Don't you love a good romcom with tons and Pride and Prejudice references? Oh, well I do. All of them were not lost on me. This one gave me butterflies and that is all I can ask for.
Olivia has a stroke of bad luck (always really) and when her apartment burns down, because of her, ugh, she has to move back home and live with her brother for a bit. Only when she gets there, she realizes it isn't her brother's apartment at all. Her brother's best friend owns it and Jack just rents from him and Colin isn't really excited to have Olivia there.
Colin hasn't always looked kindly on Olivia. He knows that she's his best friend's little sister, but more than that, she is a disaster. He needs to bide his time until she is out of his hair.
One night, Olivia gets a "what are you wearing?" text from a wrong number and this starts a string of witty banter that I was absolutely there for. She doesn't know who he is and they try to stay anonymous so she labels him as Mr. Wrong Number and he labels her as Misdial.
Colin finds out first that he is Mr. Wrong Number and he keeps Olivia in the dark, but he can't help but wonder if there is more to this woman than he had thought. As they spend days together, he starts to notice small things, like the freckles on her face and the way her green eyes glint in the sunlight and maybe she isn't a mess but just lives life to the fullest.
I really enjoyed their story and I really loved the fact that even if they had known each other forever, one wasn't pining away for the other for years. That gets messy for me and this was done right. I found myself laughing and smiling at their banter back and forth.
The one thing I felt frustrated with was the lack of communication on Olivia's end mostly. She was very spontaneous, which fit her character, but also jumped to conclusions in almost every situation and never stayed and talked through issues. She just ran. This is also a testament to her character as she didn't want to get close to Colin. I know she had been hurt in the past, but I wasn't exactly sure why she didn't want to catch feelings at all and had such an aversion to falling for someone again.
The ending though, I caught what you did Lynn. Loved it.
Thank you to Berkley, Netgalley and the lovely Lynn Painter for letting me read this early.

I was laughing out loud while reading this book! While Olivia, our unlucky MC might seem TOO unlucky, I loved her voice and personality. It was so refreshing to read about a character who screws up and doesn’t have everything good happen to them.

And Colin? Yeah, potential new book boyfriend. He’s hot, funny, successful and can laugh at himself. I really liked the chemistry between him and Olivia.

The wrong number plot was done so well. I loved the text message conversations and was giggling the whole time!!

Overall, I loved this book! I wish it had a touch more open door steam, but the closed door details were great!

Thank you to Berkley for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

THIS BOOK. This book, y'all. It had me CACKLING (my poor husband 😂). The banter is perhaps the best I've ever seen. Misdial and Mr. Wrong Number are hilarious, and I don't want to give it away, but the reveal in Chapter 5(I think it was 5) made the story EVEN better

This is 🥵🔥🔥, funny, witty, and even just a bit sweet. This felt real and hilariously so, like a really raunchy and actually hilarious sitcom. . I just cannot recommend this one enough!

Mr. Wrong Number is the right book to pick up if you’re looking for charm, laughs, and just a bit of steam.

Olivia Marshall literally has the worst luck ever. Bad things always seem to happen to her, so it’s almost no surprise when she gets fired and then accidentally burns her apartment building down after burning the love letters her cheating ex-boyfriend wrote to her.

Now, she’s forced to move in with her brother until she finds a new job and makes enough money to get back on her feet. Unfortunately for her, her brother currently lives with his lifelong best friend, Colin Beck.

Olivia always thought Colin was stuck up and arrogant…although she secretly always found him hot. Colin always considered Olivia his friend’s “annoying little sister”.

One night, Olivia gets a risque text message from a random phone number. She decides to respond to Mr. Wrong Number, and they start up a titillating and flirtatious text relationship. She looks forward to his messages every day while she tries to maneuver in her crazy life.

Colin can’t believe it when he realizes that Miss Misdial, the random woman he’s been texting (and maybe sexting) is none other than his best friend’s annoying sister, Olivia. Do they have a chance to make things work in real life? Or should he just end the texting before their worlds implode?

I LOVED this sweet rom-com. Olivia and Colin are amazing characters, and their chemistry is HOT and STRONG! I was rooting for them the entire time, even in that inevitable rom-com moment when something ultimately threatens to pull them apart.

Add to that some genuine laughs and extreme charm. What’s not to love?! This also has the perfect amount of heat to satiate most fans of the genre. The partially open door sex scenes don’t feature the infamous “C-Words” or anything very graphic…but you’ll still get the idea of what’s going down.

