‘You’re The Problem, It’s You’ was such an enjoyable read. It was great to return to the world of Mischief & Matchmaking. I loved watching the growth of the two MCs. It was great to see a story set in Victorian England capture the sweetness of queer joy while also keeping in perspective the differing societal expectations for the time period. I loved this book as a follow up to ‘Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend’ and seeing the happy ending for all four of the characters we have closely followed.

My distaste for historical fiction with modern-reference titles notwithstanding (it's a romance titling trend I would love to see go away), this is an enjoyable book. Alban does a very good job of showing us <i>exactly</i> why James and Bobby are the way they are, and the finale carries over the romance from the first book in the series, <i>Don't Want You Like a Best Friend</i>, in a satisfying manner, resolving everything in one very nice swoop. My two chief issues are the occasional use of anachronistic language ("hot" meaning "sexually attractive" didn't enter the vernacular until the 1880s and the book is set in 1858, for example) and the very slow pace. Although it is arguably important to establishing James and Bobby as characters, it really drags, to the detriment of the plot; it probably could have been half the length and still been a very good book. But on the whole this is a decent read, and I'll certainly check out more of Alban's books when she writes them.

I really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers story. I’m not always a fan of the slow burn, but this was well done.

I loved that James and Bobby had the support of their friends and loved ones immediately, no question, and the found family/blended family/extended family home they were able to create as a safe haven for themselves was a perfect ending.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

You're the Problem, It's You follows a season on from where Don't Want You Like A Best Friend left off, but with James and Bobby, cousins of Gwen and Beth, who seem to hate each other.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between James as Bobby as well as with all the other characters, and how accepting their families and friends were. I'm a sucker for a found family dynamic and this fully delivered. I'm not sure I entirely bought that and why James and Bobby disliked each other so much at the start, but I had a great time reading it nonetheless.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I can't wait to read it again when it officially comes out.

I’m not going to lie, I didn’t like James for the first 50%. I just didn’t understand his actions. The backstory we were given didn’t feel like enough to explain his decisions. As he grew into his own I liked him better.

The antagonist was done really well. I absolutely hated him.

I’m generally nervous to read regency queer romance because based on the time period you know it’s going to be difficult for the MCs to have a HEA. It gives me that 3rd act break up nervousness. Despite the characters not being able to be their true selves in the eyes of the ton, they did get their HEA.

‘You’re the Problem, It’s You’ is a dual POV, slow burn enemies to lovers romance set in the recency era, similar of that to ‘Bridgerton’.
•
I really enjoyed the chemistry not only between Bobby and James, but between the entire cast do characters. They all intermingle so well and really support and uplift each other in a unique way. The queer experiences displayed in both this book and its predecessor feel so authentic to real life, while still maintaining the stakes of being queer during this time period. I love how supportive all of their family members have been throughout both novels. They have no judgements towards Bobby, James, Beth or Gwen, but still convey the imperative actions that they all must take to remain safe. The epilogue gave me everything I could have asked for from this adorable duology!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC - here is my honest review:

This was a very cute story! This is the second in the Mischief and Matchmaking series - queer romantic comedies based in the Victorian era with Taylor Swift lyrics as book titles. The first is called "Don't Want You Like a Best Friend" and follows the love story of Gwen and Beth. "You're the Problem, It's You" follows their cousins, Bobby and James, through their misadventures and love.

Bobby is the charismatic second son of a wealthy and important family rehabbing their image after their drunken and hurtful father passed. He wishes he could do more than just escort his cousins and attend parties to help his older brother, but he is limited by his birth order. On the other hand, anxiety-riddled James has just inherited the title, lands, and money of a viscount from his uncle and has had parliament, the running of a household, and the prospect of finding a wife and heir thrust upon him. However, James doesn't want a wife - he's had an unrequited crush on Bobby since they were in school at Oxford together, when Bobby didn't even notice him. Plus, James is bullied and berated by his stepfather into letting him run the finances and decisions for the family while making James believe he will never be good enough at anything. These two are thrust together during the social season in London, and Bobby is asked by his cousins to try and show James the ropes and introduce him to folks. Unfortunately, what could be a great friendship is quickly turned to sniping and rivalry by misunderstandings and miscommunications. Over time, Bobby and James see who the other truly are and feelings bloom, that is until the two of them get blackmailed by a former lover of them both. Will they be able to help their families, get out of trouble, and fall in love in the process? Is that even possible in Victorian England where they can both be sent to jail if anyone finds out that they are gay? Read on!

