I enjoyed the majority of this book! The writing component was so much fun. I enjoyed both characters, their development, and the friend group. The only thing that docked a star for me was some of the spicy scenes. They were a little too much for me. Such a satisfying happily ever after though! Love how the author wrote herself to some extent into the novel.

A wonderful cover and a cute romance with likeable characters. The author did a great job with executing the story.

This was such a fun read! It started off slowly for me at first, but I warmed up quickly and ended up finding that I couldn't put it down. The way they shared the writing of their novel was a creative way for them to get to know each other. Wish I could give it 3.5 stars.

NGL I’m absolutely obsessed with Aiden—I predict romance readers will be adding him to their list of favorite book boyfriends in the near future! Not In My Book by Katie Holt is bound to be an instant favorite since it’s packed with all the best tropes. I especially appreciated the genuine slow burn and the classic rivals/enemies-to-lovers dynamic. You FEEL the tension build over the course of the story, and it’s never told but always shown, which is my favorite kind of narrative.

Additionally, the plot was so creative and refreshing. I adored the parts where they cowrote together, adding layers of tension and depth. The story-within-a-story element was so enthralling—I couldn’t put it down!

I do think the book was a bit long and drawn out, but I’m pretty sure that serves as part of the plot—illustrating that love isn’t always just a straightforward happily-ever-after. I can see some readers losing interest around 70% in, when the SECOND third-act breakup happens. Both characters say and do some seemingly irredeemable things in their final arguments, but again, I think this plays into the book’s attempt to be realistic.

I would recommend this book to fans of slow-burn romances, rivals-to-lovers dynamics, dirty talk, and okay with a bit of the miscommunication trope.

Thank you, Alcove Press and NetGalley, for the ARC!

This was a great book, it has all the best tropes! Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorites, and adding in the aspect of a story-within-a story just made it so much better.

This is the perfect enemies-to-lovers trope. It’s unique and really fun to read; especially it being a story within a story. Appreciated all the banter throughout the book. Perfect for a summer or cozy read!

I loved so many things about this book! There’s a story within a story, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, fake dating, and of course one bed! I can’t believe this is a debut novel - the story develops in such a beautiful way and the characters are so enjoyable.

Man oh man did I love this book. My favourite trope (rivals but they've secretly loved each other the whole time!!) executed to perfection. The tension between Rosie and Aiden was beautifully written. I loved the snippets of their novel inserted at the end of each chapter that gave additional insight into their psyche via Max and Hunter's story. A highly recommended read to anyone who loves books and a man who is down bad! Aiden definitely knows how to grovel and I love that for him.

This book was the perfect definition of an enemies-to-lovers romance!

I believe this is Katie’s first book but I’m not entirely sure lol but if it is, I thought it was SO good. The tension, the banter, the character development, and the plot, it’s all there and written so well.

I loved both Aiden and Rosie’s characters and their chemistry was intense and electric. And chapter 17? Oh my GOD, it had me in a chokehold.

The slow burn was great and the spice was spicin’ and I loved every minute of it. There were some times I got a little confused with some of the diction and sentence structures, and at some moments rosie’s stubbornness pissed me off lmao, but other than that, I loved absolutely everything about it.

10/10 def recommend ✨

Okay this was adorable.

I was immediately invested in the FMC from the beginning. The writing style was very relatable and conversational.

The angst between our two characters felt very authentic and as a writer, I totally get Rosie's frustration.

"The great thing about NYU was the city was your campus. But the bad thing about NYU was the city was your campus."

Absolutely loved this and will be reading more from this author!

I absolutely LOVED this book! I was laughing and giddy often throughout this fluffy, enemies to lovers romance. The banter was funny, the characters were relatable and great, and the premise was interesting and enjoyable. I definitely recommend for anyone who loves fluffy romances. I already added this to my list of pre-orders for my shelf trophy.

After I finished this book, only one sentence popped into my mind: I love it so much! Interestingly, I loved Maxine and Hunter’s parts more than Rosie and Aiden’s, even though they are the same characters! This book is unique and creative, following standard romance formulas between two stubborn, opposite characters and my favorite tropes—enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract—adding Southern charm, Peruvian genuineness, and holiday vibes. The settings in New York, which should be considered the most romantic city in the world, seem specifically designed for lovers (romantic park walks, beautiful shops with dreamy Christmas decorations, gorgeous gourmet restaurants, sipping frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity! Yes, this never-sleeping city is even more romantic than Paris!).

