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Mischief & Matchmaking #2
You're the Problem, It's You
There’s a fine line between love and hate.
Bobby Mason is sick of being second best: born the spare with the personality of the heir.
James Demeroven, is a Viscount who wishes he wasn’t one. His title brings far too much attention.
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.
If only they could avoid each other entirely.
But when an extortionist starts targeting their families, Bobby and James must find a way to work together, without pushing each other’s buttons (or tearing them off) in the process. . .
Bobby Mason is sick of being second best: born the spare with the personality of the heir.
James Demeroven, is a Viscount who wishes he wasn’t one. His title brings far too much attention.
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.
If only they could avoid each other entirely.
But when an extortionist starts targeting their families, Bobby and James must find a way to work together, without pushing each other’s buttons (or tearing them off) in the process. . .
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2024
441 people are currently reading
17006 people want to read
About the author
Emma R. Alban
5 books741 followersRaised in the Hudson Valley, Emma now lives in Los Angeles, enjoying the eternal sunshine, ocean, and mountains. When she isn't writing books or screenplays, she can usually be found stress baking with the AC on full blast, skiing late into the spring, singing showtunes at the top of her lungs on the freeway, and reading anywhere there’s somewhere to lean.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,313 reviews
August 16, 2024
3.75 Stars!
A big crime for a cover to be this beautiful.
A big crime for a cover to be this beautiful.
August 15, 2024
Tin-eared, historically inaccurate, unreadable.
"James nods and looks back down at his plate, the crumbs of his scone too closely resembling the shambles of his life." Bathos always bodes ill. (And if the line was meant to be funny, that also bodes ill.)
"In and among the greenery, everywhere he looks, there’s a nice young lady sitting artfully on a bench, or daintily splayed on a picnic blanket ..."
A young (Victorian! I checked the ad copy repeatedly; the setting is supposed to be 19th-century England) lady daintily. splayed. on a picnic blanket. Even nowadays, it would be a challenge to splay oneself daintily.
"... it's a shame Aunt Cordelia is so heavy with child and won't be attending most of these events. She's a right laugh."
Yes, that's definitely how a member of the Victorian upper classes would have characterized a witty person.
" ... Gwen, who's practically doing calisthenics to warm up."
Female member of the Victorian upper classes. At a garden party. Practically doing calisthenics. I ... don't think so?
"He needs to really suss the man out first."
Google Ngram viewer records no published instance of "suss out" before the 1940s. Granted, the usage may have been in oral use before then, but it doesn't appear in Passing English of the Victorian Era, so.
A viscount is addressed as "Viscount." All you have to do is Google to discover that the proper form is "My lord" or "Your lordship." (I'm not sure the commoner in this exchange would be the one to offer a handshake, by the way, but let it pass.)
"Let's go out, get some air, yeah?" Again, upper-class Victorian person, yeah?
I've read any number of fanfics whose authors are more attentive to historical and social accuracy, and let it be noted that fanfic writers aren't getting paid for their work.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.
"James nods and looks back down at his plate, the crumbs of his scone too closely resembling the shambles of his life." Bathos always bodes ill. (And if the line was meant to be funny, that also bodes ill.)
"In and among the greenery, everywhere he looks, there’s a nice young lady sitting artfully on a bench, or daintily splayed on a picnic blanket ..."
A young (Victorian! I checked the ad copy repeatedly; the setting is supposed to be 19th-century England) lady daintily. splayed. on a picnic blanket. Even nowadays, it would be a challenge to splay oneself daintily.
"... it's a shame Aunt Cordelia is so heavy with child and won't be attending most of these events. She's a right laugh."
Yes, that's definitely how a member of the Victorian upper classes would have characterized a witty person.
" ... Gwen, who's practically doing calisthenics to warm up."
Female member of the Victorian upper classes. At a garden party. Practically doing calisthenics. I ... don't think so?
"He needs to really suss the man out first."
Google Ngram viewer records no published instance of "suss out" before the 1940s. Granted, the usage may have been in oral use before then, but it doesn't appear in Passing English of the Victorian Era, so.
A viscount is addressed as "Viscount." All you have to do is Google to discover that the proper form is "My lord" or "Your lordship." (I'm not sure the commoner in this exchange would be the one to offer a handshake, by the way, but let it pass.)
"Let's go out, get some air, yeah?" Again, upper-class Victorian person, yeah?
I've read any number of fanfics whose authors are more attentive to historical and social accuracy, and let it be noted that fanfic writers aren't getting paid for their work.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.
February 22, 2025
Reread for Book Club: loved it just as much as the first time!
E-ARC generously provided by Avon in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
Compelling, frothy, and containing a Bridgerton-esque queer romance that’s impossible to not root for, You’re the Problem, It’s You is an excellent bookend to this delightful duology inspired by the music of Taylor Swift.
E-ARC generously provided by Avon in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
Compelling, frothy, and containing a Bridgerton-esque queer romance that’s impossible to not root for, You’re the Problem, It’s You is an excellent bookend to this delightful duology inspired by the music of Taylor Swift.
November 9, 2024
The second book in a queer historical romance duology, You’re the Problem, It’s You, follows a new couple while continuing the stories of the characters from the first book. This time, the focus is on a gay couple whose relationship begins as a heated rivalry. Although I enjoyed the premise, I struggled with the pacing of the romance. The shift from enemies to lovers felt abrupt, with the characters going from intense animosity to being in love without much of a transition. It would have felt more believable if their emotional connection had developed gradually, allowing time to address the ways they’d hurt each other rather than falling into deep, emotionally vulnerable love fast enough to cause whiplash.
Still, the characters were compelling, and I loved seeing Gwen and Beth again! The secondary characters added charm, and the story retained (most of the) the cozy, queer-positive atmosphere I enjoyed in the first book (with the exception of a single character acting out on his internalized homophobia). Overall, this was a cute follow-up, and I look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the influencer copy of this audiobook. I highly recommend checking out Libro.fm if you haven't yet!
Trigger/Content Warnings: verbal abuse, blackmail, alcoholism, internalized homophobia
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Still, the characters were compelling, and I loved seeing Gwen and Beth again! The secondary characters added charm, and the story retained (most of the) the cozy, queer-positive atmosphere I enjoyed in the first book (with the exception of a single character acting out on his internalized homophobia). Overall, this was a cute follow-up, and I look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the influencer copy of this audiobook. I highly recommend checking out Libro.fm if you haven't yet!
Trigger/Content Warnings: verbal abuse, blackmail, alcoholism, internalized homophobia
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
March 13, 2024
more lavender marriages in books!! more groups of silly little queer people finding their family!!! i really enjoyed this
Want to read
December 22, 2023Queer Historical Fiction and Taylor Swift?
I'm ready for it!
I'm ready for it!
June 22, 2024
So many angry kisses. Like half of their scenes were just them yelling at each other followed by them angry humping and truly, I APPROVE.
There was some miscommunication at the beginning—but don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it because *drama* reasons. (James has been pining for Bobby for YEARS but is extremely awkward about it, so interactions go…poorly.) But once that was ~resolved, the book really moved along well.
It was a bit instalove because they were confessing all of these deep feelings, and I just wasn’t quite sure if what we were shown on page supported the some of their declarations. Like I fully believe they’d grow into those feelings, but I needed them to work it out a bit more in their internal monologues on page.
It had me in the first half since I’m not a fan of blackmail, but barring a couple unsavory scenes with the villain, it wasn’t a huge deal in terms of the plot. The second half was entirely enjoyable though, and I LOVED the ending. I was actually just thinking about how I haven’t read that type of ending recently (or ever). Also the epilogue????? I won’t spoil it but !!!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️/5
I received an ALC from Avon. All opinions are honest and my own.
