The Story of Gwen and Beth (My Version)

Happy publication day to this wonderfully irreverent, hilarious romp! (Fair warning, if you need your historical romance to be even remotely time and place appropriate, look elsewhere.)

"We were both young when I first saw you..."

Once upon a time, Romeo and Juliet (fine, their names are Dashiell and Cordelia) were inseparable. But her daddy said, "Stay away from Romeo!" so she traded in happiness for wealth and security with another man. As time passed, both had a daughter and were ultimately widowed. And then their daughters meet at a ball. And are quite enchanted...

"There I was again tonight, forcing laughter faking smiles...
The playful conversation starts, counter all your quick remarks..."

Both Gwen and Beth have very little interest in finding a husband. But Beth's family desperately needs money, and marriage to a rich man seems to be her only way out.

"And can you feel this magic in the air..."

Until the girls realize their respective parents were each other's first love and they hatch a plan: get the parents back together, and no one has to sacrifice themselves!

"You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes..."

But Beth's mother is just as determined to get her safely wed to a perfectly fine rich man as she is to never getting back together with Gwen's father.

"I'm captivated by you, baby, like a fireworks show..."

Which makes Gwen realize she wants Beth as more than just a best friend...

"You pull me in and I'm a little more brave..."

And then reality comes crashing down on their dreams. Beth and her mother are about to be thrown out of their house and run out of money. And the one thing Mr. Perfectly Fine's family demands is that they cut ties with the Havenforts or else. And both girls have to decide if their happiness is worth it...

"Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room and we're not speaking/ and I'm dying to know, is it killing you like it's killing me?"

I absolutely ADORED this book. It had me laughing out loud, giggling, crying, and I can't wait to see those two again, trying their disastrous match-making skills on their respective cousins...

"It's been occurring to me I'd like to hang out with you for my whole life..."

Wie finde ich das?

Schon vor Monaten wurde mir das Buch als "Lesbian Bridgerton" angepriesen und was soll ich sagen? Diese Beschreibung trifft den Inhalt wirklich fantastisch. Auch wenn ich noch nicht viele Bücher gelesen habe, die im England des 19. Jahrhunderts spielen, habe ich mich direkt wie in die High Society des viktorianischen Zeitalters versetzt gefühlt. (Obwohl man es mit der historischen Korrektheit nicht allzu genommen hat, aber hey, dafür sind wir ja auch nicht hier.)

Die Geschichte wird wechselnd aus den Sichten von Beth und Gwen erzählt, die sich am Eröffnungsball der Courting Season kennenlernen. Beth hat bloß diese eine Saison, um sich einen wohlhabenden Mann zu angeln, damit sie und ihre verwitwete Mutter nicht auf der Straße landen, und ist dementsprechend ernst bei der Suche, obwohl sie eigentlich nicht heiraten will. Gwen, hingegen, besticht dadurch, dass sie aus ganz anderen Gründen auf dem Ball ist: Nämlich nur um Spaß zu haben. Eine Heirat hat sie nicht im Sinn. Hatte sie auch schon nicht in den drei vorhergegangenen Jahren. Wieso sollte sie auch? Ihr Vater ist sehr wohlhabend. Sie braucht keinen Mann.

Obwohl ihre Absichten sehr unterschiedlich sind, verstehen sich Beth und Gwen blendend. Und diese Chemie zwischen den beiden spürt man auf jeder Seite. Aber im 19. Jahrhundert ist das natürlich nicht so einfach. Trotzdem - und das fand ich sehr erfrischend - gibt es wenig Drama darum, dass sie sich nicht lieben dürfen, weil sie beide Frauen sind. Im Gegenteil. Für die damaligen Verhältnisse wird sehr offen und tolerant damit umgegangen. Eine wirklich positive Überraschung.

Genauso wie der zweite Band, der bereits am Ende des Buches angeteasert wird, und den ich kaum erwarten kann.

Im Großen und Ganzen...

"More than a best friend" von Emma R. Alban hat meine Erwartungen nicht nur erfüllt, sondern echt übertroffen. Ich habe viel geschmunzelt, gelacht, mitgefiebert und verträumt aufgeseufzt. Schon jetzt eins meiner Jahreshighlights.

This book was tender and mischievous and so much fun. I think the comparison of parent trap sums the plot up pretty well, but it is definitely the characters that made this such a pleasure to read, and really enhanced the story.
I enjoyed following Gwen, she was outspoken and fun, whereas Beth was more reserved but definitely had a sense of humour, and their chemistry worked well together, I was rooting for them as a couple, but also for the chaos they were creating, whilst their parents were in the enemies stage, once they got married and they then became step siblings, I grew incredibly uncomfortable, as I don't think anyone acknowledged it, or if it was just a common thing in the 1800s. The chemistry between their parents didn't feel as established as Beth and Gwens, and so the engagement confused me. There were also moments where the book felt like it slipped out of the timeline it was set, things would feel modern, and the language felt out of place, but I was having too much fun reading to be bothered by it.

