I was really excited about the premise of this book, adorable cover, huge lover of queer historical fiction... but I'm sorry to say that I was just incredibly bored. I read 50% of it, and every time I picked it up between 30-50% was honestly a struggle to get myself to do so. I didn't find the drama of the book compelling, there wasn't a ton of chemistry between the two MCs in my opinion, and things weren't moving fast enough. I didn't come in expecting an epic adventure or super high romance, but I didn't expect to be *bored*.

Their spatting isn't fun; I was often bored by the content of their spats, instead of finding it fun and banter-y. I'm not even sure why they are rivals/enemies at the beginning? The seem to just be completely inept at getting through a conversation without inadvertently offending the other. The extortionist, to the best of my understanding, is a slimy queer guy who has hooked up with both of them and is trying to expose both MCs as queer, so that's an unfun dose of the persecution of queer people I wasn't expecting. I hoped for fun meddling cousin antics but didn't find there to be much of that. Maybe there is later in the book, but I'm too bogged down by the gross villain to get there.

I think perhaps this isn't a bad book -- certainly lots of people seem to love it -- but I'm not sure the summary did a great job of preparing me for what the book actually is, and therefore left me expecting something else and disappointed.

Maybe someday I'll come back to give this book a second chance, but for now, life is too short to finish books I'm not enjoying.

You're The Problem It's You gives a queer twist to a familiar regency setting that felt very reminiscent to Bridgerton! It's a part of the Mischief and Matchmaking duet from Alban, and I did find it incredibly easy to read! There was a bit of a miscommunication towards the third act but I feel like it fixed itself towards the end very well, while adding in other societal norms (and twists) that I wouldn't have thought of for the era of time. The only thing I would say is that I'm not so sure about Bobby and James being enemies, it seemed any time they spoke it would be a brash discussion so going from that to lust was a bit of a 180 for me but once it was there you could tell that them being together did in theory make sense. I also will say having the antagonist being Riverson being SO deplorable was decadently done.

This book was pretty good. I enjoyed the read overall. It was my first read from Emma R Alban. I liked the banter, and the epilogue was so cute! Creating family any way you can is such a beautiful message.

This is a Victorian enemies-to-lovers queer romance, but it’s also a story of found family and acceptance. This series is for everyone that wanted to get on the Bridgerton train but passed because it wasn’t gay enough.

James is the heir, and Bobby is the spare. Both want the life that the other has, and their jealousy often overshadows their simmering attraction. When an old flame returns and threatens to out both of them to their families and society, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other and their loved ones in order to save their reputations. All the while, their cousins, Beth and Gwen, are plotting a way to ensure everyone can have the life and happiness they all deserve.

The romance in this story is sweet and messy, but it’s the found family aspect that really makes this a wholesome story. Bobby and James are not a lone pair trying to carve out some happiness in a world that will never accept them. Certain family members and friends surround them to support their love instead of caving to societal norms and pressures.

I loved Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, and I love that the sequel has plenty of Beth and Gwen shenanigans. Romance sequels can be hit or miss when the original couple is still in the mix, but this just felt like a natural continuation of the overall story. Now that both books are published, I recommend reading them both in quick succession. I read the first one at the beginning of the year, and I had forgotten some key characters and plot points.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

You're the Problem, It's You is book two in the Mischief & Matchmaking series by Emma R. Alban.
This charming enemies-to-lovers queer Victorian romance was such a solid story.
It’s always so interesting reading about historical queers. to see how they have to navigate their sexualities in that time period, how they keep themselves safe, how that love flickers like a bright light anyway, restless and powerful
A super fun and spicy sapphic regency romance that I absolutely adored!

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book really took me by surprise, and I really wanted to read the book because the first one was really enjoyable, and while I enjoyed the storyline of the first one more than this, I thought the characters were really well done and the writing was funny and enjoyable!

