Solid romance book by an author I love. I was a bit worried with Kelley Armstrong writing in this genre but she did a good job with it. The first line made me laugh and really sucked me into the story, <i>"I need a penis"</i> and she did need that, but not in the way you are thinking. Well maybe a little in that way as well ;).
Daphne, tired of rejection from trying to get her book published has submitted it under a male pen name and gotten all the recognition it should have gotten in the first place. But now she has a conundrum of needing someone to play this male author. I liked Daphne, who has had some real hardships and fallen for some terrible people in the past. She took an opportunity and I get and applaud that. Things get way out of control but hey, that makes for a fun book. I also understand that as an introverted author the concept of talking to people in public has got to be terrifying so having an actor do go out and do it for you could be a tempting thing.
Chris is an accountant who made a bad choice trusting an old friend and now has some legal issues to deal with and needs money to avoid bankruptcy. In comes this opportunity to play Zane. I liked how he played Zane even if it too was a bit over the top at times. It was nice that there was such a difference from his real self and this persona he put on because he thought it was what was expected. I enjoyed watching him and Daphne get to learn who each other really were.
This book deals with some real issues that still crop up. People do anticipate different things from male and female authors, and any profession really. Publishers market the books differently. Its expected that a female will capitulate to demands, take less money and generally be easier to deal with. When Chris playing Zane makes demands for first class and things it is taken as well that's okay lets keep him happy. But likely a female making those same demands would get told they were being unreasonable. I appreciated the way the light was shone on this issues.
Loved the time spent in the Yukon. The scenery comes to life which is something I have come to expect when reading Armstrong's work. The parts taking place at Daphne's up north really were my favourite. Such a different setting choice and I love that a unique part of Canada was used.
The romance overall was good, they do communicate which is a big deal to me. There's still a bunch of misunderstanding which is a story driver I get that. The phone interruptions happened too often, the first couple were amusing after that got a bit old. But for the most part, just a good book.
If you are looking for a romance with books in the forefront, this a great choice. Definitely recommend.

Having been an avid reader for years, I never thought that female authors face misogyny though I'm aware that they assumed male pen names back in the day. I actually thought that majority novels are written by women or maybe that's just by inclination. That's to say I've never come across a plotline remotely like this and I quite enjoyed it. No, I had no clue that the author usually writes fantasy (I don't read much of the genre either), and it didn't show.

I liked the MCs (I thought Daphne was much older from the description). Chris has so many different personalities he assumes, from golden retriever guy to rugged outdoorsy author. I loved how he was thoughtful and poured his heart and soul into playing the part of Zane to perfection. Daphne on the other hand didn't leave as much of an impression on me. I felt like she was oscillating between being an independent queen and an unsure overthinker.

I won't say that the characters were exactly 2D, but they were overpowered by the plot which turned them into mere puppets. I'm not an author but I've been a book reviewer for a few years now and I'm almost certain that the publishing houses don't work the way they've been depicted here. The kind of attention Zane (the author pen name) gets is overwhelming and the kind that huge celebrities get. You can't convince me that a publisher would literally hijack an author's life, making s many changes that it goes out of control WITHOUT permission.

The final straw for me was the miscommunication trope towards the end. It is so poorly planned and executed, I hated it. No person just loses their ability to clearly get across their feelings, and definitely not both partners in a couple at the same time. I can't give spoilers, but it was just very tiresome and frustrating. I don't mind this trope so much normally, but in this novel, it felt like the plotline was purposely shoved in to lengthen the book,

This is not to say that the book is bad and doesn't deserve to be read. The writing flows beautifully throughout the story, easing some of the burden of reading. In my opinion, this was quite easy to get through. I loved the descriptions and vivid details, so this is great for a visual reader. There's some great banter in here, and who doesn't love some good conversation? I think you should give this book a chance, but don't expect too much.

This was such a cute and unexpected romance from Kelley Armstrong. Daphne and Chris are fun to get to know and their romance was charming.

Finding Mr. Write is a fluffy contemporary romance about Daphne, an aspiring writer who struggles to get her book noticed so she decides to take on a male pen name. When her book unexpectedly gets picked up and starts to build buzz she finds herself hiring an actor to portray Zane Remington who the world believes is the real author. Chris is an accountant who finds himself in some hot water so when an acting opportunity arises he's quick to jump on it. As the popularity of the book continues to rise, their plan starts to spiral when Chris joins Daphne in the Yukon, going on tour for the book, all while dealing with their budding attraction.

I really enjoyed this read, especially as a fellow Canadian who grew up in the north. I was able to relate to a lot of those elements of the story. Chris has major golden retriever energy and even though he's not the rough and tumble type of guy he's been hired to portray the moments when he lets the real Chris shine through really helped build the dynamic between him and Daphne. Especially when it comes to fighting the sexism that Daphne faces in the publishing industry, helping her build the courage and move past her own traumas.

I have been loving these books where woman are using a male name to show how sexist the world is. It's so funny, relatable and insightful. This book hit it out of the park.

Thank you NetGalley, Forever and Kelly Armstrong for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Daphne submits her book with a male pen name after not getting any interest only to receive a very generous publishing deal. She doubles down and decides to hire a male actor to be the face of that pen name. Her book skyrocketed to best sellers lists and the agreement gets complicated - especially as they spend more time together.

I enjoyed both main characters once they got comfortable with each other. Chris Stanton playing Chris Ainsworth playing Zane was a little much but added to the fun at the start. Chris is a self described math nerd who got hot later in life - he ends up being an empathetic, supportive and awkward. Sweet cinnamon roll type who falls fast and plans for futures. Daphne is a strong, independent woman who is off the grid by choice and the public attention is not something that appeals to her.

