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Something Fabulous #3
Something Extraordinary
From the author of Boyfriend Material comes the absurdist adventure of two friends determined to avoid marriage to unsuitable people as they race through Regency England to marry each other instead.
Sir Horley Comewithers isn’t particularly interested in getting married, especially when his match is a perfectly respectable young woman. Sir Horley is, after all, extravagantly gay. But he’s resigned to a fate there’s no point resisting—until a dear friend does it for him.
Arabella Tarleton has no interest in romance, but even she can see that Sir Horley’s nuptials are destined to end in a lifetime of misery. Well, not on her watch. And what are friends for, if not abducting you on your wedding night in an overdramatic attempt to save you from a terrible mistake?
Their journey to Gretna Green is a hodgepodge of colorful run-ins and near misses with questionable innkeepers, amateur highwaymen, overattentive writers, and scorned fiancées. Then again a bumpy road is better than an unhappy destination.
But when it comes to marriage, Belle and Sir Horley are about to discover that it’s not what you do or how you do it but the people who you choose to do it with that matter most.
Sir Horley Comewithers isn’t particularly interested in getting married, especially when his match is a perfectly respectable young woman. Sir Horley is, after all, extravagantly gay. But he’s resigned to a fate there’s no point resisting—until a dear friend does it for him.
Arabella Tarleton has no interest in romance, but even she can see that Sir Horley’s nuptials are destined to end in a lifetime of misery. Well, not on her watch. And what are friends for, if not abducting you on your wedding night in an overdramatic attempt to save you from a terrible mistake?
Their journey to Gretna Green is a hodgepodge of colorful run-ins and near misses with questionable innkeepers, amateur highwaymen, overattentive writers, and scorned fiancées. Then again a bumpy road is better than an unhappy destination.
But when it comes to marriage, Belle and Sir Horley are about to discover that it’s not what you do or how you do it but the people who you choose to do it with that matter most.
427 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2024
350 people are currently reading
6548 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Hall
59 books15k followersOne of those intricate British queers.
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
August 8, 2024
The high-strung Belle has left behind her heroine era, and the drama-prone Rufus has left behind his Sir Horley Comewithers era. Together they embark on the worst elopement kidnapping elopement in history (per Belle, it’s not vainglorious to claim that when it’s true), and what ensues is a meditation on friendship, love, sexuality, identity, self-discovery, society, and home in a way that only Alexis Hall can do it. There’s drama galore, in characteristic fashion——and through it all, the rock solid foundation of trust and support Belle and Sir Horley Rufus start to build for themselves.
When I heard they were going to be the pairing, I was giddy with delight. When I read the last line, I was giddy with delight. I’m on record with Sir Horley stealing my heart in the first book, and Belle lowkey having the best background arc in the second. There was rich soil to till there, and still Alexis Hall surprised me at every turn. I’ve yearned for YEARS for a friendship to get the full romance novel treatment, not as something inferior or less interesting or a detour on the way to romance, and he delivers that infabulous spectacular extraordinary fashion.
If anything, this third book is the necessary capstone to the rest. Something Fabulous is quite focused and selfish; Something Spectacular embraces a larger, weirder family; Something Extraordinary asks what that even means and bares its heart to the world.
I was lucky to get an ARC, so I can’t add my usual wall of quotes until it’s published in December. But I will be re-reading then, and if the first two books are any indication, for many times to come, whenever I need belly laughs and a balm for my soul.
P.S. Reading this back to back with Liars, I can’t help noting how it deconstructs the entire patriarchal shambles and equips its various lovers with knowledge, agency, and solidarity. When one can’t yet change the system, that’s the way to prevent misery and abuse. A starker contrast there couldn’t be, both of them telling a different side of the truth.
P.P.S. Peggy and Orfeo’s (and Bonny’s) adorable terror of an offspring makes an appearance and gets told she’s “something important” by Belle. If that becomes a fourth installment in the future about the second generation of Delanceys and Tarletons, I am here for it.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I heard they were going to be the pairing, I was giddy with delight. When I read the last line, I was giddy with delight. I’m on record with Sir Horley stealing my heart in the first book, and Belle lowkey having the best background arc in the second. There was rich soil to till there, and still Alexis Hall surprised me at every turn. I’ve yearned for YEARS for a friendship to get the full romance novel treatment, not as something inferior or less interesting or a detour on the way to romance, and he delivers that in
If anything, this third book is the necessary capstone to the rest. Something Fabulous is quite focused and selfish; Something Spectacular embraces a larger, weirder family; Something Extraordinary asks what that even means and bares its heart to the world.
I was lucky to get an ARC, so I can’t add my usual wall of quotes until it’s published in December. But I will be re-reading then, and if the first two books are any indication, for many times to come, whenever I need belly laughs and a balm for my soul.
P.S. Reading this back to back with Liars, I can’t help noting how it deconstructs the entire patriarchal shambles and equips its various lovers with knowledge, agency, and solidarity. When one can’t yet change the system, that’s the way to prevent misery and abuse. A starker contrast there couldn’t be, both of them telling a different side of the truth.
P.P.S. Peggy and Orfeo’s (and Bonny’s) adorable terror of an offspring makes an appearance and gets told she’s “something important” by Belle. If that becomes a fourth installment in the future about the second generation of Delanceys and Tarletons, I am here for it.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2025
B / 4 stars
This third book in Alexis Hall’s Something Fabulous series of (faux) Regency romps is very much a love story – but not a genre romance. Rather, it celebrates platonic love – and does it incredibly well - and tells the story of two dear friends who, as the synopsis indicates, prove that a bumpy road is better than an unhappy destination.
I really liked Sir Horley Comewithers, louche man-about-town, in the other books in the series, and was pleased when I learned he’d be getting a book of his own. I didn’t, however, realise that the other protagonist would be Awful Arabella (Tarleton), whom I disliked intensely. I admit that I wasn’t at all sure I’d be able to make it through a book in which she was one of the leads but I decided to give it a try – and it seems that in the time that has elapsed between the events of this story and those of Something Fabulous and Something Spectacular, Arabella has grown up a bit. She’s still prickly, forthright and demanding, and time hasn’t softened any edges, but she’s a lot more self-aware and more focused on trying to do good things for the people she cares about. Long story short – she isn’t as totally obnoxious as she was before.
Note: This is the third book in a connected series of standalones, although I would recommend reading the other two first so as to get a better handle on the characters and their previous interactions. There are spoilers for those books in this review.
When Something Extraordinary begins, Arabella is trying to persuade her very good and extremely drunk friend, Sir Horley, that he really doesn’t have to marry the woman chosen for him by his overbearing aunt. Sir Horley, who relies on his aunt for financial support, doesn’t see that he has any other choice, but Arabella isn’t having any of his self pity, and doesn’t baulk at his attempts at rudeness. She eventually suggests that if a wealthy wife is what he needs, then he might as well marry her as anyone. She’s well aware that he’s not interested in women as sexual partners and is coming to terms with the fact that romantic love is something she has no interest in, so if Horley is going to have to get married, why not marry his best friend? Many marriages have been founded on less.
Thus begins probably the most inept elopement in the history of inept elopements. After making a prompt exit from his aunt’s home (following an act that can only be described as self-defenstration on Horley’s part), he and Bella head off to the inn she’s staying at with her brother Bonny and his ducal lover, Valentine. These early scenes – especially the ones that take place at the inn – often had me giggling out loud; the quickfire dialogue and deadpan observational humour I always enjoy about Alexis Hall’s books is sharp, insightful and frequently hilarious, and it’s the best kind of farcical – silly, yes, but genuinely funny as well (rather than just being silly!).
After assuring Bonny and Valentine that this is what she wants, Bella and a still inebriated Sir Horley leave her brother and his duke to face down a very angry aunt and a solicitous (ex)fiancée, and depart for Gretna Green.
Along the way and having finally sobered up, Horley – whom Arabella has decided should use his second name, Rufus, because it suits him better - makes the mistake of voicing the thought that even if they hadn’t agreed to marry, they’d have to get married now anyway, given the length of time they’ve spent travelling alone in a closed carriage. Bella isn’t pleased about that. It’s one thing to make a marriage of convenience in order to rescue a friend from a lifetime of misery; it’s quite another to be forced into it because of society’s dictats - and, being Arabella, decides to make a point by running away (with the aid of a murderous innkeeper!). When, the next morning, Rufus has escaped from said innkeeper, he’s forlornly trudging along trying to work out what to do next when he happens upon the carriage by the side of the road, where his recalcitrant bride-to-be is waiting for him. With breakfast. Misunderstandings corrected, and in harmony once more, they recommence their journey – only to be held up at gunpoint by a rather nervous highwayman.
