This book is a charming blend of classic romance tropes with a fresh, creative twist, set against the backdrop of New York’s magical holiday charm. Rosie, a bold and adventurous aspiring romance author, clashes with Aiden, her brooding literary foil, in a writing class that forces them to team up on a joint project. Their fiery banter, slow-burn connection, and exploration of love through the characters they create—Maxine and Hunter—make for a captivating read. While the opposites-attract formula is familiar, the execution, complete with witty dialogue, genuine family moments, and heartwarming scenes, elevates the story. The New York setting, with its romantic parks, dreamy holiday decor, and iconic spots like Serendipity, adds to the novel’s allure. Though some character stubbornness was frustrating, the blossoming romance and poignant conclusion more than made up for it. A delightful and meaningful read—4 stars! Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC.

I bought a physical copy bc I loved this soooo much!!! I got blessed with an audiobook arc and omg my heart!!! It gives big emhen vibes and I’m here for it! Rosie and Aiden are the perfect enemies to lovers, honestly Aiden is a new book boyfriend of mine 😮‍💨 you just gotta read it! If you love emily Henry, or any other contemporary romance books, THIS IS FOR YOU!

➳3.75/5 stars

— "The entire time we were together all I could think was you were better than any dream, any piece of fiction I could ever write."

This book was absolutely adorable, I found myself swooning, obsessing, and completely invested in the characters and their story. However, as much as I loved the buildup, the last part felt a bit off-putting and overly exaggerated. While the grand gesture at the end was beautiful and heartfelt, it still fell short of my expectations, leaving me feeling slightly underwhelmed despite the strong start.

➳ABOUT THE BOOK —

This book centers on Aiden Huntington, the male main character, and Rosie Maxwell the female lead. They are sworn enemies "emphasis on sworn" academic rivals who secretly harbor feelings for each other, because let’s face it, we all know how enemies-to-lovers stories go. The story kicks off with their endless banter, sharp retorts, and constant clashes, but as the pages turn, their dynamic shifts. Slowly, all of their sarcastic remarks, fights and clashes turned into tender kisses, stolen touches, and heartfelt moments that remind us why this trope is so beloved.

Both of our main leads, Aiden and Rosie, are recent graduates taking a writing workshop where they explore different genres. Aiden, with his love for literary fiction, and Rosie, passionate about romcoms, often clash due to their opposing styles and opinions about each other's work. Their arguments are frequent and fiery, yet their undeniable chemistry is obvious to everyone, except them. Seeing their potential, their professor assigns them the challenge of co-writing a novel that blends their distinct genres. This forces them to spend time together outside of class, and what starts as a rivalry slowly transforms into something unexpectedly beautiful and utterly adorable.

➳ABOUT THE CHARACTERS —

╰┈➤ AIDEN HUNTINGTON —

Aiden Huntington is everything you’d want in a male character, grumpy yet sweet, annoying yet undeniably cute. But, oh boy, did he have his moments where I wanted to scream at him. What truly got on my nerves was how he argued with Rosie, not like a man in love but as if he was still holding onto all that "sworn enemy" energy. Like, I get it, you’re a literary fiction genius, Aiden, but was it necessary to be so overly critical just because someone writes a different genre? Some of his comebacks? Straight-up brutal. And not in the "fun banter” way, but in the “wow, you’re crossing boundaries” kind of way.

Now, I get that Aiden had a rough childhood. He’s been through so much, and no kid deserves what he went through. I truly sympathize with him for that, and seeing him try to change for Rosie? That was absolutely adorable. It melted my heart, honestly. But still, there were moments when his fragile male ego popped out, and he’d say things that made me roll my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head. Did I like Aiden? Definitely. Did I excuse all his behavior as mere “constructive criticism”? Absolutely not. Let’s call it what it is sometimes the man was just being a jerk. But hey, even with all that, he was cute enough to win me over… eventually.

— "I know you prefer what's in your book, 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 the light and dark, in romance and lit fic. In this lifetime and the next."


