eARC
DNF

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC

The title name and art cover is what drew me in. Then I read the summary and thought it would be a cute easy read. FMC being a writing? Yes please! I love when it’s a book about a writer. I’ve always enjoyed those tropes.

The premise is, Ziya is an almost thirty, legal secretary and struggling writer. Who’s been rejected by every possible publisher. She throws in the writing towel and continues her stable legal secretary work.
A strange man appears in her kitchen and he tells her he’s her muse, part of her creative mind. He’s going to help her get out of her head, enjoy more about life and the little things. Ultimately, find her creativity as a writer. They spend all day together and Ziya notices how attractive he is…

I went as far as 14 chapters and that’s when I DNF this. This wasn’t an easy read to begin with. I was pushing through to find growth with the FMC and a MMC love interest. As far as I read, I am guessing that Aashiq is the love interest, which I’m disappointed because it isn’t something that she thought of, wrote or created, it’s that he just appeared out of nowhere.

The book would have a better appeal to me if the FMC began thinking/writing of the love interest.

Read: May 8th - May 14th
Format: E-Book
Rating: No rating, DNF-ed @ 42%

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I wanted to love this book. A discouraged writer learning to love the craft again? All while being PoC and advocating for PoC authors writing? Sign me up!

Except, well... I didn't like it. First, I'd like to clarify that when I read the blurb, when I read that her muse comes to life, I figured it was a mental construction of her perfect love interest, or a reflection of a guy she based her love interests on, or maybe the love interest of her book himself. I didn't expect the muse to be her desire to write manifested in hot man form. And because he was so intricately part of her, the romance just felt weird and off putting. I mean, yay for self-love I guess? But not when it's like this. I went from excited about this aspect of the concept to grimacing through it.

And the writing? I saw someone compare it to a self help book, and honestly, that's very valid. So much of the dialogue was stilted and forced because it just felt like someone spitting out what would be in a creative's curated self help book. I've given the advice at times myself, but always through text. The way it felt so polished coming from the mouths of characters made it feel inorganic and practiced.

This also extended to the protagonist, who came across as an inorganic embodiment of all the issues that a writer may have. Also, she rage quit because she couldn't get an agent or publisher. Look, I'm not going to give anyone grief for the route they want to go, but self-publishing didn't even cross her mind, and if anything, the book gave the vibe that only trad published books had worth, and it just left me with the icks. The complaint that the agents gave also didn't make sense? That the romances didn't have high enough stakes? Emily Henry was literally mentioned in this book. What was the stakes of Funny Story? That the protagonists wouldn't get together? Since when did romance need super high stakes besides the character growth and the building romance? The complaint she kept getting just made no sense to me.

I don't know. The entire thing around her writing career left me feeling more confused than sympathetic.

I won't say this book isn't worth giving a try. It has a good message underneath, and I genuinely desire messages about PoC writers being valid, and the need for people who look like them to be protagonists. But this book just didn't do anything for me. So, if the things I listed as complaints don't seem like things that would bother you, give it a go.

I love a good romance with a bookish angle and the premise of Writing Mr. Right gave me Ashley Poston romance vibes with its magical realism element incorporated into the plot... Both reasons why I couldn't resist adding this book to my shelves. I think I was probably most excited for the muse-coming-alive part of the plot, although I always love a good own voices representation as well... And while I did enjoy those elements, as a whole I ended up with mixed thoughts. I'll try to explain why below.

Before I continue, I have to stress that I still love the premise of Writing Mr. Right. The magical realism element really took the plot to the next level for me, and the story had SO much potential. Somehow, the execution itself didn't quite work as well for me though. That said, I can't deny that it was a quick read and I can always appreciate a clean and almost cozy romance. I could also really appreciate the Pakistani representation in the story and how it was incorporated into the plot.

