This was such an easy and fast read for me! I'm currently in my romance era, so this book was perfect to pick up right now. It is light-hearted and a fun plot line to read about. I like that the author didn't try to make the book longer than it needed to be. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick romance that isn't deep and will keep you interested the whole time!

I'm giving this 3 stars simply because I couldn't personally connect to the characters and I didn't ~feel~ a lot while reading it like I have for other romances I have read. I still enjoyed my time reading it.

Book Review
Finding Mr Write by Kelley Armstrong

What its Got….
✅Canadian author and Canadian content
✅Dogs, porcupines and bears oh my
✅Armchair travel- Yukon and Vancouver
✅Feminism , misogyny and the patriarchy
✅Struggles of female authors in publishing world
✅Geek glow up
✅Gorgeous setting- mountains, lake, wildlife
✅ witty banter and a slow burn romance

Characters
Daphne- lives off grid, capable, shy, architect and author
Zane (pretentious author) vs Chris Ainsworth ( a mans man)
vs Chris Stanton ( an accountant that bakes) ; its like having 3 men in 1
Sakura /Nia- sidekicks and friends
Gemma- her story sounds like another book
Robbie- asshat neighbour

Overall
Dynamic relationship between our 2 MCs and the setting in the Yukon strongly reminded me of Armstrong’s Rockton series which I adore
Armstrong has a way of weaving complex societal issues into her stories that provide added layers and depth to her characters without the heaviness making her characters more relatable and authentic
A enjoyable quick read that left a smile on my face

Thanks to @netgalley @readforeverpub and @grandcentralpub for my digital ARC in return for an honest review.
Opinions expressed are my own

I am a big fan of this author, and was delighted to read her first book in the rom-com genre.

As expected, her characters are great. Daphne is author, who is completely self sufficient and lives in a cabin (she designed) in the Yukon. She is unable to get her book published, until she uses a male pseudonym. Unfortunately the book is so popular, that the publisher demands in person author attendance at events. A desperate Daphne hires a make actor to pretend to be the author for all these events.

She hires Chris Stanton, who desperate for cash pretends to be an actor with an ego, when he is actually a sweet accountant under his hunky exterior. He actually crushes it as the author at book appearances, but Daphne starts to have second thoughts about being unrecognized for her work.

Why I loved this book:
-great characters, with amazing chemistry
-interesting face paced plot, especially when things go off the tracks
-sizzling love scenes
-great setting

Overall this author seems to slay any genre she writes.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review.

Daphne McFadden already knows that as a female author, the cards are stacked against her. Now she knows just how much. Because her sudden whim to pose as an “outdoorsy hunk of masculinity” male author for her new book just resulted in the unthinkable: a bidding war, a huge book deal, and the kind of fame every author dreams of. Now she’s in big trouble. Because she needs to convince the world that Zane Remington actually exists . . . but how?

By hiring an actor, of course. Only Chris Stanton is not an actor—not officially. He’s used to balancing the books, not pretending he wrote one. Still, he’s mostly certain he can pose as some overly macho bro-author. But when the media descend on Daphne’s gorgeous remote home in the Yukon, it’s not enough for Chris to just be the face of Zane Remington—he’ll have to become him.

First off, this book is hilarious.

I really enjoyed getting to know Daphne and Chris. The situation they found themselves in was so entertaining, even while highlighting a big problem in the publishing industry. After reading this, I need to read more of this author!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing, for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. A cute story about an author who uses a male pen name to get published, only her book gets too popular and shoes forced to hire an actor to pretend to be the male author. Hilarity ensues.

I love how this book is a mostly charming cozy read but also shines a light on the serious issue of misogyny in the publishing world and readers. It’s a warm and charming story of friendship, respect, and falling in love. There’s cute banter, a couple sex scenes, some embarrassment, and a really fantastic relationship that starts in friendship.

