This was a quick, precious read. I didn't realize until too far along that it was Daphne's sister in law, so that was fun!
I really liked how Mason grew and his heart was always in the right place. Gemma was great and I enjoyed it. Wholesome fun

Well this was just awesome.

I had so much fun with this book. I sat down to start it and finished it 4 hours later. The banter was 10/10, the growth in the characters, the subversion of the airport run at the end of the book was *chef kiss*

I read a lot of romance and it takes something special to have me kicking my feet in glee over the story.

Did Kelly Armstrong just become an auto-buy author for me?

This book made me remember how much I love audiobooks. The dual narration - and the voices of both narrators - were pleasant to listen to and quickly pulled me in to Armstrong's story.

Gemma Stanton is a romance writer, struggling to craft characters that will connect with her audience. When she's pushed to create an alpha leading man, she models him after Mason Moretti, professional hockey player and the man who broke her heart in high school. The book sells and she's invited onto a morning show to promote her book, surprised when Mason is invited onto the show to surprise her.

Dealing with an image issue, Mason sees an opportunity to get some positive PR and get back in Gemma's good graces, proposing they spend some time together - for photo opps. A disasterous date leads into a fun day out leads into Mason creating another misstep, whisking Gemma away on a vacation of her choosing. Except they're not taken to the cozy ski chalet she wanted; they're stranded on a private island where if they're going to find their way to each other, this is their last chance.

4 / 5 Stars
I process the best by reading and highlighting so when I am listening to an audiobook that I haven’t read before, I am truly just going off of vibes. And the vibes of this book were really sweet and funny!

I liked that we jumped right into the story with Gemma and Mason being thrown back into each other’s lives and having to navigate that reunion after not seeing each other for almost 20 years. I think the fact that they had known each other since kindergarten helped the second chance aspect of the romance. Mason has always liked Gemma and Gemma has always had a soft spot for Mason so at their core, they have a solid starting point to build their relationship from. The drama that happened in high school did not feel insurmountable which also helped make the second chance feel believable.

I think at its gooey, sweet center, this story is about a man learning how to process and communicate his feelings after avoiding them and relationships for a long time (not just because he is an asshole, he has reasons for being avoidantly attached) and a couple learning how to communicate in a healthy way that felt realistic. Just two grown ups being grown ups better together. And it had a sprinkle of spice.

There were funny moments like Mason’s Nona and Gemma’s Grandma Dot. There were poignant moments like Gemma processing her divorce and Mason processing his father and mother’s relationship. There were kind of absurd moments like their whole boat debacle. It was fun to experience the meta aspects of a romance writer writing a book and Mason listening to the audio.

Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins were really great narrators and the duet style is truly the way to go for any audio book when it is possible.

Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy! All opinions are my own.

Based on all of the other reviews, I have a very unpopular opinion. This story just didn't do it for me. The premise of the book really didn't make sense - how is it possible that the media could take a book character from Scotland (a Highlander) and uncover the fact that the character was based on a local hockey player? The setup really fell flat. I also didn't understand why the main character, Mason Moretti, was constantly described as being a jerk. He hurt Gemma Stanton's feelings when they were SEVENTEEN years old! Lastly, the romance between the main characters didn't really seem like it evolved naturally - there was no building tension.

I really enjoyed both the story and the narration of this audiobook. Sign me up for ALL the hockey player/romance writer books.

Holy smokes, what a great novel! I absolutely enjoyed every single moment of Kelley Armstrong's Writing Mr. Wrong!

Kind of a second chance romance, the MCs grew up together, shared a little kiss, and then had a bit of a falling out. But the sparks never faded, and they're back in each others' lives. Mid-thirties has given them some perspective, and it all looks different for them today.

Armstrong does a fantastic job with Writing Mr. Wrong. The dialogue is sharp, the chemistry is sparking, and the physical romance is steamy! I loved it!

The audio version of Writing Mr. Wrong is beautifully performed by Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins. I really enjoyed the dual narration - I know it is harder to produce, and probably more expensive, but dang it is perfectly done and the end product is marvelous. Both of these narrators are excellent, and I have a huge soft spot for Hopkins (aka Kale Williams). He's got a gorgeous voice.

Duet narration perfection + characters you’ll root for = a win! 🎧🏒💕

I loved the duet narration in this story! Hearing both Gemma and Mason's voices really helped bring their emotions to life and made it easy to get immersed. The pacing was a bit slow at times, but listening at an accelerated speed worked well for me and didn’t take away from the experience.

