Your Lips on Mine: A Novel

by Emma R. Alban

A sapphic body-swap Regency romance in which two ex-best friends inadvertently switch lives, then must navigate the marriage mart and their increasingly confusing feelings for each other (and their own faces) while trying to swap back, from the USA Today bestselling author of Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend. It’s the London 1835 Season, and former best friends Lady Isabel Warls and Miss Lila Hall cannot stand the sight of one another. Unfortunately, they’re constantly thrust together by their friends, family, and the gossiping ton. And after a disastrous previous season, each must find a husband before summer’s end, or else. Their first explosive argument at the opening night ball sends Isabel and Lila out into the rain-soaked garden. Lightning strikes the nearby fountain, and the girls are blasted apart. When they stand up, what was complicated before becomes flat-out they’ve swapped bodies. To keep up appearances—and not end up in an asylum—a panicked Lila goes home with Isabel’s family, and Isabel home with Lila’s. Trapped in each other’s lives, they slowly confront their separate realities, and why their friendship ended so abruptly. Frustration, hurt, and longing soon give way to an intimacy that neither could have predicted. But even as their relationship deepens, the season rushes on around them. So what do you do when you wind up in your childhood best friend’s body, courting a man you’re no longer sure you want, and falling steadily in love with the woman…wearing your own face? Isabel and Lila are about to find out, and London might never be the same.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Historical, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Queer

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 5, 2027

About the author

Raised 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.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun and swoony!! This book really had it all: it was a sapphic Regency romance with body swapping! I was skeptical of how the body swapping would be handled, but once I was a few chapters in I was hooked!

The banter in this book was on point and I loved the friends to enemies back to friends to lovers that happened in this book. All of the characters dynamic and interaction in this book were so so good! I loved the family drama and that both Isabel and Lila were able to get a different perspective on what was going on in the others life.

This was my first book by Emma R. Alban and I will definitely be continuing on with her backlist! I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a swoony sapphic Regency romance! This comes out January 5th, 2027 so be sure to pick it up!

Read if you like:
Regency romance
Body swapping
Ex-childhood best friends to lovers
Sapphic romance

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your Lips on Mine is a body-swap sapphic romance set in the Regency era. The main characters, Isabel and Lila, used to be best friends, but haven’t spoken in 5 years. Once they reunite, their fight in a lightning storm leads to them swapping bodies.

Isabel and Lila now must pretend to be each other, and meet to find out how to switch back, all while trying to make sure nobody is suspicious, which entails courting men that are really interested in the other girl.

This book was so cute. It’s kind of hard for me to find good historical sapphic romances, but Emma R. Alban’s books are always so good. I’ve read Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend and Like in Love with You, and both of those were also great. If you liked her previous books, you will definitely like this one. The magical element adds a little but of suspense, and it was a nice switch from her other books.

I read this in one sitting, and really enjoyed it. Like most short books, I think it could have definitely been longer, especially the part with their romance developing, and the conclusion. But overall, this was really good and I would definitely recommend it.

Just a side note, I did think the spicy part was a little interesting, because they were still body-swapped when it happened. I love Isabel and Lila, I just thought it was so weird that they were essentially banging themselves 😭

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publishing date: 5 January 2027

[Shayna Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant way to fall in love: from the inside out. Your Lips on Mine is exactly the kind of wildly creative romance I want more of. Alban takes an irresistible body-swap premise and turns it into something wonderfully intimate as two people are forced to truly understand one another and fall hopelessly in love in the process. With fantastic yearning and prose that had me hooked from the very first page, I loved every second of Isabel and Lila’s story.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Alban has done it again! Her sapphic historical books never miss and they only get better. I absolutely adored the premise of this book The characters and their family stories are so interesting and I loved the rebuilding of their friendship and then romantic relationship. It was the perfect level of slow burn. I really appreciate how her stories have such different endings. to really showcase queer historical resiliency and the various ways queer people lived.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Unpopmary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your Lips on Mine is the third Historical Romance I've read by this author, but this one definitely stands out from the others because it adds a little bit of "magic" to the mix. When Isabel and Lila mysteriously end up in each other's bodies, they have to figure out how to switch back while also trying to secure their futures with Lord Gleece. Needless to say, I was very curious to see where this premise was going to take them.

One thing that immediately caught my attention was how different these two women are. Isabel has spent her life under the thumb of a controlling mother, which has made her much more reserved and guarded. Lila, meanwhile, is passionate and outspoken, but she's also had to take responsibility for her household and care for her younger brothers because her mother is unable to do so.

I really enjoyed watching Isabel experience Lila's family from the inside. Being surrounded by people who genuinely love and care for each other gives her a completely different perspective on what a family can look like. It also allows her to start seeing her own mother more clearly, rather than simply accepting the way she's always been treated. Seeing Isabel eventually stand up for herself and choose to live according to her own expectations was incredibly satisfying.

Lila’s journey, on the other hand, isn’t a dramatic transformation but rather a quick, quiet acceptance of a sexuality she’d previously forced herself to ignore... Still, one of the things I admired most about Lila was how well she knew herself. She never allowed Isabel's mother to control her, and she seemed to understand her own worth much earlier than Isabel did. Her confidence was truly one of her best traits and made her very memorable.

But for me, the beating heart of this story was definitely the FOUND FAMILY.

