The Wrong Name on Valentine's

by Audrey Halliwell

When he finally gave me attention, he accidentally whispered another woman's name.

For years, I competed with Ross’s firm—and his eager junior associate, Tabitha—for a scrap of his attention. I thought Valentine's Day would be the night he finally came back to me. Instead, it became my nightmare.

After a night of heated passion, Ross didn't whisper my name. He whispered hers.

Shattered by the realization that he brought another woman into our bed, I vanished. Now, Ross claims he’s ready to do the burn his career, his partnership, and his legacy to the ground just to prove I’m the only one he sees. He’s willing to become a ruin to save us, but I don’t know if a foundation this cracked can ever hold again.



Marriage in CrisisBetrayal & GrovelOW DramaWorkaholic HeroSecond Chance RomanceSame HeroNo CheatingOTT Shorts are designed to jump right into the dramatic plot. They can be read in any order.

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Second Chance Romance, Contemporary Romance, Marriage

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2026

About the author

Audrey Halliwell writes messy, twisty, can’t-look-away romance.

The kind where the other woman has secrets, the ex-fiancé still lingers, and the plot twists slap you like a betrayal at brunch. If you’ve ever screamed at your Kindle, rewritten endings in your head, or fallen in love with a character who absolutely should’ve known better, you’re in the right place.

Audrey blames her obsession with dramatic romance on her mother—she was watching soap operas in elementary school and devouring V.C. Andrews and Gossip Girl by middle school. Armed with a college degree and an unapologetic love for emotional chaos, Audrey writes stories where women stumble through heartbreak, betrayal, and obsession before reclaiming their power.

Her heroines might be messy, but they always find their glow-up.

When she’s not plotting angsty love triangles or crafting emotionally ruined men with great hair, you’ll find her designing something on Canva or rereading her favorite tropes like it’s self-care.

Reviews

[Paula (in & out) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marriage in trouble trope
No cheating (physical or emotional). MMC not attracted to OW.

MMC is a workaholic and he puts his job first over his wife and she had enough, especially after he randomly said "Goodnight, Tabitha" - aka calling the OW's (his Ass't) name after sex.

A little OW drama (his Assistant) who is in love with him and tries to cause trouble but MMC is not having it.

Some redemption but not enough in my eyes.

[Kiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wrong Name on Valentine's, part of the OTT Shorts, was about Ross Calder, an architect, and his wife, Margot Calder, an artist. (Their ages were never given, but from the constant reminder that Ross had "salt-and-pepper" hair, they weren't spring chickens in their 20s.)

Ross and Margot had been married for ten years. All that time, Margot had taken a backseat to his career. Now things were getting worse because, for the past five years, Ross had been constantly late returning home from work, and he was showing too much attention to a junior co-worker named Tabitha. On Valentine's Day, Ross was late for dinner...again. But the worst part was after they had been intimate, Ross whispered, "Goodnight, Tabitha," as he was falling asleep. While his brain finally caught up to his words and he tried to dig his way out of the doghouse, those words were the last straw for Margot. He called it "muscle memory", while she considered it betrayal. She called her BFF, Wren, who told her to pack a bag and go stay at her place. So she did.

Ross chose to go to work instead of saving his marriage because he believed that in order for him to save one, he had to save the other. Margot received 3 voicemails from him, so she decided that she'd give him ONE chance. She agreed to meet him later that day, but while he waited for her to arrive at the coffee shop, work called him...again, so he missed his wife's arrival and departure. But she left a note telling him she wanted a separation.

At work, Ross broke down and told a colleague what was going on. His friend told him the truth...that he had proven to his wife that he put work before her, and that he hadn't "sacrificed for the marriage", but rather he had sacrificed his marriage to save his job instead. When Tabitha said she heard him say that he had his wife by her name, she used that to undermine Margot and his marriage verbally. He dealt with her and then quit his job. As he was telling Margot what he had done, his boss called. He put him on speaker, and what they both heard was the impetus behind their marriage's failure. His boss told him...on the phone and in the hearing of Margot and her BFF...that he had known Ross' marriage was in crisis five years earlier, so he deliberately gave him an overload of projects to force the end of the marriage. That was when Margot realized everyone at work knew what was going on, even if Ross hadn't...and yet he had allowed it to happen. That broke her.

The story was full of angst, anger, heartache, and an emotional rollercoaster that had too many twists and turns for the length of the book. There was the usual push/pull between the two main characters, and the conflict created by the other woman drama trope. What it lacked was any real work being done on the relationship itself because the author focused more on the work each main character was doing on their own, separate lives, rather than working together to salvage their marriage. Once Margot left, they were rarely ever together. When they were together, other people were in the mix, so that they weren't really focused on their relationship. The author waited until it was almost too late for them to do the actual work on the relationship.

Inconsistencies: Ross said he had gotten Margot flowers, but they were "in the car right next to my briefcase". However, the next morning, his briefcase was in the house, ready for him to pick up on his way out the door to go to work. The timing was frequently off in the story. When the author was telling it from Ross' POV, several days had passed, but when it went back to Margot's POV, it was only two days. From the moment she left in Chapter 3, only Chapter 5 was from her POV. We got 6-9 from Ross' POV, until it was her POV again in Chapter 10; all of the days were mixed up, as were many of the facts already shared. For instance, he already knew where she was staying because he had found out from her parents. But in Chapter 10, he had only just found out...umm...nope.

The concept of the storyline was great. However, the final product fell flat as a board. There were too many things that weren't cohesive, or they disappeared without any resolution. It created the feeling of unfinished or missing significant information.

While both main characters were fully developed and mature, they lacked personality and the depth needed to feel more real. The growth that was done was more verbalized than fulfilled in actions, which was disappointing.

