Interesting. I don't normally read books that are centered around sports; just not my thing. I guess I didn't think that sports would play (pardon the pun) into the story as much as it did based on the blurb I read. That said; it is also the story of personal development and stepping out of one's "comfort zone". This is about a young wannabe female sports writer (Hara Isari) with a huge chip on her shoulder and a basketball rookie (Derek Darcy) from a wealthy family trying to prove his worth to his team. I liked the parallels with Pride & Prejudice and the short quotes on each chapter page. Each of the main characters has issues with their family and their chosen professions. I enjoyed this story; especially seeing Hara and Derek each starting to evolve.

This is a well written book, with good main characters. There are "behind-the-scenes" looks at the female support system of Basketball's elite and some current day news topics.

This is an easy read. Not exactly a retelling of Pride and Prejudice but more an updated rom-com of characters with the same names. I did enjoy it and thought that the characters were interesting. It was a fun, light read.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a pride and prejudice retelling set in modern times with basketball players and a reporter as main characters. I didn't care of this novel as it was too much from Austen. It also has language and some sexual content I didn't care for.

I was eager to read this as "Pride and Prejudice" is my favorite novel of all time, and I was looking forward to a re-telling set in the world of basketball... Unfortunately, the author did not deliver a retelling of the novel, except for using a few of the same names (Darcy, Bingley) and a female lead. I appreciated the diversity in the story, but there is a lot of lack of respect for females in general through the book, which was just unneeded. Lots of times I found myself confused as to which character was speaking as well, as the POV shifts were not clear, either. Some things in the book really didn't add up - like Charles and Derek's friendship, or how Hara's father was pulling strings... overall, I found the plot devices to be a bit weak. I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher/NetGalley in exchange for my honey opinion

The Wrong Mr. Darcy promised to be a charming Pride and Prejudice inspired rom-com. I thought it would be a great break from all the thrillers I have been recently reading. However, I am sad to say, I just couldn’t get into the book and I don’t understand the comparison to the classic.

Thank you Netgalley and Evelyn Lozada for the ARC for an honest review.

This was misleading. It is not even closely a retelling if pride and prejudice. I didn’t understand how she even is holding her job.

Five stars!
When Hara, an aspiring sports writer, wins a writing competition to interview a much sought-after professional basketball player she jumps at the chance. Charles, who isn't typically interviewed, is a real score for her and she hopes to break open a story on him despite the restrictions placed on her interview. However, Charles teammate and heartthrob, Derek, is instantly attracted to Hara...and the feeling is mutual. The story twists and turns through a storm (literally) of events....

Lozada and Lorincz have penned an edge of the seat action thriller of a romance. A pleasure to read a story about complex characters driven by their perceptions and seduced by others’ deceptions and transgressions. About small town a sportswriter, daughter of a convicted sports felon, and the game of basketball and it’s players, the story expertly blends the myths of sports figures with realistic humans seeking connection in a world where people are driven by suspicion of others’ motives.

I've been reading a lot of crime, thriller, and horror books lately and wanted to read something light-hearted. So, I tried the rom-com genre. It has been such a long time since I read any rom-com or romance fiction - the last romance fiction I read was P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern - so it was like 16 years ago!

The Wrong Mr. Darcy is a quick, and light-hearted rom-com with a little mix of mystery. Any books that are inspired by Pride and Prejudice or with the name Mr. Darcy will grab my attention! The Wrong Mr. Darcy tells the story of Hara Isari, an aspiring sports reporter who meets basketball superstar Charles Butler, to do an exclusive interview. She is also introduced to Derek Darcy, a rookie on the rise. Hara finds Darcy to be obnoxious and infuriating. However, their paths keep crossing and Hara begins to see Darcy in a new light.

