I had a hard time with this book. First, the good - I liked seeing the behind the scenes of the book industry. It was interesting seeing how things came together for the author and why she made the choices she did.

Now for the bad - it felt like two or three separate books with conflicts that made no sense. I enjoyed the part at Daphne’s house in the beginning, but the tour seemed like another whole book. The conflicts that took place in the book were manufactured and stereotypical. If one of the characters just acted like an adult, the miscommunications wouldn’t have happened. The main characters had a romance that came from their first initial dislike of each other; they went from disliking each other to both secretly pining for each other within a matter of pages. The burn was so slow it fizzled out and I just wanted to scream at them to confront their feelings.

I applaud the author’s intent, but I had a really hard time getting through this book. I’d love to see more from the Yukon with characters who can communicate.

Armstrong excels no matter the genre, and this romance proves it. When Daphne decides to put her book out with a male pseudonym author, she doesn’t anticipate going to the lengths of hiring someone to pretend to be him when the book is successfully published. Accountant Chris isn’t at all like the description of Daphne’s author persona, but his face becomes the marketing of the book and Daphne pays him to be that role. Of course, things easily get out of hand and Daphne finds it hard not to resent the attention Chris gets, but also finds it hard to resist him as a love interest.

I mainly got started in Armstrong’s time travel books, but as I love romance I couldn’t pass this up.

I adore books that are about books in a book-ception.

I will have it known that I will love every single work that is dispelled from this woman's masterful mind. Every piece is flawless, and this book did not disappoint. While it did not hit peak perfection like her "A Rip Through Time", "Haven's Rock", and "Rockton/Casey Duncan" for me, it was still one that I wouldn't have missed for the world!

I am convinced Armstrong can write romcoms to high fantasies and many other genres that authors usually steer clear of, sticking to a specific genre for their writing career.

Similar to Armstrong's Casey Duncan suspense/thrillers, this novel's backdrop features the Yukon. This feels like the funny cute moments that her more intense, "Casey Duncan" books or more serious books feature. If she had, the atmosphere would have been ruined. In this one, it is fun and light and full of shenanigans and mischief.

Daphe McFadden is an author who insists on a male pseudonym, with a past of hardships and terrible people who taught her not to trust everyone. A bidding war ensues, resulting in a massive book deal.

McFaden hires Chris Stanton, an accountant, to act as this male counterfeit self when proof of this fake male character is needed to convince them that she isn't a farce. Why? Because it is difficult being an author as a woman, with seemingly all the odds against her. Even the world of book publishing has misogyny, unfortunately. Why would Chris agree to go from bookkeeping to acting? Bankruptcy.

The breakdown of the publication was interesting. Many scenarios were hilarious and cute. Yes, parts were cheesy. But what romcom is devoid of said cuteness?

I genuinely hope Kelley Armstong continues to go outside her comfort zone, exploring different angles and genres and perspectives. This book was such a delight. I don't think I could read a single book she writes and not absolutely love everything about it, as if each edition had been steeped in gold. Readers have to get a hold of this one to find out if the real author is revealed and if Chris's crush on her will ever be exposed. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

4.5 stars.

This is super fun! The premise is a little convoluted but it unravels itself pretty easily as it goes. So FMC is an author and uses a male pen name. She needs a face for that name especially when she starts blowing up. So she hires who she thinks is an egotistical actor/model who gets the job done. But her book KEEPS blowing up and now he's coming to her house in Alaska to do an interview as her.

I found the MMC to be pretty charming. When he's down on his luck in between his business/finance-y job he stumbles upon this opportunity. He's trying to pretend who he thinks she wants, a himbo, but in reality as fit as his body may seem he's pretty soft on the inside and they are more similar than they may seem. He loves to read for one and has read and loved the book even when he pretends to be indifferent about it. So I honestly loved the forced proximity finally bringing them together after enjoying their long distance banter. Of course dual POV was well utilized in this.

The Alaskan setting and how badass our FMC is was great. There are definitely rom com situations to this which were not overly contrived and super fun. I recommend this for the romance and twists and turns!

Thank you to Forever for the eARC.

This could be the perfect romantic comedy ever written. It was definitely perfect for me.

Kelley Armstrong took a leap into new territory when she wrote Finding Mr. Write. The rom-com genre is not her usual style, which is why it will surprise her loyal readers. Honestly, I hope she gives us more!

In Finding Mr. Write, Armstrong delivers a behind-the-scenes view of being an author. Daphne McFadden has written a young-adult fantasy book that deserves to be published, but getting it in front of the right publisher is difficult. When we meet Daphne, she has already been rejected enough times that she makes a bold choice to submit her book in a male penname. Is that why her story finally gets picked up? Hard to say for sure, but what follows is quite a journey through the publishing world.