I only gave this a three-star rating because it needed more tweaking and finessing. It was a decent story, but it just needed to be refined. I just didn't live up to the hype.

[Tatianna Castellanos · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to preface this by saying the writing was great….

but i didn’t like our hero / Main character. Originally you believe it’s about Margaret and her pain/ neglect but it’s more about him learning how to be a husband/ present.

I won’t lie, i did cry so maybe i could potentially move it up to a 2.25 - 2.50 but it was more out of heartache for Margaret. I just felt like she kept wishing for him to chose her and he continues to chose his job.

I highlighted a couple of lines to express my thoughts.

“that I ordered for her—oat milk, one pump of vanilla. I remember. See?”

one thing i appreciated is that she saw his manipulation and drama. but this line made me so upset because this was him being like i remember what she likes, im doing good which is like 😣 ugh just because you remember means nothing if you aren’t there


“I know I’m the villain in this version of the story.”
erm sir in every version you are the villain to me 😖

but i’ll be honest this isn’t my trope that i normally go for so i think maybe it hit too close to home and the pain and confusion of Margaret really hit home.

I just wished we had more time with the couple but i guess the ending was good. I just was so upset because it was so real but a lot of it was unrealistic but hey it’s a fiction book. I think if you love 👁️‍🗨️ Marriage in crisis 👁️‍🗨️ OW drama 👁️‍🗨️ Betrayal, grovel & redemption 👁️‍🗨️ Workaholic hero 👁️‍🗨️ Second-chance romance 👁️‍🗨️ No physical cheating 👁️‍🗨️ Same hero you could love this book. I loved being able to branch out to a different trope for a change but it’s not my cup of tea

I think the book did put me through the wringer of emotions and anger which is what great writing does! I just didn’t agree with the emotions i was supposed to feel, but that’s what makes this relationship real because it doesn’t make sense to anyone but you. There will be ups and downs and the rekindling was real and raw which i give high praise but i just didn’t feel how i was meant to feel.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know

I think the heroine is a little too hard on him. I totally understand what he did was egregious. I would have nailed him to the wall for crying out loud. But he totally changed his life to.get her back. I don't nothing he was ever attracted to Tabitha and she ended up being more than just a caricature of a wannabe OW. I didn't like her but she accepted that her actions were out of line. I'm glad it ended up the way it did. I was worried shed reject him after all he did to please her. But it was good.

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, if you ever feel like reading about a male lead who messed up badly and you want to see some good grovellings... This is it.

Is grovelling a trope in romance btw? Because if it's not, it should be.

As for the plot itself, it's about a couple who grew apart due to the husband's obsession with proving his worth through his work. I like some of the nuances the book showed, especially regarding the male lead's feelings. His vulnerabilities and his sense of self-worth. And how it led to their break-up. Some parts of the book felt a little too realistic even, but instead of bumbling real-life humans who didn't want to open up because of ego and suck at communications, these fictional characters did it. They tried to fight through their issues and become better because of it.

Hence, very much enjoyed it.

[olivia V.]

again.. not rating this book. decent story, had potential, felt the anguish a bit when the shit hit the fan but ai assisted writing leaves a lot to be desired.. again with the smells, it's like a hallmark of chat gpt or something. things in this book smell like regret, impermanence, redemption?? so weird. i've never read about a couple who liked talking about lamb so much.. she made lamb and it was mentioned so many times. did she not know how to cook anything else? there are odd time jumps and inconsistencies, take you right out of the story. anyways.. the mmc took a bit too long to get his head out of his ass but he did and it was ok. I actually had a hard time liking the fmc. note to self, avoid this author.

[Jill S · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine. I didn't feel the angst. The book did not grip me as I expected it to.

My review was tagged as being a review of an advance copy provided by the author. It was not. I was not provided a copy

[J McCabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read!

Oh my heart! This was a great Valentine’s read. The novel opens with not only a major heartbreaker but a major spirit breaker too. Our FMC is emotionally wrecked and decides she’s had enough. We watch her character develop and grow from being a “back burner” wife to allowing herself to shine. Our MMC is painfully clueless. PAINFULLY clueless. He’s a mess. He’s lost. He’s confused. He reminds me of my teenager sulking but I absolutely adore the friendship he builds with Elias. Elias is his perfect Yoda and reminds me of my dad when he’s at his wits end but has still decided to (very reluctantly) guide me. We all need an Elias in our lives.

OW drama - yes
Emotional cheating - yes
HEA - yes

On a side note, I feel like this novel would be a great companion for a lesson on the 5 Love Languages.

I had this one on my wishlist and got super lucky when our amazing author reached out looking for ARC readers.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are so many things just don’t make sense.

1. First Ross has been absent for a few months then only the last three weeks then really the last 5 years.
2. He says his clothes smell like Wrens place. Ross was at Wrens house for probably 5-10 tops trying to talk to margot and then he walked out into the pouring rain…how would his clothes smell like wrens place?
3. Ross is supposed to be some great architect and he I’m guessing has a nice house but his neighbor has cracks in the ceiling and a sagging porch.
4. Ross quit his job but then his boss sends a gift basket to his neighbors house for him. How would he know that Ross is staying there?
5. Tabitha is supposed to be the “work wife” secretary. But then in later chapters she goes to Ross to ask him to join a new firm she’s creating. Isn’t she an assistant??? And another thing she shows up at the neighbors house to talk to Ross and says she knows he was there because she saw his car. Why would Ross move his car when they are next door neighbors.
6. Margot and Ross have been separated for two weeks and she hasn’t painted in years yet she has a showcase event happening only two weeks after she left him???

