This was such a fun little book, we definitely need more sapphic regency romance! I loved the Parent Trap style premise, Beth & Gwen were absolutely delightful, messy & perfect at the same time!

My only minor issue was the writing style, it’s just not my favourite but I think that’s a me issue.

Would definitely recommend to friends, I can see a lot of people loving this book!

A heartfelt journey of friendship blossoming into love. Emma R. Alban perfectly captures the magic of realizing a best friend could be more.

More than a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban is a delightful and refreshing queer Victorian romance that offers a fun twist on the traditional debutante season. Set in 1857, the novel follows two very different debutantes - Beth, who is desperate to find a wealthy husband to save her and her mother from financial ruin, and Gwen, a free-spirited young woman who has no interest in marriage. Their instant connection leads to a witty and heartwarming story filled with charm, humour, and unexpected romance.

Beth and Gwen’s characters complement each other beautifully, with Beth's anxious pragmatism contrasting Gwen’s carefree, rebellious nature. The chemistry between them is palpable from the start, and their scheme to matchmake their widowed parents only adds to the fun and hijinks of the story. The blossoming romance between the two leads is both tender and swoon-worthy, offering a lovely exploration of love and defying societal expectations in a historical setting.

Alban does a fantastic job of blending period-appropriate details with a fresh, modern sensibility, making this a Victorian romance that feels relevant and engaging. The backdrop of high society, with its strict rules and conventions, only serves to heighten the stakes for Beth and Gwen as they navigate their feelings for each other while maintaining their public facades.

While the plot can be a bit predictable at times, the humour, romance, and the vibrant chemistry between the characters make More than a Best Friend a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fans of historical romance, especially those looking for a queer twist, will find this novel a fun, heartwarming escape. With its witty banter, charming characters, and swoon-worthy moments, it's the perfect blend of tradition and modern romance.

3.5

Okay I can't understand why there was so much drama around this book involving stepsisters, when that isn't the case??

This is a delightful, friends to lovers historical romance with a bit of inspiration taken from 'The Parent Trap', it was super easy and quick to read, it was gorgeously sweet, and I really liked all the characters! I loved that we got both Beth & Gwen's perspectives, they were very cute together, even if it was a bit insta-lovey. And yes, admittedly they do technically become stepsisters in the end, but it was really a lot to do with their parents wanting to protect them and allow them to be together, so it's not quite in the way I've seen reviews suggesting. Also 'Dress' by Taylor Swift is THE soundtrack to this story!

This was actually what I realise now I was wanting The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy to be. We are so starved for sapphic historical/regency content that I can't think of anything else to compare it to even though, realistically, these two novels are not alike.

Much closer to the Bridgerton series, this novel involves Beth coming into London for her first season. It will also be her only possible season, given they are being thrown out of their home for the nephew and heir to move in after Beth's father's death.

Heavily contrasted to Beth, Gwen is not only in her fourth season in London, but also has enough money for security for the rest of her life. Her father absolutely dotes on her and doesn't seem to mind at all that his daughter doesn't seem at all interested in the gentlemen of the ton.

After a single, very awkward experience her first night in the ton, Beth is rescued by Gwen. The sparks of friendship are immediately evident, as Gwen becomes the person to guide Beth through her first season.

What only makes this novel stronger is the fact that Beth and Gwen's remaining parents used to be sweethearts during their own season, before things ended badly. And the two girls, seeing them pining after being reunited, want to set them back up together in something that resembles nothing more than the Parent Trap movies.

Unfortunately, Beth attracts the eye of one Mr. Monston, her mother throws herself entirely into making the match occur and securing the two of them for the rest of the lives, no matter how awful his father, Lord Ashmond, clearly is.

Probably the hardest part to read was when Lord Ashmond makes it a condition of the upcoming wedding that Beth and her mother must drop all contact with Gwen and her father. While it does come across as understandable given the precarious nature of Beth and her mother's financial situation, it's a difficult part of the novel to read.

Ultimately, everything comes good again. I absolutely loved side characters Albie and Bobby, Gwen's cousins, and can't wait to see Bobby again in the sequel.

Bridgerton meets Taylor Swift - this Regency romance was so fun and so queer, I had loads of fun reading it. I can't wait for Emma's follow-up!

Beth and Gwen are best friends. Beth has to marry to maintain her livelihood, while Gwen has had many unsuccessful seasons. They slowly find their way to each other through many dramas. I loved it.

Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for this review.

Apologies for my delay, I’ve had a very hectic few months.

I sadly didn’t enjoy this very much. The writing style felt far too modern for me to get properly into it.

Yay! I love Victorian romance novels and the whole concept of life for debutantes is just so good, but this sapphic love story made all my dreams come true! Bringing in the parent trap angle was so much fun, so it just had something for everyone. It was swoony, fun and something I never knew I needed in my life!

To keep this short and simple. The vibes were vibing, but I was more invested in the parents than the main couple. The insta-love was too strong with this one.

I liked the Parent Trap-like romance premise of Don't Want You Like a Best Friend between Gwen and Beth and their very unaware parents. It's fun and sometimes funny but I will admit that at times it felt like the book lost focus on the main love story, leaving it feeling less developed.

