I have been a long time fan of Kelley Armstrong's (throwing all the way back to when Bitten was released), so I'm always excited to see her branch out to new things. Despite not usually being drawn to the romance genre I really enjoyed Finding Mr. Write. I struggled a bit with understanding the contrast between who Chris really was and the part he was trying to play, but that could be my personality coming through more than the character itself. I didn't understand why he would want to be an ass to play the part off-camera when all he needed to so was show that he could be 'that guy' when the media was paying attention. I couldn't quite follow his reasoning there, but again that could just be me.

I do love to read books about authors, and I loved everything about Daphne. Her home in the Yukon, her backstory, the stress of getting published as a woman and the anxiety that weighs on her - they all made me want to see where her story went and follow it through to the end. Chris was a great character when he was being true to himself and even if I didn't click with his storyline as well, he was a great match for Daphne. This was a delightful easy read!

Daphne wrote an amazing book that she is desperate to publish but when her luck as a woman (yes, the inequality that exists is still not fair) runs out, she pens the name Zane Remington and it’s like winning the lottery with the number of 0’s she is offered for her book deal. Now what?!? Obviously, continue the ruse by hiring a male actor to be this amazing author! Finding Mr. Write is a super fun and smooth read and I would have never guessed that this is the author’s first time writing in this genre! Zane (real name Chris) is adorably out of his element in nature from his car to his encounters with wildlife, which provides a wonderful chuckle! As the book’s success soars, the weight of the predicament escalates and so does the chemistry…

Kelley Armstrong is one of those writers who can do no wrong for me. Contemporary Rom-coms are about as far from my usual taste as it gets, and yet I still finished this in a sitting.

Chris, our MMC, gives golden retriever energy right from the get go. So depending on the amount of tension you like can be a pro or a con. Daphne the FMC is a character I think every reader and aspiring writer can empathize with, but also strongly envy. She felt a little too real and relatable emotionally, which I think definitely earned this book some extra points.

Am I a rom-com convert? No, but I think Kelley's writing style makes her books easy to enjoy no matter what your taste is. Finding Mr Write is no exception.

A critique of the internalized misogyny of the publishing world AND a cute love story all in one? Sign me up.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)

Daphne McFadden, axe-wielding zombie novelist in the remote Yukon, is trapped in a web of her own making. After submitting her manuscript under a male pseudonym (after a little too much wine and too many rejections), she hires actor Chris Ainsworth to portray Zane Remington on the back of her book. Easy. Done. Chris Stanton has backed himself into a corner. The Clark Kent-type hot accountant took an acting gig (for the first time since drama club), and now he's stuck pretending to be professional himbo Chris Ainsworth... who is pretending to be the ultimate designer flannel-wearing, wood chopping man's man, Zane Remington. When the book becomes a huge hit, the two are suddenly faced with a press tour and media scrutiny, all while a growing attraction is building. But as the whirlwind of fame converges on them, how long can they keep this secret?

Daphne and Chris are excellent characters. They're both around 30, and it shows (in a good way). They're both actual adults who deal with their problems in a logical, mature way, and none of the choices either of them made caused me to want to throw my book against a wall (especially helpful when you're reading on a Kindle). The relationship conflicts they face are not the result of unprocessed trauma, but those of real adult people. In my opinion, these characters have both gone to therapy. Also, I want Chris to do my taxes.

Daphne is pulling the ultimate "ask not what you can do for the patriarchy, but what the patriarchy can do for you" and doesn't always feel comfortable with that. She consistently questions whether her choice is rooted in internalized misogyny, and comes to the result many of us do: we just don't know. She's facing a lot of uncertainty that many of us in our late 20s/early 30s do, and approaches this entire situation with equal amounts of poise and chaos (in the best possible way). Chris consistently meets her where she is and is the ultimate cheerleader and cinnamon roll, and their relationship is just so cute.

