Rosie and Aiden have been tasked with writing a romance (for her) without a HEA (for him). Why? Because their bickering and insults have completely disrupted their NYU writer's workshop and their professor has had enough. As the two trade chapters and barbs, it becomes evident that they are living out their own frustrations and feelings in their novel through their characters Max and Hunter.

On the plus side, it's fun to read a book within a book. However, the pacing of this book felt a bit off - it seemed like the characters in their novel were leagues ahead in their storyline and communication which didn't sit right since R & A were the ones writing the dialogue. Also, I felt like Rosie had some really unrealistic expectations of how people should communicated with her considering how she kept many things to herself - it was a bit annoying, but that is a personal take.

FYI There is another book coming out later this year with this same enemies to lovers writing a romance together plot, though that book has a different backstory. It even has a holiday component as well, so this book felt a bit like deja vu to me through no fault of this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advanced copy.

I loved it. I did get a little confused but the book in a book situation. Main trope was enemies to lovers which so amazing, but like with flair.

A very cute enemies to lovers book. 2 students forced to write together but instead have to accept true feelings for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book. This is one of the best cute romance books I’ve read this year. 4.5 stars.

Not in My Book follows Aidan and Rosie, two students in a writing class who do not get along. Every class they banter back and forth and disrupt the class to the point that Ida, their teacher, has to put a stop to it. She gives them an ultimatum: they either drop her class or they write a story together. Rosie can’t afford to drop the class, so they agree to the story. Naturally being forced to come together to write this book also forces them to confront their real feelings for each other.

This book was the perfect enemies to lovers book. It was a swooooooon fest with them writing their feelings through their characters. I loved the entire thing and the vibe of the book. The end felt a little rushed and Aidan’s reasoning for wronging Rosie felt a little lame, but otherwise I absolutely loved this book. Will definitely be one I recommend over and over again!

I have learned that books where the MC is an author or writer aren't my favourite but putting that aside Rosie and Aiden's relationship was so delicious so it really didn't matter. Roise was incredibly relatable and I saw a lot of myself in her. Isn't that all that you can ask for when your readign - maybe not for some but for me its a definite plus. Shoutout to the scenes during christmas because that got me so kiddy (I absolutely love Christmas and I can read winter-y books all year round).

I was completely captivated by every single word of this story. I found myself unable to put it down, eagerly reaching for my kindle at every opportunity.

The story follows Rosie's dream of attending NYU in NYC and pursuing a writing masters degree has become a reality. Although the cost of living in the bustling city is significantly higher than her Tennessee hometown, Rosie is determined to find a way to finance her education. However, her journey is not without its challenges. In one of her writing workshops, she constantly finds herself at odds with Aiden, who despises romance as a genre. Aiden, being a lover of literary fiction, believes that if a story lacks sadness, it simply isn't worth his time. Their conflicting views on writing often lead to heated debates and clashes.

To their surprise, their professor assigns them a special project that requires them to collaborate closely. At first, Rosie and Aiden are skeptical about working together, considering their stark differences in writing styles. However, this project becomes an opportunity for them to truly understand each other. As they delve deeper into the project, they begin to realize that there is a fine line between love and hate. This realization brings them closer, blurring the boundaries that once divided them.

Despite their initial reservations, Rosie and Aiden discover that their contrasting perspectives can actually complement each other. Through their collaboration, they learn to appreciate the beauty in both romance and literary fiction. This project not only helps them grow as writers but also allows them to develop a newfound respect for each other's work.

The characters were incredibly well-developed and the overall structure of the book was masterfully done. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the enemies-to-lovers trope, forced proximity, the classic "only one bed" scenario, as well as a healthy dose of angst and entertaining banter. Aiden and Rosie's dynamic had me hooked from the very beginning. I especially loved how the author incorporated snippets of the book they were co-writing, adding a special touch to the romance. It felt both romantic and realistic, and I could really relate to their shared fears about love. I definitely recommend giving this book a read. However, I do feel that it could have been slightly shorter to improve the pacing. With the story spanning over a couple of months, the time jumps occasionally disrupted the flow of the narrative. Either way, a pretty good read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

I loved it. No notes. 6 stars!

