This was a cute and cozy New York romance that gave off Nora Ephron vibes! I loved Rosie's family and friends and getting an insight into her world, struggling to balance work and writing and her family. I felt like Aiden was your typical romance hero and I loved that we got to see him open up.

This book contains excerpts of a book the main characters are writing together, and I have to say I didn't love this. It started off too close to reality, and just became the story told twice, which I think did not demonstrate how excellent Katie Holt is at world building. I don't think Aiden was a particularly fleshed out character and I really wanted more character development and less repetitive book scenes. Rosie's Peruvian heritage felt less realistic and more something thrown in last minute, and I don't think I really understood Ida's motivations enough to suspend my belief that she made a date homework.

I loved the overall vibe of this book and I enjoyed the characters; I would have appreciated more depth because Katie Holt is an exceptional writer!

3.5 stars

This was a fairly strong debut. I was initially concerned that it seemed very similar to things I’d read in the past, but it quickly started to feel creative and unique in many ways, helping it stand apart from some of the titles it could be compared to.

Not In My Book follows Rosie and Aiden, two creative writing students at loggerheads in their workshop class because of their affinities to seemingly opposing genres: romance in Rosie’s case, and literary fiction for Aiden. Their professor eventually gets sick of them throwing insults at each other in the classroom and tasks them with co-writing a novel to better understand the other’s genres, and help them to develop their own writing styles.

The mechanic of reading snippets of Rosie and Aiden’s novel within the book had mixed results for me. When it shone, it was incredibly effective and felt super unique. I enjoyed when it was used as a tease for upcoming moments, seeing them use it as a communication tool, to take digs at each other in the early days and then to slowly open up about their feelings towards one another. There were two scenes in particular where this felt so damn creative. I was hooked, kicking my lil’ feet, doing those silent girly screams, the whole shebang. My rating bumped up a whole extra star for these moments alone.

On the other hand, these snippets of the novel didn’t always knock it out of the park - sometimes they were just *there*, and when we got those unnecessary glimpses it slowed the momentum a little. They were shoehorned in, sometimes seemingly just to demonstrate that the author could write in different styles, and the flowery, sickly sweet tone of some sections was too much for me. I was glad those bits were short at least.

In terms of the characters, I liked the main couple. They weren’t the most well rounded I’ve ever read in a romance, but they weren’t completely flat either. It would’ve been nice to know a bit more about Aiden’s current life outside of Rosie. Even with the book being told from Rosie’s perspective, and Aiden being a bit of a loner, it was still pretty far fetched to believe he was spending every day, including the holidays completely alone in a city where he’d lived his entire life: there wasn’t a single friend or relative that could’ve helped give him some more dimension? We met Rosie’s friends and family and I enjoyed them as side characters but they felt very distant at times too: they could’ve been used better in my opinion.

Together, I believed them as a couple and was glad that they didn’t abruptly lose the sharp edges to their relationship like in most enemies to lovers situations. The third act break up wasn’t a silly inconsequential issue like is sometimes the case, but it was still a little frustrating - I didn’t fully understand why they ended up in that situation in the first place.

Overall I had a decent time with this. It was a fun and creative debut, and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for future releases by Katie Holt.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book for review.

This book exceeded all of my expectations. All. Of. Them.

The writing was beautiful! You really got to see Aiden and Rosie as well thought out characters who didn’t feel like I’d read them before. The premise of the story was so unique and I loved how it worked so well for the plot. I was shocked when I learned this was a debut novel. It doesn’t feel like one as you read it, the story was written so beautifully and felt like a breath of fresh air.

I just loved the main characters so much. Their flaws were written so perfectly but you feel how they love each other which left me swooning. I want an Aiden. I wanted to be Rosie the whole book.

Also loved the fact that it hyped up the romance genre!! Big point scores there.

IM SWOONING. Honestly I was obsessed early on this incredible slow burn rivals to lovers was more the I could have expected. Forced to work together to create a book which led to them communicating through the pages to each other. I cannot get over how much I loved this and when they decided to write scenes together it was so raw and sometimes HOT. An incredible book.

A really well written enemies to lovers book. The characters were wonderfully written and I look forward to this authors next book.

I don't know how to begin this - this book is not only beautiful, but life changing. How is this a debut? Katie Holt, I am utterly blown away. Simply put, this is the kind of romance novel that makes you believe in love again, even if you already believe in it.