I adored the group formed by Isabel, Lila, Louis, Claire, John, and Hannah. The way these lovely "weirdos" found comfort in each other outside the watchful eyes of the ton was just delightful. Their dynamic brought so much warmth to the pages, cementing it as my favorite aspect of the whole novel.

I was particularly weak for Louis and Isabel's relationship. The way they immediately embraced each other's differences was so sweet, and I couldn't help feeling like Isabel had gained a brother in him. Considering how isolated she had been before the body swap, seeing her finally find that kind of bond meant a lot to me.

I was also really happy to see the ace rep with Louis and Claire. It gave them more depth and made them feel like fully realized characters rather than side characters who were simply there to support the MCs.

John took a little longer to win me over. I definitely had suspicions about why he was leading both women on, and he could be pretty arrogant at times, but by the end I enjoyed seeing him become part of their little group. I also respected the fact that, despite his flaws, his intentions were ultimately focused on helping Isabel and Lila.

Another character who surprised me was Lila's mother. I was initially worried she would barely have a role in the story, so I was really happy when she started reclaiming her agency and becoming more present in her children's lives. Watching her defend Isabel at the end as though she were her own daughter was genuinely beautiful, and she ended up becoming another character I grew very fond of.

Alright, now let’s dive into the romance.

I was honestly curious about how the author was going to turn things around because Isabel and Lila seem to resent each other so much at the beginning. Thankfully, their relationship doesn't magically change overnight. They gradually learn more about each other's circumstances, understand what caused their original fallout, and begin seeing one another differently. That slower development was exactly what I wanted.

My only wish was that we had gotten more moments where they connected simply because they wanted to know each other. Since so much of their time together is spent trying to figure out how to reverse the body swap or win John's favor, their relationship is often driven by forced proximity and banter rather than deeper emotional intimacy. I wanted more moments where they could put the whole situation aside and simply connect as two women falling for each other.

And then, of course, we have the actual body swap...

This was probably my biggest struggle with the book. The narration repeatedly refers to each woman by her original identity even while she's in the other's body, and I found that SO confusing at times that I had to stop reading just to remind myself who was actually who.

I also wish the mechanics behind the body swap had been explained more clearly. Even by the end, the source of the magic and how they reversed it felt pretty vague. The author was clearly more focused on the emotional consequences of the swap, like forced empathy and literally walking in someone else’s shoes. While I valued that emotional depth, the supernatural element felt short-changed and underdeveloped as a result.

Additionally, I ran into a few issues with predictability, particularly when it came to the ending. I understand that writing a f/f romance in a Regency setting naturally comes with certain limitations, so I don't think all of that predictability can be blamed on the author. Still, I kind of wish the ending had kept me guessing a bit more, as it became quite obvious early on. That said, I was so glad that Isabel and Lila weren't forced into living a double life like some of the author's other couples. They had more freedom to decide what their future together would look like, and I really liked that they had that autonomy.

Overall, this was such a light-hearted historical romance with a lovely dose of humor, despite some of the heavier themes underneath. If you enjoy Freaky Friday and want to throw a Regency romance into the mix, you'll probably have a lot of fun with this one. And if you add the electric tension of Bridgerton on top of that? Even better.

So grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one ahead of time. Thank you!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores a “Freaky Friday” effect on the two main characters, Isabel and Lila. It starts when they are best friends as young girls and have an inseparable bond. Through the second chapter, we realize that the two are no longer cordial and are, more often than not, at each other’s throats. As you delve deeper into the story, we start to understand why they can’t stand to be near one another. Your Lips On Mine explores themes of self love throughout the book. Both Lila and Isabel prove to, unexpectedly, enjoy looking at themselves through the other’s eyes. Emma R. Alban did a great job explaining how each body felt different. (Ex. Hearing, sense of smell, always cold, and acquired skill level) Alban is a great writer and my favorite queer regency author. I would recommend this story if you enjoy exploring self love, found family, spicy scenes and soft enemies to lovers. If you are sensitive to themes of abusive/toxic family then do read with caution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emma R. Alban for supplying my first ever ARC!❤️🫶
-ps. I only applied so I could read this book faster🙈