4.25 ⭐

This was so cute, I enjoyed the scheming and the sneaking around

I really enjoyed the last 3rd when people started working out that they were together and scheming/planning with them to get their parents together/give them time alone

The epilogue was so cute and I want a second book picking up where the epilogue left off

- regency england
- queer (sapphic)
- low spice
- dual pov / 3rd person

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I’m glad to have read this because this was an anticipated read for me but I think I was not the intended audience for this premise. The writing was good, I really liked the characters individually but I just couldn’t get behind some of the dynamics between a few characters. I am intrigued by the sequel so will pick that up when it comes out.

4.75/5 stars! I was so excited to get a copy of this ARC to read, as I have heard of a few book box subscriptions covering this book. I also fully support that we need more queer historical romance novels. The cover of this book is kind of a snooze, but thankfully the story lived up to all the hype. This book fulfilled every historical romance niche, while also offering the enchantment of a young debutante and a self-shelved spinster falling in love. Give me 573 sequels please! <3

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

"She could become the old spinster aunt she's always wanted to be"

It’s 1857 when Beth has just one season to find a husband. It's Gwen's fourth season and she has no intention of finding a husband. Rather than join the husband hunt, the two hatch a scheme to set up their parents, finding themselves enchanted with each other in the process.

This book is a beautiful romance filled with so much hope and joy. Our main couple have the sweetest relationship and their story was perfect. Every couple in this book had their time and I was imediately invested in all of them.

The time period was well thought out and intergrated into the narrative whilst being told in a modern voice, A highlight for me was all the mention of moving their skirts out of the way and bumping into things because HOW did people live with that

DNF at 40% (154 pages)

The story is told through switching POVs between Beth and Gwen but told in third person so we are being told their feelings instead of being shown. It’s described as Parent Trap meets Bridgerton but then set in the Victorian Age and sapphic. I was Immediately pulled in but slowly started losing interest by about 20% in.

Although it’s set in 1857 it reads very modern. For a historical romance it also isn’t very historically accurate, as I said it read very modern but also had a touch of Regency, maybe trying to lean too hard into the Bridgerton vibes. I wasn’t super invested in the romance, it happens very quickly and without any inner turmoil, pining, or tension.

Gwen and Beth read younger than they are at times. The characters also don’t have much depth to them, I feel like I barely know them despite reading 40% of the book. Their POVs blend together and sadly they don’t have a distinct voice.

My interest really starting waning because of the pacing; it was all over the place. Where is the pining? Why are they together in the first half when it’s friends to lovers, it’s just too quick! I assume based on what I read so far and other reviews, the second half will be just them trying to stay together which I never find interesting.

I so wanted to love this, it sounded amazing 😭 but it just wasn’t for me. I wasn’t invested in the romance or plot and I’m okay with a plot being average in romance novels if the romance is good but it wasn’t here.

Also found out that They end up step sisters?!? 🤮 I know going into it that they were trying to set up their parents but was hoping it was more in a way of the parent trapping would fail and through trying to get their parents together they fall in love and so when their parents don’t get together, only then they’d end up together in the end. STOP MAKING STEP SIBLINGS INTO A THING ITS NOT ROMANTIC 🤮😭

This was very cute!!! Was it the most historically accurate Victorian romance I've ever read? Definitely not, but I also don't know enough about Victorian era to be seriously bothered. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but once things got going I couldn't stop reading. I loved that the main characters' parents were complex people with flaws and personalities, though I wish the rest of the side characters were more developed.

Although this wasn't perfect - it took me a second to start caring for the characters and the writing felt clunky at times - the romance was still VERY CUTE and I did stay up till 4am reading it last night, so I absolutely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! :)

I am such a sucker for a historical romance, and this book truly delivered! I loved the writing style, the characterizations, and the relationships. The parent Trap-esque plot was so fun but knowing that they’re stepsisters now feels a little strange. However, the gorgeous romance between Beth and Gwen overshadowed any of the Victorian Era angst I felt. I am so beyond excited for Emma R. Alban’s next book that will be out in the summer!

Queer historical romances are my bread and butter so I knew this was going to be right up my street.

A sapphic story with a fun parent trap-esque side plot, was a nice way to lighten a dreary January day.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher
4/5 ⭐️

This book promised sapphic, parent-trapping debutantes and it delivers!

An enjoyable historical romance with great characters, it immediately drew me into the lives of Beth and Gwen (and their parents!)

The two main characters here are well drawn out and I took a shine to them both immediately. Gwen is fierce and fun, accepting of her lack of suitors and disinterest in the marriage mart, but with a softer streak as well. Beth is - outwardly - a little shier and more awkward, but she, too, has a high-spirited, mischievous side, that she is compelled to hide due to the need for her to make a good match and marry.

Alban does a great job of showing us their similarities, their differences, what draws them together and what pulls them apart. I understand the choices both made, even during the angsty parts when I wanted to yell at them to just be together.

But there's is not the only romance in this book and I was definitely cheering for their parents, too. Lady Demeroven and Lord Havenfort's is a second chance romance between a lady who chose to marry for security instead of love and the man whose heart she broke, where both of them are now trying to do their best by their daughters, alone.

There are obvious parallels between the two romances - with Beth now faced with the same choice her Mother once had to make.

