I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I am so in love with Emma R. Alban's brand of queer Victorian chaos. When I read Don't Want You Like a Best Friend, I had a feeling that the Mischief & Matchmaking series was going to become one of my all time favorites, and You're the Problem, It's You absolutely cemented it. The humor of James and Bobby's antagonistic dynamic was only heightened by their cousin's meddlesome hijinks. I really love when the main characters of the previous books have a role in the sequels, and Alban did a great job spotlighting a new love story while also continuing to tell the stories of several characters readers fell in love with in the first book.

This was a super cute read. I really love how it all came together. I am really looking forward to reading the first book in the duology as well. Characters are all super likeable (except the villain obv...but he's more pitiable than villainous). Low stakes, cosy queer regency romance.

MM
Third person
Enemies to lovers
Flustered MC
Found family
Anxiety rep

Rating: 3.5/5 - I really enjoyed this book but I probably won't reread it
🌶️: 1/5 - a few intimate scenes, only one explicit

TLDR: full of highly loveable characters and a slow plot

I really enjoyed this book. It was very sweet with highly loveable characters. This may feel boring to some because of the length and slowly developing plot. I however am happy as long as I have loveable characters and this book has that in spades. Not only is the relationship between the MMCs interesting but the friendships they have are beautiful and engaging. One of the MCs deals with panic attacks throughout the book and fear of childbirth is mentioned several times. These subjects were handled well for the time period this book is set in. Ultimately, I would recommend this book to any historical romance lover.

The premise of an LGBTQIA Bridgerton sold me on wanting to read this and I heard rave reviews about book 1, but it fell really flat when I started to read it. I ended up DNFing at 36%. The pacing was really slow and more often than not, it just felt like an endless inner monologue.

I can normally tolerate the miscommunication trope if done in a witty and full-of-banter way, but the MCs were unfortunately too boring. One was even borderline rude when the other was just looking out for him.

I couldn't vibe with the writing style - stiff and infodumpy and hard to follow. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I read the first book in this series and was on the fence but I decide to give it a chance because I love mm/anything queer. The story had good vibes but the enemies to lovers pace was off. The story didn’t build tension enough. It was nice having an appearance by Beth and Gwen. It was a cute follow up but I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series of there more

This was an excellent queer historical romance! The enemies-to-lovers vibes were spot on. If you're looking for a cozy read, this is it!

Thanks, Avon Books and Libro.FM, for the arc and ALC!

This is the second book in the MISCHEIF & MATCHMAKING series by Emma R. Alban. Once again, the book is an ode to a TSwift song, so I would be reading it even if I hadn’t read the first book, DON’T WANT YOU LIIKE A BEST FRIEND. Dare I say I liked YOU’RE THE PROBLEM, IT’S YOU better? A good found family does that to me.

I was happy to see characters returning from the first book be present in this one, and some new ones fit right in. It was comforting. I also loved seeing the difference between how Gwen and Beth got and stayed together and how Bobby and James got and stayed together. And I adored the antics that led up to the latter.

The audiobook was excellent for switching back and forth with the arc as I read. Chris Devon and Will Watt worked together wonderfully, bringing Bobby, James, and the other characters to life.

I don’t think reading the first book is necessary to understand the second one, but it makes it 1000x better if you do. It feels like a complete story and knowing everyone’s life - like Bridgerton! So, I would suggest doing it that way. But if you are only curious about Gwen and Beth or Bobby and James, you’ll be fine reading just their books.

Clearly, with the 5 star rating, I thoroughly enjoyed YOU’RE THE PROBLEM, IT’S YOU. I ended up falling head over heels for James and Bobby. And Gwen and Beth (because I didn’t read DWYLABF 🤭). And the entire crew that’s featured in this wonderful queer historical romance.

Historical romances usually take me a little longer to read because they’re paced so differently and essentially have a completely different set of rules. I struggle with that sometimes, especially all of the social rules. I would neverrrrrr survive in any other time than the twenty-first century. So, parts of the book were hard to read just because I had to wrap my head around why a character would react a certain way.

