Thank you NetGalley for getting me this eARC!

I'm a big fan of books about books and this sounded perfect to me! And I did really like it! The tension between the characters was well written and the rivals to lovers felt very convincing. It was definitely a good romance.
The one thing I'm not as fond of is third act breakups, but I understand the need to create some conflict. However, I did not like the conflict here and the miscommunication about it. To me, it didn't fit in with the characters personalities either. I just could not see them reacting like that.

I'm still rating this book 4 stars, because I loved the romance and the way they made up and I would absolutely recommend this book to romance fans!!

Not In My Book was ultimately a very sweet and sexy romance and I would have really given it 3.5 ⭐ It's a book that I think many will enjoy but it fell a little flat for me. There were lots a things I really loved about the story. The mouth on Aiden didn't hurt one bit....spicy scenes were spicin' especially from this quiet, broody guy but I was missing the swooniess I have enjoyed with other books. I'm wondering if that would translate better when in audio form with a top tier narrator and that possibly would have elevated the story for me but I didn't connect with the characters or just fall completely in love with them like I have with other MC's in books. I always love a great enemies to lovers romance but this one just didn't hit like others I've read or listened to.

I did really like the relationship Rosie had with her family and friends. Very close and tight knit relationships that seemed genuine and good.

Rival graduate students, Aiden and Rosie are forced to write a love story together in a creative writing class. I'm always one for good banter in an enemies to lovers but this bickering seemed a little juvenile and forced. During the course of the book, their own love story gets written. I actually think this is a very cute concept. I felt like I was reading a book within a book with the included passages that were added at the end of chapters plus we get Aiden's thoughts as well. I was excited when I read the blurb about the story but it just wasn't executed as well as I had hoped for. The scenes with them writing together were actually cute and fun but there were parts of the story that the pacing was off and some abrupt scene changes

Again, I do think it would be great to try in audio form with excellent narrators and would probably be enjoyable to me. It's definitely true to it's word when saying this book is The Hating Game meets Beach Read. Those two books far exceed this story in comparison unfortunately.

PUB DATE December 10th 2025

Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press and Katie Holt for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Overall, this was a cute, easy read and I'll be very interested to see what Katie Holt writes next.

Lots of tropes, but the self-awareness made it way better. Love books about people writing books. Strong showing in the romance category but a little too cheesy for a higher rating.

In the future, I think the author could do with one less sex scene, but overall they didn’t bother me since one was fictional. I was a fan of the Spanish and Peruvian culture references throughout the book as well that seemed to be familiar to the authors own life. Would read more from her in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

Fantastic author! Great pacing and great development for the characters. I was heavily invested in the plot and descriptive settings.

This book was so stinking cute. Some parts of it felt unrealistic, but I think that’s what the author was going for with the plot anyways. I’ve been wanting a cheesy, cutesy, romance books to get me out of my rut and this was it!! The writing was impeccable and I can’t believe this is Holt’s first book. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her future books! Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for allowing me to read the ARC before release!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The things I would do to be able to read this story again for the first time. I have a bad habit of staying up late to finish a book and that’s exactly what happened with Not in my Book. The way the story is told through the POV of Rosie and then we get glimpses of both of of their perspectives and feelings through the characters in the book they’re writing is something I’ve never seen before that I loved (also the open door scene they write together for the book… holy ). As a romance novel obsessed person having the reason why they are so addictive put in towards through Rosie was amazing. The way she described love and wanting to be magical but wanting it to also be real was something I could connect with easily. Anyone who loved Book Lovers by Emily Henry will love this book. I can’t believe this is her debut novel but I can’t wait to read more from Katie Holy!

I went into this book expecting something predictable and thankfully that wasn’t the case.

I personally enjoyed the book but did find myself frustrated with these characters! This felt like a true enemies to lovers but the wait was worth it.

I loved that this felt a little like a book within a book and the premise/execution was unique and not like a lot of books I’ve read lately.

I was not a fan of the confrontational piece at the end but I would never read books that even hinted at third act breakups if that didn’t limit like 90% of all romance reads. But that said it did just feel off and I would have personally preferred something a bit different.

In general this book exceeded my expectations and was a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this book! I finished it in about 4 hours and had thoughts for every sentence. The book is sort of like an enemies to lovers but in college with authors. The dialogue made me laugh so much and I adored the little date scenes! Our MCs writing themselves into their book was such a wonderful idea and I loved reading it play out! This is a slow burn but it is relatively short so there wasn’t any problem holding my attention. I also really liked Rosie’s family and enjoyed every scene we got with all of them together! This was such a fun book and I would recommend for lovers of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren!!

