First published in 2013, Glitterland was rereleased in 2023, and the new audiobook version comes out on January 16, 2024. A friend recommended this one to me, with the caveat that it's a lot darker than Hall's romcoms. She's not wrong: Ash, the main character, has bipolar disorder. Since the book is first person, single POV (see above) you're in his head for the entirety of the book. In addition to having BPD, Ash is also a snob, and is frequently a jerk. He's not a ~nice~ person, ⁠and engages in a lot of self-destructive behavior throughout the book. The book is a romance, and the promise of that HEA can get you through a lot, but Hall doesn't hold back.

That romance, though!! Darian, Ash's partner, is everything Ash thinks he shouldn't want: tastelessly garish, uneducated, optimistic, trusting: how can Darian be a match for Ash's cerebral, cynical self? And yet, they just work.

You may know that while I can read on-page spice, listening to it is a different story. This book is a lot more explicit than the other Alexis Hall contemporaries I've listened to, and I was honestly worried that I might not be able to handle it. But Glitterland, like the best explicit romances out there, uses the sex scenes to further the character development. Ash & Darian wouldn't be Ash & Darian without their physical intimacy.
⁠
Nicholas Boulton does an incredible job of bringing the characters to life. My Alexis Hall audiobook obsession continues.

This review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

I loved this audiobook so much. It had its flaws, but at the end of the day, I think I'd say this is my favorite Alexis Hall book. The way the characters are written is so fabulous and the interactions between them strike me as believable, at times hard to read, but always enrapturing. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

I love Alexis Hall's newer stuff and reading their older stuff is mixed for me. This had some great banter and story line but character development wasn't as strong as I expect from them now.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook!

Despite this book being written in 2013, it still feels current in 2023. The narrator did a great job between a posh accent (Ash) and an Essex accent (Darian). I feel the bipolar disorder was handled well as it often reflected my own experience with having a spouse with the same struggles. I loved Darian's care and forgiveness of Ash when Ash's brain betrays him.

The new release of the audiobook includes additional stories which I think add a lot to the story. The interaction between Max and Nial (sorry, this was an audiobook so I may be spelling the names wrong) gave a good bit of background for the first scene plus the friendships and the excerpt of the Glass mystery novel was silly which I appreciate.

This is book 1 in a series of semi-related stand-alones. This is being rereleased with a new publisher and more books will be added to the series.

This is really more a book about mental health and coping than romance. There is romance, but it is bigger than that.

Ash is unlovable. He doesn't even love himself. He is bipolar and is convinced he cannot interact with people, else he'll be triggered. He basically has only one person in his life, his friend and former lover, Niall. While out for a stag night he was drug to, he meats Darian. Darian is everything Ash is not- outgoing, flamboyant, fun. Ash feels an immediate connection, despite Darian being the antithesis of his type. But Ash quickly realizes that he is actually happy when Darian is around.

I loved this so much. Ash is flawed, and while I cannot claim to know what it is like being bipolar and suicidal, I think everyone can relate to worrying that no one will accept your flaws. The journey of self discovery and acceptance made this so much more than your typical romance.

Nicholas Boulton narrates the audiobook and does a great job. I listened at 1.5 speed.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Glitterland is a beautiful contemporary romance. 1. Two characters that don't seem like they should work at all and yet by the end I'm fully convinced. 2. A POV character that is knowable/believably difficult/an absolute mess/trying. 3. A mix of levity and intensity that allows us to engage with the very real topics presented both safely and warmly.
Romance can be deep and serious and difficult and gorgeous and funny and safe and entertaining all at the same time if it wants to be, Glitterland certainly is.
Our POV character Ash is bipolar and depressed and is reckoning with his life post-institutionalization when we meet him. His thoughts are dripping and morose and honestly his is a difficult head to be in. The narrator does a fantastic job embodying this character, and what a tall order! Of course, it helps that he has a gorgeous, sonorous voice that can support the at times over-the-top poetic melancholy of Ash's inner voice. The characterization is done with such care, it is absolutely compelling. I've listened to the audio for a good number of books with this narrator and this is certainly one of my favorite performances of his. Really well done.

By far and away, my favorite Alexis Hall book to date. I loved every single second of this book. To be honest, I picked this one up solely based on the other books in this series. When I read the trigger warnings for this one, I thought it was going to be too much for me (I'm suffering from depression and only try to read "happy" romance). But I found the two polar opposite characters balanced it all out for me. 100/10 for me.

