From the moment I saw those chicken shop edits with Andrew Garfield, I knew this book was going to own me and it did. Mazey Eddings delivered everything: laugh-out-loud banter, off-the-charts chemistry, and the kind of slow-burn tension that makes you kick your feet. The forced-proximity pact to date? Chef’s kiss. Watching the MMC try to redeem his past self while secrets unraveled had me swooning. By the end, I was hopelessly in love with these beautifully flawed characters.

I can't keep going. I rarely don't finish ARCs. But I juts can't anymore.

First, it felt to me that the author is constantly on TikTok and it really showed in the book. All the hot topics in TikTok (especially as motives to not support someone) are discussed in this book a lot. That's not the first author that I see doing that and I wished authors were able to separate this from their writing. It felt incredibly jarring to keep reading TikTok "drama" in the book especially introduced by the main character, Eva (when she gives reason to not like someone for example). Speaking about Eva, I hated her. She is rude and childish to EVERYONE. I couldn't understand how her best fried kept being friends with, Eva didn't respect her, didn't respect her friend's job. She was incredibly selfish and self-centered. And, OH MY GOD, you had a bad experience with Rylie years agor, get over him and keep living your life.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

My second Mazey Eddings book and I liked it. This is a standalone romance but there were little cameos of other book characters which was fun. WELL, ACTUALLY was an easy read. I love me a second chance romance, bonus points for a golden retriever type mmc. I liked how the book addressed masculine toxicity and owning up to past mistakes/personal traumas. I liked how there was a focus on empowering queer youths. I actually wished there was more "screen time" on the event. Lilith was probably my favourite character. Rylie was second. I unfortunately could not enjoy Eva's character. Her social media personality was so engrained in her that I didn't feel she was ever genuine. I appreciated that her character grew by the end of the book but it irks me that it took a man to push her in the right direction. I enjoyed the unique dates that they went on. Thankfully there was no third act breakup but I think the "climax" feel short. There were times Eva's Babble posts were brought up and I think expanding on that would have given me a chance to understand her character better. I did very much enjoyed bestie Ray and hope he has a story in the future.

I really loved this book. It was cute & funny. The characters were so relatable & the banter was chefs kiss! Definitely would recommend

I have no idea how Rylie was able to stand being around Eva. Yes, he was a grade A jerk in college and did some messed up things. Eva is very rough around the edges and while she has enough wit she’s unable to effectively use words. She runs away when things get difficult. Once Rylie starts to break down Eva’s walls it makes sense but doesn’t completely excuse her behavior.

3.5 stars. The banter is good but there are some cringe lines from Riley.

4.5 stars!

This book was cute and so much fun!! I was first drawn to the cover art and concept of this book (very Chicken Shop Date, which I am obsessed with), but I was not expecting how much I was going to love this story and its characters. Rylie Cooper is an absolute DELIGHT and had me actually giggling and kicking my feet every single time he appeared on the page!
I usually enjoy a black cat x golden retriever trope book, but find that it can be hard to fully develop the characters. That was not the case here, and I found both of these main characters to be so well rounded and three dimensional. While Rylie is the sunshine-y golden retriever, we get a good look at the side of him that has gone through a lot and struggled to change and work on himself. And Eva, who can be a bit feisty, hides behind a wall of sarcasm and wit, to protect the very soft side of her that Rylie is good at bringing out.
Honestly this was just so much fun from front to back and my only complaint is that the end kind of dragged, but also there was no third act breakup so it was a win for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Publishing, and Mazey Eddings for this ARC!!

I hate to say it but I had a hard time finishing this book. I think there was a lot of potential but it just didn't grab my attention and keep me wanting to read more.

I could see every scene of Well, Actually so vividly. As a fan of Chicken Shop Date, Amelia Dimoldenberg inspired the fiercely snarky, sometimes self-doubting Eva Kitt. And Rylie? In my head, he was the perfect mix of Jonathan Bailey’s charm and Andrew Garfield’s mischievous warmth…you know, that kind of electric, can’t-look-away chemistry that makes every interaction spark.

This second-chance romance, with its then-and-now timeline from their messy college beginnings to their unexpected reunion, had me fully invested. Eva has to fight to rediscover her strength and voice in a world that has knocked her down more than once, and Rylie, much to her surprise, becomes her biggest cheerleader, pushing her to see the power she’s had all along. The dates are a delicious mix of awkward, sweet, and swoony, and watching their history transform into something real and healing made it impossible to put down.

Funny, empowering, and surprisingly tender, this book balances biting humor with heartfelt vulnerability in a way that feels effortless. If you love your rom-coms with equal parts heat, heart, and a healthy dose of public sparring, Well, Actually is a total must-read.

