What stands out to me about this book is the spice level. It is too HIGH, which I was not expecting at all for the first half. I thought it was going to be a slightly open-door enemies to lovers story based on the slow relationship development between Aiden and Rosie, and I was excited about that, but it ramped up very quickly with dirty talking and graphic description. It was like I was watching a movie for teens but the the movie suddenly became NC-17. The story deflated in a major way in act 3, when a VERY predictable conflict arose between the characters. I loved Rosie and Aiden's friendship and relationship, but I was frustrated by the unnecessary break-up. It was one of those fallouts where the characters could have talked through it, but the author chose to make Aiden regress, acting very cold and distant, and fail to explain himself at all, as well as make Rosie give up on her career. It was a stark move and undid a lot of personal progress both characters made in trying to be vulnerable and better for each other. That's why the "big gesture" fell flat to me -- the conflict wasn't even that terrible in the first place and I still didn't find the finished story that GOOD or convincing. That's another thing -- I'm supposed to believe that both characters are writers in a prestigious MFA program, but their story about Maxine and Hunter was pretty cringey and terrible! I know I'm hating on a lot of this book, but 60% of it was lovely and romantic. I just didn't enjoy the sex scenes and even the epilogue couldn't make up for the disaster of the last few chapters.

Title: Not in My Book

Author: Katie Holt

Rating: 3.5/5

"Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is a delightful and captivating romance that masterfully combines literary fiction with the charm of a romantic comedy. This novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, humor, and unexpected twists that keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

Rosie, an idealistic Peruvian American with dreams of becoming a writer, leaves her small Tennessee hometown for the bustling streets of New York City. Her aspirations are quickly challenged when she encounters her archnemesis and former crush, Aiden Huntington. Aiden, a brooding and handsome literary fiction writer, has little patience for Rosie's beloved romance genre, setting the stage for a heated and entertaining rivalry.

Holt expertly crafts the dynamic between Rosie and Aiden, bringing their verbal sparring to life with sharp and witty dialogue. The tension between them is palpable, and their chemistry is undeniable. When their professor forces them to co-write a novel that blends their contrasting genres, the real magic begins. The process of collaborating on their manuscript not only showcases their individual talents but also allows them to explore their own feelings and vulnerabilities.

The novel-within-a-novel format adds an intriguing layer to the story, as Rosie and Aiden's work-in-progress becomes a conduit for their personal confessions and burgeoning attraction. The steamy and heartfelt scenes in their manuscript mirror their evolving relationship, blurring the lines between fiction and reality in a clever and engaging way.

As Rosie and Aiden compete for a career-changing opportunity, the stakes are raised, reigniting their old rivalry and putting their developing romance to the test. Holt deftly navigates their journey, balancing the tension of competition with moments of tenderness and self-discovery.

"Not in My Book" is a testament to the power of love, creativity, and the willingness to embrace change. Rosie and Aiden's journey is both relatable and inspiring, reminding readers that sometimes the best stories are the ones we least expect.

Katie Holt's writing is engaging and vivid, with well-drawn characters and a plot that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. The novel's blend of humor, romance, and literary exploration makes it a standout in the genre, appealing to fans of both contemporary romance and literary fiction.

In conclusion, "Not in My Book" is a charming and heartwarming read that will leave readers rooting for Rosie and Aiden's happily ever after. Katie Holt delivers a compelling and entertaining story that celebrates the beauty of opposites attracting and the transformative power of love and creativity. This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted romance with depth and wit.

I was drawn to this book the moment I read they were academic rivals and then were forced to work together to create a novel!!!! Who doesn't love some forced proximity with some academic enemies to lovers!!!

The slow burn and banter in this book was well written and had me waiting on the edge of my seat to finally read the long-awaited moment

Thank you to Katie Holt, Alcove Press and Netgalley for the advanced opportunity to read this book! I cannot wait to add this book to my physical bookshelf once it is out in the world!!

ARC Review
- Aiden & Rosie
Academic rivals and wannabe authors Aiden & Rosie are "sentenced" to writing a novel together in a class. He writes fictional literature and she writes romance. They couldn't be further apart at first glance. Slowly they explore each other under the guise of writing their novel.

I loved their banter and the originality of the story. It was like reading a story within a story at times as they alternated writing chapters of their novel. They wrote as if they were themselves and speaking to each other the words they were afraid to share in real life.

The burn was slow and the angst was angsty 😂 Rosie did grate my nerves a bit and if I were in her friend group (which I loved), I would've told her as much. I liked the subtle cultural differences that weren't in your face. I truly felt for Aiden and I just wanted to hug away the hurt he had in life and hid from others. His grand gesture reminded me of that scene in Pretty Woman where Richard Gere rescued princess Julia Roberts. Sweet Aiden 😍 you’ll love him!

While it doesn't affect my rating given it's an arc, there were several grammatical errors that did slow the reading flow. Also, I started getting annoyed at the mention of Aidens sexy pea coat (it was just too many mentions and cringe).

