Another fun Regency romp from Alexandra Vasti! This book features dueling Gothic novelists and is therefore full of amazing bookish details that had me chuckling — Georgiana’s mother talking about all the special gilt-edged editions was especially delightful. I loved that the B-plot was straight from a Gothic novel as well, with a falling-down mansion, creepy servants (Graves and Mort — see what she did there??), a secret inheritance, coded letters, and buried treasure all playing important roles in the plot. The romance was super swoony, too, with buttoned-up Georgiana and cheeky Catriona making the perfect foe-mance pair. Although I must know if we will eventually get a romance featuring Iris and Selina’s brother Will?

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book!

Love Georgiana from the first book in the series when she pretended to be dumb to discourage suitors. The rival writer plot/enemies to lovers trope is done wonderfully. Kept me laughing and entertained. A fun sappheric rom-com .

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

The story flows well and the love interests play off each other well. It was a good twist on historical fiction and I enjoyed the journey the book takes you on.

Nothing jumped out at me and it’s not a book I would return to but it was good for a first read.

Thanks for NetGallery and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was literally everything I want in a historical romance. The plot kept me turning the pages, the chemistry made me blush, Alexandra Vasti knocks it out of the park every single time! Can’t wait to read more from her in the future.

This was a very cute and solid read! I loved the dynamic between our main characters and loved the sapphic representation in a historical romance. There was forced proximity, which I loved, and was set in a haunted mansion which gave it a really cool gothic vibe. The cover is also a really pretty pink that you'd for sure want on your shelves! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

So happy I was approved for this arc,
sapphic romance, forced proximity, gothic setting about ghosts and a estate, I love books about estates so I would of got this in a heartbeat. especially about a gothic setting. This is a queer romance and it was so good. I just wish it was easier to read on my kobo I had to read it on the netgalley shelf through my phone which hurt my eyes.
This cover is gorgeous bright, pink perfect for valentines day that just passed. I loved reading about these two characters. Both gothic romance writers. It was perfect.

Falling in love with your writing rival/childhood crush in a dilapidated countryside manor? Oh yeah I’m so aggressively in.
Georgiana has been a favorite side character in Selina and Lydia’s story and her story delivered. Heavy on the yearning and internal strife, light on homophobia (yay!) Cat and Georgiana are both such compelling characters who have worn so much responsibility and watching them let each other in was so fun. Alexandra Vasti is an auto-read for me at this point and this was a very enjoyable read.

Pride and Prejudice meets Bridgerton with a hint of mystery in a sapphic romance for the ages. This book was heart breakingly tender and moving and full of an all consuming love. Ladies in hating was so eloquently written, and I find this story will stick with me for years to come. I only wish Cat and Georgie could see the world as it is now, know that they can love and be loved as they are, and they can write freely about whatever they want.

A new day, a new bookish obsession!!!
From the first moment I saw the cover of this book two months ago I knew without a doubt that I wanted to read it, so when I found out it was on Netgalley I ran faster than I had ever run to read it in my entire life!

Ladies in Hating is a historical romance novel between two rival gothic writers where one of them suspects that the other is copying her stories due to all the similarities that exist between their novels, between their research for new books and the uncertainty of whether one is really copying the other or not, an exquisite tension is unleashed between both authors, where despite their "hate" that they both profess for each other they can't stop thinking about each other.

Ladies in Hating is the typical story that has made its way into me with incredible ease, the story, the characters and the setting have captivated and entertained me more than I imagined they would at first, the circumstances that both girls experience are the trigger for the delicious attraction and romance that begins to develop between them.

Lady Georgiana is a character that I imagine being taken from a comedy for some strange reason, I can't stop thinking of her as a fun high society girl who stalks her rival and has had a strong crush on her for years, but also being a woman writer of Gothic novels in the 1800s, she is criticized by society and throughout history we see how she even keeps away from her family so that they do not get involved in the same criticisms since for society she is a problematic woman for being a writer of that genre in that time.

On the other hand, Cat Lacey, aka Lady Darling is a girl who since her father passed away finds herself in a rather complicated situation, but meeting Georgian is a big shock to her reality and she begins to get involved in very interesting thoughts about the woman who is her rival! Her character seemed so relatable to me, in my head Cat is a Virgo girl, who tries to take care of everything and everyone, sacrificing herself.

In conclusion, Ladies in Hating is a prime example of gothic literature, both in its themes and motifs, where we see Georgiana find her equal, a woman capable of challenging everything she believes in, this story will undoubtedly become my new personality and has opened the doors for me to feel more attracted to reading more historical romances.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Alexandra Vasti for this arc! I had the moment of my life reading this book

Alexandra Vasti never misses with tension, longing, shenanigans, and steam. LADIES IN HATING is a delightful, slightly supernatural romp with a sapphic missed connection that feels delightfully satisfying when the characters finally get together.

I got this yesterday and breezed right through it was that good! Cat and Georgiana's chemistry was top tier, I loved it!

