Thanks to the publisher and @netgalley for the arc! 🫶🏻

The book has a solid “rivals to lovers” trope with a side of “love/attraction at first sight”, “boy obsessed” and “family problems”.

What I loved the most is the love for writing they share and how the author wrote the cowriting scenes — they were well done and an important part of their relationship. It’s like the story they are writing and their relationship progress together.

I didn’t expect it to be THIS spicy so if you’re not comfortable with spice, keep this in mind 🤭

I feel like the third act breakup is a little forced — it wasn’t well developed (though foreshadowed) and how it resolved was rushed and unnecessary. I’d love to get more scenes with Rosie’s family, and the relationship between Rosie and Aiden based too much on physical attraction in a way (after the story developed to the lovers part).

Overall, it’s a nice read and I recommend it to romance lovers 🫶🏻

A book written within a book! This book was such a fun, sweet read!

I really enjoyed Rosie and Aiden’s characters and watching their relationship grow. Somewhat of an enemies to lovers trope that was carried out well.

It wasn’t too complicated of a story but still had some unique aspects that made it stand out in a heavily populated genre.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC of this cute story! Rosie and Aiden plainly, are A Lot in both the best and worst ways. Their rivalry, their friendship, their love is A Lot but I appreciate the classic New York rom com callbacks and how they open to each other. The pacing of their hatred to love was a little odd for me, but overall I thought this was an adorable story that I’d love to revisit during the holidays!

This sweet romantic novel following two post-graduate students in creative writing workshops made me feel a lot of emotions in the short amount of time I took reading it. Rosie, a romance writer, is trying to prove that romance isn’t just silly cute stories, and you need to be a skilled writer to make them work, a hopeless romantic at heart. Adien is a cold, mysterious lit-fic writer, who has harsh opinion on romances as well as Rosie’s writings. Both have this hate relationship, fueled by destroying the other’s writing or at least genre. This debut novel is worth every hopeless romantic, every anti-romance reader.

The pacing was perfect, I never felt bored or rushed, the ending was perfectly slowed, it felt human.
The connection, the emotion, the feelings felt human, as the pacing was natural, it wasn’t a in a few weeks romance, it was built in a wonderful manner.
The writing style was perfect, I felt at ease reading, the dialogue was naturally flowing, the inner monologue was there, which really added to the emotions. The structure really gave the story a powerful strength, adding extracts from writings really showed how aware they could be if they could use writing.

The characters were lovable, I related to Rosie a lot, the hopeless maybe slightly unrealistic romantic even though she has been shown time and time again reality can be less romantic. I personally think this influences how I viewed the ending. I felt like the emotions were raw and imperfect in a natural way, which made me feel like I was reading a romance, with lots of more deep thoughts and feelings and you got the chance to connect with both characters.

The book lover vibe made me smile, I also enjoy reading about writers or readers love stories, the references to reading, book trends and authors really made me feel like I was watching it happen in front of me.

The family dynamics were very much appreciated, I really felt for Rosie, as well as Adien. Some of the action felt slightly immature and imperfect but that made it real, I see this happening in relationships, which made it enjoyable. I appreciate how accountable the characters were.

The ending made me think a lot, I think I might have wanted more, maybe a bit more time to process the story (this could be due to the fact I read this in 2 sittings too), but I think it’s because of my own romantic endeavors that affected my experience. I really appreciate how it ended. It made me cry, I wish I could feel loved like Adien loves Rosie and I wish someone could prove me that love and trust exist. I will let you know; the writing can get you crying.

The New York setting gave romantic movie, especially with Christmas and New year being a big part of the book. I would recommend reading this with a hot chocolate on New Year’s Eve.

I am hoping for a second book, maybe following different characters in the same universe. I really enjoyed myself. I really would recommend this book. I am looking forward to keeping an eye on any of Katie Holt's future projects.

