Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5
Spice .5🌶️/5

This book was really sweet, and I loved getting to watch people find love after being hurt. There was a lot about what it means to be vulnerable and how that affects your ability to make connection. It was also incredibly creative to see both Edwin’s and Marius’s story. It’s not exactly an all happy, everything works out perfect romance, so if you’re looking for that, this ain’t it.

Five Emojis to Describe this Book: ☔️🌈⛵️👷‍♂️*insert purple cowboy boot emoji*

Slow paced, character based masterpiece from Alexis Hall. Very British and heartfelt LGBTQ romance that Alexis is known for. Less laughs in this one than some of their others.

I absolutely love their writing so working through backlist and all titles written and came across this one. I know there is a corresponding series but you can read this as a standalone.

Because I read this via NetGalley as an ARC, there were a bunch of things I wasn't aware of going in: first, that this is a reissue (/recover) of an older book, second, that the older book is actually now combined with a novella of similar length written much later. I wonder if this will be more clear in the published versions and not the ARC pre-published setup? But I'm glad someone mentioned it to me just prior to starting!

Waiting for the Flood is a set of two novellas in Hall's "Spires" stories and having recently read Glitterland I'm still feeling the vibe of an unlikeable/messy protagonist with issues and hangups regarding sex. It's fun for me to think about how fictional people live their lives and relationships at least partially defined in what they want or demand or run from in the bedroom (or elsewhere). I enjoyed the sort of loneliness of post-breakup Edwin meeting a new man and feeling very, "...maybe? Surely not. --oh. Oh, okay" while trying to come to terms with who he was not-quite alone, and I enjoyed in the second novella the MESS of Edwin's ex Marius and his bad choices as a self-protective super defense squad. It's unhealthy and frustrating and interesting to me, but Edwin's appearance almost felt out of character, to the point I had thought a TON more time passed than seemed to-- but no, only in the real world and not the book world.

But overall this was enjoyable, although I liked Glitterland better, so I'll keep reading Spires books if I happen upon them.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for review!

If Alexis Hall writes it, I am going to read it. This re-release is the first time I have read his Spires series and I love the balance of seriousness and sweet fun, it feels so real. I didn't realize when I first started reading it that in this version of Waiting for the Flood, we get two stories for the price of one! We first get Edwin's story, post-break up with Marius, his long time partner. Watching Edwin learn to trust himself and trust a handsome government working who has come to his small town to help protect it from flood water was so sweet and honest. Imagine my surprise that once their story ended we got to see how Marius deals with their break-up and Edwin's new relationship. His meet-(kinda) cute with Leo is hysterical and watching their banter grow is fantastic!!

Not me sobbing my way through another Alexis Hall book. Oh no. I love their books because they manage to be so sweet and funny while still keeping this really solid emotional center but, that being said, I'm going to have to ask for damages for this one because ouch! Granted, it did put my little heart back together again when it was done shaking it like a dog toy, but still.

It's so easy to let your life stagnate around you when you feel trapped between your past and the person you want to be - would be if you could figure out how - and watching Edwin learn how to make that jump from who he used to be into a new, happier future where his life was moving again, and he can see how much love has been there around him the whole time, just wrecked me in the best way. And the novella about Marius, Chasing the Light, was just the perfect wrap up to both his and Edwin's stories. There's so much depth of emotion here, and this great discussion about love and why it changes sometimes and how that change can be painful while still being good.

Waiting for the Flood is one of my favourite romances. I have reread it several times, and each time I feel the story enveloping me. I am continually amazed by how much is conveyed in this short novella. The atmosphere of the book is very melancholy, and I feel like you really get to know Edwin in a quite profound way. His sadness and loneliness is palpable, and you really feel the shadow of his ex boyfriend Marius throughout. The romance with Adam is tender and gentle, and I love the hopeful ending. I am so glad this book is being re-released, because it means way more people will have the chance to discover this gem.

When I found out that the new edition would come with a longer novella companion piece about Marius, I was excited and intrigued. I never saw Marius as a villain, and was super curious to get to know him. It turns out Marius is in fact quite a difficult character in many ways. He is full of pain and self-loathing, and behaves quite atrociously. A very sharp contrast to Edwin, and to Marius’ love interest Leo in this novella.

