Omg! This novel was so cute, delicious and heartfelt. I loved every single bit of it and highly recommend you check it out.

Don't Want You Like A Best Friend releases today, so happy release day @eraofemma !

"A swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance in which two debutantes distract themselves from having to seek husbands by setting up their widowed parents, and instead find their perfect match in each other—the lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap you never knew you needed!"

Thank you @netgalley for allowing me to read this.

To start, this title is PERFECT, and I am absolutely obsessed with the cover! 😍

This book is pitched as sapphic Bridgerton meets the parents trap, and the pitch so perfectly encapsulates this story! Gwen and Beth were both so entertaining, and charming, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with both of them as characters and as a couple! I also truly loved the romance between their parents!

Alban not only wove a charming historical romance, but she created such a warm loving space for queer folks in the historical romance space! The found family that Gwen and Beth have was so fun to read on the page, and I can’t WAIT for book two now!

{3.5 stars}

This is a typical regency romance with a queer twist. I liked the political discussions of the Marriage Act and what that meant for relationships between men and women. I liked the plucky girls who were trying to be together despite the conventions of the world.

I struggled with the lack of tension. I needed more banter. I wanted more information about the parent’s history.

All in all an entertaining read and important for books like this to show that queerness has always been around and that love is love.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

FIVE STARS. FIVE STARS. FIVE STARS. FIVE STARS.

WHAT A DEBUT! Alban knocked it out of the park with this quiet and sparkling sapphic Parent Trap x Bridgerton historical romance.

I refuse to give anything away but I LOVED IT AND CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! The relationship between Gwen and Beth was very sweet. The Parent-trap inspired story was fun to read. However, there is a distinct lack of pining. Gwen and Beth are close friends, but there is no indication of either girl feeling anything more than friendship until Gwen's father suggests it to her. Then, at 38%, they suddenly kiss with barely any build up. I just really wanted their feelings to be a little more developed and nuanced. The second half of the book though was much more enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of this book.

This was probably the best book I could have selected for 2024. It was so cute, funny, and steamy. Gwen and Beth are a an absolute unit. I found myself chuckling along with their banter and emotionally invested in their entire ridiculous plotting.

Absolutely loved this one.

This was a cute read, though a little long and slow at parts. I enjoyed both Beth and Gwen and thought they were cute together.

The epilogue seems like it could have a sequel and I’d definitely be open to reading it.

Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for this advanced copy.

This book was the warm hug I didn’t know I needed. I love love loved it! Emma really captured how it feels to fall for your bestie while discovering your queerness. The entire cast of characters was so fun and I had the best time reading.

Highly recommend to any and all sapphics!

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend is a sapphic, Victorian historical romance between two twenty something ladies, Beth and Gwen, who meet during Beth’s first season and form a friendship. Soon after meeting they determine that their parents ( Beth’s mother, Gwen’s father) have a history and maybe if they focus on matchmaking the parents, they can put off their own marriages. While matchmaking for their parents the two become close and begin to fall in love themselves.

I wanted to love this book so much. The historical romance genre is lacking in sapphic romance and I absolutely adore the cover art for this book. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. First, the main romance: there are some really sweet moments of friendship between the girls- I know they are ladies but they felt very YA and immature to me- but ultimately I didn’t believe in their chemistry or that they had formed a lifelong love story. I felt more invested in the story of the parents than the main female characters. Secondly, the multiple side plots in the story and the contemporary writing in a historical were too much. I was very put off by the way the mother pushed her daughter into a loveless engagement after she herself having been in a difficult marriage for 20 years, the nonchalant attitude taken by the characters in regards to alcohol and alcohol abuse, and the epilogue has some truly bonkers plot pieces. Thirdly, the tense was a distraction and made it difficult to read.

I think this book may work better for someone new to historical romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although I’ve read a fair number of queer contemporary romances, I have read very few historicals about queer couples—and that’s something I plan to change! I was excited to read Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, a Victorian romance in which two young women, looking for husbands during the London season, start to develop romantic feelings for each other. How can they find happiness together in 1857? One way would be to get their respective single parents (who seem to have some history) to finally admit their love for each other. But playing matchmaker for your parents is harder than it seems, and the stakes are high as the season quickly nears its end.

At first, I loved seeing Beth and Gwen become close friends. It’s Beth’s first season, but Gwen is on her fourth by now and knows a thing or two about how to navigate it. The two become fast friends, relying on each other to get through endless balls, tea parties, and so on, all in a fruitless attempt to find a husband. But neither really wants a man in her life… and as time goes on, it starts to become clear that their friendship could be something more.

I enjoyed seeing how Gwen, in particular, comes to terms with her feelings for Beth. She never really thought about what it’s like to have romantic feelings for someone of the same gender, and she’s not sure how to go about it. Luckily, she has a couple she can learn from and a dad who is wonderfully open-minded and accepting, especially for the time. Gwen and Beth eventually must face each other and decide what to do about these romantic feelings. Things get steamy, but how can it last?