No but seriously, this book was everything. It was fun, it was witty, it was cute, it was charming, it was heartbreaking at times. IT WAS HOT! And I mean that. As a really avid romance reader I'm hard to surprise, but the one scene in this book, if you know you know, had me BLUSHING and the crazy part they hadn't even gotten together yet. I will for sure be left in a bit of a slump after this book because it was just that good, but GEEZ it was worth it.

♾️⭐️
Wow. I’m crying. Romance novel: setup—> romance—> break up—> grand gesture: the end.

This book was so much more than that. I giggled and kicked my actual feet. When Rosie wrote Aiden’s name instead of Hunters in *that* scene, I about threw my kindle in second hand embarrassment. When the fellowship came to fruition, I was pissed that Katie would do that to me. I was mad at Rosie for not reading the final chapters that Aiden wrote. I just knew it had to be the delcaration that I needed it to be. I laughed, I cried, Aiden broke my heart and won it back over.

Not only did Katie write an amazing love story for Rosie and Aiden but to write about Aiden and Rosie writing an amazing love story in Hunter and Max— wow! Mind blown.

I will never not recommend this book and I will be reading anything that Katie Holt bestows upon the world

Thank you NetGalley and Katie Holt for the advanced reader copy of Not in my Book.

Debut for the author, POV of the female protagonist. Spicy.
I liked it a lot (but I'd have prefered a slightly less rushed ending. There's also a huge argument at 90%, it doesn't bother me much, but I know that it can be a turn off for some readers).
Trope: academic rivals - forced proximity - enemies to friends to lovers - slow burn - book within a book (since during the writing course they are taking they constantly argue, the teacher forces them to write a novel together. The characters in the book they write, which we read excerpts at the end of each chapter, relive what happens to the protagonists, so it is a good way to know the thoughts and feelings of the male protagonist).
#notinmybook is also an ode to romance, the genre that the female protagonist writes (but it is emphasized a bit too much and it becomes a little repetitive).
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc. This is my honest review.

I absolutely could not put this down. A REAL enemies to lovers. Slow burn and believable.

Aiden was so swoon-worthy after he stopped being such an asshat and his chemistry with Rosie was so so sweet. I loved the scene with them at Christmas when her family surprised her and they even got him a gift even though they had no idea he existed (haha).

The ending was a TAD rushed but at least it made sense in the timeline.

Very sweet and fun read.

I just devoured "Not in My Book" by Katie Holt. This book is the perfect blend of sexy, hilarious, and heartwarming, all wrapped up in an enemies-to-lovers romance that will leave you swooning.

The writing style is fantastic, the plot is engaging, and the pace is so well-balanced that I finished the book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down The author does an amazing job of portraying authentic animosity between Rosie and Aiden, the two main characters. Their constant banter and harsh judgments on each other's work are so relatable, and it's clear that there's a deep attraction simmering beneath the surface.

I love how their professor forces them to work together on a novel, which becomes a clever way for them to express their feelings through their writing. As they become friends, the book evolves from enemies-to-lovers to friends-to-lovers, and it's just so beautifully done. The exploration of their familial backgrounds adds depth to the story, making their comfort and support for each other all the more heartwarming.

When Aiden conceals that he applied for the same award as Rosie, my heart broke a little. I could feel her disappointment and his fear of losing her. But thankfully, Aiden finds the courage to fight for her, and it's just so romantic.

Overall, "Not in My Book" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance. It's funny, it's sexy, and it's full of heart. I highly recommend it.

This novel was an absolutely delightful read. This cute enemies-to-lovers story is both charming and heartwarming. The characters are well-crafted and their chemistry is palpable. I found the narrative to be engaging and thoroughly enjoyable. It's a perfect feel-good book that I highly recommend to romance enthusiasts.

Wow! 🥹
Let’s start with the banter between Aiden and Rosie, it was heated with tension and at the same time fun and funny!
I laughed a lot 😂

I loved how they were writing their story within their story 😉, and although it felt a little bit repetitive, I still loved it because it was like reading Aiden’s POV.

Not me going to check for “Maggie Frantel” and “what lies between” online 😭😂, so I could snag them too.

The beautiful quotes in this book too omg! 😱

“I want to be the person you picture when you're reading and dreaming because you're who I picture every single time. I love you. In light and dark, in romance and litfic. In this lifetime and the next.”

“We'll make mistakes, we'll learn lessons, and we'll be tested. But we'll come out so much stronger on the other side."

