4⭐️ | 2🌶️


My thoughts:

Katie Holt’s rivals-to-lovers tale, Not in My Book, is a charming blend of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt character growth. I was fortunate to receive both the ARC and ALC, allowing me to alternate between them for a more immersive and well-rounded reading experience.

The story centers on Rosie Maxwell, a hopeless romantic, and Aiden Huntington, a broody literary fiction purist. When their incessant bickering in a writing workshop earns them the ultimate punishment—co-authoring a novel—they are forced to confront their differences while navigating their undeniable connection.

The concept is as entertaining as it sounds. Rosie and Aiden’s collaboration gives us a meta-twist: their book within the book becomes a mirror of their evolving relationship. Katie does a fantastic job balancing humor and vulnerability, making their journey from enemies to lovers feel natural and engaging. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing brisk, and the characters delightfully flawed. Aiden’s transformation from grumpy skeptic to reluctant romantic is particularly swoon-worthy.

Now, let’s talk about Frankie Corzo’s narration in the audiobook. Her performance takes the story to another level. She captures Rosie’s optimism, Aiden’s brooding sarcasm, and every ounce of tension between them with impeccable delivery. If you’re considering the ALC, Corzo’s narration is a must-hear, it adds layers of emotion and humor that enhance the experience.

While the story is undeniably entertaining, some might find the repeated inclusion of Rosie and Aiden’s real-life moments in their novel slightly far-fetched. However, this unique approach also adds an interesting layer of vulnerability and creativity to their dynamic, showcasing how their personal and professional lives intertwine in unexpected ways. It’s a small price to pay for a romance that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. If you love rivals-to-lovers with a side of creative chaos, Not in My Book is a must-read (or listen).

Cute enemies to lovers, rival writers, marketed as The Hating Game meets Beach Read. I definitely felt more The Hating Game vibes than anything. The fact that it felt a lot like that makes it not really stand out as more than three stars for me. It felt very mediocre.

I was completely blown away by how much I loved this book! It exceeded all my expectations! The character development of Rosie and Aiden truly touched my heart. It's incredible to witness how they both grow, both individually and together, supporting each other through their journeys. Their evolution is not just compelling but also deeply relatable, making their experiences resonate on a personal level. The enemies-to-lovers romance will forever inspire my heart!
I was inspired by the way the book was crafted, revealing glimpses into the characters' thoughts and emotions. It was beautifully written, striking a perfect balance by not revealing too much while still conveying the depth of their feelings. I almost came unglued in the last couple of characters, thinking that was it between them! I was worried that the book was going to end the way Aiden’s books normally end, and they weren’t going to get a happy ending! I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a captivating enemies-to-lovers romance! The character growth is fantastic, both together and individually, which makes it an even more enjoyable read. Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this free book and give my honest opinion. Thank you, Katie Holt, for writing such a well-rounded book! I wish it didn’t have to end!

“Rosie, I can’t do this if we’re going to forget about it tomorrow,” he rasped, backing away from my lips the tiniest bit. “I’ve gotten good at pretending I hate you, but I can’t pretend I don’t know how you taste anymore.”

I loved this so much! Perfect corky romance. It’s basically a book within a book. Such a refreshing and unique story. An enemies to lovers trope and a slow burn love affair. I laughed and cried and felt a hundred other emotions.

Rosie attends NYU’s writing program. Her main genre is romance. She is a sweet, hopeless romantic. Aiden is also in her class but he hates romance. He is snobby, rude, and arrogant. He is especially rude to Rosie. Rosie and Aiden hate each other and can’t help but bicker and banter in class. They are so disruptive that the teacher forces them to write a book together. Rosie and Aiden now must work closely together for the rest of the semester. Will they continue to hate each other or will they get over their differences?

I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for giving me this ARC.

I adored this book! I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and a good slow burn. This gave me all the feels of Beach Read but nothing will top January and Gus for me!

2.5-3🌟i finished this a while ago but i must admit i got in a terrible slump, and i’d be lying if i said this wasn’t the cause of it. i had to keep reminding myself these were people pursuing a masters degree because for a while her inner monologue and the way she spoke reminded me of a high school student.

personally, i feel like the book had sm potential and in trying to squeeze so many tropes in a single book it felt a bit underwhelming trying to keep track of everything going on. rosie is some occasions was maddening, especially in her reaction to aiden being in the same contest as her (the outcome of which pissed me off to begin with), but i’m gonna conclude it was on purpose. in comes aiden, a guarded guy who’s genuinely a sweet person and ended up being the only character in the book i thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

overall, besides the fact that it took me forever to get through, i’m thankful for the opportunity and netgalley for an arc on this author’s debut novel and the chance to voice my unfiltered thoughts.🤍

my best of wishes for this author’s future releases! i hope to see the progression of her writing, and her, flourish✨

(Actual: 4.25⭐, rounded up) This was honestly super cute and a great debut work, imo! I love slow-burn (most of the time, anyway), rivals/enemies-to-lovers romances, and I found Rosie & Aiden's to be one that definitely fit the bill in aces. I loved the nuances in their characters/arcs, how evenly paced and compulsively readable this book is, and how honestly just uniquely meta the plot was as a whole (a love letter to romances in media everywhere, if you will). While not perfect - some moments were a bit too cheesy for my taste - I overall really enjoyed this one and had a lot of fun reading it!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I really enjoyed this fun romance. I thought it was very comical as well. Frankie Corzo as always does a great job with the audiobook narration. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

This was a fun read about 2 people who were both writers and little “excerpts” from the book they were writing together falling in line with their feelings for each other. The dialogue was good in this creative story with great use of the enemies to lovers trop. Not in My Book had lovely emotional depth with a slow burn romance and a very satisfying ending. I look forward to reading more by Katie Holt.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

3.75 Stars!!

”I’m not yours anymore.”
“Fine. If you’re not mine, then know that I’m yours.”

