allisonnruff's review against another edition
5.0
Emily and Austin did it again x100. While “The Roughest Draft” is perfection, “Do I Know You” somehow exceeded all my expectations for their second adult romance and i will never forget this. This was the book for the romance readers who think “hm i kinda want to read a book about what happens after the HEA” and it fully delivered. A romance so real and genuine as they acknowledge their love for each other from the very beginning, but go through this lovely process to reignite the spark they once had. I did not find a single flaw with Graham and Eliza’s story and everyone needs to go read it ASAP! Thank you Berkeley for the ARC through Edelweiss.
* also might have squealed a little when Nathan and Katrina were mentioned bc they will also always have a place in my heart!!
* also might have squealed a little when Nathan and Katrina were mentioned bc they will also always have a place in my heart!!
brianna_4pawsandabook's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars rounded up.
Will post my review after our liveshow tomorrow. Check out our thoughts here! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r74WJYBleYo
Will post my review after our liveshow tomorrow. Check out our thoughts here! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r74WJYBleYo
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
3.0
Fine, but I was expecting a little more given the dynamite premise. I really like the idea of a married couple feeling like they're in a rut and engaging in a long-term version of role playing to reignite the spark and get to know each other on a different level while on vacation. Unfortunately, it didn't feel like there was enough marital strife between Eliza and Graham to merit such a drastic experiment, especially since there were immediate positive results and deep-seated problems took a while to surface. While there are some familial issues and a couple of secondary characters included in the mix, neither add a whole lot to the story. The end result is decent, yet this was unfortunately a touch bland when it could have been truly captivating.
morganbrabender's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy reading love stories where a married couple works to restore or revive their marriage! I had high expectations for this after The Roughest Draft (one of my very favorites in 2022), and this was good but not as great as I felt like it could’ve been. I enjoyed the characters and their stories, but I felt like there could’ve been more depth to their struggles and reconnection. Overall, I still enjoyed this and would recommend!
cccarinacc's review against another edition
4.0
This book is SO sweet and fun, I really enjoyed reading this one!
I don’t typically go for the “second chance romance”trope or especially the “marriage in trouble”…. But I saw this in my library’s “new release” catalog and thought the premise was so interesting and refreshing.
And I was right!
I love how this book takes place over a week of vacation, how Graham and Eliza spend time figuring out new things about themselves and each other. I also love how the main problem in their relationship isn’t discovered right away, it takes time for the reader to understand it as well as the characters. It’s extremely well developed.
I thought that the role-play aspect may be difficult to follow at times but instead it was really easy and FUN! I loved the comparisons between the made up personas and the real Graham and Eliza.
The whole story was really heartwarming, and I was rooting for them the whole time. The undeniable love these two have for each other, and the willingness to try to fix what’s broken shows the solid foundation of their marriage. The rediscovery is so beautiful and even the slightly steamy scenes were FILLED with love.
Also David. I love David. What a fun side character to provide such insight into Grahams character and also add another sense of comedy into the book. He’s such a fun addition, and I’m so glad to have had him in this book. I have a soft spot for the goofy lovable side characters, what can I say?
I don’t typically go for the “second chance romance”trope or especially the “marriage in trouble”…. But I saw this in my library’s “new release” catalog and thought the premise was so interesting and refreshing.
And I was right!
I love how this book takes place over a week of vacation, how Graham and Eliza spend time figuring out new things about themselves and each other. I also love how the main problem in their relationship isn’t discovered right away, it takes time for the reader to understand it as well as the characters. It’s extremely well developed.
I thought that the role-play aspect may be difficult to follow at times but instead it was really easy and FUN! I loved the comparisons between the made up personas and the real Graham and Eliza.
The whole story was really heartwarming, and I was rooting for them the whole time. The undeniable love these two have for each other, and the willingness to try to fix what’s broken shows the solid foundation of their marriage. The rediscovery is so beautiful and even the slightly steamy scenes were FILLED with love.
