Like in Love with You, Emma R. Alban (Review by Skylar Wetzel)

If you are obsessed with the world and characters of Bridgerton and the Regency era, then you must add Emma R. Alban’s Like in Love with You to your list. When Lady Rosalie and Catherine both find themselves in competition for the attention of one boring Mr. Dean, they unexpectedly become rivals. What starts as frustration and tension soon evolves into a development of yearning and angst for each other. Lady Rosalie is left straining to control the narrative with the friends and family around her to hide this budding attraction, while Catherine is dragged throughout the Ton by her competitive mother, trying to navigate the intricacies of this new society and prevent further scandal and dishonor to her family name. Catherine is invited into Lady Rosalie’s friend clique, which is very much giving a softer version of Mean Girls energy.

This book was underly enchanting! Even though there was minimal spice, the buildup and slow burn between Catherine and Lady Rosalie left some explosive, racy scenes. Oh, do I feel scandalized! I loved how Alban created deep, dynamic female characters and truly explored all the relationships individually in their lives. One of my favorite things is when an author shows or leads you through a scene and allows the reader to create and discover all the pieces of the plot rather than being told. Alban was absolutely able to achieve this, and it left me feeling empathetic to both points of view in this book. The story is set in a world where both ladies’ sexual identity is not widely accepted and hidden. When it came time for Lady Rosalie and Catherine to slowly reveal this to their friends and family, the profound relationships the author created permit the reader to truly experience and feel every emotion, which I believe is one of the more beautiful experiences of this book.

If you’re in the mood for a punchy period piece or even a family rivals-to-lovers, then this is the book for you!