Exactly what I look for in historical romance. The dialogue is immersive and witty with romance that will leave you smiling ear to ear. I'm so glad I finally got a chance to read this one, and I can not wait to read more from Alexandra Vasti!

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Regency era, rivals-to-lovers romance (open door) partially set at a gothic estate. This was a fun read overall, with a sweet queer love story and likable side characters. I particularly enjoyed the first half focused on the MCs’ gothic novel writing and the mysterious estate. There were some interesting side plots with past and present mysteries, although I didn’t feel they totally paid off.

I also appreciated learning about the historical elements incorporated into this book (make sure to read the Author’s Note at the end!) “…throughout history, even in difficult circumstances, queer people have lived rich and loving lives.”

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Perfect book for college level/adult book club. Everything Alexandra Vasti writes is fantastic. The characters are well developed and likeable. The story is romantic, funny, witty, and has the perfect amount of spice. Like all of her other books, I couldn’t put it down!

4/5 Stars | Mysterious, Medium-Stakes, Spooky Haunted House Romance!

What I liked: I like a romcom with medium stakes plot but when you put it in a Historical Romance and it actually makes SENSE? TURNS THAT LIKE INTO LOVE! And I think that's what Vasti does incredibly well in this full trilogy. She takes a reasonable plot and adds a little bit extra stakes, along with a HEAP of character development, and then you have this beautiful work of art. While we're at it, let's hear it again for the character development! SPECTACULAR! Also, I love that there is a dog named Bacon and I would like to introduce him to my dog named Pancakes tysm.

What I didn't like: I think this lacked the relationship development I was expecting based off the first two novels. Both MCs already brought in feelings for each other prior to the book, and that dynamic (while understandable for the historical context) felt jarring. I wish we knew WHY they loved each other before they said it instead of several long verbal explanations of what they loved about each other.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book!

This is a sapphic, historical romance fiction book with the rivals to lovers and forced proximity tropes. Oh and a dog named Bacon.
Overall, this was a quick, easy read.
This was (apparently) the third book of a series, so I may have to go back and read the first two and see if my opinion/rating of this one changes.


*Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc*

The set up is great - rival gothic novelists stuck in a creepy mansion - and the relationship development is solid. I was emotionally invested in Cat and Georgiana as individual characters and as a couple. They definitely have chemistry!
In terms of plot, I do think there could have been a bit more set up before the confrontation, but overall this was an enjoyable read, and I'm crossing my fingers that Iris' and William's story is next.

It is becoming a trait of mine to finish any Alexandra Vasti book in one sitting. Spent the afternoon immersed in this world that Vasti has created for readers, and I am always incredibly sad to leave it. Vasti’s writing is witty, intellectual, clever, and romantic.

Ladies in Hating, the third in the series, had me giggling, blushing, crying, and swooning. Cat and Georgiana’s relationship was vulnerable and emotional. Great regency romance read!

✨rivals to lovers
✨childhood love reunited
✨sapphic romance
✨banter that banters
✨forced proximity

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the eArc!

I immediately recommended this book to my friend! I told her that it’s a must read as soon as it comes out in September

3.5

A regency sapphic love story with murder and intrigue? A very cute story with lots of moments to squeal about.

Pros:
+ dual POV
+ mystery plotline alongside romance
+ spooky haunted house
+ beloved dog
+ strong FMCs

Cons
- some parts felt rushed

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC!

ARC REVIEW! (Thanks NETGALLEY


Sapphic rivals to lovers? Hell yes!

Eh hell no, not enough rivals too much lovers. Plot was all over the place and characters weren’t fleshed out enough for me. Georgiana is a writer and finds a lot of similarities in her stories written by another author. Her investigation into who the author is turns out it’s her former crush, Catriona, the daughter of Georgiana’s butler. Butler and family were kicked off estate years ago by Georgiana’s father. I don’t remember this happening in Neer Duke Well but apparently Georgiana was estranged from her father and brothers after outing herself as an author to save Selina’s library.

For some unknown reason Cats lawyer has her go check out some spooky mansion. Georgina’s there too they get freaky in the haunted mansion until some random dude dies there. Something something Cats brother who isn’t her brother inherits haunted mansion.

Idk the set up of everything was so slow, I didn’t feel anything for Georgie or Cat (it was basically insta love) The ending seemed so so rushed. Between Georgie reuniting with her brothers and no one caring they were lesbians it just seemed too much of an HEA? If that makes sense.

