Apparently, based on this review, I’ve been an Alexis Hall fan for almost seven years, but this ancient review is proof. I’m reposting it because I received an ARC of this updated version last fall. Regrettably, although I (re)devoured the book and had a grand old time revisiting beloved characters, the review fell by the wayside. Quite frankly, it was quite silly of me to not be more timely with the review since all I had to do was repost the original and write a little addendum like I’m doing right now. But….. life gets in the way, you know?

In any event, I have been thrilled to pieces about the revised versions of the Spires books, mostly because of the opportunity to own physical copies of the books. In addition to updated covers, some of the content has changed. I have read just about all of Hall’s books, but I am not savvy enough to note all the changes, but one of the updates to the book is a series of annotations, which provide the reader with insight into a variety of topics from aforementioned changes to musings on South Shields to witty asides. As a fan of Hall’s books, this was a real treat.

Below is my original review from 2020:


I first discovered Alexis Hall’s books in December 2018, and spent the next month reading his entire back catalog, including Pansies. A couple of months ago, the audiobook for Pansies came out, so I dove right back into the story.
Alfie grew up as a local lad in South Shields, but left his hometown for university and a high-powered financial career in London. He also realized that he was gay during this interim, something that surprised his family and friends since he had always been such a stereotypical lad.
Don’t worry: we’ll begin to address the culture of toxic masculinity later, as it plays a prevalent theme in the book.
Anyway, Alfie is back in town for a wedding, and meets Fen at a pub. After they hook up, Fen reveals that they went to high school together, and Alfie used to bully him, and he’s appalled that Alfie didn’t even recognize him.
And that’s when Alfie realizes that he feels a genuine connection with Fen, and he needs to make amends for all the things he did as a boy, and prove to Fen that he’s not the same person that he was in high school.
Meanwhile, Fen is trying to run his late mother’s flower shop—emphasis on trying—and he’s struggling with it, but he refuses to give up. The last thing he needs is Alfie showing up and trying to help him, but Alfie is persistent.
The title is a play on words, of course: a pansy is a flower, and Fen owns a flower shop, but it’s also a pejorative for a gay man. As I mentioned, it’s hard for Alfie’s family and friends to believe that he’s a “pansy”, but that’s something they’re going to have to accept. Fen, however, is used to pejoratives, but Alfie isn’t. By virtue of his size and hyper-masculine presentation, Alfie doesn’t experience nearly as much homophobia as Fen. He doesn’t understand why Fen just accepts it instead of fighting back and this proves to be a source of tension between the two men.
Speaking of stereotypes, Hall turns one its head in a delightful scene in which Alfie—the total lad—makes an utter mess of a home improvement project and needs to be rescued by his father and brothers.
It would be irresponsibly glib to say that Alfie picked on Fen in high school because he liked him. However, there definitely appears to have been an undercurrent of resentment on Alfie’s part: Fen lived his life openly and didn’t care about what people thought of him, whereas Alfie struggled with feelings that he was too afraid to acknowledge. And certainly, that resentment played a role in Alfie’s treatment of Fen when they were younger.
But Alfie isn’t the same person as he was. He’s changed since he moved out of town, and that’s something he has to deal with: he still looks the same, but he isn’t the same person anymore, and that proves to be a bit of a challenge when he returns to his hometown. Sure, his friends are older, but aside from that, not much has changed.
Alfie and Fen have amazing chemistry together, and their romantic arc was quite the roller coaster of emotions. I don’t want to imply that there’s melodrama afoot, but it’s certainly not a case of insta-love proceeding directly to HEA. Not only does Alfie have to make amends, but he needs to prove that his feelings are genuine and his interest in Fen is not part of the reparations process.
I would absolutely recommend Pansies. Technically, this is the fourth book in Hall’s Spires series, but the books are only loosely connected and don’t even feature the same characters, so you can read the books in any order. This was such a lovely story, and I know I’ll be revisiting it in the future.
I received a digital ARC of the updated edition of this book from Sourcebooks/NetGalley.

