I really enjoyed this romance novel! I love Mazey Eddings' other romances, so I expected to like this one as well, and I'm happy that I did! I thought the premise was really interesting, and I thought that it was executed pretty well. I liked that we got Eva and Rylie's backstory pretty early on (for the most part), so it wasn't a mystery what was going on between them. I also loved Eva and Rylie as the main characters; I thought they were both very well-written and complex characters, and I really enjoyed watching them grow together. The romance was really well done as well, and I overall had a great time reading this book! Eva did annoy me at times, but overall, I found her to be a relatable and interesting main character. I would definitely recommend this book :)

This book was absolutely incredible. I laughed out loud several times while reading. The chemistry and banter between Eva and Riley, even when Eva is trying to suppress it, is undeniable and addictive. I read this in two days. I couldn’t stop.

This book was a journey! Our heroine, Eva, begins as an intense, disenchanted mess trying to scrape up the journalism ladder. During a drunken scroll through social media, she finds a video created by none other than her ex-college hookup Rylie giving, of all things, relationship advice. Since her experience with him was the antithesis of the advice he gives his (very large group of) followers, she films a response - and wakes up to a very different situation. Her ever-opportunistic employer, a social media company giving pseudo-Buzzfeed vibes, tries to cash in by attempting to put them together on dates and posting the development. Along the way, though, Eva and Rylie get to know each other again, this time as adults, with a lot more life experience and perspective. While Rylie has done a lot of emotional work, Eva is working from behind defensive walls built and reinforced over and over throughout the years. What will become of their relationship? And will Eva ever get to a point where she can find fulfillment and fully enjoy her life?

At first I thought Eva's character was too intense, and I say that as a proud, also intense woman. I also worried that Rylie would be exceptionally smug. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed Eva's character development, and really enjoyed Rylie and what his character brought to the story. The cast of supporting characters was diverse, and I found myself rooting for Eva, and even though I've finished the book, I still am. I can see Eva in myself and in so many other women I know - intense women finding balance and softness while not losing ourselves in the process. We got this.

WELL, ACTUALLY is a sweet and fun second chance romance that makes for a great light read. Due to a video going viral, Eva and Rylie unexpectedly find themselves in each other's lives again after Rylie had ended their two month relationship poorly. Convinced he can prove to Eva how much he's changed and grown, Rylie asks Eva to give him ten dates which Eva agrees but plans to not make it very easy at all for him and has plans of her own. What will it take for Rylie to show he has changed and will Eva open herself up to acknowledge it? And acknowledge that underneath it all there's still love between them? I really enjoyed the "bickering" and bantering between Eva and Rylie and watching their relationship rekindle and unfold.

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

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this early copy in exchange for my honest review.

My rating: 4.75⭐

100% recommend it if you like:
- black cat fmc X golden retriever mmc
- forced proximity
- fake dating
- second chance romance
- unbelievable banter
- off the charts chemistry
- Chicken-shop dates vibes
- the man loves to eat
- big city
- open doors spice

My thoughts:
Okay, hold on. Where have I been all this time? What rock was I living under?
This was my first Mazey book and oh dear lord why hadn't I heard of her before?!?!

My expectations were high because I'd seen some friends loving it already and I trust their opinions, but this?!?! This was phenomenal, friends. Chef's kiss.

Can't count how many times I laughed out loud with their insane banter. Seriously. I'm talking about true cackles and screams. These characters are quick as a whip, and their dialogues only got better while also touching heavy and deeper themes that almost had me bawling (rude tbh).

And while there were things I didn't quite understand—such as the figure of the boss who, in spite of being a female journalist who I'm sure has faced her fair share of misogyny to reach the top is apparently a-okay with how her son is talking to and treating a female employee???
I get that it's all about money but that detail felt odd and within an archetype so stiff and predictable, I was actually annoyed—I still think what Mazey did here is truly spectacular.

Love seeing those complex fmc's pop up and the unyielding supportive hero to defend her rights and, above all, her wrongs.

(Actual: 3.75⭐, rounded up) Love Mazey Eddings and quite a bit of time has passed since I read one of her books....... but she's still got IT! ✨ While not perfect, WELL, ACTUALLY is still very fun and rather refreshing for this genre. Prior to reading, I heard/read in passing that this book gives off "Chicken Shop Date" vibes and, don't get me wrong, I can totally see it (from the cover to the synopsis, to how Eva is portrayed as a FMC, etc) but - while I admit Amelia/CSD isn't really my thing and I've only watched a handful of clips here & there - I'll primarily credit the reason for me enjoying this novel as much as I did to Eddings's writing and signature flair/style. How Eva subverts so many of the expectations we project onto romcom FMCs, however consciously we do it or not, was great to see because it's ultimately realistic! Women aren't always bubbly or ~quirky~ or overly kind - we can also be guarded and angry and simply just MULTI-DIMENSIONAL because, at the end of the day, we're just humans too. And so, while yes, Eva did get on my last nerve at times when it came to some of her actions & her attitude, I can also still acknowledge and appreciate what Eddings was trying to do here with her, because she really does do a solid job of fleshing Eva out as a character so we, as readers, can understand where she's coming from (even if we may not agree with it). The one thing I didn't like so much about this book (and what led me to decide to lower my rating just a tad) was: First— SO MANY POP CULTURE REFERENCES. Like just.... so much. Way too many. I hate discovering this in any book I read and it saddens me, honestly, because it immediately makes the entire thing feel extremely dated. There's a way to reference memes, viral moments, et cetera in a work of fiction without being too OTT or heavy-handed about it but, unfortunately, this is where I think Eddings fell short. And second— the supporting cast. The SC was severely lacking for me because they were all either very flat/boring or just straight up terrible in terms of personality, yet.... there was diversity among them? I guess? But that almost just makes it worse imo, because then it just felt like being inclusive as a means to check off a box, which I hope isn't the case. Overall, I'll echo how I started this review in saying Mazey Eddings definitely still has that ✨WOW✨ factor to her and in her works, so I'm hoping the parts I disliked about this book are just a one-time thing she can grow from/out of. Definitely still recommend this one though, so for sure check it out come pub day!!