Do we know Fawkes already? Why do I feel like I’ve read about him before? Is Selina’s widower brothers book next? I’m interested in William and Iris!

First off, who doesn't love a rivals to lovers romance? This book was so well done. I felt like the characters had so much life and it felt like I was right there with them during their adventures. Second, I LOVED the plot. It was something that I think I have not seen done before, and it was done so well! Between the gothic women writers, and their interactions, the dialogue was witty and intellectual without being overbearing. The story was easy to follow without being TOO easy. It was perfect. It was a nice light read, that also made me think about the way women were treated in the regency era and what agency we have today.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Georgiana Cleeve is a celebrated Gothic novelist. One day, she discovers that another author, known only to her by the nom de plume Lady Darling, has been publishing novels with very similar character names and plot points. Infuriated, Georgiana makes it her mission to unmask Lady Darling. It turns out that Georgiana’s rival is none other than Catriona Lacey - the daughter of the butler at the estate where she grew up and the girl she pined after in secret during her teenage years. When the two authors wind up at the same crumbling, allegedly haunted manor to research their novels they must agree to a fragile truce. The stakes are raised when the two women discover the housekeeper missing and a dead body on the property. But more dangerous than all of that is the passion they feel for each other.

I wanted to love this book so badly. Queer historical romance is one of my absolute favorite genres and there are not nearly enough sapphic titles. Unfortunately, this one really missed the mark for me. While it’s an easy read, the predictability of the plot and the blandness of the characters meant I had to force myself to pick it up. I eventually DNF’d at 70%, knowing I wouldn’t rate it highly.

I thought it was strange that no one other than Georgiana has noticed all the similarities between the novels she and Cat write. Georgiana’s mother even acts like it’s not that big of a deal when in actuality it could threaten Georgiana’s career.

Georgiana and Cat had such similar voices and motivations and I struggled to tell them apart at times.

Despite the fact that Georgiana has loved Cat since she was a teenager, the romance felt very much like insta-love. The reader didn’t get to see any of Georgiana and Cat’s history together so it felt as if they were meeting for the first time. Because of this, the pet names and declarations of love felt unearned and inauthentic.

I felt that the plot was too predictable. Yes, this is a romance novel and they follow similar paths and tropes but the mystery of Ladies in Hatung - why their novels are so similar - was brushed to the side in favor of the romance. The reveal that it’s likely their shared solicitor to blame was discarded almost right away. I didn’t get all the answers since I didn’t finish the novel but I felt strongly that I could guess everything that was to come and that I wouldn’t be rating this one highly.

To any writers reading this - write more sapphic historical romance! The literary world needs it!

Georgiana was one of my favorite side characters in the previous two books in this series. The novel continues the delightful writing style that I've come to love from Alexandra Vasti which includes a lot of heart and humor. The echoes of gothic novels in the plot were really fun, and I enjoyed watching Cat and Georgie explore their relationship and grow in love.
I will always read every single thing that Alexandra Vasti writes, and keep sending my wishes out into the air to eventually get an Iris/Will novel sometime in the future.

I immediately threw every other book i was reading assunder when i got approved for this ARC- this series has become one of my absolute favorites and this book was an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT.

Georgiana Cleeve seperated from her family and wealthy upbringing to pursue a life of independence as a gothic novelist. She has found success, but also solitude, and is convinced she brings trouble to everyone she cares for, and it is safer for them if she remains at a distance. However, when she feels some one has been stealing her novel ideas and imperilling her career she strikes out to discover them, only to find it is Cat Lacey, whos family was in service to her own, and her first crush. Hoping to escape London and Cat with it, Georgiana rides to the country to stay an allegedly haunted mansion and find inspiration for future works. On her arrival however, she finds wiltshire is not fait enough to seperate her from her foe...or her feelings.

What is there even to say? This book was so lovely and emotional and vulernable. Gerogiana holds her self so tightly and the to see her blossom with cat's help was so wonderful, and for cat to come to rely on her. Uuf. Right in the feels. I also loved the family components, and how sometimes we can be surprised by the people we think we know best. Georgiana certainly grew as a character since ne'er duke well and her strength and intelligence was wonderful to see fully developed. I also love that i get so much from the author's notes- vasti really put in the research and i loved seeing that some of this story was not only possible, but definitely happened!

A+ all around. Heart eyes forever. Go read this book. Thanks, netgalley and SMP.

