The banter!!! The fun! The opposites attract!!

I loved the tropes in this book and I always enjoy a second chance romance. As with all of her books, there is a perfect blend of depth and fun. You can’t help but adore Rylie!

Mazey Eddings has crafted a lively, witty second-chance romance that feels both modern and deeply heartfelt. The story follows Eva Kitt, a journalist who never imagined her career would involve interviewing B-list celebrities about hot dogs instead of chasing serious stories.

I really liked this concept of two people who knew each other in college where they hooked up, and it ended badly, only for them to meet again years later and discover that people can change. That aspect was so fun and well-written. Because a lot of the time in second chance romances, what happened in the past is either stupid and nonsensical or simply unforgivable.

Now the romance? Amazing slow burn. I know it won’t be for everyone because it takes time for Eva to trust Rylie and so it also takes a while for him to win her over.

There is a lot of good representation in this book: bi rep, pan rep, pro-therapy. The plot is fun, even if you have to suspend your belief a little sometimes. There is a lot of character growth. I enjoyed the framing of how tender of a time your early twenties is and how it can have a lot of influence on you operate in relationships later in life.

This is the kind of book that feels like your favorite rom-com with a bit more heat and heart. If second chance romances and great banter are your thing, don’t sleep on this one!

I wish I could be more hot girl reserved with my feelings, like Eva, but unfortunately, I’ve always been more of an emotions on my sleeve kinda girl, which means I’m going to scream/yell onto every media platform about how much I adore this book. Eddings latest novel follows sarcastic and dry humored Eva Kitt, a host of celebrity interview show Sausage Talk (think Chicken Shop Date), who after mistakenly going viral, is forced to confront and reconnect with her ex, Rylie Cooper, a popular social media star personality who uses his platform to combat toxic masculinity. Well, Actually has peak banter and snark, but beyond that, impeccably encapsulates that late twenties vulnerability and grind while also providing poignant LGBTQ representation. Thank you to Net Galley and St Martins Press for the ARC and to Mazey Eddings for writing a book where each page is filled with both jocundity and stirring inspiration. “You’re the human equivalent of comic sans” will go down in history as the best one liner ever written. Well, Actually releases on Aug 5, 2025. Cheers to absolute blackout reads, sweet friends.

I adore Mazey Eddings and jumped at the chance to read her new book, especially when it was described as a second chance romance.

Eva Kitt is a hardened journalist stuck in the beginning stages of her career. Rylie Cooper is a reformed frat bro with a podcast and his own corner of the internet. After a little too much wine, Eva comes across one of his videos and decides to call him out on his lies. Publicly. Online. When she wakes up the next morning, she’s gone viral and caught his attention again, as well as her boss’.

There are so many layers to this book. I was so invested in Eva’s journey. Eddings does an amazing job of creating characters through backstory, emotions, and experiences. I was rooting for Eva the entire book.

The nicknames in this book are next level. Nicknames always seems to be a big topic in my book discussions and these do not disappoint. There’s also a cameo from my favorite Eddings pair, Lizzie and Rafe! Which made me want to reread their story!

(3.75 rounded up)

Did I have fun while reading this because of all the banter and witty comebacks? Absolutely!

Did I feel inspired to eat a beef hot dog for lunch to remind myself there are still good hot dogs after reading this? Absolutely!

Am I inspired to go rewatch some Chicken Shop Date episodes after reading this? Absolutely!

Well, Actually was a fun read full of banter that made me giggle, the characters addressing serious topics in unhealthy and healthy fashions, spice, and lots of talk of comfort food (mac & cheese is also my love language).

This was my first read by Mazey Eddings and after this fun read she will definitely be on my radar!

