Ash Winters is a successful writer currently dealing with multiple diagnosed mental illnesses. In his professional life he is thriving, but in his personal life he finds himself isolated from friends. When Darian enters Ash's life he finds himself infatuated with Darian's perspective on life and way for living in the moment. Ash struggles to figure out how to bridge their cultural divide and figure out how Darian can fit into his life. The story is as much a love story as it is a story of finding one's self while struggling with mental illness.

I found Glitterland to be a wonderful, shiny escape. While Ash's story is told beautifully and respectfully, mental illness does not define Ash as the protagonist. As a reader you care just as much about all aspects of Ash's life, from his career to his friendships. And while the story may be told from Ash's perspective, Darian is a clear star of the book from beginning to end. He is as sparkly on the pages as he is described as in real life. It is a "will they, won't they" that will satisfy the reader and keep them interested until the very last pages.

Review based on Advanced Reader Copy for version to be released in January 2023 with extra content.

Alexis Hall is a master! Such a wonderful book that breaks your emotions. I loved Alexis's other writings and now I need more!

I really enjoy Hall's work. Glitterland is clearly earlier in his career, and I hoped that the new version would be a bit more updated in quality. At the end of the day I do really like the book. The main character is unlikable but redeemable and we as readers want to forgive him. I really like the love interest in this book and think that his character is quite unique to what most love interests look like in books.

This was my least favorite Alexis Hall novel to date, which makes sense because I discovered its one of their firsts. I didn't like the romanceand the writing also needed a lotttt of tweaking.

Starred review for Library Journal, 6/7/2013, and I still feel the same way:

*Ash Winters suffers from bipolar disorder. His illness has channeled his life away from being the literary darling of London into a more noirish life as a crime novelist; he rarely leaves home without suffering anxiety attacks. While struggling with his anxiety at a bachelor party for a friend, Ash meets the most ridiculous man he's ever seen, with overly styled hair, orange spray tan, an obsession with fashion, and an exuberant personality. Essex boy Darian Taylor is pursuing a modeling career and enjoys his hookup with Ash until Ash sneaks out in the middle of the night. When the two men meet again at a book autographing event, Ash realizes he hasn't been able to forget his "glitter pirate" and struggles to keep Darian in his life without exposing his illness. But Darian, while not Ash's intellectual equal by his own admission, is years ahead of Ash in understanding himself and demanding respect. Darian is willing to support Ash but not at the cost to his self-respect. VERDICT: Think Savile Row meets Jersey Shore. Hall's debut novel captures the roller-coaster ride of bipolar disorder through Ash, a man not always easy to like but one readers can understand. Writing short, focused paragraphs denoting depression and disinterest and longer, disjointed paragraphs denoting mania and obsession, Hall provides a view of bipolar disorder from the inside. In addition, Darian's character is a joy, with his simple albeit humorously shallow outlook on life. By turns laugh-out-loud funny and tragically sad, Hall's novel draws readers into this wonderful glitter-ball of a world. Highly recommended. Reviewed by Melanie C. Duncan, Shurling Lib., Macon, GA , Jun 07, 2013