Author partners Nathan and Katrina agree to another book to fulfill a publisher contract, so Nathan can sell another book, so Katrina can save her relationship with her fiancé, after four years of having not spoken to each other. On a writing retreat in Florida, the house where they wrote their best-selling book, old memories are drawn up and can this feud, this sad fall-out of a talented partnership be over after this writing project finishes? Or better yet, a new beginning to an end?

Wibbroka delivered quite the slow burn second chance romance between friends turned enemies turned friends turned lovers! The reality of Katrina and Nathan’s relationship had dimensions, depth, and was intricately detailed that every breath had meaning. Secrets were revealed, pining and longing, undeniable feelings, and an unspoken connection. While you could easily get lost in the first half, the second half was where the heart was, the part where you believed more than anything what the two characters were working towards. Brilliant premise, excellent character development, and absolutely loved the incorporation of real life and fiction, script versus truth, and the communication through pages.

I have been highly anticipating reading The Roughest Draft so a big thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

With this one, I was immediately drawn in by its cover! The pink, the pool, our two MCs on opposite ends? *chef’s kiss*. The synopsis peaked my interest even more… “cowriting literary darlings” until things went south between them years ago? But now they need to put their differences aside to write one more book? I was getting big Beach Read meets People We Meet on Vacation vibes. Add in the fact that The Roughest Draft is also written by a pair of married co-authors? Sign me up!

Since finishing the book, I’ve been thinking about how best to summarize my thoughts. It had so many aspects that I love… dual perspectives, a split timeline, steamy scenes, and it’s a book about books/authors/writing… it truly checks all of my boxes! However, the sum of all of those parts didn’t fully add up for me. I found Nathan and Katrina’s conflict to be frustrating (which was maybe the point) and the topic of divorce, which came up throughout the story, to hit too close to home. If the premise intrigues you, I would still absolutely give this book a go. Upon finishing it, I just don’t think this was the right book for me.

I really enjoyed The Roughest Draft as I love a dual pov romance. I liked the storyline flashing between past and the present letting the story come together when needed. It was a very slow burn that was almost too slow and at points the characters could be frustrating. This really did bring you into the story though! To realize at the end that this was co-written by a husband and wife does make you wonder how much of their own feelings the wrote into the story.

Disappointingly, I will be DNF'ing this book after reading 20% of it. I am saddened that the main theme is a cheating trope and am also really bored by the book so far.

I love the premise of this book and was so excited for its potential, but it is so far falling flat and not capturing my attention. The writing feels forced and childish; I am not invested in the characters whatsoever.

As for the relationship between Nathan and Katrina, I can already tell that they will reconnect during their writing retreat after several years estranged from each other. Even though Katrina is engaged, I'm sure she will be rekindling her spark with Nathan (even though it will likely not be intentional - just happen over the course of their writing project). This feels icky to me as the main point of the book since it is cheating, even if just emotionally. Additionally, why haven't the main characters spoken in 4 years? This feels like the miscommunication trope as well, which is my LEAST favorite trope in romances.

These tropes, coupled with the lack of engaging writing thus far, are why I will not be finishing this book and would not recommend to others.

This was such an amazing read. This is about two best selling co-authors who seperated but there is a contract binding them to write another book together in the same house where they will face heartbreak, connection, and something else. I truly enjoyed this book. I know both of these authors write young adult books (which are on my tbr) but once I read a summary of two rival authors working together, I knew I had to pick this novel up. This book started off wonderfully with me being hooked from the first sentence. I love how much emotion is in this book as you can feel all the tension, love, conection, etc. The pacing was perfect with a great storyline, characters and the most beautiful setting (Florida). This book is written in dual povs with some flashbacks which was very much needed in this book.

The main characters in this book are Katrina and Nathan. I love both characters so much and they both had such amazing character development. They both have their own struggles that they need to face like Nathan and his marriage also Katrina wanting a private life. There are some side characters in this book but there aren't any main side characters that are mainly in the book though these side characters do help the MCs. This book has enemies to lovers, ex friends to lovers, and a very slow burn romance. When I mention a very slow burn romance, I'm saying that I wait over 250 pages for the MCs to make out because the tension was just there. I was sad the romance wasn't steamy though.

The ending was so good and I just enjoyed this entire book. It was so well written and I feel that the authors might have added their own story into this book. This book was just perfectly written and I had no problems with it at all except that I wish that this book was steamy. I really recommend readers read this book as the story already talks about loving books. This book is perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Elle Kennedy though without all the spice.

the roughest draft interested me because of the dual pov romance but sadly it was a let down. i wasn't a fan of them dodging around their issues instead of simply communicating while writing together. i didn't feel their chemistry either which made it difficult to connect to the characters and their feelings for each other. the story was entertaining while it lasted but there isn't enough substance to keep me hooked.

