Ohh my, this book made me go through soo many moods and feelings! It reminded me a loot about how it was when I was in school. I was a little nostalgic while reading this book and I almost wished I could go back to school. 😅
Now, let’s be more specific on the story. Rosie and Aiden are enemies and they are turning lovers through the book. It’s a slow burn, and I love that! Usually when the enemies are turning to lovers immediately I don’t like it, maybe because irl that doesn’t happen. You need time to accept someone who you once didn’t liked. It doesn’t happen overnight.
They have chemistry, and I loooved their writing together parts. I think this book has almost everything. I just loved it. And I totally recommend it!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🫶🏻❤️

R e v i e w :

I haven’t read romance in a long while and this one positively surprised me and hit all the perfect marks for me. I loved how innovative the writer romance was. The chemistry between the two writers creating a story together was off the charts — topped off with the masterfully executed enemies to lovers trope! Rosie and Aiden just stole my heart completely as the story was fun, easily read (I literally couldn’t put the book down!) and such an amazing reminder that love and romance is all around us and we should all let it into our lives!

An absolutely well-written rom-com that I will remember! 4/5⭐️

I absolutely adored this!
Academic rivals to lovers is such a staple trope in romance books, and Not in My Book proves why. It helped that Aiden and Rosalinda are also such opposites, the tension was palpable from the beginning.
Holt's writing style is fun and submersive, and she is now firmly on my radar!

I loved this!! Such a cute romance book. Always love an enemies to lovers plot and this did not disappoint. It gave me similar vibes to Abby Jimenez’s novels so readers of hers will love this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC.

I want to start this out by saying I wish I could read Rosie and Aiden’s finished book more than anything. While I enjoyed Rosie and Aiden’s love story, I desperately wanted to know more about Max and Hunter.

But enough about that. My only problem with the book came towards the end, when the pacing of the book slowed down compared to the beginning of the book. I felt like we (the readers as well as Aiden and Rosie) came too far and the….downfall? Third act breakup? Felt a bit repetitive (hadn’t they just broken up?) and to forced and made the resolution of the book feel incomplete. Up until that point though, I really enjoyed the book and reading about the characters everyday lives made me wish I could go back to school for my masters in writing!

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

When I read the blurb for *Not in My Book*, I knew I had to dive in, and receiving my ARC only heightened my excitement!

The writing was smooth and engaging, with a natural flow that made it easy to get lost in the story. The witty dialogue and perfect balance of humor and emotional depth really brought the characters to life. I have way too many favourite quotes from this book!

The rival-to-lovers trope was well-executed, with a slow build that made the romance feel special. The spice scenes were hot and original, and the Taylor Swift references were a fun bonus for fans.

While I did predict the ending and plot twist early on, and found the book a bit lengthy, it’s still a fun read with great romance and spice. If you enjoy rivals-to-lovers and slow-burn stories, definitely check it out! 📖💖

Thank you NetGalley, Katie Holt and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC

This book was really good. Needs a few more revisions and edits in places but the story is just too cute! Rosie and Aiden are both writers at NYU and it’s a great enemies to lovers! Reading this book was like getting to read two novels at the same time as we got to read excerpts from their joint novel! I rate it a 4.5⭐️ but couldn’t do the half on the rating. I can’t wait to add this book to my bookshelf once it is released in December. Katie Holt has a new fan right here with me!

Oh my gosh!!! I’m so in love with this book! Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and this came through exponentially!

Rosie loves to write romance and strongly believes in happily ever afters. Aiden prefers writing something a bit more cynical and realistic. Naturally, they’re enemies. When their bickering in their writing class becomes too much, their teacher tries to kick them out. However, both being passionate about writing, Rosie and Aiden would do anything to stay in the workshop. Their teacher has an excellent plan: make them write a book together. With two very different writing styles, can Rosie and Aiden really pull it off? When they clearly start basing their characters off each other, what happens when they start developing irl feelings?

This book was sweet, sexy, alluring and super unique! I loved the idea of them writing a book together, and it really helped tell the story. The way they really explored their vulnerability through the chapters was fantastic! And the flirting?! Omg 🔥 so hot. I also really loved the banter in this. They were just so perfect!

