Probably more a 3.5

This is my first novel by Cayouette and, overall, I found it to be enjoyable, if a bit flawed. Tell Me How You Really Feel follows Maeve and Finn, two best friends and podcasters, as they hit the big time with a huge deal and a growing fandom. Their podcast is all about dating, relationships, and sex, and the two of them have excellent chemistry. However, the book begins with the pair split apart by something, which we learn about in flashbacks to the earlier stages of their friendship and podcast.

I do like the premise, a lot. While I've read excellent books about podcasters (Linda Holmes most recent, for instance), it is different enough to stand out. There's great mental health rep in the story, as well as a look at the real sexism in media.

But, friends-to-lovers is such a hard trope to get right, and Cayouette adds an extra layer of difficulty by really making it friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. Phew, that's a lot just writing it out and it ends up being a lot in reading. There are so many plot threads happening, some of which are never picked up again, some of which conclude satisfactorily, and some of which conclude unsatisfactorily. Without sharing spoilers, it feels like the main tension/conflict is wrapped up without the kind of reckoning/groveling that's really necessary.

* Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

Thanks so much to the publisher and author for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I have such mixed feelings about the book. I really enjoyed the writing style and I can see what the author was trying to do, bringing to light the disparity between men and women within the entertainment industry.

However, I could not root for the couple, they were toxic at best, immature and lacking communication (which didn’t make sense given the intense focus on therapy). Finn was extremely unlikeable, resorting to childlike behaviour when he doesn’t get to have his moment with Maeve and frankly, the grand gesture at the end shouldn’t have made up for what I would classify as an unforgivable mistake.

I really struggled with the romance with the book, and it’s such as shame, I really wanted to enjoy this!

ARC Review: In Betty Cayouette’s Tell Me How You Really Feel Maeve and Finn, former best friends/current co-hosts of a wildly successful relationship podcast they created together have to find a way to work together after a brief foray into a romantic relationship implodes just as they hit it big. Maeve can barely stand be in the same room as Finn while Finn wants to win Maeve back. The book tells the story of how the show got started while also showing Maeve and Finn as they navigate their newfound success while balancing old anxieties and insecurities, and determine what they really mean to one another.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t totally work for me. On the positive side—I enjoyed the concept of viral podcasters turned successful celebrities as the main characters and I really liked the focus on gender inequality and double standards that exist in virtually everything (pay, sex, relationships, the media, to name but a few). But at times I felt like the author was trying to do too many different things and wasn’t always successful. Further, this didn’t really work for me at all as a second chance romance. For one, I don’t think enough time passed between the initial rift between Maeve and Finn and when the book starts (it’s been a couple of months—it was almost like the book picked up after the third act break up of their romantic arc), but even more so, I am not sure Finn deserved a second chance (let alone a third when the book’s actual third act break up occurs). Second chance romances are tricky—for them to be successful, you have to believe that what kept the MCs apart was a point in time thing and/or an issue that has been resolved forevermore (right person/wrong time, the issues occurred when they were young, they’ve grown as people/learned how to communicate better, etc). And, without revealing spoilers here, Finn just came across as immature, insensitive, and fickle. Perhaps if we’d seen their relationship play out before the break up (rather than hearing about it at the outset and getting some glimpses in flashback chapters) I’d have been more sympathetic that he got scared and made a mistake (maybe—I am being generous) but as written I did not buy his rationale/apology or believe that he’d grown, which made Maeve come across as a bit of a doormat for taking him back.

Thanks to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

In Betty's second book, we meet another 'celebrity' caliber romance between a friends/coworkers to lovers, and a second chance with a definitive 'we were on a break vibe'. I read Betty's debut novel and thoroughly enjoyed it, but this one just felt mid-okay for me. It didn't really catch my attention and I just felt like the cheating aspect of it, wether they were on a break or not, did not sit right with me, since I cannot stand any cheating whatever it may be.
This was nothing of what I really expected which I was kind of just indifferent with. Overall, I would maybe suggest this book if you enjoy miscommunication, the very rememberable quote from Friends, and popular podcasts.

There were some parts in the book that confused me. The miscommunication was a bit annoying and repetitive in some parts. thwir relationship was aggravating because they would do the opposite of what they say they'd do. I did enjoy the author's writing style

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Unfortunately I did not like the characters in this book. This lead me to not liking this book. I am sad because I really enjoyed Betty Cayouette's first book. I still would read more by her in the future though, and hopefully this book is just her "sophomore slump"

Maeve and Finn, co-hosts of a hit relationships podcast, discuss relationships, sex, mental health, and equality BUT neither of them could communicate with each other to save their lives. I actually enjoyed the majority of this book, but the miscommunication trope was dragged on for so long that I was losing patience with the characters.

