AS MUCH AS I TRIED, THIS JUST WASN'T FOR ME

I really wanted to like this. I wanted to fight Rosie´s battle with her to have romance accepted as a genuine fiction-genre and not just a throw-away. But there were just too many things that bothered me.

What I didn't like

👎 Book in a book: This could have worked, if it wasn't for the fact that I pretty much had to read the same book twice. Aiden Rosie and are writing a book together, and they decide to pretty much just write their own story, often verbatim. It just felt really awkward, and I didn't think it worked.

👎 Predictable: There were no surprises. I had everything mapped out from the beginning.

👎 Ending: The ending felt off and very out of character. It undid a lot of character development, that had been established throughout the story, and it really bothered me.

Aidan and Rosie… or is it Hunter and Max? Two rival budding authors are forced by their professor to work together on a book that melds her love of romance for his lit fic (what I wouldn’t give to have the guy be the romance writer for a change!). Even though it’s only written from Rosie’s perspective, the excerpts from their book are supposed to be Aiden’s chapters, and it’s clear we’re getting a he-falls-first trope too. The chemistry between the two leads when they bicker in class sizzles – I only enjoy enemies-to-lovers when it’s clear at least one of the main pair doesn’t actually loathe the other – though I could see the third-act breakup coming from a mile away. Pretty good for a debut, a bit too derivative of Beach Read to really shine.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the review that I posted on Goodreads:

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for my review. I enjoyed this book as I am a sucker for books about writers and the writing process. I thought the slow burn between Aidan and Rosie was incredibly well done, and I liked the character development, including the cast of friends. And, of course, the setting of Manhattan throughout the year's seasons was magical. However, I had an issue with the book's last third. Without giving away spoilers, I felt like Aidan's response during the conflict didn't quite seem in character with the growth he had made over the book's development.
Moreover, I strongly felt that Ida and Aidan should have been open with Rosie. So, for me, the last 3rd of the book felt weaker than the beginning. However, I still thought it was a delightful, fun, and easy read. I very much enjoyed the slow burn and Enemy to Lovers. And many of the excerpts from the Unnamed book were delightful.

This book HOOKED ME within the first few chapters. I can’t even describe how much I loved this book! Enemies to lovers… forced to cowrite a romance novel… writing about characters that represent themselves… AND THE SPICE!! This one is a must-read!!

This book was so cute! It follows Rosie and Aiden, class rivals, who are forced to work out their differences by writing a joint book together. Rosie loves all things romance and Aiden hates it. They decide to write a manuscript that starts as a romance but doesn’t end in a HEA.

I absolutely adored this book. It did not read at all like a debut novel to me. I am so impressed. The book is from Rosie’s POV but I loved that we get to see Aiden’s thoughts through the book they are writing together. Their chemistry was so good and I was eagerly awaiting them to get together. There were also so many references to Taylor Swift so my swiftie heart was happy. Highly recommend!

-3.5 stars-

Not In My Book is cute, a little bit unrealistic, but all together a good quick read for the winter months.
With the two main characters (Aiden and Rosie) both aspiring authors in the same college writing course, their early relationships is full of criticism, full-on arguments, and rivalry.
I have to say, i think i ended up enjoying their prickly banter earlier in the book more than their love confessions later. Even when their insults were a little immature, i found myself giggling a few times, and smiling a few more.
I also liked the setting itself, and the friendships between Rosie and some of their other classmates.
However, i did have one overarching problem with this book.
As both a hopeless romantic and an aspiring writer, i kept having very conflicting feelings about the novel Aiden and Rosie were writing together.
On one hand, how they wrote their own feelings into their characters was adorable, and i liked how each chapter had an excerpt of their book.
However…my writer brain could not get past the fact that the book they were writing was basically non-fiction. It might sound crazy, but how the premise for the characters was self-inserts (which every writer does now and then, but come on. These were almost carbon copies) irritated me. Honestly, i think i would have preferred the main characters continuing to write completely different genres separately, and become involved with each other in a different way.