I certainly appreciate that this book is beloved by many, but this missed the mark for me. Most of the characters came across as shallow and selfish, which made me not really care what happened to them. The main character Ash was not likable in the least, and had no real redeeming qualities. He treated his friends and Darian exceptionally poorly despite leaning on them quite heavily. Especially Darian, who he insulted in seemingly every interaction and yet still demanded affection from. Ash took very little responsibility for his actions. The final nail in the coffin for me was when Ash and Darian discussed an anti-anxiety medication that Ash refused to take because of the side effect of weight gain, saying that it would be better to have debilitating anxiety than to be fat. Maybe this book worked in 2013, but going into 2024, I think this way of thinking would be best left behind. Regarding the audio, I thought the theatrical performance of Darian’s voice was too over the top and almost mocking of Darian’s character. It distracted from his dialogue at times. The rest of the narration was fine, just this character was done wrong.

I highly enjoyed the mental health aspects fitted into the story.
Very rare to find Bipolar syndrome address with such honestly and respect.
A lot of times it is put on in such a negative light, and while there is negative aspects to any mental health that needs help, it's not unmanageable. I enjoyed how Alexis Hall showed that yes, indeed it is manageable, even when it's difficult.
The actual characters in the book? Just okay. I found everything outside of Ash's inner struggles kinda boring and most of the characters very petty and rude.
Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my DLC.

A one-night stand between a writer based in London and a “glitter pirate” / aspiring model from Essex unexpectedly turns into something more in Alexis Hall’s Glitterland, revised, expanded, and rereleased by Sourcebooks Casablanca in 2023 and coming to audiobook from Dreamscape Media in January 2024. On the surface, Ash and Darian don’t make sense, but they click. Darian accepts Ash in a way that he’s not used to or hasn’t been open to before.

Alexis Hall excels at writing flawed characters finding their way, falling in love, and living with mental illness. Here we get the opposites-attract, grumpy-sunshine vibes seen in Boyfriend Material and 10 Things That Never Happened, as well as the British irony and humor used to provide some levity, but themes feel darker and heavier here. Ash has been to dark places with his bipolar disorder and anxiety. He has pushed people away. He has closed himself off. He lashes out. As he tells Darian, “[he]’d rather be hated than pitied” and that doesn’t make for an easy life. Through his relationship and experiences with Darian, though, Ash starts to do and try things again, and they don’t seem as scary as they once did.

And Darian chooses to see goodness in things. “‘He… he… he’s a kind, ridiculous, beautiful glitter pirate. I don’t know what else I can tell you. He makes me laugh. He makes me hopeful.’” I think we all could use someone like that in our lives.

I loved it, but—fair warning—it is a heavier read. I appreciate seeing mental health representation in stories like this.

I enjoyed the emotion portrayed in Nicholas Boulton’s narration. I absolutely loved how he captured Darian’s personality and his Essex accent and felt like the serious, dry tone he used for Ash was well done. I especially appreciated how he represented Ash’s anxiety and the emotions wrapped up in his apology.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Dreamscape Media. All review opinions are my own.

Vibes: grumpy/sunshine to the nth degree, hookups to lovers, modern interclass romance, actual bipolar rep.

Ash was once a literati prodigy–but after extreme ups and downs related to his bipolar disorder diagnosis, he’s stuck with pulp fiction novels. His depression and anxiety-ridden routine is rocked, however, when he hooks up with the glittery, upbeat, and very different Darian. Although he claims to want nothing, time with Darian and his sunny outlook makes Ash want everything. The question is–with all going on in his mind, can he keep it?

Oh, man, this one got me. It’s hilarious, as Alexis books always are, but there’s a depth here, an examination of class politics, the cynical versus the optimistic, and the issues that come with being bipolar. I say this as someone who has the same diagnosis as Ash–this hit home for me hard. I’ve never seen my disorder so well portrayed. And to have it wrapped up in a romance I actually loved? It just got me on a really deep level.

