I'm not even sure where to start with this book. I will say this right now though, if you are looking at this and thinking light, cute, fun and progressively diverse, you are greatly mistaken. And Do Not even get me started on the whole implied Pride & Prejudice angle that is heavily implied and is in fact, practically Nonexistent!! Unfortunately, this is the second book I've read recently that that were huge disappointment on what was promised as far as accurate diversity portrayal. In my opinion this book is about as far from a romantic comedy as the Sun is from Neptune and this also seems to be a trend right now. While a rom-com can maybe support a serious topic or two and remain a rom-com, a huge barrage of heavy and even a few controversial subjects makes it into something else entirely. Toss in plenty of implausibility, a ton of WTH craziness and way, way too much content that is straight up cringe worthy and frankly uncomfortable in the times we are living in and you a book that was beyond disappointing and simply not for me. I am grateful that I had the chance to read it but Nope!!

First, I hate rating books badly, but I can't in good conscience let this go. I was expecting a P&P retelling, but the closest you get is a little bit of pride and a couple of characters with P&P names. That's it. Wait, it gets worse. This book was terrible. It definitely looked like two different writers (or a writer and editor) based on the whiplash received by reading horrid writing and then suddenly decent writing here and there. I feel for the person who had the good writing because although they were better and the overall story arc could have been decent, it didn't come close to being a decent book. I can't even say anymore.

The Wrong Mr. Darcy was one of the most unique Austen adaptations I’ve ever read! Even if you are not an Austen fan, and didn’t make that connection, it would still be a great story. Having this story revolve around basketball was such a fun and unusual mashup. Every little nod to the original was like a warm hug from an old friend.

Hara Isari is a budding sports reporter from Oregon who catches a big break- a chance to interview the star player of the (fictional) Boston NBA team, Charles Butler. Through a series of events she becomes intertwined in the drama of the team, especially another player, Derek Darcy. There is clearly more than meets the eye with their team and the ownership, and Hara is out to get the real scoop, but will it interfere with what could potentially be evolving with Derek? Their enemies to lovers relationship is fun to see unfold. While I enjoyed the overall story, I had a few issues with the ending. Although there were some twists I wasn’t expecting, I didn’t feel some of the things that happened at the end were completely necessary for the story, and definitely went off the Austen rails for a bit. There were quite a few cringe-worthy moments. Otherwise, I enjoyed this story. This book is released today! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy.

Would recommend this for mature readers, as there are some sex scenes and language. Also some potentially triggering content. (sexual harrassment, suicide attempt, murder)

Protagonist Hara likes Jane Austen.  The book opens with a quote from Pride and Prejudice and Hara listening to a Jane Austen audio book as she waits to visit her imprisoned father. Knowing that this novel is somewhat of a take on Pride and Prejudice, I found it interesting that in the opening scene Hara's glasses are remarked upon several times.  I felt that the author was setting me up to know that the way in which Hara sees the world may be open to misinterpretation.  It left me thinking about the near sighted Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream.


During her visit to her father, Hara tells him that she won an important contest. She is off to Boston. Hara is going to be interviewing a famous basketball player.   This sets up everything that next happens in the novel as Hara gets to know him and a rookie player whose last name is Darcy.


I think that this book will be enjoyed by those who are looking for a bit of escapist reading.  Austen fans will enjoy the quotes that begin every chapter.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read.  All opinions are my own.

This was...bad.

I am a diehard Pride and Prejudice fan. I love the story but, unfortunately, I find Austen's writing style to be a little outside my own wheelhouse, so I often turn to retellings so I can enjoy this story that I love over and over again. This was the reason I requested this ARC. I didn't realize at the time that it was written by a reality star and I hadn't checked out the reviews beforehand, and now, I regret it. Because The Wrong Mr. Darcy is barely a P&P retelling, and as someone who was here only for that, I was very frustrated.

Lozada's interpretations of nearly every character had me pulling my hair out. She missed all of the nuance with Darcy, and by giving him a POV but missing the mark with his personality, she instead portrays him as a sexist asshole, rather than a guarded softie who can overstep the bounds on occasion. The Lizzie character - Hara - was utterly ridiculous. She mentioned her own nipples shockingly frequently and her only personality trait was apparently "beautiful but smart." She's biracial, but she's described as "exotic" and her blue eyes are discussed at length by herself and everyone around her. It's... uncomfortable.

