“If there is an opportunity to talk shit, I will be talking shit.”
I absolutely love this author’s style of writing. The characters feel REAL and the world is current, My favorite part of this was the banter. The way the characters are so quick with their responses makes this so much fun. I also love the grumpy x sunshine trope. Having it reversed was so much fun. Eva felt really balanced as the FMC since she was mostly self aware of why she acted, dressed, and spoke the way she did. Rylie was a phenomenal golden retriever-esque MMC. The patience and understanding he had was so refreshing to see and the author did an excellent job making him the man he was really trying to be. I also loved Lizzie Blake’s appearance. It was such a fun little part to read.

EXCUSE ME??? This book had me guffawing but also kicking my feet and squealing. WHO AM I??? This was actual perfection. I’ll never get over it. New favorite!!

It took me a while to get into the book, but ultimately I did like it. It is not the typical rom com that I would usually pick up. Overall, I did enjoy it.

I overall enjoyed this book and the banter between the two main characters. As the story went on, it definitely dragged a bit. It did touch on some topics to help you understand why things happened the way they did.

I really liked Well, Actually! Mazey Eddings nailed the perfect blend of humor, heart, and romance. Eva and Rylie’s dynamic was really fun and the banter was witty. I loved watching Eva’s walls slowly come down as she began to trust Rylie, and his patience and charm were just irresistible.

Eva was such a relatable, complex character. I appreciated how the story didn’t shy away from showing her flaws and defenses, making her feel so real. Her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude were refreshing, and I found myself rooting for her even when she was a bit of a mess. The emotional depth and self-awareness she showed as she navigated her insecurities and past hurts made her character growth incredibly satisfying.

The concept of reconnecting with someone from your past and realizing how much people can change was beautifully executed. I loved the way Eva and Rylie actually communicated - no frustrating miscommunication tropes here! Their honesty and vulnerability added so much depth to their relationship.

If you’re a fan of second-chance romance with witty banter, complex characters, and a beautifully paced slow burn, Well, Actually is definitely worth the read. Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! ❤️

I struggled with how to rate this book, because my feelings about it were all over the place.

There is a lot of emotional heavy lifting in this book and the two main characters are very flawed. Some of the conversations done feel realistic, but idealistic which is okay. The biggest problem for me was that about halfway through the book the main pair put themselves in the friend zone of my mind to the point that I wasn't rooting for them romantically and then hey just get into bed together and I felt ambivalent about it.

Ultimately though I feel good having read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this eARC.

Mazey Eddings is a new author for me, and this book has me so excited to dive into everything else she's written. The witty dialogue had me hooked from the very first page, and the level of snarkiness throughout spoke directly to my soul.

What really stood out to me was the beautiful bisexual/pansexual representation. It was real, raw, and so well-done. (Speaking as someone in a heterosexual presenting relationship where we both identify as bisexual)

The relationship between Eva and Rylie was so incredibly relatable. I loved how realistic their dynamic was – messy, full of miscommunication, but deeply rooted in love and the desire for understanding.

Eva’s character was a breath of fresh air. I saw so much of myself in her. (Take that as you will) While she had the tendency to react to things abruptly and emotionally, she didn’t compromise who she was or soften her edges to fit any mold. The balance between her fierce, snarky exterior and the vulnerability she carried beneath it was done brilliantly. It’s uncommon to see a female protagonist who stays true to her strong and sometimes abrasive personality throughout the story and relationship, and I absolutely loved that about Eva.

I do wish a bit more time had been spent on the workplace conflict, or at least its resolution. The issue felt like it had a lot of potential for deeper exploration, and I would have loved to see it more fully developed.

This book is a perfect blend of humor, heart, and depth. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a messy, unapologetic love story with fantastic representation and a couple who’s impossible not to root for.

Incredibly grateful for the chance to review this ARC, and I look forward to picking up a finished copy in August.

This was SO GOOD!!!! Eva’s sense of humor reminds me so much of my own. She had me laughing out loud, giggling, kicking my feet, and then crying at her vulnerability.

Rylie’s ability to go from the damaged, hurting, closeted frat boy to the MAN Eva deserved was everything to me. Therapy is a wonderful tool and he took full advantage of it.