From the characters to some scenes in the book, I could definitely feel the Pride and Prejudice vibes in this book and that held my interest! Besides the vibes, I liked it that it was a quick and easy read story. Truth be told, there are some parts that did feel repetitive, or is this how a rom-com should be? I am not sure. I'd say it is a clean read, since the intimacy between Darcy and Isari is not steamy at all. Overall, this is just a so-so read. I wish there is more depth in the characters because honestly, I couldn’t connect with any of them. I am not fan of the writing either - it felt elementary - or again, is this how a rom-com should be written?

Pub. Date: 9 June, 2020

***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***

I will be honest, I was intrigued by this book because of the title and the cute cover. Any romance lover would be pulled in by a title that includes one of the most beloved Book Boyfriends of all time. But that's where the intrigue ended. I really try to be tactful in my reviews, but this one just was not good. It was poorly written, tone deaf, and pandering. I have a feeling a lot of other readers will feel the same way.

The Wrong Mr. Darcy is a fascinating romantic comedy about two strong-minded individuals who realize that they have more in common than originally thought. The story is about love, friendship, and loyalty. It is page-turning and unputdownable.

The story follows Hara Isari, an aspiring sports writer, as she gets a huge break in her career. She gets the chance to interview on the NBA's most popular player. There are so many who are hoping she fails but she is ready and prepared to make the most of the opportunity.

When she meets Derek Darcy, an NBA rookie, she is thrown for a loop. Hara is attracted to him, but he is so standoffish. He can come across as rude and bratty.

They both make their judgments of each other based on their first impressions but realize that they shouldn't always judge a book by its cover. When they begin to spend more time together, they start to develop a sassy and witty bond.

I loved that Evelyn Lozada and Holly Lorincz gave us another strong heroine who perseveres through all the obstacles she faces. There is a slight nod to Pride and Prejudice with the theme of the main characters having differing opinions of each other as they get to know one another. I am such a fan of a sports romance and feel like Evelyn and Holly have found their sweet spot with this trope.

I give The Wrong Mr. Darcy 4 stars. It is a captivating romance with charming characters. This writing duo continues to impress me and I can't wait to read more from them.

Blurb:

The Wrong Mr. Darcy is a charming, multicultural, Pride and Prejudice--inspired romantic comedy from celebrity Evelyn Lozada and Holly Lorincz...

NO. Nothing about this was Mr. Darcy worth. There were so many triggering events in this book that there must have been a contest to see how many random and awful things could fit into one book billed as Pride and Prejudice with Basketball.

Let me just say that is you are triggered by anything, it's in here. And they all were truly awful.

NetGalley/St. Martin's June 9, 2020

This is a good beach read, with quotes from Pride and Prejudice for every chapter. Cute with a little mystery thrown in to keep it interesting.

I went into this book completely blind and not expecting anything and hoping for something completely different than just a few word plays on Pride and Prejudice. I was definitely not expecting a sports romance with a twist in this book that has wonderful quotes from the book of Pride and Prejudice in the chapter headings. This is a very unique take on the classic that I’ve never seen before and I loved it. I am a huge fan a of sports romances and this book follows a sports writer who is female that has won a contest to write an article after having an interview with the big basketball star Charles. I do not want to ruin any of this story cause it’s such an intriguing one with lots of twists and turns. I can say this book had me guessing how it would go the whole time. I really loved how the characters work together and build their trust in each other. Great book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an e-arc to review.

So, I admit, I jumped on this book because it said Mr. Darcy. How could I not? I love Pride and Prejudice and retellings/adaptions of it! Plus the cover was cute, so I decided to request it from Netgalley.

It started off good. Hara seemed like a strong determined character. And I loved the basketball angle on the retelling. I also loved that each chapter had a P&P quote as a heading. That was fun trying to figure out what the chapter could be about. My favorite was the quote “It rained.” Which is funnier with context 😂

I didn’t realize it would be a sexy story, and it wasn’t too bad in that aspect (one sex scene and little sexual comments sprinkled throughout), but the sexualizing of these beloved characters kind of rubbed me the wrong way.

