“Not in My Book” by Katie Holt (5 stars)
A romance book about falling in love while writing a romance book! What could possibly be better?!
I’ll be honest from the beginning here, I read this one because two of my favorite authors had given it glowing reviews. Lana Ferguson said that, “Not in My Book is a fun twist on enemies to lovers with unique perspectives and a fresh voice. With a swoony hero and a headstrong heroine set to the bustling background of NYC - this is romcom perfection” and Alicia Thompson said, “This is an author who understands the power of a happily-ever-after!”. So I really had no choice but to read it. Here’s what I think:
Fans of romance will rejoice at this cleverly written story of two warring collegiate writers who are forced to create their final project together: a love story without a happily ever after. Will Rosie and Aiden be able to separate themselves from their characters, Max and Hunter?
It’s no wonder the Chattanooga Times says it’s “A timely love letter to the genre. It’s a sexy, funny, and passionate novel that leaves us wanting more” (Chattanooga Times, 2025). Romance novels are a big part of the industry of literature and Holt does a great job of carving out her own small space within. Her dialogue is heated, her spicy scenes are hot, and the overall storyline is incredibly touching.
I listened to this one on Audible and the narration was perfect! I was engaged throughout and almost didn’t want to stop listening when I got home each night. The chapters are short and sweet, so it’s a good pick for those of us who commute regularly with a romance novel. The dialogue is easy to follow and the story stays constantly moving. I often found myself so enthralled that I didn’t realize where one chapter ended and the next began.
Just a small warning that it is a bit spicy in parts, but the buildup is way more delicious! They do say it’s the quiet ones who’ll surprise you most and that is certainly true of Aiden once he admits his feelings for Rosie. So maybe skip ‘those’ parts until you’re home alone to avoid embarrassing stops at traffic lights…I’m totally not speaking from experience on that one…Either way, be prepared for a whole new side of Aiden when he finally gets what he’s been craving.
Ultimately, enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorites, so I might be a little bit biased. But listening to the bickering of the two main characters and ending each chapter with an excerpt from their book (where we readers can totally see how they’re falling) is a brilliant way to tell their story. Holt has managed to make herself one of my favorite writers with her simple twist on a complicated romance.
Now, on the other hand, I have to admit to the cons:
- There is a final act of miscommunication that could’ve been avoided with a simple discussion. It’s the hallmark of romance novels. We know it’s coming and yet it still disappoints. Just be forewarned.
- Aiden is a bit stunted in his romantic journey. He keeps saying he’ll never be one of Rosie’s romantic heroes and that’s why he stays away from her. Okay, dramatic Edward Cullen. Just tell the girl you like her and see what happens. Playing mean on the playground will only get you so far in love. But he does eventually open up and admit that he’s scared which gives us a super romantic scene between him and Rosie.
That’s all I can think of, so if you don’t mind the miscommunication and whiny hero (which I don’t because it made the book all the more romantic), then read on!
About the Creator
Kristen Barenthaler
Curious adventurer. Crazed reader. Librarian. Archery instructor. True crime addict.
Instagram: @kristenbarenthaler
Facebook: @kbarenthaler
Keep reading
More stories from Kristen Barenthaler and writers in Geeks and other communities.
“Small Space, Big Living: Interior Design to Make Every Inch Count” by Sofie Hepworth (3 stars)
*I received an e-book copy of this book from Edelweiss Plus in exchange for review.* “Sofie Hepworth is an award-winning digital content creator, interior stylist and product designer. She shares her incredible renovation projects on her colourful Instagram page @threeboysandapinkbath, including her most recent one – a tiny 450-square-foot ‘Sheila Shed’ she designed and built for her family of four! She has been featured in the Sunday Times Home supplement and has worked with brands including B&Q, American Express, Sofa.com, Velux, eBay and West Elm.” (Three Boys and a Pink Bath).
By Kristen Barenthaler11 months ago in Geeks
Silver Screen Magic with Mae West
American actress and singer Mae West became a popular film actress during the Great Depression. She started entertaining in vaudeville, then performed on Broadway, and finally went to Hollywood. She signed up with Paramount Pictures and made her debut in the 1932 film “Night After Night.” She also starred in musicals, comedies, and crime dramas. The American Film Institute named her one of the best classic Hollywood actresses.
