Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti
Ebook copy and the third installment in the series

So I struggled with getting into this book and staying interested. I found it quite flat and boring! I was really excited about the premise of a sapphic love story about two writers. I thought that sounded interesting but quickly I realized that the miscommunication trope in the beginning is major ick vibes. Also, I do not like regency love stories because it’s just so unrealistic to me. The two FMC characters were cute and I liked the witty banter, but sadly that’s about all I enjoyed.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In my sapphic romance era and this one just spoke to me! 2 rival gothic female novelists who have secretly been in love with each other for like a decade? SAY NO MORE. It was giving idiots to lovers but I say this in the best way possible. The banter. Oh, the banter. Highly recommend this one when it publishes in September.

4/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

Thanks to the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ladies in Hating, the third book in Alexandra Vasti’s Belvoir’s Library series, blends gothic charm, witty banter, and enemies-to-lovers romance. Lady Georgiana Cleeve is determined to unmask the author borrowing from her work, only to discover her rival is none other than former crush Cat Lacey. Their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when they find themselves researching their next novels at the same eerie mansion.

The romance develops quickly, balancing humor and well-paced tension with a touch of spice. The gothic atmosphere adds richness, but the heart of the story lies in Georgiana and Cat’s dynamic.
Overall, Ladies in Hating is an entertaining read with strong pacing, clever dialogue, and an engaging romance. A great addition to the series for fans and newcomers alike.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Alexandra Vasti has done it again with Ladies in Hating. I was obsessed with this story from start to finish. I loved the yearning, the gothic setting, and whole queerness of it all. 10/10 would read again!

I only discovered Alexandra Vasti this year, but she has solidly become one of my favorite romance authors! I adored the first two in this series, and the conclusion doesn't disappoint (except for the fact that it is a conclusion--I want more in this world, especially Iris's story!). I loved how beautifully this dealt with queer history and the nods to real gothic novels. Whatever Vasti writes next, I'm here for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Ladies in Hating
By Alexandra Vasti
Format: e-ARC
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

I’ve been waiting for Georgiana’s story arc since the beginning of the Belvoir’s Library series. From the onset, she seemed the most interesting and complex character. Plus there’s Bacon, the very best boy.

Yet, in execution, I felt Ladies in Hating fell a bit flat. On paper, everything about this book was for me: rival gothic novelists, a haunted mansion, smart ladies. I was ready to be wooed and wowed.

I initially had a hard time getting into the book. Likely, that was because it begins with the dreaded miscommunication trope, of which I despair. Lord. If they would just speak to each other, 90% of the plot would’ve been resolved in five minutes. Gratefully, that didn’t last too awfully long; however, neither did the time at the gothic, haunted mansion. That was a major selling point of the book, but a surprisingly small amount of the story actually took place there.

Things didn’t really pick up for me until about halfway through. Once the two FMCs got over their rivalry with and dislike of each other, the book was pleasant. But by then, the entire novel-writing plot of the book fell to the wayside.

I really liked the connection between Georgiana and Cat. Their love for and devotion to each other felt genuine and unwavering in a way you don’t always see in romance novels.

Although this book has been the weakest of the series for me, I still really enjoyed it. I was going to say I’m excited to continue the series, but according to the author acknowledgements at the end, Belvoir’s Library is a trilogy?! Do we not get Iris Duggleby’s story, too?! She’s one of the friend group! Outrage! At any rate, I’ll be anxious to see what else the author has in store!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

#LadiesInHating #AlexandraVasti #YouHadMeAtHEA

This was a fun, gothic read about two novelists with an entwined past who end up writing too-similar books and the meddling ghost and adorable dog who work to bring them together in a very spooky and very run-down castle. Lovely, sapphic historical romance!

This was nice but kind of missed the mark.
I think Vasti faltered by trying to do too many things and not really succeeding at any of them.
The initial premise, that two authors were continually writing the same book, was interesting, but it soon became clear that was not the mystery, and was reasoned away in a fairly absurd manor.
When we got into the actual mystery, it splintered off in a number of incoherent tangents and was supremely convoluted and rushed. As, unfortunately, were the character's relationship & personal evolutions. Sure, this was a love story between Cat & Georgiana but it felt at turns both rushed and stunted throughout. The fact that everyone they met not only condoned but championed their relationship was charming but wholly unrealistic. I never got a clear sense of the haunted house, or if it was indeed haunted (that scene at the end with the yawing black mouth that only some could see was very confusing).
Upon reading the afterward, I gather that Vasti did a lot of research which I'm sure was fascinating but I think that may have been her downfall. She had too many ideas and wasn't able to edit them down into a cohesive whole.

Thank you to Netgalley for this book in exchange for review

Vasti is one of my favorite authors in this genre and I was thrilled at her announcement that her next book would feature WLW heroines. I loved the story and elements of the supernatural, the characters felt well-rounded and complex, and their individual family dynamics were very moving. I like that the story managed to incorporate angst-y elements without the sole source of that angst being homophobia, which can ruin the escapist element I like in my romances. This was worked into the story in a way that still felt realistic without making me feel a dourness that isn't found in hetero romances. Can't wait to see what she does next!

wow! a must read. the author did such a good job showing the love and care these two characters (lady georgina and lady cat) and for each other. I felt the love between these two and think it is a romance worth reading and swoon overing!

the only thing i wish there was more of, was the leaning into the gothic, more time at the abby but nonetheless! lovely book, highly highly highly recommend!