I really enjoyed both Bobby and James' characters and the growth you see them have over the course of the book. Their good traits became great and their flaws became things that they could help each other with. The real beauty of this book, and, apparently, this series, is the family the two have and create. That is one of the best parts of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community - we get to build our families and communities and take care of each other. This is very evident in this story, and it is very heartwarming. The joy of these two characters when they align is really a lovely thing to behold, and the ending was one I was shouting at them about from about chapter five. I also appreciated the differences and complications pointed out between the partnership of the ladies and the gentlemen. Gwen and Beth have some protection of their love - Bobby and James do not. Of course, if the ladies' relationship is found out, there will be a scandal, but if the gentlemen's is, they are both going to be in jail along with a scandal. While the men have more freedom in Victorian society, they also can't hide their love as much with the expectations of marriage and heirs, particularly for James. I appreciated the author pointing this out and raising the stakes of the history at the time.

I will say that my one critique was with Beth and Gwen. I haven't read the first book yet, and I intend to while hoping to maybe see if my critique in this one changes post-debut. I like the fact that we get to see them figure out what their happily ever after will look like after their novel, and their relationships with others, including Bobby and James, were really lovely. However, in order to create drama between the two through the book, they were fighting, sniping, and having a lot of miscommunication throughout. It was a little obnoxious, and I don't know that I'll enjoy a whole a book of it. Also, since James and Bobby had a little bit of a "enemies" (using that loosely) to lovers trope, it felt unnecessary and created moments where everybody was grumpy (characters and me). I'm hoping that reading the first book will change my opinion here, but, even if it doesn't, Bobby and James' story is lovely, and you don't need to read the first one to understand and enjoy theirs.

Overall, this was a great little love story to read to kick off Pride Month, and I hope you check out "You're the Problem, It's You" when it comes out in August of this year!

(Goodreads and Storygraph review posted & Instagram story teaser. Full blog and Instagram post coming closer to publication)

Such a treat from NetGalley and Harper Collins to have this book available as read now for pride month!! As with “Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend”, I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time and quite literally slapping my hand over my mouth with the drama! I absolutely adored this book and this duology! I loved seeing the lives of the characters in both books entangle together and seeing all the queer joy! Truly cannot recommend these books enough!

going into this, the cutesy cover combined with the playfulness i remember loving from don't want you like a best friend had me anticipating more lighthearted fun. thus, it took me a bit off guard that nearly the entire first half felt so overwhelmed with distress, the stakes so much higher. it could be that i am simply misremembering alban’s debut, and it's not necessarily a knock on this one either that it took me a little while to get into. that is to say — it wasn't the book; it was me. i only put such emphasis on my difficulty in the beginning to overstate how much i deeply enjoyed the second half. it had everything i'd been looking for — the fluffy romance, the found family, the pure joy, the scheming! it was golden.

"You're the Problem, It's You" was exactly what I was looking for in a regency romance novel. I was craving something after watching Brigerton and this fit the bill perfectly. I loved the first book in the series "Don't Want You Like a Best Friend" and its sequel did not disappoint.
 
I loved that this story threw you and as the reader you immediately get to see James and Bobby thrown together (by scheming from their cousins and also just due to peer social trajectory). We get to meet Bobby who is trying his best to just be there for his family, while also feeling the keen pressure of his brother being the 1st born son, and James sliding into a title and having to learn how to manage all that comes with it. 

Watching these two but heads and gripe at each other was super entertaining and made them coming together so much sweeter. The character development and self-acceptance we get it *chef's kiss.*

I highly recommend you pick up this book if you love bridgerton and wanted it to celebrate queer love. This book is full of character supporting each other and celebrates us making our own families where acceptance is the norm. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars rounded up :)

3/3.25 ⭐️

This was fun and i absolutely adore the cover.
I felt like the miscommunication at the beginning of the book was painful. It also isn’t quite enemies to lovers - it’s giving more rivals or “i didn’t like you at first” to lovers.

I think the growth the characters have from beginning to end is DEEP. They really truly are almost insufferable at the beginning and it makes it hard to connect and want to continue to read, but they do try to turn it around by the end.

I enjoyed the way the duology finished with the fake double wedding so both couples could be happy.

While i had fun, and it was overall a fun, quick enjoyable read. It felt really dull and forgettable. It will end up being a book i sit down and can’t tell you anything about it in a week.

BUT if you enjoy the tropes and want a fun quick read, i’d recommend.

I’m a sucker for a queer historical romance. This one had it all: viscounts, second sons, meddling cousins, and even a little blackmail.

