God it gave vibes of chicken shop date, from page one but the FMC is just so bitchy and rude I just couldn’t stand her. And the MMC is very boring tbh disnt really care if end up with her or not idem for her. She maybe gives black cat energy but jeez she is so rude to the MMC is just annoying at the end that you want to skip at the end of the book to know the ending. And the throwing side characters without any back story it felt anticlimactic tbh. Meh I wasn’t convince but I’m sure some people will love that book.

Really happy to have gotten an ARC of this, I thought it was such a cute rom-com! The characters and premise are fun, there really aren’t any tropes that normally frustrate me, and the ending is satisfying. I’m not the hugest fan of the title, but everything else was really enjoyable!

I loved this book so much! Sometimes I feel that a unique premise and the details of the characters lives can overtake the character development and chemistry itself - which was not the case here at all. I truly felt like you got to know the characters in this story and end up caring about them deeply. This story had me laughing, emotional, and cheering for this couple - one of my favorites of the year so far!

The premise of this story is what sold me: it’s unique and fun, and I truly had the best time reading this book.

I was so excited to get an early copy of this book as it looked really great, and I enjoyed two of this authors previous books.

Sadly though this one was a miss for me, I just thought both Eva and Aida were total bitches and I really struggled to connect with them, or any of the characters to be honest.

I found the book quite confusing at parts and pretty underwhelming.

I’m sure lots will love it but it was a no from me.

If you do want to try something else from this author then I recommend you grab:

❤️ Brush With Love
❤️ Late Bloomers

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

A second chance romance that made me laugh out loud so many times! The banter and spice were delicious. Riley Cooper is absolute perfection 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

Second chance romance? SAY NO MORE. This book was the type of book you’ll love if you are a sucker for second chance romance and literal laugh out loud moments. I love reading books that make me kick my feet and scream in delight as I read it. Reminds me of the meme: “who’s got you smiling like that?” and I’m over here like “my book.” The spice in this book was delicious and I am sad the rest of the world needs to wait until August to read this, because this book is amazing!

A viral video, a second chance, and a love story that proves even the messiest moments can lead to the happiest endings.
If you're a fan of second-chance romance and witty banter, Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings is the perfect summer read. Set to release in August 2025, this hilarious and heartfelt novel delivers a sharp, fun exploration of love, fame, and the chaos of modern relationships.
****

The story follows Eva Kitt, the host of a quirky and beloved show called Sausage Talk, where she interviews celebrities while chowing down on hot dogs (yes, you read that right). Eva’s life takes an unexpected turn after a wild night out, a TikTok video featuring internet heartthrob Rylie Cooper—whom she once dated in college—and a bottle of wine. In a moment of drunken spontaneity, she stitches Rylie’s viral video and shares her side of their relationship, detailing how he ghosted her. To her shock, the video goes viral, throwing Eva into the spotlight in ways she never expected.

Now, with her job and reputation on the line, Eva is forced to interact with Rylie in a new way—on her own show. Her company is pushing for more content, hoping it will drive revenue and grow her audience. The twist? She has to reunite with Rylie, the man who broke her heart, and put her feelings and history under a public microscope.

What I loved about Well, Actually was its delightful contrast of personalities—Eva, a "black cat" type with sharp wit and a guarded heart, and Rylie, the easygoing, lovable "golden retriever" archetype who brings out the softer side of her. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their banter is some of the best I’ve read in a romance novel. The push and pull of their relationship, filled with humor and vulnerability, makes their second chance both thrilling and tender.

Mazey Eddings beautifully captures the complexities of navigating love in the modern age—how social media can both connect and complicate relationships, and how, even when love feels scary, it’s always worth taking the risk. Well, Actually is the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud moments and heartfelt emotion, reminding us that love can come when we least expect it and that facing your past might just lead you to your future.

Nothing I love more than being an absolute menace. Especially to men. Eva Kitt was the biggest ball buster of all time, with the most hilarious comebacks. I want to be her when I grow up. Some might call Eva and unlikable FMC, and to those people I say it’s ok to be wrong.

I fully support women using bullying as a coping mechanism. And I love the men who can take it, dish it back, and still love and support their mean ass woman (small love letter to my husband. gross.)

I loved this one. Laughed out loud. The spice was spicing. And the book boyfriend was book boyfriending.

Ever wonder what if from that person you went on four dates with and got ghosted by? Well this book tells you, while also unpacking the unrealized impact that has on us.

Eva is a very relatable character in her fear to be vulnerable with her partners and feeling just behind in life.

Rylie is incredibly charming and gets to your heart right away, even if he has to work to get back in Eva’s good graces.

Well, Actually is a fun black cat, golden retriever read that will make you kick your feet and giggle.

2.5 stars rounded up because Netgalley still won’t give us half-stars!

I’m giving this a middle of the road rating because I had a lot of fun in the first half, but after Eva and Riley get together everything really fell apart! There’s a scene shortly before they kiss that felt veeery Challengers coded, specifically when Tashi/Patrick have it out in the middle of the night and the wind is whipping around them and the sexual tension is crackling in the air. Eva and Riley had some great banter and push/pull in the first half, but after they finally act on these feelings, it felt like the story just runs out of gas. Riley was a down bad simp the entire time, but at least before they hook up he had a bit of bite in his cheeky banter. After though? All his character brought to the table was grandiose romantic speeches (too many of them), ironic graphic crewneck sweaters and apparently he’s the only man alive still driving a PT Cruiser (with wood panelling no less!)