This had all of the good tropes.
Close proximity, enemies to lovers, the lot!
I felt Rosie and Aiden were both very romantically suspicious people. Like they had both had bad experiences, therefore this has affected them moving forward.
I loved seeing them both open up to eachother and to slowly fall.

I really enjoyed this! It's perfect for aspiring writers and romance lovers.

Great pacing, well-rounded characters, compelling love story and encouraging plot.

The chemistry and banter between the protagonists were done so well, and I appreciate how much of a slowburn it was as often authors rush to get them together. It makes the wait worthwhile!

Aiden and Rosie were a great couple, they had an interesting and fun dynamic and I was hooked on their love and the writing plot. As an aspiring writer myself, I found it inspiring and often encouraged me to keep writing my story (which is also a romance). I also loved the conversation about the snobbery around writing romance. It's a shame that we have to feel belittled or embarrassed for writing or reading it.

I think Katie Holt is an author to look out for and and I'm definitely excited to see what else she brings us! I'll certainly pick up her work again in the future :)

Thank you for letting me read the book early!

Enemies to Lovers - my favourite kind of trope and this book didn't disappoint....

Rosie and Aiden both attend NYU and are attending a Creative Writing Class, and it is determined from the very beginning that they both hate each other. Rosie is a full on romance writer whilst Aiden loved literacy fiction, and makes his feelings known to Rosie about anything she writes for the class. They are very, very vocal towards each other and their Lecturer gets to the point of threatening to throw them off the course, much to both Rosie and Aiden's dismay.
They are therefore given an ultimatum - to write a story which involves both their areas of expertise and present it to the class. They of course agree to this demand, and in true enemies to lovers style, things do not start smoothly.

Eventually though they begin to start opening up about themselves, talking about their lives, go on a couple of 'fake' dates, finding out more about each other, and it is through these events their feelings start to change, soon becoming friends and then when Rosie find out why she thinks Aiden hates her, she discovers that things aren't quite what they seem, and then they become so much more😘

Rosie has been hurt in the past and Aiden has his own reasons as to why romance is not his favourite subject area, so their relationship takes its time, but once they get to that point, it is revealed that Aiden has been hiding something from Rosie, which breaks her, and it is then up to Aiden to go against his beliefs of what romance should be in order to win Rosie back. Will it be enough?

This is such a delightful story and I was so happy to be given the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book, and fell in love with Rosie and Aiden, and really enjoyed their character development throughout.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the excepts from their story throughout, with my favourite parts being them writing the love scene which got them abit hot under the collar 🥵 and their eventual declarations of love near the end 🥰

❤️Enemies to Lovers
❤️Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️Close Proximity
❤️Fake Relationship
❤️Third Act Break Up
❤️Guaranteed HEA
❤️Slow Burn

A well written office romance !! An amazing read really enjoyed it and will certainly be looking out for more from this author in future!!

A fresh take on an office style romance. The tension builds from the beginning - she loves romance, he hates it,

A fun office style romance.

Lots of chemistry and tension between the main characters and it was fun to read their banter.

A great rom com.

This is a great exploration of the enemies (or perhaps 'rivals') to lovers trope, both from a Watsonian and Doylist approach - basically, it's super meta and a lot of fun!

Rosie and Aiden are classmates in a creative writing seminar, and after one too many argument that threatens to derail the group, their tutor threatens to chuck them both out - unless they agree to co-write their novel in an attempt to learn from one another and understand each other better. Of course, their combative chemistry lends itself to an enemies-to-lovers story, and as they're forced to get to know one another in order to write better as a duo, life starts to imitate art...

This was a unique take on a classic trope, and also a great story for book lovers and writers in general. Getting the snippets of the novel as the 'real life' story unfolds in tandem is a neat touch, and while I found the third act breakup a bit of a step back for Rosie's character, I guess it plays into the formula that the book explores. The banter is smart and the supporting characters good fun, too, and I liked the nods to Rosie's connection to her Peruvian roots as a third-culture kid.

Definitely recommended for fans of Nora Ephron and Emily Henry alike!

Great chemistry and banter, the dialogue is top tier. Another novel that skilfully uses the old cliches (cliches are cliches for a reason!), and it was one POV, which I always prefer, I think it helps build increase tension! Plus Rosie is very likeable, so you're not reading it wanting to tear your hair out. The last fight though was unnecessary, it felt awkwardly placed.