SPOILERS BELOW
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I am an avid reader of Emma R. Alban’s works. I have been here since the release of Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend and I have read the entire series. However, this has not been my favorite book from Emma R. Alban thus far. I would love to see more diversity throughout her works. The main characters have always been white and I’d prefer to change the pace a bit. I think it’s important to include diversity in all media and especially in queer spaces. Another qualm I faced was the representation of Asexuality in Your Lips on Mine. I am all for exploring sexuality and including it in your works. While, I do think the side story of Louis and Lady Claire is adorable and worth the mention. I don’t think that their relationship was explored enough to properly show asexuality in its spectrum. They both briefly discuss not looking forward to physical intimacy and that is all. I still really enjoyed this book and love the way Alban writes but the lack of diversity and poor explanation of asexuality is really off putting. Something I really loved about Your Lips on Mine was the familial bonds between Lila and her plethora of brothers. She is the eldest daughter keeping the family afloat while her parents cope with her mothers Postpartum depression following her last birth. The writing shows how much each person cares for one another and only want what’s best for them. The juxtaposition between Lila’s big, caring family and Isabel being an only child in an abusive situation is what really blew me away. I will say, when Lila (in Isabel’s body) is dealing with Isabel’s mother, we don’t see much of the conflict Isabel would usually face. I would have enjoyed to see more of the dynamic when Isabel’s mother was being challenged by Lila’s assertiveness but I understand that it would have weighed down the book and could’ve strayed from the light romance story. I really loved how both women go from thinking “You couldn’t walk a mile in my shoes.” to realizing they both have hardships and rooting for one another . It was adorable. I did really like their chemistry and the romance between Isabel and Lila. The spicy scenes Alban writes will never get old for me. Each one is different and unique to the characters. I love it. I will say, the ending almost had me. I was a tad miffed that the book was going to end with a lavender marriage and a the small promise of Lila waiting another year to be wed. Then plot twist, they become authors. I do think that the story didn’t lean into Isabel’s writing quite enough for the author part to really stand out to me. I did like that ending, rather than settling for heteronormativity, concluded in breaking societal norms, but it felt a little out of nowhere. I know that I just love Emma R. Albans books but this story felt entirely too short for me. The book wrapped up in a neat little bow in the last four chapters and I wish we would’ve explored more of Isabel’s writing, the pairs friendship to Lord Gleece, Louis and Lady Claire’s relationship, how no one freaked out that they switched bodies, how Lila and Isabel’s parents reacted to them becoming working class women together. I could go on and on about how much more of this book I wanted. One more round of applause for a great book from Emma R. Alban. I look forward to your next queer regency romance!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!

As much as I really wanted to love Your Lips on Mine, unfortunately, it fell a bit short for me. I think the premise is incredibly fun, a sapphic Regency body-swap romance involving two former best friends, but there were a few choices that made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.

For me, the opening chapter set a tone that didn’t quite match the rest of the novel. I kept thinking that Isabel and Lila seemed like two people who should still have been friends leading into the next chapter, which made the rivalry that followed feel somewhat forced. I almost would have preferred starting the story with them already established as rivals and revealing the history of their friendship organically throughout the novel. Even more interesting to me would have been making them childhood rivals from the beginning, which might have made their dynamic feel more natural.

I also struggled with how long the body swap lasted. While I loved the initial premise, the swap eventually became confusing, and I found myself spending too much time trying to keep track of who was where, who was doing what, and which body each character was currently seeing/interacting with. With a body-swap story, I want to be immersed in the characters’ experiences rather than constantly stopping to mentally untangle the logistics. I think ending the swap much earlier—perhaps around 80% into the book—would have given us more time to see Isabel and Lila return to their own bodies and experience falling in love with each other from their own perspectives. That was the part of the story I was most interested in, and I felt like we didn’t get enough of it.

I also struggled with the ending. The decision to turn down what seemed like a fairly straightforward marriage arrangement because they didn’t want to lie didn’t quite make sense to me, especially when the alternative was essentially to revisit the same proposal once Lord Gleese found someone else. I found myself questioning why that solution was considered preferable, and it took me out of the emotional payoff of the ending.

One storyline I really enjoyed, though, was Louis and his relationship with both Isabel and his sister Lila. His involvement brought some much-needed warmth to the story, and I thought those relationships were wholesome and lovely. I also wish Isabel and Lila had trusted a friend or family member with the truth about the body swap much earlier. Having someone else in their corner could have opened up some really fun possibilities and made the situation feel a little less isolated.

I even found myself wishing that getting struck by lightning a second time had been what caused them to switch back. It would have felt a little more fitting with the whimsical, over-the-top premise of the story.

Ultimately, I think Your Lips on Mine just wasn't quite the book for me. There are definitely elements I enjoyed, and I was compelled to keep reading because I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next. Unfortunately, the execution of the body-swap premise and the direction of the romance kept me from loving it as much as I had hoped. Still, I can absolutely see the appeal of this playful, unusual Regency romance for readers who enjoy a little magical chaos alongside their historical romance.

[Colleen Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Read if you like: sapphic historical romance, rivals to lovers, body swapping, found family, and self-discovery

Review:
Freaky Friday meets Bridgerton. This was such a fun concept, with the magic that ultimately changes Isabel and Lila back, of course, tied to the self-acceptance they had both struggled with all along.

I really enjoyed that nearly every pivotal character we meet is living in some version of a "closet." Each of them is hiding a piece of themselves and is only able to live more authentically once they find someone they feel safe enough to confide in about who they are or who they need to be. In the process, this ragtag group of Regency misfits creates their own version of found family.

There were places where the story fell a little flat for me, though. With a plot device as wild as switching bodies with someone who is not only your rival in the marriage mart but also the person who becomes your romantic interest, I don't think the story fully explored all the possibilities of its premise.

I especially wanted a stronger reason for Lady Warl's determination to keep Lila and Isabel apart for so many years. Did we ever really find out what that was? Was it just that she thought Lila was hurting Isabel's chances of finding a husband? I would have loved a backstory where Lady Warl suspected the romance between Lila and Isabel, maybe even before Lila and Isabel understood what was budding themselves, and tried to end it before it began. As written, her interference sometimes felt more like a generic hurdle than a conflict genuinely rooted in their history.

I also think there was a missed opportunity to create more tension around the body swap itself. I kept waiting for the people who knew Isabel and Lila best to start noticing that something was off, or perhaps for Lady Hall to become the one person who could see what was developing between them. Outside of the initial switch, there weren't enough of those moments to maintain the momentum the book established so well at the beginning.