By Rasma Raisters3 days ago in Geeks
Twitter Outage
For millions of users around the world, Twitter—now known as X—is more than just a social media platform. It’s a real-time news source, a communication tool, and a digital town square. So when a Twitter outage occurs, confusion spreads quickly. Users rush to search questions like “is Twitter down?”, “is X down right now?”, or “why is X not working?” hoping for clarity. In recent years, X outages have become highly visible events, often trending across other platforms within minutes. Whether the issue lasts a few minutes or several hours, a Twitter down situation highlights how deeply embedded the platform is in daily online life. When Twitter Goes Down: What Users Experience During a typical Twitter down incident, users may encounter several problems at once. Timelines stop refreshing, posts fail to load, and notifications disappear. Some users can open the app but see blank feeds, while others are completely locked out. These moments spark a flood of searches like “is Twitter down right now?” and “Twitter not working.” As branding has shifted, the same frustration now appears under newer searches such as “is X down?”, “X down?”, or “X is down.” The name may have changed, but user expectations remain the same: instant access and real-time updates. The Role of X Down Detectors and Status Tools When users suspect an outage, many turn to tools like X down detector or Twitter down detector websites. These platforms collect real-time reports from users and visualize spikes in complaints. A sudden surge often confirms that the issue isn’t isolated. People also search for Twitter status updates, hoping for official confirmation. While X occasionally posts updates during major outages, users often rely on external sources first—especially when the platform itself isn’t accessible. Is X.com Down or Something Else? One of the most common questions during an outage is “is x.com down?” While it may appear that the entire platform is unavailable, the underlying cause can vary. Sometimes the issue affects only certain regions, mobile apps, or specific features like posting or direct messages. In other cases, users notice that third-party integrations fail. This leads to additional searches such as “X not working” or “is X down?” as people try to determine whether the problem lies with their device, internet connection, or the platform itself. Cloudflare and Large-Scale Outages Occasionally, outages are linked to infrastructure providers rather than X directly. Cloudflare, a major content delivery and security service used by many large websites, has been associated with widespread disruptions across the internet. During a Cloudflare outage, multiple platforms can experience downtime simultaneously. When this happens, searches for “Cloudflare outage” often rise alongside “Twitter is down.” These events show how interconnected modern platforms are and how a single failure point can affect millions of users at once. Grok Down: A New Kind of Concern With the introduction of AI-powered features, outages now extend beyond basic posting and browsing. Some users have reported instances of Grok down during broader X outages. When Grok, the platform’s AI assistant, stops responding, it adds another layer of frustration—especially for users who rely on it for research, summaries, or creative tasks. As X continues to expand its feature set, future outages may impact different services independently, making it harder to quickly understand what exactly is broken. Why Twitter Outages Feel So Disruptive Unlike many platforms, X thrives on immediacy. It’s often the first place people go during breaking news, global events, or emergencies. When Twitter is down, users lose access to real-time conversations and firsthand updates. This is why even short outages trigger widespread concern. Questions like “is Twitter down?” or “is X down right now?” aren’t just about inconvenience—they reflect a sudden loss of connection to the global conversation. How Users Cope When X Is Down When an X outage occurs, users often migrate temporarily to other platforms to confirm the issue or share updates. Ironically, people frequently use those platforms to say that Twitter is unavailable. In the meantime, down-detector sites, tech forums, and news outlets become the primary sources of information. For creators, journalists, and businesses, downtime can disrupt workflows and audience engagement. Scheduling posts, responding to trending topics, or managing customer communication becomes impossible until service is restored. What Outages Reveal About Digital Dependence Every major Twitter outage serves as a reminder of how dependent modern communication has become on a few centralized platforms. Whether the search term is “Twitter down?” or “X down?”, the concern is universal. While most outages are resolved relatively quickly, their impact lingers. They raise questions about platform stability, transparency, and the importance of having alternative channels for communication. Final Thoughts A Twitter outage—or X outage—is rarely just a technical hiccup. It’s a moment that exposes how essential the platform has become for news, discussion, and connection. From searches like “is Twitter down right now?” to monitoring X down detector reports, users instinctively seek reassurance and answers.
By Saboor Brohi 24 minutes ago in Geeks
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.