This book is so good. A cute rom-com with true rivals.

Tropes: Rivals to Lovers, Fake dating, slow burn, closed-door romance, holiday vibes

This book will be a feast for romance readers, where you read characters writing a romance book within a romance book.

Rosie similar to romance readers is a hopeless romantic who always wanted a happy ending and to find that one true love. Then there is Aiden who didn’t grow up with loving parents, so he is everything opposite of What Rosie wants.

Their banter is top-notch. I didn’t think I would enjoy this book so much. Also, they talk through the characters they write, Maxine & Hunter.
The excessive miscommunication in the plot was a bit of a downside for me.
Overall it’s an enjoyable read and adorable read. This Needs some editing with the typographical errors.

I didn’t think I would love this book as much as I did. This book had me smiling like an idiot and tearing up too! I really enjoyed the way Rosie and Aiden created Max and Hunter out of spite but then used them to say how they truly felt. Getting Aiden’s pov through the experts was unique but I’m stingy and wanted more. Overall I really loved this book and can’t wait to read more from this author! Thank you NetGalley for letting me arc read this story!

The first few chapters were soooo good, they were a total vibe! It was a 4-star read for me up until the third act conflict. This is where most of my 3-star romance reads lose their 1 star and this book was no exception. The conflict was well set up but it was handled in a very sappy, careless, and wordy way which put me off both the characters completely. The spicy scenes had me hiding my expressions in the subway too, but it felt a little bit inorganic how the sex went straight to the nasty-rough realm when the female lead has body image issues (not complaining about the spice, but come on). Also, please don't name your characters Rosie Posie 😭

I really enjoyed this ARC! A great enemies to lovers story. My main complaint is that the excerpts from the novel they were co-writing sometimes mirrored the writing almost exactly. I enjoyed how the writing they were doing together allowed us to glimpse what was happening internally with the characters, especially Aiden, it just got a little repetitive at times. But overall a fun read.

his was such a cute and unique idea for a romance book and I loved it. Will definitely be reading more by this author in the future

**Book Review for "Not in My Book" by Katie Holt**

Rating: ★★★★☆

"Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is a delightful read that follows the tumultuous yet captivating journey of Rosie and Aiden, two students in NYU’s writing program. Aiden, who claims to despise all things romance, and Rosie, a hopeless romantic, find themselves at odds in their writing workshop. Their verbal sparring is as sharp as it is entertaining, making their dynamic truly electric.

The plot takes an intriguing turn when they are forced to co-write a novel that blends their preferred genres. The witty banter between them had me laughing out loud and rooting for their unlikely partnership. The contrast in their personalities creates a tension that's both engaging and endearing. I fell in love with the characters and the unique concept of the book.

One of the highlights for me was the meaningful quotes and excerpts that Aiden and Rosie wrote as their alter egos, Hunter and Maxine. These added layers of depth and emotion to the story, resonating long after I finished reading.

However, the reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the breakup that occurs in the book. I found it felt somewhat out of place in an otherwise well-crafted narrative. (Which seems as i’m not the only one that thought this as well.)

I do want to note, although I felt this way about the break up in the end, it doesn’t take away from the majority of the story. I guess I was just expecting…… more..?

Overall, "Not in My Book" is a fantastic read with charming characters and a compelling storyline. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good mix of romance and witty dialogue.

(Also PS If you like Beach Read by Abby Jimenez, read this! I do find this book better than Beach Read. Date I say it……!!)

*DISCLAIMER* This is NOT a paid review. This was a voluntary early access read made possible by NetGalley the Publisher and Author Katie Holt. I want to extend a huge thank you for allowing me access to this E-Arc! I hope my review provides helpful insight.

*PLATFORMS* This review is available on Barnes & Nobles (if applicable), Amazon, Walmart, NetGalley, GoodReads & Facebook.

This reminded me of "Beach Read" by Emily Henry in the best way possible! As many other reviewers mentioned, I read this in one sitting because it was that good. I loved the enemies to lovers vibes of this one and loved that we got to see who these characters were in the past... why Aiden hated romance so much.

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📌 Thank you, NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Katie Holt for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

•This book is set to be published on December 10, 2024.

This book follows Rosie and Aiden, who are both part of NYU’s writing program. The thing with these two main characters is that Aiden is a writer who doesn’t like romance (writing, reading, etc.), or so he says. On the other hand, Rosie is a hopeless romantic. Both of these main characters love to hurl verbal insults at each other during their writing workshop, which results in them having to co-write a novel together that blends both of their preferred genres. The dynamic between them is electric, with witty banter that had me laughing out loud and rooting for their unlikely partnership.

