This book was so witty and funny. It had great pop culture references without being over the top. The characters had great redemption arcs. I really didn’t like Kitt in the beginning. She was just so extra about hating Cooper. Even when he was trying to explain things, she refused to believe him. Cooped was seriously the perfect book boyfriend.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings is a first person-POV second chance adult romance between a Pan woman and a Bi man. Eva Kitt hosts an online interview format where she eats hot dogs with B-D list celebrities and influencers. When she sees her ex online and rips into him, her boss thinks the perfect way to capitalize on this is for Cooper to appear on the show. Instead of rejecting the idea, Cooper not only agrees, but asks Eva if he can take her on six dates to prove that he's changed.

As a Bi, I really loved that we got a male POV for internalized Biphobia and what Cooper did to run away from his sexuality and how that impacted him. I feel like there is still an incredible amount of stigma towards men, especially masculine-leaning men, being Bi/Pan and it manifests in different ways than that same stigma impacts people of other genders. Cooper feeling conflicted and damaged and deeply unhappy makes so much sense especially in light of another situation that was affecting him. I want to see more explorations of this in romance because it is something we have to keep talking about until the stigma is gone as well as seeing more and more Bi/Pan relationships in fiction that recognize that they are still Queer people in a Queer relationship.

One of the things I did appreciate is that Eva and Cooper are both messy and have been messy. Eva going online and revealing information about her former relationship with Cooper (including their sex life), made me very concerned that I was going to have a hard time rooting for her and this romance. I believe that certain things just belong in the past and not on the internet. What made me start to come around to the romance was not how Cooper forgave Eva, but Eva admitting to herself why she was so hurt by their last date and Cooper confessing to her that he was not only in a bad place when they were talking, but that he had been homophobic and he was genuinely trying to work on it. His recognition of his own past and then being willing to call Eva out for her actions helped me see how this relationship could actually work because I don't think I would have gotten it if he had just forgiven her for all her faults and that was the end of it.

Eva and Cooper both exist in the online space and rely on eyeballs to bring them revenue, but in very different ways. Eva wants to be a journalist and writes think pieces online, but she's known for her hot dog interviews and as an employee of a Buzzfeed-esque corporation. Cooper is living a life somewhat closer to Eva’s dream as he runs a podcast where he deconstructs toxic masculinity and talks about his own journey into unlearning toxic behavior. As we move further and further into the online space in our lives, I think it's good for genres like romance to show the good, the bad, and the ugly of the internet instead of only focusing on the good or the bad and the internet can be a force for good but it can also just be people using attention as a form of currency and even the people making that content don't get any fulfillment from it.

Content warning for mentions of Bi/Panphobia

I would recommend this to readers looking for romances centering online personalities and fans of books that get into the mess of internalized Queerphobia

This was… something. I went in with high expectations because I had heard great things about Mazey Eddings and I knew this was inspired by the chicken shop date series. Our characters, Rylie and Eva, are like oil and water. They argue, fight, and bicker, all thanks to our heroine Eva.

Most of the time, I can get behind a prickly heroine because it gives them some depth. However, Eva came across as rude, vindictive, and just plain mean. Rylie was boring, BUT he was actively trying to fix his mistakes from years prior. He and Eva had more than one heart to heart where Rylie pours his heart out and explains why he acted the way he did. All of these heart to hearts end with Eva understanding Rylie and feeling empathy toward him but then she turns around and changes her attitude completely. She jumps to the wrong conclusion every single time, even after he has apologized profusely. I also didn’t like how she was as mean as she wanted to be without having to take any accountability at all. How can someone say the things she does and never have to take accountability or even apologize?

I just couldn’t get behind Eva as a main character. I didn’t like how she stayed at her job, even after being verbally and mentally abused by her bosses. Like, girl you are in NYC. There are a plethora of jobs available to you, even until you find another journalism job.

I didn’t enjoy how they used Rylies first name for half of the book and his last name (Cooper) for the other half. Both of these are first names, so I was very confused for half of the book.

I enjoyed the last 50-60 pages of the book which made me bump it up a star. I wish I would’ve loved this one, but unfortunately this was a complete let down.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I apologize. I DNF'd this right before the main characters went on their first date. I just couldn't take either of them very seriously and they just weren't likable to me.

