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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
A fairly lovely contemporary with gentle handling of tough issues. Can’t quite imagine the proper “Essex” vibe, not being British. Jersey Shore maybe?
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
June 2023 book club.
Did I miss like 100 pages of groveling? Because there is no way Darian should have accepted that weak-ass apology. Ash is like, "You cook for me and cheer me up, I love you!" Puh-lease. Darian, don't do it! It's especially lacking in that we don't see Ash bring Darian around his friends again, I am extremely unconvinced that Ash has the balls to call him his boyfriend around his friends. Everybody in this book is garbage except the lady agent/friend and (two-dimensional) Darian and his friends. I'm not giving this a star rating for now, but I did not enjoy this at all. Well, the audio reader did a great job and saved me from having to read dialect on-page, so that was nice.
ALSO Ash has no character arc in this book, he is just as selfish, manipulative, and mean at the end of the book as he is at the beginning. I would have loved to have seen some growth for this character.
Hall often explores relationships that cross class boundaries ([b:For Real|40726183|For Real (Spires, #3)|Alexis Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530809160l/40726183._SY75_.jpg|45123759], [b:Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake|55533831|Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake (Winner Bakes All, #1)|Alexis Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610495934l/55533831._SY75_.jpg|86199564]), but in this case he makes the kind of trashy Essex folks this idealized naive child-like primitive people, it's super simplified and two-dimensional. I am all for the sharp, insightful dissection of the upper classes but making lower class characters child-like and simple is just not great. (Though very reminiscent of E.M. Forster's characterization of the love interest in [b:Maurice|3103|Maurice|E.M. Forster|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361934128l/3103._SX50_.jpg|2394184], in sharp contrast to the self-loathing and pathetic academic love interest).
I adore Alexis Hall's writing but this was not for me.
Did I miss like 100 pages of groveling? Because there is no way Darian should have accepted that weak-ass apology. Ash is like, "You cook for me and cheer me up, I love you!" Puh-lease. Darian, don't do it! It's especially lacking in that we don't see Ash bring Darian around his friends again, I am extremely unconvinced that Ash has the balls to call him his boyfriend around his friends. Everybody in this book is garbage except the lady agent/friend and (two-dimensional) Darian and his friends. I'm not giving this a star rating for now, but I did not enjoy this at all. Well, the audio reader did a great job and saved me from having to read dialect on-page, so that was nice.
ALSO Ash has no character arc in this book, he is just as selfish, manipulative, and mean at the end of the book as he is at the beginning. I would have loved to have seen some growth for this character.
Hall often explores relationships that cross class boundaries ([b:For Real|40726183|For Real (Spires, #3)|Alexis Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530809160l/40726183._SY75_.jpg|45123759], [b:Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake|55533831|Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake (Winner Bakes All, #1)|Alexis Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610495934l/55533831._SY75_.jpg|86199564]), but in this case he makes the kind of trashy Essex folks this idealized naive child-like primitive people, it's super simplified and two-dimensional. I am all for the sharp, insightful dissection of the upper classes but making lower class characters child-like and simple is just not great. (Though very reminiscent of E.M. Forster's characterization of the love interest in [b:Maurice|3103|Maurice|E.M. Forster|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361934128l/3103._SX50_.jpg|2394184], in sharp contrast to the self-loathing and pathetic academic love interest).
I adore Alexis Hall's writing but this was not for me.
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
She made Darian sound so stupid and silly. And the Essex accent I could of done without. Just ok
Love it. Saved by the audiobook. Biting, clever wit I’ve come to expect with Alexis Hall, but this was more solemn. I didn’t realize I needed that. The narrator was so good, but he sounded older than 28. Idk I guess he captured the curmudgeon well.
I have so many thoughts:
- I couldn’t put it down.
- it made me ache in a way a Romance hasn’t in a long time.
- I felt seen in Ash’s character, to a certain degree. I need to read it again, so much of what he described felt validating and I felt slightly less alone.
- protect Darian and Ash at all costs. Let glitter pirates shine.
- I totally thought this was going to be a figure skating Romance, and when no figure skating happened like a 1/4 of the way in (far too long to still anticipate it), I finally looked closer at the cover. They are not wearing skates.
I have so many thoughts:
- I couldn’t put it down.
