This was a fun read. I loved the romance and the characters so much. I really enjoyed the Queer historical romance vibes.

A fun romp of a book with a cute premise that slightly lost me towards the end. I really enjoyed the novel’s exploration of the leads’ relationship, I think I just wasn’t entirely invested in the characters that the ending choose to focus on but all in all, the book was great fun.

have i read alexandra vasti's other books? no, no i haven't. did i request this one just because it was sapphic? yes, yes i did.

the YEARNING. the PINING. the GAYNESS. the SPICE.

there's not a lot of real words here, but this book is the sapphic, yearning mess you need. give me 100 of these right now. the perfect book for pride.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

I'm a simple woman really. You put a blurb in front of me about rival Gothic novelists who have secretly pined over each other for a decade, and my interest is going to be piqued. Make it Sapphic and I'm going to be tripping over myself to start turning the pages.

This was a sweet book, with the romance between Cat and Georgiana acting as its high point. Their banter was fun, the steamy bits were nice and toasty, and it was heartwarming to watch the characters personal journeys, to accepting themselves and their pasts. As a history buff at heart, the author's note at the end detailing her historic inspiration was particularly interesting, and added an unexpected layer of depth to the book.

My issue with the book was that there were a LOT of big side plots, and due to this it felt like none was properly explored. A crumbling mansion, the potential ghost of its mistress, an attempted murder, secret family, estranged family, a solicitor who is either duplicitous or a matchmaker extraordinaire... a pretty significant amount of stuff was going on alongside Cat and Georgiana's story at times. Although everything was more or less resolved at the end, I found the neat tying of these umpteen story knots unsatisfying. I wish the author had perhaps chosen her B plots more selectively, and taken the time to really explore those in a way that was more satisfying for the reader.

That being said, I did enjoy my time in the Belvoir's Library universe, and I will be going back and reading the first two books in this Regency romance trilogy. If you're looking for a sweet and spicy romance, touched by the supernatural and full of heart, I would recommend Ladies in Hating to you.

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

4.5⭐️ rounded ⬆️!

So many cheeks turning pink and all the blushing going on in this sapphic Bridgerton-esque novel featuring two gothic writers who keep managing to release eerily similar books, to the point that Georgiana finds herself determined to find the writer using the pen name Lady Darling so she can finally confront her for copying her work.

They soon find themselves staying in an old estate that recently opened to the public to research their newest novels. In a wonderful forced proximity moment, the pair wind up finding a secret rose garden that soon leads to a murder mystery?!!

We get tension, the tantalizing brush of their hands and a delicious rivals to lovers plot. I found Ladies in Hating to be a vulnerable, tender, utterly beautiful love story! The relationship between Georgiana and her mother Edith was so special, I loved the subtle ways her mom was showing up her for 🥹 the same with how fiercely loyal and loving Cat and her whole family were with each other.

And of course, being that our FMC’s are lovers of romance and writers themselves, we get to see them discussing books & the importance of finding queer stories that represented their own desires and how affirming it was for them. I loved how Alexandra Vasti wove the importance of diversity & inclusion into the narrative of Ladies in Hating. It’s a potent reminder that these stories should NEVER be banned and they are always needed. I found this regency era novel to be well researched, full of quick-witted humor, lovable characters and an excellent read!

**Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & Alexandra Vasti for the eARC of this beautiful novel in exchange for my honest review!**

“The trouble was, not thinking about a person had a way of devolving into an obsession.”

Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti is a deliciously moody gothic romance with a sharp edge of wit. It follows two fiercely intelligent and stubborn characters who find themselves trapped together in an old, crumbling estate—forced to confront secrets, grudges, and a desire they can no longer deny. What begins as barbed insults and icy glares transforms, little by little, into something achingly tender and impossible to resist.

I absolutely adored this book. While it was a slow start for me, a quarter of the way through I was enamored by the characters Vasti created. It’s a fun, atmospheric, slow burn romance brimming with all the gothic tropes I love: stormy nights, hidden truths, and a hauntingly beautiful setting. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic had me swooning from page one to the last, and Alexandra Vasti’s writing makes every biting exchange and stolen glance feel electric.