[Kierra Brice · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Review: The Wrong Name on Valentine’s by Audrey Halliwell


The Wrong Name on Valentine’s by Audrey Halliwell follows Margot and Ross Calder through one of the most emotional, messy, and deeply human journeys I’ve read in a long time. Margot is married to Ross, an architect who’s been distant for years, and she hopes Valentine’s Day will finally bring them closer—until, after they make love, Ross falls asleep and calls her by another woman’s name, Tabitha. Shocked and heartbroken, Margot tells him to get out. She calls her best friend Wren, who urges her to leave, and Margot packs her bag and walks out with the devastating line: “To a place where no one calls me by someone else’s name.” Ross spirals, calling repeatedly, begging to explain, but when Arthur calls needing last-minute Dubai project edits, Ross chooses work again instead of going after his wife. Later, they plan to meet at a coffee shop where Margot intends to ask for a separation, but Arthur interrupts yet again, pulling Ross away—and Margot leaves him a note reading, “Keep the glass cage. I want a separation.” Ross finally breaks down and confides in his coworker Chan, who tells him to quit and stop letting Arthur run his life. Ross tries to resign but hesitates… until Tabitha comes onto him, thinking the name slip meant he wanted her. He snaps, kicks her out, storms into Arthur’s office, and resigns for real. He goes to Wren’s to apologize to Margot, but Margot tells him quitting isn’t enough—five years of neglect aren’t something you just forget.


Separated, they each try to find themselves. Ross can’t go home, so he ends up staying in his neighbor’s guest room, learning hands-on skills and working with tools. He starts trying to prove to Margot that he can be present, dependable, and not the distant workaholic she married. Arthur drives by harassing him, insulting Margot, and Ross finally stands up for her, telling Arthur no, right in front of her. Ross gets a new job at Affordable Homes, one where he can be out of the office by six and actually show Margot she is the only one on his mind. After dinner one night, Margot invites him to her showcase; he brings flowers, and when he gets a notification, he turns off his phone and walks toward her, choosing her over everything. Tabitha later approaches Margot to apologize for disrespecting her, trying to wreck their marriage, and treating it like a technicality—owning the hurt she caused before saying goodbye.


Ross continues rebuilding himself. He fixes the bathroom leak after learning from Elias, and he tells Margot he’s committed and ready whenever she is. They walk in the park they used to go to when they were dating, and Ross admits he got a small studio apartment because he wants to establish himself before asking for a future with her, to date her properly. But Margot worries he’s hiding again, shrinking himself into another box. She surprises him by asking him to cancel the lease, give her six months, and move back into the house—just not in their bedroom yet. They fall into a routine of morning coffee and soft conversation, but Ross keeps narrating every chore he does, acting like a guest performing “husband duties,” and Margot calls him out—she wants the real him, not a project, not a performance. One night he promises he’ll be home by six to cook carbonara, but when he’s forty-five minutes late with no call or text, Margot fears he’s falling back into old patterns. She throws the pasta away—only for Ross to burst through the door covered in grease, with a cut hand, explaining his tire blew on I-96. He ran up the driveway because he knew exactly what she’d think. Later, while she works in the office turned art studio, he offers thoughtful artistic advice she never expected, and she finally asks him to move back into their bedroom.


Six months later they host friends for dinner; Ross cooks roast chicken from scratch, and everyone toasts to the man he’s become. When his phone buzzes on the table, he doesn’t touch it—he just looks at it, looks back at the group, and shares the news out loud that the Hemlock Project got approved. After everyone leaves, he washes dishes while Margot dries. And on the next Valentine’s Day, he gets home early to Margot making carbonara—properly, without cream. They cook together, talk about their days—her being asked to lead the community outreach program for her collective, him saving a porch and getting renovation permits for the library. Ross gives her a handmade leather book filled with pages of his handwriting, focused on the present instead of the future. That night, as they get in bed, he kisses her goodnight and, this time, he says, “Good night, Margot.” And for the first time in years, it feels real.


I absolutely love second-chance romances, and this one delivered everything I look for. There’s no physical cheating at all — just a heartbreaking misunderstanding tied to Ross being so buried in work he didn’t notice how Tabitha acted around him. This was my first time reading Audrey Halliwell, and she captured heartbreak, rebuilding, and emotional tension beautifully. It’s a hearty Valentine’s novella that pulls you in from the start, and you should definitely pick it up. And honestly, I would’ve reacted exactly like Margot — because if a man ever called me the wrong name in bed after sleeping with me? Oh, I’d be FURIOUS too.




If You Love:

Dual POV
Second Chance Romance
No Physical Cheating
Spice
Healing
Drama/OW
Workaholic
Marriage In Crisis
Betrayal
Same Hero



Add This To Your TBR Immediately 📚💗




-Kierra Brice🩷

[Allie | Looking for Likeminded Souls | Addicted to my Kindle 🫀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

People shouldn’t let their jobs define them. Your career shouldn’t be the only thing that defines you and that dictates your worth, your person should be though.

Our hero learned that the hard way. I was glad for his personal growth but didn’t really feel „the romance“

Honestly I think the life of corporate america was more passionate as the love story? As an European in corporate I can’t really comprehend the need to work on weekends and long hours, but it‘s kinda interesting to see how the rest of the world rolls. It‘s nice that the hero realized there are more important things in life than a job.

[Mona · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars bc I liked how the mmc checked himself before he totally wrecked himself ( ba da bum tss ). Seriously tho I don’t enjoy books in which all the drama happens within the first few chapters bc then what else do I have to look forward to?!? Boring grovel that I have no investment in bc the MCs relationship wasn’t built up enough for me to care you say and I say yes, yes, you are correct! Man, I wanted more PA ow drama scenes bc then it would’ve really gut punched me when he said PA’s name.