This one just wasn't for me. I loved the first book in this historical queer romance series but this M/M sequel just did not work for me. I couldn't get into it at all and did not love the audiobook narrators. A miss for me but it's perhaps a me thing or wrong book wrong mood thing. Don't let my negative opinion deter you. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this book and felt like it was the perfect follow up to “Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend”. I loved that we got to see more of Gwen and Beth, and also that everyone gets a happy ending.
This book touches on topics of slight abuse, and also talks about the struggles of accepting yourself.
I loved James and Bobby so much and felt like they were perfect for each other. I love that we got the rivals to lovers trope, which is one of my favorites.
This is another example of Bridgerton but make it gay, which is starting to become a new favorite type of story for me!
This book has a good amount of spice in it, but it’s very easy to skip over areas with spice if you are not someone who likes to read it!
I highly recommend this book to people who love Bridgerton, and anyone who likes the first book!

This is a pretty straightforward enemies-to-lovers plot. I didn't read the first book in the series, so I missed some of the back story which involves an evil stepfather, some duke stuff where the step-mother and sister get kicked out of the house, a couple of in-progress romances, and family relationships.

James and Bobby are pretty appealing on their own, although I did think the "to-lovers" part of the "enemies-to-lovers" plot came out of nowhere. I'm not a super stickler for historical accuracy, but there were several times that the language was very anachronistic. I mean, the title is a riff on a TSwift song for a historical romance, so I guess that shouldn't be a shock to me.

I liked the conclusion. I love a good, logical conclusion, and this hit the mark.

31/2 stars rounded to 4.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley. Opinions my own.

This may not be the most historically accurate work I've read set in the Victorian era, but I still generally enjoyed it. The alternating chapters show the perspectives of both Bobby and James so we see how they each change over the course of the book, yet I was a bit surprised how quickly their feelings for one another changed. I'm a fan of slow burn and enemies to lovers tropes, but the miscommunication between the two goes on a bit too much for my taste. Although I liked the first book in this series much more, I'm sure many others will love this one.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this at 33%. Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyage for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This seemed like a super fun, Victorian-era queer romance. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the first book in the series, and while I think these can be read as interconnected standalones, I had a hard time getting a grasp on who was who and fully immersing myself in the story. However, if Victorian-era-themed books are your thing, I would definitely recommend checking this one out! I plan to read the first book and may revisit this one afterward.

E-Arc kindly provided via NetGalley.

I was so glad to return to this universe and spend more time with familiar faces and meet new ones. I enjoyed the ride and was glad Beth and Gwen’s scheme came to fruition. I do wish we had gotten a bit more time with the boys as friends like we did Beth and Gwen but it still felt natural. I was cheering for Bobby and proud of James.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6148986953

I liked this book just a little bit better than the first one. The story started a little bit slowly, but once it hit the halfway mark, I was was hooked. I really felt for James and wanted him to find happiness. I like seeing Beth and Gwen as their story continued. The cherry on the top, however, was the absolutely perfect ending.

We get a full cast of boisterous meddlesome characters here, plus a bit of blackmail. Bobby is the younger brother of a viscount, new on the social scene, and trying to find a useful purpose in life. James is an actual viscount who is struggling under his cruel and overbearing stepfather and trying to learn the ropes of his newfound position. It’s a somewhat complicated family tree here, with Gwen and Beth being stepsisters/lovers who matchmade their parents in Book 1 of the series. Bobby is Gwen’s cousin, and James is Beth’s cousin. They keep getting thrown together in social events and through James’ work in parliament with Gwen’s father and Bobby’s brother. While Bobby and James think the other person is handsome, they have very different personalities and do not think highly of the other. But when you throw them together often enough, there are enough sparks to ignite a physical relationship. However, they have to deal with a previous common dalliance who’s threatening their family, plus James’ overall skittishness and cowardice. It’s interesting to see how they each overcome their own issues, and learn to team up with others to problem-solve.

4.5 stars

I love a queer historical romance and Emma R Alban has now written 2 great ones. This book was a fun enemies-to-lovers story with blackmailing and revenge plots and so much sneaking around. I loved seeing both POVs and really feeling Demerovan's anxiety throughout. I do feel like the jump from enemies-to-lovers was a tad sudden but knowing how long Demerovan fancied Mason, it made sense at least on his end. I thought more of the plot would be the fake courting of the girls and I think that could have been fun to see more of. Either way, I had a good time and really enjoyed all of the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Scandal, second sons, and secret crushes abound in this surprisingly spicy, enemies to lovers Victorian romance from Emma R. Alban. Spending the season among the Ton always promises a bit of drama, but for James Demeroven and Bobby Mason, this season could be more trying than most.

