𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁: Enemies to Lovers is always one of my favorite tropes then add in this fun story line and I was hooked. I binged the is one and loved it! I really enjoyed the audiobook it was face paced and I kept hitting one more chapter and too soon the book was over.

Rosie is from a small town in Tennessee and she moved to NYC to pursue her dreams of being a romance author. She is in a competing program and it’s been a struggle to make this dream happen. So when she found out there is an opportunity to submit her work and one winner would get a hefty scholarship, which would change everything for her.

Aiden a romance hating rich boy, he is in the same writing workshop as Rosie. They are like water and vinegar and have been going at it during critique sessions during class. But this last session was more heated than usual and they basically disrupted the class that’s how they ended up in the hot seat, being called into the professors office for a scolding.

Aiden and Rosie have one option either set aside their differences and collab on the project this semester or be kicked out of class. So now they have to figure out with how to combine their two genres into one - no HEA for Rosie and steamy scene and meet cutes for Aiden. This is definitely going to be a long semester: will these two make it to the end of the semester.

Check out this audiobook when it releases December 10th, 2024.

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Enemies to Lovers
* Romance Writer x Literary Fiction Writer
* Forced to Work Together
* Opposites Attract
* Fake Research Dates For the Book
* Slow Burn w/ Spice
* NYC Setting
* Dual POV

🌉🔥🧑‍💻✍️👩‍💻🌉🔥🧑‍💻✍️👩‍💻🌉🔥 🧑‍💻✍️👩‍💻🌉

Five stars for sure!! My friend read this book, the eARC, a few months ago and told me she loved it and that it also has brought her love to romance books again...kinda like that, lol. I didn't believe her at all until I read it. This book is everything, writing a book within a book, but it has a plot, feelings, everything. It made me laugh, and swoon, I wished I was there in NYC. The description of the Rockefeller Christmas tree was so wonderful!

3.5 stars - deducting half a star due to ending.

For fans of the hating game and beach read. This is a novel about enemies to lovers who are forced to write a book together in order to stay in a class. Rosie, a fierce romance writer and Aiden, a lit fic writer who seem to have a personal problem with everything romance.

The banter and tension in this book was so entertaining. This two couldn't really stand each other. I was enjoying so much their argunents in the middle of the class. I truly wish I was there. But the thing that enjoy the most was the New York setting with the romantic park walks, the fancy restaurants and shops.

The one thing I would have changed was the ending. When I thought Aiden got a new perspective and respect for the romance genre, it really bothered mr seeing him go back to his old self.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for ALC of this book in exchange of my honest review.

I LOVED this audiobook. such a good debut novel full of heart and angst. their 3rd act breakup was brutal and I saw it coming but the way it resolved was beautiful. the story definitely has its flaws and alot of the time I found Aiden hard to relate to but he won me over in the end. I cant wait to see what katie does next!

I rarely request to read an ARC that doesn't end up living up to my expectations. Sadly, every once in a while, my radar is off-base (*way* off-base in this case). I'm not taking all of the blame, however—the publisher's description bears some responsibility. That is, I found it neither sexy nor hilarious—in fact I found it somewhat disturbing. This kind of book is why I have a hard time trusting the romance genre. I like rom-coms with a strong, well-developed story and lots of humor. This isn't that.

I was attracted to Not in My Book because of the characters being writers-in-training and because I was intrigued by the author as “a debut Peruvian-Tennessean voice.” Indeed, the portions focused on Rosie's Peruvian-Tennessean family may have been the only parts I truly enjoyed. Other positives include references made to Christina Lauren (a romance writing duo of best friends) and how well their voices meld, as well as a tiny piece of humor revealing how Aiden is referred to in Rosie and friends' group chat.

Beyond the halfway mark—if not sooner—the story ceases to be fun or romantic. It's really a trudge. There is so much conflict throughout that I don't buy either Rosie's and Aiden's initial coupling or their reconciliation later in the book. The portrayal of “romance” was a complete turn-off. Rosie has body image issues, which could have been handled sensitively. Instead, there are cringeworthy sex scenes, including demeaning—and infantilizing—language from Aiden. It isn't love, respect, or attraction . . . it's just sex, and it could be happening with anyone (or no one).

Overall, I found the story repetitive and excessively long, with very little character- or relationship-development and not nearly enough humor. Still, the ending feels rushed!

As always, your mileage may vary. If you're *not* looking for a well-rounded romantic story, this could be your ticket. Thank goodness there are writers for every taste!

This is my first Audio ARC and won't be my last. Typically I prefer reading vs listening to romance books but I enjoyed this narrator a lot!

The description "The Hating Game meets Beach Read " was so spot on and the main reason I applied for this. If you enjoyed either or both of those books, this is just for you! Classmate rivals Rosie and Aiden are forced to team up for their final submission in their year-long writers workshop course. If you're wanting a true enemies to lovers slow burn, you've come to the right place.

While the early feuding did feel kind of childish to me, once they were forced to interact and talk I loved how both the FMC and MMC unfolded and grew. Coming from extremely different backgrounds but sharing a similar dream was a challenge that brought them together in a beautiful way.

