Managing the Matthews would be a great book for fans of reality TV shows and the drama that ensues, but for me personally it just wasn't a good fit. As manager of the Matthews brothers, Kell finds herself in a triangle of sorts on national TV. It was fun and I laughed out loud a few times, but it was slightly predictable and overall fell a bit flat for me. The writing itself is good and that kept me going, but I ended up skimming quite a bit.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was rough. I don’t know if the fault lies with me or with this book. First and foremost, the characters read much younger than they were intended to be. Their actions were immature and selfish. When approached with a new manager, Ash doesn’t tell Kell immediately? Not only that, but there was no internal struggle for him? Rather he is focusing his attention on the wishy washy heroine. In a book where everything is told rather than shown, I expected to at least see some of his struggle with that

The romance was unbelievable. The bit with Ryan should have either been written differently or omitted completely. Rather than Kell pining after him, maybe he could have made a move and then she struggled with potentially seeing something romantic there or pursuing her buried feelings for Ash. I just do not believe she went from all about Ryan to immediately falling for Ash. The very first chapter from Ash’s perspective should have included something about his own feelings, but both seem to come out of nowhere. Based on the cover and description of this book, I expected it to be an entertaining romance with some reality show drama sprinkled in. What was delivered was a drama filled novel that I just wanted to end.

Lastly, the fragmented sentences when reading from Ash’s pov were unnecessary and should have been corrected in editing.

I know writing a novel is not easy and Hayleigh Wenger should be very proud of her accomplishment. The character work was there. The bones for a good story were there. It just did not execute well for me.

3.75⭐️

I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this book. I was really invested at the start, because who wouldn't? As a fan of the Jonas' show, I was dying to read a book just like that. My 16yo self was really happy.

The banter between Ash and Kell was lovely, I was really rooting for them. To be honest I don't even know what she saw about Ryan, he was definitely as manipulative as they get. It was real funny to see the fakeness behind the reality show and I wish we would have seen more about Ash recording on film sets or on his auditions.

Unfortunately the ending of the book kinda feel through for me personally at the third act breakup.
I was expecting a more mature approach to the situation coming from Kell. Her actions felt rushed and nonsensical and then it took her all of two pages to get her life together and to get back to Ash.

I wished the ending would have been a little bit different, but overall this was a book I really enjoyed and a trope I haven't seen much of!

I can tell the author put a lot of effort into this book and I found it very easy to read. There were no overcomplicated words to trip me up as I continued to devour it. My only negatives is the characters needed a little bit more development and the beginning of the book felt like I had started reading it half way through as it jumped into the story . Having said that it may be because I have been reading a lot of slow burn romance novels lately. Overall, a fun easy read. 3 and a half stars.

Kell has put her heart and soul into managing the Matthews brothers throughout her entire professional career. But when one of the brothers unexpectedly proposes to a fan, her world crumbles and she begins wondering if there’s more out there for her. Throw in a reality TV show, some Hollywood drama and finding love in unexpected places, and you have yourself a fun, light read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Haleigh Wenger and CamCat Books for an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

Wanted to love this one so much because it definitely gave peak Jonas Brothers' vibes. But unfortunately, I just couldn't.

The MCs were flat, and the romance storyline felt a little forced. There were some sweet moments with the sort of found family aspect that made me feel a little feels.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

Kell is the manager of the Matthew brothers three of the hottest stars in Hollywood. She is hopelessly in love with one of the brothers and when said brother proposes to a fan her heart breaks. Ash the middle brother lends his shoulder for her to cry on. This all equals to be great for their new reality tv show where Kell pretends to date Ash.

Great book, however, would've liked to have more dates with Kell and Ash.

it would be great if it became a series so the other two brothers could end up with their happily ever afters.

This one totally fell flat for me. I could not get into it and considered DNFing at the 50% and 75% mark. I basically skimmed the last part of the book.

The book is supposed to be a Jonas Brothers / Kardashians kind of story, which I thought would be I teresting. But given I don't follow either of those shows, I probably should have realized it wouldn't appeal to me.

I was bored with the plot and the characters. The Kell/Ash pairing didn't feel believable. The romantic tension felt forced and one sided. The drama between the brothers was unoriginal and contrived. The happy ending was a let down.

Kell and Ash are longtime friends and professionally entangled along side Ash’s brothers in this story. This friends to lovers story was fun, well paced, and very entertaining— especially with the reality tv show storyline.

I enjoyed Managing the Matthews and adored Ash. I believed in Ash and Kell’s friendship which made the shift feel genuine when they finally allowed themselves to accept their feelings. I did not understand the infatuation with Ryan and felt his character needed more for that part to be understood. It also could have been better explained if Kell admitted to being into Ryan to distract from her subconscious feelings for his brother.

In the story, I did want to delve deeper into Jonah and Jessie and I was left wanting to give Ryan another chance in the right circumstance/storyline. So in saying that, I believe we can hear more from the Matthews in the form of redemption story for Ryan or hearing Jonah’s story— but we better get more of Ash and Kell if we get another glimpse! 3.5 🌟s rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Everyone knows Kell Simmons manages the Matthew brothers, the three hottest stars in Hollywood: action hero Ryan, romantic lead Ash, and sports star Jonah. But no one knows that she’s hopelessly in love with one of them.

When Ryan’s surprise engagement to a fan just about breaks Kell’s heart, Ash, himself unhappily in love, lends his shoulder to cry on. All this is great fodder for a reality TV show, one for which the brothers sign on for, and soon the days of their lives are filled with scripted dates, fake drama, and real heartache—all in front of a camera.

As the brothers’ popularity skyrockets into the stratosphere, Kell finds herself wondering how much, if any, of the spotlight she wants, if it means foregoing real love for fun and games on TV.

As a reality show addict, I loved this story. Perfect read for a dreary day. Will recommend to others.

Title: Managing the Matthews
Release date: 8/15/23, read 7/6/23.
Author: Haleigh Wenger
Book cover: I love an independent heroine like Kell.
Format: e-book
Page Count: 288
POV: Dual h Kell and H Ash
Setting: Hollywood and Seattle
Genre: CR, Adult Fiction
Tropes: fake dating, my bff, friends to lovers, celebrity romance
Rating: 3.5/4 ****
Source: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions are my own.

Quick summary: Kell manages the Matthew brothers' careers and lives while coping with a chronic illness. She is in love w/ the eldest Ryan Matthew, but after heartbreak she starts to truly see Ash.

Content warnings/triggers: h has illness, sex off page

Characters: Main and Minor
Kell Simmons- 25, BFF w/ Ash since college. Works hard for the brothers, but not appreciated.
Ryan Matthew-the action hero, vain and selfish
Ashley/Ash Matthew-type cast as the romantic lead but wants to do other things. BFF w/Kell since they were in college together.
Jonah Matthew-the sports guy, the youngest brother
Judith Holmes-their agent, passive aggressive/jealous? of Kell.
Claudette-Kell's BFF, dress designer
Samantha-A fan that Ryan hooks up w/ and gets engaged to. A grad student
Jessie-Jonah's live in gf, a special ed teacher.


Review: Kell is unhappy in her job with the Matthew brothers after 5 years. Her health and heart have taken a beating. My sister told me years ago when I worked at a job that stressed me out, that it is making you uncomfortable to let you know to leave. Everything goes wrong, everything gets on your nerves until it makes you physically ill. That is an extreme case, but Kell definitely knows it's time to let the brothers fend for themselves.
The lines become blurred with Ryan and Ash which spells disaster. I loved Claudette and Kell's parents for being there to break her fall. I'm glad she found a new job under her own steam and knew who was worth it in the end.

Kell has been the managing the Matthews here whole professional life, but is it time for that to change? Life in Hollywood is hard, and these men have not made being their manager easy. A few extra surprises thrown at her, and Kell has to make some hard decisions about what really matters. The characters were fun and relatable, even while living the glamorous Hollywood life, and there was plenty of humor added in. I enjoyed following along to see what happened next, and how the story would play out. A fun read that included some nice diversity with both medical and gender identities.

As manager of the hottest brothers in Hollywood, how could she not fall for (at least) one of them? Follow Kell as she tries to wrangle the  three very different but equally hot heartthrob Matthew's brothers and keep their careers (and herself) from drowning under pressure and expectations.

Three parts heartthrob, 1 part sassy manager, these characters will take you on an emotional but fun rollercoaster.

With the main theme surrounding the Matthew's brothers new venture into an unscripted series (a la Kardasian), this read was filled with pop culture references (Swifties, unite!) and is a reality TV loving, millenial girls dream (aka, mine)!

3.5/5

Fans of Hollywood stars, reality TV, and sweet romance will enjoy reading Managing the Matthews, the adult romance debut of author Haleigh Wenger. This book is told through two viewpoints. First, Kell is the manager of a trio of good-looking brothers: Ryan, Ash, and Jonah Matthews. She and Ash are college friends –nothing more– and Kell has helped them launch their careers and keep them in the spotlight. She has harbored an inappropriate crush on the oldest brother, Ryan, for years. The other viewpoint is Ash, Kell’s friend and the middle brother. The Matthews live together in their own place, which becomes a convenient setting for the reality TV show that Ryan wants them to do.

This story is a fun read, almost like watching a TV show or rom-com. It’s easy to get lost in the story. Wenger does a good job making the voices of her narrators different enough that the back-and-forth (though not always alternating) is not confusing. Some side characters have depth hinted at but we only explore surface levels with them. Though this is a romance, Kell truly is the main character and experiences major growth throughout the book, sometimes more slowly than I would have liked.

Three and a half stars rounded up because the story made me laugh.

Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the synopsis of Managing the Matthews!

A story about three hot Hollywood stars and their manager?! SIGN ME UP!

Unfortunately, Managing the Matthews fell flat for me. I think everything needed a bit more oomph to it - a little more excitement!

For example, I loved the character of Ryan because he was acting like such a jerk and it made me at least feel some emotion. But I couldn't connect with any of the characters and found myself not caring about Ash and Kell's storyline.

Thank you NetGalley and CamCat Books for making this book available to read in exchange for an honest review!

As appealing as the premise sounded (managing a band of brothers? Pining? Unrequited love? Sign me up!), it fell flat for me.
I could read how the FMC was into one of the brothers, while one of the other brothers was himself in an unrequited feelings situation, however those failed to evoke any feelings in me.
As such, this is a dnf for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I was super excited to read what I thought was going to be a soapy delight. But what I got a a dual POV story that was extremely sweet, slow burn romance. Enjoyable time, but not the drama filled mess I was hoping for.

Thank you to CamCat Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review

Managing the Matthews by Haleigh Wenger takes readers behind the scenes of reality TV, exploring the blurred lines between scripted drama and real emotions. Kell Simmons is the manager of the Matthew brothers, three popular Hollywood stars. However, what no one knows is that she is secretly in love with one of them. When Ryan announces his surprise engagement to a fan, Kell's heart breaks, and Ash, who is also struggling with his own unrequited love, becomes her source of comfort. The brothers sign up for a reality TV show, and their lives become a mix of scripted dates, manufactured drama, and genuine heartbreak, all playing out on camera.

The book offers a quick and easy read, with dual POVs providing insights into both Kell and Ash's thoughts and emotions. While the focus is on the romance, it would have been nice to have more backstory and development for the main and supporting characters, including the friends and the brothers themselves. The story is cute and goes beyond the simple trope of pining for a lost love.

However, the pacing of the book is slow, and the chemistry between the characters in the fake relationship feels lacking. Despite the intriguing premise of Kell's managing job, readers don't get to see much of her actually doing her job, which could have added depth and excitement to the story. Additionally, certain aspects of the plot, such as setting up a talent agency in L.A. with limited experience, seem unrealistic.

On a positive note, Managing the Matthews explores the friends-to-lovers trope effectively, presenting a journey of self-discovery and romantic exploration. The book captures the struggles of navigating love and fame, showcasing the potential sacrifices and uncertainties that come with being in the spotlight.

Overall, Managing the Matthews is an enjoyable read for fans of friends-to-lovers stories and those interested in the world of reality TV. While it falls short in terms of pacing, chemistry, and character development, it offers a cute and entertaining glimpse into the complexities of managing relationships and fame.

3.7 rounded up to 4/5

Managing the Matthews by Haleigh Wenger follows the Matthews family and their manager Kell on their journey to fame in Holywood with romance movies. This all changes when the Matthews brothers want to expand their horizons from romance and start acting in a wider range of movies. This is when they start filming a reality TV show full of drama and fake love. It is during this time that Ash and Kell discover they have feelings for each other meaning the book takes a happy twist as they finally enter a relationship, then break up before getting back together again.

Once I got into this book it was highly addictive and I could not put the book down due to the effective use of cliffhangers. I continuously wanted to know what was happening next as I felt strong emotions for the characters featured in the book. It was, therefore, definitely very gripping. It was also nice to read a book which may reflect the reality of life a bit more without all the fictional drama. Yes, this is set in Holywood with celebrities but the dilemmas and emotions that the characters face are all very real to wider society. I definitely enjoyed learning more about the characters and the sexual imagery included in this work added another level of satisfaction.

There is not much I can say that I disliked about this book. At first, the book was hard to get into and there wasn't much happening at the start so the first few chapters may have contributed little to the rest of the book but it was definitely useful for providing background information on the characters and their pasts.

Altogether, I rate this book 4 stars making it a very good book because it was highly gripping and the language used allowed the reader to form strong imagery in their heads throughout the book which adds to the excitement. I very much hope for and look forward to a follow-up book to see how Kell and Ash progress both in their professional and personal life. I would like to thank NetGalley and CamCat Books for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in return for an honest book review.

This book is probably closer to 3.5⭐️ for me.

I enjoyed Managing the Matthews. It didn’t play out the way I thought it would, but the sweet, closed door romance was the perfect midweek read.

I appreciated the sibling dynamic shown and how the female main character didn’t rely on the male main character to solve her problems.

Overall this was a cute and quick read that I would recommend to friends, especially those looking for a beach read or a plane read.