I'm never really sure how I'll feel about a romance book when I start it. I'm very picky on what I want in it, but this book met almost all of my expectations and was genuinely enjoyable to read. The connection between Rosie and Aiden was built up so well in a way that doesn't always happen. There was tension, and it definitely was enemies to lovers but in a way where you really wanted to scream at the two to get together. I'm also a little weary with spicy scenes, but the ones in this book worked and the first one definitely added something to the story instead of it just being there to make it a romance book. I enjoyed the concept and overall I have only good things to say. I think this book will be incredibly popular once it is released and it definitely deserves to be.

Thank you to Katie Holt, Alcove Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Not in My
Book by Katie Holt!
Omg this book! Wow! Such a cute romance.
I truly loved the whole premise of this book! It had enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed, all the tropes I absolutely love!
The characters were so relatable and likable, and let me just say Aiden
The story follows Aiden and Rosie, two writers in the same workshop, who hate each other. After a blow up in class, the teacher forces them to write a book together.
We get snippets of the book, and it essentially mirrors their life. A book within a book.. I'm sold! (Does this count as reading two books?)
I highly highly recommend this book!

This is one to look out for!
I’ve read so many disappointing romances over the last year. Usually, I don’t request romance ARCs from debut authors anymore, but for some reason, this one spoke to me. I am incredibly glad that I requested it.
I loved it.

A romance novel about romance novels. Authors have realised that us readers like to read about books. By now, there are quite a few stories about authors, book shops, readers. Technically, it’s nothing special anymore. I’m also pretty sure that I’ve read a book with a similar plot before. But I gotta say – I don’t care. I completely ate it up. And it was well done! The co-writing of a novel complementing their relationship was so much fun to read. It could've been boring, but it definitely wasn't. A great way of showing thoughts and emotions in a different way.
As I said - not exactly realistic. At least, I don't think I would've been able to essentially show my (sometimes quite graphic) diary to my friends, collegues and professor.

I couldn’t put it down. Enemies to lovers is difficult to write in a romance context, which I never get tired of repeating, but this was very well done. Aiden and Rosie were fantastic. Quite childish, sure, not really realistic, who cares. But the banter? The tension? The pining?
And it’s a romance. It’s allowed to be unrealistic.
I do, however, have to criticise that there is one trope in here, that I really can’t stand. In a way, it suits the book, so I can’t complain too much, but I wish it had been written in a way that worked without it.

The style was wonderful. Light-hearted, funny, full of emotion. A couple of scenes really broke my heart, but it was very easy to enjoy. Even though the characters did annoy me with some of their actions, the writing was good enough to still keep me going.
Even though there are many clichés in this one, there was enough of a twist on them, so it didn’t feel boring. I loved Rosie as a Peruvian-American girl, getting glimpses of her culture, I loved the input of publishing and novel writing.
I read this in summer, but this could be counted as a winter book and I loved the descriptions of a wintery New York. A bit romanticised (which the book acknowledges), but that’s okay.
And what I really liked about this book was how unashamed it was of being a romance. Of course, it’s a romance novel catered towards romance novels – it’s not gonna talk about how useless this genre is. But nowadays, so many readers of this genre argue for its acceptance as proper literature and I loved how the novel actually took this up.

I’m still slightly split about the ending. On one hand, considering all the discussions about romance in this book, it was to be expected. On the other hand, it would’ve been the perfect timing for trying something new. I kind of wish that there had been a twist at the end. But at the same time, while being realistic, it wouldn’t have made sense for the book. So while I’m curious what the book could’ve been like, I can accept the way that it actually is.

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was cute. It wasn’t GREAT and there were definitely parts that my eyes were glazing over, so maybe a little long. But cute and I finished it and Aiden is the best.

Me gustó que tanto Rosie como Aiden no son tan jovenes, bueno son jovenes, pero adultos jovenes y no adolescentes, por lo que sus acciones no llegan a ser infantiles. También me gustó que puede leer personas que no están en el rango de edad entre los 18 y 21 en la universidad., siento que puede conectar más.

Ambos (Rosie y Aiden) buscan convertirse en autores, cada uno en un estilo diferente, ella en el romance y el en ficción. Se conocen en una clase de escritura e inmediatamente se llevan mal por culpa de él ya que se la pasa criticando todo lo que ella hace, sobretodo porque escribe romance y él como muchas personas no lo ven como un genero respetable. -Es una tristeza que lo anterior al día de hoy siga siendo cierto, si llegas a decir que lees romance te dicen que lees porno, o que eso no cuenta como lectura/literatura y te hacen menos. Me imagino que a los escritores de romance también los hacen menos.


La enemistad de esos dos llega a tal punto que la maestra los amenaza con expulsarlos de su clase si siguen así, entonces ellos se ponen de acuerdo para demostrarle que pueden comportarse y deciden demostrarlo trabajando juntos en una historia en donde se combinen ambos géneros. Empiezan a pasar tiempo juntos y descubren que ambos estaban equivocados en como era el otro.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you SO much to the author and NetGalley for the arc!