In reality a 3-3.5 but as a debut and with some editing it could be the 4 ⭐️ I'm giving and I will read this author again.

Many thanks to author, publisher, Netgalley for the advanced opportunity to voluntarily read and review.

This read a lot like The Hating Game but more new/young adult. I struggled to remember that they were in grad school but I think when that was noted, it helped the story feel more realistic. I think my favorite part of this book, and what might make it stand out amongst the plethora of enemies to lovers books out there, is the addition of the book excerpts. It reminded me of The Roughest Draft a lot in terms of plot, structure and tone but without the complicated history element that one has. TLDR; cute, fun, well-paced

Thank you so much to NetGalley & this author for a chance to read & review and ARC! What a debut novel! The slow burn of this rivals to lovers romance was *chefs kiss*! Truly just had me anxiously awaiting for their moment to come! The thin line between love & hate doesn’t get much thinner than in this story. The banter was so good! I loved the unique storyline & the way the author wrapped things up in the end. One of my favorite parts was Christmas Eve / Christmas Day. 🥹 Just such a heartwarming read but with a good bit of angst! Definitely recommend!

4.5 rounded to 5 for being a debut author/book!

I love Rosie’s character in that she is fierce and stands up for what she believes in—which is romance writing. Then you have the enemy, Aiden, who writes lit fic and despises romance and happy endings. They go head to head in class constantly until they are tasked to write a book together. I loved the idea of forcing them to write together and how fun (and spicy) it became.

Also, shout out to Rosie’s friends & family! I really liked them and how supportive and close they are. I always liked parts that they were in.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Holt (seriously, this was an amazing first book & I can’t wait to read more), and to Alcove Press for the Advanced Copy.

This is a great book for anyone who likes Ali Hazelwood, Emily Henry, and Abby Jimenez!
This was such an enjoyable slow burn ,rivals to lovers story that had be captivated from the start.
I really loved Aiden, his growth was so good throughout the story and the ending had me kicking my feet. And I found Rosie extremely likable and relatable!
I’m super nit picky when it comes to pacing and I thought this story nailed it. Katie Holt did a fantastic job with this story!

Not in My Book offers a delightful enemies-to-lovers story with a unique twist. Rosie Maxwell's romantic nature and her struggle against her "Rosie-tinted glasses" add a charming and relatable depth to her character. Her dynamic with Aiden Huntington, played out through their collaborative writing, is both clever and engaging. The concept of them flirting through their writing adds a refreshing layer to their relationship.

However, the story does have its drawbacks. Rosie's constant focus on Aiden's attractiveness becomes repetitive, making her supposed animosity towards him less believable. The final conflict, especially Rosie's decision to leave New York, felt a bit forced and unconvincing. Additionally, while the ending was satisfying, the love confession was overly long and the ending predictable.

Despite these issues, "Not in My Book" is an enjoyable read with a fantastic premise. It's worth picking up for its unique take on literary collaboration and the engaging romantic tension between Rosie and Aiden. It's a fun and charming read.

I really enjoyed the dynamic of the two main characters in this book! I will eat up a rivals to lovers book every time but adding in the main character being a romance writer made this such a fun read as an avid romance reader myself. I loved that the characters really felt like they despised each other at the beginning. That sometimes feels lacking in a book with this trope. I also enjoyed the friend group dynamic as well as the group chat which added some extra voices to the mix along with some additional humor. I am not a fan of a third act break up which is my only critique of this book but I really enjoyed everything else about it and will definitely recommend it to my fellow romance readers!

This was a really cute romance and had me hooked. An an undergraduate student studying English I felt it was relatable. The characters were likeable the romance was angst and steamy and cute. Reasons why I didn’t rate it 5 stars are that the ending was a bit rushed and I would have liken more details on how their novel finished as it was a big plot point.

4.25⭐️ rounded up.

What an impressive debut! This was an adorable, funny and steamy romance novel by Katie Holt. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the witty banter between Aiden and Rosie was everything I wanted.

Not In My Book was my flavour of enemies to lovers - modern setting, no blood sworn enemies, but more of a "we are rivals and we are enemies because we handle our big feelings" kind of situation. Funny, full of banter and tense and heartfelt moments alike.

I loved how we got to know Aiden through their writing. I tend to prefer dual or multi POV. But here it wouldn't be as effective or work for the story, and although Aiden was frustrating at times (to say the least) I still enjoyed getting his emotions through his writing.

Not In My Book is an easy romance to read - slightly spicy, slightly predictable. The "twists" could be seen a mile away, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. There's comfort in the familiar, you know.

There's some spice towards the end, and although it's not the spiciest of spice, it's definitely steamy and hot.

I think lovers of Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood and Elena Armas would really enjoy this book!

This book is so good. A cute rom-com with true rivals.

Tropes: Rivals to Lovers, Fake dating, slow burn, closed-door romance, holiday vibes

This book will be a feast for romance readers, where you read characters writing a romance book within a romance book.