[Saunders · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 52%
Overdone drama.
Margot? I’d divorce her!

A woman that
“I can’t do this right now”
“I need time”
“Good bye”

If she wants to build a home, she needs to stop building caves. Instead SHE treats her marriage like a project.

Ross redeemed himself but Margot?
Somebody give her the smelling salts!

Went onto finish but the drama was there-right to the end.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when your nelgectful husband says another woman's name on Valentine day after you have been intimate - nothing good that is for sure. This is a really great look at a marriage in trouble.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't feel anything!

I don't know how to explain it except I didn't feel anything from this book. It absolutely did not bring out any kind of emotion in me.

You have a couple, he says wrong name, they work on it I guess. It as if a robot wrote the book that did have any feelings.. Just strange.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bueno, él tipo si que cambio y mejoro, bastante drama la verdad, me hubiera gustado leer más romance, casi todo el libro fue angustia

[Lindseyrenee · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 82%

I couldn’t manage to finish this one. It just got too silly.

The beginning was fine, but once the story got to a point where the characters had to actually make coherent arguments, it all fell apart.

Suddenly, the MMC wasn’t staying late because he wanted partner, he was staying late to avoid going home. He records one conversation with his former boss, stops the recording before the conversation ends, and sends it to the Labor Board. Weird enough, but then that leads to an investigation (??? For having conversations in public???) and the entire firm falls apart?! And a developer in DUBAI pulls out of what’s apparently the only major project the firm has because of the investigation. Sure Jan.

Also, a courier somehow correctly delivers a gift basket (wow such harassment) from the ex job to the NEIGHBORS house where the MMC is staying instead of leaving it at his actual house next door.

The FMC “finds herself” in art classes. Apparently they’re free bc I don’t think she has a job? Or a personality besides “sad.”

The OW goes from “predatory” (FMC’s words) to apologizing to the FMC for no clear reason.

Don’t get me started on the nonsensical photo/video montage the MMC looks through to really feel how absent he was in his own life. All the photos and videos that he apparently took that show how he wasn’t there and didn’t want to be there, yet somehow took all these pictures.

Also the writing is very, very generic. “It smelled like lemon pledge and neglect” kind of generic writing that doesn’t even make sense.

[I’m a Paula too… Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was really good…

This OTT Shorts series is really good. I think I’ve read two or three so far. They are definitely intense and interesting, but they really focus in on the specific issues the characters are experiencing.

In this one, the MMC, Ross says the wrong name. It’s in the title so this is no surprise. The majority of the book deals with how his wife, Margot, reacts. How he has to take a hard look at himself. What he needs to do to himself in order to fix what’s wrong.

KU read, but this may be a keeper. This is an excellent series…

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

No cheating marriage in trouble with a decent grovel

[Serena Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

’Prefiero ser miserable en un tejado y feliz en mi cocina que un dios en esa ciudad y un fantasma en mi propia casa.’



•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.



The Wrong Name on Valentine's de Audrey Halliwell

Argumento:

Cuando finalmente me prestó atención, accidentalmente susurró el nombre de otra mujer.

Durante años, competí con el bufete de Ross —y con su entusiasta socia junior, Tabitha— por un poco de su atención. Pensé que el Día de San Valentín sería la noche en que finalmente volvería conmigo. En cambio, se convirtió en mi pesadilla.

Después de una noche de pasión intensa, Ross no susurró mi nombre. Susurró el de ella .

Destrozada al darme cuenta de que había traído a otra mujer a nuestra cama, desaparecí.
Ahora, Ross afirma estar listo para hacer lo impensable: quemar su carrera, su sociedad y su legado hasta los cimientos solo para demostrar que soy la única a quien ve. Está dispuesto a convertirse en una ruina para salvarnos, pero no sé si unos cimientos tan agrietados podrán volver a resistir.


Mi humilde opinión:

Romance con segunda oportunidad y matrimonio en crisis.

En serio Ross, cómo llegas dos horas tarde a la cena de San Valentín, en tu aniversario? Y para el colmo llamas Tabitha a tu esposa, una compañera de trabajo, después de una noche pasión el mismo día? Para Margot fue la gota que derramó el vaso. Honestamente no sé como aguantó cinco años esa situación, debería haberlo dejado mucho antes.

Es después de susurrar el nombre de otra mujer en la cama y que su esposa se fuera de la casa que Ross se empieza a dar cuenta de cuan abandonada tenia a Margot y su matrimonio, cuan negligente fue con ella y cuanto le falló cambiándola por su trabajo. A pesar de que es consciente de todo eso y que lo primero que debería haber hecho es ir por ella, explicarse y probarle que le importaba, qué es lo que hace él? Se va a trabajar al día siguiente, sigue poniendo en primer lugar su trabajo! Quería “arreglar las cosas con ella”, como si fuera simple, y todo lo que pensaba hacer me sonaba tan calculado y falso.

Detestaba el Ross ambicioso adicto al trabajo que terminó destruyendo su matrimonio pero el Ross que intentaba salvarlo comenzó a caerme bien. Podría haber seguido como siempre porque estaba teniendo éxito en su trabajo, podría haber dado todo por perdido con Margot, pero no lo hizo, quizás demasiado tarde pero por fin iba a despabilar.

Aunque le costó romper las viejas costumbres, Ross comenzó un largo camino, sin darse por vencido, para recuperar a Margot. Pero Margot no lo perdona fácil y teme que caiga en los viejos hábitos. Quiere ver un cambio genuino en él. Durante la mayor parte del libro Ross se humilla y hace grandes cambios en su vida para convertirse en el hombre merecedor de su amor comenzando por renunciar a su trabajo.