For me personally, reading Alexis Hall feels like going to a friend's house for tea. I find their writing so comforting, and this book is no exception. I have not read the other books in the Spires Universe, but I did not feel confused in any way because of it. Alfie and Fen are just so sweet. With Alfie's past and his growth so intertwined with Fen's growth and learning to trust. I feel like the process of moving through grief is so necessary in this story, and I love how Alexis executed it for these characters. Alfie has to face previous mistakes in his life and the damage he caused. And Fen has to walk through his own past. I do not want to give any spoilers, but love really has a way of shoving a mirror in one's face to realize that life is still moving even when grief is ever present. Highly recommend this one 💜

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

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

Pansies is book 4 in a series but can be read as a stand alone. This one is a bully romance which I'm not a fan of and unfortunately as a result could not get into it. The writing is fantastic as always, Alexis Hall is a great writer so although this didn't work for me others will enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great romance novel. I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. This was a great story.

Alexis Hall always delivers! I loved this tale of redemption, regret, love, and finding your true self.

We're all built of pieces really, the things that have happened to us and the people we love, and change is as inevitable as the tide, smoothing us into sea glass. It's nothing to be feared.

Look. If this had been written by anyone but Alexis Hall, I wouldn't have read this book. Boy falling for highschool bully who finally figured out he was gay? Hard pass. Nope. I do not find that romantic. But I trust Alexis Hall implicitly because he has a way of writing actual layered characters that simply. Are. They make sense to me. And so, I learned to actually love this former bully who is such a sweetheart. Honestly, I'm as shocked as anyone. I did not expect that to happen.

Anyways. This is a lovely story about two people struggling with grief and finding out just what home means and who they are. It's rough and lovely and most of the time not very pretty (although that might be a personal thing, because almost everyone finds Alexis Hall books hilarious and I'm here crying my eyes out because for some strange reason the man can make me feel things with just a single sentence. His books always resonate with me on a deeply personal level and make me oddly emotional. I still haven't figured out if I like that much, but here we are...). I frequently did need to put the book away because it was becoming just too much (ugh, feelings...) but I think by now we have established that I quite like having my heart trampled on while watching two idiots figure things out.

So to sum up my ramblings: I loved this one. I loved Fen and Alfie together and learning about who they were and where they came from.

This also has me oddly interested in seeing more of Niall of all people, and that I also did not see coming because. Ugh. Niall. Sigh.

I really really tried to get into this one however it just wasn’t for me! It might just have been a me problem but I struggled to get into the story and to connect with the characters!

I've loved everything I've read by Alexis Hall and this was no exception. I loved how these characters grow and change and find each other, and how it works out is so magical. Such a fun read.

You know the Hallmark movies where the protagonist goes back to their small town and falls in love with the person who never left? This is like that but with waaaaaaaay more sex.

Alfie and Fen are each total messes in their own ways, but I was cheering for them to be happy. Alfie still carries a lot of toxic ideas about manhood that make him struggle to find his way in the gay world, at least until he finds his impossible flower shop boy.

Does it feel too heteronormative for comfort? Sometimes, but that’s Alfie’s struggle and I can relate and celebrate his progress.

I love the writing in this, too. It’s sensual and lovely and, stick with me because this may sound like a stretch, reminds me of Clive Barker when he’s making magic out of the mundane.

I have to say, this is on of my favorite of the authors work. I’ve read many titles written by Alexis Hall. I’m such a big fan and will continue reading any other novels released by Alexis. This gave me a 4.5. Loved it.

This is a re-release with additional content of the 4th book in the Spires series.

I had some mixed feelings about this one at the start of the book, as the initial relationship between Alfie and Fen is somewhat problematic (Alfie bullied and abused Fen when they were teens). It was kind of hard to get past in the beginning, but Alexis Hall is really good at problematic characters and Alfie does redeem himself.

Alfie is kind of lost, he has a lot of internalized homophobia from his family and the way he was raised, which definitely doesn't help. His definition of what a man should be causes him some problems, but with his friends and Fen, he starts working through it. His parents haven't cut him out of their lives, but they don't really accept him either. He shows a lot of growth throughout the story, and starts to put aside a lot of his problematic beliefs.

Fen is not sure what he wants from Alfie initially. And they both treat the other poorly as they are trying to figure out what (other than great sex) they have together. Fen also feels stuck in his life, still grieving his mother's death and feeling obligated to keep her flower shop alive.

This relationship is incredibly messy, but works out in a really sweet way.

There are two more proposed books for this series with no expected publication dates at this time. I really hope we get them, because they each follow a character from one of the previous novels that I would like to see find their HEA.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for review consideration through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A delightful outing in the Spires series. Enemies-to-lovers with side helping of homecoming. Alfie accidentally outs himself while at home for a wedding, flees to a bar, and hooks up with the charming Fen only for Fen to inform him that Alfie made him miserable in high school. Alfie, who has grown since those days, spends time with Fen, and learns to let go of the expectations that surround and shackle him.