╰┈➤ ROSIE MAXWELL —

Rosie Maxwell is the definition of fiery yet sweet, this girl didn’t just sit back and take Aiden’s nonsense. Nope, she was out there dishing out comebacks like a pro, giving him the competition he didn’t even know he needed. She kept him on his toes, and honestly? Loved that for her. Homegirl wasn’t letting anyone, not even Mr. Literary Fiction Genius, walk all over her.

I have to say, I liked Rosie a lot, maybe even more than Aiden. Sure, there were moments where her behavior felt a little childish, and I may have rolled my eyes once or twice, but hey, we all have our moments, right? What stood out to me was her incredible talent as a writer and her even more amazing personality. Rosie had this beautiful way of seeing the world, always finding the light in situations others might overlook. Some might call it looking at life through rose-tinted glasses, but in her case, it was Rosie-tinted glasses, a line straight from the book that I couldn’t help but find adorable.

Overall, Rosie was such a refreshing and charming female lead. She had her flaws, sure, but they only made her feel more real. She brought so much heart and warmth to the story, and I absolutely adored her for it. If there’s one character I’d want to be friends with in real life, it’s definitely Rosie.


— "No one meets the same way and falls in love the same way. Sometimes you know just after an hour with a person. Or it can span decades. The only thing every love story really has in common is that it’s worth it. Love is always worth fighting for"


➳ FINAL THOUGHTS —

Now, you might be wondering, if everything about this book was so adorable and heartwarming, why didn’t I rate it five stars? Well, my biggest issue was the smut. Yes, I know, it’s ironic considering I read dark romance religiously, but somehow, the smut in this book felt super cringy and off-putting. I actually had to skip certain chapters because it annoyed me that much. On top of that, I felt the story was a bit exaggerated at times. This could just be a personal preference, but I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if the characters had better communication and if the book had been slightly shorter. These elements made it hard for me to fully love what could have been an incredible read.

°˖➴"Overall, if you’re in the mood for a book that will have you feeling extra single this winter season, this might just be the perfect pick. It’s the kind of story that wraps you in all the warm, fuzzy feelings and leaves you wondering where your Aiden or Rosie is hiding."💌


— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ALC.

Frankie Corzo is a great narrator.

I had a slightly difficult time with the first 25% of the story. Then Aidan said something and I had to keep listening!

Rosie and Aiden’s banter crackles like a well-stoked fireplace. Their snarky exchanges and accidental touches create a delightful tension—the kind that keeps readers turning pages late into the night. I love when characters spark off each other, revealing hidden layers beneath their witty repartee.

The idea of blending steamy romance scenes with existential musings is like mixing unexpected ingredients in a recipe. It’s intriguing! As Rosie and Aiden co-write their novel, I was curious to see how their contrasting styles collide and harmonize. It’s like watching a quirky dance—two partners stepping on each other’s toes yet somehow finding rhythm.

Rosie and Aiden’s shared love for mismatched socks is endearing. It’s those little quirks that make characters relatable. Who hasn’t worn a polka-dot sock with a striped one, secretly reveling in the rebellion against symmetry? Their sock drawer becomes a metaphor—a place where oddities find companionship.

In summary, “Not in My Book” promises a blend of romance, humor, and unexpected twists. It’s like sipping a cup of chai—warm, comforting, and just the right amount of spicy.

This was a very cute listen, I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. It was easy to listen to and get lost in. They had some great banter, their relationship evolved in a fun way, their chemistry was palpable. I really enjoyed this one.

Audiobook Review: Not In My Book by Katie Holt - Narrated by Frankie Corzo

As someone fairly new to audiobooks the narrator kept my interest and I was looking for more opportunities to dive back into my book without interruptions. Katie Holt's Not In My Book is a compelling story about a romantic writer and her love interest. This is an enemies-to-lovers story, which is my favourite choice for a book. So if you are an enemies to lovers fan this is your book. Humour ticks yes! Drama ticks yes! Turmoil of emotions ticks yes.

