Was ready for a cute rom com but what I got was angst and I’m not mad about it! 😅 I really can’t believe it was a debut novel! Well written! This was a quick and easy read for me! 4 stars! Be sure to grab this one in December 😍

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Not in My Book was a truly captivating read. The interplay and character development between Rosie and Aidan had me both laughing and crying. While I felt that the side characters and their relationships could have been explored in greater depth, Rosie's parents were particularly endearing.

Aidan occasionally frustrated me with his emotional immaturity, though his character did show significant growth throughout the story. Initially, I was concerned that Rosie's portrayal might reflect negatively on the broader romance book community, but as her story progressed, she became a relatable and multidimensional character.

I’m rating this book 4.5 stars. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I believe there was room for additional elements to enhance the overall narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing this excellent ARC!

Enjoyable romance story. Some of the banter between the characters became too much at times. The things they said too each other seemed unnecessarily harsh and I feel like might be hard to come back from to repair the relationship. But overall the development moved smoothly.

Not in my Book was so good. The banter and development in Rosie and Aidan's story had me sobbing and laughing. The side characters and their relationships could have been more in-depth, but Rosie's parents were the cutest.

Aiden sometimes frustrated me, though, as he was in the emotional range of a toddler, but his character was well-developed throughout the story. Initially, I also had reservations about how Rosie was displayed, as it made the rest of us in the romance book community seem like Rosie. However, as her story went on, you connected with her, and she felt like more than just a character in a book.

I rate this book 4.5 cause although I liked it, something needed to be added to the story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for this excellent ARC!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Not in My Book by Katie Holt is an enjoyable romcom that shines with its character development and witty banter. Rosie’s journey is at the heart of the story her move to New York City to pursue her dreams is full of ups and downs, and her determination through all the challenges makes her incredibly relatable.

The chemistry between Rosie and Aiden is electric, starting off as pure animosity and gradually building into something deeper. Their banter is sharp and entertaining, and the tension between them crackles from the very beginning.

The writing flows smoothly, with a great balance between humour, heartfelt moments, and tension.

The pacing is spot-on, allowing Rosie and Aiden’s relationship to develop naturally while also weaving in their creative process as they co-write a novel.

Overall, it’s a charming and well-crafted read that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

This was a good romance book following two writers who write in different genres and are forced to write one book together as part of their writing workshop. The romance was enemies to lovers and i liked the romance book within a romance book idea but it was getting confusing to follow since the characters in their co-written book were so similar to the MCs, i wasn't able to distinguish them. The writing was simple and easy and readable so very approachable. I would still look forward to more books by the author.

Romance isn't my jam, particularly contemporary romance, but I do like to read outside my comfort zone at times.

"Not in my Book" is quite meta, in that the protagonist, Rosie, is an aspiring romance novelist, who loves the genre, she is attending a creative writing class in New York. Also attending the class is Aiden Huntington, with a strong jawline, green eyes and perfectly combed hair that looked incredibly soft, who writes literary fiction and is contemptuous of romantic fiction.

"It's a contemporary romance, right?
Right.
So how much tension could there really be? We live in an age of instant gratification. The only tension nowadays is whether your thumb will swipe left or right."

The hostile banter between the two disrupts the class and causes, their professor to hit upon the idea of getting the two rivals to work on a book together. Through the characters in their book, Hunter and Max, the two writers can express their feelings for each other, which change from antagonism to a blossoming romance. Their professor also suggests for homework that the two writers go on a "fake" date as Max and Hunter to inform their writing better. "Just focus on not killing each other so we can hear all about it next class."

Rosie is a Peruvian-American from small-town Tennessee, struggling to survive in NYC. Aiden is "hot" almost a foot taller than her, the typical unrealistic male of romance novels. Rosie is struggling to control her feelings for him "I got a whiff of his cologne somehow warm and sharp. I pretended I didn't love it." and later "I wondered how his lips would feel on mine. I hated how he made my mind stray from anger to lust so quickly." Both characters have a stubborn streak, after all if the enemies became lovers too soon no-one would care and we are invested in the two central characters. I feel the secondary characters like the classmates and Rosie's family could have been better developed.