Where did it get wrong for me then? Let's just say that I'm just not sure if this story should actually BE a romance, or at least not in its current version. I mean, am I the only one weirded out by the fact that Aashiq is basically a physical manifestation of Ziya's creativity?! And that he lived inside her brain before coming alive?! Somehow it just felt wrong for them to develop feelings, especially since his origin is mentioned over and over again. I feel this story would have worked so much better if their connection would have been just a close friendship instead... Or at least with its current inspirational vibe during most of the plot and the multiple mentions of where he came from.

And that is another thing that started to bother me after a while: how certain parts almost read like a self help book with one too many inspirational quote. It made the dialogues feel a lot less natural and it simply became too much for me; it really distracted from the rest of the story. I'm all for characters focusing on growth and self-improvement along the way, but I just wasn't a fan of how this was incorporated into the plot. Especially since some of the changes in Ziya were quite abrupt and didn't always feel credible.

I also struggled with Aashiq himself. Sure, his puppy energy made him easy to like and he sure tried to do a great job as a muse. Like I said, if the connection would have been a friendship, their growing bond would have been easier to overcome... But the romance just never felt right for me. I liked the whole new-at-being-human part of his character, although it's a shame that it wasn't done in a consistent way. I mean, there were moments where he was incredibly clueless, and then a couple pages later he is suddenly behaving like any other human... His behavior while learning to be a human was a bit too over the top at times as well, and a more balanced approach would have made his character feel more credible.

In the end there were elements I enjoyed in Writing Mr. Right and it is without doubt a quick and easy read, but there were also elements that didn't work quite as well for me. I did love the magical realism element and bookish angle though!

I'd first like to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing, and MIRA for the eARC of this book.

I absolutely wish that I could give a higher star for this book, but (unfortunately) like the FMC kept hearing from agents....I could not connect with the FMC at all. I wanted so much to love this story, but I kept finding myself wanting to either not pick this one up, or just read something else altogether.

I'm sure that this book will resonate well with writer hopefuls, and it definitely had some very good bits of motivation dispersed throughout the story.

This was such a fun and refreshing read. I loved the concept but I do feel as the execution was not the best. I couldn’t submerge myself into the story like I typically do. As the story continued, I did begin to feel as if I was being told how Ziya felt rather than being about to feel and experience it for myself. However, I do believe this book has the potential to be someone's favorite book ever, it just was not for me

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book, but did get about 60% through and skipped to the end.

The premise is interesting - an legal secretary decides to quit writing after too many rejections and a birthday wish turns into her writing muse personified. The fmc is Pakistani, and deals with her identity as a woman of color, while struggling with her confidence and social skills. The mmc is a golden retriever who sees the world as brand new, since he has has always been a part of her psyche.

The issue I had with the story was the way things were told, not shown. Dialogue between characters was long and overly descriptive in ways that became formal and unrealistic. The mmc's childish wonder and curiosity was a bit over the top, while the fmc was overly stubborn in being open to growth. After a while, the story became repetitive and the dialogue was shouldering too much of a burden to tell the story.

Thank you for the chance to read and review this book!

This was a quirky, cute read with a lot of magical realism and heart weaved into the story.

Ziya and Aashiq were both fantastic characters and I fell in love with each of them as the story went on. I really appreciated Ziya’s growth as a character and her finding her zeal for life again. I loved that she found a way to make all of her dreams come true while finding joy in the glimmers of life like making meals, seeing a sunrise, and running. Aashiq was quirky and I enjoyed all the little moments where he found joy in the every day and encouraged Ziya to never take those little things for granted. He had so much fun with life and drew that out of her as well.

The cultural representation was great and I found it added a lot of depth to Ziya’s character when we would see her struggles with her family and her lived experience with her culture and faith. I learned a lot from reading this book!

