Mazey Eddings can always be counted on for a fun, slightly-unhinged but in a good way, rom-com. Well Actually had a fun premise, a TikTok takedown followed by a man on a public redemption tour, and a couple of characters with great chemistry. Plus we got to see a few of our favorite couples from books past!

absolutely adore mazey eddings! this book was no different I had so much fun reading this story and can’t wait for more mazey books in the future!! thanks to the publisher for the ARC

I loved Riley and Eva. I think this is Mazey’s best yet! Riley Cooper was so hot! I will continue to read all Mazey’s books. Her nuanced characters and depictions of relationships are realistic and beautiful!

This is the perfect book to make you literally laugh out loud.

"Well, Actually" is so witty and fun and readers won't be able to put it down.

A second-chance romance between Eva and Rylie was great, particularly the banter. The way they came back together was such a fun twist as well.

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for selecting me for this ARC.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Mazey Eddings, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Eva never imagined her journalism dreams would land her behind a desk on "Sausage Talk", where she interviews B-list celebrities over hot dogs. But when a spontaneous, on-air takedown of her college ex goes viral, Eva suddenly finds herself very much in the eye of the public. Her ex is none other than Rylie Cooper, a popular social media figure known for discussing toxic masculinity and coaching men on how to be better partners.

When Eva is forced to face Rylie live on Sausage Talk, he proposes an idea: go on a series of dates with him, let him document the experience on his channel, and prove he’s grown since their breakup. Eva isn’t interested in playing nice, but she agrees, seeing an opportunity to boost her own career and tarnish Rylie’s.

As their staged romance unfolds, Eva starts to question whether the man who once broke her heart might now be the one capable of fixing it.

A fun and cozy romance read! It had me laughing and swooning at the same time.

The characters were believable, likable, and well-developed as was the pacing and plotting. The romance was romancing and blushing constantly. the pacing was easy to read and relatable. The plot kept getting more and more funnier and sweeter.

Perfect if you like:
Cinnamon rolls are rolling
Praise her and it's pleasing to her.
he falls first, obviously because she hates him.
Why are you so mean I kind of like it.
Chicken shop date?!

I know there will be more from this author, and I am intrigued to what she writes next! Thank you so much to the author, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this arc!

Look, I really wanted to like this book, but I felt like it dragged along a lot, for me. It had its moments. But I wasn't sold on the chemistry with Eva and Riley.

I'm usually a huge sucker for second-chance romances, but the previous history felt like little to nothing. So it didn't make sense for it to continue again, 6 years later.

Eva was the one to bring it up through TikTok, as revenge on the guy who ghosted her. Maybe its a me problem, or maybe I just didn't really care for their relationship in the book.

Still rating the book 3 stars because its definitely other people's type of book, but not mine.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.

This is a funny romance with a serious side. Riley and Eve met in college and he was kind of a jerk towards her. Riley hosts a successful podcast and is relatively well known, while Eve has a blog and a podcast called Sausage Talk, where she and the latest B list celebrity chat while eating sausages. One night, Eve writes a scathing blog post about Riley and his frat boy behavior towards her in college.
Her post goes viral and Riley goes on Sausage Talk to prove to Eve that he’s a different guy now. He’s going to take her on 5 dates to prove it to her.
When they see each other, all the old chemistry and emotions come rushing back and they have fun on their dates. Can they get past their early hurts to date each other as they are now?

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings continues in the tradition of her past novels: unique, unforgettable characters wind up in hilarious hijinks with a side order of tender, heart-string pulling moments.

Eva was truly ready to never think of Rylie, ever ever again. But the college boyfriend who broke her heart and engaged in unbridled toxic masculinity is now hosting a podcast teaching anti-toxic masculinity. One wine-fueled night, Eva has had it and stitches his video with one of her own, one detailing just how bad in bed this man was.

Unfortunately, Eva's journalism career has stalled out while she makes videos interviewing C-list celebs while eating hot dogs, and her company is all too pleased when her video response to Rylie goes viral. Rylie wants to make amends, and so Eva agrees to go on six dates to allow him the opportunity to right past wrongs.

Eddings latest has plenty of steamy scenes to appease her established fan base, all while balancing the rom with the com perfectly. Eva, Rylie, and all those in their lives are well developed characters. Fans of Eddings will be particularly pleased to find glimpses of characters from her past novels as they make cameos on these pages.

While the above details alone make this one worth reading, what makes it imminently re-readable is the heart. With layers upon layers to these characters, their past traumas, and relatable themes, these characters wind up feeling like the reader's friends by the end of the novel.

Eva must learn to build the life she wants, and to do so she has to learn how to fight her trauma responses. Along the way, her friendships face pressure thanks to the difficulty of being BFFs with her coworker (first came friendship, then came coworking).

