I want to start off by saying that I deeply appreciate the chance to read this eARC. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this opportunity.

However, this book was not for me. I hated Finn. This wasn't just a run-of-the-mill miscommunication. It was mishandling a relationship and then playing it off as romance. And then building up Maeve as someone who is working on establishing her professional credibility to end up being kind of...spineless? The intended appeal did not land for me, sadly.

Book Review: Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book had such a promising premise, and while I genuinely enjoy Betty Cayouette’s writing style, I found myself more frustrated than invested as the story unfolded.

The miscommunication trope isn’t a favorite of mine to begin with, but this story really put it through its paces—and not in a good way. For two characters who constantly talk about honesty, accountability, and emotional maturity, they do very little to actually embody those values. It felt like a case of “do as I say, not as I do,” and that disconnect made it hard for me to root for them.

Their dynamic left me more annoyed than anything, and I struggled to feel the emotional connection that the story was clearly aiming for. That said, the author's talent is undeniable, and I’d love to see her explore different themes or relationship arcs in future work—hopefully with a little less miscommunication and a little more follow-through.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the ARC in exhange for my honest review.

Very ok, this book did not excite me. The mile min character was a walking red flag. I was not rooting for him!

Tell Me How You Really Feel follows Maeve and Finn, co-hosts of a popular podcast with a complicated past. I liked the structure with flashbacks, and Maeve’s anxiety and drive really stood out. Finn starts off kind of clueless, but his growth felt believable. It’s a solid take on second chances with some real emotional depth. A quick, engaging read if you’re into messy exes and podcast drama.

Thank you @stmartinspress for the #gifted ebook arcs. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book had an interesting premise about two podcasters who don't get along and are forced to work together. I think the miscommunication trope isn't my favorite as it just makes me upset and leaves me wanting more for these characters. There were a lot of issues that could have been resolved with talking to each other and I kept hoping for more.

This is just an ok read. I was not a big fan of the characters. They are immature and I wanted to Gibbs slap them on more than one occasion.

Thank you Net Galley and Publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

I'll tell you how I really feel... bored, unenthused, icky. I wanted to like this book, but I really didn't. Their whole relationship is a constant red flag. I hate miscommunication, and that's the entirety of this book. She never lets him apologize for anything, and he just keeps doing stupid stuff. It felt like a toxic relationship they should both walk away from. They're supposed to be adults but the way they yell and handle any mistake is juvenile. I didn't really like the back and forth pov, it just all felt messy and not coherent. It could have been done better.

I DNFed at around 60 percent. While the concept is unique and intriguing, I wasn’t drawn into the story. There was not enough discussion of the characters history with one another for me to connect with them personally.

What I liked about this book is that Maeve was open about her sexuality, even co-hosting a podcast about it. I also like that the gender pay gap was addressed throughout the book. What I didn't like was Finn and how wishy-washy he was. He had a lot of growing up to do to learn how to treat someone he supposedly loves better. I didn't like that Maeve just believed everything he said after his actions didn't match his words. I really wanted to love this book because of Maeve.

This one really tested my patience with the miscommunication trope.

While I understand that some tension is necessary in romance, this book pushed that trope to its absolute limit. The main characters constantly talk about honesty, accountability, and building a healthy relationship—but their actions repeatedly contradict their words. It gave major “do as I say, not as I do” energy, and that disconnect made it hard for me to stay invested.

The story is told through a dual timeline of present-day and flashbacks, and I will say the author does an excellent job laying the groundwork. You get a clear sense of the characters’ history, emotional baggage, and why they struggle the way they do. Unfortunately, that strong foundation didn’t quite pay off for me.

It felt like less than 10% of the book showed the couple actually together and happy. I was rooting for them for a good part of the story, but by the end, I was so frustrated with their dynamic that I didn’t really care whether they made it or not.

