Thank you to Mazey Eddings, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an ARC of Well, Actually! All opinions are my own.

It’s no secret how much I love Mazey’s writing and her dedication to representing neurodiversity and complex characters on page. But I feel like this book is really going to speak to a very particular audience - the outwardly tough girlies who want nothing more than a place and a person to be soft with.

If you’re someone who hasn’t felt that firsthand, I can see this book not sticking with you. But if you’ve ever been lonely and heartsick and feeling like you need to bring jokes or self depreciation to the party in order to feel included, I think Eva’s story is going to mean a lot to you like it did to me. And wishing for a partner like Rylie will keep you hoping for another day.

POV: single first person

You can expect: Tropes: second chance, rivals to lovers, grumpy (her)/sunshine (him), black cat (her)/Golden Retriever (him), dating for our jobs, couples therapy for our college days, kissing in the rain, “hold on to the end table”, men who are in therapy.

Rep: pansexual FMC, bisexual MMC, queer side characters, fear of heights, panic attack, grief, SSRI use.

Spice: 3.25/5

CW: car accident, internalized biphobia, death of a sibling (past)

Mazey Eddings does it again! This was absolutely phenomenal which is extra amazing considering second chance romances are hard to hit right for me. It felt like Eddings was listening to my thoughts because it really felt like she addressed every one of my concerns with second chance romances. This had the perfect mix of history between our MCs while also addressing why things failed earlier and what has changed now. All too often, I find second chance romances have such a good reason to be broken up initially combined with not a lot of significant change which just leads me to believe they will break up later. Not in this read. The chemistry between our MCs was always an undercurrent even when they were seemingly completely opposed. However, the more time they spend together, both in front of the camera and on their own, that chemistry can't stay buried forever. I love fake dating stories so much partly because we get so many individual scenes with the characters interacting and this read was no exception. I also really enjoyed how the third act conflict was handled in a way that felt really realistic for the characters where the same situation could feel very contrived and overly-dramatic. Eddings really took so many tricky concepts and tropes that could easily become overblown but instead they all tie together perfectly into a really fun and heartfelt read.

I am not one to like second chance romance but this book was witty and written so well. I really enjoyed it and the banter was top notch!
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Eva Kitt never expected her journalism degree to end with interviewing B list celebrities over hot dogs, but that is where she is. It’s not until a viral call out of a college boyfriend gone wrong on social media goes viral do things look up. Now she is forced to go on reconnect with him to capitalize on the publicity.

Unpopular Opinion Alert. I don’t think I am the target audience for this spicy romance . I struggled to connect with the main characters and found them mostly unlikeable. I did like the enemies to lovers trope and appreciate the witty banter. The narrator did a great job at narrating both characters. That being said, this book is written well and will definitely find it audience that is probably a decade or so younger than me 😂.

Mazey! I have not laughed out loud this many times while reading a book, ever. I’m not one to highlight and save lines but I couldn’t help myself with this one! If you like Chicken Shop Date, pick this one up! Eva has big black cat energy to Rylie’s golden retriever.

You can expect:
🏳️‍🌈 Bi x Pan MMCs
❌ Exes
🍆 Lizzie Blake cameo!
🥹 “Baby girl” but make it the MMC

Thank you to Mazey Eddings, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. I obviously honestly loved it as I’ve already read it twice 🙃

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I really appreciated the complex and real characters in Well, Actually. Their discussions of work stress and mental health are applicable to so many people and it didn’t feel shoved into the book for sake of having it. I even thought the romance was good.


Would recommend.

🌭 Well, Actually 🌭

“Something in my chest shifts, his words melting through me. I want to hide from the kindness of it, the tenderness in his eyes, so I kiss him instead,”

Oh my heart and my HEAT, this book! I adore Eva and Rylie 😍 they are EVERYTHINGI expect from a Mazey Eddings novel - impeccable banter, uncontainable chemistry, with some personal growth along the way. Mazey does all of these things well - including an honest representation of therapy and how honest and beneficial it can be!

Eva is known for her unlikeable attitude and being a HOT GIRL (TM) on her show where she interviews c list celebrities while eating hot dogs. On a whim one night, she goes viral ripping her college ex who has a well known platform where he talks about emotionally healthy men. What follows is a series of publicized dates where Rylie works to win her back. It’s spicy, it’s honest, and it’s beautiful the way they love each other as they are.

Check this one out if you’re looking for:
🌭 Second chance enemies to lovers ish
🌭 Fake dating esque
🌭 Viral, social media famous characters
🌭 Hilarious supporting characters
🌭 Bi representation
🌭 incredible banter + chemistry

Thank you to St. Martins Press for this ARC! On shelves August 5th, 2025. My opinions are my own.

Thank you St Martin Press for the ARC. This book was just ok for me. I think I had a hard time reading it because I could feel all the social political stuff. I also wasn’t a fan of the main female character. With that said I do think some people are going to love this book. I admit there are some scenes that are hilarious and definitely helped to keep me reading.

I really thought I was going to love this book and after I finished it I still thought I did. But the further out I get from it, the more I think it was just okay for me. There were things I really, really liked. Rylie Cooper is utterly charming and honestly doing seriously good working unpacking his personal trauma and issues. Eva is bitchy and guarded and that fabulous too, but for some reason their combination only works for me to a point. They are one of those book couples that I think would split up later. I liked that certain people didn't get any kind of redemption and not everything came up roses for the MCs. But again, something's just not landing for me now that I'm a few days out from reading it. I think chiefly, the idea that Eva who is clearly a girl boss with great angry girl vibes would just willingly stay in a such a toxic job as though she has no other options. I dunno. It was an enjoyable audiobook listen with terrific narration from a new to me. narrator. I'm not mad I read it, it just didn't end up being as strong as I anticipated.

One of my favorite romance books of the year!! I loved this one SO much. I loved the podcast aspect and the characters. The romance was so sweet and the banter is EVERYTHING.

Eva may just be my spirit animal. I absolutely loved her snark and sarcasm and just overall vibe….she is my humor personified and I ate up every word that came out of her mouth. Enter Rylie, who cannot only spar with her, but lives for it! This was such a unique second chance romance in that these two dated a bit in college and both had it bad for each other, but really both of them still had some self discovery to do before they were really ready for the other.

I really felt like their journey from sort of enemies, to friends to more was mapped out so perfectly. We really get to see their growth from the time they were in college to now and how they got there. I mean the way they talked to each other from that very first meeting after Eva’s video goes viral….I was seriously melting! This man and woman know how to spar and the innuendo and tone and all of it, so so good!

This also sheds light on the double standard of how men and women are treated in so many ways, and I loved how Riley was just all in on supporting Eva to be the strong and snarky women that she is!

I really enjoyed the audio, but I will say I would LOVE a male narrator for Riley, just because of the way he is….the swoon level would have been an 11! With that being said Ariela Crow really did an amazing job with Eva!

TROPES
💞Second Chance
🐈‍⬛Black Cat
🐶Golden Retriever
🗣️The Best Banter
🎙️Workplace
📸Public Dating
🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ Rep
💋Nicknames

4.5 ⭐️

This was my first Mazey Eddings book and it did not disappoint.
Overall, this was such a fun read and really enjoyed the character development.

Well, actually portrays a strong woman who follows her heart and dreams with passion, while struggling to meet the patriarchy’s demands. We follow Eva’s journey as she connects with her past lover Cooper due to an accidental social media post. They end up having to go on dates as part of Eva’s job and develop a deeper connection than the one they previously had.

While Eva was our black cat, Cooper was our golden retriever. That man had the biggest heart and I enjoyed how he showered Eva with all the love! Their banter was perfection!

Ariela Crow did a fantastic job with the narration, she made the book better than it already was! She gave life to the book and the characters through her narration! 🎧

Overall, this book is a fast romantic comedy that gets to your heart easily. I fell in love with the characters, their banter and chemistry. I enjoyed how Mazey was able to touch on difficult topics while keeping a light, funny touch to the book.

Tropes:
* Second chance romance
* Single POV
* Black cat/golden retriever
* Rom-Com
* Enemies to lovers
* He falls first
* Slow burn
* Spice

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to listen to the ARC of this book!

This was such a fun read! Packed with laugh out loud moments and just the right dose of emotion, this story had me hooked. I found Eva super relatable…her snarky attitude was everything. And as someone married to a real life golden retriever, I absolutely adored Rylie!

If you’re into reverse grumpy sunshine, second chance romance with plenty of groveling, and top tier banter, then you need to pick this one up.

“Well, Actually” is for all the girls who’ve been told they’re not enough, who have been pushed aside and ignored, who’ve been beat down at work so much that they believe they deserve to be treated as less than. It’s for those who are not entirely likeable and who are angry at the world because of this treatment but who only want to be seen and understood even though they’re afraid to let their inner gooey side show. This one’s for the women who have been called a b—— for speaking out or for asking for what they want and deserve or for saying no to being treated as less than. And this one’s for those who are witty and funny and sarcastic and somehow haven’t given up on the world even though the world seems to have given up on them.

While it took me a moment to sink into this one, once I did, I loved Eva Kitt and Riley Cooper. They felt real, raw, and emotional while going through some tough situations. This book has it all: witty banter, steamy moments, laugh out loud moments, and emotional depth. There’s one particular scene where I felt like I was receiving counselling and I have to say, I’m here for it.

Also, be forewarned, there are discussions of grief and the role it takes in our lives; the sexualization of women in the media, particularly in direct contrast with men; open and honest discussions of sexuality and mental health; workplace harassment; and misogyny. Eddings handles each of these topics with her trademark sensitivity and grace.

While I liked both formats, I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook with the narrative prowess of @arielacrow

I devoured Well, Actually! Rylie and Eva were so real and their conflict made complete sense! And they felt like fully fleshed out characters that you wanted to root for. Behind Eva’s prickly exterior is a woman who has felt like she wasn’t enough for anyone. I just wanted to give her the biggest hug. I already bought a physical copy and I can’t wait to re-read this one!

I'm surprised I could type out this review as i've been so busy giggling and kicking my feet abou this one!
What you'll find: - a black cat/golden retriever[convert] 
- second chance- enemies to lovers- LGBTQA+ rep- grief- therapy sessions- podcast/content creators- slutty little glasses- falling in love over PASTA (name something more realistic, honestly)
Eva Kitt, a budding journalist, is "stuck" hosting an online interview show called Sausage Talk and ends up going viral for shaming her college ex online. The college ex happens to be Rylie Cooper, a beloved social media personality that has built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners.
Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed. 
Eva is the mean girl we all have been for at least a portion of our lives: bitey and snarky because we have no other way to mask our internalized fears of not being good enough. Rylie is a walking green flag that has done and continues to do the work on himself to overcome his grief and his identity confusion from college. 
This book had the PERFECT mix of sexual tension, deep feelings that squeeze your heart, BANTER mixed with vulnerability, healthy conflict resolution (thank you Rylie!), and realistically-paced character growth on Eva's part.

This was my first book by Mazey Eddings, and I really enjoyed it.

Eva Kitt is the black cat to Riley Cooper's golden retriever. These two had a brief fling in college that left a lot to be desired for Eva, which she broadcasts to the internet 6 years later, as Riley has made a social media name for himself as some sort anti-toxic masculinity expert. Her work wants to capitalize on the stir that her post makes, and Riley wants to show her that he's evolved since he knew her, so they agree to produce content together chronicling Riley's attempts to win her over.

This is a single POV that definitely works, because Riley's feelings are completely clear from the jump. He has already had a lot of growth since they knew each other before, and now it's Eva's turn to be introspective and learn to trust in other people.

I really enjoyed the characterization and story here, but the writing felt a little too specifically younger millennial/older Gen Z for me (an older millennial/younger GenX). I also really disliked how her best friend/producer handled some of the more egregious situations at their work and felt it was forgiven awfully easily. There was enough here that I would read from this author again. And great cover!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Mazey Eddings & NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC! Comes out August 5, 2025.
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🎯 My Thoughts:
The more I sit and think about this book to write a review, the more I want to go back and re-read it. I loved the writing, the characters, the plot. Riley Cooper. Scrumptious.

I did have a hard time not imagining “Chicken Shop Date” or “Hot Ones” while reading—and that sometimes took me out of the story. But at its heart, this book was everything I look for in a romance: characters on a healing journey, plot & character development, witty banter, tension, diversity, and a swoony MMC. I also go feral for second chance. And throw in a therapy session? Gah, yes please.

And look. I get why some people may not like Eva. She does some childish things and definitely does not know how to emotionally regulate at her worst times. But we are also meeting her during a major emotional development on her healing journey, and of course that’s going to be messy. Of course she’s going to act out and push back on reason, because that’s what humans do while they heal (some more effectively than others). It’s utterly realistic and wholly relatable. I can’t say that given what she went through that I wouldn’t have acted the same. And she learns. Why are we so quick to fall in love with Riley in comparison? He messed up a few times, too. Is it because he’s already emotionally matured when we meet him (even though he’s still processing and healing)? IDK, but I loved them both, flaws and all. I can’t wait to revisit them again in the future.
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○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Eva Kitt. (aka Kitten) Sassy and saucy host of a hot-dog-eating, “celebrity” interview show. Wants to expand her horizons but is being held back by “the man”. Emotionally stunted in relationships due to past trauma—goes about rectifying her issues in a childish way, but learns valuable lessons along the way
– MMC: Riley Cooper. (aka Cooper or “baby girl”) Emotionally mature, hotty hot-pants. Wants a second chance and will do anything for redemption (but genuinely, not manipulatively). Has emotional trauma, but also has a therapist and knows how to use it. Likes when he’s being bossed around but knows how to be a boss, too.
– Location: New York City, New York
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 4-5 open-door spicy scenes
– Tropes: social media/podcast “stars”, second chance, first kiss, black cat FMC/golden retriever MMC, reverse grumpy/sunshine, praise, secret relationship, miscommunication
– Triggers: workplace discrimination/bullying, death of a family member, fear of heights due to trauma, being in a closeted situation-ship, biphobia, a father who doesn’t condone his daughter to have emotions, mention of an off-page drunk-driver-related car accident, public shaming
– Representation: pansexual and bisexual main characters, mental health (panic attacks, grief, depression, loneliness), MC that’s on an SSRI, queer and BIPOC supporting characters, breaking toxic masculinity
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Trying to convince you to read this through some of my favorite quotes:
╰┈➤ ❝Being young and tenderhearted was such a fucking curse.❞
╰┈➤ ❝You’re the human equivalent of Comic Sans,❞ I respond, working to check my own twitching lips as they try to mirror his. Cooper’s grin only grows. ❝I’m so glad you’ve picked up that words of affirmation are my love language. You make me feel so good about myself.❞
╰┈➤ ❝I want your contrarian and difficult and keeping me on my toes. I want your sour moods just as much as I want your sunny ones. I’m not asking you to change. You can call me any name you want, as long as I can call you mine.❞

Thank you St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This book was so good I'm thinking about getting a paperback copy - and this is coming from a staunch Kindle user.

This was SO GOOD.
Riley is just an absolute wonder of a character - this entire plot kept me on my toes.
They go to therapy together?? His therapist?? That he's been seeing consistently?

Eva broke my heart and then put it back to together with sharp witty banter and a sly smile.

I highlighted so much of this book and could stop crying or grinning like a silly little idiot.

Well, Actually is my first read by Mazey Eddings, and it lived up to all of my expectations! This is the story of Eva and Rylie, who had a short-lived fling in college, and are thrown together again after a social media debacle.

Eva and Rylie dated briefly in college, and it ended with unsatisfactory sex and Rylie ghosting Eva. Six years later, both have moved on with life, but Eva can't stand Rylie's new internet persona speaking out against toxic masculinity. She calls him out online, which quickly turns into an opportunity for them to work together on social media.

As they get to know each other again, it’s clear that both have gone through major changes. They come clean to each other about their past relationship, and they can’t deny the intense chemistry between them. Ms. Eddings writes steam better than most authors I’ve read. The scenes and banter are HOT.

While the book is narrated from Eva’s POV, the reader gets to know both characters really deeply. The connection between Eva and Rylie pushes both characters in new directions that they never anticipated. The author writes this story masterfully, with smooth pacing, emotional depth and intensity and so much humor. The banter and chemistry between the characters is electric, and the career challenges and insecurity that Eva faces are very relatable.

I thoroughly enjoyed Well, Actually. I loved the queer representation in multiple characters. This story made me really happy, especially for those characters who had been through so much disappointment and heartbreak before finding their happily ever after.

Thank you to Mazey Eddings, St. Martin's Press/ St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.