Member Reviews

This was a fun rom-com read!
Daphne is living in the Yukon and trying to get her first book published, but she doesn’t get a book deal until she uses a male pseudonym. That’s just the beginning of the adventure you are taken on in Finding Mr. Write. Highly recommended!

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I unfortunately didn't enjoy this and had to DNF about 30% in. Even though we immediately jump into the plot, I found the writing and the way its structured to be a bit clunky. The dynamic that develops between our characters just feels a bit odd and I didn't entirely believe the romance. Really unfortunate that this didn't work for me!

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Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love Finding Mr. Write, but I thought it was just okay. The premise is fun, but the writing doesn't make it shine. There are many moments when the dialogue feels just a little off, and Chris, the hero, is almost unrealistically sweet--though I do enjoy seeing a commitment-positive hero who knows what he wants.

The first chapter was a little clunky. There are a few pages where we learn about Chris's personal and professional history that has led him to this situation, and it's summarized in a way that feels like, well... running through a summary. I'm not saying we need all of those events to actually happen on page, but it could have been written more elegantly.

There are some minor plot holes too: the idea that Chris playing Zane Remington wouldn't be recognized by his family and friends was a bit far-fetched. The book does eventually make some concessions (beyond a very slight disguise) for why he's not concerned, but they come in the latter half of the book and should have been explained sooner so that readers aren't left wondering. Chris's obsession with not letting Daphne know about his real (sweet) personality in order to keep the job as Zane also doesn't really work for me. Once his photo is on the book jacket, there's very little she can do about it, and it's an *acting* gig. There's no reason to think she would fire him just because he's not literally Zane Remington in the flesh, so long as he's putting on a good performance in front of the cameras.

I did like the concept and enjoyed the author's note at the end explaining the inspiration for the book. It just didn't work for me the way I hoped.

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First off I want to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the wonderful ARC I was able to receive! I loved this book from the beginning to end. It’s different than any story I’ve read before and that made it all the more interesting. These characters were so relatable and cute! I loved it! Such a fun and easy read.

This was my first book by this author and I didn’t know that this wasn’t what they normally write- that’s a huge compliment! Her portrayal was effortless and truly enjoyable.

4/5 Stars.

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This story was so much fun to read. I absolutely loved the concept of Daphne hiding behind a male pen name to further her career because, why not! From the very beginning, the book pulls you in and is fast paced. The dynamic between Daphne and Chris/Zane was wonderfully done and kept me entertained through the whole story. I loved how the author included a texting format and Daphne’s lists to break up the chapters a bit. Chris and Daphne’s corny banter had me laughing out loud. It was a little insta-lovey but I felt like for this story it works. I definitely would recommend this to friends who are looking for a feel good, light hearted, cheesy rom com. I was able to finish this in one sitting!

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Ms Armstrong is an auto buy for me, and this being her first rom-com, and a chance to read early was a plus. I liked the two person POV, you always know who is thinking what. Enjoyable read about a woman, successful architect, that wants to be a writer and nobody is interested in her manuscript until she puts a man's name on it, then her world explodes. She has made it clear it's a pen name, but when they want her to make personal appearances, she freaks out and starts making judgment errors. The adventure takes off with her hired actor to play herself, and herself to be his assistant for interviews. Then the publishers want a book tour, and everything hits the fan. You know it will all work out because it's a rom-com. I appreciated the one year later update. A quick enjoyable read, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the early read.

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A fun and east read, When Daphne uses a mańs name on her latest book, it sells like crazy. Now she needs to find someone to portray him for interviews and such. Chris looks like a model and actor, although he is an accountant. Enjoyable story, although must admit was easy to pick up and easy to put down. Would be a good summer read and would recommend.

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DNF'd at 12%. I probably could have given this more of a chance, but I really didn't like the beginning of this book. I found the back-and-forth between the two main characters to be clunky and strange. I might give this another chance when it's published. But for now, I wanted to move on to other books.

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This book was good, but I'm not sure it was for me. Something about the MMC just didn't sit well with me. I loved the premise and there was nothing wrong at all with the author's writing.

