NOT IN MY BOOK actually HAS some of the best flavors of romance:

Loathe to love
Academic rivals
Forced cooperation
Christmas in NY
Grand Gesture
Scorching bedroom talk
Hidden feeeeelings

NOT IN MY BOOK is for readers who loved the writer/writer romance of Beach Read and the academic tension of The Make-Up Test.

This is a solid rec to anyone that loves the romance genre. Rosie and Aiden are writing a romance story together as their own romance plays out. It's lovely to see how storytelling becomes an outlet for them to explore their true feelings.

Rosie and Aiden may be a grumpy and sunshine pairing, but I love when their layers are exposed. Rosie isn't a pushover, and could use her words to cit straight to the bone. Aiden has a thoroughly developed "villain origin story" that he lays down in the safety of Rosie's warmth.

A few critical notes, the third-act breakup is very late and the resolution happens very fast. There's also a heavy handed use of "I thought you hated me." I get that it's the main hook to the relationship. It just didn't need that level of repetition.

Also, let's be real, Aiden is a Red Flag. But when he talks like that in the bedroom ... red is my favorite color.

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

WOW, WOW, WOW! I adored this book. I could not put it down.

This book is so unique and creative. An enemies to lovers romance. Rosie, a southern Peruvian-American who is idealistic and a passionate romantic.. Rosie wants to believe that you can live your life like a romantic novel with a HEA. Rosie likes to look at things through her rose-tinted glasses. She is caring, passionate, and sweet but also straightforward and bold. Rosie leaves her hometown of Tennessee for NY to pursue her dream of becoming a romance writer. She is enrolled at NYU to become a writer and get her MFA. But she meets Aiden Huntington in her writing workshop who is a green eyed, gorgeous man who hates the romance genre. He is an obnoxious literary fiction writer who doesn’t care for romance or Rosie. Their fighting and bantering in class leads them to get kicked out of the class unless they corroborate on a literary romance story.

This was a slow-burn romance. I loved the bantering between Rosie and Aiden. It had me chuckling many times. The story was creative in that it was a story within a story. Rosie and Aiden were assigned to write for the class a romance story. However, the characters in their book Maxine and Hunter (based on their last names) where all about themselves.

It felt like a Nora Ephron story,

I can’t wait to see how this author grows with her next books. I will read everything KH writes. If you like romance, pick this up!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this advanced copy in return for my honest review.

It’s been a while that I felt like I’ve read a true enemies to lovers story. Rosie initially liked Aiden when she first saw him until it was known how much he hates romance as a genre. They take a class together and are always fighting in class to the point that the instructor is requesting both of them to drop the class. They both agreed to write a love story that ends in a tragedy to be submitted at the end of the semester. My first initial reaction about Aiden was that he was a real jerk, he did eventually grew on to me after. I felt that Rosie has this naïve thought of what love was or is suppose to feel like, which I do feel like it's something she's also aware of. I like the progression of their relationship as the story went on. You see how they both are finally starting to work together and come to understand each other. Maybe it's not that Aiden doesn't believe in love and more so that he won't let himself love someone or experience it because of what he saw with his parent's relationship. Whereas, Rosie saw how much love and affections her parents had for each other. There were so many cute moments in this book, my favorite was when Rosie went to the bookstore and saw Aiden in the romance section!!! She couldn't go home for Christmas while all her friends went home and they ended up spending Christmas together!! The conflict at the end, I felt like it got wrapped up too quickly.

Overall, I did enjoyed this debut book and am excited to see future works from this author.

Thank you to netgalley & Alcove Press for giving me an ARC.

This book had such a good premise – aspiring romance author Rosie and aspiring lit fiction author Aidan are forced by their MFA writing tutor to collaborate on a love story. It’s like a reimagining of Gus and January from Emily Henry’s Beach Read when they were in grad school. Alas this is not my kind of book and DNF at 57% (though I skipped to the final several chapters to see the ending and rolled my eyes at the big conflict and half arsed resolution by the character).

I just couldn’t invest in the characters who felt one-dimensional and felt like both characters were better off without each other. Especially Rosie, who, of course listens to Taylor Swift and sees the world only in romance tropes. There's nothing wrong with romance but she would get angry if other people didn't see the world that way and was downright childish. While their bickering in class was amusing at first, it got old and childish quickly. We learn early on Rosie had a crush on Aidan until he decimated her work and a lot of the book she is self-centered in majority of her interactions with friends about Aidan this and Aidan that. Aidan, while had a better backstory was also rude and I didn't understand why Rosie would be into him apart from his peacoat.

While I loved the author inserting excerpts from the book Rosie and Aidan were collaborating on to show their sublimated feelings for each other, it came off as bad writing for supposedly high-level writers. I also found Rosie's demands about their book, such as insisting Aidan write a sex scene ridiculous and over-the-top.

