Loathed Love

Cobalt Empire #3

by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie

Audrey Cobalt never expected a lie to land her between two men: the quiz bowl captain she wants and the bad-boy musician she hates.

The youngest of an accomplished family, Audrey Cobalt has spent her life chasing good grades and fantasizing over happily-ever-afters. Now fresh off to college and living with her older brothers, she’s determined to prove that New York City is where she’s fated to be.

Unfortunately…her dream life starts with a lie.

Guy Abernathy is cutthroat, ambitious, and the handsome captain of Manhattan Valley University’s prestigious quiz bowl team. He’s everything Audrey has always wanted.

Birdie St. Pierre is not.

He’s sharp-tongued, abrasive, and the hot musical prodigy who hates rich, spoiled heiresses. Tragic, since Birdie is her new tutor—and her only shot at staying on the quiz bowl team.

Whom does Audrey truly loathe, and whom does she truly love? It could be a Shakespearean mess if she finds out too late.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary

Paperback

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

NYT & USA Today Bestselling Authors Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.

To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter

Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com

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Fans of Krista & Becca's Books:
♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group.
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♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page.

Reviews

[lena ♱ · Rating 1 out of 5]

i am extremely disappointed and triggered by the contents of this book that are not disclosed and are not discussed further. a rape scene between a minor and a 24 year old should not be written ESPECIALLY if you're going to romanticise it and call it "rough, consensual sex." chapter twenty was not consensual and im deeply uncomfortable and angry that krista and becca are ignoring the matter. as a survivor; im disappointed.

trigger warnings for rape (please take care of yourself.) :
audrey told guy to slow down and he covered her mouth and didnt, he had her pinned down, arms held above her head whilst she dissociated through the entire thing. he himself acknowledged this later when he said she laid there like a plank of wood. she also had to go to the hospital afterwards because she was a virgin. it was rape. period. there isnt anything dubious about it. also afterwards she was trying to convince herself and others it was consensual when it wasnt. calling it regret and not rape is disgusting.

"Then he folds his hand over my mouth, his fingertips digging into my cheek. I dont shove him off me, because he's bound my wrists, because it'll get better. And whats the point? It cant get any worse now."

"Then his cock is inside me - it happens like a hammer banging a nail. Just like that. No warning. I'm stiff as a board. (...)
A: Go slower.
G: We're not negotiating how i fuck you.

"He pins my wrists to the point of pain above my head. i wrestle against him a little, but he just holds me tighter, able to restrain my two hands with only one of his. ill like it more in the heat of the moment. He whispers against my ear, "I'm going to fucking ruin you."

this man is being romantacised. this man has a pinterest board dedicated to him. this man has podcast episodes talking about his character. this man is part of a "love triangle." this man is the reason why the tropes call her a "virgin lead."

krista and becca. removing the "rough consensual sex followed by regret and emotional distress," and replacing it by "complicated consent," is not going to do shit when you write and glamorize a rapist.

either bloom or the twins should push back the release date and remove this disgusting, inhumane plot line disguised as audrey needing to stop being naive. or they should learn (both the publisher and the authors,) how to write proper trigger warnings on their website and in the book. this is not "rough consensual" sex. it is rape.

[Onyinye]

Atp Charlie is going to be in his 50s before we get his book 😭😭

[m · Rating 1 out of 5]

TW// rape

Was truly excited for this book however, it is currently being marketed horribly as a love triangle and having a virgin heroine while one of the “love interests” is her rapist. This is truly disgusting I hope the authors and the publisher take accountability for this especially so people who are going in blind thinking it’s a lighthearted college romance book can be aware. The mc has her consent taken away and is hospitalized and the scene is very explicitly written without proper trigger warnings before released.

—-

I have decided: Birdie LOML u are so dear to me
im so seated - AUDREYBIRDIE are gonna be so cute my loves and the COVER omg

Now Audrey + whoever is gonna great regardless...overprotective brothers and connor pls im gonna eat so good

[charisse ♡]

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
24/08/2026 — i've been DYING to read this ever since i read about birdie in silver sweet! and you're telling me that i have the arc in my hands rn?? i'm SOO tempted to drop everything to read this rn,, what even is self control atp

10/06/2026 — WE HAVE A COVER!!!1!!! the feathers & the fountain?? obsessed!! and the pink?? ahhhh

[nadine]

the cover!! 😍

[ʚ turtle ɞ (semi-hiatus)]

19.11.25 | AUDRY VIRGINIA COBALT!! I wasn’t expecting her book to come this early, but the fact that we’re getting two Cobalt Empire books next year is everything 😭😭😭

[Juliette]

Oh Audrey, I just know you’re going to put your family through it. And I love you for that.

[Davina]

PLEASE BE MMF🛐🛐🛐🛐

[Marie]

absolutely seated for audrey virginia cobalt to collect love tokens from birdie st pierre, from her siblings and from herself.

[Landon's mouse]

dude what about charlie???????

[Catarina Vieira | umlivroduplicado]

IT'S BIRDIE AND AUDREY SHUT THE F*CK UP, I AM SO READYYYYYYYY

ARE YOU KIDDING ME THAT WE HAVE THE MOST BARBIE BEAUTIFUL AND PINK COVER FOR OUR FAVORITE HOPELESS ROMANTIC? UNWELL

[lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

if the cobalts have no fans i’m dead

[Fariah]

can't believe we're getting Audrey's book before charlie's

[Ana]

AUDREY?! She said she wanted an older man, and she’s gonna get him.
Will it be Guy Abernathy or someone new though?

[Saf · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay loved the sneak peek in silver sweet also a 4yr age gap YES PLEASEEE

[ivona]

AUDREYS BOOK WE UPPPPP I DIDNT EXPECT THIS

[Phoebe]

I read the first chapter sneak peak from silver sweet and I'm already in love with Audrey, she is literally such a mood. Iconic. November needs to be here next week.

[Zerena Mar]

The absolute URGE to read this book ㅠㅠㅠ
And I hope every book in this series is similar length because I NEED them to be FAT BOOKS !!!!