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the_lesbrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
bzliz's review against another edition
funny
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? Yes
3.0
If you combined the Parent Trap and super historically inaccurate Bridgerton, then made it Queer, you’d have this book. I had fun listening to it but if you’re the type of reader who needs true historical settings, this won’t satisfy you. It’s also written in the present tense which isn’t my favorite style.
Beth and Gwen meet at a society event and become fast friends, though it takes them both quite a while to realize it’s more than simple friendship. They embark on a scheme to get their parents together, discovering that they had previously been somewhat involved and it ended badly when Beth’s mother needed to marry for security rather than love, which meant not marrying Gwen’s father. Beth catches the eye of a real white bread kind of guy- nice but bland, and no substance- and finds herself falling into the same path her mother took. There’s a subplot about an act that allows women to seek divorce in the court system rather than through the church, which Beth’s future father in law fights against strongly, leaving her facing an impossible future without Gwen and stuck with a truly odious man as her family if she is to live a secure life.
All in all, it was a sweet but forgettable sapphic romance with just a few nods to the Swifties.
Beth and Gwen meet at a society event and become fast friends, though it takes them both quite a while to realize it’s more than simple friendship. They embark on a scheme to get their parents together, discovering that they had previously been somewhat involved and it ended badly when Beth’s mother needed to marry for security rather than love, which meant not marrying Gwen’s father. Beth catches the eye of a real white bread kind of guy- nice but bland, and no substance- and finds herself falling into the same path her mother took. There’s a subplot about an act that allows women to seek divorce in the court system rather than through the church, which Beth’s future father in law fights against strongly, leaving her facing an impossible future without Gwen and stuck with a truly odious man as her family if she is to live a secure life.
All in all, it was a sweet but forgettable sapphic romance with just a few nods to the Swifties.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Homophobia
relin's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Very silly premise that is followed through in an enjoyable way! Characters all have delightfully human problems and concerns they are navigating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Death of parent, Medical content, and Alcoholism
While in the premise, parent trapping their parents is cute, it does also make them step sisters in a romantic relationship with each other.its_vendetta's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
AWWW!!! I loved it!! Such a good read! The plot was so well written and I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book. I loved the characters as well they were so interesting and even the side characters felt well thought out.
If you want an amazing historical romance filled with queer joy and amazing characters this book is for you. One of my favorite sapphic romances I've ever read and definitely my favorite historical romance!
I can't wait to read the sequel that is coming out in August!!
If you want an amazing historical romance filled with queer joy and amazing characters this book is for you. One of my favorite sapphic romances I've ever read and definitely my favorite historical romance!
I can't wait to read the sequel that is coming out in August!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Vomit, Alcohol, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Classism
period accurate sexism and classism (1800s)midnightbelles's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was okay. I honestly think historical fiction/romance isn’t for me but story wise this was interesting (although their new family tree is wild). I was really into the first 1/3 of the book but once I got to the middle I got a little bored and sped through the rest of the chapters just to see how it ended. I loved the ending though and the epilogue made me really want to read the second book to see what happens between Beth and Gwen in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Addiction, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
A near-perfect book for me, and an outstanding debut from Emma R. Alban.
I was enjoying listening to this book from the outset— great audio narrators, writing that’s the perfect mix of descriptive and quippy, and a Parent Trap style set-up ruse in a Regency setting made for a great but subtle draw.
It was about 60% of the way in when I was well and truly hooked, and this book took it to the next level. The heartbreak and tension in the story, with a few little surprises to round out the ending, really got me.
While I knew the romance had to have a happy ending, it was really hard to see how it all might work out for our heroines. It felt real and the issues of women’s rights in particular (as it pertained to the Marital Causes Act, and status / relationships in general) were an ever-present and moving concern. I loved how Gwen grew enough to ask others for help and tend to her relationships with her cousins, and Lady Demeroven’s arc was beautiful as well.
2024 really is the year of the sapphics!!! If you want to laugh, cry, fist pump, and clap your hands and squeal in your car, I’d highly recommend listening to Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend.
I was enjoying listening to this book from the outset— great audio narrators, writing that’s the perfect mix of descriptive and quippy, and a Parent Trap style set-up ruse in a Regency setting made for a great but subtle draw.
It was about 60% of the way in when I was well and truly hooked, and this book took it to the next level. The heartbreak and tension in the story, with a few little surprises to round out the ending, really got me.
While I knew the romance had to have a happy ending, it was really hard to see how it all might work out for our heroines. It felt real and the issues of women’s rights in particular (as it pertained to the Marital Causes Act, and status / relationships in general) were an ever-present and moving concern. I loved how Gwen grew enough to ask others for help and tend to her relationships with her cousins, and Lady Demeroven’s arc was beautiful as well.
2024 really is the year of the sapphics!!! If you want to laugh, cry, fist pump, and clap your hands and squeal in your car, I’d highly recommend listening to Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Alcohol, and Vomit
Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
starglitters's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
boomwormbrittany's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to love this book but this fell kind of flat for me and I found myself getting annoyed with the characters while I was reading this. We as the reader knows that Beth is out for this season as a way to secure a good match to try to help her and her mother after her father has died and left them close to destitute. There's the looming threat of a family member taking over their home and Beth has to make a match. But despite her explaining that several times to Gwen, all she did was complain about how Beth was still playing the courting game with a male suitor. It annoyed me how Gwen didn't want to see why Beth needed to make this match. I also just found that Gwen didn't really care about anyone besides herself despite her claiming otherwise.
This book hinges a lot on the characters and their personalities. The personalities of these characters weren't my favorite as I found Beth too passive and Gwen too aggressive and selfish. I didn't really fully believe their relationship was developed well as well.
I would say if the premise of this book interest you, I would recommend picking it up. This book simply wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
luunacy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was a cute romance story. Just fluffy enough, though I could have used a little more steam. I look forward to reading the sequel this fall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexism, and Domestic abuse
toa's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Death of parent