I think anyone who struggles to believe in themselves (especially writers) will enjoy this novel about a muse who comes to life and falls in love with the writer he's supporting. One small quibble: the title makes it sound like the love interest is a character Ziya is writing about who leaps off the page into her life, and it took me some time to adjust to the idea that instead he's her muse and just kind of... materializes from inside her brain.

But still, I enjoyed the story and think it will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

Omgggg if you love the following: Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Crave series, Red Queen and Powerless….THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! If you have had hangovers from any of those?… omg pick this up when it comes out!

I really wanted to FEEL more of what Blaze was feeling so I could connect with her more but it was still just soooo good. The characters really start coming together. There’s a lot of world building happening in the beginning but don’t worry…it’s actually entertaining and enjoyable!

If I go on about this too much more I will probably spoil something but just read this if you love romantasy with zero spice because, duh! It’s YA!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet book. I enjoyed it alright, but the romance wasn’t as compelling as I normally prefer. Most of the time it felt like she was more so falling in love with herself which would’ve been great if the author had leaned into that. I wish the FMC had realized a little more that she always had it in her to achieve big things and didn’t need to rely on someone else for that.

4.5 stars, rounded up

This book is perfect for fans of Sarah Hogle's Just Like Magic and Ashley Poston!

I really enjoyed this book! It's a very sweet magical realism reverse grumpy/sunshine story!

Legal secretary and aspiring author Ziya has faced rejection by literary agents too many times to count. After a particularly brutal one on her birthday, she deletes her manuscript, gives up on writing, and drowns her sorrows in cake (but not before making a wish on a candle).

The next day, she wakes up to find a strange man in her kitchen. This man, Aashiq, introduces himself as her muse, the physical manifestation of her creative spirit. Aashiq follows Ziya everywhere, bubbling with optimism and enthusiasm. Ziya insists that she's done with writing, but Aashiq will stop at nothing to get her to reignite her creative spark and keep trying to get published.

Despite him maybe not being real and definitely being a magical entity, Aashiq and Ziya develop feelings for one another as he helps her to find joy and fulfillment in her life.

This book is so cute! There were definitely some aspects of it that felt difficult to wrap my head around, but fiction is for fun, not for logic! I had a great time reading this one.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing MIRA and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Cute story , it was different than what I was expecting I honestly thought it was going to be about a character she wrote coming to life and was a bit disappointed to realize it was actually only her muse which felt a bit weird to me .

I honestly wasn’t a big fan of her falling for her muse…I loved the characters but the whole falling for a part or herself gave me the ick .

Well written , likable characters, different plot would recommend at the very least giving the book a chance.

Thank you netgalley Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the Arc

A fun romance that sweeps you into the lives of Aashiq and Ziya due to some candles, publishing inequality, and a desperate birthday wish! Aashiq is silly and is learning how to interact with the world around him, in a very genuine and thoughtful way. Ziya is finally learning to give her life some balance, and getting the support she needs to believe in herself more!

It is a book about writing, being yourself, and hoping for what you deserve (while doing what you can to achieve it). It was sweet and full of bold moves. It encourages us all to be a little more ourselves.

I loved this! It was such a unique concept, I regret that it took me so long to finally pick it up. What a fun read!!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this eARC. In this magical realism style story, we meet Ziya who is a writer but life is a bit hard for her. Just when she thinks she's going to give up, she has a real life muse into her life. This story is totally different from anything I've read. While most parts were cute and enchanting while others just did not always come together for me. I think if you come into the book knowing its a different approach to love, you'll enjoy it.

On the eve of her 30th birthday, exhausted and crushed by another literary agent’s rejection, Ziya decides to give up on her lifelong dream of getting her novel published. But before crying herself to sleep, she manages to a wish on an enchanted candle. When she wakes up there’s a handsome stranger in her kitchen who introduces himself as Aashiq, her writing muse come to life. Aashiq is eager to help her get her writing goals back on track.

Naive yet wise, pushy but curious and kind to a fault, he is the manic pixie dream guy Ziya needs to bring back the spark in her creative process. As Ziya starts to embrace Aashiq’s zest for life, she can’t help but fall hard for him. The problem is that Aashiq’s not a real person so any kind of future together is impossible.

