Alexis' Hall's books are very hit and miss. This one was a miss. The writing dragged and the characters were unlikable. Two stars.

Book Review
Glitterland by Alexis Hall

⚠️Triggers⚠️
- suicide ideation/attempt
- Depression
- Bipolar

Thoughts
📚 I loved the Master Chef/Brittney/movie references
📚 You cannot read this book without hearing Darian’s Essex accent in your head
📚Glitter references- glitter pirate, glitter boy, glitter land , “the universe is a glitterball” 🪩(points cause the title fits perfectly)
📚 I love Ash-raw and real and flawed and vulnerable
📚 I love Darian- self assured, happy, and secure in himself

Quote
“Depression simply is. It has no beginning and no end, no boundaries and no world outside itself. It is the first, the last, the only, the alpha and the omega. Memories of better times die upon its desolate shores. Voices drown in its seas. The mind becomes its own prisoner. “

**THIS**

My depressive, anxious, suicide survivor self felt SEEN.
There were soo many more quotes, more phrases that made me FEEL.
Alexis Hall deftly provides prose to the thoughts that spiral in my head on my bad days- no easy feat when I have spent years trying to articulate them to therapists and myself.

Overall
This book feels like hope. Hope for love, hope for mental well being, and hope for happiness. You, me, Ash, Darian… we all deserve it.

Thanks to @sourcebookscasa and @netgalley for my copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

While this was most definitely a predictable book, it is really fun and effervescent. A solid purchase for many collections.

I am really conflicted on this one, because the writing was amazingly metaphorical for a romance (I find they're often more straight to the point) and the character development was great, but something about it fell flat for me.

I don't want to demean any of the representation in here, because I can't really speak to it, but the way the character kind of suddenly fixed his life felt a bit sudden to me and almost like he was 'saved' by a love interest.

Overall, I definitely want to read more from Alexis Hall, but I didn't love this one.

Glitterland by Alexis Hall is a contemporary romance. Once the golden boy of the English literary scene, now a clinically depressed writer of pulp crime fiction, Ash Winters has given up on hope, happiness, and—most of all—himself. He lives his life between the cycles of his illness, haunted by the ghosts of other people's expectations. Then a chance encounter throws him into the path of Essex-born Darian Taylor. Flashy and loud, radiant and full of life, Darian couldn't be more different...and yet he makes Ash laugh, reminding him of what it's like to step beyond the boundaries of his anxiety. But Ash has been living in his own shadow for so long that he can no longer see a way out. Can a man who doesn't trust himself ever trust in happiness? And how can someone who doesn't believe in happiness ever fight for his own?

Glitterland grabbed my attention and emotions and refused to let me do anything else until I finished the book. I thought the description and explanation of how Ash felt and what he was going through felt very honest and was told with respect and caring for those that might have gone through something similar or know someone who has. The honest look at his thoughts, and not only how he felt but how it affected those around him all felt very real. The push and pull of Ash's mental state, his friendships, and how he thought others thought about him was so raw and real to me that I felt like I really knew him. I felt like most of the characters that had a part to play in this story were very well developed, and I would love to revisit many of them. I really enjoyed Darian as a character, and his group of family and friends as well. This is yet another fantastic read from Hall, and I cannot wait to see what might come next.

Glitterland is a heartfelt romance with an honest exploration of mental health.

Absolutely sparkling. I had forgotten i'd already read this book but that didn't matter. It was just as wonderful the second time through. Ash and Darian snag your early on and don't let go. I'm happy a new generation will find this fantastic book!

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre/tropes: fiction, queer romance, mental health, LGBTQ, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine
CW/TW: bipolar disorder, attempted suicide (recollection), anxiety, panic attacks

Ash is a successful author who hides behind snide remarks and witty comments to keep people at a distance. He meets Darian at a club one night, they have a one-night stand and he thinks he’ll never see this flamboyant “glitter pirate” again. Wrong. He shows up to his book signing to give him an earful and from there the most unusual relationship Ash has ever had in his life blossoms.

At first it’s all physical for Ash. The two are such opposites in temperament and personality, yet Darian slips past his defenses. Ash is uptight and anxiety-ridden to Darian’s almost childlike joy and optimism. Darian’s comfortable in his own skin whereas Ash feels constrained by his.

Why do I love this? For one, the banter! It’s Hall’s special gift, and what made me a fan. Two, the conscientiousness about capturing mental health in a respectful and thoughtful way. I think what’s written here is true to the characters and one version of approach. Darian might come off as naive about the challenges of being with Ash, but he wants the chance to be there for him and love him. Three, and one that didn’t occur to me until my reread, Ash’s best friend Niall is given space for his feelings as he was there with him at his lowest and scariest. Niall’s the reality check of Ash’s mental health needs. I appreciated Hall also acknowledging the toll on those who witness their friends who’ve been through the worst and the precarious recovery. There’s the constant worry and need to exert some control to protect their friends.

Ash and Darian are two of my favorite characters ever thanks to their chemistry and banter. While the subject matter is serious and heavy at times, the story’s written with much affection and infused with humor. It pulls you right in rooting for this unlikely coupling!

