Thank you NetGalley for the ARC Audiobook! Overall this was a pretty easy read & it kept me interested. I found the FMC to be a tad bit insufferable. First of all, these characters are 36 & still harping about something that happened in high school that in my opinion was not even that bad? Gemma had a whole ass abusive husband for 9 years and is hating on the MMC for a kiss that happened 20 years ago? It just was a little cringey to me. Maybe if it was something that happened in college? Or if they were younger and this was a new adult book it would make more sense. I also just did not agree with the whole mason being an asshole thing? Gemma kept saying everything he did was an asshole move when I think it was really just they don’t know each others likes and dislikes and needed time to get to know each other again. Obviously he is going to do the things that a majority of girls would like when he doesn’t know what you like. She complained about the FREE beach vacation she got because she wanted it to be in the ALPS?????? Like I’m sorry you’re a debut writer probably making barely any money I would be grateful this rich guy is taking you anywhere and making you your favorite food? I felt like she thought she was perfect for a majority of the book & like she had no flaws. Not to mention the trauma the two main characters had did not seem believable. When mason had a panic attack & she told him to take deep breaths and then suddenly he was fine about 5 seconds later? It felt like the author has never experienced a panic attack before & if that’s the case then don’t include that in the book. The abusive dad & Gemma’s abusive husband felt super surface level, and I feel like if you’re going to include characters with past traumas in your book you need to do extensive research at the very least and make mental health a deeper topic in the book. Otherwise just don’t include it at all. Another note that seems a little random, but I think goes along with the main character being insufferable, is that she had zero female friends. While I thought grandma Dot coming to the hockey game was super cute, why was there not a female friend for her to confide in. It made her feel even more unlikeable. Obviously I didn’t DNF the book so it kept my attention enough, but I don’t think I will be recommending this.

I really enjoyed the two narrators of this book, really brought the story to life.

The book did take a bit of time to gain pace which left me a bit impatient but it was a wonderful story once it got going.

If you’re a fan of Emily Henry or Laura Starkey then this book is for you.

Gemma has a book idea of writing about her old ex who is an old hockey player. Mason is also going through a hard time in life when he runs into Gemma. They decided to get into a fake dating relationship.

Full disclosure: This was my first hockey romance! This feels important to say because I know that hockey romances have really blown up and become popular, but I am not a huge sports fan and have been hesitant to pick up this sub-genre because I don't know anything about the game. I was relieved to see that in this case, I really didn't need to know anything about hockey and could instead just enjoy the second-chance romance. I'm a big reader but have only recently started to pick up romances, so I'd also never read a romance with the fake-dating trope because I couldn't picture it being my thing; however, I DO love a second-chance romance so this one sounded worth the try and I'm grateful I got the opportunity to listen to this audiobook and try new things all at once.

First of all, I got a little bit of whiplash in the beginning. The author would give me something about the two MCs' backstories that would have me smirking and wanting them to just kiss already, only to follow it up with some scene of one or the other ogling the other while in a vulnerable state that would have me feeling icky at the lack of consent. I pushed through, reminding myself that physical attraction is kind of important in a romance novel, and I'm glad that I did. I could not have been more surprised when the author circled back to those instances in the third act by having the MCs confess those moments to each other during a really steamy scene. It kept the spicy romance vibes moving while addressing the importance of consent, and I really appreciated 1) that the conversation happened at all and 2) the fun way the author incorporated it into the story. Maybe it's just that I'm a romance newbie, but I thought that was amazing!

Some other parts that I loved were that while there was some miscommunication, it never held out for so long that I felt annoyed, or as if the only conflicts in the book came from the MCs not talking to each other honestly. When the travel mix-up happens and Gemma thinks Mason went back on his word to let her pick the destination, within a chapter that confusion is resolved and they instead figure out the travel changes together. Nothing puts me off a book like heavy use of miscommunication to move the plot along, so this was a big plus for me.