One element that initially felt strange but ultimately became one of the most interesting parts of the book was how attracted Lila and Isabel were to their own likeness while switched. Most of the intimacy (and spice) we experience happens with Isabel in Lila's body and Lila in Isabel's. It took me a little while to understand why that worked for me, but eventually it clicked: in a lot of ways, this is the only way they can truly feel like they "have" each other. They've been kept apart for years, and the society they live in doesn't offer them an obvious future where they can openly be together. Through the switch, they get to experience a closeness and romantic connection they otherwise aren't allowed to express outwardly. What initially felt a little odd became surprisingly tender once I looked at it through that lens.

In a genre where we sometimes see the same stories over and over again, Your Lips on Mine was refreshing. I just wish the execution had pushed its wonderfully weird premise a little further.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew immediately that I needed to request this book when I saw the premise. Bodyswap is a trope I've read a lot. Not in a historical setting, though, so I was even more excited.

Is it weird to say my favorite part of this romance book wasn't the romance at all but the delightful found family that developed over time? Because, currently, that's my feeling. Seeing multiple friends supporting each other despite everything really touched my heart. I even liked Lord Gleece! Perhaps because it was clear that he had secrets too. And one of my absolute favorite scenes involved Lila's mother. For a bit there it seemed like it could only end terribly for her so I'm relieved that she had people in her corner in the end.

Lila and Isabel were interesting! I loved their banter, angst, the old wounds, all of it. But I couldn't help but feel that something was missing in terms of their chemistry? I was more invested in how they'd navigate each other's lives than how they'd be around each other romantically. Hard to say how much of that is due to my own preferences versus an actual flaw in the story, though.

Things fall apart a bit in the last third. The fantasy/supernatural elements were underexplored. Which wouldn't necessarily be a problem if it weren't one of the main conflicts of the book! I'm sure Emma R. Alban has good reasons for making the choices that she did but as a fantasy lover I had higher hopes.

Something I've been thinking about that I'm hoping might help some readers: Your Lips on Mine doesn't really do what I'd expect of the bodyswap trope in a romance. It's very sweet and wholesome. Unfortunately that means there's not much of the guilty-forbidden-messy tangle of desire when the characters are totally alone in their own rooms. There's no masturbation scenes while they think about the other (although we get close once). It's off-limits. And that's fine! I get that it's problematic so I was probably hoping for too much. But it's not what I personally want out of this trope. Isabel and Lila spend quite a bit of time admiring the other (which is good!) but it is a tad odd to find oneself attractive simply because you're not currently in your body. It's certainly not something I could relate to. Not saying it was wrong to write but more buildup before moving in that direction would have been nice, more sexy curiosity about the bodies they're trapped in before it went so hard in the direction it did. As it stands, it's a weirdly charming and adorable setup but not very hot because it mostly avoids the forbidden aspects that make this trope more intense and naughty (for me, others might prefer it this way).

I would recommend Your Lips on Mine to readers who enjoy sapphic historical novels (as long as you don't care if dialogue, etc, is anachronistic), former friends to rivals to lovers, found family, and Freaky Friday.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Emma R. Alban for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
First, thank you to Emma R. Alban, NetGalley, and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely love Emma R. Alban, so I was already very excited to read this one. Add in sapphic Bridgerton-era romance + body swapping + best friends to enemies to friends to lovers, and I was completely sold.

I really enjoyed Your Lips on Mine. The whole body-swap idea was so much fun, especially because Isabel and Lila already have so much history between them. They were once best friends, then became enemies, and now they're forced to literally live in each other's lives. Watching them slowly work through all of that was probably my favorite part of the book.

I also really loved how different their lives looked from the outside compared to what they were actually experiencing. They both have these expectations placed on them by their families and society, and neither of them always feels like they can completely be themselves. But when they're together, there's this sense that they can finally let their guard down. I really loved that about their relationship.

The friendship was honestly one of my favorite parts. I liked getting to see how they found their way back to each other after everything that happened between them. There was so much hurt and misunderstanding there, but also so much obvious care underneath it all. Watching that slowly come back was really sweet.
And the Regency setting was exactly what I wanted. I love historical romance, and Emma R. Alban's version of the marriage mart, gossiping society, family expectations, and all the drama that comes with it was so much fun. The fact that they're trying to navigate all of that while stuck in each other's bodies just made everything even more entertaining.

I also really appreciated the vulnerability between Isabel and Lila. They both spend so much time trying to fit into what their families expect of them, and I loved seeing them become the people with whom the other could actually be honest. There's something really special about finding someone who sees you when you feel like everyone else only sees the version of you they're expecting.

This ended up being a 4-star read for me. There were a few things that kept it from being a five-star read, but I still had such a fun time with it and absolutely loved the overall concept.

