Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
There is a lot to be titillated by in this delightful gay romance from Hall (Boyfriend Material), the first in his Spires Series. Ash Winters, a reasonably successful London novelist with bipolar disorder, meets Darian Taylor, a glitzy, self-tanned Essex fashion model, at a nightclub. After a few initial hiccups, these polar opposites fall into a shockingly successful relationship as Darian's good cheer coaxes Ash into situations outside of his comfort zone. Though Hall has a sensitive hand with Ash's mental illness throughout, the happy relationship results in an almost unbelievably huge alteration in Ash's personality and approach to the world. Hall writes Darian's dialogue in Essex dialect--suggesting, for example, that the inscription to Ash's latest novel should read, "To the geeza what I slept wif and then done a runner on in the middle of the night, making 'im feel like a right slapper?" This near-caricature has a distracting effect and distances readers from the narrative, especially as none of the other characters speak with comparable dialectical mannerisms. Still, Hall's trademark humor and heart shine through. It's a cheery, hopeful love story proving that those with mental illness can have just as much fun--and sex--as those without. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callahan, Handspun Literary. (Jan.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
An early work by Hall makes its audio debut. Ash is a posh former wunderkind whose struggles with self-harm left him hospitalized. A chance hookup at a stag party, working-class Essex boy Darian is loud, brash, and disarmingly sweet. Ash thinks it's a one-off until Darian crashes his next book signing, and Ash can't help but invite him into his life. Ash realizes that Darian is awakening feelings he thought were long dead: trust, hope, and vulnerability. But he's so used to things going wrong that love seems unattainable. Will he sabotage this relationship, or can he keep his world lit with Darian's glitter? The 2013 book by Hall contains their hallmarks, including depictions of mental illness, deepening characterization through sex scenes, and making tired tropes feel new. Some early-writer foibles are present, including flowery similes, but Nicholas Boulton's expert narration molds it into a cohesive whole. Boulton's skillfully rendered Essex accent is tailor-made for readers put off by the transliterated accent in the written work. Additional content, including an expanded conclusion, helps round out the narrative. VERDICT A perfect narrator and a deeply felt romance make this a definitive version of a Hall favorite.--Katherine Sleyko
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A one-night stand sparkles far beyond first impressions. Ash Winters is trapped. His life has to be defined by his routines, which he clings to as his only hope as he recovers from severe depression and a suicide attempt. He avoids contact with friends, his sex life is unsatisfying, and his promising career as a writer has been derailed. But he feels obligated to make it from London to Brighton for his friend's stag party, and it's good that he does, because across the dance floor he sees Darian Taylor, a charming, baffling, "glittering pirate of a man," an aspiring model from Essex. They have an electric sexual encounter, but Ash runs away, a panic attack having been triggered when he wakes in a strange place. He's plunged into another depressive episode. When he reemerges, Darian finds him at a book signing, and despite his anger, they reconnect (quite intimately, over Ash's desk). As they continue to spend time together, Ash starts to think maybe he could build a new life with Darian--but eventually he pushes Darian away so cruelly that he might not return. This is a republication of Hall's first book, originally published in 2013, and this new edition has some changes but will be recognizable to readers of the original. Most importantly, it still includes the same extremely Essex voice ascribed to Darian with every sentence of dialogue; this isn't for all readers, but it is remarkably consistent ("hunjed pahcent" comes up a lot), and even when Darian borders on farce it can't dampen the clear passion the two men have for each other. Hall's command of tropes and ability to consistently deliver fantastically explicit writing remain top-notch, though fans will notice that while this book is solid, the writing is a bit clumsy compared to recent releases, with some confusing dialogue formatting that can detract from the story. Still, there's a reason this book, which is the first in the cult favorite Spires series, has had avid readers for years, and it's because it has the heady combination of red-hot sex scenes with genuine emotional connection that Hall does so well. The clear content guidance at the start of the book is a grace note that underscores the blunt but sensitive treatment of Ash's mental health and shouldn't be skipped. A shimmery and sexy start to the reissuing of a beloved m/m contemporary romance series. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