The language is lovely. The plot's minimal, but the book is really anchored by the endearing characters and their interactions. There's a thread of tenderness that makes up for the third act break up, a trope I grow more and more over.

I did find it took me a few pages to wrap my head around the local dialect, but once I was in the rhythm, Pansies flew by.

Alexis Hall's "Pansies" is a heartfelt and emotionally charged romance that explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the complexities of love.

Alfie Bell, a former bully grappling with his identity and sense of belonging, and Fen, his childhood victim turned unexpected romantic interest, are vividly drawn characters whose journeys feel authentic and deeply human. Their dynamic is fraught with tension, vulnerability, and a surprising tenderness that makes their evolving relationship both compelling and rewarding.

The romance between Alfie and Fen is as steamy as it is poignant, with Hall masterfully balancing moments of humor and emotional depth. The story doesn’t shy away from the difficult history between the two, instead using it as a foundation for growth and understanding. Alfie’s attempts to make amends and Fen’s cautious curiosity about whether Alfie has truly changed create a narrative that is as much about healing as it is about love. The Northeast England setting adds a rich backdrop, and Hall’s attention to detail, including the Geordie accent, brings an extra layer of authenticity to the story.

With its blend of humor, passion, and emotional resonance, "Pansies" is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Hall’s witty prose and ability to tackle complex emotions with sensitivity make this novel stand out in the contemporary romance genre. While the premise may not appeal to everyone, those who appreciate a story of redemption and second chances will find much to love here. A solid romance that lingers in the heart long after the final page.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a sweet story overall. I liked the characters and their dynamic. The former bully aspect was interesting and handled well. I thought the book could've been a little shorter though and I skimmed through the many sex scenes since they aren't my thing. That said, this was a mostly enjoyable book and was easy to follow even though I haven't read the ones that came before it.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I didn’t realize this was a bully romance when I picked this book up and if I had I probably wouldn’t have read it because I hate bully romances. But I decided to give it a shot since I like other Alexis Hall books and it has great reviews. Pansies did not change my mind about bully romances. I hated the relationship between Alfie and Fen and found their characters and conversations very repetitive, in that Alfie constantly thought about Fen and how much he wants to be with him while Fen is constantly going back and forth about being with Alfie because he was bullied by him but also loved him while being bullied. I don’t know what was going on with these two but I wasn’t a fan. Also, they only know each other romantically for a week before they love each other and want to change their lives for the other. This was an instalove bully romance that I hated.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Pansies by Alexis Hall!

It's a heartwarming and lovely story with our favourite tropes: enemies to lovers (ex bully became lover), a bit bi awakening and groveling. It's about new beginnings, lovely walks and with good humour.

Alfie Bell has all the money and the car and the massive penthouse…and he's…happy. When he accidentally comes out at his best friend's wedding, he escapes to a nearby pub and meets a charming, beautiful man…who seems to completely hate him? At first.

All that makes a lot more sense when this man, Fen, let's Alfie know that he was that kid that Alfie and his friends used to bully in school. Alfie can't stop thinking about Fen and wanting to make things right.

I..just…man. Alfie is so sweet and he and Fen are so friggin swoony. Watching these two boys circle around each other and fall for each other was so incredible. This is definitely my favorite of all of the Spires books I've read so far. I 100% know I will come back to this one time and time again.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Pansies. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Pansies by Alexis Hall is an emotionally rich and beautifully written story of healing, growth, and forgiveness. I adore this series and Hall’s writing, so I knew this one was a must-read! While the former-bully-turned-lover trope isn’t usually my favorite, Alfie and Fen’s journey was full of tenderness and raw emotion, making it easy to root for them. Their connection felt genuine, and the slower, slice-of-life style gave plenty of space for deep conversations and character development.

That said, the pacing wasn’t my favorite—it’s very dialogue-heavy with less action, which made it feel a bit slow at times. And the third-act breakup? Completely unnecessary and absolutely frustrating! But even with those gripes, I’d still recommend this one to fans of Hall’s writing or anyone invested in the series. If you love emotionally charged romances with a focus on redemption and second chances, this one is worth picking up!

loved it. the story is unique, the writing style makes it easy to read and overall it’s just the type of book that makes you lose reality and step into whatever universe the book is in. i’ve read many books by alexis hall before and just like all the others this one is a 5 star read for me.