- it made me ache in a way a Romance hasn’t in a long time.
- I felt seen in Ash’s character, to a certain degree. I need to read it again, so much of what he described felt validating and I felt slightly less alone.
- protect Darian and Ash at all costs. Let glitter pirates shine.
- I totally thought this was going to be a figure skating Romance, and when no figure skating happened like a 1/4 of the way in (far too long to still anticipate it), I finally looked closer at the cover. They are not wearing skates.
Just, yeah. The *happiest sigh*.
I absolutely loved this. I can sort of see why one wouldn't, kind of - it's not the kind of book where you immediately connect with the characters, and the writing isn't typical for this genre. I've seen people call it pretentious, but it's really, really not. God, it's gorgeous. At least I think so.
I actually have four more unread Alexis Hall books on my reader - have had them for ages, in some cases, but - hm, how to explain this. I had started two of them and actually really liked them, but then I wasn't sure whether I would like them all the way to the end (I don't know whether I am the only one who does that - I am aware it's not exactly rational) and so I stopped. Reading all the great reviews didn't help either, but this time? Reading his Twitter made me like him so much that I felt confident to actually read the whole thing and *I am so glad I did that*. This is a lovely, lovely story that had me thinking about it all the time when I couldn't read it, and that feeling? I've missed it so much for the last couple of weeks.
I'm grateful for this book, for the way Ash's depression and anxiety were depicted, for how he and Darian inexplicably are great together and it makes sense because it doesn't, and for the last quarter that hurt and then made me smile so much. I really loved this. You know, in case you couldn't tell.
(Good writing and a wonderful love story are my biggest weakness.)
I absolutely loved this. I can sort of see why one wouldn't, kind of - it's not the kind of book where you immediately connect with the characters, and the writing isn't typical for this genre. I've seen people call it pretentious, but it's really, really not. God, it's gorgeous. At least I think so.
I actually have four more unread Alexis Hall books on my reader - have had them for ages, in some cases, but - hm, how to explain this. I had started two of them and actually really liked them, but then I wasn't sure whether I would like them all the way to the end (I don't know whether I am the only one who does that - I am aware it's not exactly rational) and so I stopped. Reading all the great reviews didn't help either, but this time? Reading his Twitter made me like him so much that I felt confident to actually read the whole thing and *I am so glad I did that*. This is a lovely, lovely story that had me thinking about it all the time when I couldn't read it, and that feeling? I've missed it so much for the last couple of weeks.
I'm grateful for this book, for the way Ash's depression and anxiety were depicted, for how he and Darian inexplicably are great together and it makes sense because it doesn't, and for the last quarter that hurt and then made me smile so much. I really loved this. You know, in case you couldn't tell.
(Good writing and a wonderful love story are my biggest weakness.)
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honest and real.
I get nervous about romance novels that involve mental health-related storylines. One runs the risk of clichés, platitudes, savior complexes, &c.
Glitterland gets it flawlessly and heedlessly right. Alexis Hall doesn't pull any punches and writes the experience of depression and anxiety with a grainy materiality that would have made Barthes proud.
It was cathartic and validating to read this while going through my own depressive valley. I've made a note to reach for Glitterland again during my next depressive swing.
I get nervous about romance novels that involve mental health-related storylines. One runs the risk of clichés, platitudes, savior complexes, &c.
Glitterland gets it flawlessly and heedlessly right. Alexis Hall doesn't pull any punches and writes the experience of depression and anxiety with a grainy materiality that would have made Barthes proud.
It was cathartic and validating to read this while going through my own depressive valley. I've made a note to reach for Glitterland again during my next depressive swing.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Honestly. What is it about grocery stores?
I did love this, and really really found the attention to detail in the description to the experience of depression a little too relatable (in a good way). Also, all romance novels should include recipes.
I did love this, and really really found the attention to detail in the description to the experience of depression a little too relatable (in a good way). Also, all romance novels should include recipes.
Ash was kind of being a pretentious dick. Now that doesn’t mean he deserved to be outed in the way Niall did. Boy Niall needs some work. 😳i understand he’s been put in some really bad positions but still. He deserves to work through those issues with a professional. Darrian was amazing. He knew what he was about and what he deserved!! I loved his flamboyance!!