I’d recommend Ladies in Hating to anyone who loves their romance with a side of delicious tension and gothic vibes. If you’re a fan of slow burns, witty banter, and the satisfying payoff of enemies becoming hopelessly devoted lovers.

What an absolute joy this book is. It felt quieter, but no less powerful, than Vasti’s other novels. The queer joy in this book radiates, and it was exactly what I needed to start pride month. I loved seeing a new side of Georgiana and meeting cat and watching them fall into each other. Also, no one writes a sentence like Vasti. Just absolute perfection.

Lady Darling and Lady Georgiana are rival authors, publishing similar books at the same time. Lady Georgiana decides to confront the unknown Lady Darling, assuming she's stealing her work, but is shocked to find it is her crush from years ago, Cat. In an attempt to get inspiration to write something different from each other, they both end up at a haunted, spooky mansion where something is out to get them. Can they work together before it's too late?

Ladies in Hating was a cute rivals to lovers story involving a precocious dog and a haunted mansion. The banter between the two FMCs was laugh out loud. I really enjoyed their story and how it developed, constantly moving. Also, the dissimilar family dynamics between the FMCs was wonderful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Regency novels are not my typical choice for reading, but Alexandra Vasti is incredibly talented & I've enjoyed all the Belvoir's Library trilogy novels. The third book, Ladies in Hating, is a lesbian romance, murder mystery, & spooky adventure all wrapped into a Regency novel with a great storyline.
Georgiana & Cat met in their teenage years, but life & circumstances separated them for 10 years. They both became Gothic novelists & reconnected through an epic adventure while realizing their true feelings for each other.
Thank you, #NetGalley & St. Martin's Press, for the ARC of #LadiesinHating. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, with all thoughts and opinions being my own. If you enjoy a bit of history, a sprinkling of passion, & plenty of romantic swoon then you'll enjoy this lovely story.

I really enjoyed Ladies in Hating, I was impressed by Alexandra's crossover into a sapphic romance and the strong relationship built in the book. I enjoyed the mystery aspects and the sincerity with which women were able to communicate in this novel. I found it a refreshing departure from classic miscommunication tropes even though miscommunication was central to the romance/third act break up. Overall, really enjoyed and continue to be a fan of Alexandra Vasti!

I do love me a good gothic sapphic romance, and let me tell you - this was a good one. So good I have to get my own copy.

Two writers like COME ON!!! The hatred but the secret attraction like yesssss do kiss. Both Georgiana and Cat were two loveable characters, with their flaws, and in the end - I was ROOTING for them.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read! This one did not disappoint.

"I like untoward. THIS is bordering on outlandish."

I can't help adoring Georgiana. She's spunky, with a temper, and incredibly creative, with an overdeveloped sense of spite. Not only a talented author, she's an actress and cosplayer. And a bit of a sleuth. I love her.

And Cat! She has secrets keeping secrets, but a heart of gold.

Look out. These two are playing with fire.

"You're incandescent. The whole world ought to be brightened by your light."

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me so I won't be leaving any public reviews. Thanks for letting me try it out!

Convinced that a rival gothic novelist is stealing her ideas, Georgiana Cleeve sets out to put a stop to it. Problems arise when her rival is revealed to be Cat Lacey: the former butler’s daughter and Georgiana’s secret teenage crush. When they end up at the same derelict manor to write their new books, tension rises as they confront the real emotions behind their rivalry.

Alexandra Vasti had me at sapphic gothic novelists. How could I not pick this up after that?
I don’t read a lot of period pieces, and the ones I do tend to be more fantasy than romance, but this might have changed my mind on that stance. At the very least, I will absolutely be adding the rest of Vasti’s work to my TBR.

Everything about this was a dream. The banter. The pining. The tension. I was so utterly obsessed. Seriously, this book had me smiling to myself as I read it, it was so cute. I had so much fun with the romance. Georgiana and Cat are brilliantly relatable, and I adored them. The balance between the different plotlines was really good. Obviously, the romance took precedence, but I did enjoy the side plot of the mystery around the manor and felt that it was well done. There weren’t any plot holes or dropped details, and everything wrapped up very neatly.