Something Extraordinary is a lot of fun, but there’s also a more serious story here about the importance of finding the path that suits you and, if you are so inclined, finding the right person to walk it with you. Arabella has struggled with the fact that she doesn’t want what everyone else around her seems to want – sweeping, romantic love – and she’s starting to realise that not wanting it doesn’t make her wrong – just different – and she’s set on making a life that works for her. Sir Horley – Rufus – appeared, in the previous books, to be a devil-may-care type with a wicked sense of humour and no morals, although in Something Spectactular, there were hints at a darker side to him, and in this book, we get to see some more of that. After a life of mistreatment and disappointment, he’s convinced he’s broken and insists that he’s not the man Belle thinks he is and that he’s not worth her affection and friendship. But she refuses to give up on him, and helps him to realise that he’s not worthless and that he does deserve happiness and good things in life. His character development is probably not as significant as Belle’s, but I really liked the way he accepts Belle for everything she is and just rolls with the punches without ever seeming like a doormat.
They make a good couple – they share a determination and practicality to shape their own destinies that is admirable, and their marriage brings both of them a great deal of contentment. It’s not conventional, to be sure, but it works extremely well for them, and I really appreciated the inclusion of this queerly platonic relationship story in a romance series. Because platonic love doesn’t get enough, well, love.
I enjoyed the story a lot more than I thought I would, although things started to fizzle out around three quarters of the way in and never really picked up again, which dented my overall grade a bit. And - and this may be on me because I didn’t have time to re-read the other books – I don’t remember the friendship between Rufus and Arabella being such a close one as is described in this book. The way Bella talks and thinks about it makes it sound as though they were platonic soulmates and I honestly don’t remember that at all.
None of the books in this series are historically accurate and they’re not supposed to be; instead, they belong firmly under the umbrella of ‘historical fantasy’, with their tongue-in-cheek commentary on the ridiculousness of nineteenth century social convention and characters who are making life and love work for them on their own terms. And only Alexis Hall could come up with the nineteenth century’s version of TripAdvisor!
If you’re looking for a conventional historical romance, you won’t find it here, but if you’re looking for something funny, moving, thought-provoking and ultimately uplifting, then Something Extraordinary is definitely worth a few hours of anyone’s time.
Note: There are several sex scenes in the book (m/m, f/f, and m/f), but none featuring Rufus and Belle together – which is exactly how they like it.
This third book in Alexis Hall’s Something Fabulous series of (faux) Regency romps is very much a love story – but not a genre romance. Rather, it celebrates platonic love – and does it incredibly well - and tells the story of two dear friends who, as the synopsis indicates, prove that a bumpy road is better than an unhappy destination.
I really liked Sir Horley Comewithers, louche man-about-town, in the other books in the series, and was pleased when I learned he’d be getting a book of his own. I didn’t, however, realise that the other protagonist would be Awful Arabella (Tarleton), whom I disliked intensely. I admit that I wasn’t at all sure I’d be able to make it through a book in which she was one of the leads but I decided to give it a try – and it seems that in the time that has elapsed between the events of this story and those of Something Fabulous and Something Spectacular, Arabella has grown up a bit. She’s still prickly, forthright and demanding, and time hasn’t softened any edges, but she’s a lot more self-aware and more focused on trying to do good things for the people she cares about. Long story short – she isn’t as totally obnoxious as she was before.
Note: This is the third book in a connected series of standalones, although I would recommend reading the other two first so as to get a better handle on the characters and their previous interactions. There are spoilers for those books in this review.
When Something Extraordinary begins, Arabella is trying to persuade her very good and extremely drunk friend, Sir Horley, that he really doesn’t have to marry the woman chosen for him by his overbearing aunt. Sir Horley, who relies on his aunt for financial support, doesn’t see that he has any other choice, but Arabella isn’t having any of his self pity, and doesn’t baulk at his attempts at rudeness. She eventually suggests that if a wealthy wife is what he needs, then he might as well marry her as anyone. She’s well aware that he’s not interested in women as sexual partners and is coming to terms with the fact that romantic love is something she has no interest in, so if Horley is going to have to get married, why not marry his best friend? Many marriages have been founded on less.
You will never desire me. I will never fall in love with you. Does that not seem a wonderfully comfortable arrangement?
Thus begins probably the most inept elopement in the history of inept elopements. After making a prompt exit from his aunt’s home (following an act that can only be described as self-defenstration on Horley’s part), he and Bella head off to the inn she’s staying at with her brother Bonny and his ducal lover, Valentine. These early scenes – especially the ones that take place at the inn – often had me giggling out loud; the quickfire dialogue and deadpan observational humour I always enjoy about Alexis Hall’s books is sharp, insightful and frequently hilarious, and it’s the best kind of farcical – silly, yes, but genuinely funny as well (rather than just being silly!).
After assuring Bonny and Valentine that this is what she wants, Bella and a still inebriated Sir Horley leave her brother and his duke to face down a very angry aunt and a solicitous (ex)fiancée, and depart for Gretna Green.
Along the way and having finally sobered up, Horley – whom Arabella has decided should use his second name, Rufus, because it suits him better - makes the mistake of voicing the thought that even if they hadn’t agreed to marry, they’d have to get married now anyway, given the length of time they’ve spent travelling alone in a closed carriage. Bella isn’t pleased about that. It’s one thing to make a marriage of convenience in order to rescue a friend from a lifetime of misery; it’s quite another to be forced into it because of society’s dictats - and, being Arabella, decides to make a point by running away (with the aid of a murderous innkeeper!). When, the next morning, Rufus has escaped from said innkeeper, he’s forlornly trudging along trying to work out what to do next when he happens upon the carriage by the side of the road, where his recalcitrant bride-to-be is waiting for him. With breakfast. Misunderstandings corrected, and in harmony once more, they recommence their journey – only to be held up at gunpoint by a rather nervous highwayman.
Something Extraordinary is a lot of fun, but there’s also a more serious story here about the importance of finding the path that suits you and, if you are so inclined, finding the right person to walk it with you. Arabella has struggled with the fact that she doesn’t want what everyone else around her seems to want – sweeping, romantic love – and she’s starting to realise that not wanting it doesn’t make her wrong – just different – and she’s set on making a life that works for her. Sir Horley – Rufus – appeared, in the previous books, to be a devil-may-care type with a wicked sense of humour and no morals, although in Something Spectactular, there were hints at a darker side to him, and in this book, we get to see some more of that. After a life of mistreatment and disappointment, he’s convinced he’s broken and insists that he’s not the man Belle thinks he is and that he’s not worth her affection and friendship. But she refuses to give up on him, and helps him to realise that he’s not worthless and that he does deserve happiness and good things in life. His character development is probably not as significant as Belle’s, but I really liked the way he accepts Belle for everything she is and just rolls with the punches without ever seeming like a doormat.
They make a good couple – they share a determination and practicality to shape their own destinies that is admirable, and their marriage brings both of them a great deal of contentment. It’s not conventional, to be sure, but it works extremely well for them, and I really appreciated the inclusion of this queerly platonic relationship story in a romance series. Because platonic love doesn’t get enough, well, love.
I enjoyed the story a lot more than I thought I would, although things started to fizzle out around three quarters of the way in and never really picked up again, which dented my overall grade a bit. And - and this may be on me because I didn’t have time to re-read the other books – I don’t remember the friendship between Rufus and Arabella being such a close one as is described in this book. The way Bella talks and thinks about it makes it sound as though they were platonic soulmates and I honestly don’t remember that at all.
None of the books in this series are historically accurate and they’re not supposed to be; instead, they belong firmly under the umbrella of ‘historical fantasy’, with their tongue-in-cheek commentary on the ridiculousness of nineteenth century social convention and characters who are making life and love work for them on their own terms. And only Alexis Hall could come up with the nineteenth century’s version of TripAdvisor!
If you’re looking for a conventional historical romance, you won’t find it here, but if you’re looking for something funny, moving, thought-provoking and ultimately uplifting, then Something Extraordinary is definitely worth a few hours of anyone’s time.
Note: There are several sex scenes in the book (m/m, f/f, and m/f), but none featuring Rufus and Belle together – which is exactly how they like it.
December 10, 2024
This is a book about two people who form a queer platonic partnership in the structure of a Regency romance. Arabella is pansexual and aromantic (she tells people she is "unable to fall in love"); Sir Horley aka Rufus is gay and has given up on finding a "true love forever and ever," and so is planning on marrying the woman his aunt has chosen for him. But Belle figures if he's going to enter a loveless marriage, he should be with someone he at least likes, and proposes herself instead.
Alexis Hall uses the language of historical romance - eloping to Gretna Green! Carriage rides and highwaymen! Ballroom cuts direct and drawing room set downs! - to interrogate the whole idea of "romance." Belle and Rufus are never going to be "in love," but they are going to be true partners to each other.
