“But you, Eva Kitt, are not just a woman. I’m fairly certain you’ve got a bit of the devil in you. But don’t worry, I’ll win her over as well.”

Eva Kitt is feeling left behind but when she is doom scrolling and sees an ex she is ready to rant. The last thing she expected was her small following to take her rant and make her viral. Rylie Cooper is a podcaster who talks about being the best partner so when his ex blasts him by saying he was the worst he is determined to change her mind. Eva and Rylie make a deal for 6 dates and a recap after each one.

I loved their banter. Eva was the perfect grump to Rylie’s perpetual sunshine. It was so fun to see their relationship grow but was also emotional with them rehashing the past.

🔥: “That’s it. Show off for me, gorgeous.”

If you loved the banter in Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date episode, may I present you with an entire book full of it? Well, Actually had me grinning ear to ear the entire time! Rylie “every part of me is yours if you want it” Cooper is the MMC of everyone’s dreams—his journey with grief, embracing his bi identity, and becoming the absolute best man (while also smashing the patriarchy) was everything. And Kit was absolutely hilarious, sharp, and so relatable. Ugh, I just love them and this book so so much!

The quick wit of Edding's writing had me hooked from the get-go. Every word felt not only playful, but bright, creating such addicting banter. To say the least, it's difficult to not be obsessed with Eva and Cooper!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an early review copy.

Mazey Eddings latest romance is an absolute hit with excellent banter. Eva Kitt is the host of Sausage Talk, like Chicken Shop Date but with hot dogs, and bides her time as an internet personality. When she drunkenly calls out her ex-boyfriend, Rylie Cooper, a social media influencer, for her experiences during their relationship, she unexpectedly goes viral. Riley then appears on her show and the two go on a series of dates to show if Riley has changed.

The characterization of Eva and Cooper is incredibly well done, and their relationship development is excellent. Readers will appreciate their reverse grumpy/sunshine dynamic.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! A true rom-com with an unexpected love story, deeply flawed characters, sharp and witty banter, and FULL of tension. plus he has glasses NEED I SAY MORE!!!

Eva Kitt has dreams of becoming a well-known journalist, although her current career is interviewing C-list celebrities on a hotdog eating show. Deep in her feelings (and a bottle of wine) she takes to bashing her college ex online, a well-known podcast who preaches the opposite of what Eva knew him as. One viral video later, Eva finds Riley Cooper as the next guest on her show and Riley’s there to prove to her he’s changed. He convinces her to go on some dates to change her mind and Eva agrees, trying to keep her job intact and boost show ratings. But Riley is convinced he can win Eva’s favour in that time.

The romance burns a little slower in this one and it was PERFECT! Their banter is one of the best parts of the book and they take ‘roasting’ each other as a love language very seriously. Eva is a true black cat fmc, scared to open up and be vulnerable again so she masks her feelings with humour (deeply relatable). Protect Riley and his crewnecks at all costs!!! This is a man who YEARNS and doesn’t back down to her attempts to push him away. He listens, he’s there for her, and he shows her through his actions how much he cares. This book gets unexpectedly deep, showcasing some raw and vulnerable emotions of individuals growing into themselves and becoming who they want to be.

This is a story of second chance, redemption arcs, and growing through your 20s. Also some next-level hilarious humour. I HIGHLY recommend this one and need everyone to read it!! Pub date August 5th 💛 Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the arc!

This book was everything a rom-traum-com should be—sharp, hilarious, and unexpectedly deep. And hot. It was really everything.

The humor was truly next-level. Eva had a quip for everything and everyone, delivering some of the most savage burns I’ve ever read. She was MEAN and used humor as armor, which was both wildly entertaining and painfully relatable.

Rylie was such a simp for Eva (especially when she was mean to him) and I ate it up. A walking, ironic-crewneck-wearing teddy bear. My favorite trope is men in therapy and Rylie took that and turned it into a literal date!!!! He handled her roasts like an absolute champ, all while working through his own redemption arc—overcoming grief, rectifying past mistakes, and groveling endlessly. The way he broke down Eva’s walls while affirming her in ways she could actually accept absolutely melted me. Their dynamic was pure gold.

SO GOOD. A new all-time favorite. Will probably reread at least once a year.

1.5 ⭐️ this was uhm? The beginning was fun, it’s very chicken shop date & I can get behind that. Everyone was a red flag somehow? I’m usually all here for black cat energy FMCs but this one was honestly just mean. I’m not positive she grew up in the last 6 years. She needs a therapist & maybe a punching bag, and no not Coopers therapist. The first date was laughably bad, honestly that part did make me cackle. Cooper & his slutty little glasses seems like he tried to grow up and change at the very least so there’s that. If you wanna read & listen to a laughably bad romcom this might be the one for you. The narrator was good! She had the bitchy disinterested voice down perfectly. (Honestly though maybe I want some of those cringy little sweaters cooper has)

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for an eARC & ALC!! Review & opinions are honest and my own!

