You're the Problem, It's You

Queer historical novel. Bobby and James, cousins, or step cousins? were at school together and run into each other again as young men. They live in a world where a same sex relationship is a source of terror. Being found out means being blackmailed or disgraced, losing everything - and all of these threaten Bobby and James. It's set mid 19C I think, or perhaps later.

Emma R Alban has used this terror to impel the story. I felt tension as if I were reading Horror! ... menace potentially around every corner. Nerve wracking and horrible! Yet balanced against this is a beautiful burgeoning love between two newly minted adults: the bolder, rash Bobby and the anxious, proper James.

I like the cover - it's why I selected this - not via a show more recommendation, which is usually how I select the next read. Not sure I "get" the rather odd title.

The audiobook is 12 hours, which is rather too long. But it is a delightful "horror" story, and I loved the narration by Will Watt and Chris Devon.

The HEA is what one always secretly hopes is possible - I wonder if it was?

I loved the writing and I will be reading more of Emma St Alban, whose name has not crossed my path before. She excelled at conveying the elation Bobby and James share when free to be themselves and love each other. It's that feeling I'll remember about this book. And for that I'm tempted to bestow 4.5 stars.

The book is warm of the press, not 5 months old! show less

This book can be read as a standalone historical romance, though I read it as a follow up to Don't want you like a best friend.

The romance between Bobby and James is rather well done, and I enjoyed the enemies-to-allies-to-lovers arc they had. As with the first in the series, I like how the author weaves political issues in Parliament into the story. I did personally like the first more, as I felt the antagonist was not quite as well developed in this one (Raverson seemed to just disappear after a point and wither away), but I had a great time reading it nonetheless, and would recommend this series to anyone interested in Queer Victorian Romance novels.

I didn't love this as much as the first book, but I think that's because I don't love the enemies-to-lovers trope. I did love the characters -- Bobby and James and the whole extended family (the good ones), and I love love love queer characters succeeding at found family and setting up safety for themselves. Very satisfying on that front. The one note that really felt off was the wedding scene -- is this supposed to be Victorian? Somehow I thought it was meant to be earlier, and the costumes described were really off for me. Especially given that there's a photographer? Eh, ok, I think it works as late Victorian. Anyway -- it is exactly as advertised, and that's sweet and infuriating and full of people fighting to care for each other. show more

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. show less

I was so excited to get my hands on You're the Problem, It's You! I absolutely loved Don't Want You Like a Best Friend and couldn't wait for this one.

The story itself was lovely and played so well. James Demeroven was a young man who never wanted a title and just wanted to stay in the countryside. Bobby Mason was the second son, the spare, and has absolutely no direction in life. There both lost souls in a way. The fact that they both had childhood traumas that made them incapable of communicating made the whole story better. I also found the fact that James has always been aware of Bobby but too intimidated to approach him absolutely adorable!

There is one aspect that annoyed me throughout the book and even when they had the 3rd act show more break up, which is, they all put too much blame on James shoulders. Yes, both Bobby and James were to blame for their miscommunication, but at the end of the day, Bobby had other people in his life. He has his brother, Meredith, his cousin, and uncle, and after the first novel, he has Beth and her mother too. Who does James have? No one! Yes, his mother is there, but it doesn't seem like she was really there for her son. His stepfather was able to emotionally, psychologically, and physically abuse him. James flinches away from Bobby in one scene EXPECTING TO BE HIT! James was running away and not talking to the people who cared but he's never had anyone in his life be on his side, and you can't expect him to flip that emotional switch on after only a few days in the country.

Okay, that was my only big gripe with the novel! I loved how the blackmailing scheme played out, Ravenson deserves everything he gets. I loved the fact that Gwen and Beth's plan to have fake marriages with each marrying the other's cousins actually happened. Not only that the idea works in the end, but also that each fake couple works well together too. With Bobby and Beth, they have such a wholesome love for each other that is too precious for words. And Gwen and James are so competitive that it's hilarious. They had a rocky start, but their camaraderie is great.

I won't give away anything with the epilogue, but to call it perfection would not be an exaggeration. show less

I think I was just not the audience for this particular book at this particular time.

The enemies to lovers trope came off too strong for me. I get uncomfortable when the love interests have a really strong vitriol for one another. And in this particular story one of the love interests just kept doubling down on his hurtful treatment of the other and that is a deal breaker for me. I can forgive an incident where someone says or does something hurtful because they were flustered or upset or didn't know something. But the repeated cruelty was too much for me. Life is too short to read books that make you unhappy.

I think this book would be great for people that love a strong enemies to lovers dynamic, appreciate really flawed and show more damaged characters, love the historical London setting with gentleman's clubs and Parliament. It had a great setting and good atmosphere, and I was interested to see what would happen. show less

3.5 stars

This was a sweet queer romance set during the Victorian era. Overall, I did enjoy it, though it got off to a bit of a slow start, partially due to some miscommunication between the two main characters. Bobby and James aren't exactly the biggest fans of each other at the moment, but the more they find themselves in each other's presence, the more they realize that they have more in common than not. The tension was high between them, and I loved it whenever their control would snap.

About halfway through, things began to pick up, and despite the fact that they came to a conclusion in the end that I figured out very early on, it still made for a perfect ending. I enjoyed the found/chosen family within the larger family that show more developed to support and protect each other.

I really did love Gwen and Beth as side characters. They were actually probably my favorite characters in the book. Even though I read this book without reading book 1, there weren't any issues keeping up with the story. If anything, it has me curious to go back and read the first book with Gwen and Beth's journey.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon for the advance reader copy! show less

"julia, did you read this in 2 days and rate it 4 stars?"
shut up. shut up. shut up it was cute and sappy and everyone got a happy ending and they made divorce legal and they rectified the medical system and they made orphanages and they let everyone be themselves OKAY?????? i got misty several times. i had fun. i love beth and gwen and bobby and james okay. bridgerton you are DUST