This book offers a delightful blend of humor and sweetness, capturing the dynamic of a small-town girl and a city boy perfectly. The protective undertones, reminiscent of "hurt her and I'll end you," add an engaging layer to the narrative.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It presents a unique and refreshing story that stands out in the genre. The slow burn, enemies-to-lovers trope is executed brilliantly, keeping me engaged and invested in the characters' development throughout the story. The gradual evolution of their relationship felt natural and well-paced, adding depth to their individual arcs.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was a truly enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a well-crafted romance with a touch of humor and heartfelt moments.

This was an enjoyable read. It was nice to see how these two characters got their HEA. I look forward to more books from this author.

4/5 ⭐

It's hard for me to believe that this is really her debut! The book has everything I love in romance novels. The banter between the two was fantastic. I found myself grinning throughout, and sure, at times it was a bit too cheesy, but still a lovely love story.

I was so engrossed in reading that I almost finished it in one day. The protagonist Rosie was very likable and charming. She is caring and intelligent, and she had the courage to forge a new path for her future.

I also thought it was cool that she had Peruvian roots! And the spice was nicely spicy.

Overall, a refreshing and exciting debut book! I'm looking forward to more books from her; I'll definitely read them too!

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the banter and writing a book inside of a book was just too notch! I definitely think this one will be a major hit and one of my favorites from Netgalley

Omg, this was such a cute read!!🤩

If you love a good rivals-to-lovers book, keep reading.

Rosie, a passionate Peruvian-American woman, leaves her hometown in Tennessee to chase her dream of becoming a writer in New York. But her plan hits a snag when she finds herself in class with her arch-nemesis, Aiden Huntington, a grumpy and gorgeous writer who despises the romance genre.

Their constant verbal sparring forces their professor to make them collaborate on a novel that blends their genres. As they reluctantly write their intense and steamy story, they begin to truly understand each other.

When a career-changing competition reignites their rivalry, their love story is put to the test. Will they be able to finish their book and save their relationship?

I adored the premise of this book and have never read a romance quite like it.

The whole idea of them having to write a book together and getting a “dual POV” experience, even though the book is mainly from Rosie’s perspective, is brilliant. Because they write chapters together, we get to know Aiden too.

This is the kind of book you can devour in one sitting. I did. It’s that good.

Read if you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow-burn
- Forced proximity
- Writing rivals
- Co-writing partners
- Steamy scenes
- Peruvian FMC

thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book!

4.5⭐️ This was SUCH a delight to read. This follows writers Rosie and Aiden, who are in a writing class together but have an overwhelming dislike for one another, as Rosie is a romance author and Aiden can’t stand this. After one too many inappropriate arguments in class, their professor tells them they either have to write a book together or will be forced to leave the class. Throughout this book, you see snippets of the book their writing, which ends up being about each other, and it gives you inside detail about how they really feel about each other, which I found to be such a creative and unique detail that I absolutely loved. This was such a cozy read and being set in the holiday season was just the perfect cherry on top! I love the way the characters interact and the way he really fights for her. I also thought the friend group as well as the family dynamic added a really nice other element. I can’t wait for this to be released so more people can read it

Omg, this book is amazing! From the moment I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it 😩 and it did not disappoint at all.

You might be wondering what it's about, so I'll give you a brief description:
Rosie and Aiden are pursuing a graduate degree and have a class together. He writes fiction, and Rosie writes romance. Aiden doesn't believe in happy endings, so he criticizes everything Rosie writes, and in turn, she criticizes what he writes. Everything changes when the professor in charge gets tired of their arguments and gives them an ultimatum: either leave the class or write a book together. Well, you guessed it, they choose to write the book together. So, join Rosie and Aiden as they write a romance book with an unhappy ending and find love along the way because, as they say, there’s a thin line between love and hate🤭

Characters

Rosie: I identify a lot with her, the hopeless romantic. I love romance and romcoms, I create all the scenarios in my head and idealize people based on my idea of love. I love her so much, but the only detail that made me cry a lot was that I found what she did at the end of the book very unfair. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. Aiden deserved more chances.