This had me kicking my feet and crying from the utter sweetness of it all. It had rom com down to a T and all the makings of an incredible romance novel and actually came through! I honestly can’t say enough good things about this book! You absolutely have to read it! 🥰

Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is a delightful romp through the world of romance and rivalry! Rosie, our spirited Peruvian-American protagonist, heads to New York with big dreams but finds herself locked in a literary battle with the charming but exasperating Aiden. Their push-and-pull dynamic is a joy to read, filled with sharp wit and irresistible chemistry.

Holt’s debut mixes sassy banter with heartwarming vibes which make watching Rosie and Aiden go from arch-enemies to romantic partners a treat, and their forced collaboration on a novel makes for some great comedic moments.

The book's clever plot and engaging characters make it a standout in contemporary romance. If you’re looking for a book that’s as entertaining as it is endearing, "Not in My Book" is definitely worth a read!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars—fun, fresh, and just the right amount of steamy!

Not In my Book by Katie Holt was very reminiscent of The Hating Game & I am so glad! I loved The Hating Game & very few books compare to it. Holt does an excellent job with enemies to lovers, slow burn, and witty banter. Just enough steam/spice in this one. A definite 4 star read for me.


Thank you NetGalley & Alcove Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have very confusing feelings about this book! Obviously the premise is amazing, but so much of the writing and plotting felt very amateur. The third act conflict was immediately obvious, the characters were both incredibly frustrating and the book within a book didn't really work for me. EXCEPT when they were co writing the smut.

So it was fun and quick, but overall just a meh debut.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

This was a true rivals-to-lovers slow-burn with all the feels and angst!

The story is about two upcoming authors who are both opposites in the type of genre they like to write and spend most of their college workshops hurling insults at each other. They’re genuinely mean and rude towards each other, and do not hold back.
I honestly struggled with this a little bit at first, because aside from her inner monologue acknowledging how handsome he was from the start, I truly could not feel any romantic tension or feelings between them at all. In, fact, I ended up giving up on it in the first 7% but decided to come back for a second try and I'm glad that I did, because once I saw their relationship slowly develop and blossom, I actually appreciated that they started out with so much animosity. They genuinely acted like rivals at first and it was a true slow-burn.

The writing can be a bit tricky at the very beginning of the book since the main characters are extremely petty and vindictive, but they pick up and straighten out pretty quick. It read as an easy romance that doesn’t take itself too serieus, the kind of book you want to pick up after a long day and not use your head too much.

But seriously though, the huge drawback for me for this one and the part that cost the aruthor 2 stars was Rosie as a person... Rosie was kinda annoying sometimes, you know? Being stubborn when she really just could have done the damn task. She also kept getting mad at Aiden when he become distant when she started about his mom and then she goes like “he is so annoying, he can’t be friendly” blah blah like girl, come on, read between the lines. His mom is clearly a sensitive topic, let it go. She also did something that is not okay after the kissing- I’m talking about the way she acted AFTER all that- and then get mad at HIM, girl YOU STARTED IT. She just wasn’t really self aware and it got on my nerves.

I. cannot. stand. petty. childish. adults.

The author has done well as a debut book, She has the makings of a strong rom-com writer, but please, no more childish adults!

"Not in My Book", by Katie Holt, made me want to get my MFA at NYU! The collaboration and mentorship gained from their writing workshop was inspiring and fun to read.

The book follows Rosie and Aiden, true enemies, in the beginning at least. They are both students in a graduate level writing course at NYU. When their increasingly angry critiques become too much, their teacher forces them to work on their final project together. While they found ways to work together, they worked through their anger towards one another, and became friends.

I found the book to be quick and easy to read. I enjoyed the banter, and relationships, once the two became friends. But, the angry bickering in the beginning was really intense. At one point Rosie described herself as someone who "liked to look at the world in rose-colored light," but I hadn't seen that at this point. She actually seemed to be solely focused on anger towards Aiden and I had a hard time understanding why. Once they became friends and kind of talked through their individual issues, it made more sense.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book. I loved the spanish culture and language peppered throughout. All in all it was a cute romantic comedy.