I'm a simple girl who loves enemies to lovers, and writing this trope in contemporary romance can be very tricky sometimes. Usually, their enemy motives can be resolved by sitting down and having a cup of coffee and just communicating. While this book does have a scenario like this, it goes above and beyond to really hook you and get invested in Rosie and Aiden's struggles and triumphs and when the enemies are now loving, you're hooked.

I LOVED this book. I felt like I was in New York at Christmas time, cozy and warm in a bookstore. Everyone needs a little romance and HEA in their lives.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

I’m rating it 3.5⭐️ because it was a bit of a rollercoaster. I didn’t love it at first, got obsessed at around 30%, then deflated at around 50%, and later got into it again. In the end, all things considered, it was a cute story with a few swoon worthy moments, and I have to admit I even shed a tear or two.

However, I had a rough time actually getting into it, and I think the reason was that this book would have benefited from further editing. I’ll list the reasons for saying this:

- The beginning was cool, with all the banter between the MCs but then it became a little slow, with lots of context on Rosie’s past that I, as a reader, didn’t feel like I needed at that time. I felt like this impacted the pace and made me put down the book for a day or two.
- There are a few grammar mistakes/typos that need fixing. An example: “… and I sometimes I felt…” (page 19)
- There are some continuity errors. An example: in one of the spicy scenes, the characters remove their shirts and Rosie’s bra and on the next page, Rosie’s bra is being removed again. Also, in another scene, they just had a fight two minutes ago but he already misses her like they’ve been apart for months? I know these are just small details, but I’m a bit particular about that kind of stuff. I’m sorry 😅

Now for the good parts:
- I absolutely loved how realistic I found the FMC’s struggles with writing to be
- The idea is interesting. I like how they kind of let each other know bits and pieces about themselves through their writing. Things they probably wouldn’t be able to say out loud. I really liked this dynamic.
- Some of the things they said to each other were TRULY, ABSOLUTELY swoon worthy.
- Not sure if this is good or bad, it’s what it is, but I found the book to be very tropey. One bed, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, miscommunication… you name it. I don’t mind tropes at all. My only criticism here would be that miscommunication isn’t really my favorite trope. I feel like there are better ways to create conflict.
- The first spicy scene was surprisingly good to me. 👀

All in all it’s a fun read if you’re looking for a cute romance and are not deterred by miscommunication tropes. Honestly, with better editing, I feel it has good potential.

The only reason it took me so long to finish this is because I have to pay my bills and thus have to work. Banter in an enemies to lovers is keyyy and boy did this one deliver. Rosie and Aiden are both writers in the same class and they compete over everything, but when they’re faced with either working together on a project or dropping out of the class, something Rosie can’t afford, they have to co-write a romance without the HEA together. The story they’re writing just so happens to be the same one they themselves are experiencing. Rosie is a very, head-in-the-clouds kind of girl and Aiden is not. The romance was great, and there were so many moments that had me kind of wish it hadn’t been a boy-is-a-jackass-to-girl-to-make-her-notice-him. The ending felt a bit rushed to me, the fight doesn’t come until like the last 10%! Other than that, that’s my only note, and I am looking forward to reading what else the author writes.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for an E-ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

The cover is beautifully drawn and properly conveys the tension between the book's key characters. The book could benefit from editing because some of the sentences were unclear and fragmented, and the semester timeline was confusing as the book transitioned from Fall to Summer. I believe the author could easily fix this by stating that the characters are taking this specific class for a total of two semesters. The first semester, from fall to spring, consisted of them penning the first half of their co-authored novel. The second semester, from spring to summer, was the second half of their collaborative literary adventure. The book is full of cliches and tropes, making it both endearing and frustrating. The cliches were a nice touch and occasionally hilarious when Aiden and Rosie were co-writing, but the number of them felt a little excessive and detracted from the narrative for me. The greatest drawback for me was Aiden and Rosie's blurring of fiction and reality, as well as the characters they wrote about in their novel, which was obvious and repetitive. The author might improve this by only using scenes from their co-written novel that elaborate on what happened to Aiden and Rosie, rather than repeating it. For example, if Aiden and Rosie kissed in the book and their characters in their novel kissed as well, rather than having it repeat in the same chapter, supply readers with their reflections or anxieties about the kiss without rewriting the kissing sequence that occurred in real life. I enjoyed the interactions Aiden and Rosie had while co-writing their novel, and how it led to strong character development for both. I believe it also led to and contributed a unique perspective to the fact that it is sometimes easier to openly connect with people online first, even if you only see and talk to them twice a week in person, before being able to open up to them on a deeper level in person. I enjoyed how the author wrote and developed two characters that had experienced love and see romance in different lights and must talk and nearly educate one another about those opposing viewpoints to better understand one another as people. I appreciated how much of Rosie's life and family we as readers got to learn and see, but we rarely get to know about Aiden's life. I believe that allowing readers to see and hear more about Aiden's life will help them develop a stronger connection to him as a character and individual.

The author does an excellent job of demonstrating the blurring of truth and fiction that may occur when writing a novel, various perspectives on relationships, and how writing feedback can be stressful and upsetting, but also beneficial and motivating in continuing to grow as a writer and person. Not in My Book by Katie Holt is for those who appreciate romance, cliches, and the challenging skill of creating and balancing fiction and reality.

