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fae_princess_in_space's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
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
4.0
This was an incredibly fun, chaotic queer historical romance between a Viscount and a Lord in regency London. I will say, this is the second book in a duology and I didn’t read the first one… Even so, I was able to read this and enjoy it as a standalone, although I would say if you can read the first book ‘More than a best friend / Don’t want you like a best friend’ you should as there is a lot of crossover!
Bobby Mason is a second son - a spare heir as it were. He loves his older brother Albie, but if frustrated that he can’t do more to help him heal their family name after their terrible father left them in disrepute. In London for the season, he is annoyed when his cousin Gwen and her girlfriend Beth asks him to befriend the aloof, unfriendly but ever-so-gorgeous Viscount James Demeroven.
James has always had a huge crush on Bobby Mason, ever since they were boys at school. But with a hateful, overbearing stepfather and the weight of the world’s expectations on his shoulders, he can’t indulge in his wants… even though Bobby has made it clear he is more than interested.
I really liked James and Bobby and the worldbuilding; same-sex relations are illegal and so much of what happens in the books is coloured by the boys’ worldviews. Bobby is more open to love because his family is supportive and understanding, whereas James’ are absolutely not. There were some moments where I wanted to shake James for just running away from him problems!
The HEA in this was very sweet and a creative way to solve their marriage-issues (and very reminiscent of Alexis Hall’s ‘Something Fabulous’), plus their little family taking in the children from the orphanage was a sweet touch.
I thought the ‘villain’ in this was somewhat a bit of a plot hole… and perhaps unnecessary? He’s trying to blackmail men for being queer, yet surely he’d just be outing himself? Not convinced on that part… but overall a really fun story with a wonderful found family.
Trigger warning discussion: Just something to bear in mind - this book discusses pregnancy and complications in childbirth way more than I was expecting for an MM romance, so if you are someone who is triggered by discussions around high risk pregnancy, stillbirth or death of a mother in childbirth I’d potentially steer clear of this (although all the women who are pregnant in this book do successfully give birth to healthy children and are healthy themselves).
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
theoddduckling's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
kabrahams's review against another edition
Might try the audio since I loved book one. Not holding my attention for now & the language feels way too modern.
kellysbookverse's review against another edition
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
4.0
niamhs_s123's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Ok this was so fun.
I absolutely adored don’t want you like a best friend and before I even finished it I was requesting this book on NetGalley
A different relationship dynamic here with it being enemies to lovers but it was so good.
James was absolutely insufferable for most of this book but honestly I didn’t care or could blame him for it poor guy goes through it.
And Bobby who was such a sweetheart I loved him.
I also loved seeing more of Gwen and Beth of course. And the inclusion of albie bobbys brother.
There was a bit more smut in this book then the first, which honestly wasn’t great at all. I don’t mind smut in books but this just wasn’t written very well. I wish it was more similar to how it was written in the first book. But i could easily skip those scenes and there were very few.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review
I absolutely adored don’t want you like a best friend and before I even finished it I was requesting this book on NetGalley
A different relationship dynamic here with it being enemies to lovers but it was so good.
James was absolutely insufferable for most of this book but honestly I didn’t care or could blame him for it poor guy goes through it.
And Bobby who was such a sweetheart I loved him.
I also loved seeing more of Gwen and Beth of course. And the inclusion of albie bobbys brother.
There was a bit more smut in this book then the first, which honestly wasn’t great at all. I don’t mind smut in books but this just wasn’t written very well. I wish it was more similar to how it was written in the first book. But i could easily skip those scenes and there were very few.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review
melireadsromance's review
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
I have been dying to read YTPIY since I read Alban’s debut, DWYLABF, and it did not disappoint. YTPIY is described as an “enemies-to-lovers queer Victorian romance…in which a young lord and a second son clash, but find themselves thrust together again and again by their meddling cousins.”
This book, while providing a cozy and sappy HEA worthy of a fairy tale, also broke my heart and put it back together again. Alban delves into topics like toxic masculinity, sexuality and queer relationships in the Victorian era, abusive fathers, and found family. The internal conflict within each of the main characters, along with the difference in their lived experiences and world views based on their own realities, felt real and poignant, and Alban’s portrayal of found family left me delighted and utterly satisfied. Beth and Gwen are back and better than ever, and it was so gratifying to see all four of them get their happy ending.
Overall, this book is slightly slower to get started than DWYLABF, and it has plenty of syrupy sweet moments that might be a turn off for some readers, but it captivated me in the best possible way.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book, while providing a cozy and sappy HEA worthy of a fairy tale, also broke my heart and put it back together again. Alban delves into topics like toxic masculinity, sexuality and queer relationships in the Victorian era, abusive fathers, and found family. The internal conflict within each of the main characters, along with the difference in their lived experiences and world views based on their own realities, felt real and poignant, and Alban’s portrayal of found family left me delighted and utterly satisfied. Beth and Gwen are back and better than ever, and it was so gratifying to see all four of them get their happy ending.
Overall, this book is slightly slower to get started than DWYLABF, and it has plenty of syrupy sweet moments that might be a turn off for some readers, but it captivated me in the best possible way.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
dissociativemouse's review
3.0
I didn't read the first book, Don't Want You Like a Best Friend in the Mischief & Matchmaking series, which was Emma R Alban's debut, as I got this one for free. I did not feel I was missing out on the plot for missing the first in the series even though I normally read series in order even when they feature a separate couple.
Some tropes I enjoy in romance are enemies to lovers/friends to lovers along with whenone or both main characters end up hooking up with or falling for other people before getting together officially and this book has those tropes.