The audiobook, with Frankie's voice in all the roles, is exceptional. I was not bored at all and wanted to know what happens next.

The plot and storytelling are both great. I liked the dialogue and the interaction between the characters. The protagonists' chemistry is on point. They explore and discover themselves through the story with raw and authentic freshness.

This book has a good blend of humour and emotions making the plot memorable. The characters come to life out of the book's pages and you are part of their companions.

Through the audiobook I had an immersive experience. On a side note, I would love to see more of the side stories such as the main female lead's friends and what happens to them throughout the story. I felt the conclusion was a bit rushed. I needed more on a nice wrap-up for this book.

Overall I would recommend reading Not In My Book by Katie Holt. It is a beautiful story with a mix of humour and heart-feeling emotions, from the protagonists' struggles in all their life aspects. The audiobook worked nicely for me and added some extra layers.

If you are looking for a true rivals to lovers, angsty, slow burn then I have just the book for you!! This book follows two graduate students, Rosie and Aiden, who are assigned to write a romance novel together after a heated argument in class, which in turn forces them to admit their true feelings for each other. I truly enjoyed listening to this book and I feel Frankie did a wonderful job portraying Rosie. This book made me feel all the feels and I was giddy the entire time. As a debut novel, I feel it was great! I definitely recommend giving it a read (or a listen 😉) and put it at the top of your tbr!

Thank you NetGalley, Katie Holt, and TB Media for a copy of this audiobook!

2.5⭐
Let me start by saying that the premise got me. It was perfect. The execution was nice but not like I expected, it had the potential to be a lot better.
I liked the setting, liked the scenes where they worked together on the book and their banter. This reads like "The spanish love deception" by Elena Armas in my opinion so if you liked it I think you're gonna like this one.
Now with the things I didn't like, on the top of the list we have how the fmc was so obviously into the mmc from the very start, it was constantly mentioned and it annoyed me so much I wanted to scream. I'm not saying that she shouldn't be into him but like it could've been mentioned less, you know? I think this is also the reason why everything that was going on through the fmc's head about the mmc felt childish to me which affected literally the whole experience for me.
The audiobook was nice, it was clear and I didn't get confused by the characters voices.
I received the advanced audiobook recording of the publication via NetGalley.

3.5 ⭐️

I loved the premise of this, and the tension between the MCs was SO good. I also enjoyed that there was an unexpected holiday element and really liked the narrator (except when she attempted a southern accent). But the conflict near the end was predictable and annoying, and I had to dock some points for all the spice.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Not in My Book, the debut novel for author Katie Holt is a cutesy romance following two rival writers in their collegiate workshop. Following Rosie, a romantic softie at heart and Aiden, the mysterious and brooding literary fiction writer where they constantly butt heads in their writing workshop.
After a particularly nasty argument in class, their teacher gives them an ultimatum- drop her class or write a romance together. Unfortunately for Rosie, Aiden is the worst... and also looks really good in a pea coat.
This novel gave me all of the warm and fuzzies with the Christmas in New York feelings and truly was a great enemies to lovers romance.
My main critique was that it was a bit too long.
Overall I greatly enjoyed hearing a new voice in romance and would read from Katie Holt again! 4 stars!

The story follows two aspiring authors who couldn’t be more different in the genres they write and who spent most of their college workshops exchanging biting insults. Their interactions are filled with genuine rudeness, and neither holds back.

While her inner thoughts occasionally acknowledged how attractive he was, I was pleasantly surprised. As their relationship slowly unfolded and evolved, I came to appreciate the initial animosity between them. They genuinely felt like rivals at the start, making their eventual connection a true slow-burn romance

Katie Holt’s debut novel perfectly encapsulates the magic of the rivals-to-lovers trope in the most romantic and sweetest way. The premise of the book is unique: two rival writers working together as co-authors to write a romance novel with a sad ending. Katie does an amazing job of juxtaposing Hunter and Max’s version of a love story, one with no happily-ever-afters, against Rosie and Aiden’s own rivals-to-lovers journey. It’s romantic and hilarious how they both fall in love with each other while writing their own love story together.

