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.

YALL!!! Oh my god, this book is SO GOOD!! Seriously, I had so much fun with this book!! I went from sobbing to tears of laughter so many times! Beth and Gwen are everything!!! No one else even needed to be great because of how great they were but even the side characters were so lovable! I love Cordelia, Dashiell, Albie, Bobby, Meredith, Mrs. Gilpe, and Mrs. Stelm so so much 🥰 I loved the hijinks and the plotting and the romance and the grandeur and the emotions and literally just every single thing about it! I cannot wait to read James & Bobby’s story, I seriously need it in my hands right now lol please do yourself a favor and pick this book up, I cannot recommend highly enough! 💜

4/5 Stars
TLDR: Bridgerton. Make it Sapphic. Sprinkle in some Parent Trap

It is debutante season in 1857. Beth is in her first season and Gwen her fourth. Beth is feeling the pressure to find a rich husband so she and her mother will not be out on the street. Gwen is in zero hurry to partner. Beth hates the endless balls and Gwen makes games of them. The two of them soon realize their parents know each other (maybe hate each other) and conspire to get them together. In the process, the two women realize there may be more to their friendship.

I really enjoyed this book. Alban created characters that the reader will care about. This is true for the main characters and the supporting cast. There were times when I could physically feel the ache in my chest. Not only did the author write the story of Gwen and Beth, she wrote a story about strong, determined women of the time.

I do think the story could have been 75ish pages shorter. There were a couple times it felt long and/or repetitive. Don't let this stop you from reading the book though. It was very enjoyable and I am looking forward to the next book!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend (eARC) — 5 ⭐️

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: January 9, 2024

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 —
💗 Friends to Lovers
🏃‍♀️ Fast Paced
👑 Victorian Era
👀 Multiple POVs
✌️Second Chance Romance
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ Rep
🔓 Open Door Romance
💪 Strong Characters + Development

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 —
🥂 You need some liquid courage sometimes
👯‍♀️ Parent Trap is your favorite movie
🍪 Comfort pastries are needed on bad days
⛲️ You enjoy late night strolls in the garden
🃏 You never pass up on a good bet

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: AHHH, immediately five stars from me! Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend has the same magic that I felt while reading the Bridgerton series, and I could not stop reading this tale. I adored the characters, especially the parents, and the shenanigans had me laughing out loud! The plot was complex with a mix of love, schemes, politics, and laughter, and the story ended beautifully. Plus, the author set up her next book perfectly, and I cannot wait to get my hands on You’re the Problem, It’s You (big fan of the nods to Taylor Swift)!

𝐓𝐖: physical/emotional abuse, sexual content, alcoholic tendencies, parental death, misogyny

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, for providing me an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars
Don't Want You Like a Best Friend is the sapphic Bridgerton/Parent Trap baby I didn't know I needed. This book was the perfect blend of steamy and sweet, with plenty of funny moments throughout that had me invested the whole way through.

It's Beth's first (and most likely only) season in town. Her mother expects her to find a suitable husband and do it rather quickly as her cousin is set to inherit their home and belongings. Gwen is a seasoned pro at being a debutante, but not so much at finding a husband. The two become fast friends and it's not long before they realize their feelings might be more than a little friendly.

Seeing Beth and Gwen slowly begin to realize their feelings for eachother was like watching the perfect falling in love montage. I loved how supportive their parents and friends were of their relationship. All of the secondary characters were great and I loved spending time with them. I'm so excited that the next book in the series will follow Bobby - he and Albie were two of my favorite characters in this book.

The only thing that kept me from loving this novel is that the second half seemed to drag on a bit. Gwen and Beth realize their feelings are mutual rather early on (the mutual pining was great!), but much of the second half feels a bit redundant. However I'm super impressed that this was a debut and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for a review copy.

Such a fun book! I absolutely loved my time reading this story and I loved Beth and Gwen. Them slowly realizing they were falling in love was so perfect. I also loved the other plot line of them getting their parents together. I preordered a signed copy and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book!

Genre: historical romance
London, 1857

Beth Demeroven and her mother Viscountess Cordelia Demervon, are desperate for Beth to find a husband, now that her father has died and the uncle who has inherited wants to cut them off. At a ball, Beth meets Gwen, daughter of the Earl of Havenfort. Gwen is in her fourth season, but seemingly not actively trying to find a husband. They realize that Beth’s mother and Gwen’s father knew each other years ago, and decide to try to set them up. They realize though, that maybe the people who belong to each other are Beth and Gwen themselves! Even as their own relationship is blossoming, Beth has agreed to marry a titled lord with wealth and land, in a decision that may separate her from Gwen permanently.

When I saw sapphic romance set in the Victorian era, I knew I had to read this book. I loved the setup - queer romance with a parent trap twist, but the execution didn’t work for me. The book is written in third person present tense, which ended up being less of a problem for me than I expected, once I was used to it. (I know tense and POV isn’t something all readers spend a lot of time thinking about, but I’m hyper focused on the concept of perspective and how it relates to storytelling).

