I'm really starting to love Alexis Hall. I know I'm always in good hands when reading one of his books, and this was no exception.

Simultaneously charmed and gutted by this one. Mental illness can be difficult to write (and read), but when it’s done well, it’s so powerful. Ash’s head is not always the most pleasant place to be, but that’s what makes Alexis Hall’s writing so believable and poignant. And Darian charmed me completely (once I adjusted to the Essex dialect). Aside from catching a few hours of sleep, I more or less read this in one sitting. So thrilled we’re seeing the Spires series revival and expansion through these new editions!

I do really appreciate the portrayal of mental heath struggles and how it can weigh on not only the person having them but the people around that person. There are some really solid moments in here. What I'm not sure about is whether or not Ash is actually likeable as a character--like, someone I wanted to root for. And boy oh boy was Darian's accent ROUGH to read.

Many, many moons ago – way back in 2016 in fact – I read For Real, the 3rd book in the Spires Universe. Then, not too long after, I picked up Pansies, which is the 4th in the series. So now, in 2023, I’m finally picking up where the series began. Anyone surprised? No? I didn’t think so. In my defense, I didn’t discover the series until For Real was released and now – years later – Glitterland fell into my reading radar. Better late than never? Any excuse is better than none? You get the idea. 😉

I can’t say that Glitterland was an easy book to read, mainly because Ash wasn’t necessarily a easy character to like or relate to. As far as couples go, Darian and Ash couldn’t have been less suited for each other, but there was something in Ash that drew Darian to him. He saw something in him that not many did, especially Ash himself. Even though the relationship made no sense, it still worked. Darian gives Ash something to look forward to. He’s a brightness to his darkness and gives him a glimpse of what his life could be with just a little bit of that brightness surrounding him. So yeah, as much as I wasn’t an immediate fan of Ash, I adored Darian.

Now that the Spires Universe is back on my radar, I might just have to play catch up with the books that I missed between the first and the third. 😉

Good book, but a bit slow in some areas. Well written and has good character development and detail throughout. Not one of his best but still good to read.

I am a huge fan of Alexis Hall and have always wanted to read Glitterland. I was super excited that they were publishing it with such an amazing cover! Hall really knows how to write the most real and relatable characters. Hall does such a great describing both the pain and joy that the characters are feeling. I loved how Ash's and Darian's mental state was portrayed. It's written with such sensitivity and realism. Overall, I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Ash was once the golden boy of the English literary scene and now a depressed writer of pulp crime fiction. Now, giving up on hope, happiness and himself, mostly, Ash suffers from his clinal depression and people's expectations. But then he meets Darian Taylor, brilliant, loud and so very different from him, able to make him laugh and think of a possible way out of his depression and anxiety. But could he decide to fight for himself, to be happy, to be free of his own shadows or will he be forever trapped in it? Could Ash be ever happy again?

Alexis Hall wrote a wonderful and intense book about lost hope, struggles, anxiety and clinical depression in a very realistic way. The way Ash is written is relatable, intense and very important for those who suffers like him. I loved reading this book and following Ash growing up, fighting for himself, to be happy, with his illness, to be more happy and content, to believe again in himself and in the possibilities of the future. I truly loved this book, Ash and Darian's relationship and how they are very different from one other, but perfectly interwoven.

This was incredible. Such a wonderful story of mental illness and finding love and learning to accept love. I was excited to read this because I loved Boyfriend Material and Husband Material. And this was such a departure from those two books and it was wonderful. I liked the tone of this book so much.

GLITTERLAND
By Alexis Hall

This love story is a great book that has amaxing mental health representation about someone with depression trying to climb out of the darkness. Though this love story is dark, it is also glittering and brimming with hope, love, and understanding. Ash and Darian, Darian and Ash, oh my wow.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Oh wow, this book! If you’ve ever read and loved an Alexis Hall book, I highly recommend discovering Glitterland. It’s a queer romance with all the heart, humour and Britishness I’ve come to associate with Alexis Hall’s work and I just adored it!

I’m truly puzzled about how I haven’t heard of this book before! It was released in 2018 & should be an absolute bookstagram darling in my opinion. If you love queer romance, steamy open door sex scenes (very, very open door!) and mental health rep, you must read this book!

Try to read GLITTERLAND & not fall in love with Darian. I can’t think of a character who wears their heart on their sleeve more. Darian, as the book’s glitter pirate is dazzling, sweet and his dialogue is done so well I was absolutely reading this with an Essex accent in my head.

I laughed the whole way through this book. The humour and misunderstandings in the dialogue were written so well, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

I really hope more people discover this book. It won me over immediately & I was completely charmed by this story and the characters.

