Not in My Book by Katie Holt (Audiobook)
This enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance is set in NYC and revolves around two writers who are forced by their professor to write a novel together. Here's what stood out to me:
• The Latinx representation was well-done.
• Loved the forced proximity and the NYC at Christmas time backdrop.
• The unique premise of the story was intriguing.
• Spice Level: It was a bit too spicy for my taste.
• I didn’t enjoy the last 10% of the book because Rosie was pmo
• I requested this audiobook because Frankie Corzo narrated it. As always, they brought the story to life and did a fantastic job.
Overall, this is a great debut novel, and I will definitely check out future works by Katie Holt. Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars

Thank you NetGalley for a ALC of Not in My Book in exchange of my honest opinion.

This is an adorable debut of two rival writers who obviously are attracted to each other. They must put aside their skewed views of each other and work together.
I really enjoyed the main characters' family dynamic, relationship with friends (or lack thereof), and life responsibilities. It's good to see characters who don't live in a bubble and have a network around them, which just shows that they really live in the story.

The narration was quite good. However, I sometimes got confused when it was dialog between the characters or between the characters of the book they were writing together. It didn't detract from my understanding and following the story at all, but sometimes, it blended the characters to me. I wonder if it was on purpose or not.

Overall is a great romance that - mind you- is quite spicy. For those who like tropes, we have here rivals-to-lovers, one-bed trope (it was a very funny scene, by the way), and forced proximity.

WHAT A DELIGHT!!!!!! SO EXTREMELY HAPPY I had the chance to read this one!

First and foremost, thanks to Netgallery and Alcove Press for the ARC of Not In My Book, in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't had the best of lucks with ARCs recently, BUT oh HOW I LOVED, this one! Such a sweet story with lovable characters and a very interesting premise, because while the whole "academic rivals turned lovers" has been done a million times, I don't think I've read a book like this one, where theres a story within a story, one that is used to not only make the very stubborn main characters communicate, but also to let the reader know what the mmc is thinking and feeling without actually having his POV throughout the book. Am I making sense? maybe not, but what is important is that you give this book a chance ones it is out on December 10, 2024! It's sweet, lighthearted without feeling empty! Characters that are FLAWED, STUBBORN, but with a need to grow and make their happy ever after a reality. I truly enjoyed this one!!!! Narration was GREAT, kept me entertained and engaged with the story.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Rbmedia for giving me the arc audiobook for this.

„Not in my book“ by Katie Holt is the love story of two Characters, Rosalinda Maxwell and Aidan Huntington. These two really cannot stand each other and are constantly fighting during their creative writing class at NYU. Eventually their teacher gets fed up with them and tells them that they have two options: get kicked out of the class or write a book together (obv they choose the writing assignment)
Writing their book should be quite difficult for them, as Rosalinda specifies in romance and Aidan exclusively writes literary fiction, however throughout the school year the two end up becoming closer and eventually falling in love.

In my opinion this was a cute book, that would probably be good as a palette cleanser. The Christmas scene was just adorable, so if you’re in the mood for that I‘d definitely recommend it.
I really liked how the unfair treatment towards romance writers and readers was portrayed, and that the characters had very understandable reasons for their behaviour (money, upbringing,…). As I am personally not a big fan of smut, this really dimished the book for me. Luckily there weren’t very many smut scenes (I believe it was only 3), but each one of them was quite long and detailed, which made me slightly uncomfortable. Please do remember, that this is only a personal preference, if you like smut I‘m sure it won‘t bother you.

This book follows Rosie and Aiden, who can't stand each other but are forced to work on a book together. They both have reservations about being in a relationship and struggle to overcome their past trauma.

The way the author develops the romance through the characters' writing is AMAZING! I couldn't get enough of them, It's such an original take!

Rosie's family and friends are funny and supportive and they add so much to the story, I felt so inmersed while reading the book!

The narrator for this audiobook was really good at portraying the banter between the two, giving each of the characters their own voice.

I can't wait to read more books by this author!

Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for the arc

Writing students who hate each other and are forced to write a book together? And it’s based in New York? Say less. I loved that Rosie’s experiences and struggles felt real - like I could actually see someone living her life.

I don’t always love audiobooks (especially romance audiobooks can be a little cringey) but I thought this one was narrated well - a little confusing with the manuscript parts at first but I figured it out after the first one. The spice in this book wasn’t really my jam but I think I would have thought the same about it if I was reading these scenes as well. I usually listen to audiobooks and podcasts at 1.25x speed and that’s what I did for this one, I’m sure 1x would be fine too though. Overall, I enjoyed this as an audiobook and would recommend but I think I would have enjoyed it the same amount reading the book as well.

I liked the writing style and I would read more from this debut author…but I just can’t get over (what I found to be) cringey spicy scenes and that’s why I would give it 3.5 out of 5 stars (I rounded up to 4). The description says “The Hating Game meets Beach Read” but I have to say it’s giving Book Lovers to me (which is my personal favorite Emily Henry book).

dnf @ 61%

this book felt way too childish and cringey to me 😭

thank you netgalley and rbmedia for providing me with an audiobook arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

A book about writing a book, providing reviews about said book and exerts about the book that mimic real life moments in real time? Sign me up! A book about two opposites attract authors and classmates starting as enemies forced to team up-where one is a romance connoisseur and the other thinks the genre isn’t real? Yes, please! I binge listened to Rosie and Aiden’s contemporary, open-door, enemies to lovers romance story…it was so good and enjoyable! The narrator did a great job, portraying the different characters and accents with ease. I received an eALC from the author and RB Media via NetGalley. 4.5 stars

I loved this read ( or listen, however it should be for audiobooks) 😄
First, I just finished listening to other audiobook by the same narrator so hearing her voice again made it feel super familiar. Also before she was narrating books with Latin-American characters so i really enjoyed the slips of Spanish here too.

I didn't know what to expect from the start of the book, but quickly really started enjoyed how Rosie and Aidens story was in parallel with their books storyline and how the book they were writing was helping to see eachother more than just the "romance girl and litfic guy". What truly made me kick my feet and giggle during this book were the scenes where they were google doc communicating with eachother! Honestly would have read entire book with them just chatting in google docs 😂

i think only thing i might have enjoyed was to see more Aiden's people because I assume that 20smth guy must have some friends around him, but he just had writing and strained family relationship. Like i assume that this book just was super zoomed into the romance and their collaboration plot and that's why i still rated it 5⭐️, but I think if there's more books by this author in the future, i'd want to see more support systems for both characters, not just the narrator.

Thank you RB media for this amazing audiobook! I loved this story soooo much

Rosie is a romance writer—she loves reading, writing, and living romance. Always happy and chasing her New York dream 🗽, her life takes a turn because of Aiden. Aiden, the fiction writer in her class, seems to hate romance, especially hers. He’s always critiquing her work, stern with everyone, but particularly mean to her.

Rosie decides to stand up for herself and voice her thoughts about his sad fiction. Their arguments quickly become the highlight of the class and a sort of foreplay neither Rosie nor Aiden can stop, until they’re forced to write a romance together—without a happy ending. 📚

I was super excited to start this book; I absolutely love the enemies-to-lovers trope, especially when they’re forced to work together. This book is really entertaining, and I loved how Rosie and Aiden started to communicate through their inconvenient assignment.

I appreciated that we never get Aiden’s direct POV, but we can understand him fully through the character Hunter.

The third-act breakup? I saw it coming a mile away and knew why and how it would happen, but the author executed it so perfectly that I cried. I felt so much for both Rosie and Aiden—it was just perfect. 😢

This was such a cute story! Very cute enemies to lovers story with some stubborn and feisty main characters. I liked the premise of this book a lot with how the writing of their book mixed with their own stories. A quick read with some steam. Thanks Netgalley for the audiobook ARC, the narration was well done too! Congrats to Katie Holt for a great debut novel!

Ohhhhh my gosh! Why didn’t anyone tell me that this book would make me feel this much!! 100/10 recommend this book! I wasn’t sure about the accent of the FMC when she’s walking to another character but i honestly don’t care that’s how much I loved this!!

I have just one problem with this book: Katie Holt is a debut author, so I don’t get to bring everything surrounding her for the next month. Like, how is she a debut author when this book is so fucking good?! I’m literally in awe.

This book reminds me a bit of “Beach Read’ but wholly its own & original as hell. I love the creative liberties the author takes, and I’m deeply in love with Aiden Huntington.