Lastly, I just love a romance where the man works to be a better person, and that was the main point of this whole novel. Mason continuously worked to not let his social standing cloud his judgment of how to treat others, and it also felt realistic to see him frequently checking in with Gemma on what was asshole-y and what was just setting a boundary (at least if I were him, that's what I'd be doing too lol). Overall, there were a lot of elements that came together that made this such a likeable book, but the author's writing prowess brought it home with the chemistry and spice.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book! Last year I read and reviewed I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong and that book had me locked in from the beginning! I'm grateful to have gotten the chance to read another of her works, and I look forward to seeing what else is to come.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s my first hockey romance and I am sold!
There is fake dating, some miscommunication and a slow burn romance.
Some spicy scenes but focuses more on the romance than just filling it with spice.
Dyslexia is represented so well, the MMC is clearly not uneducated but he struggles to read and prefers audiobooks. It also includes how audiobooks are still reading!!
Also - Grandma Dot is my favourite!

Thank you to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for this ARC! I really enjoyed this second chance, sort of frenemies/friends to lovers trope. Really enjoyed it as an audio!

What a perfect summer read. Despite being set in the darker half of the year, Armstrong has successfully delivered the ultimate beach read for summer 2025. I guarantee that your summer will not be complete without tucking this one into your beach bag. You won’t regret it, I promise.

The predecessor, Writing Mr Wrong is an incredibly charming read; but we must admit - Finding Mr. Write is a much better storyline and more riveting lead characters. Meet Gemma, a first time novelist embarking on an uncharted voyage into the world of publicity and being under the microscopic lens of the public eye. Gemma is one heck of a loveable protagonist. Equal parts sassy and sweet, she takes readers on a light-hearted, entertaining romantic journey. Armstrong is a master storyteller, one of the best wordsmiths of modern times. She consistently delivers quality stories to her readers. She has a knack for capturing our hearts through her loveable and often relatable female-leads.

This was a cute enough story overall. It follows a classic trope: boy and girl meet in kindergarten, grow up together, and eventually realize there’s something more between them—though neither is willing to admit it. She’s the smart, nerdy tutor; he’s the lovable but clueless jock. Fast-forward to adulthood, and he’s a sports star in need of good PR while she’s launching a successful book… with a main character clearly based on him.

The fake-dating setup brings them back into each other’s orbit, and through all the expected rom-com miscommunications and emotional revelations, they start to finally figure things out. The plot is sweet, predictable in a comforting way, and had some fun moments.

That said, the audiobook narration really took away from my enjoyment. The female narrator didn’t sound like someone in her early 30s—honestly, she came off more like a heavy smoker than a polished author. It made it hard to connect with her character. The male narrator was decent, but not strong enough to carry the story on his own or balance things out.

This might be better enjoyed in print or with different narrators, but if you’re into second-chance romance, childhood friends-to-lovers, or fake dating tropes, the story itself has its charm.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

After her divorce, Gemma dove into writing and in the throes of her first novel being released. When the connection between the main character and a guy from her past, that happens to be a pro hockey player, comes to light Gemma’s life takes a turn she wasn’t expecting. When Mason Moretti comes back into her life it’s unexpected and suddenly they are falling into a fake relationship to help her book sales. Will Gemma be able to get past what happened with Mason in the past?

I like hockey romances and was pulled in by this cover. Once I started reading it was easy to fall into the story and I liked seeing how everything played out for Gemma and Mason. They were a good couple and I was rooting for them. The fake relationship was well done and drove this story. I listened to the narration of this book and it was really well done in more of a duet style that I don’t see all that often. This was a good fake relationship romance that held my attention all the way through.

This is an Enemy to Lovers, Second Chance, Hockey Romance. No spicy scenes until after 60-70% of the book. Yes, it's technically a slow burn, but the way the book moves along, you don't feel slow.

Gemma is starting her 2nd career as a Romance writer, and being featured by the local morning show. And what a coinkydink, the show's host is the bully of her high school. And she picked up on the main MC of her book is based on the most popular boy at their school, Hockey god Mason.

