
Member Reviews

4.5⭐️ Such a cute concept! It reminded me of a 1950s movie where a muse decided to live on earth. Don’t ask me the name because it will take a bit of digging to find it. But it gave me that same feeling while being a story of its own.
Have you ever wondered if a muse could come help you over the hump of life and a block of inspiration. Ziya didn’t but boy did she get one. Her muse, Aashiq, has made himself known by eating chocolate syrup from her fridge. Maybe she just needs to go back to sleep and he’ll be gone. Nope, if Aashiq wants them to others can see him. Now he will follow her to work encouraging her to try again with her novel. But what happens when Ziya starts to fall for him. Will he be able to stay or once his goal is complete will he go back into her head.
Thank you @netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Alina Khawaja for the advanced reader copy.

I enjoyed this book! I loved the diverse representation and the magical realism. It was reminiscent of Ashley Poston's work and one of her books was actually mentioned in the book.
The beginning slightly annoyed me because, in my opinion, she could have self-published if no one wanted to publish her book. We do find out later on she wanted her book to be easily available in hard copies for people to buy and that's probably why she didn't want to do that.
This was wonderfully written and was such a reflective book. It makes you challenge all the societal norms and impossible standards we hold ourselves to.
The romance aspect was sweet and I loved the character development throughout the book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I would read from this author in the future.

Ziya's long time ambition is to be a published author. Though she takes pride in her job as a legal secretary, it's just a place to go to pay the bills while she spends her evenings writing query letters and sending out her manuscripts. But the latest rejection is the straw the breaks the camel's back. Unable to deal with it anymore, she angrily deletes her manuscript and decides she is done writing. She certainly doesn't expect the physical manifestation of her writer's muse to be cooking her breakfast the next morning.
I wanted to like this story, unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. I couldn't connect with Ziya. There was nothing I could grab onto that made her a sympathetic character. Her whole character was her negativity. Even as she began to open up a bit, she came across as one dimensional. It was also hard to connect with Aashiq, the muse. I kept seeing him as a combination of the small voice in her head playing devil's advocate to her negativity and the genie from "Aladdin". And I had trouble accepting that Ziya accepted the whole situation so quickly. The story felt forced.
I thought the premise of the story was interesting. I just believe the author never developed it fully. I just felt it fell completely flat.

To be transparent right up front: I did enjoy listening to the audiobook for Writing Mr. Right, but there were a few things that just weirded me out when listening that lead me to give it only a three. I was a bit disappointed since I loved her last novel, Maya’s Laws of Love.
Alina Khawaja’s Writing Mr. Wrong offers a blend of romance, creativity, and unexpected twists that make for an engaging read. The novel follows aspiring writer Ziya, who channels all her frustration about love into crafting the perfect fictional character—only for her muse to mysteriously materialize in real life. While this premise is intriguing, it also takes a turn that I found a bit unsettling: Ziya not only accepts the surreal nature of her muse’s existence but ultimately falls in love with him–even though he was a part of her come to life.
At the beginning of the book, Ziya is a passionate but somewhat jaded writer, working during the day as an unappreciated and driven legal secretary. She had spent her free time writing small-town romances, but no agent has liked her books enough to sign her on. Ziya’s finally had enough and decided she wants to go to law school instead, and that’s when her muse unexpectedly materializes as a living, breathing, attractive man named Aashiq.
Throughout the novel, she oscillates between skepticism and fascination, initially resisting the idea that her muse’s existence is real. As the story progresses, Ziya undergoes a gradual unraveling of her tightly held perceptions about love. Her emotional arc pushes her to confront the possibility that what she believed to be mere fantasy might hold deeper truths about what she actually wants in a partner. While her acceptance of her muse’s reality may feel abrupt, it signifies a willingness to embrace the unknown and reevaluate her understanding of connection and desire.
Khawaja excels at crafting vibrant, emotionally charged scenes, and Ziya’s journey is filled with witty banter, romantic tension, and moments of self-discovery. The exploration of the writing process and the blurred lines between fiction and reality add a fascinating layer to the story. However, the shift from creative inspiration to a tangible, flesh-and-blood romance introduced an element that is a little unnerving. There’s something fundamentally eerie about a character morphing from fantasy to reality, and the fact that Ziya embraces this so wholeheartedly might leave some readers feeling unsettled rather than enchanted.
Despite the few problems I had throughout the book, this book remains an enjoyable read, delivering humor, heartfelt moments, and an unconventional love story. If you’re willing to suspend disbelief and lean into the oddity of its premise, you’ll find plenty to appreciate. Just be prepared for a touch of the surreal—and perhaps a bit of lingering unease if you think too hard about her muse materializing and actually being a part of herself–so it was just plain weird.

