4.5 stars
I really, really enjoyed this! It felt so comforting. Think the hating game and beach read had a baby and the spanish love deception is its aunt - literally what else do you need?

Although I can see the ties between the books, I do feel like this one is its own - no one “owns” a trope :) - through the setting and characters.
I was so fond of Rosie, and I really looked up to her as well. For me, workshopping my writing is one of my greatest fears. But Rosie wants it, craves the criticism even, because she knows she is a wonderful writer. Aaron is actually hilarious, especially because I love dry humor.
I wanted to fondly roll my eyes at them, shake them a bit, because to everyone in their workshop class and to me as a reader, it was so obvious their feelings for each other! It made it somewhat humorous and also a wonderful way to relate to the world & feel you are apart of it.
I especially adored the focus on romance as a genre and a worthy one at that. Something that really bothers me is how many MFA programs turn their noses up at romance and fantasy, when they are wonderful genres. I love how Rosie stuck to her guns and fought for herself and the genre. Katie was so right in her descriptions of romance books - they are more than simply romance plots.

I’m not a huge fan of miscommunication tropes, especially because I do think they overreacted. However, the reasoning for why did make sense based on their past. That was really vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything! Additionally, I do feel like there were some loose threads at the end. I would have loved a bit more wrap up. Not gonna include the loose threads because I don’t want to give spoilers away!

Overall, what an amazing debut! Katie is also a fellow bookstagrammer, which I love. I wish her all the success in her future!

FIVE STARS!!

Not in My Book is full of banter and enemies to lovers and NYC icons and justice for romance readers! I adored this slow burn romance sooooo much. I literally couldn't put it down even when I had (lots of) other things I should have been doing (lol whoops).

Also I was gobbling when they were writing this book especially when they were writing at the same time>>>

I loved the plot twists, the humor, and the romance. I can't wait to see what Katie Holt writes next

I absolutely enjoyed every bit of this book! Meeting Rosie and Aiden really was a fascinating experience, as they were so meticulously crafted. The story itself was so good; I enjoyed every bit of it. It's nothing new, to be honest—she's a romantic girlie, and he's a cynic—but how well their personalities fit together! The banter was immaculate; I really laughed out loud after reading some scenes, and I empathized with both points of view, even though I relate more to Rosie.

What added much depth to the story, I feel, was the way Rosie and Aiden wrote their book based on the real-life relationship. This way, we were able to hear Aiden's point of view on some things that happened between him and Rosie, which I'm so grateful for, as it made Aiden more layered and complex. That blending of reality and fiction was absolutely a refreshing new experience for me, and I loved every bit of it. Moreover, when two writers could express whatever they are feeling through words? Please, that immediately sold this book for me! The academic rivals-to-lovers trope was handled so well here as well, so if you're looking for something like that, this book is definitely your choice.

I also want to add that I enjoyed getting to know Peruvian culture through Rosie, as I wasn't really familiar with it. Seeing how Rosie embraced it was absolutely astonishing!

Rosie is a romance writer who tends to romanticize her life and believes in love and grand gestures. At first, I really feared that she would be too much of a romantic; it scared me because it's hard for me to relate to overly romantic characters. However, Rosie turned out to be a perfect example of how to not overly romanticize girls like her. I really loved how well-balanced her character was, how compassionate and understanding she was towards Aiden and his struggles, and how she was feeling so much, but her emotions didn't feel overly dramatic. Her witty humor and relatable struggles make her so real and relatable, and I feel like getting to know Rosie and experiencing that moment of self-discovery with her was absolutely fantastic.

Her relationship with her family is something else that impressed me. She was struggling without seeing them, but she was also trying to build a life for herself and follow her dreams. I feel like it's so relatable for many people in their mid-20s who don't see their family so often. Seriously, this hit so close to home, and I even cried when her family showed up for her because she wasn't able to get to them.

If I had no issues with understanding Rosie, it took some time for me to understand Aiden. It's not that he was a bad character—no way. He was really good and complex, also well-balanced like Rosie, but I feel like at first, when they were not working on their book, it was hard to understand what he was feeling and why he was so mean to Rosie. Then his perspective started to pop up through the chapters that were written by him, and I really started to feel for him. Look, I don't need much—just give me a man who writes these beautiful love confessions, and I'm done for!

As a brooding literary fiction author, he initially presents a contrast to Rosie's romantic personality, and that contrast was so well-executed. Although they are so different, they are also similar in how they pursue life and see their futures, and I feel like that's why they worked well together. To be honest, I really would have wanted to see more of Aiden and his backstory. It was mentioned, of course, and I feel like he got a decent exploration of his past and how it affected his present, but by the end of this book, it somehow didn't feel like enough. Maybe dual POV would've worked better here, I really don't know, but I feel like Aiden still has something to say.

