Excellent second chance romance.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ - a couple spicy scenes with some vague foreplay and then fade to black.
Narration: 👂👂👂👂👂

Gemma is launching her debut romance novel with a bad boy hero readers love. She had a real-life example to use from a relationship she thought she had with the hockey star from high school. That bad boy now plays hockey professionally and some people connect the dots that he is the inspiration for her book. As he's currently facing a PR difficulty, he suggests some fake dating.

I guess the saying don't judge a book by its cover is accurate, because I have to be honest that I didn't love the cover of this one and it caused me to go in with low expectations. I was delighted to find a solid romance with a focus on the main characters who are emotionally intelligent and can communicate with one another . . . eventually. The side characters were helpful and wise - Gemma's mom is mom goals. All the pieces were there for a five star read and then you get to the audio and it is DUET! I loved how the narrators portrayed these characters! There's a scene where he calls her first thing in the morning and he has that rough morning voice . . . Swoon! Highly recommend, especially the audiobook!

Pretty good romance with fun and interesting characters. I liked the MMC more so than the FMC, but I wasn't WOWED by this book. I've read many sports romance like this one, and I'm sure I'll read many more like it to.

I know a lot of readers are coming into their reviews saying they are not hockey romance fans but I 100% am. I have been in my hockey romance era for the last year and don’t see an end in sight. I have also never read or heard of any of Kelley Armstrong’s books before but let me tell you, they are allll now on my TBR because this was perfection. I listened to this one and the narrators were *chefs kiss*. I did have to speed it up to 2x speed because it read a little slow but that’s common for me with audiobooks and not unique to this one. The duet was perfection with them jumping into each other’s chapters perfectly, very smooth and impressive, even in 3rd person! Like, what kind of production wizardry must have been worked to make that seem so effortless? And the text dings? Loved them. I binged this in one sitting.
Okay, lets get to the characters! Gemma has gotten into romance writing after a divorce and has written her version of a nice guy prince charming but nobody is buying so she has to make up a bad boy MMC to try to catch readers attention so she bases it off a guy who broke her heart back in high school. She’s going through a divorce, been singled out by old school bullies and has to call Mason out and I just really saw her strength shine through. You can see her growing stronger throughout the book and becoming more herself after the divorce.
Mason my goodness, my golden retriever, what a man! Defends his girl before they are ever together! Consent! Willing to read her audiobook and give her feedback! A+ communication skills! Truly wants to learn how to be better!
The spice in this book is quite minimal compared to most hockey romance and I felt like that really left a lot of space for the growth of the characters to happen instead which was absolutely beautiful.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that it rubbed me the wrong way at first that Mason was using his notoriety to get Gemma’s book some attention and that there wasn’t enough attention on her being able to stand on her own in her career. Second chance romances also aren’t normally my cup of tea but gosh these two smashed right through my expectations. The adult communication and talking their way through problems… Miscommunication trope? Kelley’s never heard of it!
Thank you so much NetGalley & Hachette Audio for providing me with an advanced copy and allowing me to share my thoughts on this masterpiece.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

I really enjoyed this one. The second Chance vibes were everything, I love how the MCs have known each other since kindergarten and even years later can still connect on a deeper level. The narration was A+ I really enjoyed the Sean’s character. Just FYI there is another book with a very similar title out there so don’t get confused and this one is definitely the one you want to pick up!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Gemma just launched her debut romance novel, the only way Gemma could get her book published was to add a “bad boy” into it. So she may have used her HS “It Boy” Mason, as a loose muse to her book’s MMC. But Gemma is hoping no one connects the dots on this. As she’s going on live tv to promote said book.

The show is hosted by her HS mean girl, so it’s no surprise when she tries to pull a stunt during live TV. But what Gemma didn’t count on was for Mason to also be there and outed as her muse. Oh man, secrets out!

Mason was shocked Gemma still remembered him and honored she wrote about him. She was the one girl who always saw him for who he was, not what he does. Maybe this whole situation will allow them to reconnect.

The TV show certainly stirred up the right kind of PR for both of them, and will help open that door. The question is will Gemma walk through it with him and give him a chance.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“I want more.. I haven’t gotten over you, I’ve been chasing you since kindergarten. And when I finally got you I messed up bad, and I’m not doing that again.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Second Chance - Years Later
* Frenemies - Because of a Kiss in HS
* Debut Romance Author x NHL Hockey Enforcer
* She Wrote Book Based on HS Golden Boy
* Roasted by Her HS Mean Girl on Live TV
* Fake Dating
* Dyslexia Rep
* Slow Burn w/ Forgiveness
* Vancouver, BC
* Dual POV w/ Spice

📖💭✍️💕 📖💭✍️💕📖

Thank you @readforeverpub and @kelleyarmstrongauthor for my free copy and @netgalley and @hachetteaudio for the free alc 💖.