Also David. I love David. What a fun side character to provide such insight into Grahams character and also add another sense of comedy into the book. He’s such a fun addition, and I’m so glad to have had him in this book. I have a soft spot for the goofy lovable side characters, what can I say?
i_am_the_brainstorm's review against another edition
2.0
It was a fun idea, but the writing was so overdone and the story felt like it dragged on.
achaperonwrites's review against another edition
5.0
“Holding my wife close, our connection feels undeniable, invisible yet present, like gravity.”
— Do I Know You?, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
YOU GUUUUUUUYS. If you’ve been around for any length of time, you’re well aware of my obsession with Emily and Austin. I am an OG #Wibbroka fan, and have been reading these two since the days when they only had two YA novels out.
When they announced they were releasing their first adult romance, I SCREAMED. And it did NOT disappoint. The Roughest Draft is one of my all-time favorites, not simply because of the romance, but because Emily and Austin made me feel more seen as a writer than anything else I’ve ever read in my entire life.
I had high hopes for their sophomore adult, and it MORE than lived up to the hype. Only these two could take something we see often in romance—a marriage in trouble—and flip it on its head, creating a story that’s so uniquand raw and real, but funny, sweet, and full of passion. It’s a reminder that even marriages require work, and just because you’ve vowed to spend your life loving someone doesn’t always mean you know HOW to love them.
This story is one of a marriage in trouble that turns into a fun spin on fake dating your spouse when Graham and Eliza find themselves on a romantic anniversary vacation together, the week looming like the daunting cliffs of Big Sur ahead of them. When Eliza comes up with this insane idea that they pretend to be strangers, Graham goes along, willing to do anything to make her happy. The role play game they’ve concocted is certainly working, the spark returning to their marriage in an explosive way. But they have to find a way to keep that going when they return to the real world.
Overall, this book was SO raw and powerful. Everyone suffers from insecurities, even those in long term, committed relationships, and I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the care Emily and Austin put into Graham and Eliza’s. I loved every single word of Emily and Austin’s magical prose, and the pay-off of the HEA was well worth the angsty, gut-wrenching back and forth between these two.
— Do I Know You?, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
YOU GUUUUUUUYS. If you’ve been around for any length of time, you’re well aware of my obsession with Emily and Austin. I am an OG #Wibbroka fan, and have been reading these two since the days when they only had two YA novels out.
When they announced they were releasing their first adult romance, I SCREAMED. And it did NOT disappoint. The Roughest Draft is one of my all-time favorites, not simply because of the romance, but because Emily and Austin made me feel more seen as a writer than anything else I’ve ever read in my entire life.
I had high hopes for their sophomore adult, and it MORE than lived up to the hype. Only these two could take something we see often in romance—a marriage in trouble—and flip it on its head, creating a story that’s so uniquand raw and real, but funny, sweet, and full of passion. It’s a reminder that even marriages require work, and just because you’ve vowed to spend your life loving someone doesn’t always mean you know HOW to love them.
This story is one of a marriage in trouble that turns into a fun spin on fake dating your spouse when Graham and Eliza find themselves on a romantic anniversary vacation together, the week looming like the daunting cliffs of Big Sur ahead of them. When Eliza comes up with this insane idea that they pretend to be strangers, Graham goes along, willing to do anything to make her happy. The role play game they’ve concocted is certainly working, the spark returning to their marriage in an explosive way. But they have to find a way to keep that going when they return to the real world.
Overall, this book was SO raw and powerful. Everyone suffers from insecurities, even those in long term, committed relationships, and I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the care Emily and Austin put into Graham and Eliza’s. I loved every single word of Emily and Austin’s magical prose, and the pay-off of the HEA was well worth the angsty, gut-wrenching back and forth between these two.
mangocats's review against another edition
3.0
i love the style of writing - it felt so natural! unfortunately, i didn’t really connect w the characters and thought the ending was rushed
latias's review against another edition
the book isn't even bad i just don't care about it right now. maybe i'll pick it up again later maybe not.
mikes_'s review against another edition
5.0
I keep on trying and analyzing if there are things I would like to change about this book and flaws that need to alert my critical lens, and I am filled with nothing in my mind every single time. I tried. Maybe sometimes it’s completely okay to admit that some books perfectly worked for you and end it with that.