Ziya is an aspiring writer, who repeatedly deals with rejection and wonders if it's time to give up. Her roommate buys special birthday candles and without realizing it, Ziya manifests some goals into the universe, not having any clue how the results will unfold. Those results being a man in her apartment when she wakes up who tries to help reignite her love of writing.
I went into this with expectations based on the title that did not pan out. Instead of the MMC being someone who she wrote and who came to life, he is a part of herself (her muse). This honestly made me feel a little weird at times because she was essentially falling in love with a personified part of her, if that makes sense.
The MMC is very sweet and tries to help her take care of herself, advocate for herself, and love writing again, but he can come off as almost too perfect. I felt a little conflicted at times.
Overall, it was a sweet and quick read. The ending still managed to surprise me a bit.
Thanks to Harlequin/Mira and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Writing Mr. Right caught my eye because of its bookish theme and it's unique premise. A struggling writer, Ziya, is ready to give up on her dream after yet another rejection. She deletes everything she’s written... only for her muse to show up the very next day. In person. And yes, he’s charming, quirky, and oddly insightful, not to mention kind of attractive.
The story kicks off with a fun and comical tone as Ziya adjusts to being followed around by this mysterious muse named Aashiq. The banter is light and their interactions entertaining, especially as she starts to open up again creatively. It doesn't take long to know the direction these 2 are heading but the twist, of course, is that he isn't really real. Which adds an intriguing layer to the whole thing.
The author’s writing style is very descriptive, sometimes beautifully so, capturing emotions and settings with vivid detail and at other times it felt a little too much, especially when it came to describing sights, sounds and even smells. But that could just be a me thing.
Overall it’s a sweet, magical read that blends romance, creativity and self-discovery. If you enjoy books about books with a hint of magical realism and feel-good vibes, Writing Mr. Right is worth checking out.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is pure magic—charming, heartfelt, and completely original.
Ziya Khan is a relatable, lovable protagonist, and her journey from self-doubt to self-discovery had me hooked from the start. The blend of everyday struggles with a whimsical, romantic twist (hello, muse-turned-man!) was fresh and compelling. Aashiq is the perfect guide—not just to Ziya, but to readers rooting for her all the way.
I loved how the story celebrates creativity, identity, and the courage to dream again. While there were a few predictable moments, the emotional depth and unique concept more than made up for it. This is a must-read for anyone who’s ever questioned their path—or fallen in love with the idea of love itself.
Looking forward to more from this author!

I tried to get into the book and I just couldn't. I'm sure it'll be great for others but it just wasn't for me. From the start I found the main character to be a little melodramatic for me and hard to root for. Though the concept is funny and very unique, so I loved that premise - the writing took me a bit out of it.

I had high hopes for this book. I wanted to learn more about the culture of the characters and how the magical realism would fit into this story with the culture and beliefs of the main character. However, the book did not deliver in the way I wished. As I was reading, I kept thinking the book was a bit too meta. The main character kept talking about how difficult writing is, and how she wanted representation of her Pakistani heritage and Muslim religion--and yet in this book all the author did was muse about how difficult writing a novel is and then gloss over everything except the expectation of marriage from her parents.

Dnf - It wasn’t for me. The writing was alright but the main story line didn’t keep me hooked. It was fun but extremely hard to believe