Here's Mason, thinking awesome, a chance to rekindle. Except Gemma, while gracious, did not want to have anything to do with him. We bumble along Gemma and Mason's journey. I will say, I love Gemma because she calls bullshit in a very direct and yet polite manner. Not aggressive, but also not going to take it laying down either. What she does take laying down is the people she thought loved her and let them run over her. But no more! She's going to protect herself. Except Mason's action is louder than words.

What a fun read/listen. I actually don't get to listen to Patricia Santomasso much, but I do really like her interpretation and acting for Gemma. I had totally forgotten that I've heard her in Finding Mr. Write also by author Kelley Armstrong. But you know what, I feel that MC narrator, Sean Patrick Hopkins is very underrated in the land of narrations. I know I mainly focus in the RomCom genre, but he did a great job showing the characters emotions and doing the various voices. Hope to hear from him more in the near future.

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Audio for the ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinion.

I don’t usually gravitate toward romance, but Writing Mr. Wrong completely won me over! The premise is irresistible: Gemma, a debut romance author fresh off a divorce, decides to write a spicy historical romance featuring a “Mr. Wrong” based on her high school crush—Mason Moretti, now a famous NHL enforcer. She’s sure no one will connect her Highland laird to the real Mason… until a live TV interview reunites them and her secret goes viral.

What follows is a hilarious and heartfelt fake-dating scheme that turns into something much deeper. I loved the emotional maturity of both characters—Gemma’s journey to reclaim her voice after years of self-silencing, and Mason’s effort to become someone worthy of her trust. Their chemistry was fantastic, and the dual narration brought it all to life. The voice actors nailed the tone and made the story feel incredibly real and immersive.

Whether you’re a romance fan or just love a good redemption arc with humor, heart, and a dash of hockey, I highly recommend this one. Kelley Armstrong delivers a fresh, funny, and emotionally satisfying read that had me smiling and rooting for Gemma and Mason the whole way through.

WritingMrWrong #KelleyArmstrong #NetGalleyReads #HachetteAudio #FakeDatingTrope #RomCom #AudiobookReview #SecondChanceRomance #BookReview #ARCReview #HockeyRomance #EnemiesToLoversVibes

I loved that this was duet narrators with little sound effects, that always makes an audiobook so much more enjoyable to listen to. They did such a great job with the banter between the two MCs. I loved the storyline & that they were a bit older. This second chance romance was so sweet 🥺🫶🏼
Thank you to NetGalley + Hachette Audio for the audio arc!

I devoured this book; I listened to it all in one sitting! I loved the narration and thought the narrators really brought the characters to life in the best way possible. I loved the plot, the characters, and the banter! This second-chance romance is fantastic, the level of communication and self-accountability is giving all the green flags. There is a little bit of spice that is well written. Loved it!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy

This one had potential, but I found myself wishing for a bit more movement in the story. It circled around the same character dynamics a little too often without really pushing anything forward. The romance was definitely front and center, but I never fully connected with it—mainly because the male lead felt kind of… stuck. There wasn’t much growth from start to finish, and that made it hard to root for the relationship.


If you’re looking for something low-stakes and easy to get through, this might work for you. It’s not a bad read—it just didn’t quite deliver the emotional impact I was hoping for.

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. So I was intrigued when she wrote a romcom. I would say the first half was really good, i enjoyed the story line and the banter. But in the last third where they start admitting to feelings it’s good but almost a tad over the top with emotions. At one point the FMC is wanting the MC to explain why he did something that hurt her feelings in high school but instead of stating it was high school I did the wrong thing it was just weird. I don’t even know how to explain, it just left me feeling confused and at that point I just wanted it to be over with. I’m still going to give her other romcom a shot, but I think her mystery/thrillers are way better.

I love sports romance books! And I hockey romance are the best. This was the perfect read for hanging out by the pool!