Stay as far away from this book as you can.

This was such a cute read with with a “light” spin on Pride and Prejudice.
Hara is a newspaper reporter. Derek is an up and coming basketball player. They cross paths when Hara wins a writing competition to do an exclusive interview with Derek’s all-star teammate/best friend. This could be the break she needs to launch her sports writing career. Hara and Derek’s first impressions of each other are not good. However, when they keep running into each other, they realize that maybe they were too judgmental in the beginning. With both of their careers on the line, things start to get increasingly complicated in the sports world and they have to decide who they can and can’t trust. New friends, old friends, co-workers and family members. All are questionable.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my opinion. All thoughts are my own

There are few books that I truly do not like and this is one of them. I did not finish as I could not get thru the first chapter. Add to this that this author(who I have never read before) is a reality tv person(which is how this book got published) and I am not surprised I did not like it. No. Just no.

The Wrong Mr.Darcy is a romantic comedy about 2 people who initially get off on the wrong foot and want nothing to do with each other, but find themselves thrown into unexpected situations where they can only help each other. Hara Isari is an aspiring sports journalist trying to make it big and her small-town newspaper just won't cut it. So when she gets the opportunity to go to Boston and get a scoop on the city's favourite player, she jumps at the opportunity to flaunt her skills. However, her trip to Boston turns out to have more drama, secrets, and scandals than she had asked for.
Derek Darcy is a rookie basketball player out to prove himself after having sat the last season on the bench. However, when he uncovers his star best friend, the star player's secret, he is torn between keeping his morals and giving up the future of his team.

I was originally attracted to the ~beautiful~ pastel mint coloured cover of this book and decided to check it out after reading the synopsis. I jumped in expecting a fun, enemies-to-lovers rom-com with quirky characters and a cute plot, but I was a little disappointed. The characters weren't nearly as interesting as I'd hoped and written okay at best. The plot was very messy and there were so many things going on at once, and very little time for any character development. Additionally, although the story centred a sports writer aspiring to go big, we saw very little of Hara's writing and instead saw her picking up star players and a steamy scene that no one really asked for. Despite the mediocre writing and messy plot, it was a quick and easy read, though it is not something I will remember.

I'm not really sure what I just read. I'm so confused as there didn't seem to be a clear plot to this story. The best thing about it were the quotes from Pride and Prejudice. I know this was supposed to be an updated story of Pride and Prejudice, but it really fell short for me. So much happened in this book that it was a mess to keep up with. The writing was way too choppy and I'm disappointed I couldn't get into this one after trying several times. I struggled to get through this one. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

2 1/2 stars. I have very mixed feelings about this book and in all honesty if I hadn’t received it from NetGalley with the supposition that I write a review, I am not sure I would have finished this book and I wouldn’t write a review. This book was all over the place for me. I couldn’t figure out what it was trying to be. Was it sports/romance book; was it a suspense/romance book? For me, it started in one direction and totally ended up in another. The only part of this story I really liked, was the last chapter when Hara and Derek got their HEA. The rest of the book....I just can’t relate.

This is a contemporary novel inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Hara is a budding sports reporter from a small town who had received some notice. She wins a contest to interview a superstar basketball player. She travels cross country to conduct a very scripted interview with Derek Darcy. This Darcy is also handsome, arrogant, and has a preconceived notion of sports writers. The story is set over just a few days, but many things are happening to both Hara and Derek. The authors have given these two characters many individual obstacles that they must overcome, and as they interact with each other, they also have obstacles, but also are given moments of connection between them. Well written; I had no trouble following each of the characters, both main and secondary, as their story unfolds. Athletes and sports are not my usual genre for reading, but the book was interesting and kept me reading. *I was given an ARC by NetGallery to read and review. This is my honest opinion.

The Wrong Mr. Darcy is one wild ride!

New to me authors Lozada and Lorincz roped me in quick with this Pride and Prejudice inspired book. Journalist, Hara Isari has always wanted to be a sports journalist covering basketball for the big papers. With an ex-felon for a dad and living the small-town life her big break never seemed so far away until she wins a writing contest and is selected to interview a basketball superstar who never talks to reporters. Of course, her adventure in big league reporting introduces her to Derek Darcy, a rookie basketball player looking to make a name for himself. Darcy is mysterious, gorgeous, and for some reason dislikes Hara on sight. Though circumstances and situations keep throwing them together it’s not long before all this forced proximity leads to sparks.

