Pretend

Neighbor from Hell #0

by R.L. Mathewson

There was nothing more painful than falling in love with your best friend.

From New York Time’s bestselling author R.L. Mathewson comes the prequel to the disturbingly funny romantic comedy series, Neighbor from Hell.

She couldn’t do this anymore.

After watching her best friend and the man that she’d been in love with her entire life propose to another woman, Morgan decided that it was time to finally move on. She made plans, plans that Eric didn’t know about and she planned to keep it that way, but unfortunately for her, one bet destroyed everything, leaving her with no choice but to be there for her best friend one last time.

He was done.

After catching his fiancée cheating on him, Eric Bradford was done wasting his time on women that he had absolutely no hope of falling in love with. He just needed time, a chance to get away, and he just needed…

Her.

Determined to figure out how he kept screwing up his life, Eric takes his best friend on the honeymoon that he’d spent a fortune on and asked her for one more favor, one that would change everything, and leave him with no choice but to do whatever it takes to stop the one woman that meant everything to him from finally walking away.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Humor, Audiobook, M F Romance

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2023

About the author

New York Times Bestselling author, R.L. Mathewson was born in Massachusetts. She’s known for her humor, quick wit and ability to write relatable characters. She currently has several paranormal and contemporary romance series published including the Neighbor from Hell series.

Growing up, R.L. Mathewson was a painfully shy bookworm. After high school she attended college, worked as a bellhop, fast food cook, and a museum worker until she decided to take an EMT course. Working as an EMT helped her get over her shyness as well as left her with some fond memories and some rather disturbing ones that from time to time show up in one of her books.

Today, R.L. Mathewson is the single mother of two children that keep her on her toes. She has a bit of a romance novel addiction as well as a major hot chocolate addiction and on a perfect day, she combines the two.

In 2019/2020, R.L. Mathewson will be publishing Devastated, the first Anger Management novel, Tall, Dark & Furious, the 6th installment to the Pyte/Sentinel series, Irresistible, the long anticipated novel for the Neighbor from Hell Series as well as many more books throughout the year, paranormals, contemporaries, and YAs.

Reviews

[alaynasvanity · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am literally sick with anger at myself for even finishing this book. I’m in actual tears because why? Why did I finish it? Why didn’t she just fucking leave? At least for a little bit? I am so fucking angry I can’t breathe. I have never been so disappointed in a heroine. I’ve hated them but sheer disappointment? This is a new low. She worked her ass off to build a new life and it all gets thrown away with half a fucking chapter? Please be fucking serious? How much of a goddamn doormat do you need to be to stick around while your best friend who you are in love with, dates women that aren’t good for him and then you pick up the pieces for him? Are you fucking INSANE? I’m in literal tears I’m so angry. If I could wipe any memory I have of this author, I would just so I don’t have to remember anything about this book.

[Angela Hates Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so poorly written, there are no words for how difficult it was to read. Constant sighing and EXCESSIVE overuse of the word adorable, conversations that hopped around so much they didn’t make sense. Boooooo.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing. I've read some early NFH and they were entertaining but I think this might have flogged the dead horse far enough.

Soooooo many heartfelt sighs, endless sad looks and mumbling and a FMC that probably wasn't meant to be, but came off as a bit of a doormat.

I just didn't feel the connection between these two at all. No feels so I ended up skimming a lot 😔

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was just ok for me. What started out as a good things, just seems old after so many books. It did drive me nuts that it took so long for Eric and Morgan to end up together because neither would talk to the other about their feelings. Working on the house by themselves was a good way to start their relationship.

[Krati Vishnoi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating - 1 star

I am 21 chapters in and till this point it is repetitive, Eric is thinking how he f****d up and how Morgan is adorable!! Seriously, we don't need to know how much Eric thinks Morgan is adorable at least twice in a chapter.

There is not a single time till 21 chapters which could make me laugh let alone smile!!

I'll update once I finish it but till here, it is a pass from me and as I love this series it was a let down.

Edit- After completing this book, I can verify the humour was missing for which this series is known for.

The writing was repetitive and characters were blah!!

Although I missed Jason and Trevor, author needs to move from their books’ blueprints and find something diff like it was in Fire and Brimstone.

[lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this author...cute fun fast read. Only complaint the overuse of the word adorable.

[M.E. Clayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed Emotions

I love the Neighbors From Hell Series so much that I never thought I'd ever give any of the books less than 5 stars. However...

Having fallen in love with the entire family and how close they are, I couldn't get past that Jason and Trevor would do what they did. It bothered me throughout the entire book, making it hard for me to really enjoy it. The lack of loyalty for a family so close was a problem for me 🙁

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Safe, fast and familiar read.

Having said that, I didn't like the beginning... I don't remember that being referenced in other books. I think that every element of that bet made them all look awful... I kind of had that in the back of mind for the read... left a sour taste.

I wanted to read more about the house... more about what secrets it might have held...

I think that there elements of RLM's books that I really truly love... but some just don't work for me. Ah well, I am assuming that Theo is next. Although, in all honesty I feel a little more invested in what I hope will be a Bradford wedding for Sebastian and Mikey when they are... older. I mean, I tried to read 'Misunderstood', but I think that I didn't really understand it ( see what I did there??!! ). I don't tend to enjoy YA... prefer a little more maturity in my reads!!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/29/2023)! 🎁

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious as always!

No cliffhanger
Standalone though part of a larger series
Told from both POVs
Ends at 91%
More editing errors than I am used to from this author

Eric and Morgan have been best friends all their lives. They have also been in love with each other just as long, but a misunderstanding convinces them both that their feelings aren’t returned.

In a quest to try to find love elsewhere Eric asks a girl he doesn’t even love to marry him and in doing so shatters Morgan’s heart. But…when Eric catches his soon to be wife cheating on him at the rehearsal dinner it sets off a chain of events that will finally cause Eric and Morgan to admit their feelings. They just have to pretend to be married for a bit.

I don’t want to give too much away but this book is full of all the food stealing, humor and steamy scenes we have all come to know and love. I didn’t want to put it down!

Can’t wait for Theo’s book next!

[Crystal Solis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those crazy Bradfords!!

Who doesn’t love a Bradford?! I fell heAd over heels in love with the Bradford Family way back in the beginning when I read Jason and Hailey’s story. Let me tell you, it only got better from there.
These crazy Bradfords may have problems sharing treats, letting vendettas go, or even not getting kicked out of a buffet or two…but they are loyal to a T. Never have a I read of a family with more love than this one, even if it’s tough love full of mockery and bullying, it’s love none the less.
I loved getting to know Eric and Morgan and how this family got started in the construction business and just everything. The chemistry and love with just perfection. I don’t think I’ll EVER get enough of a Neighbor From Hell book because they make you feel all of the feels. Thank you R.L. Matthewson for allowing us to experience all of that.

[Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unrequited love between best friends? *check* Lots of fun and hijinks? *check* A forever bond that just grows stronger? *double check*. You know with a book in this series you are going to get fun, steam, and all sorts zaniness, but I’m always struck by how much emotion is always woven in between all that. Or, how different all the stories develop, and how each Bradford is so different. I loved everything about Eric and Morgan, and before I knew it, I was done the book! NO breaks, no mind wandering, they had me fully invested in their story, and I was there with them for everything that happened <3

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretend

One of my favorite series is the Neighbor from Hell series, and this hits the spot. Although I wish it had a bit more funny scenes with food. Those always made me laugh.
I really liked Eric he just couldn't muster the courage to do what he really wanted and then he sealed his fate with not doing the one thing he wanted. Morgan was just as bad with not letting her feelings be heard. After all he is a Bradford and needs to be told out right. Lol
This was your typical Bradford story that we've all come to love. I do wish it played out different on the honeymoon scenes.
I did enjoy this story especially towards the end. And the epilogue was pretty freaking good!

[Stef(midnight_reads_addict) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series has had my heart for years! The Bradford’s are just everything you need in book your book boyfriends.

