I loved this audiobook. The narrators were phenomenal, but they had a good script. Gemma and Mason were friends from kindergarten through high school. They both liked each other, but a misunderstanding led to a falling out. Gemma is an author, and it just so happens that her main character in her book seems alot like Mason, who is now a pro hockey player. They reunite, and what follows is such a fun read.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! This book is like a warm hug and such a nostalgic/sitcom vibe. Armstrong made such a sweet premise and funny characters and gave us a great book. The narrators were phenomenal and added so much to the experience!

I first want to thank NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for a review.

Writing Mr. Wrong is about a debut romance author finding a little inspiration from a past high school flame who happens to now be a big-time NHL player (Mason). In a public interview with another high school acquaintance, it's outed that the author (Gemma), based the novel's love interest on Mason. But it doesn't end there, there's a surprise reunion too and Gemma is lost on how to handle the situation.

Mason looks every bit like the high school bad-boy he once was and still has the same reputation. He has an image problem, but if he can get Gemma to help him out, it'll make him look good. He proposes fake dating, but what Gemma doesn't know is that Mason has always wanted her.

If you're a fan of second chances and fake dating, you are going to love Writing Mr. Wrong. I was always so excited to get back to this novel and listen as drama, lust, and romance unfolded for Mason and Gemma.

Because this was an audio book, I do also want to say that it was narrated by two people which I very much appreciated. Having a female voice and a male voice narrate for both Gemma and Mason made the characters more real. I thought both narrators did a great job, and I appreciated all of the little sound affects along the way, they brought the story to life.

I recently listened to Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong thanks to an audiobook ARC from NetGalley. As someone who usually enjoys a good hockey romance, I was excited and curious to see how this one would stack up to my previous reads in the genre. While it wasn’t the typical hockey romance I expected, there were still some things I really liked—and a few things I wish had been different.

The main character, Gemma, is a strong heroine and independent woman who’s been through a lot. She’s dealing with the aftermath of a tough marriage and divorce, which added a realness to her character that makes Gemma relatable as a character. I liked that Armstrong didn’t shy away from showing Gemma’s struggles with trust and self-worth after her past relationship. It made her feel more relatable and gave her a lot of depth.

The romance with Mason, the hockey player, is sweet and has its moments of genuine chemistry. Mason is patient and understanding, and I liked how he respected Gemma’s boundaries and didn’t try to rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for. He’s a different type of hero than you usually see in hockey romances—more grounded and supportive, which was a nice change of pace.

However, I felt like it took her a little too long for Gemma to realize she was making the same mistake she hated in this story by trying to fit someone into a mold instead of loving them for who they are. Mason deserves to be loved for all of him, and that part of the journey was interesting, but I wished Ms Armstrong had Gemma spend a bit more time working on herself before jumping into things with Mason.

The romance with Mason was sweet, and there was definitely some chemistry, but it didn’t feel like a typical hockey romance to me. The hockey parts weren’t front and center, so if you’re looking for a story that’s all about life on and off the ice, this might not be it. Still, the book was easy to listen to, and I liked it when Gemma finally figured out what she really wanted. Someone to love her for who she is, and realizes she needs to do the same for those she loves.

Writing Mr. Wrong is a quick, enjoyable listen with a different take on the hockey romance theme you may be used to. Even though I wished for a bit more character growth before the romance kicked in, I still had a good time with this book. I’m giving it 3.5 stars. If you want a romance that’s a little outside the usual hockey trope playbook, give this one a try when it is released on June 24th, 2025.

Happy Reading!

Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong
Narrators, Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins
I was surprised that I liked this book as much as I did. I chose it because I enjoy the Havens Rock series by this author immensely but have tried other books by her that I did not care for. Also, I kind of thought I was over sports related romances. I was wrong on all counts.
Some other readers seem to be very unforgiving of both main characters for their flaws and weaknesses but those things just make them human and you have to take into account the backstory for both of them.
I was relieved there was not a big breakup at the 75 % point although they had some difficulties of miscommunication and misunderstanding. I loved the grannies as well as the friends and families. This book is a spinoff of Finding Mr. Write which is the story of Gemma’s brother and sister in law. I plan to go back and read that one next.
There are some very well done sex scenes but I did worry about sharks. Just enough sports but not too much.
Loved the duet narration and the narrators work very well together. But then they are a married couple themselves.
Overall, I thought this was a very good book and just the right length for an all day listen, which is what I did.

Not your typical hockey romance!

This story follows Gemma - a writer whose novel character resembles her high school crush and Mason - said high school crush and also hockey superstar. These two shared a kiss in high school but never developed into anything more because of Mason telling everyone he kissed her on a dare.

Flash forward many years later, Gemma models her mean male character in her book after Mason since she still has some resentment towards him for what he did in high school.

