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zydecovivo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
TikTok recommended me this book. As a whole, the story is enjoyable. It’s sweet. Neither Gwen nor Beth considers love with a woman as an option towards the beginning of the book, which I think is a common experience for many LGBTQ people. It isn’t until Gwen witnesses a flourishing WLW relationship that she realizes her feelings. That being said, I found their pairing less engaging than their parents. I almost want a prequel of their previous relationship, even if that would be considered a more conventional historical romance. I also found myself getting deja vu. Quite a few lines, especially when describing Gwen and Beth’s feelings and eventual love, I have definitely read in other LGBTQ historical romances, despite only having read a few. This is not necessarily bad, but I think anyone who regularly reads this genre should prepare themselves for a lack of surprises. That being said, I was excited by the setup for the second book in this series and plan to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent
ghostmomxoxo's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny
ankiaisreading's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Sexism, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death, Alcohol, and Misogyny
jinx3djules's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
3.5
it was cute. i could get past the whole step-siblings thing at first, since getting their parents together was the only way they could be together however, when their parents had a child together at the end, i was left with a kind of gross feeling. like, imagine sharing a half-sibling with your lover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence
quiltsandtealibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban has stolen my heart away!
This book has swiftly secured itself as a favorite for 2024- the audiobook features dual narration for both Beth and Gwen and both ladies are the perfect voices for both girls!
This sapphic regency romance X parent trap mix had the most perfect scenes, most believable and unique moments of love between multiple characters , and thee most satisfying HEA that I have read in months.
This is such a well written, lovely, gorgeous debut and I’m looking forward to the second book in the Mischief & Matchmaking series!
Spoiler?
Conversational awareness piece here:
The claim that this book is glorifying or show casing incest is a mega leap and extremely queerphobic. The girls NEVER knew each other growing up, do not call each other sister romantically, and this is a book of its time: it’s regency. They cannot marry one another like they desire too and this is the next best thing.
The epilogue is another example of them trying to work with the world they are in to potentially appease society/not draw attention to their queerness, live happily ever after together, and maybe help another queer couple live happily ever after all at the same time.
Please stop letting comphet normality ruin this book for you and stop looking at it thru a straight view point.
Spoiler?
Conversational awareness piece here:
The claim that this book is glorifying or show casing incest is a mega leap and extremely queerphobic. The girls NEVER knew each other growing up, do not call each other sister romantically, and this is a book of its time: it’s regency. They cannot marry one another like they desire too and this is the next best thing.
The epilogue is another example of them trying to work with the world they are in to potentially appease society/not draw attention to their queerness, live happily ever after together, and maybe help another queer couple live happily ever after all at the same time.
Please stop letting comphet normality ruin this book for you and stop looking at it thru a straight view point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
fairytalefootnotes's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-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
4.75
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Forbidden Love. Second Chance Romance for secondary characters.
3rd Act Breakup?: 2nd Act
The Praise: I loved Beth & Gwen and their development from friends to more. They’re so sweet together and there were so many moments that had me giggling and kicking my feet over them. The side characters were also wonderful, from the parents to Albie, Bobby, Meredith, Mrs. Gilpe, and Mrs. Stelm.
The Critique: My only real issues were that 1) Beth & Gwen didn’t immediately try to get their parents to marry when things went sideways when that had initially been the main plan and 2) it felt so long even though it isn’t really and I think it’s because so much happens. Oddly enough, it felt a lot like The Parent Trap in that way, in my opinion. I’ve always felt like the movie feels like 3 separate movies (camp, the switch, the switch back) and that’s how I felt with this, too, so maybe it was intentional.
Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this! The characters were excellent, the banter was fun, and the drama ripped my heart out.
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Forbidden Love. Second Chance Romance for secondary characters.
3rd Act Breakup?: 2nd Act
The Praise: I loved Beth & Gwen and their development from friends to more. They’re so sweet together and there were so many moments that had me giggling and kicking my feet over them. The side characters were also wonderful, from the parents to Albie, Bobby, Meredith, Mrs. Gilpe, and Mrs. Stelm.
The Critique: My only real issues were that 1) Beth & Gwen didn’t immediately try to get their parents to marry when things went sideways when that had initially been the main plan and 2) it felt so long even though it isn’t really and I think it’s because so much happens. Oddly enough, it felt a lot like The Parent Trap in that way, in my opinion. I’ve always felt like the movie feels like 3 separate movies (camp, the switch, the switch back) and that’s how I felt with this, too, so maybe it was intentional.
Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this! The characters were excellent, the banter was fun, and the drama ripped my heart out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
augustharper's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A sensual slow-burn romance that will leave you smiling!
Beth Demeroven is anxious about her seasonal debut. Her father has died and left her and her mother with nothing, so Beth has only one season to find a husband that can provide her with security before her family home is turned over to her uncle.
