Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall is as close to a perfect read as there is. I might be biased because I'm a huge fan of Alexis Hall's writing but I don't think I am. It's not a long book but it packs quite the punch. It's quiet, lovely and unforgettable. It's the perfect book to read on a rainy day spent at home while surrounded by your loved ones.

This title has two novellas in one. The first one waiting for flood is about Edwin. Edwin who has got left by Marius after a 10 year relationship has difficulty moving on. The second one chasing the light is marius’ story.
Both stories have four fully formed beautiful characters each with a back story and inner life so lovingly etched. This is one of my favourite romances I have read and I have read many. I just love how different each and every alexis hall character is. While the first novella waiting for flood is quiet, the second one is more powerful as the main character has a lot of things to work through. The second one also has quite a bit of sex which is different from Alexis hall’s more recent work but I loved how naturally he writes the scenes! Highly recommend.

I’ve read Waiting For the Flood a couple of years ago so was very interested in the new content. The first 35% was old content but the rest was all brand new. The new story took on Edwin’s ex boyfriend Marius. Marius’s love story was good. Though I felt that perhaps Marius should have seen someone professionally that specialized in grief work. I also thought Leo was a great partner for Marius, perhaps a bit too forgiving. Overall, a really good story that I enjoyed reading. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

First, thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the E-ARC of Waiting for the Flood!

Alexis Hall is one of my absolute favs these days, so I was thrilled to get Early Access to Waiting for the Flood and Chasing the Light. These two novellas complement each other so perfectly. Edwin's story is a beautiful journey of overcoming challenges and finding yourself and love, and so is Marius's.

I was surprised by the fact that I enjoyed Marius's story more, especially having read Edwin's book, but I think that's what was so great about this! Hall expertly told Edwin and Marius's stories, which complemented each other and let us see two sides of a break-up where they each find love with different people.

My only criticism is that I wanted more of each of there stories, but I always want more Alexis Hall!

🥰😭🥰😭🥰😭 Sheer perfection.

Spires has always been my absolute favorite of Alexis Hall’s books since I first read the series in early 2021. The atmosphere, romance and heart in the writing is something special. To now get a new companion story with Chasing the Light is such a treat and is the perfect bookend to Waiting For the Flood. If you liked Glitterland, the first in the series, you will absolutely love this one.

Water plays a role in meeting someone new in both of these stories and becomes a metaphor for where the MC is in their lives. In Waiting, it’s a flood in Oxford where Edwin is lonely and lost after his broken relationship with Marius and meets civil engineer Adam. They have tea and conversation and Adam draws him out and it’s gentle and lovely. In Chasing, it’s a frozen river in winter where Marius sprains his ankle and meets Leo who lives on a narrowboat on the Thames. Leo comes to his aid, feeds him, f*cks him and grabs ice from the towpath to help with the swelling. Marius stays on the boat while he heals and feelings happen between them. Both Edwin and Marius are stuck in different ways and the resolution is so beautiful it made me tear up.

Hall effortlessly blends dialogue that feels real with inner thoughts, insecurities, doubts, confused feelings and things the MC’s are afraid to tell the other person, but the reader knows about. It creates an intimacy and hooks you where you instantly fall in love with everyone. And the way complimentary feelings are so deftly incorporated like fear, courage, desire, doubt, humor, sass, kindness & angst is the Hall Magic I love and that makes all of his books distinctly his.

But I think the thesis statement for the Spires series, and especially this book, is that Love has nothing to do with Worth–Everyone is Worthy and Deserving of Love–no matter how rude, broken or messed up you are. It’s the importance of being seen by someone who gets you, who fits with you. And it’s about accepting life’s conditions in order to move on with the freedom to trust someone new. It’s the truth in this that becomes so relatable and endearing in these companion stories. I absolutely loved it and can't recommend it enough.

I also caught a few Spires cameos & mentions: Coal (For Real), Ash, Max (Glitterland), Lionel Dance of Jarndyce & Dance (Pansies)

**Thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC**

- "Waiting for the Flood": I had listened to the audiobook before, and was excited to now read the edited version! Waiting For The Flood is a very short, but still a very intense and sweet story. The characters are lovable, and as all Alexis Hall books there are a lot of emotions in the story, you'll be happy and sad, but overall go out of the story with a very happy feeling. The writing is slow and very poetic at some times.
- one small thing I was not happy about (not added in the public review as I hope this still can be changed before publication): this is a republication, and as far as I know the story got small edits, so I was very surprised there was still a Harry Potter reference in the book (Adams family is compared to the Weasleys). The author has stated he does not support JKRs transphobic beliefs, and does not use HP references anymore in the newer book, so I would really appreciated if in this republication this reference would be removed!!!
- "Chasing The Light" This story is promoted as additional Novella about Marius from "Waiting for the Flood" but actually is much longer than the first story XD
I was very curious to get to know the character Marius, and had imagined him completely different from how Edwin described him in Waiting for the Flood. We get to know a very insecure and unhappy Marius, who has stuff to deal with and so far has not opened up to anyone about it, which impacted his relationship to Edwin and his parents. After the chance encounter with Leo, the story is set over just a few days and we see how Marius opens up a bit. The characters are lovable, and even though it still is a short book, you'll go through all the emotions. I definitely recommend to read this one!