Unfortunately, I never really got over that he was an “extension of her” and that took away from the romance for me. It just seemed like the author mentioned him coming from her subconscious too many times for it not to be a little strange. I loved the premise of him being her muse, I just don’t think it was executed as well as it could’ve been to make it believable or to make me buy into this as a romance instead of a friendship. I do feel they might’ve been better as friends, as the romance came off as unrealistic. I also didn’t love the ending for Emily and didn’t think it fit with the narrative that was built around her boyfriend in the rest of the book.

This was a sweet, quick read for anyone looking for a little magical realism. Overall this was a cute read with a lot of heart!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing (MIRA) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ziya Khan works at a law firm by day and then works on her novel at night, but things aren’t exactly going great in either department. She’s so dedicated to work that she doesn’t have friends there and barely takes time to eat lunch. Once she goes home to write and try to query her novel, it gets turned down by agents for being too low-stakes.

One night, she’s had enough and decides to give up writing and her novel. The next day, she ends up meeting Aashiq. Who is Aashiq? He is the embodiment of her muse and is there to help her find her love of writing again. Once the job is done, he’s gone and back to being in Ziya’s head, which doesn’t seem so bad at first.

While Ziya is reluctant to do anything, Aashiq quickly becomes a positive presence in her life as he’s outgoing, carefree, and kind. As you might guess, the two are spending a lot of time together, and they end up falling for each other. The only problem is that he is going to disappear once Ziya gets her love of writing back and finishes her next novel.

Since it has that fantastical element to it, I won’t give away what happens. However, I loved this concept, and I think it worked so well. It was so fun to see how Aashiq approached the world and people because he had never seen anything beyond what was in Ziya’s head. It was refreshing to see someone who had no idea what the world was like handle it. In turn, it was incredible to see Ziya blossom into who she was meant to be. She had been living on autopilot, and Aashiq gave her the push she needed.

The romance between Ziya and Aashiq is bittersweet as we know what’s coming. However, the two end up spending the time they have together intentionally. They do things Aashiq has only dreamed about, try new activities, and even venture to Times Square on New Year’s Eve. No worries on that, as they end up going back home before the ball drops.

Once again, Alina Khawaja captured my heart, and I adored this book. Her books are always so fun and fresh with Muslim characters who we don’t see much in romance books.

This was a meta, tongue in cheek romance with a lot of heart. The premise was a little magical and absurd, in all the best ways, and was explored really well. Ziya was a really relatable, complex character that had a great emotional arc. I also loved getting to see her relationships with her family and culture, as well as her passion for her writing.

I adored this book!! Thanks to the Author, Alina Khawaja, NetGalley and the Publisher for my ARC and this opportunity to read ahead of release! AS a struggling writer and aspiring for more in her life as a legal assistant, Ziya makes a wish on magical candles thanks to her best friend and the next morning, Aashiq, her main character in her story and her muse, appears in her kitchen, making pancakes. The next few weeks Aashiq pushes Ziya to exercise more, push for what she wants at work, make new friends, take time for things she loves and take chances she never considered to before. Little does she know that the more she works towards her book and her writing she adores so much, the more Aashiq begins to disappear. I think my favorite part of this book was the representation of the authors own family and Pakistani culture and heritage. I feel like its something we dont see represented often and I truly loved seeing and learning all of it! The entire book stresses the important of career/life balance and not only does Aashiq help her with her writing he does really show her what that is and what that entails as its not anything she has ever considered before. This read absolutely brought me to tears in the very best ways and I have already been recommending to friends! #NetGalley #WritingMrRight

Writing Mr. Right by Alina Khawaja feels like waking up to find that the one person who actually believes in you is standing in your kitchen making pancakes. Ziya Khan is stuck between the day job that drains her and the dream that keeps slipping through her fingers, and after one last rejection letter on her thirtieth birthday, she’s ready to call it quits for good. Enter Aashiq, her muse brought to life, looking way too real and way too determined to get her back on track.

The setup sounds magical, but what makes this story work is how grounded it stays. Ziya’s struggles with self-doubt, burnout, and wondering if it’s smarter to just give up are painfully real. Aashiq isn’t there to hand her success, he’s there to push her into doing the terrifying work of believing she deserves more. Watching her reclaim her voice, little by little, is just as satisfying as any romantic payoff.