First wuhluhwuh and it had already set the standards up to the heavens!

This book was made with love and it SHOWS! I would say this is a fast-paced book, BUT here's the thing: Depending on the author, it could either be a good thing or a bad thing, and in this case, it's a good thing. Yes, there was yearning. But at the same time, the way this book was executed highlights their relationship after "the chase"/"the yearning"; the complications, the communication, the growth of both characters individually AND together, etc., which IMHO is a very delicate process, but Alexandra did it so GRACEFULLY!!

The way this book made me cry though. UGH. 😭 I rarely get so invested to the point of tears, but DANG, that words of affirmation— oh! Speaking of, the amount of banger lines in this book!? REMARKABLE! 👏🏽👏🏽

Now, do I think the spicy scenes can still be fleshed out? Yes, but quite honestly, it does help... normalize using words that are meant to describe certain areas in books, so it didn't bother me much. What bothered me is I NEED MORE OF IT 😭😭

The way I described the way this book was written to my friend, even before the garden scene, was like touching a rose petal—it's very smooth. I loved it so much!

In terms of tropes, I would say it's a.... forbidden romance, rivals to lovers, found family, and a dash of mystery.

10/10 would recommend!!
Oh! And spice level? 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5 👀

Ladies in Hating was a great wrap-up to the Belvoir trilogy! While not my favorite of the series, it was enjoyable!

I love a good “ghost” story, so I will admit that I was a little disappointed in how little time was actually spent at the abbey. I felt that Cat and Georgiana’s time there was cut short (which was kind is the point in the story but it still felt very abrupt).

I loved the family storylines for both of the FMCs. I loved Cat’s relationship with Jem and was so pleased when Georgiana and her mother finally reunited with her brothers.

The ending was a little lack-luster, but not bad in the least. I think that the first two books had such high-intensity endings that the low stakes of this one’s ending just wasn’t what I was expecting.

I really enjoyed this book! As a fan of historical, gothic literature, and sapphic media this book seemed like the perfect match for me!

This book was phenomenal [if not a tad bit messy with subplots at times] but it was a charming read filled with so much heart! I enjoyed the character dynamics, the ways both mc's thoughts and feelings were told and the "georgie dear" nickname had my heart throughout the entirety of the novel! Again, pacing issues could sometimes take me out of the world but it wasn't a big hardship in the grand scheme of things!

Overall this was a very good read, though some parts of it struggled to hold my attention. I loved the two mains and their chemistry, some of the plot just kinda fell off in the last half of the book.

I wanted to love this so badly! However the childish tone and overall ridiculousness of the situation left me feeling awkward. No one, it feels, actually acts like a human here. Moreover the inciting plot incidents feel so contrived and confusing, and the emotional responses of ridiculously out of touch, that it was hard to understand or root for the main characters

I absolutely love this author and this book did not disappoint. It was captivating from the beginning, and had a great amount of humor as well and romance. Vasti just does the regency era so well!

Vasti's books always prove to be lighthearted and uplifting. I'm not sure how realistic this novel is, but I wish I could crawl inside and live with these kind, accepting people.

I’ve really enjoyed this whole series and love Vasti’s characters and writing. It so fun to see how the book themes weave throughout

Lady Georgiana, a successful author of gothic novels, is set on unmasking her rival novelist, a woman who’s been using her plots almost down to the same exact words. When she finally tracks down the culprit, she realises she’s none other than Cat, her childhood crush, the butler’s daughter.

This was lovely, I’m so happy I read it! I’ll miss the Belvoir books - to me, they weren’t as light and fun as the first Halifax Hellions book but Alexandra’s Vasti’s writing is very good and the emotional connection between her characters is refreshing. We’re lucky to have her in historical romance!

Cat and Georgiana’s second-chance-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers’s romance is really good and very believable. I loved that the author explained their shared past in small ways without devoting whole paragraphs to exposition.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters very much and little puppy Bacon’s antics in the manor. Also, this has a lot of roses and their scent, which made me so happy.

The epilogue is darling and I loved the author’s note about sapphic love in historical romance and real life Regency. I’ve read all of Vasti’s published works now, she’s definitely someone I’ll keep reading!

My endless thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC!

Although this is the first book I've read in the Belvoir's Library series, I think it is likely an excellent addition. This book is witty, exciting, and deeply romantic.

As this is primarily a romance novel, let's begin there. Our two protagonists start off enemies to lovers style, but through growing understanding of one another they begin to thaw their relationship. Even when they are "enemies", you can really feel the deep longing from both characters to be together and have security. Their banter is delightful, full of smart comments and humor, but also raw honesty. The spice, while on the tamer side of some books I've read, was tastefully done, well timed, and didn't draw too much focus away from the love story or plot. My only real complaint with their romance was the hot and cold from Georgiana. I understand that's part of her character, but somewhere after the second or third time pulling away, it got a bit stale.

As far as the plot, I really enjoyed the mystery of Renwick House. I was never quite sure where the book was going to go until new clues were revealed, and even afterwards still found myself invested in the outcome. Though the book wasn't as paranormal as I was expecting, there was still an element of that included at the heart of the story.

Overall this is a very well written, easy to follow, and romantic novel. I would reccomend this to anyone interested in a smart, sapphic, romance mystery set in the Regency Era. 4.6/5 stars rounded up.