Romance can easily devolve into just the tropes. The need for a happily ever after, the need for a conflict, which is almost always some form of miscommunication.

However, this romance is interesting as it is written as two writers writing what may end up being a romance, but is not the style of one of them.

They are graduate students and the way they wrote together was quite fun and very steamy for a few scenes.

Overall, a cute and fun romance that is great for lovers of romance and the idea of writing it.

Thank you to Alcove Press and Net Galley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Enemies to Lovers is becoming one of my favorite romantic troupes and Not in my Book fits into this perfectly.

Rosie Maxwell and Aiden Huntington have been sworn enemies since their first fiction writing workshop last semester. She’s feisty and optimistic, a romance writer who believes in Happily Ever After. He’s grumpy, surly and obnoxious, a literary fiction writer who despises romance novels. After one too many sparring sessions in their workshop, their professor Ida comes up with the perfect solution: they must write a romance novel together…but it can’t have a happy ending. After balking initially, they both accept and put aside their differences for the sake of the novel. As they begin to work together, it allows them to share their true feelings about each other…and their attraction.

I liked that this novel, despite it having two very different personalities, stayed solely in Rosie’s perspective. It felt refreshing with the current trend of alternating POVs. I thought there was a great level of tension between the two characters and loved some of the situations they were put in. The spice level was perfect, especially surrounding a specific scene in their novel! I also love the interactions with Rosie’s family. They’re a fun bunch.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story of two opposites putting aside their differences for the sake of their writing. It builds to a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that had me hooked from start to finish. Rosie and Aiden's chemistry is electric, and their banter is both witty and heartfelt. The story's slow burn is perfectly paced, making their eventual connection all the more satisfying. I especially appreciated the intimate scenes, which were handled with sensitivity and realism, addressing issues that many women face during intimacy. Aiden's commitment to ensuring Rosie's pleasure is both refreshing and empowering. This book is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance who appreciate well-developed characters and a story that balances humor, heart, and heat.

*Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

There were a lot of elements of this book that I enjoyed - cowriting a book, New York in the winter, enemies to lovers. Getting to read the chapters of the book, both in excerpts in chapter headings and as whole chapters, was awesome! I liked Rosie and Aiden separately and together, though the third act conflict irked me. Maybe it was miscommunication, maybe it was just immaturity on the characters' parts, I don't know. Honestly I was more invested in the star-crossed lovers of the burrito and taco truck owners.

I do think that this was a nice debut, I just wanted a bit more focus on Rosie and Aiden rather than their fictional self-inserts.

This is lighthearted romance that brings a bit of charm to the workplace romance genre. The characters are likable, and the storyline is engaging, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The chemistry between the protagonists is enjoyable, but there are moments when the pacing feels uneven, which affects the flow of the story.

While there are several funny and heartwarming scenes, some of the plot points feel predictable, and the character development could have been deeper. Despite these minor issues, Its still enjoyable read for anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a few laughs along the way.

Rating: 3/5

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Not in My Book by Katie Holt

Rosie and Aiden are academic rivals in an NYU writing class they both take. Rosie writes romance and loves HEA’s, while Aiden tends to favor literary fiction with realistic and sad outcomes. They each spend their classroom feedback time directly insulting each other which leads to their professor assigning them some special homework — writing a novel together.

I loved this enemies-to-lovers romance and honestly probably would’ve loved it even more if I hadn’t just read The Hating Game prior. There’s a lot of similar plays here. The banter was on point and I loved each of the main characters’ back stories. Full of depth, heartache, and tension, I loved the element of a book within a book.

This is a great romance to pick up during your Christmas reading too, especially if you prefer less “cheesy” stories that we often get in holiday romances. Since it’s set in NYC, and there’s a pretty significant portion dedicated around Christmas time, it made it extra romantic in my opinion.

Read if you enjoy:
-The Hating Game
-grumpy/sunshine
-NYC setting
-a book within a book
-angst & tension
-Peruvian American heritage rep

My only wish is that I wish we had also gotten Aiden’s POV!

