Book Review: Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

📝 What is Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend About?:

Beth has one season to find a wealthy husband, but her friend Gwen has a different plan—matchmaking their widowed parents instead. Despite their parents’ mutual dislike, Gwen is determined to make the scheme work, all while a wealthy viscount begins courting Beth. As their plan unfolds, Beth realizes she’s fallen for Gwen, complicating both their friendship and the matchmaking plot.

📚 Genre: romance

🎧 Format: E-Book

💞 Feels: ⭐⭐⭐

I liked that there were two love stories in this book. Typical of my k-drama obsession, I enjoyed the second couple more. The first couple, Gwen and Beth, seemed rushed. They had to go from being, strangers, to friends, to lovers in a very quick succession of events. This was not a slow burn for Gwen and Beth; probably because they’re splitting their story with another couple and the “third act” resolution takes up a lot of real estate.

The second couple was a second chance romance, so it was more about finding out why they’d separated in the past and seeing how they would get back together. I found the second chance romance much more interesting. There was tension and attraction from both sides. A lot of the time it felt like Gwen had definitely fallen first and Beth was just happy to have a friend. That may have just been Beth being cautious and not realizing her true feelings as quickly as Gwen.

I was happy to see Gwen and Beth’s immediate families were very open minded and loving. Definitely seems fantastical for this time period, but I love the change. The solution to their same-sex partnership within this society was telegraphed. I wish there’d been a way for them to realize it without me noticing the foreshadowing early on in the book.

Getting technical

While I did find the solution obvious; it was just a matter of seeing how everything would come to a head. I can’t always predict what is going to blow up these relationships. And this one was quite annoying…so it was perfect for this victorian timeline. I was happy for the easy resolution to the story.

I’m trying to think about what makes me love Jane Austen. There are more dramatics to Austen tales, than this one. No one was really upset for long enough for me to feel upset or worried for them. But that might be because of the POV switch and being told more than shown how upset characters were. Only one seen really showed how sad the Havenforts were. But how often can you show them drunkenly heartbroken before they start to need an intervention.

I hope the next book has a little more emotion. From the epilogue it seems like James is already in love, so that’s a good start. And it’s another matchmaking plot! I enjoyed the matchmaking of the second couple, so maybe I’ll enjoy this next book better so I can see the POV of the couple being set up instead of the couple doing the matchmaking.

You’ll like this book, if…

You’ll like this book, if you’re a fan of Jane Austen romance novels, Bridgerton or books with a happily ever after.

✅ Spinoff novella nomination:

I want a prequel spinoff of Lady Demeroven and Lord Havenfort when they courted the first time.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments.

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