Don't Want You Like a Best Friend
- Downloads：6998
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2024-01-13 07:21:43
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Emma R. Alban
- ISBN：B0CG2YCQV6
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
aashna
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buildup was a bit nonexistent and this kinda felt like a contemporary romance that just happened to be set in the 1850s but i had a good time
Han
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Sapphic Bridgerton meets Parent Trap？？ GIMME GIMME！ br with my bb， lila 💕
Drache。。。。 （Angelika）
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2，25 stars。 My review is going to have two parts。 PART 1 - complaints in terms of historical romance。 I might be biased by my favorite （mf） hr authors Mimi Mathews， Mary Balogh， Anne Gracie， Kate Harper or Martha Keyes， but the writing style in this book is totally different from those authors' books， and very much modern。 The whole feeling of the book is that of a contemporary romance。 The story takes place in 1857 says the first chapter。 But the author uses many words/terms usually not used in 2，25 stars。 My review is going to have two parts。 PART 1 - complaints in terms of historical romance。 I might be biased by my favorite （mf） hr authors Mimi Mathews， Mary Balogh， Anne Gracie， Kate Harper or Martha Keyes， but the writing style in this book is totally different from those authors' books， and very much modern。 The whole feeling of the book is that of a contemporary romance。 The story takes place in 1857 says the first chapter。 But the author uses many words/terms usually not used in hr。 "Yeah" for example， Merriam-Webster says it's first been used in 1863， other sites say it's been used from 1905 on and originated in American English。 According to Merriam-Webster， "chummy" was first used in 1884， "lifestyle" was first used in 1915， "gelato" was first used in 1929， and so on。 The girls drink constantly wine， champagne， brandy， scotch and whiskey at the balls and other formal occasions， but in hr I never encountered that， weren't girls just allowed to drink ratafia and forbidden to drink anything stronger？ Then there was a scene where their widowed parents were feeding each other oysters in a restaurant？ In 1857？ Everything felt so very casual and pulled out of the historical context。BUT since the blurb explicitely says "A swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance （。。。） the lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap you never knew you needed！" I guess maybe the author deliberately chose to write a contemporary romance set in 1857 for readers who haven't a full library of historical romances to compare this book to？ And didn't just too little research？ I would have loved a heads-up or note at the beginning of the book to clarify it， though （then I would have been able to stay in the story）。 PART 2 （the storyline， very mild spoilers） The first 60% of the story were sweet and it was lovely to watch the two MCs Beth and Gwen falling in love。 Although I understood where Beth was coming from emotionally， I felt really bad for how long she accepted Lord Montson's courtship， because he was a nice person and didn't deserve her lies。 When the sort-of third act break up at 60% occured， I didn't understand why the girls suddenly didn't think anymore of their initial plan for Beth and her mother to be safe without Beth having to marry？ The possibility of Gwen's father marrying Beth's mother had been for the first 50% of the book the main goal for the girls， getting their parents to fall in love。 Suddenly between page 220 and 285 they forgot all about that？ Gwen's father getting drunk with Gwen at a ball （Gwen vomiting afterwards from the carriage's door） and both getting drunk together a few days later at a horse race （Gwen vomiting afterwards at home on the stairs） was a very strange and cringey choice， too， during those 65 pages。But yeah， fast forward 65 pages of pining and suffering and sadness for all 4 of them and drinking for 2 of them， suddenly the girls remember what had always been their goal！！ Make it make sense please （beside the obvious need to lengthen the book） *insert eye roll*。 The end of the book was drama， drama， drama。 Disappointing。 Tldr: contemporary YA FF romance disguised as historical romance。 Sweet falling in love first half， OTT dramatic will-they-won't they second half of the book。I'm not anymore curious about the second installment （although the epilogue tried very hard to set the scene for it）。 。。。more
Marthabethan
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This was such a fun read！ I love a historical romance and this sapphic one was fab。 I loved the parent trap vibes and seeing their parents fall in love was so adorable。 I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about step siblings romance， but where they weren’t childhood step siblings and they matchmaked their parents， I enjoyed it and it was cute！ Definitely want to read the sequel when it’s out and I’m intrigued to see how it unwinds。
Toya （thereadingchemist）
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Parent Trap meets Bridgerton but make it sapphic is the perfect description for this book， and I adored it！
Maddy Vogel
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A very cute， promising debut！ I look forward to this author's next books。 Hopefully they're all sapphic， because we really need more queer historical romances！I did find a few issues with this one -- mostly around pacing and extraneous plot。 The romance was very cute， and had a bit of a parent trap vibe with both the parents and girls falling in love。 However， the middle dragged a bit， and didn't add much。Also， just a note to authors of sapphic romance -- please give the two women names that don A very cute， promising debut！ I look forward to this author's next books。 Hopefully they're all sapphic， because we really need more queer historical romances！I did find a few issues with this one -- mostly around pacing and extraneous plot。 The romance was very cute， and had a bit of a parent trap vibe with both the parents and girls falling in love。 However， the middle dragged a bit， and didn't add much。Also， just a note to authors of sapphic romance -- please give the two women names that don't sort of sound the same！ Gwen and Beth are similar names in tone and length。 It got a little confusing to remember who was who。 。。。more
