raisin's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cmgreen's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
invisibleninjacat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lots of gender in this one. I liked Orfeo and Peggy, and their relationship development and personal development was pretty satisfying. At the same time, the novel sometimes had abrupt tonal shifts from serious emotional moments to abruptly treating itself completely unseriously, like the time Peggy accidentally got a poetry club into an orgy. Which was admittedly hilarious, but kind of a shocking tonal shift nonetheless.
I was also annoyed, in a nitpicky sort of way, that Orfeo was never actually gendered in conversation, but somehow even people who had never heard of them used they/them pronouns correctly.
I was also annoyed, in a nitpicky sort of way, that Orfeo was never actually gendered in conversation, but somehow even people who had never heard of them used they/them pronouns correctly.
friend_of_sappho's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
bookishbay's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
cedardleland's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beviltiska_romantike's review against another edition
5.0
Of course, I loved it, since Alexis Hall is an auto-buy or, in this instance, auto-arc author to me. Loved to meet Valentine and Bonny again, and I loved even more that it was Peggy's story - after Something Fabulous I felt that she deserved her own story and her own happiness. And here we meet them - spectacular Orfeo and what a complicated character they were: dazzling, selfish, vulnerable, proud and dramatic, perfect fit to Peggy's reliability, down-to-earthiness, generosity and loving heart. The story itself is a bit lighter than Something Fabulous, though it retains this absurdly ridiculous (in a funny way) tone, and at the same time touches many sensitive topics. Yes, sometimes it gets messy, but then suddenly everything falls into place. I laughed and cried a bit, sometimes felt dazed and curious, bet mostly I had a smile on my face. 4.5/5
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange of honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange of honest review.
tofugal's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my first Alexis Hall book, but it certainly won’t be my last. Simply a delight from start to finish. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard at a novel. Imagine the humor of Douglas Adams, Christopher Moore, or Terry Pratchett, but applied to a fabulously queer regency romance. This was also the only book I’ve ever found where two non-binary people fall in love, and I’d love to see that pairing become more popular.
vezreads's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0