Note that for a book about two people who are not sexually interested in each other, there are a lot of spicy scenes. I personally would not qualify any of the encounters as "cheating," but YMMV. (E.g. Rufus spends hi wedding night with another man, and with Belle's full knowledge and approval.)
I personally found the book more intellectually interesting than emotionally compelling, but it was a fun read, with Hall's humor on display, as usual.
The audiobook had dual narration, switching by whoever's POV the chapter was from. This is 3rd person limited, so it wasn't as though the character was narrating from a first person perspective. I thought both performers did well, although Rufus's lower pitch meant that I was raising the volume for his chapters.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.
Alexis Hall uses the language of historical romance - eloping to Gretna Green! Carriage rides and highwaymen! Ballroom cuts direct and drawing room set downs! - to interrogate the whole idea of "romance." Belle and Rufus are never going to be "in love," but they are going to be true partners to each other.
Note that for a book about two people who are not sexually interested in each other, there are a lot of spicy scenes. I personally would not qualify any of the encounters as "cheating," but YMMV. (E.g. Rufus spends hi wedding night with another man, and with Belle's full knowledge and approval.)
I personally found the book more intellectually interesting than emotionally compelling, but it was a fun read, with Hall's humor on display, as usual.
The audiobook had dual narration, switching by whoever's POV the chapter was from. This is 3rd person limited, so it wasn't as though the character was narrating from a first person perspective. I thought both performers did well, although Rufus's lower pitch meant that I was raising the volume for his chapters.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.
November 29, 2024
Omg our Arabella is growing up 🥹
It feels incredibly fitting that Arabella Tarleton and Sir Horley Comewithers should be the stars of this final instalment of the irreverent and sweet and sexy as fuck Something Something series. Arabella gets one heck of a character arc across all three books. And by god does she grow from the most dramatic to the most… assertively herself in the course of it, and I’m so here for it. And what a beautiful finale this is to Arabella’s continued grappling with her identity. Centre staging queer platonic relationships in a romance novel and giving them all the love is just *chef’s kiss*
The book opens with some really moving scenes that muse on the significance of friendships and how we sometimes overlook them without meaning to. But the course of true aromantic love doth not run smoothly and without shenanigans. And ofc it wouldn’t be a Tarleton story without an extended road trip 😂 This time there are no pirates and no planks to walk, though a very bad highway robbery may or may not occur. Sometimes you just have to travel far and wide to find your way home 💜
And Sir Horley, sweet, pained Sir Horley very much gets his HEA too, often in the most unexpected places. I don’t want to say too much and risk spoiling it. Just.. go read it, ok?
ARC received from NetGalley with thanks
It feels incredibly fitting that Arabella Tarleton and Sir Horley Comewithers should be the stars of this final instalment of the irreverent and sweet and sexy as fuck Something Something series. Arabella gets one heck of a character arc across all three books. And by god does she grow from the most dramatic to the most… assertively herself in the course of it, and I’m so here for it. And what a beautiful finale this is to Arabella’s continued grappling with her identity. Centre staging queer platonic relationships in a romance novel and giving them all the love is just *chef’s kiss*
The book opens with some really moving scenes that muse on the significance of friendships and how we sometimes overlook them without meaning to. But the course of true aromantic love doth not run smoothly and without shenanigans. And ofc it wouldn’t be a Tarleton story without an extended road trip 😂 This time there are no pirates and no planks to walk, though a very bad highway robbery may or may not occur. Sometimes you just have to travel far and wide to find your way home 💜
And Sir Horley, sweet, pained Sir Horley very much gets his HEA too, often in the most unexpected places. I don’t want to say too much and risk spoiling it. Just.. go read it, ok?
ARC received from NetGalley with thanks
December 26, 2024
I don’t yet have coherent words, because this book broke me in the best most joyous way possible, so I’ll just say: this is my favorite book ever.
It’s so so very queer, so full of love and hope and healing. The MCs are marvelous complex people who toss out the conventional scripts for life that they’ve been given and together build a beautifully full and wacky and wonderful life and family.
It’s so so very queer, so full of love and hope and healing. The MCs are marvelous complex people who toss out the conventional scripts for life that they’ve been given and together build a beautifully full and wacky and wonderful life and family.
August 14, 2024
One thing that I have accepted as true about Alexis Hall's writing in general, and the Something Fabulous series in particular, is that it will be at turns thought-provoking, unconventional, hilarious, and moving. And very, very queer. This is an excellent example of that.
I was never sure about Belle when she was a side character in the others' stories, but I loved her here. She is harder and sharper than Bonny and I love how Alexis Hall treated her aromanticism. She has no problem engaging in plenty of enthusiastic sex with all manner of partners, but she has discovered in herself an inability to comprehend romantic love and has come to think of herself as broken because of it.
Sir Horley - Rufus - thinks of himself as just as broken and unloveable after a lifetime of mistreatment.
They don't seem, at first, as if they will work out together, but their marriage works surprisingly well and brings them both contentment. After many, many hijinks, shenanigans, and other misadventures, of course, because this is an Alexis Hall novel.
Their arrangement is rather unconventional, but they are no less happy because of it. In fact, it rather suits them both.
I laughed out loud while reading this, even though I was feeling particularly sick and miserable, which is why I picked it up in the first place. Not my usual snorts and chuckles, but the sort of wheezing helpless laughter that you can't stop. It has been quite I while since I laughed like that. It was a welcome release.
I am not sure if there will be more in this series, as all of the main characters have been granted their various happy-ever-afters, but I hope Alexis Hall will surprise me and write more because I dearly love all three books. Even if not, I know there will be plenty more of his books for me to devour in the future.
*Thanks to Montlake for providing an early copy for review.
I was never sure about Belle when she was a side character in the others' stories, but I loved her here. She is harder and sharper than Bonny and I love how Alexis Hall treated her aromanticism. She has no problem engaging in plenty of enthusiastic sex with all manner of partners, but she has discovered in herself an inability to comprehend romantic love and has come to think of herself as broken because of it.
Sir Horley - Rufus - thinks of himself as just as broken and unloveable after a lifetime of mistreatment.
They don't seem, at first, as if they will work out together, but their marriage works surprisingly well and brings them both contentment. After many, many hijinks, shenanigans, and other misadventures, of course, because this is an Alexis Hall novel.
Their arrangement is rather unconventional, but they are no less happy because of it. In fact, it rather suits them both.
I laughed out loud while reading this, even though I was feeling particularly sick and miserable, which is why I picked it up in the first place. Not my usual snorts and chuckles, but the sort of wheezing helpless laughter that you can't stop. It has been quite I while since I laughed like that. It was a welcome release.
I am not sure if there will be more in this series, as all of the main characters have been granted their various happy-ever-afters, but I hope Alexis Hall will surprise me and write more because I dearly love all three books. Even if not, I know there will be plenty more of his books for me to devour in the future.
*Thanks to Montlake for providing an early copy for review.
October 13, 2024
I love Alexis Hall and would gladly pick up anything he writes, but I believe his talent shines most brightly in contemporary stories, like the Boyfriend Material series or the baking contest books. These settings allow him to be funny while also being utterly British and authentic.
This book is the third in his historical fiction series set in the 19th century. The concept has very little to do with historical accuracy and is more of a fantastic variation on the idea of historical romance. I really enjoyed the premise at the beginning of the series, but after reading this third book, I'm not so sure. It felt somewhat repetitive and didn’t offer much beyond what we’ve already seen in the first two books.
*Something Extraordinary* features characters I liked in previous installments, but I struggled to see them as distinct from the main characters earlier in the series (even though they do have different trajectories and personalities). This is mainly because the humor across all the books feels very similar; every character in this series makes the same kind of jokes. It just wasn’t funny for me anymore. The plot isn’t particularly strong either, as it’s meant to be a silly romp.
That said, I still quite enjoyed reading it and don’t regret picking it up. I think some readers will be more than happy to experience the same formula for the third time because, obviously, humor is subjective.
Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is the third in his historical fiction series set in the 19th century. The concept has very little to do with historical accuracy and is more of a fantastic variation on the idea of historical romance. I really enjoyed the premise at the beginning of the series, but after reading this third book, I'm not so sure. It felt somewhat repetitive and didn’t offer much beyond what we’ve already seen in the first two books.
*Something Extraordinary* features characters I liked in previous installments, but I struggled to see them as distinct from the main characters earlier in the series (even though they do have different trajectories and personalities). This is mainly because the humor across all the books feels very similar; every character in this series makes the same kind of jokes. It just wasn’t funny for me anymore. The plot isn’t particularly strong either, as it’s meant to be a silly romp.
That said, I still quite enjoyed reading it and don’t regret picking it up. I think some readers will be more than happy to experience the same formula for the third time because, obviously, humor is subjective.
Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 24, 2025
“It is how we show love,” said Belle, at the same time Rufus offered, “It is because we are terrible people.”
A historical romance that's not actually a romance, but two friends drawing closer and developing a deep platonic bond that has nothing to do with romance or sex (he's a gay man and she's an aro pansexual). This delighted me for all the same reasons that the previous books in this series have. It's a fun romp of a book, with hilarious characters and side characters, deliberate anachronisms, wacky situations, but a really deep emotional core. This is missing a few things for me, or rather, I feel like there are a few things that really needed to be expanded upon, for this to be a great book rather than a really good one. But I'm not TOO bothered? I just had such a great time with this.
We met Sir Horley and Belle in previous books in the series. My first little nitpick is that we're meant to believe they had such a great friendship before, and are developing a really deep one now, but idk. Maybe I just don't remember enough about their relationship? It HAS been a while since I read the previous books. But I can barely remember them interacting, and I really feel like we didn't get enough of a sense of their history. But that's a minor gripe, because I loved them both immediately. Even if I didn't quite feel their connection, I was rooting for it from the very beginning. I love reading romances, I love it SO much, but sometimes the body needs something just like this: an affirmation of the joy and community and family and connection that can be gotten out of the friendship; an affirmation of the fact that it's a different type of love, but no less precious and no less wonderful. Belle especially, who's come to terms with the fact that she'll never be in love, is in need of that affirmation. These two have the same kinds of troubles and misunderstandings that a romantic couple might, and the journey was still satisfying. They both also have some trysts, some romantic and sexual connections with other people that still felt meaningful and lovely. (My favourites were of course Rufus/Gil, because that has the glimmers of romance; and Belle/Verity, because dyke behaviour.) I've spoken about this in other reviews, but Hall writes historical queerness in a way that really works for me: homophobia exists, but it's just sort of tangential to everything else that our characters have going on. I really hate historicals that pretend that homophobia isn't a thing, and Hall strikes a balance that's just right for me, especially in this humorous and deliberately anachronistic way he does it.
Some might say that the book is long enough, but I think what would have made this perfect for me is if it had been longer, or split up into two books, with the first really concentrating on how they first became friends. They have some obvious and fun things in common, I just really wanted more meat on the bones of the main relationship. I love Belle and Rufus dearly, but they just didn't scream 'soul-deep friendship' to me? There were certain moments they shared, and certain things they said to each other, and I was left feeling like those moments weren't earned. And there are so many other aspects of the book that could have used more development.
But despite my little nitpicks, I just had such a thoroughly good time with this. I giggled so much, and I also FELT so much. A great combo. Listened to the audiobook as read by Ell Potter and Steve West; a complete delight. Potter is one of my favourite voices in historical fiction. I think they did a great job with each other's parts, though I can't deny that I would have loved it even more if it had been duet-narrated. I still had a really lovely time with this! I expect no less from this author.
Content warning:
“I am to be your husband, Belle. Possess me a little. I shall tell you if it ever feels constricting.”
December 27, 2024
ARC courtesy of NetGalley (thank you!)
Book 3 in Alexis Hall’s Something Something series makes me so very happy. All 3 of these delightful anachronistic Regency romps have provided so many laugh out loud moments, comfort, and exploration of relationships and identity. From his first appearance in Something Fabulous, Sir Horley Comewithers has been a favorite character: a scene stealer, charming, wickedly funny, and a true friend. In Something Extraordinary we pick up from where we left him at the end of book 2 (Something Spectacular), miserably engaged to a woman he does not want to marry in order to please his terrible aunt.
Enter Arabella Tarleton, very much over her too dramatic heroine era, now entering her eat cheese era - and most importantly build-a-life-she-wants-for-herself era. She is still a fan of ridiculous schemes (never completely gives up on some drama - she is a Tarleton after all) and concocts an abduction and elopement to Gretna Green. Their road trip includes some of my favorite moments in the book as they encounter questionable pies (Mrs. Lovett would approve), a run-in with “the worst highwayman in the history of larceny,” and jilted fiancées.
Slight detour in my review here to discuss the bookseller. Flirting over rare books might be a very small sliver of romance readers but anyone who incorporates conversations about etching, books of hours, and sharing of books…well, ahem, I am here for it.
Right, back to the review. What’s lovely about Belle and Sir Horley’s book is their friendship. They create a queer platonic relationship that works best for them both - full of love, mutual respect, and friendship. Their discussions about friendship, pain, and loss are so moving. They also find what I think is the through line of this series the joy of living the life you want to live and with the people you love. And the ending is chef’s kiss.
Book 3 in Alexis Hall’s Something Something series makes me so very happy. All 3 of these delightful anachronistic Regency romps have provided so many laugh out loud moments, comfort, and exploration of relationships and identity. From his first appearance in Something Fabulous, Sir Horley Comewithers has been a favorite character: a scene stealer, charming, wickedly funny, and a true friend. In Something Extraordinary we pick up from where we left him at the end of book 2 (Something Spectacular), miserably engaged to a woman he does not want to marry in order to please his terrible aunt.
Enter Arabella Tarleton, very much over her too dramatic heroine era, now entering her eat cheese era - and most importantly build-a-life-she-wants-for-herself era. She is still a fan of ridiculous schemes (never completely gives up on some drama - she is a Tarleton after all) and concocts an abduction and elopement to Gretna Green. Their road trip includes some of my favorite moments in the book as they encounter questionable pies (Mrs. Lovett would approve), a run-in with “the worst highwayman in the history of larceny,” and jilted fiancées.
Slight detour in my review here to discuss the bookseller. Flirting over rare books might be a very small sliver of romance readers but anyone who incorporates conversations about etching, books of hours, and sharing of books…well, ahem, I am here for it.
Right, back to the review. What’s lovely about Belle and Sir Horley’s book is their friendship. They create a queer platonic relationship that works best for them both - full of love, mutual respect, and friendship. Their discussions about friendship, pain, and loss are so moving. They also find what I think is the through line of this series the joy of living the life you want to live and with the people you love. And the ending is chef’s kiss.
December 18, 2024
"Bonny was as sweet and round as a summer peach. Whereas she was sharp and stabby and angry. Like a hatpin driven into a testicle." – Never has there been a more perfect summary of the Tartleton twins!
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 Stars // The majority of this story takes place in a long carriage ride to Gretna Green, Scotland in order for Arabella Tarleton & Sir Rufus Horley to get married. (Apparently Gretna Green was the "Vegas" of spontaneous elopements in the 19th Century!) Being stuck in a carriage and at various Inns sets the stage for drunken bickering, talking and whining with a bunch of Belle-inspired chaos. There is a LOT of talking and so I think you need to be in the mood for Belle & Rufus discussing all sorts of things, including their platonic relationship (which is lovely) and Belle's aromantic nature. For me it was a bit of a slow start, but it grabbed me more once they are married and taking other lovers. It was lovely to see Bonny & Valentine being Bonny & Valentine early on, and I was looking forward to a cameo from Peggy & Orfeo. The last 20% of the book has some delightful surprises which I won't spoil here.
I really liked this series as a whole, and I would say Something Spectacular is my favorite of the 3 books. I love Peggy & Orfeo so much and I liked how it took place more in town with soirées and balls, which I personally tend to prefer reading about. Where Something Fabulous is very funny and Something Spectacular is perfection, this one feels more introspective with a few really funny moments like:
– The Inns star ratings system that has an elaborate 20-word title, clearly a precursor to Yelp ;-)
– Bonny. Always Bonny.
– Belle dabbling in some light kink
– Belle speaking with a lisp
If you've read the first 2 books of this series, I definitely recommend reading this one to round out these stories in this engaging Regency world.
**Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for the ARC**
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 Stars // The majority of this story takes place in a long carriage ride to Gretna Green, Scotland in order for Arabella Tarleton & Sir Rufus Horley to get married. (Apparently Gretna Green was the "Vegas" of spontaneous elopements in the 19th Century!) Being stuck in a carriage and at various Inns sets the stage for drunken bickering, talking and whining with a bunch of Belle-inspired chaos. There is a LOT of talking and so I think you need to be in the mood for Belle & Rufus discussing all sorts of things, including their platonic relationship (which is lovely) and Belle's aromantic nature. For me it was a bit of a slow start, but it grabbed me more once they are married and taking other lovers. It was lovely to see Bonny & Valentine being Bonny & Valentine early on, and I was looking forward to a cameo from Peggy & Orfeo. The last 20% of the book has some delightful surprises which I won't spoil here.