Rose
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When Best Friends becomes First Love。 A sweet， slow-burn， sapphic romance with all the swooning， spice and parent trap vibes！ （Plus the most beautiful cover design by Leni Kauffman ♡）Set in the 1800’s， this story shows ‘love is love’ in any time or place。With thanks to NetGalley， Emma R。 Alban & Penguin for the ARC of ‘More than a Best Friend。’
Dana
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{3。5 stars}This is a typical regency romance with a queer twist。 I liked the political discussions of the Marriage Act and what that meant for relationships between men and women。 I liked the plucky girls who were trying to be together despite the conventions of the world。I struggled with the lack of tension。 I needed more banter。 I wanted more information about the parent’s history。All in all an entertaining read and important for books like this to show that queerness has always been around an {3。5 stars}This is a typical regency romance with a queer twist。 I liked the political discussions of the Marriage Act and what that meant for relationships between men and women。 I liked the plucky girls who were trying to be together despite the conventions of the world。I struggled with the lack of tension。 I needed more banter。 I wanted more information about the parent’s history。All in all an entertaining read and important for books like this to show that queerness has always been around and that love is love。Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for gifted access via Netgalley。 All opinions above are my own。 。。。more
Maria
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I'm not a huge fan of the main characters being in love with each other and then eventually becoming step sisters。 I get that they didn't grow up together and don't have a familial bond with one another， but they're about to share a half sibling。 It just felt a little odd to me。 I'm not a huge fan of the main characters being in love with each other and then eventually becoming step sisters。 I get that they didn't grow up together and don't have a familial bond with one another， but they're about to share a half sibling。 It just felt a little odd to me。 。。。more
Devon
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I absolutely adored this book and am so delighted that there will be another installation from this author in due time。 This was everything that I've ever wanted in a Sapphic Regency esq novel and I truly loved following Gwen and Beth's journey。 On top of having a glorious relationship between the two of them， it was wonderful to also have the opportunity to fall in love with the other characters and their respective relationships to Beth and Gwen。 The familial love and unconditional sacrifice s I absolutely adored this book and am so delighted that there will be another installation from this author in due time。 This was everything that I've ever wanted in a Sapphic Regency esq novel and I truly loved following Gwen and Beth's journey。 On top of having a glorious relationship between the two of them， it was wonderful to also have the opportunity to fall in love with the other characters and their respective relationships to Beth and Gwen。 The familial love and unconditional sacrifice shown between mother and daughter and father and daughter was beautifully explored， and I really appreciated their family dynamics。 Not to mention that Dasshiel and Albie were spectacular characters and it was truly lovely to read their support and adoration for Gwen。 I also really enjoyed the exchange of perspectives throughout the story。 Looking forward to more！ 。。。more
Mehek Naresh
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This book is so cute。 I rarely re read books， but this I'd pick up again and again This book is so cute。 I rarely re read books， but this I'd pick up again and again 。。。more
Kathryn Crowley
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I always have trouble reading old timey historical romance because my brain doeant understand half of whats going on， but what I did understand is how emma and gwen feel about each other。 And its beautifully painful。 Living in that era and being in love with a woman。 When i think of reading or actually do I can never see how it would have a happy ending but it happened。 It also made me want to read more historical romancesAbout half way through this book i was giggling and kicking my feet。 The t I always have trouble reading old timey historical romance because my brain doeant understand half of whats going on， but what I did understand is how emma and gwen feel about each other。 And its beautifully painful。 Living in that era and being in love with a woman。 When i think of reading or actually do I can never see how it would have a happy ending but it happened。 It also made me want to read more historical romancesAbout half way through this book i was giggling and kicking my feet。 The toaster oven was absolutely flawless。 They way Alban uses words to describe their feelings resonated in my heart。 Brought some new life to me。 However I did also cry。 Feeling fictional heartbreak always hurts but this one。 damn i felt no hope。 Gwen is bold， energetic and lively。 Shes very outspoken and not regarded in the same manner as the other debutantes。 Shes not interested in finding a husband。 She just wants to hang out with her best friend。 Emma is more shy and reserved than Gwen as its her first year。 She doesnt necessarily want a husband so much as need one。 With gwen by her side helping her find one it seems like it will be okay。 Until they both she realizes none of the men make her feel the way gwen does。 I truly do like how respectful of a man lord montson is but obviously i wasnt rooting for him。 PLUS the cousins。 OH MY GOD。 。。。more
