Something extraordinary

Two unconventional people try to avoid matrimony by…eloping. Sir Horley Comewithers and Arabella Tarleton were good friends once upon a time, but life has taken them in opposite directions. Sir Horley, who is extravagantly gay but miserably in love with Belle's (now taken) twin brother, spends his days thoroughly soused. Belle, who once dreamed of being a dashing heroine and now has no interest in adventure of any kind, feels abandoned by her friends and family. Even so, she still cares about Sir Horley enough to try to keep him from entering a loveless marriage. Unfortunately for both of them, he's too drunk and miserable to listen to the reasons they should elope, and the only solution she can think of is to (technically) kidnap him and head to Gretna Green. This, of course, almost immediately goes pear-shaped. Though Sir Horley is both hungover and furious when he realizes what's happening, he also realizes he has to see it through, lest Belle's reputation be ruined. Their slow trek toward the Scottish border, while increasingly absurd, brings them closer with every screwball moment, though not in the way that romance readers will expect. That's because once again, Hall has leveraged his trademark wit to nudge historical romance into new territory. For example, though the story includes multiple steamy intimate scenes, none of them are between the hero and heroine, which everyone involved is very happy about. Their separate sex lives do not detract from the development of true affection and love between Sir Horley and Belle, who lean into their unconventional future with aplomb, including Belle's acceptance of herself as what we would now call aromantic. Fans ofSomething Fabulous (2022) andSomething Spectacular (2023) will be delighted to see these two make a life together, especially given how they came across earlier, and the book is best enjoyed in that context, though it can stand alone well enough. Though the pacing is a bit uneven, with great warmth, a good deal of silliness, and a touch of anachronistic language, this story succeeds across the board. A thoroughly queer and extraordinary historical romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.