I really liked this book! Alexandra Vasti's novellas about the Halifax sisters were truly excellent, and while I didn't like <u>Earl Crush</u> as much as I wanted to so I'm glad this work seemed more in line with the novellas in terms of how tightly it was plotted and the tone therein as well as the characterization of the two heroines.

I also thought this book was fun and relatively light, and honestly, the tone and plotting and general vibe of the book felt necessary in the trying times we live in. I feel like there are a lot of romance novels that try to make sweeping political statements, and obviously in a sense, a story of two women learning to love each other IS a political statement, but at the same time, it's also about two people falling in love regardless of their identities and external circumstances.

In any case, I am looking forward to seeing what else Alexandra Vasti has to offer!

This book was a delightful read! Rival authoresses are trapped in the same Gothic manor researching their next books and they could kiss at any moment! How could I not be enthralled by this book? It has the perfect amount of mystery to keep you reading until the very end! Also I loved how the author wrote about their real-life research for this book and how it became this story!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the eARC, but it did not affect my review in any way!

This book was not for me. It took too much effort and time from me so I regret finishing it instead of dropping it. I didn't know that this book is a part of a series. But I'm certain that they can be read as a standalone. So I don't think that hindered me from liking this book.

The writing felt juvenile and the mix of Victorian English didn't add to the setting. I often felt like I was reading a YA novel until smut scenes got long and explicit. I don't mind insta-love but Georgiana and Cat were already in love before this book so there was no tension, no build up. This book wasn't even romance, it was mystery with smut scenes. Unfortunately, the mystery wasn't that suspenseful or intriguing... it fizzled out at the end. Very anticlimactic. Because it was trying to do many things at once, the pacing was off, trying to do romance then horror, then mystery then family drama - all interspersed without a good driving force.

I definitely went in with the wrong expectations because I didn't read the synopsis carefully, fearing too much spoilers. If this focused more on how Georgiana and Cat's stories were eerily similar to the point of their character's names without revealing their identities first thing, I would have definitely enjoyed it more.

My heart feels SO FULL after reading this. Every corner of my heart too- from the literature nerd who loved all the facts about Gothic literature to the romantic who just loves a happy ending.
.
Everything was so well done in this book. All the characters were vibrant and fleshed out (including Bacon!). It’s clearly well researched, almost perfectly paced, and the spicy scenes actually moved the plot (which I personally prefer over endless spice just because).
.
It was just such an enjoyable read. There were times I couldn’t put it down, yet I also wanted to take my time with it. There were moments I giggled and squealed out loud and lines that left me thoughtful for days. I was intellectually stimulated while my whole heart was swooning.
.
I really have no notes or criticisms for this book which is a rarity for me, especially for romance. I’d complain the title isn’t as relevant as it could be, but the title and cover are what immediately grabbed my attention and made me read it. I’m already trying to decide how many people I can gift this book to when it comes out.
.
I’d like to just give this book and its author a three hour standing ovation round of applause. Thank you!

I really liked this enemies to lovers historical romance! One of my favorite romance tropes, and we also have an author writing about authors -- another one of my favorite hooks. Lady Georgiana Cleeve, a successful author, is infuriated by the similarities between her books and another author's, who frustratingly is known only by the penname of Lady Darling. Georgiana comes up with a way to confront and unmask Lady Darling -- only to find herself face to face with her teenage crush, Cat Lacey. Cat, who was part of the staff who attended the Cleeve family, is not too happy to see Georgiana again -- *as if* Cat would steal *anything* from Georgiana let alone character names or plot points. Of course Cat and Georgie soon find themselves alone in a haunted manor where they both hoped to find new inspiration to set their next books apart from the other's... and you can guess what they find instead.
This is the third book in Alexandra Vasti's "Belvoir's Library" series and I wish I had read the other two books first -- I fear I missed some of the family/community context. I'll go back to those. I love when authors explore how queer relationships might have looked in the past. I definitely recommend this series to fans of Emma Alban and Freya Marske.

3.75/5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. Overall both main characters were interesting and so cute. I plot was very fun! I think that it did start slow but the ending was GREAT!! I think that there was a little tooo much build up but the ending was worth it!

An absolute delight. Ladies is Hating is far outside my usual reading and I'm so glad I took the chance on it. I'd been intrigued by Vasti's writing for a while and rival gothic novelists was the pitch I needed to dive in! Couldn't recommend highly enough!

A romantic and heartwarming conclusion to the Belvoir trilogy. Catriona and Georgiana are gothic literature authors and now rival authors. When Georgiana discovers that Catriona is her rival Lady Darling, she's shocked. Catriona was the daughter of her father's butler and a first crush. Georgiana vows to avoid her, except fate has different plans. She's convinced Catriona is copying her ideas and does not know why or how while Catriona is offended Georgiana would even think of such a thing.

