This was a fun book. I read it over a short flight and I enjoyed the dual narrative of Aiden and Rosie.

Rosie's family were great and cracked me up every time they popped up. The enemies to lovers trope was done well and I believed that they really hated one another from their outbursts in class.

The side characters were well thought out - I'd happily read a whole book about Alexa!

I liked the elements of their novel cropping up at the start and end of each chapter. The way they talked through their writing was pretty cute.

Katie, Katie…Katie!!!

WOW. I’ve read numerous enemies to lovers in my days, but this one is just WOW.

If you’re into these, this is for you:
💋 Enemies (rivals) to lovers
💋 Grumpy sunshine
💋 He falls HARD
💋 SPICE with a hint of secondhand embarrassment

First, my compliments to making our couple actually despise each other. It genuinely felt like they hated each other with very little tension. It was like my skin was lit on fire every time they started throwing insults at each other I really thought they would give in and just hate fuck already. Oh boy was I wrong, the slow burn for this couple was everything I could’ve wanted and more.

A little background (with no spoilers):
Rosie and Aiden are two writers who basically despise each other's genres but have to team up to write a book together. The way that this book is written is through the perspective of Rosie, but there are snippets of their book throughout which is based on their own relationship. A good portion of the slow burn aspect occurs through these scenes, and I felt so connected to both of them. I never questioned Aiden’s feelings because even though we didn’t get anything from his perspective, you saw it come to life in his writing. So seriously big kudos to that. Some books fall flat trying to write a book inside a book but this one, NOPE. I was blushing and binging this book as a specific scene (iykyk) 😉

The only scene I think I had an issue with was their final fight before the makeup. I can’t explain it but it didn’t feel as explosive as I thought it might be. It’s explained later in the makeup, but honestly, I think it should’ve been more Rosie and Aiden.

I loved that this book was gripping but also an easy read. It was the perfect way to distract myself from the evils of work. I cannot believe that this is her debut novel. CHEFS KISS MAAM 💋

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!! i was initially interested in this book due to the adorable cover, i wont lie. this is a cute college set story that did not disappoint :D

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rosie is a Taylor-Swift-loving, happily-ever-after-writing romance author with big dreams of making it as a writer in New York. Aiden Huntington, Rosie’s nemesis and brooding literary fiction writer, has his career all figured out. That is, until a very public fight between he and Rosie lands them in their advisor’s office with an ultimatum: co-write a novel or say goodbye to the class. Despite their supposed hatred for each other, Rosie and Aiden can’t seem to stop writing themselves into the story. As they become more vulnerable with each other and romance begins to bloom on the page, Rosie and Aiden can no longer deny the feelings that have grown between them.

Not In My Book thrives on the contrast between Rosie's optimism and Aiden's cynicism. Their witty arguments are a highlight, transitioning seamlessly into genuine vulnerability as they reveal more of themselves through their co-written story. The concept of a romance blossoming within a collaborative novel adds a unique layer, making you invested not only in their relationship but also in the fate of their fictional world. (And that spicy collab was 🥵)

Enemies to lovers writing about enemies to lovers. Such a raw read that made me enjoy the characters. I slowly got into the book until I couldn’t put it down.

Book review will be posted on the podcast

The characters are wonderfully relatable. The author’s vivid descriptions and engaging dialogue make it easy to get lost in the story. This novel is a delightful read that leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling and a renewed belief in the power of love. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a feel-good romance!

This book is SO cute. The author writes so well. Rosie is so easy to relate to. As a reader, she definitely reminds me of myself. Aiden is pretty much perfect. He fights for what he wants, and he KNOWS what he wants. Even the side characters were memorable. There was nothing wrong with this book and I will definitely be purchasing it for me and maybe my friends.

Okay, let me start by saying: WOW. "Not in My Book" by Katie Holt is an absolute gem and easily one of my top three favourite romance reads ever! If you're looking for a fresh, fun, and unique romance, grab this book ASAP.

So, the premise? Total book-ception. We’ve got Rosie, a passionate Peruvian American from Tennessee who heads to New York with big writing dreams. Enter Aiden, her archnemesis, a literary fiction snob with zero patience for the romance genre. They’re stuck in the same writing class, and thanks to their fed-up professor, they have to co-write a novel. Cue the tension!

The whole co-writing a novel thing? Genius. Seeing Rosie and Aiden pour bits of themselves into their manuscript made their journey even more personal and engaging. Plus, the added tension of them competing for a career-changing opportunity kept the stakes high and the pages turning.

The banter between Rosie and Aiden? Top-notch. I was laughing, gasping, and eagerly flipping pages to see what snarky remark or steamy moment would come next. The chemistry between these two is electric and so well-developed that you can't help but root for them.

And let’s talk about the spice. Yes, there’s spice, but it’s not just thrown in for the sake of it. Every spicy scene adds depth to Rosie and Aiden’s relationship and fits perfectly into the storyline. It’s hot, but it’s also meaningful—exactly how it should be.