If you like sapphic historical romance, body swaps, former best friends finding their way back to each other, forced proximity, and a healthy dose of Regency-era drama, definitely put this one on your list.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars! I will absolutely read whatever Emma R. Alban writes next. She writes exactly the kind of queer romance I love, and I'm always going to be excited to pick up one of her books.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book, the body swapping takes a bit of getting used to, especially with the chapter titles, but I think that’s a part of this books many lessons, to separate the person from the body and just love. I love regency romances, and this is just as beautiful as Emma’s others, her writing truly is an ART. I do wish one day though there could be a sapphic regency romance that ends a different way, but I suppose that’s why queer people live so loudly now? Because they couldn’t.
Lila and Isabel are body swapped after being struck by lightning at the first ball of the season. Isabel and Lila used to be childhood best friends, BEST friends, before Isabel’s mother shipped her household off to ‘the continent’ to become a ‘proper woman’ a ‘perfect’ woman. Isabel’s mother is VILE, a disgusting person. It’s a HORID part of the story, heartbreaking to read, especially Lila’s realization that it is Isabel’s normal life that she lives with daily.
Anyway when Isabel returns for the first ball of the season the relationship her and Lila shared is obviously strained, if not none existent. So getting struck by lightning leading to them body swapping definitely isn’t an ideal situation, but it comes with a lot of realizations for both girls.
The concept of the body swap did have me Hesitating before I started reading, I thought it would be complicated and confusing, which it was, but it was in a BEAUTIFUL way. Isabel and Lila’s lives are both very different, and getting to see both of them experience each others home life and what it truly is to be each other is both literally heartbreaking and heartwarming. Isabel goes from having a horrible mother and being alone to having a mother she can laugh with and love and respect, with brothers, people who actually care about her, While Lila goes from that to having a horrible, unsupportive and cold mother with no siblings to look to for support, and a small and uncomfortable bedroom. It’s a lot for both of them obviously, but they have to make it work, they have no other choice, they have to live.
I LOVED the parts where they literally got to see themselves, to look at their own body and think “oh she’s pretty” and then realize they are talking about themselves? I also loved that they experienced the home lives of each other, that they realized it is hard for the other and things aren’t always as easy or happy and fine as they seem. This book truly is the embodiment of living your life in someone else’s shoes and seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes.
Okay time to talk ROMANCE!! This was also one of the things that had me hesitant before reading, my thoughts were ‘They are gonna… do themselves?’ And YES that sounds weird, but I PROMISE IT IS NOT!! It is SO beautiful (and HOT) The YEARNING is crazy throughout too, it’s SUCH an amazing read I am SO grateful for, OH AND THE REPRESENTATION!! EVERYTHING!!

[Cally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sapphic Regency version of Freaky Friday that I never knew I wanted. I've really enjoyed Alban's other novels and this is no exception. It's such a fun concept, and one that seems incredibly difficult to pull off correctly. I think Alban did a pretty good job in this adaptation, and kept things as realistic for the time period as they could be considering the predicament our characters found themselves in.

The romance itself was cute, involving a miscommunication trope and former friends-to enemies-to lovers. I was a big fan of their bickering banter, and while I was a bit weirded out by them finding themselves attractive, given the situation it was somewhat understandable and even sweet. Although, I did unfortunately find their chemistry lacking at times (perhaps due to the effort involved in ascertaining who was who) and I also wished there was a bit more flirting.

In terms of side characters, I found them both lovely and exasperating. Louis, Hannah, Claire and Lila's mother were all wonderful, and the side romance plot was perfection (at times overshadowing Isabel and Lila). However, I couldn't stand Gleece, or Isabel's mother for that matter. Although my dislike of them was clearly by design, I never really felt like they were redeemed by the end of the book. There is a big emphasis on found family in this book, and while it was so nice seeing all the characters come together by the end, my dislike of Gleece made it a bit more difficult to accept him as part of that family.

As well, this book takes a big element of the original Freaky Friday story (the mother and daughter having issues) and emphasizes it here, with our main characters dealing with each other's respective mothers, as well as their issues with one another. I found this part to be done incredibly well. With familial issues being such a core part of the original, I was so glad to see how they were included in this book, and the way dealing with their parents was able to bring them together. This element, maybe more than the body swap, really gave me that Freaky Friday feeling.

Overall, while this novel had a lot to take on, I think it did a pretty great job at capturing the classic Freaky Friday story and imagining it in a new setting and time. The romance was decent, the side characters were interesting and fleshed out, and the body swap was an exciting new element to a Regency romance. 4/5 stars.

[Stephieloohoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars

I really enjoy Emma's regency books and Your Lips on Mine is no exception. This a really fantastic book.

Both of our MCs are so different and unique, experiencing their own hardships since the dissolving of their friendship. I think one of the things Emma does so well is having us connect with her MCs. I adore both Lady Isabel and Miss Lila and my heart hurt for both of them for multiple reasons.

Lady Isabel was forced to give up her friendship with Lila (and her love of her) because she has terrible, controlling parents. We learn just how cruel her mother was during that five year gap, and when the girls swap bodies, how her mistreatment of Isabel continues.

Lila has a large, loving family, but struggles with stepping up to her father to help her mother get off of the laudanum treatments. We learn that she, essentially, had no one to confide in once she lost Isabel; forcing her to be the older sister and push through her family troubles and take care of everyone.

When both women finally have a heart to heart about what each experienced without the other, it really does break your heart because it could have been prevented, if it weren't for the jealousy and hate of another human.