3.75 out of 5. This was cute and a fast read. I really enjoyed how the enemies to lovers was really well played out. We got great exposition as to all the backstory and I loved how nuanced their relationship is. Both characters were complicated, interesting and real. I absolutely loved the fact that they had one date that was a couple counseling session, romance for the evolved. i also really enjoyed their definition of a hot girl: Hot girl isnt something someone is born as. Hot girl is an armor you put on, An impenetrable fortress of makeup or dyed hair or fake nails or killer clothes or expense perfume or any other bodily adornment that makes you feel fucking good. Powerful. Hot girl isnt a look or style,its a commitment to doing whatever makes you feel unstoppable in the face of lifes fuckery. Also shoutout to Lizzie Blake making a cameo!

Eva Kitt’s journalistic dream has taken a detour while she’s stuck hosting Sausage Talk, a podcast where she interviews minor celebrities and eats hot dogs. Everything changes when she posts a public video ranting about her ex, who is now well-known in the social media sphere. He runs his own podcast, teaching other men how to be good partners.
They strike a deal where he goes on a series of dates with Eva to atone for his past wrongdoings, and they document it on his channel. Nothing ever goes according to plan, and these two aren’t exceptions.

Mazey Eddings is HILARIOUS. I was instantly drawn to this book because my spidey senses told me Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Dates inspired it. So many moments cracked me up, chief among them a quote (“I just didn’t know you could read”) that was 100% from the Jack Harlow date when Amelia asks him if he can read, which has made me cackle every time I’ve watched it.

Unfortunately, as far as the more significant themes in this book are concerned, I am just not the target audience. This doesn’t take away from the fact that this is an excellently written, hilarious novel filled with fantastic banter. I will be giving it five stars—I don’t think it deserves a lower rating because it’s not my cup of tea.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, who provided this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Please keep your eyes peeled for this book when it’s published on August 5th, later this year.

Eva Kitt is know for being the sarcastic host of sausage talk. Think Chicken Shop Date but with hotdogs and heavy innuendos. It’s not the life she wanted, but it’s the life she has. One night she’s doom scrolling as well all do and comes across a video of her ex who hosts a podcast aimed at dismantling toxic masculinity. She calls BS because this Rylie Cooper is not at all the guy she knew. When the video goes viral, her bosses see dollar signs and Eva is forced to agree to 6 dates with Rylie for him to prove he’s changed. Rylie is all in and Eva pushes back at every turn. However, as things progress and she’s forced to face reality, she ends up changing perspective.

Now the review:
I loved most of this book. Like from the rip, I was cracking up. I think there’s a way to do sardonic without being dickish and our girl Eva has that down. Every interaction she has with Rylie is just a perfect mix of humor and crass that I am here for.

Rylie is the epitome of golden retriever energy and is mega in touch with his feelings. The way Eva described him, he was distant and hella awkward. When we get introduced him he’s attentive, encouraging, and charm itself. It had me wondering what was going on back then just as much as Eva. Rylie is also persistent! The man made a decision to make up for how he handled things 6 years prior and he is committed to the cause. This admittedly does not go well his first go but he makes up for it.

I loved getting to see them develop a connection in a very unique way. I also loved that Rylie really pushed Eva to be vulnerable. He’s this well adjusted man who went through a lot of crap and came out on the other side changed.

I also appreciate the representation in this book without making it the key point of it. I’ve read other lgbtqia+ books that seem like the author is making a point that being anything other than heterosexual is the characters entire personality. There has diverse representation but instead of it focusing on how they fit into the queer community, they were just people. I loved the normalcy of it.

The work pressure that played out in this book too was well done. It’s obviously a bit more of an extreme case of something like this happening in the workplace but the pressure is so real. American companies are so good about beating employees down so we have no choice but to take whatever they’ll give us.

There were a few times into the book I wanted to thump Eva upside the head for how she was treating Rylie. There were several over reactions and misunderstandings that could have been avoided had she put her big girl panties on and listened. I also felt like their relationship was off balance at times. Rylie was so open and giving and even took her to see his therapist because he was so ready to show Eva the good, bad, and the ugly. We as the readers get to know all about why Eva has this tough shell but that never really gets explored with Rylie. I wish she would have explained to him her family dynamic and put them on more even ground.