But, wow, experiencing the slow burn of Bobby and James was absolutely divine. From James having a schoolyard crush, to being enemies (kinda?), to friends, to lovers. It was gorgeous. Every moment felt so zoomed in that the rest of the world was blocked out. That’s beautiful. Their chemistry was out of this world. I get why James was so scared but UGH, so much time WASTED.

I think they made up for it, though.

I truly loved everything about this. It’s such a cozy, heartwarming story. I’ll be thinking about Bobby and James for a long time coming. I’m so happy I read this!

Fans of Emma R. Alban's previous historical romance work, Don't Want You Like a Best Friend, will rejoice at the novel's companion/sequel, You're the Problem, It's You. Entertainingly apt title aside, the second book in the Mischief & Matchmaking series continues right around where book one left off. You're the Problem follows the tumultuous relationship between second son Bobby Mason, left adrift now that his brother is married and buried in work, and Viscount James Demeroven, who is newly come into his inheritance but decidedly powerless at home. This is feels somewhere in between an enemies-to-lovers and rivals-to-lovers plotline, and is decidedly slow burn (particularly in the first third of the book, after which the pace picks up speedily).

Alban write rose-colored honeymoon phases very well. Readers who enjoy idyllic pastoral romance fluff with moderate spice and almost fantastically (compared to history) happy endings will likely enjoy this book--in many ways it fells like what a typical cishet bodice ripper (or college-era fix-it fanfiction) romance is like, just queer. The comforting positivity of found family that also fortunately happens to be bio family may be a plus, as well, and TikTok trends like the resurgence of lavender marriages also feel reflected in this novel.

However, this book does require some patience: it takes 100-150 pages for the plot and characters to get going. Some of that space could have been used to describe and show the process of character development better, so that certain turning point decisions (ex. James deciding to be more active in Parliament) didn't feel so abrupt. Also, much of the conflicts in this book hinge on (incorrect) assumptions, bringing to mind the idiom about the word "assume." Please, please just talk to each other like grown adults. The miscommunication trope is hard to do well and is often used as a crutch, as is the case here; it would have worked better in a shorter book. Finally, the lines between bio/legal family and romantic ties do feel a little blurred in this book, given all the canon ships. Are they cousins or not or....? Don't think too hard about it. Overall, a fluff romance that gets fun once it gets going, but don't take a magnifying glass to it.

Readers who enjoy Alban's work may also like authors such as K.J. Charles and Cat Sebastian. Other titles of interest include Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall and A Vile Season by David Ferraro.

You're the Problem, It's You by Emma R. Alban is the second series in the Mischief & Matchmaking series. Also named after a Taylor Swift song, which is arguably the best and only redeeming quality of this book.

I’m going to be honest. I did not realize this was the second book in a series when I requested an arc for this. That being said, I did not struggle too much with understanding the plot in this book despite not having read the first book. It follows a different couple and has an entirely new storyline. However, the characters from the first book are in this one as well and it does build on some things that occurred in the first book. It is definitely meant to be read as a series, but that fact did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the characters and the storyline. It had a somewhat believable happy ending (though I would still say it was pretty idealized considering the time the story took place), but that doesn’t really bother me. I would say if you enjoy queer romance with relatively low stakes this would be the perfect read for you!

The pacing was too slow to hold my interest and the main relationship went from 0-60, just not for me.

I have very much enjoyed Emma Alban's books. This one was a lot of fun and very sweet and enjoyable. I first discovered her at a romance bookstore in my area and then a friend recommended her as a good author of romance books with emotional depth. I am happy I could read an early copy of this one.

Emma has done it again!
I love the historical, cozy, & hella queer vibes. I highly recommend reading book 1 first. I am a sucker for anything found family & this has me tearing up towards the end.

If you like queer joy & angry kisses, please please please check this out.

Thank you to the author, the publishers & to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

i love a good regency romance, and this one did not disappoint, especially with the dual narration!

I love love love a queer historical romance and this one is perfect for anyone who loves them as well!

I was so excited to read about these characters after reading the first book. I loved reading the story and revisiting Gwen and Beth. I think this book handled the conversation of what it was like to be queer before it was socially acceptable. I loved that all 4 characters got a happy ending!

DNF - unfortunately I didn’t really care about these characters and I also dislike when there’s a villain in romance (unless they become the love interest aka enemies to lovers)