really enjoyed this one!! I felt like the beginning was relying a bit too hard on stereotypical romance tropes to get you into things/entertain you, but I think it ended up finding it's OWN footing from about 25% on. the scenes where they are writing together, especially the steamy scenes, were soso much fun. I did not like the 3rd act conflict - I feel like I didn't have enough time to forgive Aiden even though Rosie may have. will definitely be reading from this author again!

This was the cutest romance I’ve read in a long time- feel good, spicy, kick your feet romance!!!

I cannot write to save my life but I’d sure try for Aiden.

From rivals to lovers. Slow burn. Some spice in the 2nd half of the book.

Not in My Book was ok. It wasn't great, it wasn't horrible. There were things in the plot I wasn't a fan of - lying, some fighting, some predictability.
First half was better than the second half.

Quick read too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

f you’re a fan of witty banter and chemistry that leaps off the page, Not in My Book by Katie Holt is a must-read! This romance had me laughing out loud with its sharp, clever dialogue and sighing at all the heartfelt moments in between. The characters are perfectly imperfect, with their hilarious back-and-forths making every chapter an absolute joy.

Katie Holt has crafted a story that’s equal parts funny and swoony, with a romance that feels so real and genuine. If you love quick-witted leads who challenge each other in the best ways, you’ll adore this book!

NOT IN MY BOOK was so much fun!

Aspiring romance novelist and grad student Rosie is forced by her professor to co-write a novel with her nemesis, Aiden, a brooding literary fiction writer.

I loved the tension, banter, and chemistry. Their personal obstacles and romantic hurdles felt real and weren’t annoying. Plus, I’m always a sucker for books about books!

There’s a chapter where they’re writing a sex scene in their book, and who knew a Google Doc could be that hot when the characters aren’t even in the same room?😅

I’ll definitely recommend this book to my romance-loving friends and look forward to more from Katie Holt.

Not in My Book by Katie Holt is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that captivates from the first page. The story follows Rosie, a passionate romance writer, and Aiden, a literary fiction author skeptical of happy endings, as they’re forced to collaborate on a novel blending their genres. Their journey from rivalry to romance is both witty and heartfelt, with their manuscript excerpts adding depth to their evolving relationship. Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, this novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. 

A slow burn Enemies to lovers done oh so well.
A Romance and yearning marathon and I was here for it .
I enjoyed the exploration of the fmcs Peruvian culture and also what it meant to be multiracial in the south.
The intimacy was done so well it had thought and care.
The conflict towards the end made it lose a star for me though but the ending was beautiful and if love to read from the author again.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book! It was a delightful read.

I typically do not like enemies to lovers in my Contemporary Romances, but this one may have just changed my mind. Between the pacing and the banter the relationship built so naturally.

I think this is perfect for fans of RomCom movies, for fans of rivals to lovers, and for Swifties everywhere.

This book was everything and more, a love letter to hopeless romantics all over the world.

When I saw that this book had similar characteristics to The Hating Game (which i love) I immediately read it in one sitting. One of my biggest dreams is to visit New York and through this book it truly felt like I was there, walking the streets and enjoying the fall, winter and spring which was all the season the novel took place in.

Rosie Posie!!! the cutest angel ever, I felt I could relate to Rosie in may different ways. We are both english majors, lovers of romance, and hopeless romantics at heart. I love how she was so unapologetically herself while also having insecurities and doubts like every other student who sometimes feels they are not good enough. She has all the characteristics i adore in a fmc and she was just the most caring, she felt so deeply which I admired so much. I want to protect her at all costs, be her friend, and write a book together!!!

AIDEN HUNTIGTON the man that you are!! he was the perfect mix of black cat, golden retriever, and lover boy....this man was the perfect definition of down bad and a simp of a mmc that I LOVE.. I also love that he was a multifaceted character that felt deeply but was also passionate about what he wanted and went for it. I loved every second of his character even though he was so rude at the beginning!! the perfect start to enemies that truly felt like enemies, it made the lovers part so much better and you truly got to savor it.

One of my all time favorite tropes is the "it's always been you," and when I say this book executed it to perfection I could literally CRYYY!!! this book was so wonderful and fun to read. I enjoyed all the side characters, storylines, and the NYC environment itself was my favorite.

This book is now my entire personality!! The most loveable and relatable characters, this felt like a true love story.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. I loved the rivals to lovers vibes with Rosie and Aidan - they had great banter, tension, and overall great slow burn! I also really enjoyed their dynamic and pettiness of writing each other into the book they were working on.