What I absolutely loved is that this book kept me guessing right until the very end. You think you know where it's going, and then bam! A twist. It’s refreshing to read a romance where the ending isn’t totally predictable.

In short, "Not in My Book" is an absolute must-read. It's available on December 10th, 2024 - so keep your eye out for it! It’s fun, fresh, and filled with fantastic characters and a plot that keeps you hooked. Katie Holt has nailed it with this one. Five stars all the way!

Such a good beach read! Loved the characters, i laughed, cried! Really enjoyed it!
I give this book 4.5stars! And will definitely recommend it to my friends!

I'm actually obsessed with this book. I read it in one sitting, and even though it had a few tropes I'm not too keen on, like grumpy sunshine, and it did remind me a bit of Beach Read at first, but I really liked it! I loved how the love interest and the main character worked through everything together! The LI was so swoony and cute, and I absolutely loved starting this book after a long day and finding the escapism I needed. It really is something I'd come back to if I wasn't having a good time, and I think that's the best thing a romance novel can do for me!

NOT IN MY BOOK

Katie Holt

After a long-term relationship break up Rosie leaves Tennessee to start her masters in NYC. Where Rosie meets her writing nemesis Aiden. Rosie is planning her Romance Novel for her class while Aiden tries to break down her genre with harsh critiques. After endless fighting their Professor has had enough and they are forced to work together on their thesis novel or get kicked out of the class.

The banter in Not In My Book is amazing. I loved the plot and how the main characters communicated. I also loved the side characters. I really appreciate it when the Author puts work into the side characters, it helps to round out the story.

As a reader who loves romance books and reading about an Author who writes about romance, you are cheering Rosie on while she fights for our genre. But it is hard not to fall in love with the broody fic-lit writer, Aiden, as well!

I give Not In My Book 5/5 stars! I really enjoyed the whole book, and would recommend it to any friends who love a great romance book with a little bit of spice.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read Not In My Book, I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!!

Graduate school rivals forced to pair up to write a romance novel for a writing class while simultaneously falling in love themselves??? I was SCREAMING for the majority of this book 🤩😍

This book has:
•Academic rivals to lovers 📖✍️: The heroine is a hopeless romantic romance writer, and the hero is a massive romance skeptic who writes literary fiction
•Grumpy x sunshine ☀️
•He falls first and harder! This man was truly down bad from the second he saw the heroine

The leads giving us dual POVs through their characters was *chefs kiss*. I have never read anything quite like this, and I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

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

Holy s***!!!!!! Not sure if I can cuss here but this book deserves it! In the best way possible. Also writing this at 2 am after starting it at 9 pm last night. Words cannot describe how obsessed I am with Rosie and Aiden. The beginning started to sound like Beach Read by Emily Henry but it quickly morphed into something all its own. The enemies to lovers was hitting hard. Sure, the tension was there but no action to become more. Then they had to work together. GASP. And it just went up hill from there. The little stolen moments. The touches. The writing SPICE together. Getting to know each other. Then there was conflict at like 90% in. We didn’t get much conflict after they got together so I did feel like it was needed. It was a surprise conflict but not that out there. It was resolved fairly quickly but not in a bad way and we get our HEA. And the way we got glimpses into Aiden’s head by way of excerpts at the end of each chapter was so genius. This book was absolutely incredible and I loved every single second. Can we talk about Aiden’s filthy mouth though!!! And his peacoat and sweaters?! SWOON. Please please please do yourself a favor and pick this one up in December for a short, sweet, banter-y, spicy, swoon-y book that will have you staying up till 2 am to finish.

My fave quotes. There were a lot of them but these made my heart pitter patter.

The last thing I ever expected was for Aiden’s laugh to make me feel like the drive home after a long day.

I don’t want to be everyone else to you.

You shouldn’t have to beg someone for the bare minimum.

There’s nothing wrong with closed door romance, but I preferred it when the door was taken off the hinges.

I’ve gotten good at pretending I hate you, but I can’t pretend I don’t know how you taste anymore.

I wish I was your shadow so I could never be apart from you.

Oh my god!!!!! I’m not kidding when I say that, this book is my book of the year. I loved every single words written on the book. Their banter, and them overall were so marvelous. This was my first book from the author and you better believe that, this author has been on my auto-buy list form now onwards. Aiden really reminded me of my another favorite character, Neil from the book Today Tonight Tomorrow. And as I looooove academic rivals to lovers, this book is soo my, 5 star read. I don’t think I can ever be over this book. I’ve already read it twice. Sorry for the delayed review. I’m writing this after my second read, as I forgot to write the review😵‍💫

⚜️Not In My Book Book Review⚜️

Oh my god!!!! I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!

Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this amazing book before its release in December 2024.

As someone who is attempting to become a writer herself, I can't tell you how much I related to this book. And it was so well written that I ended up feeling a sort of kinship to both the FMC and MMC. The writing was so realistic and even almost meta; and at times, I felt like someone romanticised my own life and made it into a book. And it is very rare when you read a book that makes you feel that way.

