Had heard good things about Hall's other books, particularly the first in this Regency series, which is a genre of romance I have been wanting to get more into. However, I found the writing style to not be my favourite, and actually quite confusing at times in trying to keep track of everything.

Amazing! I loved the first book in this series so I went it with high expectations and I couldn't be happier it was this good! I loved the characters so much, I just want to hug all of them. The humor is great, as all of Alexis's books.

3,5 stars.
First of all, kudos on the representation! I had fun reading this, what with the antics and anachronisms, and loved both main characters. I thought they had crazy good chemistry (especially in the first half). My main issue perhaps, rests with Arabella, who is just spectacularly annoying in both books. Otherwise, Alexis Hall remains an auto-read/buy author.

DNF at 20%

I have been trying to read this book for over a month and I finally have to throw in the towel. I really enjoyed Something Fabulous, minus the insufferable Arabella. Unfortunately, the first 20% of Something Spectacular has a lot of Arabella and her shenanigans and I just can’t take it anymore. I’m seeing a lot of reviews in which readers are saying it took a while for them to get out of Arabella’s orbit and into the Peggy / Orfeo romance, so perhaps I will try to take another stab at this book in the future.

Something Spectacular By Alexis Hall

I liked this sequel to Something Fabulous a lot. It was interesting to learn more about Peggy and enjoy seeing many of the original book's characters pop up again. Before starting this second book in the series, I would advise reading Something Fabulous first so you are familiar with the characters.Orfeo and Peggy alone are perhaps my favourite characters in this novel. I like their relationship's development and dynamic. Both individually and together, I adore them. I appreciated how well they interacted with one another and how, when they are together, they support one another's development while also being considerate of one another's personal space. My favourite was definitely Peggy's unconditional support of Orfeo, no matter what he wanted to accomplish. I like how the romance in it centres around two genderfluid characters, which I haven't really read before.

Das ist sogar besser als das erste Buch. Diese Geschichte war lustiger, weil Bonny an vorderster Front steht, mich bestimmt zum Lachen bringt. Dieser hat mehr Drama und Angst. Orpheo ist charmant und genauso verrückt wie Belle, also kann ich definitiv sagen, dass Peggy recht hat, sie hat einen Typ. Ich kann es kaum erwarten zu sehen, was als Nächstes passiert, und ich möchte bitte mehr Bücher.

Viel Spaß beim Selberlesen!

My thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the charm, humor and whimsy of Something Fabulous and was very excited to revisit that world again. You don't have to read the first to follow along, but it's well worth it.

This book follows Peggy as she tries to sort out her life post Arabella Tarleton (book 1 angst). She's does this, ironically, by following Arabella into another scheme. She meets a castrato named Orfeo and promptly falls head over heels. Peggy, bless her, has a TYPE! dramatic, wounded souls. Orfeo is equal parts vulnerable and world weary, believing he can only be a performer. (Flops on divan with arm over face)

On the way to HEA, there are illogical melodramatic Tarleton schemes, heartfelt conversations, and revisiting most of Book 1 cast. There are several conversations about what it is to be what people expect and what you want to be. I found it relatable and thoughtful without being a personal essay, if that makes sense? It felt natural for characters to have these conversations, is I think what I mean.

Along with the found family of book 1, we are introduced to some new friends who are equal parts endearing and funny. The Duke and Duchess of Marshalsea in particular. There are also some memorable scenes such as the poetry salon and that last chapter. One was very funny and the other, well, you should read it and find out.

I liked it so much I'm re-reading on audio through KU.

#SomethingSpectacular #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this follow up to Something Fabulous. It was fun to get to know Peggy better and see many of the characters from that first book return in this story. I would recommend reading Something Fabulous first so that you are familiar with the characters before diving into this second book in the series.

My favorite thing about this story was the uprooting of societal norms, particularly with regards to gender identity. Both of the main characters, Peggy and Orfeo, are outside the gender binary, though that exact term isn't used. They are neither this nor that, and they both struggle to express themselves authentically in a world that wants to box them in. I loved seeing them find a kindred spirit in each other and figure out how to live the lives they wanted!

There are so many queer characters and relationships in this book, which is a delight. Mythology references are sprinkled throughout, starting with Orfeo's name (Orpheus), but you don't need to understand a thing about mythology to enjoy this story. It's witty, full of banter and fun, but also introspective and thoughtful.

I recommend this book to someone who wants to read about queer characters finding their way in the world, discovering love, being silly, passionate, even ridiculous at times. It's joyful and loving and delightful.