Suddenly the book becomes too popular for Daphne to remain hidden in the Yukon.

When her book wildly exceeds her expectations, Daphne suddenly has to make appearances. It's perfectly normal to write under a pen name, but her choice to hire an actor to play "Zane Remington" is clearly unusual. Now she's playing a role as his assistant, and Chris is pretending be Zane. Yet he's also pretending to be an actor just to remain employed as Zane, by Daphne. It's all a whirlwind of people acting out what is expected of them. People see Daphne and expect her to be the writer's assistant. When they see Chris, aka Zane, they get distracted by his overall attractiveness, and make assumptions about his outdoorsman qualities and stereotypical masculinity.

Daphne deserved recognition for her work, but it would be at the expense of coming clean with her fans.

Daphne and Chris naturally have that inevitable moment in a rom-com when they allow themselves to trust each other and take the romantic leap. Mind you, they were definitely a little bit spicy about that. I personally think Kelley Armstrong should write a spicy novella about this couple. She definitely leads our naughty imaginations to the edge of a voyeuristic cliff.

Finding Mr. Write had the perfect balance of romance, humor, and behind the scenes of an author's world. People sometimes assume that a hard-core book lover like me could also write a book. That is far from true. Writing a compelling story is truly an art. Kelley Armstrong has managed to show us a peak behind the curtain into the world of writing and publishing. This story was both enlightening, and entertaining, with romance to boot.

3.5 Stars 🌟

This was one of those quick and easy reads that is perfect if you have a couple of hours, need something light with a storyline where the characters don't really take themselves too seriously.

The story itself sounded interesting, but where it kind of lost me was when we were in the middle of the book. The pacing slows down a little and I had a bit of a hard time with how "crazy" the requirements got for a new author promoting a new release. Are they really going to call up an author and inform them that their book tour starts immediately and only give them a couple of days notice? Maybe? I honestly don't know but it didn't sound realistic.

The book itself introduces us to Daphne McFadden, who is a brand new author whose new book keeps getting rejected. She decides to change her name (the submitted author's name) to a male name- Zane Remington - and she creates a whole fake bio for him. Not only does her book then get accepted, it gets an unbelievable advance and a whole lot of marketing support.

When the publisher demands a photo for the book jacket, she has to come up with a solution and hires a supposed actor to play Zane. When the book shoots up to the top of the Best Seller list, things get crazy and all of a sudden there are photo shoots, film crews, and television interviews, along with a book tour. Sound crazy? Yep.

Mainly, part of the craziness comes from all of the different characters in play. First you have Chris Stanton (an accountant who is NOT an actor), who makes up the name Chris Ainsworth and creates an entire fake bio that says he is an actor. Chris is then playing the role of Zane Remington for the book. Make sense? And Chris plays each character differently which does make sense because Zane is supposed to be this "man's man" which is another way of saying he is an arrogant jerk while the real Chris is actually a nice guy. It does get a little confusing at time.

Regardless, the book has some great moments but then loses some of the steam near the end when it felt like Daphne's character undergoes a personality change. She goes from this amazing independent strong woman to insecure, indecisive and afraid. There is then the required third act "conflict" which just felt thrown in. It felt overdone, and it was somewhat annoying but thankfully didn't take too long to rectify.

So, do I recommend this book? Yeah, I do. The pro's outweigh any of the con's.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

pretty solid 3.5 stars.

I think I started reading this author, oh, gotta be 20 years ago or more, probably her [book:Bitten|18875499] (Women of the Otherworld) series-- which was also certainly an early, if the not the first, shifter romance series I read. I didn't finish that series, but I saw a lot of the author's books go in and out of the library. I started the [book:City of the Lost|25362841] series and really liked it, but the sequels were pretty same-y and I quit that series, too. I was thoroughly unimpressed with [book:A Rip Through Time|58724944]. And then when I saw this, a contemporary rom-com, I rather felt like I had to try it-- the author is trying her hand all over the place, and I was curious.

For a modern rom-com, this is perfectly adequate. For anyone looking for something in the beach-read category to read on vacation or while travelling, this will check all the boxes-- nerdy hero, strong and curvy heroine, self-actualization, and two lovers with baggage bumbling toward a long-term relationship.

This was giving me vibes of [book:Thank You for Listening|59314703], maybe because of the pseudonyms; between the two, [book:Thank You for Listening|59314703] is better. There's some unnecessary convolution-- the hero uses a fake last name and persona when he meets the heroine, and he then uses the pseudonym she created throughout the book. The heroine uses a fake name during the film interview, which also introduces a couple of side characters. The heroine's publicists change several times during the book-- all are named, but only the last one has screen time. I struggle with large casts already, so this didn't do any favors.