GLITTERLAND has ensured that I will now read everything Alexis Hall writes!

When I started reading this book I had not known that it would be a rerelease of a book released in 2013 - I found it out right before writing this review. I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, none of my expectations were fulfilled by this book.
The main character is named Ash, who is bipolar and a writer that has some problems with his work/career life and illness. I wanted to understand his character, but it was not that easy as I was not able to even start to like him - which would not be bad, but I could not get in his shoes at all. This is not an easy MC due to all layers that would be complex and feel raw which is good. As we know he has a mental illness, but fortunately, it's not something that Ms. Hall used as a reason for his behavior. I don't think he could be redeemed as no traits were applicable to that. This is not my first mm book so I know what I'm looking for in them, and this is not what I got in Ash's story.
This book is not what I was looking for and unfortunately, I'm not sure I would follow this series and book by this author. The development of characters is something that would greatly improve this story and maybe even make Ash likable (in my eyes).

I'm not a romance reader but this made me ugly-cry. A lovely read about realizing you're worthy of being loved.

At first I was lost, but the when I learned what this book is about, I understand. This book is really heavy and I had a hard time connecting because of how heavy the topic is but nonetheless, I appreciate this book. I can see how everyone loved and enjoyed the works of this author. I will definitely pick up the other books.

Trigger warning: self-harm, suicide

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

I read this in one sitting; I loved the characters and the different ways they engaged with challenging situations. Darian’s reaction to Ash’s mental health is one that I wish we saw more of in books—kind but not dramatic, but refusing to allow himself to be treated terribly, too. I’ve read a lot of Alexis Hall but had never read this one before and it might be my favorite.

A coming of age book but also showcasing what it is like to live with mental illness. Not one I would read again but would recommend it to people.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Glitterland by Alexis Hall!!

I have read other books by Hall and I enjoyed them. I also enjoyed this book. The depictions of mental health and how Ash continues to spiral are realistic. Ash is an author with mental illness and Darian is a sunshine model who explodes into his life on night at a party.

This is Halls fist book and it is a rerelease.

Unfortunately I could not get into this book, I really wanted to love it but I just didn’t find that I was invested enough into either of their stories.

Alexis Hall is very quickly becoming an author that I always pick up because all of the reads by them are fantastic. I really enjoy their contemporary and historical books. This one had well developed characters and a story I really enjoyed following.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Glitterland happens to be my first Alexis Hall book, though not the first book I've heard of by Alexis Hall. If the writing of Glitterland is what one can expect from books by Alexis Hall, sign me up and let me start reading all of their other books. Truthfully, I don't even know where to start with my review for Glitterland and have been sitting on it for about a week now. I enjoyed this book so incredibly much and it was due to how relatable it was, even if one doesn't completely relate to it, if that makes sense.

Ash is an author whom also struggles with his mental health. He typically finds a way to cancel his plans at the last moment, except when he forgot to cancel his plans to attend the bachelor party of one of his friends from college. It is during this outing that he meets Darian (who is characterized as an Essex-born glitter pirate), and the story unfolds from there. They are complete opposites and yet they work so well together to help bring a sense of balance.

Ash's struggles with his mental health are written so well and are understandable. One second you're laughing because he's literally having phone conversations about how to make a salad, and the next you're hoping that everything goes at least decently well if nothing else.
Alexis Hall is courteous to include trigger/content warnings at the beginning of the book, so please be mindful of those before proceeding.

I received this book as a free ARC on NetGalley for an honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Alexis Hall for providing me with this opportunity to read this book.

Glitterland
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 1/17/23
Author: Alexis Hall
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 336
GR: 4.13

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: First, I want to say that I love anything Alexis Hall writes and this is no different. This is an older book being rebranded, perfect opportunity to read! Ash was sunshine in his college days and into early adulthood. After cycles of mental health issues, he has just given up. Then enter Darian, the Essex Model. He is out there, flamboyant, and just high on life. When the two collide, will Ash be able to pull out of himself to see life again?

The story is narrated by Ash, from is POV. Ash struggles with mental health issues, bipolar and depression, and is a writer with an amazing sense of humor. Darian had this peculiar way of talking, but I loved it; he is kind, emphatic, and just makes a good match to Ash. The trope follows grumpy v sunshine, which I have been favoring lately. The flow and pace of this book was amazing, it flowed like real conversations. The characters were well developed with banter, chemistry, and just creatively done. The author’s writing style was complex, steamy, emotional, and kept me engaged.

I would recommend every single one of Hall’s books. I love his writing style and will go into anything he writes blindly. I recommend picking this up and giving it a try. I hear the audiobook, if you can get it, has brilliant narration.