The two find themselves at the same haunted manor, both working on a book set there and as hijinks, including the presence of paranormal activity, ensue, Georgiana and Catriona grow closer and the accusations of plagiarism are forgotten as the two fall in love. Their romance was delightful, and our two protagonists work through deep wounds in their quest to love each other. It was all done wonderfully, with realistic and witty character interactions on the backdrop of a brewing gothic mystery.


This book was the quirky, sapphic regency romance of my dreams. What a conclusion to the Belvoir trilogy. Alexandra Vasti is brilliant! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti!

A sapphic Regency enemies-to-lovers romp set in a haunted manor? I didn’t even need to read past “Gothic novelists” before hitting that request button. And to Vasti’s credit, Ladies in Hating delivers a delightfully quirky setup: two rival authors, one eerie setting, and a whole lot of simmering tension that veers sharply into the steamy.

Lady Georgiana Cleeve is high society’s literary darling—cool, clever, a bit self-important, and completely flummoxed by the mysterious Lady Darling, a rival with suspiciously similar plotlines and far too much talent. Enter Cat Lacey: working-class upstart, pseudonym wielder, and Georgiana’s childhood crush come back to haunt her (just like the manor they’re both trapped in). The banter is sharp, the chemistry is undeniable, and the concept? Utterly delicious.

But as much as I loved the idea of this book, I found myself wanting more polish in the execution. The pacing sometimes lagged, particularly in the middle where witty standoffs gave way to repetitive inner monologues. The Gothic vibes were more Scooby-Doo than suspenseful, which was fun but slightly undercut the stakes. And while the romance had sparks, the transition from animosity to intimacy felt a little rushed—like someone skipped a few key pages in their own manuscript.

Still, Vasti’s prose is lush, the dialogue occasionally sparkles, and there’s real heart underneath all the spectral shenanigans. If you love books about books, sapphic slow burns, and heroines who spar with quills as fiercely as swords, there’s plenty to enjoy here. Just be prepared for a few narrative tangles along the way.

In short: a Gothic rivals-to-lovers tale with charm, heat, and just a hint of chaos.

Lady Georgiana has strong reasons to believe another author, Lady Darling, is plagiarizing her work, and she decides to confront her. When Georgiana discovers that the identity of Lady Darling is actually none other than Cat Lacey, she’s left gobsmacked. Why, you ask? Oh, because she had a huge crush on Cat when they were teens, back when Cat was the butler's daughter. After some serious accusations, Cat goes to a haunted manor in hopes of finding inspiration for her next book, only to find Georgiana all ready there…


A sapphic historical rom-com that I enjoyed reading. There were also the added layers of mystery, forced proximity, a ghost, and being queer in the regency era. Georgiana and Cat got under each other’s skin and I enjoyed the banter. For me, it felt like the rivals to lovers trope shifted to lovers quickly, but it didn’t take away from the quality of the book. I just would’ve liked more of a build-up before they got there. I loved the British humor, and it definitely got some good laughs out of me. The spice was well-written and didn’t take over the book, for which I was grateful. Overall, it was a good read that I recommend, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy reading!


I’d like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love rivals to lovers and enjoyed the mystery component as well as the haunted aspects. This is the perfect book for fall.

Book Review: Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti

As soon as I saw that the third installment of Alexandra Vasti's Belvoir’s Library series would center around Lady Georgiana Cleave, I immediately added it to my TBR list. A beloved and humorous character from the previous two books, Lady Cleave was a delight to revisit in this new installment set in Vasti’s clever, Regency-era world. This series continues to remind me of Evie Dunmore’s The League of Extraordinary Women—with its smart, witty women navigating societal expectations—and I truly believe fans of Dunmore will enjoy Vasti’s work as well.

Non-Spoiler Book Summary
Lady Georgiana Cleave is not quite the woman we thought she was, especially after the events of Ne’er Duke Well. Far from "simple," Georgiana is actually the accomplished author behind the pseudonym Geneva Desrosiers. While her secret career has brought success, it has also created challenges for both herself and her family. Matters grow more complicated when Georgiana discovers someone is copying her books—Lady Darling, who turns out to be none other than her former friend and old crush, Catriona Lacey. Catriona, shocked by the accusation, insists on her innocence, and what unfolds is a story of mystery, reconciliation, and familial love.

Reviewer's Overall Thoughts
• Vasti’s writing continues to impress. Her books are effortlessly readable, with vivid settings that feel immersive. For example, I appreciated the inclusion of the perfumer Floris—a lovely, grounded detail that brought the setting to life, especially for readers familiar with London.
• The “haunted house” episode was a surprising and entertaining twist. It added humor and helped set the tone for the book’s larger themes, particularly the resolution at the end.
• One of the central themes—Georgiana’s struggle with guilt and self-blame related to her family—was compelling. However, I wish her emotional journey had been more fully explored, particularly in her interactions with her mother and brothers. That thread felt a bit rushed, and more time spent here could have added even deeper emotional resonance.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this advance reader copy of the book and the opportunity to submit a review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for letting me read this book in advance!