[ARC netgally - Alcove Press - comes out on Dec 10 2024 ]

It's a love story within a love story, only they are both the same. It was an interesting premise, two rivals are forced to write a book together and end up writing about themselves as they fall in love.

Lots of tension at the beginning (these two HATE each other). It took a while to actually see any redeeming qualities in Aiden, but when you finally do, he is a great book boyfriend; generous and supportive and he's a fan of dirty talk (but not filthy). Rosie seems a little problematic or maybe just extremely dramatic.

This book seems like a love story between the author and new York. New York is mentioned 69 times.

I was worried that we weren't going to get the HEA (that 3rd act breakup didn’t hit until 93%) but we do!

⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️

I really liked the book, it's overall structure and character development. However I did find the conflict and resolutions a bit unbelievable. A lot of the third act breakup and resolution felt forced and not natural. It was a solid and overall enjoyable book; though more time spent on keeping characters consistent in motivations is important.

I loved this story so much both adian and rosie go on their own writing journeys her with romance him with literary fiction and both go on their own healing journeys him with family stuff and her with her narcissistic ex and yet they still find their way together this was so cute and I loved the enemies to lovers

First--- Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read Not in My Book before publication.

Things I loved: Bookstore scene, acknowledgement of tropes, learning a little about Peruvian culture, reading about aspiring writers. Also loved Rosie's friend group and family.

This was a cute enemies-to-lovers book, and a pretty quick read, but at times I felt that the MMC was unredeemable, and I wanted better for Rosie.

Overall Rating: ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒

Me? Rating a romcom 5 stars? Have pigs begun to fly? No. This book is just that good, and I think all academia and romance fans better run and order her right now.

Holt delivered such a well drawn out plot, beautifully complex and dynamic characters, and a romance that was thrilling in its prose and setting. Not In My Book is what I would like to call romantic academia. Set in NYU, the story begins with Rosie and Aiden at each other's heads in a creative writing critique workshop. The two passionately love the craft of writing, but detest each other’s preferred genre and make it very well known to anyone with eyes and ears. Once their feud reaches its climax, they are presented with a choice: work together on your thesis project or be dropped from the class. Fortunately for the readers, they pick the former.

This book is delicious. I really felt like eating it up. Not in My Book really impressed me with characters so well established and harmonious, they stood entirely on their own. Personalities were not sacrificed for romance, but rather they added fire to it. I was hesitant with the plot…how could two enemies writing an enemies to lovers story pan out? I expected it to be predictable, cliche, repetitive. Instead, I found myself obsessing over how they communicated through writing, how they described the craft, and used the story to begin their own romance. Holt is truly such a talented writer, and I am so happy she dedicated such talents to romance.

The dialogue, arguments, banter, and flirting? Immaculate. The tension? Built up so high I thought I would burst. Slow burn? Delivered. Conflict? Well justified. Every issue I had with romance was expertly addressed and made to be a favorite part in this story. I will be securing a copy ASAP.
If you love writing, romance, reading, slow burn, enemies to lovers, hurry and grab one too.

Thank you to Netgalley, Alcove Press, and Katie Holt for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Overall Rating: ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒

Calling all fans of Never Have I Ever! Not in My Book delivers a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance with a refreshing academic twist. Rosie, a passionate romance writer, and Aiden, a grumpy literary fiction snob, are forced to co-write a novel blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

The banter between these rivals is pure gold. Fans of Ben and Devi's dynamic will find a similar spark here, with the added bonus of steamy undercurrents and forced proximity. The portrayal of writing workshops feels realistic, with a nod to both supportive critique and the occasional insufferable classmate (though, in my experience, not a hot guy...).

The romance is where Not in My Book truly shines. Aiden's development from aloof know-it-all to swoon-worthy love interest is a particular highlight. While the mirroring of their actions and their fictional counterparts can be repetitive at times, it ultimately emphasizes the vulnerability they pour into their writing, as well as the fact that they were clearly using the project as an outlet for their romantic feelings.

