this was cute and had a lot of potential to be amazing, but unfortunately it fell a little flat. i really liked the plot and how their love story was told through themselves and their characters in their book. i’d definitely read more from this author

This book was such a great read. I love a good enemies to lovers trope and Katie Holt did a great job keeping the banter throughout the book. I think the epilogue started with Rosalinda wanting to strangle Aiden and I loved it. It was a super enjoyable read that I finished in 2 days! I'm actually obsessed with Aiden. A hot, mysterious writer? Count me in!

Absolutely adored this book! Thank you to Net Galley for the early access in exchange for a review.

Rosie is totally drawn to Aiden when she first sees him but later when they learn they have the same writing class he snubs her because she is a romance author. It then turns to an enemies vibe when Rosie feels that Aiden critiques her writing way harder than the rest of her peers. After having had enough of their bickering, their teacher attempts to remove them from class unless they can complete a project together and get along.

As they work together to write a fiction novel they grow to frenemies and start to fall for each other and pour their feelings into the book they’re writing. I was hooked on this book and was up until 2am TRYING to finish it but with 12 minutes left in the book I couldn’t stay up and had to finish in the morning and honestly I’m glad I waiting to be fully awake because the ending was *chefs kiss*!! I’m looking forward to reading my more of Katie’s books!

4.5 stars rounded up. This is a gorgeously written debut by Katie Holt. The interspersing of passages from the novel Rosie and Aiden were writing was a very clever storytelling technique, particularly in revealing Aiden’s thoughts and feelings, since it was a single POV book.

I would say Aiden was 90% an amazing book boyfriend. Some of the things he did for Rosie were truly swoon-worthy. I loved the Christmas in New York scenes. And my heart broke for him when he finally started opening up about his childhood.

However, there were occasionally times where it was hard to understand his behavior, particularly *spoilerish alert* in the final conflict. Though the author tried to explain it, I found it harder to forgive than Rosie did, especially when she apologized to him and I felt she actually didn’t do anything wrong.

But overall this was such a unique and well-written book, and I really enjoyed it! I recommend picking it up when it comes out in December!

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First off, I cannot believe this was a debut book! When I mid-reading, I went to see if the author had other books because I loved this one so much already, and was surprised to see it was her debut. The plot was unique, and I loved the idea of the love story within a love story. This book had me actually laugh out loud, and kicking my feet all giddy at times with how sweet and cute the romance was. I thought the characters were fun and well written, and the dialogue felt so natural, even with the written text messages between characters. I am already looking forward to the next story from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This was such a great premise. I loved the book within a book. In fact, dare I say I liked Max and Hunter way more than Rosie and Aidan. Rosie really got on my nerves toward the end of the story, which is probably the only reason this doesn't get 5 stars. Loved the dual POV, which doesn't always work but definitely did here. Loved the friends! They were really funny and added so much to the story. Loved Ronny Jr (haha) and Aidan's exasperation with Rosie's building. This was so much better than I was expecting. Absolutely recommending this one.

Was ready for a cute rom com but what I got was angst and I’m not mad about it! 😅 I really can’t believe it was a debut novel! Well written! This was a quick and easy read for me! 4 stars! Be sure to grab this one in December 😍

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Not in My Book was a truly captivating read. The interplay and character development between Rosie and Aidan had me both laughing and crying. While I felt that the side characters and their relationships could have been explored in greater depth, Rosie's parents were particularly endearing.

Aidan occasionally frustrated me with his emotional immaturity, though his character did show significant growth throughout the story. Initially, I was concerned that Rosie's portrayal might reflect negatively on the broader romance book community, but as her story progressed, she became a relatable and multidimensional character.

I’m rating this book 4.5 stars. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I believe there was room for additional elements to enhance the overall narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing this excellent ARC!

Enjoyable romance story. Some of the banter between the characters became too much at times. The things they said too each other seemed unnecessarily harsh and I feel like might be hard to come back from to repair the relationship. But overall the development moved smoothly.

Not in my Book was so good. The banter and development in Rosie and Aidan's story had me sobbing and laughing. The side characters and their relationships could have been more in-depth, but Rosie's parents were the cutest.

