I enjoyed this one! The first half really pulled me in, though the second was on the slower side for me. I liked Peggy and Orfeo's story well enough, but like it more because Bonny, Valentine, and Sir Horley were present too. I also still can't stand Arabella. She is still the most awful character I have read. I truly hope Sir Horley gets a book of his own and it is next up.

Something Spectacular is the follow up to Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall. Peggy Delancey’s not at all ready to move on from her former flame, Arabella Tarleton. But Belle has her own plans for a love match, and she needs Peggy’s help to make those plans a reality. Still hung up on her feelings and unable to deny Belle what she wants, Peggy reluctantly agrees to help her woo the famous and flamboyant opera singer Orfeo. She certainly doesn’t expect to find common ground with a celebrated soprano, but when Peggy and Orfeo meet, a whole new flame is ignited that she can’t ignore. Peggy finds an immediate kinship with Orfeo, a castrato who’s just as nonconforming as she is—and just as affected by their instant connection. They’ve never been able to find their place in the world, but as the pair walks the line between friendship, flirtation, and something more, they may just find their place with each other.

Something Spectacular is a splendid follow up to Something Fabulous. I was very happy to read Peggy's story, and get to met Ofreo. I am a huge fan of the level of communication and consent that the author uses in their books, and how much care they show their readers with the heads up about the content of the book. That shows a great deal of awareness and respect for the reader, which makes me extremely happy. I also loved the story itself, of course. There a good many twists and turns and I will admit to being surprised once or twice with the ways particular moments played out. However, there were also couple things that I really expected to happen that did not, I enjoyed the sense of humor that threaded through the book. Peggy figuring out who they were and what they really wanted is as much the point of the story as their love life. I just enjoy the level of honesty and self exploration for the characters hat the author includes in their work. I hope that this series continues in some way, because I would love to know what happens next for Belle and some of the other secondary characters that I have come to enjoy in this series.

Something Spectacular is a read that fans of the author, and the previous book, will not want to miss.

I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting read . I found that I was able to read quickly and enjoyed the pacing and premise of the book. I would recommend to others.

a cute and charming historical romance, i enjoyed this read

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

This book was incredible. Alexis Hall gives me everything I want in Historical romance. It’s queer, funny yet soft, steamy and he does Found family so, so well. I had the opportunity to listen to this one and also really have to shout out the incredible audio performance by Robyn Holdaway. So well done!

Such a ridiculously crazy read by Alexis Hall, perfect for a silly interlude or just a bit of queer fun!
3.5 stars 🌟

I love Alexis Hall. They could write a book every day all year and I'd read each one as it was written and I'd still feel sad at the end because it wouldn't be enough. 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

Something Spectacular is the sequel to Something Fabulous and is another Regency romp in the series! It follows family friend Peggy from the first book and Orfeo, a talented castrati opera singer. I had a fun time reading the first one and was really excited to get to read this one!

And I had another fun time! I liked Peggy and Orfeo a lot and the way that the book treated gender and sexuality throughout the plot. There is a general light hearted tone throughout the book that was very much in line with Something Fabulous and Alexis Hall's books in general. This book could probably be read stand alone if you don't mind being a little lost, but it's probably best if you read the first one. It was nice to see Valentine, Bonny, and Belle again!

Overall, I had a great time reading this book and recommend it to anyone who wants a fun Regency romance! 4.5 stars from me rounded down to 4. Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I was delighted by this book! It had so many tough convos but also so much love, and I was laughing out loud a LOT! I found Arabella to be the worst part of Something Fabulous and I knew she was playing a large role in this book and that kept me away for far too long! I love Peggy!!!!! I love her small town dreams and her not small town lovers, and I listened to opera for this book ok I loved it!

BUT and this is a huge but (maybe as big and beautiful as Bonny’s) the second half was soooo rushed. There was so much delightful yearning and longing in the first half and the second half skipped over large chunks of time in service to the story, or maybe just in service to the foursome that Alexis was clearly dying to write! Not that I didn’t want the ultimate spicy moment there but it felt so convoluted like if you wanted to write it just write it, don’t spend so long jumping around to justify it.

Overall, I did really like this one, I find the way Alexis Hall writes historical romance with so much modern flair is just right for me, and the way every name is more ridiculous than the last is a delight, I hope there will be more from this friend group in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Montlake, for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for this honest review!!

Really loved this book more that the first. Peggy and Orfeo have a wonderful love. I hope a third book for Belle comes out next.

Delightful! Alexis Hall is so skilled at writing across genres, and I think that really shines here in Something Spectacular.

Despite an author's note about the more modern language, I found the regency setting difficult for me.

That being said, I loved so many aspects of this book and do love Alexis Hall so much.

I loved:
two non-binary main characters
so much queer joy
supportive family and friends
realizing who you are is pretty darn amazing

This is the second book in the series and I would recommend reading book 1 first (which I did not) because it would provide more backstory for many of the characters.

Recommend for all those romance lovers out there, especially those who love regency romance.

I have never had an author be so hit or miss for me, but I think what this reading experience has shown me is that I should avoid Alexis Hall sequels. I’ve tried Husband Material and Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble and now this, and all three have been major letdowns compared to the previous book.

I should also caveat that I don’t think this is a bad book. For me 2 stars is a middle of the road book- an adequate enough reading experience that I’m compelled to finish the book despite some complaints but mostly forgettable in the long term. I also seem to be in the minority for this book.