I really liked this series as a whole, and I would say Something Spectacular is my favorite of the 3 books. I love Peggy & Orfeo so much and I liked how it took place more in town with soirées and balls, which I personally tend to prefer reading about. Where Something Fabulous is very funny and Something Spectacular is perfection, this one feels more introspective with a few really funny moments like:
– The Inns star ratings system that has an elaborate 20-word title, clearly a precursor to Yelp ;-)
– Bonny. Always Bonny.
– Belle dabbling in some light kink
– Belle speaking with a lisp
If you've read the first 2 books of this series, I definitely recommend reading this one to round out these stories in this engaging Regency world.
**Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for the ARC**
December 13, 2024
While this wasn't my favorite of the series, (I found it a touch long and rambling), it does have amazing found family and queer rep not often seen in historical romance. Alexis Hall continues to expand the genre by writing characters exploring their sexuality and what it means to be in a meaningful relationship (whether romantic or platonic). This was a marriage of convenience story between best friends who will do anything for one another and that part I really enjoyed. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of authors like Cat Sebastian.
CW: mild BDSM (spanking) and threesomes
CW: mild BDSM (spanking) and threesomes
November 28, 2024
4.5 stars
I’m on record with Arabella Tarleton being my least favorite character in this series. So I was wary of this book. I should have had every faith in Hall to make this extraordinarily beautiful.
Sir Horley and Belle are such an unlikely but amazing pairing. He has to learn to love himself and she has to learn that there are so many more kinds of love than romantic, and she’s not broken for bejng aro. The way they negotiate a unique relationship that’s wholly their own and works so well for them is a delight.
Obviously being an Alexis Hall book, there are madcap adventures, spicy as hell interludes, laugh out loud banter, and memorable side characters. Plus there is just so much heart, and emotionally resonant moments and discussions. I had a grin on my face so often while listening.
Plus! The audio is narrated by 2 of my favs, Steve West and Ell Potter. They do such a fantastic job! Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.
I’m on record with Arabella Tarleton being my least favorite character in this series. So I was wary of this book. I should have had every faith in Hall to make this extraordinarily beautiful.
Sir Horley and Belle are such an unlikely but amazing pairing. He has to learn to love himself and she has to learn that there are so many more kinds of love than romantic, and she’s not broken for bejng aro. The way they negotiate a unique relationship that’s wholly their own and works so well for them is a delight.
Obviously being an Alexis Hall book, there are madcap adventures, spicy as hell interludes, laugh out loud banter, and memorable side characters. Plus there is just so much heart, and emotionally resonant moments and discussions. I had a grin on my face so often while listening.
Plus! The audio is narrated by 2 of my favs, Steve West and Ell Potter. They do such a fantastic job! Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2025
I was a little worried about this book because it does follow Belle and Sir Horley both of which didn't belong among my favourites. But this is Alexis Hall book, so I just dived in trusting the process and was rewarded for it for sure!
This is a very unusual romance because it doesn't have a romantic relationship at the centre but very very much a platonic one - a friendship. And oh boy, do I need more books like that because on some level this is just so relatable to me! I mean, marriage is kind of weird institution once you start to think about it and really marrying a close friend does make a lot of sense once you start to deconstruct your own pressumptions about how a relationship should look like. Honestly, seems like a true HEA to me.
Anyway, so yes. I really liked how this was built. As usual it was very silly while also being kind of serious (Alexis Hall staple). I also think this was more meta than the previous installments in the series with moments like this one:
So yeah, a lot of fun although it did felt a bit dragged out in places and in terms of setting I really prefered the second part of the book where , I kind of wish bigger chunk of the book was about that, but that's just my personal preference.
Also, if you (like me) are asking the question - well, if this is a friendship-Romance are there any sex scenes? Yes, there are, but as you know Sir Horley is gay so they are not between our protagonists. I actually kind of have a small complaint about this, which is... we get three sex scenes - 1FF, 1MM, 1MF - and from those the FF really does feel kind of.... short and just not as... I don't know. I was kind of disappointed in that because I did enjoy their dynamics a lot and then it kind of fizzled out. It wasn't fade to black exactly, but kind of felt like that to me.
So yeah, anyway, this was great, not as great as Something Spectacular, but pretty extraordinary regardless. I do assume this closes of the series and I am sorry about that because I enjoyed the vibe a lot, but I guess there is nothing to be done about that. Definitely hoping that Hall will get into historicals again at some point because I think the last historical of his I have left from him is Confounding Oaths and that series doesn't belong among my favourites from him (and The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, I guess...)
This is a very unusual romance because it doesn't have a romantic relationship at the centre but very very much a platonic one - a friendship. And oh boy, do I need more books like that because on some level this is just so relatable to me! I mean, marriage is kind of weird institution once you start to think about it and really marrying a close friend does make a lot of sense once you start to deconstruct your own pressumptions about how a relationship should look like. Honestly, seems like a true HEA to me.
Anyway, so yes. I really liked how this was built. As usual it was very silly while also being kind of serious (Alexis Hall staple). I also think this was more meta than the previous installments in the series with moments like this one:
...while visiting, I solicited a comment from one Mr. A. Timms of Shrewsbury, who said, Sign needs fixing. One star."
The innkeper gave a soft howl. And even Belle - who had many other things to concern her at the present moment - winced in sympathy. She was rather glad her own life was not a subject to review, for she could not imagine the reactions were likely to be favourable.
So yeah, a lot of fun although it did felt a bit dragged out in places and in terms of setting I really prefered the second part of the book where , I kind of wish bigger chunk of the book was about that, but that's just my personal preference.
Also, if you (like me) are asking the question - well, if this is a friendship-Romance are there any sex scenes? Yes, there are, but as you know Sir Horley is gay so they are not between our protagonists. I actually kind of have a small complaint about this, which is... we get three sex scenes - 1FF, 1MM, 1MF - and from those the FF really does feel kind of.... short and just not as... I don't know. I was kind of disappointed in that because I did enjoy their dynamics a lot and then it kind of fizzled out. It wasn't fade to black exactly, but kind of felt like that to me.
So yeah, anyway, this was great, not as great as Something Spectacular, but pretty extraordinary regardless. I do assume this closes of the series and I am sorry about that because I enjoyed the vibe a lot, but I guess there is nothing to be done about that. Definitely hoping that Hall will get into historicals again at some point because I think the last historical of his I have left from him is Confounding Oaths and that series doesn't belong among my favourites from him (and The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, I guess...)
December 15, 2024
Rounding up to five stars (partly rounding up for the whole series).
Something Extraordinary is a lot heavier and darker than the first two Something Somethings. While it still has a lot of fun and humour, it's quite serious at times.
There are a few things that made me love it, despite being a bit clunky in execution in places:
• Like the first two books - so much about this story was unexpected
• The focus and deep dive into aromantacism is so rare and that makes it special
• I am low-key obsessed with queer platonic relationships (another rare type of rep) and this one is so gorgeous that I was crying my way through the last chapter
• The main characters have the deepest hidden depths revealed in this book - in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable and unrelatable - and I really welcomed the complexity
I don't think this was a perfect book, there are a lot of not-so-hidden depths surfaced in less-than-subtle ways and a few gaps that I sort of filled in with my imagination. I know Alexis Hall often espouses the death of the author but I felt like for this whole series I really got what he was going for. And in this case, it made for a very enjoyable and deeper reading experience for me.
(Note: This review is for the digital ARC. I will be re-reading with my ears with the audio ARC soonish and will update my review at that time.)
I received digital and audio Advance Reader Copies from NetGalley, Montlake and Brilliance Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Something Extraordinary is a lot heavier and darker than the first two Something Somethings. While it still has a lot of fun and humour, it's quite serious at times.
There are a few things that made me love it, despite being a bit clunky in execution in places:
• Like the first two books - so much about this story was unexpected
• The focus and deep dive into aromantacism is so rare and that makes it special
• I am low-key obsessed with queer platonic relationships (another rare type of rep) and this one is so gorgeous that I was crying my way through the last chapter
• The main characters have the deepest hidden depths revealed in this book - in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable and unrelatable - and I really welcomed the complexity
I don't think this was a perfect book, there are a lot of not-so-hidden depths surfaced in less-than-subtle ways and a few gaps that I sort of filled in with my imagination. I know Alexis Hall often espouses the death of the author but I felt like for this whole series I really got what he was going for. And in this case, it made for a very enjoyable and deeper reading experience for me.
(Note: This review is for the digital ARC. I will be re-reading with my ears with the audio ARC soonish and will update my review at that time.)
I received digital and audio Advance Reader Copies from NetGalley, Montlake and Brilliance Audio in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2024
Ok so. Confession: I loathe Belle. Truly. Deeply. Have since her overdramatic and unforgiving (yet very demanding of the same things she denies others) self flounced into the plot of book 1 in this series. But this is Alexis Hall, and if anyone can make me care, well. Here we are.