Gemma is a debut author with a powerful backstory—newly divorced, finally chasing her dreams after years of putting herself second to her ex. Her fictional hero just happens to bear a striking resemblance to her high school classmate, Mason… who’s now a pro hockey player. 👀 Both Gemma and Mason have some PR problems to solve, and their solution? Each other. But that means spending time together for the first time in years—and there's definitely some unfinished business between them. 😉

I adored both main characters. Getting into Mason’s head helped me really connect with him. As a pro athlete nearing the end of his career window, he's carrying a lot, and I just wanted to give him a hug. He was open, communicative, and actively trying to grow—love that. 🥹
Gemma was bold and passionate, even when she doubted herself. At times, her assumptions about Mason were frustrating—she’d changed so much since high school but didn't always give him the chance to show he had too. Still, her emotional depth, especially around infertility and her past toxic relationship, was incredibly well written. Her strength in calling Mason out when needed? Loved it. You go, girl!

One of the best parts? These two talk. After every conflict (and yes, there were quite a few 😂), they actually had meaningful conversations. No annoying miscommunication trope here—huge win in my book.

4.5 stars

Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC! All thoughts are my own.

*insert jaw drop*

HOLY MOLY!!! First off, if you want a HECK OF A NOVEL then you need Writing Mr. Wrong.

Secondly.. if you want one heck of an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AUDIOBOOK then you NEED Writing Mr. Wrong!! (Double points for being a duet style narration so no girly man voices and manly girl voices 🤣)

This book is an absolute gem and I want to make sure the right audience finds it - there is plenty of swearing, loads of innuendos, descriptive daydreams, and one "open door" scene. Not my typical book rec so I want to give plenty of heads up on what to expect!

Truth be told, I had just finished a regency audiobook prior to starting this and going from a soft spoken FMC narrator for that book to the beautifully bold, strong voice of Patricia Santomasso took me a hot minute to adjust but I feel like she stole the show!! I could feel her voice becoming more sure as the character began to shake off the insecurities of the past and it was mesmerizing. I also am not sure how she managed to not bust up while recording the lines for Grandma Dot. I was literally ROLLING with laughter!!!

The MMC Mason, was voiced by Sean Patrick Hopkins, and I FIRMLY BELIEVE his voice was made for Mason's character!! Not overly deep, just perfectly masculine with the ability to hear the smirk and flirty tones throughout. OBSESSED!!! I confess... he made me BLUSH!! I was beyond immersed in the story and when he started saying certain things... boy oh boy!!

Perfectly narrated and from a storyline perspective... BRAVO!!! Kelley Armstrong did a wonderful job of calling out certain tropes and also the toxic masculinity culture. This was my first story by the author and now I need to go binge Finding Mr. Write.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the advanced listening copy of this book! Following a romance writer and her old crush star hockey player, this book takes you through a journey of emotional intimacy, second chances, and learning how to become better together. Both Mason and Gemma had this fear of vulnerability deeply ingrained in them, which caused miscommunication (but it made sense! and furthered the plot). I like that Mason had to work a little harder for Gemma to like him and actually show it. I also like how their conversations were so real, and their camaraderie grew slowly. A solid romance and a great audiobook (duet narration is my FAVE). The narrators killed it!!

4.25 🌟

I was so excited to pick this book after how much I enjoyed Finding Mr. Write. This was, again, a really cute concept, and I felt really engaged from the start. That enthusiasm dropped off a bit with how much of a jerk the MMC was in the first half. I realize that was part of the plot — and it was the setup for his redemption arc — but it still made him difficult to stay excited about as the love interest.

3.5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story was so cute. If you love almost enemies to lovers with an almost second chance twist this book is great. Adding the hockey hunk and novelist fix and you have a fantastic story. There was plenty of angst and spice to balance the novel and the pacing was good. Overall, just a great, fun read.
The narrators did a fantastic job. The voice acting and pacing was well done and they brought the characters chemistry to life.

The first book I read from Kelley Armstrong was A Rip Through Time and I fell head over heals in love, It's not my normal genre but I can't get enough of it so when I saw this book I figured there's no way I couldn't like with how much I love the A Rip Through Time series. This book was so fun and is the perfect summer read, Add a pool or better yet a beach and you are set.

Gemma and Mason went to high school together but Mason did something Gemma can't forgive. Now an author Gemma is invited on a show to talk about her new book(where the hero may or may not look like Mason). Even if the show host is someone she didn't like in high school Gemma is sure the host has grown up only to find Mason on the show as a surprise. Mason is happy to see Gemma again and since she knows he will be in the show with her he knows she's forgiven him for what he did in high school. But Gemma didn't know he was going to be on the show and Mason very quickly realizes this. Mason wants to make amends and sets out to do just that, even if there are some bumps along the way Mason will prove to Gemma he is worth her time and so much more.

