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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“You make me feel in ways I have never felt before. You are your own adventure and you are… beautiful. So beautiful that my throat clenches and my stomach flips when I as much as glance at you, and I wonder how the world turns when such wanting exists within it.”
This story… I honestly don’t know how to explain it. It reads like an over the top fairy tale. There is neuro divergence and inclusivity in *every* sense of the word, all wrapped up in the most delightful fairy tale of two men on an adventure. The humor is dry and surprising, I found myself laughing aloud again and again.
This is my very first historical romance novel (I know, I know!) and in the beginning I struggled with the old fashioned language and also distinctly British dialect and tone that Author Alexis Hall is known for. I felt like I needed to look up words frequently, but the feeling calmed as the novel went on and I became completely immersed in this fantastical world. Having not read the genre before- I couldn’t decide if “Something Fabulous” was more satire of historical romance or just an entirely unique and sarcastic romance in and of itself. It is rare that I struggle to set a book down for a proper bedtime, but this book kept me enthralled well beyond my normal hour.
“Love is not supposed to be convenient, my flower. It is supposed to be transcendent.”
“All he wanted was for Bonny to smile. To smile forever. To smile for Him.”
The villainous Miss Tarleton was absolutely exhausting and over the top ridiculous, yet I enjoyed the fact that while expecting the conflict to be solely internal, external circumstance also reared its head.
I think my favorite little tidbits, aside from the sweet and swoony romance, was the unending ode to novels weaved throughout. Again and again- the necessity for books whether for escape or comfort or desire or what have you, was extolled and waxed poetic about and I just fell in love with these characters who love books.
“If we lived life as though it were a novel, we’d spend all our time becoming embroiled in improbable adventures and spouting nonsense about filling our vast and empty souls with joyful aches.”
This story was unique. It was unlike anything I’ve read before, and I find myself very curious if the author is going to continue on in this direction. There are a couple side characters that I would be delighted to read about. I look forward to whatever comes next from Alexis Hall.
A big thank you to netgalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of Something Fabulous, all opinions are my own.
This story… I honestly don’t know how to explain it. It reads like an over the top fairy tale. There is neuro divergence and inclusivity in *every* sense of the word, all wrapped up in the most delightful fairy tale of two men on an adventure. The humor is dry and surprising, I found myself laughing aloud again and again.
This is my very first historical romance novel (I know, I know!) and in the beginning I struggled with the old fashioned language and also distinctly British dialect and tone that Author Alexis Hall is known for. I felt like I needed to look up words frequently, but the feeling calmed as the novel went on and I became completely immersed in this fantastical world. Having not read the genre before- I couldn’t decide if “Something Fabulous” was more satire of historical romance or just an entirely unique and sarcastic romance in and of itself. It is rare that I struggle to set a book down for a proper bedtime, but this book kept me enthralled well beyond my normal hour.
“Love is not supposed to be convenient, my flower. It is supposed to be transcendent.”
“All he wanted was for Bonny to smile. To smile forever. To smile for Him.”
The villainous Miss Tarleton was absolutely exhausting and over the top ridiculous, yet I enjoyed the fact that while expecting the conflict to be solely internal, external circumstance also reared its head.
I think my favorite little tidbits, aside from the sweet and swoony romance, was the unending ode to novels weaved throughout. Again and again- the necessity for books whether for escape or comfort or desire or what have you, was extolled and waxed poetic about and I just fell in love with these characters who love books.
“If we lived life as though it were a novel, we’d spend all our time becoming embroiled in improbable adventures and spouting nonsense about filling our vast and empty souls with joyful aches.”
This story was unique. It was unlike anything I’ve read before, and I find myself very curious if the author is going to continue on in this direction. There are a couple side characters that I would be delighted to read about. I look forward to whatever comes next from Alexis Hall.
A big thank you to netgalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of Something Fabulous, all opinions are my own.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Star rating: 3 stars |
All Valentine Layton wants to do is live a quiet life and respect his late fathers wishes. One such wish was to join the houses of the Layton’s and the Tarleton’s permanently to protect both their estates. Layton’s father imagined this would happen through the union of Valentine and Miss Arabella Tarleton.
Things become more complicated when Miss Tarleton is promptly disgusted by Valentines proposal and runs away in the middle of the night to try and escape to America. Now Valentine must chase Arabella down with the help of her twin brother Bonny. Bonny is convinced that if only Valentine made a more romantic proposal, his sister would just fall into valentines arms, and they would All live happily ever after.