My blurb rehash covers the things I loved about this story. Sports, small-town girl with big city dreams, and a hero who’s grumpy as hell but deep down a super sweet guy. This book starts with a great premise, Hara is beaming with the exciting news of winning a contest to interview a big basketball star for a Boston team the Fishers. She’s got a classic Mrs. Bennet-styled mother who wants to know when Hara is going to get a man and a loving father who only wants the best for her. Her meeting Darcy is a lovely twist on the Pride and Prejudice experience when she accidentally eavesdrops on his phone conversation. Once Darcy finds out she’s a reporter, she’s the enemy. Determined to fish out any details she can to cause scandal. Hara is nothing like this, but the stereotypes from her job fly hard and fierce.

I really like Darcy regardless of his grumpy, distrusting attitude. Having his point of view offers fans of Austen a look at Darcy that we never received in the original, his thoughts, fears, and attitude. It helps me relate to him more. These two are perfectly mis-matched because they both take everything face value and often don’t skim beneath surfaces. There’s a touch of instant attraction, but I can believe it. Some people can draw a person in without more than a glance.

As for the plot, the pacing is tight and fast. There are plenty of details, Lozada and Lorincz don’t skip there. It’s also wild, like telenovela wild. There’s suspense, double crossings, things not being what they seem, lies, and secrets. So much and surprisingly it all comes together. A couple of times I did do a double take to ask myself if this was truly happening. I will say this is great escapist type stuff. If you love shows like Empire or Dynasty this story should fit your fancy.

The only hesitance I have with the story is that the ending seems a bit abrupt with the characters leaps from not being able to be with each other to embracing their love for one another. Additionally, there were a few times when a character voiced a concern or made an internal statement that didn’t match with information previously provided. It didn’t kill the book for me, but it did drag me out of the story a couple times.

I hope this is only the first of more books to come, there were multiple characters mentioned I would love to get to know more about, including the heiress Kitty and the wronged fashion designer Naomi. The Wrong Mr. Darcy is perfect for readers who enjoy Kennedy Ryan or Katee Roberts The Kings series.

~ Landra

Inspired by Pride and Prejudice, this romance tells the story of aspiring sportswriter Hara Isari who wins a writing contest to interview basketball star Charles Butler of the Boston Fishers. Her trip to Boston seems highly regulated, from the requirement that she stay in the owners’ mansion, attend a cocktail party, and ask Charles only a list of approved questions. But Hara is sufficiently excited about the opportunity to overlook the bad vibes.

Throwing major bad vibes is Charles’ teammate and best friend, Derek Darcy, who is strangely antagonistic. As much as she wants to dislike him, she is also attracted to him. Then a bizarre chain of circumstances force Derek and Hara together, fighting not only for justice but for their lives.

Although a diverse, urban retelling of Pride and Prejudice in the world of professional basketball may sound strange, it works. Well developed characters and a harsher Boston than I’ve encountered give depth to this romance with suspense elements. And a reminder of our shared past, when flying, attending sporting events, and going to nightclubs were normal occurrences is bittersweet. #TheWrongMrDarcy #NetGalley

I thought this would be a fun rom-com based on the cover and the blurb. But it kind of disappoints me. There's a lot of things going on in the story and the writing was not good enough to tell a good story. Don't get me started on the dialogues..Nope, this one's not for me

2.5 stars. This book was a rollercoaster. I expected it to be a cute fluffy read, but that's not it at all. Much of the story takes a different turn, rather than following the original Pride & Prejudice plot.

Hara is a sports reported given the chance of a lifetime to make a name for herself interviewing one of the biggest stars in basketball. Only problem is that her father is in prison for running a sports gambling ring that almost destroyed professional sports, so she has an uphill battle. Then a huge series of crazy events happen once she gets to Boston.

I really wanted to like this book and I was excited to get into it. However, I didn't really believe the dialogue (there are never this many people fishing about how hot someone is randomly) or the narration. There was a lot of telling, not showing, happening as well. I think there were too many conflicts going on and too much intrigue.