Eva and Rylie give the best black cat/golden retriever vibes, which balances out the heavier-hearted plot elements nicely. A fun read with plenty of depth.

Well, Actually is now available. Special thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a digital ARC such that I could share my honest opinion.

You can order this title from Bookshop.org here (Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org. I will earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase.)

Happy reading!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I really loved the humor and how playful the characters were. Eva reminded me a bit of Amelia Demoldenberg in the beginning (besides the parts of hating her job) and I liked that Rylie was a little weird and silly. I really liked how the actions of both characters were psychoanalyzed because it gave the characters a lot of depth. I read a lot of hate to love books and I usually dislike them because the characters actions and feelings lack nuance. The "like" confession was really good in this, I was highlighting so much. Unfortunately, this book started to go a little downhill for me after they got together. I feel like the ways their relationship affected their jobs and other relationships played out in a way that was a bit juvenile and simplistic by portraying the side characters as pretty one dimensional. I felt like the book started very strong and gave me 5 star feelings, but it didn't necessarily carry through until the end. I still enjoyed it and I would read more books by Mazey Eddings in the future.

Mazey Eddings delivers another witty, heartfelt romance with Well, Actually. Eva and Rylie’s second-chance story is messy, funny, and surprisingly tender. I loved the black-cat/golden-retriever energy between them—Eva’s sharp, no-nonsense fire balances perfectly against Rylie’s charming golden-boy persona. Their banter felt electric, and the “dates as penance” premise was such a fun twist on the second-chance trope.

The mix of humor, snark, and heartfelt vulnerability kept me hooked from start to finish. I laughed at the awkward Sausage Talk moments and swooned as the walls between Eva and Rylie began to crumble.

While the pacing wobbled in places and I wished for a bit more emotional depth in the resolution, this was still an utterly delightful romance—sexy, snarky, and filled with Mazey Eddings’ signature charm.

A down bad man and a woman who’s mean to him, always, the perfect combination.

Well, Actually was SUCH a fun book. Eva Kitt was an incredible main character, she was real and raw and honestly it made her SO relatable. I loved being in her head, going through her insecurities with her, and learning with her. And RILEY COOPER, oof we LOVE a down bad man in slutty glasses.

SO, this book follows Eva who hosts this chicken shop-esque podcast/show and interviews celebrities whilst eating hot dogs in an old school diner setting, and Riley who has become this influencer and runs his own podcast where he talks about relationship growth for men (essentially). These two dated for a hot second in college and after a viral TikTok have to go on a series of dates and debrief those dates on the podcast.

The thing I truly loved most about this book was the emotional vulnerability and maturity from both these characters. I think Eddings did such a good job breaking down what went wrong the first time they tried to date and really delved into why these characters are the way they are. I loved how intimate they were with each other, especially on a podcast, which is so brave of both of them. I loved how they really talked and listened and explained to each other all the baggage they come with. I loved that there were truly human moments from both these characters and I loved the way they supported and showed up for each other.

I also really loved the depiction of how much harder being a public persona is for women because of how much more likely people are to judge them for doing the exact same thing as men, and just how much hate women get. I really like how this was positioned in direct comparison to a man in the same context. I think that exploration was really important and very well executed because of all the nuance that comes with this kind of conversation.

This book was absolutely BRILLIANT. I think the banter was top notch, the chemistry was incredible, it was funny, deeply vulnerable, and just such a lovely time. Just honestly SO good.

I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised at how deep some of the topics got. I really was not expecting to find the best description of a crippling fear of heights that I’ve ever read in this book (reading it actually had me in tears, and everything about Rylie’s sister and Eva’s relationship with her family was very well thought out. I had one problem that kind of took me out of the book, and was probably just a me problem, but it prevented it from being a five star read for me. I couldn’t stand Rylie Cooper’s name. Eva called him Cooper for the first 60% of this book, and I just couldn’t help but feel that the author wanted to name him Cooper, but didn’t for whatever reason. She even used his last name during a sex dream, and that was just weird to me, and there were times at the beginning where I genuinely thought I’d forgotten his name because Cooper can be a first name. I wouldn’t have had this problem if his name was Rylie Smith or something.

Well, Actually is pure comedic brilliance! I laughed so hard that I had to pause and reread certain passages just to relive the humor (because the banter and quick-witted jabs were truly that hilarious). What I didn’t expect, though, was how deeply the story would tug at my heart. Eva and Rylie’s story isn’t just funny, it’s layered with grief, resentment, longing, and so many other raw emotions. I love when a book leans into heavy feelings, and this one tugged right at my heartstrings. More than once, I had to stop listening because the tears and the lump in my throat were overwhelming (in the best possible way).

Despite its emotional weight, the story is an absolute delight to read (and to listen to). Eva is fierce and stubborn, while Rylie is patient and gentle, making them a beautifully balanced pair. What stood out most to me was how Rylie met Eva’s coldness with warmth and kindhearted humor. He never once responded with cruelty, even when Eva believed she didn’t deserve his kindness. Watching him gently chip away at her defenses with his charm was the best!

I feel so lucky to have experienced this story before its release. Huge thanks to Mazey Eddings, the team at St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity!

This was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and it didn't disappoint! I really enjoyed it.

I was rooting for Eva and Riley to move past what happened so they could get their happily ever after together. Really the only thing that bothered me was that I felt like Eva could be a little too harsh at times. I liked that while this book had humor, there were also so many emotional moments. There was angst, tension, and pain. Eva and Riley had some really difficult conversations, some of which had me in tears. It's been a while since a book made me feel that much.

It absolutely thrilled me to death that Lizzie made an appearance in this book. She is my top favorite character from Mazey's books, so that was fun.

An absolute joy of a book!! Jumped up my faves of the year list so so quickly! Couldn’t put it down and found myself constantly drawn back in. This has been the summer of second chance love and I adored Eddings’ take on it! I also have never gotten over my situationship from years ago, it’s a right of passage!

Banter is a word that gets used often in romance reviews especially but this book should be used as THE textbook example. I dream of being as funny and quick witted as Eva is and Riley gave it right back. There were so many moments where I was laughing out loud having to pause and gather myself before moving on. These two had chemistry like I have never seen and I loved every second with them!

Always a sucker for a black cat, has her walls up high, fmc and felt so akin to Eva. Her story hit so close to home and I really resonated with her. Also loved that Eddings tackled workplace harassment and sexism, and the unique pain that comes from a fellow woman taking part in tearing you down. Overall, her arc from personal growth, her job, and her relationship were all beautifully executed in my opinion!

These two characters were both messy and had made mistakes and yet continued to fight to be better people! They come together in such a funny way but then you really see how perfectly made for each other they are! Overall, their love story made me swoon, and cry, and giggle, and feel all the emotions!!

Need everyone to read this book so they can experience the masterpiece that is Well, Actually!!!!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley, for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oooof, it pains me to write this review, but I struggled through this book. The romance felt fake, and I really didn't enjoy the FMC or the MMC. I've really enjoyed Mazey Edding's past books, so I was excited to read this one, but it let me down. Ugh, overall, I'm disappointed, but I won't give up on the authors' future work.

Well Actually was such a fun read!! I loved the banter and comedic moments and gosh the spice was so good!!

Eva's journalistic career is not what she wanted but she's doing a version of it. Rylie is unfortunately doing a better job than she is and seems to be rubbing it in her face without thinking a thought about her. This college friend turned situationship boyfriend turned ghost. So when one night Rylie posts something that her prosecco addled mind can't ignore, Eva films a scathing rebuttal calling him out for his college behaviors and her career careens into his so quickly all her bosses see are $$$$$$. They get talked into revisiting their previous dates- 6 dates that are recapped on each of their shows and other media between during which he has to convince her she's changed and she needs to soften to the fact he's grown up since college.
This has all the fun, all the anxieties, all the mental health acuity that Mazey Eddings usually brings to her writing along with characters that are just fun and complicated but people you genuinely want to see succeed.

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2.5 spice 🌶️🌶️

<I><B>When your ex becomes your biggest plot twist</I></B>

Look, Eva's razor-sharp attitude isn't a character flaw—it's a whole personality and I'm OBSESSED 😤 Watching her absolutely destroy Rylie on live radio? Chef's kiss 💋 This woman carries her hurt like the world's pettiest shield and honestly, we stan a queen who doesn't play nice just because society expects it.

Vibes We Are Tracking:
📻 Rival podcasters to lovers
💔 Second-chance romance that hits
🔥 Fake dates turn real messy feelings
😤 Black cat meets golden retriever energy
🎭 Public accountability arc done right

But here's the tea ☕—Rylie's growth actually felt real. Through flashbacks we see baby toxic him transform into someone who shows up for Eva's walls, her tests, her deliberate cruelty. The therapy speak got a bit much sometimes, but their banter? Absolutely unmatched. I was cackling on the subway then immediately crying because vulnerability hits different when it's earned 😭

I genuinely enjoyed this book so much that I kept wishing it was a movie. Next time I pick this up for a reread, I'm definitely grabbing some popcorn because the drama is that good 🍿

Sometimes the person who broke you becomes exactly who you needed them to be all along 💕