I enjoyed the exploration of the genre through the characters, I wasn't sure at first how I would feel about a romance writer writing about a romance writer. Jess, one of the classmates remarks that Rosie and Aiden's relationship is a "lot like a romance novel", which Rosie vehemently denies. This is a slow burn, forced proximity rivals to lovers novel. This is not a closed-door romance and there are a couple of steamy scenes.

New York is a suitably romantic setting for the novel, many famous rom-coms have been filmed there. I found the story entertaining and I didn't have to suspend my disbelief as much as I'd been expecting. I did find there to be a lot of eye rolling by various characters.

Thank you to Alcove Press and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My rating 4.5 rounded up to 5

4⭐️.

I really enjoyed the premise and delivery of this book. The development and growth of the twos relationship is told thru the book they are writing together. I thought this was really smart as it did a great job conveying that they had a difficult time caring openly vulnerable but thru the chapters that they could be be brave and express their feelings.

I will be keeping an eye out for other books by this author and would be willing to read from them again.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

Katie Holt's "Not In My Book" is a sweet and witty enemies to lovers rom com. Rosie writes romances and Aiden thinks they are unrealistic and prefers to write heart crushing endings. They aren't shy about telling everyone in their creative writing class what they think about the others writing, but what happens when they are forced to write a “love story” together? Rosie and Aiden use the characters in their book to say all the things they struggle to express to each other in real life. Through their collaboration they develop a friendship that both seem to desperately need. They are caring and funny even when fighting. Katie Holt has created characters who the reader will care about and root for.
How will their story and their relationship end… Rosie's happily ever after or Aiden's tragedy?

I cannot describe how much I loved this book, I'm not sure words will do it justice. It was too cute, and fun, and I can't wait to re-listen to an audiobook! The banter, the story we got to read. I cried, and I giggled, and it was just so fun!

*Not in My Book* by Katie Holt is a delightful and witty debut that will appeal to fans of enemies-to-lovers romances and anyone who loves a good story about writers finding their way—both in literature and love. The novel brings together Rosie, a hopeful romance writer, and Aiden, a brooding literary fiction author, in a clash of genres and personalities that is as hilarious as it is heartfelt.

Rosie is a passionate Peruvian American who’s left her small Tennessee town behind to chase her dream of becoming a successful author in New York City. But her ambitions take an unexpected turn when she finds herself sharing a class with Aiden Huntington, her former crush and current nemesis. Aiden, with his disdain for romance novels and his general surliness, seems determined to undermine everything Rosie stands for. The tension between them is palpable, and their verbal sparring in workshops makes for some of the most entertaining scenes in the book.

The real magic begins when their professor, fed up with their constant bickering, assigns them the task of co-writing a novel that blends their opposing genres. What starts as a reluctant partnership quickly becomes something more as they pour their hearts into the story, unknowingly weaving their own feelings and desires into the manuscript. Holt does a fantastic job of showing how their collaboration forces them to confront not just their differences, but also their own insecurities and desires.

The chemistry between Rosie and Aiden is electric, with plenty of sharp banter and simmering tension. Holt balances the humor with deeper emotional beats, exploring the fears and vulnerabilities that both characters hide behind their respective genres. As they get closer through their writing, their attraction becomes undeniable, leading to steamy moments that feel organic and well-earned.

Set against the backdrop of New York's literary scene, the novel also offers a thoughtful look at the challenges of being a writer, particularly the struggle to stay true to one’s voice while navigating the pressures of the industry. The competition between Rosie and Aiden for a career-defining opportunity adds an extra layer of conflict, keeping the stakes high as their relationship evolves.

*Not in My Book* is a charming and sexy romance that celebrates the power of storytelling and the ways it can bring people together. Katie Holt's debut is a fresh and engaging take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, filled with humor, heart, and a love story that feels as real as it is romantic. This is the kind of book that will leave readers smiling—and eager for more from this promising new author.

This was a really cute book. Along the vein of Henry's <i>Beach Read</i> the MCs are rivals in their MFA writers workshop. Here, though, their prof has had enough of their nonsense, and forces them to work together or be booted from the class.

There are class dynamics, diverse voices, interesting looks at relationships and how they're built. I really liked this book.

Loved the NYC setting and the enemies-to-lovers/grumpy x sunshine themes were **chefs kiss**. Would highly recommend for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Elena Armas!