Not my book, but maybe it will be yours. I wish the author every success and, while this was a miss for me, I’d still like to read her future work.

Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

5⭐️
“People say there’s a thin line between love and hate, and you know what? They’re right.”

This book had me staring at the wall, contemplating my life choices, and crying. Is this an overtly sad book? No, but I just connected and loved the characters so much that when they accomplished something I was over the moon with joy, & when they were down in the trenches I was there too. For this being Katie Holt’s debut, I think this was absolutely amazing and I will most definitely be reading what she comes out with next.

“ I felt like the best version of myself around her and I wanted to chase that feeling.”

This book follows Rosie & Aiden, rival aspiring authors. Rosie is a hopeless romantic who aspires to be a romance author, & Aiden writes literary fiction and believes books shouldn’t have a HEA. They’ve been stuck in the same creative writing classes for months, every class they hurl insults at each other’s works. It gets to the point that the professor gives them an ultimatum to drop the class or write a book together for their final exam. Not wanting to drop they decide to put their differences aside to write a love story that Aidan insists will not have a HEA.

“ No one meets the same way and falls in love the same way. Sometimes you know just after an hour with a person. Or it can span decades. The only thing every love story really has in common is that it’s worth it. Love is always worth fighting for.”

What to Expect:
📝 Rivals to Lovers
📝 He falls first & Harder
📝 Peruvian Fmc
📝 Grumpy x Sunshine
📝 Sassy & Witty Fmc
📝 One Bed
📝 Forced Proximity
📝 Pining
“ Know that every single time I fuck up, I’ll come home to you. We’ll work together to make it better because we won’t abandon each other. We’ll make mistakes, we’ll learn lessons, and we’ll be tested. But we’ll come out so much stronger on the other side.“

I love this book so much. I feel that if you love Beach Read by EH, you’ll also really enjoy it. I hope that if you decide to pick up this book you will love it as much as I did. Look at me though actually writing a review in a timely fashion. Bonus Quotes:

“When I am in love, I don’t want to have to wonder if it’s love, you know? I want to know with certainty that there is nothing else I would rather feel.”

“But what makes romance novels so good is the fact that they’re a complex dive into human emotion. There’s so much more to a romance than just love.”

“ I had become addicted to that look. It was my biggest vice— figuring out what words I could say to make her mad, to make her focus only on me, to get the look. “

“I’d always preferred fiction, but now I couldn’t wait for the rest of my new reality.”

“I know you prefer what's in your books, and I pretend I don't want to be like them, but I do. I want to be the person you picture when you're reading and dreaming because you're who I picture every single time. I love you. In light and dark, in romance and litfic. In this lifetime and the next.”

“I’ll wait for you, Rosie. I swear it. I’m in it for the long haul. I want all your tomorrows. Every single one you’re willing to give me.””


*Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for providing me this digital arc in exchange for an honest review!*

Omg I absolutely loved this book. It was hilarious and the banter between Aiden and Rosie was everything. This book has Christina Lauren vibes and I am here for it. I really loved that the two main characters wrote a book together and some paragraphs of their book was shared within the story! And the fact that their book was a snapshot of their developing love story. Adorable. Enemies to lovers is the BEST trope. The author did an amazing job for her debut novel. I cannot wait to read more from her!

Rosie and Aiden are classmates in a writing program. They are both writers, but Rosie writes romance and Aiden writes fiction. Obviously, Aiden hates romance, so naturally he always has something to say about Rosie’s writings (and not in a good way).

I’m obsessed with rivals to lovers, so I have to read this book! I really enjoyed all the travel from rivals with the discussions in class (a very fun part of the story) to the lovers part. All the process in the relationship had me in love. And the tensión omg!!!

Rosie and Aiden are so cute. It is true that Rosie can be a drama queen, but she loves romance books, is the romantic in her! I loved Rosie and her family. Christmas chapters were my favourites, but maybe the last part was a bit unnecessary.

This book was like a hilarious movie with tropes that all romance readers will love: academic rivals to lovers, he fell first, and the forced proximity bc they have to write a book together!!!

Not in my book is an easy, cute and enjoyable book, Katie Holt debut is for bookish girlies ❤️

the things I enjoyed the most about this book are the Xmas New York atmosphere and vibes and all of that holiday love vibes, and OF COURSE the way they write spicy scenes together clearly thinking about each other even if their relationship was more hate than love: it made me giggles and kick my feet and everything was just SO GOOD. Rosie is hilarious and Aiden is the perfect grumpy MMC.

What made me mad? The 3rd act breakup. Was not necessary (I usually don't mind them) and useless and with no point. I could not justify the MMC for that one and it kinda ruined the whole experience for me.

