I enjoyed the writing, the prose and perspective here are beautiful. The Roughest Draft has an intense and relatively somber ambiance. However, I do have a problem with the infidelity element of the story.

I gave this book 5 stars, because even though it's not perfect, I enjoyed it immensely. I don't believe I've ever read a book like it.

A super fun read of two writers struggling to coauthor. This book was rout with great emotion, intrigue, and unparalleled descriptions of the writing and publishing process. Character development While a main part of this novel felt slow and some what limiting but otherwise the build of the relationship was satisfying and much deserved. Makes me want to take a writing retreat!

Katrina and Nathan are writing partners and have written two books together -- one wildly successful. They still owe their publisher one more book together, but unfortunately have parted on very bad terms. Due to a variety of circumstances, mostly financial, they reluctantly decide to put their differences behind them and write one more book together. This requires them to live in a cozy house in a romantic beach setting and have lots of togetherness. Great romance and an interesting look into the creative writing process.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc in exchange of an honest review.
This is my second book by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka and I don't think I will read another one by them. While they are good writers I'm definitely not their target audience, not in their YA books and not in their Adult books, I couldn't connect with Katrina or Nathan and I am not interested in books with emotional cheating involved. I know there is going to be a lot of people who will enjoy this book, sadly I'm not one of them.

This was a bit over the top for me - felt like a love letter to writing in a way that wasn't accessible to all readers. Very intense, dramatic story compared to the cover.

If you love Emily Henry books, this is a must read!! You can feel the emotions coming off the page. The story and characters are fantastic. I will forever be rereading this book and recommending it to every one that listens.

Nathan and Katrina get back together to write the third novel in their collaboration. They are basically forced together after an acrimonious ending to their writing partnership on the last novel. But their contract - and Katrina’s agent fiancé- pressure them to collaborate. They go to the house in the Key’s, where their last collaboration was held. They begin to write, hating one another but as they continue they gradually come to love each other.
I did not connect with this story. The characters never engaged me, were never relatable.
I would not recommend this book to my patrons.

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka for release January 25

“They were cowriting literary darlings until they hit a plot hole that turned their lives upside down.”

Wow. This book. 🙌🏼 First, the premise of two ex flames forced together in a house to write a book is just ripe for T E N S I O N 🤯 The Roughest Draft gave me some major Beach Read vibes (though this one was written in dual POV with flashbacks interwoven within), while deftly exploring the thin line between fiction and reality.

The transitions between POVs and timelines felt so seamless and truly made for a rich reading experience.

I am always such a fan of books with flashbacks which slowly give the reader insight into the past. Mix this with the slowwwww burn between Katrina and Nathan and it had me on the edge of my seat!

The writing was vivid, lyrical, and packed with emotion. Both characters were so well developed, vulnerable, messy, and complicated (in the best ways).

This book also contains many of my favourite tropes, including second chance and forced proximity, both of which were executed so so well. 😍

Thank you so much to Emily and Austin, as well as Berkley for access to this stunning ARC. Readers, particularly upmarket romance readers, are in for an absolute treat ❤️ Now I’m desperate to read their YA backlist!

Tedious, contrived, meta. This dragged a lot due to flashbacks and generally being overwritten. I found myself wanting to read the fake novels, because they sounded more interesting than this.

This was an enjoyable sort-of-second-chance romance. I was into the slow burn and chemistry between Kat and Nathan. The meta aspect of the book within the book was fun and added to the depth of their relationship.

Three years ago, Katrina and Nathan published a book together that took the world by storm. After a mysterious falling out, they're presented the opportunity to write another book, but have to delve into the past in order to do it.

First, I will say that you've got to be comfortable with reading a storyline involving infidelity in order to read this book. And yes, emotional cheating IS cheating, especially if you express those intentions. Not that cheating in any relationship is okay, but I feel like the MC could have been "in a relationship" instead of "married," and this could bring in more readers. Like I said, not okay in any circumstance, it's just present throughout the entire book, so be forewarned.

This all made me feel a little icky, but I loved the story. It was fun seeing two authors go through the writing process (keep in mind this book is actually written by two authors) and express their feelings on paper, rather than just TELLING each other how they felt. Yes, that can be frustrating, but these are writers you're dealing with - isn't this the best way for them to express emotion?

You'll get angry with a specific man in power not respecting a woman, but don't worry, this is a romance, and you know where it's going - it's exactly why I reached for the book.

All in all, I enjoyed this; it's what I want from a romance, and I'd absolutely read more from this writing duo. Just be aware of the infidelity plotline.

VERDICT: 3.5 Stars

I loved everything about this book! From the characters to the story and everything in between. Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka have written a smart and touching novel about love, friendship, and the thin line between fiction and reality. I love how they intertwined past/present and paralleled the story within a story - brilliant!

Kat and Nathan are a dynamic duo - best friends and writing partners - they are each other's "person."
They've written two best selling books and are contracted to do a third, with one tiny little problem - they haven't spoken in three years. After completing their second book together, their friendship and working relationship came to a sudden head and resulted in an abrupt and painful ending of all contact. So much has changed over the course of their time apart both-professionally and personally - that when they reunite to fulfill their contract and complete the third and final book, things are "tense" to say the least.

While it may be awkward and uncomfortable for Nathan and Kat, it is a delicate slow burn for those of us reading their story. We're treated to a lovely dance of tension and tenderness. Push and pull. Snark and sweetness. As Nathan and Katrina work through their issues, they also work through the characters of their book. The symmetry between the two does not go unnoticed, but it's woven in so seamlessly that the recurring theme of "fiction or reality?" is felt in the main characters as much as it is in the characters they are writing. This book had major Emily Henry "Beach Read" feels to me (which is a compliment - I love that book!) There was a big emphasis on the art and skill of writing... insight into the dynamics that go into each draft of a story. Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka write a beautiful love story into a fictional book that felt incredibly real.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My heart. This was an absolute experience. I was absolutely gutted at times, my heart ripped out of my chest, and then, somehow, this beautifully written book shoved my heart back into me and filled it so full it might burst. This is a really special book. I feel like I'm floating and I finished it hours ago. Marvelous.