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.

I recently read Pansies by Alexis Hall and enjoyed it. The story follows Alfie, a successful investment banker who returns to his hometown and reconnects with Fen, a former classmate he once bullied. Their journey from past grievances to a heartfelt romance is both touching and authentic. Hall's writing is nice, painting scenes and digging into themes of identity, forgiveness, and personal growth. The characters are developed, making their emotional growth interesting. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a beautiful love story.

This is my favorite type of Alexis Hall book. It’s small-town, it’s humorous, it’s sexy, but it’s also so very heartfelt and a deep character dive that leaves you feeling emotionally wrecked. That’s the thing—I can so very clearly conjure up Hall’s MCs in my mind as if they are real people—and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Alfie Bell and Fen.
Alfie finds himself back in his small Northern hometown of South Shields at his best-mate’s wedding. Seeking a little companionship he has the meet-cute of all meet-cutes when he hits on a man he used to bully in grade school, not recognizing Fen is that man. You’d think it would be a very humbling experience but Alfie’s remembrance of the past and Fen’s aren’t exactly the same. But just like two opposing magnets circling each other, there’s something that keeps drawing Alfie back to Fen as he seeks to rectify the emotions of the past. I loved both Alfie and Fen and if anyone can make me believe in a MC falling for their queer tormentor romance, it’s Alexis Hall. Groveling is of course on the menu, but there’s ridiculous caretaking (Alfie can’t fix a shower to save his life), acceptance of who you are vs what you do, and so much soul searching. I would one hundred times over recommend this book, especially if you enjoy your romcom with a little angst. I would also highly recommend the audio for this one narrated by Cornell Collins who gives life to Fen and Alfie. I received an early copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

MM
Single POV (with brief dual moments)
Romance
Second chance
Grief
Exploration of sexual identity
Homophobia
Loveable side characters

Rating: 4/5 - I will probably reread this book
🌶️: 3/5 - there was a handful of explicit intimate scenes

TLDR: Solid romance read

I liked this book. I did not like it as much as the rest of the series. That's not to say that this book isn't very good, it's just that the other books were incredible. With that out of the way, I did find the exploration of grief, sexual identity, and internalized homophobia very interesting. The third act break up felt silly to me. But the resolution had the very satisfying pointing out of all of the silliness which helped. The characters were cute and some of the side characters I really hope get their own book. Overall this was a solid romance read.

Ultimately, I'd recommend this book to anyone who can handle moments of homophobia.

Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

A sweet story of redemption

Alfie has it all: the good salary, the penthouse, the expensive car and London friends. But going back home now that everyone knows he's gay is not easy, and it's the last place he expects to meet someone. But when he stumbles upon Fen, gorgeous, sweet Fen, his world shifts. Until he realizes that he's not the gorgeous stranger he thought he was, but the gay boy he used to bully at school. Determined to make things right, Alfie is prepared to do anything for Fen to forgive him. But Fen just wants to live his life...

I'm not a big fan of bully to lovers in general, but this one felt really different. Since Alfie and Fen met again as adults, they both had years to grow and learn and were completely different people, which was both beautiful and sweet. The way Alfie was determined to help Fen and make earn his forgiveness even if he didn't know how was truly inspiring and funny at times when he embarked on a work he wasn't capable of doing. Those two are absolute idiots but they're definitely adorable idiots and they stole my heart quicker than I expected. I was smiling and crying like an idiot over their story. The musical theater references made it all the more fun for me, I have to admit, and the fact that they seemingly have nothing in common but still connect because they're willing to try new things with each other was very sweet. All in all, it was an inspiring and adorable romance.

I recommend if you like second chance romances that are sweet and adorable.

“He has a point. I’ve rarely found love to be a particularly dignified emotion.”

Alexis Hall works romance magic, y’all. They spin these sweet, emotionally intense stories and mix all the kissing and gazing up with commentary on queerness, heteronormativity, and what it is to care for another human.

This particular romance is between Fen, who has been as queer as the day is long basically since birth, and Alfie, who, until very recently was closeted even from himself. I would protect sweet Fen with my life if I needed to - but I wouldn’t, because he’s actually strong af and has no trouble standing up for himself. I want to send poor Alfie to an excellent therapist, because underneath all the internalized homophobia, learned toxic masculinity and misogyny, he’s a sweet, thoughtful soul, and I want desperately to be with him when he finally feels comfortable being who he is.