I had trouble suspending my disbelief for this story. I'm here for aliens, alternate worlds, fantasy realities, and the tropiest of romance. Maybe I'm too close to the industry? While I absolutely believe that a female author would have an easier time selling a book with a male/masc pseudonym, I couldn't believe that the trick would have to go so far. The comments about white male privilege in the writing community-- and the female experience in society in general-- were well-placed, realistic, and felt honest.

eARC from NetGalley.

I very much liked the idea of this story. As a woman, it is harder to be taken seriously in many instances, and I'm sure that goes for writing as well. The main character sent her manuscript out and got no bites and then decided to attach a masculine pen name and immediately got a lucrative book deal.

I liked Daphne, the main character. She seemed sweet and humble and that was well portrayed throughout the book. Chris, who played Zane, was also a likeable character -- a self professed nerd who finally grew into himself so he was a bit insecure.

All in all, I liked this book. It didn't blow me away but there weren't any glaring icks either.

The only thing I didn't love was when Daphne made a list during one of her chapters and there were footnotes... but you couldn't see what the footnotes referenced until the end of the chapter -- and by then I'd forgotten what they were for.

Another stellar book from author Kelley Armstrong! The new standalone book is about author Daphne and her pseudonym, Zane Remington. Chris is hired to play the male 'author' on a book tour after meeting Daphne, they eventually get together. In addition to awesome HEA story, Armstrong addresses the issue of feminism and women in the publishing world - subtly - and powerfully. Many of her stories are based in Canada and the long-distance romance between Yukon and Vancover was an interesting part of the story, with cards and text communcation in the book. Kudos to Kelley Armstrong!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong in exchange for an honest review. I was totally surprised when I saw that Kelley Armstrong had written a rom-com and even though this isn't my genre, I loved it. I think there is something really special about Armstrong, no matter what she writes, what genre she tries, it comes out amazing. I really think it is her writing style and how she develops the storyline and characters. Whether it's a mountain woman writer in the Yukon or an accountant in Vancouver, I feel like I know these people. Thank you for all your amazing writing Kelley Armstrong and please don't stop!

Loved this book! A main character who tackles misogyny and lack of diversity in publishing! Well written and great banter

I really enjoyed this rom-com – a new genre for this established author. I am not sure if I think this story is a romance set in the world of book publishing, or a story about the publishing industry wherein the main characters fall in love.

It has all the elements of a romance novel. The cute title and cover art, the meet-cute, the will they or won’t they, the romance leading up to the big misunderstanding, and the grand gesture. The MCs are strong, funny, and sweet - and obviously perfect for each other. There is no real conflict with the MCs , and so the eleventh-hour miscommunication is a bit forced, but still executed well.

As good as the love story is, I found equal enjoyment in the characters’ adventures of publishing and promoting the book. It is a fun meta experience to be reading about the fictional publication and promotional tour, and recognizing it surely predicts the author’s upcoming experiences of publication, signings and appearances for this novel [due out on June 25th]. While providing insider thoughts about the process, it also touches on the hopes and dreams of writers and their love for their readers, as well as the power of influencers, cancel culture and sexism in the industry.

This is a really good summer read, and I thank Kelley Armstrong, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

If you know me, you know I love a rustic setting for books. Between the punny title and the cover, I was so in for this book. I had a great time reading it. I love books that throw two characters together and the story requires them to trust each other implicity off the bat. I loved the first half of this book so much, mostly because I loved being in the Yukon. I have an obsession with the Pacific Northwest including Alaska, the Yukon, Vancouver, that whole area.

As a reader and writer, I also love books that explore the publishing industry. As a reviewer, I can’t imagine how hard it is for authors right now to be so available to their readership and have to be ready for criticism at every moment. I’m also very aware that romance, as a genre dominated by women, is often overlooked by critics and the industry. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it made me think.

Synopsis:

“Daphne McFadden already knows that as a female author, the cards are stacked against her. Now she knows just how much. Because her sudden whim to pose as an “outdoorsy hunk of masculinity” male author for her new book just resulted in the unthinkable: a bidding war, a huge book deal, and the kind of fame every author dreams of. Now she’s in big trouble. Because she needs to convince the world that Zane Remington actually exists . . . but how?

By hiring an actor, of course.

Only Chris Stanton is not an actor—not officially. He’s used to balancing the books, not pretending he wrote one. Still, he’s mostly certain he can pose as some overly macho bro-author. But when the media descend on Daphne’s gorgeous remote home in the Yukon, it’s not enough for Chris to just be the face of Zane Remington—he’ll have to become him. All while hilariously balancing the terrifying dangers of the wilderness, a massive femme fandom, and a serious crush on Daphne. But as the hype circus gets more out of control, it’s just a matter of time before someone discovers their little write lie . .” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Premise & Tropes—This wasn’t a fake dating but it was a spin on fake dating that felt fresh and relevant.