Gwen Havenfort, on the other hand, could care less about the season even though it's her fourth one. With a rich and charming father who ensures she's well cared for, Gwen would rather spend time mocking the eligible bachelors than dancing with them.
When Beth and Gwen meet at the Halyard Ball they become fast friends, and Beth realizes she's having way more fun spending time with Gwen than looking for a husband. And after an awkward exchange between Beth's mother and Gwen's father leads to the discovery that their parents were once in love, Gwen has a marvelous idea: get their parents to fall in love again and get married so Beth and Gwen can spend less time looking for husbands and more time having fun! However, the more Gwen and Beth scheme, the less they believe their parents can rekindle their love. Although, they might just be igniting a love of their own instead.
A sensual slow-burn that will leave you smiling, Don't Want You Like A Best Friend is an impeccable must-read romance!
Beth Demeroven is anxious about her seasonal debut. Her father has died and left her and her mother with nothing, so Beth has only one season to find a husband that can provide her with security before her family home is turned over to her uncle.
Gwen Havenfort, on the other hand, could care less about the season even though it's her fourth one. With a rich and charming father who ensures she's well cared for, Gwen would rather spend time mocking the eligible bachelors than dancing with them.
When Beth and Gwen meet at the Halyard Ball they become fast friends, and Beth realizes she's having way more fun spending time with Gwen than looking for a husband. And after an awkward exchange between Beth's mother and Gwen's father leads to the discovery that their parents were once in love, Gwen has a marvelous idea: get their parents to fall in love again and get married so Beth and Gwen can spend less time looking for husbands and more time having fun! However, the more Gwen and Beth scheme, the less they believe their parents can rekindle their love. Although, they might just be igniting a love of their own instead.
A sensual slow-burn that will leave you smiling, Don't Want You Like A Best Friend is an impeccable must-read romance!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
themelleh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.25
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Penguin and, especially, Emma R. Alban for the ARC of More than a Best Friend. My reviews are entirely unbiased, and 100% my own.
Firstly, what a delightful tale! Yes, it was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions at one point but we got there in the end and I am absolutely gagged for the next book. And, secondly, can we please hear it for our supporting couples and characters, and our older characters. What a genuinely fantastic, well rounded and fleshed out bunch they are. It doesn’t feel like no one is there just to pad it out a bit. Every single character has function, story and emotion and it’s - something I’ve just realised is missing in a lot of other stories.
I am absolutely in love with Gwen and Beth. My heart broke for them and it soared for them. Having a nice little period romance that hetero’s take for granted of our own feels nice. And we’re going to get more. I just hope we get more of everyone else as well, because I’m so in love with everyone.
Firstly, what a delightful tale! Yes, it was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions at one point but we got there in the end and I am absolutely gagged for the next book. And, secondly, can we please hear it for our supporting couples and characters, and our older characters. What a genuinely fantastic, well rounded and fleshed out bunch they are. It doesn’t feel like no one is there just to pad it out a bit. Every single character has function, story and emotion and it’s - something I’ve just realised is missing in a lot of other stories.
I am absolutely in love with Gwen and Beth. My heart broke for them and it soared for them. Having a nice little period romance that hetero’s take for granted of our own feels nice. And we’re going to get more. I just hope we get more of everyone else as well, because I’m so in love with everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Physical abuse
haileyhardcover's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I’ve seen this book marketed as sapphic Bridgerton. Admittedly, I’ve only seen the show, not read the books, so maybe they are less spicy than the show is? In any case, I was expecting a good amount of spice and got… black pepper. 😒
(Lack of) spice aside, the time period, the drama, the goings-on of the ton, that’s all there and all too familiar for those of us who have enjoyed Bridgerton. I really liked both Beth and Gwen, and their families - especially Gwen’s cousins. It was really nice to see their relationship supported by the people who loved them, even though that wouldn’t have been likely for the time period.
I rushed through this book because I won’t have time for reading tomorrow and I didn’t want to leave anything unfinished before the new year. If I didn’t have that time limit hanging over my head, I think it probably would’ve taken me a few days to read because, though it was a sweet story, it didn’t really grip me. I took several breaks throughout the day while reading it, whereas normally, if I really love a book, I could get through one of this length in just a few hours. Still, it is worth the read and a perfectly good way to end the year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Grief, Sexual content, Rape, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Death
battyaboutbooks's review
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
🦇 Don't Want You Like a Best Friend Book Review 🦇
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
❝ She thinks about her a lot, of course. And the days are better when they get to be together. And when she's dressing for balls now she thinks more of what Beth might think of her gown than what any of the young men might. And holding Beth's hand today made her feel more than she's ever felt dancing with anyone...They're friends. Shouldn't she love her friend? ❞
❓ #QOTD What's your favorite Bridgerton pairing? ❓
🦇 Anxious debutante Beth has just one season to snag a wealthy husband, while Gwen is on her fourth season with no intention of finding a husband. Unknown to them both, their single parents seem to have a history. Getting them married could save all their problems. Only one hitch: they seem to hate each other. Can Beth and Gwen bring their parents together...all while ignoring the budding feelings they seem to have for each other?
