Regency but make it queer
A fun romance that is book two in a queer regency romcom series. Some really beautiful moments are portrayed and it's so well written. A fun and sweet read.

You're the Problem, It's You, was overall a very fun romance, with a couple of strong side plots, and it was lovely to return to Beth and Gwen's story after I'd enjoyed their book so much.

I will say that I wasn't sure about the book for the first hundred or so pages. It felt quite slow and like it was just going over the same thing (I.e, 'oh no, Bobby/James is so annoying, but kind of hot though... but no, I hate him). I also found it quite hard to keep track of all the names as there were so many characters mentioned and it had been a while since I read the first book.

However, the story definitely redeemed itself when the romance properly got going. I thought that both main characters' motivations were really great and highlighted both why they didn't work well together to begin with and later on why they really, really did.

The ending was so lovely, such a gorgeous conclusion for both couples, and even though you could predict that it was coming from very early on in the story, it was no less impactful.

Overall, a fun, easy read when it gets going, with a great romance, very sweet and cosy ending, and I'm still very excited to read whatever this author does next.

This queer historical romance had its moments but ultimately fell a little flat for me.

I did still enjoy spending time with these characters - both our main characters, James and Bobby, and the side characters from the first book.

However, I had two main issues. Firstly, I did not enjoy Bobby and James' romance all that much. In particular, the 'enemies' bit at the start felt really forced - they weren't enemies or even rivals really, just two people who kept failing to get through a polite conversation. They did grow on me once they were together but then there was the third act break-up, which also felt a little contrived.

My second issue was that even though both books in this series have had a vibes rather than accuracy approach to history, it felt a lot more noticeable here. Though this is possibly because I was less invested in the romance so I was noticing it more.

Overall though, I still think anyone who enjoyed the first book might also enjoy this one, but it didn't quite hit the same mark for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for sending me this book. All thoughts are my own!

This was fun, charming, and well-written! Bobby and James were just so so easy to root for. I think there was a really nice balance here between acknowledging both of their insecurities and anxieties and giving them a hopeful and happy ending. It was quite rewarding seeing them find love and the family they both wanted but never really thought was a possibility.

I didn’t read the first book in the duology before this and I wouldn’t say that it hindered my enjoyment at all! I still found all the characters likeable and interesting, although often the background characters did sort of blend into each other at times. You won’t need to read the first one to understand this one (which I always appreciate) but I’d maybe recommend just because you get more time with the characters. I would definitely pick up another book by Emma R. Alban!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emma R. Alban, and Penguin General for a galley of this in exchange for an honest review.

You're the Problem, it's You was a truly delightful read. A book as likely to make you laugh as it is to make you cry, filled with complex and beautifully penned relationships, and fraught with intrigue. This pulls you in from the first page, and the dual POV is the perfect way to fully enmesh the reader in this intense and lovely enemies-to-friend-to-lovers relationship.

I loved all of the characters in this book I was meant to, and despised all the characters I was meant to as well. Alban has a real talent for building groups and families, showing us each person, and letting us learn how the fit in. From start to finish this was a wonderfully conceived and executed story that touched on a number of very important topics, but never lost its quiet optimism.

I have not read the first book in this series, and whilst I do think I may have lost some context, I found by the end that I understood the dynamics at play. I loved the ending of this book, how it all came together, how everyone landed. Just overall a really gorgeous story.

I loved the first in this series, but I had a super difficult time getting into this one. I ended up DNF-ing this one pretty early on, but still giving four stars because I love the concepts and the author. I also really want more sapphic or WLW books in this series, so I'm definitely going to be continuing to support Emma Alban.

If you enjoyed Bridgerton but thought to yourself "this could be gayer" then this is the book for you!

This is a queer regency-era romance with plenty of fun, mishaps and spice and I couldn't put it down. As well as dealing with relationships, it also touches on wider issues like LGBTQ+ acceptance, the security of unmarried women during the time, the rights of adoptive children and more, so it creates a really rich world while also including plenty of kissing.

I really appreciated the journey that James went through. It was well done and very believable, with the dual POVs helping to really show the difference in how he felt and how he presented. While Bobby's growth is a bit subtler, the end really highlighted it.

While this is a sequel, I read it as a standalone and found that was absolutely fine, as the book catches you up on the important points you need to know. While I now know how the first book ended, I'll still happily read it as I want to get to know the characters even more.

I came into this having not read the first one and now will likely have to look that one up. Gwen and Beth are adorable. I believe reading then in order would've better helped me keep the who-is-related-to-whom better organized in my head but overall whilst it took me far too long to finish, i did enjoy the journey.