📖 Short Synopsis:
Daphne, an author living in the Yukon, takes a daring step by publishing her book under the male pseudonym Zane Remington to avoid gender bias from her publisher. When her book skyrockets to bestseller status, the publisher insists on a book tour, presenting a dilemma as Daphne is not a man. Enter Chris Stanton, a sexy, charming but inexperienced accountant recommended by her friend Nia, who convinces him to pose as Zane. As they navigate the challenges of maintaining the facade, both professionally and personally, Daphne and Chris find themselves entangled in a web of secrets and growing attraction, risking everything to keep up their charade.

💭Thoughts:
I found Daphne and Chris to be loveable characters, their personalities and interactions adding depth and charm to the story. The setting in Canada was a delightful aspect for me, being Canadian myself; it allowed me to vividly imagine the locations where the events unfolded. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the humor infused throughout the book, often finding myself laughing out loud at the witty and comedic moments.

Tropes:
✍🏼 Canadian
✍🏼 Opposites Attract
✍🏼 Secret Identity

I was blessed with an ARC of Finding Mr. Write by one of my fave authors @kelleyarmstrongauthor

Basically anything Kelley writes, I love. This was so different from my favourite series of hers (Rockton), but I devoured it just as quick!

I loved the premise of this book - the characters were strong and loveable (especially Daphne). The storyline had a great mix of adventure, romance, and a bit of mystery to see how Zane would play out in the end. As always, Kelly nails the Northern Canada setting which makes my heart so happy (also peep the rainy Vancouver winter references lol).

Anywho, highly recommend grabbing this when it is released!

#whatwouldkatread

Kelley Armstrong writes a cute contemporary romance you say? I'm there! As one of my favorite authors, I will read anything she writes. And she can write in any genre!

Finding Mr. Write is a cute romantic comedy with a touch of wilderness, a little bit of tropey goodness, a dash of fake dating and a sprinkle bear stand off encounter. Basically, this book is a lot of fun!

Daphne can't seem to get her book any attention. So one drunken night, she submits it to an agent under a male pen name and voila! Success! Now that her book is a bestseller and the publisher is enamored with the male persona she created, she needs to put a face to that name. So she hires an actor to pretend to be the author.

Chris is not an actor, he's an accountant! But he desperately needs the money and in the end, how difficult would it be to play an overly macho, uber hunk of masculinity?

Through book tours, remote home interviews, bear encounters, dips in frozen lakes, and more, this book has surprises at every corner. And the romance that develops between these two is just as perfect as the personas they carefully crafted.

Finding Mr. Write is total book-candy.

As a long-time follower of Kelley Armstrong, I love how much of herself she put into this story. I also love how it had all the signature Kelley Armstrong features, like a green-flag (mostly) love interest, good humour, and all the romantic tension.

You'd never know that this is Kelley's first foray into adult romance. With the easy dialogue and the humour, it's classic Kelley, just without all the fantastical elements that usually surround her characters (though the author still wrote a zombie book, so that counts, right?). I flew through it quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed the overall story. The humour and commentary mix well, and I loved how everything played out.

This book reminds me a bit of Yellowface in its social commentary. A dash of "who's allowed to write a story," but also "how far would you go to be published?" Of course, this book is much lighter and taken from a Caucasian woman's POV, but I liked how it called into question the biases that still exist in publishing and reading. Definitely something that needs to be examined on all sides.

Let's talk about the characters, though, shall we? I feel like the relationships were the weakest points for me. I thought Chris fell too fast, the secondary characters (Daphne's bestie Nia and Chris's sister Gemma) felt very one tone and not developed at all (which was surprising for a Kelley book), and I felt more camaraderie with their very stressed publicist than any of their personal connections. I did end up loving Chris and Daphne together, and I appreciated how Gemma came through in the end, but I wanted a bit more depth from everyone involved and was very disappointed I didn't get it.

Also, for the spicy romance girlies, this book is mostly fade-to-black. Given some of her other books, I was surprised, but the tension is still there and I loved the two of them together (though the number of times they get interrupted is wild).