A lot of other people have mentioned that they found Eva too mean and unlikeable, but her prickly exterior and deeply insecure core was pretty relatable! I love a romantic heroine who is deeply flawed and just doing her best. What I struggled with, is after her and Riley get together she literally relies on his external validation for the entirety of her self-worth. This is not the way to build a relationship being pitched as healthy, soulmate kind of love! Then there’s the frequent references to Riley having a healthy fear of Eva and hoping she fights with him forever. Again, some ribbing and bickering is one thing, being afraid of Eva and framing her as this ticking time bomb only he can dismantle? Not cute! Another weird red flag comment that I hope can be reconsidered, is there’s a moment when Eva needs to be talked off the ledge, but Riley goes about it in a very troubling way, saying it takes 2 people to break up and I refuse to agree to a breakup - again, this feels very troubling, not romantic! If only one person wants to break up, you’re still breaking up!

Lastly, I struggled with how tropey and cringe a lot of the second half was! He wears grey sweatpants, there’s arguably too much praise kink, and so many adjectives in the sex scenes that I wondered if I had accidentally been transported into Fourth Wing instead! I can only handle so much “going boneless” or “opening to him”, “moaning/humming into mouths”, or lingering full body appraisals! There was too much of all of these things!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was not able to get into this book as I had hoped. Though it isn’t for me, I can say the writing style was great!

Well, Actually, follows Eva, host of Sausage Talk, (a show where she eats hot dogs with B list celebrities), as she re-entangles her life with Riley Cooper, a man who once jilted her, and now has a podcast about deconstructing toxic masculinity.

Attempting to capitalize on the stitched video Eva makes, essentially calling Riley a fraud, execs at Sausage Talk plot a face to face reunion for ‘prickly’ Eva and ‘lovable’ Riley. Of course, the reunion goes sideways when Riley asks for a road to redemption, a way to show Eva he’s changed, over six planned dates. Begrudgingly Eva agrees, and the rest… is history.

Well, Actually, is delicuously spicy, funny, and one of the most tender rom-coms I have read in a long time! I loved the disaster dates, I loved the unhinged dialogue, and I absolutely loved Eva and Riley aka Kitten and Baby girl!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an early book review copy of Well, Actually!

Well, Actually releases August 5th, 2025-mark your calendars!

This was a cute second chance, enemies to lovers. I love when the MMC seems broody, but is actually very charming, overprotective and insistent on loving the usually self conscious MFC. I got little flurries reading about Eva and Rylie Cooper, even though I don't like the name Riley. She called him Cooper sometimes so that made it better. She is scarred by an encounter with him six years prior and when she makes a video about it, it goes viral. Cooper uses this as his chance to try and take her on dates and win back into her good graces. It ends up working, even though she constantly tries to push him away. I thought it was really cute! I haven’t read anything by this author before and am excited to read more from her.

Pulled in by the chicken shop date allusions and stayed for the banter. Overall fairly irreverent of a book, in the best way, and I didn’t find it trying too hard to be much else. A little too young for my Millennial tastes, and the pet names were a bit too much.

A second chance, reverse grumpy sunshine rom com set in NYC. Eva has a slightly cringe titled talk show where she interviews B/C list celebs. Big her ideal job. Go make matters worse she watches her college ex rise to podcast stardom on what she believes are lies. She makes a reel calling him out for being the worst in college which goes viral. Cue - dating challenge. The premise was cute but there were a bunch of cringe moments. Overall it was ok. Did like the Lizzie/Rake cameo! 3.5 stars.

This is for lovers of Chicken Shop Date! This is my first Mazey Eddings book, and it did not disappoint!

I really loved the dynamic between Eva and Rylie, from college "fling" to redemption dates. While we go through these dates with them, no matter how much of a disaster some of them were (iykyk lol), we also see how much the ghosting affected both of the characters. We got to understand the depth of their feelings thoroughly and we often don't get to see that, especially from both perspectives.

Their banter, flirting, emotional depth, and laugh out loud moments made this story! Also, the plot and concept of this book are something I haven't read before! So if those are things you're looking for in your next read, I highly recommend!

This wasn't a 5 star for me only because Eva was so bent on this experience not working, when Rylie was giving his all to make things right between them, also Eva's bosses were horrible and not enjoyable to read about. Other than those things, this is a solid 4 star, but if I continue to think about these characters it could become higher!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This one was a mix for me, there were times when I was all in, and some definite cringe worthy moments.

The premise of the story was appealing, second chance romance with a “let me show you I’ve changed” angle. There were times that I felt the MMC was incredibly sweet, but I ran into some chapters when the FMC character was so out of line, I cringed when he was so understanding.

The FMC is written as a tough personality, who feels she has to be, with some pretty intense internalized sexism. She’s got some stuff going on, I get that but at times was just plain mean, and I didn’t get the appeal.

Without diving too deep, this was a good and quick read, with decent spice! If I stop to pull it apart, there were areas with the other characters that weren’t handled well and felt pretty stereotypical. Overall, I was in the mood for a quick read and this book hit the spot!

Another case of a fabulous MMC plagued by terrible FMC…I’m so tired.

Chicken Shop Date, I’m so sorry you’re being compared to this story.

Eva Kitt is our FMC, she’s the host of Sausage Talk an online show where she eats hotdogs and interviews low-level celebrities. She struggles to make it as a real journalist. Then we have Rylie Cooper, his names a lil confusing at times but not too bad. Who ghosted her after sex, um immediate jail, and is a content creator with his own successful podcast. He reeked of Gen-Z ideologies and overly feminist therapy jargon. The therapy scene was awkwardly uncomfortable and did not fit the Rom-Com dynamic. It left me feeling like sometimes you should just let heart break be what it is, and I am a hopeless romantic.
Not my cup of tea but would be a good contemporary romance for the younger generation.


Read if you enjoy:
🌭Second chance romance (sorta)
🎙️Black cat/golden retriever
🌭Strong chemistry
🎙️A Succession easter egg that got me
🌭Hot ones videos but for hot dogs
⭐️3🌶️3