Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong
Love on Ice and Finding Your Voice: A Canadian Romance Worth the Listen
I picked up Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong with a certain set of expectations. Having read her Otherworld series—packed with paranormal elements and some truly memorable spicy scenes—I was surprised to find this was a much tamer, contemporary romance. The spice level? Definitely fade-to-black, which felt a little unexpected coming from Armstrong. That said, what the book lacked in heat, it made up for in emotional growth and a genuinely satisfying character arc.
The story follows Gemma, a newly divorced romance writer who’s trying to find her footing—personally and professionally. Her first manuscript, full of the kind of romance she actually likes, went nowhere. So, nudged by her writing group, she shifts gears and writes a more popular “Alpha Asshat” hero—loosely inspired by her high school crush, now turned professional hockey player, Mason Moretti. Things get complicated fast when her muse is accidentally revealed live on air… right in front of Mason. Cue the fake dating scenario with the man who once broke her heart.
As a Canadian reader, I really appreciated that the novel is set in Canada. It’s always refreshing to see familiar cultural details woven into a romance, and Armstrong does it effortlessly. But what really stood out to me was how well the characters evolved over the course of the book.
Gemma’s journey is about rediscovery. Her ex-husband had chipped away at her confidence—criticizing her choices, her appearance, even pressuring her to give up her motorcycle. Over the course of the novel, she reclaims the parts of herself that had been pushed down: her voice, her passions, and her sense of self. Watching her grow more confident and unapologetic was one of my favorite elements.
Mason’s growth is more about unlearning old habits and learning how to communicate. In high school, instead of being honest about his feelings or goals, he let things fizzle out with Gemma. Even years later, he still falls into that habit of assuming instead of asking—like planning a date around what he thinks women typically like, without stopping to consider Gemma might not fit into that mold. Thankfully, both he and Gemma confront these issues and work through them in a realistic, emotionally satisfying way.
But the real highlight of this reading experience? The audiobook. I’d rate the book itself around 3.25 stars, but the audiobook is a full 5-star experience. I usually steer clear of dual POV narration because I cannot stand when narrators attempt to imitate each other’s voices during dialogue. This production avoided that entirely, and it made a world of difference. Even in a Gemma-narrated chapter, if Mason had dialogue, his narrator read the lines—and vice versa. It was seamless and immersive, and it didn’t pull me out of the story at all. On top of that, the subtle sound effects—like the soft dings of incoming text messages—added just the right touch of realism without being distracting. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite audiobook experiences to date.
So, while Writing Mr. Wrong might not have delivered the heat I expected, it offered a thoughtful and heartwarming story about second chances, self-discovery, and doing the hard work to become better—for yourself and the person you care about. And if you’re planning to pick it up, I highly recommend the audiobook version. It truly brings the story to life.
RATING: 3.25/5
AUDIOBOOK: 5/5
