Vibes: RAINY DAYYYYS, indoor guy/outdoor guy, recovering from a breakup, redemption of the douchey ex

Heat Index: 3/10

This audiobook is actually a bind-up of two novellas. In Waiting for the Flood, we focus on Edwin, who's dealing with the dissolution of his decade-long relationship by being a shut-in (in the house he bought with his ex, Marius) and restoring old books. When the flood of the century begins to hit his neighborhood, he meets the gentle, charismatic, and undeniably hunky Environmental Agency employee Adam. The question is, can he open his heart to a new risk?

The second, Chasing the Light, brings Marius into focus--he's basically lost himself and is trapped in apathy both personally and artistically. Until, that is, Leo comes into his life... and they end up truly stuck together (forced proximity fans, this one's for you).

I love Alexis Hall, everyone who knows me knows this, and while these novellas aren't Glitterland level excellent (I mean... it's hard to follow that book) they're gently funny and emotional in a way that, as per Alexis, feels so real. And frankly, I love the concept of reading these novellas in sequence. Because like. When two people get together as young as Edwin and Marius did and stay together for TEN YEARS, the breakup is very rarely this truly one-sided thing.

To me, Edwin's side of the story, which I did love, makes it easy for people to classify Marius as this villain. As they would! While Edwin never makes Marius sound horrible, this is the ex that he's spent literal years moping over. Seeing Marius's perspective really humanizes him, and like--sometimes, the person who broke up with you deserves love, too.

Quick Takes:

--These are very easy, mellow reads, and I LOVE SO MUCH THAT THEY'RE LITERALLY CENTERED AROUND A FLOOD. Look: floods bad in real life. But rainy days? So good. And this is a perfect rainy day read (or listen). And I finished it on a very rainy day! I win! Alexis describes the weather in conjunction to the general mood of the story so well. I love his prose. I love love love it. You know this.

--Again, I find it really cool that Alexis added this novella about Marius that doesn't take away from the bad place he's in (a lot of the deterioration of his relationship with Edwin clearly had to do with his own deadness to the world and general issues) but also humanizes him. He's prickly. He's not an easy guy to like immediately, the way Edwin is, while very sad, and easy cuddly sad boi to feel for. But... I liked 'im. I liked his love story.

--Because these are novellas, those love stories are quick, reliant on you buying into immediate chemistry, and sort of set up the romances versus telling the whole story. However, I totally believed that we were basically being introduced to people finding their soulmates. It worked for me. Novellas can be tough, but these sold the relationships.

--As much as Edwin is Baby, I also appreciate that like... The story called out him moping a lot. It called out the fact that sometimes relationships just END. Sometimes, people, or one person, falls out of love. You can't do anything about it. Eventually, you must break up.

That doesn't make it any less painful, especially when a relationship is as long as Edwin's and Marius's. But acknowledging that reality made it a lot more impactful to me.

--I'm focusing a lot more on Marius and Edwin because the novellas are from their perspectives. But Adam and Leo were also very charming--I mean, especially Adam. He was a like, competently hot and sweet and ooooooh I was into it.

I really enjoyed these funny, sweet, snarky novellas. They aren't my favorite things Alexis has ever written, but they are very comfy and snuggly and rainy day perfect.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second book that I’ve read by Alexis Hall and I think I need to accept that he’s not the author for me.

I enjoyed the premise of the book and I enjoyed the chemistry building relationship but both of the novellas felt very lack luster.

This may also be when I accept that novellas aren’t my preferred reading because I am always left feeling as though they don’t give enough time for the story to truly develop.

For those that want a good cozy rom-com, you may enjoy this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.