A major subplot here is Gwen and Beth’s mission to get their parents together. Gwen’s dad and Beth’s mom are both widowed, and though they seem to hate each other now, there’s definitely more to their past than their daughters realize. In a very Parent Trap fashion, Beth and Gwen do what they can to play matchmaker to their reluctant parents. If it all works out, not only will the parents get their long-overdue happily ever after, Gwen and Beth will also have a chance at being together themselves.

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend is filled with a wonderful cast of characters, a dramatic arc involving Beth’s potential (male) suitor, and so much heart. I loved getting to see Beth and Gwen become friends and fall in love, finding a path for their relationship despite the restrictions of the Victorian era. This is the first in Emma R. Alban’s Mischief & Matchmaking series, and I already look forward to reading its sequel, You’re the Problem, It’s You, due out in August 2024. And in the meantime, you can bet that I’ll be reading some more queer historical romances!

I am wanting to dip my toes into historical romance this year and this did not disappoint! This is described as a sapphic bridgerton/parent trap - although i've never watched the show, I have seen The Parent Trap and I agree with the statement!

My rating is more towards the fact that the beginning for me felt quite slow and it took me a couple sittings to really get into the story but once I did, I couldn't stop! Beth and Gwen were really put through the wringer with all the obstacles women during this era (1850's) faced and their taboo relationship. I felt their connection as the story developed and felt myself heartbroken during their most tragic scenes - was shredding tears. I'm glad they were able to get their HEA though and I cannot wait for the second book in this series!!

Wow, just wow! This book gave me all the feels. Watching Gwen and Beth's friendship grow into something more was amazing and proceeded organically. Slight spoilers may follow:

Living during that time period, sapphics did not have obvious role models or examples to follow, thus the discovery of their feelings felt very real. I enjoyed finding out that Gwen's housemaids were actually a couple. And the father orchestrating Gwen's understanding of the relationship was very clever. The initial kiss scene was so adorable! I could see the surprise on Beth's part followed by a blossoming of desire. And then the charming scenes of veiled looks and hidden handholding melted my heart. They so deserved their HEA.

The "parent trap" aspect of the storyline was equally well done. Rotating through the emotional spectrum including awkwardness, dislike, flirting, loving was fun to watch. Both parents were well-rounded and full characters of their own, even without their actual POV. And they deserved their HEA too.

All the side characters had their own flair. Some you root for, some you loathe, but all were interesting.

TL;DR: What a great way to start 2024 reading! 5 stars

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A hilarious, heart rending romp through Victorian England.

After the death of her father, Beth has just one season to find a wealthy husband or she and her mother will be homeless. On her first night, she meets Gwen - a charming woman on her fourth season who isn’t even attempting to find a husband, much to society’s chagrin.
As their friendship blooms, the two girls realise their feelings may be more than they initially thought, and hatch a plan to get their parents (back) together so they can avoid marrying for security.

I absolutely loved Beth and Gwen, their friends and hijinks. Watching them through the season was so fun, and yet heartbreaking. The reality of what women tolerated at the time for the sake of security is a stark reminder.

If you liked the Lady’s Guide to Scandal, I would highly recommend this.

I laughed, I cried, and I can’t wait for the next book.

I laughed, I adored, I screamed, I threatened to throw a Kindle, and I was besotted with these main characters, their parents, and their friends.

If you're on a high from Bridgerton and Evie Dunmore's books (A League of Extraordinary Women series) and need more, READ THIS!!! And it's Sapphic!!

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend is a historical romance full of yearning, mischievous scheming, the bending of expectations, and queer love. It managed to meet every expectation and hope I had for it, all the while bringing in the sincerity I crave in my reading.

DWYLABF follows two debutantes in Victorian London, Beth and Gwen, who quickly become close friends. Beth, whose abusive and negligent father recently passed, has only this season to marry into wealth. Without a husband, she and her widowed mother would be out on the street. Gwen, however, has done the whole presented-to-society thing; this season is her fourth and so far, she has no intention of marrying any of the eligible men. When Beth and Gwen uncover romantic tension and history between their widowed parents, the two decide to set them up, only to fall in love with each other.

I absolutely loved the characters in this story. Beth, with all her sweetness and wit and quick perception. Gwen, for all her mischief and impulsivity and the deepness of her feelings. Both, in how they came alive in each other's presence.

There was also Beth's mother, the recent widow of an abusive husband who carries with her poise and elegance, even when she's ripping up the argument of some bigoted old man. Gwen's father, the man who so clearly loves his daughter more than anything else in the world, who would do anything for her happiness and who instilled in her the righteousness and determination their society was determined to squash. I loved reading these parent-child relationships. They felt real and comforting.

Each scheme Gwen concocted amused me to no end. And the yearning in both Beth and Gwen's perspectives are unmatched. The hand-holding hidden between their skirts! The casual intimacy of their whispered conversations! The absolute yearning I felt every time they laid their eyes on each other! And the steamy scenes following their queer awakenings! Absolutely impeccable.

