I Review: The Write Off by Kara McDowell

Thank you Berkley Romance for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

Something I love as a reader is following an author’s career from than debut. I have loved Kara McDowell since her YA Christmas romance, One Way Or Another, brought me joy in 2020 to now! I was so excited for her adult romance debut and it did not disappoint.

It’s a second chance romance between two writers that starts in college, so there is mess and passion and heartbreak and yearning. All things I love to find in that trope!

Synopsis:

“It’s been thirteen years since Mars Darling first met West Emerson on a bench outside their writing class. What started out as a friendly rivalry turned into a best friendship and then, for a brief time, a romance. Now over a decade later, as Mars stands at their college campus as a once-esteemed YA fantasy author, ready to take on a book festival, she comes face to face with West—the muse behind her infamous trilogy’s heartthrob hero, the man who betrayed her in the worst way.Mars is determined not to let her comeback tour be ruined by the fact that West is also at the festival as an author. But the longer they are on the campus that holds so many shared memories, the more time they have to untangle their past, and Mars starts to question if maybe it’s not only her writing career that deserves a second chance.Told in two unfolding timelines—Mars and West’s frenzied college days where they grapple with their undeniable connection, and their tension-filled present of heartache and familiar yearning—this charming romance shows that while you can’t rewrite the past, it’s never too late to chase your happily ever after and get back the one that got away.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Writing—I love Kara’s YA books so I couldn’t wait for her adult romance debut! I love how to strings together words.

The Characters—I loved both of them and the side characters! Daph💕ne is such a great friend.

The Dual Timeline—I think it was executed extremely well and left me constantly wanting to turn the page.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

The Reason for the Break Up—From a writing perspective, it was great. From a reader perspective, I wasn’t sure if I should root for this couple. I was genuinely shocked by how hurtful the reasoning was. But! I do think one of the biggest mistakes reviewers can make is truly judging characters instead of going along for the ride with them and learning something.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4/5