This was a sweet book that was a pretty average read for me. Ziya is a writer whose muse comes to life. He is trying to inspire her to start writing again. It was really nice to read about a different culture than my own and I loved the Muslim representation in a romance book. This book is just a very cozy read.

So much charm, but not quite the story it could have been. Writing Mr Right by Alina Khawaja, hitting shelves on June 10, 2025, has a wonderfully whimsical concept,a struggling writer’s fictional muse comes to life to help her find her creative spark (and maybe something more). It’s imaginative, heartfelt, and refreshingly original. Ziya Khan is an easy character to root for, and her journey through self-doubt, creative burnout, and unexpected romance is full of lovely moments. Aashiq, the muse-turned-man, brings warmth and fun to the page, and their quirky connection has definite rom-com appeal. But while the premise had me immediately hooked, the execution didn’t quite live up to its promise. Some scenes felt rushed, others didn’t dig deep enough emotionally, and I found myself wanting more from the central relationship, and from Ziya’s growth as a writer.
Still, Khawaja’s debut shows clear talent and plenty of heart. It’s a sweet, easy read with an inventive twist, just one that left me wishing for a little more magic in the follow-through.
Thansk to Netgalley and and the author for the chance to read this book in advance.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

DNF: 44%

As Ziya heard many times about the book she queried at the start of this story: I couldn't connect to the characters or the story.

It's silly and over the top in an unbelievable way. I get that it's magical realism but the elements feel disjointed and ask me to suspend my disbelief too much. Was I mildly curious to see how things played out? Yes. That's why I kept reading as long as I did. But this one rubbed me the wrong way pretty much from the start:

- Ziya bemoans that the Hallmark-esque style she writes in isn't splashy enough for agents & publishers but doesn't try indie or self publishing.

- "Huh. I never would have guessed the hardworking, suitwearing, no-nonsense women I work with would be such big romance fans" (18%). That's so judgmental and naive of Ziya. This is set in current day; with the explosion of the romance genre, how is this a thought she has?

- Her idea that FMCs have to behave in a likable way or they're unrelatable (19%). It's just gross.

- "Like, if you don't have a splashy book deal or a literary agent, then your writing isn't as valid" (23%). Way to dismiss whole sections of the industry. Ziya's attitude towards writing and publishing seems massively messed up.

- Aashiq acts more like a life coach and/or therapist than he does a creative muse.

- Aashiq's quirks and knowledge seem poorly defined. He's aware of some things but ignorant of others with no rhyme or reason.

I thought at first that maybe this just wasn't a good fit for me. But I think this book needs some work on the whole. The dialogue is stilted or unrealistic and there's so much of it. Ziya is constantly telling us how she's feeling or what she's thinking instead of us experiencing it alongside her. I want the story to either lean harder into the silliness or be more grounded in reality. Right now, it's straddling a line that makes it hard to connect.

I know I'm referencing an ARC and that things might change between now and publication. If things do, I'd be willing to give this another shot. But as it stands, it's not enjoyable.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, MIRA, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Okay, where do I start? This book was exactly what I needed to read when I decided to pick it up. And if you go off the blurb:

“In this charming, delightfully original rom-com, a struggling writer’s muse suddenly comes to life—but can they create their own happily-ever-after?”

You’d think, *a lovely romcom*, and expect (like I did) to laugh, fall in love, and suffer a little heartbreak during the third-act breakup. But wow—I was *not* expecting this book to singlehandedly pull me out of my writing slump. (I've been working on my manuscript since 2022!) I had no idea it would be filled with such life-affirming advice.

This book is for all of us who have ever thought about giving up on our dreams. For those of us who let others underestimate us because we don’t trust our own power, or lack the courage to believe in ourselves.

Why read non-fiction self-help when you can take a ride alongside Ziya, discover your inner strength, and fall in love in the middle of it all?

Reading this romance was a delight in so many ways. The characters are well-developed (experiencing life as a newly formed person through Ashiq’s eyes was *everything*), the plot moves at a beautiful pace, and can I just say how much I enjoyed the intricacies of Pakistani culture woven throughout the story?

So go read it—**NOW**.


This book is for you if you like:
- Stories about writers and their creative process
- Forbidden romance
- *He believes in her*
- *He helps her see she was capable all along*
- A rich culture to dive into

Also, for my fellow writers: we *all* need Ashiq’s advice and routines to help us stay in the flow.

