In You’re the Problem, It’s You, the companion novel to Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, Bobby Mason and James Demeroven are a mix of rivals and reluctant allies. Bobby, always second best and eager to prove himself, can’t stand the new Viscount James, who, despite his own struggles, appears infuriatingly perfect. Their clashes are frequent and fiery, but neither can deny the magnetic pull between them. Forced together by their matchmaking cousins and an extortion plot threatening their families, Bobby and James must navigate their growing attraction while trying not to drive each other mad—or into each other’s arms. Will they manage to save their reputations and find love along the way?
Ironically enough, I am in fact, the problem here. What do I mean by that? Well…If you’re a fan of the miscommunication trope, I advise you to not read this review and immediately pick up You’re the Problem, It’s You because it will certainly appeal to you and make your utter dreams come true.
If, however, you abhor no trope as much as this one…then you may find yourself sitting in the same boat with this book as I did. Please take this review with a grain of salt because I am known to DNF books with the miscommunication trope and truly, the only reason I somehow made it through this was because I loved the author’s debut so much and was holding out for the happily ever after, which I did get and which satisfyingly ties everything from the first book and where we left the characters there together.
I love a good misunderstanding that leads to some antagonism and both James and Bobby had that going for them in the beginning. They certainly don’t understand the other and basically tumble from one blunder into the next as they say things they don’t mean (well, initially) or opt for brash responses in a “I will hurt you before you hurt me, you fool” type of way. While this was fun in the first few initial meetings, it absolutely made me want to tear my hair out when it just continued that way for most of the story. It took up until 46% of the novel for them to have their first honest conversation—only to then immediately fall back into the same old pattern. Again, this comes down to personal preference because I’m sure many people love the back and forth, the will-they-won’t-they vibes, but for me to enjoy this I need to see some character and relationship growth, some grudging respect developing and here this just took way too long and prevented me from feeling connected to either of the men. While they do have very extensive inner monologue sections that give you insights into their feelings and actions, I would have wished for more connection and openness between the both of them so we saw what really connected Bobby and James beyond their mutual pining and attraction.
Now, this is not to say that this is a bad book. Alban knows how to create an atmospheric setting and offer characters that tug at your heartstrings, especially because of their flaws and the growth they do portray in large parts throughout the novel. Both James’ and Bobby’s vulnerability in the latter parts of the novel make their hard-earned happily ever after feel worthwhile and reminds you that love can conquer all. And while I think the focus on the previous couple’s relationship was a bit too present and took away some of the tension in the actual main characters and their romance*s arc, I still loved seeing what they were up to and closely connected their happily ever after was to Bobby and James’s.
While the overarching plot was quite intriguing and the history bits made for food for thought, some of the secondary characters, especially the two “villains” of the story did feel one-dimensional. There was no real character arc to them, they were very much just downright evil in a caricature-y way and even when they faced their righteous end, there isn’t much to be said for catharsis since it is pretty much swept under the rug instead of how it makes the characters feel. I would have wished for a bit more depth and exploration of their reasonings behind their actions and less of a “twirling their evil moustache while cackling evilly” routine. This, though, may also come down to the fact that I did find myself comparing this novel to its predecessor in terms of character development, so I was definitely at fault here.
This just goes to show that not every book will be for every reader and while I certainly will be a bit more on the lookout when it comes to miscommunication tropes being mentioned in the synopsis, I still know that Emma R. Alban is one of the freshest, engaging voices in historical romance fiction and is sure to be here to stay. So, if you’re a fan of the miscommunication trope, enjoy historical fiction that feels both timeless and atmospheric and enjoy will-they-won’t-they vibes, You’re the Problem, It’s You is for you!
You’re the Problem, It’s You is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 27th 2024.
Will you be picking up You’re the Problem, It’s You? Have you read it already? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
The enemies-to-lovers queer Victorian romance follow-up to Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, in which a young lord and a second son clash, but find themselves thrust together again and again by their meddling cousins.
“That man is, without a doubt, the absolute most obnoxious…
Bobby Mason is sick of being second: born the spare, never trusted with family responsibility, never expected to amount to much. He’s hungry to contribute something that matters, while all around him his peers are squandering their political and financial power, coasting through life. Which is exactly why he can’t stand the new Viscount Demeroven.
…insufferable…
James Demeroven, just come of age and into the Viscountcy, knows that he’s a disappointment. Keeping his head down and never raising anyone’s expectations is how he’s survived life with his stepfather. To quiet, careful James, Bobby Mason is a blazing comet in his endless night, even more alive than he was at Oxford when James crushed on him from afar. But Mason is also brash and recklessly unapologetic, destined to shatter the fragile safety of James’s world. Worst of all, he keeps rubbing James’s failures in his face.
…hottest man to ever walk the ton.”
They can barely get through a single conversation without tensions boiling over. Neither Bobby nor James has ever met a more intriguing, infuriating, infatuating man.
If only they could avoid each other entirely. Bad enough their (wonderful but determined) cousins Beth and Gwen keep conveniently setting up group outings. But when an extortionist starts targeting their families, threatening their reputations, Bobby and James must find a way to work together, without pushing each other’s buttons (or tearing them off) in the process…