I also thought the portrayal of friends and family relationships in this book were especially endearing and realistic. The inclusion of texts between Rosie and her friend group, as well as the scene with Aiden and his father really gave the characters more substance and depth.

If you're looking for a witty enemies-to-lovers story with a unique academic twist, Not in My Book is definitely worth adding to your TBR!

Thank you to Netgalley, Alcove Press, and Katie Holt for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Is there such a thing as light acedemia? If so, this book embodies it with the collegiate setting fueled banter in this cute, enemies-to-lovers romance. As the main characters are forced to write a book together, opposites attract on and off the page as they produce each chapter. I loved the chemistry between the two and highly recommend this read!

This book was everything! It right away started with the tension and banter and I was HERE FOR IT!
Here’s the basic premise: two MFA candidates can’t stop bickering so are forced to write a novel together. He does litfic. She’s all romance. Hilarity ensues.
Holt perfectly nailed the right proportion of “I hate him” to “he’s attractive”. This is why enemies to lovers is my favorite. She hates him but she’s obsessed with him. And she’s obsessed with him because he’s attractive. Strong emotions are complicated.
Every enemies to lovers plot line needs a project to keep the two coming together, and the fact that these two have to write a book together because their mutual obsession is disrupting the class is such a well utilized literary device.
I also hate how some people harp on romance as a genre, when in actuality it’s one of the most profitable. I also find a lot of literary fiction to be dull. So, YOU GO GIRL, DEFEND THAT ROMANCE THING! Also always love a book within a book. I found myself becoming just as invested with that story. The book is used as a study into what makes a good romance novel, from character studies of emotion, to the Happily Ever After. And then it all is reflected back at us through examples both in the main story and the book within a book. I loved the fact that the author managed to fit in all the tropes without it feeling forced.
“The last thing I ever expected was for Aiden’s laugh to make me feel like the drive home after a long day.” How good is that line? It encompasses EVERYTHING about finding comfort in someone.
The cover art is super adorable. I would definitely pick this book off a shelf even if I didn’t get a free copy from Net Galley.
This book is so worth your time. Make it a must-read, NOW!

I was lucky to receive this book as an ARC reader from Net Galley. This book released in December of this year! This book follows Aiden Huntington and Rosie Maxwell who despise each other (or do they really). They are both striving to be published authors and making their way in New York. I loved how this book brought Rosie’s culture into it and really delved into that topic. I loved the topic regarding Aiden’s mother, however I wish it were discussed and explored a bit further. There were some really spicy scenes which I loved 🌶️. The only downfall this book has for me is the total lack of communication on both parts, it was almost immature at some points for me! Now just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean others won’t, it’s just a personal preference of mine! At some points, it felt like they hated each other just for the sake of it. It didn’t feel like there was strong character development on Rosie’s part but I feel Aiden did show some character development throughout the story. It was quite fast paced in the beginning but all the miscommunication really dragged it out towards the end. It wasn’t my favourite book but it definitely wasn’t bad by any means so I’d give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not in My Book is every romance reader’s DREAMMMMM! This book is actually everything to me!! A book within a book???? I’m THERE.

The plot is perfection….. academic/writing rivals Rosie & Aiden (who literally can’t stand each other) have to cowrite a romance book for their class. The duo basically writes messages (love letters) to each other throughout their book. As the novel progresses, Rosie & Aiden’s characters begin to slowly get to know each other on a deeper level & fall in love……… and the same begins to happen in real life.

“I'd lived in this city for my whole life. Every milestone and moment of my history was written into the streets here. But all of them had been easily replaced with memories of her…Even if it surmounted to nothing, and she left me only with memories, I'd take them all.”

Rosie made me feel so SEEN as a lover of the romance genre and a girly from Tennessee. Her passion for her art is so fun to read about. Aiden (or should I say Clark Kent) is one of my new favorite MMCs!!! He is so obsessed with his girl!!! The tension, bickering, and banter is so top-tier, especially for a debut?? I am in awe of Katie’s writing. All of the scenes were SO GOOD (I was dyingggg at the Christmas scenes). AND AIDEN BUYING HER BOOKS??? I also thought the setting is so well written it made me want to fly to New York immediately.

