Review - - Do I Know You?

Do I Know You?

by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 24, 2023

Reviewed by Santa

When a couple starts to feel like they’re married to a stranger, a flirtatious game of pretend becomes the spark they need to reignite their relationship.

Eliza and Graham are anticipating an anything-but-sexy, weeklong getaway to celebrate their five-year anniversary. Nestled on the Northern California coastline, the resort prides itself on being a destination for those in love and those looking to find it. For Eliza and Graham, it might as well be a vacation with a roommate.
 
When a well-meaning guest mistakes Eliza and Graham for being single and introduces them at the hotel bar, they don’t correct him. Suddenly, they’re pretending to be perfect strangers and it’s unexpectedly…fun? Eliza and Graham find themselves flirting like it’s their first date, and waiting with butterflies in their stomach for the other to text back. 

Everyone at the retreat can sense the electric chemistry between Eliza and Graham’s alter egos. But when their scintillating game of roleplaying ends, will they still feel the heat?

Santa Says:

 

Do I Know You? by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka called to mind The Pina Colada song from my youth. The cover which sports sunglasses left on the beach with a couple embracing in its reflection with wedding bands in the sand. Do you feel that vibe? Are you humming along? 

This four star book follows, in a way, that same premise. A couple who love each other find themselves in a rut. Same routines day in and day out. Work. Home. Dinner. Sleep. Repeat.

How do they come out of it and resurrect their love story? Graham and Eliza don’t resort to personal ads - it’s not the ‘70s anymore.  

They sort of fall into rediscovering who they are as individuals and as a couple through a reservations fluke a friend of theirs makes. A friend gives them a weeklong stay at a resort to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. The hotel has two rooms in their names. Eliza blurts out that they will keep both rooms. One so she can work on her voice over work without disturbing Graham. This panics him on a couple of levels. He is the more insecure about their relationship. They agree to meet up later at the bar.  

Graham then meets David who mistakenly assumes Eliza and Graham are strangers and introduces them to each other. Neither corrects him and they decide to use this opportunity to get to know one another again. They meet up for dates, meet up in the different activities provided by the resort. They start to discover things about each other and themselves. 

It may sound a bit contrived or that may be just me but the authors make it work. You want them to come back to each other. You cheer for the friendship that develops with Graham and David. I was even becoming invested in David’s own happily ever after. 

Do I Know You? is the second novel by this married writing team in this genre. They are definitely authors to take note of.

Review - - The Roughest Draft

The Roughest Draft

by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 25, 2022

Reviewed by Santa

Three years ago, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen were the brightest literary stars on the horizon, their cowritten book 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.

Santa says:

The Roughest Draft by authors Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka was an amazing introduction to these authors. They were writing in a new genre having authored YA novels in the past. I have to say that it is a triumphant 5 star foray into the contemporary adult romance world. 

This book had me at the edge of my seat! Is it a murder mystery? No, not in the least! It’s a romance! They had both a professional and personal relationship that exploded spectacularly. 

The main characters, Katrina and Nathan, are - or were - successful, rising star co-authors. Everything was going along great until it didn't. And we are not told why right away. The reasons unfold almost organically as their stories are told from each character’s point of view. 

The book opens a couple of years after one of the authors, Katrina, had walked away from the partnership and from writing while Nathan continues to pursue a writing career.  However, they still have one more book under contract and their publisher and agents are holding them to fulfilling that obligation. Nathan and Katrina have no choice but to hunker down and write that final book in the close proximity of a rented house in Florida just like they did when they collaborated on the other two books. 

Nathan and Katrina have their work cut out for them. They are two lost, wounded people. The tension is almost a physical entity. They face many emotional obstacles as they find their way back as writers and friends and, ultimately - finally - lovers.  

The authors of The Roughest Draft are a husband and wife team. I imagine there are many challenges in writing together. This is the first book I have read by them and, easily, one of my favorites for this year. I will be following their books both in this genre and in YA.