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc. i found this book to be super cute and enjoyable to read. i read it in one day. the characters were well developed and the storyline was solid. i would recommend it!

I heard some rave reviews on this one, and snagged an early review copy. This had so many laugh out loud moments in it. The sarcastic one liners from FMC Eva were so so good. Which led to some great banter between Rylie and Eva. Character development was great.
For me, as much as MMC Rylie has grown, I couldn't understand how we got to this "second chance" trope. Couldn't relate. I'm typically not a second- chance gal, but have read a few that work for me. This wasn't it.
I'm of the mindset that a sub-par college hook up from 6 years prior- deserves to stay in the past and not re-visited- because WHY would you want to? However, if you are a fan of second chance tropes- than absolutely you should check this one out.
It went from 0-10 on the spice scale in about a nano second.

Overall I'd give this a 3.5, but simply because past Rylie gave me such the ick, that I couldn't get on board or entirely beleive current Rylie enough to fully enjoy.

Thank you to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy. This title releases next week- August 5th.

The premise is fantastic. After a few glasses of prosecco, Eva stitches a viral video of Rylie—a social media star known for teaching men how to be better partners—and calls him out as the guy who broke her heart six years ago. That setup alone had me hooked.

I loved the idea of the “dates and debriefs” arrangement. It felt like the perfect chance to watch a sharp, deadpan FMC go head-to-head with a sunshine MMC in a true Black Cat/Golden Retriever dynamic. It had all the ingredients for a messy, heartfelt second-chance romance.

But almost 60% in, I’d only just started to understand why Eva was so deeply hurt by Rylie. The flashbacks are too sparse to really immerse you in their history. At the same time, Rylie is written as so relentlessly sweet and good-natured that it’s hard to believe he was ever a jerk. By the time we finally get context for their breakup, both Eva and the reader are already half in love with him, so there’s no real redemption arc.

Eva also isn’t the clever, biting FMC I expected. She’s often just mean to Rylie while never standing up to her toxic bosses, which made her feel inconsistent. And after just three dates, the “dates and debriefs” concept fizzles out completely, leaving the best part of the premise behind.

I still think the idea was great, but the execution didn’t land for me. With stronger character backstory and a slower build to their relationship, this could have been a much more satisfying second-chance romance.

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

I found Mazey Eddings before her debut novel, A Brush with Love, had come out as there was a lot of buzz for it and it interested me, so I added it to my TBR. I haven’t read it yet, but it still put Ms. Eddings on my radar and when Well, Actually came to my attention basically due to pop culture at the time and I had the opportunity to snatch an early publisher’s copy of it, I took it! I did kind of forget about it until I saw that it was releasing soon and I won’t lie, when I realized what it was about and I thought of the pop culture event that prompted me to get it, while on the one hand I was looking forward to finally reading Ms. Eddings, on the other hand, I was not feeling necessarily enthused about the book itself. Then when we met Eva and she started whining about her job and life at like two percent, I put the book down and dramatically spent several minutes regretting everything and questioning myself and my book choices. I say I was being dramatic because when I picked up Well, Actually again, I kid you not, by literally — I checked — the next percent of this book, we got into Rylie Cooper and my attitude completely changed and I was fully on board. I recognize the utter ridiculousness of that, but it’s true and I flipping wholeheartedly, passionately loved and couldn’t get enough of Well, Actually!

Eva and Rylie captured my full attention, I was so wholly invested in them, and at times, I could not drag myself away I loved them so much! They were so dear to me and I wanted nothing but the best for them. They were brilliant together and on their own. Their banter and humor was perfection, I loved their teasing and insults and just everything. I related to Eva in that we both hate having emotions and especially expressing them although that’s because I’m a Virgo while Eva has a more legitimate reason that tore my flipping heart out. I was truly devastated for her that she didn’t know how lovable and worthwhile she was and I’m so grateful that she and Rylie found their way back to each other. I also felt a lot of gratitude towards Rylie because he was so patient, kind, and compassionate to Eva and just everything she needed. I don’t want to make it seem like Eva was doing all the taking and none of the giving in their relationship as that’s not the case. Yes, she needed more reassurance than Rylie did, but it’s clear how devoted she was to him and would do anything for him even if the cost to herself was great. I don’t think that would be an issue in the fictional future of their fictional world though, and yes, I do think they’re a couple that would be together forever in the world that Mazey Eddings created.

