I am just sitting here with tears rolling down my face. This book was just, amazing. I relate to this book so hard, especially the FMC Rosie. Rosie is a diehard romantic, she just wants the love that she reads about in romance novels. When she meets Aiden, she doesn’t think that he can be her happily ever after. Following their journey of being forced to write a romance novel together was funny, wholesome, it was sweet, it was tense, it was sad, but it was raw. If there is a type of love out there that a long for, it’s this one.

Easiest 6 star read of the year for me. I will read anything Katie Holt publishes.

Thank you NetGalley for this amazing opportunity to ARC read this title.

This an awesome rivals-to-lovers romance! The angst is chefs kiss. Opposite truly do attract. I love the diversity in the characters. I highly recommend.

I loved this book! I thought the concept was fun and it was entertaining to read the whole way through. The characters had clear and defined backstories that added to the story. I loved their interactions, it was especially intriguing to read the scenes where they were simultaneously writing scenes in the book. The tension of the words unsaid in real life but written in the page were powerful.

My only notes would be that, the scenes they put in the book were sometimes word for word what was happening in real life, making the reader read the exact same thing twice. I would have liked to have seen a more creative interpretation of real life written as their parts of their book so there was less repetition. Also; I know the whole point of the story is their enemies dynamic, but it was a little much at the beginning. She seemed a little childish at times but once you got past the intro it wasn’t as much of an issue for me.

Honestly didn't like this book very much. It was okay but I didn't really feel connected to the characters. I started rushing through it in a way so I could just get done. The writing fell flat to me and there were parts I found cringy. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher!!

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *
I absolutely ate this book up! I love a good bookish romance, and this hit just that spot.

The way Rosie and Aiden's relationship unfolded while they peeled back each other's layers was fantastic and the wit was fantastic. While the premise was a little similar to Beach Read, I feel like the characters were still different enough for it to still feel unique.

My only complaint about this book is that some of the dramatics towards the end were a bit over the top but still really enjoyed it overall!

HOW I WISH THIS WAS MY FAVOURITE ROMANCE READ OF THE YEAR!!!

This one made me laugh out loud; blush; cry towards the end and I just love everything about the book EXCEPT when it comes to the cringey intimate scenes and the dialogues there!

I am telling you every single thing is PERFECT but (ugh!) I feel the intimate scenes & dialogues seem so out of place. It’s the ONLY downer for me.

These two writer characters are fierce competitors when it comes to writing in class. And yes, they are not so subtle about it. It becomes a big issue when it comes to the class environment and they are made to write a steamy romance together. For Rosie, it would be like nothing new as she has been a romance writer her entire life. But for Aiden, the rueful literary fiction writer, it would be a big challenge other than not being able to talk civil with his “enemy” Rosie.

Yes, that’s my blurb of the book 👍🏻

I would say the lead characters and the side characters seem very realistic. They are charming in their own ways and unique. None of the characters turned out to be similar which I really appreciate.

The banter between the characters (not just between the romance main characters but also amongst the family members and best friends) are so enjoyable!

The first half will surely give you the exact taste of enemies while the second half will give you the enemies-to-lovers. Nah, it doesn’t jump like that but you will not know exactly they turned into lovers. Yes, it’s that spontaneous which I really adore about the writing.

Rosie has issues and Aiden has too. But I feel I would have appreciated the book more towards the end if Aiden’s issues were addressed again.

But you will totally enjoy this fun emotional romance once you start reading it.

I just couldn’t put it down!

Thank you, Alcove Press and author, for the advance reading copy.

This was such a great enemies to lovers for the bookish set. Rosie and Aiden are rivals in the same MFA program in New York. Their in class arguments have escalated to the point that their professor is forced to take action in the way only a professor in a room-com can. Forced to collaborate on a novel, Rosie and Aiden begin to write a story that just might be their own- if they can get past their professional and personal insecurities.

This was a fun and feisty read and would be great for those who loved The Hating Game and The Spanish Love Deception. The one caveat being that you must love a classic romance formula. If you can accept and enjoy tried and true hopes you’ll have a blast with this debut.

Thank you so much for the ARC! I loved this story, it was extremely well written. I loved this book as I am truly a sucker for novels that incorporate enemies to lovers romance! The plot and character descriptions had me hooked from the beginning and I can’t wait to read more by this author! Will definitely recommend as it is such a sweet read.

