This was like a mix of Beach Read and The Hating Game but not done as well as it could have been. This book was a strange one for me, parts of it I loved like I enjoyed the characters, banter and tension, Then other bits I didn't like, like how quickly it became established that they liked one another, I also don't think the stigma around romance is as prominent as they portray in the book. I didn't buy it. Okay, I am also not in the publishing industry so I have no actual idea but as a reader I just didn't believe it because there is such a huge and open love for it these days, it all seemed a little extreme. I did however really enjoy her group of friend group, their group chat seemed like my own in the way they all chatted.

I did say I liked the characters which I stand by BUT I did find Rosie to be a little annoying at times, but I was able to look past that as I enjoyed the story itself. In saying that I found something about the writing was off for me, parts of it I would be so obsessed and engrossed in it and then other parts I would be bored and start to skim over. The writing just didn't flow that well for me. I also was not a fan of the sex scenes or how many there were. I really am not a fan of such lengthy conversations in sex scenes and I feel like towards the end that's all the book became up until the twist and I got bored.

It wasn't a bad book, just not for me unfortunately. I do think the writing could do with some tweaking, but I would still read another book by this author because I think there is a lot of potential for me to really enjoy one of her books in the future.

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*


Omg I loved this so much! this was a perfect combination of romance,humour and dash of spice. absolutely in love and 100% recommend!!

Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun read! I enjoyed this rom-com by Katie Holt. It is a book within a book and worked well to get us hooked on the enemies to lovers relationship between Rosie and Aiden as they are forced to collaborate on a novel together. A little spicy thrown in too. Adding a conflict near the end of the book was unexpected but glad it resolved. Would recommend this book.

Thank you to Katie Holt and NetGalley for this ARC of Not in my Book.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars rounded to 5
Not in my Book tells the story of Rosie and Aiden, two competing writers who hate each others genre of choice. What starts off as a bitter rivalry though turns into a challenge when their professor challenges them to write a book together.
As it is Katie’s debut novel, I have to say, it’s beautifully done. I think fans of Julie Soto or Ali Hazelwood would love this book. I will definitely be recommending it to my friends.

Also, the co-writing scene, 🪭🌶️😏🤭🙌

I loved this debut novel. Granted, it is pretty much made for me. Enemies to lovers? Check! Writing a book together? Check! I loved both characters but Rosie was a favorite. She was funny, authentic, and flawed in a super endearing way. The third act conflict can be seen from a mile away, but it fit the storyline well. I understood both points of view, which is not always the case. I hate a third act conflict that feels forced. All in all, I loved this one. Definitely adding this author to my list of ones to watch for. Rounded up from a 4.5 because it’s a debut and the author crushed it. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

This book was such a fun ride! I loved the true enemies-to-lovers feeling where the characters really had a lot of animosity for each other and were very much forced to put their differences aside to get through their writing class together. There were unique side characters that added a fun element to the story, but they didn't overtake the story ever. The quips back and froth from Rosie and Aiden, especially in the first 50% of the book were just SO good! I found myself constantly laughing out loud or giggling to myself at some of the things they said. There were also perfect moments where you see the chemistry shine through, and it was a slow burn done well. I will say that there was a lull after the halfway point where I found myself losing concentration here and there because it was starting to feel repetitive, but it definitely picked back up again, and I enjoyed the last quarter of the book a lot. Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

This book offers such a unique storyline that fans of Beach Read by Emily Henry are sure to devour. The rivalry between two writers forced to collaborate on a novel is brilliantly portrayed in Not In My Book. From the moment Aiden and Rosie start bantering, the sparks fly, and their chemistry only grows as the story unfolds. Their witty exchanges had me laughing out loud, and their joint efforts in writing some particularly steamy scenes add an extra layer of intrigue.

Beyond the romance, I found Rosie's exploration of her Peruvian roots to be a heartwarming addition. Her family's warmth and acceptance of Aiden, despite his tumultuous past, added depth to the story. However, while I enjoyed most of the book immensely, I have to dock it a star for a somewhat rushed third act breakup at 91% in. Rosie's moments of stubbornness and miscommunication also tested my patience, although I empathized with her perspective. Overall, Not In My Book is a solid 4-star read that blends romance, humor, and cultural exploration into an engaging narrative.

This is the most superb romance book I have read this whole year!!

And this is a year where I have read A LOT of good romance books....

But seriously, Katie is an extreme talent. She is going to take the world by storm. Her writing has voice, partially because Rosie is so reflective of the author, but also because she just writes well. I ate up her writing and cannot wait to read more.

The story was stunning. I could not put it down. I found myself slipping into daydreams about these characters while working or walking home. It was a fabulous subway read, since the story takes place in New York. I felt so immersed. I have not read a book in a while where I wanted to know the ending, but didn't want it to end and kept having to put it down because I was reading too fast in sooooo long. It was gripping, fluffy, sexy, charming, enchanting, velvety, and electrifying all in one.

A fantastic read. A fantastic cover. A FANTASTIC author.

If you cannot tell, I am obviously a friend and coworker of the author, therefore I am a little biased. But as some of my friends know, I will not hold back when critiquing, and I genuinely have nothing to critique in this book.

Thank you to the author for sending me this egalley via Netgalley! I will also be posting this on my Goodreads and my blog when I get the chance.

Cute and fun read. I felt some of the writing was a little immature and the pacing was off, but I was able to get through it and enjoy. Minute recommend.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book.

"Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is an enchanting debut novel that beautifully captures the tension and chemistry between two very different writers. Rosie, an idealistic Peruvian American, leaves her Tennessee hometown to chase her dream of becoming a writer in New York. Her plans are thrown into chaos when she ends up in the same class as her ex-crush and archnemesis, Aiden Huntington, a brooding literary fiction writer with little regard for romance.