Aiden sometimes frustrated me, though, as he was in the emotional range of a toddler, but his character was well-developed throughout the story. Initially, I also had reservations about how Rosie was displayed, as it made the rest of us in the romance book community seem like Rosie. However, as her story went on, you connected with her, and she felt like more than just a character in a book.

I rate this book 4.5 cause although I liked it, something needed to be added to the story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for this excellent ARC!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Not in My Book by Katie Holt is an enjoyable romcom that shines with its character development and witty banter. Rosie’s journey is at the heart of the story her move to New York City to pursue her dreams is full of ups and downs, and her determination through all the challenges makes her incredibly relatable.

The chemistry between Rosie and Aiden is electric, starting off as pure animosity and gradually building into something deeper. Their banter is sharp and entertaining, and the tension between them crackles from the very beginning.

The writing flows smoothly, with a great balance between humour, heartfelt moments, and tension.

The pacing is spot-on, allowing Rosie and Aiden’s relationship to develop naturally while also weaving in their creative process as they co-write a novel.

Overall, it’s a charming and well-crafted read that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

This was a good romance book following two writers who write in different genres and are forced to write one book together as part of their writing workshop. The romance was enemies to lovers and i liked the romance book within a romance book idea but it was getting confusing to follow since the characters in their co-written book were so similar to the MCs, i wasn't able to distinguish them. The writing was simple and easy and readable so very approachable. I would still look forward to more books by the author.

Romance isn't my jam, particularly contemporary romance, but I do like to read outside my comfort zone at times.

"Not in my Book" is quite meta, in that the protagonist, Rosie, is an aspiring romance novelist, who loves the genre, she is attending a creative writing class in New York. Also attending the class is Aiden Huntington, with a strong jawline, green eyes and perfectly combed hair that looked incredibly soft, who writes literary fiction and is contemptuous of romantic fiction.

"It's a contemporary romance, right?
Right.
So how much tension could there really be? We live in an age of instant gratification. The only tension nowadays is whether your thumb will swipe left or right."

The hostile banter between the two disrupts the class and causes, their professor to hit upon the idea of getting the two rivals to work on a book together. Through the characters in their book, Hunter and Max, the two writers can express their feelings for each other, which change from antagonism to a blossoming romance. Their professor also suggests for homework that the two writers go on a "fake" date as Max and Hunter to inform their writing better. "Just focus on not killing each other so we can hear all about it next class."

Rosie is a Peruvian-American from small-town Tennessee, struggling to survive in NYC. Aiden is "hot" almost a foot taller than her, the typical unrealistic male of romance novels. Rosie is struggling to control her feelings for him "I got a whiff of his cologne somehow warm and sharp. I pretended I didn't love it." and later "I wondered how his lips would feel on mine. I hated how he made my mind stray from anger to lust so quickly." Both characters have a stubborn streak, after all if the enemies became lovers too soon no-one would care and we are invested in the two central characters. I feel the secondary characters like the classmates and Rosie's family could have been better developed.

I enjoyed the exploration of the genre through the characters, I wasn't sure at first how I would feel about a romance writer writing about a romance writer. Jess, one of the classmates remarks that Rosie and Aiden's relationship is a "lot like a romance novel", which Rosie vehemently denies. This is a slow burn, forced proximity rivals to lovers novel. This is not a closed-door romance and there are a couple of steamy scenes.

New York is a suitably romantic setting for the novel, many famous rom-coms have been filmed there. I found the story entertaining and I didn't have to suspend my disbelief as much as I'd been expecting. I did find there to be a lot of eye rolling by various characters.

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

My rating 4.5 rounded up to 5

4⭐️.

I really enjoyed the premise and delivery of this book. The development and growth of the twos relationship is told thru the book they are writing together. I thought this was really smart as it did a great job conveying that they had a difficult time caring openly vulnerable but thru the chapters that they could be be brave and express their feelings.