“I was shameless in my wanting. I tried to commit every little thing, the way her eyes fell closed, the way she tasted, to memory. There was no metaphor / could write, picture I could paint that would even come close to comparing to the magic of her.”

There are many more beautiful quotes 🥹, I can’t wait to lay my hands on the physical copy.

Thanks to @netgalley and @alcovepress for this ARC 💕.

If your kind of rom-com does include rivals/hate-to-lovers, not too slow burn romance, forced proximity, slight misunderstanding trope, and easy to read, this is for you!

This book is in first person point of view who’s the FMC, Rosie, an ambitious romance writer/lover. She has a strong opinion that romance books shouldn’t be looked down upon other genres as it is also literature. Meanwhile, her nemesis, Aiden, writes about literary fiction and thinks romance is unimportant and unrealistic. They’re being obnoxious toward each other in writing novel class until they have been forced to write a novel together.

It was very easy to read, I didn’t realize I was already 60% through the book. I had so much fun reading the first half of the book. I didn’t know what happened, but after that, I felt like it was kinda dragging a little bit. The romance wasn’t even slow burn and it felt like some things were being forced on the characters, so the book could be longer than 200 pages 🥲

Characters sound younger than their actual age, which had troubled me because they sounded childish at a time. And I didn’t like a few of the FMC’s decisions. I wasn’t really a fan of when the plot jumped immediately to another setting of time and place, which happens in this book, confused me a little bit. Also, the smut scenes weren't to my liking. It was quite cringe and felt detached.

Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable reading time, and I found I can see a few things relatable from Rosie’s character.

Thank you @netgalley , Alcove Press, and Katie Holt, for giving me this e-ARC for an exchange of honest review

Thank you so much to Alcove Press and Katie Holt for the approval of letting me read this e-Arc!
-Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy/Sunshine
I finished this book with in 3 days, the writing was very easy to read and I feel like it flowed really good. I also finished in 3 days because I could not put it down, I was constantly wanting to know what happened next with Rosie and Aiden!

Wow. I loved this book. I loved it was a book in a book. The enemies to lovers was done so well. I loved the banter. It made me laugh it made me cry. I love opposites attract. Rosie is a romance cheerful writer to Aidan’s stern sad fiction. When they are forced to write together the story writes it self.

5 🌟 Easily my new favorite rom-com. From now on, this will be the book I use to convince everyone that romance is a phenomenal genre. Witty banter, tension, steamy open-door romance, funny friends and loving family, practically every rom-com trope and reference without feeling overdone... I could go on. The main characters were so relatable in their endearing qualities and flaws that I was sad for it to end. I'm already planning the re-read.

Thanks to Alcove Press and Katie Holt for the ARC e-read in exchange for my honest review.

This book delivered what it needed to!
I was hooked start to finish. It was almost reminiscent and took me back to the books that made me fall in love with the romance genre. I loved it!
Rosie and Adam are both students in a writing class and they both just know how to get on each others nerves. At the same time, they push each other to strive for better. Anyways, as things fall into place, they are forced to write a book together and this is where the magic truly starts. They live the romance they are writing and it was tantalising!
The enemies to lovers does have elements that do remind me of other books in the genre I have loved: the roughest draft (two people writing a romance book together) and the hating game/spanish love deception (workplace romance). It takes all of the good bits and crafts it into an even better book on its own. Katie Holt knocked it out of the park.
I really enjoyed this book if you can’t tell!

<I> Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review <i>
#NotinMyBook #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not in my book... was unique but felt familiar... the work place feel of the hating game and book lovers... a book in a book. But sometimes felt like the book I was reading was repeating as they were writing the same things they lived. I cheer them on and then got a eh vibe at the end.. over all I did enjoy this book.

3.5 stars for me. Great job. I always enjoy a story within a story vibe.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers romance book, and this was was not an exception.

The first half of the book was a bit slow, but as soon as it sped up it was pretty good, considering it is a debut novel.

The similarities with Beach Read and The Hating Game is unquestionable, but what is special to this book is definitely the "book within a book" trope. I was so invested in both of the plots.

For some reason the ending felt a bit meh for me, maybe because I was quite mad with Aiden and Ida. It almost felt like they had done that to me, and not Rosie. That shows you how much invested I was while reading it.