It's giving sweet and funny. It's giving small town girl and city boy. It's giving "hurt her and I'll end you".

In all, I loveeeed this book. It provides such a unique story and it was so refreshing to read. I love slow burn, enemies to lovers books and this one did not disappoint one bit.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review!!

I was given an advanced copy in exchange for my review. This is my honest opinion I am giving voluntarily. After the third time the MMC was clenching his jaw I would go to the next chapter wondering how much better this would be if it was dual POV but in a round about way you kind of get it. The writing style was phenomenal I truly promise you get hooked off the first line. The banter is absolutely hilarious. The conflict at the end felt a little forced these people are supposed to be in there mid twenties but they broke up over some high school drama type, but nonetheless, you get your HEA. I’ve never read this author before and I was genuinely impressed I couldn’t put it down.

If you love books, and you love romance.... this is your notice to read Not In My Book.

An enemies-to-lovers, book for lovers. A delightful slow-burn that will have you wanting to write your own love story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc. All opinions express are my own.

OMG! This was it! I enjoyed this book so incredibly much. It gave romance && spice. It was absolutely enjoyable on all ends.

I went up and down on my feelings toward this book but ultimately I really enjoyed it!! Not In My Book is kinda like if we got more backstory of January and Gus’s time in college… and they were forced to write a book together instead of their bet from Beach Read. This similarity had me skeptical at first, but I think the dynamic worked well and Rosie and Aiden were solidified as their own characters with their own issues. It was veryyy fun to see snippets from their book and gave an interesting depth and perspective to the story! The end was just a touch too cheesy for my liking but I was thoroughly obsessed with the rest of the book!

Thank you to Net Galley and Alcove Press for the arc!
4 ⭐️

p.s. also didn’t help that there was the unfortunate circumstance where both mmc’s had the same names as mine and my best friends ex 🥴🙃

Are you kidding me with this debut?! This book drew me in immediately, and I couldn’t put it down. I was blown away by Katie Holt's talent and ability to create characters with such depth and CHEMISTRY.

This book is a masterpiece—the story within the story was so well thought out and executed!

I absolutely adored both Rose and Aiden. They are the classic academic enemies, always competing and tearing each other down. Their project? Working together to create a story—whew, it was so good. I loved watching both their real story and their fictional story grow.

This is one of my top reads of the year, and I’ll remember it for a long time!

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for this book in exchange for an honest review.

-Enemies to lovers
-Forced proximity
-A story within a story

Spice level:🔥🔥🔥/4

Rosie wants to write romance and Aiden, who writes literary fiction, think romance is stupid. Both are rivals on the NYU MFA program and continue to butt heads on their workshop, until this faculty leader gives them an ultimatum: write a book together or get booted from the class. Will they make it through being forced to work together and whatever sparks may fly?

Set in NYC, this debut romance has rivals to lovers, forced proximity, a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and it's about writers, so I think it's crowd pleasing on many fronts. There were a few points were things felt overly repetitive and I'm not huge in poor communication as a plot device, but there are so many things that make this an enjoyable read. I liked the setting in the city, particularly during the winter. We have a single character POV, but the excerpts on their co-written novel give us some of Aiden's POV second hand.

Thank you to Alcove Press for an ARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a debut? I am BLOWN AWAY! Devouring this book in a matter of hours, I could not put it down. As a writer and a lover of romance books, this is one of the most well-written romance books I have had the privilege to read in a LONG TIME. The plot, the formatting, and the overall execution are simply incredible; no notes. Rosie and Aiden are specatularly-crafted characters who will stick with me for a while, the pacing was perfect, and this book is so quotable. I'll definitely be getting a physical copy to annotate. So grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book. Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press!

Classic tropes used in a fun new way. Nothing groundbreaking but I really enjoyed the characters and their banter.

‘I love you. In light and dark, in romance and litfic. In this lifetime and the next.’
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Finishing up this week with such a good romance, very thankful I could read it monthssss before it’s out! Thank you @alcovepress and netgalley for the copy! 💖
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‘Not in My Book’ is a romance book that will soothe even the souls of litfic readers. I absolutely loved the plot and the characters, especially the book within a book element of it.
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Rosie and Aiden are academic rivals who are forced to either drop their favourite class or co-write a book. She talks too much and he’s too quiet, but together they’re perfect. I loved how their project turned into a means of telling each other what they didn’t dare say in person and who doesn’t love a man who falls first and falls so hard?!
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This is for the fans of Julie Soto, can’t wait to read more from Katie Holt in the future!

Enemies to lovers. A story within a story. Forced proximity. A steamy romance. This book has it all! If you are a fan of The Hating Game, this book is for you. Rosie and Aiden are in the same writing class at NYU and they are each others harshest critic. After a truly intense workshop, they are forced to write a romance together and things take off. I loved the banter between these two and the romantic moments set in NYC. I also enjoyed the story they were working on together (and I don't always love a story with in a story) because it added to the tension between the main characters. This was a fun read and I devoured it. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.