Once they reunite they embark on a second chance romance that left me swooning. I loved how Gemma tried to help Mason deal with his issues on and off the ice - literally.

I love how much Gemma started to trust Mason and how she started to be the person he needed all his life when he didn’t have anyone. I love how Mason was open with her about not knowing all the reasons “why” he said or did things but that it just happened. It was so real.

Overall, the writing and characters kept me intrigued and loving the story. The slow burn second chance romance was beautiful. I would definitely read contemporary more from this author in the future!

ˋ°•*⁀➷ thank you so much to netgalley and hachette audio for this arc.

writing mr. wrong was a cute little romance between a hockey star and his ex-tutor, turned author, with high school grudge. this book follows their journey of reconnecting through her debut novel, and the love and chemistry that eventually form between them.

gemma - at first I found gemma pretty annoying, her self-deprecating mental dialogue wasn't relatable, it was just cringey. as the book continued however, she seriously grew on me. by the end I was fully rooting for her, and her and mason's relationship.

mason - I didn't really get why everyone considered him an asshole. like sure he kissed her and maybe didn't respond strongly enough to the allegations but honestly I don't think that justified a 20 year long hatred.
tbh I found mason a more real character than gemma. his internalising of emotions was so relatable for me and maybe that's why I couldn't see him as a jerk in any way. at all.

the narration - the dual narration was so so immersive. normally in books with dual povs I get kinda frustrated with the male narrator voicing the fmc in the mmc's chapters and vice-versa, but this book was PERFECT. the female narrator voiced gemma even in mason's chapters and the male narrator voicing mason, even in gemma's chapters.
I also loved the little sound effects, like the text message pings and motorbike engine roars.
it was so clear how much effort went into creating this audiobook.

this was my first ever arc which is so exciting and I can't wait to read more.

Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins did a great job narrating with their duet performance. It is well-mixed, emotionally nuanced, and genuinely easy to listen to. It elevates the story, especially during the banter-filled scenes and introspective moments. I worry that if I read the physical copy as opposed to the audiobook, I would have DNF'd.

Gemma Stanton is a recently divorced romance writer who bases her spicy book’s a$$hole MMC on her high school crush, Mason "Mase" Moretti. A live morning show surprise-reunion reveals her inspiration to the world… and Mason’s PR team sees an opportunity. Soon, Gemma and Mason are fake-dating for publicity—but, as with all good romcoms, feelings quickly get a little too real.

There’s a lot to like—banter, humor, and two characters with believable (and frustrating) flaws. Mason’s journey from oblivious player to thoughtful partner is adorable. The dyslexia representation is handled with care, and Mason's growth feels hard-won. Gemma, on the other hand, has her own arc of reclaiming confidence post-divorce, but she holds onto her high school grudge a bit too long. Their chemistry is there, but the emotional stakes could’ve been sharper, and the third-person POV sometimes created a slight distance from the tension.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for this advanced copy of Writing Mr. Wrong

Overall: 4 Stars out of 5

Writing Mr. Wrong is a story about a writer who is caught inspiring her romance hero by her childhood crush/enemy. It tells the story of Gemma and Mason, two former friends who haven’t spoken in years. Gemma wrote Mason into her romance book when searching for a jerk of a character.

It has all your classic tropes, enemies to lovers, fake dating, and more.

I loved how much each character grew. Cute read for anyone interested!

I just finished listening to a great audiobook. Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong is available soon. Check it out.

Thank you NetGalley and hatchette audio for the ALC!

If you want a sweet hockey romance this book is for you.

Gemma uses her high school crush as inspiration for the MMC in her novel. Mason is a hockey star who broke Gemma’s heart. When their reunion goes viral they decide to enter a fake relationship to help sell her book!
I loved a good second chance romance when you throw in hockey!!! I’m gonna read it!
This book didn’t disappoint! Kelley wrote these characters perfectly! They deserved each other!
This was such a sweet book. I loved that Kelley wrote Mason as a dyslexic. It was nice to be able to relate to him! As a person who suffers from dyslexia I love seeing that in a book!

This was the first book I’ve read by Kelley Armstrong and I really enjoyed it. I loved the idea of Gemma writing her high school crush into her book in a less than desirable way. It was a fun way to bring the characters back together so many years later for a second shot at love. I really liked seeing the connection that Gemma and Mason had back when they were kids and then again as adults and seeing it evolve to friends and more through great communication. I loved the writing and really enjoyed that the audiobook was duet. It really kept me interested in the story and both narrators had intriguing voices. I rate this book a 4/5 stars and would easily recommend it.

