
Member Reviews

Thank you Alcove Press for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: enemies to lovers, books about books
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Rosie and Aiden are in the same writing seminar at NYU and they often fight in class. When their professor makes them co-write a book together, they start to spend more time with each other and start to realize they actually might like each other.
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This book was amazing. It is the perfect enemies to lovers trope and I loved reading about the two characters writing a book together. I loved the tension and the build-up to the romance, and I just wanted to keep reading. A fantastic debut novel!

Not in My Book by Katie Holt is a delightful romantic comedy that had me rooting for the main characters to fully embrace their undeniable chemistry right from the first page.
This romance only becomes more enjoyable as the story unfolds. Initially, I was curious about how the plot would develop, but as I dove deeper into the chapters, I found myself so invested in Aiden and Rosie's journey that I raced through the pages, quickly realizing I was enjoying the book far more than I had anticipated.
I particularly loved how the story the characters were crafting mirrored their own realities in several ways. Not only were they writing about each other, but they were also weaving their personal experiences into their characters. The unfolding love story reflected their relationship beautifully, complete with familiar tropes like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and slow-burn romance. This added a humorous layer as they discussed these tropes within their narrative, all while playfully ignoring the fact that they were living them out in real life. The self-aware tone of the writing broke the fourth wall in a way that heightened my excitement about these themes.
Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Aiden and Rosie captured my heart, and their romance kept me emotionally engaged throughout. If I had one small critique, it would be that some snippets of their story felt a bit repetitive, especially when they echoed Aiden and Rosie’s conversations almost verbatim. However, this minor detail didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to explore more works by this talented author.

Rivals to lovers PERFECTION. I adored the dynamic between our two main characters and how it evolved over the course of the story. Their rivalry and butting of heads during class and in their work sessions slowly transitioned into one of the best romances I've read in a while.
As a former creative writing student, I know what it's like to just absolutely clash with a classmate and their writing style - this had me wishing I was Rosie every second because then maybe I'd end up with an Aiden all for myself.
Well done, Katie Holt!

An enemies to lovers romance the story of Rosie and Aiden. They end up being forced to write together and then getting to know each other. i liked how the story was told from both points of view but also through the manuscript they were writing together.

This story follows a young woman attending NYU wanting to become a writer but she ends up partnered with her arch-nemesis. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great, fun read that is perfect for the romance readers. I loved the NYC setting and the Peruvian-Tennessee culture mix. The storyline was wonderful and I don’t think there was one point in this book where I was bored. I was instantly hooked into the story especially with how real it felt. This book is only told from Rosie’s pov.
Rosie is the FMC of the story who can’t afford to be at NYU and is looking to make needs met. I really enjoyed her character and seeing her grow not only with her writing but also with herself. She’s someone I can relate to which I loved. Then we have Aiden who is the MMC of the book and crtiques everything Rosie does with her writing. Once I knew more about him, I just loved his character. He’s protective and so caring. There are many other side characters and I have to say that they were the perfect amount involved with the book. The romance is enemies to lovers and forced proxmity. The tension and chemistry is there which was so well done which you can tell the author is a romance reader.
The ending was great and the epilogue was so cute. I really enjoyed the book and it’s one of my favorite reads of this year. So well written and there is nothing I would change about it. It’s perfect for those who love The Hating Game but want a college romance story.
*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give a review in return*

Not in My Book by Katie Holt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|🌶🌶.5
I absolutely loved the premise! Both Rosie and Aiden are both hopeful writers taking the same writing workshops at NYU.. and they absolutely hate each other’s guts. For vastly different reasons, of course. Rosie loves romance and Aiden detests it. When they are forced to work on writing a romance novel together in their workshop, sparks and feelings fly out of control. What starts out as an initial jab at their own relationship, their novel is basically writing their own romance in real time. Both Rosie and Aiden have forms of trauma and issues with communication that they are working through which causes moments of tension, misunderstandings, and arguments that may be difficult for them to get past.
I absolutely loved that each chapter ended with snippets of the novel that they were writing and made underlying feelings known, progressing the plot of both novels and foreshadowing the tension. Overall, I loved it! The description of “The Hating Game meets Beach Read” is perfect and it makes sense because I loved both of those books as well!

Truly one of the most unique romance books I have read in quite some time. From the very beginning you are hooked on a true rival/enemy dynamic between Aiden and Rosie but watching their relationship transform as the story progressed was so special.
Katie Holt does such a fantastic job building personalities and mannerisms of all of the characters so it is really easy to envision interactions and dialogue.
Without spoiling much, I will say the FMC and MMC working together was such a beautiful catalyst for tearing down the emotional walls they both had built and oh man did it make for some amazing spice!! There is one chapter in particular that I don’t think I will ever stop thinking about….
By the end of the book I did still struggle to understand why the characters were true rivals in the beginning of the story and that is the only reason this was not a 5 star read for me!
Overall, highly recommend especially if you love books about books! Also this book does take place during Christmas time for a portion of it so it was the perfect book to read during the holiday season!

