Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - The Roughest Draft

Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka

9 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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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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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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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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kfmcf's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

I had been recommended this book by a few people, but I think they all had listened to the audio book and I think I may have had a different feeling about the book if I had listened to it.

Firstly, I had no desire for these two to get together. Yes Kat's fiance is awful, but...so is Kat. I did not enjoy her character and kind of just didn't care about what happened with her. Nathan was far more interesting as a character and the wiring for his chapters was a bit easier to digest. Kat's chapters had a bit more of a literary style, which is totally fine, but kept Kat at a bit of a distant.

I did enjoy learning about how the two wrote together and how their processes evolved. Harriet was a good vehicle for showing this evolution and I honestly wish she had more page time.

Lastly, the reason for their fallout was weak.

Oh no he wrote down his feelings and then she BURNED the page? Yeah okay sure that's just miscommunication out the wazoo and a big sigh from me

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lindseyhall44's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

A fun and addictive summer read! I really enjoyed the timeline aspect, which isn’t usually a favorite of mine. In the end, I will always be a sucker for books about books, and would definitely recommend for Romance fans.

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bookedbyelizabeth's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

4.75

THE ROUGHEST DRAFT by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

CW: infidelity, toxic relationship, gaslighting

I was excited to get this book from the library after reading some good reviews on bookstagram. I knew it was supposed to be a slow burn, but, even so, I found it a little too slow to start, which made me worry that my instincts were wrong and that I would find the book to be overhyped. But as I kept picking it up and reading more, I found it harder and harder to put down.

This book, as I suspected, was right up my alley. The longing between the two characters was EVERYTHING. The anguish of saying so little but feeling so much. The coded writing that hides nothing. The stolen glances, the slightest of touches, the blushing cheeks. I gobbled it all up and was hungry for more.

The way the two characters knew each other, body and soul, on such an intimate level was beautiful, and the dual POV was incredible to experience as a reader (yes, we get longing from both sides!). This is also the kind of book that makes me excited to get more into writing. I enjoyed the insight into the writing process, specifically the co-writing process that worked for the characters. Books about books and writing are some of my favorites.

The other criticism I have was wanting a little more regarding the characters’ mental health, though anxiety and depression were mentioned briefly. Overall though, this book was a great escape read and a solid romance. This may not be for you if you dislike slow burn romance and get annoyed by indirect communication, but if you too enjoy analyzing (overanalyzing?) actions and words and feelings plus a slow build up that pays off, then I’d say give this a shot!

“Writing is where our–where everyone’s–purest truths lie. On the page, thoughts and feelings can be expressed without interference, without ineloquences or fear or fumbling. There’s no room for turning back or losing your nerve. Only one thing remains–what you want to communicate.”

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goodbyerachel's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

I officially read this book in 12-hours. I was immediately hooked by Kat and Nathan's enemy/friends/co-authors/lovers dynamic. The two of their chemistry was engaging from the beginning with this looming event in their past. Part of me wanted the broad strokes of their rift earlier in the book, I was getting a little put off by all the references to this VAGUE DRAMATIC THING. So much "dramatic" pressure was put on this past that unless they were covering up a murder, didn't feel like it would be able to live up to expectations. I did enjoy getting to piece together the little details of what transpired.

I loved the growth we saw from Kat throughout this process (although I wish Nathan had more development potential) and how the romance was such a subtle thread pulled through this story. I loved them together even when they were fighting and at their worst.

Also, how deep is a book by co-authors about co-authors veiling their feelings in their writing? It made me chuckle a bit but definitely added some good gravitas to the sections where Kat and Nathan reflect on their co-writing process and how their a best together. This will be great for readers who love books about books and writing (reminded me a bit of Beach Read in this writing process between two people).

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tayahmarie's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this story, and I'm sad it's over! Which is crazy since I don't typically care for slow-burn books, but this one might've changed my mind.

Starting with the plot itself, I thought it was beautifully executed. Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka's writing style is amazing; I fell in love with it. They also did a phenomenal job of making the reader care for our main characters, Katrina and Nathan. I felt like I went on this journey of fear, growth, love, heartbreak, resentment, and acceptance right along with them. With that, I definitely got frustrated with both of them as if they were my real friends (shout out to Harriet b/c she is me and I am her!), but as an ode to Nathan and Katrina's ongoing debate, Fiction and real life often intertwine, lol.

I hate to compare books, but I genuinely think if you enjoyed both Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, then you'll love this one. I think this book is going to be a hit across Bookstagram, BookTok, and social media as a whole and I can't wait to see the love it'll get!

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

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