Now, the found family aspect of YLoM is so well done. I genuinely loved every supporting character for both Lila and Isabel. They're a group of friends and family (new and old) that are willing to literally do anything for our MCs, including questionable, dangerous experiments lol

You might think it could be odd how the intimacy will play a roll since they're essentially making love with themselves (?) but it was done so well. Every moment leading up to our MCs first time together was beautiful. They start to see themselves in a new light; showing new appreciation and empowerment for how they look from the outside in. They are in love with the woman wearing their skin and it helps them to find new things to love and appreciate about themselves.

I think that's a huge underlying message in this book too: growth, empowerment, and learning to love things about yourself and how to go after what you want, instead of being forced to do what society says you should. I love that neither Lila nor Isabel wanted to give up their love and wants for the other, just to play it safe or be forced to marry.

I was curious how Emma was going to body swap our couple back and I'm glad it was with something a little less literal.

Once again, already looking forward to the next one.

[frances walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Your Lips on Mine" by Emma R. Alban is such a fun read! It is a Regency romance that follows Lila and Isabel, two former childhood best friends who accidentally body swap during the season that they are trying to win over the same guy... but they end up falling for each other!

It isn't often that a book makes me laugh out loud, but the shenanigans these characters get up to and the situations they find themselves in were just filled me with mischief and glee as I read! I really enjoyed this as I went in looking for a lighthearted read. Although there are more serious topics that are handled as such, the author does a great job of buoying the tone of the book with her sense of humor.

I have never read a "body swap" romance before and this was a great place to start. I really felt like they were swapped even though it happens pretty early into the book. Alban considers so many details of what it is like to live in a body and what suddenly living in a different one might feel like. She also thinks about how sexual and romantic attraction to people's selves and bodies works via the thought experiment of the body swap. I enjoyed this cleverness!

Another aspect I adored was the queer solidarity between characters who experience an array of forms of attraction. :)

My only con was a bit of repetitiveness in the thoughts and feelings of the characters. It is totally how people think... but I don't find it as fun to read! This is a bit of a personal pet peeve of mine though. I wish some of this time had been spent elaborating on the characters outside of their love for each other -- which is very important and central to the story!! -- but I wish I knew more about their hobbies, dreams, ways of thinking, etc.

Overall, this was a super fun read and I am excited that Alban has so many books out already to explore! Definitely snag this one when it comes out in January 2027 if you are looking for a fun, sapphic Regency romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Skylar · Rating 3 out of 5]

So cute, sweet, and queer with a delightful amount of yearning and teasing. I really enjoyed seeing Isabel and Lila’s relationship develop over time from childhood best friends to competitors on the market to lovers. In doing this, I think this book has two major lessons that add a lot of value to the story, the first being how Lila and Isabel did not think the other could last a day in their shoes and then were forced to live each other’s lives. It was interesting to see how their different personalities reacted with the others individual struggles. Secondly, they both learned to have more love for their bodies by seeing them from the other’s perspective, which was special to see. I also think the author did an exceptional job at writing tense scenes, specifically the opera scene, and I found the representation of different sexualities to be very refreshing. With this being said, there were some things I didn’t like about the book as well. I found the scenes where Lila and Isabel were around other people to be sometimes difficult to differentiate who was who just because the narrator and the two girls refer to each other using the internal voice but other people refer to the body so it is sometimes hard to keep up. Unfortunately, I did not like the last 4 chapters of the book at all. I didn’t prefer the ending that was chosen and I felt some of the conversations and situations towards the end were unnecessary or just too much of a stretch. Overall, this book does a body swap romance well, I just personally had some issues with it and didn’t fall in love with it as a result.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Emma R. Alban for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sam Rude · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romantic body swap is always a little dangerous. I’m a bit on edge hoping it doesn’t get creepy and I should have known that Alban would handle it with a deft hand. Body swapping is naturally a gimmick but I appreciate how it’s used here to give a little more. I enjoyed watching the characters kind of pull away layers and begin to really understand each other more deeply. While Isabel and Lila were very close childhood friends, the body swap really allows for each to understand the other. And it doesn’t just stop with the romantic leads, the unusual situation allows for Lila (and Isabel) to get closer to her brother in a way I appreciated. In fact, Louis (Lila’s brother) was great fun throughout and I really enjoyed his character and the ace/aro representation we get through him and his eventual fiancée.

A spice scene between two people who have swapped bodies could have been quite painful to read, and I won’t lie it was odd but I think Alban manages to pull it off especially if you just kind of don’t think about it to hard while you read. The best thing I think this body swap provides is a chance for both Isabel and Lila to see their own bodies in a positive way and they seemed to have more affinity towards their own body while watching their love wear it.

I will continue to pick up any book that Emma R. Alban is putting out and continue to expect to have a good time just like I did here! When it comes down to it, you know you’ll have a good time and leave the book with a smile on your face and isn’t that what we all need sometimes.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Advanced reader copy courtesy of NetGalley **

I have to admit, when I first read the blurb for this book I immediately knew it would either be really bad or really good. I am happy to report that it was amazing!!

I haven’t read much sapphic regency romance, but it is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I feel like this book really captured the best friends to enemies to lovers trope well. The body swapping gave a whole new definition to exploring yourself iykyk 🫣 I found all of the characters very lovable and especially appreciated seeing other sexualities represented.

I really enjoyed that the spice level stayed on theme with the time period but wasn’t completely closed door/off page. If you are looking for a sapphic regency romance with a bit of whimsy, comedy, and plenty of emotions I highly recommend giving this book a chance!