3.5 stars.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Writing Mr. Right might honestly be the most positive, upbeat story I’ve ever read. It was wholesome, uplifting, and encouraging (especially as a struggling writer myself).
It gives off 13 Going On 30 vibes – in the sense that a wish is made and something magical and impossible transpires which the FMC just kind of goes along with without a whole of convincing, all the while with a countdown happening in the background.
As a writer myself, I enjoyed all the writing and reading trope references, and found much to resonate with.
However, I found myself struggling to want to pick this up. Perhaps this was due to my own mood/mindset while reading, I’m not sure.
Here, however, were some things that stuck out to me while reading:
1. I wish there had been a bigger contrast with how Ziya was before Aashiq came along and started encouraging her to grow and change. Before, she was slightly discouraged, but it didn’t seem like she’d lost all hope yet (yes, she decided to destroy her entire manuscript, but we never really saw much of the descent into that angry decision). We also learn a lot of things about her as she’s undergoing change – like the fact that she hardly talks to anyone, barely remembers to eat, etc. But we don’t see much of that in the “ordinary world” at the beginning. We don’t get a chance to really see her NEEDING these lessons.
2. While all the personal growth Aashiq encouraged her toward is good, it almost felt too perfect. She started exercising and didn’t mind waking up at an ungodly hour to do it. She was able to take her time to eat healthy. She took in her surroundings, said what she was thinking, and cherished it all. It’s all really, really amazing things to strive for, but also started feeling a little… unrealistic? Even while inspiring?
3. I also felt like there was unintentionally a little bit of shame toward being an introverted creature of habit who enjoys staying home rather than going out. That’s essentially who Ziya was, yet every time looked at herself and her actions (past and present), she viewed it with shame and regret. Now, maybe that’s not who Ziya wanted to be, and that’s fine (and even as an introvert, it’s healthy to get out and be social), but I didn’t like the message that there’s anything wrong with enjoying solitude and that being that way isn’t living “real life.”
4. There wasn’t really any disappearing on Aashiq’s part until the end, even though Ziya was working and enjoying writing nearly the entire time.
5. It was a little weird to think about the fact that she essentially fell in love with a part of herself. Even though he was becoming his own person. I had assumed the MMC would be a manifestation of a character in her book, not actually from herself.
All-in-all, a very upbeat story that I think a lot of people will enjoy (with great representation!), but wasn’t my favorite.
My review can be found on my goodreads page and will be up on Instagram Monday, June 16.

Ziya Khan is a legal secretary and aspiring novelist, getting frustrated with her many rejection letters. On her thirtieth birthday, Ziya finds the living version of her muse standing in her kitchen. Aashiq inspires Ziya to write, to live and stand up for herself at work. They grow closer, but as she takes joy in writing again, he starts to disappear. Ziya will have to choose between Aashiq and her writing.
The book opens with a rejection letter, and every writer in the querying trenches will instantly understand the despair she feels, especially when Ziya has a Very Terrible, No Good Day after receiving it. The impulse to completely eliminate the rejected book is strong, and she goes about it in a scorched-earth kind of way. The disbelief in Aashiq is also understandable, and he immediately tries to get her to take care of herself in ways she hadn't for months: eating regular meals, exercising, cutting back on caffeine, getting enough sleep, and making time for friends. These are all healthy ways to avoid burnout and refill the creative well that she draws from for her writing, which she had neglected to actually find the time to write while living in Brooklyn.
It takes a while for the relationship to develop, since Ziya has to come to grips with the fact that Aashiq is real. Her driven behavior meant that she didn't really connect with anyone but family and her best friend and roommate. She didn't try to meet others until Aashiq and his wide-eyed enthusiasm for life made her see the world in a different way. It's a good message for the rest of us: connect with people around you, find the common ground, and don't let fear rule you. While not everyone will have a muse come to life, you can still develop meaningful relationships with others.

I loved this romance book! It was so sweet and heartfelt, but also unexpectedly inspiring.
I really appreciated the diversity in this book but also how the main character of Ziya actually talks about how she wants to write stories about people like her too. After reading so many romance novels where the FMC and MMC are generally the same, it was refreshing to read about a Pakistani girl and her experience with love and writing romance.
Aashiq had BIG golden retriever energy in this book. It’s hilarious as well as endearing. How he makes Ziya see she’s capable of being the writer she’s always dreamed about being was heartwarming to see. This wasn’t your typical romance. There wasn’t a third act break up (thank goodness) and no real opposing “threat” (an ex or a secret someone is keeping from the other.) The only obstacle was Ziya herself and her insecurities and I liked how the story revolved around her bettering her relationship with writing and her passion for it. I loved seeing Aashiq helping her find herself again… and how she even helped him! There wasn’t no spice in this book, but their romance was so sweet!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this wonderful book!

I didn’t not enjoy the narration
And I just don’t get Aashiq.
I couldn't connect to the characters or the story.
I found myself forcing to read it and I had to DNF @ 30%.
Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for the ARC.