I really cannot say how much I appreciate that this was a book focused on a sapphic couple falling in love and living happily. While I understand the importance, I’ve grown weary of queer romances stuffed to the brim with homophobia—internal or external. In a world already so full of hate, sometimes I just want an escape. Ladies in Hating was a breath of fresh air. It was easy, fluffy, and absolutely perfect.

5/5 stars

Nobody is doing it like Alexandra Vasti!! This is my third (plus her three Halifax novellas) Vasti book and I continue to be blown away by her mastery of her craft - LADIES IN HATING is chock full of romance, hijinks, family, and some good ANGST. I’ve loved Georgiana in the first two Belvoir books, and getting to finally journey inside of her head was a real treat, as was seeing her meet her match in Cat, who was spunky and sweet in equal measure. I loved this one!

I expected a cute, Bridgerton-meets-Pride-and-Prejudice rom com. This delivered and so much more! The combination of all the separate genres into one book left me with a cozy, suspenseful, laugh-out-loud read.

Gothic novelists, rivals-to-lovers with secret childhood crushes, a spooky haunted house, and secrets and mysteries abounding? This book was incredible! I loved the push-and-pull and tension between our main protagonists, Cat and Georgiana. These women are both so intelligent. I really enjoyed the history we find out about the two women and their families...I cackled with each meet-cute (That wasn't so cute) and how angry they got with one another.

The only real feedback I have regarding this book is the genre shift and I felt like the ending and resolution went kind of haywire. I still definitely enjoyed the ride and will absolutely be recommending it to others!

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

I’m so thankful to get to experience the Alexandra Vasti literary universe in real time. Ladies in Hating, the finale of the Belvoir’s series, follows the love affair between Georgianna Cleeve and Catriona Lacey. Once upon a time, a teenage Georgie fell madly in love with Cat and never got over it (she also never got over the guilt of having an evil father but that’s a whole other thing). The two have now grown into gothic novelists with suspiciously similar manuscripts and separate plans to stay at Renwick House, a potentially haunted gothic mansion.

I’ve loved everything AV has ever written, but I think this is my favorite. Georgie and Cat are so tender and have to work through very realistic issues to earn their HEA, but at no point is the dream of riding off into the sunset just written off because they’re two women in love. And they get to be horny! And silly! And all of the things that queer historicals are often lacking in the name of historical accuracy! I had so much fun. Please read this book!!

Be still my regency-era, enemies to lovers, academic rivalry, sapphic beating heart! This was such a fun romance, I couldn't stop giggling from joy. This is what I wanted when I read Bridgerton.

Alexandra Vasti can do no wrong. I eat up everything she writes, and this beauty is no exception.

Rival gothic novelists? A crumbling mansion? Say less.

Cat and Georgiana, rivals extraordinaire, have no idea they’re rivals because they’re both writing under nom de plumes. In fact, Cat has no idea they’re even rivals at all because she’s so busy trying to provide by writing that she doesn’t have time to read. but Georgiana has noticed several alarming similarities in their stories as they’re published. And when she confronts poor unsuspecting Cat, she recognizes her from her past, and is immediately shaken. Because Georgiana had a crush on Cat as a teenager, when Cat and her family lived on Georgiana’s father’s estate in service.

They then find themselves brought together under various circumstance - the best of which is in a crumbling and haunted mansion.

The swoon, the angst, the tension are all magnificent and the end result is perfection. Their character growth is beautiful and I loved them both so much - and all the supportive side characters!

I highly recommend for fans of historical romance, especially sapphic and gothic!

I ventured out of my normal genres for this read. I was enticed by the cover art and title. Historical Romance is a booming genre these days, but as a lesbian I've always felt left out of the mainstream discussions. I thought I would give this book a try and I am glad I did! I love Georgiana and Cat. I feel like I got to know them. There were many moving parts to this story, but I felt it all resolved nicely by the end. Lesbian readers, this does not have a sad ending! Go for it!