Long story short, I fell in love with the characters and the concept of this book! The way their contrasting personalities clash yet complement each other creates a tension that kept me invested. I also love the quotes that this book contains. I mean, the excerpts Aiden and Rosie wrote as Hunter and Maxine were meaningful to their story, adding layers of depth and emotion that resonated long after I finished reading.

The reason I rated it the way I did is because I couldn’t wrap my head around the breakup that occurs in the book. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Aside from that, it delivered a HEA, which I can say with certainty did not disappoint. The resolution felt satisfying, and it was heartwarming to see how the characters had grown and evolved through their experiences. Overall, “Not in My Book” is a charming read that blends humor, romance, and the struggles of creative collaboration, making it an amazing read!

This story nails the electric tension and chemistry between Rosie and Aiden. The idea of these total opposites co-writing a novel gives the classic enemies-to-lovers trope a fresh twist - turning their romance into a journey of understanding and embracing their differences.

The humor is spot-on - I couldn’t help but crack up at their witty banter. Of course, it’s got the inevitable third-act breakup and the frustrating miscommunication, but hey, that’s romance for you, right?

The slow burn of their romance is the kind of torture I’m totally here for, and let me tell you, when things heat up... total fireworks. The chapter where their writing session turns steamy? Both clever and hot.

This novel is a standout, showcasing Holt’s knack for mixing humor, heart, and heat in a contemporary romance and I can’t wait to read more of her stories!

A huge shoutout to @netgalley , @alcovepress , and Katie Holt for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for this arc!

This was an enjoyable and cute read I'd recommend to anyone looking for something light and romantic. The banter was great and I feel the plot was well-developed. The pacing was just right - not too slow or fast, which helped keep my interest. I loved how the author included pieces of their joint novel at the end! It allowed for a dual POV and more insight into their feelings/thoughts. I give this 4 stars and 2 spice. If you're not into spice, the scenes are easy to skip because they don't add much to the storyline.

Overall, highly recommend this book and I look forward to what the author, Katie Holt, writes next!

I loved a lot about this book! Holt's writing is fun to read, and Rosie was fantastic! I want to be her friend. I also adored the (very vocal) spicy scenes! That being said, I had a little trouble connecting to Aiden, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Definitely looking forward to whatever Holt puts out next!

It was so easy to feel the emotions of the characters in this book. There was a sense of tension to the dialogues that made me feel as if they were taking place right in front of me. The description of the setting made me feel like I was there. The characters were so vivid and relatable. The writing was captivating and kept me engaged until the very end. I was left feeling a sense of satisfaction and closure. It was a story that I will never forget. Overall, it was a great read. I highly recommend this romance book to anyone who enjoys a good story.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Katie Holt, and the publishers for sending me an ARC of the book.

Not in My Book by Katie Holt was a FANTASTIC debut novel. I literally couldn't put this down. There was so much detail and complexity to the main characters that I got swept away in their love story. The writing was smart, sharp, and the dialogue was realistic. I highly recommend this fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free advanced reader's copy. All opinions are my own.

I waited until I was on vacation to read this and I am so glad I did because I could not put this book down. I love a good enemies to lovers book and ‘Not in My Book’ got me line, hook, and sinker. Rosie is a true by form romance author and Aiden is anti romance anything and when they are forced to write a book together we see their true characteristics. This trope was done so well I am sitting here giggling and kicking my feet waiting for these two to get together. I also love when we are able to see past lives of characters and why Aiden hates romance so much. These characters are also relatable and I think Katie Holt knocked it out of the park and I can’t wait for what she has in store for us next.

i finished this book in one day. the plot hooked me, reminding me a bit of ‘beach read’ but still being completely unique. i think that having rosie and aiden write a book together exposed a lot about their characters and it was a really interesting way to learn about them, even if i sometimes felt like the excerpts from their book were a little too long. the rivals to lovers trope is one of my favourites and i was happy to see it done well. another aspect i always enjoy is reading about people who love books as well which we clearly had in ‘not in my book’ with two writers as well as book lovers falling in love. i mean they were book shopping together and he payed for her books- literally the dream. overall, i would for sure recommend this book!