All in all this was a great book. I definitely want to give more of Mazey’s work a read because this had me cackling and making very stupid notes on my highlights.

This book is heavy on current pop culture and social media references. Eva’s job was based off Chicken Soup Date and I sort of hated how much she hated it. I wanted to love her, but sometimes she was too mean. Cooper was a delight though. Another book where I wish you could give half stars and am not sure whether to round up 3.5 stars up or down.

I finished this book in one sitting!! Literally didn’t get up once (I was on a plane) I am obsessed with Eva and Riley. Their banter and chemistry was off the charts and I can’t think of a more compatible couple.

I immediately finished this book and proceeded to talk about it with the people around me, all day. I will be preordering and doing a reread on August 5th! If you’re reading this, you should join me.

(And SPOILERS we didn’t get any silly meaningless third act break up!!!)

This was such a fun read! If I'd been reading a physical copy I probably would have torn the pages trying to turn them fast enough. 😂 I'm not even a Chicken Shop Date person (so thusly not the target market for this) and I couldn't get enough of the vibes and chemistry.

This book was so so good! I really enjoyed the characters (SWOON WORTHY). Romance isn't usually my genre, however I really enjoyed this one. Definitely recommend!

This book started off slow for me. I loved the MMC but the FMC was not likable at all. I did enjoy the end when she opened up more. I appreciate this book and how it touched on the workplace and how the conflicts wrapped up. Overall, I think this was a good book but not for me. 3.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC.

I’m torn between 3.5 and 4⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to ARC read!

Overall, great plot and a fun read. The spice scenes were absolutely stellar. This was an absolute rom com of a book which I loved.

The MMC Rylie was AMAZING. Absolutely loved him the entire time, he was so great. He was very likable and very much golden retriever vibes. I loved his character development and how much he pined after the FMC.

The FMC Eva was harder for me to root for. I get the “cold hearted, can’t trust anyone” personality, but there were times it felt like it was taken too far. I started losing patience with her behavior and found it quite childish and annoying. I wished her character development started just a tad bit sooner than it did, I started getting bored of her same destructive behavior over and over.

Eva’s saving grace was simply that Rylie had the patience and kindness of a saint and didn’t take her mean attitude to heart.

If you like a good rom com with black cat / golden retriever characters who work in social media, this one’s for you!

Loved it. Very funny and hot. The premise is classic rom-com, with a modern bent. The heroine is the host of a very "Chicken Shop Date" online show, but more demeaning and degrading. When she finds a video online of a former hookup, a very unimpressive frat guy, giving relationship advice like an enlightened feminist role model, she calls him out with a drunken stitch. It goes viral and the people demand he appear in her show. Hilarity, attraction, redemption, and feelings ensue.

4.25

thank you to st. martin’s press for the e-ARC

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this half as much as I did. with contemporary romances, I often have trouble suspending my disbelief enough to get wrapped up in the story and enjoy it, and this one did have a lot of implausible story beats to accept. with that being said, this story featured a really cute relationship dynamic that ended up winning me over, even if the rest of the story was predisposed to provoke my cringing.

the couple in this story is really cute. they have excellent banter, helped by the fact that one side really means all the insults for the first half. I could accept the second chance-ness of this story because there was extreme character growth in between, and because I love the angst potential of two people being a mess in the past and working through it in the present.

both of the characters have fun quirks and issues to work through, which I enjoyed for the emotional potential. I think this book was at its best when it wasn’t trying to be super funny, and leaned in to the emotional hurt and discomfort of their situation and past. however, this book is quite heavy on the comedy. some of the jokes were just a little too time-specific and online for me to not cringe a little, but they were also funny (the jomforter, for example).

overall, enjoyable and moving, but a little cringe at the same time

Mazey Eddings, girl- you can do no wrong in my book. Her books are truly laugh out loud funny for me, and the banter is incredibleeee. I will say, I felt like it took a while for the MFC to come around and really look introspectively at herself… but, that’s also probably pretty reminiscent of real life. I was seriously swooning after Rylie.

If you love the female black cat and male golden retriever vibe with heavy banter, palpable tension, and hilarious scenes, this book is definitely one for you. Mazey Eddings has such a fantastic way of weaving heavy topics into such comical books, yet making it work so well. I loved Rylie and Eva and the second chance romance of it all. The spin of making Eva an interviewer who eats hot dogs reminded me so much of Amelia from Chicken Shop Date, while still making it very unique and original in its own way, and I loved that! I would’ve loved to see Eva open up more to Rylie like Rylie did for her. Eva has so much childhood trauma, but she focused so much on her own heartbreak from Rylie in the past that I felt as if a huge part of what makes her, her, was kind of pushed to the side. 4.5 stars.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this story. Lovely fast rom com read with a bit of an antagonistic female lead and a bit more misunderstanding than I normally like, but it worked out in the end. I like that the author gave us time to enjoy the couple together instead of some romance reads where the story ends once they get together. Happy to see them happy :).