This is the first book I’ve read by author Lynn Painter, but definitely won’t be my last. Even her acknowledgements section is heartfelt and adorbs.

4.5 stars.

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley for providing me with a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/1/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

The amount of hate they have for each other, It’s definitely the first in a book where the characters hated each other soooo much for majority of the book. Im not even sure if I would consider them romantic for a good chunk of it and it’s why i struggled to enjoy it. It was very well written and sucked me into the story, but the characters are what I couldn’t get on board with.

Lynn Painter knows how to pull me in! While I am reading, I desperately want to know if they will get together, even though... hello... I am a romance reader... them getting together is the point? It's no surprise. Still, once I start reading I don't want to stop before I get to the end, because I just have to be reassured! Mr. Wrong Number is light and bright, just like its cover, and full of quips and sass.

This was my first time reading a "brother's best friend" romance, though, and it's probably going to be my last. I was on board through the whole story, romance tropes freely flying, until they had to care about the reaction of Olivia's brother to their flirtation and/or relationship. Like, she is a grown woman with autonomy over her body and her choices, and her brother has nothing to do with that? It's very unsettling to me when people are cool with (and even expect it) a brother inserting himself sister's healthy sexual and romantic life. It's been over a week and my hackles are still raised! I honestly feel like the author was on the fence about this too - it felt a little shoehorned in, like she didn't totally support it herself. The dialogue about it felt stilted and unnatural coming out of the mouth of a character who otherwise considered herself a loud and proud feminist. With that being said, I realize this is a standard trope and I dock the book no points for using it! It just taught me something about where I draw the lines of my personal taste in the sand.

I am already dying for Painter's next book, teased at the end of this one, about the aforementioned brother.
Lynn Painter can certainly write a romcom and I plan to read them all!

Many thanks to #NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy!

It's not easy to make me literally laugh out loud while reading, but this book had me cackling in minutes. Seriously, this book is sweet, sexy, and FUNNY. Painter does excellent banter. It also adorably sweet at times, swoony, and charming. Olivia was just delightful, and Colin appropriately starchy hero material. If you want a rom-com that is honestly funny, Painter has your number. (Please forgive the terrible pun. I couldn't help myself.)

I loved the basic premise of this book, but I had some trouble with its execution. On the surface, it sounds like an awesomely bad CW or ABCFamily show from the early 2000s, right? Mistaken identities and the best friend's little sister? I had high hopes. But there's something about a female lead that's just too unlucky and too quirky. Not to mention a male lead that's just too generic. He thinks she's annoying until she's just not? He's not into her until he is? I don't know, I just had a hard time with it. Their chemistry in the first few chapters was so captivating, but it was like the farther I got into this book, the less I was convinced the author knew how they wanted it to end. There's a difference between knowing you want a happy ending for your characters and actually weaving a believable ending where the characters actually earn their happy ending. A just okay book for me.

MS PAINTER! How dare you write this book! I have not been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it. Colin is utter perfection and Liv is perfectly imperfect, something I related to so much. This is a 2022 must read.

Mr. Wrong Number is all charm and laughs as one unexpected misdial becomes the start of a second chance in life, friendship, and love.

The chemistry in this book was off the charts! The couple brought all the laughs, spunk, and witty banter as they battled it out as friends, rivals, and anonymous texters in this downright adorable romance.

I absolutely LOVED that Colin was inspired by Ryan Gosling from Crazy, Stupid, Love. Not only could I see the similarities, but he came to life as a conflicted and sometimes misunderstood love interest. (Also, that Mr. Darcy hand flex reference was *chef’s kiss*!!)

Overall it was a cute, fast-paced read with tons of heart and banter and is perfect for readers looking for a fun rom-com with plenty of sweetness and a dash of spice.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

**Review will be published on my blog/Instagram February 22nd, 2022**

WITTY & SMILE INDUCING.

I really enjoy Lynn Painter’s books. I love the pacing and how when I look down at how far I’ve read I’m shocked at the rate the pages flew by. Better Than the Movies is still my all-time fav, Mr. Wrong Number was good, but left me wanting in some areas.

Olivia was relatable and ridiculous all in the same breath. I laughed at some of her antics, yet just like Colin, I saw the deeper layers of her personality too. She brought in comedic relief and I smiled many times throughout my read. I ADORED Colin. I’m realizing I love a good brother’s best friend trope. This delivered in that department. Plenty of angst, amazing banter, and heartfelt confessions.