Read if you like:
🌭 Enemies to Lovers
🌭 Second Chance
🌭 Workplace Romance
🌭 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🌭​​ Fake(ish) Dating

4.5 stars! So good! The banter between Eva and Rylie was all sorts of amazing, and this was bubbly and fun while still focusing on hard topics in a relatable way. Loved the characters and how they were like magnets, unable to stay away from each other. Great spice and a wonderful story.

In Well, Actually, Eva always dreamed of a hard hitting journalism career. Instead, she’s eating hotdogs and interviewing B-list celebrities on her show “Sausage Talk”. When she drunkenly posts a video dragging her ex and famous social media star, Riley Cooper, for how he treated her in college, her media company decides to capitalize on her viral post. Eva makes a deal to go on 6 dates with Riley while he tries to win her over and then they’ll debrief after each date on his podcast.

Such a fun read! And very relevant to today’s pop culture for sure. Eva’s humor and black cat tendencies were hilarious and I thought her character had so much potential, but started to feel a little flat when she always fell back to her snarky banter. Riley felt more dynamic to me, especially after we got into the reasoning behind his college behavior. The backstory really helped and I enjoyed the second half of the book a lot more for that reason! It was a fast paced, fun read that kept me laughing the whole way through. And it made me want to go watch all the Chicken Shop Dates. Did anyone else get those vibes??

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the arc!

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, but there was a turning point where I started to feel disconnected to the characters. I felt as if we really rushed into them getting together and then it was just sex sex sex with extra story lines that didn’t make sense to me.

I liked Eva, I liked the idea of her podcast, I liked Riley Cooper, I liked her friends, but the story just fell apart after halfway because at that point they were already sleeping together and not continuing the dates. The fundraiser was confusing, the executives at SoundBytes ending up being bullies didn’t make sense either.

Overall, i really liked the first 50% of this book and then everything kind of fell apart for me.

This was another great storyline and well developed characters. It wasn’t overly hilarious either a slightly serious undertone. This is typical for this authors writing style. I always anticipate this authors book releases

This was my very first Mazey Eddings book, and honestly? I had such a blast reading it. From start to finish, it felt like being wrapped in something warm, safe, and hilariously entertaining. I spent most of the time giggling because of the banter—it’s sharp, quick, and full of the kind of rhythm that makes you want to keep reading just to see what they’ll say next. Everyone’s been saying it gives “chicken shop date” energy, and they’re so right—it has that same mix of awkward charm and genuine connection that feels unscripted in the best way.

Let’s talk characters, because wow.

Eva – She’s the very definition of a boss woman. Confident. Self-aware. The kind of person who notices everything happening around her and refuses to be caught off guard. But beneath that strong, composed surface, there’s this quiet thread of loneliness—something shaped by years of experience, both good and bad. She carries a deep mistrust, and while she’s capable beyond measure, she still feels like she has to constantly prove herself to others. I resonated with her so much. She’s a textbook people-pleaser—stretching herself thin to make everyone else feel at ease, even when it leaves her running on fumes. The way the book explored that without judgment really made her feel real to me.

Riley – Okay, I was absolutely gone for him. He’s the kind of love interest that makes your chest tighten—in that good, “oh no, I’m in too deep” way. His patience with Eva was everything. He’s madly into her, and he never hides it, never plays it cool. One of my favorite things about him was his honesty about who he used to be. He knew his past wasn’t perfect—he owned up to the mistakes without making excuses. And more importantly, he put in the work to grow, not just for Eva’s sake, but for himself. That self-awareness made him feel grounded and authentic, and I never once felt any hypocrisy in his words or actions.

And then, their dynamic—black cat x golden retriever at its finest. I adored how they bantered like equals, never backing down, never letting the other win too easily. As a couple, they balance each other in the most satisfying way—each giving what the other needs, often without even realizing they’re doing it. There’s something deeply comforting about watching two people fit together like that, especially when the chemistry is as electric as theirs.

The story itself surprised me in how deeply it hit emotionally. Eva might just be one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever read. Her fear of abandonment was written with such raw honesty that it felt like the book was holding up a mirror. That constant weight of needing to stay tough, to keep up a certain image because you think the world won’t accept you otherwise—it’s exhausting. And the book doesn’t shy away from showing how badly we all need softness, vulnerability, and safe spaces where we can just be.

I also appreciated how Riley’s college struggles were woven into the story. They were acknowledged with sincerity, but never used as a crutch for his actions. Instead, they became part of his journey toward accountability and growth. And as much as this is a romance, there’s a thread of career and self-fulfillment advice running through it, too. One of my favorite messages was about not settling—reminding us that the world is full of opportunities, and you don’t have to cage yourself in just because it feels safe.

