I enjoyed this sapphic romp of a historical fiction romance! Bacon might be my favorite character!! This book was well written and also well researched.

While I'm not typically a regency person, I really enjoyed this! I thought it was clever and funny and I found myself connecting with the characters in a way I haven't in a long time.

I really enjoyed this read and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

I LOVED Ladies in Hating. All of themes that I love in a romance (especially sapphic romance)! This novel is dreamy and so witty - LOVE!

"For half my life, when I have looked upon the stars in the sky, all I have seen is the shape of your smile."

A pair of Gothic novelists trade rivalry for love in this swoony, steamy, sapphic Regency by USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti.

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

Two gothic novelists find themselves at odds when their plotlines start feeling a little too familiar - only to realize there is no plagiarism amiss, and that they might actually share a connected pass (and along the way, end up locked together in a haunted manor, and might just happen to fall in love.)

This was a gorgeous read, very atmospheric - as a fan of historical and gothic romance (and the mystery woven in as well) - this was so up my alley!! I got sucked into the setting and the characters, the way Georgiana holds so much inside but is such a soft romantic, how strong and sweet Cat is - I loved reading their story. (And Bacon was such a delight in this, what an absolute cutie!)

The mystery of their overlapping themes and names were so fun, I loved the conclusion and how that detail played out. And Georgie (Georgie mine! I swooned each time) and Cat were such lovely protagonists, they way they loved each other for so long and compliment each other had my heart. The moments of spice were very romantic and I love their inclusion. (I also loved the author's note - you can tell so much love and personal connection and research went into this book). The only thing I would have loved more is some scenes/fleshing out of their pasts together, along with wishing the beginning moments / mystery of their overlapping writing was a little more drawn out

Tropes & Tags:
🖊️ historical sapphic romance (regency)
📖 rivals/enemies-to-lovers
🖊️ opposites attract
📖 forced proximity

(Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC & the opportunity to review! 📖)

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my ARC.

Alex Vasti has really topped this incredible series with the best and gayest of cherries! I adored this book so much and Georgie and Cat's story was full of humour, swoon, tenderness and so much heart! Their initial rivalry as fellow Gothic novelists was hilarious and was so very entertaining to read. But I deeply appreciated how Vasti skilfully underscored the importance for both women to have this means of being financially independent and thoughtfully craft the contexts for why it was necessary.

I think my favourite part of the book was watching Georgie's evolve from her tightly held control, and watching her slowly let go of her deep seated anxieties surrounding her choices. Part of it was all in her head but part of it highlighted the ways in which society has always loved to punish women, even when they do everything to secure their own futures. I was so emotional at how she was able to do this by surrounding herself with the love of her family, her amazing group of friends and the love of her life. There's nothing more heartwarming than watching someone who is scared able to let go and George and Cat are able to be each other's soft landing place. This book was just so full of queer joy with the perfect Gothic mystery to top it off. Can't wait for everyone to read this!

CWs: Death of a parent in the past; some grief; allusions to past DV and toxic parent; some references to misogyny and homophobia.

CNs: This is a sapphic historical romance featuring some heavy pining between two Gothic novelists. This is a high heat book and features several on-page sex scenes.

thank you to st martin’s griffin and netgalley for the arc!

this series has slowly become a favorite historical romance. so when we found out book #3 was sapphic i was kicking my feet!!!

we have…
✨rivals to lovers
✨haunted manor vibes
✨childhood crush
✨hate that i can’t stop thinking about you

if you read A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell this gives the same vibes. i loved both, but this having the supernatural aspect added another element. and i don’t always like magical realism.

i adored georgie with her hard exterior. she had a lot of baggage with her father, but Cat helped her be vulnerable and let her walls down.

i read this so easily. i was very invested in these heroines. and the slow burn was everything to me 🔥

