Thanks to Hachette Audio, Kelley Armstrong and NetGalley for access to Writing Mr. Wrong.

This was a first for me: a contemporary romance by the queen of paranormal heroines. So glad I took the opportunity to listen, too. Was up at non recommended hours to finish in a couldn't put down kind of way.

Totally into the relationship between Gemma and Mason as they figure out who they are now versus childhood. Gemma is snappy, knows what she wants now, and is willing to be honest in a business full of pivoting. Appreciated the work put into writing, the unpleasant aspects of the industry sometimes.

Mason's flaws are glaring at times but he also appreciates how Gem doesn't back down. He needs someone to challenge, to push. Both have scars and are engaging when visualizing them attempting to balance.

Vibes.
- Low Angst.
- Second Chance Romance.
- Hockey Player Antics.
- Third Act Grovel.

The narrators and production did a fantastic job of creating distinct voices, even in each narration chapter.

4.5 stars. Writing Mr. Wrong is SO easy to love. Not only were the leads grown (mid-30s), but the FMC was also such a strong and realistic character! Kelley Armstrong's writing was clever—borderline satirical—and I finished nearly the entire audiobook in one sitting. The narrators did a phenomenal job. Patricia Santomasso embodied the character so well and Sean Patrick Hopkins had the PERFECT male voice in my opinion. Hot, but not unbearably gruff.

This book had a little bit of everything. Hockey player MMC, author FMC, righting past wrongs, island getaway, careers on the line, and some good ol' fashioned self-awareness. The plot was engaging, the character development was chef's kiss, and the pace was well done. Will definitely be reading anything Armstrong puts out.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC!

The duet narration was a surprise but was just so freaking good and made the book just that much better.

I almost always love second chance romance but throw in fake dating too?! I’m sold. *chefs kiss* PLUS he’s a hockey player that also enjoys cooking? And she’s a romance author?! YES PLEASE.

I also think the world needs more romances with people in their 30s!!!

The personal and professional growth demonstrated in the characters was so nice to read about.

I seriously adored this book.

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

It’s been a while since I’ve not been able to put an audiobook down (or pause it, if we’re being literal) – but I found myself wanting to finish this one in as few listening sessions as possible! I hadn’t previously listened to any audiobooks with Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins and I’m so glad I finally have because the duet narration was perfection! They portrayed the main characters perfectly, avoided all my narrator pet peeves and made sure to give all side characters a different voice so it was easy to follow.

The story itself follows Gemma, a romance author and recent divorcée, and Mason, a pro-hockey player struggling with the idea of aging out of the sport and some recent bad press involving a recent game. The two happen to be former classmates who have had crushes on each other since grade school. We see the characters experience and work through young adult misunderstandings/miscommunication + adult life conflicts – but most importantly – we see them experience fair bit of character growth. It was refreshing to see a pair of characters work through their issues without an unnecessary third-act conflict.

This book was perfect if you enjoy:
- Second chance romances
- Hockey romances
- Books about books/authors
- Redemption arcs
- Fake dating (though it isn’t the traditional trope rep)
- Slightly open door romance (we’re talking door is sort of slightly cracked open)

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Forever for the ALC of this book!

This book has a super fun premise, and it definitely delivers!

Gemma is a debut romance author whose male main character is a broody, self-centered highlander. She based this character off of a pro hockey player she went to high school with, never expecting anyone to make the connection. When the news gets out, Gemma and Mason, the hockey player, are pressured to fake date for publicity. When Mason learns that his portrayal in Gemma's book is less-than-stellar, he asks her for help becoming the kind of man who might stand a chance with her.

I enjoyed this book! It was clear that Mason was trying hard to be good for Gemma despite all the hiccups and challenges. Despite feeling like Gemma was being too forgiving and wasn't getting enough out of this relationship, by the end, I was 100% rooting for this couple.

Read this book if you like:
- Second chance romance
- Books about books
- Reconnecting with a childhood crush
- Hockey romance

This audiobook is narrated by Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins. I enjoyed the duet narration style, which made the audio feel more immersive. I have never had any complaints about the production value of a Hachette audiobook, and this is another great example of a high-quality audiobook from them.

Thank you so much to Forever, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong is a second chance, friends-to-lovers, hockey player and writer romance. Duet narration was performed by Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins and was fantastic! Gemma is a debut romance writer who based the main character in her book on the man who hurt her in high school. Mason is a professional hockey player, currently receiving bad press due to a teammates injury who is excited to reunite with his high school friend. This was a fun and light read. I wanted to love the book based on the premise, but I struggled to get into the book and connect with the characters. Overall, the book was just missing a spark to make it great.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and the author for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did. But here we are. I listened to the audiobook (duet narration, 10/10 would recommend), and it hooked me right away.