My highlights:

“She doesn’t know if she’s flattered or irritated. And then the bastard walks straight across the room and asks Lady Isabel to dance.”

“The thought passes through like a whisper. What if they were physical with each other? If they came at the same time, would— No. No, no, no. That’s not—she cannot suggest that.”

“No, it’s not that I don’t want a wife. I don’t want anyone.”

“No one will ever understand. I’ll never want anyone.”

“She wants to take her hand. She wants to kiss her. She wants to grovel at her feet for how she’s treated her for five years.”

“You know, there is one real benefit of being like this,” Isabel husks when they break apart. “I do know exactly what will make you feel good.”

“Would someone please tell me what in the absolute fuck is going on?”

[Fernanda Schwarz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good body-swap story, and combined with a historical setting, I can't remember the last time the premise of a book alone has made me this excited. Alas, the execution fell a little short for me, but I still had fun.

Let me start by pointing out what I loved here. It was so refreshing to see such a light-hearted historical queer romance, as most of the novels that fall under this category feature a lot of angst. This was my first novel from this author and I adored this spin on the genre (I wil definitely pick up some of her other works). Furthermore, the romance was very swoony, the MCs had great chemistry and the supporting characters were great to follow as well, especialy Louis. I also liked that this novel featured some heavier themes, especially surrounding sexuality and mental health, giving it a little more depth, without taking away the "feel-good" atmosphere of the story.

On the other hand, there were two things I disliked here. Firstly, the initial conflict between the two MCs didnt't make a lot of sense to me and I felt that the explanion given for why Lila and Isabel went from best friends to enemies was really shallow. Secondly, while I had a lot of fun innitially with the body-swapping, it became quite tiring to follow as the book went on and I often had to reread some parts because I was confused as to who was who.

Overall, this was truly a fun read and if you're looking for a light queer regency romance (with a twist), make sure to pick this up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

[lily ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for gifting me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!**

Emma R. Alban writes a sweeping regency romance like no other, and folks, she has done it again!

Spinning the classic regency romance trope on its head, Lila and Isabelle find themselves in a Freaky Friday situation where they have to figure out how to switch back before it’s too late, all while handling the marriage market with the looming threat of an arranged marriage lauded over them.

As always, the characters are some of Alban’s strongest work.

Lila and Isabelle’s relationship is messy and fun and ultimately very sweet. I’ve always been a sucker for the friends to ‘enemies’ to lovers trope, miscommunication really does make the world go round. The care that they have, not only for each other but also for their families, is really refreshing to read.

Not only is Alban phenomenal at developing our protagonists, every single side character feels as though they have a real purpose in this story and that it wouldn’t be complete without them. I absolutely adore the plot with Lila’s mother, and Louis’ side romance (huge to see asexual representation done so well). I look forward to what will hopefully become a second book about John’s romantic endeavors.

I foresee this book finding a place on my shelf right next to its predecessors come January, and would encourage anyone who loves a regency romance (or sapphic romance in general) to pick this book up, devour it, and then go enjoy all the rest of Emma R. Alban’s novels, as well.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of all of Emma R. Alban’s books! Such a sucker for a good queer regency romance and she always knows how to deliver! The minute I read this was going to be a Freaky Friday type body swap plot line, I knew I had to request to read it! At times I did get a little confused who was who but overall it was not distracting from the story! Lila and Isabel are childhood friends who go five years without speaking to each other! We do eventually find out that was not at all what Isabel wanted! Isabel’s mother and father are so horrid with how they treat her and I am so glad she ended up speaking her mind to them once she was back into her own body! I love that while they were both in each others bodies they were helping each other! With Isabel helping Lila’s mother and Lila helping secure Isabel a place with Claire! Their love for each other was beautiful! The friendship group of misfits who don’t fit how society wants them to be was one of my favorite aspects! I love that Lord Gleece ended up being a much better guy than he was first portrayed to be! And Louis and Claire were such cuties! Glad they found their just right person! This was very good and can’t wait to read whatever Emma puts out next

Thankful to have received an eARC from Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Emma R. Alban and Avon and Harper Voyager for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this body swapping romance featuring Lila and Isabel, two former friends who drifted apart for reasons that are not immediately clear, with distance also keeping them separated. When they unexpectedly find themselves in each other’s bodies, they are forced to experience each other’s lives firsthand. I liked how this allowed them to better understand one another and see the things they had been dealing with from a completely different perspective. It was also fun watching them slowly become close again and reconnect with the feelings they had been trying to ignore.

I especially enjoyed that the side characters played an important role in the story and felt like they added to Lila and Isabel’s journey rather than simply being there in the background. I also liked seeing them navigate their families pushing them both toward marrying the same man, despite neither of them actually wanting to marry him. Overall, this was a fun and heartfelt body swapping romance with a great second chance friendship at its center.

[VK Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review of Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley*

Your Lips on Mine is a sapphic regency era body swap romance novel. Lila and Isabel were best friends as children, but as they grew up they were forced apart by Isabel’s mother. Now they’re both out in society, both facing the same ultimatium - find a husband this season or else. Both women latch onto the same man, and while arguing at the first ball of the season they are struck by lightening and ,a la, freaky Friday, they switch bodies. They are forced back into each others lives to try to find answers. Their reunion brings to light many secrets they’ve kept from each other - including their mutual adoration.

