This book was very readable but I just didn't find the characters or the premise particularly believable--like, I know it's written by a real life co-writing author couple, but I think it would have been easier to buy these characters as the kind of writers we're told they are if the actual writing of the book had been just a shade better or more literary. Rounded up to four stars anyway because it's 2021 and I think readers who like Emily Henry and Christina Lauren and are looking for a light read in that vein will enjoy it, though!

I just finished this book and my jaw is on the ground. This book. My goodness this book was beautifully real.

Imagine losing your best friend, your partner in crime, your co-writer, all because of one fight. One fight which led you two to not speak for four years straight...but you guys are coauthors and so under contract technically you need to write one more novel. So after four years of hating each others guts, you are both shoved into the same house where you will have to live in until you get this novel done. This is the same house that you got closer in, four years ago, when you guys went from being strangers to friends to best friends....to something forbidden....then abruptly to enemies. How are you two going to push aside your differences long enough to finish this book...????

yeah... as you can guess, this book HURT and I absolutely loved it :) I loved how transparent both characters were from the very beginning, you could see their flaws and while it made me hate them, I also loved it because I felt like they were two real people! And don't get me started on their bantering. OH MY GOD, have you ever read an academic rivals to lovers romance, where the two rivals are so equal in their skills. Where they love to push each other towards improvement ? THIS BOOK HAD THAT BUT THEY WERENT RIVALS, THEY WERE ON THE SAME SIDE. Katarina and Nathan complemented each other so well, they knew and understood the other so well. All they wanted to see was the other to blossom. The respect they held for each other was so beautiful.

Let me tell you though, it was painful to see them not together, I wanted to see both characters happy and not broken or lost. Their gradual progression and growth is what ultimately made me love and root for them. Their love beat all odds and I love that.

If you liked Beach Read by Emily Henry, definitely check this book out.

I really enjoyed this story, and I'm sad it's over! Which is crazy since I don't typically care for slow-burn books, but this one might've changed my mind.

Starting with the plot itself, I thought it was beautifully executed. Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka's writing style is amazing; I fell in love with it. They also did a phenomenal job of making the reader care for our main characters, Katrina and Nathan. I felt like I went on this journey of fear, growth, love, heartbreak, resentment, and acceptance right along with them. With that, I definitely got frustrated with both of them as if they were my real friends (shout out to Harriet b/c she is me and I am her!), but as an ode to Nathan and Katrina's ongoing debate, Fiction and real life often intertwine, lol.

I hate to compare books, but I genuinely think if you enjoyed both Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, then you'll love this one. I think this book is going to be a hit across Bookstagram, BookTok, and social media as a whole and I can't wait to see the love it'll get!

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

full review posted to links after embargo.

I think this was a 3.5 or 3.75 star read that I'm rounding up because overall I did find it pretty enjoyable. Still, it wasn't a book I really felt I could lose myself in. I found the premise to be kind of self-insert (an author couple writing an author couple, regardless of how loudly the characters are shouting that they don't like each other), and the prose was pretty self-indulgent at points. Nathan in particular was a fairly unlikeable character for me: as much as he was respectful of his relationship with his (ex-)wife, he seemed like someone who would describe himself as a Nice Guy. He drives a Porsche, for God's sake. We get much more character development from Katrina.

The central conflict, the thing that broke them apart, is so hyped up and can only be one thing, and it falls kind of flat on delivery. I also think that Katrina's experiences with depression and anxiety, as well as her fear of failure, are backgrounded until they're useful tools. They don't come out of nowhere, but it's clear that they're plot devices rather than something the character experiences.

This makes it sound like I didn't enjoy the book. I did! I like books about writing, there were moments of truly gorgeous prose, the tension was well-paced, and I really enjoyed seeing Katrina come into her own. I just wanted more nuance.

Oh this was lovely.

So, it's rare that I venture into adult contemporary land, especially these days when I find anything real-world quite constraining and stress-inducing. But alas, the description caught me, and I couldn't let go. A book about two writers and their ensuing romance? Old grudges and hurt feelings? Sign me up.

And boy did it deliver. As a writer myself, I fell first for the prose. It's such a beautiful book, and as captivated as I was by the story, I found myself highlighting and appreciating line after line. Katrina and Nathan's voice are so distinct and clear they might as well be loud as church bells. What's better is how different they were, which is a major pet peeve of mine in dual POV books.

