I love any books that revolve around TV and/or Hollywood, so I was very eager and excited to pick up MOST HATED by Kara Alloway. I loved it just as much as I love the gorgeous pink cover!

I was super interested in this book, but it fell kind of flat for me. I'm not the biggest fan of reality TV, but I don't completely hate it. This book was tough to get through. The characters didn't capture me and were mostly infuriating- very one-dimensional. If you like reality TV give this book a try, I was just not the intended audience.

THIS is the epitiome of a guilty pleasure....just as the show it is based off of. Prior to 2021, my big flex was that I had watched every season of every city of Real Housewives. This book was MADE for me. Also, is this REALLY how things go behind the scenes?!?! I absolutely loved hearing Alloway's voice in the making of this reality show. Also, everyone must have a favorite...mine is Sabrina!

It was a fun ride with the girls. I liked the idea and the characters a lot. It’s one of those reads when you want something light and funny and glamourous.

📚: Most Hated by Kara Alloway
⭐️: 3/5

The gist: The TV show UnREAL, but with Real Housewives as the setting — and a bit of a darker twist by the end.

The good: I am what one may call a Real Housewives aficionado — and that’s what drew me into this book initially. Ultimately, this read landed average, at best, with a cast of characters a bit less likable (or love to hate-able) than real life RHONY.

The eh: Despite this being a short read (less than 300 pages), it took awhile to get through. Whether it’s its pacing, character development, a twist at the end that landed flat, or a combination of all three, I’ll take an actual Real Housewives marathon on Bravo instead.

Thanks to re: books via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.


Most hated had my attention because of the title and then cover, when I read the premises I was sold. This have my some desperate housewives or sex and the City vibes. I love the women who give head on in this tough world, well not love to be honest but I admire them.

This was a good read. Fun to read and lots of drama to watch and enjoy with some popcorns.

This was a fun, drama-filled exploration of reality TV for anyone who either loves reality shows or watches them as their guilty pleasure. Some of the characters seemed unrealistically naive, but that checks out for the type of reality show it's trying to portray. It was a fun book, though not my usual drama.

Well, well, well, welcome to the glamorous world of reality TV where everything's scripted, and the drama's as fake as my enthusiasm for kale smoothies. Kara Alloway's "Most Hated" takes us on a wild ride through the lives of three women who are trying to make it big in the cutthroat world of television, and let me tell you, it's like watching a train wreck in sequined dresses.

First up, we have Zoe, the producer extraordinaire who's more focused on making her show the juiciest gossip on the block than on, you know, actual reality. With her passion for drama and her knack for stirring the pot, she's like the Gordon Ramsay of reality TV, but with less yelling and more eye rolls.

Then there's Dahlia, who's convinced she's living the dream with her NFL-hottie husband until the cameras start rolling and her life turns into a soap opera on steroids. It's like watching "Days of Our Lives," but with fewer evil twins and more touchdown dances.

And let's not forget Sabrina, aka "The Countess of Controversy," whose life takes a nosedive faster than you can say "reality TV curse." With her beautiful family and a title to boot, she's the envy of every Instagram influencer until her world comes crashing down faster than her follower count during a Twitter purge.

Ah, so it's like watching a reality TV marathon on a rainy Sunday afternoon – a guilty pleasure that you can't help but indulge in, even if it drags on a bit longer than you'd like. "Most Hated" may have its moments of dragging, like waiting for the next dramatic reveal in a show that just won't get to the point, but hey, sometimes the journey is just as entertaining as the destination.

So, even if "Most Hated" takes its sweet time getting to the good stuff, stick with it. Who knows, you might just find yourself hooked on the drama, the intrigue, and the outrageous antics of its characters. After all, isn't that what reality TV – and a good book – is all about?

Thank you NetGalley and Rebooks for this advanced copy! I truly appreciate it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Let me preface this by saying that I don’t watch reality TV, I don’t enjoy it, I don’t find it worth my time (unless it’s like, cooking competitions). I picked this book precisely because of that, as I thought it would be an interesting exploration of the genre (which was implied in the blurb). Especially after I found out the author was a former reality TV participant.

Unfortunately, instead of the literary fiction I expected, I just found it to be rather shallow “chick lit”, a term I don’t even like using.

Six women join a “docu-soap” showcasing the lifestyle of the rich and glam. For Dahlia and Sabrina, as well as producer Zoe, this is also a chance at reinvention. These are the three POVs into which the book is split, though only one of them is in the first person. This seems like a random choice, but considering the frustrating misuse or lack of commas as well as sentences that didn’t make much sense to me, I’m once again pointing at editors.

The women get to know each other, their interactions and social events are scripted, and Zoe plays some really ugly tricks to amp up the drama, which include instigating catty fights and straight up roofing their drinks.

While the story deals with misogyny, in particular the treatment of women in the public eye and the media, and internalized sexism that makes women see each other as competition, it did so in the most obvious, cartoonish ways possible. The character of Zoe, for example, is described as “ugly”, someone who isn’t particularly smart, unsociable… even her parents don’t like her! At first she’s positioned as someone who couldn’t care less about all this because she’s so emotionally detached, but then it becomes clear she’s jealous of the other women; her journey ends up being about wanting to be picked by a man. And of course, she’s the bad guy.