I will be keeping an eye out for other books by this author and would be willing to read from them again.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

Katie Holt's "Not In My Book" is a sweet and witty enemies to lovers rom com. Rosie writes romances and Aiden thinks they are unrealistic and prefers to write heart crushing endings. They aren't shy about telling everyone in their creative writing class what they think about the others writing, but what happens when they are forced to write a “love story” together? Rosie and Aiden use the characters in their book to say all the things they struggle to express to each other in real life. Through their collaboration they develop a friendship that both seem to desperately need. They are caring and funny even when fighting. Katie Holt has created characters who the reader will care about and root for.
How will their story and their relationship end… Rosie's happily ever after or Aiden's tragedy?

I cannot describe how much I loved this book, I'm not sure words will do it justice. It was too cute, and fun, and I can't wait to re-listen to an audiobook! The banter, the story we got to read. I cried, and I giggled, and it was just so fun!

*Not in My Book* by Katie Holt is a delightful and witty debut that will appeal to fans of enemies-to-lovers romances and anyone who loves a good story about writers finding their way—both in literature and love. The novel brings together Rosie, a hopeful romance writer, and Aiden, a brooding literary fiction author, in a clash of genres and personalities that is as hilarious as it is heartfelt.

Rosie is a passionate Peruvian American who’s left her small Tennessee town behind to chase her dream of becoming a successful author in New York City. But her ambitions take an unexpected turn when she finds herself sharing a class with Aiden Huntington, her former crush and current nemesis. Aiden, with his disdain for romance novels and his general surliness, seems determined to undermine everything Rosie stands for. The tension between them is palpable, and their verbal sparring in workshops makes for some of the most entertaining scenes in the book.

The real magic begins when their professor, fed up with their constant bickering, assigns them the task of co-writing a novel that blends their opposing genres. What starts as a reluctant partnership quickly becomes something more as they pour their hearts into the story, unknowingly weaving their own feelings and desires into the manuscript. Holt does a fantastic job of showing how their collaboration forces them to confront not just their differences, but also their own insecurities and desires.

The chemistry between Rosie and Aiden is electric, with plenty of sharp banter and simmering tension. Holt balances the humor with deeper emotional beats, exploring the fears and vulnerabilities that both characters hide behind their respective genres. As they get closer through their writing, their attraction becomes undeniable, leading to steamy moments that feel organic and well-earned.

Set against the backdrop of New York's literary scene, the novel also offers a thoughtful look at the challenges of being a writer, particularly the struggle to stay true to one’s voice while navigating the pressures of the industry. The competition between Rosie and Aiden for a career-defining opportunity adds an extra layer of conflict, keeping the stakes high as their relationship evolves.

*Not in My Book* is a charming and sexy romance that celebrates the power of storytelling and the ways it can bring people together. Katie Holt's debut is a fresh and engaging take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, filled with humor, heart, and a love story that feels as real as it is romantic. This is the kind of book that will leave readers smiling—and eager for more from this promising new author.

This was a really cute book. Along the vein of Henry's <i>Beach Read</i> the MCs are rivals in their MFA writers workshop. Here, though, their prof has had enough of their nonsense, and forces them to work together or be booted from the class.

There are class dynamics, diverse voices, interesting looks at relationships and how they're built. I really liked this book.

Loved the NYC setting and the enemies-to-lovers/grumpy x sunshine themes were **chefs kiss**. Would highly recommend for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Elena Armas!

Thank you so much for an opportunity to read this book as an ARC reader - I loved this book so much! Rosie was my favorite from the beginning but Aiden became the dreamy hero every book needs. I really loved their backstory and the reason for who they were and how opposites really do attract. As a reader (and potential writer myself), I really enjoyed the plot of them writing together and explaining the terms and writing developments along the way. It really showed how dynamic this book truly is.

The only thing I would say - I wish the reason they broke up wasn’t a miscommunication. I feel like they deserved a better than a third act breakup especially since they were writers themselves. The ending was perfection though. It felt as powerful as holding a stereo over your head and proclaiming your love to your High School crush.

I truly enjoyed this book and now Katie Holt is one of my “auto-buy” authors! Thank you so so much!