Book Review: More Than A Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

‘More Than A Best Friend’ is a sapphic parent-trap story set in regency England.

I really enjoyed getting to know Beth and Gwen as characters, and how their dynamic evolved as they conspired to avoid the marriage market by getting their parents together, however, I found myself invested in their romance, and the struggles they had in order to keep it under wraps.

The character development between Beth and her mother, Cordelia, was incredibly poignant, and evocative. Throughout the book, Beth’s dissatisfaction with the hand she had been dealt rubbed her mother the wrong way, and with the exploration of what the meaning of a marriage is among regency society allowed readers to put themselves in the shoes of the characters, as in other regency era romances, it is not uncommon to read stories about the marriage market producing genuine love matches. The fact that Alban was able to subvert this by critiquing the heteronormativity of the era, and the institution of marriage and being a debutante was fantastic and refreshing, whilst still evoking the same compelling and interesting aspects of a regency era romance readers come to expect.

I loved the range of events that we were able to get a glimpse into, as most of the ones in books such as ‘Bridgerton’ are limited primarily to balls. In this book, we explore the world of gambling and the extent to which debts can destroy a family’s reputation through Gwen’s eyes, as she witnesses the ruin of her maternal cousin’s family fortune and status among society.

I enjoyed this book, and devoured it. The romance was intimate and sweet, and I loved the pining and yearning that Alban wrote. However, I did have one criticism of the book, and that was the relationship between Cordelia and Dashiell, since I was convinced they had bonded over their own queerness, and was thus, rather disappointed that I had misinterpreted their closeness, particularly at the beginning, as love needn’t solely consist of romantic love, and I was stubbornly keeping my fingers crossed.

My main qualm with the ending was how it was clear by the ending that Gwen and Beth would not be saved by a lavender marriage between their parents. I feel like the relationship between their parents was complicated and nuanced and while I found myself forgetting, especially after finishing the book, how Beth and Gwen managed to specifically acquire their peace to be together unabashedly, it was a point I would have rather had remain forgotten, since the tabboo element of step-siblings being romantically involved, even through the guise of the era wasn’t something I was eager to explore with more thought.

Even still, I did enjoy this romance, and think it was a fun book to read. It wouldn’t necessarily be my first recommendation, but it was certainly fun to read.