Not in My Book by Katie Holt was a spectacular read and truly such a wonderful debut novel! What to expect: academic rivals-to-lovers story, small-town FMC meets big-city MMC, forced proximity, and great banter that kept me hooked. One thing that really stood out to me was how the characters expressed their feelings through their writing. As someone who sometimes struggles to say the right words out loud, I really connected with that—if you give me a pen, I’ll write my heart out too! I adored the cute Christmas in NYC scenes and I loved reading a story involving a Peruvian-American FMC. The cultural details made me so happy—alfajores, lomo saltado, Inca Kola… it felt like a warm hug. I am looking forward to reading more by Holt in the future!

first time reading a book by this author and so glad i did! this book was so heartwarming and adorable. the only negative i have is i feel it could have been shorter

I had difficulties with the characters in this book acting like children and not like adults. They were both annoying and unlikeable. I didn't want them to fall in love or for anything good to happen to either of them. I wanted them to go to therapy and learn conflict-resolution skills.

I wanted to love this book so much but it just kind of fell flat for me. I love slow burn and tension and banter but something was missing here. I can also be picky when it comes to romance because it’s my favorite genre/I’ve read so many.

Rosie and Aiden couldn't be more different. She is sunshine and rainbows. He is kind of a gray cloud. She writes romances with happily ever afters. He writes literary fiction where happily ever afters don't exist. When you mix these two together, sparks fly. These sparks just happen to be flying in a Masters degree writing class. Oops! When Rosie and Aiden can't seem to stop fighting the professor gives them an ultimatum....either drop the call (past the drop deadline) or figure out how to work together by writing their book (a class assignment) together. Rosie can barely afford the classes she is in now, so she definitely can't afford to retake a class. Aiden can't bare the idea of failing and proving his father right. Can these two opposites find some common ground to avoid personal disaster?

This book was so fun. I loved the banter between the two characters. I also really. really enjoyed the switch in writing style throughout the book to include excerpts from the book they are writing together. It melded into real life seamlessly. The tension they had in the classroom switched to a different kind of tension when they began writing together. They learned how to communicate with each other. They learned to see the world through the other's point of view. It isn't always sunny, nor is it always cloudy. Also, they way they helped each other through difficult situations, while still acting like they hated each other showed what their hearts were truly made of. Such a sweet book!

This book was a joy to read, although it seemed familiar in some way. The characters were likeable, and you could definitely find yourself rooting for their successes. The storyline was believable and true to real life, while being humorous and light-hearted. This book was written with a lot of thought as to how the characters would be perceived and rightfully so as they came across as realistic, yet with an air of fiction as well. I hope that this author continues to write in this manner and look forward to future titles of theirs.

This was such a fun read for me!! Romance is just the BEST and this 1000% lived up to being a love letter to the genre, itself. I was ALL IN for the Rosie & Aiden banter. Even when I sometimes wanted to crawl under a bridge like a troll with secondhand embarrassment from the way they bickered during their writing workshop discussions 😅 It was still just the best romance I could hope to end my year on. Thank you to Katie for also shouting out my local coffee shop, Honeybee, in the book! Was super fun and cute note being that the story mostly takes place in NYC (a place I haven't personally been yet!) Please go read this cutie book, y'all! Loved it so much 💕

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

4⭐️ | 2🌶️


My thoughts:

Katie Holt’s rivals-to-lovers tale, Not in My Book, is a charming blend of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt character growth. I was fortunate to receive both the ARC and ALC, allowing me to alternate between them for a more immersive and well-rounded reading experience.

The story centers on Rosie Maxwell, a hopeless romantic, and Aiden Huntington, a broody literary fiction purist. When their incessant bickering in a writing workshop earns them the ultimate punishment—co-authoring a novel—they are forced to confront their differences while navigating their undeniable connection.

The concept is as entertaining as it sounds. Rosie and Aiden’s collaboration gives us a meta-twist: their book within the book becomes a mirror of their evolving relationship. Katie does a fantastic job balancing humor and vulnerability, making their journey from enemies to lovers feel natural and engaging. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing brisk, and the characters delightfully flawed. Aiden’s transformation from grumpy skeptic to reluctant romantic is particularly swoon-worthy.

Now, let’s talk about Frankie Corzo’s narration in the audiobook. Her performance takes the story to another level. She captures Rosie’s optimism, Aiden’s brooding sarcasm, and every ounce of tension between them with impeccable delivery. If you’re considering the ALC, Corzo’s narration is a must-hear, it adds layers of emotion and humor that enhance the experience.

While the story is undeniably entertaining, some might find the repeated inclusion of Rosie and Aiden’s real-life moments in their novel slightly far-fetched. However, this unique approach also adds an interesting layer of vulnerability and creativity to their dynamic, showcasing how their personal and professional lives intertwine in unexpected ways. It’s a small price to pay for a romance that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. If you love rivals-to-lovers with a side of creative chaos, Not in My Book is a must-read (or listen).

Cute enemies to lovers, rival writers, marketed as The Hating Game meets Beach Read. I definitely felt more The Hating Game vibes than anything. The fact that it felt a lot like that makes it not really stand out as more than three stars for me. It felt very mediocre.