This tendency of pointing out how ugly/ridiculous/loser a woman was also happened to apply only to the other characters who were bitches to the end, except for Regan, who was a cool girl as lifted exactly from the Gone Girl monologue, and Lexi, who was mocked for her appearance only at first, until she turned out to be just a harmless gold-digger..

This wasn’t a terrible read per se; it was very light-hearted and might be fun for people who love the drama of reality TV. Just don’t expect any particularly profound thoughts on womanhood, feminism or the televisation of modern life. There was a also a missed opportunity of talking about racism, as all the participants are presumably white. For me, the way Zoe was written was a deal breaker; it just came off as a cry of “ugly, poor women are so jealous of me!!”

Most Hated is a FUN read! I'm glad I picked it up as it is immensely enjoyable and relevant in today's culture of celebrities and reality TV. I highly recommend for anyone who loves OR hates reality TV. Either way, you will be satisfied. Alloway's dialogue and descriptions kept my attention throughout this fast paced read!

The book alternates between three characters:

Zoe - the producer who will stop at nothing to get the hottest tea

Dahlia - new reality WAG looking to make a name for herself while juggling her strained marriage to a famed athlete

Sabrina - a fallen starlet who has been brutalized in the media following her divorce and separation from her daughter. She is looking to rehab her image via the show with her outrageous cousin Budgie.

Pepper in a former pop star, a sex toy mogul and a top social media influencer and you have the recipe for one strong cocktail. The situations are familiar but the character development runs deep. Alloway pulls back the curtain and shows the scars that fame and the desire for success leave.

There are two closed door sex scenes in the book. My only critique was that I wanted more heat! There was an opportunity to make this book steamy and I was here for it!

If you are looking for an entertaining summer read with a side of sass and ass then I highly recommend picking this one up!

LOVED this! A new reality show called 'Talk of the Town' has a full cast of “most hated” possibilities, including Dahlia, the sweet girl from a flyover state, who is hiding some important secrets from Mick, her footballer husband. Budgie and Sabrina (cousins) who share a famous family and generational wealth but Sabrina is still wounded by her daughter and ex-husband’s behavior. Mariana, who is using the show to promote her sex toy business. Disturbed former singer Nicole (I got Brittany Spears vibes) who is hoping for a comeback and influencer Lexi who wants more product placement on her social media.

Then mix in Zoe who's an ambitious producer and you get the delicious, guilty pleasure that is Most Hated. Highly recommend to those who are fans of reality tv and love the drama!

My guilty pleasure is reality tv and this book hit the spot! A perfect summer read full of gossip, deceit and friendship. Loved it!!!

Usually I have no interest in reality TV shows but I figured I would try it out. Yes, solely for the cover. But from the time I began reading it I loved the way it was written. Loved the way each of the characters is introduced to us and how invested I became in them even though they’re all nothing like me. The behind the scenes was also interesting and made me wonder if this is truly how these shows are made and what everyone feels. Multiple times I found my jaw dropping. I just couldn’t put it down and read it all in one sitting. The end was satisfying and left me wanting more….. even though I don’t usually like these kinds of books. (A book is on point when it has me questioning if this a new favorite.) I’m definitely going to have to keep an eye out for this author. 4.5 stars.

This was a quirky and quick read especially good for those who are fans of Real Housewives already. Lot's of inside references (Budgie's bravo bravo f*cking bravo moment was incredible). I found it slow at times, with lots of character development and a lot less plot development, but the ending made it all worth it!

Also, I didn't event realize until I finished that the author was on Real Housewives of Toronto - totally thought it was just written by a super-fan or someone in the industry.

This was such a fun “inside look” at reality tv. We always hear about the producers setting things up and editing to make people worse than they are, etc. and this book shows what happens when a producer doesn’t know how far is too far 👀 seriously so good!

Thank you NetGalley and Rebooks for this advanced copy 🙌🏻

If you are a fan of reality tv shows like Housewives, you will probably be pulled into this one. Taking a look at the behind the scenes in this fictional story might just be another way to escape. There are a variety of characters and unfolding drama in case that is exactly what you are looking for. This read wasn’t for me but it is just not what I enjoy.

This book is for the fans of: Reality TV but also the behind the scenes views and voyeurs. The book really invites the reader to be a fly on the wall during filming a "real housewives type" but also the pre and post filming. As a cast member, there is always a fear of who would come out of the woodwork to share your secrets, but what if production was creating the drama and gaslighting you? With literally nowhere to turn and feeling that you're going crazy, how do you even get off the ride when it is your life?

This book was a great read and I highly recommend it!

In Kara Alloway's "Most Hated," the glittering facade of reality TV conceals a tumultuous world where ambition, love, and personal identity collide. Alloway masterfully unravels the complexities of life behind and in front of the camera, exposing the high-stakes game where one woman is destined to become the "most hated." "Most Hated" serves as a riveting cautionary tale, exploring the price of fame and the lasting consequences when reality and entertainment intersect in a world where no one emerges unscathed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
I must say that I was surprised by this book. To me, it started slow and it really didn’t have my interest for probably the first 1/4. Towards the halfway point, the storyline got much juicer - the deception and planning went into this “reality tv show” got my attention and kept it! I ended up liking this way more than I expected with the rough start. The ending could have been more in-depth but it did address each character nicely. Overall a good story!