What stands out to me about this book is the spice level. It is too HIGH, which I was not expecting at all for the first half. I thought it was going to be a slightly open-door enemies to lovers story based on the slow relationship development between Aiden and Rosie, and I was excited about that, but it ramped up very quickly with dirty talking and graphic description. It was like I was watching a movie for teens but the the movie suddenly became NC-17. The story deflated in a major way in act 3, when a VERY predictable conflict arose between the characters. I loved Rosie and Aiden's friendship and relationship, but I was frustrated by the unnecessary break-up. It was one of those fallouts where the characters could have talked through it, but the author chose to make Aiden regress, acting very cold and distant, and fail to explain himself at all, as well as make Rosie give up on her career. It was a stark move and undid a lot of personal progress both characters made in trying to be vulnerable and better for each other. That's why the "big gesture" fell flat to me -- the conflict wasn't even that terrible in the first place and I still didn't find the finished story that GOOD or convincing. That's another thing -- I'm supposed to believe that both characters are writers in a prestigious MFA program, but their story about Maxine and Hunter was pretty cringey and terrible! I know I'm hating on a lot of this book, but 60% of it was lovely and romantic. I just didn't enjoy the sex scenes and even the epilogue couldn't make up for the disaster of the last few chapters.

Title: Not in My Book

Author: Katie Holt

Rating: 3.5/5

"Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is a delightful and captivating romance that masterfully combines literary fiction with the charm of a romantic comedy. This novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, humor, and unexpected twists that keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

Rosie, an idealistic Peruvian American with dreams of becoming a writer, leaves her small Tennessee hometown for the bustling streets of New York City. Her aspirations are quickly challenged when she encounters her archnemesis and former crush, Aiden Huntington. Aiden, a brooding and handsome literary fiction writer, has little patience for Rosie's beloved romance genre, setting the stage for a heated and entertaining rivalry.

Holt expertly crafts the dynamic between Rosie and Aiden, bringing their verbal sparring to life with sharp and witty dialogue. The tension between them is palpable, and their chemistry is undeniable. When their professor forces them to co-write a novel that blends their contrasting genres, the real magic begins. The process of collaborating on their manuscript not only showcases their individual talents but also allows them to explore their own feelings and vulnerabilities.

The novel-within-a-novel format adds an intriguing layer to the story, as Rosie and Aiden's work-in-progress becomes a conduit for their personal confessions and burgeoning attraction. The steamy and heartfelt scenes in their manuscript mirror their evolving relationship, blurring the lines between fiction and reality in a clever and engaging way.

As Rosie and Aiden compete for a career-changing opportunity, the stakes are raised, reigniting their old rivalry and putting their developing romance to the test. Holt deftly navigates their journey, balancing the tension of competition with moments of tenderness and self-discovery.

"Not in My Book" is a testament to the power of love, creativity, and the willingness to embrace change. Rosie and Aiden's journey is both relatable and inspiring, reminding readers that sometimes the best stories are the ones we least expect.

Katie Holt's writing is engaging and vivid, with well-drawn characters and a plot that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. The novel's blend of humor, romance, and literary exploration makes it a standout in the genre, appealing to fans of both contemporary romance and literary fiction.

In conclusion, "Not in My Book" is a charming and heartwarming read that will leave readers rooting for Rosie and Aiden's happily ever after. Katie Holt delivers a compelling and entertaining story that celebrates the beauty of opposites attracting and the transformative power of love and creativity. This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted romance with depth and wit.

I was drawn to this book the moment I read they were academic rivals and then were forced to work together to create a novel!!!! Who doesn't love some forced proximity with some academic enemies to lovers!!!

The slow burn and banter in this book was well written and had me waiting on the edge of my seat to finally read the long-awaited moment

Thank you to Katie Holt, Alcove Press and Netgalley for the advanced opportunity to read this book! I cannot wait to add this book to my physical bookshelf once it is out in the world!!

ARC Review
- Aiden & Rosie
Academic rivals and wannabe authors Aiden & Rosie are "sentenced" to writing a novel together in a class. He writes fictional literature and she writes romance. They couldn't be further apart at first glance. Slowly they explore each other under the guise of writing their novel.

I loved their banter and the originality of the story. It was like reading a story within a story at times as they alternated writing chapters of their novel. They wrote as if they were themselves and speaking to each other the words they were afraid to share in real life.

The burn was slow and the angst was angsty 😂 Rosie did grate my nerves a bit and if I were in her friend group (which I loved), I would've told her as much. I liked the subtle cultural differences that weren't in your face. I truly felt for Aiden and I just wanted to hug away the hurt he had in life and hid from others. His grand gesture reminded me of that scene in Pretty Woman where Richard Gere rescued princess Julia Roberts. Sweet Aiden 😍 you’ll love him!

While it doesn't affect my rating given it's an arc, there were several grammatical errors that did slow the reading flow. Also, I started getting annoyed at the mention of Aidens sexy pea coat (it was just too many mentions and cringe).

