Narrated by Nicholas Boulton

I read an ARC copy of Alexis Hall’s Something Fabulous a while back, but when I saw Nicholas Boulton would be narrating the audio version, there was no way I wasn’t going to listen to it as well! It’s a gloriously queer, charmingly nonsensical Regency romp that plays with familiar tropes in the most affectionate way while at the same time delivering a sexy romance and a tender story of self-discovery.

Valentine Layton, Duke of Malvern is a serious-minded, rather stuffy young man, brought up to always consider his position and status, and to put duty first. There is, however, one particular duty he’s neglected for too long, and when the book begins, he’s proposing marriage to Miss Arabella Tarleton, the young woman intended for him since birth. Miss Tarleton, however, is not at all inclined to accept, and even though Valentine is more concerned with accomplishing his late father’s wish than he is with actually getting married, her pointedly barbed rejection still stings.

Annoyed, Valentine takes himself – and a bottle of brandy – to bed, only to be awoken in the middle of the night by another angry Tarleton – Arabella’s twin brother, Bonaventure (Bonny) – who, first of all, insists that Valentine Did It (the proposal) Wrong and then tells him that his sister has run off and they’re going after her to bring her back so that Valentine can propose again and get it right this time. This idea doesn’t appeal – not because Valentine doesn’t want to retrieve his errant intended, but because he doesn’t want to set out without due thought and preparation. Or his coat. Or his cravat. But Bonny won’t take no for an answer and soon Valentine finds himself bundled into the curricle wearing a coat ‘borrowed’ from the assistant gardener and a cravat tied surprisingly adequately by Bonny himself.

The road-trip that ensues is a journey of discovery for Valentine. He starts out as an entitled arse with no idea of his own privilege, but he’s also deeply repressed and terribly lonely, and as the story progresses and we begin to understand him more, he becomes somewhat endearing in his cluelessness. He’s never experienced attraction and romance is an alien concept; he just doesn’t see what all the fuss is about. Yet being around Bonny has him… feeling things, things he’d never imagined feeling for another person, let alone another man. Bonny is his complete opposite, vibrant, garrulous, charming and kind, he knows who he is and what he wants and isn’t about to settle for anything less than being loved in the way he loves, with his whole heart and soul. He’s utterly adorable and I loved the way he encourages Valentine to understand that he’s allowed to have feelings, to want things for himself, that life doesn’t have to be all about duty. The story focuses almost entirely on developing the relationship between Valentine and Bonny, on Valentine learning about how attraction works for him and that he deserves to be loved for who and what he is and not just for his wealth and title.

The small secondary cast is well drawn and the queer rep is excellent – as one would expect from this author. I particularly liked the wonderfully named Sir Horley Comewithers, a rakish gentleman who has his eye on Bonny – and who therefore brings out the green-eyed monster in Valentine – but who turns out to be a very good friend, and Peggy, Arabella’s (nonbinary) friend and travelling companion, whose good sense and level-headedness is a very welcome contrast to Arabella’s overblown histrionics. Speaking of Arabella – she’s the books biggest flaw. I understood why she behaves as she does; like every other well-bred young woman of the time, she has no rights and is expected to obey the dictates of her family and social convention. She’s obviously frustrated at the pressure to conform but instead of having a conversation with Valentine and talking to him about why she doesn’t want to marry him, she behaves like the worst, most TSTL heroine ever. She insults him, makes unfounded accusations, screams, throws tantrums and even carelessly and recklessly endangers his life. I couldn’t stand her – which I suspect is one of the reasons I started to find the book a little bit repetitive in the second half. Valentine and Bonny catch up with Arabella; she eludes them, they catch up with her again, she eludes them again… I just wanted her to run away and stay gone!

I imagine that no-one who has ever listened to Nicholas Boulton narrate an audiobook could possibly expect me to say anything other than that his performance here is simply sublime. Which it is. His pacing is just right, his comic timing is spot on and his characterisation of the two leads is absolutely wonderful. His Valentine is the perfect mix of hauteur and vulnerability while Bonny is all lively enthusiasm and warmth; the author’s dry wit and snark are exquisitely rendered and the connection that forms between the two men is totally convincing, their chemistry and growing attraction coming through so strongly as to be palpable. The secondary characters are realised with equal skill and care, from the jovial Sir Horley and the bewildered ostler to the awful Arabella and the dreadful Mr. Whelpington-Byng, Esquire, who sounds exactly as ridiculous and pompous as his name! TL;DR – it’s an outstanding performance and one I can see myself returning to often.

My dislike of Arabella aside, Something Fabulous is the best type of light-hearted fun – warm, witty and sexy with complex and engaging characters, and perfectly timed, sparkling dialogue. I enjoyed it very much in print, but Nicholas Boulton’s performance really does take it to the next level.

Warning: Probably best not listened to in public, as you’re likely to get funny looks from people who wonder what you’re giggling at!