*4.25 Stars*

I had a great time reading this one. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters, the main ones and their parents and the parents together, other side characters too honestly. It was a fun time in old dresses. I liked the plot, it was fun. I saw some of it coming but I didn't mind. I really fell into the story and kept looking forward to reading more. I can't wait to read book 2 even the main characters will be men. I wanna see more of these families.
I'll definitely be looking out for more books by Emma R. Alban, even in other universes.

So I have quite a few thoughts about this one but ultimately it was a fun read, but I must begin with the fact the cover and title are impeccable.

But onto the plot, I must admit I wasn't very hooked until about 40 per cent when the relationship began because the lead-up was SO subtle, neither of the girls seemed to be aware of their feelings and then the next chapter they were fucking. Now I don't necessarily hate that because I think in a historical romance there's room to say that they didn't realise their feelings were romantic because A. they had never felt those feelings for anyone before and B. it never occurred to them they COULD feel romantic feelings for a woman. However, I think there still could have been a litttttle bit more build-up so it didn't feel quite so abrupt. I also - for some reason - was under the impression that this was a YA novel, which originally made me give it more grace at the beginning, but then I got to the sex scene.

The whole parent trap plot was also a bit ehh, namely because I don't really understand why they both just readily abandoned the plot when Beth got engaged. Now that they were running out of time I don't understand why they didn't just... get their parents together and tell them the plan?? Now that there was no time left to be sneaky, just TELL them?? It was pretty clear the parents understood what kind of relationship the girls had early on so?? Just go to them and tell them the plan, considering how quickly they ended up being on board with it at the end it just seemed dumb. Like drama for the sake of drama.

I will admit it does squeak me out a bit that they end up step sisters but I think we need to remember how little opinions women, let alone queer women had. I do think perhaps a less directly related pairing could have happened like idk a cousin and a sibling instead of parents but I think this plot can be given a little bit of grace because of the time. This was a good and safe solution for all involved.

The treatment of queer people in this book was also kinda unusual because it wasn't a queer utopia (we learn from one of the maids that Gwen's mother would have sent her to the asylum if she'd been alive to find out about her relationship with Beth) but like everyone else in both girls lives are startlingly okay with them being queer, she learns the maids who raised her are a sapphic 'married' couple, Gwen's father, Beth's mother and their friends and extended family don't even blink an eye at the relationship and actively help them - which makes it seem weird that then they have to hide from society because if everyone they know happened to be super woke then being queer can't be as big a deal as it was historically. I don't necessarily think this was good or bad but it was just kinda weird.

Overall, while it had its issues this was an enjoyable read, the second half got a lot more interesting and I did like Beth and Gwen together. However, more than anything I think this book just felt a bit cathartic. Looking back on queer history and real couples who had to navigate their queerness centuries ago is always an extremely hard and emotional thing to do. We have such a deep legacy of trauma on our shoulders that sometimes you can feel the weight of the lives of every queer person who came before us. Years of isolation, confusion, and loneliness, doomed to unhappy and violent marriages where they had no autonomy and then do die never knowing that they weren't wrong or broken and never get to see the world we have now - which while far from perfect - has come quite a long way.

So for me, this book spoke to a past I wish existed, and I hope that in some small way that at least some of queer people who came before us got to experience even a little bit of the kind of love Beth and Gwen had.

Thank you to Netgally and Penguin General UK for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank netgalley and Penguin for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to get to this book, and it lived up to expectations. I can't wait to read the next book.

This is the first queer novel I have read which is based in the victorian era and I loved it. It is a very predictable story however I was really happy for that and it made it such an easy but enjoyable read.

The only way I could describe this to people is a sapphic regency romance crossed with the patient trap and this isn't a combination you knew you wanted until you started reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This YA historical fiction with a sapphic romance is essentially The Parent Trap meets Bridgerton, and it's so stinking cute. Two teen girls, neither of whom wants to get married, devise a plan to set up their parents, who share a mysterious past. Through their shenanigans, they fall in love, and this is truly the most fun to read, adorable romance.

Based on where the story was headed, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the ending, but I LOVED it. It's got me super curious about the sequel!

4.5 stars

I honestly cannot remember the last book that made me swoon as much as More Than A Best Friend did. This was such a sweet and gripping story that just had me on tender hooks, needing to know what happened next with Beth and Gwen. ⁣
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Our main characters are amazing and I quickly found myself loving them and rooting for them. I loved their ploys to get their parents together and found myself so invested in the storyline. I loved how realistic these characters were and the lengths they went to for love and family. I also really liked the side characters in this one and cannot wait to read the next book in this series! I need to see them all have happily ever afters! ⁣
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If you're a fan of historical romance then you need to pick up this book! It's fun, romantic and has you playing Taylor Swift on repeat. Seriously, go pick this one up! ⁣
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Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun Victorian lgbtq story, with plenty of loveable characters, great pacing and swoon-worthy dialogue. This was very fun start to finish

Lesbian victorians! Such a fun, gay book - I enjoyed reading ‘More Than A Best Friend’ immensely.

Beth and Gwen unite as misfits during London’s 1857 season, becoming fast friends almost immediately. With Beth needing to find a husband to gain financial security, and Gwen just needing to survive the summer, they come up with a scheme to distract them: matchmaking their parents. But spending all this time together brings up some (gasp!) gay feelings.

A tender, humorous book filled with friendship and hope as well as tension and pining. I would recommend this to any romance reader. I have lots of conflicting feelings about historical romances set in Regency/Victorian England about aristocratic characters, which were obviously still present in this book, but my verdict is that the gays should get cute romances too!

The best word to describe this book is fun: ‘Parent Trap’ hijinks, gossip, and kisses. Perfect!