Their heated exchanges in class lead to an unusual collaboration: they must co-write a novel that blends their conflicting genres. As Rosie and Aiden work together, their initially reluctant partnership blossoms into something more, with their manuscript revealing hidden feelings and unexpected attractions.

Katie Holt's debut is a delightful blend of humor, romance, and heartfelt moments. The dynamic between Rosie and Aiden is electric, and their journey from rivals to partners is both compelling and heartwarming. "Not in My Book" is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance, offering a fresh and engaging story about love, competition, and finding common ground.

Wooow first time reading this author and I loved it. Thought the premise of the book was very clever. Rosie is a romance writer and her archenemies Aiden is a lit fit writer. They butt heads every chance they’re together in class and it comes to a head one day. Their professor forces them to write their final together and have it encompass both of their writing styles. We get snippets of the book throughout the chapters and they’re breadcrumbs that mirror Rosie and Aiden’s evolving relationship from foes to friends to lovers. The smut was *chefs kiss* although a bit predictable I loved it and was so thankful there was a little epilogue thrown in there for us. Highly recommend this one if you like enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine.

A fun enemies-to-lovers romance with two headstrong MC’s who are forced to work together on a writing project in their MFA writing course. The tension was believable from the start, but Rosie was a bit more edgy and guarded than Aiden. The writing excerpts added dimension and creativity to the book. A couple parts were steamier than I expected. Overall, a fun read with a satisfying ending.

Our story follows two aspiring writers, Rosie and Aiden. Rosie loves romance and writing, while Aiden despises the genre and makes it very well known. From the start, they can't seem to get along. In every writing workshop, the pair critique the other's work to the point of extreme class disruption. It all comes to a head when they are forced to co-write a book together in order to remain in their required master's class.

This book was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the banter, even when the two main characters were hurling insults back and forth. I also really enjoyed the book within a book piece. It was fun seeing their relationship grow both in real life and within their shared book. Rosies friends were a highlight for me. They were so supportive of her and had their own great moments. I would love to read a spin off of one (or more) of their stories!

My only complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed. The climax came so late and it felt like everyone was so quick to forgive and move on. Definitely didn't take away from my enjoyment, but was a little bit of a bummer.

Overall, highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of a good rom com!

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review!

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Aiden and Rosie are two graduate students and arch-nemesis forced to write a novel together. As they slowly get to know each other and use their novel to explore their feelings for each other, the lines between reality and fiction start to blur.

This book was SOOO cute and swoon-worthy! I was hooked right from the beginning - the banter, the tension, and the lovable side characters had me devouring this book in one sitting.

It was fun to see their characters mirrored in the novel they were writing and I loved the build up in Rosie and Aiden’s relationship.

If you enjoy rivals-to-lovers with some humor and lots of romantic tropes, this book is for you!

It was a cute romance, good dialogue and sweet scenes however i felt like the writing was mediocre. The author put in a lot of effort and it was very well edited, but the overall style of writing screamed that the author was inexperienced and needed a little more of a je ne se quoi to it.

This book was wonderful! It was so cute. I loved Rosie and Aiden 🥹 Aiden was SWOON WORTHY!! The pacing of this novel was really well done. It reminded me a lot of Emily Henry’s novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is filled with well-written slow burn and enemies to lovers, except it is so much more. It goes from enemies to reluctant co-writers, to friends, to lovers, and this was a really profoundly impacting trope that had me giggling at the banter, then crying later on.

I really enjoyed the plot, despite the tropes. I came into the book with very low expectations, but this book shattered them. I loved that the backstories of the characters were carefully crafted, and the plot was romance-based, yet there was more to it. The friendships between characters are also very sweet, and although I wasn't a massive fan of a certain romantic subplot, I do like that the book explored more background beyond the two main characters, as well as the comedy that Katie Holt writes with.

I need to mention how much I enjoyed catching each parallel between the main characters' writing and their 'reality' that really emphasised what was going on, and how they opened up more in their writing to give us a different viewpoint with more details. One small detail I enjoyed was how their excerpts at the end of each chapter was named "Untitled" until the very end.

A little bit of constructive feedback: there are some dialogue exchanges written in basic Spanish, which could potentially be pretty off-putting for readers who have zero foundations in this language. It was a really interesting insight in terms of world-building for the story, and I understand the need to evoke a different language to portray it, but I think many would have appreciated some form of translation, whether it was in brackets, in a footnote, or at the end of the book.
Another point that I didn't understand was the telephone call thing, where Rosie picks up Aiden's phone. I was really confused because Aiden refers to the caller as his mother, yet later mentions that his mother has been dead for years. If it was an attempt at Gen Z humour, it did not work well.

To summarise, it was an enjoyable read, one that made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions, and is perfect for a cozy night!

Overall I enjoyed this book.

In the beginning there were moments that felt a little slow. In the beginning it also felt like they were "enemies" just for the sake of being enemies. But as rhe story progressed I did like that their relationship developed. Their banter was everything! I enjoyed the plot development and the spice.
I thought this book was a cute rom com that definitely met it's mark.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for the ARC is exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the book within a book vibe, it was well written and I enjoyed the story of Aiden and Rosie. I look forward to reading more of Katie’s books!

4.5 stars for a STELLAR small town girl in the big city x grumpy sunshine x christmas vibes delicious romcom. I absolutely LOVED the way the author wove together Aiden + Rosie's story both through the lens of the book they were writing and their relationship in real time. Although entirely expected, the ending big grand gesture was SO GOOD and had me so happy for these two fictional characters.

Thank you so much to Katie Holt + the NetGalley / publishing teams for the ARC!