The characters are fairly loveable but the characters you're supposed to hate are hard to hate because they seem more cartoonish villainy types--which is fine, but not my favorite for a story. I want all characters to feel more realistic and gray--parts of the lovable main and side characters seemed not quite well-rounded either but overall I enjoyed the story, tropes, and world the author built.
Some tropes I enjoy in romance are enemies to lovers/friends to lovers along with when
The characters are fairly loveable but the characters you're supposed to hate are hard to hate because they seem more cartoonish villainy types--which is fine, but not my favorite for a story. I want all characters to feel more realistic and gray--parts of the lovable main and side characters seemed not quite well-rounded either but overall I enjoyed the story, tropes, and world the author built.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Outing
bellas__book_nook's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
tysm to avon books for the arc of this book
i so love this world that emma alban has created and im in love with all the characters but gwen is still my favorite and this book actually made me love her more.
this book had a much deeper plot than book 1 i feel like, there was more substance to the world they were in and there was an actual antagonist determined to ruin them. it was slightly sadder too and i feel like there was more angst than in book 1.
it seems a lot better to be gay in mid 1800s england than to be lesbian, they have clubs and beth and gwen just happened to find eachother. and theres this huge community of gay & bi men but there just cant be something like that for the women - especially upper class - bc they arent allowed to go out by themselves
lord rat really thought he could blackmail them and announced his whole plan thats such a rookie mistake you've gotta keep it vague so they cant counter every single aspect of your plan
i loved the enemies to lovers and forced proximity/mutual being blackmailed so they have to work together to stop being blackmailed. and the found family i love found family so much
i really love seeing more of Cordelia & dashiel's relationship & Meredith & albie's relationship pls theyre all so cute together.
YES THE MARRIAGE IDEA PANNED OUT AND THEY GOT KIDS WITH THOSE SHARED ORPHANS. the idea of shared children is so goofy to me like are these children not gonna tell everybody about their living situation?
OMG WHEN CORDELIA GAVE BIRTH & DASHIEL WAS ALL 'idc if its not proper i need to be with her shes my wife" HES SO GOOD WITH HER I LOVE HIM
i had so much i wanted to say but its all out of my head rn maybe ill come back later and make this review longer or better.
i so love this world that emma alban has created and im in love with all the characters but gwen is still my favorite and this book actually made me love her more.
this book had a much deeper plot than book 1 i feel like, there was more substance to the world they were in and there was an actual antagonist determined to ruin them. it was slightly sadder too and i feel like there was more angst than in book 1.
it seems a lot better to be gay in mid 1800s england than to be lesbian, they have clubs and beth and gwen just happened to find eachother. and theres this huge community of gay & bi men but there just cant be something like that for the women - especially upper class - bc they arent allowed to go out by themselves
i loved the enemies to lovers and forced proximity/mutual being blackmailed so they have to work together to stop being blackmailed. and the found family i love found family so much
i really love seeing more of Cordelia & dashiel's relationship & Meredith & albie's relationship pls theyre all so cute together.
i had so much i wanted to say but its all out of my head rn maybe ill come back later and make this review longer or better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
moony_reads's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ARC REVIEW
I really wanted to love this book.
I definitely found the 'historical' aspect to be lacking. Throughout, it feels like the author almost forgot what era is was set in, especially when it came to the characters. I was mostly just frustrated with the grasp of the setting. It was often difficult to tell when it was actually set. I've seen it advertised as regency AND victorian but it doesn't really keep up with either.
However, apart from that, it's nice, it's cute, it's easy to read. It wasn’t quite enemies to lovers and more ‘I don’t like you oh wait maybe I do’ as it all felt very quick, but it IS nice.
The found family aspect is wonderful, and the use of certain clubs as accepting spaces during the time that homosexuality was a crime was good, but it also felt like it kind of ignored the fact that it was a crime (bar it being used as blackmail). Everyone seemed a little bit Too accepting.
It’s definitely not accurate historical fiction,
but it’s snappy, easy, cute and worth a read.
Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the ARC.
I really wanted to love this book.
I definitely found the 'historical' aspect to be lacking. Throughout, it feels like the author almost forgot what era is was set in, especially when it came to the characters. I was mostly just frustrated with the grasp of the setting. It was often difficult to tell when it was actually set. I've seen it advertised as regency AND victorian but it doesn't really keep up with either.
However, apart from that, it's nice, it's cute, it's easy to read. It wasn’t quite enemies to lovers and more ‘I don’t like you oh wait maybe I do’ as it all felt very quick, but it IS nice.
The found family aspect is wonderful, and the use of certain clubs as accepting spaces during the time that homosexuality was a crime was good, but it also felt like it kind of ignored the fact that it was a crime (bar it being used as blackmail). Everyone seemed a little bit Too accepting.
It’s definitely not accurate historical fiction,
but it’s snappy, easy, cute and worth a read.
Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the ARC.
_rutaceae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
I can sometimes struggle with multiple POVs; I either struggle to keep up with exactly who each character is and who’s POV I’m currently reading, or I just really don’t care for one or more of the characters. I was SO happy to find I didn’t have either of those problems this time. I loved getting to see things from both Bobby and James’s POVs, I found it really helped to understand why they said the things they said and how they really felt about each other.
Bobby and James were such lovable characters and SO well written, but I found that some of the side characters - particularly the ones we’re supposed to hate - weren’t as well rounded as they could have been. They read more black and white, than the realistic grey I prefer to see in characters.
This was such an easy read! I find historical fiction difficult to read sometimes because the language used can either be too modern which takes you right out of the scenes trying to be set, or it can be too historical and difficult to read. Alban found the perfect balance between modern and historical language, that I’ve only seen once before in Alexis Hall’s A Lady for a Duke.
I was already half way through when I became aware this was part 2 of a duology. I carried on regardless and found that despite not having read the first in the series, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I will definitely be going back and reading part 1 though!!