A rival to lovers romance where they have to write a book together? I was screaming when the blurb was revealed. Aiden and Rosie had me swooning and in a puddle for most of the book. I loved that they were both writing geniuses in their own genres. I loved seeing that creative mindset. I was LIVING for the tension that was caused by them having to work together on the project. If you love the 2000s romcoms where you can feel the loathing between characters, then you will eat this up!

Not in My Book has:
-Rivals to lovers
-Student romance
-Forced proximity
-Spice
-Third act breakup

What didn't work for me was the spice near the end of the book. Now don't get me wrong, I love spice and typically devour it. But near the end of this book, it felt as if the spice was holding off the conclusion and misplaced. However, for being a debut novel I still loved it. I plan on picking up whatever Katie writes next!

This book has a lot of potential, especially for fans of enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The premise—two aspiring writers, one a romance enthusiast and the other a literary fiction snob, forced to co-write a novel together—starts off strong with fun banter and a slow-burn buildup. The dynamic between Rosie and Aiden is undeniably engaging at first, but the story stumbles when it becomes overly repetitive. The "book within a book" structure, where their collaborative novel mirrors their real-life relationship, felt redundant at times, particularly since the excerpts often just rehashed what we'd already read from their interactions. The pacing was uneven, and the constant focus on their bickering and miscommunication started to feel childish and tiresome, especially with the overuse of drama to heighten the tension.

The characters themselves were another sticking point. While Rosie has some endearing qualities, she quickly becomes frustrating, especially with how obsessively her life revolves around Aiden. There’s little room for personal growth outside their relationship, which made the whole thing feel one-dimensional. The ending, which I won’t spoil, felt forced and out of character for both of them, undoing much of the development they’d made throughout the story. Ultimately, while the writing was smooth and the book had moments of charm, it failed to live up to the promises of its setup. If you’re a fan of classic romance tropes and don’t mind a bit of repetition, you might enjoy this, but for me, it was a bit too predictable and lacking in depth.

This book was adorable. I loved both main characters and my heart melted as they slowly warmed up to one another throughout their project. This is such a feel good romance that will have you kicking your feet.

I requested this one based on the adorable cover, so was plesantly surprised when this book was just as a cute as the cover makes it look!

A quick read from a new to me author! Thanks so much for the digital copy of this one!

Rosie and Aiden are aspiring writers. She writes romance while he prefers literary fiction. They constantly argue in their writing class. In fact, they are so disruptive that their professor insists they either leave the class or agree to work together to write a novel.

The bickering doesn’t stop but they agree to work on a book together. What results is a novel based upon their own situation. The sexual tension is ramped up and they reveal their lust through their characters. But a betrayal may prevent them from following their fictional characters and ending with a real connection.

There was anticipation that this would rise above many of the romance tales of enemies to lovers. It seems like Holt wanted to showcase the steamy side by using the invented character plot to full effect. Somehow the story of the real characters seemed too superficial and didn’t quite work and the reliance on writing sex scenes was too heavy-handed. Center’s The Rom-Commers covers a similar plot and handles it with more success.
(rounded up to a 3)

When i read this had a mix of beach read i knew i had to pick it up immediately and while i did really enjoy this it wasn’t exactly januarygus in my opinion.

rosie and aiden are academic rivals in a writing workshop who are forced to work together on a manuscript combing their two genres, romance and lit fic. I like the academic friends to lovers trope here, especially them purposely finding something to critique something about the other,

I really enjoyed the bits of the manuscript that mirrored their emotions and intentions with each other - first it was a bit confusing and I wasn't sure where it came from but it quickly becomes clear

I overall enjoyed it BUT i think i eventually got a little bored around the 60% mark, and I began reading really fast as it was a little bit too much of a slow burn through this part. I also really wasn't too fond of rosie’s attitude about romances MUST have a Happily Ever After’s to be considered romances it just felt extremely stereotypical. (I purposely like the romances with a sad ending better - think tragic romance's)

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun an unique way to write a romance! As Rosie and Aiden continually butt heads in their writing seminar, their professor gives them an assignment that sees them (begrudgingly) working together. They learn to express their true feelings for one another in their writing but at times struggle to make it real outside of the story they are writing together. This is an adorable love story between two people who are passionate, are dreamers, and have perhaps to their detriment have some of the same goals.

Ok. So I think for some people this is going to work really well. It’s being compared to The Hating Game in the blurb and I think that’s pretty fair, but I think these two are maybe meaner to each other than those two. And that was my problem: they’re awful to each other and although I enjoyed it once they started getting along, as soon as there is any hint of conflict they revert to saying the most hurtful things they can to each other, and that’s just not my thing. So it didn’t work for me - it’s the end enemies to lovers that I find hard to get on board with.

My initial thoughts were this came in STRONG with the stereotype of romance haters and I found the main character very childish and a little unbearable.

I liked the premise of this as I love a rivals to lovers. I just felt their hating of each other was very petty and overwritten. I think if it was pulled back a little bit I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

I did like Aiden for the most part and I enjoyed seeing them write together. I liked the addition of experts from their novel added in, however felt like some were a little random and unnecessary.

Overall, this was a cute easy read for my first year of the year, but unfortunately not something that will stick with me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press & the author the an e-arc.

This was a cute book with tropes that I normally love like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and MMC falls first. Its and easy and quick read, and worth your time if you're looking for a romance. I did feel like the characters were immature, which impacted my ability to feel immersed in the book - especially in the spicy scenes. Otherwise, I enjoyed this book!