The sequel to Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend picks up right after Beth & Gwen’s sapphic, stepsisters romance, launching into a new season with no shortage of family drama, lofty expectations, or personal insecurity.

The premise is a pretty classic historical storyline - a newly-minted lord struggling under the weight of duty and responsibility of a title he doesn’t want, and a second son wondering how to make his mark in a world that’s not made for him. James is that wary lord - sweet, naive, and a bit of an unintentional jerk, even if his boyhood crush is a little endearing.

Bobby’s the spare, and he’s got the carefree attitude to go with it. But he’s also struggling to feel important and relevant, and I related to his uncertainty about finding his place in a world that doesn’t necessarily value his presence in it.

Overall, this is a pretty great read, although I might have enjoyed it more had it not been for its slower start and the tiresome miscommunication and walking away. For two guys who really can’t stand each other, being thrown together time and again ramps up the tension, making their gradual evolution from enemies to reluctant friends to lovers worth the wait.

Along with James & Bobby’s budding romance, I was all in on their conflict with the deplorable Raverson. I love a story where the MCs unite against a common enemy, and Raverson is just that - the perfect villain, someone you love to hate. I only wish their battle could have brought them together a little sooner.

I was so happy to get approved of this book! I really enjoyed Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend when I read it earlier this year. Queer regency for the win!

This was a HEA for Bobby and James, but also for Gwen and Beth—there’s more of a conclusion. I don’t want to give spoilers, but 🥹

This had great anxiety rep with my anxious boy, James. I just wanted to give him a freaken hug.

This was a fun opposites attract romance that I highly recommend picking up when it comes out on Tuesday!

In You’re the Problem, It’s You, the companion novel to Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, Bobby Mason and James Demeroven are a mix of rivals and reluctant allies. Bobby, always second best and eager to prove himself, can’t stand the new Viscount James, who, despite his own struggles, appears infuriatingly perfect. Their clashes are frequent and fiery, but neither can deny the magnetic pull between them. Forced together by their matchmaking cousins and an extortion plot threatening their families, Bobby and James must navigate their growing attraction while trying not to drive each other mad—or into each other’s arms. Will they manage to save their reputations and find love along the way?

Ironically enough, I am in fact, the problem here. What do I mean by that? Well…If you’re a fan of the miscommunication trope, I advise you to not read this review and immediately pick up You’re the Problem, It’s You because it will certainly appeal to you and make your utter dreams come true.

If, however, you abhor no trope as much as this one…then you may find yourself sitting in the same boat with this book as I did. Please take this review with a grain of salt because I am known to DNF books with the miscommunication trope and truly, the only reason I somehow made it through this was because I loved the author’s debut so much and was holding out for the happily ever after, which I did get and which satisfyingly ties everything from the first book and where we left the characters there together.

I love a good misunderstanding that leads to some antagonism and both James and Bobby had that going for them in the beginning. They certainly don’t understand the other and basically tumble from one blunder into the next as they say things they don’t mean (well, initially) or opt for brash responses in a “I will hurt you before you hurt me, you fool” type of way. While this was fun in the first few initial meetings, it absolutely made me want to tear my hair out when it just continued that way for most of the story. It took up until 46% of the novel for them to have their first honest conversation—only to then immediately fall back into the same old pattern. Again, this comes down to personal preference because I’m sure many people love the back and forth, the will-they-won’t-they vibes, but for me to enjoy this I need to see some character and relationship growth, some grudging respect developing and here this just took way too long and prevented me from feeling connected to either of the men. While they do have very extensive inner monologue sections that give you insights into their feelings and actions, I would have wished for more connection and openness between the both of them so we saw what really connected Bobby and James beyond their mutual pining and attraction.

Now, this is not to say that this is a bad book. Alban knows how to create an atmospheric setting and offer characters that tug at your heartstrings, especially because of their flaws and the growth they do portray in large parts throughout the novel. Both James’ and Bobby’s vulnerability in the latter parts of the novel make their hard-earned happily ever after feel worthwhile and reminds you that love can conquer all. And while I think the focus on the previous couple’s relationship was a bit too present and took away some of the tension in the actual main characters and their romance*s arc, I still loved seeing what they were up to and closely connected their happily ever after was to Bobby and James’s.

