thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC of this book. all opinions are my own.

I wish I could put into words how much I enjoyed this. What a great book. Highly recommend.

Finding Mr. Write is a fun rom-com. It's light-hearted, funny, and very easy to read. I found myself flying through the pages. I loved the back-and-forth banter between Daphne (FMC) and Chris (MMC) especially in the beginning.

That being said, the three different personas of the MMC were slightly confusing at first but I caught on quickly. Mostly I was confused by his actor persona, not his Kane persona, but it made sense once you learn why he was trying to not act like his true self.

Also, to rant for a moment, many authors use pseudonyms, don't have author photos, and keep a low profile. I don't see why Daphne felt the need to have Chris be so involved and the face of Zane. Of course, this is a work of fiction, not reality and the story wouldn't have been possible otherwise.

It also irritated me that Daphne would devalue herself and essentially perpetuate issues. This seemed to be more prominent near the end and it frustrated me that she would bow down and when the MMC was trying to help her gain her voice as an author she would take it the wrong way. There were quite a few times when she would just accept how the world is, and at those points in the book, I wanted her to be strong and stand up for herself and fellow women authors.

Another thing that bothered me was near the end, there was a swift third-act breakup and that just rubbed me wrong.

Okay, I know it may seem like there were quite a few things that I didn't enjoy about the book, but honestly, it was a well-written story, and I enjoyed reading it.

I didn’t like this. The plot was all over the place and I was bored. This could have been so much better.

This was cute and actually funny. Quick paced and sweet. Loved the setting and characters. The communication was great and its great when adults act like adults

I am fairly new to Kelley Armstrong’s work, but her name precedes her and she is a big name in the book world. I started with The Boy Who Cried Bear & Finding Mr. Write solidifies me in being a huge fan of Armstrong and her work.

Daphne, a writer in the Yukon, is fed up with the publishing world. Her mother, who has passed from cancer, has always encouraged her to pursue writing alongside her career of architect. Between her break up, losing her mom, and having absolutely zero bites on her manuscript, Daphne sends off her novel changing the name to Zane Remington. In addition to using a man’s name, she cuts out the romance & overemphasizes the dystopian & zombie details. If the publishing world can play games, so can she. However, when her plan works all too well, Daphne is forced to hire a man as the face of the book. Chris Stanton, or Chris Ainsworth as he’s decided to be his stage name, is just the man for the job. Down on his luck from a bad business decision and in need of some additional cash, he takes the job. What ensues is the journey Daphne and Chris take together in promoting the book & dealing with the fine balance they walk trying to dupe not only the publisher, but Hollywood, neighbors, & readers alike.

I absolutely adored Chris. He was a total sweetheart, golden retriever. In contrast, Daphne was cool and ruggedly graceful. She chops wood, hunts, and designs eco-friendly, off-the-grid homes. She was much more of a beautiful cat, selectively generous and affectionate. I enjoyed the salty and sweet dynamics of Daphne and Chris. They both deal with very real baggage from high school nerddom to hurtful relationships. They are both coming together as very self-conscious people trying to be vulnerable. The true star of this book was Armstrong’s internal dialogue. This book is dueling POVs (always a favorite) and it was delightful to see just how funny and self-deprecating both Daphne and Chris were. If you aren’t familiar, Armstrong does not usually write romance. She even shares her journey with this book in the afterward & Armstrong writes nonfiction just as well as her fiction. I enjoyed the peek into how this book came to be. I hope Armstrong continues to write romance in the future. The last 25% of the book seemed a bit slower to me, but the first 75% was the best as we got to know Daphne & Chris. Armstrong’s writing is so incredibly readable I found myself flying through this laughing the whole way through.

Kelley Armstrong’s first journey into the romance genre was amazing. I loved Daphne and Chris and I really really would like to read Daphne’s book.
Kelley has been my favourite author since high school and I was so excited to see that she was moving into a new genre.

Thank you Forever Publishers for the copy of my ARC!

Billed as a “fun romantic comedy,” I found this book less than entertaining: too predictable, with sex scenes that had me rolling my eyes rather than feeling the passion.

The story has two narrators. One is Daphne McFadden, an author who finally finds a publisher for her book by submitting it under a man’s name. The second is Chris Stanton, an accountant (but hot!) who agrees to pose as the book’s alleged author, Zane Remington. Naturally they fall in love, and naturally the exposure of the true authorship of the book is always a threat looming in the background.

