The Roughest Draft — Books, Beauty, & Buys

By: Emily Wibberly & Austin Sigemund Broka
Published Year: 2022
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 336

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this novel.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Three years ago, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen were the brightest literary stars on the horizon, their cowritten books topping bestseller lists. But on the heels of their greatest success, they ended their partnership on bad terms, for reasons neither would divulge to the public. They haven't spoken since, and never planned to, except they have one final book due on contract.

Facing crossroads in their personal and professional lives, they're forced to reunite. The last thing they ever thought they'd do again is hole up in the tiny Florida town where they wrote their previous book, trying to finish a new manuscript quickly and painlessly. Working through the reasons they've hated each other for the past three years isn't easy, especially not while writing a romantic novel.

While passion and prose push them closer together in the Florida heat, Katrina and Nathan will learn that relationships, like writing, sometimes take a few rough drafts before they get it right.

First Impressions

Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka are one of my favorite writing duos and I was beyond excited to be given an opportunity to read and review their first adult novel. Up until now, they have only co-wrote YA novels (which I have loved). When I saw they were writing their first adult novel together I was excited to see what would come of it. The cover isn’t my favorite, but it is very cute.

What I thought

Nathan and Katrina are co-authors who had a massive blow up 4 years ago after finishing their second novel. Now they are being forced by their agents to come back together and write the third contracted novel together.

One of the most interesting parts of this book to me is how much this must parallel the real authors’ experiences. I’m curious which of these writing techniques they use when they write books together and it leant a reality and trust to this book that I really liked.

I loved Nathan and Katrina’s chemistry from the beginning, as well as hated her fiancé. Throughout the story, the reader is left wanting to know what exactly caused Nathan and Katrina to separate and not speak for 4 years. It is revealed slowly through flashbacks to their last writing experience 4 years ago, and in my opinion the reveal is a little too slow. Especially since the reason seems pretty obvious. I wish that it had gotten put out in the open a little sooner in the book but it worked well for the story.

There is another character, Harriet, who was friends with both Nathan and Katrina until their blow up. At one point she says that she feels like they only kept her around as a friend when they needed her for the two of them and this felt true for the story. I liked the small amount that she was in the story, but it felt like she was only written as a tool for Nathan and Katrina to deal with their stuff and not as a character within her own right. She very much could’ve not been in the book at all and it wouldn’t have been effected.

I initially had a few issue with why Nathan and Katrina were having the difficulties they were having, but realized that I have had some similar issues with trust and failures. I found parts of the story to be repetitive and thin it could’ve been cut down a little. It didn’t have that same spark I find in their YA books, but I still enjoyed it and it was a good, fun love story.