Thank you to Alcove and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader. This one is out DEC 10th! All thoughts are my own.

4-4.5 stars

I adored this! Much of it set in snowy New York City, perfect to read during the holiday season. The main characters are grad students, who begin as rivals in a writing workshop. Knowing where it’s heading didn’t stop me from feeling all the giddy butterflies packed into this delicious slow burn love story. I enjoyed the dual POV format, mixed with excerpts from the book the characters are writing. And I always appreciate when a novel defends the romance genre as part of its plot.

I will definitely be looking to read Katie Holt’s next release!

4.25 stars
"People say there’s a thin line between love and hate, and you know what? They’re right."

This was a true rivals-to-lovers slow-burn for romance lovers everywhere! This is a romance novel-inception.

Plot: Rosie loves romance stories, Aiden does not (he prefers literary fiction). The two meet weekly during their college writing workshop and battle it out through insults, bickering, and glares. Rosie really doesn't know why he hates her so much, other than he hates the romance genre.

When the insults and bickering become too much for the workshop, their professor forces them to co-author a novel that pulls both their genres together for their final project. Thus, Maxine and Hunter are born. As Rosie & Aiden get to know each other, in the real world and through writing Maxine & Hunter's story, the tension builds and their walls begin to lower. Maybe romance isn't out of the cards for these two rivals. Maybe there really is a fine line between love and hate.

I really enjoyed this romance. I loved how the author did not go over the top with their interactions, made the slow burn really feel like a true slow burn, and developed their relationship over months and not just a few weeks. Both characters were well developed and had flaws that were relatable. I think that having the mix between the actual story of Rosie and Aiden and them writing Maxine & Hunter's story was refreshing and helped moved the story along nicely.
Oh, and we can't forget the side characters. Jess, Tyler, and Logan are classmates and Rosie's best friends. They're not only comic relief and advice givers, but they were fun to read. I wouldn't mind reading their stories in another book.

If you enjoy rivals to lovers, slow burn, romance novels, a grumpy-ish MMC and a sunshine FMC, with a HEA...then this is definitely a book to add to your TBR.

Tropes:
📗Academic Rivals-to-Lovers
📝Slow-Burn
📗Forced Proximity
📝One-Bed
📗He falls first (&hard)
📝Pining/Yearning

Quotes I love:
"The truth was I liked her no matter what she did, no matter what she said"

“I know you prefer what’s in your books, 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’ll wait for you, Rosie. I swear it. I’m in it for the long haul. I want all your tomorrows. Every single one you’re willing to give me."

“I’m not yours anymore.”
“Fine. If you’re not mine, then know that I’m yours.”

“There hasn’t been a second where I wasn’t wondering what you were thinking and if it was of me.”

"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 light and dark, in romance and lit fic. In this lifetime and the next.”

**I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

For a debut, I was impressed! This book was well-written and extremely meta which made for a fun ride.

Rosie was a great character to follow around for 350 pages. She was headstrong and confident, but still made enough mistakes or snap judgements to make her relatable. I loved going on this journey with her as she discovered more about her writing and about Aiden, the man she loathed. I honestly liked Rosie better than Aiden. And I think that's mainly because I couldn't quite nail him down. He was snarky and grumpy (which I loved and was easy enough to pin down), and then all of a sudden, he's nice and soft but without much explanation. I understand he's nice and soft for her only, but it felt abrupt. I still wanted to see him be mean to others.

There were a lot of scenes I wanted to be longer. I wanted Rosie and Aiden to keep talking, or I wanted more of an explanation of what they were doing. Time to sit with them and just hear them talk. It wasn't a complete game-changer or star tanking thing that these scenes were a bit short, but I'd hoped for more.

The ending kinda had some holes in it. Spoiler alert: Rosie doesn't win the money she desperately needs to continue with school and living in NYC. But when her and Aiden get back together, it's never discussed what she's gonna do. I'm glad she got the guy, but like, she's still poor. And I would have loved to have heard more about Aiden's future career path. It seemed like she was a prolific writer, but didn't really have an income. It just would have been nice to know this couple wasn't on the verge of living on the streets.

