Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - Something Spectacular

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Something Spectacular by Alexis Hall

7 reviews

unsuccessfulbookclub's review

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

While I usually enjoy Alexis Hall’s penchant for oddity, this book was a little too loosely connected plot-wise for me. I really enjoyed Peggy, our erstwhile ladygent, trying to figure out who exactly she was, and Orfeo, our nonbinary opera singer, was absolutely lovely. I enjoyed the time they had together, but there were so many competing storylines that the love story between Orfeo and Peggy felt a little lost in the shuffle. I will say there is a wonderful grovel - fully on the knees in the rain from Orfeo!

This book is more of a farcical, fantastical version of a historical English setting, and Hall has talked about the way they use historical romance as fantasy on a few occasions. I think readers who enjoy a lighthearted, zanier take on hissy RoNos could get into this, but if you’re looking for “realistic” historical romance you might be disappointed.

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_izzi_'s review

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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f18's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As someone who always only reads the books in a romance series that interest me, I reccommend not reading this as a standalone, but you could.

A touch more serious than SF, but it left me misty eyed so I can't complain. The drana in SF felt firmly like tongue-in-cheek parody where here it was not, but still had plenty of jokes.

Also, the misty eyes were during a scene

(a nonbinary character, who experiences dysphoria due to her afab body, having sex with the purpose of getting pregnant)

that due to my own ... triggers? peculiarities? ... were it handled less graciously could have (and has) made me have to nope out of the book entirely. So huge applause to the author for making a scene that could have been very squicky for me gorgeous and emotional instead.

Crossing my fingers for books for Belle and Sir Horley in the future. In a lot of ways SS felt like Belle's book as well as Peggy's, but despite her in some ways coming to terms with being aro it didn't feel like her HEA yet.

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In case it is useful for anyone, here are the opera pieces in the order which they are described in the book:
1. Ombra ma Fui https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9yTjXM6m50
2. O too lovely, Too Unkind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLWGB11Vm-o
3. Parto, Ti lascio, O cara https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABEvncd0qeQ

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kit_carmichael's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This is the second book in Hall's "Something Something" series, and as much as I loved the madcap insanity of the first book, "Something Fabulous," I think this one is better. In the vein of SF, it is over-the-top, "historical" in only the most cursory manner (as Hall admits in the introductory note), and rofl funny in many parts. But it's also a very serious examination of identity, self-conception, and the eternal question of who deserves love (answer: everyone). Both MCs, Peggy and Orfeo, are what modernity would call non-binary, and it's lovely to see how that brings them together and allows them to navigate their relationship in a way that is right for them (eventually, that is; there's a lot of drama before they get to that point). The book is told through Peggy's POV, and I think she is one of my favorite romance MCs ever, as she evolves emotionally throughout the book. Hall also sets up for the next (and last, I think) book in the series, which will feature Sir Horley Comewithers, who it appears we have all misjudged.

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withlivjones's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A wonderful continuation of the unapologetically queer regency world that was created in Something Fabulous. Peggy was one of my favourite characters in the first book, a much-needed voice of reason to counterbalance the overdramatics of Valentine and the Tarletons, and she makes a great protagonist as she works out who she is and what she wants. I loved how a lot of the characters from the first book returned and had so much development even in minor roles - from Valentine acknowledging his privilege, opening up, and dealing with his insecurities about his relationship with Bonny, to Arabella coming to terms with the fact that romance might not be on the cards for her (and I hope we see more of her journey in the future - good aro rep is so needed and Belle has a lot of potential to provide it) and Bonny learning that not everyone has the same needs and wants as him, to the sadder side we get to see of the usually chipper Sir Horley.

While Something Fabulous has more of a fairytale feel, set in the Surrey countryside where stakes are relatively low, Something Spectacular has a more grounded feel - things are far less idyllic in the middle of London where Real Life(TM) and Other People(TM) tend to get in the way of happy endings. This is excellently displayed in the character of Orfeo, a castrato who was destined as a child for a certain purpose - to be a singer - and therefore they have never even thought about questioning who they are and what they want out of life. Orfeo walks a line between glamorously defying the gender binary and accepting all the praise and adoration for their talents, and insecurity over being seen as damaged and less than human due to what was done to them as a child. This balance of confidence and vulnerability make them a fantastic character and an excellent partner to the quiet confidence that covers Peggy’s own insecurities.

In conclusion, this series slays. I hope another instalment comes out soon.

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caseythereader's review

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Thanks to Montlake Publishing for the free advance copy of this book.

- Aren't we all so lucky to be living when Alexis Hall is writing books? SOMETHING SPECTACULAR is everything I've come to love about his romance: silly, spicy, queer, messy, and tender.
- This book has two protagonists who would likely be considered nonbinary today, though they don't have the word for it in the Regency era. I loved that they both experienced gender and expressed themselves differently.
- As with many Hall books, there are some real, thorny emotional struggles here, but they are handled so lovingly and gently. It's probably also the funniest and most over the top Hall book I've read so far. Just the best.

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headlessphilosopher's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

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