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.

i found this subject matter fascinating, the world of reality tv is its own beast and the author did a great job portraying the way producers and networks use people as fodder to get ahead. it was a little depressing, though still interesting.

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!

I felt like I just watched/read a season of Real Housewives (and not one of the good ones). The story and the characters didn’t clique with me, making it hard to enjoy this story.

This book showed the smarmy back side of producing reality tv. The constant goading and things said innocently enough taken out of context. To make a drama filled train wreck of a show making its viewers wanting to come back each week for more. The same goes for reading this book. It was so entertaining to read the backstories and current lives of each character. This book was so cleverly planned out it was a thrill to read. Cudos for a great plot and well developed characters. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I’m voluntarily leaving this review .

This book was really difficult to get into. Plot is basically behind the scenes of the lives of pick your city real housewives. Typical drama that seeps into your life and affects it from being on tv. Was good in some parts and disappointing in others. Honestly predictable and hard to get through. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love all things Bravo and Real Housewives, so this one was easy to like! My one gripe was the use of first person narrator for one of the characters, while the others are--at most--third person omniscient. I wish the story was told through a multi=vocal first person perspective.

As someone who grew up watching reality TV-Shows and had a chance to work with one of those shows, it was always fascinating to see how everything was scripted. I watched them knowing that none of it was true but also I believed that participants were on board of it.

Most Hated demonstrates how far people can go for a few minutes of fame and it also dives in the ugly side of the industry. It was fun to read about characters that were from different backgrounds, actress, influencer, pop-singer, wag. Their characters brought lots of fun to the book and each of their stories sadly reflected the reality we live in.
No matter how much you try to fit in or be liked, there will still be people who hate you for no reason.

Zoe was the character I disliked the most and also loved. Author deserves all the praise for portraying her quite masterfully and I loved reading her character's story through the book.
The ending might be a plot twist for some but I saw it coming, or maybe I wished for this kind of ending.

I'm not sure whether Dahlia made right call about her relationship but it's her life, right?

Biggest thanks to author and netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book.

I really had lots of fun reading it.

I expected to love this book, but it was very slow and I found all of the women's voices blended together and I couldn't envision them, so it was difficult to track who was who. While it did feel very superficial and Real Housewives, I was hoping to dive deeper into the inner workings of these women. I wanted to see not just behind the scenes of the show, but behind the scenes of the women themselves. Perhaps it gets there eventually, but it didn't hold my attention long enough to keep pushing past the halfway mark.

Reality TV in a book! What a ride! There is nothing I love more than a real housewives moment and this book gave a glimpse behind the scenes of that life.