Por un momento pensé que Tabitha sería la típica villana creando más problemas entre Margot y Ross. En la parte en que ella intenta seducirlo pensé que Ross iba a ceder, y a pesar de que él se paralizó ante sus avances, piloteó bien esa situación porque en realidad él nunca estuvo interesado en ella mas que laboralmente, aunque esta no lo había entendido así. Una vez que él le dejó claro esto, ella pidió disculpas y se alejó.

Si bien no hay infidelidad, sí me pareció que hubo engaño emocional. Las cenas perdidas por quedarse trabajando hasta tarde, atender el teléfono cuando estaba pasando tiempo con su esposa, flores y joyas, regalos que impersonales que ni siquiera los elegía él porque su cabeza estaba en sus proyectos laborales, era como estar engañándola con su trabajo.

Me pareció que fue algo bueno que los protagonistas tuvieran su tiempo de separación para encontrarse a si mismos, ver la perspectiva del otro, reconocer errores, sanar y ver lo que les hacia feliz individualmente. Se notaba que todavía se amaban, se aferraban a eso y no se daban por vencido con el otro. Por eso me hubiera gustado más verlos trabajando para componer su relación porque los momentos juntos fueron pocos, mucho me lo contaron y no mostraron.

Este es un romance para el día de los enamorados diferente, no es divertido ni dulce, tiene mucho drama y angustia, es sobre un matrimonio que prácticamente muere y no sabes si podrán volver a revivirlo, es sobre sacrificios y elegir lo que realmente importa, cuidar y valorar a quien te ama.

La historia no es extensa, se lee fácil y tiene una escritura decente. Noté inconsistencias, hubo preguntas sin respuesta y la encontré un poco repetitiva pero me gustó.

[Megha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

Okay so This is a mature, emotional marriage-repair romance focused on redemption, forgiveness, and learning that love requires presence, not perfection. While some sections become repetitive, the character growth and satisfying reconciliation make it a rewarding read with a well-earned happy ending.It felt a little bland at times, especially through the middle where Ross repeatedly proves he's changed in similar ways, making parts of the redemption arc feel repetitive. However, the emotional journey, mature communication, and satisfying character growth make it an enjoyable second-chance romance overall.

Tropes

Second Chance Romance
Married Couple in Crisis
Marriage in Trouble
Emotional Infidelity (not physical)
Groveling Hero
Workaholic Hero
Redemption Arc
Slow Reconciliation
Forced Proximity / Living Together
Trial Separation Under the Same Roof
Hurt/Comfort
Emotional Healing
Domestic Romance
Art × Architecture
Happy Ending
Single Couple (MF)
No Cheating (physical affair never occurs)

I am providing a summary of the book, feel free to skip if you don't want spoilers, i am writing it down cause I know I will definitely forget this book after time....so I would say...like a average read

Margot and Ross Calder have been married for years, but Ross's obsession with his prestigious architecture career has slowly destroyed their relationship. On Valentine's Day, he arrives home over two hours late after another exhausting day working under his demanding CEO, Arthur Keane. Margot has spent hours preparing a romantic dinner, only to watch it grow cold while waiting for him.

Realizing how badly he has hurt her, Ross turns off his phone for the first time in years and dedicates the evening entirely to her. They reconnect emotionally and physically, seemingly repairing the damage between them.

Everything falls apart moments later when Ross accidentally whispers another woman's name—Tabitha—instead of Margot's while half asleep after sex.

Although Ross insists it was simply because Tabitha, his coworker, had dominated his work life for weeks, the damage is devastating. Margot believes he has emotionally replaced her, even if no physical affair occurred. She throws him out of their bedroom, and their marriage effectively ends.

As the story unfolds, Ross realizes that his career and toxic work environment have consumed his identity. He resigns from the prestigious architecture firm despite enormous financial consequences. With help from their neighbor Elias, he begins rebuilding himself into someone who values family over status.

Ross repeatedly tries to earn Margot's trust—not with grand romantic gestures but through consistent actions. He rejects several high-paying jobs that demand endless overtime, choosing instead a small architecture firm focused on affordable housing and community projects, allowing him to finally have a healthy work-life balance.

Meanwhile, Margot begins rediscovering herself through painting. Her artwork becomes a symbol of her independence and healing. During her first gallery showcase, Ross quietly attends with a bouquet of wildflowers rather than extravagant roses.

Unexpectedly, Tabitha appears at the gallery. Instead of creating more conflict, she sincerely apologizes to Margot, admitting she blurred professional boundaries and disrespected their marriage. She acknowledges that Ross also made mistakes but accepts responsibility for her own actions before leaving permanently.

Ross later exposes Arthur Keane's abusive workplace behavior by providing evidence to the Labor Board. Arthur loses his position, the firm's biggest international project collapses, and many employees leave the toxic company.

Although Ross initially plans to move into his own apartment, Margot surprises him by offering something much harder—a six-month trial of living together again, with Ross staying in the guest room instead of immediately returning as her husband. She explains that she doesn't want polished apologies or long-distance redemption; she wants to see whether he can truly be present in everyday life.

Living under the same roof again forces them to confront ordinary domestic life rather than dramatic romantic moments. Ross learns to stop performing perfection and instead shows his fears, insecurities, and vulnerability. Margot slowly recognizes that his changes are genuine, but she refuses to rush physical intimacy simply because their emotional wounds are healing.

Their relationship gradually rebuilds through honest conversations, shared meals, daily routines, and small acts of trust rather than passion alone. The novel ends with them no longer trying to recreate the marriage they lost, but beginning to build a healthier, more balanced one together.