This book also manages a nice balance between its more angsty moments and heavier topics and its softer and more light-hearted moments. It did make me emotional at times but it is also a lot of fun!

Overall, I highly recommend this for any fans of sapphic historical romance!

That was such a great book. I was in a mood for a cute but at the same time a little spicy sapphic romance and it certainly delivered! I devoured this book and if it weren’t for the fact I had to go to sleep I’d have finished it in one day, that’s how invested I was in this story. For a debut novel I think it was really fun and the language was sometimes really poetic, however the constant use of names instead of substitutes annoyed me a little.

I really loved how this embraced the friends part of Beth and Gwen’s relationship. They met by accident and since then they’ve stood by each other’s side. I adore how the author subtly made their relationship seem more than just friendship and how both girls embraced the fact that what they feel for one another is actually of romantic nature. Closeness, intimacy, physical touch - these are those simply things that made me fall in love with them. Holding hands under the skirts, gazing at each other across the room, blushing. There is a spice scene but it was done in such an amazing way that while it was hot and spicy it still felt cute and you could feel the love between them.

While I love Beth and Gwen’s relationship I cannot lie that for a moment I was more interested in their parents. Beth’s mother and Gwen’s father had quite a history in the past that ended with a heartbreak but the girl were set on getting them together since they could see they still had feeling for each other. They had so many hilarious scenes and their banter made me laugh so many times.

I also loved the emphasis on family and how important it is to have someone by your side. Gwen’s father was such a wonderful person who cared for his daughter tremendously and never judged her for her choices. Beth’s mother was also a very kind woman who suffered through a lot from her late husband but with time opened herself and chose happiness for her and her daughter.

In terms of pacing I think it could have been better since there were moments that were pretty boring and I just wanted to get past as soon as possible

This was a lovely read with an insanely gorgeous cover!! I really enjoyed the romance and the setting, it was all so delightful.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this advanced copy! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It wad the right pick me up as I've not been feeling very well and the Bridgerton, parent trap (ish) and slow burn vibes were spot on. Strong characters and character driven.

The language sometimes took me away from the time period but otherwise I felt it was beautifully done. Love is love and queer love has always been there.

Beth and Gwen were leads you could get behind.

This is my first book with Emma Alban and won't be my last.

My full review for Instagram will go up publication date! Thank you again

"Don't Want You Like a Best Friend" is a regency romance with a queer twist, following the journey of Beth and Gwen. Collaboratively, they craft a plan to reunite their parents, providing them with a chance to sidestep the conventional societal expectations. Along the way, Beth and Gwen unexpectedly discover a romantic connection between themselves. The narrative delves into the authenticity and complexity of their relationship, shedding light on the challenges they confront while navigating their love.

The ensemble cast of characters enhances the depth and enjoyment of the story, particularly in exploring the dynamics between the girls and their parents. The clever banter among cousins and the comforting presence of the maids contribute to the story's overall allure. Additionally, the inclusion of Taylor Swift references adds a delightful layer to the narrative.

In my overall experience, I found great enjoyment in reading this book, and I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel for another engaging encounter with Beth and Gwen.

This book is so charming, it was such a relaxing, cute read! The interactions had genuine chemistry and the support cast was lovely, I really enjoyed it. Would love to see more of this world!

Beth is a debutante that needs to marry to gain security for herself and her mother. Gwen is into her fourth season, with no hopes nor intentions of finding a husband. The two meet and realise they could try to set up their parents in hopes of saving themselves from the marriage mart.

More than a Best Friend, had what some of my favourite historical romances have, which is a strong cast of background characters. I loved Gwen's family and the villanous Lord Ashmond. I liked the behind the scenes politics and the stakes it added to the story. The relationship between Beth and her mother and Gwen and her father was great. I found Gwen's father, Lord Havenfort was very charming.

What puts me on the fence about this book, is that the speech felt really modern and it took me away from the Victorian setting of the story. I understand that this wouldn't be a problem for most people but it was for me.
I am not sure how I feel coming out if this book. The first half flew by for me, and I really enjoyed it. Towards the end of the book, I didn't feel the same pull. I also didn't feel anything about the romance between Gwen and Beth. I really wanted to love this sapphic historical romance named after a Taylor Swift song but it just fell flat for me.

I would say this book is for people who love romance with good side plots and characters. If you're trying to get into historical romances, this would be a good first book.

This book was excellent in so many ways.
I loved how fiercely independent both MCs were, and how their friendship bloomed into something more.
Their schemes to get their parents together was so cute as well. I adored every single interaction in this book, and my heart went out to both Gwen and Beth because I just wanted them together.

This was well written, very visual and just all over incredible.

I really wanted to love this ... in the end I did enjoy it, but parts were a slog to get through.

I loved Beth and Gwen as characters, but the romance just wasn't there for me for a large chunk of the book, and the plot wasn't enough to keep it interesting on its own (true for most romance novels and not an issue if the romance is strong enough on its own). If I hadn't been reading this to review, I'd have been tempted to give it up halfway through.

In the end, I'm glad I continued as it did pick up and I enjoyed the ending much more than I did earlier parts of the book.