There was some miscommunication at the beginning—but don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it because *drama* reasons. (James has been pining for Bobby for YEARS but is extremely awkward about it, so interactions go…poorly.) But once that was ~resolved, the book really moved along well.
It was a bit instalove because they were confessing all of these deep feelings, and I just wasn’t quite sure if what we were shown on page supported the some of their declarations. Like I fully believe they’d grow into those feelings, but I needed them to work it out a bit more in their internal monologues on page.
It had me in the first half since I’m not a fan of blackmail, but barring a couple unsavory scenes with the villain, it wasn’t a huge deal in terms of the plot. The second half was entirely enjoyable though, and I LOVED the ending. I was actually just thinking about how I haven’t read that type of ending recently (or ever). Also the epilogue????? I won’t spoil it but !!!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️/5
I received an ALC from Avon. All opinions are honest and my own.
dnf
May 31, 2024Disclaimer: There is a higher-than-normal chance that I will return to any of the books I DNF in the next month because I am truly in the worst reading mood right now.
That being said... DNF at 10%
Painful miscommunication mislabeled as enemies-to-lovers strikes again. The repetitive writing is what really drove me to DNFing this one. The same facts would be repeated over and over again in almost the exact same phrasing. Please trust readers to remember something that was mentioned 5 pages ago.
That being said... DNF at 10%
Painful miscommunication mislabeled as enemies-to-lovers strikes again. The repetitive writing is what really drove me to DNFing this one. The same facts would be repeated over and over again in almost the exact same phrasing. Please trust readers to remember something that was mentioned 5 pages ago.
August 16, 2024
Although I thought this book was good overall, I found the beginning of the book to be a little slow, so it took me longer than I thought to really get into it. The novel didn't really gain up speed until we reached the main conflict, which was regrettably not until halfway through.
Regarding the storyline and locations, it was wonderful to see a Victorian-era tale that managed to depict the story of queer love while yet acknowledging the contrasting social norms of the day.
Though I was more involved in Bobby and James' romance, I do believe that Gwen and Beth had a greater initial attraction in the first book. Reading about their misunderstandings for the most part of the book was probably annoying for me. But still I could understand why James acted the way he did. Even though there were moments when I wanted to yell at them, I still loved both of these characters.
I have to say that with her second book, Alban did, in my opinion, write a better and more developed book. She writes about intimacy and emotions in this book in a way that is both humorous and heartwarming.
If you're a fan of Bridgerton or the Victorian era and want to read a book that celebrates queer love, I strongly suggest you pick up this one.
Regarding the storyline and locations, it was wonderful to see a Victorian-era tale that managed to depict the story of queer love while yet acknowledging the contrasting social norms of the day.
Though I was more involved in Bobby and James' romance, I do believe that Gwen and Beth had a greater initial attraction in the first book. Reading about their misunderstandings for the most part of the book was probably annoying for me. But still I could understand why James acted the way he did. Even though there were moments when I wanted to yell at them, I still loved both of these characters.
I have to say that with her second book, Alban did, in my opinion, write a better and more developed book. She writes about intimacy and emotions in this book in a way that is both humorous and heartwarming.
If you're a fan of Bridgerton or the Victorian era and want to read a book that celebrates queer love, I strongly suggest you pick up this one.
November 24, 2024
Okay, no, you know what? I'm mad. This went so wrong, and it didn't have to be this way. I initially was generous with my rating because I like the prose style this author uses, and her desire to give a fantasy happy ending to people who no doubt would have suffered terribly IRL is laudable and healing. HOWEVER. I'm too mad.
1. The author didn't spend enough time with these two actually building a relationship. They go from not talking to each other and being antagonistic (not enemies, as advertised) to having sex all the time and thinking about being together permanently. I did not have time to get invested in their dynamic and neither did they.
2. The main conflict here is that Bobby (ugh, that name, so unsexy) feels inferior (wah wah cry me a river) and is hurt when James can't overcome his fear to commit. James, meanwhile, is JUSTIFIABLY TERRIFIED of the consequences that might befall him if they are caught, especially given his history and not having a family to love, accept, and protect him. This conflict is wildly out of balance. So what happens? The author plays it like Bobby is right. James is the one that apologizes (for being a coward????), and Bobby never once NEVER ONCE thinks that maybe he might have exercised some compassion for his TERRIFIED LOVER and try to work through things. Instead, he's like, oh, will I never be good enough for anyone???? WHY DID HE ABANDON ME. Um, because he doesn't want to go to jail and have his entire life ruined???????
3. So what's happened here is that the author has created a fantasy world of acceptance and then used it for conflict. You can't have it both ways. Either you're creating that fantasy where queer people are accepted ahistorically, or you're not. You can't punish James for being (again, JUSTIFIABLY) scared of the awful consequences that he rightly would have been scared of in real life, in favor of the extremely unrealistic (nice, but unrealistic) fantasy that Gwen, Beth, et al. have created. James is in the right and Bobby is wrong. End of story. The fact that the author can't see that ruined the entire rest of the book for me. It doesn't make sense that Bobby would not have seen very clearly and immediately what was going on with James. It is a stupid conflict.
AGAIN, BOBBY NEVER APOLOGIZES.
The End.
[2.5 stars]
1. The author didn't spend enough time with these two actually building a relationship. They go from not talking to each other and being antagonistic (not enemies, as advertised) to having sex all the time and thinking about being together permanently. I did not have time to get invested in their dynamic and neither did they.
2. The main conflict here is that Bobby (ugh, that name, so unsexy) feels inferior (wah wah cry me a river) and is hurt when James can't overcome his fear to commit. James, meanwhile, is JUSTIFIABLY TERRIFIED of the consequences that might befall him if they are caught, especially given his history and not having a family to love, accept, and protect him. This conflict is wildly out of balance. So what happens? The author plays it like Bobby is right. James is the one that apologizes (for being a coward????), and Bobby never once NEVER ONCE thinks that maybe he might have exercised some compassion for his TERRIFIED LOVER and try to work through things. Instead, he's like, oh, will I never be good enough for anyone???? WHY DID HE ABANDON ME. Um, because he doesn't want to go to jail and have his entire life ruined???????
3. So what's happened here is that the author has created a fantasy world of acceptance and then used it for conflict. You can't have it both ways. Either you're creating that fantasy where queer people are accepted ahistorically, or you're not. You can't punish James for being (again, JUSTIFIABLY) scared of the awful consequences that he rightly would have been scared of in real life, in favor of the extremely unrealistic (nice, but unrealistic) fantasy that Gwen, Beth, et al. have created. James is in the right and Bobby is wrong. End of story. The fact that the author can't see that ruined the entire rest of the book for me. It doesn't make sense that Bobby would not have seen very clearly and immediately what was going on with James. It is a stupid conflict.
AGAIN, BOBBY NEVER APOLOGIZES.
The End.
[2.5 stars]
January 7, 2024
While not my favourite, I think this is a fun duology and of course I always enjoy a good lavender marriage.
February 16, 2025
I’m crushed to write this review. It’s not a good one y’all, so if you’re here for positive vibes, look away.
I need to preface by saying I loved Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend. It was such a comfort read for me and I was so excited to have an ARC of book 2.
This book is pitched as enemies-to-lovers and features two characters we’re introduced to in book 1, Bobby and James. Bobby is a sweet little cinnamon roll who has never done anything wrong in his life. James is… a mess. In the beginning, I felt super attached to James and my top priority was watching him get a HEA. But by the end I was so over him 😭
You know the miscommunication trope? Bobby and James had a little-to-no communication trope. Every time they would attempt to speak to one another, they started fighting. They couldn’t get more than 2 sentences into a convo without hurling cruel words at each other. Or the alternative, James would physically run away.