[Makenzie Goodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I do feel like this was a decent marriage in trouble, second chance w ow drama book. BUT if you read other reviews, I agree that their are some major inconsistencies and things left out. BUT it is also advertised as an ott short. so 🤷🏼‍♀️that is what this is.

So we have margot who has is married to Ross an architect for ten years. but he’s been absent for 5 years. So at some point it’s said that because he was chasing a promotion to partner but at a different time it’s said he was avoiding going home. But idk I personally chose the partner theory cause it makes sense to me with this book. So he comes home late on valentines and they do the devils tango. But as they are going to sleep he says the awful words “goodnight tabitha” um 😶 what?! 😮oof

Margot immediately shuts down. don’t blame her. He is a big asshole the first half of the book so be prepared. cause he’s like it’s muscle memory sense I spend 14 hour days with her and see her name everywhere. Well maybe if you spent time with your wife like a normal person you would remember the correct name. margot leaves to her friends. Then get this crap. The next morning his first thought is I should go after my wife but then his phone chirps it’s mating call and he’s like but I need this promotion cause then I could show her it wasn’t all for nothing. 🤦🏼‍♀️immediately no. Sir right in that moment you chose your job over your wife. like his marriage is crumbling and your going to WORK to be in the same space as tabitha.

She even calls him to give him a chance but he was at work and probably saw her call him but didn’t answer. They even arrange to meet again but the phone chirps the call again. And Again he choses work over her. His sorta friend really gives him 10/10 advice of telling him, you weren’t sacrificing for your marriage you were sacrificing your marriage for the job and ross needed to quit to have a chance. Does he quit? no of course not. the man is addicted to feeling important and being apart of projects. He waits to quit until after tabitha makes a move on him. That moment really made me rage as I read it. Cause this man really froze for like a whole minute straight. tabitha walks in locks the door and walks around his desk while talking about how she understands him and knows they understand each other. While she’s going to kiss him and he sits there like a bump on a log. She even says but your not stopping me and I agreed with her!! like man move!!! he finally did ending that and quitting.

he really had no feelings for tabitha. He even later says she could have been a man and he still would of been at work. he tries to go to margot but she kicks him out of her friends house. He ends up living with their neighbor on his couch. He helps him with building some and margot starts taking art classes. now someone else said they mainly focused on themselves instead of as a couple and I agree with this cause most of the book is them separated. like margot would barely give this man the time of day. I honestly didn’t feel quite like she loved him but I felt like he loved her. Cause the man quit his dream job and is living on the neighbors couch.

Margot eventually moved back into their house and he’s still at the neighbors. His old boss and tabitha come by but he shuts its down each time. Ross goes to tabitha art exhibit and He gets a good 9 to 5. They hang but idk it doesn’t feel intimate. Beyond margot being sad because of the betrayal there really isn’t much to her. Which is probably why I didn’t connect much with her. She doesn’t have much back story besides being ignored and having one friend. I don’t even know if she had a job before or what she did. While Ross we knew was trying to climb the corporate ladder. Eventually they move in together but to me I just don’t feel like she likes ross that much. There is some karma to ross’s boss and the couple get back together. They have a great valentines a year later and it’s ends with him saying goodnight margot. I loved that though.

So overall, I needed more background on margot and to understand her besides being neglected housewife. There should also be more consistency but I did enjoy it and had a great time.

[JillyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing to note about Audrey’s writing, is she doesn’t usually go the typical route. It is what makes her style unique! Ross and Margot have been married for 10 years. He is an architect and for the past 5 years he has worked for a firm that builds skyscrapers and they are amazing. He really wants to make partner…so he has become a workaholic. Late nights, missed dinners, impersonal gifts, phone calls during couple time…everything. In addition to this he has an attractive coworker that is the jelly to his peanut butter. Tabitha…..When he comes home late on Valentine’s Day, his wife Margot is upset but somewhat resigned to this life. However, after smexy times, in the afterglow He says, “ Goodnight Tabitha” he instantly realizes what he did but the damage is done!
Ok so since this is a Novella I will stop here but I will check off the tropes list the author provided.

Marriage in Crisis- Yes! and for some time. We are coming in at the moment it all changes. Where it is no longer just a marriage in crisis but a marriage on its deathbed.

Ow drama: Yes! Tabitha working so “closely” has developed feelings for Ross. I mean she is with him more than anyone else. However, what is interesting is how AH handles this OW. This is where her unique style comes in. You will want to read this to the end!

Betrayal and grovel: Yes! Well the betrayal is pretty obvious. The wrong name was only part of it. Does he grovel? Most of the book is him making the changes to become the man who loves his wife. To me that is a pretty long grovel. There is no easy fix, and Margot doesn’t accept things that do not show real change.

Workaholic hero- Yes! He likes the status as well. So this isn’t just about making money, there is ego involved here!

Second Chance Romance- Yes! This couple has to find their way back to each other, but both make changes along the way.

No Physical Cheating- Yes! There is no physical cheating and to be honest there is no emotional cheating with another person despite that name drop. However, Ross is emotionally cheating on his wife with his job!

Same hero-Yes! However, the hero makes such drastic changes that one might say he is not the same hero. He has a makeover for the better.

This novella arrives just in time for Valentine’s Day! It is a novella, so you may have questions or wonderings, but for the sake of keeping the story short the author has to skim things that may be expanded on in a longer story. I guess as a reader you can fill in the blanks! There is really only one smexy time, at the beginning and it is mild. The book is really focused on the aftermath and how the two characters are able to come back together.