I was completely blown away by how much I loved this book! It exceeded all my expectations! The character development of Rosie and Aiden truly touched my heart. It's incredible to witness how they both grow, both individually and together, supporting each other through their journeys. Their evolution is not just compelling but also deeply relatable, making their experiences resonate on a personal level. The enemies-to-lovers romance will forever inspire my heart!
I was inspired by the way the book was crafted, revealing glimpses into the characters' thoughts and emotions. It was beautifully written, striking a perfect balance by not revealing too much while still conveying the depth of their feelings. I almost came unglued in the last couple of characters, thinking that was it between them! I was worried that the book was going to end the way Aiden’s books normally end, and they weren’t going to get a happy ending! I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a captivating enemies-to-lovers romance! The character growth is fantastic, both together and individually, which makes it an even more enjoyable read. Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this free book and give my honest opinion. Thank you, Katie Holt, for writing such a well-rounded book! I wish it didn’t have to end!

“Rosie, I can’t do this if we’re going to forget about it tomorrow,” he rasped, backing away from my lips the tiniest bit. “I’ve gotten good at pretending I hate you, but I can’t pretend I don’t know how you taste anymore.”

I loved this so much! Perfect corky romance. It’s basically a book within a book. Such a refreshing and unique story. An enemies to lovers trope and a slow burn love affair. I laughed and cried and felt a hundred other emotions.

Rosie attends NYU’s writing program. Her main genre is romance. She is a sweet, hopeless romantic. Aiden is also in her class but he hates romance. He is snobby, rude, and arrogant. He is especially rude to Rosie. Rosie and Aiden hate each other and can’t help but bicker and banter in class. They are so disruptive that the teacher forces them to write a book together. Rosie and Aiden now must work closely together for the rest of the semester. Will they continue to hate each other or will they get over their differences?

I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for giving me this ARC.

I adored this book! I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and a good slow burn. This gave me all the feels of Beach Read but nothing will top January and Gus for me!

2.5-3🌟i finished this a while ago but i must admit i got in a terrible slump, and i’d be lying if i said this wasn’t the cause of it. i had to keep reminding myself these were people pursuing a masters degree because for a while her inner monologue and the way she spoke reminded me of a high school student.

personally, i feel like the book had sm potential and in trying to squeeze so many tropes in a single book it felt a bit underwhelming trying to keep track of everything going on. rosie is some occasions was maddening, especially in her reaction to aiden being in the same contest as her (the outcome of which pissed me off to begin with), but i’m gonna conclude it was on purpose. in comes aiden, a guarded guy who’s genuinely a sweet person and ended up being the only character in the book i thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

overall, besides the fact that it took me forever to get through, i’m thankful for the opportunity and netgalley for an arc on this author’s debut novel and the chance to voice my unfiltered thoughts.🤍

my best of wishes for this author’s future releases! i hope to see the progression of her writing, and her, flourish✨

(Actual: 4.25⭐, rounded up) This was honestly super cute and a great debut work, imo! I love slow-burn (most of the time, anyway), rivals/enemies-to-lovers romances, and I found Rosie & Aiden's to be one that definitely fit the bill in aces. I loved the nuances in their characters/arcs, how evenly paced and compulsively readable this book is, and how honestly just uniquely meta the plot was as a whole (a love letter to romances in media everywhere, if you will). While not perfect - some moments were a bit too cheesy for my taste - I overall really enjoyed this one and had a lot of fun reading it!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I really enjoyed this fun romance. I thought it was very comical as well. Frankie Corzo as always does a great job with the audiobook narration. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

This was a fun read about 2 people who were both writers and little “excerpts” from the book they were writing together falling in line with their feelings for each other. The dialogue was good in this creative story with great use of the enemies to lovers trop. Not in My Book had lovely emotional depth with a slow burn romance and a very satisfying ending. I look forward to reading more by Katie Holt.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

3.75 Stars!!

”I’m not yours anymore.”
“Fine. If you’re not mine, then know that I’m yours.”

A rival to lovers romance where they have to write a book together? I was screaming when the blurb was revealed. Aiden and Rosie had me swooning and in a puddle for most of the book. I loved that they were both writing geniuses in their own genres. I loved seeing that creative mindset. I was LIVING for the tension that was caused by them having to work together on the project. If you love the 2000s romcoms where you can feel the loathing between characters, then you will eat this up!

Not in My Book has:
-Rivals to lovers
-Student romance
-Forced proximity
-Spice
-Third act breakup

What didn't work for me was the spice near the end of the book. Now don't get me wrong, I love spice and typically devour it. But near the end of this book, it felt as if the spice was holding off the conclusion and misplaced. However, for being a debut novel I still loved it. I plan on picking up whatever Katie writes next!

This book has a lot of potential, especially for fans of enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The premise—two aspiring writers, one a romance enthusiast and the other a literary fiction snob, forced to co-write a novel together—starts off strong with fun banter and a slow-burn buildup. The dynamic between Rosie and Aiden is undeniably engaging at first, but the story stumbles when it becomes overly repetitive. The "book within a book" structure, where their collaborative novel mirrors their real-life relationship, felt redundant at times, particularly since the excerpts often just rehashed what we'd already read from their interactions. The pacing was uneven, and the constant focus on their bickering and miscommunication started to feel childish and tiresome, especially with the overuse of drama to heighten the tension.

The characters themselves were another sticking point. While Rosie has some endearing qualities, she quickly becomes frustrating, especially with how obsessively her life revolves around Aiden. There’s little room for personal growth outside their relationship, which made the whole thing feel one-dimensional. The ending, which I won’t spoil, felt forced and out of character for both of them, undoing much of the development they’d made throughout the story. Ultimately, while the writing was smooth and the book had moments of charm, it failed to live up to the promises of its setup. If you’re a fan of classic romance tropes and don’t mind a bit of repetition, you might enjoy this, but for me, it was a bit too predictable and lacking in depth.