And then!!! Out of no where! When they had JUST decided that they might possibly be able to be friends, they’re suddenly in love. But they get caught smooching and BAM. James high-tails it outta there, as per usual. After the 3rd or 4th time James physically ran away from Bobby with no explanation or apology, I was done. My focus was on Bobby living his best life and I didn’t care if James was in the picture or not. I probably would have preferred he not been; you know it’s bad if you feel that way. I felt so exasperated by the end that even my angel babies Gwen and Beth were starting to irk me.
Ultimately this one was a miss for me, but at least I got to see some of my favs from book 1 ❤️
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
I need to preface by saying I loved Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend. It was such a comfort read for me and I was so excited to have an ARC of book 2.
This book is pitched as enemies-to-lovers and features two characters we’re introduced to in book 1, Bobby and James. Bobby is a sweet little cinnamon roll who has never done anything wrong in his life. James is… a mess. In the beginning, I felt super attached to James and my top priority was watching him get a HEA. But by the end I was so over him 😭
You know the miscommunication trope? Bobby and James had a little-to-no communication trope. Every time they would attempt to speak to one another, they started fighting. They couldn’t get more than 2 sentences into a convo without hurling cruel words at each other. Or the alternative, James would physically run away.
And then!!! Out of no where! When they had JUST decided that they might possibly be able to be friends, they’re suddenly in love. But they get caught smooching and BAM. James high-tails it outta there, as per usual. After the 3rd or 4th time James physically ran away from Bobby with no explanation or apology, I was done. My focus was on Bobby living his best life and I didn’t care if James was in the picture or not. I probably would have preferred he not been; you know it’s bad if you feel that way. I felt so exasperated by the end that even my angel babies Gwen and Beth were starting to irk me.
Ultimately this one was a miss for me, but at least I got to see some of my favs from book 1 ❤️
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
September 20, 2024
I don’t know if this makes sense but this book was exactly like its cover. Cute and fluffy but nothing new💗 however, loved the found family aspect of it.
September 30, 2024
5/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️
My first regency!
Well, sort of. I started reading this and quickly realized that this was the second book in the series. ✨Allegedly✨, Alban's Mischief & Matchmaking novels are interconnected standalones. I found myself confused and snagged a copy of I Don't Want You Like a Best Friend from the library. My review for I Don't Want You Like a Best Friend can be found here. I would STRONGLY recommend reading them in sequential order, I found the tie-ins and wrapping up of Beth and Gwen's love story within Bobby and James' to be a lovely plot-driving device.
If you are looking for:
-Subversive Achillian Romance
-Longing. Angst. Passion. Making out in hedges.
-Enemies-to-Lovers
-Found Family and Banter
-One bed
-A third-act breakup that makes sense?!?! I HATE this trope. (It has taken 5 star reads to 1 stars for me in the past, Yours Truly still infuriates me to think about and it has been months.) Turns out I don't always hate this trope. I hate a poorly done one. This one made so much sense for the characters and moved James' character arc forward.
-A title that is a cute nod to Taylor Swift
This was my very first GoodReads giveaway prize! I literally danced when I received this book mail, it felt like Christmas. A big thank you to Emma Alban and Avon/HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this. This review is my honest opinion and not influenced by it being a giveaway prize.
***********************
Review coming soon. I’m letting it marinate for a minute. All I know is that I loved this book.
My first regency!
Well, sort of. I started reading this and quickly realized that this was the second book in the series. ✨Allegedly✨, Alban's Mischief & Matchmaking novels are interconnected standalones. I found myself confused and snagged a copy of I Don't Want You Like a Best Friend from the library. My review for I Don't Want You Like a Best Friend can be found here. I would STRONGLY recommend reading them in sequential order, I found the tie-ins and wrapping up of Beth and Gwen's love story within Bobby and James' to be a lovely plot-driving device.
If you are looking for:
-Subversive Achillian Romance
-Longing. Angst. Passion. Making out in hedges.
-Enemies-to-Lovers
-Found Family and Banter
-One bed
-A third-act breakup that makes sense?!?! I HATE this trope. (It has taken 5 star reads to 1 stars for me in the past, Yours Truly still infuriates me to think about and it has been months.) Turns out I don't always hate this trope. I hate a poorly done one. This one made so much sense for the characters and moved James' character arc forward.
-A title that is a cute nod to Taylor Swift
This was my very first GoodReads giveaway prize! I literally danced when I received this book mail, it felt like Christmas. A big thank you to Emma Alban and Avon/HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this. This review is my honest opinion and not influenced by it being a giveaway prize.
***********************
Review coming soon. I’m letting it marinate for a minute. All I know is that I loved this book.
September 26, 2024
absolutely lovely… still hate the title though lol
June 27, 2025
3.5 rounded up!!
cute but entirely too slow for half the book
cute but entirely too slow for half the book
April 1, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ maybe?
Ironically enough, I *am* the problem here because the first 46% of the book are just miscommunication, a trope I abhor and am known to DNF books for so even though I liked the characters and the second half of the book was smoother, I still absolutely couldn't stand the first half and had to force myself at least four different times to pick it up again 😅 thanks to that this also felt like it dragged endlessly (seriously how was this not 800 pages long my kindle kept saying 3h25min left) and I just wanted it to be over.
However, if you like the miscommunication trope, I can almost guarantee this will be a 5 star read for you! 🤗
Ironically enough, I *am* the problem here because the first 46% of the book are just miscommunication, a trope I abhor and am known to DNF books for so even though I liked the characters and the second half of the book was smoother, I still absolutely couldn't stand the first half and had to force myself at least four different times to pick it up again 😅 thanks to that this also felt like it dragged endlessly (seriously how was this not 800 pages long my kindle kept saying 3h25min left) and I just wanted it to be over.
However, if you like the miscommunication trope, I can almost guarantee this will be a 5 star read for you! 🤗
August 5, 2024
You’re The Problem, It’s You is the perfect Bridgerton like book to read after having a long binging sesh.
That being said, I had a fun time reading this book! The beautiful historic setting, and whimsical(Historic) writing really kept me wanting to read more. It was compelling, intriguing, and filled with angst and acceptance.
Being able to follow each individual character, and their own journey was a lovely experience. Through the found family and unique friendships, I adored it. Especially during the drama, and the palpable tension. I absolutely ate it up.
Now, while there a lot of things I absolutely adored about this book, there were a few things that I did not love.
-The Miscommunication trope. In general, I don’t usually love reading this trope. So when it came up, I had a hard time finding myself enjoy those specific aspects. The way that James and Bobby sometimes avoided and danced around each other really had me punching the air. While I love them both dearly, please communicate, I beg.
-Insta-love. I had a hard time empathizing with this storyline(if that makes sense). I am a lover of the slow-burn, enemies to lovers kind of tropes. Therefore, when James and Bobby changed up their opinions on each other so quickly, I was a little confused. I felt that this went a little too fast for my liking, and would have loved to see some of their pining and decision making in this aspect go on for a little longer.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story full of growth, trust, and love. Being able to see both characters grow alone, and with each other was a wonderful experience.
Thank you so much to Netgally, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Emma R. Alban for a chance to experience this wonderful story!
That being said, I had a fun time reading this book! The beautiful historic setting, and whimsical(Historic) writing really kept me wanting to read more. It was compelling, intriguing, and filled with angst and acceptance.
Being able to follow each individual character, and their own journey was a lovely experience. Through the found family and unique friendships, I adored it. Especially during the drama, and the palpable tension. I absolutely ate it up.
Now, while there a lot of things I absolutely adored about this book, there were a few things that I did not love.
-The Miscommunication trope. In general, I don’t usually love reading this trope. So when it came up, I had a hard time finding myself enjoy those specific aspects. The way that James and Bobby sometimes avoided and danced around each other really had me punching the air. While I love them both dearly, please communicate, I beg.