After reading the Content Warnings page for Well, Actually, I was expecting an overall fun time, but knew there would also likely be difficult parts as well. Since I’ve never read Mazey Eddings before, I had no idea what to expect, but not very long after starting it, I did not expect to laugh so hard, I was wheezing and had my eyes watering and then I definitely did not think my eyes would be full of tears soon after that hilarious moment. Seriously, Ms. Eddings made me laugh my butt off and then she punched me in the gut, it was very rude! I’m not mad about it, but I was not prepared — I will be in the future though, because I am absolutely going to pick her up again! Well, Actually was fantastically wonderful, all my emotions were involved in this book, it made me laugh, made me cry several times, and it just made me so happy and grin so big it hurt a little. I’m beyond glad I read this, it’s one of my best of the year, and I know when I reflect on the books I read at the end of the year, Well, Actually will be one of the first ones I think about — I just loved and adored it so much!

🌭second chance romance
🎙️black cat journalist fmc
🌭golden retriever podcaster mmc
🎙️deliciously sassy banter
🌭he’s down so bad (and falls first)
🎙️mental health and queer representation
🌭 yearning
🎙️ hate to love

Mazey’s books are always a delight, but “Well, Actually” is particularly excellent! (We love to see authors growing and continuing to top their past excellent work!)

Eva Kitt and Riley Cooper have history, and it’s not the good kind. He messed up royally in the past and now, six years later, Eva is calling him out online… while drunk. When that goes viral, she ends up agreeing to Rylie’s proposal to go on six dates with him to let him try to redeem himself. It’s fake… until it’s not.

These two have delightful banter throughout the book, which I loved! I did find Eva a little bit abrasive at the beginning, especially toward Rylie. There’s black cat and then there’s Eva! I love fmcs taking control and not letting men walk all over them, I just usually prefer a story with a black cat who has at least a little soft spot for the golden retriever! But she grows and softens as a character as they reveal their vulnerabilities to one another and ultimately fall in love. By the end, I adored them both! Their off-the-charts chemistry doesn’t hurt either!

As others have said, this is fake dating with a splash of Chicken Shop Date/Hot Ones vibes. The characters are well-rounded and feel like real people you’d meet, enjoy getting to know, and want to stay friends with. That’s something Mazey is always good at! The writing is vibrant and fun, the story has depth, and the MMC is smitten. What more could you ask for from a late summer read??

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and Mazey Eddings for the chance to read this book early!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this title.

This book had really personal stakes, so it was a pretty relaxing, relatively stress-free read. The characters had very good banter, and I loved the bisexual/pansexual representation. I also liked that social media got used, but never named, so it won't automatically make itself irrelevant a few years from now by directly labeling the platform being used; it's a pet peeve for me when books do that.

They get together like halfway through the book and there's no third act breakup, so the pacing felt weird for a hot second until the act 3 drama ramped up, but I liked that the drama wasn't super directly about the main couple. I definitely preferred the first half to the second. A couple of the spicy scenes felt redundant, but they were all well written. I appreciated that this was able to show a nuanced example of how people can grow and change past one version of themselves and into a new one, and also that therapy was a part of that.

Shout out to LIZZIE BLAKE (and Rake) for making a cameo in this!

Negative shout out to the nickname "Kitten".

ARC Review: Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Pub date: August 5th

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Y'all just gather 'round and listen up, alright?? This book was everything I wanted and I refuse to hear a bad thing about it (mostly kidding but also kind of not). Mazey has been a must read author for a while now for me and this just proves why!

This book is single POV and follows our FMC Eva - this is one of those rare books where I think it is better BECAUSE it is single POV. It allows us to really get in Eva's head and understand why she acts the way she does. Eva is prickly and meannnn and honestly I loved it! We really see how her past rejections (from her family; from Riley) have affected her and how she pushes people away rather than feel any type of vulnerability.

And damn if Riley doesn't just see right through her exterior. She pushes, he keeps showing up. What starts off as fake doesn't stay so for very long, particularly on his part. He really understands her so well and is just so so earnest. The date where he brings her to couples therapy and they have such a real and honest conversation?? Literally rearranged my brain cells - I thought it was so well done.