Their relationship is sweet and slow with just the right amount of spark, but always with that bittersweet ticking clock in the background. Ziya knows that the better she gets at standing on her own, the closer she is to losing him. The tension never tips into melodrama though. It’s handled with a light, funny touch that keeps the story moving without undercutting the emotional weight.

Writing Mr. Right nails that tricky balance between a rom-com that makes you laugh and a character journey that actually makes you feel like maybe you should dust off whatever dream you stuffed in a drawer five years ago. It’s fresh, charming, and sneakily emotional without ever getting preachy or heavy-handed.

This was a sweet book that was a pretty average read for me. Ziya is a writer whose muse comes to life. He is trying to inspire her to start writing again. It was really nice to read about a different culture than my own and I loved the Muslim representation in a romance book. This book is just a very cozy read.

So much charm, but not quite the story it could have been. Writing Mr Right by Alina Khawaja, hitting shelves on June 10, 2025, has a wonderfully whimsical concept,a struggling writer’s fictional muse comes to life to help her find her creative spark (and maybe something more). It’s imaginative, heartfelt, and refreshingly original. Ziya Khan is an easy character to root for, and her journey through self-doubt, creative burnout, and unexpected romance is full of lovely moments. Aashiq, the muse-turned-man, brings warmth and fun to the page, and their quirky connection has definite rom-com appeal. But while the premise had me immediately hooked, the execution didn’t quite live up to its promise. Some scenes felt rushed, others didn’t dig deep enough emotionally, and I found myself wanting more from the central relationship, and from Ziya’s growth as a writer.
Still, Khawaja’s debut shows clear talent and plenty of heart. It’s a sweet, easy read with an inventive twist, just one that left me wishing for a little more magic in the follow-through.
Thansk to Netgalley and and the author for the chance to read this book in advance.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

DNF: 44%

As Ziya heard many times about the book she queried at the start of this story: I couldn't connect to the characters or the story.

It's silly and over the top in an unbelievable way. I get that it's magical realism but the elements feel disjointed and ask me to suspend my disbelief too much. Was I mildly curious to see how things played out? Yes. That's why I kept reading as long as I did. But this one rubbed me the wrong way pretty much from the start:

- Ziya bemoans that the Hallmark-esque style she writes in isn't splashy enough for agents & publishers but doesn't try indie or self publishing.

- "Huh. I never would have guessed the hardworking, suitwearing, no-nonsense women I work with would be such big romance fans" (18%). That's so judgmental and naive of Ziya. This is set in current day; with the explosion of the romance genre, how is this a thought she has?

- Her idea that FMCs have to behave in a likable way or they're unrelatable (19%). It's just gross.

- "Like, if you don't have a splashy book deal or a literary agent, then your writing isn't as valid" (23%). Way to dismiss whole sections of the industry. Ziya's attitude towards writing and publishing seems massively messed up.

- Aashiq acts more like a life coach and/or therapist than he does a creative muse.

- Aashiq's quirks and knowledge seem poorly defined. He's aware of some things but ignorant of others with no rhyme or reason.

I thought at first that maybe this just wasn't a good fit for me. But I think this book needs some work on the whole. The dialogue is stilted or unrealistic and there's so much of it. Ziya is constantly telling us how she's feeling or what she's thinking instead of us experiencing it alongside her. I want the story to either lean harder into the silliness or be more grounded in reality. Right now, it's straddling a line that makes it hard to connect.

I know I'm referencing an ARC and that things might change between now and publication. If things do, I'd be willing to give this another shot. But as it stands, it's not enjoyable.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, MIRA, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Okay, where do I start? This book was exactly what I needed to read when I decided to pick it up. And if you go off the blurb:

“In this charming, delightfully original rom-com, a struggling writer’s muse suddenly comes to life—but can they create their own happily-ever-after?”

