I loved this book! A gay Bridgerton romance with a fun historical setting and a good cast of characters. Book one was a little more my style romance wise but I still loved Bobby and James characters and growth. The insta love and communication knocked it down a star for me but Alban’s writing kept me going. Found family, friendships and Regebcy era await all readers!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.

The first book in this series was Don't Want You Like a Best Friend, and was featured in the Queer Joy Book Club as our August book. I absolutely adored the first book and the second was just icing on top of the cake.

All the beloved characters of book one make an appearance, some more than others. Instead of Cordelia being the overall "parent" of the book, the second one features more of Dashel. Although I did miss hearing all of what was going on with Gwen and Beth, they were still present to create chaos.

Bobby is such a precious golden retriever character, I love him. James is a traumatized, anxiety ridden, broken man and his character arc is so beautifully written.

I adore the way Emma tells historical romance, I think she maintains elements of the time period (some of the best use of 1850s hoops I've read) but also makes it fun and injects a bit of moderness to it.

If you are a die-hard historical reader you might have some trouble with this. However if you don't mind some silliness and a lot of queer found family, you will love this series.

If you like historical romances with queer characters, then this book will be a lovely addition to your TBR!

I enjoyed the characters (although for the constant miscommunication, not so much). The constant tension made for some swoony and spicy scenes and I found that I really enjoyed all of the side characters as well. It did take a while for the story to get going as it does start slow, but the chaos among the Mason family was delightful and I loved how they all worked together to protect their own. There were quite a few historical inaccuracies throughout the book, but since I was reading for the romance, they didn't bother me much. I can see how fans of the genre might would have found them more profound and appreciated a more historically accurate approach. I did think that Beth and Gwen had a lot more chemistry than Bobby and James, but I still enjoyed both couples and their shenanigans.

Overall, this was a fun queer read with lots of tension and spice perfect for any romance reader!

Bobby Mason, the second born of his family, hungry to contribute to society in a meaningful way can't stand the new Viscount Demeroven, James. Turns out the feeling is mutual, despite James' initial crush on Bobby. He thinks Mason is brash and reckless, which can only lead to problems for James. They can barely get through a single conversation without tensions boiling over. Neither Bobby nor James has ever met a more intriguing, infuriating, infatuating man. They hope to avoid each other at all costs......until they find themselves blackmailed by a peer. Now they have no choice but to work together to eliminate the threat to their positions and lifestyles.

I loved this. I don't have much else to say other than I loved it. The characters are complex, layered, vulnerable, and sickeningly well-matched. Our side characters are fun and entertaining, as well. The sense of community in the story is heart-warming and uplifting. The plot is well-paced. The conflicts are realistic enough. I can't recommend this enough for fans of period dramas and romances.

I will start this review by saying that if you like or don’t mind the miscommunication trope you’ll probably love this book!

Alas, I am one of the miscommunication trope’s biggest haters. I made it to the 30% mark before I concluded that this book was just not for me.

Bobby and James were honestly too irritating to get behind. Neither of them could stand being in the same room without fighting which usually led to Bobby to just running away. I don’t see how this could lead to a believable romantic relationship so I just threw in the towel.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the e-ARC

3.5! I loved the premise of this book, an lgbt Bridgerton love story! The book is a slow start, it took me a long time to get immersed and lost in the story. I didn't realize it was more of a direct sequel to the first book rather than a collection of different couples. So, because I didn't read the first book, I cost myself some of the enjoyment I could have gotten from the baseline knowledge I would have already had from the first book about that main couple and their struggles. Saying that however, you don't need to read the first book, but I recommend it as it does make for an easier reading experience. The misunderstandings between Bobby and James are aggravating in the beginning, and you begin to doubt if they're right for each other. But once they interact more and more it becomes easier to see how they fit with one another! I thought the ending was good, it could have felt stronger had I felt a strong connection to the first book's couple (which is on me). But overall a good solid read, especially if you're a fan of Bridgerton!

E-ARC generously provided by Avon in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a very solid M/M London Society novel!

I started out not sure how I would like it because I couldn't get behind James and what his attitude was and why. As I kept reading, the whole cast exploded in fun ways and the story unraveled so nicely. The epilogue did everything I needed it to!