Khawaja’s written another heartfelt story centering Pakistani-American and muslim characters. Set in New York City and featuring a prominent literary plot and fun fantastical elements balanced with real world storylines, this uplifting novel is a must read for fans of diverse, fun and cozy romances.

From her debut to now Alina's been a wonderful writer to follow on social media. Big shoutout to the team at HarperCollins that came through and got this ARC to me! The amount of emails and rapid fire responses were superb. I have some conflicting feelings about the book and have decided to not review publicly. But I will share that if you love magical realism, the vibes from 16 Candles/13 Going on 30, and K-Dramas this book is for you!

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain spoilers

3.75 stars rounded up to 4!

This was such a heartwarming and cozy romance, perfectly blended with just the right amount of magical realism to make it a fun and whimsical read! I especially loved how the book celebrated a culture different from my own, featuring diverse characters that brought new perspectives. It was fascinating to explore foods and references I hadn’t encountered before, and I enjoyed doing some research to learn more.

The story touched on a variety of themes including falling in love, self-care, and perseverance. It was truly inspiring and a reminder to always strive for better and never give up. The romance between Ziya and Aashiq was so beautifully written—capturing the giddiness of falling in love, the tension, the sweetness, and the challenges and decisions they faced together.

Beyond the love story, we also got to experience Aashiq’s amusing journey of adapting to the real world, as well as Ziya’s struggles with her career, writing, and navigating the complexities of being a single woman in a Pakistani Muslim family. While the resolution of the story felt a little rushed, which was a bit disappointing, the overall conclusion was still satisfying and wrapped up beautifully.

I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming, uplifting love story with no spice.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this opportunity!

A fun read! I enjoyed the magical realism and the plot. I thought the premise was interesting and the author executed it well.

Ziya and Aashiq were fun characters. Ziya was super relatable, especially to people trying to follow their dreams. Watching her rediscover her passion and fin herself again was beautiful to read. Aashiq was a delightful character. He's new to the real world so seeing the world through his eyes was inspiring. These two were a fun match.

The writing was a little hard to get into in the beginning but once the story started gaining traction, I was hooked.

A magically fun romance!

This is a great read for someone who is one the verge of giving up their dreams. Also, sometimes the best inspiration for yourself is yourself. Sometimes being too realistic keeps you from believing that good things can happen for you. I related so much to losing myself to the process/ end result that I have almost given up on things that I love. The romance isn’t the focal point of the book, and it adds to the storyline instead of evolving into the main point of the book. There were too many topical references for my liking but that’s just me. It’s such an easy read once you start you can’t help but feel apart of the journey.

**spoiler alert** This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review This review may contain spoilers.

Readers who loved I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue and fans of Ashley Poston will definitely enjoy Writing Mr. Write. While I personally had a difficult time connecting with the main character despite sharing similar interests, I think there are other readers who will see themselves in Ziya and her story.

Based on the title, I initially assumed the male main character from Ziya’s book would literally come off the page. Instead, “Mr. Right” turned out to be Ziya’s writing muse come to life. While I appreciated this creative twist, I struggled with the idea that he was “a part of her.” Even Ziya acknowledges this late in the book, saying, “And what if by falling in love with him, I’m falling in love with myself—maybe it’s some weird form of narcissism?” This question lingered for me throughout the story and made it harder to fully immerse myself in their romance. However, when I set this thought aside, I was able to enjoy the book as a sweet and cozy love story.

One aspect I found challenging was Aashiq’s role in the plot. He repeatedly claimed he was there to help Ziya with her writing, but for much of the story, his actions suggested otherwise. At around 60% into the book, Aashiq tells Ziya, “I know I’m here to help you with your writing, but I can help with other areas of your life, too.” Up until that point, he hadn’t actually helped her write. Instead, he focused on improving her diet, exercise routine, self-confidence, work, social connections, and overall outlook on life. While these changes did ultimately help Ziya rediscover her love for writing and life itself, the disconnect between what Aashiq claimed to be doing and what we saw on the page felt inconsistent.

