I was so excited when I received the advanced copy of this book, and it did not disappoint! This was easily one of my favorite reads of January.
Format: Net Galley Advanced Reader Copy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Page Length: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley Romance (January 25, 2022)
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Darcy‘s Rating: “You have bewitched me, body and soul.”
A Chasing Mr. Darcy Review
Here’s a summary from 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.
Okay, so anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for some good, old-fashioned pining between two star crossed lovers...and The Roughest Draft delivers on that in spades. There are so many things I liked about this book, but what I loved the most about it was the romanticism of the whole plot. Katrina and Nathan share feelings for each other, but let's just say breaking down barriers is not either of their skill sets. Instead, they share their feelings for each other through the edits of the book their writing (in the flashbacks), and they continue to share their feelings + their frustrations in the edits of their next book (in the current setting). Call me crazy, but there was just something so soul piercing to read Nathan's feelings for Katrina through the lens of the fictional character they created. The love was almost palpable, especially in the flashbacks, and it just sucked me in completely.
I didn't quite understand their, let's say tension, in the present until the flashbacks were revealed in their entirety. I did get the gist for the most part, so that was okay. I liked that the flashbacks were revealed in a slow burn (similar to People We Meet on Vacation). I will say, though, Katrina's "betrayal" was much more fulfilling than that half-ass make out session in PWMOV (IYKYK). I understood Nathan's heartbreak because by that point in the book, I understood what the writing really meant to him. I also identified with Katrina a lot in this book; she's scared of getting too much success at one time, and instead, chooses either safe choices OR self-sabotages herself. I get that because sometimes I do feel like I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop when good things start happening. I try not to, but there you have it: there's an inner pessimist in all of us, I suppose.
I really enjoyed the story as much as the characters in The Roughest Draft. I was swept away by the whole idea of a fated love and fate bringing that love back together. I also felt like the structure of the book really made the story fly by, and I loved that! Overall, this was hands down a 5 star romance for me. If you enjoy a bit of pining along with characters who make relatable (albeit stupid) decisions when in love, you will love The Roughest Draft.
Thank you again to Berkley Romance (partner) for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Comments