Even so, there were a fair amount of serious elements. The political backdrop and controversy of the Matrimonial Causes Act created the perfect setting to discuss domestic abuse and the rights of women in marriage. Without dominating the narrative, the MCA distinguished the setting from other Victorian romances and made the story tangible.

Emma R. Alban has captivated me with her debut and the beginning of the Mischief & Matchmaking series. I had a wonderful time reading about Beth and Gwen's escapades and can't want to see what is waiting for us in the next book, You're the Problem, It's You.

Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse, physical and emotional abuse, alcoholism, sexism and misogyny, death of parent

Listen very closely, this is a sapphic romance with Victorian debutantes and a second-chance parent trap. It practically sells itself. I don’t even remember the last time a book premise pulled me in this quickly. I saw one ad from the publisher and was immediately invested, and it did not disappoint.

3.75

Set in 1857, ‘I Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend’ follows Victorian debutante Beth on her search to find a wealthy husband so that she and her mother can avoid losing everything. In enters Gwen, a four-season veteran who has absolutely no intent of settling down. After immediately hitting it off, the two quickly realize their parents seem to have more of a history than they’re leading on. In a last-ditch effort to keep Beth from entering a loveless marriage to keep a roof over her head, the two decide to try to get their parents together but soon find out their parents are not the only ones with flying sparks.

This book was funny, sweet, and flirty, it’s a perfect lazy day read for anyone looking to kick up their feet and immerse themselves in first loves.

Written in dual perspectives, each character in this story is so loveable, but Gwen absolutely steals the show. Full of charm and wit, you get to watch her grow into herself as the story progresses. Honestly, the most heartfelt moments in this book were between Gwen and her father. I think there’s something so beautiful about being given the space to just grow and exist as you are and be seen for who you are without having to ask, and that’s what her father did for her no questions asked.

A lot was going on but the story was very well executed, it kept my interest and every detail felt necessary to the progression of the plot. I do think that since there were so many subplots going on at once the relationship between Gwen and Beth wasn’t as fully fleshed out as I would have hoped. There were times I wanted to watch them learn more about one another and explore a deeper connection, but it was still very sweet, and you can’t help but root for them.

I hands-down recommend this book if you’re looking for sweet, thank you Avon (and the girl at Harper Collins Canada who answered my email) for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Alban has created a queer historical fiction that has the right amount of historically accurate angst while at the same time creating a wholesome romance that had me kicking and squealing. The two main characters Gwen and Beth are wonderfully written. Layered and intense they are the dynamic characters often found missing in a typical romance. I was most impressed by the secondary characters. With so many, such as the girls' parents and family along with the other outside character it would be easy to let those characters fall flat. Yet, Alban managed to make them stand out alongside the mains. A slight slow burn that then begins to burn bright, this made read a little "insta-love" for some, but I found the building of their relationship post initial realization of feelings to be most impactful.

A five star read for me!

Very fun! For fans of Lex Croucher, Cat Sebastian, Emma, The Parent Trap, and Bridgerton. I thought the dialogue was delightful and I can't wait to read more by this author!

What in the West Virginia is going on????
For the most part, this was a cute and fun read. The Parent Trap but make it Regency England.
I was easy enough to follow and I enjoyed the relationships and friendships that were built.
But the last 10-15%???? How was anyone okay with this? And the epilogue just doubled down on the incest??? I am not okay.

4.5 Stars

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend is a thoroughly charming historical romance with a decidedly modern flair, aiming for delightful and scoring a perfect tone. This book was an excellent choice for my first read of the new year. It’s not one inundated with high risks, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing at stake, either. Gwen and Beth are the young heroines of this tale, didn’t fall in love on purpose, but when it happened, they certainly fell with purpose.

Emma R. Alban sets up the matchmaking premise of the series with Gwen’s father and Beth’s mother as the focus of their daughters’ attentions. Or perhaps intentions is the more accurate description since they’re scheming to get their parents to fall in love with each other. Or fall back in love with each other. Or admit they love each other. Everything applies in their parents’ case. Gwen and Beth have an ulterior motive beyond bringing their father and mother together, though, and that’s where the tension lies. What’s a young woman to do when she’s expected to catch a young man’s eye and work toward a marriage proposal, but doesn’t want that expectation to fall on her shoulders? Furthermore, what’s a young woman to do when she does fall in love but then society dictates that love is wrong? It’s a thoroughly inconvenient nuisance.

Don’t Love You Like a Best Friend reads like a script that needs the Shondaland treatment (think Bridgerton). Alban’s writing translated to “watching” each scene play out in my imagination, envisioning the clothes, the teas, the balls, the manners and social conventions, and Gwen, her father, and the best of their extended family living life to the fullest give this book all the joy. It left me anxious to see what matchmaking mischief Gwen and Beth will be cooking up for a certain couple of someones in book two. It’s sure to be full of manners and miscues.