I have loved following Betty’s tiktok rise to fame and enjoyed her first novel! I was excited to get access to her second. I loved the sex and relationship podcast aspect, as well as the discussion around anxiety, mental health, and gender equality. Sometimes it felt a little like I was reading a brochure about those topics and it could have been finessed a little more. Overall, enjoyable and I’ll continue to follow Betty!

Tell Me How You Really Feel is Betty Cayouette’s romance about podcasters adjusting to newfound fame and a relationship that has gone sour. The story is told in dual timelines and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the podcasting industry.

Maeve and Finn have a sex and relationships podcast, Tell Me How You Really Feel, which has gone viral and led to a life-changing, blockbuster deal. Unfortunately, their relationship has disintegrated to the point where they can’t stand to be in the same room. While Maeve is focused on keeping their podcast going, Finn is determined to win Maeve back.

Maeve and Finn have very different backgrounds. While he comes from Hollywood royalty and gets preferential treatment due to his connections, Maeve is battling anxiety and bumping up against the glass ceiling. The big irony of this story is the miscommunication between Maeve and Finn, who are “relationship experts”. They act immature and don’t follow their own advice, making it hard for the reader to really root for them to succeed as a couple.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) e-book from St. Martin’s Press for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I think Betty has such a unique voice and it truly shined in this. I adored this book! It was such a great romance and I really enjoyed it. It was fun, flirty, and really got you in your feels! I think Betty is such a great voice in romance and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

I was a bit torn on this book. On the one hand I liked that the story tackles mental health and gender inequality. Those topics are incredibly important and made me want to keep reading the story. The actual chemistry between the two MC’s was a whole other issue. I found it hard to believe they had ever been friends and honestly I had no clue why he would like her. She was really insufferable and it just made me annoyed how many times he bent over backwards for her. Also, that ending had me rolling my eyes. So, great topics but lame characters so that left me at a 2.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC!

Tell Me How You Really Feel was a great read! I loved the refreshing honesty about intimacy between the two leads. One small criticism I have was the opening - it really felt like we were walking in the middle of the story, and it wasn't a natural beginning for me. Otherwise, I really loved the romance and the characters.

Thanks again for the ARC!

I read "Tell Me How You Really Feel" by Betty Cayouette on NetGalley. This is the story of Maeve & Finn, two friends from college who start a podcast together that ends up being wildly successful. They talk about relationships and sex. But their relationship is mixed into it all also. I really enjoyed this story.

Maeve and Finn have just signed a record-breaking podcast deal for their sex and relationship podcast Tell Me How You Really Feel. The only problem is that Maeve refuses to be in the same room as Finn after he broke her heart.

This had a really fun premise that floundered in the execution for me. I found the miscommunication between Maeve and Finn to be beyond frustrating, and at times I found Maeve to be completely insufferable. Her lack of belief in herself and her limiting beliefs continued to sabotage her life basically the entire way through. Finn deserved better from her as both a podcasting partner and romantic partner. I had a really hard time rooting for them to make it work.

Some readers may still love this, especially if they love:
*Miscommunication
*Friends to lovers
*Celebrity nepobaby x normal girl
*Only one bed
*Then & now storytelling

I really wanted to love this one - based on the blurb and the authors previous works, I thought I would really enjoy it. But this fell flat - and the characters grated on my nerves - causing me to dread finishing it.

The one highlight of this book is Maeve’s anxiety and how it’s written and discussed in the story. It’s a great representation of what anxiety is like and we as a society need more honest takes on it - so this piece was well done!

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayoutte is a light-but-thoughtful blend of banter, friendship, and romance—without the spice. If you're looking for a character-driven story that explores deeper issues under the guise of a rom-com, this might just hit the mark.

Maeve and Finn co-host a relationship podcast where they give advice to others, but (ironically and frustratingly) they cannot seem to communicate clearly with each other. That contradiction is part of what makes this book both intriguing and at times exasperating.

Maeve’s anxiety is incredibly well written—raw, relatable, and thoughtfully portrayed. Her inner dialogue and struggles felt real, and I appreciated how the author didn’t shy away from showing the impact of mental health, especially in romantic and professional dynamics. The book also touches on sexism in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, adding depth beyond the usual rom-com fare.

That said, Finn tested my patience more than once. He often came across as inconsiderate and self-centered, and while that may have been intentional, it sometimes made the chemistry feel uneven.

The podcast premise was a lot of fun and gave the story a modern, unique hook. I loved the behind-the-scenes moments and how the public persona of their relationship clashed with the private messiness of their emotions.

Overall, this is a solid read with a great concept, some memorable moments, and an important spotlight on anxiety and communication. I just wish the characters had been a little more self-aware and the romance a touch more balanced.

Tell Me How You Really Feel is a second chance romance between best friends. I was intrigued by the premise of this book but unfortunately this was not for me. I just did not relate to the characters at all which makes it hard for me to enjoy a story. I also didn't love some of the decisions that were made and the whole miscommunication trope in general.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review!

I loved the characters, especially Maeve. Her struggle to be treated equally with male counterparts in the workplace ring true, and she has a lot of bravery and perseverance in pursuing her goals. Finn is also an appealing character, although frustrating at times, but that is true to life, too. Their relationship has a believable arc, with its setbacks not seeming too contrived. At times I felt that Maeve even judged Finn's actions a bit too harshly, but she has the self-awareness to apologize for some of her behavior as well and doesn't consider him to be solely at fault in their battles and misunderstandings. The reality of Maeve's life being complicated by coping with intense anxiety is also a theme here.
The secondary characters also emerge as real people rather than stereotypes, for example, Cassidy, the 'other woman', and Finn's celebrity parents.
The story flows well and keeps the reader engaged throughout.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette is a hate-to-love romance and the story of Maeve and Finn.
 