I struggle to recommend this book, but if you like mystery/thriller stories, you might enjoy this story.

Je suis fan absolue de Jane Austen et en particulier d'Orgueils et préjugés qui est mon roman préféré de l'auteur. J'ai déjà lu des versions modernes de cette historie intemporelle avec les romances de Teri Wilson en autres et nous voici donc ici dans une version dirons nous sportive de ce roman.



Hara Isari est une jeune femme de 22 ans qui a envie de faire carrière dans le journalisme sportif et qui va tout mettre en oeuvre pour y parvenir. Elle ne veut cependant pas compter sur les relations de son père Thomas qui , bien qu'il soit en prison, tire encore quelques ficelles. Ce dernier a en effet été condamné pour ses trafics illicites et même si elle a gardé le lien , elle veut réussir par elle même. Sa mère Willa est également un sacré numéro car elle ne cherche qu'une seule chose : à savoir que sa fille se case et fonde une famille. Avec cette pression sur le dos, elle va donc être heureuse et surprise quand elle va remporter un concours et décrocher l'interview rêvée. Elle va pouvoir approcher l'intouchable Charles Butler et rédiger une interview digne de ce nom. Elle va vite se rendre compte que cette tâche ne sera pas facile et qu'elle va devoir nager en eaux troubles. Son intuition lui dicte de se méfier de Connor O'Donnell, de son assistante Madeline Bingley et de leur entourage. La journaliste renifle le scoop mais elle ne veut pas publier non plus n'importe quel article. Cette éthique est donc louable même si elle ne semble pas au goût de Derek Darcy qui est très hautain avec elle. Elle devra donc à chercher ce qui se cache sous les apparences mais aussi à laisser ses a priori de côté quand elle découvrira qui est vraiment Derek.



Derek Darcy est un héros que j'ai aimé découvrir car évidemment il a tous les traits du Darcy original. Ici il n'y aura pas de saut dans le lac mais une tempête et des inondations . On reconnaît bien cet homme froid et distant qui ne fait confiance à personne. Il est très ami avec son co équipier Charles et il lui fait une confiance aveugle. De plus, il mettra tout en oeuvre pour que son équipe remporte le trophée. O'Donnell lui a fait confiance après sa blessure et il va donc l'écouter attentivement mais attention à ne pas lui faire une confiance aveugle car il pourrait avoir de mauvaises surprises. Il va donc se méfier comme de la peste de Hara car il pense qu'elle n'est pas uniquement là pour couvrir un événement sportif. Il est dans la confidence de Charles et donc il ne veut pas que leur secret soit trahi. Ce dernier est d'ailleurs un personnage que j'ai trouvé lâche et odieux car il se sert des gens pour avancer ses pions et il n'est pas aussi naïf qu'il le prétend. Nous allons donc voir Derek revenir régulièrement dans les scènes avec Hara et leur confrontation est vraiment très intéressante. Bien évidemment, nous ne pouvons que penser aux héros originaux et cette version moderne leur va très bien.



Bref, j'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture avec cette nouvelle version moderne d'Orgueil et Préjugés. The Wrong Mr Darcy est une comédie romantique intéressante avec des personnages qui vont devoir résoudre des énigmes avant de connaître le bonheur.

The Wrong Mr. Darcy is the right book to escape with during this challenging time. Lozada and Lorincz have created amazing characters and an intriguing plot. Hara is a young sports reporter at a small community newspaper that is looking for her big break. When she wins a contest to interview a famous NBA player she thinks her career is on the right track. She travels to Boston to meet and interview Charles Butler and senses that there is a bigger story surrounding Butler that the team owner is trying to hide. While Hara tries to uncover the story she encounters Derek Darcy, Butler's teammate and childhood friend. Hara and Derek are attracted to each other but Hara won't let Derek get in the way of the story she is determined to uncover. This is an entertaining book that is interesting and thought provoking.

*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

I am a giant Pride and Prejudice fan, so when I saw that this book was inspired by one of my favorite books I was excited! I did go into it knowing that it was not going to be as good as the original, but I was very curious to see how Lozada would translate Regency-era England to modern-day America in the basketball world. It was certainly an intriguing premise. 

