This was cute , simple and not that much going on, but cute. it does need some work and maybe some chapters need to be looked at. The characters do need a little more development and some work to make them a little more likable.

This book was so cute, I loved it!!

The story follows Eva, who has a podcast called Sausage Talk, where she interviews C-list celebs and eats hot dogs. She always dreamed of being a journalist and working in the field, so this has been a blow to her. One night, after a rough day, Eva goes home, starts scrolling online, and sees a video from Riley Cooper, her college ex. In the video, he’s talking about red flags in men, so Eva feels the need to call him out for his. Well, the next morning, the video has blown up, and now her management team wants to have a meeting. Her management team wants Eva to interview Riley, and during the interview, they end up agreeing to go on six dates so Riley can show Eva that he’s changed. From there, Riley tries his damnest to win back Eva’s heart and show her that the man he was in college is not the person that he is today.

I loved it when Eva and Riley did their first podcast together after she made the video of him. It was so funny to listen to their witty banter that I was giggling and kicking my feet. I love that Eva was unapologetically herself and isn’t going to shit from no man. I do think that it would have been cool to also see this from Riley’s point of view. I think seeing things from his side would be super interesting as well.

Eva- what can I say about you? I love a bitchy female character, especially her witty banter. I really loved the banter that Eva and Riley had together. Eva is quick on her feet when coming up with a good comeback. While she wanted to shove down her feelings for Riley, she couldn’t escape them. Sometimes I just wanted to shake her and let her take a compliment from him or to be nice to him! He was trying so hard lol.

I loved Riley’s character. He was so kind and caring throughout the book. You can tell that he was really trying to change from the person that he was in college. He wanted to be a better person and wanted to show that to Eva. He gives off total golden retriever vibes in the best way!! I love how dedicated he was to winning over Eva.

I loved the ending of the book, I thought that it all came together so nicely, and I was so happy for Eva and Riley.

Overall, it was a really great book. 5/5

Tropes:

- Second chance
- Enemies to lovers
- Witty banter
- -Forced proximity
- LGBTQ

Mazey Eddings bless you for freeing me from a reading slump. This is my first Eddings' book but I will be reading her backlist ASAP!

This book tackles so many incredibly relatable and difficult subjects with a heaping of slapstick comedy. I found myself relating to Eva's struggles with work and laughing along to her banter with her friends. This is a quick and lovely read that truly captures the strange social media environment we live in. This is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood's Not in Love.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

not bad but not my fave from this author. the banter became a bit much at times when i wanted more intimacy/vulnerability in the scenes

arc via netgalley

“Well, Actually” is a second chance romance by Mazey Eddings. This book took me a lot longer to read than I expected. The cover gave off “cute romance” vibes and, well, the old line about “don’t judge a book by its cover” played out here. Eva Kitt, currently a lower tier journalist/reporter than she wishes to be, sees a “relationship” video by her ex-boyfriend, Rylie, online. Eva decides to make her own video calling him out - telling the public what their few dates had been like a number of years ago. Eva’s video goes viral (to the joy of her bosses) and Rylie admits that he could’ve been better and wants to make it up to her with a series of dates to show that he’s changed. The book follows them through their dates, changing relationship, why things didn’t go well “back then,” and dealing with things in both of the current lives (mainly Eva’s). On the good side, lots of a variety of characters - however, in most cases, they’re so background that I really wanted to have them be more foreground because they sounded a) more put together than Eva, and b) their current passions/jobs sounded more interesting than Eva’s. I’m not a fan of Eva - she wore blinders so thick that she didn’t want to see how Rylie had changed (and obviously cared). I also wasn’t a fan of her immediate boss/friend - who seemed to waver between “I’m here for you” and “buck yourself up yourself.” It also seemed like Eva’s new boss was a bad guy to just be, well, a bad guy. I’m not “hip” to some of the current slang, so thank you urban dictionary for translating some slang (even the questionable ones). This wasn’t the book for me - it was a bit too mean, too unbending, and then suddenly too “ah, everything has worked out as it should be - let the angels sing” too quickly. However, I’m probably in the minority - so take this review with a grain of salt. I’d recommend this book if you’ve liked Ms. Eddings other books - and also if you like a diverse cast of characters.