🗓️ Out today! 6/24/25

✨What it is about:
Romance writer Gemma bases her bad-boy hero on her old crush, hockey star Mason Moretti, only to get caught. When their reunion goes viral, Mason proposes a fake relationship to help them both… but pretending might just turn into something real.✨

💭My thoughts:
This was a charming little story where both characters experience meaningful growth. I especially liked that the characters actually talked to each other and made a real effort to communicate and resolve conflict, instead of dragging things out. Mason was so considerate and thoughtful 💖. The guy was definitely trying his best to make an impression! Nona and Grandma were adorable—you just have to read it!
This is really a story about two people healing together, learning from past mistakes, being vulnerable, and falling in love again. They both put in the effort, and it pays off. I do wish the ending hadn’t felt quite so rushed, but overall, this was a fun, feel-good, quick sports romance.
🎧 The audiobook, narrated by Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins, was excellent. The duet narration worked perfectly, and the little touches like the text tone sound effects, made it really clear when the characters were texting, which I appreciated. The audio production was great, and I definitely recommend it!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
💻Sports romance
✍️Mutual pinning
💻Writer MFC
✍️Slow burn
💻Second chance

⚠️CW: Gaslighting, emotional abuse,infidelity, mentions of divorce, mentions of miscarriage, mention of infertility, sexual content.

I very much enjoyed this audiobook. I love the story so much that I just couldn’t stop listening.

Narrators were fantastic too.

I highly recommend.

4.5 stars!

Writing Mr. Wrong was such a wonderfully produced, fun audiobook to listen to! The narrators had great chemistry reading this; you could truly feel their emotion in the characters, and I felt like I was watching Gemma and Mason’s story unfold in front of me. I do enjoy audiobooks but it truthfully takes a lot for me to want to listen to it again, rather than just picking up the book, but I loved this one so much that I will be listening to it again (it’s a perfect summer audiobook!) and I will definitely be looking forward to the next one that Patrica and Sean narrate. I loved how light-hearted this one was, and enjoyed how easy it was to listen to.

“𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰: 𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘯.”

I love a good rom-com, and this one was such a fun one to dive into! Gemma Stanton is a debut author, who is ultimately forced to write a book about an a*shole, because that’s what sells books, right! She decides to model her MMC after her first crush, Mason Moretti from high school, who is now a pro hockey player, but also a former jerk who publicly rejected her. Gemma assumes no one will figure out who her written hero is until she goes viral after she is reunited with Mason on live TV. Mason, determined to prove her wrong and make up for the past, suggests a dinner date to drive PR and help sell her book, fake dating as a “couple”, and a tropical getaway… gone wrong. Gemma and Mason each work through their own reservations, and the communication between them was so well written. I think the parallels between Gemma starting her writing career and Mason nearing the end of her hockey career really helped them both grow as characters.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 (& 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗!)𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
📇Slow burn
📇Meet-cutes
🏒Hockey players
📇Fake dating
📇Redemption arc
📇Second chance romance
📇Grand gestures
📇Sizzling chemistry

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑵𝒊𝒕𝒂 𝒂𝒕 𝑯𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝑨𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝑳𝑪!

Little hockey romance with a smidge second chance romance. I had so much fun reading this book and the duet narration was perfect. I was sad to finish this one. Excellent banter.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A romance with real communication and an MMC who takes accountability for his actions? Yes, please!

Gemma is a romance author whose debut novel is about to release, and she's really hoping no one will clock the similarities between the man on the cover and Mason Moretti, professional hockey player and her high school crush. But when another former classmate makes the connection and throws the two together, their public reunion goes viral. When Mason sees the opportunity for a little good PR and to potentially rekindle the flame, he suggests that they continue to be seen together, and Gemma agrees in hopes that it will boost her book sales.

I was lucky enough to get to listen to this audiobook, and I thought it was very well done! I loved the duet narration, of course, both narrators were fantastic and did a great job of bringing the characters to life. But it was the added little pings to signify text messages that kind of blew my mind, lol. It's such a small thing, but it really helped to keep the dialogue from getting confusing. If you have the chance, I would highly recommend listening to this book over reading a print or digital copy.

I really liked both of the main characters in this book. I loved that Gemma refused to compromise on what she wanted in a partner and didn't make excuses for Mason, and I loved that Mason genuinely wanted to learn how to be a more considerate partner. There were a lot of issues that arose as they tried to figure out if they could make a real relationship work, but they always talked it out (ad nauseum sometimes, lol), which I found refreshing.