💜 I'll admit it: the tagline "a swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance" and promise of a "lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap" caught my eye. Gwen is a firecracker from her introduction, while Beth is everything you would expect from a demure debut searching for a husband. There's an instant spark from the moment they meet; a subtle yet undeniable chemistry many of us have experienced after meeting our (platonic or romantic) soulmates. Every scene between them is full of energy. They're each other's ideal halves: Gwen is bold, energetic, and as charming as her father, while Beth is sweet, amiable, and reserved. They get into Parent-Trap-style shenanigans with one another while simultaneously bringing out the best in each other. We see Beth's character growth through her time with Gwen as much as we see Gwen grow after meeting Beth.
🦇 It's funny but before reading the plot, both the title and cover reminded me of The Fiancee Farce, which led me to expect something more modern. Despite the story's setting in the Regency period, the writing (everything from the prose and exposition to jokes and attitudes) seems more modern than expected. The only aspect that reminded me of any classic story (like Jane Austen) or recent Regency novel (like Bridgerton) was the pacing. The first 30% of the story drags without the type of messy antics or conflicts that would have driven the story forward. It felt like a modern story dressed up as a Regency period tale. The overlapping plots (the sapphic relationship, Beth searching for a husband, and the Parent-Trapping) aren't weaved together with cohesion that would have helped the pacing. Because of the uneven pacing, the transition from friends to more comes off as sudden instead of a natural progression. The dual third-person limited, present-tense POV was also a strange choice, which made the prose awkward at times.
🦇 Recommended for fans of Bridgerton, Parent Trap, and Victorian romances. There are also a few Swiftie references (for those of you who feel compelled to read a book for that sort of thing).
✨ The Vibes ✨
🩷 Victorian Era Romance
🩷 Sapphic Romance
🩷 Forbidden Romance
🩷 Friends to Lovers
🩷 Dual POV
⚠️ Content Warnings: Domestic, Emotional, and Physical Abuse; Sexual Content; Sexism; Death of a Parent
🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
❝ She thinks about her a lot, of course. And the days are better when they get to be together. And when she's dressing for balls now she thinks more of what Beth might think of her gown than what any of the young men might. And holding Beth's hand today made her feel more than she's ever felt dancing with anyone...They're friends. Shouldn't she love her friend? ❞
❓ #QOTD What's your favorite Bridgerton pairing? ❓
🦇 Anxious debutante Beth has just one season to snag a wealthy husband, while Gwen is on her fourth season with no intention of finding a husband. Unknown to them both, their single parents seem to have a history. Getting them married could save all their problems. Only one hitch: they seem to hate each other. Can Beth and Gwen bring their parents together...all while ignoring the budding feelings they seem to have for each other?
💜 I'll admit it: the tagline "a swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance" and promise of a "lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap" caught my eye. Gwen is a firecracker from her introduction, while Beth is everything you would expect from a demure debut searching for a husband. There's an instant spark from the moment they meet; a subtle yet undeniable chemistry many of us have experienced after meeting our (platonic or romantic) soulmates. Every scene between them is full of energy. They're each other's ideal halves: Gwen is bold, energetic, and as charming as her father, while Beth is sweet, amiable, and reserved. They get into Parent-Trap-style shenanigans with one another while simultaneously bringing out the best in each other. We see Beth's character growth through her time with Gwen as much as we see Gwen grow after meeting Beth.
🦇 It's funny but before reading the plot, both the title and cover reminded me of The Fiancee Farce, which led me to expect something more modern. Despite the story's setting in the Regency period, the writing (everything from the prose and exposition to jokes and attitudes) seems more modern than expected. The only aspect that reminded me of any classic story (like Jane Austen) or recent Regency novel (like Bridgerton) was the pacing. The first 30% of the story drags without the type of messy antics or conflicts that would have driven the story forward. It felt like a modern story dressed up as a Regency period tale. The overlapping plots (the sapphic relationship, Beth searching for a husband, and the Parent-Trapping) aren't weaved together with cohesion that would have helped the pacing. Because of the uneven pacing, the transition from friends to more comes off as sudden instead of a natural progression. The dual third-person limited, present-tense POV was also a strange choice, which made the prose awkward at times.
🦇 Recommended for fans of Bridgerton, Parent Trap, and Victorian romances. There are also a few Swiftie references (for those of you who feel compelled to read a book for that sort of thing).
✨ The Vibes ✨
🩷 Victorian Era Romance
🩷 Sapphic Romance
🩷 Forbidden Romance
🩷 Friends to Lovers
🩷 Dual POV
⚠️ Content Warnings: Domestic, Emotional, and Physical Abuse; Sexual Content; Sexism; Death of a Parent
🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, and Death of parent