If you liked Emily Henry’s Beach Read, you’ll like this. I’d even say I like this one better. The way the two main characters learned to write together and then started communicating through their book was so so sweet. I’m not a big fan of enemies to lovers, but I do love some grumpy/sunshine.

2.5 stars for the initial plot
The way I was so bored of this story after the second chapter, it was too cliche it felt like I was reading someone’s attempt at a romance novel. The dialogue felt like I was reading a wattpad story, cringe at times and too overdone. The conflict was what upset me the most, because I could see it coming from mile away and the fact that Aiden knew about it and chose to keep it a secret in the name of making his “mother proud” oh brother this guy stinks, not only that but the fact that he literally threw salt in Rosie’s wounds by telling her how delusional she is by being a romance author. All of this after opening up to him about how she thought he perceived her and being vulnerable to want to put herself out there after being hurt. I’m sorry but I would have told buddy to pack it up and never speak to me again. But I really enjoyed the incorporation of diversity in this novel.

It was a really interesting romance. Side note, what a great cover to set up the vibe of the book. Can;t wait to see what she does next

*Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this eARC; the review is my own*

During the first bit of this book, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading it because I struggled to like Rosie. I understand her frustration that he always gave her writing the harshest criticism of anyone else in their class, but her animosity towards him became so excessive that it presented her character negatively more than it did his. The two of them seemed to fight just for the sake of fighting, and it drove me absolutely crazy.

However, I continued and mostly enjoyed it, especially when Rosie and Aiden stopped exhausting so much of their energy hating each other and allowed themselves to be real and to work together. Their chemistry, both as characters and as writers, was great. I liked how they challenged, encouraged, and supported each other. I loved Aiden's protectiveness when he discovered the rock propping open the door to Rosie's apartment building, and I was so happy that he always made sure to walk between her and traffic (my husband does that). Rosie, too, became protective of Aiden whenever his father was involved. They worked well together . . . when they got along.

Although I was glad that Rosie had a group of supportive friends, their little group reminded me a little too much of "the friend group" you find in a lot of teen movies or comedy-heavy rom-coms (does that make sense?). They functioned more as a sounding board or an echo chamber for Rosie and her own ideas. But I loved Rosie's family, and they were written so perfectly.

Some dialogue in this book is written in Spanish without any English translation. This didn't bother me since I can speak and understand enough Spanish to know what was being said. I can imagine, though, that some readers might get frustrated at missing out on what's being said. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to use translation apps (or even google) to figure that out.

This book fits in the same vein as Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Sarah Ready, and Kate Robb (though hers aways seem to include some magical realism). If you like those authors, you'll probably like this book. It was a bit predictable at times (I knew from early on what would create the fissure in Rosie and Aiden's relationship), but I don't necessarily mind predictable.

Novel has unique structure, which includes excerpts from the characters' joint manuscript, adding depth to their relationship development. The chemistry between Rosie and Aiden is palpable, with their evolving dynamic kept me engaged. Minor pacing issues and a somewhat predictable plot, overall fun quick read.

Not for me, unfortunately. This was a DNF at about 60%. This isn't a bad book by any means; I just wasn't connecting to it. I really enjoyed the idea of getting to hear or male main character's perspective through his writing, and the banter between the female main character and her friend group was so much fun! I also really enjoyed how dedicated the female main character is to writing romance, and how the importance and relevance of romance books was a key theme in this.
The romance aspect of this dragged on for me though, and our couple would have a positive moment together and then backpedal for no reason.

2.5 stars

overall a solid read, and one that i finished over two days.

the story follows Rosie Maxwell, a 26-year-old grad student, who is a romance lover and writer in NYC. in class, she often butts heads with another grad student, Aiden Huntington, a literary fiction writer and hater of romance. these two bicker and disrupt the class so much so that their professor assigns them to co-write a novel together in an attempt for them to get along.

the main reason for my low rating is the fact that i didn't connect or relate to either of the characters, and i didn't find either of the characters delightful, especially not Aiden. if this novel taught me anything, it taught, proved, and reinforced the fact of how little empathy men have and how selfish they are. i also found Rosie extremely two-dimensional and too stereotypical of a romance lover; that stood out as her sole defining personality trait, as she is so obsessed with happily ever afters and refuses to accept anything less than a perfect love story.
i found the ending distasteful, and i honestly cannot see Rosie and Aiden truly being able to continue in their relationship. (these two would pop up in one of those tiktoks of "couples that break up after the epilogue.") Aiden's actions and words near the end are so telling of how he views and treats the people around him, it's disrespectful and sickening.
additionally, this is a contemporary romance novel, having so-called enemies at the grown age of 26 is utterly ridiculous.

this is not a story i would see myself returning to, but it was still an interesting one to read.

thank you Netgallery & Alcove Press for this e-arc!!

"Not in My Book" by Katie Holt delivers an emotionally resonant ride through the world of literature, rivalry, and romance. Rosie, a determined Peruvian American, finds herself entangled with her once-crush, Aiden Huntington, in a class that challenges them both to step outside their comfort zones. The dynamic duo must collaborate to blend their literary worlds, transforming their hostility into something potentially significant.

Rich with Swiftie appeal, Holt's novel captures the essence of an "enemies to lovers" narrative but with a lighthearted touch. The storytelling balances an emotional depth with romantic undertones, crafting a journey that's both swoony and compelling. Despite some predictable elements, the cliche nature doesn't detract from the enjoyment; rather, it enhances the comfort and charm inherent in the story's progression.

Holt successfully weaves pieces of the protagonists into their shared writing project, allowing readers to vicariously experience their evolving relationship. The competitive undertones and the potential for personal growth make this book a delightful exploration for any romance-loving reader.