Thank you NetGalley & St Martin's Press for the advanced copy ✨

Okay so I was a little hesitant starting this one. The trigger warnings (which I don’t generally read) spooked me a little (hello death of a loved one trauma, nice to see you) and I did put off reading this one for a bit. But once I picked it up, I genuinely could not put it down. I stayed up WAY past my bedtime, was dragging at work the next day, and rushed home to finish the last bit of the story.
Our girl Eva works at a news/entertainment company that really gave me Buzzfeed vibes. She’s the host of a recurring video bit called Sausage Talk where she sits down with various low level celebrities and eats a bunch of hot dogs while chatting. Eva’s friend is her producer, and after a rough talk with the Powers That Be, they both start getting a little worried about their jobs and future with the company.
Like any girlie in her 20s, she handles the stress by drinking on her couch and shit talking her ex. On the internet. By stitching a tik tok he posted about how not to be a complete dumpster fire on dates. Turns out this ex hosts a whole podcast on toxic masculinity, and how to detox.
Naturally, the high ups at her Buzzfeed but not Buzzfeed job are displeased, which doesn’t seem like is out of the ordinary for them. Eva ends up hosting a live show with our podcaster/ex Riley. Riley suggests they go on a series of dates to show Eva how he’s changed and isn’t a complete internet fraud.
Shenanigans ensue. Hard truths are shared. And Eva’s bosses continue to be the absolute worst.
What I really liked about this book was the writing style. I thought it was fun and really showcased the characters, personalities and diverse representation. It captured the heavily internet/media focused aspects of the story in a way that looking back on it, I had to think if I listened to it or physically read it because it felt like it could 100% be a podcast, or a series on a entertainment/news website. The author also handled difficult topics that are prevalent in today’s society in a way that was well done, relatable, and (I think) could really provide good perspective on how to handle situations like some the characters find themselves dealing with. Like who hasn’t dealt with a hostile work environment? What woman hasn’t dealt with a male coworker (or man in general) that was just the worst? And in today’s dating world, as unfortunate as it is, who hasn’t been ghosted? Or even done the ghosting? There was also a wonderful amount of diversity in characters shown, including LGBTQIA+ rep and mental health rep.
Eva as a main character was so solid. She had me hooked right away. I read this at a time where I was really disillusioned with my job and maybe that’s why. But she is so unapologetically herself and I LOVE that. Eva shows a solid amount of character growth throughout the book, culminating in her finding strength to call out this toxic workplace, forcing light on issues and misogyny that was not just limited to her, but many other employees. She was able to move past her issues to work on strengthening relationships with her friends and Riley. She was able to recognize when she didn’t handle something well, and own up to it. That’s something that’s so hard for people to do. And yeah, I know that it’s fiction and it’s way easier to write someone doing that than actually doing that in real life, but I don’t feel like it’s something that’s touched on often.
The chemistry between Eva and Riley was top tier. The spice was well written and did not overpower the story itself. It was a great balance between plot and smut, even with there being a decent amount of smut. This is not something I’d put in the “all smut no plot just vibes” category.
The story ended on Riley’s podcast, so it came very full circle from opening on Eva’s show. At the end of it, I was sad that it was over, but was so satisfied with the story that was told and its conclusion. I just get real attached to the characters and never want to leave them behind. This was the first Mazey Eddings novel, but will definitely be picking up some more of her things.

I would definitely check this one out if you liked First-Time Caller. Very similar vibes—excellent characters, the banter is bantering, and it’s so well written.

Tropes: second chance, forced proximity, workplace romance. Even a little grumpy/sunshine, but our girl Eva is the grump.

I really liked reading this book. I loved the romance between Eva and Rylie. I appreciated the way they explored themes of identity and community in a way that felt real and authentic.

The book is definitely thought-provoking and made me think about my own experiences and relationships. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys memoir or essay collections.

As a fan of Chicken Shop Date and the enemies-to-lovers trope, I was really excited for this book. This was my first book by Mazey Eddings, and she delivered with this black cat x golden retriever energy, second-chance romance. I loved the banter between Eva and Rylie and the growth both characters achieved during the novel.

Rylie Cooper was a fantastic MMC. Boy was down bad and he showed it. Eva, however, was not my favorite FMC. I know Rylie hurt her in college, but she was so mean to him throughout most of the book. As the story progressed, I became frustrated with her inability to forgive his past actions and see his growth into a thoughtful, self-aware man. That being said, I enjoyed the book as a whole and look forward to checking out Mazey Eddings previous works.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy for my review.