Overall, Writing Mr. Write is a unique story with a happy ending, perfect for readers seeking a cozy winter romance with a touch of magic. While I had some reservations, I can easily recommend it to anyone looking for an uplifting and imaginative read

3

A delightful, cozy romance that blends magical realism and writing, perfect for authors and romance enthusiasts. Ziya, a struggling writer, makes a wish that brings her fictional character, Aashiq, to life. As they navigate their feelings and the boundaries between reality and fiction, Ziya rediscovers her passion for writing and herself.

This sweet, low-stakes romance is a refreshing, feel-good read, ideal for those seeking a breather between intense books. With its unique magical spin, reminiscent of Ashley Poston's works, Writing Mr. Right is a love letter to romance writers and a must-read for anyone looking for a heartwarming, uplifting tale..

The first word that comes to mind for this book is cozy. It’s a sweet romance that follows Ziya who has decided to give up writing for good, but her muse Aashiq comes to life and has plans to inspire her to pick it back up. As the story unfolds, you get to experience New York City (and honestly life in general) through a refreshing point of view and watch Ziya slowly grow outside her bubble. There’s no external issues that are looming or intense plot twists. This is a low stakes romance that feels like what you want to read when you are looking for a breather between really intense books.

I will say what really held me back on this book was how meta it was. I had that thought pretty early on in the book, but as the book progressed, that thought just grew more and more. It got to the point that I couldn’t even be present with the main storyline because I was feeling too much of the two overlapping. My focus went from just enjoying the story unfolding to feeling like I was almost being told more from what she was writing than what she was experiencing. And it also just made some of the resolution at the end feel a little rushed.

But I don’t think that everyone will feel this way! If you’re looking for a cozy sweet romance, you might really enjoy this one.

Also, one of the reasons I requested this book was because it reminded me of Ashley Poston’s magical spin on romance novels, and I feel like this definitely fit that thought! So if you are wanting a low stakes romance novel that feels like a love letter to romance writers, then this might be just the read for you :)

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for this early copy! All opinions are my own :)

I love books with magical realism and this one was no exception!

In this book we are following Ziya who is a legal secretary and an aspiring writer. After several rejection letters from publishers, she receives one more the night before her 30th birthday. At that point she decided that she is done with writing and wakes up the next day to find Aashiq in her kitchen cooking her breakfast. He explains that he is her muse and he is there to help her discover her love for writing once again.

With the help of Aashiq, she learns to let go, love life, and have more confidence in herself. Aashiq is a happy-go-lucky guy that most people just seem to love. He truly seems to say all the right things at the right time to Ziya.

I liked this book a lot and liked that it represented Pakistani women and the Muslim religion. I also appreciated that there was no spice and not a lot of language.

Such a cozy sweet romance. I immediately got into this book but then slowed way down. It was hard for me to get through it. It follows Zika who decided to give up writing but her muse, Aashiq, also the MMC, comes to life from her head and inspires her to pick it back up. I like magical realism in my romance, but this just didn’t explain enough for me. It was hard to really get into the MMC since he wasn’t really real, but what - a figment of her imagination.

As we go along with the story, I felt inspired myself to refresh my point of view on life, friendships, and relationships. It makes you think twice about your own life and if we are doing what we love and how we are doing it. Enjoyed those themes and self-care. It just wasn’t enough and felt like it dragged in some parts. No external issues or plot twists. The romance and chemistry was very bare. Cozy little story about sums it up.

Thank you NetGalley for an Arc.

really sweet and well written romance. i really loved the main character she felt very real and her growth was awesome. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This is the first time I have read this author and I must say I really loved this book. Ziya Khan , a legal secretary by day and a writer by evenings wrote a book and received so many rejections that she decided to give it up. One day she woke to her handsome muse Aashiq in her kitchen, He had come to help her and he did just that . He encouraged her to do things out of her comfort zone. He became a real person and they did things together. Follow her journey as she wrote her book, Things had developed with her muse and she knew writing THE END would end him being real. She found a good luck candle to see if he wished to stay a real person if it would happen A MUST READ. A VERY GOOD READ.