The romance between Rosie and Aiden was definitely the best part of this book. I was kind of scared that they would remind me too much of Gus and January, but Rosie and Aiden's bond felt very different and unique. At first, their relationship is competitive as they challenge each other in class and during their encounters about their book, but it soon becomes much more meaningful. Their chemistry is so present, filled with witty banter and moments where they open up to each other and get to know each other better. With them being poles apart, their chemistry was amazing—one of the most enjoyable I've ever read!

Rosie and Aiden's personalities complement and challenge each other, leading to moments of genuine understanding and growth between them. That growth happened very gradually and not out of nowhere, so my fears were long forgotten. I loved how they started opening up to each other and showing their vulnerabilities, slowly but consistently, even through their chapters. It was magical to watch them grow together and develop such a strong, unbreakable bond.

I really enjoyed this book! Rosie and Aiden were amazing as main characters, combined with a heartfelt story. This book resonated with me, and I would absolutely love to read another book with them as main characters because of how wholesome they both turned out. I also adored that this book once again proved how powerful storytelling is and how two people could get closer by writing a story that hits so close to the heart.

This is one of those books that would have gotten five stars if it weren’t for a few things that bothered me.

Rosie, a romantic at heart, and Aiden, a grumpy literary fiction writer, attend the same writing workshop. They usually criticize each other’s work mercilessly. After a particularly heated debate during class, they are punished by having to write a novel together.

The writing was great and I can’t wait to read more from this author, I devoured this book! It didn’t feel like a debut at all; the characters were lovable and realistic, the enemies to lovers beautifully executed. The chemistry and tension between Rosie and Aiden? Chef’s kiss! I adored the way they opened up to each other and slowly progressed from enemies to friends and then lovers. The fact that it wasn’t always smooth and easy made them more relatable and made me like them and the book even more.

What didn’t work for me was that because the romance they were writing was based on their own, they shared their most private moments with the whole class. They even included their first kiss in the book and read about it out loud for everyone to hear and judge 😭. Rosie also shared those and other details with her bestie, and that’s my pet peeve. I think some things should stay between two people; kiss and tell is cringe enough among teenagers, it’s an absolute no go with adults.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Not in my book was a sweet and funny read and if you love academic rivals to lovers you surely don't want to miss this one, because Rosie and Aiden are rivals who are forced to work together in a college writing workshop. I enjoyed the book but I was not completely obsessed if I need to be honest, even though it was entertaining! If you enjoyed Beach read, you need to give this one a chance. P.S. Rosie is a swiftie!! I loved this.

Comedic, inspiring, sexy and fun! This books had it all! Academic rivals, fake dating, frenemies to lovers, and one hopeless romantic. Rosie Maxwell is a graduate student at NYU trying to make a name for herself as an author. Aiden Huntington, semi-New York socialite that’s stand offish and argumentative is proving himself capable of literary fiction. They’re forced to work in close proximity to one another to co-author a novel for class. Through this, feeling are revealed and tensions rise. Can they write the story without ruining their own?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I expected it to be a sappy romance but I found myself gasping and eating up every word! This is not a closed door romance for all the smut lovers out there! The dynamic between classmates and friendship was beautifully written. However, I will say I’m not a fan of what happened in chapter 28. That is by far my least favorite trope. Cute book, would definitely read again. I truly loved the sweet epilogue!

Thank you NetGalley, Publisher and Author for sending over an arc in exchange for honest review!

ARC provided by Netgalley, thanks!

I really enjoyed this! We follow Aiden and Rosie who are in the same creative writing class and they hate each other. Aiden thinks Rosie is a romance girlie who won’t challenge herself to write ‘more difficult’ genres and Rosie thinks Aiden has a stick up his behind and should take himself way less serious. So of course their mentor decides they should write a book together for their final grade
DID SOMEONE SAY ACADEMIC RIVALS TO LOVERS???

We only follow Rosie’s perspective, but sometimes we gain insight in Aiden’s brain through the paragraphs of the book they’re writing and I really ate that up because the man is a total softie for her.

Also, the epilogue made me want to punch a wall because of how cute it was.

This was such a fun and quick read! The main characters were great and it flowed easily. I read it in two sittings!

Received ARC through NetGalley

I loved this. If I didn’t have to go to work I would easily have read this in one sitting.

The book within a book element was great. The tropes (enemies to lovers, slow burn, fake dating briefly) were executed so well.

A really enjoyable, quick read.

This wonderful, slightly steamy, well-written romance had everything a great story needs in my opinion: a great storyline, great characters - not all of them were always very lovable, but they all felt like real people -, and witty banter. Plus a few really steamy scenes for that little bit of spice so many of us love (I certainly do).

But, it is also more than just a love story. It's also a story about gatekeeping - and how stupid it is -, about life away from home, about complicated family backgrounds and the trauma those can cause, and of course it is also a story about writing as the title suggests.

All the writing. All the romance. All the banter. And a little bit of (pumpkin) spice to round it all up nicely.

The perfect novel for a cosy autumn or winter read (as it mainly plays out over those two seasons).

I absolutely loved it and will certainly keep my eyes open for more books from Katie Holt.