While the story addresses some real problems in the publishing industry, such as the preference for publishing work by men rather than women (not to mention whites rather than authors of color), Armstrong treats this issue as just an unusual backdrop for her romance. (In this it differs only slightly from a Hallmark rom-com, since Daphne has not hired her old high school sweetheart with whom “sparks fly.” It also differs by having explicit sex and no Christmas scenes. And no commercials. Otherwise…)

Only occasionally, such as with the Daphne’s publicist Sakura, did Armstrong’s talent for nuanced characterization come into play. Historically, I have loved Armstrong’s books, and in this one I appreciated the insights into some of the concerns (and terrors!) experienced by writers. But I wouldn’t follow her work so religiously (or at all, to be honest) if this had been my only exposure to her.

Romance set in the Canadian Yukon in which a woman writing under a male pseudonym and the man she hires to play the role in public unexpectedly find themselves falling in love.

5/5 stars: Armstrong delivers a fun romantic comedy that takes place in the Canadian Yukon and follows a former architect who's dream of publishing her novel takes a twist when her decision to submit the book under a male pseudonym means she needs to hire a man to play the role in public. The man who takes on the role is an accountant, in legal trouble not of his own making, who creates an alter ego for the author to better distance himself from the role. But the two soon team up as things get even more complicated when the book's a blockbuster success and the two wind up going on tour together and after spending time together they find themselves falling in love. Written in dual POV, not only is Armstrong's writing outstanding but the character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Daphne's a blast and I love seeing her vulnerability. Chris is a cinnamon roll hottie who will steal your heart. Additionally, I love how Armstrong talks about the life of an author, the good and the bad. Armstrong's been a long-time favorite author and she shines here showcasing her wit and humor and letting the romance shine. The banter is on high and will have you swooning. This is a slow-burn romance and while there are no OPS scenes the descriptions are incredibly steamy. Armstrong takes on same sensitive subjects, so take care and check the CWs. This is a can't miss read, highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

What a fun rom-com! It made me want to go camping. I liked Kelley Armstrong's writing, especially her banter.

Daphne is having trouble selling her recent manuscript…until she gets the idea to use a male pseudonym, and the book goes into a bidding war. Now under contract as Zane Remington, Daphne and her friend come up with the idea to hire someone to play Zane. Daphne’s friend recommends he is, an accountant she knows, and Chris decides to act as an actor acting as an author. Whew!

I thought the premise was cute and lighthearted, and the read an easy one. I had trouble connecting to the characters and didn’t really feel the insta love connection between them, dropping my rating. I also felt some of the dialogue was a little over the top, particularly when Chris is pretending to be Zane.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the arc. All opinions are my own,

Finding Mr. Write
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I think that this story can work for some people! It’s a romance that won’t break your heart, non threatening, an easy low stakes story with dual pov and some spice! I was loving the parts of the book that took place in Yukon, the pristine lake, mountains, tall trees, and cute forest animals, such an amazing setting! And I really love all the colors in the cover 😍 I also enjoyed that the premise was a little different than what we may expect from the “I’m an author” trope we see a lot. It started out a little too fast for me, I wish there was more background, a little more build up, it settled in about 40-50% in (it felt a bit choppy at first) but by that point it was a little too insta-love for me and I had a hard time at first really connecting with the characters/feel their chemistry. I usually like my romances to have a little more depth to them so this one missed the mark for me a little and I found the argument at the end to be a bit of a stretch and one of our main character just a tad annoying. But I do think there’s an audience for this one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Forever Publishing for this e-Arc. Finding Mr. Write is out June 25th!

Daphne McFadden has been trying to sell her manuscript. One night after a glass of wine and a bad idea, she sends it off with a male name... and it results in a bidding war, a huge bidding war and a lot of interest in this new literary “outdoorsy hunk of masculinity.” Daphne decides a hire an actor to pose as Zane Remington. Chris Stanton is an accountant but his lawyer recommended him to Daphne. Hijinks ensue as one little lie builds upon itself.

Why I started this book: Loved Armstrongs paranormal novels, like her time travel novels and was interested in a rom-com from her.

Why I finished it: This was a delightful story, but I was aware of the author more in this story than in others. Part of it was this was a story about an author with a pen name. And the second part was Armstrong's choice to not use a pen name and to write in a new genre. Many authors use pen names when they switch genres to not mix or dilute their author brand. The whole experience was more meta than I expected. But very fun to talk to my co-workers about pen names, authors, and give and get recommendations.

Daphne McFadden is leading the best of lives until she has to become someone she doesn't know. That's right. In order to get all that she wants in life, she has to write a book under the male pseudonum Zane Remingon. He is the one who lives in the wilds of the Yukon, chopping wood, fending off bears, doing all the manly lumberjack living of the main character of her book - who happens to be a YA teen girl! So, in all this confusion, her -erm Zane's- book is picked up by a publisher and makes it all the way to the New York Times Bestseller lists. Well now, it's a game changer. She has to have a Zane Remington to go on a book tour - AND BE THE AUTHOR ON THE BACK COVER! No one can know a woman wrote the book! Thus develops the plan to have the hottie accountant of her attorney fill in and play Zane since he himself has been involved in a pickle of a lawsuit and he needs the money. Can Daphnie and Zane being played by Chris pull this off? Seems like a simple plan right? What could possbily go wrong?