-Insta-love. I had a hard time empathizing with this storyline(if that makes sense). I am a lover of the slow-burn, enemies to lovers kind of tropes. Therefore, when James and Bobby changed up their opinions on each other so quickly, I was a little confused. I felt that this went a little too fast for my liking, and would have loved to see some of their pining and decision making in this aspect go on for a little longer.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story full of growth, trust, and love. Being able to see both characters grow alone, and with each other was a wonderful experience.
Thank you so much to Netgally, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Emma R. Alban for a chance to experience this wonderful story!
June 27, 2025
you’re the problem, it’s you has the same pitfalls as its predecessor don’t want you like a best friend does — namely, the dearth of historical verisimilitude. this feels very much like a contemporary book in historical clothing. the characters oscillate between modern north american and british teenager with the occasional touch of the historical, and the narration is firmly modern north american trying to be modern british.
one thing that bothered me: while the existence of circles that were very openly accepting of queer people is not a historical inauthenticity, how it was talked about was so overwhelmingly 21st century. look, queer people being happy in history is literally my favourite genre to read about, and i know this is a romcom, but the consequences of bobby and james getting caught out seemed mostly social-relational. yes, the laws against homosexuality were present, but bobby and james acted like their fears of being together were because of their (already proven accepting!) family and inner circle, and not, you know, imprisonment by a repressive state. it’s happy, and i’m happy, but it’s also a very modern view, all the characters hold very modern views, politically, and it just felt … incongruous.
i did like the characters, though. this is a low stress book, so not a lot happens and the characters mostly sit around playing games and debating in parliament, so a lot of the plot is internal.
one thing that bothered me: while the existence of circles that were very openly accepting of queer people is not a historical inauthenticity, how it was talked about was so overwhelmingly 21st century. look, queer people being happy in history is literally my favourite genre to read about, and i know this is a romcom, but the consequences of bobby and james getting caught out seemed mostly social-relational. yes, the laws against homosexuality were present, but bobby and james acted like their fears of being together were because of their (already proven accepting!) family and inner circle, and not, you know, imprisonment by a repressive state. it’s happy, and i’m happy, but it’s also a very modern view, all the characters hold very modern views, politically, and it just felt … incongruous.
i did like the characters, though. this is a low stress book, so not a lot happens and the characters mostly sit around playing games and debating in parliament, so a lot of the plot is internal.
September 28, 2024
➸ 2.75 stars
ending was so wholesome🏹🤍
ending was so wholesome🏹🤍
December 18, 2023
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a delight! I had so much fun with Alban's first romance in this series, and I was waiting on the edge of my seat for the series conclusion -- and it did not disappoint!
I really enjoyed (yet again) the film-like qualities of the book. Sometimes books can lean out of the novel realm into the screenplay realm in a way that's really noticeable and bad, but Alban skillfully strikes a balance that gives the reader the best qualities of both writing styles. I felt very visually and emotionally aware of what was going on in the book, which made it all the more captivating. (Altho I did feel the villain was a bit cartoonish.) The main characters are messy and go through a lot of growth to end up together, and it feels really well-thought out -- they're not properly enemies (moreso rivals), but the work they go through to get to the end of the story is really rewarding.
I also really loved that both the books in this series (and especially this one) emphasize how important it is to have family (whether by choice or birth) to support you. It's something that I feel is missing from a lot of queer romance, and I adore when I find them. So if this is also one of your fav tropes/themes/whatever, definitely give this one a go.
Overall, I had a very fun time with this book, even if I didn't love it QUITE as much as the first one. Strongly recommend checking out this series, and I cannot wait to see what Alban writes next -- definitely a new pre-order author for me!
What a delight! I had so much fun with Alban's first romance in this series, and I was waiting on the edge of my seat for the series conclusion -- and it did not disappoint!
I really enjoyed (yet again) the film-like qualities of the book. Sometimes books can lean out of the novel realm into the screenplay realm in a way that's really noticeable and bad, but Alban skillfully strikes a balance that gives the reader the best qualities of both writing styles. I felt very visually and emotionally aware of what was going on in the book, which made it all the more captivating. (Altho I did feel the villain was a bit cartoonish.) The main characters are messy and go through a lot of growth to end up together, and it feels really well-thought out -- they're not properly enemies (moreso rivals), but the work they go through to get to the end of the story is really rewarding.
I also really loved that both the books in this series (and especially this one) emphasize how important it is to have family (whether by choice or birth) to support you. It's something that I feel is missing from a lot of queer romance, and I adore when I find them. So if this is also one of your fav tropes/themes/whatever, definitely give this one a go.
Overall, I had a very fun time with this book, even if I didn't love it QUITE as much as the first one. Strongly recommend checking out this series, and I cannot wait to see what Alban writes next -- definitely a new pre-order author for me!
September 15, 2025
They can’t change the world, but maybe they can face it together.
This was cute! Sadly, I didn't like it as much as the first book in the series, but I mean, I don't have any bad feelings about it. At the end of the first book, the girls cooked up a plan to matchmake their cousins, and in this book, we get their story. James recently inherited the viscounty, and Bobby is the second son of a lord. Shy, reserved James had a huge crush on out-going, friendly Bobby back in Oxford. But now, thrust into society, and with James especially having a lot more responsibility, they start butting heads. There are secret clubs, blackmail, a new bill in parliament, lots of outings and meetings, and of course, a rivals to lovers romance.
Aaaaaand... it was cute! It didn't leave much of an impression, but I had a good time while reading it. James is coming into his own after spending much of his life under this thumb of his overbearing stepfather. None of them can live openly, of course, but he more than others feels the weight of societal pressure, and he's terrified of being discovered. Like in the first book, the characters are preoccupied with finding a way to achieve as much normalcy and happiness as queer folks can have in the Victorian era, and in that way, this is very light and wish-fulfilment-y. While still being realistic! Not everything was handled perfectly for my tastes, but I'm always really picky when it comes to plotlines like these. (Any time reluctance to live openly or a fear of societal backlash is framed as 'cowardice', no matter how briefly, my blood boils.) The pining was very sweet, the banter very fun. Bobby and James are very easy to root for, even when they're being difficult.
One big thing I kept tripping up on, though, was just how anachronistic the language seemed. I remember seeing a few reviews say similar things things about the language in the first book, But I didn't notice it back then. In this, I very much did. I felt like every chapter there would be a word or phrase that absolutely did not belong in 1850s England. And hey, I am NOT a linguistic scholar, so I'm not the best judge. I'm just going off my own knowledge, vibes, and things I googled, which doesn't make me an expert. And still there were several times where the language use just took me out of the story. Like, I can't say that the word 'snark' WASN'T in common usage in 1858, but can anyone say that it WAS? And I mean, if it was just one thing, I wouldn't care, but it kept coming up. "That tracks"? I feel like it doesn't. IDK. I can't tell if it was written like this purposefully, but if definitely messed with immersion and, idk, believability.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Chris Devon and Will Watt, and it was pretty good. I liked James' narrator more, but that might just be because I liked James more. Historical is one of my favourite genres of romance, and that's probably why this scraped a 3 instead of a very average 2.5. Again, this was really cute! Just not very memorable.