One of my favorite things throughout this book was the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter from their shared writing. It gave you a glimpse into their book vs what was happening to them in real life. Hearing what Aiden, who claimed to hate romance, wrote into their shared Romance-Fiction novel was so sweet. Luckily for readers, this ended in a much more Rosie fashion than Aiden and gave a happy ending.

Not in My Book by Katie Holt: A GREAT Debut!

Katie Holt’s Not in My Book is the enemies-to-lovers romance you didn’t know you needed. Rosie and Aiden are paired up for a creative writing project where they have to co-write a novel—except it can’t be a romance. Spoiler alert: the tension between them is undeniable, and the lines between fiction and reality blur in all the best ways.

The chemistry is off the charts, and the pacing is perfect—watching them go from enemies to friends to lovers is a journey that feels just right. The fake dating trope, the one-bed moment, and the kiss scene (which they both end up writing at the same time 😮‍💨) were pure magic. And the spice? Oh, it’s hot.

Now, I’m not always a fan of third-act breakups, but this one worked. Rosie’s frustration with Aiden’s secrets felt real, and his groveling was just what the story needed. Their growth was worth the wait, and the payoff was fantastic.

Since this is audiobooks I do adore, let’s talk about the narration! Franzie Corzo did a fantastic job bringing both Rosie and Aiden to life, capturing their personalities and emotions perfectly. It was a real treat to listen to.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ALC!

This is a 4/5 for me—an amazing debut that has me excited to read more from Katie Holt!

Katie Holt is a "new to me author". This was a cutesy kind of book. Rosie and Hunter were just okay to me though. I received this as an ARC and was excited to read it because of all the quotes I kept seeing. All the quotes made me think this was going to be a novel that I wouldn't be able to put down. Instead, it was one I couldn't wait to finish. To be fair, I made a mistake requested an audio book instead of an e-book, which may be the part of the reason I couldn't wait for it to be over.

This book was a cute enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of Taylor Swift references to make me happy! I listened to the audiobook and I do think reading the physical book might be easier, as it was sometimes hard to tell in some parts what was the writing of the characters or the actual characters.

I received an ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) of this audiobook from NetGalley & RBmedia & Recorded Books
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5🎧

Tropes:
😬Enemies to Lovers
💏Forced Proximity
🔥Slow Burn

I very much enjoyed the banter and the back-and-forth between Rosie and Aiden. They really don’t seem to like each other much at all and if I am being honest it was entertaining as all get out.

Rosie is a hopeless romantic. She believes in HEAs and that she could become a romance novelist. But what she doesn’t bank on is that she will star in her version of the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Aiden is completely the opposite he can’t stand a romance, and he wants his characters to die or find a sad ending in his literary fiction. He doesn’t believe in a HEA in the slightest. I almost found it interesting how much he goats Rosie or should I say Rosalinda because he must use her full name.

They are rivals in their writing class so much so that the teacher has had enough and pairs them together to write a romance.

Oh, is this book fun to listen to Top-notch entertainment is had, I for one loved the narrator she did a great job giving us all the emotions. She didn’t go over the top or force any voices it was just very well told. I appreciated it and will look for more books narrated by Frankie Corzo that is for darn sure.

#BookNerd #Bookaddict #Bookish #SupportAuthors #HumanVoices #SupportNarrators #Romance #ContemporaryRomance #Fiction #RomanceBook #EnemiestoLovers #ForcedProximity #SlowBurn #NotinMyBook #NetGalley

Not in My Book is easily one of my top pick for contemporary romance! Katie Holt nailed it with this story. I adore a good, light-hearted romantic read, but this one had me so hooked that I didn’t want it to end. The dynamic between Rosie and Aiden, full of playful banter, the "I hate you, wait maybe I don’t... maybe I want you" tension, was a joy to read. Their witty exchanges kept me laughing and completely engaged.

The book was fun and charming from start to finish, providing plenty of moments that had me laughing out loud. The chemistry and teasing between the leads added so much depth and excitement to their relationship. Aiden broke the mold of the typical hero, he was flawed, relatable, and more grounded, which made him stand out. However, his redemption scene near the end felt a bit over-the-top and was the main reason I couldn’t rate it five stars.

What really stood out were the well-developed characters and how the friend group was woven seamlessly into the story, adding another layer of connection. It’s truly worth reading! The only thing that slightly disappointed me was the third-act breakup, it was predictable and felt frustratingly unavoidable. Still, it didn’t overshadow my enjoyment, and I’m definitely looking forward to more from Katie Holt. A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC!

Loved this one!

Kind of a hidden Christmas romance? Perfect time of the year for this read. Loved the references to TSwift as well as good ole' Tennessee!

Only giving 4/5 because I am not personally a huge fan of the "third act breakup" and the beginning started off a bit slow for me, but overall I recommend!! Really enjoyed the audiobook.

Thank you so much NetGalley and RBmedia for this audiobook ARC!

I loved the give and take and truth behind this relationship. I'm a big fan of the enemies to lovers trope and this one fits it perfect. I got to see the city through new eyes and the writing/literary background was just a plus!