Katie’s narrative is easy to read, and I loved how she wrote her monologues and developed the emotional connection between the protagonists in a way that felt so real. What I truly appreciated was that the story didn’t solely focus on the romance. Katie beautifully expressed every romance lover’s thoughts through Rosie’s deep love for romance books. It’s no wonder this genre resonates so deeply with women, and I loved how the author highlighted the challenges some female authors face when writing “just a romance book with a happily-ever-after.” My romantic heart healed a little there.

Rosie is a romance author who adores reading love stories and believes that everyone deserves a happily-ever-after, even in the real world. The book is written from Rosie’s point of view, and I enjoyed her monologues—even when most of them were about how much she loved Aiden in his peacoat. Rosie is a resilient, hardworking, and bold heroine with a soft heart. I admired how she never hid her love for romance stories and stood up for herself and her passion for the genre, even when others mocked it. Despite being hurt in the past, Rosie remained understanding and open, especially when it came to Aiden. I loved how she cautiously let him into her life, showing immense strength in allowing herself to fall in love again.

Aiden Huntington, on the other hand, is a cynic. He hates romance and loathes happily-ever-afters even more. Writing in a completely different genre from Rosie, Aiden finds himself reluctantly paired with her to write a romance novel with a tragic ending. Ironically, it’s through this project that he finds his own love story with Rosie. Aiden checks all the boxes of a cocky, broody man with a secret crush on the heroine, masking his feelings with animosity to avoid attachment. I appreciated how Katie slowly revealed Aiden’s past, peeling back layers of his carefully guarded personality through Hunter’s perspective. It was endearing to see Aiden’s efforts to make Rosie understand the real him—not the version he pretended to be for her to dislike.

The romance itself was swoon-worthy and undoubtedly the highlight of the book. Rosie and Aiden’s relationship developed smoothly and naturally, progressing from rivals and enemies to collaborators and, finally, to lovers. Watching them blend their writing styles and genres to craft a fictional story—one that felt all too similar to their own—was pure magic. I loved how they explored their vulnerabilities and deeper complexities through their characters, allowing their friendship to evolve into trust, emotional connection, and ultimately love. The way they let their walls come down and revealed how much they truly meant to each other gave me all the dreamy, heart-melting feels. Their dynamic was perfect, capturing the tension, humor, and warmth of their growing relationship.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more books from Katie Holt in the future. As for the ending—it was adorable, heartfelt, and perfectly true to Rosie and Aiden’s story.

The audiobook was amazing as well. Absolutely loved the narration and how well it was recorded.

I absolutely loved listening to this story! I read it earlier this year as an ARC and was so excited to listen to it and experience it for the first time again in a different format! This story is one of my absolute favorites of the year! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

4.5 stars!

"Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is one of my favorite books of 2024! I absolutely loved this story! It's a New York City enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity (in a classroom!!) (even some only one bed, too!!), epistolary romance for the ages. I swooned HARD for this book and these characters. Rosie and Aiden have some of the best banter I've read all year...it's just terrific! This is one of the best "books about writing books" I have read in a long, long time. I have a hunch there will be a section of readers who think the premise is too meta, but I was connected to it from the get-go. The character arcs are wonderful. These characters feel realistic and lived-in. I loved Rosie's family and friend dynamics, and I loved learning about Aiden's past and his life as details are slowly unraveled. AND THE GOOGLE DOC SCENE?! HOOOOOOOLY CRAPOOOOLA, I am going to be thinking about that scene for years to come! It'll live in my head rent-free, as the kids say. I also adore what this book has to say about how many, many authors and readers are snobby about and look down on romance as a genre. Romance RULES, don't get it twisted. I am running out of ways to say how much I was enamored with this book. You MUST read it as soon as possible!! If you don't want to read with your eyeballs, please listen to Frankie Corzo's incredible audiobook narration!! She is brilliant here! I devoured this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Holt, and RBMedia for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Started out sweet and was looking forward to a fun will they won’t they listen. It wasn’t exactly that for me. Rosie, a sweet smart, brave optimist from a small town leaves all she knows to enroll in a writing program at NYU to pursue her dream of becoming a published romance novelist. She meets Aiden, a literary fiction writer in her program. He looks at her and her work as if he just drank a glass of spoiled milk and acts as if he is better than…everyone. When their professor pairs them together on a project they are not amused, but have no choice. And so begins their insta-love with along with a terrific project until there is a betrayal that rocks Rosie to her core. There is of course the inevitable big gesture apology and happily ever after, but by that point I was over Aiden and his supercilious attitude. This story checks all the boxes of an opposites attract, hate to love and the happily ever after and yet for me it didn’t work. Maybe there is such a thing as too opposite, maybe not, but I found there to be little to no chemistry between them. It was well narrated.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I always love a book about books or the process of writing/creating books so this was a winner for me!

3 Stars Not in My Book is a sweet enemies to lovers, academia, forced proximity romance.

Idealistic Rosie and cynical Aiden regularly trade verbal jabs during their creative writing MFA workshops. Rosie and Aiden could not be more different; Rosie is a Peruvian-American romance writer born and raised in Tennessee, pursuing her MFA part time, while Aiden is a born and bred New Yorker, full-time in the program while writing literary fiction. When their fighting reaches a breaking point, their professor gives them an ultimatum: withdraw from the class or write a book together. As difficult as it is to put their differences aside, it's easy for both Rosie and Aiden to put pieces of themselves into their book and its characters. Working on the manuscript together gives Rosie and Aiden a chance to explore their feelings and maybe have a chance at creating their very own love story.

Not in My Book was a fun and easy read, which characters who are easy to root for. My only criticism is that the book was very predictable and made me just want to skip to the end since it was too easy to tell what was going to happen next. If you are a fan of The Hating Game and Beach Read, I think you'll like this one.

Absolutely adorable! I enjoyed this one so much and really wish I could share this one more. I had the pleasure of reading this one early as the publisher sent me a paperback copy over the summer and then getting the audio to listen to was the icing on the cake. It was just as enjoyable the second time around.

I had heard great things about this debut and decided to pick it up. I am thrilled that I did! I fell right into this enemies-to-lovers story and loved every second. In this story, we have Rosie and Aiden. Both are in an intensive writing class at NYU. Each week, when it comes time to critique classmates' writing samples, the derision comes pouring out of these two. Aiden can't stand that Rosie writes romance, which he sees as unrealistic. Rosie thinks Aiden's lit fic is stuffy and boring. The arguments reach a crescendo until their professor tells them they are being kicked out unless they agree to write their novel together.

I loved every second of these two. Ever since Emily Henry's Beach Read, I have not been able to get enough of reading about writers. Rosie and Aiden are the perfect example of what I love about this trope. The discussions they have around writing, genre, and their craft are fascinating and engaging. The chemistry is off the page. Holt builds the tension perfectly and manages to have Rosie and Aiden remain true to themselves and their beliefs while somehow coming together to co-write and more. The banter is great. There is a visit to The Strand (IFYKY). There is Peruvian family on Rosie's side and a literary genius on Aiden's. There just wasn't anything not to love in this book. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down.

Part of this was due to the narration. Frankie Corzo managed to perform Rosie and Aiden flawlessly. The emotion, the laughter, the angst.....it was all there. I found every excuse I could to keep listening to this wonderful narration.

I'm officially obsessed with this new author and cannot wait to see what she puts out next. In the meantime, I'm glad to have this on my shelf for whenever I need to laugh or swoon. Highly recommend!