Marius is a fascinating character, and I enjoyed his love story with Leo. My favourite part is hard to discuss without spoilers. I will say that I appreciated that there was a lot about compassion, understanding, honesty, and forgiveness in this book. That every person is worthy of being fully seen and accepted and loved. That people can live a situation very differently, and that without information or a full perspective, one can easily fill in the mental blanks in different ways. That it’s possible to come to understanding, resolution, and healing. That part gave me hope. I wish there was more of that in the world.

I recently had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook version, and I was absolutely captivated. The narration by Will Watt truly brought the story to life, with his impeccable range of voices perfectly capturing the essence of each character. His ability to convey the emotional depth and subtleties of the story added a whole new layer of engagement. The story, a touching tale of love, loss, and healing, was beautifully written, but Watt's performance elevated it to an extraordinary experience. The additional chapters and epilogue, not found in the ebook, were a delightful bonus. This audiobook is a testament to how a skilled narrator can enhance the beauty of a story.

Read from February 13th, 2024 to February 16th, 2024. Written on February 20th, 2024.

~4.5~

Second book I read by Alexis Hall and I am very pleased with the experience!

This was different from what I expected but I enjoyed it nevertheless. For starters, I was not expecting two stories in one book, especially when the "main" story was actually smaller than the novella. And I ended up loving the second story more than the first because, in the first, the whole plot felt sort of rushed, like the author was trying to stick to a page limit, and I feel that that made me lose some of the essence of the characters and the storyline. Still loved it very much!

For the second, or the novella, it felt just right in terms of pace. Great characters, good storyline, all around a really fun read. Plus, I loved that the two stories are actually entwined, made me understand the characters of Marius and Edwin so much better.

Just a little warning for some spicy content so please watch out for that! All in all, I really enjoyed reading this two-in-one story and I am very excited to see it come out today!

Signing off,
B.

(Free ARC from NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca that I chose to review after reading)

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I love Alexis Hall’s constant desire to try something new, and the fact that Waiting for the Flood is one of his older books being reissued makes that all the more impressive. While I had mixed feelings about some aspects of this, like the flowery writing, making it feel a tad alienating at times, I like what this book did overall. The little bookish references, making an ode to the form of the book itself, are welcome. And while Edwin isn’t my favorite Hall MC, I appreciated his emotional vulnerability, from the exploration of his hurt over his past relationship, to opening up to a new love with Adam. I don’t know if all these things could have come together to sustain a full novel, but as a bite-sized novella, it worked fairly well.
I also liked that Edwin’s ex got to say his piece in the companion novella, Chasing the Light. It gives a sense of how complex and heartbreaking the relationship was, and how there wasn’t really a “bad guy,” while also allowing both to move on in their own time on their own terms. This one was a much more straightforward read, without the lyricism to the writing, so I admit that gave this one a slight edge at times.
While this set of novellas is rather different, I do appreciate them for what they are. If you’re looking for some hard-hitting, yet fairly short and punchy queer reads, I’d recommend checking these out!

This is a rerelease of Waiting For The Flood with additional material: WFTF and Chasing The Light. 
In WFTF, Edwin Tully lives alone in the house he used to share with Marius, his partner of 12 years, who left him. He lives a quiet life, tending to damaged books and his crotchety neighbor. When a flood comes, it brings Adam Acre, a civil engineer who's in charge of avoiding major damage to the area. They connect over tea, sandbags and "wellies". The prose in this one is quite lyrical and a bit different in tone from more recents works by Hall. Chasing The Light is the added, longer novella that shows what happened to Marius. We find him on Christmas Eve when he flees his parents's house after seeing Edwin (and Adam) at their Christmas dinner. A dinner he wasn't expected to attend. When walking about, he slips on ice, sprains his ankle and lets his phone slip into the river and doesn't know how he'll get out of this pickle. He's rescued by Leo, a man-bun wearing bearded man who lives on a boat. The attraction is instant, Leo is lovely, but Marius is lashing out like a wounded animal - one that Leo has no problem tending to. The style of this one is more in the vein of Hall's more recent works and it's great to see the two sides of a love story that's over and how these two people find new love in their lives. A very interesting take.

Thank you, NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me early access.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting for the Flood begins with the story of Edwin. He and his ex broke up 4 years ago but he can't seem to move on. The area where he lives is about to flood and the city has brought in engineers to help with safety precautions. Adam seems to immediately take an interest to Edwin and slowly Edwin allows himself to realize that he is ready to move on and be happy.

