4.25 ⭐️

I enjoy a good second-chance romance, and this one offers a clever twist: a very public re-do of a relationship gone wrong between Eva, a podcast host known for her deadpan delivery and bitchy demeanor, and her former frat-boy ex, Rylie, who’s built a following online deconstructing toxic masculinity.

This is a classic black-cat/golden-retriever dynamic. Eva is all sharp tongue and emotional armor, while post-therapy Rylie is patient, emotionally fluent, and endlessly affirming. Their rapport—the dry wit and constant teasing—makes for excellent romantic chemistry.

The contrast between past and present Rylie is clear, and I appreciated how his earlier behavior is explained but not excused. This isn’t a guy saying the right things to win her back; he’s done the work and grown. The more time Eva spends with him, the harder it becomes to keep him at arm’s length.

That said, I wish the original “six date” structure had lasted longer. Once Eva and Rylie get together, the book loses momentum. I’m all for romance novels that explore what happens after the couple reconnects—especially when they skip the third-act breakup—but the plot still needs tension. These two spend a good chunk of the book in bed, which, good for them, but I wanted a little more from the second half than just physical intimacy. The lull also makes later plot developments feel rushed.

Still, it’s a small nitpick in a book that’s otherwise smart and emotionally grounded. Eddings makes sharp, nuanced points about misogyny and the double standards around sexuality, especially in media. It’s thoughtful without being preachy, and the LGBTQ+ representation is handled with the same care.

Overall, this was charming and thoughtful—a romance with strong emotional beats and well-placed social commentary. Even with the pacing dip, I’d still recommend it—especially for readers who enjoy banter-heavy romance, emotional growth, and a little cultural critique woven in.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Fine line between hate and lust.
Oh, the banter. Oh, the fun. Such an amusing romance with sincere, transparent emotions. Eva is a tough woman, and Riley is going to try everything to break through her walls. The way their romance takes place and develops has some amazingly funny moments. This is my first read from Mazey Eddings, and it was certainly an entertaining read. I’m hooked. Will absolutely be reading more.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: ❤️Romance
Recommend:✅

THE BANTER! If you love a second chance romance and banter like me, “Well, Actually” is the perfect romance for you. It doesn’t reinvent the genre or anything but the trope I love is done here to absolute perfection. *chefs kiss*

Eva is a journalist who is pining for something more career wise when she drunkenly posts a video slamming a now popular podcaster, Rylie, who she dated in college. Soon Eva and Rylie agree to go on and podcast about seven dates to see if they can reignite their spark. And, they do.

“Well, Actually” does have a deep scenes and themes that are handled very well but also with a ton a humor. It has some depth but really remains a solid romance that isn’t trying to do too much. Which, is what I love about the romance genre!

You’ll love this book if you love:
✅Witty Banter
✅Journalism
✅Second Chance Romance

I love that it is immediately clear the premise of this book was inspired by Amelia Dimoldenberg's Chicken Shop Date series, as our made character Eva's job is hosting an online web series where she eats hot dogs with other internet personalities......lol

That being said, I did think this book was cute, but I also think it's very 2025 chronically online. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I just don't know how well this book will stand the test of time, with a lot of the references and lingo being hyper specific to today's internet culture. Some of the pop culture stuff made me roll my eyes, but it wasn't horribly overdone either.

I liked the development of the relationship between Eva and Rylie, her love interest, as well as the background we learned about each of them. Mazey Eddings always does a really great job writing well-developed romantic leads!

This was not my favorite of her books, but still cute!

I feel like since I don’t know much about Chicken Shop Date, I was a bit out of my element on this one. It’s cute and funny, but I probably would’ve gelled with it more if I understood the references better.

Ok this was a lot in a damn good way. Loved the way the book is set up. I can sincerely said i was kicking my feet and giggling thru most of it. The audio was great. Enjoyed the voices a lot. And it conveyed very well the feeling and tone of each character.
Story wise, this was a very well rounded story. Enjoy Eva a lot and her ways. I also adored Rylie and how he again and again showed her that she could be vulnerable with him and he got her. That she was not too much. That she was perfect the way she was . Overall adored it .

This was my first from Mazey Eddings! Prickly Eva gets herself into hot water when her drunken stitch (on that certain app) goes viral. Now she and her ex are thrown into the limelight of internet fame and her boss needs her to capitalize on it to save her floundering career.
Rylie is the guy that broke her heart but he seems too good to be true. I loved Rylie and truly felt for him. I enjoyed Eva too but there was something so endearing about Rylie that I couldn’t help but loving him more.

An enjoyable romance. Perhaps a bit too descriptive and overly wordy.

All opinions are my own. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

Well, Actually is a cute and steamy second-chance romance between college exes Eva and Rylie, brought back into each other’s orbit thanks to a drunken TikTok. The book opens with one of the best first lines I’ve read in a while, Mazey Eddings nails the tone from the get-go.