What a fun book! I’m really enjoying reading about rival writers to lovers, and I really enjoyed this sapphic Regency version - a really fun twist on this trope.

“You cannot possibly imagine how long and how desperately I have wanted you.”

Two pen-named gothic novelists writing stories that unintentionally mimic each other, inspired by the childhood they don’t know they crossed paths during.

Thank you so much to the publisher for approving me as an arc reader via Netgalley!

It’s been a long time since I’d picked up a historical romance but this sapphic rivals-to-lovers was the perfect reintroduction to the genre. It had a bit of mystery, plenty of intrigue, emotion, depth, and even a hint of humor I loved it. 🥰

I do enjoy a good sapphic historical romance! In the beginning of this book, I found it hard to connect to the story and characters. I found that they seemed to be described to me more than known to me. A little over half way through the book I started to enjoy myself more. I think the caring kicked in a little too late though, as I did struggle a bit through this one. When I realized it was book 3 in a series, I was curious about the first two books and how they might inform this one. Overall, this wasn't really my jam, but I still loved watching the relationship and story grow and found many aspects of Georgina's character to be very relatable and affirming. Cozy & historical!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

What an utterly delightful read! I picked this up on a whim the other night, intrigued by the cover and synopsis—a pair of gothic novelists, sapphic joy, rivals-to-lovers, and a pink cover?! I had not read Alexandra Vasti prior to this, or much in the way of historical romance at all (I'm more of a fantasy girl), but Ladies in Hating did not disappoint!

I was hooked immediately. It was tender, laugh-out-loud funny, and packed with so many brilliant bits of queer/sapphic history. The dialogue, especially the banter between Lady Georgiana and Catriona, was expertly witty. And the tension? Deliciously steamy! I found both characters deeply sympathetic despite them being at odds for much of the book. And Sir Francis Bacon (the dog) absolutely stole the show!

There are a few minor things that holds this novel back from being a full 5 stars for me. Firstly, I wish there had been more instances of Georgiana gaining the confidence to take a leading role in the spicy encounters. There were also some concerns I saw other reviewers express that I agree with. Namely, I wish that the ladies had a more active rolel in the resolution of the mystery. Finally, Lady Georgiana's internal conflict did get a bit repetitive at times, but it personally did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. She was unlearning a defense mechanism of nearly a decade, so I understand why she faltered a few times.

While this is the third entry in a trilogy, I never felt lost. There were definitely some things in Goergiana's history that were not explained until later in the book, but their reveal felt satisfying and intentional for first time readers (instead of having felt like I was missing something for most of the book). I'm excited to go back and read the others in the series!

Ladies in Hating is definitely the sort of book that could make you laugh in one moment and cry the next. I feel such tender affection for this book and its characters and it is everything I could ask for in a romcom!

I recieved an early uncorrected digital copy via NetGalley from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

I was so curious to see how well Vasti would write a sapphic historical and she really knocked this one out of the park! Rivals to lovers + a gothic, possibly haunted setting + forced proximity trope. Just perfect. It was incredibly refreshing to return to a character from an earlier book almost a decade later and see how that character has grown and changed over the years. Georgiana's character was both bold for a woman of her time and also deeply wounded. Pairing a character like this with one as comfortable in her own skin as Cat was absolute perfection. And the side characters were deeply loveable, as always with Vasti's novels. Georgiana's mother made me weep with her reserved tenderness.

Oh yes, and that mirror scene between Georgiana and Cat? PHEW. Brilliantly spicy and playful.

I'm so thrilled that this series continues to bring so much to the historical genre. I've said it once and I'll say it again, Vasti is the future of the genre.

Alexandra Vasti is an amazing Historical Romance writer. The way she weaves history, romance, intrigue and suspense all in one novel is unparalleled. I loved Ne'er Duke Well and Earl Crush and Ladies in Hating did not disappoint!

Ladies in Hating is a sapphic romance that follows two rival gothic romance novelists, Lady Georgiana Cleeve and Cat Lacey, who knew each other when they were younger as Cat's family worked for Georgiana's. They find themselves plotting their next books in the same creepy manor and some delightful forced proximity and incredible yearning occur. Alexandra Vasti writes yearning like no other - the women in this book were poetic with how they pined for one another and their descriptions of their feelings. Sapphic love and relationships in the regency era were touched on delicately as well. There was a great suspenseful twist at the end that made the end of the book absolutely fly by and the end was quite satisfying.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advanced review copy.