Meeting six years ago at a writer’s workshop in Upstate New York, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen just seemed to fit together, they shared ideas and their perspectives were similar they were the writing duo.
Over a span of a few months while staying together in a beach house in Florida they wrote a bestselling novel. Something happened after the book was finished and they haven’t talked in four years. Now their publisher wants their final book that was part of their contract. Forced to reunite their going to stay at the same beach house where they wrote their final book.Katrina is engaged to her agent that she once shared with Nathan, and Nathan is divorced.
Nathan’s last book he wrote without Katrina didn’t do well, Katrina’s fiancée said they need the money so they both agree. Now forced in a small house they begin to write an emotional story about a couple’s divorce. Barely talking and full of tension will they ever be able to write their book? Soon their faced with their past and all their unresolved issues, what happened four years ago? Told in two parts four years ago and the present we start to see what truly happened and can they see the love that’s right in front of them. This book is so much more than just romance it’s heartfelt and heartbreaking and Kat and Nathan will
Always hold a special spot in my heart! Five stars!

There was not one moment in this book that did not keep me fully enraptured. The proses were poignant and piercing, giving me the same feeling as my first listen to a new Taylor Swift album.

Katrina’s anxieties about entering back into a writing partnership with Nathan were entirely valid and deeply felt. There was not a chapter in this book that went without notes or highlights, having to pause because what I had just read was “that” good.

This was my first five star read of 2022 and will be the measuring stick of this genre this year.

I loved this story! This will certainly be high on my top 2022 reads for the year already and I’m happy to recommend this book to someone looking for a new romance story.

I especially appreciated the character depth of the two characters, as the past and present clash. The will they / won't they build up was irresistible and kept my attention. The plot was unique and I enjoyed reading about the publishing world and the ins and outs of writing (and co-writing) a novel. I was not disappointed in this story!

The writing was so good. The story concept was fantastic. I really wanted to know more. But they were SO CRANKY. I know it was meant to be angst. But between her fiancee and his shadiness and their lack of communication, it was just too much.

After writing a bestseller together, writers Katrina and Nathan decide to end their successful partnership to the surprise and confusion of everyone. While speculations run wild, the authors do not speak for four years until they join forces again to write one last book together to fulfil their publishing contract.

This is a mostly cute sometimes frustrating romance book about two stubborn authors who have to handle their past before they can write the next best thing.

I enjoyed most of the book though I gave it three stars for a few reason. First, the writing style just wasn't for me. I don't know exactly what it was, the words just failed to capture my attention or spark any imagination in me.

Second, these are the two most frustrating characters ever! On one hand I get it because I feel like I was behave in a similar way if I had that sort of past with someone, but I kept wanting to just yell at them to just get along already! While that can make for a fun reading experience, this just made me exasperated.

I also didn't feel the chemistry that much. Like I knew they were in love with each other but I had trouble feeling it. Maybe that has to do with my feelings towards the writing style but I don't know.

I did enjoy this book though. The premise is extremely interesting especially since it comes from a married writing duo. I appreciated seeing Kat's imposter syndrome and her related anxiety and Nathan had some absolutely adorable quotes about his feelings towards Kat.

TW : infidelity (emotional), mental health, toxic relationship, gaslighting, emotional abuse

Ahhh, I loved this book! First off, can we talk about how AWESOME it is that the co-authors of this book also fell in love while writing together?? *swoons*

The writing style was so good, and ahhh, I can't describe how cool it was to read a book about talented writers writing a book!! I loved the tension, the chemistry, the mystery surrounding Katrina and Nathan's falling out, everything!

Also, I don't know how accurate it is for a writer's retreat, but it was a fascinating "behind the scenes" experience.

Last thing : Chris. Absolutely. Hated. Him. From. The. Start.

Such a sweet read. it made even sweeter by the married coauthors. Very well written and I love the fact that both of the main characters were so complex. Overall I would recommend.

I am a fan of the slow burn, but I think that the middle part of the novel was a little too slow for me personally, and it could have had a little more drama for my particular liking.

I loved this book and enjoyed getting to know the characters and how the plot unfolds. The chapters alternate between the two main characters and that gives insight into what they are thinking. It sheds light on how communication isn't so easy sometimes, even with authors. I liked seeing the writing process and how they collaborated. I will definitely recommend to others and keep these authors on my radar.

Thanks to Berkley Romance, the author, and NetGalley for the free gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publishing Date: January 25th

The Roughest Draft was an extremely well-written romance that is filled with angst and emotion due to the two main characters having so much history between them, and not all of it being positive.

Friends to lovers, with a mix of second chance romance with a mix of timelines, had me completely invested in this book about how the writers were also writing this same book. The chemistry in this book was off the charts which always creates more tension and banter, who doesn’t love that.

I flew through this book because of the writing style and its unique plotline - which is hard to find in romance sometimes these days. These are a new author pair to me but I will definitely be reading more of their books.

Thank you @berkleyromance for a copy of The Roughest Draft. There so much to unpack from this book. I love that Katrina and Nathan are friends that wrote a book together and their relationship is so complicated. What I loved about this book is that the love story that has so many ups and downs with timing and communications. I am not a big fan of books involving people in relationships but I love how this book made Katrina and Nathan question themselves.