3.5 stars

This was cute, enjoyable, and predictable. It didn't surprise me (in good or bad ways) and it didn't really draw me in. It was okay.

I can't really put my finger on why I didn't click with this one. Maybe it was the stereotypical attitudes Rosie and Aiden had towards romance and litfic genres. It felt overdone and extreme. They'd both benefit from some therapy because they're clearly using their genres to hide from their issues.

Maybe it was the pacing. It started off real slow and very antagonistic. I get that we only truly see Rosie's PoV so there's a bias but I don't understand how they went from hating each other to not. Either it was too subtle or their hatred was too strong. The balance is off there.

Maybe it was the ending. It felt rushed, like it wasn't given the room it needed to breathe. Also, it was a bit of a let down.

I'm sure it will find its audience but it just doesn't do it for me.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I have not read any books from this author, but I loved this book! The storyline had me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the character development from both characters and will definitely be recommending this to everyone!

Features:
Rivals to lovers, close proximity romance
Book about writing
Peruvian-American main character
Set in New York City at New York University

Summary

Rosie's dreams came true when she was accepted into the prestigious NYU fiction writing MFA program and had the opportunity to work with the professor who inspired her to become a romance writer. Unfortunately, being in the program also means spending time with Aidan Huntington, a pretentious literary fiction writer who hates romance and seems to hate Rosie even more. Their fiery arguments during their writing workshops have become the stuff of legends until finally, they are given an ultimatum: co-write a romance novel without the happy ending or put their MFA on pause for the semester. As the two begrudgingly declare a truce, they begin to find their writing stride and maybe something more. However, a life-changing literary competition threatens to break the fragile relationship they have started to build.

Thoughts

This fiery, rivals to lovers romance was a lot of fun despite some of its flaws. Rosie can be a little overdramatic, but I feel like this is one of the better depictions of a rivalry. Some of the arguments feel a little childish, but I have seen many adults trying to pick on each other the same way in real life so…I can’t say it’s not realistic! The use of a writers’ workshop as a jumping point for Rosie’s and Aidan’s earlier arguments is clever and provides a natural-feeling way for the tension between them to be shown. Things start pretty explosively, but the book makes it clear that this level of animosity (and sexual tension?) has been gradually brewing long before we enter the story. The third act argument feels a little unnecessary/contrived, but compared to a lot of other enemy/rival to lover stories I have read, I found this to be a great implementation of the trope.

I really liked the idea of Rosie and Aiden literally developing their relationship through the chapters of their book. The excerpts Holt provides the reader at the end of each chapter not only give us a snapshot of Aiden’s perspective, but are also a clever way to guide us through the more tenuous parts of their relationship and put some of the pieces together. However, I also think the characters choosing to literally reproduce their own relationship and interactions in a piece they would share in class is a little hard to believe. I could totally see having characters that represent each other going through a different situation together, but some of what they put in the chapters feels too personal to be something they would want to share and oversteps the line between the writers themselves and the fictional piece they are supposed to be creating.

Overall, this book has a lot to love and I would recommend it to anyone who likes milder romances with “rivals to lovers”, “close proximity”, and “guy falls first” tropes.

The way this book consumed every corner of my mind and altered my brain chemistry while I read it! The simple fact that we were seeing a book unfold within a book blew my mind.

This book is so unique and creative, and although it follows the standard formula of so many romance book tropes, it added a sense of new to every single page. I think Katie Holt created absolute magic with this one. And yes, maybe I am biased because I am a lover of enemies to lovers but Rosie and Aiden were just perfect!

I think my favorite part was the banter, even in their most sweet moments that tension, that push and pull between them was absolutely unexpected and refreshing and amazing!

They also kept me guessing what would happen next. Everytime I thought I had these characters figured out, they managed to surprise me.

But I think my favorite part about them was their writing dynamic, that small snapshot into the mind of a writer. The way they worked together to create magic. The way with every chapter they blurred the lines of where they ended and their characters began. I could see sparks flying everywhere. Especially when they were writing together in real time (iykyk).

Not in my book quickly became one of my favorite reads this year, a cute feel good story that will make you absolutely fall in love. I can’t wait for all of you romance lovers to get your hands on it December 10th!

Thank you Netgalley, Alcove Press and Katie Holt for the chance to read this earc in exchange for an honest review.

So I think this may be one of my favorite Rom-Com books ever. And I have read A LOT of rom-com contemporary romance.