This was a cute fun read, Mason is a good guy who did a stupid thing when he was young and truly cares about Gemma. Gemma isn't the kind of person to take crap and she keeps Mason on his toes. But their story is so sweet, and I really enjoyed this book. It's one of those books that isn't complicated. It's got a nice story and characters you really like and you just have fun reading it.

*Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for this ARC

This was a cute story. I liked a lot of the insecurities of both men and women that are addressed and I liked the idea of two people knowing eachother from childhood that find their way to eachother as adults. That being said, the at we got there was wasn’t my favorite, it felt a little too “the girl pining after the boy for years” and even though he was doing the same back, it was a little much. Their chemistry was hot though and the communication between them was well written - those of us not a fan of the miscommunication trope can really appreciate how well these two talk and help each other through their issues.

Writing Mr. Wrong is a solid follow up to Finding Mr. Write, another good, smart romance book set in Western Canada with a loose connection to the first (even if the premise is a little silly). Gemma is a new romance author who has based the hero of her book off her high school crush/nemesis, who is now a local hockey star. Another classmate figures this out, and they start fake dating for publicity, even though it's clear that they like each other from the start so why not just date for real? (Wouldn't be as cute a story I guess!) Mason and Gemma are adorable, and I want the next spin-off to follow their grandmothers, who are so cute.

In 'Writing Mr. Wrong,' Kelley Armstrong blends humor, heart, and second chances into a sharp romance that never loses its emotional footing. The audiobook format, with standout performances from Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins, adds warmth and wit to an already engaging premise.

The story centers on Gemma Stanton, a recently divorced romance author whose creative slump leads her to model her newest fictional hero on an old flame - Mason Moretti, now a gruff, hockey-playing celebrity. What should've been a private inspiration spirals into public chaos after a surprise TV reunion clip goes viral. Soon, Gemma and Mason agree to fake a relationship to boost her book sales and soften his image. But as the charade stretches on, so do the old wounds - and the undeniable chemistry.

As a listening experience, this one really works. Santomasso captures Gemma's dry humor and guarded vulnerability, while Hopkins gives Mason a grounded, surprisingly tender edge. Their voices are distinct without veering into caricature, and the pacing keeps the emotional beats from getting lost in the banter.

This isn't just a light fake-dating romp - Armstrong weaves in deeper themes of self-worth, creative recovery, and emotional healing, all while keeping the tone breezy and accessible. If anything, I wished a few of the side characters had more room to develop, but the central relationship holds enough tension and payoff to carry the story.

Recommended for: Fans of character-first romance, second chances, and smart banter. Listeners who enjoy dual narration will especially appreciate how well the performances match the emotional arc.

Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong
Thank you NetGalley, Hatchette Audio and Kelley Armstrong for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to this in audio format and really enjoyed the story told from Gemma and Mason's perspectives. Excellent work by both narrators, they were able to capture exactly what the characters were feeling throughout the book.
Gemma is a debut author who decides to base her main character on Mason, a boy she had a crush on at school who is now a professional ice hockey player and who broke her heart back in high school.
Mason, on the other hand, is almost on the verge of retirement, in his late 30s he had a bad experience with another younger player on the team so his reputation with the team is not the best at the time of the book's start
After a live TV interview, the public starts to support 'the couple', and since they both need some good PR at the moment, they decide to let the rumors continue and why not, continue to feed them a little bit with outings between the two of them
Even though it comes up a few times but it isn't a main topic, we found out that Gemma has recently left a very toxic marriage, and some difficult topics are discussed, like infertility and miscarriages.
I really like stories where people get a second chance at love. I liked that the characters in this book are more grown-up, and that they think it's important to talk things through and express their feelings.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending, which felt a bit rushed. I would have liked it if there had been two or three chapters about them enjoying their relationship after waiting so long.

Enjoyable, cute, and quick story with an fun premise and engaging characters! It was like several tropes/genres kind of mashed into each other, but it totally worked. I was treated to the audio version, and loved that it was duet narration. Very well done.

A really good second chance romance. The author delved into why they were liked they were. The hope of the romance was terrific. A great listen with good narrators

this was an interesting audiobook for me. it was dual narrated, which normally is fantastic...but the novel was written in third person dual POV. It came across as a bit forced and inauthentic, to no fault of the narrators, but just due to each talking about their characters in third person.

from a storyline, plot and character development perspective, I liked the plot, but not crazy about how the story dragged in certain areas and rushed in other areas. I liked Gemma (the FMC), but Mason (MMC) came across as smug and conceited for the majority of the book.

Both narrators were excellent, showing emotion and range through their dialogue and conversations. (Narrated by Patricia Santomasso; Sean Patrick Hopkins).

many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.