In the end, this wasn’t just a cute, swoony romance (though it was both of those things in abundance)—it was also a story about healing, growth, and finding the courage to let someone see all the parts of you, even the messy ones. I had so much fun reading it, but I also left with a few things to think about, and I can’t wait to pick up another Mazey Eddings book.

4 stars! Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy!

I’ve come to really enjoy second chance romances lately. The shared history between two people creates a battlefield that they have to navigate to find each other again. Well, Actually created a magnificent minefield for the characters to work through! It was real, it was gritty, and it was SPICY!

Well, Actually had such great writing! It had me giggling and kicking my feet and sometimes straight out cackling at my kindle. The banter was stellar and the tension was so delicious. Eva, the host of Sausage Talk, is such a boss lady and I loved watching her battle it out with the world. She is so protective of herself and rarely lets anyone in. Watching her slowly and (very) reluctantly letting Rylie in was a delight. Rylie Cooper had me SWOONING. He such a perfect definition of a golden retriever boyfriend and he made my heart ache! He was so patient with Eva and was so gone for her. I am a sucker for a man who can admit when he is wrong, and Rylie does just that.

I really appreciated how deep this book got. The characters were given space to express themselves and to work through their issues. Their past wasn’t just glossed over, but given time to be acknowledged and understood. I felt like I really got to know Eva and Rylie as they went on their journey. This was my first Mazey Eddings book and it definitely won’t be my last.

Thank you to St Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 17%

I found the main characters to be immature and annoying and the plot to be silly and juvenile.

4.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is currently a standalone romance novel told from Eva’s perspective.

Eva is sarcastic, quick witted, argumentative and hides behind her sense of humor. Rylie is also quick witted, a little less sarcastic, and apologetic about what has happened between them.

After Eva goes viral, they’re forced to build off the momentum in the hopes Eva gets promoted.

The banter in this book had me hooked. Rylie understood Eva’s sense of humor and wasn’t afraid of it which only created more tension and chemistry between them. I was grinning and kicking my feet reading their back and forth.

I also enjoyed getting to know Rylie and Eva. The leads had full backstories that gave them depth.

At times, her “hatred” of him got to be a little much, but it came from a genuine place and issues she needed to work through were revealed. By the end I felt like his goal of redeeming himself was achieved and I was rooting for Eva to realize that maybe it isn’t hate that she was feeling 😏.

The plot line of Eva’s place in the company after going viral was realistic, even with how it ended, and I appreciated that and the commentary about capitalism and social media the story lends itself to.

Read for:

🎙️ Forced proximity

🎙️ Second chance

🎙️ Workplace romance

🎙️ Black Cat x Golden Retriever

🎙️ Hate to love

🎙️Social media culture

OVERALL

Overall, I give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I had a great time reading this book and I highly recommend it to lovers of the Chicken Shop Date series and FMCs with black cat, sarcastic energy.

ugh this book owned me. There's healthy communication, tension, and mental health rep all while having top notch banter and chemistry. This had me in a chokehold all the way through.

Well, actually…. I loved this book! The modern day social media and online dating tropes had me hooked. Think enemies to lovers with a snarky as heck female main character and a bad boy who is turning a new leaf. Funny, endearing and everything I was looking for.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as well and the narrator was soooo perfect for Eva! Full of sass and so so good.

Rating: 4.5⭐️/5

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. That being said, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
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✨ Genre: Contemporary Romance, Rom-Com
✨ Rating: 4 stars
✨ Spice: Detailed but not too graphic, scenes all either fit with or are useful to the plot of the book
___
As one of the many books that I read on my vacation, this was the one that I read the fastest (I read it in one day). It was a quick, enjoyable, and entertaining read that had a lot of great things going for it, even if it was not my favorite book.

Eva and Riley are two incredibly interesting characters who truly becoming the people who they are meant to be, both as a couple and as individuals, throughout the course of this book. Eddings did an absolutely phenomenal job of creating authentic characters, particularly when it came to Eva and Riley's sexuality, and the banter between them was absolutely fantastic. The story was original and very funny, the writing was great, and the chemistry between characters was solid, there is not really a ton more that I can say. It would be harsh to say that this book was not memorable, but it did not stick with me in the way many other romances have, which is why I rated it 4/5 stars - there was nothing inherently wrong with the story, but it did not stand out compared to others that I have been reading lately.

This book has left me with some confusing feelings. On one hand, I absolutely can resonate with the FMC, but on the other... I honestly find her annoying. Except, I can't tell if I feel this way because I can resonate with her or if she's genuinely unlikeable.

