Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - The Roughest Draft

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka

30 reviews

gwenswoons's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense fast-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

Loved this one so much. Tender and funny and so sweet. I love books about writers/book people so much, and a second chance rom-com is my absolute favorite, and this was such an extra lovely version of both! (Also love a dual perspective and a dual timeline novel, and this does both of THOSE really well too!) I love the main characters, how well-drawn and complicated they are, and how their conflicts feel true and deep to who the characters are at different moments in their lives. Can’t wait to read more from these authors. ❤️

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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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angelfireeast24's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-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? No

2.5

I really had to push myself through the book. It took what too long to find out why everyone was angry with each other.

reading all the depression & anixity & toxic relationship Kat was in I really didn't think jumping into a relationship with Nathan was a good idea. Sure she's seeing a theapist in the Epilogue but it wasn't enough for me. I also didn't really feel why the main couple was in love now or in the past. I guess their great skill of writing together was suppose to mean more to me then it did.

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greatestheights's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

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

2.0

Solidly pretentious and meh.

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gmoneyyyyy's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-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

3.25

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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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yvo_about_books's review

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2.0

Finished reading: March 4th 2023

“It can be both. Fiction is fiction, and it's real. They're not opposites. They live within each other.”

WARNING: yet another unpopular opinion ahead!!

I've seen this book being compared to Beach Read (which I loved), so when I was browsing the list for a book about divorce for the POPSUGAR challenge I decided to give in and read The Roughest Draft. I always love a story with a bookish angle, so having two writers as main characters was a bonus... And I liked the sound of the blurb itself. I was fully expecting to have an excellent time reading this story, but unfortunately this wasn't the case. Instead, it made me so SO angry! I'm keeping this short because I don't want to turn this shorties review into a full blown rant, but there is no denying that The Roughest Draft was able to provoke some strong emotions, and none of them good. Things started out promising enough, but this changed rather quickly once I realized just how big of a gaslighting and self-absorbed piece of trash Katrina's fiancé Chris really is... Just ugh. Basically as soon as he forced her to co-write another book, told her it was ok to cheat if she needed to, and if she didn't do it he was going to look for another wife I was ready to throw my kindle against the wall and DNF. Katrina is just such a doormat! I couldn't stand Nathan either, and I felt neither character was fleshed out properly beyond a few basic descriptions thrown in and put on repeat. Yes, I get that Nathan drives a Porsche, and yes, I get that Katrina has bee-stung lips!! Now leave me alone and stop tormenting me with it. To make things worse, there is a lot of emotional cheating going on, and this made me like the characters even less (if possible). The fact that both are cheating at some point in time makes it even worse; maybe if Katrina had dumped Chris there and then when I said those things in the beginning and wrote the book for herself instead, things would have been different. As it is, I couldn't care less about what happened to them or if they would resolve their issues, and I started skimreading long before the halfway mark. And oh joy! There is even some active cheating and cringeworthy SMUT involved, driving another nail in the coffin of The Roughest Draft. All in all this turned out to be a rough read for me indeed...

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theespressoedition's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense slow-paced

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

1.0

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nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

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fast-paced

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

5.0

As someone who loves to write, this was incredibly relatable. The way these two authors write about writing, the passion. And then translate that to the passion and tension between two authors, ugh it’s so good. THE ANGST. Also the authors’ writing was so beautiful, how they captured every moment/glance between Katrina and Nathan. The burning, the unrequited love all those years. The glowing embers of passion, it was SO good.

I relate to Katrina on many levels, mainly being afraid of disappointing people and being afraid of my own happiness. This book struck such a chord with me, one of my favorite romance books of all time for sure.

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wildflowerleahg's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

WHAT A WAY TO START A YEAR.
This book is often compared to Emily’s Henry books and I would disagree. Both are written beautifully, don’t get me wrong. They are in two different camps.

The prose is absolutely astonishing. I was coloring while listening to this novel and I kept picking up my head to drink up all the words. It’s a very melancholy, so be prepared.

Also, please check triggers before going in. Can’t wait for this adorable writing COUPLE’s next book!

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