Quick Takes:

–Okay, so first off, I do want to talk about the bipolar rep here. Ash’s disorder is not the only thing about him, and it’s not the most important part of this book. This is a true romance, and Ash and Darian’s relationship is the focal point. That said, this is a single POV book (which is hard to sell me on, but Alexis always does) and you see exactly what’s going on in Ash’s head the whole time. The ups and downs, the struggles. I wouldn’t say Ash cycles particularly hard over the course of the story. He has meds that work for him. This is not a “this diagnosis is new” story.

What he does struggle with a lot accepting that he has this disorder and that it will always be a part of his life, but it does not necessarily have to dominate his life. There’s a passage in this book wherein Ash is basically like “this is always going to happen, no matter what meds I’m on I will always have these episodes, this is always going to keep me from having stable relationships, this is my existence”. And I’ve never really had my own thoughts about being bipolar spelled out so clearly for me. That was truly… validating. It’s a very specific fear, committing to the idea that you will always have this and it is going to keep you from being who you would’ve otherwise been. There’s something about having to let go of that alternate reality, while also fighting the idea that this reality basically condemns you to solitude or horrible relationships–not just romantic, but platonic and familial. It’s hard.

And this shit isn’t resolved completely by the end, because it can’t be? Like, I fully believed in an HEA for Ash and Darian. But it’ll take work!

–Alright, so onward. The characters are so lovable here. Well, with a couple of notable supporting exceptions, but they weren’t supposed to be lovable (though one of them, despite doing something I personally considered unforgivable, was very HUMAN). I fucking fell in love with Ash and Darian equally, though they are absolute total opposites. I love a hero who sees the object of his affections, is ridiculously turned on, and is like “how the FUCK am I hard right now” and that is Ash. For all that Darian is obviously beautiful and obviously charming, he’s not the type of beautiful and charming Ash thinks he should want… or, to be honest, thinks he deserves?

I actually related to both Ash and Darian in different ways (see: having bipolar). And I don’t know if that was intentional, this contrast of dark and light, of energy and apathy, of optimism and pessimism. But it worked.

Although we’re in Ash’s head alone and we do get to know him better, I will say that the insights we got into Darian’s life were significant enough for me to totally feel like I got him. He’s bright and bubbly, but he’s not flat, and he’s not a manic pixie dream boy. He has responsibilities. He wants to model, but he’s also in it for the money and is quite realistic about where his future lies on that front. He doesn’t expect to be famous; but he does want to help support his family.

And the thing is, you need Darian to be as cheerful and lovely as he is, because Ash’s head is not always easy to be in. It’s dark in there. He struggles. He’s funny, he’s relatable, but he’s not at all stress-free to read about. And the balance Alexis strikes between the two isn’t just about romance; it’s also about making a technically strong book. These two work together so well–but their relationship isn’t easy, largely because Ash cannot accept the idea that he’s capable of having a good relationship.

–There’s a lot of interesting class stuff here? I’m American–but I do know that the English class system is quite different from ours. Ash has an accent Darian considers “posh” (I cannot say whether or not it is); Darian is from Essex and has what I now know is an Essex accent. I really can’t speak to how this is written in the print book, because I haven’t read it (yet), but I believe Alexis wrote out the accent phonetically. Either way? The narrator does an amazing job of differentiating the two. I mean, I can’t speak to the accuracy of Darian’s accent, but I can say these two men read as totally different and it is great.

But yeah–Ash does look down on Darian for having this really orange tan and being loud in every sense of the word and having friends with tons of Botox. At first. He has to get over a lot of shit through the course of the story, and realize that he’s being an ass. It’s GREAT. I love reading about a hero who’s legitimately snobby and elitist and see him get over it.

–Okay, for all the deep shit, this is an amazing romcom (I mean… romdramedy? It’s a romance and it’s funny but also angsty, okay). There are so many moments where I just imagined the most glittery, bouncy person alive bopping in circles around a very gloomy individual in all black, dark circles under his eyes, staring into space. Except, maybe, for when his glittery guy kisses him. Ash doesn’t want to admit he’s falling in love with Darian, yet he can’t help trying to impress him, to get close to him, to really bond with him. Sometimes this made my heart grow three sizes. Sometimes it made me laugh.

Anyway, if you love a “black cat falls for golden retriever” book. This is it. I mean, if we’re being real, Darian may be more like a goldendoodle (if my mom’s dog could speak, he would be like Darian–I know this) but the point stands.

