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phoenixspring03's review against another edition
3.75
I just don't think I like Ash.
And when it boils down to it, they only met and spent time together three times before *it* happened, and if I was Darian I highly doubt I'd haveforgiven Ash for his words and his behaviour. I didn't feel the pull of their connection like I think I was meant to.
I understand why Alexis Hall wrote Essex slang the way he did, but I found it difficult to read at times.
There was lots I did like. But it was definitely not my favourite AH
And when it boils down to it, they only met and spent time together three times before *it* happened, and if I was Darian I highly doubt I'd have
I understand why Alexis Hall wrote Essex slang the way he did, but I found it difficult to read at times.
There was lots I did like. But it was definitely not my favourite AH
finneas's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lilaknitsandreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chasingthepage's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ash Winters is frequently a mess and thinks he's unlovable. With BPD driving a mix of depression and anxiety, he's given up on actually feeling emotions and being interested in anyone longer than a one-night stand. Some guy from Essex was supposed to be such a one-night stand, it wasn't supposed to matter that he has a name (Darian), or that he is annoyingly upbeat, or that he's from Essex, because it was supposed to be over. But it's not. Ash runs into Darian again and wants that spark of some emotion again, because he's pretty sure it was a good emotion.
Ash and Darian genuinely work well together, I love how their relationship develops. Ash is just as much of an asshole by the end of the book as the start, but he's more sure of himself and more willing to take risks for Darian than it seems like he was for his other friends. Due to his high anxiety, "taking risks" includes, in this case, going to the store, spending the night in the same bed, and being emotionally vulnerable. Neither of them are people it's necessarily easy to be around (Ash moreso than Darian), and that shows up in many different ways.
The ending caught me off guard, especially the incident which precedes it. I was pleasantly surprised by how things end up, but the story lingers in an uncomfortable situation for far longer than I can normally handle reading. Part of what helped is the way the narrative had handled anxiety and tension up until that point, I had built up enough trust in the author that I was able to wait for how things shook out.
Ash and Darian genuinely work well together, I love how their relationship develops. Ash is just as much of an asshole by the end of the book as the start, but he's more sure of himself and more willing to take risks for Darian than it seems like he was for his other friends. Due to his high anxiety, "taking risks" includes, in this case, going to the store, spending the night in the same bed, and being emotionally vulnerable. Neither of them are people it's necessarily easy to be around (Ash moreso than Darian), and that shows up in many different ways.
The ending caught me off guard, especially the incident which precedes it. I was pleasantly surprised by how things end up, but the story lingers in an uncomfortable situation for far longer than I can normally handle reading. Part of what helped is the way the narrative had handled anxiety and tension up until that point, I had built up enough trust in the author that I was able to wait for how things shook out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Grief, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Biphobia, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide, Medical content, Death of parent, Death, Suicide attempt, and Medical trauma
han_did's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rellimreads's review
5.0
I read this for the first time a few years ago but have been working on buying audios of books I love - so the Spires series is one I recently grabbed.
In some respects this is a difficult romance to get through because it’s not a lot of fun, happy feelings in comparison to Ash’s constant talk of Bipolar/depression/suicide. But that’s what makes it so heartbreakingly authentic. Folks who are really living this are living it daily, often minute by minute. Those who love them are left feeling the brunt, even if it’s not intentional/in their control.
While told entirely from Ash’s 1st person POV - Nicholas Bolton’s narration is so fantastic that it’s like listening to a cast production. (makes note to hunt down everything Bolton has ever narrated). Darian is beyond fabulous as Ash’s glitter pirate that I was in love with him before Ash was.
My only complaint - a recipe is not an epilogue.
In some respects this is a difficult romance to get through because it’s not a lot of fun, happy feelings in comparison to Ash’s constant talk of Bipolar/depression/suicide. But that’s what makes it so heartbreakingly authentic. Folks who are really living this are living it daily, often minute by minute. Those who love them are left feeling the brunt, even if it’s not intentional/in their control.
While told entirely from Ash’s 1st person POV - Nicholas Bolton’s narration is so fantastic that it’s like listening to a cast production. (makes note to hunt down everything Bolton has ever narrated). Darian is beyond fabulous as Ash’s glitter pirate that I was in love with him before Ash was.
My only complaint - a recipe is not an epilogue.