This takes place after Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend and follows the story of James and Bobby. James knew Bobby from school but Bobby never noticed James until his first season in London. Their personalities of course immediately start clashing after that. Beth and Gwen also have a large meddling presence in this story and I expect nothing less from them. The romance in this story is believable especially for how difficult being queer would be in this time period. I think it’s handled well and it was a very sweet love story. If you loved Don’t Want you Like a Best Friend you’ll love this book too!

A fun sequel to More Than a Best Friend which keeps many of that books more lovable characters while also introducing new dynamics and digging deeper into the internal tensions of Gwens' cousin Albie's family. This book digs a little deeper into questions of how lesbian and gay relationships might play out in a Bridgerton-esque setting and the toll that the social and legal penalties for those relationships might take even on the privileged and relatively lucky. This book has a fantastic (as in counter-historical) narrative and happy ending for the central couple (two young gay men) in a number of ways, and it is perhaps a more enjoyable read for those who are interested in a Bridgerton-vibe setting for contemporary reflections on how to navigate risk, openness, and to find the people you trust. If historical verisimilitude is important to you, look elsewhere, but this book has all the delightful hallmarks of a readable romance: likeable, sympathetic characters somewhat blind to the limits of their own experience and perspective, a background of courting events and even a little politicking, and the close friends and family who help the central characters mature and make room for a romantic relationship.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I thought the premise was very interesting to say the least. I think the miscommunication was a bit frustrating to get through and wished that James' crush on Bobby in the beginning was more convincing.

I had read the first book when it released and loved it. As a queer girlie, I saw a sapphic period romance and knew I'd immediately be on board. I wanted to read this book to get the updates on Beth & Gwen, honestly, but let me tell you - I was full invested in this story. Emma Alban tells a great story with a wonderful ensemble. I am a sucker for a strong supporting cast of characters and the love and support that the extended characters brought was a slam dunk. I am fully team Albie and Meredith (especially Meredith...). I was so rooting for all of the characters in this story and just loved it so much. Bobby and James are so sweet and really tugged at my heartstrings.
And I loved the epilogue. Getting a quick little insight and still getting *so* much information. Knowing that they're all happily living next to each other with a blended family where they all just love each other so much. When I tell you this was like wrapping yourself in a blanket straight from the dryer, I mean it. Loved it so much!

Such a great continuation to the series! I loved getting to know the Bobby and James better, and also appreciated that Beth and Gwen were still very involved in the story (Love my meddling lesbians <3). I had so much fun reading and all these characters own my heart.

The plot of this didn't quite hang together as well as the first book in the series, but gosh. GOSH EVERYTHING ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS IS JUST SO CHARMING. I love how hard everyone was trying to do better than their parents, and finding the joy amidst a society that isn't built for you. <3

4.25 stars. This was enjoyable, but not quite as much as the first book in the duet. I did love James’ character arc as he overcomes his intense anxiety as he integrates into his accepting new family. Bobby was great too, but sometimes it felt like he was used as an avenue to tie everything together between the two couples. Like the first book, there were some darker themes, but the fun in the book didn’t quite balance out the darkness as well as the first book. Plenty of Beth and Gwen though, and Albie and Meredith, who are all fantastic. Loved the ending, very fitting for the couples, and I always enjoy an epilogue that goes a few years into the future.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!!

I just KNEW this book wasn’t going to disappoint and it didn’t! The plot, the story, the characters, the setting. All of it was just perfect. Originally this was going to be part of a mini-review post, but honestly? It deserved to have a post to itself. I flew through this book and it didn’t even feel like I was reading at all. The characters quite literally were in my mind the whole time. If you love Red, White, and Royal Blue, I think you are going to love this book too. We’re talking enemies to lovers, only one bed, found family, forced proximity, a hint of angst, and unconditional love (is that a trope? It should be). This book was a Monet painting in words. The flow and artistry of this book are meant to be in a museum right next to a Monet painting. It evokes the same calmness and serenity as a Monet piece. All things considered, that is the highest compliment I could give a book because I love his pieces.

Oh boy I wanted to like this book so much better than I did but it has the dreaded miscommunication trope in spades! I loved the found family aspect and I really enjoyed being back in this cozy corner of Victorian England where these characters have carved out a way to be their queer selves. However, I wanted more emotional development from the characters. They spend almost the entire book not communicating well (James especially, Bobby did his best) and that was really frustrating to read about. By the time they started to make romantic declarations I didn't find them believable because we hadn't seen many positive interactions between them. James also makes a lot of decisions out of fear that I found understandable but difficult to forgive because of how much they hurt other characters. I personally didn't feel the romance but the found family aspect warmed my heart and kept me reading. If miscommunication increases the tension for you this could be your perfect book!