The pacing was incredibly well done, and the rhythm gives the same feeling that a nostalgic girlypop song brings. The beginning was a little rushed, but it allowed us to dive straight into the action of the story. I was originally hesitant when I noticed how quickly the dual POV switched back and forth (multiple times per chapter), but it wound up being one of my favorite things about this book.

Other things I liked:
✨ no excessive mentions of social media or references that age quickly
✨ it's cute and fun while still dealing with topics like institutional misogyny in a way that doesn't feel out of place in a love story
✨ dragging old white male authors who write BIPOC female MCs without any input about lived experiences
✨ acknowledgement of indigenous people existing in the area where the book is set
✨ boy obsessed trope
✨ black cat/golden retriever couple
✨ banter that made me laugh out loud
✨ cute dog (every book should have a dog)

Absolutely worth a preorder, it's great. Thanks to Forever Publishing & NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Kelley Armstrong's historical romance series, A Stitch in Time, and was excited to give her first ever romcom a try!

I enjoyed the comedy part of this romcom. The various ways that Zane (aka Chris acting as the author) promotes his "woodsman writer" persona, mostly by accident, were chuckle-worthy.

I did find the romance part of this romcom book not to click as much with me. I think it is partly due to the fact that the male love interest fell so fast--basically immediately upon seeing her--and he had the goal of having a relationship and life with her in a very short amount of time. I love that this book is promoted as the man falls first, but I think more could have been done to convince me as the reader why he was falling and why it was so intense that he was all in for her so quickly. I never got the sense of there being substantial depth behind the main characters' attraction to each other.

I liked reading about the independent female main character creating and enjoying her dream life living in the Yukon. I too have been to and dream about living life as a writer in the Yukon! Also, the lawyer best friend and the publicist were two of my favourite characters because they were so supportive of the main character and understanding of her experience as a woman author; they helped the plot move in different directions by employing their unique skills.

Thankyou netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy of Finding Mr. Write in exchange for an honest review. My opinions in my review are my own.

If you love a romcom with a cinnamon roll MMC (seriously, he's adorably sweet), a wilderness setting, and conflict that arises more from character choices and shortcomings than from miscommunication, you will really enjoy this book.

Daphne is living her dream life. She works as an architect and lives in a lakeside home she designed in the Yukon. The one dream she hasn't managed to bring to fruition is to get her novel published. After a disappointing series of rejections, she decides to make some changes to her query letter to make herself seem more masculine, and lo and behold she receives several offers and ends up with a NYT bestseller. The only problem? She used a male pen name, and she hired an actor to portray her pseudonym to the public.

Chris is an accountant recovering from a bad business partner when he gets invited to pose as the author for Daphne's book. In the beginning, he's only supposed to pose for a press photo or two, but when the book sells like crazy he agrees to take a bigger place in the book's marketing plan. Which is OK with him, because he's already started to fall for Daphne, and he sets out for the Yukon determined to show her that they can be good together.

I loved both Daphne and Chris. They are truly considerate of each others feelings and needs, and you will likely find yourself yelling, "JUST KISS ALREADY!" considering how many times they get interrupted. But they are clearly made for each other, and I enjoyed wandering the ups and downs of their budding relationship with them.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

For the first part, a lot of the main characters' interactions are over text, but you can still get a sense of their personalities. I love Chris! He's very sweet and well-meaning, even when sometimes, his actions don't come off that way.

The author did a good job of exploring the misogyny that could be applied to different industries, not just in the writing industry. It was a very cute and quick read!

Tropes:
Reverse Grumpy/Sunshine romance
He falls first! (and hard!!)
City boy and wilderness/outdoorsy girl
forced proximity
fake relationship
angst/yearning

The perfect hallmark rom com kind of vibes. I love when books are about books, and this one features an author.
I had so much fun with this book and really enjoyed the romance with a dash of spice.