I didn’t mind the formula, even though it’s a match made in heaven concoction for me to devour each week to heal my soul! (We need more romances, my friends! Don’t listen to real-life brooding Aidens! They’re cute for our broken hearts, life vests to help keep our heads above the water and not drown in the harsh waves life throws at us!) The execution of the tropes, the blossoming slow-burn romance, the genuine family parts, and the banter in the writing class between Rosie and Aiden are perfect!

The conclusion was also heartwarming! I didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much, but the end of the chapters belonging to Max and Hunter were so close to pure perfection!

Let’s talk about the plot quickly: Rosie, looking at things through rose-tinted glasses, is a passionate, caring, sweet but also straightforward, bold, adventurous young woman in her mid-twenties with Peruvian American heritage. She leaves her life and family in Tennessee to move to New York to pursue her passion to be a romance author. Attending writing classes crosses her path with Aiden Huntington, a green-eyed, tall, broad-shouldered, gorgeous man who hates the idea of romance and becomes her worst critic, turning into her arch-nemesis even though she had a quick crush on him the first time she set her eyes on him.

Their banter turns into volatile arguments in the class, creating more havoc than they expected. As a solution, their instructor forces them to write a book together combining romance and literary fiction, spending more time together to learn to respect their genres and become more civil as team colleagues.

What they didn’t expect was that they would create characters based on themselves and start to write about their feelings, pushing the thin line between hate and adoration. As they get to know each other, the walls they constructed start diminishing, and the lines get blurred as the sparks keep flying. Can they end this book project together as they wish without a tragedy, but most likely with a HEA, and apply it in real life to themselves?

Both of them are afraid of burning. But what if, without risking your heart, you cannot get closer to your soulmate?

Overall: I enjoyed it! Some stubborn attitudes of the characters pissed me off, but I still rounded up 4.5 stars to 5 blazing stars for the sake of Maxine and Hunter!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for sharing this meaningful romance novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

CONGRATS! you were perfect.

this book was so so SO good. i got addicted to it so fast Aiden and Rosie’s dynamic, chemistry, and banter was absolutely perfect. such a sweet and funny romance novel!!!!

this is the first novel i’ve read by the other and i am DEFINITELY going to be reading more!!

5/5 stars!💛

thanks for the arc 💓

Rivals to lovers, grumpy vs sunshine, he falls first, what’s not to love??? As soon as I saw hating game meets beach read in the book description I was so intrigued and this book did NOT disappoint! I also really loved the fact that the booo had a Peruvian MC!

-enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn
-Aiden and Rosie are forced to cowrite a final project when all do is bicker ✍️👩‍💻🩷
-this was an enjoyable read with two stories paralleling each other
-thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC

I really enjoyed this romance! I love a good enemies to lovers trope and a grumpy/sunshine. This romance gave me everything I wanted and I could totally picture enjoying this by the pool for a light summer romance. The cover doesn't hint at the spicy bedroom scenes and definitely gives me Emily Henry / Christina Lauren vibes. Would definitely recommend!

thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the arc <3

i went into this book thinking it would be a simple cute and cheesy romance. i was wrong. i was laughing, i was blushing, i was kicking my feet in the air, i was CRYING. i needed this book more than this book needed me (my honest review in exchange for an arc hehe) i am very unwell and i wouldn’t want it any other way

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC! This was a super cute romance and I genuinely did like both characters and the little side stories of their friends! Also a fun moment of book writing inside of a book. Overall, a great, cute, quick read!

This book was an adorable experience from beginning to end. The use of the book chapters they were co-writing was so interesting and beautifully reflective of their secret feelings for each other. I enjoyed the realistic dialogue and down-to-earth characters, it made the book more realistic. My biggest pet peeve is when authors fall into the trap of characters moving on too easily and Holt avoided this brilliantly.

I am not usually one who enjoys a story within a story but this was well done. Watching all of the characters move through the phases of falling in love was interesting especially when they wrote chapters together. While the plot itself was predictable, it was a good read.