The insight into the publishing world was interesting. I hope this situation wouldn’t happen in real world but I imagine it’s not far from reality.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley after seeing Kelley post about it on her Facebook.

I’ve always been a big Kelley Armstrong fan, love to support a Canadian author! Her normal genres are horror/mystery so I was intrigued by her writing a romance novel.

The premise was great and very believable. Daphne is a writer who, after rejections, submits her novel to a publisher under a pen name. The pen name just happens to be a man’s name, and surprise surprise, she gets published.

The novel follows Daphne and “Zane” (aka Chris) through the book release and book tour and eventually the fall out.

The story slowed down a little bit mid read, but it was cohesive, everything made sense and in the end, it’s wrapped up in a neat little bow.

I’m excited to share a review for Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong. Kelley is a #1 New York Times Best Selling author who, for the first time, is dipping her toes into the romance genre!

The story follows Daphne, who in an attempt to get her book published, writes under a male pseudonym, thinking that if she*pretends* the book is written by a man, a publisher might instantly snatch it up!

Her plan works: her debut novel is picked up, published, and is an instant best seller.

In order to keep up the “male-author” façade, Daphne hires Chris Stanton, a dreamy accountant, to play Zane Remington, the fake author who's painstakingly good looks and charming personality only catapults the book to further success.

While we are watching Daphne and Chris (aka Zane) fall for each other, the plan works… until it doesn’t. Daphne and Chris have a sticky situation to work through together, regarding both the book AND their relationship.

I thought this romance novel was a great first attempt at a new genre for an already established author. The concept was interesting, playful, and fully researched. I feel like I learned a good deal about the behind the scenes work of publishing a book… it sounds exhausting.

The pacing of this book felt slightly off to me. Sometimes a specific scene would drag on while others would be rushed. I also found that some plot points were extremely predictable while others were so far fetched that they would never happen in real life.

The spice has a good build but then has a somewhat fade-to-black when they finally get to it. And we do get a Happy Ending with a darling epilogue included! Overall, it was a cute, fun, and fast read!

Finding Mr. Write will be released on June 25, 2024! Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for this ARC!

Debut author Daphne has no luck getting a publisher for her book- that is, until she submits it with a male pen name. She hires a man to portray her author persona at signings and interviews, and the book is a massive hit along with Chris, the real life accountant portraying Daphne’s pen name of Zane. The two of them don’t immediately hit it off, but they need to find a way to work together to keep up appearances.

This was a fun, sweet story. I enjoyed how it also portrayed important themes about men vs women in publishing and the workplace, as well as how they are viewed publicly. I loved the Yukon setting, although a few of the animal encounters were a bit over the top. I loved Chris, his character was funny and self-deprecating. The way he leaned into his role as Zane while acknowledging the double standards was perfect. Overall, despite a few cheesy moments and a lot of interruptions between the main characters, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, Forever Publishing, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a super sweet, funny romcom! The characters were so funny.

There were a couple plot holes too that made me scratch my head. Like, if Chris was playing another guy, wouldn't his friends and family and clients recognize him?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I really wanted to love this because I like this author quite a bit, but it just was okay for me. I enjoyed the premise and thought the characters were nice, but I found myself flipping through some of the pages quickly and skimming them instead of devouring and like I had hoped I would. Overall this was a nice, romantic read with a few steamy scenes and a grizzly bear! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kelley Armstrong does it again... a little differently this time. Most of her books, I can't put down, and this was no exception. It was a sweet, cute little rom-com that gave me the warm and fuzzies. Armstrong always writes great stories with 'real' feeling personalities and relationships, so I was very excited to read this book in a style/genre that's new(ish) to the author.
As usual she does not disappoint!

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC!

This was such a cute story. I was already excited to read it because the author is one that I auto-buy books for (excluding horror) and I was not disappointed. If the blurb sounds remotely interesting, please, please, please give this book a try!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This may have possible spoilers.

Firstly, I feel like I should start with tiny a disclaimer. I'm not a big Romance reader, despite loving rom-coms. Often, it's hard for me to find one I really like. But I saw this one, saw that it was written by one of my favourite authors, and just HAD to give it a chance!

Despite this being Kelley's first Adult Romance and her being a little hesitant to publish it, I think she did such a good job. I really enjoyed it! It was a nice, chill read with fun characters and some silly moments, though I think those are to be expected in a romance novel.

Daphne, the main character and author of a YA zombie novel, does what any non-male writer has probably thought about doing at least once in their life: she sells her book under a male name. In need of an actor to continue the ruse, she hires accountant Chris to be Zane Remington.

It's so impossible to blame Daphne for her choices. Even Chris, too. You know they're coming at it with all the good intentions. It also helps that there's tons of healthy communication in this. They may make mistakes (Chris, I'm looking at you...) but they talk and they apologize, and it really feels like they're trying to do the right thing for the situation AND each other.

It was so interesting to see the publishing world and just how geared to men it really is. Not only the sexism and gender roles, but even racism and the way people look down on certain genres and age groups authors write. It's annoying and frustrating, but watching Daphne and Chris working against it was perfect.

Also, the slow burn?? I'm in love with slow burns and almost kisses, so this was right up my alley!
For anyone interested, there are two (if I remember correctly) slightly smutty moments, but the rest is fade to black/page break to the morning after.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants something light and fun to read!

And if Kelley ever wanted to write that YA zombie book just for fun...I will be the first one to jump at a chance to read it haha

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.