The third act conflict did stress me out a bit - I HATE a bad boss. But I was glad to see Eva get her much do revenge and see her move on from that toxic workplace that always strove to make her feel inadequate. I did love that the third act conflict was external and that there wasn't a breakup (despite Eva trying to break up with Riley and him just refusing LOL).

Ya'll I am just obsessed - IDK but this might be my new favorite Mazey book! There is quite a bit of angst so if you go in expecting something like Lizzie Blake (there was a cameo of her though!) I think you might have some issues. The angst in this is most comparable to The Plus One - so go in with that knowledge and I think you will really enjoy (and if you don't, I don't want to hear about it!!)

This book was really enjoyable and entertaining. I found it to be quite funny and lighthearted. I loved the dynamic and banter between the main characters.

This book was so dang fun! Right at the beginning, our heroine Eva sticks her foot in her mouth one drunken night. What happened? Well the guy she crushed on in college, who is now a big social media guy, posted a stupid video that totally represented the opposite of what her experience with him was. She immediately regrets her rebuttal video but is trying to be professional and works her way through it with him.

Rylie absolutely made this book for me. I loved him right from the start, and he just kept getting better. Sure he has a few missteps, as he's trying to save his social reputation from the downfall that Eva's video is trying to cause, but overall he's the calm to her storm in this book. And she sure as hell was stormy! Her character had a point to prove, and sometimes went a little too far in proving the point. She could let her head lead a little too much more than it should have, because her heart was always in the right spot.

Riley and Eva form an alliance of sorts to dig themselves out of the social media hole that they have been thrown into, but the way that their relationship progresses along the way became so swoony. I understand why Eva feels like she needs to have a hard facade on at all times, but I really just wanted her to melt into all the goodness that Rylie was throwing down, because you could feel in your bones just how perfect these two were for each other.

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm definitely going to be coming back for more of her books.

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings is a sweetly hilarious story about a reporter named Eva who drunkenly calls out her ex Rylie for past bad behavior online only for it to go viral and force her to host him on her show. After their popularity soars, she is forced by her employer to accept a six date challenge from him so he can make up for his previous behavior. What will happen when these two butt heads?

I loved this book! I thought the banter was hilarious, yet both main characters were well developed, also having chances at being vulnerable. I would definitely recommend this book; I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

In Well, Actually, we have a heavily Chicken Shop Date meets Hot Ones inspired second-chance romcom. Eva is stuck and wanting more from her career and Rylie is an online podcaster sharing advice for men on how to be a better partner. These two are reconnected when Eva decides to react to a recent reel calling him out for all of his horrible behavior when they dated and the video goes viral. Capitalizing on the social media attention, Rylie proposes a series of redemption dates to right his wrongs and show Eva that he has changed.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I feel like people may find Eva to be polarizing, with Mazey Eddings describing Eva as a 'black cat'. Eva is prickly and reactive for the first 35% which made her a semi-frustrating character, but this is definitely a book of growth. Rylie is persistent and helps bridge the gap in understanding the events that occurred between them. The moments of vulnerability felt real and I loved getting to see them fall in love and work through their individual traumas.

I think this was a solid 3.75. Anyone who loves their women with some bite and their men to keep coming back for more will enjoy this story. It's heartfelt with some great spicy scenes. Ariela Crow did an excellent job narrating the characters and especially brought Eva to life.

4.5 stars.

I loved "Well, Actually" by Mazey Eddings. This might be one of the funniest books I have read all year. I have a hunch readers will either love or hate this story. For me, it worked from beginning to end. I love Mazey's writing style. I laughed throughout the entire book. Eva and Rylie... their second-chance romance is just so fun and catty and wonderful. I loved the catalyst for them getting back into each other's orbits. I loved the goofy podcast moments (which I am usually against). I loved the pop culture references (again, usually against a lot of these, but Mazey makes them relevant and necessary to the story, not just thrown in for cultural markers). I know that many people will not like Eva as a character, but her demeanor worked for me, particularly because she works on herself and her boundaries and grows by the book's end. I came to understand and empathize with why she is the way she is. Her black cat hardened exterior and demeanor make more sense once readers strip back the layers of how she came to be that way. I saw a lot of myself in that portion of the story. I also loved Rylie. I love how, towards the end of the book, he started giving her sassiness and snark right back to her. I found this to be a breath of fresh air, honestly. Rylie is down bad for Eva, and I loved every freaking second of it. The romance genre NEEDS more of Mazey Eddings. I just love her work so, so much, and it means so much to me! Please check this book out. I guarantee you're going to laugh so, so hard.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mazey Eddings, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Mazey Eddings consistently delivers romance that feels joyful, inclusive, and deeply needed—and this book is no exception. She writes with such care for mental health, identity, and queer experiences, creating characters who feel real, layered, and full of heart. The banter and "being mean as a love language" dynamic had me grinning, while the emotional depth and moments of vulnerability hit just right. The fake dating setup (that maybe wasn’t so fake?) and the unforgettable therapy date were standouts, but it’s the growth and second-chance arc that truly made this story shine. And as always, the audiobook narration brought everything to life—every joke, nickname, and tender moment landed perfectly thanks to a performance that matched Eddings’s voice to a T.

