Ahhhhh, what a fun read. I absolutely loved Eva & Rylie. AKA: kitten & babygirl (yes she’s kitten and he’s baby girl 😂) Their banter and one liners were top tier and the CHEMISTRY was off the charts!!! This entire story had me giggling and kicking my feet. Plus, I loveeee a golden retriever MMC with slutty little glasses, forearm porn and a filthy as hell mouth 😮‍💨🥵 Plus my man had a jean comforter and drove a PT cruiser with wood paneling 🙈😂

Tropes:

🌭black cat x golden retriever
🖤hate to love
🌭second chance
🖤workplace romance
🌭queer rep


Quote party:

“Men don’t pick tortoiseshell frames like that without being a little bit of a ho.”

“I wanted an obvious signal to visitors that I’m a freak in the jeets.”

“You’re the human equivalent of Comic Sans.”

“God you’re so fucking lovely when you beg.”

“Don’t you dare stop yourself, Eva. Fucking use me.”

“I love playing with him, I love our endless, ferocious need to make the other laugh or gasp or scramble to guess what comes next. I love-“

“Kitten I’d rather spend every day getting in a pointless argument with you for sport than be bored and complacent with anyone else.”

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio for advance copies of this book.

The banter was bantering!! I had to read a few chapters with my eyes instead of my ears for secondhand embarrassment reasons but overall really liked it. She is brutal in her quips and comments about him and he is absolutely delighted about it. All of it.

Ariela Crow is not a name I recognize as a narrator but is one I will absolutely not be surprised to see pop up everywhere after this. She made this book zip along. The parts I couldn't listen to were not her fault. I just watched that whole scene at the hotel and the office with my hands over my eyes, peeking through my fingers like it was a horror movie.

Well, Actually is a second chance, enemies-to-lovers romance that has heavy Chicken Shop Date vibes. Eva banters with B -level celebrities while eating hot dogs for video content. She doesn't love the job, but it seems like a path for her to get to more "serious" journalism. Her college ex, Rylie, also makes popular videos and Eva drunkenly makes a TikTok response to one of Rylie's videos that sets them down a path of going on dates for content.

The book has an interesting premise and enjoyable banter, but a couple things really frustrated me. First, Rylie's whole schtick is that he calls out other men for their toxic masculinity - which great, love it! - but there are also times where he essentially tells Eva what she wants when she's saying the opposite. Second, the stakes of their relationship and work didn't always make sense to me.

Although not my favorite Mazey Eddings' book, I liked Eva a lot, even when I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her.

3.5/5 stars 🌟

I want to thank Netgalley and St.Martins Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Eva hosts a sausage talk, bonds with celebrities over hot dogs, and discusses what's going on in pop culture. After a drunken mishap, Eva calls out her ex, Riley, for ghosting her and his subpar sex skills and goes viral... Her journalism career hasn't taken off yet, but calling out her ex could be the thing she needs to go viral and be taken seriously. Riley decides to propose that he takes her on 6 dates to make up for his younger selves stupidity.

I really loved this book; it reminded me a lot of how to lose a guy in 10 days, and had me craving a Costco hot dog. Eva is one of the most relatable FMCs, and I loved her so much. I love the black cat golden retriever energy of Eva and Riley, and this reminded me so much of the chicken shop date

I loved this and can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy

This book releases August 5, 2025

DNF at 40%. Thank you so much for the ARC, but this book just wasn't for me. The unlikable main characters are almost 30 but act like they're in high school with their attitudes, drama and pettiness. The supporting characters were flat and performative. It was also very "Gen Z" with the language, references and clothing choices, most of which I, as a millennial, neither got nor appreciated. The writing was solid, though! I really wanted to like this book (and so many people on bookstagram LOVE it!) but the execution left everything to be desired.

When Eva posts a tipsy video attacking her ex, Rylie, who has created a platform for himself around male vulnerability, she never expects what's to happen next; her job cashes in on the virality of the moment in the hope it will boost revenue for them. Five dates to prove to her he's changed. Easy enough, right? Except with the dates come the vulnerable moments and memories of fun times that make Eva question if this is just a publicity stunt anymore or if real-life feelings are being formed.