This is kind of random, but I also really liked that Gemma actually went to a hockey game. It's a pet peeve of mine when there is a sport mentioned in a romance, but we never see any of the sport.

I did feel like the ending wrapped up a little quickly, and I wish we had gotten a little bit more of what happened after the game. But all in all, I thought this was a very fun read, and I am sure that I'll be reading more by this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio (Forever Publishing) for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Ahoy there me mateys! I don't read romance and I know nothing about hockey but Kelley Armstrong has won me over!  This is a second chance romance between Gemma and Mason who met in kindergarten, had crushes in high school, and then lost touch.

Gemma married, divorced, and now her first romance novel is coming out - one where the asshole main character just may be based on Mason.  Mason is a star hockey player with a string of one-night stands who doesn't do romance because that would interfere with the game.  After being forced to see each other for a media opportunity where the audience thinks the two are adorable together, both their publicists want them to fake-date.  Gemma can sell more books and Mason can redeem some bad team publicity.

I thought this book was so much fun.  I found that Gemma and Mason had fantastic chemistry.  It was great to see two people who had past mistakes learn, grow, and, above-all, actually communicate with each other.  I was actively rooting for them the whole time.  Mason's crush on Gemma was adorable.  Watching Gemma regain her own agency was fantastic.

This book was also funny in so many ways.  Both Mason and Gemma have grandmother's that are present and heart-warming.  Gemma's family is so supportive and emotionally available.  The descriptions of the plot of Gemma's book were so humorous and Mason's responses to it even better.  The banter between the two characters was sweet, silly, and sexy.  Also this book cleverly comments on all sorts of romantic tropes.  It had me smiling so very much.

This book does take suspension of disbelief, especially towards the end of the book and money does make many things better.  But I now know that I do like romance when Kelley Armstrong is the one writing it.  Arrr!

4.5 rounded up

I really loved the duet narration of this book and both narrators, both narrators did such a great job. Duet narration is always a more enjoyable experience for me and with these narrators it was an even better listening experience. I really enjoyed the character arc that Mason had during the entire book, it made him a more evolved character and more interesting. I also enjoyed how Gemma changed for the better and found herself throughout the book. It was a really fun read.

I absolutely LOVED both main characters! The author wrote a strong FMC who, even though she "fell" for the MMC, she was someone who was strong in her own self. Likewise, the MMC was strong as well (especially physically) but definitely fell hard for the FMC. These two were a great match and I loved their connection. I also loved the disability rep. I had the pleasure of listening on audio and loved both narrators, especially since the book is written from dual POV (audio has male/female narrators who were both excellent). The one detractor for me was the "spice" and somewhat the language--for me, this book was so strong without it and it felt awkward/out-of-place. For me, it wasn't needed; the storyline/plot was wonderful without it. **I received a complimentary audio ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this ALC, Kelley Armstrong and NetGalley!

This story was super fun with the MCs fake dating scenario but their history gave their relationship more depth than if they were just strangers fake dating.

The narrators did an amazing job telling the story. I enjoyed that it was a duet narration instead of just dual. This was a great vacation listen!

You'll love this story, if you love the following:
-Second Chance Romance
-Fake Dating
-Author FMC x Hockey Player MMC
-Older MCs
-Contemporary Sports Romance
-Duel Narration
-Childhood Friends to Exes to Lovers

Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong follows Gemma, a recently divorced writer who rekindles her passion for storytelling. Her latest romance novel sparks rumors that its charming male lead is inspired by none other than Mason Moretti, a famous hockey player and Gemma’s former high school flame. When the two cross paths again and agree to fake date for publicity, old feelings start to resurface.

I had high hopes for this book, especially since I’m a fan of the “fake dating” trope. Unfortunately, Writing Mr. Wrong didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While the premise was promising and had the potential for both humor and emotional depth, the execution fell short.

One of the main issues I had was with the characters. Despite being in their mid-thirties, both Gemma and Mason often felt immature in their behavior and communication. Instead of a slow-building emotional reconnection, the romance leaned heavily into physical attraction, making their relationship feel more like lust than genuine love.

There were moments of charm and wit, and Armstrong’s writing is easy to follow, but I found myself wishing for more character growth and emotional complexity. Fans of second-chance romance may still find some enjoyment in it, but for me, the story lacked the depth I was hoping for.

Writing Mr. Wrong is a super cute second-chance romance following Gemma and Mason. Gemma is a romance author who published a novel in which she based the male main character on Mason, her high school crush, who is now a famous hockey player. While on a local morning talk show hosted by a former classmate, she comes face-to-face with Mason, who has been invited to the show without her knowledge. The host puts Gemma in an awkward position and tries to embarrass her by telling viewers that Gemma's male character is based on Mason. Instead, everyone is surprised when Mason actually helps Gemma. Soon after, a clip of the interaction gets lots of attention, leading to their publicists suggesting they pretend to date to help both of their careers.

