THE BANTER WAS EVERYTHING! it was so seamless between Rylie and Eva, nothing ever felt forced and they worked so well together. It felt like I was eavesdropping on their conversation but I couldn't stop.

I will say Eva is a hard character to love as she made it difficult to like her but it's purposefully and makes sense. Eddings is so good at writing complex characters with earnest voices.

Ah, this was so much fun <3

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this e-ARC.

I think this is my fourth read of Mazey Eddings and I just continue to enjoy her writing and characters so much. Loved seeing characters from other books make an appearance!

This had me foaming at the mouth and screaming into a pillow. Rylie has so many green flags, it’s a delight. The mouth on him is enough for me to do depraved things.

The flirting, the wit, humour, banter, and chemistry between the fmc and mmc is hypnotic. I was pretending to be Eva whenever Rylie was in sight.

Tropes:
- Second chance romance
- Black cat x golden retriever
- Stop being mean to me, I’ll fall in love with you
- He is OBSESSED with her
- Banter
- Pan + bisexual rep

Well, Actually was the first book I read by Mazey Eddings. I enjoyed it so much and can’t wait to read more. Mazey created a love story that was so enjoyable to read unfolding. I love the quick whit of the man characters. The book was steamy! Thanks for giving me access to this book!

I absolutely loved the A Brush With Love series by Mazey Eddings and was so excited for her new release!!! It sounded so good especially with the Chicken Shop Date comparison, but it just didn’t work for me :/

I didn’t find the innuendos funny — they were just annoying and I didn’t connect to the characters. Even though it wasn’t for me, I could definitely see how people could love this book!!!

This book was such a breath of fresh air! Sure, it had some clichés and familiar tropes, but the fact that the MMC is in therapy, actively working on himself, and totally okay with being vulnerable? You don’t see that often in romance, and I loved it.

The story itself was so much fun! The constant teasing mixed with the raw, emotional moments made it feel like a well-balanced rom-com. That said, I wish the MFC had more character growth to match the MMC. .

Also, I really resonated with the MFC when it came to her trust issues, building defenses to feel safe, and struggling to let people in. She frustrated me at times, but honestly? It felt like looking in a mirror.

Despite the few minor issues I had, this was an easy 5-star read for me. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a romantic comedy with:

-Second-chance romance
-Grumpy x sunshine (though really, she’s a black cat with a sharp tongue, and he’s a down-bad golden retriever)
-Pansexual + bisexual representation
-Words of affirmation

🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

A quick witted rom com with a FMC who knows how to bite back and a MMC who is hopelessly down bad. You can't help but root for these two as obstacles are thrust in their way and they learn how to communicate after a years long misunderstanding that came at the exact wrong time when thy knew each other in college

So conflicted with my rating on this one! The beginning was SO strong, I was obsessed and immediately predicted that it was going to be a 5 star read. It reminded me so much of Amelia and chicken shop date (which I LOVE) and I thought we were getting an Amelia and Andrew retelling here but with hot dogs 🤣 BUT after the initial “date” between the MC’s Eva and Rylie I just… lost interest 😭 maybe it’s because I can’t relate, but Eva was insufferable to me because of how rude she was. She’s so obviously still hung up on her past with Rylie, and I understand holding a grudge, but my GOODNESS can we tone it down a few notches? She also didn’t take shit from anyone, which is a fave trait of mine, BUT she grew complacent af when it came to her boss??? When it actually mattered she was silent?? I was so confused by this whole workplace bullying storyline honestly. Like just QUIT YOUR JOB!!!! You live in NY and work in journalism/social media you will be FINE 😭

Also her friend Aida was the WORST. All this talk about girl power in the book, but no decent female friendship??? She didn’t have her back until the very end, and even that was lackluster. I liked Rylie as an MMC but I just couldn’t get over the cringe moments, and the nickname “kitten” he gave Eva 😣 I also kind of had a hard time believing he felt THAT guilty for how he treated her in the past, because why hasn’t he tried to find/contact her over the years? Moving on, the supporting characters were fine but it honestly felt like they were thrown haphazardly in just to add to the plot. One last complaint, there are SO many current event/social media/meme references and while some were funny, it really dates the book and creates a story that isn’t timeless & wont be relevant at some point. Someone who isn’t up to date on the latest memes really wouldn’t understand half the dialogue in here.

Okay this is getting SUPER long so I’ll end with the good: the banter was FANTASTIC! I giggled and laughed out loud many times & felt that the chemistry was truly palpable!! The spice was actually really good too and better than I expected it to be! Again, the beginning of the book was perfection! Great intro to the main character & what she does, and the plotline of her airing Rylie’s dirty laundry via social media was genius 🤣

anyway if it wasn’t for the witty banter this probably would have been 2 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and SMP for an ARC of this book!! 🫶🏼

I was HIGHLY skeptical of this one when I first read the blurb. A male podcaster profiting off of talking about toxic masculinity? I think I side-eyed so hard I sprained my eyeballs.

But, ugh, I guess will make an exception for Rylie Cooper. The patience he has for Eva, the slutty little glasses (Eva’s words not mine), the banter, the scenes where <redacted because I have family that follow this account>.

On a serious note though, in addition to be riotously fun, I think there’s a lot of things that felt real in this one. This isn’t a second chance romance because of a silly miscommunication, or circumstances. Rylie really hurt Eva, in ways that will feel very familiar to anyone who’s been ghosted by an emotionally immature college boy. He has to atone for that (and atone he does) and Eva has to work through the issues she has because of it.