The Setting—Obsessed. Incredible. I didn’t want to leave and I was so sad when the characters went on tour!

Commentary on Publishing—This isn’t as intense as Yellowface as R.F. Kuang, but I do think it’s still very important. Is a book taken more seriously if there is a man’s name on the cover? It’s been done so many times throughout history and it seems we still aren’t learning.

What Didn’t Work:

Second Half Pacing—Things slowed down for me a bit!

Second Half Setting—I felt like we lost the connection to where we were in the physical sense.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Contenting Warnings:

death of a parent

I loved this romcom and was absolutely surprised to find out this was the author’s first foray into the genre. Being a book lover who is endlessly curious about the publishing industry I bought into the tension of knowing whether or not Daphne would be exposed as the author. I also loved the romance piece of this book and found myself swooning over Chris way more than the ever-confident Zane.

My one issue was that the pacing seemed a little off to me. I felt like the build up to the book tour was just a hair too long, for ultimately very little relevance to the overall plot.

I would like to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.I really liked this book. It was a bit clunky in the last third, but it was good. Daphne McFadden is an architect living in the Yukon. She is also a writer who has just finished a YA type of Zombie apocalypse novel with a teenage girl protagonist. And she can't get it published. Frustrated, she rewrites the cover letter to change the synopsis( more zombie less romance) and makes one other change- the writer is now named Zane Remington. The book gets picked up by a publisher and is set to be printed. Only one problem, they need a face to go with the name. She calls her lawyer friend Nia for advice.
Chris Stanton is an accountant. He went into business with a friend , only to find out the friend has a drug problem. He now has no money, and no business. He calls his lawyer Nia for help.
It is a fairly convoluted story, with lots of twists and turns along the way. Make no mistake, it is a rom com, with a meet cute, a will they or won't they, passionate interludes, a late in the game "misunderstanding , its all there. What else is there a real story about feminism and racism in publishing. A story about cancel culture, and influencers , and unscrupulous people. It is true and fun and though provoking. It is a good read!

I absolutely loved loved loved the storyline and plot in this book. The way the characters come together and the humor in the story was great. The idea of the plot was so unique and original I’ve never seen another book like it and I think it was perfect for a romance book. It felt like I was watching a movie and not so much reading a book because it brought the characters to life. I love how easy it all flowed together and I’m a sucker for romantic comedy. Way to go! Loved it!

Finding Mr. Write was so much fun! I loved the premise - in a fit of desperation, an aspiring author sends out her manuscript with a male name attached. Once the book gets picked up, she has to find a man to sit for author photos and appear for interviews. This arrangement quickly gets complicated - and pretty sexy!

I loved how this book subverted a lot of my expectations for conflict and how characters would handle difficult situations. Plus I was absolutely on board for the romance from the beginning! Kelley Armstrong claims she doesn’t write romances, but she definitely does now! I’d be excited to read any that she puts out in the future.

I made it to the 50% mark but I realized every ~5%, I was checking to see the percent completed. White flag of surrender. I found it well written but very slow pacing-wise, and I didn’t feel the chemistry (though I realize Chris is extremely attractive). I appreciated the many aspects of the book and the things it was trying to show, but it kept showing the same things over and over while keeping minimal tension and resolving conflict immediately. I wish it had focused on doing one thing really well and been more selective in scenes with the plot, rather than an entire journey detailing every step of “what happens when an author publishes a bestseller” with two MCs who don’t have any real conflict. I was here for the romance, and instead it felt like the author was living out her pipe dream. I don’t know how else to explain it.

This feels like a solid 3 to 4 stars for the target audience. I think it will go over better with the crowd who prefers general fiction with a little romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.

Long time Kelley Armstrong reader here! I have to say when I heard she was writing a rom-com, I needed to read it. Daphnie is definitely not a Mary Sue. She’s a well thought out character. I love how strong she can be and how broken she is in other ways. I love the way the relationship with Chris forms. He is truly a good actor. He pretends to be a mountain man, but finds himself making mistake after mistake. They work really well together once they get on the same page. It took me a little bit to get into the book at first, but once I was invested. I needed to know if there would be a HEA. This book gave me laughs, a few tears and a little twist in my tummy. Definitely had me in my feels.

I received this as an ARC in exchange for a fair review.

This was my first book by this Author and I had no idea this wasn’t her normal genre. For it not being the normal thing for her to right it was absolutely fantastic! It made me giggle multiple times. I loved the characters, they were very likable. The whole story flowed so well from start to finish. I loved the addition of them talking in their heads written out in the story. I was rooting for Daphne and Chris from the very beginning so that ending was perfect! Now I need another book of them or a short story.