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I never felt bored or asked myself where this was going. Katie Holt really took everything good about the reading community and made it feel even more cozy and nostalgic. Both the FMC and MMC were very well fleshed out, and both had distinct voices with their own set of backstories, traumas (because duh, we're millennials), and their own motives. Katie's writing reminded me of of old school Ali Hazelwood (think The Love Hypothesis), and I found myself wanting to read more of her books. Please write more, Katie, even if I'm the only one who gets to read it because I love this! 😂 KH has a young voice, so mark my words, you'll be seeing a lot more of her #bookstagram.

Spice Meter: 🌶🌶.5/5
The slow burn in this book was burning, but we get a couple of good spicy scenes. One of which gets written by the two characters in real time, so I thought that was very creative, and I loved it! I tried to imagine writing a spicy scene with a writing partner, and I have to say even the mere thought of it gave me anxiety! hahaha

Recommend?: YES YES YES! Really good romcom. Highly recommend.

Themes:
- Enemies to Lovers (LIKE FOR REAL)
- Slow burn
- Forced dating/partnership
- A little bit of fake dating
- Shy but mean MMC
- MMC with a filthy mouth
- Opposites attract
- Toxic parent
- WOC FMC
- Academic/Fine arts setting
- Book within a book

READ. THIS. BOOK. 🫵🏼🫵🏼🫵🏼

4.5 Stars

This was an absolutely adorable, fuzzy feeling, feet-kicking good time. I loved the dynamic between Rosie and Aiden and the absolute fan-fiction that was this plot.

Rosie and Aiden are creative writing grad students at NYU. They (seemingly) can’t stand each other and every writer’s workshop they’re in they provide free entertainment for everyone else in the form of sexual tension-laced antagonism. They critique each other ruthlessly until one such fight gets out of hand and they’re summoned to the professor’s office.

Faced with a choice, to work together on a written piece for the class or both drop the class, Rosie and Aiden have to suck it up, get in each other’s heads and create a literary love story without a HEA. What could go wrong?

Between writing love scenes together that get a little heated and swearing that hate each other (a little too passionately), this is an enemies to lovers guaranteed to make you swoon.

I also loved how self-aware and self-critical it was. Rosie wants to be a romance writer - she understands the tropes, the structure and the prejudice against the craft. I enjoyed those discussions and the references to famous real life authors, stories and conversations around them. This was a romance truly written by someone who understands what makes a good romance.

I had a really good time, I can’t wait to read more from Katie.

I absolutely devoured this book. Academic rivals-to-lovers will always make me weak in the knees. Katie Holt's writing spoke to me in a way that I can't explain. It was so easy to read that I was completely immersed in the book. The way she writes about New York makes me feel like I've been there without actually having been there. I could feel the winter snow through the pages, even though it's literally summer and hot right now. I could not stop reading. I stayed up till 5am and finished it in one sitting. I honestly can't believe this was her debut novel.

My favorite parts of this book were the scenes where they were co-writing their novel. The little excerpts at the end of the chapters that gave us insight into Aiden's thoughts on Rosie through the eyes of his character from their novel were the cutest thing ever. It was short and sweet and had me wanting Katie Holt to publish their co-written novel, too. The tension between Rosie and Aiden had me hyperventilating to the point I needed to take a breather.

I personally really liked the third-act breakup. Though it was predictable, the angst that it created was so good that I didn't mind. The way he had to grovel and beg for her to forgive him had me on my knees. That man was desperate, and I loved every second of it.

I don't mind spice, but I draw the line at dirty talk. I'm going to overlook it because spice is very subjective, and I know I'm in the minority that prefers less explicit scenes. But if you're into that, you'll love this book.

Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in advance! I'm already looking forward to Katie Holt's next book, even though this book hasn't even been published yet. I am eagerly waiting for December 10th so I can grab a physical copy!

I loved the Story, the characters.. everything!!! It was cheesy, cute, spicy and everything!
So much love for Aiden and Rosie! I would like to read more!

It was witty and heartwarming and had me hooked that I finished the book in pretty much one sitting... I was very surprised when I found out this is Holt’s debut novel. The writing flowed really nicely and there got my heart racing in suspense, I had to stop my eyes from jumping ahead. I loved how the It was a true slow burn and how Rosie and Aiden not only complimented each other but where well developed themselves. Rosie was strong headed, stubborn and wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself against Aiden but I also liked that she cried, got homesick and had fears. That just because she was strong headed didn’t mean she couldn’t be vulnerable which was refreshing to see.

I’m really excited to keep up with Holt’s work after this one and will have to buy myself a physical copy when Not in My Book releases

This was a very fun, tongue-in-cheek romance that really kept the momentum going. While you could see everything coming from a mile away, it was a fun journey to get there. I actually liked the way the characters talked about tropes in the genre and how their romance mirrored the one they were working on together.

Bonus points for these being grad students as I’m just about halfway through my first semester of grad school, and my biggest critique is the overwhelming number of Taylor Swift references. It was honestly way too much.