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧
Thanks to @alcove and @recorded for the gifted copy!

Not in My Book by Katie Holt
Pub Date: Dec. 10th

Synopsis: Rosie and Aiden are academic rivals in the same creative writing workshop. When they come to blows during class, their professor assigns them a project to write a romance novel together.

Thoughts: This is a very cute romance. The chemistry and banter between Rosie and Aiden is great, and if you like a rivals to lovers plot, this one is for you! The writing is well done, especially for a debut novel! Snippets of the book that Rosie and Aiden are writing are included throughout, which is an aspect I really enjoyed. Up until the last 10% or so, I was all in - but the third act breakup situation just didn’t work for me. 🙈 Overall, though, I still thought this was an enjoyable read! A note on the audio: narrated by Frankie Corzo. I enjoyed Frankie’s narration, but I think dual narration would have been fun!

Read this if you like:
📖 rivals to lovers
📖 authors & writing
📖 grumpy/sunshine

This was a great debut! I loved Rosie and Aiden and really enjoyed their banter. The setting of New York City was so fun in this one because you could tell the author loves the city and didn't just pick that location out of convenience.

I thought the narrator did a fantastic job with this one.

My only complaint really is that the third act breakup was extremely frustrating. Up until that point this probably would've been a 5 star read.

I would still recommend this one. I just wish authors would stop writing these break ups that hinge on a misunderstanding and then weeks or more of not clearing the air.

Wonderful debut!
I really enjoyed my reading experience with this book. I think the author truly wrote out a beautiful romance book that captures writing romance in a beautiful way as well.

I love a good rivals to lovers trope. This was done pretty well. I don't know if it is because I am extra sensitive and always root for the girl, but there were times I felt his insults and burns were a bit heavier than hers.
Another theme was the lie of omission. I am extremely sensitive to that element in romance books. I am still not sure if I like the way it was addressed, and how her outcome was impacted.
The point of a lot of the dialogue in this book was is romance genre books considered art? I am not sure that point was proven. Or maybe it was but with their own personal HEA.
Nonetheless Katie Holt writes BEAUTIFULLY. Truly captivating writing. For a debut, I was truly taken aback. I will be reading more from her in the future. At the end of the day, its books that stay in my mind and me silently debating them, those books are extremely special to me.

I really did not enjoy this book. I’m ready to be a thorough hater in this review.

Aiden and Rosie are two of the most immature, uncommunicative, and overdramatic characters I have ever read about. On one hand, I wanted them to break up because I hated their relationship and found them to be an incredibly annoying couple. On the other hand, I would not want them to inflict their childishness on anyone but each other. These two are in their mid-late twenties but act like actual middle schoolers. If I were a person in their writing seminar I would’ve begged the professor to kick them out way earlier than she tried to. They were both straight up awful to each other and sometimes I couldn’t decide who was worse.

Rosie is an awful character. She is obsessed with Aiden and cannot go a paragraph without thinking about him. Even when her family who she (apparently) loves and misses visit, all she can think about is him. Aidan matches her in awfulness by being completely obnoxious and also obsessed with Rosie, but thankfully we are (mostly) spared from his inner thoughts. He made me so mad during the third act break up when he couldn't seem to understand that Rosie was mad at him for lying.

This book felt like the author was just trying to fit as many romance tropes as she could into one book while doing a little wink wink nudge nudge to readers about it. There was also constant commentary about romance novels in general and people’s opinions of them. Here’s a helpful hint: if you’ve written a romance novel, odds are the readers of it are fans of the genre. You don’t have to rehash how people don’t take it seriously on every other page. We know.

The book within a book did absolutely nothing for me, and if anything made this book worse. Sometimes it felt like I was reading the exact same thing happen twice, since Aiden and Rosie were just writing fanfiction of their own lives in their book.

The reason this is 2 stars and not 1 is because normally I only would give a 1 star review to something offensively awful. Also I’d feel kind of bad giving a 1 star review to a debut author. I should’ve just DNFed around 20% like I wanted to but pushed through because it was an ARC and that was a mistake. By the end I was listening on 2.5x speed to get it over with.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

No spoilers! This book was a fun read! At first I was concerned that I would get tired of the bickering, but it is such a different story than the average romance book. The 🌶️ were good too. 🥵😏I love a book with good sarcasm, and this book delivered! The ending was emotional and I enjoyed every second of it!

Not in My Book was a super solid debut! Chapter 17??? 👀🔥 Overall, I had a great time listening. The narrator was very engaging and emotive. I had a few squabbles with pacing and the immaturity. But, I will definitely read what the author puts out next!

Not In My Book was fantastic! The perfect black cat/golden retriever, grumpy/sunshine couple. Growing up going to NYC during Christmas time, this book felt nostalgic and so real to me. I love Rosie and Aiden’s manuscript and at first I thought a book within a book may be confusing but it wasn’t, it helped carry the story along wonderfully. I wished there was a resolution between Ida and Rosie, and I wished I got more of Jess and Tyler’s love story as well, but other than that it was a great listen!