I find myself invested in both the present and past of Katrina and Nathan’s writing experience and loved their journey.

Days later, The Roughest Draft book is still living rent free in my mind.

This book was both hard to read and too beautiful to stop. I think to appreciate my review you need to know I don’t naturally gravitate towards angsty, tragic love stories and IMO that is exactly what The Roughest Draft was.

The Roughest Draft is a delicious friends to enemies to lovers slow burn romance that follows Katrina and Nathan, two authors who have co-written best sellers in the past. That is until they had a falling out 4 years ago and haven’t spoken to each other since. They come back together to write one final book to meet their contractual agreement. It’s told with dual POVs and dual timelines going back and forth between the past and present.

I love, love LOVE how this book romanticized the writing process. How these two authors worked together to write one fictional piece of work by trading pages laced with their very real longing for one another. There was so much depth and character growth intertwined within their writing. If you’re anything like me and grew up journaling and writing short stories to sort your emotions, you’ll appreciate this book.

Full disclosure, I’m learning friends to lovers can be an iffy trope for me. Primarily when there is significant miscommunication or they just don’t tell each other how they’re feeling even though they’ve built up so much forking sexual tension it’s obvious they’re into each other. But that wasn’t necessarily the case here. It was the forbidden pinning that did me in.

Now is where it needs to be mentioned that both MCs were involved in other relationships when they fell in love with one another. While there is no physical infidelity, there is clearly some emotional cheating. The authors did a good job of showing us that the other relationships were not perfect, seemingly more out of comfort or obligation than love, but it didn’t make it any easier to read. Beware if this is a trigger for you.

That being said, it’s clear to see that Katrina and Nathan were meant to be with each other. Their chemistry was perfectly written. I don’t really cry while reading romance, save for the death of a parent, etc, but OH, MY MY! After everything they went through, Chapter 62 broke me in the best possible way and left me SOBBING through every last word of the flawless epilogue.

I would whole heartedly recommend this book.

I’ll admit it. I wanted to read this book because the premise (and cover) reminded me a lot of “Beach Read” by Emily Henry. Other than the book involving authors that live with/near each other, the similarities end there. “The Roughest Draft” had WAY more emotional tension between the two main characters. Think of mutual pining that turns into mutual dislike and you can imagine all that love/hate tension just simmering to an emotional boil.

In the book, Katrina and Nathan are ex-friends and ex co-authors that are pushed back together to write a new novel to rejuvenate Nathan’s declining solo career and jump-start Karina’s non-existing one. Both are understandably hesitant to get back together especially back at the house where both their personal and professional relationship imploded. Told in duel POV that jumps between past and present, the book slowly shows how Karina and Nathan rebuild their relationship but also how they had previously ruined it.

My favorite part of the book is definitely the tension between the main characters. They are both authors that tend to live inside their heads, thinking things that they find almost impossible to verbalize to each other. So they do what they do best: express themselves through their characters in a passive-aggressive attempt to communicate to one another. As a reader, this is frustrating but also a little exhilarating because you are trying to dissect a fictional book within a fictional book. I think this could have been ramped up even more had the book been told from a single perspective.

As mentioned, I think the anticipation of the resolution could have been so much more impactful had we only seen one of the main character’s perspectives, mostly Katrina’s. Whenever something Katrina/Nathan did or said would cause Katrina/Nathan to doubt themselves and their feelings, it was almost immediately resolved within a chapter or two when the POV would shift and they’d tell you what their intention had been. While it didn’t ruin the book for me, it still killed the anticipation a bit. Another minor critique was the jumping between past and present on top of jumping between POV. It was a bit much at times.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed reading this book. I read it in about a day and a half (pesky responsibilities!) because I just had to see how the characters’ relationship was resolved. A really great read and one I am looking forward to recommending.

First of all, this book is SLOW, and we don’t learn what happened between Katrina and Nathan until about three quarters through the book. By keeping the reader in the dark about why the partnership went south, I felt disconnected from them and had a hard time staying invested in their history. The characters didn’t really have unique voices. If I paused for a few minutes and picked up in the middle of a chapter, I kept finding myself forgetting who was narrating that chapter. While the writing was stellar, the story and characters felt lacking.

I could see this book working a lot better in audio format, assuming it has the right narrators. Overall, I think this is one to skip, but if you decide to pick it up, try the audiobook!

4.5/5

Ohhh another winner for me early in the new year! When I start the year off reading amazing books right from the jump I get so giddily excited about what books are still to come. If you like Emily Henry this had a similar feel to it for me with mature characters and depth of plot, also maybe because of the two main characters as authors too now that I think about it. 🤔 The characterization is where this one shines, Nathan and Katrina were both complicated and also in complicated situations throughout both the flashbacks and present day, very multilayered and deep. This was a super slow burn (almost frustratingly so) but I see the authors purpose with that too. It was angsty but not in an annoying way and also desperately romantic with gorgeous writing and some forced proximity. A super well rounded romance and I’ll definitely be waiting for more from this duo!