This is a great introduction to the rivals to lovers trope, which is great because that's what the book is about: two rivals who snipe at each other constantly, campaigning against one another and swearing up and down that they are not each other's type -- until they fall into bed together. And I love that!

Not in My Book functions on two levels: as a romantic story, and as a story about two writers struggling to be heard.
Rosie hates Aiden because he looks down at her genre of choice and always tears into her writing. Aiden hates Rosie because... well... does he hate Rosie?

When their creative writing professor orders the two to write a joint final project, the match is lit and dropped onto the ground. And the rest of the book is a steady build-up of heat that ends in an epic explosion.
The chemistry between Rosie and Aiden is undeniable and this book does a good job of showing that behind an instant attraction there is often times a deep friendship that can be transformed -- if both parties work at it -- into an abiding love.

And that's ultimately what the book is about: choosing who you love, again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the ARC

Oooh this was so good! A sweet but fun romance about to rivalising writers who needs to cooperate on a project. As said its an rivals to lovers romance and the tension was steaming. It was so good. The characters were well fleshed out and I really liked them both. I especially enjoyed the writing part. I think that if you liked Beach Read this will be right up your ally. A definite romance book you should read in 2025!

This book was so cosy and the perfect romance. I loved the Characters Rosie was such a loveable leading lady! It had my favourite trope enemies to lovers what more could you want from a romance! ❤️❤️❤️

It is really difficult to find an enemies-to-lovers trope that doesn't swing too far in one direction - they are either mildly antagonistic towards each other with not much actual conflict or they are so horrible to each other that I end up not wanting them to get together. This book did it absolutely perfectly.

Rosie and Aiden take a writing class together and they absolutely ANNIHILATE each other's work. There are sides in the class and the group chat between Rosie and her friends is normally some version of what an asshole Aiden is.

This book was already winning very early in by mentioning, in my opinion, the greatest Lisa Kleypas book out there. I had a little squeal when I saw it mentioned!

I feel like a slow burn is really underestimated sometimes and this was done perfectly. I always enjoyed a slow burn enemies to lovers but it is so hard to find one that is done this well.

The ensemble cast is amazing and I actually really want a Logan book in the future.

Overall, this book was great, I had no complaints and am so glad that I requested, and was approved, an ARC of this!

Tropes:
• Enemies to lover
• Slow burn
• Classmates
• Romance lover
• Book snob

not in my book was the perfect enemies to lovers, academic rivals and all round rom-com !

plot ―୨୧⋆ ˚ the plot was well paced and i never had to work through the book. i thought the writing of the book together really added something to the plot and the reading experience as we got glimpses of Aiden’s POV which made the book feel fresh and unique!
i did feel the third-act breakup was a little bit frustrating and seemed to be thrown in there for some conflict. however with that being said i’ve not read a romance third-act breakup in awhile i was all there for the yearning, the pining and the apologies !

characters ―୨୧⋆ ˚ overall, i absolutely adored the characters and Holt did an impeccable job of bringing them to life with their hatred, truce and eventual love! it felt realistic, and i felt so attached to the characters by the end of the book!

with all that being said , i did feel like there were some plot holes by the end of the book that was kind of skipped over in the epilogue to give us the HEA.. but that is probably my only critique of the book!

overall, as Holt’s debut novel she has already firmly cemented herself as an instant-buy and must read author for me!

**

I absolutely loved *Not in My Book*! The romance between Rosie and Aiden was beautifully written, filled with tension, humor, and passion. The dynamic between the two characters was incredible, especially with the added twist of them being writers from completely different genres. Watching them work together on a novel while navigating their personal rivalry and chemistry was so engaging.

The setting, with Rosie chasing her dream in New York, added depth to the story, and the fact that they were forced to collaborate as co-writers created the perfect backdrop for their evolving relationship. Their journey from antagonists to co-authors and beyond was captivating, and the way their romance paralleled the writing process made it even more special.

It was a great read overall, and I especially loved the way the author portrayed the creative challenges of blending two writing styles—romance and literary fiction. The way this novel brought their personal and professional worlds together was just amazing! Highly recommend for anyone who loves a good, slow-burn romance with a unique plot!