I devoured this book. I honestly have no idea how I finished it so quickly. I opened it, started to read, blinked, and it was done. Totally pulled me in and didn't let go.
Hara is a newbie reporter with a chip on her shoulder and Derek is a second-year rookie NBA player with an equally big chip of his own. They're perfect for each other and the reader knows this from their very first awkward meeting. It was really interesting to see them both open up to the fact that first impressions and long associations don't necessarily mean that you know everything about a person.
Add in lots of drama on and off the court and you've got a recipe for an engaging read that's full of intrigue and passion.

Thank you for the enjoyable read to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin!

What could a small-town sports reporter and a highly paid professional basketball player have in common when her job is to report on the games and the scandals of the team?

The authors do a wonderful job of showcasing two outwardly successful people who are inwardly very insecure of who they are and their place in the world. As a result of his bombastic, dominant father, Derek grew up shy and is uncomfortable in people gatherings. His low self-esteem makes him feel that people will find him boring or too serious if he tried approaching people and they’d rebuff him as a result. He also wonders whether he has the chops to move up into the world of basketball. She has always struggled with whether she made the right choice of career and if she is good enough to dream of becoming a sports reporter? What if she discovers that she is only good for a small-town rag? The authors show Hara and Derek gaining confidence as the story moves on, two independent souls who learn to occasionally lean on each other and trust the other will be there for them.

Full Review: https://frolic.media/book-of-the-week-the-wrong-mr-darcy-by-evelyn-lozada-and-holly-lorincz/

This was a hot mess express. Too many things going on and none of the thought processes seemed well thought out.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the advance reader copy of The Wrong Mr. Darcy a modern Pride and Prejudice retelling by Evelyn Lozada and Holly Lorincz. This story releases on August 25th.

I jumped at the chance to review this after St. Martin’s Griffin because I am a classic Pride and Prejudice stan. But I would not really say it is an amazing retelling. In actuality, this was not good. I only found out after I finished that it was written by someone who has dated NBA players and was on Basketball Wives but I really feel like this was her attempt to take shots at WAGS and instead all she did was show a lack of basketball knowledge. The main character is biracial as well, but it was kinda ignored by saying that she had been raised to act as white as possible so why even bother with the representation if you are gonna half-ass it like this.

Characters: Hara and Derek are the Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy of this Pride and Prejudice retelling. Hara is a Japanese American on her father’s side and African American on her mother’s side. Her life choices and character was very much shaped by her father being sent to jail for his role in fixing sports betting. Now she is a struggling sports reporter trying to make it big. She gets an opportunity to do so, kinda a far fetched one at that and that is where she meets Derek. Dereck plays in the NBA and I swear that is all we know about him. I think the author was trying to write his as an African American basketball player Mr. Darcy, but what she ended up with was a very one-dimensional male love interest that we know barely anything about.
Setting: Boston is the setting and there were a few callouts but really nothing special.
Pacing: The pacing was so wack, the closer we got to the end the more off the rails the book got. It kept me still reading but I definitely was not sad when the story was over.
Romance: The romance was weird because it felt like it took a long time for the two of them to realize they had feelings for each other. There is basically the events of one night that really bring them together. But even with that, I did not feel connected to them at all, I did not ever cheer for them to get together.

There are beautiful quotes from Pride and Prejudice that introduce each chapter perfectly; our hero is not Mr. Darcy from Austen's novel. While he has a similar personality, he is an entirely different character yet equally romantic. Our heroine is similar to Elizabeth, but she is a beautiful character who finds her way without losing her compass. The Wrong Mr. Darcy is a fun, fast-paced read with a sports theme that is sure to sweep you off your feet. A well-written, well-developed story!

Hara is an aspiring sports reporter from Portland, Oregon. She has a black mother and Japanese father, who is in prison for running an illegal sports betting ring. Her paternal grandmother has Alzheimer’s and her paternal grandfather died of a heart attack at the trial. Somehow she has blue eyes? She has just been selected for an important interview with a basketball star, Charles Butler, despite her newness to the profession.

Derek Darcy is a rookie coming off an injury whose father resents him becoming an athlete because in so doing he might become a stereotype of an African American man. He has been best friends with Charles Butler for most of his life. He is surprised to learn that his friend’s mother unknowingly accepted money from his college of choice prior to his acceptance of the school’s offer, making it look like he accepted a bribe. Now he has to keep his friend’s secret from the nosy reporter who could out Butler and ruin his career.