This book has yearning, mystery, the one bed trope, and a haunted mansion, what’s not to love? I enjoyed this read so much, and all of the twists and turns it contained. There was so much patience, tension, and chemistry between the main characters! For example, “Georgiana was a column of gold, lit from behind by the sun, and—No. Georgiana was the sun. And Cat was already burning.” HELLO????? That’s art. The book itself was just art.

Absolutely adored this book! Sapphic regency romance between rival gothic writers- what more could you possibly ask for?!? A cute dog, a crumbling, haunted manor, and family trauma? It has that too!

It was so interesting to see how the coincidences between Cat and Georgiana’s books came about and I absolutely loved the epigraphs at the start of chapters, especially the excerpts of then destroyed notes.

Ladies in Hating is just genuinely the best time and a perfect read for fans of Bridgerton and gothic novels- cozy, lighthearted, and had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time. So excited to go read everything Vasti’s written!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC- all thoughts my own!

Alexandra has done it again, writing another incredible story filled with romance, humor, and of course Francis Bacon.
I absolutely adored this entire story – seeing Cat and Georgie go from rivals to lovers was so fun and the tension between them had me squealing. Cat is so gentle, caring, and in love with Georgie that I couldn’t help but grin to myself throughout the entire book!

The mystery elements added something fun & unique to the story without overshadowing the other elements and the romance.

I’m the biggest fan of all of Vasti’s work, and I really can’t recommend the Belvoir’s trilogy enough! Alexandra has written the sapphic, gothic book of my dreams with this one and I can't wait to have my own copy in my hands.

Thank you to SMP & Alexandra Vasti for the advanced copy!
Pub date: 9/23/25

First I would like to thank netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the advanced copy!

I absolutely loved this book! I’m a big fan of historical books. The main characters kinda grew up together when one of their fathers worked as a butler for the others home (again period piece). They end up enemies due to similarities in their books and end up needing to solve a mystery at a location they were going to use for their next books. I don’t know what more someone could want in a book and the best part is this is the third book in the series!! Thank you again and I highly recommend!!

THE COVER!! Shut up, I love it. This book is so cute! I felt all of the warm tingling as I read through it. It was not overly long, but it definitely was a well-rounded story.

What a gorgeous sapphic enemies to lovers romance about two gothic novelists! The very idea of this book made me excited to read. The characters are very easy to love and there is some humor in a lot of their conversations. This felt like a warm hug.

There were definitely parts that were more serious in tone, but overall I enjoyed the story and felt like each difficult topic was handled kindly.

Spice level definitely open door and I'm here for it.

I have a soft spot for Regency romances. The restrictive elements of society, the pining, the meddlesome families... I come to Regency romances for certain tropes and themes, many of which are greatly enhanced when you make them sapphic. How do two women in a society that only values them as wives for men make a life together?

Well, Ladies in Hating answers that question immediately as both of our leading ladies are successful writers able to financially support themselves. They have no need to marry, nor any pressure to either. They do not participate in upper class society. Their families are accepting of their preference for ladies.

In other words: Why is this even set in the Regency era?

Our two ladies in hating (a title I wish was more accurate) could have lived in a number of different eras to the same result. Hell—this could have been a contemporary romance and still worked. There's nothing wrong with that exactly. I didn't dislike either lady or their romance with each other. They were fun! And steamy! And I wanted them to have a HEA. I'm just not sure how I feel about this as a historical romance. I've read other very optimistic and happy sapphic Regency romances and still felt like the time period was done justice. The Regency era definitely doesn't have to be sad and miserable for queer people. I just need a sense of the time period existing in the story beyond aesthetics.

That's just me though. If you're not actually big on Regency romances or just don't care how a story portrays it, there's a lot to love here. The pink cover suits the tone perfectly. It's very light and airy and sweet despite being about two gothic novelists who visit a creepy mansion. The ladies are just too smitten with each other (even when they're fighting) to let a spooky vibe last. I had fun reading this even if it's not quite what I want from a Regency romance.

This was a third (and final?) entry in Alexandra Vasti's Belvoir Library series, and it was another good one!

While this wasn't my favorite from Vasti, it was still a fun and cute regency (Gothic!) romcom. Cat and Georgie are both such loveable characters, although their rivals-to-lovers vibe was not really to my taste, personally. The payoff was worth it though! They grew together in a satisfying way and their relationship was well written.

The mystery plot was fun and wacky, and definitely a unique spin for a historical romance. Pacing was good, even though I tend to enjoy something with a quicker burn. Another refreshing romance that I would recommend.