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little_literarian's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
djm_chal's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
adricheyenne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Homophobia
adrienanthony's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Classism, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Body shaming, Cursing, and Biphobia
graceheartsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my seventh Alexis Hall book as I’ve been trying to get through all of his catalog after reading and falling in love with Boyfriend Material last year (and Husband Material/Mortal Follies/Something Fabulous/Something Spectacular and 10 Things that Never Happened).
It was interesting to read his debut novel after reading so many others. And maybe because so many of his other works that I’m not really sure how to feel about this one.
I really appreciated how Glitterland covered mental illness and the self loathing you can feel while going through that (especially as someone going through her own mental health journey as I learn to cope with social anxiety). However, I don’t know if I really felt the connection between the two leads but Ash and Darian both grew on me (even if Darian’s accent was a bit distracting to decipher…then again, I am an American and I barely know the distinct differences between British accents let alone American ones lol)
I also really liked the annotations and seeing Alexis Hall’s insights through the writing process—it’s interesting to read about what makes an author tick, you know?
Fair warning: Ash is an unlikable protagonist although unlike a lot unlikable protags, I did not get annoyed by him as much—although I did say aloud ‘Ash no’ when he f’ed something up lol
I do kind of wish we saw some of Darian’s POV. Not that I would’ve expected it because Alexis Hall doesn’t seem to do dual POVs but for some reason, sometimes I wanted to know what Darian was thinking.
I didn’t really have an strong reaction to most of the side characters (I say most because one in particular got on my nerves near the end for reasons I cannot reveal except in a spoiler👀)
Still everyone needs to start somewhere and I appreciate this novel for exsisting because without it would not have a new favorite author to enjoy❤️
So I was pretty neutral towards Niall, right? He’s a bit overprotective maybe but I didn’t really have an opinion of him…unlike chapter 12 that is. I hated Niall after he outed Ash’s mental illness. Like WTF? He wanted to Darian in his own time NIALL. Why the hell would you do that in public🙃 I already have strong feelings on outings, I didn’t realize I had strong feelings about someone’s mental health being outed was a trigger for me as well😅 I just can’t imagine doing that to someone, especially if this is a close friend of yours (granted Ash/Niall’s relationship is complicated). I’m a person who highly values her agency/privacy so I can’t imagine how violating this would feel
Chapter 19…my god chapter 19. Ash and Darian were doing so well and then Ash opened his mouth and said something stupid at the wedding. Alexis Hall mentioned in his annotations that this was one of his most awkward scenes and I have to agree. Like the Blackwood garden party in Boyfriend Material was pretty awful—I hate parents that try to control their kids—but this scene crushed my heart. Just straight up stabbed in the chest with how brutal it was. Like Ash, why? What are you doing talking about the man that you love that like that🥲 I mean, obviously he did it because the judgement of people at the wedding made him panic but still hurts, okay? lol
It was interesting to read his debut novel after reading so many others. And maybe because so many of his other works that I’m not really sure how to feel about this one.
I really appreciated how Glitterland covered mental illness and the self loathing you can feel while going through that (especially as someone going through her own mental health journey as I learn to cope with social anxiety). However, I don’t know if I really felt the connection between the two leads but Ash and Darian both grew on me (even if Darian’s accent was a bit distracting to decipher…then again, I am an American and I barely know the distinct differences between British accents let alone American ones lol)
I also really liked the annotations and seeing Alexis Hall’s insights through the writing process—it’s interesting to read about what makes an author tick, you know?
Fair warning: Ash is an unlikable protagonist although unlike a lot unlikable protags, I did not get annoyed by him as much—although I did say aloud ‘Ash no’ when he f’ed something up lol
I do kind of wish we saw some of Darian’s POV. Not that I would’ve expected it because Alexis Hall doesn’t seem to do dual POVs but for some reason, sometimes I wanted to know what Darian was thinking.
I didn’t really have an strong reaction to most of the side characters (I say most because one in particular got on my nerves near the end for reasons I cannot reveal except in a spoiler👀)
Still everyone needs to start somewhere and I appreciate this novel for exsisting because without it would not have a new favorite author to enjoy❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Self harm
alyciajstewart's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.75
I have, thankfully, never struggled with severe mental illness. Alexis was able to write a character that was real enough for me to build an emotional connection with despite not being able to fully relate. Ash clearly had a lot of flaws, and a lot of emotional baggage that he had to deal with during the course of the novel. It was amazing to watch Darien's influence on his self-esteem. I loved watching their relationship grow and although it eventually hit a rough patch, they were able to work through it with the mutual understanding that no one is perfect. I enjoyed that all of the characters had real and genuine feeling flaws while also being redeemable enough that I felt good rooting for them. This was definitely a character focused book, and the plot line was secondary to the emotions the character's experienced. Overall, it was an incredibly challenging book to read due to the serious nature of the topics, mental health specifically, that are discussed but I felt it was incredibly well done and the author was able to convey a great story without exploiting mental illness as a trope.
I did have to deduct one quarter of a point for the Essex characters speech. It was a bit hard to read his dialogue and it pulled me out of the story a little every time I had to read his words. I wish it had either just been made clear that he had an Essex dialect without adding it to his dialogue or had ben cleaned up a little more.
I did have to deduct one quarter of a point for the Essex characters speech. It was a bit hard to read his dialogue and it pulled me out of the story a little every time I had to read his words. I wish it had either just been made clear that he had an Essex dialect without adding it to his dialogue or had ben cleaned up a little more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt
esalmon13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic friendship
emrosenq's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Drug use, Self harm, Alcohol, and Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia
balletbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So, last year, AJH got the rights back to Glitterland - should it be re-recorded? re-recorded along with the extra bits in the new Sourcebook edition?
And so Alexis had it re-recorded, along with the extra bits, by the original, very, very talented and lovely actor who did the first recording, Nicholas Boulton. Who so perfectly nails Ash's elitism and vulnerability but also Darian's very Essex-ness. I kind of can't really tell the difference between the two performances, my ear isn't quite that good, but the performance is wonderful.
And so Alexis had it re-recorded, along with the extra bits, by the original, very, very talented and lovely actor who did the first recording, Nicholas Boulton. Who so perfectly nails Ash's elitism and vulnerability but also Darian's very Essex-ness. I kind of can't really tell the difference between the two performances, my ear isn't quite that good, but the performance is wonderful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
The first person POV character (Ash) does describe in detail his bipolar disorder, what it feels like, the depression, the mania, the anxiety, and relates the history of his suicide attempt many years prior, as well as the description of his scars.downtown_kb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Ash is struggling with his life, his mental health, his happiness and is very much feeling like he’s at rock bottom. Until a chance meeting with Darian at a club.
It took me way too long to get around to reading this book and I understand the hype. I think it’s well deserved. I appreciated just how unlikely a pair these two are and just how much Darian made Ash happy. This is a great example of a character conflict you could see coming a mile away but knowing there is some growth that needs to happen. Ash’s continued journey of recovery, letting go of who he was and accepting himself for who he is, was heartwarming. I think Alexis Hall has a gift for bringing life to his characters and making things funny amidst the very human struggles. I'm gonna have to say tho, I'm not one that insists on open door romances but it is sad to know just how well a certain author can write them and then to know they hardly ever do anymore.
A great audiobook narration by Nicholas Boulton.
A great audiobook narration by Nicholas Boulton.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide attempt