I do absolutely love how Belle and Sir Horley/Rufus explore what exactly love is and isn't for them, how they grow (ish) and develop. I really really do. The exploration of aromantic and platonic love is so incredibly sweetly done, and I just loved watching them figure things out together.
Belle's antics however, I still dislike, and a few of them I find very much not funny, but seeing as how the majority of readers does find it funny. Eh.
I would still recommend this series as a whole to anyone who wants to see more overlooked kinds of love. The kind where you believe the friendship and heart that connects them all and see a diverse cast of characters grow and carve out their own version of happiness. That is perhaps my favorite thing about Alexis Halls books (certainly not that he -ugh- makes me feel things...), and something that really shines in this book.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I do absolutely love how Belle and Sir Horley/Rufus explore what exactly love is and isn't for them, how they grow (ish) and develop. I really really do. The exploration of aromantic and platonic love is so incredibly sweetly done, and I just loved watching them figure things out together.
Belle's antics however, I still dislike, and a few of them I find very much not funny, but seeing as how the majority of readers does find it funny. Eh.
I would still recommend this series as a whole to anyone who wants to see more overlooked kinds of love. The kind where you believe the friendship and heart that connects them all and see a diverse cast of characters grow and carve out their own version of happiness. That is perhaps my favorite thing about Alexis Halls books (certainly not that he -ugh- makes me feel things...), and something that really shines in this book.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
February 17, 2025
if there's an author who can write a good platonic romance story, it's alexis hall. this book is about a lavender romance and teaches us that sometimes your soulmate is simply your best friend. it nevertheless contains fun romance tropes (marriage of convenience, elopement, found family), and due to rufus and belle's arrangement there are plenty of steamy scenes for both leads (though obviously not with each other).
if you're a stickler for period-accurate language in your historicals (like me), you might not enjoy this as much since hall takes a lot of liberties with slang and modern vernacular. speaking of which, this is also a very dialogue-heavy book, some of which is wonderful and contributes beautifully to character development, and some of which is just fluff. the plot at times is a bit over-the-top, but this is pretty standard for this series, so if you're willing to just go with it you'll have fun.
overall i really enjoyed this unique contribution to the romance genre and loved seeing rufus and belle get their well-deserved hea.
if you're a stickler for period-accurate language in your historicals (like me), you might not enjoy this as much since hall takes a lot of liberties with slang and modern vernacular. speaking of which, this is also a very dialogue-heavy book, some of which is wonderful and contributes beautifully to character development, and some of which is just fluff. the plot at times is a bit over-the-top, but this is pretty standard for this series, so if you're willing to just go with it you'll have fun.
overall i really enjoyed this unique contribution to the romance genre and loved seeing rufus and belle get their well-deserved hea.
July 26, 2025
The queer platonic historical romance I didn't know the world needed until I read it. An aro, pan woman and gay man find / create a home with each other. Maybe not quite as enjoyable as book 1, but much more fun than book 2. Lots of laugh out loud moments, even though the last quarter dragged. Lots of sex (m/m, f/f and m/f - and off page m/m/m) but not between the two MCs. There's some mild kink, including a Daddy scene that was hot but kind of came out of nowhere.
Like book 1, this is a satirical romance novel about a main character who reads a lot of romance. Belle's character arc was my favorite part of book 2 - where she realized that she was in love with the idea of romantic love but didn't actually experience it. In this book, she has to figure out what kind of life she wants and how to live it as an actual person, rather than as the heroine she thought she was going to be based on all of her romance reading.
I wasn't expecting Sir Horley / Rufus's background to be so dark. I'm still not sure it worked when the rest of the book was so fluffy.
Like book 1, this is a satirical romance novel about a main character who reads a lot of romance. Belle's character arc was my favorite part of book 2 - where she realized that she was in love with the idea of romantic love but didn't actually experience it. In this book, she has to figure out what kind of life she wants and how to live it as an actual person, rather than as the heroine she thought she was going to be based on all of her romance reading.
I wasn't expecting Sir Horley / Rufus's background to be so dark. I'm still not sure it worked when the rest of the book was so fluffy.
July 29, 2025
This is more about found family than an actual romance novel, but there's still the happily ever after (just platonic). If it hadn't been Alexis Hall, I would have been concerned the author would have turned this beard marriage into a situation where he discovered he is actually bi or something. Thankfully, that didn't happen.
Definitely surprised me when 300 pages in threw in some daddy kink and spanking. Loved everything about the book except for that scene.
Definitely surprised me when 300 pages in threw in some daddy kink and spanking. Loved everything about the book except for that scene.
January 21, 2025
Ah, listening to an Alexis Hall audiobook is like visiting with an old friend you haven't seen in awhile. Their writing is so clever and witty, I wonder why I let so much time go by without reading them. Hall has a way of spinning a story that's unlike any other writer. Incorporating friendship and courtship, romance and lust in the most delightful way - I adored Something Extraordinary. Regardless if you read this as a satisfying third episode of the Something Fabulous series, or if you enjoy it as a standalone, you’re in for a magnificent time!
The audio version of Something Extraordinary is beautifully performed by Ell Potter and Steve West.
an audiobook copy of Something Extraordinary was provided by Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review
The audio version of Something Extraordinary is beautifully performed by Ell Potter and Steve West.
an audiobook copy of Something Extraordinary was provided by Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review
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December 26, 2024Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
I have been impatiently awaiting Something Extraordinary, eager to dive into Belle’s personality and see an aromantic character. I’ve also really enjoyed the questions posed by the series so far, e.g. who gets to write a person’s story and do we ever truly shape our narratives alone. In Something Extraordinary, Belle finds there’s context all around her, and it’s immensely satisfying to read about her deconstructing the stories she’s read and the ones she’s told herself. The parts of her journey that result in seeing her full humanity as well as others’ “in glittering mosaic” are truly lovely.
On a long and occasionally absurd trip to Gretna Green, two friends go on personal and shared emotional journeys that emphasize the importance of friendship and platonic love while exploring what Love is in all its spectral glory. I enjoy a lot in this book, from the aromantic rep (mostly), the extensive queerness (highly), and the fundamental proposition that the rich are meant to be eaten (supremely). The book’s focus on found family and finding that family is charming, and the prose can be laugh-out-loud funny. The writing makes insightful comments on the human condition and eschatology, and then it calls people a “pissjester.”
There are crises of identity and of purpose. There are killer lines like “He is a fop and a formidable man.” There are lines that made me cry (“‘Whatever our circumstances, I am glad we would find our way to equity.’” and “And what a peculiar cruelty it was, a wasp sting from the world at large, to be someone who required explanation.”) There are also incomplete character arcs and improper uses of Orfeo.
Without getting deep into spoilers, there are parts of this book that fundamentally irritate me. Belle’s obstinacy that she doesn’t know how to love is depressing and—for me—insufficiently challenged in a book that is otherwise so obvious in its ethical message that it approaches preaching at points. It’s possible that the book’s occasional statements about godly love encompassing all forms, the incorrect (and challenged) framing of a patron’s and guardian’s abuses as love, and the false erasure of platonic love in favor of sexual and romantic attractions do enough to belie Belle’s insecurities. She is afterall not always a reliable narrator. But I fear that Belle’s insistence on being “simply not made to love” could come across poorly because it’s never directly challenged in dialogue or really by anything other than inference, she is already predisposed to being The Bad GuyTM, and aromanticism is not widely understood. If requiring an explanation is a wasp sting, then this aro rep's reliance on extrapolative assumption is an anvil to the face.
Smaller issues are around character dynamics. Using one character to further the MC’s narrative is fine on the surface—it’s not like they’re anything beyond narrative devices anyway—but I’m not confident that certain scenes in Something Extraordinary do so in a way that matches the narrative kindness I’ve come to expect from an AJH book. The issues between Valentine and Belle that have now spanned three books continue to feel unresolved, and I think concluding those issues here would have suited the book better than some avenues chosen.
Something Extraordinary is, at its core, a thesis about what love is. It's insightful and amusing. But I’m not convinced it fully made its point.
I have been impatiently awaiting Something Extraordinary, eager to dive into Belle’s personality and see an aromantic character. I’ve also really enjoyed the questions posed by the series so far, e.g. who gets to write a person’s story and do we ever truly shape our narratives alone. In Something Extraordinary, Belle finds there’s context all around her, and it’s immensely satisfying to read about her deconstructing the stories she’s read and the ones she’s told herself. The parts of her journey that result in seeing her full humanity as well as others’ “in glittering mosaic” are truly lovely.
On a long and occasionally absurd trip to Gretna Green, two friends go on personal and shared emotional journeys that emphasize the importance of friendship and platonic love while exploring what Love is in all its spectral glory. I enjoy a lot in this book, from the aromantic rep (mostly), the extensive queerness (highly), and the fundamental proposition that the rich are meant to be eaten (supremely). The book’s focus on found family and finding that family is charming, and the prose can be laugh-out-loud funny. The writing makes insightful comments on the human condition and eschatology, and then it calls people a “pissjester.”