I always believe that historical romance is an invitation to step into a fantasy world of the author’s choosing, and not always “historically accurate.” What didn’t work for me was the very modern tone the overall narrative utilizes while clinging to its political historical backdrop. Beth and Gwen felt more like 21st-century twenty-year-old women than 19th-century debutantes. There is an uncomfortable amount of excessive drinking and partying, and while I’m not always looking for “proper manners” out of my historical romance heroines, Beth and Gwen felt out of context as the daughters of peers. I think that younger readers, those who enjoy new adult/college romances, and readers newer to historical romance. I also think that many readers looking for explicit Sapphic historical romance will find this satisfying.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an eARC for review. Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend is out 1/9/24.

I loved this debut novel, releasing tomorrow, from Emma R. Alban! Charming and sweet, this sapphic historical was filled with great characters you loved rooting for, the right touch of politics and intrigue, and was a compelled joy to read! I can’t wait to read You're the Problem, It's You, her next book in the series.

I wanted to love this novel. I loved the premise and we need more sapphic historical romance so I was really excited to read Don't Want You Like a Best Friend. Yet I just could not connect very easily with the story. From its almost juvenile-like tone in the interactions between the FMCs who are both 20 and 22 years of age; which made the novel almost feel more young/new adult to me as a reader. I liked both Gwen and Beth but they never felt like fully formed characters. I found myself more invested and drawn to the supporting characters: Gwen's dad, her cousins Albie & Bobby as well as Mrs. Gilpe & Mrs. Stelm. They felt more fully formed characters to me.

I was trying to put my finger on what it was about the writing style that just didn't flow for me as a reader and I finally figured it out when I read in the about author section that the author is a screenwriter. This novel definitely reads like a screenplay with added filler in the way the author names the characters and tells the reader what they are up to transitionally throughout the paragraphs. Which unfortunately often took me out of the story.

Again, I really wanted to love Don't Want You Like a Best Friend, the premise was excellent with finding oneself in love with their best friend in an era that did not accept it as well as the whole parent trap angle of trying to get their widowed parent's a second chance at love, yet it just did not fully hit the mark. The bones of the story were excellent, sadly, I just needed a bit more.

Thank you to Harper Collin’s for sending me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this book and I think others are going to eat this up!

Beth and Gwen are both very likable characters their experiences as queer women in the 1800s is still so relevant to this day. I will say that their friendship felt a little too insta-lovey at the beginning as they had only met once and already acted like best friends [before they realized their romantic feelings]. Aside from that, I really did enjoy their romance arc and loved how they fought against all odds for their love.

My absolute favorite part of this entire book though was Gwen’s relationship with her father. Even in today’s day and age, there are still so many cases where parents are unsupportive of their queer children and it was such a nice tough to make Gwen’s father her biggest supporter. The way that he sensed her feelings for Beth before she did and made her realize the relationship between the women she’d grown up with was so sweet. Considering the time period of this book, having him be a queer ally, and an overall ally of women, was the perfect addition to this book!

I also enjoyed the scene’s where Beth admits her love for Gwen to her mother and continuously reinforces the fact that Gwen is not just her friend. The emotions in the book were so genuine and relevant, and I truly felt like I was right there with Beth.

I can’t wait for everyone to read this book and learn to love Gwen and Beth the same way that I do <3

"Don't Want You Like a Best Friend" by Emma R. Alban is a debut novel that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. What intrigued me the most was the unique premise of Beth and Gwen's plan to set up their parents while discovering their own unexpected love story. It reminded me of the classic movie "The Parent Trap," but with a ENCHANTING and “historical” twist.

As the story unfolds, you can't help but be drawn into the lives of these two strong and complex characters. The sapphic representation between Beth and Gwen is beautifully portrayed, showcasing the power of love and connection.

While there were moments when the plot felt a bit overwhelming with all the twists and turns, I still enjoyed reading it. Maybe my overwhelming feeling is reflected on the rating but I did give it my best show. It was fascinating to see how the historical backdrop influenced the characters' choices and the challenges they faced.

One aspect that stood out to me was the diverse representation of different family structures. The story explores what family means when there's only one parent involved, highlighting the strength and resilience of these unconventional families. It's refreshing to see such inclusivity in a novel, as it allows readers to relate to and connect with the characters on a deeper level.

Overall, "Don't Want You Like a Best Friend" is a must-read for anyone seeking an engaging and heartfelt story. The highs and lows, the thrilling moments, and the tender romance will hopefully keep
you hooked.

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend is the sapphic Victorian era romance I've been waiting for. This book had me swooning and kicking my feet. I really loved Beth and Gwen. The yearning between them was absolutely perfect. I also adored the Parent Trap vibes and Beth and Gwen trying to get their parents together. The ending was perfection and I can't wait for the next book to see if they'll end up in a lavender marriage. I had so much fun reading this! There truly is no yearning like sapphic yearning.

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend is book one in the new amazing Mischief & Matchmaking series by Emma R. Alban.
I love when a book exceeds my expectations, and this one absolutely did that!
Emma has such talent for writing some of the most witty banter and cheeky humor!
The writing style was light and easy to follow, the characters were lovable, and the story had me hooked from start to finish.
Beth and Gwen, were some of the sweetest, relatable characters I’ve experienced.
I loved how we got to see both sides. The POVs switches regularly between Gwen and Beth which I really enjoyed.
This book is an absolutely delightful debut queer Victorian romance, full of humour as well as heartfelt moments.
Don't Want You Like a Best Friend is a gorgeous exploration of love, friendship, history, and self-discovery
A marvelous book that embraced me wholeheartedly and melted my heart.
Yay! I literally can’t wait for book two You're the Problem, It's You!

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