-Rosie and Aiden are class mates in their MFA program. They are both writers, but Rosie writes romance and Aiden writes Lit-fic. And he HATES romance, so naturally he takes that hatred out on Rosie. Their academic feud lead their professor to assign them a joint project. They have to write a story together, rather than alone like everyone else in the class.-

This story so perfectly blends Rosie and Aiden story, with the story of Max and Hunter; the characters in the story they are writing together. It has been a long time since I have stayed up until 2-3am in order to read, but this one made me do it. I didn't;t want to stop, I couldn't put it down. Rosie and Aiden are addicting. The banter between them is perfect. It's set from Rosie POV, but Aidens POV comes in through his writing, using Hunter to share how he feels about Rosie, so that we still get his POV, without having dual POV. Quite frankly, it's genius.

This is this kind of book that makes me wish I could write like this. I have always said that if I were to write a book I would want to write like Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry. But I think Katie Holt has Taken the top spot.

If you are looking for a 'kicking my feet and giggle' book, a 'look at the ceiling and squeeze your eyes shut' book, this is it. 10/10. Please read this.

Katie, if this is your first book, I must tell you that you have a very bright future ahead of you. The synopsis grabbed me, I found it entertaining and the truth is that the book did it justice.

Rosie and Aiden take the cake, their banter and dialogue kept me glued to the pages. For all of you who like enemies to lovers stories, this book is for you. It's hilarious.

I adored this book!!!! i didn't think i would like this book as much as i did but. wasn't disappointed in the slightest. i loved the charcaters' dynamic and i truly fell in love with them. the plot was so original that it made the story so unique.

i don't read much academic rivals book but this one has become one of my favourite!! i loved the writing and i didn't even feel bored. the pace was well written and reading it went with the flow, which i love!! as for the characters, i just loved them :) i loved how aided was obsessed with her since day one, and how he acted with her :)
their banter was so fun to read, and they were actually so funny that i felt myself smiling throughout the whole book!

this was such a fun and cute read :)

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review!

This is a cute, enjoyable and easy read.

The tension and anger between Rosie & Aiden comes off way too strong in the beginning. That quickly changes throughout the story and they end up being the cutest and kindest couple.
I loved how they’re expressing their feelings while working together, but reading the book in the book, kind of awkward.
The arguing at the end of the book was unnecessary in my opinion.

I read to 45% and just could not finish this one. So vet slow, and I just didn’t feel any progress from page one. Fell very flat for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Holy hell, this was so fantastic! I absolutely loved the premise and how talented is Katie Holt that she wrote a romance book INSIDE writing a romance book?!

The TENSION 🥵
This was a slow burn but sooooo worth the wait IMO.

It was fantastic and I can’t wait for y’all to pick this one up! A perfect read for lovers of love and all things romance genre related.

ahhh romance is back guys!! this gave me the same feelings as when i first get back to reading in 2021 with romance books <3 the classic enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed, he falls first, secret crush, pining, yearning, fmc defending mmc against his family (very specific micro trope that i adore) was all blend so well together!!🥹

now i won’t like, it wasn’t perfect but i know it’s a debut and she did a great job!! my slight problems were that i found main characters too immature in the beginning. the way they bickered with each other in front of the class was embarrassing tbh😭 and then the fact that they included their kiss and some other personal moments in the book they wrote together and read it in front of the class had me side eyeing🌝 plus the third act😾 but overall i found it super cuuuuute💗

rosie was carrying her heart on her sleeve and aiden was just a shy and grumpy little potato🤭 even though it was a single pov it was easy to see aiden’s love and yearning for rosie from the chapters he wrote in their book🥹 pookie was so down bad for rosie it had me giggling and twirling my hair🤭

definitely recommend this for romance lovers<33

“No matter how bad life got in the romance novels, there would be a Happily Ever After that proved nothing was unfixable.”

Rosie and Aiden are in the same writing class, but all they do is insult each other’s work.
So the teacher gives them two options, leave the class or write a book together. The issue is that Rosie loves to write romance books with HEA and Aiden writes sad literary fiction. They agree to write a romance with a sad ending.

Even if we only have Rosie’s POV, we get some things from Aiden’s part through the chapters that he writes. They comunicate through the book what they are afraid to say in real life.

It is interesting to see how a book could be co-written. In this case they were a bit too much inspired by real life and some chapters included the exact scene that happened before, only changing the names.

I love that her family is supportive of her writing and proud of her but I would have liked to know more about Aiden.

What I did not like is the break up part. Aiden did not need to lie and Rosie should not have left New York.

I liked the writing and have many paragraphs highlighted. These are my favorites:

“what makes romance novels so good is the fact that they’re a complex dive into human emotion. There’s so much more to a romance than just love.”

“The only thing every love story really has in common is that it’s worth it. Love is always worth fighting for. I mean, that’s why there’s all the songs and poems and movies about it. It has to be something spectacular if everyone’s chasing it.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.