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anxiousnachos's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
This book is the most camp, melodramatic, over the top, utterly nonsensical book I’ve ever read and I fucking loved every single minute of it. It is an absolute delight and was exactly what my struggling brain needed. I laughed so so much, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed aloud so much at a book. Wonderful depiction of a demisexual achillean man falling in love, so much banter, so much delightful regency hilarity, it’s sexy, I loved the romance, I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
I know other readers disagree with me and feel Valentine was picked on by the twins too much and had too little power, but I feel the power struggle was well balanced for Valentine’s position as a Duke (and a man) versus his naivety about life. And this is meant to be a melodrama: it’s supposed to be over the top and dramatic. The character’s actions made perfect sense to me. I also wonder if it’s a culture thing? Bonny / Valentine’s relationship was very full of banter and bickering, but it’s something I’ve often had non-British people question about my relationship, ask why we’re fighting when nothing could be further from the truth. So perhaps there’s an element of misunderstanding that kind of humour between them also?
Anyway all this to say, I loved this, I thought it was hilarious and over the top and melodramatic and wonderful.
Content warnings: gun violence, arranged marriage (attempt), internalised homophobia and acephobia, graphic sex, death of parents (past), confinement
I know other readers disagree with me and feel Valentine was picked on by the twins too much and had too little power, but I feel the power struggle was well balanced for Valentine’s position as a Duke (and a man) versus his naivety about life. And this is meant to be a melodrama: it’s supposed to be over the top and dramatic. The character’s actions made perfect sense to me. I also wonder if it’s a culture thing? Bonny / Valentine’s relationship was very full of banter and bickering, but it’s something I’ve often had non-British people question about my relationship, ask why we’re fighting when nothing could be further from the truth. So perhaps there’s an element of misunderstanding that kind of humour between them also?
Anyway all this to say, I loved this, I thought it was hilarious and over the top and melodramatic and wonderful.
Content warnings: gun violence, arranged marriage (attempt), internalised homophobia and acephobia, graphic sex, death of parents (past), confinement
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Confinement, Gun violence, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Death of parent
cait's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
“Think, man. Where would she have gone?”
To his credit, and from his scrunched-up face and pursed lips, Tarleton did appear to be thinking. “America,” he cried.
“She’s gone,” repeated Valentine slowly, “to America?”
“Well, not immediately. It’s quite far away.”
Alexis Hall is so hit or miss for me that I really, really struggle to know what to expect or how to rate their work. Something Fabulous, similarly to Husband Material, had something special about it. The combination of insecure fragility and self-confidence of our main characters. The exploration of identity against the backdrop of self-sabotage. The ludicrous scenarios and downright hilarious side characters. But, as it sometimes does, this story went a bit too far.
The concept, of course, is a young duke is pursuing his runaway bride-to-be with the help of her flamboyant twin brother and despite the fact that he actually dislikes the idea of marrying this girl as much as she dislikes the idea of marrying him. Along the way, the duke discovers that he may, in fact, actually have feelings for her brother, but still feels obliged to pursue her before she makes any perilous mistakes or ruins either of their reputations.
The problem was that the bride-to-be, Miss Arabella "Belle" Tarleton, was utterly unbearable in every way. What started off as hilarious hijinks quickly dissolved into frustrating stupidity. No one listened. No one used their words. Instead of discussing things at pertinent moments, our protagonists compulsively obeyed this weird obsession with refusing to speak until they had reached a certain venue that was several days behind them, leading to imprisonment in a lesbian couples' cellar, an unnecessary duel, and multiple kidnappings of minor nobility.
It could have been incredible. Instead, the comedy wound up completely played out and the whole plot became utterly irritating to read about. I, personally, would have vastly preferred Belle actually be kidnapped by pirates while Bonny and Valentine explored each other in that meadow by the waterfall. I may read the sequel, because I did enjoy Peggy's character, but only if Belle is shipped to another continent so I don't have to deal with her.
To his credit, and from his scrunched-up face and pursed lips, Tarleton did appear to be thinking. “America,” he cried.
“She’s gone,” repeated Valentine slowly, “to America?”
“Well, not immediately. It’s quite far away.”
Alexis Hall is so hit or miss for me that I really, really struggle to know what to expect or how to rate their work. Something Fabulous, similarly to Husband Material, had something special about it. The combination of insecure fragility and self-confidence of our main characters. The exploration of identity against the backdrop of self-sabotage. The ludicrous scenarios and downright hilarious side characters. But, as it sometimes does, this story went a bit too far.
The concept, of course, is a young duke is pursuing his runaway bride-to-be with the help of her flamboyant twin brother and despite the fact that he actually dislikes the idea of marrying this girl as much as she dislikes the idea of marrying him. Along the way, the duke discovers that he may, in fact, actually have feelings for her brother, but still feels obliged to pursue her before she makes any perilous mistakes or ruins either of their reputations.
The problem was that the bride-to-be, Miss Arabella "Belle" Tarleton, was utterly unbearable in every way. What started off as hilarious hijinks quickly dissolved into frustrating stupidity. No one listened. No one used their words. Instead of discussing things at pertinent moments, our protagonists compulsively obeyed this weird obsession with refusing to speak until they had reached a certain venue that was several days behind them, leading to imprisonment in a lesbian couples' cellar, an unnecessary duel, and multiple kidnappings of minor nobility.
It could have been incredible. Instead, the comedy wound up completely played out and the whole plot became utterly irritating to read about. I, personally, would have vastly preferred Belle actually be kidnapped by pirates while Bonny and Valentine explored each other in that meadow by the waterfall. I may read the sequel, because I did enjoy Peggy's character, but only if Belle is shipped to another continent so I don't have to deal with her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Classism, Confinement, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Outing
alyssasaurus's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide attempt
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