All of the problems that the first book had with pacing and the development of the central romance were amplified here. I didn't buy the relationship between James and Bobby, and actually found the POV of the former character quite grating. The ending stretched far past the limits of my belief suspension (has the author ever met a child before? They would not be able to keep this secret at all!). It takes too long for anything to happen and by the time it does it falls flat because the buildup is so half-baked. I normally can zip through a book of this size and yet it was a chore to get through, actively putting me in a reading slump to boot. In spite the pretty covers, shoddy slowburn and pacing problems will likely keep me from checking out this author's future work.

This book was fun and enjoyable. I personally wasn’t the hugest fan of the plot or the characters, but Alban’s writing still had me very attached to them, cheering at every good moment and feeling sad when things went wrong. I did lose track of all the new side characters in this book, but as a whole the entire cast and community was very sweet and well thought out. While I liked the first book in this duology more, You’re the Problem, It’s You was a fitting, heartfelt end to the series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

I just loved these books so much! The storytelling is so creative and fun. The chemistry/enemies to lovers vibes of these two was unreal. So happy with how this came together and excited to see what Alban writes next.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was adorable!

After reading DWYLABF, I was anxiously awaiting this sequel. The tension had me stressing but it led to a syrupy-sweet romance. I love that everyone got their happy ending. 3.5/5⭐.

You're the Problem, It's You is the perfect followup to complete the duology that began with Don't Want You Like a Best Friend. In You're the Problem, It's You, we get to continue Gwen and Beth's story, but now through the lens of our new love interests, James and Bobby. James has been interested in Bobby from afar, but after meeting him, fears it was a waste of time. Bobby finds James to be insufferable, but is tasked to help James find his place in high society. Not wanting to disappoint Gwen and Beth, he begrudgingly accepts their request, creating a forced proximity enemies-to-lovers setup. The resolution felt a little empty, as everyone was almost too forgiving to past transgressions. Overall, the heart of this story is sweet and accepting almost to a fault, but what is fiction if not the opportunity to rewrite past as a more loving world.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-galley in trade for my honest review.

this was all over the place and not in a fun way. I don't need my historical romances to be history textbooks but I do wish this (like the first one) felt more strongly rooted in a time and place. even ignoring that for the sake of the vibes, I still wasn't into James and Bobby as either individual characters or as a couple tbh. there were both too many plot threads and also somehow nothing happening for so. many. pages.

Did not finish-- the numerous characters are identical and boring and I would rather leave this review than try to force myself to continue reading. Loved the first novel in the series, and I read the epilogue chapter about the lavender marriages (so cute!) but I can't force myself to read past the 20% mark.

I honestly found myself not really caring as much about the couple in this book as I did in the first one. I wasn't as compelled to read their story, just see the little hints of Beth and Gwen's relationship.

Emma R. Alban's 'Don't Want You Like a Best Friend' was one of my top five books last year, and I'm so happy to see Beth and Gwen again, even as supporting characters. And I'm extra happy to see them get a double HEA! 'You're The Problem, It's You' follows Bobby Mason, Gwen's younger cousin (we met him and his older brother, Alibe, in the first book) and the newly anointed Viscount James Demeroven (the one who inherited all of Beth's money in the first book!!!!) as they grapple with their abusive fathers, their sexuality, their true dreams of family, and their blossoming feelings for each other. Alban completely — just absolutely completely — nails the theme of toxic masculinity hurting men almost as much as it hurts women. She also does a brilliant job exploring how queerness would have been so different for men and women in Victorian times. (You know, criminalized, etc. Watch Gentleman Jack for more!) And, best of all, there's so many gloriously teary found family feelings in You're The Problem.

The only real issue I have with this duology is that it's not named: Today Was a Fairytale. And actually, this book, especially, does go way into the deep end of fairy tale endings for the last 15% of the story. I liked it a whole lot, but if you're not into syrupy sweet goodness, you might roll your eyes once or twice. That's okay! More syrup for me!

Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

I loved both books in this series. They both tore at the heart strings and absolutely crushed me at some parts. I wish we could have more books like this with such good endings.

"The enemies-to-lovers queer Victorian romance follow-up to Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, in which a young lord and a second son clash, but find themselves thrust together again and again by their meddling cousins."

As this was a follow up and seemed set up to have direct ties to the first book, I read that first and my goodness both books so sweet and romantic and swoony! Bobby Mason and James Demeroven are seemingly opposites from the stilted conversations, accidental insults, and near shouting matches when they first meet. Despite all that, they keep being drawn together and cannot keep their eyes off of one another. Little does either suspect, their well meaning and slightly devious cousins have matchmaking plans for them all.