[BiblioDarling · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE WRONG NAME ON VALENTINE'S DAY
AUDREY HALLIWELL

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating System (as of 8/14/2025):
⭐: It was a struggle to read. I almost DNF
⭐⭐: This could have been so much better.
⭐⭐⭐: Good/Average
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Great book. I will probably reread it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I absolutely loved this book.
***********************************************************************
Triggers:
🚩Humiliation

Tropes:
💕MF Romance
💕Marriage in Trouble
💕Novella
💕OW Drama
💕Betrayal/Grovel
💕HEA
💕Workaholic Hero
💕Second Chance Romance
💕No Physical Cheating

**********************************************************************
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice Level Rating System (as of 9/4/25)
🔥: Clean. Handholding. Kissing.
🔥🔥: Non-Descriptive/Implied on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥: Hot-Descriptive on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥🔥: So Hot—Do Not Read in Public
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥: Oh My-BDSM. Blood Play. Smut.
************************************************************************
Quote:
"I'm not acting. I'm...scared."

Summary:
For the past five years the MMC has been working on his career and putting his marriage on the back burner. On Valentine's Day he comes home late. After a night of love making, he says his coworker's name when saying good night to his wife (FMC). This leads to the FMC leaving him. MMC and FMC both go through a time of self-discovery, growth and reflection. Eventual HEA.

Review:
The pacing of this novella was like that of a novel. I truly enjoyed how the MMC had to find himself and really understand his willingness to sacrifice his marriage. FMC recognizes that she has lost herself in her marriage. FMC takes the time to grown into who she has always wanted to be. Plus, I liked how the FMC was not a pushover. The side characters: FMCs bestie, the neighbor and coworkers added great dimension to the story as well.

BIBLIODARLING | BOOKISH LIFE, TBRs & READING CHALLENGES GROUP (GOODREADS)
https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...
*****************************************************************************
FOLLOW ME ON:
INSTAGRAM📢
https://www.instagram.com/bibliodarling/

SUBSTACK📢 https://open.substack.com/pub/mterron...

TIKTOK📢
https://www.tiktok.com/@bibliodarling...

WATTPAD📢
BiblioDarling (@BiblioDarling) - Wattpad

INKITT📢
https://inkitt.com/BiblioDarling

[Ꭿຖᥲ·♡ ྀི · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5✯

-2nd chance
-dual POV
-married couple (10 years)
-no om drama
-no cheating/both celibate during separation
-ow drama: like the blurb says the hero said OW's name a few minutes after he finished having sex with his wife -this woman was a co-worker and she had feelings for him but he had no interest in her- he said her name bc he was a workaholic so he was spending more time with her at work than with his wife, ("Saying her name wasn't because I want her. It was because she's the personification of the office.")... the OW tried to make a move while the MCs were separated, she cornered him and tried to kiss him, when her lips touched the corner of his mouth he pushed her away, in the end when the OW realized that the hero didn't want her she apologized to him and the h
-pushing away from h
-the hero cried and begged on his knees
-there were several inconsistencies with the timeline
-epilogue (HFN): 1 year after the first chapter
----------------

“For almost five years, we were a team, Ross. We shared everything. And then… you whispered my name. In your sleep. In your bed.” She swallows hard. “You don’t do that with someone you don’t have feelings for. That’s why I thought… that’s why I cornered you. I thought you were afraid to make the first move.”

****************

“I need to be clear,” I say, keeping my voice low. “I didn’t stay late because of you, Tabitha. I stayed late to avoid my life.” She freezes. “You were the deadline,” I say. “You were the pressure. You were the work. When I whispered your name, it wasn’t desire. It was anxiety. You were the symbol of the world I couldn’t put down. You were the panic attack I woke up to. You were efficient,” I continue softly. “You made the work easier. But if you had been a sixty-year-old man, I would have spent the same amount of time at that desk.””

[Mariana Ponce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tenemos a Margot esperando a su esposo, Ross, el 14 de febrero, pues también es su aniversario. Ross llega horas tarde, es arquitecto y trabaja mucho. Van directo a la habitación, tienen sexo, están felices y todo bien, hasta que le dice: "Buenas noches Tabitha".
Tabitha es una mujer que trabaja con él, así que todo se desmorona para Margot....



Spoilers
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ellos ya venían pasando por problemas matrimoniales, Margot lo corre del cuarto. Ross se la pasa trabajando y ella ya había visto como Tabitha lo miraba en la fiesta de la empresa. Era obvio que quería ser ella la que estuviera del brazo de Ross. En la mañana, Margot se va con su mejor amiga, y Ross decide que es mejor irse a trabajar. Ross está distraído y le cuenta a Chan, su compañero lo que pasó con Margot y lo de Tabitha. Está última los escucha, así que piensa que Ross lo dijo porque la desea. Va a su oficina, la cierra y se le insinúa. Ross la rechaza y decide renunciar. Su jefe no le cree y empieza a acosarlo para que vuelva, pues Ross se encarga de todo lo importante. A Ross no le importa, y aunque es difícil, decide encontrar un trabajo en el que pueda tener vida y no vivir 14 horas encerrado trabajando. Tabitha lo busca y le dice que el demostraba algo por ella. Ross deja claro que ella solo era estrés de la oficina, daba igual si era ella o una viejita de 80 años, solo era una compañera y ya. Margot retoma cosas que le gustaban como la pintura y consigue una exposición de arte. Ahí aparece Tabitha, pero no hace drama, solo pide disculpas por lo que causó con Ross y ya. Un día, ella lo espera, la deja plantada y piensa que volvió a los viejos hábitos, pero no, se le ponchó la llanta, cayó en un bache y se cortó, ella lo cura y él le pide que confíe en él, que ya no volverá a ser él de antes.
Poco a poco Ross y Margot se van acercando, empiezan lentamente hasta que ella lo deja mudarse como compañero y finalmente como pareja que se conoce y valora.