The characters also started to not act anything like their counterparts. Which is good to a degree. I want different tones and aspects to retellings, but when they act the complete opposite, why even call it a retelling? It does say it’s a “light retelling,” so I shouldn’t fault it there. It’s just, kind of a disservice to the original classic to say the story and characters are lightly inspired by it, and then completely change their characteristics. Especially Charles. Like what the heck happened there?

I think there will be plenty of people who will enjoy it. Just as someone who adores Pride and Prejudice as much as I do, I couldn’t love it the way I was hoping I would.

The world of sports meets Jane Austen in this fun reimaging of Pride and Prejudice. Hara Isari is an aspiring sports writer in a field dominated by white men and just wants to get her foot in the door without being a diversity hire. Derek Darcy just wants to stop warming the bench and prove to the team - and his family - that he can do this one thing all for himself.

This was a fascinating book - I mean enemies to lovers isn’t really my thing but Lizzy and Mr Darcy?! Classic. - and this is quite the reimaging. Hara Isari is a really interesting character with a lot of facets going on in her life - female in a male-dominated profession; a woman of color from two cultures neither of which she feels at home in; not to mention the fact that her dad is a little infamous and very in prison. I liked her spunk - she had guts. Derek Darcy was interesting - awkward as heck and really not very good at human interaction and comes off as a jerk because of that. I liked how they really committed to that part of who the classic Darcy character is.

What I struggled with was the interactions between the mains - thought here were few and I couldn’t decide if that was a deliberate action to be like a Regency romance where a couple had little time together or just happened as they were writing... I will also say there are some very intense triggers that should be noted including miscarriage, discussion of abortion, suicide attempt, assault, and gun violence.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was sooo excited to read this. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. Choppy story line and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. Super bummed. *Disclaimer* I do have friend that are huge fans of the author and loved this book. It just wasn’t for me.

I ama sucker for pretty much any Pride and Prejudice retelling, and this one is definitely one of the most unique ones I've read.

Hara Isari (our Lizzie Bennet) is a young reporter looking for her big break into sports journalism. She gets her chance when she wins a contest to do an exclusive interview with Boston Player Charles W. (our Bingley). This also puts her in the path of Derek Darcy. And the story commences from there.

This book plays more with the original title of P&P, First Impressions, as Hara learns that her habit of judging people by her first impression of them has led her to trust the wrong people.

Not all the P&P characters have counterparts, and some of them are a mashup of two or more. But the general storyline of bad first impressions and a scandal that could ruin them all is present, and made for a compelling read.

I also liked the Hara was half-Black, half-Japenese, and that some culture is woven into the story without being intrusive or over the top.

It's a bit open door, but there is really only one scene and it is not the most open door, and is easy to skip if that bothers people.

The male protagonist of The Wrong Mr. Darcy does indeed have the last name Darcy, he's wealthy, he's socially awkward and he has an acquaintance that's shady. If you're looking for any other connection to a Jane Austen novel, you'll be found wanting. The romance between the main characters was enjoyable for me. I don't mind Derek, and I mostly like Hara, the female protagonist, and the story line is kind of fun but there are definitely things that could be better about the novel. There are points where the storytelling is really choppy - as in one paragraph to a next could have skipped the equivalent of a chapter. There is so much drama that it feels a bit like a soap opera. Hara can be incredibly loyal to someone who helps her out but completely awful to someone else who extends her a hand. I don't know if the story line and character inconsistencies are a product of two authors writing the story together, but I did feel like a story that could have been fun could have been better if the authors hadn't tried so hard - at a connection to Jane Austen, at dramatic story lines, and at conflicted characters.

A whole lot happens in this book, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. First, the heroine is problematic. She’s a biracial (African-American and Japanese-American) writer, with blue eyes. (Why?!) Her race/ethnicity are pertinent for the first few chapters, then disappear almost completely.

The title is also misleading. The only P&P references in it are a name (Kitty) and the epigraphs for each chapter. Who is the right Mr Darcy? We’ll never know.