The first few chapters were giving me three star vibes but then something just clicked and I was hooked! Like, staying up way too late because I wasn't able to put it down!! That insistent need to see these characters get together!! I even found myself reading on my lunch break, which I never do (because I don't get to take breaks really 😆 but I made it happen for this book)

The way these two characters evolved, incredible! Their definitely enemies with banter that grow the more their "together". And man oh man is the slow burn "enemies to lovers" off the charts in this one. It's so steamy in a way that is different and refreshing, I dare to call it "book" sex? Once you read it, you'll know what I mean. One of the best scenes I've read, It's so deliciously good!

On top of this growing relationship, there's this beautiful vulnerability to it. These two characters are proud but yet hurt from different aspects in their life and I loved watching them grow and change around each other. Not just for each other, but for themselves. The plot was so much fun, being a romance lover at heart.

My one small beef with the book, was the third act break up. I wish there was a bit more to it, however, it did feel right for the characters. Especially knowing where they started.

The blurb doesn’t lie - this debut romance is the perfect mix between The Hating Game (one of my all-time favorites) and Beach Read.

This book follows two MFA students: Rosie, an idealistic romance writer, and Aiden, a serious, anti-romance literary fiction writer. The two constantly clash during their writer’s workshop so to remedy their relationship, they are assigned to write a novel together that blends their two genres. I love enemies-to-lovers and their rivalry delivered the perfect level of angst - at times Aiden was so critical of her writing I genuinely did not know how they could recover.

I loved how much this is reminiscent of The Hating Game, yet it completely stood on its own because of how unique the novel-writing aspect was. Eventually, Aiden and Rosie explore their relationship and mutual pining through writing the novel and snippets of their chapters are scattered throughout the book, making it such a unique reading experience.

This book has all of the ingredients for a perfect cozy read: holidays in NYC, bookstore dates (ft. the iconic Strand bookstore), bookish chats, writing in coffee shops, academia.

Rosie’s sunshine-and-rainbows personality was so likeable, and I really appreciated how the details on her life, friends, and family were fully fleshed out. I personally felt conflicted about Aiden’s character. While I grew to like many of his traits overall, I couldn’t move past the way he initially critiqued the romance genre. Openly judging romance novels is pretty icky, but learning more about his background did provide clarity on his distaste for the genre. However, after all his character growth throughout the book and his changing attitudes on romance, he still managed to say harsh things about romance novels during the third-act fight, which took me out of it a little bit.

Overall I thought this was such a refreshing and unique romance coming from a debut author, Katie Holt, I will definitely be excited to read more of her future work.

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

This is a truly brilliant romance and, unusually, a piece of meta-fiction. Rosie has come to New York in pursuit of a dream -- she wants to be a romance writer. She's barely hanging on between her bar-tending job and only taking classes part time, but she's in the NYU Master's Program in creative writing. Aiden, the cute guy in her writing class, is strictly a Literary Fiction writer, with no space for romance. His critiques of her writing are more like attacks, until they find themselves screaming at each other in class...

So what will happen when they are assigned to write a romance novel together?

Extremely well rounded and believable characters grace this highly entertaining (and steamy) enemies to lovers romance -- but will it be the first romance ever without the Happily Ever After?

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Net Galley and Alcove Press for letting me review this book in egalley in exchange for my honest review.

#NotInMyBook #AlcovePress #NetGalley #EnemiesToLovers #Writing

Loved this! I couldn't get enough of Rosie and Aiden. I was basically kicking my feet with silly little butterflies flying around in my chest. This enemies to lovers was magnificent. The banter between these two was pure gold! But once things started getting a little steamy between the two I was here for it! Even the side characters were amazing.

Aiden is your average love cynic and Rosie is the over the top romantic. Both are writers in grad school with the same class and they bicker A LOT. They're forced to work on a project together where walls are shed and confessions are made.

Other than the two MCs, Logan had to be my favorite. He always said something dumb that had me laughing. Alexa was a close second. This book was so vivid in its details about New York I swear it was like I was reliving my years in the city. It was pretty spot on.

The spice.....chefs kiss! Although some of the things that were said were a bit cringe worthy. 🤷‍♀️

I have to say though, the small insights into Aiden's head through the book they were writing at the end of each chapter was magical. The book was mainly through Rosie's POV but those small glimpses always made my heart race. I was greedy for them.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters and plot development, the angst, and the tension are all wonderfully done! I loved the co-writing (and reading their excerpts) and how it was as if we got another inside peak into their thoughts/feelings.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.