I would've loved to have seen a bit more development between Gwen and Beth and why they were attracted to each other. Their romance felt really rushed, particularly when their first kiss occurs and I was wondering where the build up was. I think it could've been due to the emphasis on the parents' story - it overshadows the main romance and weakens the connection we should feel between the main characters.

Even with its issues, the book is a brave attempt at doing something different with historical romances. Don't Want You Like a Best Friend mixes themes in a way that's not commonly seen, aiming to offer more complex discussions about love and family. Overall, a good debut and I'll be keen to see how their matchmaking attempts continue in book two.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this book was F U N !
Readers looking for a wlw Bridgerton-esque read will delight in this story. Gwen and Beth start as fast, excited friends and drift effortlessly into a great love. They have to find a way to save Beth and her mother from incoming poverty and the reason she is required to make a match... how do they do it? Setting Gwen's bachelor father and Beth's widowed mother in a second chance romance parent trap. They're so bad at it, but recieve help along the way from friends and family.
I can't wait to see this universe continue! Even from the little tease of James and Bobby in the epilogue, I was enraptured!
4 stars.

I loved this book so much. I enjoy shows like Bridgerton but I do spend a lot of time wishing that I had the era and fashions but sapphic and More Than A Best Friend absolutely delivered on that.

Gwen has spent the last few seasons doing anything she can to avoid a marriage, preferring to spend her time with her friends and father. Beth needs to find a marriage as soon as possible or her and her mother will be left with nothing. Their friendship soon develops into something more and they're looking for anything that will keep them together. Will their single parents with a past offer up that opportunity?

This book is funny and moving. I am shocked that this is Emma R Alban's first book and I will definitely be reading the sequel and recommending this book to everyone I can.

3 stars!

What a lovely romance. The combination of friends to lovers and a background second (and then third) chance romance really ticked a lot of boxes for me. The background characters and subplots were all very sweet and I'm excited to read the next book in the series. It was unfortunately lacking a bit of "oomph" and I'd have liked there to be a little more character development for both of the MC's separately and for their connection to be a bit more fleshed out. All in all though it absolutely does what it says on the tin. This book is a charming and easy to read sapphic romance with likeable characters and fun tropes.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

More than a Best Friend is a captivating Victorian romance that explores love beyond societal norms. Set in 1857, debutante Beth and spirited Gwen engage readers in a tale of unconventional matches and societal defiance. The author's debut queer romance is a refreshing addition to Victorian literature, offering a nuanced exploration of love that transcends traditional expectations. A must-read for those seeking a heartfelt portrayal of affection beyond convention. Actually more 4.5 stars than 4.

I immediately DNFed this within a few pages upon accidentally finding a Tweet that revealed how the book ends: with the main couple being step sisters. Immediate no for incest.

I usually take tons of notes when I’m reading review books but with More Than a Best Friend, I was so engrossed in the story that I barely wrote anything down!
Knowing this was a sapphic Victorian romance book was more than enough for me to add this to my TBR. But there are in fact two romances in this books, Beth’s and Gwen’s and that of their parents. Both romances are friends to lovers with a bonus second chance romance and seriously adorable parent trap vibes for Gwen’s father Lord Havenfort and Beth’s mother Lady Demeroven.
I adored the parent-child relationships of these characters, and how loving and supportive they were of each other. Their double date had me grinning from ear to ear! And Lady Demeroven calling her daughter Beth the love of her life saw me shed more than a few tears.
The romance was so sweet and heartwarming while still addressing the very real issues women faced during a time where marriage was an arrangement based on security and heteronormativity was enforced.
I’m so excited for the next book in the Mischief & Matchmaking series, You’re the Problem It’s You, for more queer Victorian romance with appearances from new and beloved characters.

This book was really good but there was a section in the middle that was really depressing. Obviously life was hard for gay people at this time, but reading the realities of it, really hurt. I’m afraid that it spoilt my enjoyment of the book a bit.

Until that point though, I really enjoyed seeing the romance play out. I really liked the two characters, but especially Gwen and her whole family. I loved how they were just skirting with scandal the whole time because of how much they really didn’t fit into society.

On the whole, apart from being a tad depressing, it was a really refreshing take on the regency period and I’d love to see more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book, as I am a huge fan of historical romance, particularly LGBT romances, and I do not often see sapphic/wlw romances so this was a lovely change. I loved the main characters from the start, and whilst I got frustrated at their love troubles, I felt this was due to the fantastic writing of the author, really making the reader feel for these characters. I loved the ending and can’t wait to read more by this author. An excellent read!

okay but this book was just utter perfection and i am just so utterly in love. everything about it, from start to finish, was perfectly done. the friendships, the love, the humour, the angst and the EMOTIONS. everything was just so so good

In this novel set in the Victorian Gwen and Beth meet at the debutante ball and emaidlitly becomes best friends. Beth is a debutante seeking a wealthy husband to avoid financial ruin. Instead of subjecting Beth to a loveless match, Gwen suggests pairing their respective parents, despite the apparent animosity between them.

However, complications arise as Beth attracts the attention of a wealthy viscount. Now, Gwen grapples with the idea of losing her friend to another, while Beth discovers unexpected feelings that challenge her initial quest for a secure marriage.

In the world of matchmaking, the unexpected twist is falling in love with your best friend along the way.

This is a fun read that I would recommend to anyone who likes puffy dresses and parent trap-esc scheme. The characters were loveable and with some humor. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.