"Well, Actually" showcases everything I love about Mazey Eddings' writing: the longing, the angst, the wit, and the lovable characters.

I gobbled this novel up in just a few days -- I didn't want to put it down! I loved the way the story unfolded and the pop culture and tech references sprinkled throughout. Eva and Riley's second chance at love had me cheering and rooting for them from the beginning. It's difficult to do second-chance romance well, but Mazey knocked it out of the park.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading romance books with quirky characters.

This book has easily made Mazey Eddings a must read author for me. They wrote a romance with a beautiful love story, well written, flawed characters that I related to so much. I was immediately invested in the story from pretty much the first page. I instantly needed to know more. Eva and Riley’s tension, banter and undeniable connection had me instantly obsessed. I’m a huge sucker for a mean woman and her boyfriend that’s insanely down bad for her, Eva and Riley fit that to a tee. He reminded me of Nick Miller from New Girl, but more lover boy. Also somehow hotter if that’s believable? He really does go above and beyond as book boyfriend, funny, deeply caring, rich it seems, a feminist, deeply self aware and able to express it. The man checks all the boxes. But my love for them lies in the deeper parts of them. I rarely relate to both main characters in a romance books, but both Riley and Eva have my heart. I love them for different reason but it’s pretty equal. I’m not going to spoil it, it’s worth reading on your own. To get that point where they finally see each other for who they really are. The personal journey that both Riley and Eva go on is perfect, but the journey that has to start to be with each other is so deeply heartwarming. The acknowledgment that people who are going through something deeply traumatic can hurt those they deeply care about unknowingly, and if it’s worth trusting that they won’t do it again. I love a romance where everything isnt all that it appears to be. While it took some time to get to the romantic part of their relationship, there was plenty going on to keep me interested. There was chaos and humor that actually had me laughing out loud. I’m having a hard time deciding on a ranking on this one. I’m thinking a 4.5. This was easily my favorite arc read of 2025.

DNF @ 45%.

This was my first read from Mazey Eddings, and I had high hopes for this one—but it didn’t quite work for me.

The premise had so much potential, but I struggled to connect with the characters—especially the FMC. I understand she was hurting, but it was hard watching someone constantly lash out while the other just… took it. The MMC deserved more than what he was getting.

Maybe I’ll come back to it someday, but not today. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC. Pub date Aug 5.

While I did like the concept and everything was well written, this book was just not for me. I liked the idea of a second chance with someone you had a hook up with in college, but I just could not get into their romance fully. Yes some parts had me smiling, but all in all, its just not my cup of tea. I know others that would love Well, Actually and I’m excited for them to read this book.

I've had book boyfriends, but I've never read a man who's been more my type than Rylie Cooper.

The banter between Eva and Cooper was top tier. Truly, this is Eddings best work yet. Eva would roast Cooper, and he would just dish it right back, but in the flirtiest, nicest way possible. It was so cute. And the way they complemented each other in every other respect felt so natural. If they were real, I would point to them as dream goals for couple chemistry.

I love that this book centered on Eva's development into a better, more communicative person. She had a lot of issues from her childhood and her previous relationship with Cooper that she needed to work through. It was beyond amazing seeing how Cooper stayed by her side and was patient as she figured out how to handle it all. Eva was the best black cat FMC I've ever read with Cooper as my favorite golden retriever boyfriend.

I wish the ending hadn't been so abrupt. I wanted a bit more information on how Eva's future panned out, but I guess this was a more realistic approach. Truly, nothing could have stopped me from swooning hard over these two, so it wasn't that big of a deal.

Overall, I'm obsessed. This book will have to be pried from my cold, dead hands before I stop thinking about it.

Eva is forced to confront her "one that got away" from college, Rylie now that they are both adults.

This was such a good romcom! Here's what I liked:

The positive headspace: This one deals with some heavy issues like mental wellness and sexual identity. I loved how it was all dealt with! Seeking help and finding out who you are is shown in such a positive light. There is even an inside look at Riley's therapy. I really loved this.

Eva and Riley: They are a super couple. Both are strong willed but find that they really do click together in all the right ways. Their humor together is also amazing. Both had me laughing at times and both had me almost crying at times. Their relationship is so genuine.

All in all, this was a great romance!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Eva wants to be a journalist but she is stuck making videos that are silly. She sees that her college crush is doing well with podcasts for men. She remembers their disastrous dates and in a drunken rant outs him to the entire world. Her company sees rating gold if they can get her to interview him. She does not want to do this but is afraid of losing her job. This turns into a connection that she didn't expect.

