Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to enjoy this audio version of the book.

Writing Mr. Wrong is a witty and heartfelt second-chance romance that hits all the right notes. Kelley Armstrong brings sharp banter, emotional depth, and relatable characters to a story that feels both fun and authentic. The chemistry between the leads is natural, and the plot avoids tired tropes while still delivering a satisfying romantic payoff. A charming, quick read that’s perfect for fans of smart, feel-good romance.

Love a good audiobook with dual genders for the pov!

I was eating this book up! My friend Jillian said I needed to read this, and she was correct.

Our FMC is a romance author that kind of bases a character off a hockey player she knew in high school who is now in the NHL. They had kind of gotten together but not really together in high school because of choices that were made. Now they are fake dating, and her crazy ex husband is so jealous; I loved it.

I am also not usually a second chance romance kind of girl, but this one got me. I loved seeing them grow individually and together and liked the kind of sparing they did with each other throughout the book.

I am excited to read more from this author. I especially liked this on audio so will probably reach for an audio of her next one.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. More than I thought I would. Her writing a character based on a highschool crush, yessssssss. Him liking her all along but too chicken to really say something (meh not that believable but anyway) give it to me!!! This was funny, light and easy fast paced read.

I usually love Kelley Armstrong's novels, but I just couldn't connect with the characters for this one. It was OK, but it didn't have a swoon factor that I look for in my romance stories. I give this 3/5 stars. Solid, but not a must read book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to review Writing Mr Wrong by Kelley Armstrong. All opinions are my own

Writing Mr. Wrong is a fun twist on fake dating and second-chance romance, with a heroine who writes her ex into a book—and then ends up fake dating him in real life. Cue the chaos (and a bit of chemistry).

Gemma and Mason’s story is sweet, mature, and refreshingly low on drama. I loved the unique take on fake dating, the solid character growth—especially Mason’s—and the way the story focused more on emotional connection than miscommunication.

That said, I did find myself wishing for more heat, tension, and those “I hate you but I love you” sparks. The slow burn was very slow, and the steam fizzled just as things got interesting.

The audiobook narration was a standout. Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins were both excellent, and the duet narration added so much to the experience.

3.5–4 stars – A charming, easy listen with heart and humor, even if it left me wanting just a little more fire.

The idea of rekindling something lost from the past? I'M SEATED. Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong offered a second-chance romance premise between a debut author and a hockey player that genuinely drew me in. But the whole fake dating trope meant I knew exactly where this was headed from page one. Predictable? Absolutely. Still, I held out hope for that second-chance magic.

However, the foundation of their conflict just felt so... overblown. The issue between Gemma and Mason was rooted in a single high school kiss that Mason didn't deny was a dare. For such a minor incident that happened so long ago, like, two decades? It was a stretch for two adults to still be holding onto such a grudge.

Gemma's healing journey post-divorce felt quite too fast for me. Where was the breakdown? The anger? The mess of a divorce? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for girl power and reclaiming yourself. Buuut, it just felt like she instantly bounced back with how quickly she's all over Mason (despite denying it). I would've appreciated seeing more of her emotional processing, perhaps a bit more time working on herself, for her healing and new relationship with Mason to feel more authentic.

Which leads me to the fake dating. Was it really "fake dating" if Mason already harbored feelings for Gemma? It wasn't about two people slowly falling for each other despite themselves, but more like a convenient excuse for them to finally act on pre-existing affections. Let's pretend to date so we can finally give in to these feelings we've clearly had forever, you know?

As for the hockey element, the sport felt more like a side detail than a central focus. Mason's career as a hockey player provided context for his character and struggles, but if you're looking for a deep dive into the hockey world, this isn't it.

That said, I experienced Writing Mr. Wrong as an audiobook, and the production is commendable! The narrators did a fantastic job bringing Gemma and Mason to life. Their voices were well-matched and the sound effects were immersive, which enhanced my listening experience. 🎧

Overall, this book is a light and predictable rom-com that delivers on the second-chance romance, if you're able to overlook some of the narrative choices regarding the core conflict and the pacing of the characters. If you enjoy a low-angst and easy-to-read story, it might be a good pick for a relaxed afternoon.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Fake Dating
*second chance
*Hocky romance
*enemies to lovers

When Gemma writes a hit novel, it is beyond her wildest dreams to see how far it is taking her. What shocks her most is when she is thrust into the presence of her HS crush who she secretly based a character on, she is not too happy about it. But when he actually helps her promote her book and suggests they fake date - her to further promote her book(s) and him to fix his reputation, she reluctantly agrees. What could possibly go wrong you ask? Well...quite a lot actually!

Narrators were great and the story itself moved at a great pace.

*Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Audio for the ALC*

He broke her heart in high school… so she turned him into a brooding book boyfriend. What could go wrong? 📚💔🏒

Read if you like:
✨ second chance romance
✨ fake dating
✨ childhood crushes
✨ authors & athletes
✨ cinnamon roll redemption arcs
✨ low-angst, character-driven romance

📚 Writing Mr. Wrong is a sweet and thoughtful rom-com where a debut author’s fictional hero hits a little too close to home. Gemma’s historical Highlander was inspired by none other than her first crush and high school heartbreak, Mason Moretti—now a grumpy pro hockey player with a reputation problem. When a viral TV segment reunites them on-air, things spiral into a PR-perfect fake relationship with very real emotional stakes.

👨‍👧 Mason is the classic rough-around-the-edges guy trying to grow into something better. He’s older, gruffer, but deeply respectful—and watching him try to be the right guy for Gemma was where this book really shined. Gemma, the celibate-for-years heroine, is smart, self-aware, and determined not to fall for the same guy twice… even if he’s changed.