–You like a grovel? You like the “baby don’t leave me I miss you baby I’m sorry baby” sobbing mess shit? Oh, you will like this. I was practically high off how good this grovel was.

–There’s a really interesting subplot with a supporting character that… I would not have reacted to in the same way as Ash. But I think Ash’s perspective was informed by some very specific relationship things that made his decisions extremely realistic. I will say, one thing that happens to Ash due to this dynamic is one of my worst fears, and it made me feel like I’d been slapped. (In a good way. I mean, it sucked, but it was so well done. I wasn’t triggered by any means.) It was also incredibly realistic, based on tastes I’ve had of that kind of behavior.

The Sex:

Probably my favorite sex scenes I’ve read in an Alexis Hall book thus far. This is a “fuck first feelings later” book (which I love). Ash and Darian have sex well before they fall in love, and Ash is soooo horny for Darian. Which bemuses him, because wanting someone this badly isn’t normal for Ash. That sense of REALLY inexplicably wanting someone was so well depicted, though.

And the sex scenes themselves really worked. They were hot, they were sweet, they were… real good. A particular favorite was one that followed Ash blurting out that he has an antique desk and asking Darian if he’d like to fuck him over it. YES. PLEASE. I love someone being so attracted to the other person that they literally can’t contain themselves.

There was also some exploration of different types of sex (nothing crazy, but Ash asks Darian to do something Darian isn’t really familiar with) and I found that kind of like… Asking for something and discussions of comfort levels and curiosity really nice to see in a contemporary. It’s less “oh ho I know it all and I’ll lead you through it” and more “I would like you to do this for me if you want to do it because I think we would both enjoy it”.

TW: past suicide attempt, past self harm, suicidal ideation, shaming of mental health issues.

Anyway, I thought this was great. I think it was Alexis’s debut–which is crazy. The talent! I’ve been wanting a go at Glitterland for a while, and it did not disappoint at all.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with a copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Glitterland is Alexis Hall's first book that is getting a re-release with a new audiobook production. This book is funny, sad and in the end very hopeful. I really love Alexis Hall. The characters are written in such a lovely way. I enjoy the dialog so much. Mental health is also a large focus and is dealt with in a really beautiful compassionate way. Alexis remains an auto buy author for me.

The narrator Nicholas Boulton was so great. I really enjoyed the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this was the type of book that grew on me as I progressed. At first, I wasn't sure on the characters, but by the end, I was rooting for them - especially Darian. I admit that I found Ash a bit too much for me at times, which made it challenging to like him, even though that was the point. I do like how he never really changed, but also did change. I think that was important for his character development.

As for the narration, I really liked the narrator and his ability to use different voices and accents. I really love audiobooks where the narrator can do that. It really brings the character to life.

All in all, I'm giving this book a 3.5/5.

Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read this ARC!

Thank you to Alexis Hall for giving us "Glitterland", it is a beautifully written novel with themes of mental health, love, and self-discovery. The book is about Ash Winters, a brilliant and tormented writer dealing with his bipolar disorder. His journey takes an unexpected turn when one night he comes across Darian Taylor who is a charismatic and optimistic man from Essex. Ash is immediately smitten with this glitter pirate.

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the audiobook. Nicholas Boulton brings the characters to life with his portrayal of Ash and his mental health issues especially his struggle with his bipolar disorder. Alexis Hall dives deep into the complexities of Ash's mind, shedding light on the highs and lows of his emotions. The author brings to life the challenges and triumphs of living with a mental health condition.

Then there is the way that Boulton brings Darian's boundless optimism and infectious personality to life, standing in complete contrast to Ash's portrayal. I love that I got the chance to witness the transformation of the relationship with Darian becoming a source of support and understanding for Ash. The story tells us how love can be a powerful force in dealing with personal demons.

I personally love Darian's perception of Ash as "Posh" as it adds a bit of humor to the story. The difference between Ash's upper-class background and Darian's creates a bit of tension to the story. The cultural differences and the mixing of their worlds as a setting to their evolving romance, provides moments of both heartwarming connection and some comedic relief.

To end, "Glitterland" is a wonderfully deep novel that delves into complex issues such as mental health, love, self-acceptance, honesty and compassion. The characters, especially the unlikely pair of Ash and Darian, are hard to forget and stay with you long after the story ends.

It took me a minute to get into this book, but once I was invested in Ash and his Glitter Pirate, I was all in.

