Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - The Roughest Draft

The central conflict here revolves around emotional affairs, and that just doesn't work for me as the underpinning for a sympathetic romance. They spent most of the book upset with each other as a result of not communicating well, and while that can work if the payoff is strong enough, the fact that their rift was rooted in an emotional affair meant that this one just couldn't resonate with me. It's not that the prose here was bad or that the writers wrote a bad book-- it's simply one that I couldn't enjoy because I didn't like the plot or the characters.

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hurricxne's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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imds's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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gracescanlon's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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sestout's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

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blucbell's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

3.5

isn't what nathan feel before divorce somehow kind of infidelity? well, thats what i felt toward that part, thus it triggered me, how sad 🧎🏻‍♀️

disclaimer, i easily got triggered by things that seems like cheating or even they ARE cheating, i'd rate higher if what nathan felt was after their divorce

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madanxiety's review against another edition

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emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I saw a rave review of this book and thought I'd give it a try, though I am always skeptical of such reviews. I mean, the premise is pretty self-indulgent; I don't think anyone can read this book without wondering about the truths it holds for the authors.

I've read many romance novels, but usually only ones with a glaringly obvious HEA on the horizon. It's not that I really thought Nathan and Katrina would end up apart in the end, but the mysteriousness of their tension throughout the book left me unsure how exactly it would be resolved. While I value the easy-reading romances that point so steadily to one conclusion, with plot barriers that seem ridiculously inconsequential, there's something about a book where things don't feel so guaranteed.

I'm still hesitant to give it 5 stars... the infidelity aspect is challenging for me to get over, even though I understand the "hotness."

The characters don't even seem to consider it infidelity, but I personally believe that the feelings Nathan developed in the Only Once days were infidelity, however "gracious" it was of him to resist until the divorce was settled.

That said, I can't deny that it is impressive. Toward the end, I realized that this is a whole novel crafted solely between and about two people, with only two side characters popping up every now and then. I just can't help but be impressed how the dialogue never got stale or contrived or annoyingly repetitive. It's definitely one of those books that makes a writer go, "God, I wish I'd written that." Truthfully, I'm certain I couldn't have. The meta-ness of the plot is fascinating, the mystery of the protagonists' past rift captivating.

I think what will really stick with me about this book is how both characters are relatable to me personally.

I identify most with Nathan. I also find it significantly easier to speak out my truth through writing, dressed in literary devices and removed from context. However, I also understand Katrina's fear of getting what she wants and losing it, of disappointing others and, most importantly, herself. I constantly feel like I am my worst enemy, getting in my own way, and that's exactly what she does. And it's comforting and swoon-y to watch someone close to her not only pick up on this, but confront it and prevent it from collapsing them entirely.

Gosh, I just can't believe some of the shallow reviews on here. Different strokes for different folks, I guess! But jeez, "no chemistry"??

The joking, the finishing each other's sentances, the heart-pouring communication through writing what they could not say aloud, the deep understanding of each other's greatest fears? What more do you want lmao? If anything, Katrina's chemistry with Chris is unbelievable - I'll concede that much.

I genuinely just changed my 4.75 to a 5 to spite the haters lmfao.

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jamie_rich's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

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