This is a tough review to write because I’m still not sure of my feelings on this book. On one hand, the gender and queer rep is fantastic and important. On the other, I almost DNFed it multiple times and really only got into the book in the final third of the story. I think this will be a great book if you adore Alexis Hall and their writing style and a bit of a chore if you don’t. I’m squarely in the middle. I’ve read some Alexis Hall books that gripped me from the start and others that I had to force myself to finish. Both Peggy and Orfeo were great characters and the plot of this book was very interesting. It just took me a long while to connect with the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy! All views and opinions here are my own.

My favorite part of this book is probably just Orfeo and Peggy. I liked their dynamic, and the way their romance progresses. I love them as their individual characters but also together. I liked how they communicated with each other too and how when they're with each other they help each other grow and yet still respects each other's spaces. My favorite is probably Peggy just being so supportive of Orfeo regardless of what Orfeo want to do. This is my first Alexis Hall book (and probably not my last) but I like how the romance in this one is focused on two genderfluid characters which I haven't really read before.

Honestly, I had a hard time starting this, due to the suddenness of the plot and the introduction of the characters. To be fair, it is definitely my fault for getting this without reading the first book of the series. But at the time, I have read lots of romance series out of order and since I thought this one is okay to read as a standalone, I decided to trudge on anyway, not knowing that the first book is necessary to understand this book better. I also didn't like Arabella that much, who appeared first in this book and therefore made me question whether I want to continue with this book or not so I was glad that the spotlight is on Peggy instead of her (yes I didn't read the synopsis I'm sorry). I also found myself not liking/vibing with the historical-esque writing and some of the words used to show the period so those also contributes to me not being able to give this more than a 3 star. I did however like some of the banter and quips that the characters made in this one though.

I love Alexis Hall's writing so much. He has truly never let me down. This is no exception! A super fun and delightfully queer regency romance with found family is so up my alley and I'm delighted to have gotten to read this book. I love the way all of these characters interact with each other, love each other and trust each other. Peggy and Orfeo's love story was a joy to read, and it was also great to get some glimpses of Bonny and Valentine. I really hope there are more books set in this world in the future!

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.

3.5

Thanks to Montlake Publishing for gifting me a free e-ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I didn’t know much about this book before picking it up other than 1. it’s queer, 2. it’s a historical romance, 3. it’s written by Alexis Hall. I’ve read three books by this author previously, and while I enjoyed some more than others, the main reason why I enjoyed them was how funny they were, and this book certainly didn’t disappoint on that front. The banter and relationships between the characters were definitely the highlights of this book for me.

Something Spectacular follows Peggy, who is in love with her best friend, Belle. Belle wants Peggy to help Orfeo, an opera singer, to fall in love with Belle. As if this isn’t complicated enough, Peggy herself ends up falling for Orfeo, and as you can imagine, chaos ensues.

I enjoyed the beginning of this book very much. It was funny and witty and quite unlike anything else I’d ever read. However, as the story progressed, I found myself losing interest in it. There were a lot of different side plots that I think took away from the main story, and as a result, the relationship between Peggy and Orfeo didn’t feel very well fleshed out to me. This book is also incredibly dialogue-heavy, and I felt like the characters kept having the same conversations and arguments all the time.

However, it was a lot of fun to be able to experience a queer historical romance. The characters were hilarious and this book often took me by surprise. The ending came as quite a shock to me, but I think it’s very much suited to the book. This is a book all about queer representation, and I think the message that nothing – not gender, or sexuality, or even relationships – can be placed into a box was expertly executed.

So, while this may not have been the perfect book for me, I’m very happy that I read it, and I will continue to pick up books by this author if only because I find them very entertaining.

I’ve read the first few chapters but I will 100% finish the KU edition because I love Alexis Hall and this is no different. Hall writes such great queer romances and this is 100% no different and is amazing so far!

3.5/5 stars.

This Bridgerton-y historical romp is truly perfect for when you want to sit down, cover yourself in a blanket, read and sip on tea in the comfort of your home. The stakes are not high, the tone is light, the shenanigans are over the top at all times.

Those are the things I absolutely loved about it! I absolutely see the appeal of Alexis Hall's writing. It kind of feels like coming home after a very long day and finally relaxing your face and shoulders. There's comfort in it like you wouldn't believe, and the fact that is so easily inclusive and I got to read about two non-binary characters in this setting really just healed a part of my heart. I, personally, found Peggy to be a very interesting main character that has a lot more depth than you might think looking just at the surface level. Her character arc was really well done, I think.