There are crises of identity and of purpose. There are killer lines like “He is a fop and a formidable man.” There are lines that made me cry (“‘Whatever our circumstances, I am glad we would find our way to equity.’” and “And what a peculiar cruelty it was, a wasp sting from the world at large, to be someone who required explanation.”) There are also incomplete character arcs and improper uses of Orfeo.
Without getting deep into spoilers, there are parts of this book that fundamentally irritate me. Belle’s obstinacy that she doesn’t know how to love is depressing and—for me—insufficiently challenged in a book that is otherwise so obvious in its ethical message that it approaches preaching at points. It’s possible that the book’s occasional statements about godly love encompassing all forms, the incorrect (and challenged) framing of a patron’s and guardian’s abuses as love, and the false erasure of platonic love in favor of sexual and romantic attractions do enough to belie Belle’s insecurities. She is afterall not always a reliable narrator. But I fear that Belle’s insistence on being “simply not made to love” could come across poorly because it’s never directly challenged in dialogue or really by anything other than inference, she is already predisposed to being The Bad GuyTM, and aromanticism is not widely understood. If requiring an explanation is a wasp sting, then this aro rep's reliance on extrapolative assumption is an anvil to the face.
Smaller issues are around character dynamics. Using one character to further the MC’s narrative is fine on the surface—it’s not like they’re anything beyond narrative devices anyway—but I’m not confident that certain scenes in Something Extraordinary do so in a way that matches the narrative kindness I’ve come to expect from an AJH book. The issues between Valentine and Belle that have now spanned three books continue to feel unresolved, and I think concluding those issues here would have suited the book better than some avenues chosen.
Something Extraordinary is, at its core, a thesis about what love is. It's insightful and amusing. But I’m not convinced it fully made its point.
August 29, 2025
I think this is my favorite of the Something books. I loved the story of the love (friendship) that develops between Arabella (who I really came around to here) & Rufus, & how their marriage suits them both perfectly. I have some nitpicks: So not perfect, but an entertaining listen for sure!
June 23, 2025
** THE VERSION OF THIS BOOK THAT I READ WAS AN ARC **
January 10, 2025
this was a truly wonderful and spectacularly unique book!!
first of all, overall great series and while each book is about a different “pairing” (or at least in this case different main character) they do really all need to be read (in order) to be truly understood (i read the second one first and while it was enjoyable, it def would have made more sense to read chronologically!)
anyways, this was an extraordinary (😉) book about queer platonic relationships. the thing i love about books about qprs (of which i’ve read a few, enough to give me a data set but not as nearly as many as i’d like to have read) is that the way the relationships are shaped and unfold looks completely different every single time. this one looks like a gay sadboi being abducted from his unwanted het marriage by his female aro friend to be married by her. over the course of the book, they create an idea of what marriage means to them that just feels very real and lovely and good. lots of cuddling and adventures and witty conversations. they also both have sex with other people and support each other in these endeavors (while i don’t dislike qpr where the characters have sex with each other, i found it very refreshing and also even more non-normative to show one with ppl with opposing sexualities. to show that you can have a really deep and meaningful bond with someone as a very close friend while also having sex that’s meaningful with other people. anyways). this book explores a lot of common aro thoughts and while there is a happy ending of “being chosen despite the inability to love romantically” or rather “being chosen because of the ability to love so fully and committedly platonically” there is also some real moments where the aro mc feels a sense of loss of friendship from the romantic pairs in her life and she’s not proven wrong either. i appreciated that, even tho it hurt a little too. like yeah, people do chose their romantic partner over their platonic friends a lot of the time and it is really hard and it can’t just be waved away with story magic.
also, some people i know have complained about the normativity of wanting to have biological children and yeah i get that but also just because that’s a normative story doesn’t mean that can’t be a story for queer people as well. like, there’s all sorts of narratives out there and just because this one (and the previous one which has a lot more baby related plot) follows this path, does not mean the others do as well. but anyways, i get why people dislike that and i’m glad this one didn’t go as in-depth into that as the previous book.
in conclusion, this book delivered an absolutely ridiculous and hilarious plot, lots of heart as the mc shows people how they can be loved and cherished in all sorts of ways, surprisingly very sexy sex scenes (i normally don’t love hall’s sex scenes but these were actually great even tho they were never a “end game” pair). overall it was a delight and a really powerful work to add to the qpr canon.
first of all, overall great series and while each book is about a different “pairing” (or at least in this case different main character) they do really all need to be read (in order) to be truly understood (i read the second one first and while it was enjoyable, it def would have made more sense to read chronologically!)
anyways, this was an extraordinary (😉) book about queer platonic relationships. the thing i love about books about qprs (of which i’ve read a few, enough to give me a data set but not as nearly as many as i’d like to have read) is that the way the relationships are shaped and unfold looks completely different every single time. this one looks like a gay sadboi being abducted from his unwanted het marriage by his female aro friend to be married by her. over the course of the book, they create an idea of what marriage means to them that just feels very real and lovely and good. lots of cuddling and adventures and witty conversations. they also both have sex with other people and support each other in these endeavors (while i don’t dislike qpr where the characters have sex with each other, i found it very refreshing and also even more non-normative to show one with ppl with opposing sexualities. to show that you can have a really deep and meaningful bond with someone as a very close friend while also having sex that’s meaningful with other people. anyways). this book explores a lot of common aro thoughts and while there is a happy ending of “being chosen despite the inability to love romantically” or rather “being chosen because of the ability to love so fully and committedly platonically” there is also some real moments where the aro mc feels a sense of loss of friendship from the romantic pairs in her life and she’s not proven wrong either. i appreciated that, even tho it hurt a little too. like yeah, people do chose their romantic partner over their platonic friends a lot of the time and it is really hard and it can’t just be waved away with story magic.
also, some people i know have complained about the normativity of wanting to have biological children and yeah i get that but also just because that’s a normative story doesn’t mean that can’t be a story for queer people as well. like, there’s all sorts of narratives out there and just because this one (and the previous one which has a lot more baby related plot) follows this path, does not mean the others do as well. but anyways, i get why people dislike that and i’m glad this one didn’t go as in-depth into that as the previous book.
in conclusion, this book delivered an absolutely ridiculous and hilarious plot, lots of heart as the mc shows people how they can be loved and cherished in all sorts of ways, surprisingly very sexy sex scenes (i normally don’t love hall’s sex scenes but these were actually great even tho they were never a “end game” pair). overall it was a delight and a really powerful work to add to the qpr canon.
December 9, 2024
Genre: historical romance
England, Regency era
You'll probably see this a lot from reviewers, but I've never read anything quite like Something Extraordinary before. We are used to our romances having an HEA - and this does - but so much of the time we define it as romantic love. Here, Belle and Sir Horley are not romantically or sexually compatible, but in an era when many marriages are built on loveless arrangements, deep friendship seems as good a foundation as any to start a marriage. So Belle decides to save Sir Horley from a future loveless marriage to a stranger and convinces him to elope to Gretna Green with her instead.
This book has some of the best banter, because it's a bickering sort of friendship that Belle has with Sir Horley. There is a lot of communication - Belle is blunt to the point that it annoys Sir Horley, in fact - and some of that has to do with how they navigate their sexual desires with other people outside of their marriage. Belle is a bisexual aromantic, who for a long time dreamed of a sweeping romance until she learned it wasn't something she desired. Sir Horley is gay and has an unrequited passionate love for Belle's twin brother (one of the MMCs from the first book in the series). And while this book could be complicated or over-explain too many of the relationship components, Hall does a good job of showing the reader what each MC is looking for.
The book is on the long side, at 430 pages/14h15m, it felt a little too long. Where the plot slows, Hall inserts very spicy encounters for both characters, most of which are unexpected in ways I appreciated. I did read book 2, but I did not read book 1 prior to reading this, and while I likely missed some nuance, it perhaps made me less inclined to have a strong opinion of Belle going into Something Extraordinary. I really enjoyed this and will likely be thinking about it for a while.
The audiobook narration by Ell Potter and Steve West is excellent, engaging, and made the book fun to listen to. They are two of my favorite narrators, and made for a great combination here.
Thank you to Montlake and Dreamscape for an eARC and ALC for review. Something Extraordinary is out 12/17/24.
England, Regency era
You'll probably see this a lot from reviewers, but I've never read anything quite like Something Extraordinary before. We are used to our romances having an HEA - and this does - but so much of the time we define it as romantic love. Here, Belle and Sir Horley are not romantically or sexually compatible, but in an era when many marriages are built on loveless arrangements, deep friendship seems as good a foundation as any to start a marriage. So Belle decides to save Sir Horley from a future loveless marriage to a stranger and convinces him to elope to Gretna Green with her instead.
