Oh my god!!!!! I’m not kidding when I say that, this book is my book of the year. I loved every single words written on the book. Their banter, and them overall were so marvelous. This was my first book from the author and you better believe that, this author has been on my auto-buy list form now onwards. Aiden really reminded me of my another favorite character, Neil from the book Today Tonight Tomorrow. And as I looooove academic rivals to lovers, this book is soo my, 5 star read. I don’t think I can ever be over this book. I’ve already read it twice. Sorry for the delayed review. I’m writing this after my second read, as I forgot to write the review😵‍💫

⚜️Not In My Book Book Review⚜️

Oh my god!!!! I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!

Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this amazing book before its release in December 2024.

As someone who is attempting to become a writer herself, I can't tell you how much I related to this book. And it was so well written that I ended up feeling a sort of kinship to both the FMC and MMC. The writing was so realistic and even almost meta; and at times, I felt like someone romanticised my own life and made it into a book. And it is very rare when you read a book that makes you feel that way.

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I never felt bored or asked myself where this was going. Katie Holt really took everything good about the reading community and made it feel even more cozy and nostalgic. Both the FMC and MMC were very well fleshed out, and both had distinct voices with their own set of backstories, traumas (because duh, we're millennials), and their own motives. Katie's writing reminded me of of old school Ali Hazelwood (think The Love Hypothesis), and I found myself wanting to read more of her books. Please write more, Katie, even if I'm the only one who gets to read it because I love this! 😂 KH has a young voice, so mark my words, you'll be seeing a lot more of her #bookstagram.

Spice Meter: 🌶🌶.5/5
The slow burn in this book was burning, but we get a couple of good spicy scenes. One of which gets written by the two characters in real time, so I thought that was very creative, and I loved it! I tried to imagine writing a spicy scene with a writing partner, and I have to say even the mere thought of it gave me anxiety! hahaha

Recommend?: YES YES YES! Really good romcom. Highly recommend.

Themes:
- Enemies to Lovers (LIKE FOR REAL)
- Slow burn
- Forced dating/partnership
- A little bit of fake dating
- Shy but mean MMC
- MMC with a filthy mouth
- Opposites attract
- Toxic parent
- WOC FMC
- Academic/Fine arts setting
- Book within a book

READ. THIS. BOOK. 🫵🏼🫵🏼🫵🏼

4.5 Stars

This was an absolutely adorable, fuzzy feeling, feet-kicking good time. I loved the dynamic between Rosie and Aiden and the absolute fan-fiction that was this plot.

Rosie and Aiden are creative writing grad students at NYU. They (seemingly) can’t stand each other and every writer’s workshop they’re in they provide free entertainment for everyone else in the form of sexual tension-laced antagonism. They critique each other ruthlessly until one such fight gets out of hand and they’re summoned to the professor’s office.

Faced with a choice, to work together on a written piece for the class or both drop the class, Rosie and Aiden have to suck it up, get in each other’s heads and create a literary love story without a HEA. What could go wrong?

Between writing love scenes together that get a little heated and swearing that hate each other (a little too passionately), this is an enemies to lovers guaranteed to make you swoon.

I also loved how self-aware and self-critical it was. Rosie wants to be a romance writer - she understands the tropes, the structure and the prejudice against the craft. I enjoyed those discussions and the references to famous real life authors, stories and conversations around them. This was a romance truly written by someone who understands what makes a good romance.

I had a really good time, I can’t wait to read more from Katie.

I absolutely devoured this book. Academic rivals-to-lovers will always make me weak in the knees. Katie Holt's writing spoke to me in a way that I can't explain. It was so easy to read that I was completely immersed in the book. The way she writes about New York makes me feel like I've been there without actually having been there. I could feel the winter snow through the pages, even though it's literally summer and hot right now. I could not stop reading. I stayed up till 5am and finished it in one sitting. I honestly can't believe this was her debut novel.

My favorite parts of this book were the scenes where they were co-writing their novel. The little excerpts at the end of the chapters that gave us insight into Aiden's thoughts on Rosie through the eyes of his character from their novel were the cutest thing ever. It was short and sweet and had me wanting Katie Holt to publish their co-written novel, too. The tension between Rosie and Aiden had me hyperventilating to the point I needed to take a breather.

I personally really liked the third-act breakup. Though it was predictable, the angst that it created was so good that I didn't mind. The way he had to grovel and beg for her to forgive him had me on my knees. That man was desperate, and I loved every second of it.

I don't mind spice, but I draw the line at dirty talk. I'm going to overlook it because spice is very subjective, and I know I'm in the minority that prefers less explicit scenes. But if you're into that, you'll love this book.

Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in advance! I'm already looking forward to Katie Holt's next book, even though this book hasn't even been published yet. I am eagerly waiting for December 10th so I can grab a physical copy!

I loved the Story, the characters.. everything!!! It was cheesy, cute, spicy and everything!
So much love for Aiden and Rosie! I would like to read more!

It was witty and heartwarming and had me hooked that I finished the book in pretty much one sitting... I was very surprised when I found out this is Holt’s debut novel. The writing flowed really nicely and there got my heart racing in suspense, I had to stop my eyes from jumping ahead. I loved how the It was a true slow burn and how Rosie and Aiden not only complimented each other but where well developed themselves. Rosie was strong headed, stubborn and wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself against Aiden but I also liked that she cried, got homesick and had fears. That just because she was strong headed didn’t mean she couldn’t be vulnerable which was refreshing to see.

I’m really excited to keep up with Holt’s work after this one and will have to buy myself a physical copy when Not in My Book releases

This was a very fun, tongue-in-cheek romance that really kept the momentum going. While you could see everything coming from a mile away, it was a fun journey to get there. I actually liked the way the characters talked about tropes in the genre and how their romance mirrored the one they were working on together.

Bonus points for these being grad students as I’m just about halfway through my first semester of grad school, and my biggest critique is the overwhelming number of Taylor Swift references. It was honestly way too much.

I enjoyed the storyline, it was witty and funny. An enemies to lovers story with a MMC who hates enemies to lovers. Characters in a book working on their own book. I enjoyed the excerpts of the story within the story as wel. There was just too many errors in this copy and it was oddly formatted on my Kindle. There also was no chapters listed. It was like reliving the Internet era of pop-ups. DNF.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was blown away by this book! It was an engaging and interesting read. The characters were nicely fleshed out. Don't hesitate on this one!

This book was definitely a good read. The way it was written was different then any other book I have read. The way the characters communicated to each other was very different and interesting. It flowed very easily a flawless. I read this at the same time as a friend and we both were intrigued on the writing style that was chosen. I would recommend this book to my friends.

Absolutely loved this book! I made the mistake of reading it during work so got a bit teary in public 😭 Finished in a few hours! Would love to read a complete versions of Aidens and Rosie’s book 👀🫶🏼

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

“I know you prefer what’s in your books, and I pretend I don’t want to be like them, but I do. I want to be the person you picture when you’re reading and dreaming because you’re who I picture every single time.”

This books plot is one easy question: what would you do if you were into writing your final project with your nemesis in order to stay in class and pursue your dream?

Rosie is a Peruvian-American who moves from Tennessee to New York to attend NYU so she can become a writier, specifically a romance writer. She is ambitious, a dreamer and a sweetheart. Aiden Huntington, is New York born who writes literary fiction in the same class and despises romance. He’s critical yet handsome and doesn’t believe in the unrealistic expectations of romance and his forte is tragedies. When continuous dispute over their writing gets too much for their workshop leader, they get given an ultimatum - write their assignment together, fusing their writing styles into one story and learn to repect each other’s art or get kicked out the class altogether.

This book was such an easy read and perfect for when you want to just read a sweet romance for fun. I will always love an academic rivals to lovers and grumpy x sunshine so this was my cup of tea in terms of tropes.

I loved how they are forced into dates in order to feel much more connected to their book and characters. The slow burn, the obvious development as they begin to write and understand each others lives was done so well and I admit slow burn can often bore me. It’s a thin line in how their fictional characters begin to represent their own feelings to one another in real time. Their hate-fuelled banter is slowly transformed into flirty passion where they cannot deny their feelings for the other and i ate it up The writing felt so natural for the development.

My *only* critique was the 3rd act break up. I just don’t know how to particularly word it but I just didn’t like how it happened and it went from 100-0 so quickly. I get the “betrayal” and why Rosie was hurt, but I just didn’t like it. I honestly think the last quarter of the book was fairly rushed and could have been fleshed out much better.

For a debut novel, Katie delivers a pretty solid fun romance and I really look forward to upcoming releases!

✨ Grumpy/Sunshine
✨ Peacoats and Chocolate
✨ Only One Bed
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Steamy
✨ Romance writer vs Lit Fic writer
✨ SO MUCH BANTER IT'S INCREDIBLE


Okay, this book is my 2024 BOTY so far. It's witty, clever, humorous, heart wrenching, honest, optimistic, full of family and friendship and rivalry. I just loved this book. Rosie is perfect, a loud and silly Peruvian-American just trying to make it as a romance writer in NYC. Aiden is a lit fic writer with a past and a determination that HEA isn't real. When their fighting gets in the way of class, their teacher does what they couldn't imagine happening, she pairs them to write together.

I am not kidding you when I say this book was perfect. It's not necessarily a duet, but when they end up writing together it blurs the lines of reality and fiction and I just adore how Katie wrote this. It's perfect. Just the right amount of spice ( 2 or 3, maybe 4 scenes but nothing wild) and its so romantic. I will shout this one from the rooftops until December 10th when it releases. Thank you for this one Katie and NetGalley, yall are the best.

Omg I freaking loved this book. The charters in this book were so cute💜 the only thing I wish I could improve is that it be a bit longer

God lord the secondhand embarrassment I felt every time they read their fictional name journal entries masquerading as their joint novel to their classmates like 😭😭😭 I could NOT. Write from experience, sure, but let it compost first 😭

The enemies to lovers journey was cute, I loved the scene when he met her family, the third act breakup felt forced, but at the same time - its a romance novel about writing a romance novel, it had to be there For The Plot.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I had high hopes for this book with its enemies-to-lovers theme and unique book-within-a-book concept, but it fell short. The fictional dialogue became overwhelming, and Aiden came across as unkind at times.

Rosie and Aiden, both aspiring writers, have a complex relationship. Rosie loves romance novels, while Aiden prefers literary fiction and looks down on romance. Their rivalry disrupts their writing class until their professor forces them to collaborate. This pushes them to confront their issues and possibly find romance.

While I enjoy exploring new genres, Holt's story felt predictable and had pacing issues. Rosie's stubbornness made her a frustrating character, and she seemed younger than her age, overly fixated on Aiden. Even in conversations with friends and family, Aiden dominated the discussion.

The book includes excerpts from the story Rosie and Aiden write together for class. These mirror their real-life relationship struggles, where they argue frequently. In their story, the characters, Hunter and Max, express feelings similar to Rosie and Aiden's.

If you enjoy light-hearted romance with familiar themes like enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, you might still find this book enjoyable. However, I found the characters lacked depth beyond their romantic entanglements, which detracted from my overall enjoyment despite the book's competent writing.

This book was super good I really appreciated reading this book because of the amount of details and especially how well put together the book was. I love how the relationship played out and how protective Aiden ended up being over all it was just to cute of a relationship.

Great book Thank you!

A really Cute, fun romance read. I enjoyed it a lot and would definitely recommend checking it out! I just love anything that takes place in the world of publishing.

Not In My Book debut Novel by Katie Holt

✏️ People say there is a thin line between love and hate...

✏️ Rosie, an idealistic and passionate Peruvian-American who has grown up without strong ties to her culture, leaves her Tennessee hometown to pursue her dream of making it in New York as a writer. But her plan is derailed when she ends up in class with her arch-nemesis and ex-crush, Aiden Huntington—an obnoxious, surly, and gorgeous literary fiction writer who doesn’t have much patience for the romance genre, or for Rosie.

✏️ When Rosie and Aiden find themselves competing against each other for a potentially career-changing opportunity, the flames of old rivalry reignite, and their once-in-a-lifetime love story is once again at risk of being shelved—unless they can find a way to end the book on their own terms.

✏️ I thoroughly enjoyed this enemies to lovers romance by Katie Holt. The banter between Aiden and Rosie was angsty, and I appreciated the growth of the characters throughout the book. It was as if their emotional growth parralled the growth they made as writers in the story. I also loved when Rosie and Aiden wrote a section of the book together, especially the steamy love scene 🔥

*Enemies to Lovers
*Forced proximity
*Slow burn
*Shared project
*Open door spice

Thanks to @netgalley and @alcovepress for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I’m slowly clawing my way out of a reading slump and this book was so good I finished it in two days! I loved the Beach Read x The Hating Game vibes and the idea of all the unsaid things between them being written in their novel? genius.