Reviews with content warning for Acephobia/Arophobia - Something Spectacular

Reviews tagging 'Acephobia/Arophobia'

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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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.

---

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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taliejane's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I haven't emotionally recovered from the ending of this book yet so I have no hope this review with be coherent. Alexis Hall you know what you did 😡

This is the sequel to Something Fabulous (which is really enjoyed too) and this time follows Peggy and her journey to discover herself and what kind of life she wants for herself. Peggy is in unrequited love with her best friend Belle when she meets the opera singer Orfeo (and promptly faints at the sound of their voice). What follows is a heartbreakingly tender love story and journey of self-discovery for all involved, interspersed with the funny, quippy dialogue Alexis Hall is known for.

Disclaimer: I'm already a big fan of this author.

CW: Orfeo is a castrato and wrestles with their own value as a person in that context. The subject might be triggering in the context of gender identity or bodily mutilation.

Spoilerful Review:

So I immediately fell in love with Peggy. She is just the loveliest MC and as someone who often carries the burden of responsible for many people in my life, I felt for her so much. Accompanying her through understanding what kind of life she yearns for and then ultimately finding a way to her HEA was beautiful and really gratifying.

Orfeo is also a delightful character. I didn't know anything about the horrific Castrati tradition before reading. It was a really interesting perspective on identity and gender (and really heartbreaking at times). Orfeo's patron is a real SOB and the scene of their reunion was incredibly difficult to read (honestly I was nearly crying). But I just loved how they have moments with Peggy where they are allowed to stop performing and just be themselves. They are given the space to have some autonomy and to be seen as more than a sort of beautiful artifact.

Alexis Hall always does this thing where you think you're just reading a fun regency romp and then BAM your heart is shattered into one million pieces and you just lie in bed for a few hours staring at the ceiling?

The Tarleton's are back for more shenanigans. Honestly, I think because I related so much with Peggy in this book, Belle and Bonny really bothered me at some points. I mean they are as wonderfully ridiculously as in the first installment, and Belle has a difficult arc of self-discovery which I totally emphasised with, but OH MY GOD can you maybe not kidnap someone AGAIN and make it everyone's problem AGAIN? Peggy deserved some freedom as her own person, untethered to the whims of the Tarletons, and I am SO HAPPY she got there in the end. Anyway I would die for Peggy.

Of course, Valentine and Bonny are delightful as ever. We even see some really tender moments from Valentine which added a lot to pur understanding of him as a generally asexual/demisexual character, desperately in love with one man in particular 💗.

Overall, this is another 5 star AJH read. The dialogue? Hilarious. The character development? Emotionally devastating. The side characters? Fantastic. The insane regency surnames? A gift.

I was wondering throughout this book, since we meet the Duke and Duchess of Marshalsea, if maybe regency books from the perspective of the working classes might become a thing. It's increasingly difficult to empathise with the wealthy (we live in a society) and I really enjoyed the brief discussion of classism and inequality!

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gale_bruckner's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

5.0

I very much enjoyed getting to hear Peggy's story. I'm definitely a soft touch for someone growing into their own self-confidence. This was the familiar, and often silly and serious, world we were introduced to in Something Fabulous, through new eyes. I'm thrilled to see all the characters growing in affection, communication, backgboundary setting, and most importantly, joy.

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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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