Glitterland by Alexis Hall
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Web ID: 15733490Writing style
The writhing style gave me a headache I had to stop reading , was like a British adolescent talking instead of grown adults. English is my second language but I am fluent and I had to google the old briths English meanings lol and Ash personally and loyal is kind of messed up with May even when she makes him feel as a human. I PERSONALLY didn’t like it.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
*chefs kiss*
5 stars Going in blind really has it's pros and cons. This book is a huge pro. I had no idea what it was about. I had no idea where it was supposed to go. Call me Jon Snow cause I...knew...nothing. Knowing nothing made going on this journey (cause, believe, babe, it was a proper journey) with Ash and Darian was...I don't even think there are words to explain what it was. "Everything" feels like such a trite answer, but it's the best I have right now. I do admit I was a little slow to latch on to the story, but once it got it's hooks in me, there was no letting go. This story got under my skin and burrowed into my soul and I don't forsee a time where it will not live rent-free in my mind. The way that mental health was portrayed in this book was just so raw and real. It wasn't sugar-coated. It wasn't portrayed in a negative light. It wasn't pretty. It was real and heartbreaking. The way Ash constantly was his own worst enemy and fought with himself broke my heart. The way Darian was the light in his dark world (because how could Darian be anything other than light?)-and a little in mine, too-made me love him. I'm all ready to get a Darian tattoo on my forearm that disappears into a rainbow of glitter. If you don't have a dark sense of humor, you won't like this book. Ash is so dry and witty. I could only picture Colin Firth from Bridget Jones the entire time. Darian is...I mean, he's an orange glitter pirate from Essex. What more could you want? The way they balanced each other out and the banter (THE BANTER) was...*chefs kiss* I literally laughed out loud quite a few times with this book. I mean, the Union Jack adult romper, the Notting Hill references, the dry, dry wit of Ash, Essex fashion week, all the absurdity, the random things that Darian says, (he's not the most educated, but he's for sure one of the smartest), all of it. It was gritty, it was hilarious, it was swoony, it was steamy, it was real, it was raw, it was depressing, it was uplifting, it was enraging, it was sweet, it was sour, it was frustrating, it was romantic, it was...everything.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Gritty Grumpy-Sunshine Romance
A one-night stand between a writer based in London and a “glitter pirate” / aspiring model from Essex unexpectedly turns into something more in Alexis Hall’s Glitterland, revised, expanded, and rereleased by Sourcebooks Casablanca in 2023 and coming to audiobook from Dreamscape Media in January 2024. On the surface, Ash and Darian don’t make sense, but they click. Darian accepts Ash in a way that he’s not used to or hasn’t been open to before. Alexis Hall excels at writing flawed characters finding their way, falling in love, and living with mental illness. Here we get the opposites-attract, grumpy-sunshine vibes seen in Boyfriend Material and 10 Things That Never Happened, as well as the British irony and humor used to provide some levity, but themes feel darker and heavier here. Ash has been to dark places with his bipolar disorder and anxiety. He has pushed people away. He has closed himself off. He lashes out. As he tells Darian, “[he]’d rather be hated than pitied” and that doesn’t make for an easy life. Through his relationship and experiences with Darian, though, Ash starts to do and try things again, and they don’t seem as scary as they once did. And Darian chooses to see goodness in things. “‘He… he… he’s a kind, ridiculous, beautiful glitter pirate. I don’t know what else I can tell you. He makes me laugh. He makes me hopeful.’” I think we all could use someone like that in our lives. I loved it, but—fair warning—it is a heavier read. I appreciate seeing mental health representation in stories like this. I enjoyed the emotion portrayed in Nicholas Boulton’s narration. I absolutely loved how he captured Darian’s personality and his Essex accent and felt like the serious, dry tone he used for Ash was well done. I especially appreciated how he represented Ash’s anxiety and the emotions wrapped up in his apology. I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Dreamscape Media. All review opinions are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Emotionally devastating in the best way!
4.5 stars! "Glitterland" is another fantastic, emotional, beautiful book in author Alexis Hall's repertoire. This story is captivating, dark, honest, depressing, and powerful. Please check the trigger warnings as there are quite a few touchy topics discussed here. I appreciate how Hall can touch upon sensitive topics like suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, and mental health with a mix of devastating frankness and shocking mirth. I will be thinking about Ash and Darian for months and years to come. What a couple of characters! This is one of the more interesting grumpy x sunshine books I have read. I have a hunch many readers will be turned off by Ash and his rude and frank but uncouth mannerisms. By all accounts, he is a huge w4nker. Still, I found him slightly endearing even with a mountain of flaws. His struggles are familiar, and I found myself identifying with him on many levels. I also saw a little of myself in Darian, who is a sweetheart of a person who radiates light and love and uniqueness. He knows who he is and isn't afraid to be exactly that person. He is naive where Ash is practical, and together, they complement each other in ways I didn't think would be possible given the selfishness of Ash at the start of the book. Darian tears down Ash's walls slowly but surely. Their pairing is complex and not without its faults and flaws, but they make it work best for them. These characters are spectacularly brought to life by audiobook narrator Nicholas Boulton. Talk about a fantastic performance! his shifting cadence, animated style, and various voices make this one of the best audiobooks I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I just adored this book so, so much. I highly recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley, Alexis Hall, and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Brilliant
Novelist Ash struggles with bipolar disorder, which leaves him feeling that love and happiness are beyond his reach. An encounter with exuberant Darian offers him laughter and a glimmer of hope. Can Ash overcome his despondency to fight for the future he wants? This is a brilliant depiction of mental illness. I loved Darian’s energy and sense of joy. The audiobook was well-done and made it easy to distinguish between characters. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com