4.5

Regency sapphic romance between two rival Gothic novelists, doing "research" in a crumbling Gothic mansion, potentially haunted by historically fridged lesbians? I mean, COME ON, this one won on premise alone. But then the author had to go and create extremely vivid and personable cast of characters, with no cut corners on the two protagonists' journeys of trauma, grief and adversity. I frequently forgot that it was the third book in a series I haven't read the first two of because of how well-contained the character arcs were. I deeply related to Georgiana on the emotional conditioning around allowing yourself love after making the difficult decision to walk away from parental neglect and abuse. Cat's fierceness and competence were immediately moving and charming and not in a righteous way. And the chemistry between the two was absolutely crackling, sweet and spicy. Was I a bit of a grump about the entirely quick turn of Cat's feelings towards Georgie, and Georgie coming preloaded with attraction to Cat? A wee bit. Am I forever annoyed with the genre's need to squeeze in sex scenes at regular intervals? Yeah, but these were doing emotional work and these horny lesbians deserve all the good things they've been denied. I adore that there's a whole landscape of queer elders, history and acceptance in this that doesn't feel unrealistic. I tore through this is one sitting and am seriously considering going back to read the earlier books in the series, especially the one with Selina, the librarian of scandalous literature.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ebook ARC.

This was such fun read. I really enjoyed these characters and plot line. The writing style was enjoyable and I liked the pacing of the book.

A very well-written story with accurate drama regarding the roles of women in old England. The best part? It's inspired by true events and real people! However, while Georgie and Cat are the main protagonists and love interests, the main plot point does not center around them, especially towards the end of the book. It feels as though they are accessories to the plot. I believe that the role Jem plays in the book takes away the importance of two women trying to make love work in a society that has already shunned them for their choice in careers.

This Saffic Pride and Prejudice meets Bridgerton baby had me kicking my feet, giggling, and at times out right cackling. The two main characters were nothing short of stunning as an enemies to lovers pairing and mix their dynamic in with the mystery and just fun plot. Vasti really understands her characters and can truly write some of the best banter around!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's press for an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This was probably my favorite of the Belvoir library Series so far! So sad to see this is supposed to be the last book (I would take an Iris book if anyone's taking suggestions)! It was a lovely sapphic, rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity, good time. I will say I wish we spent more time in Renwick house because the Gothic vibes were immaculate

4.25 stars!

Two regency-era female authors star in this spooky sapphic romance. What begins as a mild 'enemies to lovers' turns into a haunted mystery with gothic architecture and themes, inter-family drama, and LOTS of pining.

I enjoyed this quite a bit and it would make for a Halloween/fall read with all the spooky and gothic elements. While there's mystical elements I would not consider this fantasy; more Regency England (think Bridgerton vibes) with a haunted house and very sultry lesbian romance. The spice was excellent and did not overpower the plot.

Subtracted a partial star because once the romance kinda erupted I felt like the rest of the mystery/plot slowed down and I struggled to finish to the end, but I still very much enjoyed this and would recommend!

Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

Sweet, steamy, Sapphic romance. Is cozy Gothic a thing?

I'm rounding up from 3.75 stars because I very much enjoyed the pining, the yearning, the banter, the family drama, the interpersonal relationships between our protagonists and their respective families and friends. And while I probably expected a bit more of the Gothic setting, what we were given (specifically the Renwick House) is so gorgeously described compared to the starkness of the other settings that I found it more a feature than a flaw. The House feels more alive than the other places, more intimate and colorful, and because of it's importance in the story, that feels right.

A few small critiques keep it from being a full 4 stars for me. First is the insistence that they are "Gothic novelists" in the first half of the book. It's very repetitive. For a while, it feels like it's mentioned ever few pages (this could be something addressed in the final edits). I also found Georgie's self-flagellation a little frustrating at times.

That said, neither of these had too much effect on my overall enjoyment of the book. The only major critique I have is regarding the unfolding of the plot. Without dipping into spoiler territory, an important revelation is made about 85% into the book and our clever, industrious heroines are unreasonably shocked considering that it's actually revealed to them about ten pages prior. Given how important the revelation is and how it informs the way things unfold over three or four chapters, I found it impossible to reconcile the two moments.

Despite this, the book is still immensely enjoyable. Hoping to see more "cozy Gothic" in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in return for an honest review.

This is one of my favorite current historical series and this book lived up to the rest. Amazing characters, story, and setting. I loved every second of this!