This story centers on a second chance romance between a bestselling author and her former high school flame—now a pro hockey player. Things kick off when a local reporter connects the dots between the difficult male character in her novel and her real-life ex. Cue the media buzz, forced PR appearances, and a cozy retreat that brings them face to face once again.

What worked:
The audiobook production was solid. The alternating POVs were well-executed, and the dual narration added a nice dynamic. Pacing-wise, it was on the slower side, which made it easy to speed up without losing clarity.

What didn’t land for me:
I struggled to connect with the characters, especially the male lead. He felt consistently unsympathetic—like fame excused his repeated mistakes—and I didn’t buy into the “second chance” (more like chance #100). I couldn’t help but feel the female lead deserved more. Additionally, several side characters were left hanging without real resolution—like the manager, her mom, etc.—which left things feeling unfinished.

Big thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the early listen.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one was a fun, light listen perfect for when you want something breezy with a bit of romantic tension and behind-the-scenes writer drama.

Super cute. A romance author dealing with her own Mr. Wrong (who’s also kind of the inspiration for her fictional love interest? it’s clever, witty, and has that classic Kelley Armstrong charm. The writing flows really well, and the audiobook narration was solid easy to follow, with good pacing and distinct voices.

BUT… I wasn’t a huge fan of the male lead. 😬 He wasn’t the worst, but something about him just didn’t click for me. A little too cocky? A little too you’re supposed to like him but you don’t know why? IDK. He didn’t ruin the story, but he definitely kept it from being a 5-star for me.

Still, the banter is fun, the plot moves along nicely, and it’s got that escapist vibe that makes for a great background listen during errands or long walks. Not my favorite romance ever, but a cute one worth checking out especially if you’re into authors-writing-about-authors stories.🎧

✨ Thankyou hatchette audio for this copy!
You have amazing narrators..


❤️shaye.readss

This book was a huge pleasant surprise for me. I did not expect to like it nearly as much as I did. While it's my typical fair I enjoy, most of it on the market is just noise. This book is not. The characters, their arcs, their flaws, are on full display - full fleshed out, developed, and mastered. Both of these characters start off with enough problems that you are rooting for them, but they are not necessarily likable - not at first. They earn your adoration through hard work of their own.

Your childhood crush humiliated you in high school and then showed up years later while grinning and bearing it through an interview on live TV hosted by a former high-school mean girl who made your life miserable shows up to surprise you mid-interview promoting your debut romance novel—the very novel in which you wrote him as a thinly disguised @$$hole villain/lover, and then he defends you, would you believe it? Gemma Stanton doesn’t want to. Gemma is refreshingly sharp, guarded. Mase can't get shit right - he's thoughtless and self-involved but not bad. Their banter is fast, the tension simmers, and underneath the high-concept fluff is a surprisingly tender story about regret, growth, and letting yourself be known.

Great tropes: second chance, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine—executed with actual smart and smooth emotional intelligence, this one delivers.

I really like this book. The two main characters had incredible, deep and interesting backstories that drove the narrative between them. The character arcs really were well-thought-out. I am impressed by how much emotion and trauma was packed into this light-hearted rom-com because it is not at all myered down by it. There were a lot of issues the characters could have simply worked things out through better communication, but romance is not the good communication genre. I will be recommending this to my friends.

Gemma is so sharp. She jumps from the page.

Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins are a perfect match. Santomasso gives Gemma a whip smart, grounded voice that captures both her vulnerability and sharp humor without ever slipping into caricature. Gemma’s inner strength shine through. Hopkins brings Mason to life with that effortless charm—he nails the softer edges as he starts to grow. Their performances have real chemistry, and the dual narration adds so much depth to the push-pull dynamic of the story. A great listen all around.

The dual narration is well mixed. I do not like when there is an overly long pause in conversation, even by only a second or two, in mixing a dual narration. It happens a lot when a subpar audio engineer has been employed and the actors are not doing a studio dual narration. This is clearly mixed - but mixed well. It takes a trained ear to notice any additional time. Excellent production all around.

3.5 ⭐

Audiobook Aspects:
I loved the narrators that were chosen. Their performances were wonderful and I was pleasantly surprised by the duet narration. My biggest peeve of the audiobook was the fact that somehow the performance seems like it goes extremely slow at 1x speed. Like snails pace. I tend to listen to my books at 1.5 - 1.75x but I like to see what it sounds like at 1x to get a perspective of what it was recorded sounding like. The pacing of the narration seems like it would be to slow even for those that enjoy 1x speed.

Book overall:
I stumbled upon Writing Mr Wrong through Forever’s Forever Friends Facebook group. I had never read a hockey romance before and with the inclusion of a neurodivergent MC I was excited to get the chance to read & listen to Writing Mr Wrong.