This is more like 2.5 stars for me, which I rounded up to 3, because I liked Rylie Cooper so much. Eva on the other hand, got on my last nerve. I'm not a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, so that's partly on me for reading it anyways, but I was so annoyed with how many times she kept pushing him away, when he was clearly so genuine. I liked them as a couple a lot once they finally got together, but that didn't happen until 70% through the book. I basically slogged through up until that point. Also, I didn't get or like the title... It was weird to begin with, and then was never even hinted at or alluded to, so that just felt like a loose end. (This whole review feels whiny, but oh well, it is what it is.)

This book was actually given to me for free from NetGalley as an arc in exchange for my review, and clearly it's my honest opinion.

Thorny journalist Eva Kitt longs to prove herself with a real investigative story, but instead, she's the host of an online interview show called "Sausage Talk." But she's thrown into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons when she posts an impulsive video trashing her college ex, Rylie Cooper. Rylie's built a platform on tearing down toxic masculinity and teaching men to be good partners – which is basically the opposite of how he treated her.

To capitalize on Eva's sudden fame, her employers force her to interview Rylie on "Sausage Talk" and guest-star on his podcast. Rylie promises to take Eva on a series of dates to make up for his bad behavior in the past, but can Eva really trust him? The short answer is no, but it's not because of Rylie; it's because she's got trust issues.

Eva's emotional wounds date back to her upbringing, but there were a lot of blanks for me in what we know of her family structure and childhood. We're told she lived with her dad and stepmother as a child, but where was her mom? We learn that her dad was an absolute jerk, but what was her stepmom's influence in her life? Eva has older stepbrothers and younger half-siblings, but the age spread of these kids seems implausible to me unless her stepmom started having children at a very young age—plus the stepbrothers are old enough that their treatment of Eva goes beyond normal sibling drama, bordering on cruelty.

Based on what Eva tells us, I wasn't sure if we were talking about a lonely kid or a true child neglect situation, and that makes a big difference now that she's an adult navigating the wounds this upbringing caused. She also doesn't seem to have any contact at all with her family now, despite claiming to love her siblings—and you'd think even one of these seven people would've given her a call after the media explosion. Just another paragraph or two about her family could have really helped me in understanding just how alone Eva was.

Typically in a romance novel, the reader gets to see both partners overcoming their wounds in order to find love. Here, we're limited to Eva's point of view; Rylie's growth seems to be just around disclosing important information because we don't actually see into his head. The crisis at the end had more to do with Eva's job than her relationship, which felt a little odd from a genre perspective but did make sense for the plot up to that point.

While I would have liked just a little more background to support Eva's character, overall I really enjoyed the book: it's wickedly funny, fast-paced, and very spicy.

I received an advance copy of this book for my honest review. Thank you to the author and NetGalley.

Thank you to the St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin with Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Chicken Shop date fans unite! Mazey Eddings delivers a sparkling and entertaining romance in this second-chance story that blends humor, heart, and a touch of sass. The book’s premise—a viral call-out leading to a series of redemption dates—sets the stage for sharp banter and genuine emotional growth between the main characters Eva and Rylie. I recommend if you are a fan of the Chicken Shop date online show!

Second-chance romance can be tricky, but in this day-and-age of podcasters, TikTok influencers, and the scandals that follow them, Mazey Eddings smartly weaves a narrative where no one is a “bad guy,” the reconnection is genuine, and the forced proximity is believable.

There was so much I loved about this book! Eva is tough as nails, a girl who was taught that showing emotion is an unforgivable weakness, and instead of doing the journalism she wants to do she’s stuck doing a Hot Ones type of show except instead of wings, it’s hot dogs. A video response to her ex Rylie Cooper’s video about red flags in relationships — where she basically calls him a giant red flags and insults his skills in bed too — brings him no her show and the banter and insults start flying. I absolutely loved the whole premise — her dry, disinterested attitude to her hot dogs eating interviews was just perfection — and I loved how Rylie was such a simp for her insults and such a sweet, earnest guy. He masterfully deflects all of her attempts at getting under his skin and does it with humor and heart, and this was the best. I also loved the idea that they’d be forced to go on a set number of dates together and then discuss it on their respective shows — that felt like a really novel forced proximity thing. But they only ended up going on two actual dates, which was kind of a letdown, and then when their relationship turns real they back off the banter and off the publicity too, so that also kind of bummed me out. The last half of the book is INCREDIBLY steamy and delicious, but the ending felt rushed — the conflict could have been queued up better (Eva’s best friend Aida basically hands her the solution to the problem, which felt a little weird.) Overall I really really enjoyed it, and since this is my first Mazey Eddings book I am excited to read more of her backlist!