**Review for the rerelease ARC for Waiting for the Flood and its new companion piece Chasing the light**

I don’t even know how many times I’ve reread this quiet, carefully stunning novella. And I didn’t hesitate holding it again, like an old friend or a lover, trusting that, as always, it would unspool and reveal another nugget of beauty or quiet wisdom worth witnessing.

The rerelease of this second instalment of Alexis Hall’s beloved Spires series brings back the story of not just Edwin and Adam from Waiting, but also unveils the internal world of mercurial Marius, who was thought to have grown tired of loving and listening and preserving, and a man whose sparkly warm, quiet and slowed down life he crashed into on a frosty and dark Christmas night: Leo Dance.

These two, Waiting and Chasing, are stories about taking care to really listen and see, and the value and restorative impact of truly being witnessed and loved for all that you are. Your hesitations, silences, imperfections, fears, savoury and unsavoury truths, neediness and push-awayness, even and especially your pissyness. Without editing, without beautifying or seeking to change or control, shackle or shoo.

These are also stories about the importance of history and love shared even when it doesn’t lead to a happily ever after. Of attachments that linger and last beyond a goodbye, in memories gathering dust, empty spaces where shared things used to be, the quiet knowledge of how someone did or did not like their tea, how they sounded and looked - and looked at you - in a moment of unguarded ecstasy.

To look for a fig in winter might be the act of a madman - and goodness have I seen a lot of hesitation in some parts of the readership as to whether people might ever thaw to the inexcusable Marius - but maybe, just maybe sometimes we find the richest beauty, and the most sensuous of pleasures, in the darkest, barest moments in the dead of a frosty cold winter’s night. Even if we have to slip and fall on our arses before getting to them.

And as always, Alexis has things to observe about identity, creativity, family, justice and society in the kindest, most clear sighted of ways.

I don’t want to say too much to spoil your pleasure of gradual discovery here. Suffice to say that as always, Alexis made me feel ALL the things. The way these stories unspool and unravel and get woven together again in the most satisfying, most right and most cathartic way I could ever have imagined 🩷 My heart!

I CANNOT wait for my physical annotated copy in February 2024!

Not Boyfriend Material, but A Lady for a Duke is my favorite Alexis Hall book. By far. Its tenderness and the heartbreaking moments imbued with so much love make this book a gem.

I know Alexis Hall writes lots of different romances, and most of them are witty and funny, or even over the top. But he’s at his best when he writes romance without the com in it. Or maybe even more when (some) trauma is added, the so called romtrom.

I got an ARC for Waiting for the Flood, but the ARC actually contains two novellas, Waiting for the Flood and Chasing the Light.

Waiting for the Flood is a soft, sweet, and quiet romance, and I really liked it. But the real gem in this book is Chasing the Light. It’s about two broken men, Marius, who always seems to do everything wrong, and Leo, who has broken with his past. Even though this is just a novella, I treasured the character growth in this story. Sometimes, Alexis Hall’s wit shone through, but there was also so much love and attention for self care in this novella.

Like I said, Alexis Hall is at his best when he writes romances, and I hope he will write far more of them. Especially when he tones down the com part!

Actual rating Waiting for the Flood 3.5 stars.
Actual rating Chasing the Light 4.5 stars.

Thank you so much, Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the ARC. I hope someday Marius and Leo will get their own book, too, with that beautiful cover!

Edwin is heartbroken over his failed relationship with Marius. Adam offers Edwin a hope. Will they be able to help each other. Marius meanwhile meets Leo. Will he find his happinesee too?

A beautiful love story. Very wonderful and moving writing. The characters are terrific and so complicated. Tender and sweet.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

How did I not know about this series? It was only until it was (pre) re-released from Sourcebooks Casablanca that I discovered this, and I didn’t know this was the second book in the series… I didn’t read the first book… That aside, I was stunned by the weight of this book. It’s an emotional piece and while I HIGHLY recommend reading the first book, I was still able to follow along with the back story decently enough.

Edwin is lost and lonely, living seemingly without purpose after a broken relationship left him shattered. Now, preparing for an impending flood, a sweet Environment Agency worker sweeps in and saves him. Adam is so different from anyone he’s known and the two continue finding themselves together.

But, there is so much more to this story than a potential second chance at love. The other party in the failed previous relationship is a very prevalent part of this book.

This was full of self discovery and such beautiful self growth. I adored the characters and the complexity of their stories.