After years of not writing and a recent divorce, Gemma has become a published romance novelist. The only problem is that the first book she wrote wasn’t getting any traction. With the encouragement of her online writing group, Gemma changes gears because Alpha Male Heroes are what's hot right now. Gemma doesn’t like asshole male leads and so she takes inspiration from the only Alpha Male Asshole she knows, her childhood classmate and kind of friend Mason “Mace” Moretti.

I loved that we jumped right into Gemma & Mason seeing each other for the first time in years on former classmate Ashley’s morning tv show. Of course mean girl Ashley told Mason that Gemma knew he was going to be there when she knew nothing of the sort. It actually made me a little sad that Mason was so genuinely happy to see Gemma again but doesn’t even realize that she is still holding on to hurt from when they were teenagers.

Mason is such an interesting MMC but he definitely had his head up his rear. His approach to dating is almost humiliating towards females that are not Puck Bunnies. The way he throws money around like it's nothing and didn't listen to what Gemma wanted for their PR date was super frustrating. I enjoyed seeing the way that Mason grew, that he wanted better for himself after he realized that the character that was inspired by him was such an asshole and that Gemma saw him in that way. This is such an on point character redemption arc. He wanted to better himself, not just for Gemma but also for the way he interacted with the public and for himself.

Gemma honestly frustrated me. I was surprised that she didn't seem to understand why Mason was the way he was with his childhood experience. You would think that when you have known someone since kindergarten that you would have more awareness of what the other person has been through. Gemma let a misunderstanding from high school color how she saw & felt about Mason for way too long. Gemma grew too but to me it was in a less dynamic way than Mason. She learned how to be herself again and not a stripped down boring version of herself that her ex husband wanted. She learned to forgive Mason for what happened in high school but I feel like it took way too long to get to that point.

I understand that this novel was a slow burn but I honestly didn't realize how slow that burn truly was going to be. I don't mind a novel with less spice, it is in fact a nice change of pace from the novels with heavier spice.

Writing Mr Wrong is in third person POV and I feel like it didn't work for this story for me. I feel like the dual pov would have worked better in first person because at times the third person was distracting.

Overall I enjoyed Writing Mr Wrong but there were a handful of reasons I chose to rate it how I did.

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this ARC of Writing Mr. Wrong! I was so excited to be chosen for this one.

This book was super cute. I’m going to say it was a second chance romance even though they never officially dated as kids. I love that neither of them ever fully moved on from one another. I also really enjoyed the whole section where she was teaching him to be less of a jerk to others. Mason showed so much character growth throughout this book. I’m so glad he was able to clarify what happened in that one fateful game. No spoilers.

I listened to the audiobook and loved it!!! Dual narration is the best and both narrators were great.

Gemma is a 36 divorcee who writes a romance novel and bases the MMC off her childhood crush, who just happens to be an NHL player. When they get thrown together for PR stunts, their long time attraction is still there.

Ah! Kelley Armstrong is the queen of any genre! I loved this book so much. The narrators were fantastic. Between the writing and the narrators I laughed out loud. I smiled. This second chance romance about childhood love, and finding the right time to be together was great. Both characters grow and change. They know what they are willing to give up and what they’re not. I really enjoyed this book!

I really enjoyed this book! it is a cozy romance. This books is a childhood friends/second chance romance trope.

You can really feel the hard work the narrators did, they made me feel everything that was happening in the book.
I giggled, I was angry, i felt hopeful, i was happy, I felt frustrated when referring to the past. Its a great audiobook! And the effects give it extra points!

I LOVE that is was a dual POV and also a duet, it wasn't like the same narrator doing the other character voice on their POV.

I really liked the writing, the story went smoothly, and it keep you hooked.

The characters were relatable, I liked and cared for each one so much.
Each character has their own problems from the past that they are dealing with it, and that makes you want to hug them and tell them they are enough <3
Throughout the book, you can see how they handle these issues and work on them. I loved how they were so straight forward with each other "no lies policy" and they weren't wrapped in miscommunication.

I wished there was more of them as a couple, but the epilogue did a great job giving you a sneak peak of their future.

4 stars because I reaaaaaally wanted more of them as a couple.

Thank you Netgalley for this ALC!

*~ Favorite Second Chance Romance of June ~*

I listened to this one and always LOVE having the two narrators speaking the different parts. I just think it adds to the chemistry and clarity of the story when it's not in writing in front of you.
Gemma and Mason were very cute together. While I love character growth, I'm not always crazy about a MMC that starts off super dense but Mason had a lot of redeeming qualities to start that made up for it. I appreciated the the miscommunications were cleared up relatively quickly (for me, since I listen at 2x speed, haha) and ultimately loved the way things ended for them.

Thank you to Net Galley, Hachette Audio, and Kelley Armstrong for an ALC of this story.