Overall, I enjoyed this one! Not my number one read of the year, but one I liked for sure. Plus, as a New Yorker, I can't resist a book that's essentially a love letter to NYC.

Really enjoyed this book! Aiden and Rosie have excellent banter and chemistry that jumps off the page right at the reader. It's a great rivals to lovers story with excellent plot and character development. The pacing seemed a little off in some points but overall it was great! The writing was fun and done well! I will definitely be checking out more of this author's work in the future :)

Love love love love LOVED this book. As someone who writes a lot with their partner, so much of this book struck home. The level of spice was perfect, the dialogue was wonderful, and the pacing was just right. There were a few moments I wished things would move a little quicker, but that was just because I wanted to see everything come together.

I’m not typically an enemies/rivals to lovers trope person, but this book might have won me over. Definitely plan to share this with EVERYONE once it releases!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an e-ARC of Not in My Book, available later this winter.

In the competitive world of writing workshops, Rosie Maxwell and Aiden Huntington are infamous for their fiery arguments and mutual disdain for each other's work. When their fed-up professor forces them to co-write a novel, both are horrified. As they clash over plotlines and characters, tensions mount. What begins as a battle of egos soon forces them to confront their assumptions about each other. As they begin to see past the rivalry, unexpected feelings emerge—until a career-defining opportunity reignites their old animosity. Is there still a chance at happily ever after?

I thought this was a fun debut with a mix of romance tropes, so there’s something for everyone. While I found the banter between Rosie and Aiden a bit over the top—especially for two twenty-somethings in a professional setting—I did enjoy the playful dynamic between their bookish characters. It never felt mean-spirited. I also liked the inclusion of annotations from the novel they were writing together; it added a nice touch. That said, it was a bit frustrating how many of their real-life interactions ended up mirrored in the book, scene by scene. Lastly, their ending was cute but it's hard to believe that one of the characters, especially given their competitive nature, would just try to bow out of the opportunity.

It's a little ridiculous that in the end I didn't want them to end up together even though the whole point of romance and of this book specifically is the HEA

A fantastic premise: writers who can't stand each other forced to write together. Vivid main characters who grow on you by the page. A plot that just keeps giving... I just found the start a little flat (or maybe overdone?) and as I mentioned the end wasn't particularly satisfying.

Rosie and Aiden are perfect for each other, and while you can roll your eyes at their antics you end up rooting for them pretty much from the get go. They're so different, with different goals in mind and entirely different back stories holding them back and propelling them forward also. I just wish we'd gotten the chance to get to know them individually (especially Aiden, a few POV chapters wouldn't have gone amiss) rather than always in relation to each other. The same goes for the side characters, they only exist to push them together.

Overall a fun slow burn read, with excellent spicy scenes. A strong debut, I'm curious to see what the author does next!

✨ 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ✨ of 𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝙼𝚢 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 by Katie Holt (@readinromance)

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Easy 5 ⭐️
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 12.10.24 🗓️

I’m about to be insufferable about this book!!! The dopamine I got when reading this!!!

“𝙿𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝? 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝.”

When two academic rivals get a little too heated with each other in their NYU writing workshop, their professor forces them to co-write a novel together that blends together their two genres. The issue? Rosie Maxwell writes ROMANCE, and pretentious Aiden Huntington doesn’t respect the genre whatsoever. But as they start their book, reality and fiction start to blur as they start to write themselves into their characters and walls begin to crumble down.

I. Loved. This. So. Much. I don’t think I could overstate that enough. I could not put this down from the very first chapter, it was AMAZING. It gave me the same feels of Beach Read by EmHen and Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood, but this plot was SO unique and FUN and STEAMY omg the chemistry & tension between Rosie and Aiden was absolute perfection. Their banter was so incredible and the way the slow burn unraveled had me kicking my feet and giggling. This is Katie Holt’s debut novel and I. Am. IN LOVE.

Thank you @netgalley + @alcovepress for the ARC 💗