💞 Their romance is soft, respectful, and built on mutual learning. While the spice is low and mostly implied, their chemistry simmers through shared glances, vulnerable conversations, and subtle tension. It’s not about heat—it’s about trust and emotional intimacy, with just one full steam scene that prioritizes consent and care.

👧 Side characters are kept to the edges here, but the emotional depth of both leads makes this feel like an intimate two-person show. The hockey-world backdrop and Gemma’s writing life offer just enough flavor without distracting from the core love story.

✍️ This is a character-driven romance with a steady pace and a refreshing lack of drama. If you’re looking for toxic tropes or high angst, this isn’t it. But if you want a redemption arc filled with maturity, self-reflection, and two people slowly choosing each other? This one delivers. Bonus: the audiobook duet narration is stellar—immersive and well-matched to the story’s tone.

🌟 A low-angst, feel-good romance with real heart and a believable second shot at love. Writing Mr. Wrong may not be sizzling, but it’s full of sincerity, sweetness, and soft tension that leaves you smiling by the end.

📚✨ ARC Review: Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, Forever, and the incredible Kelley Armstrong for my advanced listening copy!

🖋️ Fake dating? Check.
💘 Second chance vibes? Check.
🤣 Banter, bickering, and chemistry that jumps off the page (err… earbuds)? DOUBLE CHECK.

This was such a fun and flirty listen! I absolutely devoured it on audio — the narration brought these characters to life with the perfect mix of sass and heart. Our heroine is a romance author who writes the perfect heroes — but her real-life inspiration? Oh, he’s all kinds of wrong… or is he? 😉

📖 Tropes I adored:
✔️ Enemies-ish to lovers
✔️ Writer x muse tension
✔️ Forced proximity + undeniable sparks
✔️ Smart, snappy dialogue that had me laughing out loud

🎧 If you’re into rom-coms with heart, sharp writing, and swoony storytelling, this one needs to be on your TBR — or in your earbuds.

📚 Book Review: Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Rounded from 3.5)

This second-chance rom-com has everything I should have loved: a viral book moment, a hotheaded hockey hero turned Highlander, fake dating shenanigans, and just the right amount of emotional vulnerability. Gemma and Mason’s dynamic is flirty, heartfelt, and packed with redemption arc goodness.

But let’s talk about the real plot twist… the font. For a book marketed toward dyslexic readers, the typeface was oddly difficult to read—narrow spacing, uneven flow, and overall not friendly to neurodiverse readers. It made the reading experience unnecessarily frustrating, especially since the story itself is fun, thoughtful, and full of heart.

That said, the concept is a winner, the pacing is solid, and the character growth felt earned. With a better visual format, this could’ve been a full 4-star read, no rounding needed.

I listened to the audiobook and fell in love with this story and the author. While this was my first time reading a book by Kelley Armstrong she is now an insta-buy author for me. The story itself was fun and heartfelt. I am not typically a fan of second chance romances through but the way this story was written I was instantly sold. The duet narration added greatly to Gemma and Mason’s story. I was able to fully experience the chemistry, banter, and vulnerability shared between the characters to a high level due to the narrators. I was most a fan of the emotional depth both characters possessed. The communication between the two was honestly a breath of fresh air. It was so refreshing for the characters to properly communicate when conflicts arose. The pacing was a bit slow for my liking and the ending did feel slightly rushed, but as previously stated. I loved this book.

Huge thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. I’ll definitely be reading more from Kelley Armstrong.

I thought the narration was wonderful for this book. The Duet style worked well and kept me going through the story when I may have put it down. I did like the story and Mason and Gemma as characters, however I did feel the story was a little unbalanced. It was a little too slow for me in the first half and I had to push to keep going, and then the last half seemed to go very quickly with all the action. I am not a huge fan of miscommunication which played a lot in this story, but overall it was an enjoyable book.

Loved the narrator, I felt like she portrayed the male and female leads perfectly. I felt immersed in the world. The author did a great job with touching on mental health and making sure that they were being open and honest about everything.

This was a good time. I thought the characters and story was interesting. There were parts of Gemma that really resonated with me and made me like her more especially how she didn't let Mason get away with stuff and how she dealt with her ex-husband. I really liked that Mason was trying to learn to be better and Gemma helped him grow as a person. Of course I had a miscommunication trope but maybe will let it slide a bit since it happened when they were in high school. Overall I would rate this one 3.5 maybe closer to 4. I think I'll sit with it for a while and decide if I want to bump it up to 4 if I continue to think about it.

Loved it! The audio was amazing and so were the plot and character arcs. Can’t wait to read more from Kelley.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc to read and review. All opinions are my own.

First, thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook. The narrators were AWESOME! Great job. Really enjoyed their voices. But ... I wasn't expecting so much spice and sexual innuendoes and language in this book. I made it almost to the halfway part of the book before I had to stop. I'm not a fan of a this type of book, but I honestly didn't realize that it would be like this when I requested the audio. The story line was great. I think people that are ok with this type of book will really enjoy it. The characters are very fun.

Really enjoyed this!! The characters were relatable and the banter and humor was so fun!! Definitely will be reading more from this author!

This was such a cute and feel good romance. The characters were well developed, the banter was witty, and I was rooting for this second chance romance the whole time.
Posted on Goodreads as well

This was a super satisfying read. I enjoyed the established tension through the friends to lovers vibe and the fact that they communicated well. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how they ould work it out in the end. Great read, highly recommend!!

(No knowledge of hockey is required to enjoy this read)

Disclaimer: I was able to access this book for free in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars! Definitely a fun read. The FMC and MMC were both very likable characters. Definitely a good read if you are a fan of enemies to lovers? Friends to lovers? I couldn’t figure out which trope it fit into but definitely good for both.

The narration of this audio book was fantastic. I love a duet narration, especially for romance books. Dual POV is always a win with me.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this advanced copy!