Some of what I struggled with were the other tropes: friends with benefits/this is just a fling kinda vibe. I’ve never loved those plot choices and this was no different. I wish there was a bit more of true relationship dynamic before they jumped between the sheets. If you like a faster burn, this one’s for you! Once we got some feelings established, I was really attached to these two.

There were two miscommunications as the primary romance conflicts. And *sigh* this was not my jam. I understand Olivia’s reaction, but wish she had taken a moment to be upset, and then another moment to go, maybe I should actually let him explain first. It caused unnecessary fights and drama. Don’t get me wrong, the bit of groveling and grand gestures near the end were sweet, there just should’ve been a different angle.

An enjoyable read for me even through the thick of things I didn’t love. I adore Painter’s writing style with dual POV and the humorous quality she adds. I love grinning at my book and swooning over a love interest with dreamy eyes (and a Ryan Gosling look-a-like). I’m excited to read the next story in this world!!

Overall Audience Notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: a lot, strong
- Romance: multiple brief open door scenes
- Trigger/Content Warnings: catfishing

Whereas BETTER THAN THE MOVIES was an adorable YA romance, MR. WRONG NUMBER was everything I love and enjoy in a rom-com.

It had great banter, funny scenes, a fresh and entertaining plot and reliable rom-com vibes. I’m also a big fan of texts/emails and other communications in romances, and the text exchange in MR. WRONG NUMBER was fabulous. AND give me some enemies to lovers vibes and I’m in heaven!!!!! Add some sizzle to it and I’m hooked.

This book is going to be a crowd pleaser!!!!

hate to love
brother’s best friend
text exchange
great banter
opposite attracts
forced proximity
hot mess heroine
kissable abs
swoony hero
hand flex à la Mr. Darcy

Overall, this one was a quick read for me. Loved the writing and humor. And the characters were relatable, especially Olivia, she was such a hot mess. Also loved that Colin was her opposite in every way but together they were GOLD!!!

The only thing I didn’t enjoy quite as much was the forced conflict in the last act. It’s always the same and I’m so over it. Authors need to find some other way to spice it up.

But besides that the novel was entirely entertaining, and I can only recommend it to anyone who loves a funny and engaging romance.

RATING: 5/5 STARS

When I got the notification from NetGalley that I was approved for this ARC, I didn't wait a second before downloading it onto my Kindle! Lynn Painter's first book was a smash hit in the YA world, so I knew that her entrance into the adult rom-com genre would be fantastic. This book definitely met my high expectations. Olivia and Colin were such a great couple with sizzling chemistry. Their anonymous texts to each other added a really fun dynamic to their relationship. I love how Lynn Painter picks romance tropes for her books and adds witty banter, funny dialogue, and relatable characters to make the tropes fresh. She killed it with this one! Reading MR, WRONG NUMBER was a lovely treat for my Saturday morning.

This book was a little bit of a lopsided experience for me. I enjoyed the writing—the banter is funny and snappy, which makes the chemistry between Livvie and Colin sizzle. Their romance is relatively steamy, although I actually thought their sexting was sexier than the actual love scenes.

It kind of fell apart for me in the situational mishaps and characters. I liked Livvie's humor, but her "hot mess" behavior was mostly just her being an asshole, which would be somewhat excusable if she had evolved at all. But she doesn't. Colin makes some very questionable decisions which also make him a bit of a douche. Jack, Livvie's brother and the male lead of the next book, does that overprotective brother act—the if-you-date-my-sister-I'll-kill-you cliche, which I think is abhorrent but also non-sensical since it's not like Colin ever did Livvie wrong in the past.

Speaking of cliches, they're all here: the lying and secrets and jumping to conclusions and trying to make huge life decisions post-disagreement WITHOUT having a real adult conversation first. I just stopped caring about these characters and the unrealistically dumb things they were doing.

I enjoyed the concept of this novel way more than the executution. The overall vibe felt very old school rom-com, with a clumsy heroine and straightlaced love interest, and while that might not be for some readers it felt like just enough nostalgia mixed with modern romance to work. But the pacing of the plot felt first way too fast and then nothing happened for the last 50 pages, I had to suspend disbelief a lot (especially concerning Olivia's career) and I disliked reading from Colin's voice, which felt underdeveloped. I'd be interested to see what Painter does next because there were some good bones here, but this one sadly wasn't for me.