Alexandra Vasti has done it again! I wouldn't have guessed it was possible to exceed the other two in the series, but somehow I think this one does. It has some of the madcap fun and intrigue of Earl Crush, mixed with the deeper character development and world-building of Ne'er Duke Well. There's ample yearning and pining as Georgiana and Cat's relationship evolves, but balanced out by kindness and love. The family members and other side characters add to the plot beautifully, and the story dives into some deeper questions about family, legacy, and identity. It was a really sensitive portrayal of queer love, balancing the reality of the time with the expectation of a HEA.

My only regret is that per the author's note (which is a must-read) this is the last book in the Belvoir's Library series. A hint was dropped about Iris Duggelby and Selina's brother William, and I was hoping the next book would be about them. I'm slightly glum for Iris to not get a book, as I've enjoyed her appearances throughout the trilogy. Regardless, whatever Vasti writes next, I'll be devouring it.

A delightfully witty rivals-to-lovers romance that perfectly blends Gothic elements with Regency charm.
Lady Georgiana Cleeve, a successful but prideful writer, and Cat Lacey, the determined daughter of a butler with literary ambitions of her own have so much overlap in their recent books, it's curious.
The novel shines in its exploration of class differences, creative rivalry, and suppressed attraction. When these feuding authors find themselves trapped in a supposedly haunted manor, their long-simmering tension finally boils over into passionate romance. The chemistry between Georgiana and Cat is palpable, making their eventual union both satisfying and earned.
The spicier scenes are masterfully written, with the encounter in Belvoir's library standing out as a particularly memorable moment where passion and literary symbolism intertwine beautifully. Fans of the series will appreciate appearances by beloved characters from previous books, whose presence enriches the story while providing continuity to Vasti's expanding Regency world.
A perfect read for fans of sapphic romance, literary rivalries, and Gothic tropes cleverly reimagined.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I loved this! it was a gripping book that started from page 1 and I couldn't put it down. A must read IMO

I was gripped from page 1. Tired of books waiting until the 20% mark to even begin, look no further than an Alexandra Vasti book. As usual, this book wastes no time diving deep into the plot. I have loved Georgiana from the 1st book and loved that we finally got her POV for this story. I enjoyed that the societal challenges regarding sapphic relationships were addressed but they were not the main character's struggle. I felt like the book took a sharp plot turn at one point that felt like it left the rest of the book in the dust, but it recovered itself and everything came together nicely as one would expect from a delightful historical romance.

I don’t want this series to end, but if it has to I’m glad it went out with a bang. Georgiana and Cat were perfect.

5/5

Oh no we’re two gothic novelists writing stories inspired by our childhoods together as we subconsciously yearn for the past…what happens if we kiss in a decaying manor that may or may not be haunted? If there’s one thing I am, it is a gothic romance lover to my core and Alexandra Vasti’s Ladies in Hating is a delectable feast for anyone who loves the gothic or sapphic historical romance. In the final book in the Belvoir’s Library trilogy, Alexandra Vasti pens a tender love letter to women gothic novelists, the gothic genre, and the queer people who found love and livelihood in the Regency period. Ladies in Hating is a model representation of gothic literature, in its themes and motifs, and a stunning example of what the historical romance genre can afford our greater understanding of love and connection. The persistent Lady Georgiana Cleeves meets her match in Catriona Rose Lacey, her rival and worse, the woman who could change her closely guarded principles and make her believe in love again. A wondrous rivals to lovers story submerged in fervent wanting and agonizing romance, Ladies in Hating made me feel every emotion and left me aching for more historical romance from its ridiculously talented author.

My full review is up on my blog!

I really wanted to love this as the premise is fantastic, but unfortunately I was not entirely convinced that Cat and Lady Georgiana had feelings for each other. Thank you for the opportunity to red an early copy!

This might be my favorite of Vasti’s yet, which is saying something because I love and adore everything she has written.

I am still teary thinking about this absolutely stunning story. The tenderness, the caretaking, the delicious banter that Vasti always delivers, the stunning prose, the TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, and the YEARNING… my heart was bursting and I had tears streaming down my face for most of the second half. Never have I read so many precious and beautiful iterations of “it’s always been you” because Georgiana’s heart forever and always has belonged to Cat.

This book is not only a breathtakingly gorgeous love story that slowly unfurls, but as Vasti points out in her author’s note (which is not to be missed!), this love story is one that has existed throughout history. Queer people have lived and loved through history and as Vasti mentions, the historical records of queer existence, joy, and love are vast, despite the efforts of some to erase or deny their existence.

As with her previous books, I so love how Vasti writes about bravery. Her FMCs don’t fall into the conventional mold of “bravery” as they aren’t necessarily on the front lines or raising the loudest voice. These women are incredibly brave as they are living and loving as their true selves, embracing joy, building community, and taking up their pens to inform and educate others. Yes, they might be anxious or have some fear as they push against boundaries, but Arthur Baird would agree that that probably makes them the most brave.

I love this book with every fiber of my being and what a true honor it was to have shared in and celebrated Cat and Georgiana’s love.