I really enjoyed this rom-com by Kelley Armstrong! She had me in such a chokehold when I was a teenager with her Darkest Powers series and I always wanted to read more (which I'll do ASAP!) from her. So to see a romance coming out from her? I couldn't resit getting myself a copy. This was a slow burn romance, and it hit all the right tropes besides miscommunication. Throughout the book I was excited to see the conflict of publishing under another name being the biggest issue, but then we're given miscommunication between the two. Personally, I didn't love the miscommunication aspect, but it was resolved relatively quickly. I also really liked the last few chapters. In addition, this book is heavily based on publishing a book, book interviews, and book tours. I can see how that can be boring for some, but I enjoyed going on their adventures.

I also appreciated the lack of spice in this romcom as well. We had about one chapter, and that was perfect for me.

I'm hoping people love this romance, even non-romance readers, because I sure did. It's a quick book to read in a day, and Kelley Armstrong makes it hilarious at times.

This book was addicting; I flew through it in one evening. This was a really fun romcom that also deftly tackles the deeper issues regarding women in the workplace being treated unfairly. Daphne is forced to take on a male pseudonym to get her book published, which is a prudent issue of sexism that women face on a daily basis in their careers.

The romantic aspect of the book was sweet with significant build-up and a lot of consent between two well-written characters. Overall a solid 4.5 stars for me.

I was excited to see a new book from Kelley Armstrong, and although it isn't her usual genre, I did enjoy it. Over all, I found it very sweet and wonderfully silly in places.

I enjoyed the characters, though I share some of the other reviewers opinion that they are a little shallow. There are places where we are told they are a little more, but I didn't feel it, if that makes sense. Even if you take them at face value though, the book is still good and there were several places where I laughed outright.

The plot was interesting but slow in spots. It didn't really have enough meat to go as long as it did, instead it make the story thin and the conclusion a little awkward. Personally, I'm not a fan of poor communication tropes, and I think this book could have accomplished the same conflict without it. That being said, I did enjoy watching the MCs stumble through the messes that seemed to pop up around every corner.

I know my review may seem mostly negative, but I really did enjoy the book. I was actively invested in the characters and cared about what was happening. I did receive an ARC, so some of the kinks might get worked out before publishing. If you like a good romance, you should give this a try.

Thank you NetGalley, my review is shared voluntarily.

such a cute and feel good book. i love a great romantic comedy read, and this certainly did not disappoint!!!!

What an engaging and fun novel! Daphne is an author trying to get her novel published, and spontaneous decides to put a male name on her proposal. Of course her novel is then finally picked up for a significant sum and attention is drawn to the pseudonym. Daphne ends up hiring a supposed actor to play the part, which snowballs to hilarious antics and adventures. I loved the hidden identities, dash of fake dating, and the delicious sexual tension!

Thank you to the publisher Forever and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the book early!

I'm a big fan of Kelley Armstrong, as well as romcoms. Put the two together, fantastic!

With a memorable opening line, this book had me hooked and laughing out loud from the beginning and throughout. I loved the banter between Daphne and Chris, the two main characters. There were also a lot of supporting characters that showed up throughout the book that were also very well written. Overall, this slow burn romcom hit all the Write notes ;)

Thank you to Netgalley & Forever Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great book. I enjoyed it a lot but it also made me think. The banter and romance was top tier. The setting is perfect for summer time.

I really enjoyed this story. It had me thinking of what writers (especially female writers) go through. It is fun look into the publishing world. There is a little bit of spice with the romance and a lot of humor and banter.

Daphne is an introverted author. After facing repeated rejection, she drunkenly decides to submit her book again, but with a man’s name. It should come as no surprise that she scored a solid book deal under her male pen name.

She panics asks her lawyer friend, Nia, to help her cover it up and hire an actor for the author photos. Nia brings in Chris, an accountant that’s also in need of her legal services. Chris slips into a role in his interactions with Daphne that he believes is closer to the sort of man she’s described as the author. He’s really running three identities as himself, fake Chris, and Zane Remington.