Like I said, it's a Kelley book, and I'm obviously going to love it, but I know that she has and will write stronger relationships and characters with so much more depth and I felt like that was the missing heart of this book. That being said, if you're looking for a fun rom-com, that is what you'll get. It's the knowledge of her backlist that kind of brought this one down for me.

TW: vomit, sexism, sexual content; mentions drug abuse

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.

This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

This was not bad! I really enjoyed some if the parts and part of the time I was laughing but it was also just that- funny sometimes.

I read my first Kelley Armstrong book 20 years ago. When I saw that she'd written a rom-com, I was a little skeptical and a lot intrigued. Let me tell you, Finding Mr. Write is fantastic.

Daphne hires Chris to play her pen name, Zane. Ridiculous, right? It is, but it's also funny and heart-warming at the same time. What begins as Daphne thinking Chris is just a dumb jock, becomes the two of them discovering that they actually like each other. Witty banter ensues, and I was highly entertained.

The circumstances in which these two find themselves are absurd and hilarious. So many things going wrong but turning in their favor because, well, Zane is hot. There are double-entendres and dry humor liberally sprinkled equally throughout the book. And though this book is a slow burn, there is absolutely a payout around the 80% mark.

If you are already a fan of Kelley or just want a great, well-written rom-com, this is the perfect book to curl up with. Enjoy!

This book is such a departure from all books I’ve read of this author, and it was so good! I truly loved the rom com feel of it, and the chemistry between Daphne and Chris. I very much enjoyed it and recommend it to all.

April 2, 2024
I loved this ARC of Kelley Armstrong's Finding Mr Write. It made me laugh, it pulled my heartstrings, it had a well thought-out plot with good pacing, and strong characters. All the hallmarks I have come to expect from the author. This has been my favorite romance of the year, easily. And probably last year, too.

Daphne has been shopping around her book to get published with no luck. Out of desperation and on a whim, she decides to put a male author’s name on the manuscript and send it out to agents. She’s surprised that her book gets picked up and the book is fast tracked for publishing. When the book has wild success after publishing, Daphne decides to hire an actor to play Zane Remington, the man everyone thinks wrote the book. Chris Stanton steps in for the role, winning over the readers, the publishing world, and Daphne’s heart.

Wow! I was impressed by this rom-com by Kelley Armstrong. I have not read any of Armstrong’s other books, but she seems to have made a seamless transition to romance. Her voice is unique and captivating. This book checked all the boxes for me. It had wit, humor, heart, and a suspenseful premise. It kept me wanting to comeback for more, turning pages and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Daphne and Chris had amazing chemistry and I couldn’t get enough of them. Their relationship started as a working relationship, with them texting one another. Even then, I felt their connection was palpable. When they finally spent time together in person, I couldn’t wait for them to crash into each other. It was a bit of a slow burn, but it wait was worth it.

I loved Chris for so many different reasons. He was sweet, thoughtful, earnest, and he wanted to do right by Daphne. He seemed to annoy Daphne at times, like an eager puppy that you couldn’t help love even though it won’t stop bugging you. I also loved the swoon-worthy Zane Remington persona that he created. It was like we got the best of both worlds with him.

The premise of this book was intriguing. What are the ethical implications of the situation? What obligation do authors have in sharing themselves with the world? I found myself reflecting on my interactions with authors and on the book influencer world. It was a reminder of the brutal nature of the publishing world and how sometimes authors don’t always have control over their narrative. This book gave me a lot of food for thought.

This book was utterly delightful and thought-provoking and I am going to be recommending it to everyone!

