You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
MM
Single POV
Romance
Grumpy/sunshine
Mental health rep
Golden retriever too good for this world
TW: depression, historical self harm
Rating: 4.5/5 - I will most likely reread this one
Single POV
Romance
Grumpy/sunshine
Mental health rep
Golden retriever too good for this world
TW: depression, historical self harm
Rating: 4.5/5 - I will most likely reread this one
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I got this because I heard the audio version was brilliant. I have to agree. I devoured this book up in two days. It made me smile, laugh and get a bit emotional. I loved the hopefulness that was sprinkled throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Addiction
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I struggled a bit with the writing, especially when eyeball reading. The audio helped drastically (which I definitely recommend). Loved Darian. He was such an endearing character. Loved Ash too - even when he was challenging.
Bonus scenes included in this version of Glitterland:
Bonus scenes included in this version of Glitterland:
- Aftermath - Felt like an epilogue of sorts. A less abrupt ending to Glitterland.
- Shadowland - Max & Niall (Max's stag night). This made me emphatic toward Niall. Gave a different perspective to his character because I honestly hated him in Glitterland.
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mixed feelings with this book. I thought the representation of depression was well done, almost as good as BoJack Horseman. I liked to also see Ash slowly challenging some of his ideas and thoughts, and I loved seeing him be just vulnerable (that actually made me cry). But, it's hard to ignore how awful Ash can be, mainly how classist and fatphobic he sounds at some points. With the first, I'm quite sure Alexis Hall does not agree with the character when he says the things he says. With the second I'm less sure, because fatphobia is still a socially acceptable type of discrimination, especially when it's "I don't care how the rest look, but I don't want to be fat". It's very disappointing that the characters never challenge this idea, especially because it was all mixed with it being the reason to reject a specific antidepressants that seem to be effective for Ash. Also, while Darian is often against some of the statements Ash makes (and, especially, that Niall does), and is not afraid to offer a different point of view, in the case of the fatphobia he agrees with Ash. Maybe Alexis Hall used to have fatphobic ideas and with time they changed those (the book is more than 10 years old), or maybe they didn't, and now Hall writes and publishes books with fat characters because it makes them look good, and there's a market for them... Maybe they never were fatphobic, and were just showing how imperfect Ash and Darian are. I guess we can't really know, or at least, I didn't find any clarification made by Hall regarding this.
All in all, I'm glad I only read this book after having already read other books by this author, which are much better than Glitterland. Otherwise, maybe I would have thought their books weren't for me.
All in all, I'm glad I only read this book after having already read other books by this author, which are much better than Glitterland. Otherwise, maybe I would have thought their books weren't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, Classism
Loveable characters:
No