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booksdogsandcoffee's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
An adorable lighthearted Victorian era romance. That feels like a season of Bridgerton mixed with the scheming of the parent trap. I thought the overall relationship and friendships were fun to follow along with during the novel. And am very excited for how the ending of this book sets up for the next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
lujisa's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
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
stardustandrockets's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was everything! I absolutely love the hijinks Gwen and Beth come up with to get their parents together so they don't have to get married themselves. Not realizing they're both queer until it's too late, this was an absolute joy of a book. Mixing my love of historical romance, queer discovery stories, and badass ladies.
The cast of characters was great. Aside from the main duo, Albie was a stand-out to me. Same with Meredith. They were both so accepting of Gwen and Beth and probably realized they had a thing for each other before they did.
I absolutely adored this book and cannot wait to read the sequel!
This book was everything! I absolutely love the hijinks Gwen and Beth come up with to get their parents together so they don't have to get married themselves. Not realizing they're both queer until it's too late, this was an absolute joy of a book. Mixing my love of historical romance, queer discovery stories, and badass ladies.
The cast of characters was great. Aside from the main duo, Albie was a stand-out to me. Same with Meredith. They were both so accepting of Gwen and Beth and probably realized they had a thing for each other before they did.
I absolutely adored this book and cannot wait to read the sequel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Homophobia, Sexism, Alcohol, Classism, and Sexual content
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
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
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