I loved this book! The banter was sharp and the storyline was fun. I was getting confused on Rylie coopers name because he kept getting referred to as Riley or Cooper but eventually it just stayed as Rylie.
I felt like rylies reason for being a dick was a bit short and not really enough of a reason to be forgiven for being an ass. Also, I was hoping during the part where she said all he kept talking about was his ex girlfriend and it was really his sister but I don’t think that loop ever got closed

All in, I would recommend this book. I liked the friend characters and thinking that it could be a series. At one point I thought there’d be a William and Aida story but that’s most likely not going to happen now haha

I absolutely love that Rylie called Eva out on her BS and he enjoyed it. This is very similar to me and my husband as I have a sharp tongue and he is a golden retriever that doesn’t take any offense. Great job!

This book was unfortunately not for me. I had trouble connectting with the characters and couldn't relate to them in anyway which only bothered me. The plot didn't interest me either. Perhaps, it'd be better if it was dual pov

Well, Actually is your classic grumpy-sunshine trope. And Eva is the character you love to hate. She drinks black coffee, he likes iced lattes. He is always kind, she is always cynical. She deadpans, he laughs.

Rylie Cooper and Eva Kitt have history. A bad love connection in college and a hook up in which he ghosted her afterwards. So what has happened in the years that have passed by? Well, she is an aspiring journalist stuck on a talk show interviewing D list celebrities with below average ratings as she eats hot dogs and acts disinterested (well, she is). He is a popular social media star that talks men out of toxic masculinity. You can see why she absolutely loathes him.

Welp, too many drinks leads to her making a social media reel about their terrible college rendezvous and him ghosting her that goes viral. To her horror, her boss asks her to capitalize on the viral video by planning an interview with Rylie on her show.

It’s goes from bad to worse when he asks her to go on 5 dates with him so he can prove he has changed. Well after date one was a disaster, she’s feeling pretty good. But will the dates improve and their undeniable attraction come to a head?

She’s filled with flirty banter and he is determined to show her he has changed no matter how hard she tries to dislike him. You just can’t. He’s that nice and lovable.

Has a fun plot and enjoyed the beginning with the dates and expectations. Middle felt weird when she was ghosting her own boss and coworkers. But ends on a high note.

Thank you @Netgalley and @StMartinsPress for the digital ARC.

“If there is an opportunity to talk shit, I will be talking shit.”
I absolutely love this author’s style of writing. The characters feel REAL and the world is current, My favorite part of this was the banter. The way the characters are so quick with their responses makes this so much fun. I also love the grumpy x sunshine trope. Having it reversed was so much fun. Eva felt really balanced as the FMC since she was mostly self aware of why she acted, dressed, and spoke the way she did. Rylie was a phenomenal golden retriever-esque MMC. The patience and understanding he had was so refreshing to see and the author did an excellent job making him the man he was really trying to be. I also loved Lizzie Blake’s appearance. It was such a fun little part to read.

EXCUSE ME??? This book had me guffawing but also kicking my feet and squealing. WHO AM I??? This was actual perfection. I’ll never get over it. New favorite!!

It took me a while to get into the book, but ultimately I did like it. It is not the typical rom com that I would usually pick up. Overall, I did enjoy it.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings is a charming and delightful romantic comedy that explores the complexities of love, relationships, and self-discovery. The story follows two endearing characters who find themselves unexpectedly drawn to each other despite their differences. Eddings’ writing is witty and full of heart, with a good balance of humor and emotional depth. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, making their journey of personal growth and romance both engaging and heartfelt. While the plot is somewhat predictable, the relatable characters and clever dialogue make it a fun and satisfying read for fans of contemporary romance.

I overall enjoyed this book and the banter between the two main characters. As the story went on, it definitely dragged a bit. It did touch on some topics to help you understand why things happened the way they did.

I really liked Well, Actually! Mazey Eddings nailed the perfect blend of humor, heart, and romance. Eva and Rylie’s dynamic was really fun and the banter was witty. I loved watching Eva’s walls slowly come down as she began to trust Rylie, and his patience and charm were just irresistible.