Eva and Rylie are giving black cat and golden retriever energy. Eva is so fiesty and defensive, and Rylie is a big ole cinnamon roll hero, ready to take on Eva's jabs. I love them jabbing at each other as much as I like the soft, vulnerable moments, too. Besides a spitfire of a romance, there is a great secondary plot around life in your late teens, early twenties, and the struggles that come from shoving down hurt and pain instead of getting it out there and addressing your issues. It discusses universal issues surrounding the death of a loved one and figuring out your sexuality.

Read if you like an enemies-to-lovers, second chance, fake dating romance. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 8/5

Well, Actually was a slow burn for me—not because of the writing, but because I happened to be in a bit of a slump when I started it. Once I got into the rhythm, I found it to be a genuinely engaging and layered story. The chemistry between the characters had that perfect blend of tension and humor, keeping things light even when deeper emotional themes were at play.

What stood out most to me was Eva’s emotional detachment and matter-of-fact way of navigating vulnerability. It was well-written and honest, but also personally hard for me to read at times—I saw parts of myself in her responses, and that raw reflection made it hit even harder. Mazey Eddings continues to balance humor, heart, and depth in a way that feels both authentic and accessible. Definitely worth the read, especially for fans of character-driven romance with emotional complexity.

3.5⭐️ This was a fun book and gave me Chicken Shop Date vibes. And with the new season of The Summer I Turned Pretty being out, I was reminded of it in a couple spots. 🤭 I found I enjoyed the main and closest side characters; Eva's quick wit, Rylie's golden retriever vibes, Aida and Ray's friendship with Eva. The growth for the MC's was great and I've come to love a second chance romance. My only pet peeve, I'd say, is that as the spice progressed, I felt the author got more crass. I enjoyed the overall storyline, though.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an eARC copy in exchange for my honest review. This book publishes on 8/5/2025.

I saw this described as a black cat/golden retriever romance and that feels accurate. I didn't really buy the love story, but I was entertained by the book and found it to be a fun summer read. They just didn't seem super compatible. He's chipper and earnest and lovely and helpful and kind...she's sarcastic and insecure. She aggressively pushes him away. I didn't hate Eva's abrasive character, but I totally didn't understand how either of them could possibly be hung up on each other after a few mediocre dates six years ago.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for early access.

I received an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Eva Kitt has an internet show that's like the sad, American hotdog version of Chicken Shop Date. She's very quippy, snappy, sarcastic, and clearly spends too much time on the internet if the web-isms we get drowned in are any indication (I am also chronically online--no hate) and when a video bashing her ex-- who is now one of those internet dudes who tell other guys how not to be crappy partners-- goes viral, they obviously have to perform a media stunt to hopefully get Eva out of her bad show and into "real" journalism with the same toxic company.

I think this was a quick, easy read. It's very current and internety. I enjoyed it. I would suggest it for fans of contemporary romance.

3.75/5

This book gets a 2.5 from me. I was not a fan of this book. Evil Eva was just the worst person. Like this book is just not my thing. The language was awful. Rylie was spineless and Eva just did not deserve him. I wanted to dnf this book so many times but I kept right on reading and…it’s a no for me. But hey if spice, toxicity, and certain lifestyles are your thing, you’ll love this book. I think I’ll stick with YA books, especially if it comes from her because I loved “Tilly in Technicolor”.

I literally just set my Kindle down and ran to my computer to write this review because MAZEY EDDINGS HAS DONE IT AGAIN! Eva is incredibly relatable, navigating a toxic job in her late 20s while trying to stay afloat and get ahead. Between the demanding work environment, difficult past relationships, and the digital confrontation from the ex who ghosted her (now hailed as the internet's example of deconstructing masculinity!), it's no wonder she's developed a protective glass armor. Then there's Rylie, with his charming sweatshirts and "slutty" glasses, proving he's grown since their past. Their banter was top-tier, and I absolutely loved watching Eva's journey to accepting that Rylie wouldn't abandon her again. Kitten and Baby Girl 4 ever.

Cute cute cute!!! I love a good second chance romance. Add in the messy drama of them reflecting on their emotionally fragile college selves, yes please!

Eva Kitt’s love language is sarcasm and I think she is me. I am her. Or at least I would love to be…

Vibes were high, we had a great time. 10/10 recommend 🥰

YALLLLLLLLLLLLL I friggin loveeeeee this book!
Rylie gives me butterflies
This story follows Rylie and Eva.
It’s Rylie’s SECOND CHANCE to do right by Eva when after six years since they stopped talking Eva makes a drunk video talking about how bad Rylie is and it goes VIRAL.
Rylie is a podcaster who guides men out of toxic masculinity
Eva is a journalist who interviews celebrities while eating hot dogs.
Her company takes advantage of the viral video and makes her interview Rylie!
They are reunited and Eva HATESSSS him.
Rylie is along for the ride and wants Eva to see that he has changed so he challenges her to have 6 dates with him so he can prove it.
She agrees and so their story begins AGAIN.

I absolutely loveeee them sm!
Eva is the kind of girl who has a tough exterior. She is sarcastic and witty and always talks back to Rylie. It is all to protect herself and to cover up the fact that she just wants to be wanted, to be chosen and I just relate to her so much!
I love Rylie so much! He is just so in tune with Eva and knows what she needs.
He has good communication and I love that he makes her feel like there is nothing wrong with the way she is in fact her loves her feisty side!
He continues to choose her and accept her even when she tries to pull away.
I love them so so much!

Honestly highly recommend!!!
I could definitely see this being a movie and need it stat! Haha

Congrats Mazey on an incredible book with such dimensional, relatable, beautiful characters!

This book is filled with top-tier tension + banter, and I LOVED it!

Well, Actually is a lovers to enemies to lovers storyline, and it's done so well. The cast is diverse, the characters show real growth, and the lack of a third act breakup was lovely!

Thank you to the author + St. Martin's Press for my advance copy!

It took me a while to like Rylie, and I’m still not sure that I like Eva.

There were a lot of pop culture references that were not necessarily framed as such, but I still caught and felt weird about. A big part of Eva’s personality is saying off-putting things, and they could all be directly pulled from the TikTok series of a man (Kyle Prue, I believe) telling women things to say to men to make them mad. Eva also internally refers to her bag as being "ludicrously capacious”, which is technically legal, but I didn’t like it. I understand this is a contemporary book and there will be contemporary aspects, but I do feel that this book may have overdone it, just not in a super obvious way. Additionally, the phrase “my teeth ache” is way overused in this book. Maybe this is something I have not personally experienced, but who has achy teeth?

Overall, this book was fine and definitely was not my least favorite of Mazey’s. I enjoyed the cameos from Lizzy and Harper; it was nice to see they are still thriving.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this one! It was funny and sweet. I loved the grumpy(her)/sunshine(him). Eva and Rylie dated in college and it didn’t end well. Six years later, after a drunken video rant, things get crazy! But Rylie sees a second chance to make it right and I was there for all of it. Great chemistry and Eva is the new queen of the snarky comments.

I read Brush with Love a few years ago and I didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it. But something bugged me. I didn’t let it stop me - bought the next in the series - Lizzie Blake ( which I still need to read!) I loved that Eddings included easter eggs in this one! We see Harper and Dan and Lizzie and Rake. I will be moving Lizzie up the tbr.

Finally, I appreciated the deeper look at the toxicity of social media as well as the commentary on toxic masculinity and how it affects our mental health.

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for the gifted copy!

After loving many of Mazey's last books, I was excited to jump into WELL, ACTUALLY, based largely off of Chicken Shop Date. This was a fun premise for a romance book, and I loved that it was paired with a woman scorned and second chance romance. While the setup was great, I did think it fell a little flat toward the middle of the book and got a little slow and repetitive. There is a hyperfixation on pansexuality, bisexuality, and being a woman in the workforce that just overshadowed the love story for me. I'll continue to read Mazey's books, but this one was not my favorite.

This book gave off Chicken Shop Dates meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 days vibes. We've got a black cat FMC and a somewhat golden retriever MMC and the banter is near feral.

I found myself internally chuckling or smiling at parts but then also feeling sad at times for both characters (some of this didn't feel fully developed, but wasn't a deal breaker). I'd say the first half of the book was better than the second half but all in all, I enjoyed and felt entertained!

Oh yeah... and the book cover is 🤌🔥
Grab your copy on 08/05/2025

Tropes:
- 2nd Chance romance
- Black Cat x Golden Retriever
- Witty/Banter
- Enemies/Rivals to Lovers
- Diverse characters

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

I liked this one!! I thought the story was really cute, especially with how everything ended up and the ways that the MMC communicated during the third act conflict! I didn't fully vibe with the characters but I found them really well characterized. The spicy scenes were definitely not for me, but I appreciated that at least one of them had parts that played into character and relationship development. And the narrator was good, but I don't think I'd strongly recommend the audio over the physical!