This book is about two Master's degree students pursuing writing at NYU. One specializes in romance novels, while the other focuses on literary fiction. and they are true enemies. Despite their differing styles, they are forced to collaborate on a project, sparking an unexpected friendship that blossoms amidst their initial animosity.

The novel captured my attention and I finished it in one day! Both main characters were endearing, and the central concept was charming and humorous. However, the book they were writing felt repetitive, mirroring the main plot too closely. Additionally, the female lead's persistent insistence on unrequited love became somewhat tiresome, especially given the evident feelings of Aiden.

This book was like if January and Gus got together in college (iykyk!) I honestly really enjoyed this book. The banter was fun and the romance was swoony—though both bordered on the wrong side of cheesy a couple of times. I also really enjoyed the setup of having the characters write a book together while simultaneously getting to know each other better. I LOVE a “he falls first, and harder” enemies to lovers, and this fit the bill perfectly! The addition of having excerpts from the fictional book the characters were writing to give insight into the MMC’s thoughts was perfect and really really sweet. It lost a star for having such an awkward third and final act. I didn’t find it very believable (although it was predictable) and the FMC acted like a brat a little bit. I also think the prose could use a little improvement; like I said, it got a little cheesy at times and sometimes the diction was a bit repetitive. The excerpts were all GORGEOUS though so I have no doubt that this author is only going to get even better from here!

A HUGE thank you to the author, Katie Holt, and the publisher, Alcove Press, for giving me the chance to read an ARC of this wonderful book and provide my honest opinion about it.

A DREAM COME TRUE!!
I swear, I've been waiting for someone to write this book my whole life! It finally happened!! And I'm so glad Katie Holt is the author of this gorgeous masterpiece.

Omg I loved this book so much, it legit had me crying!!! Firstly the way that the excerpts of their book were intwined with the story I loved, the main characters put themselves into their book without realising and used it to say things they could never say.
I think this book is well written and easy to read and I enjoyed reading every part of it!!

This was so cute and clever! I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers anyway and the intertwining of book and reality was really fun to read. The only negative I have is that the characters lacked a little depth. At least I personally had a hard time really relate to them, even if their problems ARE relatable. Especially Aiden's backstory and feelings were lacking a bit in my opinion. Still had a lot of fun with the book!

As someone who has Taylor Swift on REPEAT for a long time now I also noticed some (maybe even unintentional?) references to her songs aside from the obvious mentioning. I mean, Aiden standing in the front porch light? Come on! Also words like mad house or the words antithetical and argumentative in the same sentence. There were more, but I can't remember. Felt a bit like finding little Easter Eggs and I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Side note since this is an eARC: There were a few typos in the book I noticed.

A true rivals-to-lovers book that had me hooked right from the beginning.

I love how at the beginning of this book they are truly rivals. They absolutely hate each other and aren't afraid to voice their thoughts on the matter. The tension is just perfect in every way and had me on the edge of my seat. You can't help but love tall dark and ruthless Aiden even though he filets Rosie's writing in class. It all comes to a head when she really gives it back to him in the next class when its his turn to be critiqued. Then the real fun begins as they are made to pair up in writing a romance novel, which of course Aiden HATES! I love how as this book continues they still continue to bicker even as this are heating up. And let me tell you what when they are truly writing together wow does it get HOT. There is of course tension right towards the end that makes you so mad and sad. I love how the book their writing follows how their love develops. I loved this book and if they book they were writing in this book was real I would read the heck out of that too!

I think the only thing I would have changed about this book is I would have loved a duel POV so we could also see things from Aiden's perspective. I am still giving this book a 5 star rating though. Overall this book was written so well and keeps you enthralled from beginning to end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes rivals-to-lover and a grumpy-sunshine dynamic.

Review on ARC - Not in My Book by Katie Holt


Review: 4.5 stars

I was surprised (in a good way), I did not think that I was going to like this book as much as I did, it was a wonderful story to read, I read it pretty quickly (5 days). At times I was laughing out loud, kicking my legs in the air and at the end I was crying, because it was beautiful, and I did not want it to be the end of the book. It was written pretty wonderfully, I found it very easy to read, and the tension was just enough and broke at completely the right times, I related to both of the characters at times, and absolutely understand them both.
This was a great book; I would definitely recommend you guys snatch this one, once it’s published on December 10th. You will enjoy it very much and wish to climb into this book to live this great story

Overall, I enjoyed this academic rivals to lovers contemporary romance book about two aspiring authors. I loved the first half of the book and thought the academic rivals component was perfect.

