Winters, Esquire."
AND ASH. God, I don't know where to start, but boy, did I see myself in him. Not in his self-destructive ways, but in the way he's constantly doubting what he sees and feels and knows. He's complicated and rude and sarcastic and insecure and afraid, and I adored him even when I wanted to kick him (or maybe hug him?) for being all of that. I love a complex protagonist, a walking, talking contradiction of a mess of a MC, and Alexis Hall delivered (and then some) on that front.
The writing was lovely (if a bit flowery at times, BUT it was probably in line with the way Ash's mind works) and the humour was just right (and totally on brand for Alexis Hall: a bit hard, a bit rude, but thankfully it never reached Luc's levels) (YES, OKAY, after this one I will stop dropping hints about how angry "Husband Material" made me, I swear).
The romance was fantastic and the main characters stole my heart; the side characters were as complex and interesting as the two protagonists, and I wanted to hit Niall with something blunt, but I can't wait to read his book. Also, Amy? I loved her, I soooooo hope we'll get to see more of her (and Max, together thanks).
The ending was... abrupt, but thankfully there's an "Aftermath" short story that made it sweeter and more satisfying.
I'm excited to jump into book two! With brand new characters, but I can't wait to meet them.
TWs/CWs: mental illness (depression, bipolar disorder), suicide attempt and self-harm (referenced), panic attacks, one brief instance of biphobia (side characters), suicidal thoughts.
I've been waiting for a chance to read this series, and the re-releases seemed like the perfect opportunity; I can't believe I ever doubted these books would work for me. Because wow: I think I love Alexis Hall the best when his writing and his stories are like this, an emotional punch to the gut in book form.
< I seized another kiss, swift and sweet from the corner of his lips. “All my smiles, you can have all my smiles, whenever I can find them.” “See,” he said, as though it was the simplest, most obvious thing in the world. >
I loved this book with my whole soul: it's packed with so much raw, unadultered angst and feels, so many hard, complex themes, and so many beautiful, hideous complicated human emotions. I read it at the precisely right time in my life as well: 2023 was a hard year for me, and seeing Ash struggle with his depression, with his out-of-control feelings, with his hopelessness, with not recognizing himself anymore, was hard, of course, but also cathartic. I think this genre needs more representation like his: it's important, necessary even, to see more mental health rep (and not only that!) on page, authentic, realistic, thought-through rep.
I didn't find the darkness to be overwhelming though: this is still a romance, and oh god, what a romance.
I didn't think it would work for me, but yep, it totally did: Ash and Darian's romance stole my soul. I loved them so damned much. They're so different from one another, but that's why they work; Darian's never known a different Ash, and Ash can be himself around Darian in a way he never could when so many people in his life are expecting the "broken, uncapable of change, bipolar depressive".
< “Darian. Darian.” He rolled over, tousled and lovely, blinking dazedly in the half- light. “What’s wrong, babes?” I stared at him, for a moment utterly speechless at the magnitude of everything. “I’m going to make you so unhappy,” I blurted out. “What? When? Can’t you like do it in the morning?” >
I loved their relationship, I loved how lighthearted and sweet and sexy they were with one another, and I loved their most difficult conversations and moments too.
Darian was a total sweetheart. I don't know how to describe him, but if I knew I person like him in my life, I'd probably be ready to go to war for them. He's lovely. Absolutely, 10000%, one of the loveliest love interests I've ever had the pleasure of meeting on page. He deserves the whole damned universe. He's funny and sweet and genuine and forgiving and friendly and kind, and just, the best person ever.
< “I’m not a fucking plural,” I snapped. “What?” I pointed at myself. “Item: one babe.”
“Ahwight,” he said. “Mister A.A. Winters, Esquire."
AND ASH. God, I don't know where to start, but boy, did I see myself in him. Not in his self-destructive ways, but in the way he's constantly doubting what he sees and feels and knows. He's complicated and rude and sarcastic and insecure and afraid, and I adored him even when I wanted to kick him (or maybe hug him?) for being all of that. I love a complex protagonist, a walking, talking contradiction of a mess of a MC, and Alexis Hall delivered (and then some) on that front.
The writing was lovely (if a bit flowery at times, BUT it was probably in line with the way Ash's mind works) and the humour was just right (and totally on brand for Alexis Hall: a bit hard, a bit rude, but thankfully it never reached Luc's levels) (YES, OKAY, after this one I will stop dropping hints about how angry "Husband Material" made me, I swear).
The romance was fantastic and the main characters stole my heart; the side characters were as complex and interesting as the two protagonists, and I wanted to hit Niall with something blunt, but I can't wait to read his book. Also, Amy? I loved her, I soooooo hope we'll get to see more of her (and Max, together thanks).
The ending was... abrupt, but thankfully there's an "Aftermath" short story that made it sweeter and more satisfying.
I'm excited to jump into book two! With brand new characters, but I can't wait to meet them.
TWs/CWs: mental illness (depression, bipolar disorder), suicide attempt and self-harm (referenced), panic attacks, one brief instance of biphobia (side characters), suicidal thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt
Minor: Biphobia
o3tri's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Classism, and Body shaming
booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
ehmannky's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
As Hall says in this edition, this is one of his earlier books and his style isn't fully formed yet. But this is still a lovely and romantic little novel. I think it is well-paced, with great characters (I think Hall does such a good job depicting people with severe mental illness as complex figures whose mental illness sometimes makes them miserable to be around while still being worthy of love and respect), and a great plot. I would recommend getting the latest edition so that you can get the Aftermath story, because I think it's a much better ending than the original. A bit heavier than some of his other books, with a lot of explicit mentions of a past suicide attempt and some generally awful behavior from many characters. But it still manages to be so lovely and hopeful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts