A review by willingnfable
Managing the Matthews by Haleigh Wenger

3.0

*Thank you to Haleigh Wenger, CamCat Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Kell is the manager of 3 brothers who are also big time Hollywood actors: Ryan, Ash, and Jonah. She’s also been best friends with Ash since college. After Ryan’s sudden engagement and the opportunity for a reality show, Kell and Ash have to navigate their own relationship.

I was beyond excited for this book. Jonas Brothers inspired characters? Friends to lovers? Fake dating? Dual POV? Sign me up. I really loved the characters and how the story outside of the romance developed. I don’t know how Haleigh Wenger did it but even the background characters bad development without it being distracting. I love how she creates a world and backgrounds.

However, it never really felt like the romance itself developed. The only reason I knew Ash was the eventual love interest is because his POV was part of it. Every step just felt like it had no lead up. Like there was one hint of something that felt out of the blue and then all of a sudden he was obsessed with her. I wanted to root for them through the build up and the pining but there just really wasn’t much for the first entire half of the book and then the rest felt rushed.

The story of everyone doing the reality show and working through a weird time to grow and get to where they wanted to be? Great! Super interesting! The story of their romance? Fine.

It wasn’t a bad book, I just wasn’t really rooting for them. If the pining and build up isn’t as important to you, I think you’ll love it. It just wasn’t there for me. However, if there’s follow up books about Jonah and Ryan I will still give those a shot.