However, I didn’t like the idea of the two main characters competing over the Fellowship. I thought it was too briefly mentioned at the end as if the author had randomly decided to add a climax in the last 50 pages or so. Also, I thought Aiden’s justification for not telling Rosie he had also applied for the Fellowship was highly unrealistic. I wish the overused miscommunication trope had not been used as the main climax.

I did really enjoy the slow-burn romance between the two main characters. Also, I loved all the cute dates they went on.

I also enjoyed getting to know all the side characters and their stories.

Overall, this book was a great academic rivals to lovers contemporary romance, however, it featured the miscommunication trope and the ending was rushed.

This book was adorable! I love the enemies to lovers story line and Rosie and Aiden were the perfect characters to root for and I love that we got more of their story through their book characters Maxine and Hunter. The description of the book stuck out at me but I didn’t anticipate loving it as much as I did! I couldn’t put it down and was sad when it was over. I wasn’t sure if it would have the happily ever after ending the book mocks, but I thought it wrapped up perfectly! Thanks for the ARC!

I adored this book!

Rivals to lovers? SAY NO MORE! IM HOOKED!
I loved how theres POC represemtation and Rosie is such an incredible character, I relate to her sm its insane.
AND AIDEN. HOW COULD YOU NOT FALL FOR HIM?!

this book made me laugh, giggle and kick my feet uncontrollably and I loved every second of it!

This reminded me a lot of Emily Henry who I adore so fans of her would love this!

This was okay. I really liked the banter throughout! I did find that I had more complaints than I did praises though. I didn’t love the execution of the book within a books as it was essentially just a recap of what we just read, and the coauthors voices weren’t distinct enough to tell them apart. Aiden was supposed to be this brilliant litfic author and Rosie was supposed to be a super talented romance author…. But it all just read like an alternate version of the book I was currently reading. Every single side character only existed as a way for Rosie to talk about Aiden. They had no other purpose (minus one romance between two of the sides, but even that was usually only mentioned in comparison to Rosie and Aiden).The entire conflict at the end was way too frustrating to be honest. They completely reverted back to their immature selves, and lacked communication the whole way through to only blow up in their faces at the end. And then they write nice pages to each other, again being too afraid to say what they mean in person. It just wasn’t believable enough for me, though I do think this will be enjoyable to many others and would still recommend it! Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review which has already been posted to Goodreads.

I devoured this book! For this being a debut book for Katie Holt all I have to say is WOW.

The book is about 2 classmates Rosie and Aiden who are sworn enemies in their graduate writing class. Everything comes to a head when they are forced to work together on a project in order to stay in class.

This is a TRUE enemies to lovers. The spice was awesome I loved the plot and the growth of Rosie and Aiden’s relationship.

I am so excited for what is to come for Katie and is now an automatic buy for me!

Thank you so much for the early access of an eARC for an honest review!

Enemies to Lovers, slow burn, and reading the book they writing within the book? Sign me up. This was a great love story about a love story being created, and all the small moments behind the scenes. I loved seeing how Rosie and Aiden were able to move from Enemies to friends to lovers, while reading the parallel with Max and Aiden in the book.

Also loved all the Christmas moments in this book! While it’s not specifically a holiday book it makes me think that the December release date will be absolutely perfect!

Thanks NetGalley for getting to read this one early!

Excellent dialogue, chemistry build and execution. The meta nature of the book is hard to pull off, and it's mostly done very well, but there are some unrealistic moments.

I would also say the final conflict was very weak - the book ended on a whisper rather than a bang.

Academic Rivals to Lovers? Yes, Please!

Two writers who can't stand each other, stuck in a class together, and giving each other mean feedback—what could possibly go wrong? Or maybe, what could go right? In "Not in My Book" by Katie Holt, Rosie and Aiden are post-grad students at NYU, each with strong opinions on what makes a story great. Rosie loves romance, while Aiden is a hardcore lit fic fan who doesn’t believe in happy endings. When they're forced to write a book together—a romantic story without a happy ending—sparks start to fly.