August 3, 2024
DELIGHTFUL PT.2
September 23, 2024
— 3 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 384 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Emma R. Alban
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Viking Books, Penguin UK
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 15 August 2024
What you can expect:
— Queer Historical Romance
— Interconnected Standalone Series
— Third Person X Dual POV
— Achillean Enemies-To-Lovers
— Only One Bed
— Secret Relationship
— Heated Lawn Games
— "I Am NOT Attracted To Him"
— Meddling & Well-Meaning Family
— Found Family
— Blackmail & Scheming
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
You're the Problem, It's You is the second instalment in the Mischief & Matchmaking series by author Emma R. Alban. Whilst the ending of More Than a Best Friend felt satisfactory enough to feel like a complete ending... I was beyond thrilled to be granted the continuation of this story as we join Bobby and James in their path to love and acceptance. Whilst I had been hoping for yet another feel-good and cosy love story which set out to challenge their era and societal standards, I'm truly devastated to say that this highly anticipated follow-up has not hit its mark for me as much as I hoped it would. The pacing throughout the entire first half threw me off as I struggled to push myself through repetitive arguments with no end in sight. Whilst I easily devoured and enjoyed its predecessor, You're the Problem, It's You struggled to maintain that momentum and carry the plot forward in a steady and gratifying pace. The return of my favourite characters from the first instalment were what saved the story and prompted me to continue into a thankfully stronger second half of a story. For a book that sits at less than 400 pages, I found myself often eyeing my kindle to gauge how long I was estimated to have left. The story picked up within the halfway point and I quickly became engaged with the love story I was being foretold... it's just a shame the weak beginning had to be saved by a much stronger end.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
The overall plot was enjoyable to follow despite its predictability at times. When James finds himself reunited with his previous infatuation and school crush Bobby in a club where men are free to act upon their true selves and desires, he stumbles. Never did he anticipate that the fantasies of his younger self may come to fruition, or that Bobby made indeed desire him in return. Unfortunately for James his mouth often runs away with him as he struggles to accurately articulate himself in social settings, which as a result is often the cause of upset and disdain from the peers he greatly wishes to earn respect from. Not that it matters anyway, when a previous lover slivers out of the shadows with the threat of outing him to society if he doesn't deliver on what he wants. James accepts that he cannot be both. The Viscount with a high standing in society and parliament who desperately wishes to perform better than the man before him, and the man who wishes to stay true to himself as he finds a family who will love and accept him as he was born to be... or can't he? My issue with the plot was how slow-moving the first half was. As soon as his former lover came slinking out of the shadows with threats of revealing not only his own nature but also Bobby's, James should have immediately taken action rather than try to pretend that the issue didn't exist. The second half of the story proved the joyful realities of entrusting the right people to keep you safe and support you no matter what. I honestly would've been happier for the book to be shortened in length if it meant rounding up the story for a more concise and straight-to-the-point story that didn't find itself trapped in a vicious cycle of repetition.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Bobby Mason has struggled with feeling second best his entire life. The second-born and spare to the family title and fortune with no set direction in which his life should take. Bobby wanders aimlessly from one season to the next, one party to the other, wishing he could find his purpose within his family and within society itself. His preference towards men has him reluctant to find a wife and live his life dishonestly, so instead Bobby partakes in fruitless intimate encounters to try and stave off his drowning feeling of loneliness and abandon. My favourite thing about Bobby was his unwavering loyalty and care towards those in his trusted circle. Despite struggling with his own wants and feelings, Bobby did the best that he could to remain present and ensure he acted as the best brother, cousin, nephew and friend that he could be. All Bobby craved was the love and affection that others could so loudly proclaim in public, whilst his own afflictions would be deemed as shameful and worthy of a lengthy prison sentence. Bobby craved acceptance and to find a true partner that would waver the storm by his side without fault, and I was thrilled to see him gain this and more by the end. Honestly, my only complaint is that I wish Bobby had more of a backbone when it came to James. I loved his understanding and overall patience, but in the end he continued to allow his own heartbreak as a result. Bobby deserved to be made into a priority, and I just wish I had gotten the chance to see him be the one to demand it.
James Demeroven is a surly and at-times rude Viscount who has newly aged into his appointed title and fortune, with not the slightest clue on what he is expected to do with it all. With his horrid stepfather constantly in his ear belittling his authority and undermining him at every turn, James is at a loss and finds himself wishing for it all to go away. I felt for James's character as it was clear that he was treading shark-infested waters with no land in site to save him. All James wanted was to earn the respect of his family and maybe, just maybe, be lucky enough to be welcomed into their tight circle as one of their own. I really felt for his character as I could understand what the motivations behind the decisions may be, whilst feeling equally frustrated at his stubbornness and refusal to trust. His stepfather's emotionally manipulative actions have left James anxious and utterly terrified to reach out his hand to those who reach first, and I was proud to see the work that he put into his own growth and development. His tenancy to run was aggravating as I desperately wished for James to find his inner strength and fight for the life that he wanted, however I also understand that it's not always going to be that simple. His respect and adoration for Bobby was really sweet and heart-warming, even when all they seemed able to do was bring out the worst within one another, and I was thrilled to see the maturity and growth that he found by the end.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Bobby and James's relationship development was wholly aggravating within the first half of the story. The miscommunication, or complete lack of communication should I say, was dragged on for too much of the story which greatly hindered the believability of their love match. The pair couldn't go a single conversation without exchanging jibes or insults as they truly brought out the worst in each other. I understand that this stemmed from their lack of understanding regarding how they individually approached their own hidden desires, however it becomes apparent early on that having an honest conversation would have resolved their issues just faster. James couldn't fathom how Bobby had managed to find himself within a safe space to express himself freely and more openly than many others are able, whilst Bobby strongly dislikes how James hid himself away which results in Bobby feeling shameful for being true to himself. If they had managed to hold a single civilised conversation without butting heads two sentences in, so much of their conflict could have been swiftly resolved with more time to fully develop their relationship.
By the half-way mark Bobby and James finally seemed to settle upon the decision to be friends... just to spend a week in the countryside and fall madly in-love. I honestly wish that Bobby and James had been given actual time to grown into a stable friendship who had the time to actually get to know one another without intimacy and romantic feelings being thrown into the mix. The majority of their relationship conflict stemmed from inaccurate assumptions and a lack of understanding in how the other chose to live their life. Getting to see them build a solid friendship to act as a fall-back for their romantic relationship would've deepened their overall connection and chemistry, and it would’ve felt more authentic overall. That being said, I did like them as a couple at the end. Their agreement with Beth and Gwen was really sweet, and I was thrilled to see their loved ones fully backing them with nothing but unchallenged love and support.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
After adoring the first book in the Mischief & Matchmaking I'm really gutted that my expectations for the sequel have not been met. I liked the book as a whole, however I didn’t fall in love with it like I had hoped and my issues with the story overshadowed much of the book. In my opinion Beth and Gwen once again stole the show and all of my attention, which ultimately shouldn't be the case in a story where their presence should be secondary. I adored the overall themes to the story and the premise that love will always find a way to win no matter what, and the epilogue was definitely my favourite part to the entire book. Seeing everybody together as they had found a way to fight for their right to love in the safest way possible, with a family that they get to proudly call their own, makes their journey all-the worthwhile.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 384 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Emma R. Alban
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Viking Books, Penguin UK
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 15 August 2024
What you can expect:
— Queer Historical Romance
— Interconnected Standalone Series
— Third Person X Dual POV
— Achillean Enemies-To-Lovers
— Only One Bed
— Secret Relationship
— Heated Lawn Games
— "I Am NOT Attracted To Him"
— Meddling & Well-Meaning Family
— Found Family
— Blackmail & Scheming
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
