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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
blewballoon's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
I had high hopes, and really enjoyed this! At first I felt like maybe it skewed a little too young. It read as more YA than I remember the Bridgerton books being, but I either got used to it or it matured as the story went on. I really enjoyed how the parents story intertwined with the girls, and once I realized how it had to resolve I was glad to see it finally happen. The audiobook narrators were excellent. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Misogyny
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
saukittome's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Pregnancy, Violence, and Alcoholism
letopotato's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-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
Whew. That was the first time I've shed a few tears because of a book in a few years. Apparently I have a thing for regency/historical romance now. And lesbians.
I usually don't read romance, but I've tiptoed around this one long enough. I only bought this book because of my above-mentioned guilty pleasure and because of the intriguing interwoven plot. And the lesbians, of course.
There's no suspense as to how the book ends, obviously. It's a romance, they're meant to get together. But for the first time, the how, the when and the why has actually kept me on the edge of my seat – I needed to know how Beth & Gwen would manage it! At some points I was almost convinced they wouldn't, this being the 1850s and them being very lesbian and all that.
I can't say how historically accurate this book is – probably not very? Many characters were rather supportive of the main couple, which works great for the story but otherwise is...very unlikely. It didn't matter much to me, because it's still a cute feelgood story. Not very realistic or in-depth, but it hasn't destroyed my suspension of disbelief.
If you want to be invested in the fate of two loveable girls and their shenanigans on how to get their cool as fuck parents together, reading this is the best choice you'll ever make.
I usually don't read romance, but I've tiptoed around this one long enough. I only bought this book because of my above-mentioned guilty pleasure and because of the intriguing interwoven plot. And the lesbians, of course.
There's no suspense as to how the book ends, obviously. It's a romance, they're meant to get together. But for the first time, the how, the when and the why has actually kept me on the edge of my seat – I needed to know how Beth & Gwen would manage it! At some points I was almost convinced they wouldn't, this being the 1850s and them being very lesbian and all that.
I can't say how historically accurate this book is – probably not very? Many characters were rather supportive of the main couple, which works great for the story but otherwise is...very unlikely. It didn't matter much to me, because it's still a cute feelgood story. Not very realistic or in-depth, but it hasn't destroyed my suspension of disbelief.
If you want to be invested in the fate of two loveable girls and their shenanigans on how to get their cool as fuck parents together, reading this is the best choice you'll ever make.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Death of parent