Mr. Wrong Number was a nearly perfect romantic comedy. When Olivia moves back home to Omaha after disasters in her love life, work life and burning down her apartment building, she moves in temporarily with her brother and his best friend. When she receives a wrong number text, a virtual relationship ensues with Mr. Wrong Number. She is simultaneously attracted to he temporary roommate and figuring out her employment situation as a writer. This book made me laugh a lot. It wasn’t slapstick, but Olivia’s personality certainly bears a resemblance. The character development is well done, dialog is witty, and the sexual attraction is electric. Besides providing lots of entertainment, it also makes the reader consider appearances vs. reality and brings home the eternal truth that what you first observe about a person may not paint a full picture.

All I had to do was read the summary of this book to know that I was going to love it! It didn’t disappoint even a little.

The main character, Olivia, needs somewhere to stay after a mishap at her old apartment. Luckily, her big brother comes to the rescue and agrees to let her crash with him until she finds a new place. The only downside, his roommate is her childhood and now adult nemesis that she can’t stand. The only good thing in her life currently is a guy who texted the wrong number and has now become her mystery texting partner. Little does she know, her wrong number belongs to the one person she would never imagine being friends with.

I was given a banter filled enemies to lovers/brothers best friend/forced proximity storyline that kept me hooked from the very first chapter. It has so many tropes that I love, I didn’t want to put my kindle down. The main character Liv is definitely a HOT MESS but she’s witty, hilarious, and I absolutely want to be her best friend. Colin (the sexy, boujee, pain in the a** love interest) is the polar opposite of Liv’s chaos but they fit together so well! Mr. Wrong Number is definitely a MUST read if you love romcom’s…easily a 5/5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC.

Witty, banter-filled fun. Painter excels at writing big-hearted characters who *seem* to hate each other, but everyone knows they're head-over-heels in love. It just takes them a while to catch on. As the snark flies, the looks get steamier, until we're flipping pages to get to that first sparking physical connection. These are messy characters who make questionable choices, so readers shouldn't dive in expecting every action to be lovely and well-considered. Instead, we're treated to lots of quick reactions and hasty lies that all have a way of backfiring. Yet, while the mess compounds, we know we're in the hands of a writer who's going to give us our happy ending, Lots of fans have already found Painter through her YA work, and I have no doubt when this one hits the shelves, her readership is going to blow up exponentially. Good thing she already has 2 more books on their way.

***I received an advanced copy of this book (thank you NetGalley & Berkley) but all thoughts/opinions are my own honest views

Olivia seems to have the worst luck in the world. The latest example: a cathartic relationship purging leaves her homeless and at the doorstep of her brother and his best friend (i.e. her nemesis). As she starts the daunting task of putting her life back together, she gets the most unexpected text ‘what are you wearing?’ All of a sudden she has a virtual pen pal that may just be the start of her luck changing.

Well fate has a sense of humor because Mr. Wrong Number turns out to be the nemesis! Where Olivia is somewhat of a train wreck, Colin is serious and put together (also helps that he’s a sexy, sculpted nerd 🤩). No one, not even these two, could think love was in the cards for them. And while their virtual personas come closer, they continue to clash in the real world. But adolescent rivalry and ribbing evolves into adult sexual tension. It build until they combust and the chemistry is explosive!

Mr. Wrong Number is a sexy and funny fast read. One of the best things about this book is Liv and Colin’s banter. They both give as good as they get; it’s witty and so entertaining. I don’t think any other rom com has made me laugh as much as this one did this year.

And I also liked the writing. The book is written in Dual POV with a sub-story of text messages. It’s also spicy (🌶🌶🌶/5).

My main problem with the book was that I didn’t find the resolution to be fully satisfying. The characters don’t reconcile until the final few pages and don’t touch on some of the biggest issues in their relationship. Twice Liv accuses Colin of being a self-absorbed rich boy and he never call her on it or explains himself. And along those lines, the epilogue doesn’t give us much of a look into Liv and Colin’s future. I’m somebody who likes a detailed epilogue so we can see the MCs living their HEA and this book doesn’t end with one. In fact, the teaser for the 2nd book tells us more than the epilogue! Also, there are a few loose ends - ex: family drama that isn’t resolved.

All together, this book was so much FUN 😄. Olivia is like equally chaotic and lovable. She balances Colin’s serious demeanor in a way that makes their relationship seem effortless. And it reminded me of Monica and Chandler in the way where the MCs and the reader would ask ‘how have they not been together this whole time?’

Tropes: Mistaken identity, Forced Proximity, Best Friend Sister

OH MY GOODNESS, Lynn Painter is a genius. Books told through texts or emails are definitely a hook for me. Lynn gives us a You've got Mail retelling that feels fresh and fun with characters you won't be able to help falling in love with! Stayed up till 4am with this one. Highly recommend!