Aiden: I NEED a man like him in my life. He's truly the most perfect and spectacular being; he's my kind of person, really. Once he knows what he wants, he fights for it, and even though he knows nothing about love, he expressed himself very well. He truly won every piece of my heart 😭💗 because I saw a lot of myself in him too. I understand being defensive and rude when someone hurts you and being afraid to open up and get hurt. My baby 😭

So if you're a girlie who loves romance but feels like you're the problem, it will be very easy for you to fall in love with them 🥺

I loved Rosie's friends, and they add a lot to the story. They're the type of group of friends we all need in our lives.
I also loved Rosie's parents. What lovely people, really 🫂

Anyway, please go read this book when it comes out in December. Yes, I know there's still a lot of time left, but I swear the wait will be worth it 💗

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Enemies to lovers. Strong friendships. Absolutely adored it.

As a fellow Hispanic, I personally loved how the author highlights Rosie’s Peruvian ethnicity and family values.

I absolutely adored Rosie and Aiden’s banter, their friendship, and their love for each other. Their love story didn’t feel cliche in any way. It felt very realistic and comforting; not every love story is easy, everyone has its challenges.

All in all - a must-read 💕 Was left wanting to know more about their future together♡ Sequel?? :)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
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What a fantastic debut novel! This was like a cross between The Hating Game and Beach Read, featuring a sunny FMC, Rosie, and grumpy MMC, Aiden. After their writer’s workshop class rivalry becomes too explosive, they’re forced to write a book together. And obvs these enemies become lovers along the way, and use their writing to express feelings they’re not yet comfortable to say out loud 🥹

I loved the hilarious and savage digs they threw at each other. The writing was excellent and truly did not feel like a debut novel. To me, Katie Holt’s writing had a similar ease to it as Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez, and was filled with humor and heart. The tension between the MCs was delicious, and the slow build up and progression from enemies to friends to lovers felt so natural and unrushed, with every little touch holding so much weight. And I loved that it was set at NYU, my alma mater.

Even though Rosie was a sunshiney romantic optimist, she was not afraid to cut him down and I found it very refreshing. I also loved that she had stretch marks on her thighs, and most of her physical descriptions focused on her wide smile and curly hair. I really enjoyed her group of friends, especially Logan. Would definitely read a book with him as the MMC. Another big plus…Aiden’s dirty talk game was *chef’s kiss* 😚👌🏻

I will say, Aiden does not make book boyfriend status. I do love a grump because when you see how sweet and thoughtful and absolutely gone for the FMC they really are, it just hits harder. All this was true for Aiden, but his defensiveness and mean words cut me too hard. And I needed MUCH more groveling to make up for it.

I was so happy to get this arc from NetGalley and Alcove Press in exchange for my honest review. I would 100% recommend and am very excited to read future Katie Holt books!

I thought this was a good read! It was full of angst! Rivals to lovers and slow burn was great! I feel like I started to get bored later in the book but overall was able to push through and enjoy it anyways

I am absolutely in love. The characters were relatable, the spice was THE SPICIEST, and the conflict felt natural and real. I don't usually read contemporary romances, since I prefer fantasy or historical, but this one?? Too good to put down. Literally. I was up until 4am and I have the eye bags to prove it. I can't wait to recommend it to literally everyone I know.

ALSO, THE FEMINISM!!!! The absolute perfect timing, all the respectful attitude, and the CONSENT???!!! This right here is my new gold standard.

Cute and easy read.

Started off very strong with great enemies to lovers vibes, a nice meta of a romance within romance, all the New York settings, and engaging storytelling.

After a third I was very surprised I still had to read two thirds of a book- to quote that TikTok sound, “is it ever this serious”?, with which I mean, it could have done with some strict editing while still leaving the story intact.
The layers of Rosie as Maxine and Aiden as Hunter but at the same time not, also got a bit stale after a while. Taking away some bits could really tighten things up.

The third act breakup was one of my least favourites I have read. Rosie at times got on my nerves, but the absolute GALL of Aiden to first lie then shrug about never finding the right time (how about every time you jumped into bed with her?) then pretend it was not a big deal??? Even I was ready to never speak to him again. Honestly I did not see how they could back together after this.

Some things that raised my eyebrows:
- please do not say “noodles” about pasta (spaghetti)
- the way Rosie and Aiden kept taking over their class and Ida barely stepping up… girl just kick them out for their disruptive main character syndrome
- the amount of “baby” used in their dirty talk really gave me the ick

At the same time, all the applause to Logan, asking “did you hear that? (…) sounds like a whiny bitch.” YASSSS.

So. Quite a few negatives but still there was something there that made this an enjoyable read!

3.5 stars rounded up for the cover, the punny title, and the romance book about a romance book aspect.

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.