Eric and Morgan have loved each other all their lives but none of them will admit it out loud. I loved there back and fourth during the book. This book has it all spice, humor, never ending banter, and friends turn to lovers.

I won’t say much else but after many books in this series it still hits the same way it did when I first started reading it. Happy reading!

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a sorta love hate/ not quite bully romance vibe. I just honestly didn’t love it as it felt so over the top played out you question many a times, why? Not often with the bully trope do you get a solid yep that’s the one. Just isn’t organic, feels over done and just blegh.

[Ella • _elliereads · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 77%

I’m really surprised that I didn’t like this book that much. I loved every single other book in this series but somehow this one just felt a bit off.. The writing felt very repetitive and a the storyline just felt a bit silly tbh..

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forgot how over the top the main characters are. It was super silly half the time. I did like the couple themselves.

[J.Bautista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible writing, sorely disappointed

I really wanted to like this book. I even pre-ordered it with such high hopes. This author gets so much great reviews so I was hopeful. Now, I realize why I don’t read this author’s books.

I had a hard time following the writing just because the sentences were so long-winded. The sentences went off on too many tangents that I couldn’t focus on what exactly was being expressed. In addition, there was a lack of seriousness to the story. The whole thing seemed like a running joke with the characters never speaking seriously about anything. This made the story lack depth. I couldn’t relate to the characters because everything between them was all banter, with a lot of mumbling, grumbling and glaring. Sure, funny and lighthearted parts are good but where is the depth to this relationship?

To top it off, the same words were used multiple times to describe things, sometimes even on the same page. She was always “adorable,” they were always giving “heartfelt sighs,” and things were always “said hollowly.” It just felt so redundant reading these same descriptions over and over again.

Also, the characters kept telling themselves they were idiots for choices they made and always thinking how things won’t end well. The words “wouldn’t end well were used A LOT.”

Characters were also described as “large man” and “small woman.” I would have liked a different description of the characters after using those words once, just so I can get a different visual in my head, but the author did not deliver.

Sorely disappointed with this book and highly doubt I will read another book by this author. I hope the writing evolves and the hanging sentences with dashes stop, because that made it difficult to follow even more. I felt like the storyline had so much potential that was not realized.

[Kaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute in the end but repetitive

New drinking game: drink every time a character sighs. I almost gave up because the number of "heartfelt sighs" in just the first 50 pages was ridiculous passed the point of distraction. It was a good hook at the beginning and got better in the last third. The mmc was an unlikeable arrogant selfish ass for half the book making me hope the mfc would just leave - she kinda came across as weak and a pushover who he just walked all over. I had to push through to get to that point where it became an enjoyable read.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

My last time reading from this author.

I read some of the earlier books in the series when I was younger, but picking them back up with this one, I’m not sure why I liked them now.

The H has had a string of unsuccessful relationships, the last of which ended in him finding his fiancé and brother doing it in the bathroom at a family dinner. His usual coping mechanism after a breakup is to complain to his best friend, the h that’s he’s secretly in love with. The H has been choosing to ignore his feelings and date other women because he overheard a conversation between the h and her mother when they were teenagers in which she describes her relationship as nothing more than a friendship. Little did he know, she wasn’t talking about him. Strange that he would so easily assume she was and never once think to clarify, but what do I know?

In reality, the h is in love with him and tired of being the sounding board for his misery when things go bad. She shares the trait of poor communication and decided to start job hunting in a different state to get away from the constant agony that is unrequited but requited love. They work together renovating homes, so she’s not only leaving him in a lurch as a friend but as a business partner.

She’s got all her stuff packed and a new job lined up when his most recent relationship goes teets up. He decides to call in a favor and force her to go on his honeymoon with her, purposely leaving her baggy clothes behind so she’ll be forced to dress up for him in the things he buys. He hates explaining their dynamic to random strangers, so he puts a ring on the h and somehow guilt trips her into pretending she is his blushing bride. This is right around when any sensible person that already has her entire house packed to move would establish some boundaries, but she decides to give in to his demands out of guilt that she’s leaving and a reluctance to leave in general.

The H eventually finds out the h never friendzoned him, and decides to sneakily change the honeymoon plans so he can have a month to woo her while they renovate the house. She agrees to stay, and has the most understanding new boss ever because he accepts a text message from her saying she’s got to push her start date back a month. They have lots of steamy scenes peppered with her internal struggle of sleeping with a man who doesn’t know she’s leaving. He eventually finds out, and there’s about 45 seconds of drama where she reveals she’s leaving because she’s been in love with him the whole time.

I stopped reading at 89%. The communication between the couple was terrible; most of their dialogue was cutting each other off to be high handed or “witty”. I may just be burnt out on the tired trope of “I’ve got a secret I know I should share, but I can’t because it’ll change the fake ass dynamic we have going now and I can’t risk messing it up with a silly thing like the truth”.

[The Dragon Den Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Pretend by R.L. Mathewson
* * * * *
The official beginning to the series! Best friends facing a dilemma: reveal each other's secrets and feelings and face the fear or losing one another...of finally getting that happily ever after.

Morgan cannot take the pain anymore.
Watching her best friend whom she has loved for years go off to marry another woman was painful, and so she has taken the first step to move away without him knowing.
It was a simple plan, one that might have Eric hate her.
Until...the Bradford curse took affect. Or really, the bride-to-be was just nasty.
Eric had always had issues with women, even with the one he was going to marry.
He's been in love with Morgan as long as he can remember, and now he's feeling like he's starting to lose her too. So, in the heat of the moment, he's decided to take Morgan on his honeymoon.
A discovery is made in which Eric reflects on his decision years ago about his unrequited love for his best friend, thus leading a new and messy plan.
Swoop Morgan off her feet and make her his.
However, could Morgan's other secret be revealed in the process and have this happily ever after go down the drain.

We got classic Bradford vibes, humor and food obsession. Some of the Bradford's are questionable in their actions however as discovered in the beginning of the read and how they 'helped' uncover Amber's true nature.
The swooning idea was great to do especially what Eric had as a plan.
Loved Eric's actions towards Morgan's betrayal, it was hilarious. Her other betrayal, I mean. Plus, the tiny little 'attack' was adorable.
Definitely going to revisit this series.

[Janelle Kozera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor writing but good story

Starting out, this book made the FMC a doormat. Eric told her what she was going to do and when she argued he guilted her. She let him control her and walk all over her. It got better as the book went on, making me think the author was trying to convey Eric would do anything to get Morgan to spend time with him. It just came off controlling and narcissistic.

The amount of times adorable was used was excessive. I get she was adorable but find other words.

The way he kept stealing her food was annoying. Leading into my next comment, the scene at the airport where he would steal her danish, she'd grab another and he'd steal that one. It was like 6 paragraphs of her grabbing a danish or muffin and him stealing it.

The beginning of the book wad very repetitive. I'm talking about paragraphs saying the same thing when it could've been shortened. Example: he was staring at me, then looked at his phone, cursed Theo, then back to staring at me, before looking at hid phone, then cursing Theo. REPEATED. A simple, comment on his repeated process would've sufficed.

The of sentence breaks was ridiculous. There is no reason that every three sentences needs a sentence break. I understand when a thought was being interrupted by the other character speaking. Example: nothing to get in his way and Morgan was going to hate this OR sat next to her and she was fine.

I've read the first few books of this series years ago and remember liking them, so I'm hoping this was just a fluke of bad writing. I'm rereading the series and hope I am remembering correctly, otherwise I might DNF the books.

[Book Binge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll preface this by saying I am a really big fan of this author and usually really enjoy her writing.

