Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall

47 reviews

thepictureofromance's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The story and the writing were fantastic and I would encourage people to give this book a go. Unfortunately, the characters just didn't click for me and I found the sex really disappointing and unfortunately cringey. It was a good book, just not to my taste.

Also, the 'third act' break-up happened 95% of the way through the book. The ending felt incredibly rushed and really let down the whole book.


Extra also, I felt really frustrated with the way that Valentine was treated throughout this book. He was repeatedly trying to make amends (even though he was making mistakes as he tried to rectify his previous ones) but he absolutely did not deserve the treatment inflicted on him throughout this book. Especially being tied to a chair and then forced to sleep in a cellar. This whole situation just felt really unnecessary.


Final also, if I ever have to read a book that describes an arsehole as a 'hungry flower' again I will give up reading forever. I almost DNF'ed on the spot.

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kangaroo1990's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

The twins are simply horrible people and the author laughs off their abuse, violence, assault as ‘quirky’ making the only reasonable character as the one who has to change. Gun violence with no consequence is not quirky

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beepbeep101's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Valentine is adorable, and I spent most of this book just wanting him to be happy and stop yelling at people. I love that this explored gender roles and expectations, independence and autonomy, and figuring yourself out rather than miserably going along with what you think are the expectations placed on you. A fun “pomp, romp, and circumstance” indeed, with some poignant insights along the way. 

No dragons but plenty of fun ~spicyness~

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f18's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0


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scarroll178's review

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book somehow manages to be as boring as it is ridiculous. Truly a feat of literary idiocy. The entire plot could have been avoided if the characters had used common sense. Bonny’s sister is a caricature of a young woman from this time period. The only enjoyable parts were the smut. 

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silvernfire's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5


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sage_alexandra's review

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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bergha1998's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.25

Duke Valentine believes it is his duty to his father’s memory to marry a childhood friend Belle. Except the girl won’t take his proposal even though it will make her life so much easier. And now she’s run away & he’s chasing her around the country with her twin brother Bonny. 

MLM Romance, 3 1/2 🔥

“I believe we know when we do wrong. We feel it. In our hearts, our souls, our conscience. And nothing I have ever learned or known or felt has taught me to believe that love is wrong.”

“Inclined”—he was still yelling—“ to see good where I would not even think to try.”

“I sought closeness with fictional characters because I felt incapable of it with anyone else. After all, if someone isn’t real, there are no expectations, no chance of loss.”

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withlivjones's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Very fun, very silly, with some moments of really beautiful writing filled with tender romance and yearning. 

The main couple’s romance was very sweet and while it isn’t exactly slow-burn, I’m glad that it still takes time for the conflict between them to be resolved after the initial getting together. Valentine is a very relatable protagonist in his struggle to balance his duty and his own preferences - I’m sure he’s somewhere on the aroace spectrum. 

I did find Arabella somewhat infuriating but given that the story is told from Valentine’s point of view this is unsurprising. Peggy definitely deserves better, since she’s apparently the only character with more than one brain cell. 

This is a book full of queer joy, and I had a lot of fun reading it. 

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readingqueerly's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


This was really fun. I don't know what it is, but queer historical fiction just always hits the spot for me. Add in a main character who is implied to be neurodivergent and aroace and I'm a happy boi.
This book was certainly dramatic as hell. Sometimes a bit too much for my taste, but that's just because I found it hard to really understand the big feelings some of these characters were experiencing all the time.
The main character was at certain moments definitely relatable to me in the way that he thinks he should live his life and the way he had so much trouble identifying how he should feel and what he is feeling and what all of it means. Definitely made me think just a little of some moments in other books with ace and aro representation that hit do close to home, especially when romance and marriage and a relationship is something so widely desired by many and almost expected from society. 
This read really quickly and while I think it could have been shorter, I didn't mind the length either. (Not that it's very long to begin with.) Also each and every character is queer and that's just a win if you ask me.

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