Twelve years ago, I came to Oxford and fell in love with a man named Marius.
He was brilliant. An artist. It was going to be forever.
But then, like all beautiful things, it ended...
And now, there is only silence.
Quietly heartbroken, Edwin Tully lives alone in the house he used to share with the man he once loved. He tends to damaged books and faded memories, trying to build a future from the fragments of the past. Then the weather turns, and the river spills into Edwin's quiet world, bringing with it Adam Dacre from the Environment Agency. An unlikely knight, this stranger with roughened hands and worn wellingtons offers Edwin the hope of something he thought he would never have again.
As the two men are drawn together in their struggle against the rising waters, Edwin slowly lets down his guard as he comes to accept he can't shield his heart from everything-and perhaps he doesn't even need to try. Because love doesn't only leave scars...sometimes, it heals them, too.
This lyrical, moving LGBTQIA+ romance contains never-before-seen content and exclusive bonus material-including a NEW novella, Chasing the Light, following Marius as he rediscovers love and the complicated joy of being truly alive.
A quiet man. A rising river. A second chance he never thought he'd take.
From Alexis Hall, author of Boyfriend Material and Glitterland, comes a soul-deep LGBTQ+ romance about grief, gentleness, and the unexpected beauty of beginning again.
Edwin Tully keeps to himself. Once shattered by heartbreak, he now lives among the faded books and watermarks of a life paused-until a flood, both literal and emotional, rushes into his world. With it comes Adam Dacre: no-nonsense, boots-on-the-ground, and unexpectedly kind. He's not here to rescue anyone...but he just might show Edwin how to rescue himself.
As stormwaters rise, Edwin must decide: should he stay safely distant or risk everything for a love that could bring him back to life?
For readers who crave a gentle, introspective M/M romance; slow-burn emotional connection, and queer love stories that heal more than just hearts, with rich, lyrical prose praised as "achingly poetic" and "breathtaking."
"A masterclass in subtle, emotional storytelling" - Juliet Fox Reads
"I've always enjoyed Alexis Hall's skill as a wordsmith...and Waiting for the Flood is surely one of his highest achievements on that score. The writing is astonishingly beautiful-lyrical, insightful, painful, funny, truthful" - All About Romance
BONUS CONTENT
Includes Chasing the Light, an exclusive novella following Edwin's ex, Marius, as he rediscovers intimacy, joy, and the fragile courage of starting over.
Perfect for fans of Alexis Hall's Rosaline Palmer series; LGBTQ+ contemporary romance with emotional stakes, and character-rich slow burn stories by K.J. Charles or Roan Parrish.