Daphne is totally turned off by fake Chris and Zane. She’s interested in the bits of real Chris that slip through on occasion, but largely puts up with him just to get through the book’s publication date. There’s a bit of mutual attraction, but neither Daphne nor Real Chris seem to be inclined to do anything until it’s abundantly clear the other person is interested. Chris is supportive and advocates for Daphne when they’re facing television crews and book tour stops. They’re pretty cute together.

I was hesitant to finish this book, because I’d grown to care about Daphne and fully understood all the reasons behind her decision to pretend she was a man. I was worried it’d be really traumatic for her. I’ve been tempted to do the same in a few situations, because too many times I’ll send an email that is wholly disregarded, but if a man says the same thing 20 minutes later the matter is settled. It is infuriating. Luckily, she’d gone through a bit of soul searching by this point and was ready to face the issues head on. In my head it could’ve been much worse, but I’m glad it wasn’t.

Chris is great, but he’s still a straight white man, and he does some stupid things towards the end. The third act conflict between them was set up well and Daphne has realistic reaction to his brief periods of idiocy. They also handled their living situations well—neither of them gave up their job, their home, or sacrificed significant time with each other.

5⭐️

As someone who doesn’t often read the romance genre, Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong was a fun detour into a different genre that made me consider giving romance more of a try. The protagonist, Daphne, and the love interest, Chris, were extremely likable and relatable while staying fleshed-out and flawed. I appreciated that one of their bigger conflicts was a difference in opinion that resulted in a major fight, which pushed them to take a pause and communicate before growing into their relationship.

Throughout the book, Daphne and Chris experienced many moments of sexual and romantic tension, making it incredibly easy to root for them to get together. Their compatibility and chemistry was clear, and their senses of humor had me grinning across multiple chapters. Along with the main duo, the side characters were just as easy to root for and fall in love with. My particular favorite was Sakura and the panelists at the book festival.

While a major focus is the romance, I enjoyed that the book focused on or touched upon other serious topics, such as perceived gender roles, sexism and racism in the publishing industry, and white-centric beauty standards. As a white female author hiring a white male actor to play a male pseudonym, and gaining an unbelievable amount of success because of it, it felt necessary to address not just the sexism but the racism of the situation, which the book does.

Overall, Finding Mr. Write was a smart, funny, and romantic read that made me want to read another story just like it in tone and humor. Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own!

I’ve been a fan of Kelley Armstrong’s writing since her first novel, Bitten. She’s always had a bit of humour and romance in everything she writes, so I was excited to hear she was writing a romcom.

Finding Mr. Write didn’t disappoint.  I’m always here for the “com” part more than the “rom” and I laughed out loud so many times while reading this.

The story is a wonderfully goofy romcom setup: the heroine, Daphne, has written a zombie novel. She can’t get it published, so one day sends it out under a male name — and suddenly she has an offer.

She decides to hire someone to play her fake author, Zane Remington.  Enter the hero, Chris.

Both leads were charming, funny, and sweet.  I loved Chris’s nerdiness, and Daphne was a badass with relatable self esteem issues.

The first half of the novel was my favourite — set in the Yukon, it involved “Zane” pretending to be a tough mountain man, to great hilarity.  

I missed that aspect in the second half, but appreciated that the couple’s difficulties were based in real issues, not silly misunderstandings.

I really enjoyed this one and am excited for the author’s next romcom.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever / Grand Central Publishing for my review copy of this book.

Finding Mr. Write was a fun and unique twist on your typical romance novel. Daphne is a strong independent female MC that clearly doesn’t need a man personally (even though she does need one professionally). While the book was centered around Daphne’s story, I felt like Chris’ character stole the show! His witty sense of humor had me laughing out loud, his sweet and loving nature had my heart fluttering, and his determination for the other characters in the book to follow their dreams had me swooning. I absolutely loved this story and would gladly read another rom-com from this author!

Thank you to Net Galley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing an ARC.