This delightful novel set in Victorian times is a classic opposites attract/enemies-to-lovers romance. Second son Bobby Mason takes his responsibilities seriously and has his own issues to deal with, but on the surface, he appears as a handsome man with his proverbial shit together to a newly made Viscount, James Demeroven, who admired Mason from afar during their overlapping time at Oxford. As a favor, Mason’s uncle asks him to take Demeroven under his wing. He is less than enthused, but each comes to understand the other is queer and they share a common enemy, the bullying Raverson.

Drawn into a quartet with their queer cousins Beth and Gwen, who have managed to find a safe way to love and live as a couple under society’s radar, Mason and Demeroven become Bobby and James to one another, weaving together a chosen family against common enemies of (some) family that doesn’t understand, a society that will jail them or worse, and a jerk out to expose and ruin them. The historical elements don’t shy away from the loneliness or difficulties of hiding your true self to survive. I did find this slow to get through, and not sure if it’s partly because I hadn’t read the first book in the series, which focuses on Gwen and Beth, though it did seem like the author did enough to allude to the previous book without completely rehashing it, which is a real skill.

I received a free advance reader's review copy of #YoureTheProblemItsYou via #NetGalley courtesy of #HarperCollins.

The first book in this series has been on my TBR list for awhile, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I was still able to enjoy this book without it though and am still planning to check it out eventually.

This book didn't turn me off the idea of reading its companion, but it didn't bump it to the top of my list either. Which pretty much tracks with how I felt about this book. I liked it, but I didn't love it. The time period and setting were fun. I liked the characters for the most part. The main relationship was pretty cute, but it was a fast burn and had some annoying misunderstandings. It was a mostly sweet story though and I am looking forward to (eventually) reading the girls' side.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Bobby Mason and James Demeroven are a combustible pair. Their fiery personalities clash like flint and steel, creating a captivating dynamic that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

The author does a fantastic job of portraying the characters' contrasting backgrounds and personalities. Bobby, the ambitious and outspoken outsider, is a stark contrast to the reserved and cautious James. Their interactions are filled with tension, humor, and a simmering attraction that is undeniable.

The plot is well-paced and full of twists and turns. The introduction of an extortionist adds a layer of intrigue and suspense, forcing Bobby and James to reluctantly work together. The author expertly explores themes of class, family, and the complexities of relationships, making the story both thought-provoking and entertaining.

Overall, this is a highly recommended read for fans of historical romance. The characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the writing is captivating. It's a story that will leave you wanting more.

Heat Factor: I wasn’t getting a significant amount by the time I threw in the towel

Character Chemistry: It’s reading like “we got off on the wrong foot but we’d prefer to get off, period” is the vibe here

Plot: I DNF’d for non-plot related reasons, but from what I gathered we’re looking at two young lords who don’t feel like they fit in anywhere else but together. Only they didn’t know it yet when I stopped.

Overall: It’s very possible I’ll try harder to finish this but as of now I’m calling it at 20%.

…and this is why: the writing style is very slippery and hard for my brain to hold on to, and while I tried for literally a month to get it done, eventually I realized I am not built for catching this particular kind of literary trout and I gave up.

I can point out that the title and the cover were intriguing, and of course anytime I see queer historical I’m going to want to give it a shot. The characters, Bobby and James, were both kind of dismal for the first bit but in an understandable and relevant way. (I assume that the author sheds them of their dismal auras as the plot thickens, but I couldn’t get that far.)

Obviously many books are written in 3rd person present and it’s not a problem, but this one very much was for me. I sat with why, and luckily the next book in my queue was ALSO 3rd person present and I realized that the pace of the sentences was very repetitive—it was kind of the same feeling as riding in a car and going over evenly spaced highway bumps…you’re going to nod off. Maybe literally. I will also say that a lot of the material was reiterated in multiple ways over the course of each character’s chapter, so between the repeated content and the pace, I couldn’t retain anything I was reading whatsoever. I had to look up the character’s names to write the review, and it was almost brand new information.