You're the Problem, It's You is the second instalment in the Mischief & Matchmaking series by author Emma R. Alban. Whilst the ending of More Than a Best Friend felt satisfactory enough to feel like a complete ending... I was beyond thrilled to be granted the continuation of this story as we join Bobby and James in their path to love and acceptance. Whilst I had been hoping for yet another feel-good and cosy love story which set out to challenge their era and societal standards, I'm truly devastated to say that this highly anticipated follow-up has not hit its mark for me as much as I hoped it would. The pacing throughout the entire first half threw me off as I struggled to push myself through repetitive arguments with no end in sight. Whilst I easily devoured and enjoyed its predecessor, You're the Problem, It's You struggled to maintain that momentum and carry the plot forward in a steady and gratifying pace. The return of my favourite characters from the first instalment were what saved the story and prompted me to continue into a thankfully stronger second half of a story. For a book that sits at less than 400 pages, I found myself often eyeing my kindle to gauge how long I was estimated to have left. The story picked up within the halfway point and I quickly became engaged with the love story I was being foretold... it's just a shame the weak beginning had to be saved by a much stronger end.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
The overall plot was enjoyable to follow despite its predictability at times. When James finds himself reunited with his previous infatuation and school crush Bobby in a club where men are free to act upon their true selves and desires, he stumbles. Never did he anticipate that the fantasies of his younger self may come to fruition, or that Bobby made indeed desire him in return. Unfortunately for James his mouth often runs away with him as he struggles to accurately articulate himself in social settings, which as a result is often the cause of upset and disdain from the peers he greatly wishes to earn respect from. Not that it matters anyway, when a previous lover slivers out of the shadows with the threat of outing him to society if he doesn't deliver on what he wants. James accepts that he cannot be both. The Viscount with a high standing in society and parliament who desperately wishes to perform better than the man before him, and the man who wishes to stay true to himself as he finds a family who will love and accept him as he was born to be... or can't he? My issue with the plot was how slow-moving the first half was. As soon as his former lover came slinking out of the shadows with threats of revealing not only his own nature but also Bobby's, James should have immediately taken action rather than try to pretend that the issue didn't exist. The second half of the story proved the joyful realities of entrusting the right people to keep you safe and support you no matter what. I honestly would've been happier for the book to be shortened in length if it meant rounding up the story for a more concise and straight-to-the-point story that didn't find itself trapped in a vicious cycle of repetition.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Bobby Mason has struggled with feeling second best his entire life. The second-born and spare to the family title and fortune with no set direction in which his life should take. Bobby wanders aimlessly from one season to the next, one party to the other, wishing he could find his purpose within his family and within society itself. His preference towards men has him reluctant to find a wife and live his life dishonestly, so instead Bobby partakes in fruitless intimate encounters to try and stave off his drowning feeling of loneliness and abandon. My favourite thing about Bobby was his unwavering loyalty and care towards those in his trusted circle. Despite struggling with his own wants and feelings, Bobby did the best that he could to remain present and ensure he acted as the best brother, cousin, nephew and friend that he could be. All Bobby craved was the love and affection that others could so loudly proclaim in public, whilst his own afflictions would be deemed as shameful and worthy of a lengthy prison sentence. Bobby craved acceptance and to find a true partner that would waver the storm by his side without fault, and I was thrilled to see him gain this and more by the end. Honestly, my only complaint is that I wish Bobby had more of a backbone when it came to James. I loved his understanding and overall patience, but in the end he continued to allow his own heartbreak as a result. Bobby deserved to be made into a priority, and I just wish I had gotten the chance to see him be the one to demand it.
James Demeroven is a surly and at-times rude Viscount who has newly aged into his appointed title and fortune, with not the slightest clue on what he is expected to do with it all. With his horrid stepfather constantly in his ear belittling his authority and undermining him at every turn, James is at a loss and finds himself wishing for it all to go away. I felt for James's character as it was clear that he was treading shark-infested waters with no land in site to save him. All James wanted was to earn the respect of his family and maybe, just maybe, be lucky enough to be welcomed into their tight circle as one of their own. I really felt for his character as I could understand what the motivations behind the decisions may be, whilst feeling equally frustrated at his stubbornness and refusal to trust. His stepfather's emotionally manipulative actions have left James anxious and utterly terrified to reach out his hand to those who reach first, and I was proud to see the work that he put into his own growth and development. His tenancy to run was aggravating as I desperately wished for James to find his inner strength and fight for the life that he wanted, however I also understand that it's not always going to be that simple. His respect and adoration for Bobby was really sweet and heart-warming, even when all they seemed able to do was bring out the worst within one another, and I was thrilled to see the maturity and growth that he found by the end.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Bobby and James's relationship development was wholly aggravating within the first half of the story. The miscommunication, or complete lack of communication should I say, was dragged on for too much of the story which greatly hindered the believability of their love match. The pair couldn't go a single conversation without exchanging jibes or insults as they truly brought out the worst in each other. I understand that this stemmed from their lack of understanding regarding how they individually approached their own hidden desires, however it becomes apparent early on that having an honest conversation would have resolved their issues just faster. James couldn't fathom how Bobby had managed to find himself within a safe space to express himself freely and more openly than many others are able, whilst Bobby strongly dislikes how James hid himself away which results in Bobby feeling shameful for being true to himself. If they had managed to hold a single civilised conversation without butting heads two sentences in, so much of their conflict could have been swiftly resolved with more time to fully develop their relationship.
By the half-way mark Bobby and James finally seemed to settle upon the decision to be friends... just to spend a week in the countryside and fall madly in-love. I honestly wish that Bobby and James had been given actual time to grown into a stable friendship who had the time to actually get to know one another without intimacy and romantic feelings being thrown into the mix. The majority of their relationship conflict stemmed from inaccurate assumptions and a lack of understanding in how the other chose to live their life. Getting to see them build a solid friendship to act as a fall-back for their romantic relationship would've deepened their overall connection and chemistry, and it would’ve felt more authentic overall. That being said, I did like them as a couple at the end. Their agreement with Beth and Gwen was really sweet, and I was thrilled to see their loved ones fully backing them with nothing but unchallenged love and support.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
After adoring the first book in the Mischief & Matchmaking I'm really gutted that my expectations for the sequel have not been met. I liked the book as a whole, however I didn’t fall in love with it like I had hoped and my issues with the story overshadowed much of the book. In my opinion Beth and Gwen once again stole the show and all of my attention, which ultimately shouldn't be the case in a story where their presence should be secondary. I adored the overall themes to the story and the premise that love will always find a way to win no matter what, and the epilogue was definitely my favourite part to the entire book. Seeing everybody together as they had found a way to fight for their right to love in the safest way possible, with a family that they get to proudly call their own, makes their journey all-the worthwhile.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
July 11, 2024
3.5 (Rounded up for my girls Gwen and Beth <3)
The drama, the yearning, the self doubt and never relenting fear of becoming the very thing you hate. I ate this book and what it served me right up BUT I did leave some crumbs.
James and Bobby were equally frustrating and captivating to watch dance around each other in this book. The push and pull between them made me want to take little voodoo dolls of them and make them hug or something (a sentiment I’m sure Beth and Gwen relate to). The big bad of this book (namely the man blackmailing our duo) fell a bit flat to me but still I felt the stakes for these two rise. And though I ADORED James and Bobby together, I do wish we could have seen them falling for one another more clearly. Really give me that desperate pathetic yearning that Gwen and Beth got to experience, ya know?
This being the second of a duology I must admit it was difficult to jump into having had some time passed since reading the first - This is a duo meant to be read together lest you spend a great deal of this book going “who is that?” and “what is their title?” or even “Oh - I did not realize that was the same character - why do people of the Ton have so many different names for one person!?”. Once I’d given myself a refresher it was incredibly rewarding to revisit my favorite characters from “Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend” and see how they were faring this next season!
All in all, this little found family that Alban brought to life has wormed their way into my heart. I’ve been charmed by each of them and though I’m sad to see them go, I am so grateful to have their stories concluded in such a beautiful way that did justice to the individual characters and their stories.
As a final note: The first of this series was titled with Taylor Swift lyrics and this one is as well … I see your play on “Anti-Hero” and I raise you “Long Story Short”. Do with this information as you will.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC - I am leaving this review voluntarily!
The drama, the yearning, the self doubt and never relenting fear of becoming the very thing you hate. I ate this book and what it served me right up BUT I did leave some crumbs.
