Is this the era of hating women out loud?
Is "hating women out loud" back?
Hello, readers of Ill-Behaved Women! After a monthlong writing retreat (okay, I was buried in deadlines), I'm back with thoughts on why fighting for justice—whether in 1940s fiction or 2025 headlines—never gets easier.
I think a lot of us are experiencing this right now—you're staring at your screen, your coffee’s getting cold, and your brain is unable to process the latest plot twist in this dumpster fire of a timeline otherwise known as "reality." Prime example, the Sean “Diddy” Combs verdict, which The Cut dubbed the dawn of “hating women out loud.”
I Wish It Was An Alternate Reality
Combs was found guilty on lesser charges—two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution—but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. In other words, the charges that could have put him away for life are off the table.
They had video evidence.
The legal system's handling of high-profile sexual assault cases continues to reveal uncomfortable truths about power, celebrity, and accountability. I know, we need look no further than the rapist-in-chief for evidence of this, but I’m concerned that focusing solely one man and his cult of personality risks dismissing how pervasive this problem is. I’m guilty too.
Here I am telling Maggie Rodriguez on WPLA, literally the day before this verdict, that sex trafficking didn't USED to be taken seriously. (Trafficking is inherent to the plot of the third book in my Queenpin Chronicles trilogy, Havana Girls, which evolved through researching the unsolved Black Dahlia case for a character in Vegas Girls, book 2. It was a plot twist I took for granted as universally evil.)
But I can't pretend this is an alternate universe—you know, the one where avoiding consequences is an Olympic sport—or even new. We were here while I was writing and researching these books.
Remember Matt Gaetz? Investigated for THE SAME STUFF between 2020 and 2023, while I was working on this trilogy. Gaetz faced no charges before swanning out of Congress into hosting his own TV show. The man resigned to avoid accountability and somehow landed a gig where people pay him for his opinions. The dude is literally taking home the gold for "failing upward."
Mere weeks ago, the invoices for both my Havana Girls editor and audiobook narrator were held up by PayPal. Not over fear I might be selling girls, heck, they hadn't batted an eye over Florida Girls or Vegas Girls, but because HAVANA. Like, whoa! You want to do some Havana business? That requires investigation! But selling "girls"? No problem! Have at it!
Whether it’s a lack of charges, reduced charges, or plea deals, celebrating offenders like Johnny Depp, Matt Gaetz, and Sean Combs reveal how quickly scandal can transform into opportunity. How serious allegations can become mere footnotes in a media cycle that rewards controversy over accountability. How we've normalized what previous generations would have considered career-ending behavior. Worse, such an environment minimizes the experiences of survivors and silences those who would speak out.
My entire Queenpin Chronicles trilogy operates on the premise that powerful men who exploit vulnerable women should get their asses handed to them on a platter, preferably by the women they tried to screw over.
And this is why I'm going to keep writing about women who refuse to be victims, who fight back, who survive. As long as I can anyway because...
Your Love for Book 3 Is Everything
Your reviews are keeping me going in these times, and that gives me hope. Check these out:
"Be prepared to go on a journey... once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down."
"I couldn't tell you how many nights I was reading until the wee hours of the morning—schedules be damned."
"The thrilling storyline and plot twist kept me happily turning the pages."
"Strong heroines navigating a man's world, corruption, and friendship with Sam added to the overall story."
"Great character growth makes the story easy to read and hard to put down."
But the atmosphere comments really 💀 me:
"I was once again immediately back in time and felt fully immersed in both the settings and time periods."
"This book is the most complex and dark of all of the series, dealing with strong human emotions and events in history."
You get it. You understand that these aren't just crime stories—they're stories about women who refuse to let the world break them. Characters who push back when the world tries really, really hard to crush them.
The response to Havana Girls has been overwhelming, particularly from readers who appreciate the moral complexity of its characters. These women aren't saints—they're survivors making impossible choices in a world that offers them few options.
Oh, Haaay, Flash Sale Alert!
AKA, unrelated shameless plug, but also good for you!! The Vegas Girls ebook edition is going on sale for $0.99 on July 14th and 15th only!
If you haven't met Thelma in 1945 Las Vegas yet, now's your chance to see what happens when a young widow decides to take on the mob. Spoiler alert: she's not going down without a fight.
The Bottom Line
This week reminded me why I write what I write. As Thelma Miles says in Havana Girls, justice is not a zero sum game. Knowing the wheel will keep turning helps me stay in the fight.
But when it comes to fiction? Stories let me imagine a world where wrongs get righted. Where survivors get their power back. Where justice feels good.
I'm not giving up on that world. Are you with me?
What's on your mind? Hit reply and tell me what's keeping you up at night, what's giving you hope, or what you're reading to escape it all. I really read every response. Or just tap that heart so I know you got the message.
Stay unruly, LL
PS: If you're reading this and thinking, "I need more uncompromising women in my life," you can grab the entire Queenpin Chronicles series wherever books are sold. And if you're new here, welcome to the rebellion—we've been saving you a seat.