You're the Problem, It's You: A Novel, The Mischief & Matchmaking Series Book 2 By Emma R. Alban

In the queer Victorian romance The Spare and the Viscount, a follow-up to Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, the stage is set for an explosive enemies-to-lovers tale. Bobby Mason has always been the second son, overlooked and underestimated, yearning to prove his worth in a world where his peers waste their privilege. His frustration finds a target in James Demeroven, the newly titled Viscount, whose quiet demeanor and disappointing past make him the perfect embodiment of everything Bobby despises.

James, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his shortcomings. He’s spent his life trying to avoid conflict and stay out of the spotlight, a survival strategy developed under the watchful eye of a harsh stepfather. But Bobby Mason, with his fiery personality and unrelenting ambition, is impossible to ignore. James remembers Bobby from their Oxford days, where he admired him from a distance—though now, that admiration is tinged with irritation and a rekindled attraction.

Their interactions are filled with sharp words and heated glances, as they clash at every turn. Unfortunately for them, their matchmaking cousins, Beth and Gwen, refuse to let them stay apart, constantly arranging social outings that force them together. But when an extortionist threatens both their families’ reputations, Bobby and James must set aside their differences and work together to uncover the culprit.

As the tension between them escalates, so does their mutual desire, making it increasingly difficult to separate their animosity from their growing affection. The Spare and the Viscount is a captivating tale of passion, pride, and the fine line between love and hate.