thank you MacMillan audio and SMP books for review copies!

This book felt like a heart to heart about self love, respecting and setting boundaries, and learning to set aside the fear to love and be loved.

If you like watching Chicken Shop Dates irl, this book will feel like a behind the scenes look into how things can go so right and so wrong in the public eye. Eva Kitt is the witty, strong-willed host of the internet show Sausage Talk, interviewing low-level celebrities while eating hot dogs, all the while wanting to cover topics she’s actually interested in. The hard-hitting journalism she dreams of.

Rylie Cooper is the charming, Clark Kent-esque host of his own podcast series that centres around guiding men out of toxic-masculinity, what makes a man a good partner, and so on. He’s trying to right past wrongs, and what better way to do that than by taking the girl you ghosted out on a series of dates to show her how you’ve changed.

This book had me almost crying a few times, in a good sense. I enjoyed that both the main characters are bi, being bi myself. I saw myself in both of them in one way or another. Some great side characters, and a few I would LOVE to deck in the face. But really, the chemistry these two characters have is thick and was a joy to read!

I love me a good second chance romance, and this was a fun take on it! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio & Mazey Eddings for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mazey, Mazey, Mazey. She just knocks it out of the park for me all the time, and this book is no exception.The banter, the wit, the mental health, the representation of multiple communities. This novel checked so many boxes for me.

It has such a fun plot and format. The fake dating is delicious- but actually... is it REALLY fake dating if it was never fake for one of the participants? The therapy date was GROUNDBREAKING. Seriously.

The chemistry between these MCs was palpable. It's a second chance romance- BUT the best kind (for me)- they were YOUNG the first go round-they needed time, life, and growth to come back together!

Narration was PERFECT! The narrator captured Mazey's prose perfectly! All the wit, banter and attitude went right into my ear holes and my brain.

i absolutely ADORED this book. it was everything i could have wanted and more from a second chance romance. this was my first book by Mazey Eddings but it will not be my last!

what to expect:
- second chance romance
- black cat fmc
- golden retriever mmc
- excellent mental health rep
- banter!!!
- he falls first and HARD
- evisceration as a love language

Eva and Riley have a past - they dated in college and things ended badly when Riley ghosts Eva after they sleep together. 6 years later, Eva drunkenly responds to a video they Riley has posted online about men and their bad behavior and assumes that no one will see it. naturally, it goes viral overnight.

Riley proposes that they go on 6 dates so he can make it up to her and prove that he’s changed but Eva is NOT convinced. this woman can eviscerate anyone with her words - but especially Riley. she does not hold back with her cutting and scathing remarks when it comes to him. fortunately for the reader, this only intrigues Riley and keeps him coming back for more.

i won’t lie - at first, i was like wow, she is being SO harsh for a situation that doesn’t really seem like it warrants this level of animosity years later. but as the story goes on, i quickly grew to understand her character and why she acts the way that she does. one of the dates is couples counseling and i absolutely adored this scene. it was so real and raw and i felt for both Eva and Riley so hard through this chapter. it made me love them both so much. this scene changed my entire opinion of eva and im embarrassed to say that i didn’t love her initially.

Riley was down BAD for Eva and i absolutely ate it up. he would literally kiss the ground she walked on if she asked him to. the fact that he loved her with all of her sharp edges and despite the fact that she tried so hard to push him away was everything to me. he also loves acts of service, if you know what i mean 😌

the struggles that Eva had with her job were so relatable - the double standards for men and women on social media are so real and this book highlighted that in such a good way.


Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the advanced review copy of this book!