This requires a bit more of an explanation. Eva's childhood was rather toxic. It was a blended family- her father married somebody with children, and then they wound up having at least one other child together. Somehow, Eva was overlooked. She no longer got the same attention from her father, and her new step-siblings were bullies. She was told she needed to stop being so emotional all the time too, which helped absolutely nothing. This set the stage for her having a very hard time with relationships and seeing herself as worthy of their attention. She'd do everything she could to please them (often losing herself in the process) and then they'd just leave her.

And then Rylie Cooper comes along. They're in their early 20s in college when they meet, and things seem to be going well for her. But then they share an awful night together and he winds up ghosting her. This easily becomes one of her most hated memories, and it haunts her for years to come.

That is until one eventful night, when Eva comes across one of Rylie's social media posts. She posts a drunken video of her own - calling him out. This leads to the two of them partnering together (his podcast and her show Sausage Talk) to have six dates for Rylie to make things right.

As far as Rylie is concerned, he comes across as a 10/10. I just can't help but wonder if this is my internalized misogyny speaking. After all, I'm about to be much harsher on Eva. So here's my take on Rylie. While I appreciate all that he was trying to do and all that he generally does - those dates that he planned were awful. Absolutely awful. Namely the first one and the last one (before they go into their pre-relationship bubble). First of all, he never checked in with her. He never verified if she had any fears or allergies. He never told her a dress code either, when it seemed pretty clear that she was the kind of gal who cared about her visual appearance. He just wanted to surprise her and he kept missing clues that his plans were not the kind of thing she wanted. And then the "date" bringing her to his therapy session? At least he mentioned to her before what his intentions were, so she could technically back out... But one could argue that he was cornering her into doing something that she might not be ready for. (Which is really a callback to her college days when she did things that she ultimately wasn't ready for - all in the name of a budding relationship.) If I were Eva, I would feel like I had to agree, otherwise I would look like a jerk for saying no. None of this screams "making things right." This actually screams "I'm thinking of myself and my needs, and I'm projecting them onto you - hoping you like them too."

Okay, sure, Eva was on board with it. It didn't quite go well, but she kept an open mind about it. Good for them! I'm glad it worked out. However... I'm not a fan of Eva in this duo either.

Here's the part where I briefly touch on my complicated feelings for Eva. She has a difficult personality. Eva has an armor put up that safeguards her emotions and, as a result, causes her to seem harsh or too much. I genuinely can relate to her past. I, too, had a toxic childhood. I, too, was told my emotions were too much. As a result, my relationships historically were similar to how hers were in college. I absolutely understand why Eva comes off harsh and why she had issues keeping a relationship. Her emotions were always deemed "too much." I've been there. I am that girl.

As such, I don't want to put those labels upon Eva, but I feel like I have to. She really is too much (despite it hurting me to say this). There's a difference between having strong emotions and being a brat. I get having a strong display of emotions. I don't get being a genuine brat outside of a character she portrays on Sausage Talk. Once Rylie entered the picture, I felt like I couldn't flip the page without her being utterly obnoxious. Doesn't she find that exhausting? I'm really glad Rylie is written in such a way that he enjoys her brattiness, but her character utterly destroys all gals like me who have been told they're too much.

As a girl LIKE EVA, I find her too much. Her emotions are fine. Her mental state is human. The way she treats Rylie? Trash. I could never associate with somebody like her. Being "emotional" is how Eva reacts in the last few chapters, and one could argue it's also her lust-filled state in the chapters before that. It's not coming up with rude jokes and constantly punching her love interest below the belt (figuratively).

Somehow, I got past all that and did finish the book. The first section and last little bit were all wonderful. It's that blasted middle that relied on constant sex and their tit-for-tat exchanges to make it through. (I despise when books coast on sex for no other reason than to have sex. There's a time and a place for those scenes, and this book could have sliced out half of them.) If she didn't tease him as often as she did, then perhaps I wouldn't have minded this section so much. Sadly, the teasing was much too much.

All in all, I loved the plot. I loved their backstories. I love the character growth and the mental health rep that existed (primarily through Rylie). I love so many facets of this book. It was just ruined for me based on a gross misrepresentation of what an "emotional" girl should look like and all the sex in the second half of the book. Most of all, I hate how I'm sitting here questioning if my reason for disliking Eva is an example of internalized misogny, or is utterly warranted.

(I need to know, is Eva the modern-day Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Because there is nothing she did for herself, by herself. It was all Rylie.)

Either way, thank you NetGalley for giving me this chance to review it.