This book has some of the best banter, because it's a bickering sort of friendship that Belle has with Sir Horley. There is a lot of communication - Belle is blunt to the point that it annoys Sir Horley, in fact - and some of that has to do with how they navigate their sexual desires with other people outside of their marriage. Belle is a bisexual aromantic, who for a long time dreamed of a sweeping romance until she learned it wasn't something she desired. Sir Horley is gay and has an unrequited passionate love for Belle's twin brother (one of the MMCs from the first book in the series). And while this book could be complicated or over-explain too many of the relationship components, Hall does a good job of showing the reader what each MC is looking for.
The book is on the long side, at 430 pages/14h15m, it felt a little too long. Where the plot slows, Hall inserts very spicy encounters for both characters, most of which are unexpected in ways I appreciated. I did read book 2, but I did not read book 1 prior to reading this, and while I likely missed some nuance, it perhaps made me less inclined to have a strong opinion of Belle going into Something Extraordinary. I really enjoyed this and will likely be thinking about it for a while.
The audiobook narration by Ell Potter and Steve West is excellent, engaging, and made the book fun to listen to. They are two of my favorite narrators, and made for a great combination here.
Thank you to Montlake and Dreamscape for an eARC and ALC for review. Something Extraordinary is out 12/17/24.
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June 18, 2025Hall did something really unique with this third installment of Something Fabulous-he romanticised the shit out of platonic love. Is this a "romance" in the genre sense? I'd say no, the two leads are not attracted to one another physically or romantically (Arabella is aromantic and Sir Horley is gay), but the development of the novel is them coming together as partners. Because Arabella is a Tarleton, and they are an obnoxiously meddlesome sort, she convinces a drunk Sir Horley (also called Rufus don't ask you just have to read) to run away to Gretna Green with her the night before his arranged wedding to a woman he doesn't want to marry. Of course when he's sober he realizes this is a massive error, but now he's kind of fucked. He and Bell get to the anvil, have spicy times with other partners, and begin building their life (with plenty of Alexis Hall drama and flair). I felt very seen in Bell's character. She's over the top ridiculous but also learning to be pragmatic about the future she can have. She questions and struggles with her inability to be in love like those around her, but she also loves fiercely in her own way. I believe these two have a HEA with family they create and find.
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December 19, 2024
On Pause
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Alexis Hall’s historical romances, which is what prompted me to request Something Extraordinary on NetGalley. The cover was adorable, and the premise intrigued me. However, I didn’t realise this was the third book in the series (whoops)
The narration was fantastic, but as someone unfamiliar with these characters, I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of names and references to previous plot lines. It’s clear this book builds on what came before, so I think I’ll need to start from the beginning to fully enjoy it.
I’ll return to this one another time!
Big thanks to Brilliance Audio for the ALC. 🎧✨
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Alexis Hall’s historical romances, which is what prompted me to request Something Extraordinary on NetGalley. The cover was adorable, and the premise intrigued me. However, I didn’t realise this was the third book in the series (whoops)
The narration was fantastic, but as someone unfamiliar with these characters, I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of names and references to previous plot lines. It’s clear this book builds on what came before, so I think I’ll need to start from the beginning to fully enjoy it.
I’ll return to this one another time!
Big thanks to Brilliance Audio for the ALC. 🎧✨
July 6, 2025
This series just does not miss
The central friendship (my HEART!), the endlessly queer cast, the utterly charming trademark hilarity (and wisdom!!) of Alexis Hall, I can’t get enough. PLEASE may this series never end
The central friendship (my HEART!), the endlessly queer cast, the utterly charming trademark hilarity (and wisdom!!) of Alexis Hall, I can’t get enough. PLEASE may this series never end
January 7, 2025
This is the third book in the Something Fabulous series- and I’m gonna stay right now, but the first two books are still on my TBR. That being said, I really enjoyed Something Extraordinary and found that the background from the first two books was explained enough and the character cameos were fun nonetheless!
I love the most about this book is the fact that it’s so unconventional. This is a marriage of convenience between Arabella and Sir Horley. Sir Horley happens to be gay and is just about to be forced in a marriage with a woman he doesn’t love and has no interest in being with when his friend Arabella convinces a drunken Horley into a mad cap road trip to Gretna Green in order for these friends to marry each other. Neither is romantically interested in the other, but they do have a great friendship and a love between them in that regard.
Now is this adventure continues this couple ends up adding two more to the group and they all find a happiness and satisfaction together in their own way.
This book was absolutely hilarious in its mad cap road trip and so wonderful in the unique and fulfilling relationships that emerge from their adventure .
I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook narrated by Ell Potter and Steve West and found myself swept away by their enthusiastic reading. I really enjoyed how both narrator’s voice work, bounced off the other and helped round out the story telling. Overall, great voice work from both narrators that brought this story to life.
I love the most about this book is the fact that it’s so unconventional. This is a marriage of convenience between Arabella and Sir Horley. Sir Horley happens to be gay and is just about to be forced in a marriage with a woman he doesn’t love and has no interest in being with when his friend Arabella convinces a drunken Horley into a mad cap road trip to Gretna Green in order for these friends to marry each other. Neither is romantically interested in the other, but they do have a great friendship and a love between them in that regard.
Now is this adventure continues this couple ends up adding two more to the group and they all find a happiness and satisfaction together in their own way.
This book was absolutely hilarious in its mad cap road trip and so wonderful in the unique and fulfilling relationships that emerge from their adventure .
I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook narrated by Ell Potter and Steve West and found myself swept away by their enthusiastic reading. I really enjoyed how both narrator’s voice work, bounced off the other and helped round out the story telling. Overall, great voice work from both narrators that brought this story to life.
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December 28, 2024This is the most unusual romance I've read. Some would say it's not a proper romance at all, but I disagree. What I loved about it was how it expanded the idea of what love is, and what kinds of love are acceptable for couples to have. This last book in the "Something" trilogy is quite a bit angstier than the first two (I'd say that the angst levels increase in each book in the series), but I really appreciated how Alexis Hall explored how the protagonists' self-concepts informed their relationships with themselves and each other. A truly lovely novel, and yes, I was tearing up at the end.
September 30, 2024
4 stars - I feel so conflicted about this rating because the second half of this book is absolutely a 5 star read!! Any romance that can make me cry because of its gentleness has to be at least a 4.
This book really surprised me. I quickly realized that this was the third book of a series and was kind of confused in the first like 30% of the book. Characters were introduced with very obvious connections that extended to past books and I felt like I was trying to put puzzle pieces together to understand what was going on. There was a lot of internal monologue in the beginning so I don't think it really hindered the overall reading experience, but you will definitely feel like you're missing out on some history in the beginning if you did not read the first 2 books.
With that being said, Alexis is clearly an extraordinary writer. The way they can create such vivd characters with depth made for a rich reading experience. I was grateful there was a bit of internal monologue (which I can quickly grow tired of) because it really allowed me to be in each character's head. Both Rufus and Belle are trying to gain the courage to build their own happily ever after that doesn't look like the typical romances they see around them. Although their end goal is similar, they still have their own individual journey that unfolds and is unique to them. Alexis wrote a beautiful story of found family, and the journey to feeling worthy to receive and show up for love in all forms. Although the first 1/3 felt a bit slow to me, I absolutely adored the second half of this book. It was a complete 180 and I almost DNF'd due to slow pacing at the beginning, but I'm so happy I stuck it out. Excited to read more by them!
This book really surprised me. I quickly realized that this was the third book of a series and was kind of confused in the first like 30% of the book. Characters were introduced with very obvious connections that extended to past books and I felt like I was trying to put puzzle pieces together to understand what was going on. There was a lot of internal monologue in the beginning so I don't think it really hindered the overall reading experience, but you will definitely feel like you're missing out on some history in the beginning if you did not read the first 2 books.
With that being said, Alexis is clearly an extraordinary writer. The way they can create such vivd characters with depth made for a rich reading experience. I was grateful there was a bit of internal monologue (which I can quickly grow tired of) because it really allowed me to be in each character's head. Both Rufus and Belle are trying to gain the courage to build their own happily ever after that doesn't look like the typical romances they see around them. Although their end goal is similar, they still have their own individual journey that unfolds and is unique to them. Alexis wrote a beautiful story of found family, and the journey to feeling worthy to receive and show up for love in all forms. Although the first 1/3 felt a bit slow to me, I absolutely adored the second half of this book. It was a complete 180 and I almost DNF'd due to slow pacing at the beginning, but I'm so happy I stuck it out. Excited to read more by them!
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