The next part of the book is about Edwin's ex Marius. He has secrets and regrets but doesn't allow anyone in. When he falls on Christmas Eve and hurts his ankle, Leo hears his yells and offers his help. Leo lives on a boat and brings Marius aboard for a few days. In those few days, Marius begins to open up to someone completely for the first time in his life and Leo does the same bringing them together unexpectedly when neither thought they could love.

I think the issue I had with these were that I didn't really like Edwin or Marius but loved their partners. Overall they were both enjoyable short stories.

This rereleased edition of Waiting for the Flood includes the novellas Waiting for the Flood and Chasing the Light, as well as “Aftermath,” a short story epilogue. The compilation itself encompasses what happens after the dissolution of a relationship and how past relationships bleed into the beginnings of new ones.

I do so adore Alexis Hall’s writing. It truly is lovely how they craft stories and characters. If you are more familiar with the London Calling or Material World books, expect things to be a bit heavier here. There are some comedic quips and moments in Waiting for the Flood but not as much levity as in some of their newer works. This book made me think and put me in my feels.

Waiting for the Flood, the novella, is Edwin’s side of the story. Four years after Marius broke up with him, he’s still in the home they bought together, living with the ghosts of their relationship. He’s earnest and loving and lonely. And, well, there’s a flood coming, for which he is not entirely prepared. And then a giant of a ginger comes into his life. Adam is one of the engineers tasked with mitigating damage from the flood. He’s there with sandbags and pumps and wellies. And he keeps turning up in Edwin’s periphery and at his front door. As it turns out, he may be exactly what Edwin needs.

Chasing the Light is Marius’s side of the story. Marius was never entirely honest with Edwin, so when he spies his former, longtime partner along with the new boyfriend, Adam, at his parents’ home at Christmas, Marius retreats, and, well, he isn’t entirely paying attention to where he is going. Or to where he is stepping. And he manages to sprain his ankle in the dark alongside the river. And to lose his phone. And that’s not entirely how he intended to spend his Christmas Eve.

But, as luck would have it, a gentle lion of a man emerges from a narrow boat docked alongside the path. And this man, Leo, takes Marius into his home and takes care of him. Both have things from their pasts that they are not proud of, but they find acceptance in each other.

“Aftermath” is a candid glimpse into both couples’ lives months later. It’s a nice affirmation that things will be okay.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This book, Waiting for the Flood is an updated version, comprised of two novellas, Waiting for the flood and Chasing the Light, (some fun bonus material and Aftermath which is a short novella) and wow was I impressed!

<i>*An audio ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*</i>

Clearly one of Hall’s earlier works- you can see the threads of her unpolished brilliance coming together- but I enjoyed it all the same.

I wouldn't recommend starting your Alexis Hall addiction with this title because I don't think it was Hall's best (see [book:A Lady for a Duke|57007967]) but I would definitely add this to your list if you know Hall's books make you giggly and weepy all at once and need that in your life.

I have to say that i am both a fan of Alexis Hall and Novels, and this is a little jewel. Deeply uplifting and written like a dream. The perfect moving novella.

Edwin and Marius broke up. Well, Marius left. This volume gives each of them an after and reflects on how people can still connect after the end of a long term relationship.

Waiting for the Flood is a beautiful romance with an unusual setting. Edwin's house is in a flood zone, and it's flood time. Adam is an environmental engineer trying to control the flooding and failing. They connect over sandbags and cups of tea. The prose is lyrical, less frenetic than many Alexis Hall books. It's vivid and beautiful, and shockingly short. I was so surprised that it ended at 35-40% of this edition. But it's still a five star read.

Chasing the Light is the other, longer novella in this new edition. Marius (Edwin's ex, whose absence looms large for Edwin in Waiting for the Flood) falls and injures his ankle on Christmas Eve (as someone recovering from a broken ankle, I was certainly very concerned about this) and is rescued by Leo, a large man with a canal boat. This one has more of the frenetic energy I associate with Hall. Marius is a wounded animal, constantly lashing out with sarcasm, barbs, and flirting. It's a miracle that He and Leo manage to connect. It's also very satisfying in that we get to see more of Edwin and Adam (whose relationship had barely begun in the previous novella) and trust that their HEA is lasting. Still good - more of a four star read, though.

A couple of lovely novellas.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall is the second book in the Spires series, and this rerelease includes exclusive bonus material—such as the novella Chasing the Light.