First, I did like Hara. I thought she was a fairly good Elizabeth Bennet-esque character without trying to be exactly like her. She was independent and witty, as well as quite a bit prejudiced. I enjoyed that she had a diverse background, being half Japanese American and half African American. Also, the fact that her father was in prison for sports betting was an interesting way to incorporate the original storyline of the family being in financial stress and a little looked-down-upon. Derek Darcy was an interesting character. I could see how she was trying to tie in Mr. Darcy to his character, but I actually found him a little more unlikeable than the original. 

The fact that Hara didn't have any sisters was a little too far from the original for me. We missed out on those close relationships, especially with Jane, and it made Hara feel a little more distant than I was hoping for. 

Now, for the storyline. It was an intriguing premise...but one that I don't feel delivered super well. The beginning gave me high hopes with the setup of Hara meeting Darcy and Charles (who I didn't realize was supposed to be the Wickham character until about halfway through the book, I thought he was supposed to be Bingley...maybe she did this on purpose, but I didn't enjoy it). Once the big storm happened though, I felt like the book went a little off the rails. It felt so out of the blue and out of place. It didn't really help the story along, apart from throwing Hara and Darcy together for the night. I felt like this could have been achieved in a far less clunky way. 

*Lightly Spoiler-y: Beware!*

Then, we start getting this storyline where not only is Hara being threatened, but also Charles and Darcy. This was weird to me, in relation to the original story, but at this point the original story had basically been thrown out of the window. She continued to tie it in with some strategically placed famous lines from the original book, but it just felt a little contrived by the end of the book. 

Overall, I think this is a fun, contemporary romance if you go into it not expecting Pride and Prejudice. I thought the romance was a little rushed, but it was still cute, apart from some of the weird plot choices. If you enjoy sports romances, this is a cute little read, but don't expect anything of the Austen style. 




My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I gave The Wrong Mr. Darcy 3 STARS!

The Wrong Mr. Darcy wasn't the book I wanted it to be. Despite the nod to Pride and Prejudice in the title, it is fair to say it is only "lightly inspired" by Austen. There were clever references and twists, and the book did well when it focused on main character Hara Isari's personal growth. But her situation and the plot developments bounced between compelling and outlandish.

The story is driven by Hara's career ambitions and her enemies-to-lovers romance with Derek Darcy. I found the romance engaging, and I was cheering for Hara and Derek to get over their misconceptions of each other even though the circumstances were... implausible. I was also drawn in by Hara's friendship with Naomi. But I was not as invested in the other relationships. Charles felt more like a caricature than a character, and I had a hard time caring about his friendship with Derek. Without naming names (you'll recognize it when you see it), the story's antagonist felt like a moustache-twirling cartoon villain.

I appreciate that this novel took on real issues, most notably blatant sexism in sports reporting, but it felt heavy-handed in its treatment and I wanted more. That sums up my feelings on the book overall: it drew me in, but I wanted more.

Title: The Wrong Mr. Darcy
Author: Evelyn Lozada, Holly Lörincz
Genre: fiction
Rating: 2 out of 5

Hara Isari has big ambitions and they won’t be sidetracked by her mother’s insisting that she settle down soon. She dreams of leaving her small-town newspaper behind, as well as her felon father, and building a career as a sports writer, so when she is chosen to exclusively interview a basketball superstar, she jumps at the chance. It’s time to show the bigwigs what she’s truly made of.
At the same time, she meets a rookie on the rise, Derek Darcy. Darcy is incredibly handsome, obnoxiously proud, and has a major chip on his shoulder. Hara can’t think of a man more arrogant and infuriating. However, fate keeps bringing them together—from locker rooms to elegant parties, to the storm of the century—and what begins as a clash might just be more complicated than Hara anticipated. When she begins to see Darcy in a new light, Hara is not quite sure if she should drop the ball or play the love game.
Comparing this in any way to Pride and Prejudice is a travesty. None of the characters in this book are likable: they are all horrible people. Comparing Derek to Mr. Darcy because he’s awkward around people is ridiculous. Hara is nothing at all like Elizabeth, she knows nothing at about her cultural/family history, and all she cares about is making a name for herself. Everything was so overdone and melodramatic, making this like watching a bad telenovela.
Evelyn Lozada is a TV personality. The Wrong Mr. Darcy is her new novel.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.)