Reviews

This charmed the pants off me. Lush language abounds, our two misfit leads have no business fitting together like a pair of jigsaw pieces but they do. Ash is acerbic and awful, witty and mean, solipsistic and prone to navel gazing. He’s complicated and not quite doing his best, but also in a state of believing his best doesn’t matter. Darian is a big sweet golden retriever of a man, but beneath the pat phrases and simplistic outlook to life, is a wise, patient soul.

It doesn’t hold back when it comes to the effects/experience of mental illness. It’s certainly not romanticising it; Ash is clearly struggling and I didn’t get the sense that anything about his struggle was aesthetically pleasing or ‘romantic’. His life isn’t without beauty, but it’s hard won in spite of his illness, not because of it.

Listened to the audiobook and the voice actor was a delight. Thoroughly enjoyed this.

dreaming_ace's review against another edition

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5.0

So I was introduced to Alexis Hall through his book Boyfriend Material, which means this book popped up somewhere as a "you might enjoy reading" ad, I think on Facebook but that is really neither here or there. :)

What stood out to me about Glitterland was how it felt like an honest portrayal of the ups and downs of mental health (not so hidden within a wonderful British gay romance story). It also honestly portrayed the wide range of helpful and unhelpful responses people have towards those with mental health challenges.

The story was able to maintain the balance of being truthful that mental health never magically is solved, it is something that is always with you, and can deeply negatively impact you by stealing so much of "you" from yourself, while also showing at the same time that it is something you can live with always having with you.

The mental health issues neither became a superpower, magically went away, nor became the cause of a tragic opera like death scene which is common in many stories around mental health.

The story also maintained the balance of navigating the challenges of relationships without knowing if it will work out but leaving you in a spot where you can realistically be hopeful. We have no idea where the characters might be in a year or 5 years or 10 years but that is ok.

And while it was filled with a good number of sex scenes, they did not bother me like many do. As an Ace I can't say I understand why people have sex to begin with, but a few of the scenes seemed to show that people can form intimate connections through having sex.

(Still think there are a wide range of better ways to form such connections, but then again their are also strange people who like the taste of coffee or alcohol so go figure.)

But in the end if there is one takeaway from this story it is there are many different people with different backgrounds and that is what makes life worthwhile in the end.

stolencapybara's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book recognizes the deep human need to affectionately be called “donut”. Also, Darian is luminous. His fictional existence makes my life so much better that I almost forgive Ash for not at all deserving him. I may even love Ash too, damnit.

kelliereadsabit's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"Depression simply is. It has no beginning and no end, no boundaries and no world outside itself. It is the first, the last, the only, the alpha and the omega. Memories of better times die upon its desolate shores. Voices drown in its seas. The mind becomes its own prisoner."

slyg396's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I have pretty complicated feelings on the book. Like I feel like I shouldn’t like it? It felt like it never left the beginning of the book and I felt like we were missing two thirds of the book. I’ve been a fan of Alexis Hall for several books and it’s hardly changed with this book, but it didn’t feel like his usual books. However! Somehow, I still like it? I thought the characters had promise and the story had potential, it just felt like I was missing a lot of the story. Again, conflicting feelings. Like I feel like I got a trailer and then the ending. I want the rest!!!

Content Warnings

pilgrimgossip's review against another edition

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4.0

Unlike any other romance

I realty liked this book. It really was unlike any other m/m I've ever read. Alexis Hall didn't reinvent the genre, her just did things a little differently. At first neither one of the Mc's was all that likeable. Ash was a mean little bitch and Darian was a loud annoying glitter pirate. But then, c they both kind of grew on you, especially Darian. I am in love with that man.
The story was good. It gave me everything I needed and a few things I didn't know I needed. There was plenty of sex, and it was well written, but this book isn't what I'd call hot. Jaknowwhatimean?

This book didn't make me cry ( well I did tear up a little towards the end ) and it's didn't make me hard, but I did tell enjoy it and I recommend it very much.

msarah482's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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