This is not what happened… it becomes clear throughout their quest to catch up with Miss Tarleton that she imagines Valentine as some gothic story book villain, and she isn’t afraid to tell everyone she meets. As this quest continues, Bonny and Valentine grow closer. Soon it becomes apparent that Valentine has more options open to him for his future that he could have ever imagined. But will he take this chance to be happy? Or will he stubbornly stick to his duty…
This a heartwarmingly silly book. The further the book goes the more absurdly funny the story line gets. At the centre of the story there is a desire to centre and normalise queer relationships, both platonic and romantic. I loved the relationship between the side characters especially miss Evans and fairfax. I think they played off each other very well, and I loved the day to day love they showed to each other.
Similarly the relationship between valentine and Bonny was handled incredibly well. They challenged each other (even if Bonny was rather hard on Valentine sometimes) and I love the way the relationship developed.
In general there was only one thing I did not like about this book, but unfortunately it is a big thing, and that is the writing of one Arabella Tarleton.
In principle, I am on her side. Some dude who you have not seen for years, comes in, demands that you marry him, and then when you express displeasure at this, he states that you have to because your fathers wanted you to???? Absolutely not, he can fuck off…
But the further the book went on, the more and more annoying she became. From the dramatic fake fainting to the demonisation of Valentine, and then, she shoots him for absolutely no reason?!?!?
This book could have been a really interesting look into family relations in the regency era but this book fell into the trope of overly villianising the person that keeps the main couple apart.
Because Arabella, was quite villainous throughout the book. BUT when you simplify it down she was a person facing a future she didn’t want but couldn’t control, of course she wanted to run. But the story is written so she becomes this caricature of a annoying little sister that won’t listen to anyone.
This book is heartwarming but it had so much more potential if it wasn’t let down by the rushed and undeveloped writing of Arabella Tarleton.
“I cannot go back to the inn with Bonny, I AM IN A STREAM”
All Valentine Layton wants to do is live a quiet life and respect his late fathers wishes. One such wish was to join the houses of the Layton’s and the Tarleton’s permanently to protect both their estates. Layton’s father imagined this would happen through the union of Valentine and Miss Arabella Tarleton.
Things become more complicated when Miss Tarleton is promptly disgusted by Valentines proposal and runs away in the middle of the night to try and escape to America. Now Valentine must chase Arabella down with the help of her twin brother Bonny. Bonny is convinced that if only Valentine made a more romantic proposal, his sister would just fall into valentines arms, and they would All live happily ever after.
This is not what happened… it becomes clear throughout their quest to catch up with Miss Tarleton that she imagines Valentine as some gothic story book villain, and she isn’t afraid to tell everyone she meets. As this quest continues, Bonny and Valentine grow closer. Soon it becomes apparent that Valentine has more options open to him for his future that he could have ever imagined. But will he take this chance to be happy? Or will he stubbornly stick to his duty…
This a heartwarmingly silly book. The further the book goes the more absurdly funny the story line gets. At the centre of the story there is a desire to centre and normalise queer relationships, both platonic and romantic. I loved the relationship between the side characters especially miss Evans and fairfax. I think they played off each other very well, and I loved the day to day love they showed to each other.
Similarly the relationship between valentine and Bonny was handled incredibly well. They challenged each other (even if Bonny was rather hard on Valentine sometimes) and I love the way the relationship developed.
In general there was only one thing I did not like about this book, but unfortunately it is a big thing, and that is the writing of one Arabella Tarleton.
In principle, I am on her side. Some dude who you have not seen for years, comes in, demands that you marry him, and then when you express displeasure at this, he states that you have to because your fathers wanted you to???? Absolutely not, he can fuck off…
But the further the book went on, the more and more annoying she became. From the dramatic fake fainting to the demonisation of Valentine, and then, she shoots him for absolutely no reason?!?!?
This book could have been a really interesting look into family relations in the regency era but this book fell into the trope of overly villianising the person that keeps the main couple apart.
Because Arabella, was quite villainous throughout the book. BUT when you simplify it down she was a person facing a future she didn’t want but couldn’t control, of course she wanted to run. But the story is written so she becomes this caricature of a annoying little sister that won’t listen to anyone.
This book is heartwarming but it had so much more potential if it wasn’t let down by the rushed and undeveloped writing of Arabella Tarleton.
“I cannot go back to the inn with Bonny, I AM IN A STREAM”
4,5*
Very cute and romantic and hot. It gave lots of anxiety and"i need to punch something" feelings when everything kept going wrong, but it was worth it.
I adored Boyfriend Material and I never considered Alexis Hall could have more books (I thought it was a debut) but I'm surely going to ready everything they write from now on. However if Something Spectacular involves Belle, I won't read it.
Very cute and romantic and hot. It gave lots of anxiety and"i need to punch something" feelings when everything kept going wrong, but it was worth it.
I adored Boyfriend Material and I never considered Alexis Hall could have more books (I thought it was a debut) but I'm surely going to ready everything they write from now on. However if Something Spectacular involves Belle, I won't read it.
If you can get past the contrivances and anachronisms of this book, it's actually quite funny.
adventurous
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:
Yes