Ruvi
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A perfectly fine book， with perfectly fine characters and bland， non-descriptive prose。 Something about the way this author writes is just so unspecific that it never evoked anything in me。 All of the major movements from friendship to attraction to romantic pining seemed to happen off page， so I couldn't really invest in Gwen and Beth's relationship。 But Lady Demeroven and Lord Havenfort？？ That was the real love story here， and I almost wish we had a novel about them。 A perfectly fine book， with perfectly fine characters and bland， non-descriptive prose。 Something about the way this author writes is just so unspecific that it never evoked anything in me。 All of the major movements from friendship to attraction to romantic pining seemed to happen off page， so I couldn't really invest in Gwen and Beth's relationship。 But Lady Demeroven and Lord Havenfort？？ That was the real love story here， and I almost wish we had a novel about them。 。。。more
Meliza
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 it’s exactly what it says it is， nothing more nothing less cute but simple， kinda basic but whateverso it’s not super historically accurate but i never expected it to be lol
Kelsey Rhodes
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4。75/5 stars！ I was so excited to get a copy of this ARC to read， as I have heard of a few book box subscriptions covering this book。 I also fully support that we need more queer historical romance novels。 The cover of this book is kind of a snooze， but thankfully the story lived up to all the hype。 This book fulfilled every historical romance niche， while also offering the enchantment of a young debutante and a self-shelved spinster falling in love。 Give me 573 sequels please！ <3 I received a f 4。75/5 stars！ I was so excited to get a copy of this ARC to read， as I have heard of a few book box subscriptions covering this book。 I also fully support that we need more queer historical romance novels。 The cover of this book is kind of a snooze， but thankfully the story lived up to all the hype。 This book fulfilled every historical romance niche， while also offering the enchantment of a young debutante and a self-shelved spinster falling in love。 Give me 573 sequels please！ <3 I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review 。。。more
Emily
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cute little romance！ nothing special but not bad！ will def read the rest of the books in the series！
Arushi
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Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book！I’m glad to have read this because this was an anticipated read for me but I think I was not the intended audience for this premise。 The writing was good， I really like the characters individually but I just couldn’t get behind some of the dynamics between a few characters。 I am intrigued by the sequel so will pick that up when it comes out。
Olivia
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4。25*， would read about horny lesbians over my dissertation any day。 super excited for the sequel
Jayla Jones
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this really is lesbian bridgetown meets parent trap and its so fun and happy！ 🤩
Angela
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2。5
mia nigro
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this had me kicking my feet， it was so cute
vera
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let's go lesbians ！！ let's go lesbians ！！ 。。。more
briar ˚୨୧⋆｡˚
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3。85 ★。 god， i love gay people。
Sol
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GAY GAY HOMOSEXUAL more thoughts to come hopefully， don't hold me on that GAY GAY HOMOSEXUAL more thoughts to come hopefully， don't hold me on that 。。。more
abi
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there aren’t enough queer historical romances！！！alsoSAY MY NAME AND EVERYTHING JUST STOPS！！！
Brittney
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FIVE STARS。 FIVE STARS。 FIVE STARS。 FIVE STARS。 WHAT A DEBUT！ Alban knocked it out of the park with this quiet and sparkling sapphic Parent Trap x Bridgerton historical romance。 I refuse to give anything away but I LOVED IT AND CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT。
Shannon
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A gorgeous purple Leni Kaufman cover， an incredibly well written historical fiction Sapphic romance debut with tons of mutual pining， a great Parent trap secondary plot and an overall beautiful queer New Adult love story。 Give me more please！！ I'm so excited this is the first in a new series。 I can't wait for the second book！！ Highly recommended for fans of Lex Croucher or Amalie Howard。 Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review！！CW: so A gorgeous purple Leni Kaufman cover， an incredibly well written historical fiction Sapphic romance debut with tons of mutual pining， a great Parent trap secondary plot and an overall beautiful queer New Adult love story。 Give me more please！！ I'm so excited this is the first in a new series。 I can't wait for the second book！！ Highly recommended for fans of Lex Croucher or Amalie Howard。 Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review！！CW: some excessive drinking 。。。more
Victoria B
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Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of this book。This was probably the best book I could have selected for 2024。 It was so cute， funny， and steamy。 Gwen and Beth are a an absolute unit。 I found myself chuckling along with their banter and emotionally invested in their entire ridiculous plotting。 Absolutely loved this one。
Ali
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Such a beautiful and lovely queer， historical romance！
Jamie （TheRebelliousReader）
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