“I had the time of my life making you mad but loving you has been so much better."

By the time I got to the end, I had tears welling in my eyes. So so so so good.

I highly enjoyed Not in My Book by Katie Holt!
Katie wrote such an interesting male protagonist in Aiden. Great intrigue. I found his life interesting and the scenes written with the banter between them were top-notch. Katie is very good at dialogue. The classroom scenes are stellar and the part where they begin writing together.

The forced writing pairing was fantastic and it took quite a while for Rosie to find her footing but she did. I would have liked a stronger female heroine but perhaps Katie will in her future writings. This was a great debut start from the gate by Katie Holt.

Good story with great dialogue, and supporting characters.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review the wonderful book Not in My Book by Katie Holt.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for this ARC!
First of all, I want to mention how little I’ve slept because the only thing in my mind was I HAVE TO KEEP READING. Finished at 5:30 am and I regret nothing. Great book with flawed but lovable characters. I love that from the beginning I could imagen every scene that I was reading. One of the things that caught my eye about the book is that it said it have the grumpy sunshine/ enemies to lovers which was, in my opinion, executed really good! I loved all the bickering and every time something sweet happened it had me giggling. Another thing I liked it’s the mix of the story of the main characters and the characters that they are writing together. At first, I didn’t know how I felt with having their characters of their novel have essentially the same story line from theirs but it just made sense to have it that way!
Some things in the story were predictable but it’s not something I’m mad about. I got too attached to the characters and once I have the physical copy it’ll be underlined, highlighted, and written all over.

Some things I kept saying while reading :

* she left the books 😭
* Girl just tell him!!!
* I think I might need a book of Jess and Tyler 🫣
* I might need a Ronny Jr.


Quotes I like *without spoilers


“preferred fiction, but now I couldn’t wait for the rest of my new reality.”

“Thin line between love and hate, Rosie. Thin line.”
“Logan: i can’t believe we get to witness this for free”
“She was often larger than life, fearless.”


And that all I’m willing to quote because I don’t want to accidentally spoil someone 😅👍🏻

Rating: 3.9

When I saw this story advertised as "The Hating Game" meets "Beach Read," I knew I had to ask for an advanced copy on NetGalley. This is absolutely the perfect way to describe this story! Add in some "Book Lovers" vibes because both of these main characters are authors, and I was hooked into this sweet romance story. While I'm not the biggest romance reader, this book was perfect for when I wanted something lighter.

Rosie and Aiden are the fiercest of enemies in their writing classes, and being nice doesn't come naturally to them. As a romance writer, Rosie has her work cut out for her during her collegiate writing career, always trying to stand out and make a place for herself in the professional world (not just as a 'cheesy romance writer'). Aiden abhors all things romance, which includes extra-double critiquing anything Rosie writes. But when their professor has finally had enough of their disruptive bantering, she pairs these two complete opposites together.

Over the course of writing their midterm/final report together, Rosie and Aiden break the barrier in their friendship. They begin to learn about each other, their history, what's important to them, and why they were paired together. The story includes delightful snippets of their writing, giving readers a "book within a book" experience. Rosie and Aiden use their characters as gateways to their feelings—when they couldn't find the words, their characters did.

While the ending made me a little frustrated (Come on, Rosie facepalm), I really did enjoy reading about these two characters. As Holt's debut story, this one definitely didn't fail. It's a great lighthearted read, and Aiden is definitely swoon-worthy! With aspects of family, romance, and a little bit of spice, Holt pulls together a great debut story that readers will enjoy when it comes out in December 2024. Go ahead and preorder this story!

Thanks to NetGalley and Katie Holt, in collaboration with Alcove Press, for providing me with a copy so that I could provide an honest review prior to the publish date.