Sparks fly between them despite his frequent conversational faux pas and her suspicious background. Pretty soon it seems like it might just be the two of them against the world, if only they could let down their guards. Meanwhile, there’s a ton of shady stuff going on surrounding Charles, Hara’s new friend Naomi, and Charle’s maybe-fiancee Tina, not to mention the team owner and even Hara’s father. This gets pretty dark in the second half of the book before flying completely off the rails in the last few chapters.

This is a quick, easy read that tells Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in a new setting with a cast of characters whose behavior might have given a Regency woman the vapours, but where it actually fits neatly (possibly because Austen herself was excellent at telling stories which are universal at the core). The use of basketball wives and girlfriends to fill the roles of society gossips and schemers is kind of an inspired decision, though after reading the author bio it seems Lozada is merely writing what she knows best. It is worth noting that the author bio also includes Holly Lörincz’s name and describes her as a collaborative writer, leading me to wonder how much Lozada actually contributed to the writing of this story. Not that it truly matters, I suppose. The book is what it is, regardless of who wrote it, and what it is is some light reading with an interesting female lead and a not-too-bad male opposite her.

The Wrong Mr Darcy was very right. A perfect romantic romp with some mystery and intrigue thrown in. Hara was a great character, I cringed everytime I thought she was doing the wrong thing. I loved that she was a tough, strong woman able to stand up to everyone. Derek was a studly love interest with just the right amount of badness. A great beach read!

DNF 30%

From the title of this book, being a lover of Pride and Prejudice and the synopsis, I dove at the chance to read this book. However, when I started reading it I was unpleasantly surprised. I tried multiple times to read this book. I picked it up many times and with no luck, I just couldn't bring myself to finish this. This book is drier than the Sahara Desert in a drought. The number of times I’ve had to go back and reread parts. I just couldn’t pick up whatever was being said. The number of times it was just not processing correctly in my brain is too many for me to actually count. I had 0 connection with the main characters. Usually, if I don't connect with both characters, I connect with at least one of them. But I found Hara and Derek bland and boring. Plain and simple. There was nothing about them or their story that interested me in reading more about them. It didn't feel like there was any depth put into developing them, whatsoever. The narration, which is in third person and I am not typically a big fan of, jumps back and forth in chapters between Hara and Derek. Which didn't help with my confusion overall. I also usually don’t note this in my review but the writing straight up read and felt juvenile. Was not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Wrong Mr. Darcy was not what was expecting. From the beginning, the introduction of Hara Isari and her felon father was intriguing. She’s a sports writer with this felon parent who is in prison for illegal sports betting operation.
I also like that she is Japanese & African-American as the book touches on her struggle with her multicultural identity. ⠀
⠀
Hara gets chosen to exclusively interview basketball star, Charles Butler, and she jumps at the chance to make a name for herself as a reporter. Through interviewing Charles, Hara crosses paths with a rookie player, Derek Darcy, who is a childhood friend.
The book explores the lengths people will go to keep their secrets, avoid scandal, and protect their own interests.⠀
Although the book was a slow start for me, I was glad that I stuck with it and pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns.

Initially, I gave this two stars, but after thinking about it, I have to give it one. I've never done that before. I just can't find something likable. I kind of liked Naomi, but that was it. Oh, and I do like that they gave Hara glasses on the cover-you don't see that very often.

Is this supposed to be a Pride and Prejudice retelling? I can't figure it out. There are similar character names and Lizzie (Hara) is prejudice and stubborn. Darcy (Derek) is wealthy and prideful. But that's really it. If it's supposed to be a retelling, it's a very bad one.

The characters are unlikeable. Lizzie and Darcy can be unlikable, but you understand why they act the way they do and they grow throughout their story. Hara and Derek seem to just act on whatever why plot needed them to. And there was absolutely no chemistry.

The whole thing was very jumpy. The pacing overall was all over the place. I don't normally say this, but how did this make it through editing? The POV was odd, too. It was mostly a limited 3rd person, but then randomly it would switch to omniscient. Maybe this is because there are two writers. But, again, this is what editing is for.

I want more diversity in books (authors and characters)-especially romance. What I don't want is stereotypes. One of the authors is/was a basketball WAG so maybe this is accurate, but it feels like a lot of stereotypes of so many different people. I do not recommend for anyone. Sorry.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest opinion and review.

Hara is a reporter from a small town who wins a writing competition and as her prize gets to interview an exclusive basketball superstar. What she doesn't know is that her world will be turned upside down and there is always more to the story. I guess from being married to a Basketball Player, Evelyn Lozada has her points of view of Mr. Darcy. I enjoyed it. The first book from the authors I've read.

Hara Isari’s dreams about becoming a sportswriter and lofty ambitions to leave her small-town paper behind get a big boost after she wins a writing contest to interview one of the most sought-after basketball players, Charles Butler, from a Boston team. Hara has folks at home pushing and pulling her including a father in prison for sports betting, and a mother who thinks Hara just needs to find a man to be happy.