This book was easily five starts. The FMC was as strong stubborn character that masked her vulnerability with different emotions. I felt she was a relatable character that everyone could see themselves with in her. Riley and Eva's relationship felt real and not fake which made me it more meaningful. The side characters made the story and came through at the end for Eva. I have no complaints and only high praises.

I adore any book by Mazey Eddings. This cover is adorable, the book is funny, the characters were relatable and I had a blast reading it. Rylie has my whole heart!

Eva has been given a challenge. She has been challenged by a former boyfriend to go on a series of six dates. She is forced to go by her boss for social media views. He, Rylie, is an influencer that claims to be progressive and knows how to "treat" a woman. She, in a drunken stupor, responds to a post and tells "everyone" that he does not know how to treat a woman and not only gave her a forgettable experience, but he ghosted her after.

Now Eva finds herself having fun with Rylie and learns that private lives do not exist for influencers, which may lead to her losing her lousy job as host of Sausage Talk, but also her dream job or working as a journalist.

I enjoyed the book, for the most part, there was a little backstory that felt a little like noise, but majority of the book was interesting and helped develop the characters. I will recommend this book to some of my more advanced students.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was okay. I’m usually all for a smutty romance, but I found myself skipping over the smut scenes as I just didn’t care for these two as a couple. To me, the MMC could have done better. Eva was whiny, rude and hard to please no matter what was happening. Yes, I can appreciate a baddie who doesn’t take shit, but Eva was too much. Every time I thought, hey is this where they get together? Nope. Eva gets mad at something small and runs away. This happens until 70% when she finally decides Rylie is ready despite his numerous attempts to show her throughout the story.

I will say I did enjoy the witty banter between the two, I just couldn’t get passed Eva being so insufferable. This was a fun slow burn romance, so I will give it 3.5. I just really couldn’t stand Eva.

** spoiler alert ** ARC Review: This was my first Mazey Eddings book, & it will not be my last. I really enjoyed her writing style, her characters, & her politics, as reading is political. Her LGBT representation & “hate the rich” attitude, had me kicking my feet the whole time in appreciation. I can’t wait to go back and share so many quotes from this book as I highlighted and saved so many, funny, cute, and crying worthy.

Focusing on “Well, Actually,” a second chance romance, with the biggest example of black cat girl and golden retriever bf I’ve seen in a minute. Eva Kitt gave the banter and attitude I’ve looked for in a mc female for a while, internally and out loud in front of whomever. I love that this played into all aspects of her life, relationship, work, etc. She is met with the opposite, Rylie Cooper who is a representation of character development gone right and a positive affirmation God. The tension, the humor, the drama, I ate this up. As a fellow BPD girly, Eva will also be one of my personal relatable characters as her, “I love you, I hate you, don’t leave me,” energy was strong. Thank you for the ARC, already purchased the pre-order special edition.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. This book was just not for me, I got to about the 10th or 11th chapter and just couldn’t finish it… I thought it was really slow pace I feel like I’ve heard the story 1 million times before, and there was just nothing really special about it for me. I think that a lot of it was very repetitive and jumpy from one chapter to the next and I just wasn’t in love with the characters or falling in love with the story so I couldn’t make myself finish it.

I loved the concept of this book and did enjoy reading it. I loved the MMC and really enjoyed his story in the book. He may have messed up, but he was in college. People can make mistakes and then learn and grow from them. I think how this was portrayed.

I just didn't love the FMC and that made it difficult to like the overall book more. Once she got together with Rylie, she completely ignored her life responsibilities and thought there would be no consequences. I found this hard to understand. Her boss was awful, but that doesn’t excuse her behavior. She is an adult and should act like it.

I have a feeling most people will adore this book. I will continue to read Mazey Eddings books, but this one was a miss for me.

The banter between the main characters, Eva and Cooper, was incredible, it had me laughing out loud and doing a double take at some of their comments. I really enough this take on a second chance romance, how developed and fully fleshed out it felt. This was a fresh take on a trope I’ve read many times. I loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup, that Cooper said absolutely not when Eva tried to take it there.