I'll read just about anything Alexis Hall writes, and I'm loving the opportunity to get a closer look at his earlier works through the rerelease of this series. Both of these stories deal with heartbreak and grief (over relationships, over lost time, over sickness) and I really enjoyed the way that Hall explored that theme in different ways as each protagonist processed what they had been through and began to hope for a different future with a new partner.

It was especially fun to see the couple from the first novella appear in the second and know that they were happy and doing well.

I'm looking forward to more from this series!

“I smiled and thought of my house, too full and too empty of memories and things, half wishing the water would come and ruin it all, wash it away, and make me start again. Half wishing, but mainly terrified.”

Alexis Hall has this way of making me feel so deeply about the characters they create. Like with Glitterland, this novella feels heavier than what I’m used to from them, but I love seeing that range. It feels gritty and deep, and really captures the grief over lost relationships.

Edwin is haunted by his relationship with Mairus that had ended two years previously. He lives in the house they used to share, and it’s been difficult for him. When flooding threatens his home, his meets Adam from
The Environment Agency.

There is such a subtle chemistry between them. Edwin has become self-conscious of himself and his interests. Adam brings out a different side of Edwin, and wants to hear him speak about his interests and work. There is a mutual admiration that is really beautiful. It's a short novella that really packs a punch, It manages to tackle the grief over a failed long-term engagement and the excitement of new beginnings. Edwin and Adam just feel incredibly realistic and the conversations they have are really beautiful.

As always with Alexis Hall, I recommend reading this. I haven’t read anything by them I haven’t liked.

This republication of Waiting for the Flood is really a combo of two novellas and a short story - Waiting for the Flood, Chasing the Light, and Aftermath (as well as some other bonus content). Edwin and Marius dated for 10 years and have broken up and we get to see both of their "happily ever afters" with different people. I've never read two sort of competing novellas like this but I'm really glad that we got both stories and then the short story at the end that gives both characters closure.

As with much of Alexis Hall's contemporaries, these novellas are deeply emotional and incredibly complicated. I have to be in a certain mood for them but when I am, boy do they hit me in the feels! And as much as these are emotional, they also include a soft humor that just feels like Alexis' humor.

I perhaps didn't feel quite as connected to the characters but I think that's likely down to the fact that these are novellas so you spend less time with the characters. And because they're novellas, they are both relatively insta-lusty.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book!

Its absolutely no surprise to me that I really enjoyed this updated version of Waiting for the Flood, which is comprised of two novellas ( Waiting for the flood and Chasing the Light) as well as some bonus material and Aftermath, a short bridge novella between the two.

Hall has a way of writing the world, emotion, thoughts, feelings, truly just the tiniest details with so much heart and conviction that the writing just shoots straight to my heart. This book was no exception. I found myself quickly swept away like the flood waters of the story, falling in love with these men and the puddles they were surrounded by.

In Waiting for the Flood we focus more on Edwin and Adams story. I loved these two so much. Edwin, reeling from a heartbreaking end of a relationship with his ex Marius, is stuck in his life, unable to move forward due to his feelings of inadequacy and loss. When Edwin meets Adam, who is sunshine personified, he has to grapple with how to move forward and trust love again as the flood waters rise around him!

The second part of this book is dedicated to Marius's story. Where Adam and Edwin were so sweet and soft, so easy to fall for, Marius is harder with sharper edges, sarcasm, and the knack for being contrary just to be contrary. Marius meets Leo one fateful evening when he slips on an icy puddle and is injured. Leo coming to Marius's rescue takes him home to care for him and sparks fly. Leo has his work cut out for him as and Marius slowly begin to fall for one another and break through Marius's walls and often mean defenses!

My favorite section though was Aftermath, the bonus material, as we see how these two couples lives intersect after they have moved on. This section is healing and so lovely, don't skip it!!

In addition to having the E-RC of this book, I also had access tot the ALC and was able to immersive read this book. I have read MANY of Alexis Halls books, as a favorite author of mine, and i've really come to love AH's audiobooks. Alexis has a way of writing that is fast paced, quirky, emotion filled, and full of character. Without fail i've been impressed with the narrators chosen to perform these books, and this one is no exception!

All in all this is one I will definitely be recommending to fans of Glitterland and Alexis Halls writing!

The performance was done with multiple accents, cadences, and a real feel for WHO the character being performed is! I was transported to watery winter days and I absolutely LOVED it! highly recommend the audio and im so thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-ARC and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to enjoy this ALC!