Thanks to @netgalley & @sourcebookscasa for my review copy. This is my honest review.

This book was not for me. I couldn't get into it because the dialect was making it hard to read, but I think that's just a me problem. I didn't have an emotional attachment to any of the characters and didn't really care what happened to them. Some quotes at the end struck me the wrong way, and overall it just wasn't working for me. I think I'll still read other books by this author as I know this was originally published several years ago, but there were just no redeeming factors for me here.

Honestly, I’m not entirely sure I can find the words to convey how much I adored this book and it’s characters!

Glitterland is a m/m love story about a mentally Ill writer and a glittery sunshine pirate from Essex. Two people so polar opposite that they shouldn’t work, but they do in the most beautiful way!

Darian, the most precious cinnamon roll of a gaudy flamboyant male model, was truly a fantastically well written character. I honestly can’t imagine any other character being able to cut through the noise of Ash, our manic depressive academic. But he does and I soaked up every word!

I’ve read many books written by Alexis Hall at this point and was in awe of how unique his writing felt in this book. The illusion of time, the pull and push of reality, the way he wrote Ash’s mental illness was real, raw, heartbreaking, and honest. I truly don’t see myself moving on from this one anytime soon!

All in all, this was lovely. This story hurts, it’s painful a lot of the time, it comes with some HEFTY content warnings, but all of that is balanced so beautifully with hope and I think Hall did such a wonderful job with that balance!

This was a fun quick read. Overall the plot was ok, nothing special but what made this book soo good was the representation of mental health. Honestly one of the best books I’ve seen tackling a person who has anxiety/manic depression/bipolar. Ash is wonderfully complex and we get a lot of internal monologue about what’s it’s like to be him on his good days and bad. For example how stressful it is to even contemplate going to the grocery for a list of items which causes an all day spin of thoughts. It was also nice to get his best friend/former boyfriend’s perspective on what it was like for him as he waded through Ash’s mental health needs as well. Even though he was a complete ass at one point, he had the space to have his feelings and come to terms with how it changed his life back then and for them to discuss and move forward without lingering resentment or guilt on either side.

I love opposites attract and add in some mental illness and its so relatable. Ash is a successful writer who also suffers from anxiety and depression. But you wouldn't know it from his bespoke suits and his rigid temperament. He is completely detached from everyone but just happens upon a glittery looking pirate and his feels start to work again.
Nothing more fun to read for me than a reluctant Darcyish uptight character enchanted by a cute hilarious one with an adorable accent. A MC that just doesn't want the romance but it keeps happening. Or they don't quite understand or believe that romance is happening to them. Definitely don't believe they deserve it or the happiness that it is bringing. The banter between them is my favorite since Ash has a very dry humor and he's snappy and Darian, his glitter pirate just laughs and holds him closer. Like he is a silly grumpy cat that needs more snuggles.
There was definitely a lot of open door steam and talk of suidice and self harm so be aware if those trigger or aren't things you want to read about.
I have read a lot of his books and I have enjoyed them all but so far this may be my favorite! The chemistry between these two made me want more chapters!

Thank you sourcebookscasa and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

While I did enjoy this one, I found the writing to be a tad confusing. As a non-native English speaker, I found Darian's Essex accent SO difficult to read! I had to work twice as hard to decipher what he was saying, and as this book is mostly dialogue and scenes between Ash and Darian, that made me enjoy it slightly less.

I enjoyed seeing the development of Ash and Darian's relationship, but I feel like I never really cared about them as characters.

I sometimes struggle with single POV, but much of Alexis Hall’s work is written that way, and I think it is essential here. If we were infused with Darian’s POV, the despair, darkness, and depth (wow, alliteration) of Ash’s narration would be less raw and resonate less.

I admire the subtle commentary on classism. I mean, the characters are overly classist, but the point Hall makes is not broadcast, but rather left to the reader to figure out. I do wish I had listened to an audio version, as I’m sure it would enhance Darian’s character.

I had put off reading this book for a long time, I think because I was scared of feeling so much. Alexis Hall does that to me. Tonally, I was strongly reminded of For Real, still my favorite of his books. It makes sense, as they are part of the same series.

Finished in tears with a smile. My version included Aftermath.

I really enjoyed the whole opposites attract aspect of the book, even though Ash was a hard character to like. He was the grumpy to Darian's sunshine. This book dealt with some hard topics such as bi-polar disorder and severe depression, but Alexis Hall's writing did it in a way you could understand. They may not write the steamiest books, but there is always excellent writing and the stories suck you in so you almost forget about wanting the physical intimacy on page. Emotional intimacy is another story and you could feel the prevalence of it, especially with Ash trying his hardest despite his mental illness. I picked up Glitterland because it had such raving reviews and I'm glad I took a chance on it.

I have come to the conclusion that Alexis Hall books are just not for me. The previous two I read were good enough for 3 stars. This one... wow. The writing, the dialect. I couldn't take it.

Thank you for the gifted e-book.

A great M/M love story with lots of steam.