Another player, Derek Darcy, comes across as arrogant, snobby, and just plain dour when Hara meets him on more than one occasion. Hara has a tough enough time gaining respect in a traditionally male dominated field of sports writers without being seen as just a pretty face. For Hara and Darcy, several catastrophic events collide including a major storm, sleazy double dealing owners, and a player whom Darcy also thought was his best friend turning out not to have a very shady side.

Hara and Darcy’s relationship slowly develops as their personal stories become intertwined in the spotlight of major league sports with its attendant clichés of players whose reputations as womanizers are part of the scene as well as their families attempts to control them. I had a hard time developing any sympathy for Hara’s jailbird father or Darcy’s “good” friend, Charles.

As an obvious homage to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, this story makes an effort to embrace its themes; however, it is too heavy on angst, drama, and too far afield of the original premise of Ms. Austen’s classical and beloved tale. This book works better as a Sports Romance rather than trying to emulate a novel that begs too many comparisons which do not come out favorably. Ms. Austen’s fans would not be a good target audience as they are likely to cast aspersions

I really liked the premise of this Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the world of professional basketball, but it didn't really work for me. A lot of the ties to Pride and Prejudice felt forced and the writing style didn't hook me. It was an interesting premise, just didn't really work for me.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I first picked up this book, I was really excited about the premise from the blurb and also I thought the cover was really eye-catching and fun. As I got into the book, I wish I could say it excited me as much as I had hoped it would.

I'm an admitted sports nut, so I liked the idea of the sports twist along with Pride and Prejudice, but there was so much of this that just didn't work for me. I think the premise is great, but it didn't feel cohesive to me and there were parts that didn't fell fully fleshed out.

I appreciate St. Martin's Press giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

The Wrong Mr. Darcy by Evelyn Lozada with Holly Lorincz is a contemporary story of basketball, mystery, attempted murder and a bit of romance.
Charles Butler is the Fishers star player and his best friend Derek Darcy is also his teammate. Hara Isari, a beginning female sportswriter, has won a writing contest and is offered the chance for a private interview with Charles to lift his image in the community. When she learns there is much more to Charles than what she is offered in the interview, how will she handle the information? Does Derek know all of Charles’ secrets and is he willing to share them with a reporter?
There is a lot going on in this story beyond the obvious. Who can be trusted is a big question for Hara and other characters. There is a lot going on and the story keeps moving at a good pace and keeps the reader engaged till the very end. Some of it is sad touches the heart deeply as the characters are mostly likeable and you wish no bad would come to them. I give this book 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

3/5 Stars

* I was given this E-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

This was just okay. I'm going, to be honest, and say I did really love this book. I wasn't a massive fan of the writing style and there were some characters I couldn't stand. I didn't like the first half of the book, the second half was more action packed so I liked it a bit more. That being said the second half was kind of over the top and I didn't feel like there was any expalnation for how things ended. It all happened so fast and then It was over with no questions or answers. Overall it was just an average read for me if you want somthing quick and easy I would say give it a chance.

I was so excited to read this book by Evelyn Lozada. I tried to love it, but it just felt forced. The main characters were not well-developed. It was sweet and a little sexy, but it just fell short for me.

I'm sorry to say I could not get into this book at all. I thought I would like it based on the blurb but I could not get into the book or writing style.

I was so excited to read this one-a P and P retelling with multicultural characters set around sports reporting? It sounds great! There's just so much about this story that does not make sense unfortunately. The heroine Hara is half African American and half Japanese but knows absolutely nothing about either cultural background...mmkay. Then she wins a contest to interview a notoriously private basketball player and even though she works for a very small paper-she is the only full time employee other than her employer-he sends her first class and gives her a crazy expensive wardrobe to take with her. He must be independently wealthy and running a small town newspaper for fun. Really?
As she's trying to do her job, her mother is totally obsessed with just finding her a husband. She's 23 I think-really???? No concern for her safety as she ends up staying with shady characters (who cares? they are rich!) and endures a hurricane while there. Wow. Derek Darcy is what you'd expect from a Darcy-esque hero-distrustful and rich with a heart of gold. That being said, the ending of this story gave him no resolution for his career which we're told is very important to him.
I really wanted to like this. Seeing that it was written by a reality star made sense and made me sad for those authors that try really hard to get material published with a lot more talent. I don't like throwing shade but there it is.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I couldn’t get through this it wasn’t that good it seemed a little bit contrived although I saw the direction they were trying to go in I guess maybe it just wasn’t for me.