I'm not going to rehash the plot here, but suffice it to say you probably won't be able to stop reading until say, 70%. We're thrown head first into Nathan and Katrina's tense reunion without knowing what split them apart in the first place. It was reminiscent of one of my other favorite books (The People We Meet On Vacation) in the best of ways, but unfortunately that means you're desperate to pick up the pieces of whatever it was they were from before. And it's not for the faint of heart. It raises so many questions about Nathan's marriage, Katrina's anger, and I feel like it delivers pretty well on most of that when you find the truth. I will say, though, I feel like the breaking moment between them could have been more ... something. Earth shattering, perhaps? I suppose I was bracing for a knock-down fight after remembering Katrina's anger in the beginning, but the moment was pretty fleeting. That might be my only critique, which really isn't a critique because it was more based on my own expectations. I would have liked a bit more tension past the 75% mark as well, but hey, that's entirely because I am a glutton for punishment and I like my sweets sour. I think most people will find the resolution, long as it is, wonderfully satisfying.

A huge thanks to Berkley for letting me read! I haven't read something this fast in ages.

Thank you NetGalley and PRH International for an eARC!

This book is written by two authors about two authors who are writing about a couple and everyone is in love.

This book was not for me at all. The slow burn and suspenseful romance got on my nerves. I skimmed most of the pages.

Reading the acknowledgement made me give it two stars when I found out it's inspired by the writers' personal story. The idea seems very sweet to me, of two co-authors falling in love.

I compulsively read this book in two sittings. This is the story of a literary duo who became famous writing the next best novel and they stopped working. Thanks to their publisher they are forced to write another book and revisit the scene of how their relationship broke apart. This book reminded me of People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read. This book is a must-read.

Thank you to Berkeley for an advance copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

This book was a lot of fun! I never read the pair’s young adult titles but the synopsis of this one intrigued me. My only real complaint is that it took a while for me to get invested in this story and really care about the characters. I also wished that there were more flashbacks to show their past relationship. Once the story picked up, the book flew and I could not wait to see what happened next.

They wrote a bestselling book together and then refused to speak for the next three years. This is what we know when The Roughest Draft opens. Katrina and Nathan are forced to come back together to write the third book they’re under contract for and slowly the story of what forced them apart begins to reveal itself. Told in past and present timelines, from both Katrina and Nathan’s perspectives, this book features love and the idea of love written through beautiful, smart prose.

I love a smart romance novel and this one is definitely that. The writing itself is beautiful, each sentence felt like it was carefully crafted, and the story itself reminded me of People We Meet on Vacation - you know something big happened to rock the foundation of their relationship, but it takes awhile to learn exactly what it was. By the time the big reveal finally happens, it isn’t quite surprising because the authors dropped clues throughout.

Both characters, though flawed, were very likeable and I loved getting to hear about the relationship from both sides.

This book will be talked about on the Reading Through Life Podcast, episode 17, out December 8th.

Is there anything that gets book lovers attention faster than a book about the bookish world? Featuring two estranged co-writers who are pressured into fulfilling the remaining book on their contract, the chemistry between Katrina and Nathan was so fun- both their chemistry as co-writers and their romantic chemistry. They deeply understand each other, despite the issue that drove them apart. It's always fun to read about the writing and publishing process, and there is plenty of that in here as well as the reconnection between Nathan and Katrina.

This book is so beautifully written, it’s no wonder I couldn’t stop thinking about it! I hadn’t even noticed that it was written by a couple until the ending when I read the “About The Author” but that makes it all the more genuine. Between the secret messages hidden in Kat and Nathan’s writing, the turmoil that still continues to plague both of their thoughts, and the stunning chemistry that sparks between the two of them, I adored this book!

Four years ago their perfect writing partnership imploded, leaving both Katrina and Nathan struggling to move forward. Katrina has stopped writing all-together and Nathan is struggling to option his next book. When the pair is thrust together to write a book, they begrudgingly hole up together in Florida to finish out their publishing contract with hopes of never seeing each other again. But when faced with their past, they must decide whether or not they are going to push forward to mend their broken hearts.

The Roughest Draft was very different than I expected. As a heavier romance, it had a lot of angst and longing. In similar vain to People We Meet on Vacation, the book skirts back and forth between the past and present slowly revealing what happened between the characters four years ago to make them stop speaking. It is a super sensual slow burn second-chance romance. While the book had a slower start for me, the payoff was worth it, especially as their previous book excerpts were woven into the story to give an element of life imitating art.

Both Katrina and Nathan are incredibly interesting characters, unlike so many books I've read lately. There is excellent mental health rep (anxiety, depression, therapy), which I truly appreciated. Katrina is highly emotional. She feels big and is afraid of disappointing people. Nathan was her complete opposite and despite the circumstances of his love for Katrina, he was a stand-up guy in a difficult situation. I loved how Katrina pushed Nathan hard to live life in the real world, instead of burrowing behind his words, choosing to live through fiction.

The Roughest Draft was a unique premise, which really made me think about relationships (both healthy and unhealthy) and how all decisions have ramifications that can ripple your entire life.

Thanks to Berkley for the advanced copy of the book.