I do enjoy the author’s writing style and would definitely read more from her in the future—but I sincerely hope she takes a break from the miscommunication trope in her next book. These characters just weren’t it for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

The miscommunication trope between main characters that have built their entire friendship and career off of being fully open and honest but are the complete opposite... I don't really like reading red flag main characters that I'm supposed to be cheering on. I think I would have been less annoyed if Finn was a better human.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette offers a fresh and engaging look at a complicated podcasting duo trying to navigate fame, past heartbreak, and their rekindled feelings. Maeve and Finn’s viral show about sex and relationships has landed them a major deal, but their rocky history makes working together a tense balancing act.

The dual timeline—jumping between the early days of their podcast and the present—adds depth to their evolving relationship and showcases their chemistry. Cayouette’s sharp dialogue and contemporary setting make for an entertaining read.

While the premise is promising and the characters relatable, some plot points feel predictable, and the emotional arcs occasionally lack the impact they could have had. Fans of slow-burn romances with a modern twist will find this a worthwhile, if somewhat familiar, story.

Podcasts have become a regular part of many peoples' lives. Maeve and Finn's show was started on a drunken whim and threw them into stardom. Well, Finn has experienced stardom pretty much all of his life as the child of a Hollywood power couple. This book is a friends to lovers trope that depends highly on misunderstandings and unspoken feelings. However, Cayoutte delivers in an entertaining manner that compels the reader to keep reading. I will check out her last book and get ready for her next!

Charming and Cute


I have a hard time getting into the super cute, fluffy rom-coms. Not because they’re poorly written—plenty are great—but because I’m a self-confessed book snob. Takes a theatrical snarky bow.
Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette was my first book by this author, and I’m giving it a solid 3.5 stars. It’s smart, spicy, and built around a concept that really works: Maeve and Finn co-host a hit podcast where no topic is off-limits. I mean nothing is sacred—everything from how to maintain a healthy relationship to how to make your partner climax is on the table. It’s bold, funny, and surprisingly insightful.

The twist? Maeve and Finn can’t stand each other.

They’re locked into a contract, so quitting isn’t an option. The only choice? Fake it for the mic. Off-air, the tension simmers. On-air, they have to sell the chemistry. But as the lines blur, the question becomes: is there something real under all that snark and banter?
The podcast format added a fresh layer to the story—it gave the characters a space to be raw, awkward, funny, and vulnerable. And I have to say, it made for some genuinely entertaining moments. I laughed out loud more than once.
Normally, the miscommunication trope makes me roll my eyes, and yes, there were moments here where I wanted to shake both Maeve and Finn (especially Finn—his choices were... questionable). But somehow, it worked. Their flaws made them feel human. The tension wasn’t overdone, and the emotional payoff hit just right.

What really stood out, though, were the side characters. They weren’t just background noise—they added humor, heart, and a grounding presence that made the story feel more complete. Whether it was Maeve’s brutally honest best friend or Finn’s surprisingly thoughtful circle, they brought a lot to the table, and I genuinely enjoyed every scene they were in.

The ending pulled everything together in a satisfying way. I’m not usually the type to get weepy over a romance, but this one got me. A few happy tears may have been shed. I loved how it wrapped up without going over-the-top or too cheesy.

Overall, a fun, sharp, emotionally grounded read with just the right amount of heat and heart. I’m definitely interested to see what Betty Cayouette comes out with next.

I really enjoyed Tell Me How You Really Feel while I was reading it, but the details quickly faded, and I haven't really thought about it since. So...do with that what you will. It's a quick, fun, feminist read, about gender equality, the pay gap, and having to work and get along with an ex, that maybe you're not really over.

It's about a sex and relationship podcast that goes viral and gets picked up by a big production company for more episodes and a lot of money. Only problem, they want both hosts--and they've had a bit of a falling out. They went from best friends to best friends with benefits/awkward situationship to nothing, and now they have to find a way to work together and still make their podcast a success. Can Finn win back Maeve's trust after he broke them apart? And can their fragile trust withstand all the new revelations that just seem to keep coming?

Overall, it's a cute story and a fun summer read. Thanks to SMP for the advance review copy.