Rosie similar to romance readers is a hopeless romantic who always wanted a happy ending and to find that one true love. Then there is Aiden who didn’t grow up with loving parents, so he is everything opposite of What Rosie wants.

Their banter is top-notch. I didn’t think I would enjoy this book so much. Also, they talk through the characters they write, Maxine & Hunter.
The excessive miscommunication in the plot was a bit of a downside for me.
Overall it’s an enjoyable read and adorable read. This Needs some editing with the typographical errors.

I didn’t think I would love this book as much as I did. This book had me smiling like an idiot and tearing up too! I really enjoyed the way Rosie and Aiden created Max and Hunter out of spite but then used them to say how they truly felt. Getting Aiden’s pov through the experts was unique but I’m stingy and wanted more. Overall I really loved this book and can’t wait to read more from this author! Thank you NetGalley for letting me arc read this story!

The first few chapters were soooo good, they were a total vibe! It was a 4-star read for me up until the third act conflict. This is where most of my 3-star romance reads lose their 1 star and this book was no exception. The conflict was well set up but it was handled in a very sappy, careless, and wordy way which put me off both the characters completely. The spicy scenes had me hiding my expressions in the subway too, but it felt a little bit inorganic how the sex went straight to the nasty-rough realm when the female lead has body image issues (not complaining about the spice, but come on). Also, please don't name your characters Rosie Posie 😭

I really enjoyed this ARC! A great enemies to lovers story. My main complaint is that the excerpts from the novel they were co-writing sometimes mirrored the writing almost exactly. I enjoyed how the writing they were doing together allowed us to glimpse what was happening internally with the characters, especially Aiden, it just got a little repetitive at times. But overall a fun read.

his was such a cute and unique idea for a romance book and I loved it. Will definitely be reading more by this author in the future

**Book Review for "Not in My Book" by Katie Holt**

Rating: ★★★★☆

"Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is a delightful read that follows the tumultuous yet captivating journey of Rosie and Aiden, two students in NYU’s writing program. Aiden, who claims to despise all things romance, and Rosie, a hopeless romantic, find themselves at odds in their writing workshop. Their verbal sparring is as sharp as it is entertaining, making their dynamic truly electric.

The plot takes an intriguing turn when they are forced to co-write a novel that blends their preferred genres. The witty banter between them had me laughing out loud and rooting for their unlikely partnership. The contrast in their personalities creates a tension that's both engaging and endearing. I fell in love with the characters and the unique concept of the book.

One of the highlights for me was the meaningful quotes and excerpts that Aiden and Rosie wrote as their alter egos, Hunter and Maxine. These added layers of depth and emotion to the story, resonating long after I finished reading.

However, the reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the breakup that occurs in the book. I found it felt somewhat out of place in an otherwise well-crafted narrative. (Which seems as i’m not the only one that thought this as well.)

I do want to note, although I felt this way about the break up in the end, it doesn’t take away from the majority of the story. I guess I was just expecting…… more..?

Overall, "Not in My Book" is a fantastic read with charming characters and a compelling storyline. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good mix of romance and witty dialogue.

(Also PS If you like Beach Read by Abby Jimenez, read this! I do find this book better than Beach Read. Date I say it……!!)

*DISCLAIMER* This is NOT a paid review. This was a voluntary early access read made possible by NetGalley the Publisher and Author Katie Holt. I want to extend a huge thank you for allowing me access to this E-Arc! I hope my review provides helpful insight.

*PLATFORMS* This review is available on Barnes & Nobles (if applicable), Amazon, Walmart, NetGalley, GoodReads & Facebook.

This reminded me of "Beach Read" by Emily Henry in the best way possible! As many other reviewers mentioned, I read this in one sitting because it was that good. I loved the enemies to lovers vibes of this one and loved that we got to see who these characters were in the past... why Aiden hated romance so much.

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📌 Thank you, NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Katie Holt for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

•This book is set to be published on December 10, 2024.

This book follows Rosie and Aiden, who are both part of NYU’s writing program. The thing with these two main characters is that Aiden is a writer who doesn’t like romance (writing, reading, etc.), or so he says. On the other hand, Rosie is a hopeless romantic. Both of these main characters love to hurl verbal insults at each other during their writing workshop, which results in them having to co-write a novel together that blends both of their preferred genres. The dynamic between them is electric, with witty banter that had me laughing out loud and rooting for their unlikely partnership.

Long story short, I fell in love with the characters and the concept of this book! The way their contrasting personalities clash yet complement each other creates a tension that kept me invested. I also love the quotes that this book contains. I mean, the excerpts Aiden and Rosie wrote as Hunter and Maxine were meaningful to their story, adding layers of depth and emotion that resonated long after I finished reading.

The reason I rated it the way I did is because I couldn’t wrap my head around the breakup that occurs in the book. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Aside from that, it delivered a HEA, which I can say with certainty did not disappoint. The resolution felt satisfying, and it was heartwarming to see how the characters had grown and evolved through their experiences. Overall, “Not in My Book” is a charming read that blends humor, romance, and the struggles of creative collaboration, making it an amazing read!