I thought that this was going to be a romance and it wasn't. Cute story about finding yourself and your confidence, but I really wanted some romance.

This was absolutely delightful. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were charming and witty.
It was a great story with developed characters.
The novel flows well and hits all the romantic comedy stops as the two main characters navigate this bumpy road.
This is a fun, sweet tale that is very enjoyable to read.
I highly recommend this fun and quick read.

Writing Mr. Right was my first novel by Alina Khawaja and instantly I found myself drawn in to the cultural aspects of her story. Much like her main character Ziya, Alina brings her faith and her experiences to the front and center of this romance novel. The premise of Writing Mr. Right is that after the main character, Ziya Khan, has given up writing, her writing muse personifies himself into a person to help her rediscover her love of writing.
Overall, I liked how easy this novel was to read! Although there were some heartfelt moments that hit close to home, I didn't find myself burdened by the content or the heaviness and pressure that Ziya felt. Rather, I resonated with the pressure that she had put on herself. I even underlined and read out loud to my husband many different paragraphs in which Aashiq teaches Ziya to embrace the fun of things again and get out of her own way.
Much like Ziya at the beginning, I did find Aashiq to be too good and a little annoying throughout the novel as his optimism and golden retriever energy were a bit too much for me, but I did love the simplicity of the romance arc and the way that Ziya grows through the novel.
This was a light, breezy, and entertaining read and I gave it 4/5 stars. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. This was a cute and funny read about Ziya literally writing one of her muse to life. With a touch of magic, her novel turns to life including her handsome muse, Aashiq. He helps pull out the best in her by bringing optimism to every situation, This story reminded me of a tween/teen rom-com movie that has the perfect happy ending.

This was an adorable romance story. I liked that in a way Mr. Right was just her creativity but at times I did wonder how that worked, was this something of an extension of herself then? I certainly had questions with that but our FMC and MMC were both adorable and I liked that it was some wholesome. Definitely a read for those who don't need/want spice and especially any who like something sweet. Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. I would love to read more from this Author and I'm excited to be part of the blog tour.

WRITING MR. RIGHT – Alina Khawaja
Mira
ISBN: 978-0778368663
June 10, 2025
Contemporary Fantasy
Brooklyn, New York – Present Day
Legal secretary by day, romance writer at night, Ziya Khan feels discouraged after receiving her umpteenth rejection from another agent. In frustration, she destroys her manuscript copies, including smashing the thumb drive. After crying, she falls asleep. The next morning, she awakens to discover a strange (and handsome) man in her kitchen. He informs Ziya that his name is Aashiq, and he is her writing muse. He’s there to get her back on track to writing once again. She is stunned, to say the least, and tries to resist Aashiq, but he follows her around, even to work. It turns out that he can sometimes be seen only by her, but in other situations, he can be seen by everyone. Aashiq is soon a part of her life, while he encourages her to start writing again. Is she dreaming, or is this a nightmare?
WRITING MR. RIGHT is definitely a different kind of tale. It is set in the present day, but with a magic…Genie? Aashiq certainly has magical powers, but even he can’t put a spell on Ziya to force her to write. The question of why he was “sent” is never answered. Is he part of her subconscious? He certainly seems real. How does Ziya get around having Aashiq by her side so much? At work, he is job-shadowing her, though he has issues with the copy machine. He might be magical, but it doesn't give him the power to know everything. She soon realizes how much she relies (or enjoys) having him near her. But the most important thing readers probably want to know is…does it work in that Ziya starts writing again?
If you can get past the silliness of having a magical muse appear before your eyes and be in your life nearly 24/7, then WRITING MR. RIGHT is a nice, easy story to read. I actually found it not only intriguing but interesting. Ziya has always been reserved in social situations. She was either busy in college, working, or writing, because her only true friend is her roommate, who accepts Aashiq at face value, especially since he’s introduced as Ziya’s boyfriend. But with a little push from him, she is soon friends with her coworkers and hanging out with them. In the past, she avoided socializing with them. Aashiq is changing Ziya’s life in more ways than one. She is on an adventure that she never thought she’d be.
The big question hovering over Ziya and Aashiq is what happens when she is finally done needing his help. Will he just disappear, or is there a way he can stay, even though he first appeared as a figment of her imagination? She is now falling for her muse! Readers will have to find out the answer by buying a copy of WRITING MR. RIGHT. Hint: You won’t be sorry.
Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today