Steam level: 🔥🔥¾
⚠️: mention of cancer, death of a parent

Kelley is an autobuy author for me for her fantasy books, but when I found out she was writing a romcom I knew I NEEDED to read it. This book did not disappoint. Chris/zane is such an amazing character that we get so many layers on. He really is the perfect guy- he’s hot, sensitive, a former mathlete 🔥, swimmer, and social justice advocate, not to mention he can save you thousands on your taxes.
Daphne was such an interesting character, being so confident and outgoing, but still introverted and shy.
I especially appreciated all the commentary regarding the publishing industry within this book. It really highlights all the people who make a book go from an authors brain to in your hands. This book also provided some interesting insight on some of the issues with publishing- mentioning the old white guy author who things he’s the 💩, the rotating publicist who doesn’t get paid enough for their hard work, and the effort that goes into a book tour and signing hundreds of books. Poor Chris couldn’t use his fingers for what he wanted to 😏.
The spice level was low, most of the action was closed door, with one very tame scene exception, but the tension was top notch.
I found myself laughing out loud multiple times and kicking my feet in delight.

Overall Kelley remains an autoread author for me, and I hope she forays into the genre again!

Thank you netgalley for the earc. My opinions are my own.

This book was the perfect palate cleanser for all the dark romance I have been reading lately. I have read MANY of Kelley Armstrongs books, and loved most of them so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it and give it a go.

It was absolutely worth it. It was fun, funny, and just such a wholesome read. Daphne and Chris are great characters and their relationship that builds throughout the book only gets better.

I can’t wait to purchase this book when it comes out to have on my shelf to reread when I need a fun light hearted book.

Thank you Forever Pub for the #gifted e-arc to read and review.

This story was so fun! A little roll-several with a really hot but nerdy accountant and a badass fmc who lives in the Canadian wilderness with a wolf-dog.

Daphne is a female author who can’t get anyone to read her manuscript. Liquid courage inspired a male pseudonym… and suddenly she has a book deal and a publisher and fans who think she’s a man. Scrambling to find a face for her alter-ego, she finds Chris to fill in. What could go wrong?

🪓 Publishing World
🪓 Forced Proximity
🪓 Secret Identity
🪓 Slow Burn
🪓 Co-Workers

I loved these characters and getting to know them. I loved the maturity, flirting and getting to know one another.

There was a smattering of miscommunication that had me rapidly blinking in hopes that it wouldn’t continue… but alas, we got a good grovel out of it so I approve.

I flew through this novel and loved a glimpse into the publishing world. I also kind of want to go live in Daphne’s house in the Yukon.

4.5 stars

What’s it about?
Daphne has written a YA dystopian zombie novel… but didn’t have success with a literary agent / submission until she queried under a male pseudonym. And then her book gets picked up and she needs a man to pretend to be the author.

Enter Chris Stanton to play author Zane Remington. In real life Chris is an accountant trying to save his company, so he takes this gig and has to pretend to be grizzly, wilderness living Zane.

From shooting a news segment at Daphne’s house and staring down a grizzly bear to going on tour with Daphne as his “assistant,” this book is rife with humor, a slow sizzling burn, and a stark look at how women are treated vs. men.

My thoughts:

Within the first two chapters of reading this one I was telling all my book friends to request it on Netgalley. I was all in on this one.

I loved Chris trying to be macho Zane, despite being a cinnamon roll MMC. I adored Daphne’s pursuit of her dreams. Publicist Sakura was a welcome surprise! And the overall commentary about how men and women are perceived was fantastic.

The slow burn in this one sizzled. So many almosts and hidden moments. Swoon!

And there is even a dog!

There are a couple of small things I wanted more resolution on. But that’s ok. We still got a fun, great new romcom!

I highly recommend this one.

A quirky slow-burn about an writer who sells her book using a pseudonym that goes viral and all heck breaks lose. I loved the feel-good atmosphere of the story, and I could totally see it being the next chick-flick like "The Proposal."

Now, what really struck me was the author, Kelley Armstrong. I have read books by her before, back in my days of being on team werewolf rather than vampire, but I really loved "Bitten" and the following books. Armstrong is a strong writer, and in the note from the author, she speaks about truths to publishing. Stepping out of her comfort zone, she really succeeded in writing a great rom-com.