You’d think, *a lovely romcom*, and expect (like I did) to laugh, fall in love, and suffer a little heartbreak during the third-act breakup. But wow—I was *not* expecting this book to singlehandedly pull me out of my writing slump. (I've been working on my manuscript since 2022!) I had no idea it would be filled with such life-affirming advice.

This book is for all of us who have ever thought about giving up on our dreams. For those of us who let others underestimate us because we don’t trust our own power, or lack the courage to believe in ourselves.

Why read non-fiction self-help when you can take a ride alongside Ziya, discover your inner strength, and fall in love in the middle of it all?

Reading this romance was a delight in so many ways. The characters are well-developed (experiencing life as a newly formed person through Ashiq’s eyes was *everything*), the plot moves at a beautiful pace, and can I just say how much I enjoyed the intricacies of Pakistani culture woven throughout the story?

So go read it—**NOW**.


This book is for you if you like:
- Stories about writers and their creative process
- Forbidden romance
- *He believes in her*
- *He helps her see she was capable all along*
- A rich culture to dive into

Also, for my fellow writers: we *all* need Ashiq’s advice and routines to help us stay in the flow.

Thank you to Mira Books and Harlequin Enterprises for the ARC.

An adorable, cozy romance with a dash of magical realism. I really loved the premise in terms of the protagonist falling back in love with writing again in the most literal of ways, and there were a lot of charming moments throughout. The resolution of the story felt a little more rushed after a lot of build-up, but the characters themselves were endearing and easy to root for. I'll be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. My opinions are all my own.

Writing Mr Right has a wonderful premise. I enjoyed the Muslim representation and a peak into a culture different than my own.

I struggled to get into this book. I liked the muse aspect but I struggled with the fact that Aashiq was apart of her subconscious.

It is a very sweet book in all and I’m a sucker for happy endings! I give it 3.5/5

This was a really interesting take on a romance story. I enjoyed watching the author bring her muse to life through her stories.

This is a nice break from the crazy high drama spicy books, this was a sweet low angst romance book.

This was my first book by this author & I appreciate the opportunity to try out new authors!

I’m rating this book 4 stars for the magical realism plot that lured me in and Aashiq’s golden retriever energy!

Ziya is a struggling Pakistani-American writer who’s faced numerous rejections by her thirtieth birthday and finally reaches her breaking point. She’s just hit delete on all her manuscripts and smashed her backup hard drive when she makes a birthday wish at midnight. The next morning she wakes up with a strange (but handsome) man in her kitchen chugging chocolate syrup. Aashiq is Ziya’s literal muse and it’s his job to get Ziya to fall in love with writing again. Ziya is convinced she’s hallucinating (and who can blame her?) but gradually she’s forced to accept that not only is Aashiq real but he’s determined to help her find happiness again. As Ziya slowly falls back into writing again, she learns to love life, take better care of herself and gain confidence. Ziya’s also falling hard for her adorable muse which is unfortunate since the closer she gets to finishing her manuscript, the more likely it seems Aashiq might disappear.

I loved learning more about Ziya’s Pakistani roots and a little about what it means to be a Muslim. Ziya’s frustration and love-hate relationship with writing felt so relatable. I really liked how she put into words the struggle of getting something past the gate keepers and published, and why there’s still a lack of diversity in books. Also I liked how Ziya wants to attend law school as well as hang onto her dream of becoming an author.

This book is a clean romance with only a few kisses, some hand-holding and touching. They share a bed a couple of times but nothing happens.

I found it a bit weird that the love interest has literally sprung from her brain, I wish the author had separated them a bit more, but I’ve read weirder romances. I felt like the book got a bit repetitive and bland at times too. It’s very much a low-stakes book, but it was refreshing to watch Ziya fall in love with life again and Aashiq’s Buddy-the-Elf/golden retriever enthusiasm.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!