Just a few years ago, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen were cowriting the hottest new book that would top the bestseller lists. Now, they no longer speak and they'd both like to keep it that way. Unfortunately, they have one more book in their contract and they both have personal reasons to make it happen. They decide to hole up in the Florida house they wrote their first book in but it won't be easy.

I'm a big fan of this duo's YA books so I was very excited to read their first adult novel. Sadly it was a bit of a miss for me.

Likes:
- a look into the writing process
- a book within a book
- art mimicking life

Dislikes:
- a lot of lead up to a very small reveal
- confusing past and present chapters
- felt no connection to either character
- problems that could be easily resolved with honesty

While this book wasn't for me, there were a lot of beautiful moments and I bet many people will really love it.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

CW: infidelity

Katrina and Nathan are coauthors of an appraised fiction novel, but they are no longer on speaker terms. Unfortunately, they need to fulfill their contract of another book. After 4 years, they reconnect; Nathan for a boost in his writing and publishing adventures, Katrina to appease her boyfriend/book agent (yes, one in the same). Together, Nathan and Katrina have to tackle the feelings that broke them and try to develop a workable novel to keep their lives intact and complete the contract. Yet, feelings still linger… even four years later. And they are coming out in the pages of the novel they are trying to write.

I loved this book from the start. I think it was well written and engaging. Nathan and Katrina had understandable feelings of frustration, hurt, and loathing. Many people, in reviews, compared the book to Emily Henry’s “Beach Read.” Although, I love Emily Henry’s book and think this is a huge compliment, the more I read this book, the more it took off on its own story. At first, I thought the same thing, but as I dove deeper into the characters and their pasts, I found myself enjoy it more and more and could not comparing it to another author’s story because this one stood on its own. Nathan and Katrina have very real, complex feelings that exude from the pages. The writing is wonderful in this novel and it makes me want to check out the author’s YA books.

Thanks Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for giving the opportunity to access this ARC. This has been one of the best contemporary romance novels I have read in 2021. I have already told several of my fellow librarians about it and I think it might be a good book club read next year after its release.

I really wanted to love this book but, sadly it did not work for me. I enjoyed the insights into the writing process but overall, for me, there was not enough of a plot or chemistry to hold it together. (2.5 stars)

From early reviews, others have loved this one so, please don’t be swayed by my opinion alone.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

The chemistry between the two main charcaters absolutely burned my soul. It was so incredible watching the two charcaters put all their feelings through pages, it truly was a different turn of romances compared to most books. The intensity of twos desires was so effective and captivating that u could simply not take my eyes of this book.

Wow I finished this book in a single sitting that’s how good it is. I have always loved books that are about books. Also, it has similar vibes as Beach Read and People we meet on vacation by Emily Henry; and I have loved them too so obviously it has to be my new favourite. I really liked the writing, the pace, the characters, the angst, the chemistry, the sweeping romance and the way author heavily focuses on individual character growth and development!!
Especially Katrina, I was so happy and proud of how far she has come in terms of drawing boundaries, knowing what’s right and wrong for her, getting after what’s right and most importantly working on her anxiety; instead of shying away and making a hellhole of what ifs, she dares to at least give her all.
Similarly, Nathan too, he is a man of few words and that being it’s quite difficult for him to let the feelings being known by communicating about them; instead of penning them down, I empathise with him and was super proud like a mama when he decides to let it go and started communicating about them with Katrina instead of channelling them via fictional world and characters.
So, towards the end I might have shed some happy tears..
Henceforth, quite an enjoyable read. I loved every second of being immersed in this world, with the characters, and that includes my adorable Harriet too.

Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Taylor Jenkins Reid, this literary focused romance does not disappoint. Former co-authors Katrina and Nathan have been estranged since the stunning success of their last book 3 years ago. The duo famously split for reasons unknown to the public with Nathan striking out on his own and Katrina retiring from writing. Due to forces beyond their control, the two find themselves pushed back together to fulfill their publisher's contract for one more book. Past resentments, feelings and passion simmer just below the surface and threaten to overwhelm as they begin writing their new novel during a writer's retreat in Florida. Alternating with flashbacks to the past and present and told from both perspectives, this love story is a slow sweet burn. I loved the pacing of the novel, the vulnerability of the characters and the exploration of the writing + creative process. Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for my copy of this one!

Wow, this book was terrific! I loved it so much. It reminded me of an Emily Henry novel. The characters were really interesting and I liked the alternating points of view s owe could get in both their heads.

Former co-writers, Katrina & Nathan, hate each other. After a massive falling out they were never able to reach the same level of success that they had together. In order to make in the writing world they must try and put the past hurt aside.

Wow this book was an emotional rollercoaster. I loved how the writing process was a tool to repair the past. Also, they fact that this was co-written by a man and woman team made it that much more authentic and real. This one packs a punch!