Thank you so much for an opportunity to read this book as an ARC reader - I loved this book so much! Rosie was my favorite from the beginning but Aiden became the dreamy hero every book needs. I really loved their backstory and the reason for who they were and how opposites really do attract. As a reader (and potential writer myself), I really enjoyed the plot of them writing together and explaining the terms and writing developments along the way. It really showed how dynamic this book truly is.

The only thing I would say - I wish the reason they broke up wasn’t a miscommunication. I feel like they deserved a better than a third act breakup especially since they were writers themselves. The ending was perfection though. It felt as powerful as holding a stereo over your head and proclaiming your love to your High School crush.

I truly enjoyed this book and now Katie Holt is one of my “auto-buy” authors! Thank you so so much!

absolutely loved this!!!!
not in my book was such an easy read, and i really liked the tropes in this book. i can’t wait for everyone to get too read it :)

Somewhat negative review with spoilers below:

It does feel a LOT like The Hating Game. Which wouldn't be a bad thing but it did feel like she stole that whole plot and made them write a book about it. Lots of similarities both is this book and the fictional book the main characters are writing, to The Hating Game. I loved that book so I didn't necessarily mind but it felt a bit like a cop out. However, on the flip side, it is a romance and they can be a bit cookie cutter in general so this might just be a me issue.

It felt a bit odd that they just wrote their book about their own love life with slightly different tropes but the writing their feelings down rather than talking them aloud was so relatable! It is so much easier to type how you feel than to actually look someone in the eyes and say it.

I did really enjoy Aiden's and Rosie's relationship! I was rooting for them the whole time and them writing a book about each other and together was really cute. However, I don't think they would make it long term. They never learned how to communicate and Rosie was so close to never getting back with him even when he showed up at her door.

The side chapters needed a bit more depth, I almost feel like one less character could have given Holt more time to focus on her friends. Alexa felt like she didn't add anything to the story, whereas Rosie's other friends were way more interesting.

The conflict at the end was predictable but this is a romance so that was expected. I wish we got a bit more out of the ending. Aiden's relationship with his Mom is talked about but its never really delved into, especially at the end part and I wish Holt focused a bit more on that aspect. She kind of glossed over the deep issues which is that he lied to her and just was like take me back because I love you. I feel like it missed something that stopped me from feeling fully satisfied.

Overall, it is a cute romance. It is just a bit too much like The Hating Game and almost feels like a rip off. There are also some flow of story issues that need some work. While the main characters had depth and were interesting, most of the side characters just existed and didn't add enough to the story. This made the book feel a bit lopsided and messed with the overall flow and cohesiveness. And a lot of the sex scenes were too cringy for me and didn't have the intended purpose.

I have a very early copy of this book, I think I got it in July and it doesn't release until December so there is some time for final edits to fix some of these deeper issues.

3.25 Stars

Vivan los academic rivals to lovers y como me han hecho vivirlo estos personajes.

La única pega que podré poner es el momento de discusión final que no vi realmente necesario

This was a super cute quick read!

I am such a sucker for enemies to lovers and I thought this story line was so cute, and nothing that I’ve read as of recent! Kind of loved having them pit against each other for it.

Trope after trope, another thing I love is banter! This book had plenty of it. Totally feeds into my ‘roast to romance ratio’ thought LOL. I loved the chemistry between the characters, and really think this book would make anyone easily fall in love with their relationship! There were times when I felt like this book felt a tad juvenile, however I am alllllways looking for books that are good, lighthearted, palette cleansers between other heavier books — and this is just that!!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this early

“I ignored the glass of my own shattered heart as I cut myself trying to put hers back together”

To say I absolutely love this book is an understatement. Rivals to lovers that are forced to write a book together, say no more I am hooked!

I will only say the miscommunication in this book is what lowered it by a star 🥹 I just hate miscommunication!
But otherwise the characters constant banter with each other and how they are both truely idiots in love 🫡

Them writing a spice scene together while on the phone to each other 😮‍💨🤌🤌 But just them writing the book together and making something amazing I want to read this book.

Two writing grad students are forced to work together on a novel, and we get our opposites attract, grumpy x sunshine and some spicy open door romance ❤️‍🔥

This book was funny and romantic, a light-hearted read with some sweet moments. Some interactions felt more teen than adult, but overall this was a fun read. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the e-ARC!