I love a good fake relationship, and this one had the added element of Gemma and Mason having a complicated history. Not only are they trying to navigate the complexities of a fake relationship, but they are also forced to deal with suppressed feelings and past heartbreak. I loved witnessing the development of their relationship. The more time they spent together, the more they opened up and the better they understood who each other are as adults. The mature communication in this story made me so happy. I loved seeing how supportive Mason was of Gemma. Mason's growth really hit me in the feels. Turns out he is super swoony and underneath the hard exterior, he is a big softie. Gemma and Mason's slow-burn romance had a satisfying ending that left me with a smile on my face.

Narration:
Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins perform this audiobook in duet. They provided the perfect voices for Gemma and Mason and brought them to life in the best way. Patricia and Sean did well bringing the laughs, romance, and vulnerability. Their performances made this an easy and fun listen.

Thanks to Forever and Hachette Audio for the early listen 😍

This was fast-paced, fun concept! I've said it many times before, but a book is so much more enjoyable to me when the main characters have some sort of history and this was just that.

It had a few too many hockey analogies for my liking, but that didn't end up deterring from the overall experience, and the duet narration was great.

I will continue to pick up contemporary romance from Kelley Armstrong for light listening/reading!

This second-chance hockey romance had its moments: emotional flashbacks, steamy tension, and cutesy banter. I liked the premise more than the execution, but if you're into moody athletes and unresolved feelings, it’s worth a shot.

Overall, solid and sweet, just nothing groundbreaking. I liked it, but didn’t love it. Cute moments and good chemistry, just didn’t leave a lasting impression.

The narrorator did doa great job, and I love when the audiobooks are done in duet style!

I got a copy of the audiobook from Netgalley so thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this opportunity ❤️

First of all, this is a duet and the narrators are perfect! I really believe that they voiced the characters so well. They were able to portray each emotion and scene really goood.

Now the story. It is a second-chance romance-ish of Gemma and Mason who were old classmates. Gemma, a debut author, was forced to write a book with an asshole MMC and she kind of used Mason as inspiration. She was invited for an interview with another old classmate as the host. The host invited Mason as well to attend the interview without telling Gemma. The two went viral and they went to go on fake dates to sell Gemma's book and to clean up recent issues circulating Mason and his career as a hockey player.

I love how this is both second chance romance and fake dating tropes. The characters are lovable with its summer vibes. They both had struggles that they were trying to overcome within themselves and it's really good to see developments in them as we go deeper into the story. For one, their relationship changes from sort-of-enemies to friends to lovers.

What i love about Gemma the most is that she has clear goals and she really knows what she wants. She's firm in her beliefs and decisions. She doesn't let Mason get off easily and she calls him out whenever necessary. This behavior may be connected to what happened to her in the last which is all the more admirable.

Mason, on the other hand, had a really great character development as well. At first he was very unaware of his surroundings and how he acted. As a hockey superstar, he was oblivious of anything that doesn't involve him or affect him directly. With Gemma calling him out, he really listened. He showed willingness to change this behavior and put in effort to be better.

Overall, I also loved that there were no extensive miscommunication since they talk about every conflict immediately, may it be minor or major. There had been no annoying assumptions and mind-reading superpowers. Both characters showed interest in clearing the air as soon as possible.

I had the author's old books in my TBR shelf back in 2015-2018 and I never got to read them so imagine my surprise knowing that she writes romance now. I am down! Excited to read more from Kelly :)

4/5 stars

I loved this one as much as the first. Writing Mr Wrong comes in after the events of the Finding Mr Write. This story follows Gemma, Chris’s sister, and the man who hurt her in high school, Mason. Written like a second chance romance the past and present collide when they are brought into an interview together. What follows is a fun and entertaining fake dating experience that I couldn’t put down. 
The characters are just as good as the last story. They even have a cameo in the story. Gemma is a sweetheart, and Mason is the hockey star who pretends to be worse than he is. The way they are written really made the story what it was.

Audio Review

This was the best cast. Done in a duet format, you get to hear the characters in the voices they are read with all the time. It really helps keep you in the story. I found that when I wasn’t reading the story, I was listening to it. I just couldn’t put it down and wanted to find out what was going to happen next.

I highly recommend this story in either format.

I loved this romcom. The MMC is the perfect misunderstood hockey player and FMC was a great bookish character. I loved that she was a writer and he gave the dyslexia rep. Also loved the argument that audiobooks count as reading. The narrators really added to the story and I loved the sound effects of text messages added to story. Thank you Net Galley and the author for the chance to listen to this book early.