James and Bobby were equally frustrating and captivating to watch dance around each other in this book. The push and pull between them made me want to take little voodoo dolls of them and make them hug or something (a sentiment I’m sure Beth and Gwen relate to). The big bad of this book (namely the man blackmailing our duo) fell a bit flat to me but still I felt the stakes for these two rise. And though I ADORED James and Bobby together, I do wish we could have seen them falling for one another more clearly. Really give me that desperate pathetic yearning that Gwen and Beth got to experience, ya know?
This being the second of a duology I must admit it was difficult to jump into having had some time passed since reading the first - This is a duo meant to be read together lest you spend a great deal of this book going “who is that?” and “what is their title?” or even “Oh - I did not realize that was the same character - why do people of the Ton have so many different names for one person!?”. Once I’d given myself a refresher it was incredibly rewarding to revisit my favorite characters from “Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend” and see how they were faring this next season!
All in all, this little found family that Alban brought to life has wormed their way into my heart. I’ve been charmed by each of them and though I’m sad to see them go, I am so grateful to have their stories concluded in such a beautiful way that did justice to the individual characters and their stories.
As a final note: The first of this series was titled with Taylor Swift lyrics and this one is as well … I see your play on “Anti-Hero” and I raise you “Long Story Short”. Do with this information as you will.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC - I am leaving this review voluntarily!
June 18, 2025
Like the first book, nothing really special, but fun nonetheless. Sometimes you're just in the mood for a fun little romance. And I do think I like this one better than the first, because the stakes did feel a bit higher. And, yk, one of the MCs is in Parliament, so... I won't complain about that. Even tho I just said sometimes you just want a fun romance lol.
I do feel like this one had a bit more spice than the first? Just a note.
These books certainly aren't historically accurate. Like, even just the way they talk, just to mention other things. But like I said in my review of the first book, I wasn't expecting that.
But let's go lavender marriages! Why not, right? :)
I do feel like this one had a bit more spice than the first? Just a note.
These books certainly aren't historically accurate. Like, even just the way they talk, just to mention other things. But like I said in my review of the first book, I wasn't expecting that.
But let's go lavender marriages! Why not, right? :)
September 25, 2024
C / 3 stars
You're the Problem, It's You is the second book in Emma R. Alban’s Mischief & Matchmaking historical romance duology that began with Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend. You’re the Problem is a mostly lighthearted m/m romance that, despite being billed as enemies-to-lovers by the blurb is really about two men jumping to conclusions about each other and holding on to their misconceptions for way too long before finally deciding to give each other the benefit of the doubt.
Despite that, I quite liked the two protagonists. Bobby Mason is a second son who would like to actually do something with his life, but feels limited by the fact that he’s the spare, and James Demeroven was brought up largely away from London and has been constantly belittled and verbally abused by his stepfather to the point that he has learned not to stand up for himself and tends to run away from his problems. When the two of them first meet, Bobby’s cousin Beth (one of the leads in the first book) asks him to befriend James, to introduce him to the right people and help him to make some friends, but James is so tightly buttoned-up and standoffish that he almost immediately rubs the good-natured Bobby up the wrong way with what Bobby believes to be a condemnation of his lifestyle. Things don’t improve as time passes, and the two men do their best to avoid one another where possible - but being members of the same family makes that very difficult. Bobby and James find themselves often at the same events and having to at least attempt to be pleasant to each other – but whenever it seems as though they might be making progress towards friendship, one of them will say or do something that puts them right back at square one and thinking the worst. And herein lies the books’ biggest problem. The misunderstandings between the pair continue for almost half the book – it’s very repetitive and it got frustrating very quickly. And then, once they do start to thaw towards each other a bit, it’s zero to sixty in the blink of an eye, and their various declarations and all the deep feelings we’re told they’re experiencing are simply not supported by what the reader has seen on the page. There is very little chemistry between them and I needed more from their internal monologues to persuade me that they were falling/had fallen in love.
Add to this the somewhat complicated family situation of the Masons, the Bertrams, and the Demerovens. Not having read the previous book put me at a serious disadvantage here as I struggled to work out and then remember how all these characters, members of an extended family, are related to one another. Beth and Gwen from book one are, respectively, the daughters of the late Viscount Demeroven (Beth) and Lord Haverford (Gwen); James is Beth’s cousin, Bobby is Gwen’s cousin; Haverford is now married to Beth’s mother�� I could really have done with a list or family tree at the front of the book!
The story is mostly character-driven, and the little bit of plot there is - a cartoonish villain attempts to blackmail our heroes with threats of exposing their ‘proclivities’ to society – is flimsy and only present in order to enable Bobby and James to, at last, join forces to work out a way to neutralise him. James’ character arc is the strongest, as he has to work to overcome his anxiety and insecurities and move towards self-acceptance and the realisation that he is deserving of the love and loyalty he is being offered by Bobby and their family. Having the entire Bertram/Mason clan be so accepting of its queer couples and prepared to offer them as much protection as possible did stretch my credulity given the time period, but I liked seeing James slowly working out that perhaps he could finally have the life he craves with someone he truly cares for.
You’re the Problem, It’s You is inoffensive enough, and may, indeed be The Gay Bridgerton you didn’t know you needed (eyeroll) for some, but in a sub-genre where the bar for excellence has been set very high by authors like KJ Charles, Joanna Chambers, Sally Malcolm and others, You’re the Problem just about qualifies as ‘middling’. It lacks depth and emotion, the characterisation is patchy and it’s wallpapery to the extreme. The date 1858 is mentioned in the text, but other than the fact that Demeroven, his uncle, and Bobby’s brother are working to get the Medical Act passed into law, (and same sex relationships between men are illegal), there’s no real sense of time or place, and the characters have an unfortunate habit of lapsing into modern language. Someone tells Bobby to “Get some sleep, yeah?”; Aunt Cordelia is “a right laugh”; one of Bobby’s friends asks “Do we need to get you laid?”; Bobby has “zero interest in finding a nice young lady to chat up.” And so on. In fact, the writing in general feels more suited to a YA book even though the characters are in their early twenties and the sex scenes warrant a ‘warm’ rating; it skews towards telling rather than showing, and the book feels somewhat… juvenile as a result. Plus, the use of third person present tense doesn’t do it any favours.
You’re the Problem, It’s You was entertaining enough in places, but I can’t recommend it.
You're the Problem, It's You is the second book in Emma R. Alban’s Mischief & Matchmaking historical romance duology that began with Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend. You’re the Problem is a mostly lighthearted m/m romance that, despite being billed as enemies-to-lovers by the blurb is really about two men jumping to conclusions about each other and holding on to their misconceptions for way too long before finally deciding to give each other the benefit of the doubt.
Despite that, I quite liked the two protagonists. Bobby Mason is a second son who would like to actually do something with his life, but feels limited by the fact that he’s the spare, and James Demeroven was brought up largely away from London and has been constantly belittled and verbally abused by his stepfather to the point that he has learned not to stand up for himself and tends to run away from his problems. When the two of them first meet, Bobby’s cousin Beth (one of the leads in the first book) asks him to befriend James, to introduce him to the right people and help him to make some friends, but James is so tightly buttoned-up and standoffish that he almost immediately rubs the good-natured Bobby up the wrong way with what Bobby believes to be a condemnation of his lifestyle. Things don’t improve as time passes, and the two men do their best to avoid one another where possible - but being members of the same family makes that very difficult. Bobby and James find themselves often at the same events and having to at least attempt to be pleasant to each other – but whenever it seems as though they might be making progress towards friendship, one of them will say or do something that puts them right back at square one and thinking the worst. And herein lies the books’ biggest problem. The misunderstandings between the pair continue for almost half the book – it’s very repetitive and it got frustrating very quickly. And then, once they do start to thaw towards each other a bit, it’s zero to sixty in the blink of an eye, and their various declarations and all the deep feelings we’re told they’re experiencing are simply not supported by what the reader has seen on the page. There is very little chemistry between them and I needed more from their internal monologues to persuade me that they were falling/had fallen in love.