Thank you for this anniversary edition audiobook, NetGalley & dreamscape media.

𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: stand alone
𝐩𝐮𝐛 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: January 16, 2024
𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 2SLGBTQIA+ romance
𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡: 9h 6m
𝐩𝐨𝐯: single [Ash]
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
• one night stand
• strangers to lovers
• opposites attract
• bookish character
• secret tattoo
• bi-polar rep

Alexis Hall has an incredible way of writing, that puts you in the characters mindset. As someone who does not have Bipolar Depressive Disorder, I felt like I could truly empathize with Ash's experiences because of how well his POV was written.

These characters are definitely flawed, but despite their flaws they find a beautiful connection together. Dating someone with a mental illness is not easy, but our adorable glitter pirate takes it all in stride.

As an anniversary edition to entice people to purchase the book for the first time (or again) Alexis Hall provided all the bonus content we could ask for. Particularly the scene stag scene 👀 and Nan's recipe!

Nicholas Bolton did a fantastic job with the narration of this book. In MM romances, I typically prefer duet narration, with two male narrators to make it easier for my brain to register when the other character is speaking, but Bolton absolutely nailed these two very different characters voices and accents that it was very easy to follow along with who said what. The pacing was great and he kept me engaged and listening once I got into the story.

This was a heartwarming and unique audio book. The narration was very well done the characters felt real and the plot kept me wanting more. This book felt like a self discovery journal that explored deep and real emotions and experiences while also being goofy and joyous throughout. Definitely recommend you check out this amazing audiobook!

This audiobook is spicy. And I wasn’t expecting it. Maybe I glossed over that bit in the introduction. The sequel was all over my Instagram so I thought I should give this one a listen and it did not disappoint. I liked the accents including the Essex accent. There is a lot of repetition but with the accents you hardly notice, LOL. The mental health of the main character being so represented and so much a part of the story is a big props to the author. Thanks. I loved that. I will definitely be continuing this series. Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley and Alexis Hall for the advanced listening copy. I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Glitterland is an all encompassing type of book in that, when you read it, you wont be able to forget the characters of it. Ash is a character with all of his flaws laid out from the beginning of the book. We know he has mental health issues that cause him to be self-destructive and basically a giant red flag to anyone and everyone he meets. He is very aware of this and open about this but we also get glimpses in to who he WANTS to be on his better days. I think with this he is built up to be an interesting MC to follow even if I felt he didnt make as much progress as I would have liked to see. While I understand mental health has no cure per say there was definitely a lot of shitty things said/done in this book by Ash and his friend Niall that are a little glossed over with no real repercussions.

Niall is the worst of the bunch in my opinion though. He suffers from a desperate want to be loved/appreciated and that clouds over his actions and thoughts towards others. He wants so badly to have love that he invents it where it doesnt exist and then holds others to it unfairly. He has a couple of outright cruel moments and we dont really get to see him properly apologizing for any it. I walked away feeling like Niall is more of a parasitic friend than a true friend but there are definitely layers to his own struggles that we didnt really get to know in this installment.

Overall Darian is what kept me going in this. He's really a character you cant help but love no matter how ridiculous he may be sometimes. He's sunshine and glitter and strength in that he understands, wants to learn and wants to try his best in all the ways that matter. I lowkey think he deserves better overall but I"m hopeful Ash will grow to give him that.

Really though everyone in this book just needs way more therapy.

This book was provided to me by the publisher in audiobook format for review. The book itself has existed for a while and I do think it would be best consumed via reading versus listening. The strong accents were kind of hard to listen to at times and impacted the stories.

The heaviness of the MC’s past did sit oddly against what seems to be presented as a rom com or at least a romance. Fans of Alexis Hall’s writing will probably still enjoy but it feels much more heavy at times than would be expected from the description and cover.

Glitterland is a painfully relatable story of the struggles with mental health and relationships. Ash is content in his isolation, only venturing out when he needs to for book releases and events, but his relentless friends didn’t get that memo… Suddenly he finds himself enamored with a glitter pirate and navigating dynamics of both friendship and romance that he was sure he was just fine ignoring. The audiobook is absolutely stunning, capturing two drastically different personalities seamlessly.

While this is a gorgeous queer love story, I will note the disordered eating and focus on physical attributes was a bit of a struggle for me.