Finding Mr. Write is a delightful rom-com with a large cast of characters and beautiful settings, especially the descriptions of the Yukon. But the stars of the show are Daphne and Chris with their slow-burn romance and their (not so successful) efforts to keep Zane Remington's identity a secret. Their back and forth banter kept me laughing, sometime out loud!! In a more serious vein, the novel takes a critical look at the publishing industry. Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and I really enjoyed seeing her take on a rom-com. The Author's Note at the end tells of how she got the idea for this novel and her own experiences with public appearances.

Finding Mr. Write was such a fun, easy read. This book had me hooked from the very first page. I really enjoyed watching the evolution of Chris and Daphne’s relationship. I definitely recommend this debut rom-com from Kelley Armstrong.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This was....fun. It didn't blow me away like Kelley's writing usually does, but I'm not sure it was meant to. This was pure cotton candy, sugary sweetness, and that's all it needed to be. The premise was great, and I loved the main characters.

My only complaint is that if felt a little by the numbers. It didn't surprise me or make me believe there was passion. It almost felt like a debut novel, which is weird because of Kelley's volume of novels. Maybe it was dipping into a new genre.

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - April 6, 2024
Publication Date - June 25, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @kelleyarmstrongauthor, @readforeverpub and @netgalley!

Finding Mr. Write is perfect if you love being part of the tea and waiting for secrets to unravel. There’s just something about reading about an author that’s so fun! I found it so interesting to learn more about the publishing world because it’s not something you often learn about unless you’re in the thick of it. I also appreciate how this book delves into the realities of sexism within the publishing world. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters. In fact, this book is even more impressive because the author doesn’t usually write rom coms! I would be interested in reading one of her thrillers and seeing how it compares to this one.

If you like black cat x golden retriever, fake dating and books about books, you should check out Finding Mr. Write!

Get excited to read Finding Mr. Write, available June 25! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

I DNF at 17% - I just couldn't get into it. The plot was just wrong for me. The cover was so cute!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

As a fan of Kelley Armstrong’s YA books, I was looking forward to this one. I really enjoyed the author’s note in explaining that it was her first rom com and how it was inspired. It made me like the book even more. The main female character is Daphne McFadden. She is an architect who just built her off-grid dream home in the Yukon. She is dealing with multiple losses. She was inspired to write the book, but an agent would not pick it up. Daphne decides to submit the book with a male pen name and all of a sudden she is on the bestseller list! Daphne and her lawyer friend, Nia, concoct a plan to invent a man to fit her pen name. Enter Chris Stanton, a hot accountant, smart, sexy and a bit nerdy. He takes on the Chris Ainsworth persona as his stage/actor personality to play Zane Remington, the male author Daphne invented. These twists and turns add some humor to the story. As Daphne’s book keeps climbing the bestseller list, she now finds that “Zane” has book festivals, interviews, speeches, signings and a book tour. All this turns into a forced proximity, slow burn romance as Chris and Daphne travel together. Things definitely get complicated. There are secrets, coverups and even a bit of blackmail. Things get pretty spicy as they admit their feelings for each other and figure out what the future holds for them.

I’ll admit that as I was reading this, I wondered how much of the publishing industry insight was true. How many women use male pen names to get published? I think the author had some fun with what might happen if that pen name situation spiraled out of control. I think both characters were well developed and the chemistry grew as they got to know each other. But the spark was there with physical attraction from the beginning. I like that the chapters alternated between Daphne and Chris narrating. The setting is fun, the hookups are steamy and the HEA makes me happy. All the things I want in a contemporary romance. This book comes out June 25, 2024. It’s a great addition to your TBR pile and a great weekend escape. Oh, and I LOVE the punny title!

This was refreshingly different from anything I’ve read in awhile, and I quite enjoyed this read!

Daphne is having hard time getting a publisher to give her book a chance. On a whim, she decides to give herself a pen name—a male’s name. And what do you know, a bidding war begins. Now the problem is, her book is doing so well that the publisher wants her to go on tour. So she hires someone to play the part of author Zane Remington. Enter Chris.

Can they keep up with the high-stakes ruse? It’s only a matter of time before things start getting complicated. Not only are their facades starting to fall, but so are their hearts!

Overall, this was a fun one. I enjoyed all the banter, the book tour, and all the flirting in between. I also appreciated how the author portrayed all the difficulties and realities women face in the professional world—publishing, in this case.

Read this if you love:
- Books about books
- Forced proximity
- Yukon setting
- A pinch of fake dating
- Slow burn

Thank you for the ARC!