Eva Kitt is officially one of my all-time favourite characters. Her sharp wit and killer banter had me grinning, but it’s her secretly soft heart under all that tough-girl armour that really got me. And Rylie? Total cinnamon roll. He’s kind, grounded, and just so perfect for Eva. I loved how Eddings played with their dynamic, Rylie’s warmth and emotional honesty balancing out Eva’s walls and her fear of being left behind.

Their chemistry was off the charts, and the emotional moments hit hard. I couldn't put this book down—even when it was making me ugly cry.

there was a lot to love in this book!

first, the premise of this book was absolutely hilarious and hooks you right in. That awkward situation of having to work together after their broken past and public animosity sets up the rest of the story well.

Second, the characters! They were MESSY and I loved them for it. Eva and Rylie felt real. She has a lot to work through in her personal and work life while Rylie has a lot to make up for in the past, and I think Mazey Eddings did a fantastic job of creating imperfect and relatable characters that are sooo easy to root for.

third, the representation and side characters. This book has an amazing cast of characters. I felt so intrigued by the side characters and the entire time. It feels like each one was created on purpose and not to just fill a role!

But ultimately, I think my issue with this book was the pacing. Up to the 50% mark, it was hard for me to believe in the main characters’ connection because I don’t think they get time apart to really process what’s happening. They go from one date to a podcast recording to another date back to back. I also felt like the characters got together very quickly (60% mark I believe) in the book and the rest of the plot was so predictable that it made me lose interest. Once they got together, it was a lot of spice (spice was amazing though) and by the time the third act conflict came, it was hard for me to really understand Eva’s arc because she didn’t use any of the growth to confront the situation.

Overall, a truly enjoyable read! Sooooo freaking funny and witty that I would still recommend to everyone 🌭🌭

The premise of this one is so unique & absolutely hilarious. This is a romcom that will have you smiling & giggling the entire time. Mazey Eddings delivers such a fun & thoughtful romance that will have you falling in love with these characters.

The story revolves around Eva & Riley Cooper, who dated 6 years ago only for Riley to ghost Eva. Eva has been holding onto this grudge but after calling Riley out online, Eva is now forced to collaborate with him in an interview. Riley Cooper has his own mission - to prove Eva wrong & show her that he's changed.

Talk about a second chance - the communication & vulnerability that these two characters show is perfect. There are stumbles & awkward moments but the depth of the character evolutions just had me devouring this book. Eva's walls are built of stone but the way Riley chips away at them, with his smooth talking, patience & dry sense of humor has him as one of my favorite MMCs. The conflict, the spice, the hilarious moments (the date Riley planned had me cackling!) - this is one that I truly loved from beginning to end.


💕 Second Chance
🐈‍⬛ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏳️‍🌈 Bi & Pan Reps
❣️ Right Person, Wrong Time
🤣 Great Banter
💋 "Stop being so mean to be or I'm going to fall in love with you" vibes
☝🏻 FMC POV

The FMC in this was really whiney and annoying to the point that I was physically cringing when her inner monolog got to be too awful. If you like a second chance romance with a VERY obviously millennial FMC and a love interest who I couldn't pick out of a line up if im being honest. This book was just boring and I didn't feel the spark between the two main characters. I guess if they were fleshed out a little better I might have enjoyed it more. But this one wasn't for me even though it is a highly anticipated book.

3.75

Ok, I enjoyed this one. I liked the premise, the banter, the overall story.

But there was just something that wasn’t right. I think for me it was I didn’t fully understand why Eva was how she was. I felt like her thoughts about relationships and being vulnerable were a bit intense. Cause it wasn’t just with Rylie, it was also her friends and coworkers.

I did liked seeing the progression of the relationship between Eva and Rylie. The banter and antagonism that moves into understanding then more.

I also think I would have liked a bit more about the workplace situation. I think it was such a big thing but then took a backseat when it mattered and when things got interesting.

Overall enjoyable and would still recommend.


Thanks Macmillan audio for the advanced listeners copy.

This was funny and adorably, disgustingly cute. I love Eva and I love Rylie, and I am obsessed with them together. The banter between the two of them was top notch and I'm so weak for a slightly obsessed MMC who can acknowledge a mistake and is secure and unwavering in his feelings for his partner. The conflict/resolution at the end felt very fast and the ending a little abrupt, but it didn't hinder my love for this book. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the ALC and ARC of Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well, Actually follows Eva Kitt, a fluff journalist dying to be taken seriously, who accidentally goes viral after drunkenly posting a rant about her ex, Rylie Cooper—the same man now championing anti-toxic masculinity online. The fallout? She’s forced to interview him, and he proposes a “redemption tour” of dates to show he’s changed. What follows is chaos, chemistry, vulnerability, and slow-burn growth that had me absolutely hooked.

Eva is the perfect black cat heroine: fierce, witty, and guarded. Rylie is the reformed golden retriever hero we all deserve—genuine, persistent, and emotionally intelligent. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their banter had me grinning, gasping, and bookmarking quotes nonstop.