Forced Proximity
Second Chance
Best Friends to Enemies to Lovers
Women's Equality

This book was cute! I liked the dual POV, as it gave us good insight into their rift. I liked the podcast part of j the and how the deal would affect both of them differently.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this one. I really loved Betty Cayouette's debut novel and I was thrilled to see this one comes across my email. The book follows Maeve and Finn, college besties turned unexpected viral podcast hosts. Maeve grew up in Pittsburgh in a lower middle class family in contrast to Finn, who is the child of famous movie stars. They are incredibly different and yet complimentary and people love to tune into their banter on their show. They clearly love each other but tons of miscommunication with a splash of "we were on a break!" a la Ross from Friends keeps them apart. I really enjoyed parts of this one and I would definitely pick up more books by this author in the future, but the conflict felt forced and it was hard for me to believe that they miscommunicated so badly. I loved Maeve and Finn both though so it may land better with other readers.

Rating: ⭐⭐💫
Just finished Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette and I’m torn. The premise, second-chance romance between podcast co-hosts Maeve and Finn, is promising, but the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The constant miscommunication between Maeve and Finn was frustrating. Maeve, a therapist, often failed to communicate effectively, which felt inconsistent with her profession. Finn's privileged attitude and immaturity were also off-putting. Their back-and-forth dynamics became tiresome, and I struggled to root for their relationship.
If you're a fan of second-chance romances, this might appeal to you, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for.

Tell Me How You Really Feel is a contemporary romance with tons of angst and gave the warm, fuzzy vibes you experience when someone truly loves and knows you (platonically or romantically). I really enjoyed the majority of this book and think the original conflict between Maeve and Finn was great. I loved getting to know both of them better and definitely wanted to force them to kiss multiple times. Unfortunately, I feel like Finn took way too long to own up to his mistakes and continued to do stupid man things despite the fact he demonstrates during the podcast he knows better. I’m hoping the last conflict would truly be Finn’s final time being a naive idiot, because I was getting a little sick of his “oh I didn’t know!!!” act. That being said, I think Maeve’s anxiety was very well depicted and I could relate very closely with it. My only warning to fellow readers is to avoid Tell Me How You Really Feel if you can’t stand the miscommunication trope. I have to be in the right mood for it, so I wasn’t too bothered by it, but I know it’s a controversial trope. Overall, I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and Maeve was the highlight of the story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

1.5 stars (might be generous)

To properly explain why I disliked this book, I’m gonna have to fill this review with spoilers so beware.

First having this be both dual POV and dual timeline did this book a huge disservice. I think either single POV and single timeline or have the current timeline be the FMC POV and the past be the MMC might have been better. But this is the first time I wish we didn’t have the male POV at all. Knowing his inner thoughts honestly made me HATE him with a fiery passion. Also I cannot stand during a friends to lovers romance where the MCs are constantly cuddling and sleeping in the same bed and holding hands, that is not a normal M/F friendship.

Ok incoming rants about this book (I’m so sorry): first calling it a second chance romance when the first chance was only 2 months ago? No. Next the fact that they host a podcast about talking about your feelings and telling people “it’s better not to keep it bottled up” then actively doing the opposite? Jail. And then Finn (the MMC) is constantly saying how he doesn’t understand how Maeve (the FMC) feels or what he did wrong when it was COMPLETELY OBVIOUS. And you have been hosting this podcast for 2 YEARS yet you are completely clueless about not only your cohost (who is your best friend) and women in general is just men menning. How could you possibly give any advice and still do the ABSOLUTE CRAZIEST THING and think “oh yeah this totally won’t ruin our friendship at all.” What is this crazy thing you ask? Well the MCs hookup after 2 years cohosting and in the midst of signing a MULTI MILLION DOLLAR deal, say they love each other this same night, then the next morning he says “hey we can hold off until the deal is signed so we don’t fuck up our future” and she agrees. So this is HIS idea and he says “great I got a month to plan the perfect date.” So when 6 weeks passes by and he hasn’t planned that date AT ALL or talked to Maeve about the next steps, he decides to go on a date with “the one that got away.” During this date he me til a this situation with Maeve and Cassidy (the date/childhood best friend/one that got away/supermodel” basically says “screw Maeve and let’s date instead” (which like sure Cassidy owes Maeve nothing but also causing a rift between these two could ruin a MASSIVE contract negotiation) and instead of even thinking about it on his own for 2 seconds, he runs to the restaurant bathroom to call Maeve and basically say “hey so we aren’t actually dating so I’m gonna date Cassidy if that’s cool with you.” What choice does she have in this?? You call her IN THE MIDDLE OF A DATE to basically say “this other girl wants me now so bye”. Again, HE suggested the break and HE hasn’t planned their date not brought up actually dating. She basically says “go for it” because who WOULDNT THINK he wanted to go for it, I’d rather not be someone’s second choice either. If he actually loved Maeve, this wouldn’t even be a consideration to date Cassidy. So he immediately leaves the bathroom, kisses Cassidy, and ends up all over the tabloids. Way to rub salt in the wound buddy. Maeve blocks him the next day but he doesn’t even notice for TWO MONTHS when he tries to call her after he and Cassidy break up!

