Reviews

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

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kxleyb's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

yannaj's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend is the sapphic Victorian romance so many of us have been waiting for! I'm all for the queer men falling in love throughout time but where are the ladies!?

You'll fall in love with Beth and Gwen, with their courtship, and the realistic timeperiod challenges that they face. Emma did a fantastic job of wrtiting these young women coming into their own- not only into their queerness but into adulthood, what they looks like and how terrifying the prospects of a fututre can be. THe writing does feel more modern at times, but I feel that it did add to the readability adn didn't detracted from the story. I did have a few gripes (in the spoilers below) BUT, still thoroughly enjoyed it!

SPOILERS AHEAD

I LOVE that the families really accepted the girls' queerness. The fact that this didn't need to be a struggle/disownement/disavoing of their daughters was BEAUTIFUL!

What I didn't like was the whole Stepsisters thing!? I know that they're not actually sisters or anything but becoming step sisters and then getting together as a couple just felt really odd. I did, however, like the marraiges of convenience to the two queer men. THAT MADE SENSE! Still, I'll take sapphic books where I can get them, and this one was still a delight.

alishajoy's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

maximonious's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

greengreendress's review against another edition

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3.0

i was living for this until they became step sisters??? wtf and then at the end pretending that they wouldn’t be marrying their step cousins???

mariajoleeh's review against another edition

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5.0

A very fun read. Made me laugh out loud. Every enjoyer of a little sapphic romance should read this for the funsies - it had sad/angsty moments but was wrapped up in a cute and happy bow. Which is so important for the gays to have, I believe. The scheming was just too good. I want the second book of the series immediately.