Eva was such a relatable, complex character. I appreciated how the story didn’t shy away from showing her flaws and defenses, making her feel so real. Her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude were refreshing, and I found myself rooting for her even when she was a bit of a mess. The emotional depth and self-awareness she showed as she navigated her insecurities and past hurts made her character growth incredibly satisfying.

The concept of reconnecting with someone from your past and realizing how much people can change was beautifully executed. I loved the way Eva and Rylie actually communicated - no frustrating miscommunication tropes here! Their honesty and vulnerability added so much depth to their relationship.

If you’re a fan of second-chance romance with witty banter, complex characters, and a beautifully paced slow burn, Well, Actually is definitely worth the read. Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! ❤️

I struggled with how to rate this book, because my feelings about it were all over the place.

There is a lot of emotional heavy lifting in this book and the two main characters are very flawed. Some of the conversations done feel realistic, but idealistic which is okay. The biggest problem for me was that about halfway through the book the main pair put themselves in the friend zone of my mind to the point that I wasn't rooting for them romantically and then hey just get into bed together and I felt ambivalent about it.

Ultimately though I feel good having read it.

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

Mazey Eddings is a new author for me, and this book has me so excited to dive into everything else she's written. The witty dialogue had me hooked from the very first page, and the level of snarkiness throughout spoke directly to my soul.

What really stood out to me was the beautiful bisexual/pansexual representation. It was real, raw, and so well-done. (Speaking as someone in a heterosexual presenting relationship where we both identify as bisexual)

The relationship between Eva and Rylie was so incredibly relatable. I loved how realistic their dynamic was – messy, full of miscommunication, but deeply rooted in love and the desire for understanding.

Eva’s character was a breath of fresh air. I saw so much of myself in her. (Take that as you will) While she had the tendency to react to things abruptly and emotionally, she didn’t compromise who she was or soften her edges to fit any mold. The balance between her fierce, snarky exterior and the vulnerability she carried beneath it was done brilliantly. It’s uncommon to see a female protagonist who stays true to her strong and sometimes abrasive personality throughout the story and relationship, and I absolutely loved that about Eva.

I do wish a bit more time had been spent on the workplace conflict, or at least its resolution. The issue felt like it had a lot of potential for deeper exploration, and I would have loved to see it more fully developed.

This book is a perfect blend of humor, heart, and depth. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a messy, unapologetic love story with fantastic representation and a couple who’s impossible not to root for.

Incredibly grateful for the chance to review this ARC, and I look forward to picking up a finished copy in August.

This was SO GOOD!!!! Eva’s sense of humor reminds me so much of my own. She had me laughing out loud, giggling, kicking my feet, and then crying at her vulnerability.

Rylie’s ability to go from the damaged, hurting, closeted frat boy to the MAN Eva deserved was everything to me. Therapy is a wonderful tool and he took full advantage of it.

This book was easily five starts. The FMC was as strong stubborn character that masked her vulnerability with different emotions. I felt she was a relatable character that everyone could see themselves with in her. Riley and Eva's relationship felt real and not fake which made me it more meaningful. The side characters made the story and came through at the end for Eva. I have no complaints and only high praises.

I adore any book by Mazey Eddings. This cover is adorable, the book is funny, the characters were relatable and I had a blast reading it. Rylie has my whole heart!

Eva has been given a challenge. She has been challenged by a former boyfriend to go on a series of six dates. She is forced to go by her boss for social media views. He, Rylie, is an influencer that claims to be progressive and knows how to "treat" a woman. She, in a drunken stupor, responds to a post and tells "everyone" that he does not know how to treat a woman and not only gave her a forgettable experience, but he ghosted her after.

Now Eva finds herself having fun with Rylie and learns that private lives do not exist for influencers, which may lead to her losing her lousy job as host of Sausage Talk, but also her dream job or working as a journalist.

I enjoyed the book, for the most part, there was a little backstory that felt a little like noise, but majority of the book was interesting and helped develop the characters. I will recommend this book to some of my more advanced students.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.