All in all, this one was a delight. My only worry is that it may give women the idea that their terrible college exes have actually evolved, emotionally intelligent and amazing in bed - and we all know that he’s probably still an f-boy, just with a receding hairline now.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7264749838
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/16547163-f0f0-4268-9062-997ec9fdcc8c

⭐️ 8.5/10⭐️
Well, Actually was such a fun read! There were parts that genuinely made me laugh out loud, and the pacing was so well done, I couldn’t put it down! The banter was top notch, and the chemistry kept me hooked. A great, fun, and lighthearted book perfect for the beach.

Thank you Mazey Eddings, St. Martins Griffin, and NetGalley for the ARC!

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be spunky. Eva is the kind of character that I envy— so quick witted, funny and outgoing. Riley is charming and sweet and the perfect golden retriever to Eva’s black cat.

As a chronically online human, it was obvious to me who these characters were loosely based on, but it didn’t stop me from picturing them and making them their own characters.

If you need a good spicy read, with a ton of banter and quick wit, this is a perfect read!

"Well, Actually" by Mazey Eddings has an intriguing concept with sharp, enjoyable banter between the main characters. While the cameo appearances from previous book characters were a fun touch, they occasionally felt a bit forced, pulling me out of the story.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely in love with this Enemies to Lovers and Second Chance Romance. It truly warms my soul. The perfect amount of babter, spice, and a whole lot of personal growth. Love love loved this couple!

Thank you NetGalley and Mazey Eddings for the wonderful book.

Absolutely smitten over this Enemies to Lovers and Second Chance Romance ♥️ The perfect amount of giddy banter, swoony spice, and a whole lot of personal growth. Love love loved this couple!

Thank you NetGalley and Mazey Eddings for this ARC

I really enjoyed this book! The dynamic between the two main characters was humorous and sarcastic, which is something I appreciated. Mazey has once again created a FMC I completely adore. She has her walls up, using her words as a shield to protect herself from being hurt. She keeps her circle small and doesn’t let many people in—but honestly, after everything she’s been through, I’d be the same way. This was the first thing from Mazey Eddings that I have read and I will definitely check out more in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc!

It's a cute sturdy on second chances and character growth that touches on some heavy topics. I loved the premise of the book and thought that the chemistry between the two characters was pretty good. The side characters were really well written and I loved the fact that the references to modern day things like social media and such were original and not cringy like other books I've read. The only two problems I had with this book were how the FMC was written to be a bad bitch and sometimes not in a great way, and the fact that this book is a little millennial coded. I get the fact that the FMC was supposed to be this strong willed woman who stood up to the patriarchy (as we all should) but sometimes she came off as a straight bitch. Like sometimes when she would look down on Cooper while knowing next to nothing about him was sooooooo bad, and it's the fact that she hates this man for the beginning all because of a 2 month relationship back in college that gets me. I definitely think that this book will be more popular in the older generations due to its dry sense of humor and the fact that it's extremely millennial coded. I still enjoyed this book (even though I cringed at times) but as a younger adult I will say that this probably wouldn't be the best read for younger readers.

I enjoyed the concept - was just a bit too cheesy for me. Would try and read another book by the same author, I just don’t think this one was for me.

This book healed something in me!!!!!

Eva Kitt: short form interview specialist (with hot dogs???)

Rylie Cooper: anti toxic masculinity podcast host AND Eva’s ex she can’t seem to shake.

One tipsy night Rylie’s TikTok’s comes across Eva’s feed and this simply will not do. A scathing stitch and an HR meeting later Eva finds herself hosting Rylie on her show and committing to 6 dates so Rylie can prove he’s not that guy.

Eva puts up a front. An armor. Full of prickly sarcasm and a sharp tongue she will never give you the chance to get close to her, hurt her, or walk away. I felt that deep in my soul. I don’t think I’ve ever seen myself in a character more. The more she pushed Rylie away and he just let her insults bounce off of him..KILL ME. Us tough shell girls need love too 😭

I really enjoyed this book! The dynamic between the two main characters was humorous and sarcastic, which is something I appreciated. The author did a great job of highlighting some workplace harassment and issues with superiors well, to the point that I was getting frustrated for the main character. The book was fast paced enough that I finished it in just a couple days but had a good story, start to finish. Overall, a great novel!

I absolutely LOVED this book and was so excited to read it early! Mazey has once again created a FMC I completely adore. She has her walls up, using her words as a shield to protect herself from being hurt. She keeps her circle small and doesn’t let many people in—but honestly, after everything she’s been through, I’d be the same way. Watching her slowly let those walls come down was so satisfying. I will say, Aida made me sad. She’s supposed to be a supportive friend, and while I understand that working with friends can create awkward dynamics, I really wish she had stood up for her more. Overall, I loved this book so much and will definitely be preordering a signed copy. Another hilariously beautiful story from Mazey!

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

I LOVED this book. Absolutely going to be one of my favorite reads of the entire year. I thought that the plot of this book was so interesting as it takes a concept that is so popular within our culture today, yet felt like such a new concept in this book and I have not read anything like this before. The chemistry between Rylie and Eva was unmatched. Truly a perfect couple and I was rooting for them the entire time. The slow burn, second chance romance mixed with him falling for her first and falling so hard was so well written and a mix of everything I love in a book. The writing of both Eva and Rylie's characters was so well done and I was surprised at how much depth both characters had. Eva was one of the most reliable female main characters I have ever read and I felt for her so deeply in her hurt. I truly wanted the best for her and was so happy that Rylie loved her so intensely and gently. Rylie was also the sweetest and most thoughtful man I have ever read in a book and I loved getting to watch his growth as a character as well as his relationship with Eva.

Overall I was absolutely obsessed with this book and I can't wait to revisit it closer to publication day. This was the first thing from Mazey Eddings that I have read and I will definitely check out more in the future!