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

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

I jumped into this book not knowing much about it besides that it is a funny romance between two Victorian debutantes. I was immediately swept by the vivid descriptions of satin dresses and luxury balls; however, the book touches upon some serious topics.

 

Beth and her mother are struggling financially due to her late father, who left them in debt and promised his estate to his brother. Beth's only chance to avoid living on the streets is to secure a marriage. She is willing to make that sacrifice to ensure a comfortable life for herself and her mother, who suffered enough at the hands of her abusive husband. However, duty and logic evaporate the moment Beth gets close to Gwen, a funny, bold young lady who seems to be enjoying her single life with her widowed father.

The book is written in the third person but with a dual point of view that allows readers to see the lives of both protagonists from their perspectives. I found both characters charming in their own ways. Gwen is mischievous and adventurous, and Beth is witty and scheming. They make a perfect match, first as friends and later as lovers. 

The book's first half felt stagnant, even though it set up the story for the second half. I would have preferred the book to be a bit more fast-paced throughout, just like the last third of it. The author did a great job vividly describing attires, estates, rooms, and scenery. I could easily visualize everything that was happening. 

I felt very moved in some parts of the story. It is easy to resonate with characters torn between their genuine feelings, societal expectations and obligations. Since the story is set in Victorian England, it is understandable that marriage or even a liaison between two unmarried women was impossible. 

Very often in queer books, the main focus of the story is on the main protagonists, which results in side characters being undeveloped or just carbon copies of stereotypical parent figures or maids. Therefore, it is usually a deal breaker for me when an author fails to flesh out secondary characters. Thankfully, Emma Alban did a great job writing Gwen and Beth's parents and their maids. I developed a particular fondness towards Gwen's father, who seemed to be a progressive and liberal lord, unlike others in the story. The idea to matchmake their parents was ingenious, and I was rooting for them even more than for Beth and Gwen (but only because I knew that they would somehow get together at the end).

The book ends on a very uplifting note, which is a blessing as both characters went through a lot of emotional turmoil. However, I honestly did not expect the epilogue to give us a premonition of a possible sequel. I swear, I squealed and went online to immediately research the second book in the series. And there will be a second book! Coming out this August, and I have already requested a copy for review! So, stay tuned as the story of Beth and Gwen (and maybe some other characters) is not over yet!