I love a period drama and this one swept me away with the season, the balls and festivities were beautiful to read about the real plight of the girls having to find a husband felt so raw. Loved this and really enjoyed the writing, if you love a historical romance this should be on your tbr.

ARC review

Lovely debut novel. Gwen and Beth are great characters, less hijinks in the novel than the blurb implies, but that's a plus for me. The subplot of setting their parents up was very enjoyable.

My favourite part was how often Alban showcased just how frustrating this time period was. Every movement they make is a nightmare because of those hoop skirts, the endless tedious engagements and vapid conversations they have to have whilst on the marriage mart. The reality of their situation is not brushed over at all but it was lovely to see their parents balance being supportive with the unfortunate realities of their situations and time period.

There's a few too many Americanisms in the text but not enough to be annoying.

Set up for book two in the series was well played and I can't wait to read it!

As soon as I heard about More than a Best Friend, it became one of my most anticipated book releases of the year as a sapphic victorian romance. Unfortunately the writing style fell flat for me and felt clunky. I also couldn't sympathise with the main characters as they felt very one dimensional. I tried to continue reading it as the premise sounds interesting but in the end I had to DNF at 20%.

« “But let me at least buy tea,” Lady Demeroven says. "I did... injure you the last two times we saw each other."
Father frowns. "Only the once."
"The second time was a wound to your ego.”
Father puts a hand to his heart as Gwen stares, shocked, at Lady Demeroven's little smirk. Father starts laughing and Gwen shifts her gaze to the pink on his cheeks and the fullbellied delight that pours forth.
Dear lord, he's still smitten. »


I had never read a sapphic historical romance before and as soon as i saw the cover for this one, i knew i had to read it. I’m so glad I did!
Gwen and Beth are an awesome pair of young, determined and stubbord ladies, they’d organise any kind of mischief to avoid the hefty task of finding a husband.
In this witty story, we’re introduced to a charming set of characters, from the infallible duo of Mrs Gilpe and Mrs Stem to Beth and Gwen’s parents, both widowed and with some unfinished business still lingering between them.

It was lovely to see Gwen and Beth’s contrasting characters form a beautiful bond that, as they slowly came to learn, surpasses friendship or mere attraction and blooms into full on love.

I’m so excited to read the rest of the books in the series !!


Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin UK and Vikings Books UK for providing an earc. All opinions are my own🥰

This was a funny and light-hearted story. It also had matchmaking, farce, politics, and scandal. The romance was luscious and enough to blush over.

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley for the arc of this book. This has had no influence on my review what so ever.

I love a good forbidden romance, and setting your parents up, so you can be with your lover is a 10/10 solution.

I really loved seeing Gwen and Beth falling in love and especially enjoyed the “ahaha she is just so nice and sweet and I wanna be with her the entire time, cause she is just such a nice friend…. Oh wait… what?” part of the story. The romance was very believable, and I liked the side plot of Gwens dad working on a specific law.

Overall a cute and fluffy read (the spice is very mild imo) and I cannot wait for book 2, for more of Gwen and Beth’s adventures

In More Than a Best Friend, we follow the intertwined stories of Gwen and Beth as they attempt to navigate the season, where they are both expected to match with a wealthy, respectable husband and marry. For Beth, the pressure is even stronger, as the fate of her and her mother rests on the outcome of her season. Beth and Gwen soon strike up a strong friendship. They become inspired when they realise that Beth's widowed mother and Gwen's philandering father used to have feelings for each other, before Beth's mother had no choice but to marry someone more respectable during her season. Will Beth and Gwen manage to bring their parents together in order to avoid getting married themselves? Or will they be doomed to marry men neither are interested in, when all Beth and Gwen can think about is each other?

This book surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. It's a slow burn, but it isn't dull, which is something I often find with slow-burn romances. All of the characters had distinct personalities that were developed well, despite the fact that there were quite a few important characters throughout the story. Gwen's wit and self-sabotaging brought humour, while Beth's kindness and loyalty balanced this out with some softness and sincerity. Because Alban showed Beth and Gwen falling in love with each other through lots of small scenes, the build up was satisfactory and made sense; oftentimes, you find that there is usually a big jump from just friends to more than that, but Alban did a fantastic job of showing the crescendo. I really liked the light political commentary Alban made about the position of women at the time, and handled it in an informative and engaging way. I also thought Alban did a great job of setting up the characters for the next instalment in the series, which I have no doubt I will be reading.

This was my Bridgerton.
More Than a Best Friend was everything I could have wanted and more with two incredibly likeable main characters, a cast of fully developed side characters, all tied together with proper regency speak. Emma R. Alban did a great job at pulling me into the regency period with descriptions of gowns, and balls and expectations of the time being interwoven perfectly with the parent-trap and romance plotlines.
I am incredibly excited to see more of Gwen and Beth's schemes in the second novel!

Sapphic Victorian romance, hell yes. I’ve been thinking about Brigerton lately and this is exactly what I needed to cover me until the new season.

A solid debut book, the romances were very cute, I found myself rooting more for the parents perhaps than the main characters due to personal prefrence for second chance romances.
The writing and pacing were little unpolished but nothing too destracting. Also the historical aspect was sometimes stretched in the way of plot, I don't believe Gwen would have quite so liberal upbringing in the time despite the circumstances.
Overall a good romance and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

ok so WERK. but also there were issues i had with this feeling under researched which like it’s a cute romance novel so maybe that doesn’t matter??? can’t help but feel like another pass of this book would have bumped it up a little. also would have loved more yearning and more development of the romance. but who can complain really, sweet and vibey!

this book was so cute! i loved the romance, and although there was some miscommunication it didn’t annoy me as much as it normally does. i highly recommend to anyone who loves sapphic romances and fun historical fiction