First and foremost, THANK YOU Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the early digital copy of Well, Actually in exchange for an honest review!!

And holy shit I’ll be honest… this was one of the best romance books I’ve read so far this year. Hands down. I felt every aspect of hurt, longing, loneliness - and then on the other side of it, I felt the giddiness, relief and safety that was their relationship. This was another beautiful example of messy people finding beauty in doing life together. Both Eva and Rylie were frustrating, witty, outrageous and relatable. Also shoutout to Mazey Eddings - the heartfelt monologue Queen! 👑

This is the type of 10/10 banter that makes it obvious that men written by women are superior and unfortunately slightly out of reach in the real world… but it’s fun to pretend 🩷

I can’t recommend this book enough. I cannot wait until pub day when I can get my greedy hands on the physical copy 😩

💬 Smart, swoony, and beautifully real 💬

Mazey Eddings has once again delivered a gem—Well, Actually is witty, tender, and full of heart. With a neurodivergent heroine who’s sharp, vulnerable, and incredibly relatable, this story had me hooked from page one. The banter crackles, the romance simmers, and the emotional depth hits in all the right places.

What I loved most? It’s a love story that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. It sees people for all they are—messy, complicated, and still entirely lovable. It’s funny, fierce, and quietly empowering. If you're craving a romance that balances humor with heart, and characters who feel real, this one's a must-read.

Eva is the host of sausage talk where she interviews people while eating hotdogs. One night she calls out her college ex and it goes viral. Because her ex is a social media influencer that has made his whole online presence deconstructing toxic masculinity. Getting famous for teaching other men on how to be better partners. Her employer thinks it’s a great idea for her to have him on the show and confront him. He offers her a deal where he takes her on dates to make up for his past, and then they can talk about it on their shows. Riding off that original high of virality.

I was really excited to read this book because I loved Late Bloomer by the same author. This book is super cute, filled with romance, humor, and a lot of banter. I have the humor of a middle school boy so I was cracking up at all the hot dog jokes. The story really focuses on the emotional work. Both characters had to do to make their relationship work.

I kind of lived for the fact that this book is grumpy x sunshine except where the woman is the grumpy one. I felt like I could relate to her a lot. Even when she was getting on my damn nerves. It was extremely realistic.

Also, can we talk about Riley? That man is a SIMP and a MUNCH. (The smut?! Was so SPICY!!!) Him always doing the absolute most for her. The way he was able to reassure her and not let her push him away. Was so grateful when there wasn’t a third act break up even though she tried.

Will definitely continue to support and read from this author in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review!

Well, Actually Ms. Eddings, you’re a star! This one delivered romance, humor, realism, tension, banter…all of it. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Everything is well thought out and hits the right beats at the right time for me. I look forward to purchasing!

Squeal! This book is so cute!

This book is for the girl who never felt like she was good enough and always felt like she was too much at the same time. Our FMC is a black cat but she's so squishy on the inside. She developed the personality out of a sense of self preservation and luckily, Rylie Cooper sees right through it.
I love a man with persistence who can see past your personal trauma and confidently reassure you that you've always been enough. The emotional intelligence displayed by this character is off the charts. The story is told so well in the beginning that I really did not like him at all. He won me over though, and he is a rock for Eva. I believe I saw the author is neurodivergent and as a fellow neurodivergent, I appreciate some of the included elements. I have LOTS of annotations in this book.

If you're looking for a story to give you that loopy swoopy swoony feeling, this is it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings is out August 5, 2025. Pre-order wherever you get books :)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy for my review.

2.5 Stars ⭐️

Well, Actually I think there is something missing from this book?!? 🧐

I struggled to get into this book and struggled to keep interest. It took me over a week to read this rom-com. There is definitely some good banter between the MFC and MMC but I felt there wasn’t any chemistry. It is also a very slow burn. Maybe I’m not to target audience, I don’t know, but it is a pass for me.

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