These 2 months he is jet setting all over the world with a supermodel because even though he is “playing poor” in NYC, he is massively rich. Talk about EMBARRASSING like poor is not something fun to pretend to be. AFTER he said he left acting behind because he hates the media attention but sure publicly dating a massive celebrity is fine…

Ok so they sign this massive deal but Maeve doesn’t want to be around Finn is she doesn’t have to be. That lasts all of 5 seconds before they are cuddling up at the Met Gala (which also…that’s not happening). They kiss at a football game for the kiss cam and when she freaks out a bit instead of being patient or being an adult, he invites a dozen random women to the box seats and makes out with them to be seen on camera. Great idea, she will definitely forgive you now. Which she does after he sleeps on her porch that night and she is immediately like “yeah I’m ready to be real friends” when he JUST sent you into a panic attack with his selfish and childish behavior. Also during all of this anytime she puts on a brave face at work, he is offended because god forbid a woman be professional. Grow up dude.

Oh after he does the crazy football thing, we then have multiple past timeline chapters like GET TO THE REAL STORY.

Did I mention this woman is a therapist? Yet the complete disregard of every goddamn red flag is astounding.

Ok then they make up during a podcast in her bed and start kissing and saying I love you but I literally yelled out PUKE because whyyyyyyyy?!? And he’s saying to her “it’s always been you” so what about those 2 months you LITERALLY DITCHED HER for a supermodel??

Ok THEN he decides to start acting by starring in a romcom WITH THIS EX and doesn’t even CONSIDER talking to Maeve first. I have NEVER read a more selfish MMC. They are going to have sex scenes in this movie WTF MAN?! And sure if he was a working actor already maybe I could forgive this situation but he hasn’t acted in anything since he was 9, you do not need to be in this movie you fucking ignorant ass nepo baby (because also his dad wrote it and his mom is also a starring role).

Maeve is okay with this despite her FOUNDED insecurities then he shows up to her photo shoot and ends up in the article about her. Way to center yourself man, fantastic job. THEN it comes out that his contract for the podcast was significantly better paid and his excuse was “I didn’t pay attention, and I’m so rich I didn’t even look at the deposits, soz” YOU MORON you are willfully obtuse. “But I apologized why the hell can’t you get over it?” I’m gonna punch you in the top of the head. Not to mention the ONLY work he does on the podcast is the actual recording while Maeve does all of the editing and basically everything else. For less money. Than an already rich man. Ok.

His grand gesture? A shipping container she will have to have on her property. Where he wanted it to have a LIGHT UP FLOOR with listener testimonials. That is the actual dumbest idea I’ve heard. I was actually rooting for them to stay broken up because this man is complete trash.

Other little things that annoyed me, that Finn’s mom never met Maeve until after 2 years of the podcast despite it being mentioned that she visited NYC fairly often. The murder house story changed from killing a neighbor to killing a partner. Maeve’s jealousy of the attention Finn gets as the cohost when she willingly does all the actual work but then resents him for it. She mentions once that they know how to communicate but…where??? The sister saying “you get one fuckup” to Finn when this was his 3rd MAJOR one. And then he proposes on the night of her shows premiere just shows he learned NOTHING this was her night and you made it about you again even if you did it in private. Speaking of the show, she says “a show about people going to therapy has never happened before” like Dr Drew and intervention didn’t happen decades ago.

Anyhow this man betrayed Maeve so many times, he should’ve been named Judas.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC, sorry I hated it.