Another factor that took me out of the book was that the dialogue was more contemporary than I expected. I had to re-check the year based on one of the “new laws” mentioned in the storyline. I don’t actually care normally if authors are relaxed about these things—it can be a really fun way to tweak norms and conventions, honestly. But in this case, because I was already struggling to focus, I ended up being totally yanked out of the narrative and I couldn’t get back in. And I really did want to get through it! I did. Some books just aren’t meant to enter my consciousness, I guess. Best of luck to those who would like to give it a go, though!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

As someone who loved this authors debut, I found this book to be just as delightful. The enemies to lovers dynamic worked so well for them and I found Bobby and James to be very likable and even funny. The tension between these two was undeniably present and you were just waiting for these two to let go and get together. If you love the Bridgerton vibes, but make it more queer, I definitely recommend these books. Overall a wonderful read I’ll continue to recommend.

I really loved this sweet, moving queer romance. I do think this was marketed differently from what I expected—this is not really a lighthearted enemies to lovers. It’s a book about queer chosen family and loneliness and finding self worth in the face of abuse. It’s very good, but make sure to tailor your expectations!

You’re the Problem, It’s You by Emma R. Alban (Book 2)

oh my gosh, I was so excited to read the second book in this cute queer series and it did not disappoint! Not only are the titles adorable TS songs, but the characters were so well written and I loved seeing the queering of the regency novel and all the fun romance tropes that played out.

I really loved the (while very predictable) lavender marriage concept that played out in this book, and the way that the author brought in the very real fears associated with being a gay man in a time that there was a very real threat of being jailed and losing everything simply for being a man in love with another man, in a way that queer women were not as openly threatened. And it was sad but refreshing to explore real fear and trauma that James is experiencing having grown up without a supportive family and due to his previous experiences.

I did feel that the threat of Raverson felt a bit contrived and forced by the end, as though it wasn’t really ever much of a threat at all and I was glad for the move from reality that a family would be so openly welcoming of queer love, but the overall challenges weren’t so dire or high stakes and we were led to believe. And overall, I can’t complain because we got our HEA in such a lovely way.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

After loving Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend earlier this summer I was overjoyed to get the arc of this one and it did not disappoint. Since watching Bridgerton I have been loving regency romances and I love that this one puts a queer spin on it. While this one isn’t very historically accurate, let’s be honest I’m not reading these for historical accuracy. This story follows a young lord and a second son who can’t stand each other and their meddling cousins who keep trying to force them together!

The beginning of the book is a little slow but once I got into it I did not want to put it down. I loved seeing Gwen and Beth again and seeing how they were meddling with James and Bobby. These books have such fun side characters!

There is a major plot involving black mail but I thought it fit well with the story and added to the plot!

This was such a great follow up to the first book and I can’t wait to see what Alban does in the future!

If you enjoy queer or historical romances this one is definitely worth picking up! This was a 4.5 out of 5 for me, rounded up to 5.

I think Emma R. Alban books are going to be auto-reads for me. I really enjoy her writing, and so far both books in the series have brought me a lot of joy.

In You're the Problem, It's You, Bobby and James are two former schoolmates who currently can't stand each other. Bobby thinks James has a stick up his butt, and James thinks Bobby is a little too reckless with his escapades. Through a series of unfortunate events, both men get blackmailed by a former a mutual former paramour and must work together to fix it. I could go through all the other details, because there are lots, but the gist is this: it is not easy being queer in old England.

If you read the first book in this series, you may have an inkling of where the story might go. I liked the ending and how it worked out. I felt like it was a good ending based off the times, and it made me happy for everyone involved.

You should check out this series if you like found family, accepting parents, and queer joy.

Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This was just so cute. After the first in the series I was excited to see this one once it came out. It had a lot of fun moments and I love a good enemies to lovers. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested.
4.25/5

Fun and frothy, with appropriate amounts of drama and regency nonsense. Made for perfect reading during a heat wave.

After catching sight of that cover (A+ on that), I *had* to check out this book. It was the perfect post-Bridgerton read and great for readers who love the enemies-to-lovers trope. The romance was believable, and the story easy to follow for people like me who haven't read the first book. (I enjoyed this one enough to pick up #1 one.)

Enemies to lovers is my favorite and having it in Victorian England, yes, please! The tension and forced proximity in this book keeps you wrapped up!