Gemma is a debut romance author recovering from a controlling marriage, and when her editor tells her the “nice guy” MMC won’t sell, she rewrites him into a grumpy, hockey-playing jerk—“loosely” based on her high school crush, Mason. Who is, unfortunately, very real, very famous, and now very aware he’s been fictionalised.
When an old classmate reunites them on live TV, the moment goes viral. Mason suggests they lean into it for PR, and from there, it’s fake dating, media chaos, second chances, and a lot of unresolved feelings.

I loved how layered this story was. A perfect blend of funny and tropey (fake dating, enemies-ish to lovers, second chance), while also displaying true emotional depth.
Gemma’s journey of rediscovering her voice was so well done. And Mason? A hot mess in a lovable way. He makes mistakes, owns them, and genuinely tries to do better.
The audiobook format was amazing. It’s a duet narration, so both voice actors are present in every conversation. It made the banter feel so alive and immersive.


The ending felt a tiny bit rushed, but honestly, I was having too much fun to care. If you’re into second chances, hockey dudes with hidden soft sides, and a heroine rebuilding herself after a crappy marriage, you’ll probably eat this up!


**Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

I mean I am partial to a sports romance!!
So I knew I was likely to like this for sure!

It was cute, my heart literally was all in when they hurt I hurt when they loved I loved.
It gave me all the feels and more!

I love the fact that after so many years people can just reconnect and continue where they left off!
But in mase and gems situation they were older wiser and ready to communicate which both of them needed to do!

It was defo easily a 4⭐️

Thank you netgalley and hachette audio for the arc in exchange for an honest review

Writing Mr Wrong by Kelley Armstrong (audiobook narrated by Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick)
☀️☀️

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC audiobook!

This romance didn't wow me. The concept was interesting, and the setup itself was half decent, but as the book went on I found myself zoning out. I didn't believe the chemistry between the leads, which is vital for a romance. The various flashbacks inserted awkwardly within the current timeline felt jarring. The vacation sub-plot felt out of place with the rest of the plot, and the over-reliance of Mason's endless wealth didn't add up.

Both characters did not behave like their age, but even beyond the immaturity they weren't even really memorable beyond bad qualities: Mason's careless audacity didn't improve enough to become a romantic lead for me - the 'hook' of parodying alpha male romantic heroes only works if the MMC doesn't fall into those actions, but there wasn't enough change for me to buy it. Gemma was a total pushover despite being constantly portrayed as confident and bold, particularly in relation to her ex. The way Armstrong wrote their lust towards each other was particularly juvenile and cringey to me.

The duet narration was the best aspect of this novel - it's rare to find multiple narrators in romance novels, and Santomasso and Patrick both infused good humour and emotion in their performances.

This was a flop for me. I can see talent in Armstrong's writing, but this does nothing to sell it.


"'Any chance of a reunion?' Ava said.
Gemma wanted to say no. She planned to say no. Instead, she heard herself saying, 'Well, he did suggest we should pretend to go on a date to promote my book.'
A long pause, then 'Please tell me you're serious? The hockey star you kissed in high school is now suggesting fake dating? After a meet cute reunion on live TV? Can I book you guys a hotel room with only one bed?'"

Gemma is a burgeoning author after a divorce, and when her editor tells her that her Mr. Nice Guy wouldn’t sell, she decides to write about Mr. Wrong. It just so happens that Mr. Wrong is loosely based on her high school crush, Mason, who is now a star hockey player in Vancouver. After Gemma and Mason reconnect on an attempted “gotcha” moment on a local TV station, they decide to make the best of their circumstances (and subsequent publicity) by going on a date. Will the sparks fly?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s a bit self-referential: a romance novel about a romance novelist struggling to write a romance novel. And that includes almost every trope: #SportsRomance, #FakeDating, #EnemiesToLovers, #SecondChanceRomance… but I promise it all works cohesively and you’ll love it! Kelley Armstrong did such an amazing job at developing the chemistry between Gemma and Mason, shifting between present day and throwbacks to the high school drama that started their hostility. I listened to the audiobook version, and loved the narration from both Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins. It was one of the first audiobooks (aside from graphic audios) that would mix the voices for dialogue, i.e. if Mason is being narrated by Sean Patrick Hopkins, Gemma’s speaking lines are narrated by Patricia Santomasso and vice-versa. It made the dialogue seem so much more dynamic, and so much more enjoyable as an audiobook!

Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Hachette Audio for the opportunity to read and review.

Read this book if you like:
🎯 enemies to lovers
🏒 hockey romances
✍️ romance novels about writing romance novels


===
This review will be posted to Instagram @AutobiographiCole on or around the release date!

Kelley Armstrong has always been a favourite author of mine (if you haven’t read Women of the Underworld Series, read it!), and her romance is no exception. The characters are well written, I enjoyed the story, and the narrators did a great job as well. Highly recommend.

I listened to the audiobook and I loved it, especially since this was a duet. The narrators did a wonderful job of keeping me immersed in this world. I enjoyed it very much.

Gemma, a debut author, was forced to write a character that is an asshole, since that is what sells a book, and she drew inspiration from her first crush. Mason, a guy she once knew, a pro hockey player now. She thinks nobody will see the similarities, but an old classmate does and decides to reunite them on air, without telling Gemma. Mason comes to her rescue and they go viral. He suggest a dinner, so they can keep up the momentum, helping sell her book. She reluctantly agrees. Which leads to chaos and problems, some swoony and hilarious moments and an unexpected getaway. They both have demons, but will they be able to open up to each other and make use of this second chance that was given to them?

I really liked the writing, it kept me engaged. The pace was a little slower at the beginning, but it did pick up.

Gemma was a character I loved very much. She didn't let Mason get away with his behaviour easily. When he screwed up, she called him out. I loved seeing her slowly regain the confidence she lost because of her controlling ex-husband. Trying to revive parts of herself, parts he made her lose. Parts Mason loved about her.
Mason, while careless, was such a great character. I loved seeing him try to do better, to listen and rectify his behaviour. Him asking her to teach him how not to be an asshole was honestly adorable. I understand why he was the way he was. I tend to do the same, even knowing that running away from problems doesn't solve them at all. His struggle with being an ageing pro athlete and not having a plan for after, coupled with his trauma from childhood and his vulnerability when it came to Gemma, made him a compelling character.
I really loved them together, especially the getaway part.

The most refreshing thing about this book, and the reason I decided to up my rating, is the communication. Every single conflict, and there were quite a few, was resolved quickly and it was resolved by them talking it out. I'm so tired of conflicts being dragged on, especially when they can be solved by a simple conversation. Such a small thing, but it made the book so much better.
I do wish we got more at the end, it felt a little bit rushed.

While this was my first encounter with this author, it will not be my last.

I'm torn on how to write this review. On one hand, I really enjoyed most of the story. But on the other, much heavier, hand I could not stand the narrators of the audiobook. it reminded me why I quit audiobooks in the first place. They both sounded like they were trying too hard. The male voice sounded like he was trying to sound like a pompous Disney character (most likely Gaston), and the female voice just grated on me with her weird raspy breaths she inserted into weird places, and her over pronunciation of certain letters and inflections that felt off or badly timed really bugged me.

I would love to give this another shot later reading the actual book myself. I'll adjust my rating after, but until then, I'm sweating off audiobooks indefinitely.

**Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to listen to *Writing Mr. Wrong*. I’m somewhat uncertain about my feelings regarding this piece. The narrative seemed a bit hurried, along with the character development. Because the characters underwent rapid changes, it was challenging to form a connection with them and truly support their journeys. Although the storyline had a touch of uniqueness, it ultimately felt rather conventional.

Gemma is a romance novelist who is currently struggling with her next book. It’s been quite some time since Gemma has had one of her books published because she was going through a tough time in life: a divorce. When her proposal doesn’t gain any interest, she feels like she needs to do a complete 180 and write about about Mr. Wrong instead of Mr. Right.

Who does she write Mr. Wrong after? Her high school ex, Mason Moretti, who is now a famous hockey player. During their high school days, there were rumors their kiss was a dare and Mason never corrected anyone. Gemma was hurt and saw Mason Moretti as a red flag.

Once Mason finds out that Gemma is still hurt by his actions, he comes up with the idea that they fake date so that Gemma and her romance books get the attention they deserve.

Will this plan work out? Will Gemma ever forgive Mason?

This was a fun romance book that I needed to read and wind down with after a tiring day at work. athere were even times where the book included as many romance tropes as possible!

A light, fast-paced summer read with mature, relatable characters.
I really enjoyed how both Gemma and Mason are self-aware and quick to acknowledge their mistakes, which kept the story moving smoothly. Gemma is grounded and emotionally strong, supported by a loving, non-judgmental family. She knows no one is perfect, which helps her accept Mason—flaws and all. Mason, while well-intentioned, often lets carelessness get in his way, making his journey both frustrating and endearing.