4.75 ⭐️

First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook. 😊

I've been wanting to read this book for a while, and I was not disappointed. The story was incredibly realistic and captivating, to the extent that I found myself unable to stop listening. 🎧 It was one of those books that had me exclaiming aloud, engaging in conversations with the characters, and urging them to take action. JUST GO ON AND KISS HER ALREADY!!!🔥

The slow-burn progression from enemies to lovers was well written, and just when I believed the happy ending had been reached, I realized that I was only halfway through the book!

Rosie and Aiden have such an intense relationship, and the only part that I did not like (and why I docked 1/4 star) is during the sex scenes when he was calling her a "good girl." I don't know, maybe it's the feminist in me, but it just feels a bit condescending and derogatory. I personally do not like being called that, but that's just me. I also thought it didn't seem to fit with the story or Aiden's personality either.

The narration as well is probably one of the best I've listened to recently. I really liked her inflections and how she made the reader actively listen.

What did others think? Did you love it as much as me!? I'm definitely going to put this on my Christmas wishlist to buy, though!

#enemiestolovers #bookstagram #booklover #bookreview #audiobook #ARC #NotinMyBook #NetGalley

What a fun listen!!! This book definitely gave me those "Hating Games" and "Beach Read" vibes that were promised in the blurb! The chemistry, the banter, the romance—it all just clicked. I would absolutely recommend this to all my romance reader friends.

Loved this one so much!!! A fantastic debut novel!! I feel in love with the characters and read this in under 48 hours because it captivated my attention so quickly!

I am always a fan of any book that is a love letter to the romance genre! Rosie was a sweet character who stood firmly for what she felt strongly about! Aiden’s backstory is going to make you weepy! I loved watching Rosie + Aiden’s relationship flourish and grow as they are forced to be near each other!

Supportive friends, academic rivals to lovers, banter, and forced proximity!

Give me a 10 Things I Hate About You vibe at the end!!!

Thankful to NetGally, Alcove Press, Katie Holt, and Dreamscape Productions for the advanced copy!

This debut novel was an academic rivalry with slow burn spice, dramatics, and a satisfying HEA. I found that the further I got into the story, the more smooth and comfortable the writing felt. By the end, it seemed that the author had really found more of their voice. I did find the added excerpts to be a bit disjointed and confusing at first, but I think that a) that’s the nature of framework storytelling and b) had I been looking at a physical or digital book I wouldn’t have necessarily felt that same way. With that said, the narration was done really well and I felt that the voice actor’s performance added to the characters.

Congratulations to author Katie Holt on a fun debut novel.

Thank you Netagalley and RB Media for my gifted ALC.

I love bookish banter and this Rivals-to-lovers story with two literary students was pretty fun!

Rosie loves all things Romance and Aiden writes literary fiction. They don't see eye-to-eye on anything and the arguing and critiques in the workshop had gotten so bad the Professor forces them to write a novel together or withdraw from the class. They agree on a cease-fire for the project and start going on "pretend dates" to help write the building of their character's relationship.

Rosie and Aiden share a Google doc to write the novel with a dual POV. As a joke Rosie named the MMC after Aiden in a way and Aiden named the FMC after Rosie in a way. It became a way for them to write their broken pieces into the story and a safe place to share why they did what they did. They wrote the spicy scene together over the document and it was... steamy (haha)!

The multicultural aspects were a fun part of the story and Rosie's family showing up unannounced was so fun!

I didn't love how Rosie handled a few situations, but overall for a debut novel - this was great!

The audio narrator did a good job!

Romance Content: It's Open-door - can't remember how many

Thank you Netgalley and rb media for the free ALC. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I am loving all these mfa books and this was was so well done. I enjoyed the banter the enemies to friends to lovers. I felt that the mention of him buying seemed a tad too much and imbalance in power. Overall really good audiobook.

4.5/5☆

Not in My Book was a very enjoyable audiobook. The narrator is easy to listen to.

This is a slow burn, enemies to lovers troupe because, it is not straight forward in that most predictable way. At first, I found the squabbling between Rosie and Aiden annoying but once I overlooked that I was invested in both of them as their story unfolded. I loved that their story was weaved through the writing of a book. There are some pretty spicy scenes which might not be for everyone. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Katie Holt and RB Media for the opportunity to preview this fun title and the opinions shared are my own.

Not in My Book is expected to be released on Dec. 10, 2024 just in time for holiday gift giving!