I read book 1 and 2 back to back and let me tell you, the romantic angst, the swoony love, the pinning of people to walls, all of it was so good! I did find the second book a bit more heart wrenching because the toxic masculinity is real and that much more potent when a character takes a stand. If you're looking for happy endings and some blush inducing queer romance, Emma R. Alban does a bang up job!

Emma R. Alban delivers with another heartfelt, emotional, and delightful romance. You're the Problem, It's You gives readers a deeply satisfying sequel to Don't Want You Like a Best Friend with characters you fall in love with all over again. An enemies-to-lovers story that offers a candid approach to the struggles one faces when accepting themselves and allowing love into their life against all odds. The found family and unconditional love found within this novel is just as heartwarming as the romance itself. The varied cast of characters and playful hijinks brings a positive and uplifting tone to a subject matter that can often be harrowing. Presenting deeply relatable adversity that many queer people face through their lives, Alban offers a hopeful and meaningful historical romance that shows anyone can have their happily-ever-after.

In nineteenth century Britain, loving who you love and being “found out” would probably ostracize you from family and society but could land you in prison or even get you the death penalty. This is the reality of the newly named James Viscount Demeroven. He’s overwhelmed by his new responsibilities and living under the thumb of his despicable stepfather. Now James is in London for the session of Parliament feeling like a fish out of water and to add to his anxiety, this long ago schoolboy crush second son Bobby Mason seems to be everywhere he goes. Through a tangle of family connections, James and Bobby are thrown together with their relations…Bobby’s older brother Albert and his wife, their Aunt and Uncle and cousins Beth and Lady Gwen. James and Bobby seem to be complete opposites but underneath they are caring, empathetic young men who want to belong to a family and live in a loving relationship. Beth and Gwen love each other and, under the “protection” of their parents/aunt and uncle will never be forced into sham marriages. Is this something that James and Bobby can achieve if they can get over their anger and fear to see that they belong together? A great story about making your own family and finding love, security and acceptance.

A wonderful follow-up to the first book in the series. Thoughtful, funny, and an absolute hoot to read.

A regency era queer romance. Not-quite-enemies to lovers. Jame and Bobby and their family were all a delight. Probably should have come with some trigger warnings around how homosexuality was treated in the era and that it is portrayed realistic to the era. Ultimately, this is a true romance with a HEA, yet I can see folks coming to this wanting a more modern take on the relationship.

I think I liked "You're the Problem, It's You" even more than "Don't Want You LIke a Best Friend"!! It was fun, campy, and perfectly cozy queer historical fiction!

While overall this book was fine, it took me longer than I expected to actually get into it. A lot of the beginning had to do with events that happened in the previous book and while typically explanations of previous events are appreciated, they just made this book confusing. It may have been due to the nature of naming conventions of the time period, but I almost needed to draw a relationship map to keep the names straight. The book picked up about a third of the way through and I enjoyed it for the most part, but the whole storyline with Raverson felt a bit clunky. I know he was the main antagonist of the book and the ending was satisfying, but it didn't really flow throughout the book.

The dual POVs really helped the story progress. It's always tough not really liking the main characters from the beginning but having both perspectives helped to build an understanding and appreciation for both characters and why they made some of the decisions that they did.

I quite enjoyed the first book in this series (duology??), which sets up this sequel at the end. This was not as much of a hit for me, which is disappointing, but there’s still much to like.

The good - Gwen and Beth are back and great supporting characters in this one. Same for Albie and Meredith. It’s a little long but it is a quick read.

My biggest issue is that Bobby and James have almost nothing but miscommunications for the first half of the book. Then, when they do give in to their attraction, they’re almost immediately torn apart again, but a third act break up that should have been so easily avoided!

I also thought the conflict with Raverson was a bit too mustache-twirly. He’s so obviously a villain it was hard to care much about that aspect. And by the end I felt like it was so convenient the way everything came together that I was beyond annoyed.

I think it’s a nice closing to this sweet series, but definitely reads more YA than I was hoping (especially considering the spice!)

3 stars for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

We catch up with the characters from Don't Want You Like a Best Friend while also falling in love with two new characters Bobby and James. They are two young men that were acquainted with each other from their time in school that are trying to find their way in the world. The dangers of being in a relationship with each other during that time period, misunderstandings and their individual emotional turmoil makes for a rather moving story of two people that are connecting despite the circumstances that they find themselves in. Sweet, emotional, and moving in equal parts it's a truly engaging read that kept me turning the pages.

I love the cover! First time by this author and i will read more.

I am not a big fan of spice but it really was not too bad. Some of the book seem to drag and some of the characters felt like they were not developed throughout the book.

This book was not good not bad as i did enjoy it.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.