Anyway. This is a complicated and sweet love story, with a gorgeous sense of place in a not-gorgeous place and a motley cast of supporting characters to complete the world. Another delight.

Another great book in Alexis Hall's Spires series! A really lovely romance that explores themes of identity tied to sexuality, place, family, vocation, and how all of that sticks with us even as we change over time. One of the things I really love about this series is how important the sense of *place is. It's more than just where the story is set, it informs and grounds the characters, in both good and bad ways. And the setting in this book is particularly important; if you moved the characters to a different place, you would have different characters and a different story. There's also some really touching observations on grief, as well as great commentary on relationships and roles specific to the experience of being queer in a world that is still largely heteronormative. I also appreciate how much this book explores homophobia without ever feeling sad or depressing. That all probably makes this book sound way too serious, and while it has a lot of deeper themes, it's also very much a sweet and sexy romance. It's a story of two very horny people who shouldn't work as a couple but absolutely do. I really like Alfie's character development through the story, falling for Fen and also reconnecting with where he's from and maybe starting to figure out who he is. And Fen is such a bright spark, very much more at home with his identity than Alfie, and also strong and prickly, but also dealing with a lot of grief and in an uncertain place because of that. Though it's bumpy and there's some heartache and mistakes along the way, it's a joy to watch them fall in love.

I had read the original version of this book and was excited to receive an ARC of the updated version. I didn't notice any differences in the story but it's been a few years since I read the original and I think the changes are subtle and not significant plot changes. The author's annotations are new though and are really great, so I appreciated that addition in this new version.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC I received!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Alexis Hall never misses with the contemporary romances. This was definitely an enjoyable read full of healing and comfort and all the emotions. I will be looking forward to the next Spires book release.

I adore Alexis Hall's books and this one holds a special place in my heart. It's the story of Alfie, an rich financier who lives in London with all the trappings of success--a high stress, high power job, a gloriously expensive apartment, an equally expensive sports car and a healthy expensive wine habit. He may have financial success but Alfie isn't satisfied. He's got two friends (both exes) and his work and that's about it. He's left his working class Northern home and family behind. He returns home for a friend's wedding and runs into a striking young man after the reception--a reception where Alfie inadvertently outed himself to most of his old acquaintances.

Fen, the man Alfie meets at a local bar, fascinates him. He's angry and all sharp edges, with a breathtaking beauty that mesmerizes Alfie. They share a night together and Alfie finds out Fen is an old classmate--one he didn't immediately recognize and one he bullied in their youth. Fen wants nothing to do with him after this night but this encounter has rocked Alfie's world--not just the revelation of who Fen is, or the memories of Alfie's old life in South Shields, but also an examination of who Alfie is and who he wants to be.

He inserts himself back into Fen's life, much to Fen's annoyance and anger but the chemistry between the two is intense and the book follows the slow evolution of their relationship--the progressive intimacy and vulnerability and love that grows between them.

There is such a tender and kind examination of grief in this book. Grief in its many manifestations and Fen and Alfie both carry grief within them. Both characters are at inflection points in their lives. The way the characters interact brings such introspection to them both and such mutual support as well.

The prose is lyrical. The descriptions lush. There is humor and laugh out loud moments. There are moments that brought me to tears. You are transported to South Shields, the locations, the environment, the accents, the town. The narrative voice is eloquent and has the hallmarks you come to expect of Hall's writing--puns and humor, classical references, literary references, and aching emotional scenes, with such eloquent writing. Alfie's POV is truly inspired. He's so earnest and funny and endearing and self deprecating. Fen's sharp, incisive wit razors off the page. The brief glimpses we get of Fen's POV hit me quite hard--the grief he embodies came through so intensely.

The cover is lovely and evocative of the original book's cover. There are recipes. And there really lovely annotations by Hall that add so much to the story.

This is one of my favorite Spires books and this rerelease, with all the added textual notes, is a triumph.

This story was really beautiful. It dealt with challenging topics in a really respectful way. I felt an amazing connection to these characters and I continue to love everything I read by Alexis Hall.