[Jiminy Cricket · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bad writing (that thinks it's good)

In honour of this travesty I'm writing this review in the same format as the novella.

The writing, so extremely distracting.

A staccato poetic sounding book.

Every emotion a metaphor to some mundane chore, something so commonly common.

The mind feels like Ravel - Le Tombeau de Couperin, Toccata. Ping ping ping ping fingers in a frenzy across the keys.

The author doesn't see; the mind is not a revving engine of lost hopes. It's the liminal space where notions are born and die. Where was my emotional revelry and despair? My grovel? Where art thou behaviour that is truly problematic? Not this. Not some overblown marital bed mistake.

Fabulous quotes for your perusal:

"faint oily scent of lamb" "My thoughts are a blurred collage of lamb, [and] silk" "Memories of Valentine's night flash through my mind with strobe-light intensity: the congealed lamb" Lamb lamb lamb lamb the author's favourite meat

"I trail my palms along the worn spine of the emerald velvet sofa. I bought it at a flea market... It cost fifty dollars..." where is your husband ma'am?

"the Dubai project" repeated over and over and over "I want to dissolve into the pixels of the Dubai project" Dude we really wish you would.

"I pick up the wood. It's still heavy. It still smells like sap. I still hate it." Um... buddy how about that marriage. We were promised something about a marriage????? Où est le marriage?

I mean, yes, sad sack Ross did utter a hypnogogic "Tabitha!" postcoitally, on the day known as Valentines. But did we ask for the melodrama that followed?

The wife is a delusional ‘lady who lunches’ I hope her future includes food banks. The husband has wife induced anxiety.

Quick poll: hands up if you’d murder your husband for quitting his job when you live next door to a man with a sagging porch, and not in a mansion

[Raffaella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute short story about a marriage in crisis.
The hero is a successful architect that has been neglecting his wife for the last five years, while she tries to make him see her.
Their valentine dinner turns out to be an epic failure.
He comes back late, again, and after dinner and sex he mutters his female colleague name instead of his wife’s.
Not so good.
The wife immediately dumps him.
He’s panicked.
He tries to explain but once again works is in the middle and for days he can’t talk to her.
Meh.
After some days she tells him she wants a separation and he collapses.
He decides to resign, and starts doing other things hoping his wife will take him back.
Only after he changed his life completely the heroine gives him another chance.
What can I say, I was more amused than angry when he said goodnight to his wife calling ow name.
Ow was the colleague he spent all day with, and no, he never thought about her romantically.
It was more habit than anything else.
And I believe him because when I first got with my boyfriend at 18 I often called him with my bff name and she was of course a girl, so I believe it was out of habit, and the heroine acted out of proportion. But that was just the last of many things he did to her during the last five years so I suppose it was inevitable.
I wasn’t even too angry that he worked so much, it happens in real life and maybe he was not happy about it and his wife of course wasn’t happy too but I’d like to know, had it been a woman in his place we would be here defending her choice because of women rights.
Whatever.
I’m confrontational today so bear with me.
The book was short but good, the hero was kind of clueless and definitely burned out from work, I loved how they reconnected and I definitely like this authors writing style.

[Dewey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in the OTT Shorts series - meaning, over the top. The author actually really delivers what this is: OTT melodrama. It was so bad that it made me laugh. I actually liked the characters. Dual POV too which is good but also keeps them distant from one another. They don't really get together until 75%. Despite some corny situations and inconsistent timelines, I liked it.

Yes, Ross was a workaholic who sacrificed his marriage in the pursuit of partnership at the firm. Yes, Margot definitely was neglected and justified in leaving him. However, he really really did love her. NO cheating happened other than letting work consume him until there was nothing left for her. He wises up and resigns, sacrificing his career for her. What follows next in this short story is the emotional drama both people go through.

He says his house ejected him. So he camps out on his neighbor's couch because he has no place else to go. The neighbor takes pity on him and puts him to work fixing things. Therapy using power tools. She needs time to 'figure out who I am when I'm not managing your life.' She takes a pottery class because she wants to experience the same thing Demi Moore did in the movie, Ghost. Oh please.

Margot didn't have to sacrifice her life, her interests, just to manage his life. I mean, how long does it take to get the dry cleaning? He was gone most of the day anyway. It's not like she was his assistant. She could have taken art classes. I was less sympathetic to her.

Then 'Tabitha' shows up, to ask him if she imagined everything. He explains that she was the anxiety, the deadlines, the panic attack. She wasn't the muse; she was the stress fracture. Great explanation.
Later, the author brings her back a third time, and that was unnecessary.

[Mairi Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this arc and this is my honest opinion.
This is a story of a neglected wife with OW drama, second chance, grovel.
The heroine, who is an artist, is married to the hero, who is an architect, for 10 years and the story begins on Valentine's day where the heroine has made a dinner but hero is late once again. He tries to apologise, again, and they sleep together where after doing the deed and in the brink of falling asleep the hero whispers his assistant's name!
You would think that he has an emotional affair with his assistant but truly this isn't the case here. It is devastating to read something like that and even worse after as a reader you realise it was just a slip like muscle memory. But the damage is done and it was the cherry on the top. Because their relationship has been damaged long before the slip.
It's quite emotional reading it, the hero's realisation that he made a mistake and the devastation that his betrayl is more than a slip. His confusion as to what the next step for gaining back his wife and the feelings in that moment. I wanted to get in the book and slap him to make him see some sense. He eventually clears his head and he takes every action to make that true. But mostly to make himself a better man in order to deserve her.
And the heroine doesn't budge easily and calls him out on his mistake when he tends to slip in his older ways.
Overall it was an emotional reading with some angst and a lot of grovel. It's quite short so it can be read in one afternoon, or monring in my case.