I listened to the audiobook. They narrators were spot on and it was a duet!! You can feel what these characters are saying. I say down to read this today and couldn’t put it down. Less than 24 hrs and I’m done!

The story flowed well. My main problem with hockey romance is most have a 3/4 break up caused by some kind of misunderstanding. THIS ONE DOESNT!!

These characters are real! They aren’t too perfect and are still working on themselves which made it so easy to relate to them..( even though I haven’t had any of the same real live experiences that they’ve had).

When it’s comes to audiobooks it that small things that make them stick out. When a character was in a text conversation they added in a little text tone! It made it so easy to follow who was saying what and when it was text verse in person conversations.

Overall if you love fluffy romance with a smidge of spice this is the book for you!!

This was such a cute story! A perfect palate cleanser for those looking to change the pace and just enjoy the story!

This was a lighthearted story, with very few pacing issues. I felt the chemistry between the characters from the beginning, but the romance part was a little bit rushed in my opinion. It just seemed like it needed a bit more build up and tension between Gemma and Mason before they had their first kiss.

I really enjoyed the premise of the story being Gemma witing a story that included a boy that broke her heart when she was a teenager, only to fall back in love with the same guy many years later.

If you're looking for a cute, lighthearted romance this is a book for you!

When it comes to the production of the audiobook I really enjoyed both of the narrators – the pitch and tone of their voices was perfect for a romance book. I didn't see any pacing issues and I stayed focused on the story thanks to their great job. I'd certainly get another audiobook with these voice actors.

Kelley Armstrong is by far my favorite author. She has written paranormal romance, paranormal YA, historical fiction, general fiction, horror, thriller, middle grade, you name it and I’ve read nearly everything she has written. Today I finished my first contemporary romance novel (ever!), so of course, it had to be one of hers.

I was provided the ALC of Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Admittedly, I was wary having never read contemporary romance before. In my head, they’re akin to cheesy Hallmark movies and that’s just not my vibe (no offense intended for anyone who LOVES contemporary romance or Hallmark movies!).

I was surprisingly taken by this book and swept into Gemma’s world and felt every cringe, annoyance, heartbreak, and joy with her through this book. I think this was such a cute novel and I will for sure be going back to read (or listen) to Finding Mr. Write. I’m glad these were romcom standalone novels so I didn’t miss out on any big plot points going into this novel, but I am interested to read Daphne’s story now.

I’m shocking everyone who knows me as a reader by saying Kelley Armstrong may have just turned me into a romcom girlie 😂

10/10, highly recommend
5 stars
Hat trick, or whatever cool things happen in hockey because I’m also not a sports girl and my boyfriend didn’t appreciate me calling it a hockey turkey. Give me some grace!

Writing Mr. Wrong was a light and easy read, especially because I listened to it as an audiobook. I honestly think that if I had read the physical or digital version, it might have felt a bit too slow or heavy for me. The narration helped me stay engaged, even during the more repetitive parts.

Speaking of repetition, there were moments when the story felt like it kept circling around the same themes or character dynamics without much progression. The romance, while central to the plot, didn’t always convince me. I felt that the male lead didn’t really grow or change from the beginning to the end, which made it harder to get fully invested in the relationship.

One part that particularly stood out to me—in a negative way—was the mention of surrogacy in the epilogue. It’s a practice I personally don't support, and its casual inclusion at the end felt unnecessary and left me with bittersweet feelings about how the story concluded.

Overall, it's a decent, light read if you're looking for something easy to follow, but it didn’t quite hit all the right notes for me.

Writing Mr. Wrong was such a vibe! It was super easy to listen to. The fake dating trope here was fun without being too over the top. To be fair, it is one of my fav tropes.. so I’m biased. But there was still a lot of depth to each of the main characters.

I listened to the audiobook which made it even better for me. I love dual POV stories. The narrators made the characters feel real.
I will be checking out more of Kelley Armstrong’s books for sure!

I highly recommend this one, especially in audio. ♥️♥️ 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the chance to review this book!