However, the second half really let me down.

It was all going great until the characters got together. Then it got very cheesy. Also the spice….. it felt very out of place in this book. Almost like it was copied and pasted from other books. There was a disconnect there in the way it was written that felt awkward with the rest of the book.

Then the fellowship issue. I understand lying and lack of trust but I felt both flew off the handle then neither really apologized?! It felt very unsatisfying and almost like the author forced a fight that felt out of place.

Overall, good first half and fell flat and predictable in the second.

I LOVED this so much!! This was such a cute romance read especially for book lovers! I loved getting parts of Aiden and Rosie's book throughout the chapters and seeing them fall in love! I am between a 4 and 4.5 stars! Thank you so much for the arc!

First, I want to say thank you to the Author and to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book. I absolutely adored it and it was such a quick, fun read.

Not In My Book follows Rosie and Aiden, two classmates who have become enemies as they navigate their writing class together. Their professor quickly becomes sick of their schemes and arguing and tells them the only way they can continue with her class, is if they embark on a writing journey.. together. Rosie and Aiden must co-write a book with their two completely different personalities and reading preferences.

I loved the concept of this book! I had not read one like it before, and it was really such a cute and fun read. You get to see Aiden and Rosie's writing of their book at the end of each chapter. As things change and evolve between them, they start to learn new things about each other whilst writing their book and becomes closer than ever before. A classic enemies to lovers premise but so good because they communicate through their writing in their joint novel. When they are writing the spicy scene together.. oh lord.

This is a single POV but we do get glimpses of what Aiden is thinking and feeling from his writing. While I do enjoy dual POV more, this was a cool way of seeing tidbits of what he was thinking/feeling. This book really had it all though and will definitely pick up more from this author in the future!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book. I loved the characters and I always love an enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine. I loved the academic portions of this book and how the characters were ambitious on their own and together. I liked Rosie’s friendships and family and I loved her relationship with Aiden. I found myself laughing at their banter and I loved the excerpts of their book throughout the novel. A fantastic must read for anyone who loves Romance novels!

Rosie adores love and dreams of becoming a remarkable writer, so she makes the bold move to New York City. However, her idealistic journey takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Aiden Huntington. Aiden is a weary literary writer with a heart hardened against romance. As tensions flare, they are forced to collaborate on a book, and their contrasting energies — Rosie’s bright light and Aiden’s shadows — create a magnetic tension that pulls them closer in a complex romantic dance. The vibrant secondary characters not only enhance the storyline but also provide much-needed comedic relief. The book they craft together may be filled with awkward moments that disrupt the narrative flow, yet it ultimately unfolds into a deliciously steamy read.

I enjoyed the first 200 pages or so. I liked the writing and the characters. Rosie and Aiden's dynamics were interesting and fun. The side characters were also likable.

Not in My Book is a witty and engaging enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of heart. The chemistry between Rosie and Aiden is electric, and their back-and-forth banter makes for a fun and fast-paced read. The premise of a romance writer teaming up with a literary fiction writer is a clever twist, and the way their evolving relationship mirrors the development of their novel adds a unique layer to the story. While the pacing is strong, at times the conflicts feel a bit predictable, and some moments could have been fleshed out more. Overall, it’s an enjoyable and humorous debut, perfect for fans of rom-coms with a literary flair.

Not in My Book is a classic enemies to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first and opposites attract book that makes you swoon. The story follows rivals Aiden Huntington and Rosie Maxwell. They both take a writing class where they compete against one another and insults each other’s writing style whenever they can. While Aiden prefers realistic, melancholy endings, Rosie prefers happy ever after's. In order to remain in their class, they had to write a book together, which compelled them to spend more time together and ultimately led to them falling in love.

Overall, the book features excellent character dynamics, just the right amount of banter, and well-executed slow-burn romance—all of which are guaranteed to win over romance readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Katie Holt, for the e-arc. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

WOW. THAT'S HOW YOU DO ENEMIES TO LOVERS. I ate this book up SO fast. I love the tension, the banter.. the fact that they have to write a novel together 🤭 I'm sorry this took forever to read, I'm literally kicking myself for it.

What a fun enemies-to-lovers exploration of the romance genre through a Creative Writing program! A total treat, with laugh out loud moments and lots of tension and banter.

Ugh wow I loved this book! The chemistry between Rosie and Aiden was top notch and I just devoured all their banter. I loved how they communicated their feelings through the story that they were writing. A great debut novel and such. fun read.