While the overarching plot was quite intriguing and the history bits made for food for thought, some of the secondary characters, especially the two “villains” of the story did feel one-dimensional. There was no real character arc to them, they were very much just downright evil in a caricature-y way and even when they faced their righteous end, there isn’t much to be said for catharsis since it is pretty much swept under the rug instead of how it makes the characters feel. I would have wished for a bit more depth and exploration of their reasonings behind their actions and less of a “twirling their evil moustache while cackling evilly” routine. This, though, may also come down to the fact that I did find myself comparing this novel to its predecessor in terms of character development, so I was definitely at fault here.

This just goes to show that not every book will be for every reader and while I certainly will be a bit more on the lookout when it comes to miscommunication tropes being mentioned in the synopsis, I still know that Emma R. Alban is one of the freshest, engaging voices in historical romance fiction and is sure to be here to stay. So, if you’re a fan of the miscommunication trope, enjoy historical fiction that feels both timeless and atmospheric and enjoy will-they-won’t-they vibes, You’re the Problem, It’s You is for you!

In the sequel to Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, Beth and Gwen team up to marriage trap each other’s cousins (not related) so they can live a queer happily ever after in a world that will never accept them as they are. Except, James and Bobby really don’t like each other - they can’t be in the same place for more than five minutes without devolving into an argument, insulting one another, and storming off. The tension is palpable!

Sexual tension that is. Because James’s childhood crush on Bobby Mason and Bobby’s weakness for beautiful men crash together one evening in a hot, messy kiss, leaving them both reeling. But where Bobby is an eternal optimist, willing to fight for their relationship (budding and fragile as it is), James has been beat down by life, carrying the weight of an unwanted title on his shoulders, with the horrible voice of his abusive stepfather in his head. And to top it all off, James’s first lover and Bobby’s recent sexapade is blackmailing them! Really they can’t catch a break.

It was difficult to read James’s inner monologue of self-doubt and hatred, causing him to rebuff Bobby when all he wanted to do was melt in his arms. The angst was almost too much for me, reading Bobby’s heartbreak after each rejection HURT, but his tentative, never dying hope was so sweet, almost unbearable. Yet, the triumph I felt when James finally found his backbone, his reason to be brave and stand up to his stepfather, made up for all the heartbreak he put me, I mean Bobby, through.

This romance was fun, full of banter, teasing flirtation, and ridiculous schemes. Bobby and James are so delightful together - their connection genuinely jumps off the page and they’re so hot together! And while the villain is a bit of a caricature and the resolution quite dramatic, I actually loved it for how it matched the ridiculousness of Beth and Gwen.

♚ big huge thank you to netgalley and avon and harper voyager/avon books for allowing me to read an electronic advanced readers copy of this in exchange for an honest review. ♚

o. m. g. unless you missed me absolutely swooning over "don't want you like a bestfriend" by emma r. alban in january, you might be familiar with my newfound proclivity for queer period piece romances. maybe it's the bridgerton hype bus blaring it's horn or maybe it's just the fact that i need more queer romances in general, but this book quite literally hit every box for me.

we have bobby mason -- a spare who desperately wants to find his place in the world -- and james demeroven -- a newly appointed viscount who is struggling to fill the shoes placed before him. enemies to lovers, despise at first sight, forced proximity, unwilling allies, yadda yadda yadda.

it's a certified grade A romance, but even besides the absolute stomach flipping cuteness and fluff of this book, there were seriously emotional moments. book 1 (gwen and beth's story) was very light on the period "appropriate" h*m*phobia but book 2 really took it by the horns and by god -- by the third act break up i was sweating to see these two characters have a happy ending. i absolutely, above all else, adored how this book treated representation and acceptance. bisexual representation was done wonderfully. acceptance within families and yourself was done wonderfully. anxiety and panic attack representation was done (say it with me) wonderfully.

truly a wonderful book that i highly and vehemently recommend to all.