The relationship between the two main characters is a little frustrating, although I did enjoy their banter. Also the delve into the gay underground in a time when to be such was a crime punishable by death. The resolution at the end was satisfying - although a fairly obvious solution from the offset (proven when I realized the true masterminds behind the scheme had schemed similarly before). The conflict with the dastardly lord trying to profit from their indiscretions, was resolved perhaps too simply - but it was always going to be problematic for him, since any of his revelations was likely to involve him throwing himself in front of the carriage. It would have, perhaps, worked a little better if he had been of higher standing but since no one seemed to like him much, even if he had gone to the law, I do not feel he would have been given much regard, as most of his evidence was circumstantial (or indeed involved him admitting to homosexual relationships himself). Overall, I think the most satisfying seen in the story was when James stood up to his stepfather.

My favorite though, were the two women, and I feel I would have rather enjoyed More Than a Best Friend more so than this book. Sapphic love for the win <3

I would like to thank netgalley and Penguin General for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful follow up. I love the characters and the world.

This book is sweet, tense, funny, and hot, everything a good romance should be.

I found James intensely relatable and so easy to feel for. The backstory about these two characters is also adorable - a teenage crush that turns into something potentially real years later? God, I love it. Even when they hate each other, these two have amazing chemistry. I also became fully invested in the various side characters; this really feels like a little world where everyone has their own life and their own stories going on, and I truly hope this isn't the last book in the series.

I loved this so much. I hadn't even read the first one before I got my hands on this, but I immediately went to look for it after finishing this book.

Thank you for existing, Emma R. Alban, and thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise sounded initially intriguing and the cover is beautiful, so I was fairly excited going into this book, however, there were few things that led me to DNF-ing this book at the 55%.

I know that the historical setting and somewhat more modern language are staple of historical romance, but the huge amount of modern phrases that were included in the first half were very distracting and it took me a while to get into the story because of it, especially because it still meshed with other historical phrases such as "water closet" - it felt like the author wasn't sure what they wanted their narrative voice to sound like.

The lack of real plot was also hard to keep me engaged - if we call the blackmailing subplot the main plot, this only kicks in in about 30% of the book, which felt like way too late.

I had difficulties warming up to James' character as well - I didn't like his hot & cold personality and I thought his treatment of Bobby very unfair and hypocritical. He could have prevented the whole conflict if he warned Bobby, which he also acknowledged in his thoughts, but his unapologetic attitude was very off-putting for me - he is probably the main reason why I had to stop reading, I just didn't care to see these two get together when I wasn't really rooting for James.

However, I recognize this is only my opinion, and I tend to be a bit picky with my romantic leads - if I don't like one of them, it's game over for me. Many other readers may read this and enjoy it a lot more, I think it was just not the book for me, sadly.

Alban's first book in this duology was one of my favourite books I've read this year and I've been really excited to read the follow up, so I was super excited to be granted early access via Netgalley.

Although the majority of what I read comes under the 'queer' spectrum in some way, I am (at the core) a lover of sapphic books, especially historical sapphic books, so I knew going into this book was going to have a lot to beat, as DWYAABF was sapphic and historical!

I really enjoy the 'found family' aspect that the author created for her characters. And I loved that there was more Beth and Gwen!

Although a little slower in gripping me into the story (again, that could be because it was less sapphic) I still really enjoyed getting back into these characters and seeing how Bobby and James got their HEA! :)

Steamy animosity and rumbunctious families make for an entertaining historical romance read.

Let the cover draw you in, you'll love everyone of the colourful characters that populate this book!

The slow start to the story builds up deliciously along with the tension, and don't let the fact you haven't read the first installment in the series stop you (but I might encourage you to pick it up after since it's what I'll be doing soon).

I really enjoyed this one, gave me some great regency bridgerton vibes after recently finishing the Netflix show. The banter between characters is great and I really enjoyed reading this relationship, I am going to be checking out the authors other work now!

Thank you so much!

I wanted so badly to like this book, because I had heard nothing but good things about this author’s first book. Overall, it wasn’t necessarily a “bad book”, there were just several moments in the book that seemed to drag on unnecessarily. I found myself having to physically push myself to get through it, because of how badly I wanted to finish it.

I loved the characters and the dynamics between. I adored the ending most especially, seeing the characters happy and content in a situation they created to make life easier for them was truly the best way to end it, especially considering the time period it’s set in.

So, it was both sides good and (a little) disappointing. The pacing was really the only thing I would comment negatively on, but apart from that it was quite good.

I made the mistake of reading this without checking if it was part of a series and I only realised afterwards and yet it read perfectly fine without knowing what happened in book 1. So a nice standalone!

I'm conflicted on this one. On one hand, I absolutely adored Bobby and I was rooting for his happiness from the very beginning. I just wish his LI hadn't been possibly one of the most unpleasant characters I've ever come across. I love an anti-hero but the problem here is that I don't think James was supposed to come across as horrid as he did. Or maybe I just expect more from my men because yikes.

By about 30% in, I noted that this book is very much for the Pride and Prejudice lovers...which I am. But it didn't melt my heart like I expected it to. I think the difference here is that in 2024, a Mr Darcy coded character needs to be written with more care. Our girly Austen didn't know better but we do!