The story begins with Daphne admitting to her lawyer bestie that she might have sold her story to a publisher by using a male pen name and changing the blurb to feature less romance. Her friend is shocked, but quickly changes her tune once she realizes the amount of money her friend will make off this book.

From there a plan forms where they simply continue the charade. What could go wrong? (Everything, clearly.) When the publisher starts pushing for more from Daphne, who is going by the name Zane, she and her bestie formulate the plan of hiring an actor to play the role.

Now this is where I got worried. Chris Stanton (not an actor) pretends to be Chris Ainsworth (a bad boy actor) who is pretending to be Zane Remington (the pen name). It's all very confusing to keep up with. Even as the story progressed I questioned things about who CS was actually channeling.

As other reviews stated, Chris's antics seemed far more complicated than was necessary. It does have a nice ending that made my romance heart happy. I've never read Kelley before, though from what I see this is her first RomCom. I think she's done a good job overall. Plus, most of my pause is opinion based. There will be readers who LOVE all the twists the 3 Chris characters give the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this title.

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Kelley Armstrong is one of my go-to authors and her new book (a romance!!!) "Finding Mr. Write" is a quick, great read. You will devour this one!

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Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong

I seem to love everything Kelley Armstrong writes. That said, I never expected to read a rom-com by her. I don't actually gravitate towards rom-coms but decided on reading this one because Kelley Armstrong wrote it. And I loved it!

Throughout most of the book, I kept wondering what if anything related to Armstrong's own writing career. Do publishers really move setting from Canada to the US to make them more marketable? Is it really easier to publish as a man? Kelley Armstrong does have a few paragraphs at the end of the book in which she divulged some of her inspiration and I appreciated that insight.
Altogether, this was a fun read and I'm glad I picked it up. Five stars.

#bookreview #2024 #romcom #wilderness #author #netgalley #kelleyarmstrong #fivestars

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Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong is a cute and lighthearted rom com! I loved how this read quickly and was enjoyable along the way! After being rejected at having her book published multiple times, Daphne decides to try and publish under a males name…and of course it’s approved then. I love that this book touches upon the sexism and gender roles in the publishing world - some tough topics that we know exist in society but aren’t always mentioned or discussed.

I also loved how it was written in a dual POV and I’m also a sucker for a slow burn romance! I love seeing how Chris and Daphne’s relationship grows - they are so sweet together! I’d definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a good rom com!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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I am a HUGE Kelley Armstrong fan, and a huge rom-com fan. Sadly, Kelley Armstrong's first attempt at a rom-com feels only so-so.

Finding Mr. Write is a lighthearted read. The premise -- that Daphne can't sell her book as herself, but gets a multi-million dollar deal once she slaps a man's name on the byline -- is appropriately appalling and clearly draws on what-ifs from Armstrong's decades in the publishing industry. Daphne and Chris are both enjoyable characters. But the way events spiral out of their control just didn't feel believable.

The promotional aspect of Daphne's book amps too quickly, almost to the point of absurdity. Once Daphne's publisher realizes Zane is drop-dead gorgeous, they take on almost a paparazzi vibe. The camera crew is unbelievable in their intrusiveness, and the book tour is organized with unreal speed. Is Armstrong creating a love letter to the publishing industry? A condemnation? I honestly can't tell.

I also have issues with Chris's multiple personas. He is Chris Stanton, thoughtful accountant; Chris Ainsworth; asshole actor; and Zane Remington, rugged wilderness survivor being played by Chris Ainsworth who is actually Chris Stanton who was referred for the job by Daphne's best friend. It just feels like too many layers and unnecessary given the real Chris's tiny digital footprint.

Despite all my annoyances, I still found myself up at 1 a.m. frantically flipping pages until I hit the ending. It felt kind of like watching train wreck where I couldn't look away. Which is a testament to Armstrong's skill as a writer as she experiments with this new genre.