One thing threw me off a bit at the beginning, and that was the use of Spanish words, later on whole phrases and sentences, even a few short conversations. I understand written Spanish fairly well, but the first time I came across 'tia' I was desperately trying to figure out what that abbreviation stands for. It took a while until the penny finally dropped... I wish it would still be thing that authors put footnotes - or if not those then at least an appendix - with translations in their books whenever there are sections in other languages than the book's main one. That once was a thing and I really miss that, it actually makes a lot of sense to have on of those in such cases, in my opinion.

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Transparency disclaimer: Receiving a free ARC version of this book via NetGalley did not influence my review in any way, shape or form.

Everybody sit down, because I am about to absolutely rave about this book!! This was everything a romance should be. The author does a fantastic job throwing us right in the thick of the enemies to lovers. I could feel the tension simmering between Aiden and Rosie's desks!
The story had the perfect amount of side plot to keep the character realistic while also focusing on the budding romance happening right before my eyes. The whole idea that they had to write a book together and then they proceeded to write their relationship!
I loved everything about this book, it physically hurt every time I had to put it down. I love the characters, I love the plot and I am so happy I had this arc! Consider me a Katie Holt fan for the rest of my days!!

I loved the witty banter between these enemies-turned-lovers. As the story unfolds, their relationship evolves beautifully, with a satisfying slow burn that reveals vulnerabilities beneath their rivalry. This growing connection strikes a perfect balance between tension and heartfelt moments, making you truly root for them.

This was really fun! I loved the premise and the scenes where they wrote together were super hot. The love interest is really believable and you can see why they fall for one another. There were a couple of icky bits in the sex though (to do with how he talks), although that's a matter of taste.

I absolutely loved this book! I didn’t think I would however I could not put it down. Will definitely be looking for more books from this author.

Thank you!

4.5/5⭐️

Oh my freaking GOD!! This was so cute! And funny. And HOT! Jesus Christ I’m obsessed with this! Academic rivals to lovers with forced proximity due to being forced to write a book for their class together?? And the book they’re writing is a romance that hints about the other??? SOLD! I swear, it got steamy and I was kicking my feet and giggling like a little girl I LOVED this! I can’t wait to put my staff picks sticker on this at work when it releases!

"The minute I saw you, you had me hooked, and I never wanted you to let go. The entire time we were together all I could think was you were better than any dream, any piece of fiction I could ever write.

Aiden (mmc)
Rosalinda aka Rosie (fmc)

I just came across this book in Netgally and I was so pleasantly surprised with this book. My first book by the author and I just cant wait what she writes next. I hope that in the near future we see secondary characters in this book.

I cant believe this is the authors debut novel?! what?! This book was very well written and I felt transported to NYC . I felt that I was walking along Aiden and Rosie in the NYU streets. I loved the storyline, it felt fresh and I'm a big fan of enemies to lovers. The story had a great build up and it had a good ending. I will highly recommend, I think this is a solid read .

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did! It’s been months since I was so sucked into a contemporary romance the way I was with Not in my Book.

This follows graduate students Rosie and Aiden, two academic rivals who can’t stand each other, and are forced to work together to write a novel for class. They’re polar opposites—she writes romance, and he writes literary fiction—and they have very different ideas of where their story will go. As they work on the book together, their true feelings about each other start to come through their writing, and we get to see their story unfold in both their book and their lives.

The insults these two were hurling each other at the beginning of the book were incredible, but as they became friends they had so many tender moments. This was also surprisingly spicy.

4.5⭐️

(Side note - I initially knew I had to read this because I the FMC was Peruvian! As a Peruvian-American, it was so cool to see bits of Peruvian culture (mostly food) interspersed throughout the book!)

4.5/5

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an Arc in exchange for a review.

This book was really good! I really liked the concept of two enemies having to work on a book for their masters together. It was different and exciting.

Rosie and Aiden are cute together and I'm happy with how their romance played out. I was a little annoyed with Rosie towards the end but it worked out!

The chemistry was off the charts, the story was paced well, and overall, it was a fun read.

I definitely recommend reading this when it comes out in December! don't forget to add it to your TBR.

Rivals to lovers?? One of my absolute fave tropes because the angst is just perfect, and it’s so nice to have two strong leads in a romance book, I adored both Rosie and Aiden 🤎 an amazing debut from Katie Holt.

I absolutely adored this book! An amazing debut by Katie Holt and a perfect rivals to lovers slow burn. Rosie and Aiden are both upcoming authors who’re in the same workshop classes and write the complete opposite genres. They do not like each other at all and cause a lot of commotion by being extremely rude and fighting during their workshops. Their professor is done with their attitudes and only allows them to stay in her class if they co-write a book which include both of their genres. The tension is high, they need to include romance and end up writing a steamy scene (which was HOT) and slowly get to know each other.

I really enjoyed this book, I liked the unique concept of writing the book together and reading ‘a book inside a book’. Definitely add this book to your tbr if you’re looking for a grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, rivals to lovers vibe!