I really wanted to love this. It started off so strong! In the early chapters, I really liked both Georgie and Cat. Both are smart, funny, capable, independent women and I enjoyed their rivalry and especially the banter. I laughed out loud multiple times! The premise implies that most of the story takes place in a haunted manor in which the FMCs (who are rival gothic novelists, both writing stories inspired by the manor) are trapped. In reality, that only ends up being a few chapters of the book, and the plot just goes straight downhill from there.

There was entirely too much going on and I could not bring myself to care about any of it throughout the entire last half of the book. I wish someone in the editing process had done Vasti the favor of telling her to rein it in and focus on the plot points that mattered instead of trying to squeeze in more and more that weren’t needed or even resolved. I think the story would’ve worked much better if it had stayed in the manor, solved the mysteries there, and continued with the rivalry & forced-proximity a bit longer.

Such a fun reading experience! I loved the historical setting and gothic atmosphere of the story and the characters are so delightful. The little mystery and family aspects were great additions to round out the story. Also, this is hot!

Cute but a bit rushed in the second half. I wish more of the book was spent at Renwick House, it was such a fun and spooky setting that was incredibly underused.

I had fun with this though I’m not sure I’ll check any of the author’s other books.

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!

This was delightful and SO much fun. Historical queer stories tend to be so very hit and miss, but this was definitely a hit! I loved the characters, the rivals to lovers plot, and I felt the love story was very beautifully told. I loved how the author approached the fact that it was in a historical setting and acknowledged that queer love was different but not impossible.

[Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.]

This romance in particular is tender and filled with so much yearning. Georgiana and Cat are the epitome of “it’s always been you”.

Georgiana fell for Cat when she was fifteen and basically reverts to her teenage self when she’s around Cat. Cat is equally smitten and though they are rivals, they can’t seem to walk away.

This book has wonderful queer representation. At one point in the story, Cat and Georgiana discuss how impactful it was to read books that feature women like them. Per Vasti’s author notes, sapphic romances have always existed and they weren’t as taboo as one would imagine.

While Vasti’s stories may be fictional, they are often inspired by real people, places, or events. One of my favorite parts of her books are the author's notes included at the end where she shares those historical details with the reader.

Another detail I loved was Georgiana and Cat showing bravery, in their own ways. Both have experienced hardship yet they push against the boundaries or society to live authentically and find their own joy (they are successful, published authors, living independent lives, not dependent on men).

Vasti’s writing style is so witty and this book flows so well. The primary focus is the romance (which is chef’s kiss!) but there’s also a mystery to be solved. And a possibly haunted mansion. There’s a lot of ground covered (more than I mention), but the story never feels cluttered.

And yes, I *know* this is the end of the trilogy… but what if Iris got her own book?

If Vasti writes it, I’m reading it. It’s that simple. I love her writing style in general and I find her prose wonderful.

“Georgiana allowed herself a single moment to become accustomed to Cat’s potency. Cat was nibbling, as she tended to do, on the ruby-red curve of her lower lip. Her left forefinger slid languorously back and forth across the scrolled wooden arm of the chair”

Like how decadent, and lush is the picture Vasti paints! And so funny too.

However, that doesn’t mean I’m not objective.
I’ll start with what worked less for me. I did think this was slow in the beginning. For me, this book would have benefitted from being a bit longer because I would have loved some more information or flashbacks about Georgie’s relationship with her dad and family and also her encounters with Cat when they were young. This would have helped explain more Georgie’s reticence to love and her reasons for being so guarded but also would have provided better context for the insta-lust between her and Cat.

Now, what I loved. I did think in the beginning they were quite rude to each other and I was actually unsure how they were going to come around to each other. But it certainly worked how it happened! I found the entire story to be really fun and better paced once they got to the castle. Overall the story was really moving. Georgiana growth and the family arc was beautiful. It was so good to actually watch her shed her insecurities and let go of fear. Cat to me was perfect. Also, seeing their love develop and overcome was top notch. I even got a little emotional there at the end.

Lastly, my absolute favorite part about any Vasti book is how much I learn from her authors notes. The encoded language and the Lady turned gothic novelist being based in real people and events in history just provides the story more depth and I get to go and research after reading and learn something new.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!