Well, Actually was a great book. I enjoyed the spunky yet heartwarming connections. Mazey Eddings did a great job with this book, and I will be going through her back log real soon!

I so wanted to like this one as a big Mazey Eddings fans. Okay, I was intrigued right away—Eva’s call out of ex-boyfriend and Rylie who wants to prove he’s changed. I had fun with in but the black cat/golden retriever characters were so over the top that this just felt way too unrealistic to get into it. Eva, girl, you didn’t have to be so difficult. On a plus side, I loved the queer rep! I probably won’t review this on my bookstagram page. 2.5/3 stars

Maze Eddings is at her finest with her latest title, Well, Actually! Loosely inspired by internet famous YouTube show Chicken Shop Date and *those* viral chemistry and banter-filled interviews with Andrew Garfield Well Actually had me laughing out loud and kicking my feet as I devoured it in a single day! Highly recommend for fans of he falls first and emotionally intelligent heroes!

The banter is SPARKLING and her voice/prose is envy inducing. Couldn’t recommend more!

4.5 stars

I was laughing, kicking my feet, and swooning over this book! I loved the black cat and golden retriever our main characters had going on. The banter between Eva and Rylie was on point and their chemistry was great. The two meet at college and have a brief fling that is a hot mess. One drunken night Eva comes across one of Rylie's video posts and decides to make her own about how Rylie treated their relationship. It goes viral and the next thing Eva is faced with having him at her show and then going on dates to help with their image and her job.

I loved Eva and her boldness and black cat energy she had going on. I do think, at the beginning, she was a little mean to our sweet Rylie and I know where she is coming from but that is just my feelings on that and part of the reason why I did not rate this 5 stars. The other reason is that I would have liked that Eva would have spoken more about why she gets defensive in a mean way to Rylie. We learn throughout the book what Rylie had going on for him in his past when they first meet and hooked up but the conversation that I feel Eva needed to have with Rylie never happened.


Rylie is the perfect golden retriever book boyfriend. I could not get over how much he loved Eva being mean to him and their banter back and forth. How he tells her he would rather have her over a boring complacent relationship. He was so good at reading her and reassuring her when she would start to get in her head and be mean in a way to push him away.

The spice in this book is perfect. Rylie might be all good boy vibes but not in bed!! He was all about pleasing, and being in charge, and the praise talk was delicious!!!

I highly recommend picking up this book! Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Mazey Eddings for the arc!

Well, Actually was such a fun and refreshing read! I typically don’t gravitate toward second-chance romance stories, but I absolutely loved the relationship between Eva and Cooper. The banter between them was witty, relatable, and packed with emotional depth. It’s the kind of back-and-forth that had me laughing at any moment.

What I really appreciated about this book was how it addressed topics that aren’t often explored in romance novels, particularly its inclusive portrayal of LGBTQ+ communities. While I’m not personally part of this community, I truly appreciated how the book approached these topics in a thoughtful and respectful way something that’s often missing in many romance books. It made the story feel even more well-rounded and relevant to a wider range of readers.

The writing was beautifully done thoughtful, clever, and with a lot of heart. That being said, there were a few moments where the story felt a bit over the top, and at times, the main character, Eva, did have a bit of a cringe-worthy energy. However, the humor and realness of their connection more than made up for it. There were plenty of moments that had me laughing out loud, which kept me thoroughly engaged.

Overall, Well, Actually is a great read for anyone looking for a witty, heartfelt romance with a good dose of humor. It’s definitely one I’d recommend when it’s released!

I received an advanced copy of Well, Actually in exchange for an honest review.

So I’m imagining Amelia Dimoldenberg (Chicken Shop Date) and her banter with Andrew Garfield but Andrew Garfield is actually Adam Brody, but really Seth Cohen (The OC).

The main character, Eva, said “hot girl isn’t a look or style, it’s a commitment to doing whatever makes you feel unstoppable” and I fell in love with her.

And the banter between these two characters is the stuff my Gilmore girls heart dreams of. The conversations made me laugh out loud and cry tears when it got real.

Eva reposts a video calling out a popular podcast host doling out relationship advice about her very unfortunate hookup experience with him in college, alluding he’s the last person that should be giving out advice.

In what Eva thinks is an attempt to clear his name, he agrees to appear on her own internet show. He pleads with her for another chance over the course of 6 dates to prove that he’s changed and soon she can’t tell what’s real and what’s for show.

Highly recommend this when the book is released!

Second chance. Forced proximity. Witty banter.

I also cannot tell you how much I laughed at “do you curl up in the pocket?” An absolute MUST in the published version.

Only critique : I really want her best friend Aida to be a bit more likable. She does get on her side at the end but would really love a little bit of humility from her at the gala. What they were asking Eva to read actually hurt my heart a little.

Well, Actually is witty, heartwarming, and impossible to put down! Mazey Eddings perfectly balances humor and emotion, creating a story that feels fresh and relatable. A must-read for romance fans!

4.75⭐️
What an entertaining read! I loved it! This has to be my favorite second chance romance I have ever read. I’m usually not a fan of the trope but, the author did an amazing job with weaving the past and present timelines!

The FMC, Eva, was a delightful mess. There was a rawness to her chaotic behavior. I was able to connect to her in a way that surprised me. The MMC, Riley, was a ball of quirky sunshine. ☀️ He was the typical golden retriever boy in the best way. The BANTER between these two characters was off the charts! I don’t think I’ve read better banter in my life. And if you like a slow burn this one is for you! 😮‍💨

I loved the mental health representation in this book. Getting to see the characters work through the trauma we read about was refreshing. The communication that these characters have with one another is also delightful! I love when I don’t have to read a 3rd act breakup because the characters refused to talk to each other! 🙂‍↔️

Overall, I loved this book! Besides a few eye-roll worthy #millennialcore jokes, this book had me laughing out loud and giggling kicking my feet! Highly recommend! 🤭

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review honestly! 🫶🏻

I'm excited about this book since I've been a fan of Mezey Eddings from her previous books. My takeaway from her books are someone neurodivergent falling in love. This one, however is not the case. This is more of a Second Chance trope. Eva had a drunken reaction of her ex- from college who is now an internet sensation. In response, Riley (the ex) called her bluff. If her experience with him was so bad, let's give it a second try.

Riley is charming and smart. His calculating is in there, but you don't feel any malice from him. Eva is beating herself up because where she imagine she should be at 28 is not her reality. Meanwhile, she crave the belonging to a job, to friends, to family. First of all, let's talk about her job, it's not journalism that she was trained for, she's doing dumb podcast to pay the bills. Yet, she put her boss on this pedestal and both her boss and depo-prince gaslight her to no-end. And Eva kept taking it. For someone who is so full of sass and attitude acting like a bad-ass, taking crap from her boss who she supposedly worship is a very conflicting trait. Don't get me started on her supposed best friend/producer, Aida. Most of the time in the book I'm begging her to switch best friends. Luckily Aida came thru in the end.

God bless Riley though, he grew up, he worked on himself, and he realizes what he was missing, and what he needed. He build himself back up from the bottom, and is better for it. He became the support Eva needed and then more. He recognizes her need to protect herself, to build walls, and to avoid the situation, and he came at her strong and unmoved from his spot so she can come to terms on her own. Bravo to him for realizing that, and is willing to do that work and be there for her.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC. p.s. Lizzy & Rake makes an appearance, YKIYK.

This was such a fun book! Although the FMC was prickly, she wasn’t unlikable and the MMC was adorable. It was a quick and light and had great representation!

The banter in this is perfection. Love the way Maxey Eddings works mental health and is so inclusive!

This is one of the best books when it comes to banter! You know it's going to be great when the snarky humor has you laughing by page 5. Eva, the main character, you'll either love or hate. She's unapologetic, mean at times, but that bitchy personality holds so much deeper within. I found myself loving her snarky personality and rooting for her walls to come down. You couldn't pick a better love interest in Rylie! He's the patient, golden retriever boy, who gently lets Mazey in to show his own personal struggles. Surprisingly deeper than some romcoms, but filled with love, spice(!!), and so much laughter. Definitely a must read!

WOW! This book was such a fun read! There is something for everyone in this book! The plot is unlike any other romance book I have read- which is refreshing! The social media aspect and f-ed up work environment are so relevant and makes this story feel like it could have actually happened in real life. The main characters, Eva Kitt & Ryle Cooper are relatable and loveable.

I love the way this story unfolds. They way you gradually find out bits and pieces of Eva & Riley’s past (both as a couple and their personal lives). The banter between them is laugh out loud funny and the romantic tension is addictive. I wish the podcasts were real and so I could listen to them more. I want, nay, NEED more!!!

There are some topics brought up in this book that are a bit sensitive to some folks, but they are written so beautifully and with such respect. I appreciate the time and attention that Mazey has given to make sure her words resonate with certain communities and not offend anyone. The ability to touch on controversial topics with grace is a talent that Mazey clearly possesses.

If you love banter, especially between a black cat FMC and a golden retriever MMC, this book is for you!! Pre-order today- https://amzn.to/42gi523 !! This book releases August 5th- but don’t worry, I’ll remind you closer to time in case you forget to pre-order!

Thank you NetGalley & Mazey Eddings for sending me an advance reader copy of this incredible book! <3

Unfortunately after the first few chapters I knew this book wouldn’t be for me. I’m not interested in continuing at this time.

Well, Actually was pleasantly cringe. The characters were fairly like-able, but the wokeness and character arcs felt a little forced. I enjoyed the relationship development but the miscommunication being used as a plot device was tired. The FMC was able to intellectualize her feelings in her head and then couldn't verbalize them, leading to big fights and issues, which felt unnecessary. Overall, it was fun and nice to read if you don't want to think too deeply.

Going into this one, I was beyond excited—I still think about Late Bloomer all the time. And wow, Mazey Eddings did not disappoint. She knocked it out of the park and then some!

Mazey has a beautiful way of portraying the messy, complicated parts of being human through her characters. Eva Kitt is a heroine who pushes people away, convinced she’s not worth staying for—just like her brain tells her. Riley Cooper is a reformed fuckboy who got his life together after some tough experiences. Their relationship is all kinds of fun to watch unfold.

It’s heteronormative in structure, but both characters are bisexual, which I loved seeing represented! This book was everything I wanted and more. An easy five stars, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to many!

*Received from NetGalley for the purposes of review*

This was such a fantastic rom-com. I highly recommend anyone pick this up if you’re interested in snarky banter and second chance romances.

The connection that Eva and Rylie had was fantastic. The banter between them had me laughing out loud so much that sometimes I was crying. Though, there were harder topics on grief, mental health, and the way Eva was treated by her employers that made me cry more from sadness than joy.

I definitely want to check out if this author has any other novels because I loved her writing style!

3.5 stars!

I loved the premise for this, as a second chance romance, but the beginning of it was a bit tricky to get into. I had trouble connecting to the FMC as she seemed to be so mean to the MMC in the beginning. I really had trouble with how horrible she treated Rylie without giving him a chance to explain himself from what happened years ago. My favorite part was him bringing her the different mac n cheeses because she said that was her love language. This changed as the story went on and I loved how they connected more as they got to know each know each other again. It was a cute rom-com!

4.5 ⭐️

This was SO good. Idk if podcast rom coms are a new thing now, but I’m kind of into it. The banter between the two main characters was soo cute and I was hooked from the very first chapter. Their chemistry and tension were also INSANE. I thought the cast of side characters was really interesting, and I enjoyed reading about what they were dealing with. Honestly there’s not that much to say, besides that this was a really good romance novel and anyone interested should definitely give it a read!!

I have loved the other Mazey Eddings book I’ve read but this one just wasn’t it for me. I had a really tough time with the email main character from the start. It felt like we were trying to be witty and cute but it just came off bad. At first, I was pushing through thinking she would be less insufferable as she started to date the mmc but the first date was… ridiculous. Honestly, just ridiculous. I read to about the 35% mark before I couldn’t handle it anymore which made me so sad! Ultimately, this one just wasn’t for me.