I enjoy a book with historically accurate language as much as the next person but I'm not so pedantic that some inaccuracies or creative license will bother me - if it's done well. I found myself getting annoyed every time modern-speak cropped up in this book because it simply didn't fit and it didn't seem like any attempt had even been made to make it fit.

I'm a soppy bish so romance will always get me, especially when it's such intense queer love. Even with the speed bumps I came up against, I really enjoyed this read and once we got past the 'enemies' stage (a trope I detest), I was all in. Bobby stole my whole heart, truly *chefs kiss* for this little himbo. And then I was hit by the realisation that I wanted to subsume Bobby and his brother's relationship into my very soul. TEars. I cried out of happiness and it was disgusting.

I'm so here for books that uplift queer love, revere queer love, praise queer love. No more ridiculously traumatic fiction please. We get it, some authors want to write intensely true to life but it's fiction and the gays have had enough trauma so please get off your high horse and give us more of this joy! That's not to say there wasn't suffering, stressing and silliness - but it wasn't gratuitous.

Saying that, the way the author wrote pregnancy in this time was SO refreshing. Some honesty for something that usually gets glossed over in fiction, especially the horrors of being pregnant in the past. Hypocritical of me yes (see above) but IDCCCCCCCC, bite me. If we have to replace the horrors of being queer with the horrors of being a mother-to-be then so be it.

The main stone in my shoe was the antagonist. Initially, not so bad, if annoying. However, as the story progressed, he became the kind of mess you see in cartoons. At some point, I expected him to twiddle his facial hair. It was too excessive and I just wanted him to GO AWAY.

I have SO many highlights in my kindle of the kind of prose that makes me die a little because it's so sweet and piercing - as this was an ARC I won't share them but I might do so after it's published because *gah*. Even James, as much as I struggled to like him, said some shit that hit me hard. Personally, the straights could never.

That ending got me right in the feels because wtf, THAT'S one of my favourite tropes. All in all, I was dragged through several emotions throughout this read, including some truly buggy-eye moments. One of my notes literally says: "LOL did he just call him a slut?"
Another says: "Too many bodily FLUIDS in this book!"
My favourite is: "FuCK offfffffff eurgh my heart."

There was a lot of confusion (for me) around alllllll the names and titles being bandied about and without this, I'd probably give it a 4. Maybe someone with a more comprehensive grip on this kind of thing wouldn't find it a problem. I hope so! I'd really say this is more of a 3.5 for me; the vibes got exponentially better as our boys grew. Plus, this cover? YES

Thank you to NetGalley and Emma R. Alban for the eArc!

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC!

I made the mistake of reading this without reading the first, assuming they were more stand-alones like it's comparable, Bridgerton. I do feel like I missed out on a lot of context, but again this is my fault for assuming!

This really put the slow into slow burn, which I am usually a huge fan of, but I wish there had been more tension and flirting in the first half. The miscommunication and enemies to lovers tropes are so strong that for a while they genuinely don't like each other. The dual POVs were needed for this, to see both their thought processes and true emotions. At least there's still the happy, fluffy ending we all need.

This is, essentially, YA queer Bridgerton for Gen Z. Someone out there will love it, for sure. But for now...

3/5

This was a very sweet queer historical romance which Bridgerton girlies are sure to enjoy immensely. With that being said, I did find the constant miscommunication frustrating at times and I found the pacing of the first half of the book a little slow. I did however enjoy both found family aspect and the chemistry between Bobby and James. The sex scenes were incredibly well written, as were the sweet tender moments and the witty dialogue.

After reading the first book in this series I was overcome with the need to read more Victorian queer love stories. Much to my own excitement, when I found out there was a second novel I couldn’t wait till release day! I was straight onto my computer to see if I could obtain an ARC. Low and behold, I was swiftly granted with a copy and began reading one of my now favourite love stories.

The characters were easily loveable, with Gwen, Beth, and their respective families all involved, I felt transported back to a place I already knew. Raverson brought out all the bad emotions in me and I found him highly deplorable - due to his own faults. He depicts a homosexual male who seems that he cannot accept himself and so must try his hardest to ruin the lives of those who can (even if they live in secrecy). But without him I wouldn’t have got to read the one of my favourite scenes towards the end, where we get to witness one of the best downfalls.

This book was so wholesome and an absolute pleasure to read. I am insanely grateful for the ARC and the opportunity to read this masterpiece!!!!

This has been a fun series so far, but I wasn't a huge fan of the miscommunication trope being so central to the story as it really stilted the pace and felt quite repetitive.

Whilst I was happy to see characters returning, the main characters weren't as strongly written as the characters in the first book, and were a little underwhelming in comparison. It didnt feel like there was much chemistry, and when there was, it was brief, especially since they were supposed to be rivals. However, there were a lot of very sweet and thought provoking conversations between characters that really uplifted the story.

As with my issue in the first book, it didn't feel like the book stayed in the era it was set, and would occasionally feel very modern, but was better handled and less noticeable than it was in the first book.