Maeve and Finn are best friends who started a podcast together. After a couple years of self-producing they get picked up by Streamify and in a celebratory moment cross the line from friendship to more. But things quickly fall apart and now they’re left to record their dating and sex focused podcast while they can’t be in the same room together. Will they be able to work through their issues or derail everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve?

I’m going to tell you how I really feel about this book. I liked it, but there were a few aspects that didn’t work for me. First the positive, the biggest plus for me was the commentary around misogyny and sexism in the entertainment industry. While Maeve is the brainchild behind the TMHYRF podcast, Finn is seen as the draw because he’s a man and has celebrity ties. This is a big source of contention for them and comes to a head at the end of the book. I appreciated how committed Maeve was to being recognized for her talent even when she had moments of insecurity. I also loved the positivity around therapy and that Maeve’s goal was to use her training to help others.

The romance had its ups and downs and I didn’t always feel the chemistry. I also got a little tired of the back and forth between Maeve and Finn. I felt like she was a little too hard on him. I mean he pulled some bone headed moves, but she was also holding back on being completely open and honest about her feelings. In the flash back scenes we get to see their friendship and it’s one of the most touchy feely friendships I’ve read about. Like I’m unclear how either of them could have not seen how the other felt. There were some really sweet moments though and Finn is clearly head over heels for Maeve. They were each other’s biggest cheerleaders and supporter.

If you’re looking for a friends to lovers romance set in the podcasting industry, check it out when it releases May 6th!

I was hooked on the book from the very beginning! It is such an interesting premise- two podcasters with a second chance at love. There are a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunications between the two. Maeve is tough and loveable with anxiety and imposter syndrome. Finn is a golden retriever blind to his own privilege. The love story is friends two lovers and kind of a second chance, except the breakup was just a few months ago. There are some flash backs for context. It deals with some heavy stuff like anxiety and the gender gap. Overall I found it very enjoyable!

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for this eARC!

I enjoyed this book, but struggled with the ending. Honestly, I don't think Maeve should have forgiven Finn, and that is made worse by the fact that I never truly bought into their "meant to be" romance. Overall, I enjoyed this book enough but it isn't a favourite. Read if you like friends to lovers, celebrity romance, and second chances. Also, the real issues tackled (i.e. Hollywood pay gap) are very valuable and i applaud the author for including that reality in this fictional story.

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book really hits its stride in the last quarter, and I couldn't put it down! I love how it explored the themes of privilege and sexism as well as the anxiety rep, which I was able to personally relate to. It was great to see both Maeve and Finn develop into people and partners with the self-awareness to make their relationship work even through tough times. Finally, romcoms set in the entertainment industry will always pique my interest!

I have so much mixed feelings about this story.

Here's what I liked:
- the writing. Betty does a great job with words and bringing all the feelings to life
- I liked the idea of sex positivity that the podcast aspect brought out
- openness about therapy and how that helped Maeve through her trauma

Here's what I didn't enjoy:
- Maeve and Finn's relationship was full of miscommunication. This is my least favorite trope so it drove me mad
- Maeve getting angry at Finn for dating the one that got away. This felt so unfair to Finn and she didn't take any accountability

If you don't mind miscommunication trope, you will enjoy this much more than I did.

Thank you @youhadmeathea for a copy of the book.

This is an interesting, entertaining read. Finn and Maeve are complex, intriguing, smart, strong, interesting, entertaining characters. Their romance is full of twists and turns. The story has panic attack/anxiety representation in various ways, which added elements to the plot and characters. The secondary characters added to fabric of the story. The story is easy to read and get into.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5 rounded up
the miscommunication was soooo frustrating

the synopsis for this one sounded fascinating, podcasters? sign me up!! the book starts off with the main characters not really speaking to each other even tho they WORK TOGETHER!!! and there’s a few chapters about their past and what happened but the way things were handled felt… off?

don’t get me wrong there were some parts i did enjoy but overall i had a hard time connecting with the characters

I personally did not like this. I will always support women fighting for what they deserve. The FMC started a podcast with a nepo baby MMC. She made it her entire personality to fight to be famous independent of him while navigating complex feelings of betrayal and hurt. I do not like the miscommunication trope, especially in dual POV. There are rare instances where it benefits a story, in my opinion. This story was set around poor communication and I did not like the FMC at all. She did not communicate at all and then got mad at the MMC for things she didn’t communicate. This book had some good parts to it and I don’t think the writing is bad. I just didn’t connect with the characters.