The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley

 genre: contemporary romance

Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen - two authors whose previous collaborative success surprised even themselves but whose relationship has blown up such that they no longer communicate.  At all. And the world doesn't know why.   Except their worlds collide again when they are forced to make a decision about whether or not to fulfill their contract for one last book together.  When they choose to do so - four years later and with very separate lives - they know they will have to really keep it together to make the writing magic happen again.

What I loved about this book is how much books and writing are an integral part of the story and and of their lives.  I liked being in the head of writers and watching how their own experience can bleed into their work.  I didn't mind the duel perspective at all - in fact, I really liked it.  What was hard for me was the going back and forth in time.  It wasn't poorly done - I just didn't like being pulled out of the action so often. I liked Katrina's arc as her character figures out a lot about herself I DID like their chemistry, too, a lot.  But darn there is just a lot of arguing and hurt feelings in this book.  A lot of pain and heartache and sometimes I just wanted to tell them both to SHUT UP AND BE NICE ALREADY.  Like suck it up, you know?  So, although I was glued to it once the last half started, I'm still giving it four stars instead of five because sometimes it drove me crazy :). But I want to also mention how much I did love the metaphor at the ending and I also appreciated that it was a lot deeper and more thoughtful than other contemporary romances I've read - these two characters had some serious stuff to work out.  That part reminds me of Emily Henry's books but I like her banter better.  This is a good one while waiting for her next one to come out though :)

CW: some sexual scenes and some language