You'll Love This If You're Into:
✢ Academic rivals to lovers
✢ Grumpy x sunshine dynamics
✢ Epistolary Elements
✢ Slow burn romance with incredible angst

Characters: ★★★★☆
Plot Progression: ★★★★☆
Writing Style: ★★★★☆
Memorability: ★★★★☆
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ open door
Overall: ★★★★☆
Thoughts: REALLY LIKED IT

𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕'𝒔 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕...
"Not in My Book" is a dive into the world of academic rivals. The book shines with its witty banter and the electric chemistry between Rosie and Aiden, two characters who are as different as night and day. Rosie’s passion for romance and Aiden’s disdain for anything sentimental create a dynamic that's both humorous and touching.

The setting at NYU, with the backdrop of changing seasons, adds a charming layer to the story, making the characters' journey feel as vibrant and alive as the city itself. The chapter where they collaborate on a steamy scene over the phone? Absolutely sizzling! Yet, despite their fiery exchanges, the story never loses sight of the characters’ deeper emotions, offering moments of vulnerability that are beautifully handled.

The book's unique premise—where we get glimpses of the manuscript Rosie and Aiden are writing together—provides an extra layer of enjoyment. These bits not only serve to deepen our understanding of the characters but also add a meta-narrative that’s both clever and engaging.

While the story does have some predictable moments, and the third act breakup felt a tad forced (AND IN THE LAST TEN PERCENT NO LESS), the overall journey is heartfelt.

For fans of academic rivals to lovers, "Not in My Book" is a must-read.

Rosie is my new favorite book character. I can’t explain enough how much I resonate with her love for books and although I’m not as romantic as her I relate to her views so much. I cannot believe that this is Katie Holt's debut novel! I literally absorbed chapter after chapter and there were no dull moments, which is important for me because of my attention span.

This book is truly The Hating Game meets Beach Read. The tension between Rosie and Aiden is so palpable that I see myself agreeing with Jess and Alexa most of the time. I was surprised how smoothly Rosie and Aiden were able to transition form haters to friends to lovers. I also cannot get enough of the romantic gestures, the inner monologues and the communication that transpired through their writing. It was amazing to see how a simple project brought the two together that's why the end broke me much more than I anticipated. All I can say is I'm totally on Rosie's side. It was a total douchebag move coming from Aiden and to be honest? his apology felt flat. I can't really put him in a high pedestal after his outburst saying Rosie is 'just jealous'. In any relationship, that's just plain ugly. Rosie respected Aiden as a writer and even trusted him to check her work, yet all she'll get was a 'you're just jealous'? So yeah that's the only thing that put me off but everything went ok so it's a guaranteed HEA.

PS. The hot scenes are just flaming wow.

Two writers who can’t stand each other, in class together, giving each other mean feedback- recipe for disaster or success?

She writes romance, he hates romance. He writes sad stories and doesn’t believe in HEAs. But, then they are forced to write a book together that is both romantic, yet doesn’t have a happy ending and the sparks start sparking.

First off, I love that they aren’t super young. I was nervous until I realized they were both post-grads. Second- the chapter where they are writing the spicy scene together over the phone!? GET OUT OF HERE 🥵

I did feel like we rushed a little bit to get to the ending, but overall it was a really fun ride with these enemies to lovers!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy!

4⭐️- Rosie and Aiden’s story is true rivals to lovers, slow burn, incredible angst, and 🌶️🔥🌶️. I absolutely loved the setting of books within books, grad school at NYU with the changing seasons. Not in My Book is a must-read for any romance lover.

My only critique is that it was a bit predictable, but I still couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to Net Galley, Katie Holt, and Alcove Press for this ARC!

THIS BOOK WAS A RICH CUP OF HOT COCO ON A CRISP NOVEMBER EVENING!!!! i loved it so so so much! rosie and aiden are in a writing class and they hate each other so their professor makes them write a novel together for their final assignment and WOW not only was the novel itself - but the novel rosie and aiden were writing amazing! i was giggling screaming crying the entire time and this has been one of the best arcs this year!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rivals to lovers may be my new favorite genre. This book kept my attention and was very welll written, especially for a debut novel. It features a slow burn romance involving opposites attract with plenty of humor and some angst thrown in. I’ll definitely read the next book by this author.