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I am a longtime fan of Kelley Armstrong. When I saw that she wrote a romcom at first I was confused, then I was intrigued. I really like her fantasy books, but part of what I like about them is the character building and how the characters and relationships between the characters develop. I was not disappointed.
Daphne and Chris meet under very unusual circumstances. Daphne wrote a book, but used a pen name to get it published. A male pen name - Zane. This is all good, until the public wants to meet the author. She ends up hiring Chris to play the author. Chris is not an actor though. Chris is an accountant who is in need of a job. He agrees to play Zane, but he is also playing Chris the actor when he is not playing Zane the author. Occasionally the real Chris breaks through. This made for some funny mistaken identity situations. And Chris is even funnier pretending he knows how to live off the land.
Eventually Daphne meets the real Chris. Feelings develop but the relationship goes through some trouble due to miscommunication and misunderstanding. The book ends in a nice HEA/HFN. I liked both characters and the story is entertaining. I think this is another win for Kelley Armstrong.
I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley, but my review is my own and freely given.

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As a fan of Kelley Armstrong, I wish I liked Finding Mr. Write more. The biggest issue I had with this book was the romance. I didn't really feel the connection between Daphne and Chris. I wish the main characters spent more time together before developing (fast) feelings. The rom-com aspect of the story felt forced. A phone interruption can be a funny bit....when it keeps happening, it feels overused. I thought the whole Robbie plot line was unnecessary towards the end. I found myself skimming around the 60% mark. I did like that Kelley discussed the role of gender in publishing! Thank you to Forever for the ARC.

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Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this book for my honest review.

This book was a struggle for me. It feels clunky from the first page. The plot is convoluted and downright infuriating. the writing style leaves a lot to be desired. I struggled to connect with the main character and found her extremely shallow. The book did have some funny parts and, at at times, was a great break from reality

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Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this early review copy.

Kelley Armstrong has quickly become one of my favorite authors over the last couple of years. Romance books are not typically the genre you find me in, but every once in a blue moon I find myself enjoying a romcom. There was absolutely no hesitation in requesting this book when I saw Kelley sharing this one on her Instagram. I fully trusted that this would be fantastic. This book was so enjoyable, I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. And Chris/Zane is such a loveable nerd. Daphne is such a relatable character on so many levels. Just overall such a fun book!

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I enjoyed this fun, lighthearted Rom-Com. Chris/Zane was pretty adorable. I loved the setting - it reminded me of the time I spent in Alaska and made me want to visit the Yukon.

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Daphne McFadden is straight-up tired of rejection. She's been sending out her manuscript to agents left and right, only to get shut down every. single. time. But she's not about to let that stop her dreams! So, she does the unthinkable – submits her work again, but this time under a man's name. And boom! It gets snatched up and turns into a total sensation! Now Daphne needs a man to play her macho alter ego, Zane Remington. Enter Chris Stanton. who seems like the perfect fit for the role. Except, there's one tiny little detail Daphne didn't count on – Chris is actually an accountant who wouldn't know a canoe paddle from a popsicle stick.

Armstrong takes us on a wild ride to the Yukon, and let me tell ya, the scenery is so vivid, you'll practically feel the crisp air on your skin and smell the pine trees. It's like being on a nature retreat without ever leaving your couch!

The characters in this book are everything! Daphne is a boss babe who's not afraid to shake things up, and Chris Stanton is the perfect blend of rugged charm and surprising vulnerability. Their chemistry sizzles, and I found myself laughing do much at their back-and-forth banter. And the slow-burn romance? Chef's kiss It's so on point, you'll be rooting for them from page one.

But "Finding Mr. Write" isn't just a fluffy rom-com. Armstrong doesn't shy away from tackling some serious stuff like gender roles, sexism, and racism in the publishing game. But she handles it all with grace and adds layers of depth to an already awesome story.

So, if you're looking for a read that's equal parts swoon-worthy romance, laugh-out-loud funny, and thought-provoking, "Finding Mr. Write" is where it's at! Seriously, grab a copy ASAP and thank me later!

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3.5 stars rounded up!

This book was such a brilliant spin on the ghostwriting trope. Absolutely loved how badass Daphne was portrayed, in ways that also emphasized how vulnerability demonstrates strength! I truly underestimated how much I would like this book - but to be honest I did get the ick from the third act breakup. That is truly what took this from a 4.5 to a 3.5 for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for the ARC!

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