This book centers around the relationship between Lila and Isabel, but there is so much more to it than that. It had discussions about the roles of women in society and the stressors placed on them - both of their own accord and by men. It also has a tremendous representation of found families - particularly in queer communities. There are lesbian, gay, asexual, and straight characters who all support each other in a beautiful way.

[Nana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc!!

Unfortunately I don’t think this was the book for me. I think I can officially say that regency fiction is not my favorite. The body swapping premise sounded so interesting but I honestly think that made my experience reading this worse.

I really struggled with telling the two girls apart and I often had to go back to the chapter title to figure out whose perspective I was reading. I also had to force myself to keep chugging along until about halfway through when I got to Louis’ romance. That’s honestly when things started to pick up for me and when I became more engaged. I also liked Gleece in the later half and the ending was quite sweet. The connection they had as a friend group was really cute and I enjoyed all of their interactions (Though I do wish Hannah’s fiancé was present too).

I think that this will appeal greatly to readers that are into regency romance and those who enjoy ex best friends to lovers!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma R. Alban continues her perfect streak of penning swoony, sapphic historical romances with her newest, Your Lips on Mine. This time with body swapping! Isabel and Lila used to be best friends until Isabel took a year long trip to the continent. When she came back, she avoided Lila at all costs. Now they're both debuting for the season, searching for husbands, and their eyes are set on the same man. But when they're both struck by lightning at a ball, they find they have switched bodies. Now they'll be forced to work together to find a solution. Will they be able to rekindle their old friendship? Or maybe something more?

This was so fun! It definitely was hard to keep track of who was who because there was so much interaction between the two, but after a while, I gave up trying to figure it out and just went with it. I recommend you do that as well because this is a super cute read.

[Claire B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so disappointed -- and somewhat surprised -- to report that I just did not love this book. I really enjoyed Don't Want You Like a Best Friend and Like in Love With You, and so I was expecting more of the same out of Your Lips on Mine, just with an additional narrative conceit (body swapping). The truth was, though, that I found it difficult to follow -- who was who and in which body? -- in a way that didn't allow me to experience the story as fully. I also found that this book made me *feel* less than the other two I mentioned before. I loved the Louis side plot, and would have loved for that -- or the Hannah plot or the moms' plot -- to be expanded more fully. Hopefully this one was a blip, and Emma Alban's queer Bridgerton-esque novels will continue to be great reads for me moving forward!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Your Lips on Mine follows Isabel and Lila, two ex-best friends who body-swap while on the marriage mart and come back together while trying to understand how they really feel about each other.

I really enjoyed this book! Both Lila and Isabel were fun and entertaining characters to read and I was always rooting for them to figure out their feelings. The side characters were also great, with Lila’s brother Louis in particular and I really loved the group of friends that ended up forming.

I did find it a little confusing sometimes with the body-swap to tell who was dealing with what situation or what the future consequences would be but it was still a super enjoying story and I was really excited to see how it ended.

Thank you again to Avon and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

[ebru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Your Lips on Mine is a tale of ex-best friends switching bodies, and being forced to navigate the ton's as each other, while hating the other's guts. This book had beautiful touches of gay love and a Freaky Friday concept.

Queer books set in this era feel hard to navigate through while giving the FMC the happy ending they deserve, but I think this book explored it very well. It is clear the author wanted to be true to the time period, but also give both the FMC's great resolutions. You just kept wishing, with each chapter, that the girls would just realize the issues the other one is facing, but once they realized that, it was soo satisfying. The author does tie almost everything up with a cute bow, and personally, I looooved the ending for both Louis and Claire.

[Kimberly Tellez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy reader from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely love this book! Finished it in a day and a half. I have yet to read one from this author that I have not loved. I love the Regency romance with body swapping. I love how the characters were immersed in each other’s family life. They came to understand one another better and become more connected on a different level. I think it helped them to see their perspective and see how much they actually missed in those five years when they were apart. I love the dual POV. Both of them thought their family life was perfect when that was not the case. The book constantly had me on edge and wondering what was going to happen next. Definitely recommend.
Pick up on release day January 5, 2027.

[Juniper Wohlford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Freaky Friday but make it sapphic? Sign me up! This was a really fun regency romance with a twist. I loved all the banter and different character dynamics. I've been a fan of all of Emma Alban's books so far and this one did not disappoint!

Isabel and Lila used to be best friends, but that hasn't been the case for 5 years. While fighting outside in a lightning storm they end up switching bodies. Isabel and Lila are then forced to truly understand each other from the inside out.

Your Lips on Mine by Emma R. Alban will be released on January 5, 2027 so keep your eye out for this one when it hits the shelves!

[bette perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you netgalley and Avon publishing for this arc.

out of mild curiosity has emma ever considered a career in comedy? because she 1000% should. this book had me cackling in places and i loved it from start to finish. a regency sapphic twist on freaky friday? i’m absolutely the target audience for this book. it can a bit tricky to do gay storylines in ye olden times, but emma consistently does it very well. characters feel fleshed out, representation doesn’t feel shoehorned in for the sake of it, and overall i love how light these books feel without getting super heavy. the slow burn leading up before the realization that ‘hey maybe i was wrong about her’ was so satisfying when they finally confessed. if you like wit, shenanigans, and charm you’ll love this book.