Add to this the somewhat complicated family situation of the Masons, the Bertrams, and the Demerovens. Not having read the previous book put me at a serious disadvantage here as I struggled to work out and then remember how all these characters, members of an extended family, are related to one another. Beth and Gwen from book one are, respectively, the daughters of the late Viscount Demeroven (Beth) and Lord Haverford (Gwen); James is Beth’s cousin, Bobby is Gwen’s cousin; Haverford is now married to Beth’s mother�� I could really have done with a list or family tree at the front of the book!
The story is mostly character-driven, and the little bit of plot there is - a cartoonish villain attempts to blackmail our heroes with threats of exposing their ‘proclivities’ to society – is flimsy and only present in order to enable Bobby and James to, at last, join forces to work out a way to neutralise him. James’ character arc is the strongest, as he has to work to overcome his anxiety and insecurities and move towards self-acceptance and the realisation that he is deserving of the love and loyalty he is being offered by Bobby and their family. Having the entire Bertram/Mason clan be so accepting of its queer couples and prepared to offer them as much protection as possible did stretch my credulity given the time period, but I liked seeing James slowly working out that perhaps he could finally have the life he craves with someone he truly cares for.
You’re the Problem, It’s You is inoffensive enough, and may, indeed be The Gay Bridgerton you didn’t know you needed (eyeroll) for some, but in a sub-genre where the bar for excellence has been set very high by authors like KJ Charles, Joanna Chambers, Sally Malcolm and others, You’re the Problem just about qualifies as ‘middling’. It lacks depth and emotion, the characterisation is patchy and it’s wallpapery to the extreme. The date 1858 is mentioned in the text, but other than the fact that Demeroven, his uncle, and Bobby’s brother are working to get the Medical Act passed into law, (and same sex relationships between men are illegal), there’s no real sense of time or place, and the characters have an unfortunate habit of lapsing into modern language. Someone tells Bobby to “Get some sleep, yeah?”; Aunt Cordelia is “a right laugh”; one of Bobby’s friends asks “Do we need to get you laid?”; Bobby has “zero interest in finding a nice young lady to chat up.” And so on. In fact, the writing in general feels more suited to a YA book even though the characters are in their early twenties and the sex scenes warrant a ‘warm’ rating; it skews towards telling rather than showing, and the book feels somewhat… juvenile as a result. Plus, the use of third person present tense doesn’t do it any favours.
You’re the Problem, It’s You was entertaining enough in places, but I can’t recommend it.
September 8, 2024
I thought this was okay thought i didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book in the series. It was a cute historical romance, i thought the plot was okay though the villain trying to out the main characters did a lot. I liked seeing the fmc’s from the first book and what they went through as Queer characters in that era. Overall this was okay with some steamy scenes and i loved the found family aspect and how it ended.
August 15, 2024
While it had promise, there was too much that threw me out and caused me to dnf. My first issue is that while it's ostensibly set in the Victorian era there's not much to grounding it in the time, and I kept thinking it was actually set in the Regency period then remembering no it's meant to be set decades later. I've read authors before who often write in different periods but are so good at realising each one and using the different eras to enhance the story they're telling, so reading the vague setting of this was a disappointment. It doesn't help that the language used is so unnecessarily modern and kept throwing me out of the story. You don't need to have these characters talking like they're in a Jane Austen novel, but can you make it somewhat realistic, please? Why are these Victorian men talking about getting laid? When there's so much good period slang you can use, it frustrates me to hear them talking like frat boys.
Even if I could get over that, it was the relationship dynamic that was the final straw. It's not in any way enemies to lovers as advertised, but rather one guy has had a long time crush on the other but is so socially awkward that every time he talks to his crush he's incredibly rude and offensive. The way it tries to force the trope is painful to read, and I'm baffled at why it was done that way. If you took out the pre-existing crush and had them be old school rivals or strangers that start on a bad foot who then have to work together to stop a blackmailer, it would be fun! But it was when they kissed that I dnfed, I did not believe their chemistry and had no interest in seeing it develop.
Also, it took me a bit to realise the title was a Taylor Swift lyric, and I hate that so much. I don't like this new title trend in romances and while I can understand if you do it with a celebrity romance, it feels so out of place for this book. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Even if I could get over that, it was the relationship dynamic that was the final straw. It's not in any way enemies to lovers as advertised, but rather one guy has had a long time crush on the other but is so socially awkward that every time he talks to his crush he's incredibly rude and offensive. The way it tries to force the trope is painful to read, and I'm baffled at why it was done that way. If you took out the pre-existing crush and had them be old school rivals or strangers that start on a bad foot who then have to work together to stop a blackmailer, it would be fun! But it was when they kissed that I dnfed, I did not believe their chemistry and had no interest in seeing it develop.
Also, it took me a bit to realise the title was a Taylor Swift lyric, and I hate that so much. I don't like this new title trend in romances and while I can understand if you do it with a celebrity romance, it feels so out of place for this book. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend was one of my favorite reads last year and I was SO excited to dive into James and Bobby’s story. I was positively giddy getting to reunite with Beth and Gwen and their matchmaking endeavors, but the storytelling - pacing and tropes - was wildly chaotic… and not in a good way, I’m sorry to say.
Let me start with what I liked… James and Bobby’s story had some wonderful moments of tenderness and the intimacy they shared was incredibly vulnerable. I enjoyed watching their trust build and strengthen and witnessing their growth as individuals as they found their voices and used their positions in society to build a more loving world where they could help others and live as their true selves.
Here’s where it went off the rails for me: the pacing and tropes… I am personally not a fan of insta love and the flip from enemies to lovers happened WAY TOO fast. James and Bobby went from not disliking to “let’s spend our lives together” in the blink of an eye. I needed more time to buy into their chemistry. If you’re not a fan of miscommunication… fair warning: there is a SIGNIFICANT amount of miscommunication and avoidance that had me wanting to bang my head against the wall. I wanted to lock Bobby and James in a room together just so they could talk and James wouldn’t run away. It was rough at times.
For anyone chasing the Bridgerton high or who is looking for a fun historical romance filled with queer joy, this is a good series to pick up but you do need to read them in order. And be prepared for the miscommunication in book two.
Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend was one of my favorite reads last year and I was SO excited to dive into James and Bobby’s story. I was positively giddy getting to reunite with Beth and Gwen and their matchmaking endeavors, but the storytelling - pacing and tropes - was wildly chaotic… and not in a good way, I’m sorry to say.
Let me start with what I liked… James and Bobby’s story had some wonderful moments of tenderness and the intimacy they shared was incredibly vulnerable. I enjoyed watching their trust build and strengthen and witnessing their growth as individuals as they found their voices and used their positions in society to build a more loving world where they could help others and live as their true selves.
Here’s where it went off the rails for me: the pacing and tropes… I am personally not a fan of insta love and the flip from enemies to lovers happened WAY TOO fast. James and Bobby went from not disliking to “let’s spend our lives together” in the blink of an eye. I needed more time to buy into their chemistry. If you’re not a fan of miscommunication… fair warning: there is a SIGNIFICANT amount of miscommunication and avoidance that had me wanting to bang my head against the wall. I wanted to lock Bobby and James in a room together just so they could talk and James wouldn’t run away. It was rough at times.
For anyone chasing the Bridgerton high or who is looking for a fun historical romance filled with queer joy, this is a good series to pick up but you do need to read them in order. And be prepared for the miscommunication in book two.
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