This is a romance but also a story of your first jobs out of college. They are usually not what you hope for and you begin to wonder if you will ever reach your goals. Eva has walled herself off so she doesn't get hurt. Could seeing her ex after 6 years change that? This is a story that has humor and wit and was an amusing read.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #MazeyEddings, and #StMartinsGriffin for a copy of this book.
#WellActually

This was a delightfully funny and heart warming read. I loved the dry humor, and related so much to Eva. Rylie was swoonworthy, book boyfriend material.

I genuinely really enjoyed this book! The storyline was fresh and fun, and it had just the right balance of heart, humor, and unexpected twists to keep me hooked from start to finish. The plot moved at a great pace and kept me wanting to know what would happen next, without ever feeling rushed. I also really connected with the characters—they felt real, with quirks and flaws that made them all the more lovable. Their relationships and growth throughout the book added so much depth to the story. It was one of those reads that left me smiling by the end and wishing I could spend just a little more time in their world. Definitely a feel-good favorite

Rating: 4/5 stars

One thing I love about a book by Mazey Eddings is that she's not messing around. We're into the plot nearly from the first word. No filler. Story is still fully developed, nothing is missing. But it feels like she spends less time easing us into the story than many other authors do. I really appreciate her ability to strike this balance as it always makes for a quick and easy read.

Mazey had me hooked at her initial description of Riley in this book. Dark wavy hair, tortoiseshell glasses, good jawline and a rumbly voice. Hot MMC? I'm in. Within a page or two of that physical description she's called him a "discarded foreskin of a person" and I realized this book was also going to have me laughing, so I immediately anticipated great banter. The book lived up to this expectation. The voice to text mishap nearly had me crying from laughter.

Well, Actually also deals with some heavy and emotional topics that both add significant depth to this beautiful love story and left me in real tears. The way Riley talks about his grief truly resonated with my own recent experience.

The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 was a feeling that some of the rhetoric and dialogue felt as though it was trying too hard to be relevant or edgy. Just a bit forced in some places. Additionally, the inconsistency of what Eva Calls Riley. Sometimes on the same page she goes between calling him Riley, Riley Cooper, and Cooper. I found this distracting and awkward to read through.

Overall a great book that left me once again eagerly anticipating the next book from Mazey Eddings.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Mazey Eddings now has two books on my top tier list in 2025. It’s safe to say she’s a one-click author for me now, I trust her that much.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Standalone

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Second chance, love eager, bi MMC, black cat/golden retriever.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Eva Kitt hosts a mildly successful gimmick interview show, though she’s always hoped to be a true journalist. When a bottle of wine leads her to bash her ex - wildly successful podcast host Rylie Cooper - he challenges her to let him right the wrongs of the past.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: A few times during this book I had to hold my hand to my heart and hope it would stop beating so fast.

I loved Eddings’ last release, Late Bloomer earlier this year and I was excited to dig in here. I knew it’d be more emotional than I planned, and WOOF, was I right.

Eva is this demonstrative (but very relatable), loud and opinionated woman that won’t give Rylie a smidge of forgiveness. And Rylie? From the jump you can tell he’s more than meets the eye… and he turns out to be so much more than I bargained for.

This book was full of moments that left me, as the reader, feeling raw and vulnerable. It was emotional through and through, and a few times I was screaming at Eva just to get it together. But I love that I never hated her. Women with big emotions are so easy not to like, and Mazey Eddings wrote Eva so well I refused to give up on her.

If you need some romance therapy, this one is a must-read.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

I really enjoyed this book. It had me laughing out loud so many times. My coworkers were looking at me like I was crazy because I kept laughing while listening. I loved the narration on this one! Ariela Crow did an amazing job. She brought so much depth and emotion to the characters. I even enjoyed her male narration voice. The whole performance was just spot on!

This is such a good second chance romance. Eva is a black cat fmc. She’s stuck hosting Sausage Talk instead of pursuing her actual journalism dreams. Eva and Riley hooked up back in college, but he ghosted her right after. Now several years later, Riley has a huge social media presence and focuses on decontructing toxic masculinity. Eva gets drunk one night and calls him out. She wakes up the next morning discovering it has gone wildly viral. Her bosses make her bring him on for an episode of Sausage Talk for a confrontation. Riley asks Eva to go on 10 dates with him, so he can redeem his toxic behavior of the past.

This book was such a fun time. I highly recommend the audio! I couldn’t stop listening to it. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advance copies.

I really enjoyed this book. It was witty, cute, fun, and the relationship felt natural. Mazey Endings is a talented writer.