Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - You're The Problem, It's You

Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

You're The Problem, It's You by Emma R. Alban

21 reviews

sarasreading's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I think I liked this one even better than the first in this series. The plot was a bit stronger and tighter, and the stakes were higher. I enjoyed knowing most of the side characters and seeing how they interacted in within this story. Most of the characters are very accepting, which is nice, but it also feels unrealistic. I don't mind too much, since they're cozy novels. I just have to think of this world as not quite like our own.

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j_the_human's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

Pros:
- GAY GAY HOMOSEXUAL GAY
- Alban does NOT shy away from the problems with being queer in this era and she does such a good job with it
- an enemies to lovers plot I can get behind??? What is this
- JAMES MOTHER FUCKING DEMEROVEN
- also Bobby is good but I have Feelings™ about James
- a REAL good depiction/description of anxiety- I feel seen (also rude)
- FOUND FAMILY x1000
- GREAT ENDING. ABSOLUTE 100/10 ENDING. RAHHHHHH

Cons:
- listen I just finished it and am still basking and there probably are some but you ain’t gonna hear them from me

Overall: this made me cry from happiness at one point so that’s all I really need to say. It’s a bit spicier than book 1 but again Alban does a good job of the scenes being mostly build up so it didn’t bother me!! Yippee!!! I love the boys <3 they are good. And the girls are good. And the kids are good. But Raverson can suck a dick (and he probably will).

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shaipanda's review against another edition

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4.75

I really don’t know how to rate this tbh because I wasn’t obcessed with/didnt love how most of the first half of the book played out but absolutely loved the second half, probably even more than the first book in this series
Either way, this book was a really fast and quick paced read that kept me invested the whole time and I’m so happy with how it came together and ended :)

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pey333's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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samchase112's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

There was so so so so much going on in this book — so many characters to keep track of, so many plotlines to follow, so many relationships that kept shifting, so many threads that seemed to be picked up and dropped… it was a lot. The romance was a slow-burn, which isn't a bad thing, but overall had a weird pace with the sort of slow-burn will they won't they but also they hate each other? Plus we just kind of abandoned James's crush partway through? Everything came together nicely by the end, but honestly there was just so much to keep up with that this book felt three times longer than it was.

Now let's talk as well about the picture of queer happiness here. Bobby, James, Gwen, and Beth say over and over that they just couldn't stomach hiding themselves in false marriages, etc. Of course, they are allowed to want love, and to show off their love without fear. BUT the book had such a superiority complex over contemporaneous queer people who didn't have the privilege, money, connections, community, and opportunities these characters had. For example, this quote screams patronizing, and is just one of many such moments.

If Bobby can have a great love, he wants what they [a straight couple] have. He won't be content with trysts in corners, much less a traditional marriage where he has to hide his true desires from his wife, along with the world. He won't survive trying to bury his feelings with propriety. He wants something real.

Of course Bobby wants something real, but can we consider that even though such an existence sucks, most people didn't really have another option? Anyway.

That all being said… I still enjoyed myself most of the time! The main characters were likable, and ultimately likeable together (though nothing about their personalities and characters demonstrates why that is… but we'll ignore that), the ending was sweet if a bit overly so, and the writing was mostly lovely. I'm not sure I'll try another book by Emma R. Alban again, but time will tell, as this one left me frustrated just as much as smiling.

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ninahuynh's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

What will I do with my life now??? I already miss the Havenforts, Masons, and Demerovens 😭 I generally don't like all the political talk that comes with high society male characters, but I like how progressive the laws they want to pass are. I still don't know what to feel about James, but he has definitely grown. I am not a fan of the third act break up- I felt the heartbreak to the core :( I am happy where the couples have gone and the epilogue just makes me feel all bubbly.

I also like how Gwen and Beth still maintained their characteristics and personalities from the previous book and just how funny they are. There is still a lot of arguments that surround them. All the love in these two families just make me feel so warm and fuzzy 🥰

I think James needs to go to therapy though. He has a lot of trauma he has to deal with. I'll be damned if he hurts Bobby anymore 😤

All the internalized homophobia and blackmailing from Raverson is just sad. Dude is addicted to gambling with the hope of making something for himself. I hope being dunked into the lake cleared his head.

I can't docked points for how frustrated Alban made me get with James, but there were a few grammar and spelling errors that caught my eye.

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batbaby's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book I don’t think quite as much as the first one but that’s only because there was less time pressure and less will they won’t they.
I liked the main characters, I wish we saw more of James’ personality rather than him just being anxious guy, scared of being gay (because it’s literally illegal) guy.
My friend didn’t like the arguing/tension between the couple but it was actually something I especially liked in the lead up to their relationship.
But I really enjoyed the ending and the time jump in the epilogue it was very sweet and reminded me of the ending in A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall. I really love the queer “found” family the characters in this book have and I really hope they continue with this series but it might be introducing new characters. Minor spoiler

but I really loved that Gwen and Beth thought that it was this elusive plan as if we hadn’t heard them talk about marry8ng for convenience at the end of the last book haha

The only thing that annoyed me and took me out of it is the same as the first that Americanisms slip in and feel very out of place as a British reader, at one point a character says his trousers and pants, but then later says pants when referring to his trousers, it was just little things like that.

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bzliz's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I had just as good of a time reading this book as I did its predecessor. Bobby and James had a very different vibe than Gwen and Beth but not in a bad way. They both know about their sexuality prior to the start of the story so their journey is not about discovering queerness as it was with the ladies.

James and Bobby don’t get along in part due to some social fumbles relating to social anxiety from James, but they come together to unite against a toxic community member who is on a mission to extort as much wealth as he can from the pair and others. Their exposure could not only damage their reputations beyond repair but could even result in jail time, so the stakes are higher than they were for Gwen and Beth.

I didn’t like this duo as much as I did the ladies but I liked the over all story a little better. The secret gay club and the inclusion of other friends added a fun layer here that the girls were lacking. I’m sure that’s mainly due to what is “acceptable” for men to do but not women. I wish their presence had persisted a little more to the end of the book. The biggest detriment of the book was the epilogue. It felt a little too long and it seemed like it was trying too hard to over explain how perfect things were but I had lingering questions mainly about

the children. Do they take these kids in public? Do they call all 4 of our main characters mom/dad? How do they contain that in front of strangers who would find it extremely odd?

The political subplot in this book has to do with an act to register trained physicians. The characters discuss maternal mortality and pregnancy difficulties at several points and there are two pregnant characters experiencing some complications. There is a scene involving a risky pregnancy turned risky labor and delivery. The birth itself is not on page but the characters are listening to it from another room. Those with sensitivities to pregnancy may wish to avoid this book.

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jordanbolker's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I really loved this book overall. I think they may have missed the mark a bit on some more opportunities for the actual extortion part of the story. However, the love story was beautifully developed and gradual in ways where it made sense. Overall, loved it and would recommend!

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chanlo1994's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Very funny cast of characters. It also gave me a new perspective on childbirth during the Victorian era and how dangerous it could be. It something I can say I take for granted in modern day thanks to advancements in medicine.

and you know what? I enjoyed witnessing the raw emotion from the male characters, who are male. Their heartbreak scenes are so relatable and realistic. I was happy to see them

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