Gray and Paul were friends with benefits in college. After graduation they each went their separate ways. Now many years down the road Gray writes Paul a letter trying to reconnect. He fully expects Paul to ignore him but instead Paul writes back and a correspondence is begun. As the letters travel back and forth the men struggle with past issues and with what the future holds for them. The letters delve deeper and deeper into the men’s psyches and what it means to love someone.

Wow! I was already a huge fan of Chris Owen’s work but Rough Draft has further cemented that fandom. Plus, it has introduced me to Jodi Payne and I can’t wait to read more by this author. Rough Draft is written in the form of letters between the two main characters of Gray and Paul. Because of this format it allows us to see both sides of the relationship and how the written word can so easily be misunderstood without the visual cues of a face to face discussion. The letter format also allows the characters to be open and honest about their true feelings without fearing repercussions. After all, it takes a few days to get a reply from a letter versus a phone call. I really enjoyed how true to life this relationship was in relaying the feelings that each character was experiencing. How often do you revisit a past relationship and find that your memories have grown fonder over the years? It’s easy to feel nostalgia for what’s gone and gloss over the bad spots, but it takes commitment to hang on even when times are rough. Rough Draft shows what it takes for people to move beyond that and what needs to be done to make things work in the present tense and not based on feelings of the past. It grabs you by the heartstrings and refuses to let go, even after the last page has been turned. I loved this novel and can’t recommend it enough! Chris Owen and Jodi Payne have written a thought provoking look into Gray and Paul’s life and I couldn’t help but enjoy every moment of this voyeuristic ride!

Reviewed by: Hayley