I won't ever stop talking about this, but You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle encapsulates everything I want in my romance book, and even the kind of love I want for myself, so ever since then, there's been this endless and tenacious thirst to look for romance (in books) that would give me the same banter, that kind of intensity if we're talking about the chemistry and justifiable foundation of the characters' connection. This book was able to to gratify that specific thirst. The story was perfectly built up, and every scene was written flawlessly that weaved it into the slow-burn romance that I couldn't get enough of. The kind of banter presented here has its own unique magic. This isn't your typical love story wherein you wait for the story to unfold and they fall in love at the end. This is, once again, so much more than that. This is an honest depiction of how people change and so does their love. This is a candid exploration of two people redefining what their love means to them and reconnecting to the very foundation that they have created for each other. This is a story of disconnection and reconnection and the inexplicable work that it requires.
This story gave me insights on a lot of things, and there are points emphasized that I could not agree more with. First, when things or situations, no matter what the context, get confusing, the first thing to do is get back to the basics and figure from there; it usually provides you with fresh perspective and answers. Second and most importantly, no matter how long you've known and loved a person, whether it be romantically or platonically, it's going to be an endless cycle of getting to know them, meeting thousands of versions, and making peace that they are constantly changing and transforming into different narratives that will sometimes feel unfamiliar to you but are essential for their own growth. It's going to take more than your love for them to keep up with it; it's going to require honesty, work, and defenselessness. Or forget all of it and let go, which is completely up to you. To cut it all short, never stop enriching your relationships, no matter the level of security and sense of familiarity you feel in the connection. At the end of the day, the type of love that stays is more of a constant choice you make every day than a consistent feeling you dwell on.
Eliza and Graham kept on wishing that their vacation wouldn't ever end, and I find myself wishing it would be true, so I won't ever reach the end of the book. But I'm glad with how it all worked out. One more thing, let me acknowledge the little scene wherein Graham notices the most subtle change in Eliza's usual handwriting, which I think is the sweetest gesture anyone could notice about a person they love. Oh, how attentive and hearty! How does this couple come up with the most unique and mesmerizing romantic love stories? I am here for all of it.
P.S. I am deciding if I should bump up to 5 stars my rating for The Roughest Draft, which is the first book that made me a fan of this brilliant couple. I still can't stop thinking about it, and it's been months since I've read it.
____________________
𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 5 stars ★
____________________
𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨/𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨: (just some)
“Or how hard it is to reckon with this physical impossibility of love—the way you can grow distant from someone while going to sleep next to them every night.”
“But then, recently I’ve begun to believe expecting how your marriage will look is like trying to trace the unknowable. It’s their beauty and their terror. Every marriage is its own dance, every step revealed only in the moment of its creation. Invisible to everyone except its two participants, unpredictable even to them.”
“It’s what’s been so hard about the recent months. It hasn’t made me worry I’ve married the wrong person. It’s made me worry I’ve messed everything up with the right person. Which is so, so much worse. I can’t cut and run with him—there would be nowhere to run to.”
“Everyone pretends. They pretend they’re brave. They pretend they can predict the future. They pretend they can carry fears or difficulties, but they don’t know if they can. They pretend they have hope they don’t know if they’ve mustered quite yet. When we need to, it’s what we do for each other.” She reaches for my hand with hers, which I grasp. “Perfect sometimes . . . requires a little pretend. Perfection is only something you can see from the outside,” she continues. “I know you and Graham are working something out right now, but that doesn’t mean your marriage is any less perfect than mine. I just hope you won’t give up on it.”
