The Wingman

by Meg Rosenthal

Talia Scott is a spontaneous Southern girl whose dream is to become an artist, despite her family’s innate skepticism at her career choice. When she leaves her small town to attend Bridgeport College on the other side of the country, she meets Archie Morgan: a quirky, thoughtful boy who quickly becomes her best friend—and wingman. But Talia is hiding a secret that even she wants to run from ... a secret that drives her out of Bridgeport after graduation, thinking she can protect Archie (and herself) from her own inner turmoil and struggling mental health.

Now, two years later, Talia is back. This time, she is on a mission to leave a coast-to-coast street art legacy, starting in the college town that first nurtured her love of art in the classroom. But she’s going to need some help from her wingman.

Returning to Bridgeport means Talia must face her biggest fear: letting Archie and her friends “see” and “hear” the real her—the person she has suppressed for so long. Can Talia and Archie face their demons, forgive, and finally understand each other? Or will their pasts continue to haunt their futures?

279 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Meg Rosenthal lives in Charlotte, North Carolina in a house decorated with vintage thrifts and fake plants. When she’s not moonlighting as a novelist, Meg can be found working her day-job as a professional horseback rider and trainer. She is an Ennegram Type 3 (The Achiever), has five tattoos, and never turns down a coffee with cream and Splenda.

Reviews

[katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars!

- second chance
- mental health rep
- artist fmc
- fabulous side characters (I loved Grady)

What did I like?

I enjoyed the mental health representation and how real the characters were. I could totally relate to Archie putting parts of his life on hold for his family as well as not knowing what he wanted to do or where he was going to go. I enjoyed how open he was when he first met Talia and how he never gave up on her, even when it may have felt like she deserved it. I also loved the side characters. I loved that Kathryn was so open to Talia when she came back. And I think Grady might be my favorite character. I love that guy.

I think this was a well-written book; it was easy to read and kept my interest. I wanted to know what happened at the end, and I wasn't disappointed. The ending put together all the things that I didn't love about the story and answered a lot of those questions. I liked that the characters realized the importance of stepping up and taking responsibility for their life and what they want to do with it.

What didn't I enjoy?

While I love that Archie was there for Talia, it bugged me that he didn't put his foot down. How are you going to fall right back into the same patterns after someone's been gone for two years? I know it's realistic (and also part of the point of the plot, as we find out at the end), but I was so frustrated by him. I also didn't like Talia that much. Again, I know it was a huge part of the story and message, but I didn't like how it felt like she was stringing him along while simultaneously pushing him away. I think that's life, though. We don't always like people and we all make poor choices that eventually hurt someone else. I think it's good to have stories with characters we don't like.

I don't love the romance between Talia and Archie. I think that they're attracted to each other, but I don't know that I fully buy into the fact that they love each other, at least not more than friends. I would be interested to see more of them together, rather than in separate instances where Archie is reminiscing on their college years. I think I would have liked to see more of Archie after Talia left and then go into her showing back up. I'm not sure how that would've worked in the written sense, but I felt like this story was missing something.

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Overall, I did enjoy reading this! I think it has important messages, and I love a book where the characters are real and we aren't just pretending everyone is perfect. I would absolutely recommend this, but I would caution you to check content warnings. There is discussion of depression, self-harm, and a suicide attempt. I think there was some discussion of anxiety was well, but I can't fully remember. I think that Meg handled these topics very well and with so much grace. I applaud her for that!

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart😭 Talia freaking Scott is actually everything to me. This character was precious to me in every way possible. Mental health rep, sassy, messy girl that created despite the despair constantly at her heels. I loved her.
Archie. Omg. This boy. His character growth🤌 fabulous. He was so sweet and he was human and he was everything to me.
Honorable mentions: ADELINE😭😭 and my sweet baby boy Grady.
Ugh, Meg. That was phenomenal

[K Brindley-Koonce · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars

Not my typical genre, so that may influence my review, but this was just ok for me. I enjoyed Archie’s character, but could not empathize with Talia and her selfishness.

[Kiersten Ottaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Some topics and themes were a little heavy, but I feel like it added to the story and made the characters feel real to me. Sometimes mental health representation in books can come across a bit gimmicky. The characters talk about being depressed, but the depression doesn’t add to the depth of the character or the story. Or maybe the author recently went to therapy and just wants to write about what they learned, ya know. That said this book didn’t feel like that! The author wrote well rounded characters and the struggles they went through feel real and it was necessary for the plot.

I liked Archie and Talia (think Alex and Poppy from People We Meet on Vacation, just with more angst.) But I think Grady stole the show, for me at least! I love good banter and I think he had better banter with both of the MCs than they did with each other!

Overall would def recommend if you’re looking for a quick read with some interesting characters!

[Alyssa K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I loved, I cried. Meg Rosenthal has such a beautiful voice that puts you in the pages without excessive flowery language. The story is both to the point and deeply layered.

The story follows both Archie and Talia equally, and the premise centers on Talia returning to town after leaving her best friend and wingman, Archie, without a word after college.

Instinctually, I hated her. Who does that? But one chapter in Talia’s POV and all is forgiven. I rooted for the woman who did a terrible thing. And that’s the beauty of the story. Seeing people’s messiness and believing in them. This story has my whole heart, and while I could write a dissertation on it, I’ll insist you read The Wingman.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talia, girl, you pissed me off!! And Archie! Get it together!! You both are lucky that Grady and Kathryn were so nice; I wouldn’t have been as subtle. 😤
Fineeee, Talia grew on me, and I was so proud of her at the end. Lowkey, Archie is continuing to be Talia’s shadow, but we can dream that he’ll find his own way one day lol Grady is the best, and I love Kathryn’s no nonsense vibe.
Overall, a classic miscommunication romance, and when you remember that they’re 24, it all makes sense. Sorry to say this, though, but I just know that Archie and Talia eventually break up! Sorry!!

[Sara George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hard to put down!

I will admit, at first I did not love Talia (FMC) and the way she treated sweet Archie (FMC), but Meg did a lovely job of steadily unfolding their history and letting us see the foundations of their relationship little by little. On top of that, the subject matter was realistic and thoughtfully handled. By the end I was right there with Talia, and I was glad that Archie was, too.

A very fulfilling read if you like love stories that dive much deeper than a typical surface-level romance.

[Carly aless · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I thought the characters were incredibly well developed - they are not perfect, they’re flawed and very real and relatable. I thought the jumping from past to present would confuse me, but it was done so well, and it really helped give context to the conversations and situations as they were unfolding. I also think the book did an incredible job addressing mental health and how hard it is to manage as a person living with it and dealing with the stigma around it with friends, family, and yourself.

Overall an amazing book and I can’t wait to read Meg’s next book!

[Nicole Mandracchia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Rosenthal's witty humor and skillful writing style paints a relatable picture of Archie and Talia's romantic relationship to teens and adults of all ages. In a time in society where it's easier to run from healthy conflict than it is to face it head-on, Rosenthal shows her readers that a person's mental health can--and will--improve if they choose to put in the work. Once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down.

[Mikayla Sengle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wingman is a delightful, heartwarming romance that strikes a perfect balance between lighthearted fun and deeper emotional stakes. Meg Rosenthal has crafted a story with characters who feel real and relatable, making it a great read for anyone who enjoys romantic comedies with a bit of depth. Fans of slow-burn romance with witty dialogue and heartfelt moments will find a lot to love here!

[Kenzie Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, charming, thoughtful. I loved the dual perspective dual timeline structure and the quick pace of the chapters - keeps you engaged for sure (and kept me saying “one more chapter” over and over). Big Grady fan!

[Catherine Cram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book just as much as her first one! Her words flow off the pages easily. Can’t wait for more from her! Incredible person and an even better author!