*Not in My Book* is a lively debut romance that plays with classic tropes like enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity. The writing is quick-witted and engaging, and the chemistry between the main characters, Rosie and Aiden, keeps the story entertaining. However, some readers found the third-act conflict predictable and felt that a few character moments didn’t fully align with their personalities. The “book within a book” structure also caused a bit of confusion for some. Despite these minor flaws, it's an enjoyable read for fans of light, trope-heavy romance.

An enemies to lovers novel. If one loves a good slow burn novel, this book is it. Characters, writing and the plot keep the reader interested.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

“𝑵𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏, 𝒉𝒖𝒉?”
“𝑵𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍,” 𝑰 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒚.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓.”

classic enemies-to-lovers, but instead of work place romance, we're looking at older individuals in a master's writing class. did i know how this was going to go? yeahhhhh. but did i love it anyways?? hell yeahhhhh!

this is a slow burn. much like the books that the characters are working on together, the real love story happening between these two writers is playing out in real time. utilizing their own story to write their classes book is not only clever, but also sexy.

absolutely eat this up every time. go read this!

Not in my book was a surprisingly adorable , easy to binge romance that I really enjoyed.! Very reminiscent of the hating game but with rival writers which made the hateful banter all the better. I wish that this book had deeper moments with topics discussed to break up the flufff but overall this book had me kicking my feet and giggling throughout

I should have posted this review before the book was released, but the truth is I’m so behind on the ARCs I need to read that only today did I manage to share this story with you.

The premise goes beyond two writers who can’t stand each other; Aiden and Rosie are complete opposites in everything, except when it comes to their love for writing. Aiden is a firm realist who refuses to see any colour in love — he doesn’t believe in romance or the message it tries to convey. Rosie, on the other hand... well, she’s romance and love personified, even when happy endings seem painfully out of reach.

Get ready, because the heart of this book lies in their personal ideologies and the reasons behind them. The more they get to know each other, the more they understand and judge each other less. It’s not exactly new, but the characters are so well-crafted and fit together so naturally that the story itself truly surprised me.

In fact, the dual POV in this book was essential — it allowed each character to fully come to life and slowly peel back all the layers that make them who they are, making them not only complex but, above all, real.

It was when they were forced to write a story together that I saw reality blend with fiction, and completely fell for them. Suddenly, every emotion gained a new level of intensity, and my heart was racing with anticipation to see what would happen next.

I’m a big fan of standalone romances, but I must confess — I wouldn’t mind reading more about Rosie and Aiden, now as published authors, surrounded by her family, who, even better, are Peruvian! I absolutely loved the little cultural details sprinkled throughout.

I had never read anything by this author before, but I’m definitely keen to follow her work from now on.

Love the concept of the book and I really found myself wanting to pick it up to see where it went. I didn't find it as predictable as some romance books. Really enjoyed the banter and feels throughout.

I did not love this book, but there was nothing wrong with it either; it just felt a bit flat to me personally.

I absolutely loved this book! It is the perfect grumpy/sunshine, Rosie is a romantic and Aiden is broody and closed off. They have amazing chemistry and them working together on the novel was perfect. Their banter was funny and totally natural. This is definitely a 5-star read.

Not in My Book is a sharp, funny enemies-to-lovers romance about Rosie, a passionate romance writer, and Aiden, a literary snob, forced to co-write a novel. Their clashing views spark witty banter, unexpected chemistry, and some hilariously awkward writing sessions. It’s a clever take on genre bias, with heart, humor, and just enough spice.

This book is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that brings together Rosie, a passionate romance writer, and Aiden, a brooding literary fiction author. Their clashing personalities and writing styles lead to a forced collaboration on a novel that blends their genres. As they navigate their differences, the line between fiction and reality blurs, resulting in a story filled with witty banter, emotional depth, and undeniable chemistry.

The narrative offers a fresh take on familiar tropes, with a slow-burn romance that keeps readers engaged. While some plot points may feel predictable, the authentic emotions and character development make this a standout read. The New York City setting adds a charming backdrop to Rosie and Aiden's evolving relationship.

This book was written for you if:
- You enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances with strong character dynamics.
- You're a fan of stories that explore the writing process and creative collaboration.
- You appreciate narratives that blend humor, heart, and a touch of spice.

An addictive, swoon-worthy romcom

Rosie's plan is to become a bestselling romance author. But that doesn't seem ready to happen since Aiden, an unsufferable literary fiction writer, has made it his personal goal to obnoxiously critique her work. When their teacher, exhausted by their bickering, forces them to cowrite a novel that mixes their genres together, neither of them has a choice. But when their little project is a little too close at heart, it becomes difficult to know what is reality and what is fiction...

I absolutely DEVOURED this book. It's the absolue perfect romcom: steamy, intense, fun and unique. And as a fellow writer, I was completely enthralled by Rosie and Aiden's story. The author created some beautiful tension between our two main characters, and I just adore the fact that they were forced to work through their rivalry to produce something together. The way they really got to know who the other person was, see through the cracks, the bickering and the obnoxious behavior, was truly refreshing. As for the spice... I have no words. The fact that they wrote a steamy scene together had me gasping and blushing and giggling out loud. It was extremely hot and intense. the miscommunication trope near the end was a bit of a sour note for me, I felt like it could have been avoided, but it's a personal opinion, of course, and the book is still definitely five stars for me because OH MY GOD I will NEVER get over it.

I highly recommend this romcom to all my spicy romance readers, it's gold!

“I never have to do anything. But when it comes to you, I find myself wanting to.”

Enjoyed this book and the background in to a literary education. It pulled me in and had me reading “just another chapter” much too late into the night.