In reality a 3-3.5 but as a debut and with some editing it could be the 4 ⭐️ I'm giving and I will read this author again.

Many thanks to author, publisher, Netgalley for the advanced opportunity to voluntarily read and review.

This read a lot like The Hating Game but more new/young adult. I struggled to remember that they were in grad school but I think when that was noted, it helped the story feel more realistic. I think my favorite part of this book, and what might make it stand out amongst the plethora of enemies to lovers books out there, is the addition of the book excerpts. It reminded me of The Roughest Draft a lot in terms of plot, structure and tone but without the complicated history element that one has. TLDR; cute, fun, well-paced

Thank you so much to NetGalley & this author for a chance to read & review and ARC! What a debut novel! The slow burn of this rivals to lovers romance was *chefs kiss*! Truly just had me anxiously awaiting for their moment to come! The thin line between love & hate doesn’t get much thinner than in this story. The banter was so good! I loved the unique storyline & the way the author wrapped things up in the end. One of my favorite parts was Christmas Eve / Christmas Day. 🥹 Just such a heartwarming read but with a good bit of angst! Definitely recommend!

4.5 rounded to 5 for being a debut author/book!

I love Rosie’s character in that she is fierce and stands up for what she believes in—which is romance writing. Then you have the enemy, Aiden, who writes lit fic and despises romance and happy endings. They go head to head in class constantly until they are tasked to write a book together. I loved the idea of forcing them to write together and how fun (and spicy) it became.

Also, shout out to Rosie’s friends & family! I really liked them and how supportive and close they are. I always liked parts that they were in.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Holt (seriously, this was an amazing first book & I can’t wait to read more), and to Alcove Press for the Advanced Copy.

This is a great book for anyone who likes Ali Hazelwood, Emily Henry, and Abby Jimenez!
This was such an enjoyable slow burn ,rivals to lovers story that had be captivated from the start.
I really loved Aiden, his growth was so good throughout the story and the ending had me kicking my feet. And I found Rosie extremely likable and relatable!
I’m super nit picky when it comes to pacing and I thought this story nailed it. Katie Holt did a fantastic job with this story!

Not in My Book offers a delightful enemies-to-lovers story with a unique twist. Rosie Maxwell's romantic nature and her struggle against her "Rosie-tinted glasses" add a charming and relatable depth to her character. Her dynamic with Aiden Huntington, played out through their collaborative writing, is both clever and engaging. The concept of them flirting through their writing adds a refreshing layer to their relationship.

However, the story does have its drawbacks. Rosie's constant focus on Aiden's attractiveness becomes repetitive, making her supposed animosity towards him less believable. The final conflict, especially Rosie's decision to leave New York, felt a bit forced and unconvincing. Additionally, while the ending was satisfying, the love confession was overly long and the ending predictable.

Despite these issues, "Not in My Book" is an enjoyable read with a fantastic premise. It's worth picking up for its unique take on literary collaboration and the engaging romantic tension between Rosie and Aiden. It's a fun and charming read.

I really enjoyed the dynamic of the two main characters in this book! I will eat up a rivals to lovers book every time but adding in the main character being a romance writer made this such a fun read as an avid romance reader myself. I loved that the characters really felt like they despised each other at the beginning. That sometimes feels lacking in a book with this trope. I also enjoyed the friend group dynamic as well as the group chat which added some extra voices to the mix along with some additional humor. I am not a fan of a third act break up which is my only critique of this book but I really enjoyed everything else about it and will definitely recommend it to my fellow romance readers!

This was a really cute romance and had me hooked. An an undergraduate student studying English I felt it was relatable. The characters were likeable the romance was angst and steamy and cute. Reasons why I didn’t rate it 5 stars are that the ending was a bit rushed and I would have liken more details on how their novel finished as it was a big plot point.

4.25⭐️ rounded up.

What an impressive debut! This was an adorable, funny and steamy romance novel by Katie Holt. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the witty banter between Aiden and Rosie was everything I wanted.

Not In My Book was my flavour of enemies to lovers - modern setting, no blood sworn enemies, but more of a "we are rivals and we are enemies because we handle our big feelings" kind of situation. Funny, full of banter and tense and heartfelt moments alike.

I loved how we got to know Aiden through their writing. I tend to prefer dual or multi POV. But here it wouldn't be as effective or work for the story, and although Aiden was frustrating at times (to say the least) I still enjoyed getting his emotions through his writing.

Not In My Book is an easy romance to read - slightly spicy, slightly predictable. The "twists" could be seen a mile away, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. There's comfort in the familiar, you know.

There's some spice towards the end, and although it's not the spiciest of spice, it's definitely steamy and hot.

I think lovers of Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood and Elena Armas would really enjoy this book!