I thought the idea of falling in love on a revenge honeymoon was interesting, but this book had a lot of the elements that I haven't liked about some of the other NFH books. The MCs were childhood friends and both knew from the time that they met that they would never love anyone else, but still never admitted it and the H was with other people despite saying even touching another woman made him physically ill. He even proposed to another woman as revenge for the h not admitting that she loved him when he lied and pretended that he was getting married to someone else. Honestly if I was the h, I never would've been able to forgive him for everything he put me through emotionally for no reason because he actually loved me the entire time.
I also noticed the same thing some other reviewers have mentioned, the repetition in this book was really bad. It felt like no one sat down and read it all the way through before publishing it because there were too many sections where the same phrases or words were repeated two or three times within a couple of paragraphs.
The humor didn't really hit the spot for me in this one. I usually find these books pretty humorous, but I think there was too much of the same jokes being repeated. After a few times it just wasn't funny anymore and there weren't any new jokes to keep things fresh.
Definitely didn't meet my expectations for an NFH book. It was a fine read, but unlike the other books I don't think I would read this one again.

[Zima Rozalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this story. Maybe it’s because of the childhood friends, secretly-in-love, fake marriage trope. But then again, I do tend to enjoy the Neighbour From Hell series by R.L. Mathewson. Sure, it’s not an absolute hit. But Eric and Morgan’s story is legit cute!

The writing is not the best. There were a lot of those sentence breaks. Perhaps too much. Like, I think readers could afford to read a complete sentence before an action, every once in a while. And yes, a bit of plot holes. But the banter, the chemistry, and the sweetness in the relationship between the MCs makes up for whatever were lacking in the storyline. At least to this reader. I mean, I was grinning and chuckling at some of cutesy, sweet scenes, so that’s a win in my books.

The build up to the arc of the story was sort of nicely timed. But the time it took for Eric to convince Morgan to agree to his “ploy” was actually quite short. And in almost no time at all, Morgan was putty in Eric’s hand. One could almost be convinced that it’s a done deal they’re both in love and have made it clear to each other. But it needed a bit of drama, of course. The build up to that bit of drama was, I think, just a tiny ripple. Just a smidge. And oh-so-very-easily resolved. And the ending was a little lackluster. But I suppose it’s sufficient to get the story across. And everyone gets a HEA, so I’m pleased with that. Plus, it was a quick read, and one I was eager to get through as quickly as possible too, without having to use up too much brain power.

[TinyVenusAfterDark · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2 Spices 🌶️🌶️

"Pretend" by R.L. Mathewson delivers a delightful and fast-paced romantic journey that keeps you hooked from the start. The storyline revolves around Morgan, who decides it's time to move on after her best friend, Eric, proposes to another woman. The book promises a sweet romance with a touch of humor, fitting well into the Neighbor from Hell series.

The pacing of the story is one of its strongest suits, as the narrative swiftly unfolds, keeping readers engaged without unnecessary delays. Mathewson weaves a tale of love and friendship, making it relatable and heartwarming. The characters are well-developed, and their dynamics add an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

The spicy elements in the book add just the right amount of heat to the romance. The chemistry between Morgan and Eric is palpable, and the author tastefully incorporates moments that spice up the plot. It's a perfect blend that enhances the overall reading experience.

However, the book falls short of a full five stars due to some predictability in the plot. While the story is enjoyable, a few elements follow a familiar romantic comedy formula. Nevertheless, the engaging writing style and well-crafted characters compensate for this minor drawback.

In conclusion, "Pretend" is a solid addition to the Neighbor from Hell series, offering readers a sweet and spicy romantic escape. If you're a fan of fast-paced, heartwarming stories with a dash of humor, this book is worth the read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good romcom but not my favorite. I loved the humor and but that is about it. It jumped everywhere one second he asks her to be fake wife then they go to hotel then he changes his mind cancels the trip and next day takes her back to MA. Why couldn’t they have still stayed in the hotel for a bit. The T-shirt thing did not make sense supposedly she never wears dresses and only wears T-shirts I get that if it was true but the whole book it talks about her longingly looking at dresses. Why? You are an adult if you want to wear a dress wear a dress. It would make more sense if she looks at the dresses with disdain like she was a cute Tom boy but no it says she looks at them with longing which made no sense. Then he takes forever to make a move and for some reason keeps blaming his little brother when he should just show her the text he sent to his dad and whala you can’t talk then write or text I love you not that hard. Also the miscommunication about him thinking she thinks of him like a brother was just ridiculous. First off he is older so why would she ever say think of him like little brother and I am supposed to believe it took 10 years for him to finally talk to her about it. Ridiculous! Perfection was 5 stars and set the bar insanely high for her books. I love this author and have no doubt her next books will be better but this one just fell flat. It was a second chance romance that made no practical sense for him to take so long to make his move.