The audiobook narration was expertly done and truly enhanced the story—it gave me a full experience and brought the characters to life.
A charming rom-com perfect for a warm afternoon!

ALC review

4,5 stars

"Writing Mr. Wrong" is a sequel to "Finding Mr. Write", but can be read as a standalone.

Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

What you can expect:
- hockey player/romance author
- second chance romance
- redemption arc
- he is an audiobook lover
- witty banter
- fake dating
- dyslexia and mental health representation

Gemma is a recently divorced romance writer that used Mason, her ex from high school as inspiration for her book.
He is an aging hockey player that wants to redeem himself and suggest they fake date.
This was she gets publicity for her book and he improves his image.

I listened to the audiobook narrated in duet style by Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins.
The fact that it is a duet was a great surprise for me and made me listen to it in one day.
Both narrators did a great job with the characters, but Sean Patrick Hopkins managed to make me love Mason.
He sounded so happy, funny and flirty.
If you have the opportunity, I recommend listening to the book. It make the experience even better.

What I also liked is that the characters are complex, they have issues from the past and some parts were emotional.
Gemma was in a bad relationship with her ex husband and has some insecurities. Also, Mason has dyslexia.

The relationship developed very nice and I liked that they communicated.

Overall this was an enjoyable read and made me want to read more books from this author (and listen to other books narrated by Sean Patrick Hopkins).

💖 A lovely Gemma, fresh from a love lost, found her pen again, dancing across pages with dreams of romance! ✍️ But alas, her sweet heroes weren't quite enough to woo the publishers. So, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she decided to conjure an absolute Mr. Wrong—a daring laird with a wild heart, secretly inspired by her very first crush, the dazzling hockey star, Mason Moretti! 🏒✨ She was sure no one would connect her Highland hero to an NHL enforcer, but oh, how wrong she was!

Imagine her surprise when her secret muse, the charming Mason, suddenly reappears! Their "reunion-cute" (as the world so adorably called it 🤩) went utterly viral, and what a delightful twist! Mason, ever the clever one, proposed a sprinkle of fake dating to help her lovely book soar. (And maybe, just maybe, to mend a few of his own image woes—but shhh! 😉).

Our dear Gemma, with a flutter in her heart, agreed to this whimsical charade. And then, the most enchanting part: a cozy escape! 🏡 Mason whisked her away, not just for her overdue second book, but for delightful "anti-asshole" lessons. As if he wasn't already a sweetheart! Could it be that he simply yearned for more time with her? 🥰

"Writing Mr. Wrong" is a truly enchanting tale, a delightful dance of second chances, secret crushes, and the magic of finding love where you least expect it. It's a whisper of laughter, a blush of romance, and a warm hug for your heart. Don't miss this one! 💖

This was a great read! I started out not liking the MMC at all, but the author did such an amazing job of setting him up to be hated, then taking you along his journey of growth and self awareness that it feels like you are growing with him and all of a sudden you can't understand why you ever hated him.

This book was refreshing in so many ways. When conflict came up, it was dealt with instead of leaving an hour long gap of miscommunication and then making up at the end of the book. I also appreciated a romance story about people in their mid 30s. In so many books, the main characters are in their early 20s and it's refreshing to change that up and get a different perspective.

I listened to the audiobook on this one and the narrators did an excellent job! I loved the duet narration, it brought the story to life so much better than when narrators attempt to voice the opposite gender. Everything flowed effortlessly and the voices they lent to side characters were so well done I found myself questioning if there were more than two voice actors. All in all, a really great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio
ARC copy of this book.

4.5 stars
If Kelley Armstrong writes it, I’m reading it! Even better to listen to it. I very much enjoyed the duet-style narration. Both narrators did a great job!
It was a nice second chance romance with adorable main characters. Who doesn’t love it when a hockey player and romance novelist get together?!
When done well, contemporary romance is my favorite genre. I find too many books these days are formulaic to the point of being offensive. I’m starting to have baggage when I go into romcoms these days. But I need not have feared. Kelley is one of my favorite authors and I just love how everything was handled in Writing Mr. Wrong. Everyone makes mistakes and no one always communicate as well as they could, but what matters is showing how these two people strive to be in a functional relationship despite past baggage and present issues. In that respect, this book was a home run for me— or, more appropriately, a hat trick!
*Thanks to Hachette Audio & NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy