Glitterland (Spires, #1) in Riptide Publishing

Apr 05, 2014 Lisa Henry rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, made-me-laugh, something-in-my-eye

Hello, and welcome to my review of Glitterland.

Also known as The Way Lisa's Brain Works.

So, this book has been in my TBR for ages, but I didn't want to read it because:

Exhibit A. It has so many good reviews from people I trust that it is clearly setting itself up to disappoint me. Bitterly.

And when it did, I'd have to have some sort of crisis of faith, where suddenly I couldn't trust any of my GR friends anymore, and seriously, who wants all that trouble? And then I'd be all:

Exhibit B. Glitter ...more

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Jun 19, 2013 Kaje Harper rated it it was amazing

The concept of this book is simple - Ash, an educated, well-off writer with severe depression, meets Darian, a happy-go-lucky poor Essex lad and aspiring fashion model with a sunny disposition. Will the attraction of opposites withstand the fact that they are, well, so opposite? But the execution - ah, that's where this book shines, very brightly indeed.

If English is not your first language, this may be a bit of a slog, since Darian's Essex accent is phonetically rendered. For me, it was beautif The concept of this book is simple - Ash, an educated, well-off writer with severe depression, meets Darian, a happy-go-lucky poor Essex lad and aspiring fashion model with a sunny disposition. Will the attraction of opposites withstand the fact that they are, well, so opposite? But the execution - ah, that's where this book shines, very brightly indeed.

If English is not your first language, this may be a bit of a slog, since Darian's Essex accent is phonetically rendered. For me, it was beautifully calculated - an ongoing reminder of how Darian was at odds with everything Ash thought he valued, but not too thick to be read straight through or to force me to slow down and interpret. Darian's gentle optimism, his self-confidence that accepted limitations without being intimidated, and his wise focus on what really mattered, came through that accent. His simple joy in sparkly clothes and good times with friends, his basic shyness under the glitter, and his love of his Nan and his mates and life itself shone from the pages.

Ash was equally well portrayed, and his problems felt so, so articulately familiar. Depression is an all-encompassing problem that smothers light and joy and energy in its dark, muffling fog. The effort to interact with people, to remember the simple rules of social engagement enough to even deal with a store clerk, can feel far out of reach. Getting out of bed can be like rolling a boulder up a hill.

All those loving, helpful people who try to tell you it's not that bad, and there are medications, and just talk to this therapist, and "you can always call me", become another load to carry. You should try to feel better for their sake, but if it were that easy, you would feel better for your own sake. Their caring moves from comfort to just one more demand, until you snap and snarl and drive them off. And then are more alone. Or you cling to them, until their caring is worn thin in the unreasonableness of your demands, and you become more burden than friend. And either way, you lose them.

Ash has gone through all of that, right down to the suicide attempts when he wanted the world to just go away and let him rest. He has managed to keep a couple of friends, but his closest friend, Niall, is getting to the end of his rope, and their relationship was once as lovers and remains complex. Still, his friends pull him out of his isolation just enough to keep him in the land of the living, able to keep going with someone at the end of the lifeline to call.

Ash has struggled out of the deepest pit of depression in the last year or two, and is fragile, but functional, when he meets Darian. For the first time in a long time, he finds someone for whom he is a pleasure and a joy, not a burden or an object of pity. Someone whose light brightens his own darkness. Not just in the heat of the first real more-than-just-reflex sexual attraction he has felt in years, but in the moments between.

Darian, in his glitter and grating accent, moves through the jagged shards of Ash's life without getting wounded, with appreciation and humor. He makes Ash feel almost human, makes him want to try for more. But Ash is hiding most of his problems, and when Darian sees the real Ash, how can he be expected to stay around?

Darian is wonderful, but not unbelievable. Ash is sharp and sarcastic and secretive, but understandably so. The secondary characters, from Niall to their friend Amy to Chloe the fashion designer, are so well created, with their own complexities. This is a book I dove straight through, staying up late for it, my heart in my throat at one point. And yet also a book worth reading every word, with the literary and cultural references, the lines that felt like poetry, and the crystal-sharp depictions of Ash's world. Highly recommended. ...more

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Nov 18, 2013 Darkm rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, favorites

This book had been a wonderful surprise.
It was funny, and moving, and all around perfect.

It also teaches us a great lesson about appearances, and about how much kindness can really help and heal.

Now all I need to do is to try Darian's pie :) ...more

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Aug 15, 2013 karlakolumna rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, mm-contemporary

ARRGH. I had an entire review at the ready, painstakingly written, and then my bloody macbook had the gall to shut down on me. Because not enough battery left. *sighs dramatically*

So here the short version, because I'm angry. (With my macbook, obvsly.)

3.5-ish stars.

Although beautifully written and leaving me with the feeling that I really have to read other works by AJH, like right now, I wasn't completely sold on this book.

The storyline is, for lack of a better word, somewhat unusual, and manag ...more

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Oct 30, 2013 Mistral rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mm, contemporary-romance, made-me-cry, funny, super-cute, highly-recommended, sweet, really-really-good, loved-it

4.80 stars

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Dec 06, 2015 ΛNNΞ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books-of-2015

I wasn't expecting to like this book. But I did! I LOVED it ...

This was one of the best books of the year for me. It is unexpectedly good and brilliantly written. I loved pretty much everything about it -- strong characterization, powerful and emotionally engaging, funny ... the pacing is perfect and didn't drag. I literally fell in love with Ash ("babes") and Darian ("the glitter pirate") in this unique and endearing little romp. I didn't want it to end ... ever ... it was so good!

I loved the ...more

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Aug 24, 2013 alackofdignity rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-romance, disability-illness, favourites

I was ready to put this book on my favourites shelf at 40%. The first half is a 6-star read for me. I had a nerdgasm at the Waiting for Godot reference, freaked my cat out with all the laughter and felt people staring at me on the tram because I was trying hard not to dissolve into fits of giggles. I really need to stop reading funny books on the tram (although this book was both funny and sad). I'm rambling.

The second half was a 4-star read perhaps because I realised then that the author had m ...more

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