This was the perfect summer romance read, it was sweet (and definitely spicy!) and full of some of my favorite tropes (grumpy/sunshine, rivals to lovers).

In the book, two rival students in NYU’s writing program, Rosie and Aiden, who can’t stand one another, are forced to co-write a book together. She writes happy-ending romances, and he writes depressing literary fiction, but they have to work together to write a novel to avoid getting kicked out.

The plot set-up was fun, but in the beginning I was struggling a bit to get on board. The reason they “hated” each other felt a bit thin, and the required first date definitely felt forced and a bit inauthentic, like really? Does that even make sense to do that so they can “experience the romance their characters will have”? But as the book progressed I grew to love Aidan and Rosie’s relationship much more, and how much they really did like each other. The banter between the two was fun, sarcastic and really well paced. The scene with Rosie’s family was adorable, and there were so many sweet parts of the book.

I also really loved the blurring of the lines between fiction and reality with the book scenes finishing off the real life scenes. It felt epistolary in so many ways with them writing to each other through their characters in the excerpts from their manuscript placed throughout the chapters.

I was thinking this was going to be a five star read for me, but then I didn’t love the 3rd act break-up, it felt like they got too mean too quickly, after they just spent so much time being decidedly NOT mean to one another. It felt like they just reverted back to the old versions of themselves, and that didn’t feel healthy/good. It felt like it undid so much of what they had just built. I also wish there were some better resolution for Aiden and his dad’s storyline, it just felt unfinished and unresolved, like why include it? Was it just so she could “save” him? Or was it so that he would submit his book too?

The spicy scenes are definitely spicy… so if close door romance is your thing, then this book is NOT for you. I loved the spicy scene where they are writing their spicy scene, I thought it was really original and fun and the tension was WILD. Loved it!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! What a solid debut! I will definitely be reading the next book she writes.

“I've never second-guessed what I feel for you. 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. I love you. In light and dark, in romance and litfic. In this lifetime and the next.”

Ahh this was such a good read for me I enjoyed it so much. So we have the main characters Rosie and Aiden, they’ve always disliked each other Rosie loves and writes romance while Aiden hates romance and writes fiction. They disrupt their creative writing class so much the professor tells them that either they have to work together or quit the course so they start cowriting a novel together. As they write this novel which is basically about them lol they start spending time together and going out on fake dates for the book there’s a bit of attraction going on despite the rivalry.

I ate this book up, I thought the enemies to lovers was fun and the writing plot was great. I loved the main characters like they were such opposite and it was nice. The chemistry and romance was so cute, I loved the bookshop dates and the scenes where they were writing back and forth to each other. I loved when they were writing the kissing and smut scenes together and practicing 🤭. The smut scenes in this book were for me, it never overdid itself and it was subtle yet hot and Aiden talking her through it is what I’d expect a writer to do lol. There is a third act breakup that I did not mind even though there was miscommunication because of the backstory of the characters. All in all this was a great, lot of fun, romantic and steamy. I’m sad that this comes out in December cause I want everyone to read it now lol. Thank you Alcove Press for this arc for an honest review.

Read for:
- Enemies to lovers
- Writing rivals
- Co writing partners
- Steamy scenes
- Peruvian fmc
- Dates at bookshops

"I was shameless in my wanting. I tried to commit every little thing, the way her eyes fell closed, the way she tasted, to memory. There was no metaphor I could write, picture I could paint that would even come close to comparing to the magic of her."

Didn't think I'd bawl my eyes out at the end but here we go. This made me cry so hard at some parts near the end. 😭

Loved the book, it was like a book inside a book, so perfectly done, something totally new for me.

It's a book with Rosie's pov, but we get to see Aiden's as well, but in a different way. Loved seeing it like that tho. 🥰 The feelings got me hard, such a way with words Aiden had in those little excerpts from their book, so totally cuute. 😍