My biggest complaints center around the humor. I find that in some of Hall’s books, certain jokes get overplayed and they become grating to me. As in the first book, I found Belle tiresome and could not see what Peggy saw in her. I also found it hard to buy into the insta-love between Peggy and Orfeo, which was especially disappointing because I was so excited to read a NB/NB relationship. I do love that Hall creates such unique characters that fall all across the LGBTQ spectrum, and as much as I didn’t get on with Belle’s personality I loved the aromantic representation. I also loved the take on queer community building Hall gave with the resolution of this plot so much.

All in all, while this particular book is a miss for me, I can see why others have loved it and I’d recommend if you’re in the mood for a fun romp of a historical romance. I’m not sure if Hall intends on writing more in this world, but I would be interested to see Horley’s story.

Peggy has been reluctantly enlisted to help her former lover Belle seduce the mysterious and flamboyant Orfeo. Despite hating opera, Peggy finds herself drawn in by the enigmatic and beautiful opera singer and feels an immediate closeness with the castrato who know what it is to be neither man nor woman. Orfeo also feels the immediate attraction, and soon these two people who have always believed they will be alone because of who they are navigate what it will mean to be something even more spectacular together. // This is only my second Alexis Hall novel, but between this and his incredible A Lady for a Duke, he’s fast becoming one of my go to author’s for gender expansive and joyful queer love stories. We need these stories more than ever given the way queer existence is being criminalized and pathologized in the United States right now. Hall wastes no time, we dive right into upending gender norms and social expectations from the very first page and never lose sight of those themes. I appreciated that while this novel is uproariously funny–I think I laughed on every page–it doesn’t shy away from the complicated feelings and unique challenges that Peggy and Orfeo face as genderqueer people in a historical setting (Peggy uses she/her pronouns and read to me as gender fluid, while Orfeo is nonbinary), both as individuals and together. Hall writes an introductory essay about why he made some of the choices around these topics, which I appreciated as well. Where this novel lost a star for me is just that the absolute hijinx and silly vibes do sometimes detract from the emotional resonance. While it didn't impact my enjoyment, that fact does slightly dampen my enthusiasm for this otherwise spectacular novel. Highly recommended!

hank you SO MUCH to Montlake and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this! All thoughts and opinions ares till my own.

This was FUCKING DELIGHTFUL!! Definitely a favorite of the year.

Every time I go into an Alexis Hall book I know I'm in for something great. But this one absolutely blew me away.

The first book in this series was such a fun time. It was light hearted and quirky and absolutely hilarious. This second book, maintained all those things but had so much heart and impact to it.

The way this handled gender and love was stunning. And I was left head over heels in love with these characters. Neither character follows gender norms, and I don't think anyone handles those topics as expertly as Alexis Hall.

I loved all of the discussions about love, expectations, and society surrounding their romance not only amongst themselves, but with their friends and loved ones as well.

There are so many obstacles that these 2 had to overcome, not only in the way society would see them, but with their own biases and expectations as well.

And finally -- that epilogue. Did not see that coming and hats off to Alexis Hall for getting my jaw to drop on the floor.

I listened to this on audio, which was fantastically done, and I loved getting to hear all the Italian and accents as they were meant to be read. I highly recommend!

I loved the first in the series and was glad to spend time again with all the chracters from the first and meet some new ones. It was hard for me to connect with the romance becuase I thought Peggy deserved to be treated better, even while understanding what orpeho was going through. I look forward to the next ones.

Though I have not read the first book in this series, it is clear that Hall has created a unique alternate version of the regency era for readers to occupy, in which LGBTQIA+ individuals are the norm and not a rarity. The concept, both in execution and theory, reminds me of the Bridgerton TV series and its approach to race. Though, unlike Bridgerton, Hall addresses these changes in historical narrative more openly. While the book has an overall very humorous tone (to an extent that I didn't expect, but did appreciate), Hall also knows how to pull an emotional punch with deep discussions and internal dialogue regarding sexuality, identity, societal expectations, and the intersection of all three. This book will make you laugh one second and then stop dead in your tracks as you absorb a character's deep truth in the next.

It's hard for me to pass up an Alexis Hall book. I find his writing and storylines so unique and witty--the wordplay, the settings and the DRAMA always keep me coming back.

With Something Spectacular, we're back in the Regency era with his LGBTQ+ historical romance. Following Something Fabulous, this book centers on Peggy and an opera singer, who like Peggy, doesn't neatly fit any of society's boxes.

While this is very much Peggy's book, this book does lean a bit on the colorful backstory and fantastic characters from the first in this series. It is worth reading Something Fabulous to understand the Tarleton's a bit better (and at least one setting/scene that was such a fun walk down memory lane!)

I found myself struggling a bit with this middle third of this novel. Peggy and Orfeo just can't seem to figure things out, there's a lot of angsty build up and this lacked a lot of the humor I expect from Alexis. It does come together in the end though! It also had some quotes that will stick with me. One simple one was that you can't "write your own story in the margins of someone else's." AMEN.

It makes me wonder if Bella is up next--I do look forward to that!

Thank you to Net Galley and Montlake for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

Alexis Hall once again delights with their sophomore novel in the "Something Fabulous" series.

Peggy Delancey does not want to go ahead in life without her ex lover, Arabella, close by her side. Belle has her own wants for love and Peggy is needed to make these happen. Thus, a wild ride ensures as Arabella wants to be tied to famous lively opera singer Orfeo. Matches are made that are not according to plan and instant connections are made.

This was a very fun read. I hadn't read Something Fabulous, but I still enjoyed this book. It's a very spicy, regency reimaging full of fantastic LGBTQ+ characters. Peggy literally faints the first time she sees Orfeo perform, but they both have to figure out how to live their own lives and be together.