At NYU, rival writers Rosie and Aiden are forced to co-write a novel, blending their opposing genres. Their collaboration sparks an unexpected attraction, but professional competition threatens their burgeoning relationship.
This well-written book is rivals-to-lovers, not enemies to lovers. It’s entertaining, but ultimately, the deception and disrespect was too much for me. DNF ~85%. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

5⭐️ Katie Holt we need more books asap.
Rosie moved to New York City, in hopes of chasing her dreams of becoming a romance writer. The biggest obstacle Rosie faces is her nemesis Aiden, who she regularly argues with during her writers class. Rosie and Aiden are forced to team up in order to stay in their class, and while working together, they find out they may not hate each other as much as they think they do.
If you are a romance reader, this book is a must read. I could not get this book finished fast enough because I had to know what was next in Rosie and Aiden‘s story. It definitely gave me betrayed vibes with having both authors, be writers, but it’s so different from be treated that I know anyone who loves romance will love this book.
This was an advanced read copy I received through Netgalley so it’s not going to be officially published until December 10, 2024! But this is my honest review!
Add this book to your to read list, I promise you won’t regret it! & then let me know what you thought!
#books #bookstagram #booktok #bookrating #library #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecs#bookcommunity #booklovers #booksofinstagram #bookish #fivestarbooks #romancebook #kindlebooks
#kindleunlimited

This book was so good! It had me kicking my feet, giggling, swooning, and blushing. It felt like a mix of Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry, and I absolutely adored it! If academic rivals who can’t stand each other, but are forced to write a book together sounds like something you’d enjoy, this is the one for you. Rosie and Aiden can’t say what they want to say to each other, so they communicate through their characters. The tension, chemistry, banter, and verbal sparring were all top tier. Rosie is feisty and lovable. I adore how passionate she is about writing romance. And Aiden was everything you could ever want in a book boyfriend. He’s grumpy, overprotective, damaged, a little nerdy, and has a filthy mouth. I loved the “story within a story” aspect of the book, and would totally read the romance book Aiden and Rosie co-wrote. I was lucky enough to receive an ALC, and Frankie Corzo did such a good job with it! Her Southern accent and Spanish pronunciations brought Rosie to life, and it was a pleasure to listen to. I loved everything about this book and highly recommend it!
✍🏻
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✍🏻
Read if you like:
▫️sassy Peruvian heroine
▫️rivals to friends to lovers
▫️they’re in writing classes together
▫️they hate each other
▫️fighting as flirting
▫️forced proximity
▫️slow burn
▫️opposites attract
▫️grumpy x sunshine
✍🏻
Thank you to Alcove Press, RB Media, Katie Holt, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely adored this book! Rivals to lovers, forced proximity, the tension… it was all so good! I found both main characters to be grounded in reality while still making it fun and sweet. The spice was great and there is one particular scene that will live rent free in my mind for a long time. I loved that New York was such a big part of the story as well. Overall, this was a fantastic debut novel and I can’t wait to see what Katie Holt writes next!

Publication: December 10th, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved this book!
"Not In My Book" is a heartwarming novel that blends romance and literary fiction. Rosie, a passionate Peruvian-American aspiring writer, moves from Tennessee to New York to pursue her dreams. Her plans are disrupted when she must co-write a novel with Aiden Huntington.
The dynamic between Rosie and Aiden is electric, filled with witty banter and tension. Their collaboration becomes a metaphor for their evolving relationship—challenging yet rewarding. Rosie's cultural background enriches her character and adds depth to her journey. I love their relationship throughout the whole book
As Rosie and Aiden transition from arch-nemesis and ex-crush to lovers, themes of forgiveness, vulnerability, and dreams are explored. I enjoyed the writing style and setup of the book. I also really enjoyed the side characters and the friends they each had throughout the story.
Thank You Netgalley and Alcove Press
The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was everythinggg. Let me start off by saying I'm not of those "simultaneously giggling/kicking your feet while reading" type girls, but that was me with this book. It had me in a chokehold and I was crying by the half way point. The character depth and development, the emotions they felt, the whole storyline of this book... It was all just so perfectly written. 🥰 The main characters hate each other, constantly hurling insults over each other's work, to the point that their professor says they either need to drop her class or learn to appreciate each other's different writing styles by blending them and co-writing a book together. As they begin writing they create book characters who also hate each other, as a way to continue getting their anger and frustration out towards each other. But as they are spending time together writing and getting to know each other, while their book characters are progressing and slowly changing from enemies to lovers, they notice the real life dynamic between them starts changing too. This is the enemies to lovers book that every book lover needs to read!! 🩷📚
Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of Not in My Book, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely everything and I will be shouting about it from the rooftops.
I will be honest, I generally shy away from single point of view books because I like to have both sides of the relationship. However, I really enjoyed how the book played out with the chapters of the book being written intertwined with the chapters.
It was sweet and spicy. I loved the peeks into her culture.

"I didn't want my heart ripped out of my chest again. I couldn't give my everything to someone who didn't want it."
Rosie and Aiden, Maxine and Hunter. Where's the line between real and fiction here? This enemies-to-lovers story leaps off the pages in more ways than one.
Between their bickering, this duo has a real talent for writing a love story, picking and choosing parts of their lives to vulnerably share, and writing in details they couldn't include in person.
"Not in My Book" by Katie Holt really pulled me in with its dynamic supporting characters and subplots. I was so here for the Rosie Posie Christmas—and the exciting news we got!
My only gripe was that the big romantic gesture didn't feel big enough, especially since it was easy to see where this was going. Still! It had fantastic banter, an overthinking main character who loved passionately—and I could relate to a little too well—and emotional growth that I always love to see.
...maybe not quite for Logan, but he'll get there I'm sure.

This book was so good! I really felt for each of the character through their ups and downs. The Rivals to lovers, the slow burn, the angst, the tension I was all here for it. How their relationship started to deepen and the sweetness that crept in. I squeeled so much when they first kissed! And you get to see the book they write together as well. The characters felt really fleshed out as well!
Rosie's relationship with others too was amazing. This author did a really great job at secondary relationships and I loved both her friends and family.
I'll go more in depth in another review on my insta!

*Thank you to the publisher, Alcove Press, for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*
Heartwarming.
I thought this book was amazing. I could write about everything I loved about this book, but it would take all day. I cherished the characters and the storyline. Hearing that this book was about writing made me realize that I had to read it. I adore books about books. Romance is something I love. A part of me wishes I could go back and read the book again. I have no doubt that I will read this book again. As I read <b> Not In My Book</b>, I felt I was right there with Rosie and Aiden because of how well their emotions were expressed and how vividly I could understand them. A lot was going on, and because the descriptions were so detailed, I could visualize it all; I was drawn into the story. Not In My Book is a story you will continue discussing with your friends long after you turn the last page.
I've read many romances and a few book-related books throughout the years. However, I have never read a book with such a powerful influence on me. I still can't get the book off my head. It had inspired me to get back to writing. I loved Rosie's strength, even though I knew she didn't believe it. She was always determined to achieve her goals, and I admired how she never gave up on her writing despite her obstacles. Aiden, I wasn't convinced he'd be the character I wanted. I despised the way he treated her, and it appeared that he was the harshest on her of anyone. I believed there was a reason for it, but that did not mean I had to enjoy it. As the story progressed, so did my impression of Aidan. I was interested in how their collaborative writing might help them bond.
I loved Rosie and Aiden's character growth; they were both well-written. I have always enjoyed reading enemies-to-lovers stories, and this was one of the best I've read. I like how we got a sneak peek at Rosie and Aiden's story and saw how their characters matured. Katie Holt's debut novel, Not In My Book, was engaging! I am excited to see what she has in store for us next.

This is the true definition of the rivals-to-lovers trope, and I loved it—even though I was aggravated half the time, haha. Rosie and Aiden really know how to go for each other’s throats when it comes to their writing, so when they’re forced to collaborate, things seriously heat up. And let me tell you, reading about them writing a spicy scene together? That is now my new fantasy. It was H-O-T 🥵. The third-act breakup was super frustrating because it was classic non-communication (ugh, what else is new), but despite that, I still really enjoyed it. Rosie and Aiden’s banter was just top-tier—their sharp barbs at first, and then their funny, teasing moments as they started to really know each other. Also, they’ve officially made me want to spend Christmas Eve in NYC because, honestly, who wouldn’t want to run around the city doing all the Christmassy things??

This was such a light and refreshing romcom! It was so quick and enjoyable. I’m a sucker for rivals to lovers, and forced proximity relationships.
The tension was delicious and since both FMC and MMC are writers forced to write a romance together, the sexual tension….is THERE.
This almost felt like a fun nostalgic 90’s romcom...and your girl was here for it.
I really enjoyed the audiobook. I listened to this last weekend while batching content and the audio had me distracted from my tasks because I was so invested in the story.
I laughed, was frustrated when the characters were, and kicked my feet when THE moment finally happened.
If you love:
💕90’s romcom vibes
🙅🏻♀️Rivals to Lovers
🔥Slow Burn
🫂Forced Proximity
🤺Verbal Sparring
😠Surly anti-love MMC
🦋T-Swift romance obsessed FMC
📚Books about books
Read this book!
I would even consider this a semi holiday book since it does have a nice Christmas moment. So if you want to dip your toes into the holiday spirit but don’t want to go full force Christmas tree farm – this is a great one and can be read all year round.
#romcom #bookreview #rivalstolovers #forcedproximity #slowburn #bookreview #bookrecommendations #reader #readmorebooks #advancedreaderscopy #alc #arc #netgalley #notinmybook #katieholt

Thank you Katie Holt and Alcove press for an ARC copy of Not in My Book!
Rating 4/5
Spice 3/5
This was such a fun holiday-adjacent romance book that featured all the best tropes!
-Academic Rivals to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Slow Burn
-I Hate Him, Why Is He So Hot
We follow our main characters as they are forced to work together on a novel to avoid being kicked out of their college class, which is only in jeopardy due to their incessant fighting in class. While their bickering can be a bit over done at times, the flip to romance was swoon worthy and SO worth it! My only complaint, if you could call it such, would be how rushed the ending felt. Outside of that, this was a great well rounded romance.