My only critique would be to give us the chapter where Eva actually takes down her bosses who had been bullying her and terminated her employment for a scheme they set up. The buildup to the conflict was sprinkled throughout the book and got my blood boiling, which was the intention. I wanted that final confrontation where Eva takes them down after her termination, because that scene had my heart ripped out, I desperately wanted the confrontation and to see those characters deal with the consequences of their actions. We got an epilogue chapter telling us what happened on a live stream podcast instead of us getting to experience it.

Otherwise I loved Eva and Cooper rehashing the past and falling in love with each other despite some truly horrific dates.

**Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings – A Seriously Relatable Read**

Alright, so if you’re into snarky, witty banter and a book that feels like that friend who always has the perfect comeback, *Well, Actually* is where it’s at. Mazey Eddings serves up a story full of clever twists and fun “well, actually” moments that’ll have you laughing and nodding along in total agreement.

The characters are totally on point—quirky, real, and not afraid to speak their minds. You’ll find yourself vibing with every sarcastic remark and inside joke. The dialogue feels like a group chat full of sass, and the narrative just gets how complicated and hilarious life can be when you’re trying to figure out who you really are.

If you love a story that’s equal parts smart humor and genuine heart, *Well, Actually* is a must-read. It’s like the perfect blend of wit, wisdom, and those “I can’t even” moments we all know too well.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**

I ATE THIS UP!! this book was so funny, like i was laughing out loud and hot while also discussing important topics like internalized homophobia, grief, and women in media. i love rylie and eva, as stated previously, would let them WALK ME LIKE A DOG RUFF RUFF!

i adored eva and thought she was so realistic! WE NEED MORE MEAN WOMEN!!!! after being ghosted by her first everything she doesn’t let herself become emotionally attached to other people bc she’s scared they’ll leave her. when someone gets too close she pushes back 10 times harder and overreacts. AND WHATS WRONG WITH THAT!? nothing it’s a normal human response! she’s messy and at times cruel but she’s also extremely insecure and sad. when she meets rylie we get to see her on her path to becoming for vulnerable and open to loving someone again.

mazey included really great conversations about women in media, the double standard they’re held to, the scrutiny they’re exposed to, and how employers exploit their employees. i was ready to fight eva’s bosses oh my GOD!!! i seriously imagined their office as an evil lair. HATED THEM.

rylie is SOOO BABYGIRL. i want to give him a big fat forehead kiss!! he was so kind and thoughtful and unflinching in his love for eva and his friends! won’t give too much away but his storyline about the things he was going through in college were so important and gave so much context to why he treated eva the way he did! i truly believed his growth and his desire to be a better person.

rylie and eva has SUCH GREAT CHEMISTRY! their banter was so funny, my cheeks hurt from smiling. even when they were hurling insults back at each other i was like why is this doing something to me?? 🔥 they really challenged each other and could give as good as they got! on top of their sexual chemistry their emotionally vulnerable moments were so beautiful and i really got to see different side of them.

i already want to read this book again! the banter was quippy and funny and smart, the romance was so sexy and tender, and the characters felt so authentic!! i’m running to read mazey’s backlog! if you like strong women, a man that’s down bad, and loveable characters READ THIS BOOK!!

ps if you love larynn from the co-op you’ll love eva!!! 💖

thanks to smp and netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. "Well, Actually" was a fun little romcom, and I loved every minute reading it. I loved the tropes, the characters were fun and I really enjoyed the execution.

My second 5 star read of 2025 and I loved it so so much!!! Black cat x golden retriever is one of my favorite tropes EVER and this was what I needed exactly!!! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a more golden retriever, down bad mmc than Rylie Cooper. I LOVED HIM! Eva is my girl and I adored her. I could relate to her so much and don’t want to hear a bad word against her!! I loved both of their backstories and the emotional depth we got for each of them. I love that they had a lil history and how they reconnected was so good. The banter, tension, bickering, flirting it was all SO GOOD!! I thought the premise and plot was so fun and unique. The story was so entertaining and engaging and I was never bored!! I couldn’t put the book down and was excited to pick it up when I wasn’t reading it. I could rave on and on about this book. I can’t wait to read it again when it officially releases!! Thank you SMP for the early copy 🩵