Review by Booklist Review
Bobby Mason is more than happy to show James Demeroven around London. But as soon as he actually meets James, Bobby wants nothing to do with the no-fun-allowed, buttoned-up grump. After spending most of his years at Oxford dreaming about Bobby, James can't believe his luck when fate brings Bobby back into his orbit. The problem is that Bobby's devil-may-care approach to life and love is the exact opposite of the carefully curated, extremely circumspect way James chooses to live and love. However, when an old college acquaintance of Bobby's threatens to destroy both Bobby's and James' lives, the two team up to stop him. With the latest deftly fashioned addition to her Victorian-set Mischief & Matchmaking series, Alban (Don't Want You Like a Best Friend, 2024) gives readers a fiercely romantic, splendidly sensual romance. This love story not only delivers memorable moments of wit and whimsy (a game of Spot the Scion, anyone?), but also, with great grace and incredible insight, perfectly captures the inexplicable joy that comes from finding a place where you belong and a group of people who love you just the way you are.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Viscount James Demerovan has been bullied by his stepfather since childhood. When James inherits the viscountcy, his uncle seizes his responsibilities and power, and James allows it, believing he will always be the disappointment his stepfather predicted. Meanwhile, Bobby Mason has always wanted to make a difference in politics, but as the second son, he's relegated to the sidelines. When he and James meet, there's an instant attraction between them. However, James is terrified by Bobby's incautious nature, while Bobby is frustrated by James's meek behavior. Only once James escapes London's critical eye by visiting the Mason family in the countryside, can James relax, letting Bobby see James for who he truly is. When an old romantic acquaintance of James's blackmails both Bobby and James, they team up with each other and their families to outsmart him. VERDICT Readers should start with book one in the series, Don't Want You Like a Best Friend, as Beth and Gwen from that novel play starring roles in Bobby and James's romance. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing the reluctant heroes maturing and taking responsibility thanks to unconditional love from supportive members of their family.--Eve Stano
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A lord and a viscount walk into a gay bar. Bobby Mason and James Demeroven attended Oxford at the same time, and when they meet at the start of another London season, that appears to be all they have in common. Bobby, second son of the late Viscount Mason, is desperate to be involved in politics but stuck in the aimless role of the spare. On the other hand, James, newly old enough to take on the duties of his role as Viscount Demeroven, is too beaten down by a lifetime of belittling from his stepfather to contribute in the House of Lords. James actually had a crush from afar on Bobby while they were in school, and though Bobby doesn't remember him at all, it's surprising they didn't meet earlier, as both discovered at Oxford that they are "men of a certain persuasion." Now, family and social obligations keep forcing them side by side, but their distaste for each other quickly repels them. That is, until they find each other at "Thomas Parker's infamous club" for men of their persuasion and discover that they actually do have something else in common, which in time develops into an intense mutual attraction beyond what either has experienced. But in Victorian London, even among understanding friends and family, there are no happy endings for two noblemen who fall in love, unless someone can find a clever solution. This sequel builds directly on the plot of Alban's first volume, Don't Want You Like a Best Friend (2024), and fans of Gwen and Beth will be happy to see them prominently featured in this story as well. Unfortunately, readers will have to slog through a slow start and convoluted plot to get to the point where the heroes go from (sort of) enemies to lovers, but it's worth it to see the chemistry between the two catch fire in a well-drawn and compelling way. Though there's an abrupt shift to a slightly sappy ending with the help of lavender marriages, Alban hits the final mark with a historically accurate possibility for everyone's HEA. An uneven but ultimately charming queer historical romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
