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!

This story nails the electric tension and chemistry between Rosie and Aiden. The idea of these total opposites co-writing a novel gives the classic enemies-to-lovers trope a fresh twist - turning their romance into a journey of understanding and embracing their differences.

The humor is spot-on - I couldn’t help but crack up at their witty banter. Of course, it’s got the inevitable third-act breakup and the frustrating miscommunication, but hey, that’s romance for you, right?

The slow burn of their romance is the kind of torture I’m totally here for, and let me tell you, when things heat up... total fireworks. The chapter where their writing session turns steamy? Both clever and hot.

This novel is a standout, showcasing Holt’s knack for mixing humor, heart, and heat in a contemporary romance and I can’t wait to read more of her stories!

A huge shoutout to @netgalley , @alcovepress , and Katie Holt for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for this arc!

This was an enjoyable and cute read I'd recommend to anyone looking for something light and romantic. The banter was great and I feel the plot was well-developed. The pacing was just right - not too slow or fast, which helped keep my interest. I loved how the author included pieces of their joint novel at the end! It allowed for a dual POV and more insight into their feelings/thoughts. I give this 4 stars and 2 spice. If you're not into spice, the scenes are easy to skip because they don't add much to the storyline.

Overall, highly recommend this book and I look forward to what the author, Katie Holt, writes next!

I loved a lot about this book! Holt's writing is fun to read, and Rosie was fantastic! I want to be her friend. I also adored the (very vocal) spicy scenes! That being said, I had a little trouble connecting to Aiden, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Definitely looking forward to whatever Holt puts out next!

It was so easy to feel the emotions of the characters in this book. There was a sense of tension to the dialogues that made me feel as if they were taking place right in front of me. The description of the setting made me feel like I was there. The characters were so vivid and relatable. The writing was captivating and kept me engaged until the very end. I was left feeling a sense of satisfaction and closure. It was a story that I will never forget. Overall, it was a great read. I highly recommend this romance book to anyone who enjoys a good story.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Katie Holt, and the publishers for sending me an ARC of the book.

Not in My Book by Katie Holt was a FANTASTIC debut novel. I literally couldn't put this down. There was so much detail and complexity to the main characters that I got swept away in their love story. The writing was smart, sharp, and the dialogue was realistic. I highly recommend this fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free advanced reader's copy. All opinions are my own.

I waited until I was on vacation to read this and I am so glad I did because I could not put this book down. I love a good enemies to lovers book and ‘Not in My Book’ got me line, hook, and sinker. Rosie is a true by form romance author and Aiden is anti romance anything and when they are forced to write a book together we see their true characteristics. This trope was done so well I am sitting here giggling and kicking my feet waiting for these two to get together. I also love when we are able to see past lives of characters and why Aiden hates romance so much. These characters are also relatable and I think Katie Holt knocked it out of the park and I can’t wait for what she has in store for us next.