“I used to think I knew you just because I once did know you, but I understand now that knowing a person is never finished. Even if the answers stay the same, the questions you ask on a first date are still worth asking seven years later. I think it’s helped me know me better.”
I won't ever stop talking about this, but You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle encapsulates everything I want in my romance book, and even the kind of love I want for myself, so ever since then, there's been this endless and tenacious thirst to look for romance (in books) that would give me the same banter, that kind of intensity if we're talking about the chemistry and justifiable foundation of the characters' connection. This book was able to to gratify that specific thirst. The story was perfectly built up, and every scene was written flawlessly that weaved it into the slow-burn romance that I couldn't get enough of. The kind of banter presented here has its own unique magic. This isn't your typical love story wherein you wait for the story to unfold and they fall in love at the end. This is, once again, so much more than that. This is an honest depiction of how people change and so does their love. This is a candid exploration of two people redefining what their love means to them and reconnecting to the very foundation that they have created for each other. This is a story of disconnection and reconnection and the inexplicable work that it requires.
This story gave me insights on a lot of things, and there are points emphasized that I could not agree more with. First, when things or situations, no matter what the context, get confusing, the first thing to do is get back to the basics and figure from there; it usually provides you with fresh perspective and answers. Second and most importantly, no matter how long you've known and loved a person, whether it be romantically or platonically, it's going to be an endless cycle of getting to know them, meeting thousands of versions, and making peace that they are constantly changing and transforming into different narratives that will sometimes feel unfamiliar to you but are essential for their own growth. It's going to take more than your love for them to keep up with it; it's going to require honesty, work, and defenselessness. Or forget all of it and let go, which is completely up to you. To cut it all short, never stop enriching your relationships, no matter the level of security and sense of familiarity you feel in the connection. At the end of the day, the type of love that stays is more of a constant choice you make every day than a consistent feeling you dwell on.
Eliza and Graham kept on wishing that their vacation wouldn't ever end, and I find myself wishing it would be true, so I won't ever reach the end of the book. But I'm glad with how it all worked out. One more thing, let me acknowledge the little scene wherein Graham notices the most subtle change in Eliza's usual handwriting, which I think is the sweetest gesture anyone could notice about a person they love. Oh, how attentive and hearty! How does this couple come up with the most unique and mesmerizing romantic love stories? I am here for all of it.
P.S. I am deciding if I should bump up to 5 stars my rating for The Roughest Draft, which is the first book that made me a fan of this brilliant couple. I still can't stop thinking about it, and it's been months since I've read it.
____________________
𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 5 stars ★
____________________
𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨/𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨: (just some)
“Or how hard it is to reckon with this physical impossibility of love—the way you can grow distant from someone while going to sleep next to them every night.”
“But then, recently I’ve begun to believe expecting how your marriage will look is like trying to trace the unknowable. It’s their beauty and their terror. Every marriage is its own dance, every step revealed only in the moment of its creation. Invisible to everyone except its two participants, unpredictable even to them.”
“It’s what’s been so hard about the recent months. It hasn’t made me worry I’ve married the wrong person. It’s made me worry I’ve messed everything up with the right person. Which is so, so much worse. I can’t cut and run with him—there would be nowhere to run to.”
“Everyone pretends. They pretend they’re brave. They pretend they can predict the future. They pretend they can carry fears or difficulties, but they don’t know if they can. They pretend they have hope they don’t know if they’ve mustered quite yet. When we need to, it’s what we do for each other.” She reaches for my hand with hers, which I grasp. “Perfect sometimes . . . requires a little pretend. Perfection is only something you can see from the outside,” she continues. “I know you and Graham are working something out right now, but that doesn’t mean your marriage is any less perfect than mine. I just hope you won’t give up on it.”
“I used to think I knew you just because I once did know you, but I understand now that knowing a person is never finished. Even if the answers stay the same, the questions you ask on a first date are still worth asking seven years later. I think it’s helped me know me better.”