Five million stars for Katie Holt's amazing debut novel, NOT IN MY BOOK! I see so many books being compared to the OG enemies-to-lovers romance, THE HATING GAME, and this is the only book I've read in years that lives up to that comparison. It was witty, steamy, and swoon-worthy. Definitely pick this one up!!

Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I'm not a romance reader, but man, I cried so hard close to the end that I had to leave to room to go in the garden and cry in peace as the book slowly came to and end. About the comments I left on my kindle? will hopefully follow me to the grave.

The number of times I wanted to hug Rosie (even if I did at times want to strangle her for some things she decided to do) nearly every time. Go Rosie, go and do what you're good at - tell Aiden that the happily ever after actually exists and can come down to someone if they really wish for it. I loved the diversity she brought into a city known as cold and unwelcoming.

Aiden - it was a hate-hate relationship with you at first, and then it blossomed into a love-hate (you know why). But I loved how real they both felt, how their personalities so different together actually connected so well. I must say Aiden became one of my fav characters, it felt like I was like Logan witnessing Rosie and Aiden slowly learn to trust each other and to actually act without insulting each other each time they meet.

When the ending came, that 85% -95% killed me, while that 96%-99% slowly mended my heart back together.

What didn't make this book a 5 but a 4.5 rounded up to five was the lack I found on the secondary characters even if they were pretty much present throughout the book. I would have loved if the character of Ida would have had more characterization and more scenes, along with Aiden's dad and Rosie's friends.

Katie Holt knew what she was doing. A romance that will make you think twice for someone's meaning of love.

What to expect here:
-Opposite attract
-Fiction Writer x Romance Writer
-Different cultures crash (Peruvian vs American)
-Enemies to Lovers
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Detailed 🌶️ scenes

Final rating. 4.5/5 ⭐️ with 2.5/-3 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review.
This was such a cute contemporary romance with slow burn, enemies to lovers tropes, and a multicultural love interest.
Rosie and Aiden are two enemies that forced to cowrite a romance book together. I loved the concept of them sharing their feelings via the book they were co-writing by using their characters to represent themselves. I could not put this book down and the slow burn was done so well. I did feel like the end was alittle cheesy but felt like the book resolved well. The banter and bickering between these characters was very funny and the tension, both sexual and angry, between them was palpable through the pages. Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it!

🩷 NOT IN MY BOOK 🩷
AVAILABLE DECEMBER 10

I flew through this book and was hooked right from the beginning. There is tension and angst and will they or won’t they. I loved everything about the book. Rosie is such a feisty little romantic and Aiden is peacoat wearing grump with a filthy mouth! I loved how they wrote their book together and how it intertwined with their own lives. I can’t wait to buy this when it comes out!

I loved this one. two writers of different genres who hate each other have to write a novel together??? sign me up!!! i love them. i loved this book. I had the best time with it.

This is a fun kind of twist on a romcom because it's a book within a book, almost Meta in a way. Aiden and Rosie write a story as theirs is written, but it's really clearly their own story from the start, just slightly different. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their dynamic at the start, the banter was funny and quick, and you could tell the trajectory of the story.
Overall, it was clever and doubly satisfying at most times, as we got two versions of the same thing happening. I loved Rosie's friends and family as side characters because they made the story much more full and exciting. I wish Aiden's father was explored a bit more in the end as a climax of previous encounters, but I appreciated each character's complexity.
For me, I wanted more before the ending (based on the resolution of the miscommunication trope). I really got into their relationship and personal growth, so I would have loved to seen more significant conflict, and consecutive resolution.
Not in My Book is a sweet romcom, but also such an important love letter to romance in the literature industry. It explores what romance serves to women and its value as inherent rather than diminished by its content. I loved the references to the industry, the exploration of its value and purpose, and just the quiet and steady appreciation of what it is to so many readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

THIS BOOK WAS ADORABLE!!! And so well written, I was SHOCKED to read that this was Katie Holt's debut novel. In this book, the two main characters have a glorious "enemies to lovers" trope; they're both in a creative writing class trying to write their first novels, when their professor (fed up with their fighting), assigns them to co-write a novel. I really enjoyed reading the novel part of this book, and the novelization project they were working on in class. 5 stars, I can't wait to read more from this amazing author!