[Detra Newhouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t Finish!

I gave up trying with this book, and for me that’s saying something! I’ve read some truly difficult books (i.e. poor use of grammar/spelling, unbelievable plots or tropes, etc) but this one was like having every irritating and terrible aspect of a book all in one. My biggest pet peeves are actually already captured in all of the 1 & 2 star reviews written previously for this book. However, here a few I’d like to call out:

Character development kinda sucked. I left this book with a healthy hatred of the MMC. What an a-hole! The MFC was basically a doormat, and the only future I see for these two is domestic abuse if they actually get together. I won’t know because I will not be able to finish this book.

WHAT IS WITH THE UNFINISHED SENTENCES THAT END WITH “-“?!?!? The first couple times, ok it’s a little weird but I get that the author was trying to express an unfinished thought for the character, maybe? The problem is that it was happening A LOT!

Good Lord, can we get a little better description of the main characters other than “large man” and “small woman” please? Ugh, so frustrating! I am so over this book and probably this author. I most definitely won’t read another of her books for a while, if at all (gotta cleanse my reading palate with some other authors first). The other fallacies of this book that I felt are valid can be read in the other 1-2 star reviews, specifically the first 2 star that comes up (JMarie).

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure enjoyment!

I always finding myself laughing when I’m reading one of this author’s NFH series. The Bradford a unique group of men. Morgan has been in love with Eric since they were young, but never acted on it. And Eric has never been able to find a woman like Morgan. Their friendship has grown over the years and Morgan is always there to pick up the pieces when Eric splits from his latest woman. Now that his wedding is off, he takes Morgan with him on the honeymoon trip. From the start of this adventure. You can tell that these two are always threatening the other or just doing things to get under the other’s skin.

They learn things about each other that they never knew and restoring homes is the perfect fit for this couple. They’ve been doing this type of work since they were in school together. Misunderstandings have kept these two from taking the next step.

I look forward to reading this author’s stories. She never fails to have characters that make me laugh.

Loved it!!!

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

May be my last NFH book

I have read every single NFH book. I absolutely loved them in the beginning. They were funny, sweet, and had me reading cover to cover. Things have changed in NFH though. I've noticed that all the characters are almost exactly the same. They all murmur, mumble, sigh, have lip twitches, etc. On top of that, the storylines have been less and less creative. Eric and Morgan had one real conversation in this entire book. The story at times was confusing to follow. It just seems like RL now has a standard format and every character will be almost the same in all her books. I can maybe see the Bradfords being very similar, but all the females they fall in love with shouldn't be. I'm really disappointed. I had to force myself to finish. I thought there would be more to the ending, but it felt rushed. I didn't even get the Bradford wedding. Really disappointed. Oh, and I'm really thankful this book didn't come out before Jason and Travis's books. I don't know that I would have read them. Jason, Travis, and Rory are still my favorites.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morgan had a plan, she had watched her best friend Eric Bradford take another attempt down an aisle and her heart could no longer take it. Morgan had been in love with Eric since they were kids and she knew that he would never see her more then a friend. Thinking she saw the last of him with her bags packed and ready to go, Eric shows up and kidnaps her for the honeymoon he is not going on. Forced together, Morgan needs to tell Eric she is leaving, while Eric is setting a plan to woo Morgan. The Bradford curse is in full force but can Morgan trust this side of Eric?

Unfortunately for me I don't remember Eric in previous books. I struggled trying to place him in the beginning, but it did not matter anyway as this was definitely a Neighbor from Hell book. Morgan is great, she is different then the other main characters and she definitely knows how to wind up Eric. Another great story by this author.