One of the MC’s has a strong Essex accent and the way it was written, it took me some time to read any time they spoke. It drove me a little crazy at times and definitely made this a slower read for me.

This one has some TW’s around depression. There is a lot of talk around one MC’s mental health issues and how it relates to this new relationship.

It was sweet watching these two pair up and to follow along on their journey of growth and change.

Loved it!

I fell I love with Alexis Hall through early books like “Glitterland,” which is now in re-release. As I read it anew, I wondered if his debut novel would live up to the memory of my thrill. Could it equal his current releases? Yes, as a predictor of a stellar career, “Glitterland” foretells many elements the author has now polished.

Each character has a growth arc. We meet Ash after he’s suffered a debilitating mental breakdown and panics completing basic daily tasks. Since he no longer trusts his perception of reality, how can he trust others? Or as he thinks of it, “I was nothing but a ghost hunter, chasing the wraith of the man I used to be. A beachcomber of my own detritus.” Only sexual intimacy seems to offer concrete proof of his existence; its intense sensations overcome his numbing self-doubt. But when he can actually feel the simple kindnesses offered by his hook up, Darian, Ash realizes he will need to fight his ghosts to develop their connection. “There was little I feared more than happiness, that faithless whore who waited always between madness and emptiness,” Ash thinks to himself. Alexis Hall’s words help us experience Ash’s state of mind.

“Such a fragile thing, wanting to please someone else. Such endless scope for disappointment and failure. How much easier just to take,” Ash informs us. Yet, while Darian appears simple, he hass overcome his own difficulties and developed fortitude. Is it enough to endure the fearfulness of mental illness, as well as Ash’s selfishness? I was caught in the web of their plight.

Mr. Hall also develops rounded secondary characters for foils. Ash has a bitter relationship with his ex-lover and one true friend, Niall, who Ash characterizes as follows. “We’d been friends, lovers, partners and now this. Pilgrim and burden.” Ash has lost self-respect and respect for Niall, who allowed Ash to become an obligation. However, their eventual truce is lovely.

Class issues between Ash and Darian, though not directly addressed, foreshadow Mr. Hall’s career as an author who persists in tackling thorny social problems. Ash doesn’t recognize he’s a snob, while Darian, who knows his own value, proves the more mature. I love how Mr. Hall never preaches, allowing us to draw obvious conclusions.

From the extensive quotes, I clearly luxuriate in Alexis Hall’s ability to reveal many elements of human nature which I may suspect, but have never expressed, certainly not as eloquently. His prose is a glorious dance of concepts portrayed in images.

Though they strive for a “live and let live” philosophy, Mr. Hall’s characters devalue one another and themselves, falling short of their ideals. But each character is allowed the dignity to make his own mistakes, grow from his own consequences and come to appreciate his own strengths.

Is “Glitterland” less refined than some of his later works and are his characters less full formed? Perhaps, yet it still praise-worthy to find Alexis “Hall”mark skill set is already on full display. I’m glad I was initiated at the beginning of his spectacular career. Now I find I must read every new novel to see how he has sharpened his craft.

Alexis Hall can surely write interesting characters and Ash is one of the most interesting characters he wrote.
Since the first pages I felt his anxiety, his fears and it was not easy to feel so strongly for a character.
It was a travel from very dark places to some lighter, to the opportunity of happyness.
Will Ash and Dorian have their HEA ? I don't know if this is the right question.
i want them to be happy and Ash to feel better.
This is very funny and heart-wrenching at the same time. I laughed and was moved.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I love Alexis Hall, and most of the time I love his books (there have been a few I’ve read that haven’t been my faves, like Rosaline Palmer, but it’s not bad, just not a fave)… I know this is either his first or one of his first, being re-released for its 10th anniversary… and his writing has really evolved in 10 years.

This one is a miss for me. I struggled to make it through without DNF - I have this problem with DNF’ing books (I don’t quit books like I can easily do for movies and TV shows), so I stuck with it as long as I could because it was under 300 pages, but it was nearly 300 pages of “woe-is-me, I have bipolar and no one likes me so I better have a lot of random schmex and treat everyone around me like trash”! His more recent mental health rep books (like Paris) have been excellent and even though I love my steamy books, I would take the closed door Boyfriend Material over this (and I really love a great, steamy MM. Boyfriend Material was my first of his books a few years ago and even though the fade to black infuriated me at the time, I see now that this one’s scenes are total overkill).

After humiliation of his sweet beau and his poor ex (who he never wanted to lay eyes on again) showing up at a wedding making him feel bad about himself again, and a whole crowd of former school mates harshing on him about his mental breakdown - ick. I took a break after 75% but did go back, and it did redeem itself and get a bit better at the end, raising my rating from 2 to 3.

I was disheartened to read this book from a beloved, favourite author of mine (so much that I honestly can’t believe it’s his work), and I definitely cannot recommend it. Try his newer works like Paris Daillencourt and one of my top ‘22 reads, A Lady for a Duke - some of the best books around! I do still look forward to his next new release! I will not dig back into his back catalogue anymore…

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, and this is my honest (sorry!!) feedback.