Maeve is the heart behind the Tell Me How You Really podcast, and she started it in college with her best friend Finn. I loved how their podcast highlighted relationships from different angles and it's very honest, open and sex positive and I would totally listen to something like this. Maeve wants to help people and therefore also got her psychology degree and I loved how she was very self-reflective and dealing with her own issues. I also liked how this story and Maeve talk about feminist issues like the gender pay gap or having to work extra hard to gain any recognition.
 
Finn is a nepo baby and he comes from a wealthy family and his mother is a famous actress. He has also starred in a few movies and knows the high society world very well. Finn is like a golden boy whom you can only like, and he must learn to go his own way and not to take his privileged position for granted. I also loved his parents, especially his mom who was so encouraging.
 
These two met in college and you follow them over several years and I really enjoyed seeing some chapters from the past. I listen to podcasts myself and it was so interesting to see a behind the scenes of that as well. Maeve and Finn are very different people, and the story is a roller coaster of emotions, and they go from hate to love while it’s also a second chance romance. You get to know them so well over the course of the book and they aren’t only a great team but make a stunning couple as well and I was totally rooting for them. Also, the cover showing the Met Gala scene is just iconic.
 
Tell Me How You Really Feel is such a really great romcom and I adored Maeve and Finn’s story. 4,5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

This book was really great. Filled will all the banter, love, tension, and hilarity that I always expect when reading a rom com. Definitely one of my favorites so far this year. Hooked me from the first few chapters!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC. This is my second novel by the author and i enjoyed it. I enjoyed both the present day and past flashbacks while getting to know the characters. The story line was intriguing and kept my attention throughout the book. I didn't easily relate to the characters but i did find them to be believable. I would recommend this book to my friends and family, and i look forward to reading more by Betty.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a copy of Tell Me How You Really Feel. This book didn't totally work for me, but it was still a fun read. Ideal for people who maybe haven't read a ton of romance, but enjoy friends to lovers, dual POV, and work place romance.

3.5/5 ⭐️s

Maeve and Finn met in college, became close friends when they both moved to NYC after graduation, and then launched a hit podcast together making them inseparable. But then, everything changed when they both gave in to the feelings they had for one another.

How can they keep the show going now that trust has been broken? Can they get back to where they were; the chemistry they had, now that feelings are hurt and things are left unsaid?

These characters were complicated people, both frustrating at times but I was rooting for them to figure out their crap and talk to each other the whole time.

Perfect if you like:
- Friends to lovers
- Second chance romance
- Workplace romance
- Dual POV
- Dual timeline

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5 rounded up

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reading copy!

While I liked this book overall, it was a bit of a disappointment after really liking Betty Cayouette's last book, ONE LAST SHOT. The premise was excellent -- second chance friends-to-lovers romance, plus the inclusion of a fun podcast that I would listen to if it was real! Unfortunately, I found both Maeve and Finn to be completely insufferable at various times throughout this book. I really struggle with the miscommunication trope, and that felt like this entire book.

From the beginning, Maeve was refusing to hear Finn out, and I felt super frustrated that she was avoiding this conflict. Especially as a therapist, I would have expected more from her communication styles. On that note, it was frustrating to see the ways Maeve let her anxiety run rampant. As a therapist with anxiety myself, I know it's not nearly as black-and-white as "dealing with it," but I do think more could have been done to combat Maeve's negative self talk and thought patterns throughout the book.

Finn, on the other hand, was exactly as Maeve suggested -- a nepo baby with privilege that he struggled to identify until the very end. He continued to do stupid things and then be surprised when she was upset about them.

On a positive note, I did like their conflict resolution at various points throughout the book, and I liked their chemistry. I like friends-to-lovers in general, and those parts of the book saved this one for me. Points for feminism as well -- I enjoyed the way that this was executed and how this included Finn's Mom.

In theory, a friends to lovers romance about a therapist that includes a podcast should’ve been perfect for me, but it fell a little bit flat. I still like this author's writing style and would be happy to read anything she writes in the future, I just hope it emulates ONE LAST SHOT a little bit more than this one.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. Ok ok ok, was this a real romance… nah not really… it was a love story, but hardly a romance. And to be honest, while I liked the FMC and many of the supporting cast, the MMC was hard to adore given his frequent significant missteps. They would for sure have been deal breakers for me. That all aside. I liked the focus on breaking glass ceilings and found the plot interesting but I did not feel any sort of swooniness for the MMC.

The plot was very promising for this novel, I enjoyed the idea of two “ex-lovers” continuing a podcast with a falling out. However, I didn’t enjoy the characters. The characters growth and what they did / said in their personal life did not match what they preach on their podcast. I think that’s what irritated me the most. They seemed fake on screen vs personal life. The plot for the book was intriguing but the character development did not make me favor any of them.

I had high hopes but was let down, however, was a fun to read!

While the plot hat promise, friends to more to estranged enemies but still coworkers to everything, Finn and Maeve accidentally go viral from a podcast episode and a couple years later enter a significant deal with a streaming service, just after their personal and professional relationship has gone sideways.

I love a dual POV, but for this one the two voices are so similar, it doesn't seamlessly flow from FMC to MMC as one would expect. The flashbacks and present day aren't really differentiated, so it's hard to tell where in the timeline the chapters are taking place and somehow we don't see how/when/where Maeve and Finn's feelings turn to more in the beginning and it doesn't really give the reader something to root for. With some pretty significant issues just glossed over for its relation to the subject matter, the story is missing depth and growth to the characters, both individually and together.

Overall, this story was more than a little lacking and ultimately not for me.


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review!