Thank you to Mira Books and Harlequin Enterprises for the ARC.

An adorable, cozy romance with a dash of magical realism. I really loved the premise in terms of the protagonist falling back in love with writing again in the most literal of ways, and there were a lot of charming moments throughout. The resolution of the story felt a little more rushed after a lot of build-up, but the characters themselves were endearing and easy to root for. I'll be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. My opinions are all my own.

Writing Mr Right has a wonderful premise. I enjoyed the Muslim representation and a peak into a culture different than my own.

I struggled to get into this book. I liked the muse aspect but I struggled with the fact that Aashiq was apart of her subconscious.

It is a very sweet book in all and I’m a sucker for happy endings! I give it 3.5/5

This was a really interesting take on a romance story. I enjoyed watching the author bring her muse to life through her stories.

This is a nice break from the crazy high drama spicy books, this was a sweet low angst romance book.

This was my first book by this author & I appreciate the opportunity to try out new authors!

I’m rating this book 4 stars for the magical realism plot that lured me in and Aashiq’s golden retriever energy!

Ziya is a struggling Pakistani-American writer who’s faced numerous rejections by her thirtieth birthday and finally reaches her breaking point. She’s just hit delete on all her manuscripts and smashed her backup hard drive when she makes a birthday wish at midnight. The next morning she wakes up with a strange (but handsome) man in her kitchen chugging chocolate syrup. Aashiq is Ziya’s literal muse and it’s his job to get Ziya to fall in love with writing again. Ziya is convinced she’s hallucinating (and who can blame her?) but gradually she’s forced to accept that not only is Aashiq real but he’s determined to help her find happiness again. As Ziya slowly falls back into writing again, she learns to love life, take better care of herself and gain confidence. Ziya’s also falling hard for her adorable muse which is unfortunate since the closer she gets to finishing her manuscript, the more likely it seems Aashiq might disappear.

I loved learning more about Ziya’s Pakistani roots and a little about what it means to be a Muslim. Ziya’s frustration and love-hate relationship with writing felt so relatable. I really liked how she put into words the struggle of getting something past the gate keepers and published, and why there’s still a lack of diversity in books. Also I liked how Ziya wants to attend law school as well as hang onto her dream of becoming an author.

This book is a clean romance with only a few kisses, some hand-holding and touching. They share a bed a couple of times but nothing happens.

I found it a bit weird that the love interest has literally sprung from her brain, I wish the author had separated them a bit more, but I’ve read weirder romances. I felt like the book got a bit repetitive and bland at times too. It’s very much a low-stakes book, but it was refreshing to watch Ziya fall in love with life again and Aashiq’s Buddy-the-Elf/golden retriever enthusiasm.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I was so eager for this romcom; it sounded incredibly charming and also super original. I mean, a muse actually coming to life? It just fell a bit flat - I understand that the purpose was for him to be able to push her outside of her shell and to get her to loosen up, but for me it just fell flat. I didn't feel connected with Ziya - I wanted too, I mean struggling, constantly being hit with rejection... the forever ending cycle of "am I good enough for this?" I truly get that, but I just didn't really connect to her.

The full circle moment of falling in love with him means falling in love with herself moment was also really hard for me to get with. I really struggled with that connection and romance.

Overall it is a very unique story and I do believe that this book is going to be so many peoples favorite of the summer - the magical realism parts themselves were beautifully well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was like a magical little surprise—unique, whimsical, and packed with charm. The fantasy elements? Chef’s kiss. They brought a fresh twist that kept things fun and engaging. That said, this story had so much going for it...witty yet serious, inspiring yet lighthearted, and just the right amount of tension to keep things interesting. If you like your romance with a side of magic and a dash of self-discovery, this one’s worth picking up!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my opinions

This book is perfect for the people who love Ashley Poston's Magic Realism aspect mixed with romance but for me I failed to connect with the story and have some conflicting feels with the story in general .

A cute little romcom nothing surprising it has the happily ever after as expected. I did,not love it though i thought it would be over, But. I think it is my own issues, i am over the stories about main characters who want to be writers it feels superficial. So it was a standard romcom

i really liked the setting and plot for this book and while it was great, it didn’t fit my cup of tea. for me the romance wasn’t as deep and romantic and i would expect for a writer as the character and i do wish that was focused on a bit more!

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.