I didn't particularly enjoy this one as much as her debut unfortunately. it did touch topics like gender pay gap & sexuality but other than that I didnt really care for the story. the characters were kind of annoying.

The premise of the story is cute enough, and in understand writing characters with anxiety, yet I found myself on more than one occasion thinking “girl, you’re better than this. Get your shit together”. Some of the dialogue felt pedantic and I just wanted the characters to be smarter.

I was provided a complimentary e-galley by St Martin’s Griffin on NetGalley.

I just finished Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette and here are my musings.

Maeve and Finn have a hit podcast… All about sex and relationships… He has the star quality and she has the knowledge… They are about to be brought but they cannot be in the same room. Maeve feels betrayed and Finn wants to prove himself to her but can they get past themselves to be honest with each other… The way they are honest with their audience?

I actually enjoyed this one more than others seemed to. I thought it was lighthearted and super fun! I did a lot of laughing which is exactly what I want from a rom-com. Now, I will confess there wasn’t much in the way of romance but I did like the build up. Friends with sexual chemistry is always a win for me.

I wasn’t a fan of Finn. He was an epic nepo baby and he was a bit of a brat but I do think he was balanced out with Maeve which pleased me immensely. Now I am well known for my hatred of miscommunication and honestly, they were both the issue here. She put the brakes on, asked for space for a set amount of time and then the time crept passed and still she didn’t give him an answer. She basically ghosted him. So when someone points this out… he asks, and she sends him to be with someone else. So he did. UGHHHHH. It is not my jam but there was enough good stuff that I could get past the miscommunication.


I thought the writing was good and I will look for more from this author but I was hoping for a bit more. Maybe less drama and slightly more likeable characters then this would have been a true win.

I bet the audio would have been great!

3.5 stars

The story was fun and lighthearted and I had a good time reading it.
This was a wonderfully written romantic comedy.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet, funny and heartwarming read!

thanks to NetGalley for the eAR

⭐️=1 | 😘=5 | 🤬=4.5 | 🍺/🚬=2 | 18+

summary: it’s like a second chance/situationship-type thing with a nepo baby celebrity MMC and a just-an-ordinary-girl FMC who met in college and have this podcast together and need to get over their past drama and fall in love or whatever??

thoughts: I’m so sorry, but this is such an irredeemable, jobless MMC. biggest turn off in a romance novel is when the guy (and this happens overwhelmingly in straight romance novels) gets depressed halfway through because the FMC doesn’t like him and he gets drunk and makes out with or has sex with someone else or a bunch of someone elses and then I’m just supposed to like… forget about that by the end?? literally doesn’t matter if he and the FMC aren’t together yet, it’s still absolutely unacceptable as a plot device within the context of a romance novel. like how am I supposed to believe that the FMC would forget about it or forgive him for that???? especially bc in this book he kissed her right before then?? be serious.

80% through (!!) the nepo baby MMC has a convo with his famous actress mom where she’s like “son you need to start acting again and/or get a real job” and he’s like “the podcast is my job!!” and she’s like “…you do that one day a week that’s not a job??” and like the mom is SO right!! and also the FMC does most of the work for their podcast anyway????? so what am i supposed to like about this man????????????? imagine putting the “you need to get a job” conversation 80% of the way through your novel instead of near the beginning or maybe at the halfway point where it could serve as the inciting incident for some character development?? 80%????? and then at the 91% mark she says, and I quote, “Finn, you’re an adult” and like IMAGINE your love interest needing to be told that at the END OF THE NOVEL?? he never truly had a nepo baby glow up arc and it’s so embarrassing

also he can’t communicate to save his life or read emails or make sure that he and his COHOST ARE BEING PAID THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY which is a very frustrating addition to the third act!! i hate him!! he uses his rich parents to solve all his problems!!!!!!!!! yikes!! tbh in another timeline this book was haphazard general fiction about a toxic relationship and celebrities and the pay gap or something

also he’s super whiny?? and his “grand gesture” wasn’t something he had been working on for a lot of the book so it didn’t feel like a specific apology????????????? anyways i hate him!