There was a balanced amount of things I didn't like, though. Every time any Tarletons appeared on the page I heaved a huge sigh and was pulled out of the story because they were all so annoying, for one. The second thing is that I DESPERATELY wanted to have at least a little bit of Orfeo's POV. I felt like we spent very little time with them in the first half and I would have happily swapped out some of the Belle-related shenanigans with their POV. In a heartbeat. Peggy's and Orfeo's love for each other felt a little bit out of the blue as well, but I also understand how much they took from each other and gave each other in just a short amount of time.

The smut was A-, but I'm extremely picky with my smut so take that with a grain of salt.

I really enjoyed Something Fabulous, and Something Spectacular was a good follow-up! I do think it didn't have quite the same level of excitement or wit but it was a solid 3.5 star read for me. I would definitely recommend reading Something Fabulous first, as almost all of the characters are first introduced there and give us a lot of context into their relationships and moments that are referenced again in Something Spectacular.

I do love how in this world, all of the characters are so accepting of each other. Basically ever character is somewhere on the LGBTQ+ rainbow, and it is so fun to read a queer regency romance.

I really liked the little bits of Peggy's character that we got to see in Something Fabulous - she seemed like the most down to earth of all of the characters, while still being a good friend to Arabella. Here we got to see more of Peggy and I really loved her character growth.

I do think that the pace was a bit slower in this book. The chase all through the countryside in Something Fabulous just really tickled me and I couldn't put the book down, whereas here the plot developed more slowly and the tension didn't feel as high. I didn't mind Orfeo's character but I didn't love them either, I felt like I had a hard time understanding their motivations and hang-ups. But I was happy that Peggy found love and someone that made her happy!

Overall this was a cute read and definitely worth picking up!

I love that Alexis Hall waded into the Regency pool last year as he continues to widen that space for queer voices in this follow up.

Peggy agrees to help her friend, Belle find a special someone. It’s a bitter promise to uphold as Peggy has been in love with her for ages. Peggy tries to hook her up with Orfeo, a renowned opera singer. It doesn’t go to plan as Peggy and Orfeo gravitate towards each other. Orfeo loves their life as a performer which comes with lots of eccentricities. And Peggy, who’s been let down in love so many times falls for the person who could choose music over her.

Gosh, this book was whimsical and heartfelt! I easily adored Peggy and Orfeo. Their strengths were lovely, their insecurities relatable. The story even featured the characters from the first book which was amusing, but also slightly maddening. They’re kind of a lot, and Peggy is the only level-headed one.

The bit of historic detail that was interesting was that Orfeo is a 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰, and honestly I’d forgotten they existed, and the cruelty that created them. My only previous awareness of them was the ‘95 film, 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪. It was interesting to see how Orfeo perceived their life, in turn how they perceived themselves, and what it meant for their future.

Hall admits in his notes to taking liberties with the language and the sentiment at the time. So the storytelling has a modern day feel. He did what he set out to do - write a queer story, giving queer characters the freedom to be, to chase after their HEA. I liked this one more than the first book, mostly because Peggy and Orfeo behave in a less toxic manner as they’re courting.

So if you want something a little different, more whimsy, some ridiculousness, you’ve come to the right book.

Wow. Wow. WOW. I just loved this with all my heart. First of all, let me say that Alexis Hall should have a gold medal in writing witty banter, and this is his crowning achievement. The dialogue is snappy, funny, irreverent, and yet full of pathos. I enjoyed Something Fabulous but this one is next level, bringing in a more nuanced (i.e. complicated) relationship and with it a few more heavy topics. However, the fun rump is still very much here, loud and proud.

I often find books that feature non-binary characters usually depict a person who is biologically one sex but displays characteristics of the opposite sex. Although I'm sure that many people who identify as nonbinary feel they exist within that mold (and in fact, I found Peggy to exist within that mold too), I was really happy to find that Orfeo is written to exist in a truly binary-free zone.

That last chapter was.... something. I was expecting to hate it, honestly (I tend to be very straightlaced when it comes to romances and an OTP... stupid me) but no, it was written to be sweet as well as EXTRA sexy and you know what... I was here for it. Mind opened, thank you Alexis Hall.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, which disappointed me. This author is usually a hit for me. The characters did not grab my attention at all and the beginning was lackluster. I will stick to the more modern romances that Alexis Hall writes in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC of this!

A fun historical romp that helps give the good vibes for queer readers who just want to see history "fixed" to allow for everyone to live their life. We have two genderqueer/enby/trans characters who don't fit into the gender box that society tries to put them in falling for each other and navigating that, one who is in a Sapphic relationship in the previous book. We get to see the couple from the previous book living their happy queer life without much repercussion. Just good feels all around.