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A review by cluckieduck
Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favourite authors, and was really my introduction to the romance genre beginning with her Otherworld series, so when I saw the chance to get an ARC of her first foray into the rom-com genre I jumped onboard so quickly. This was like the rom-com of all rom-coms for me - I was just smiling from start to finish!
This book hooked me with a banger of a first line - "'I need a penis,' Daphne said." See, Daphne's got a bit of a conundrum - her YA dystopian romance book isn't selling. Well, it wasn't, until she had a wine-related epiphany and decided to tweak her cover letter to focus more on the survivalism aspect and less on the romance. Oh yeah, and submit it under a male pseudonym. Lo and behold, she receives a $500k offer on the book and now the publishers want her to do some press. But how will Daphne, aka Zane Remington, do that? In steps hired 'actor' Chris. After a rather delightful meet-cute misunderstanding, Daphne & Chris team up to tackle this grande facade.
I loved both MCs. Daphne is competent, savvy, and a badass living off-grid in the Yukon. Chris is...not that. He's totally out of his depth with this assignment which makes for some hilarious interactions during the beginning of their relationship. He's basically the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude! While he may not be the outdoorsy Zane Remington, he is the perfect book boyfriend - he's thoughtful, funny, glowed up from geek to chic during college but still identifies as the geek, and he bakes.
While Chris bumped up his resume to accept the position as Zane Remington, I was happy that didn't keep this from Daphne for too long, as it helped solidify their relationship, allowing them to become quick friends, and soon to be lovers. They have excellent chemistry, and while I was slightly miffed about the choice to fade to black, it didn't make me like it any less because them just being together and interacting was enough for me. I mean:
This book hooked me with a banger of a first line - "'I need a penis,' Daphne said." See, Daphne's got a bit of a conundrum - her YA dystopian romance book isn't selling. Well, it wasn't, until she had a wine-related epiphany and decided to tweak her cover letter to focus more on the survivalism aspect and less on the romance. Oh yeah, and submit it under a male pseudonym. Lo and behold, she receives a $500k offer on the book and now the publishers want her to do some press. But how will Daphne, aka Zane Remington, do that? In steps hired 'actor' Chris. After a rather delightful meet-cute misunderstanding, Daphne & Chris team up to tackle this grande facade.
I loved both MCs. Daphne is competent, savvy, and a badass living off-grid in the Yukon. Chris is...not that. He's totally out of his depth with this assignment which makes for some hilarious interactions during the beginning of their relationship. He's basically the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude! While he may not be the outdoorsy Zane Remington, he is the perfect book boyfriend - he's thoughtful, funny, glowed up from geek to chic during college but still identifies as the geek, and he bakes.
While Chris bumped up his resume to accept the position as Zane Remington, I was happy that didn't keep this from Daphne for too long, as it helped solidify their relationship, allowing them to become quick friends, and soon to be lovers. They have excellent chemistry, and while I was slightly miffed about the choice to fade to black, it didn't make me like it any less because them just being together and interacting was enough for me. I mean:
He took her hands in his. "I'm not asking you to commit to anything. I Just need you to be open to the idea that this is more than a fling...nothing can be certain. That'd be like writing a book and deciding it's going to be an instant bestseller. But you wrote it in hopes it would be the start of something real. A possible new direction for your life...that's all this is, our first chapter. Pen to paper with the hope of finishing the story." He met her gaze. "Do you want to start a story with me, Daphne?"
It was also fun to see the reverse side of the writing/publishing world, especially knowing that Kelley has gone through this herself. She manages to still touch on some hard truths surrounding sexism, racism, and internalized misogyny while keeping the balance of of a good-natured rom-com.
While there is a sort-of 3rd act breakup stemming from some miscommunication (my least favourite trope), it's actually handled like the adults they are (!) which I appreciated.
All in all, this was a quick, easy read with dynamic characters, witty banter, and a fabulous Yukon backdrop. Kudos, Kelley - keep the rom-coms coming!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content