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!

I loved this story so much, and can't wait for more from the author! Genuinely sweet with complications that felt realistic and reasonable, and both characters felt like real people. 💗

"An absolutely phenomenal read! Katie Holt masterfully weaves a tale filled with heart, humor, and unforgettable characters. The story is both deeply relatable and wildly entertaining, with moments that made me laugh out loud and others that tugged at my heartstrings. Holt’s writing style is fresh, witty, and effortlessly engaging, keeping me hooked from start to finish. The themes of personal growth, resilience, and friendship are beautifully explored, making this book not only a joy to read but also deeply meaningful. Not in My Book is a must-read for anyone looking for a feel-good, empowering

Another cute book that I just couldn’t help but absolutely love. The story was amazing. I don’t want to give too much away but this was really good. The characters were very realistic and the tension. Very much there. You’ll love it!

This book is as a cute as the cover makes it look! I loved Rosie and how funny she was. I liked the serious issues that Aiden dealt with and Rosie made him better! Super cute :)

Rosie has left her hometown of Tennessee to go make it big in New York as a romance writer, her lifelong dream. But she can’t seem to make it through her classes without bickering with her nemesis, Aiden. Aiden thinks romance writing is silly and is constantly giving her a hard time. Finally, their teacher has had enough and decides that their punishment for constantly disrupting the class is either withdrawal or work together on a book for their final project.

The book must be a romance and it must be written together. Together they work to try to figure out the story, writing one chapter at a time. Their teacher recommends pretending to be the characters, go on dates and do things couples would do. But their constant bickering is making it near impossible. But all of this time together is of course bringing them closer and they might find out that they are not actually enemies at all.

This was a cute romance book. I loved the project of writing a book together. The beginnings of the chapters were so fun showing us their current project. I do feel like the chemistry felt a little forced, and wish there had been a little more tension between them for longe

3.5

Not in My Book was the perfect book to start my 2025.

The tension that Rosie and Aiden have through the book, while rediscovering their feelings makes this book impossible to put down. The hate-to-love storyline really gets you hooked, and even though you only get one pov, you can see some of Aiden's thoughts through the experts of their book together, which makes the book 10 times better.

Also, don't be fooled by the cartoon cute cover, the spice is spicing in there.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were relatable and the banter was really well done. I would definitely recommend this book

I enjoyed every second of this. Real romance is back!!! I found myself smiling during so much of it. Can’t wait to own the physical copy!

In this brilliant and fun dual-perspective modern romance novel, readers join a Master’s level creative writing program in New York City where Rosie, a Peruvian American idealist from Tennessee, and Aidan Huntington, a grumpy and snobby New Yorker who respects “real books” (i.e., not the romance novels Rosie wants to write), as they clash forces in their workshop class. Frustrated with their fights, their professor threatens to remove them from the course unless they cowrite a literary fiction romance novel. Since art often imitates life, it is no surprise that the manuscript reflects Rosie and Aiden’s hopes, fears, and secrets, drawing them closer until the rivalry reignites over a career-changing opportunity that threatens to ruin their manuscript and their relationship. With two brilliantly written and complex characters, Katie Holt has created a fascinating, immersive, and passionate new romance novel that fans of the genre will absolutely love. Tropey in the best ways, Rosie and Aidan really shine in this novel, and their interactions really build up the atmosphere and the tension throughout the story. Deeply enjoyable, passionate, exciting, and unpredictable, romance readers have to read Katie Holt’s new book because the characters will suck them in and not let them go for the entirety of the book.

A romance novel about romance writing with tropes and happily ever afters. It’s easy to fall in love with Rosie and Aiden and their great chemistry and I really enjoyed the love letter to New York and rom coms.

Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sweetness 🍭🍭🍭

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Katie Holt you gave us something unique and beautiful here! We are happy we got to not only receive the ARC of the Book, but as well as the Audiobook! Everything about this was 5 stars, the story, the characters, the romance! We loved it all, especially the computer scene! That will forever live rent free in our minds. We can not wait to what you give us Next because Rosie and Aiden so fun to get to know and fall and love with!
Thank you for a 5 star book!

This was a very enjoyable rivals/enemies to lovers romance. The additional element of an academic setting was an extra selling point for me. It really helped drive that rivalry home.
My favourite scene is definitely when they were each working on the story together, but separately - that scene was just hot! In fact, whenever they were together, I could feel the tension through to my bones. The banter was delightful and the insights into each character through their respective story writing was unique and gratifying. The story is told in Rosie's perspective, but through the story they cowrite, you get a good sense of Aiden's perspective as well. There is a very good level of character development for both characters as the story progresses as well.
I recommend this too anyone looking forward to an enjoyable romantic read with loads of tension.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.