Review: Not in My Book

Author: Katie Holt

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: 4 / 5

Features:

• Rivals to lovers, close proximity romance

• Book about writing 

• Peruvian-American main character

• Set in New York City at New York University

Summary

Rosie's dreams came true when she was accepted into the prestigious NYU fiction writing MFA program and had the opportunity to work with the professor who inspired her to become a romance writer. Unfortunately, being in the program also means spending time with Aidan Huntington, a pretentious literary fiction writer who hates romance and seems to hate Rosie even more. Their fiery arguments during their writing workshops have become the stuff of legends until finally, they are given an ultimatum: co-write a romance novel without the happy ending or put their MFA on pause for the semester. As the two begrudgingly declare a truce, they begin to find their writing stride and maybe something more. However, a life-changing literary competition threatens to break the fragile relationship they have started to build.

Thoughts

This fiery, rivals to lovers romance was a lot of fun despite some of its flaws. Rosie can be a little overdramatic, but I feel like this is one of the better depictions of a rivalry. Some of the arguments feel a little childish, but I have seen many adults trying to pick on each other the same way in real life so…I can’t say it’s not realistic! The use of a writers’ workshop as a jumping point for Rosie’s and Aidan’s earlier arguments is clever and provides a natural-feeling way for the tension between them to be shown. Things start pretty explosively, but the book makes it clear that this level of animosity (and sexual tension?) has been gradually brewing long before we enter the story. The third act argument feels a little unnecessary/contrived, but compared to a lot of other enemy/rival to lover stories I have read, I found Not in My Book to be a great implementation of the trope. 

I really liked the idea of Rosie and Aiden literally developing their relationship through the chapters of their book. The excerpts Holt provides the reader at the end of each chapter not only give us a snapshot of Aiden’s perspective, but are also a clever way to guide us through the more tenuous parts of their relationship and put some of the pieces together. However, I also think the characters choosing to literally reproduce their own relationship and interactions in a piece they would share in class is a little hard to believe. I could totally see having characters that represent each other going through a different situation together, but some of what they put in the chapters feels too personal to be something they would want to share and oversteps the line between the writers themselves and the fictional piece they are supposed to be creating. 

Overall, this book has a lot to love and I would recommend it to anyone who likes milder romances with “rivals to lovers”, “close proximity”, and “guy falls first” tropes. 

Get This Book!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!