One of my favorite things was how honest and messy their reconnection felt. It wasn’t easy or perfect, and that’s what made it so emotionally satisfying. The audiobook, narrated by Ariela Crow, elevated the experience—especially during the steamy scenes. Her performance made the characters leap off the page.

Mazey Eddings doesn’t shy away from raw emotions, tough conversations, or anxiety-inducing moments, but she balances it beautifully with humor and heart. The “Hot Girl” mantra—“Hot Girl isn’t a look or a style, it’s a commitment to doing whatever makes you feel unstoppable in the face of life’s f**ery”*—will live rent-free in my mind forever.

This is a solid 5-star read for me. Full of surprises, heart, and a second-chance romance done right.

As much as I wanted to love this book it was okay. I just struggled to get into the characters and the story. Overall still recommend it to people to read.

Between a 3 and a 3.5 for me

This is basically if Chicken Shop Date and Hot Ones had a romance novel baby. I had really high expectations (because who wouldn't want to read that?!) but maybe because they were so high, it fell short. This is a tricky one for me, mostly because I didn't really get what they saw in each other at first other than surface level lust because they're both really hot people with a questionable shared history. There's also a lot of pop culture/chronically online internet jokes and references that I feel like will make this an extremely outdated read in like a year. 

This is a solo POV with our main character, Eva, the host of Sausage Talk, who blows up on the internet after a drunken online confession about a short-lived relationship with podcast host Rylie, where she talked about how bad he was in bed before completely ghosting her years prior. To help build both of their brands, Rylie asks for a do-over, where he takes her on a series of dates to change her mind about him (under the premise of his show but mostly because he never got over her and wants a second chance).

I've said multiple times in other reviews that the main character doesn't have to be likable for a book to be good and fair warning, Eva (for me at least, I can't speak for anyone else) just came off as unnecessarily mean and rude most of the time. That being said, she's extremely self aware and that made her character traits a lot more forgivable, especially in the second half of the book (which was a lot better than the first half btw) 

Rylie on the other hand, is trying so unbelievably hard to get back in her good graces and it was like the more she closed up/the meaner she was to him, the more he wanted her which isn't really the healthiest dynamic. I just didn't buy them as a couple at all. It also REALLY bothered me how when referring to him it kept switching between Rylie and Cooper. It's so inconsistent with no rhyme or reason and kept taking me out of the scenes. 

Once they finally get together, the book does take a turn for the better, but this one is squarely middle of the road for me. Huge shoutout to the cover artist though, this book cover is GORGEOUS!

I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
3 stars
Eva is unhappy with her job as the host of Sausage Talk where she interviews B-list or lower celebrities. She wants to be in hard-hitting journalism. One night, she sees her college ex Rylie telling men what women want, and her scathing response goes viral. Her job then makes Eva work with Rylie to get some cash flow from their viral moment.
I fully thought that this book was going to be a 5 star read for me. I am so disappointed 😞! I liked the premise of the book, and the first 50% of the book delivered on it. But the last half of the book dragged. And the end was very abrupt. Eva was a difficult character to love. Which wasn't my problem. I don't have an issue with characters who are outspoken or cutting, but I just think she doesn't treat her friends well at all, and that says a lot about a person in my opinion. Rylie was amazing. I liked how he loved Eva's personality and didn’t want her to change. I also do think this book will age poorly because of the large number of pop culture references spread out through the book. I get that they worked in media, but maybe it could be different from real-world memes.
Can we also discuss how the name, Eva Kitt is so close to Eartha Kitt and it wasn't mentioned once! Drove me bananas!

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
Sausage Talk is the little show that could…get B list stars to eat copious hot dogs and chat about their careers. It’s also where Eva has landed in pursuit of a job in journalism.

One night, while drunk (natch) she comes across a video of her college ex talking like he’s enlightened and full of compassion and she blasts him. Publicly.

Worse yet, Rylie, the ex, has built himself a loyal following as he deconstructs toxic masculinity and yada yada yada this doesn’t turn out well for Eva.

The two are coerced to have it out, live, on Sausage Talk where Rylie offers a deal: let him show her how he’s changed with six dates.

All is fine in love and war - and it is love for Rylie and war for Eva - until everything starts to feel a little too real.

𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
Dear god what was in this book?

Eva is so stupidly mean and Rylie loves it and I want that energy in my life. The banter is off the charts and I could not get enough.

But. While Eva might be biting and sarcastic, beneath that sharp tongue is a vulnerable heart, someone afraid she isn’t worth being loved and so she builds walls. (Hi. It’s me.) Rylie refuses to acknowledge.

Both have deeply considered backstories and their eventual pairing feels well deserved. I love them so much.

𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
The Ex-Talk and My Lady Jane with a little bit of Mr. & Mrs. Smith

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
Um. Duh. Criminal charges filed if you skip it.

Listen if you get the chance. Ariela Crow does both Eva and Rylie’s parts and it was fantastic. This is a book where audio definitely enhances the experience.

I LOVEEEEE EVA AND RYLIE WITH MY WHOLE HEART. They are both hilarious, hot, and so damn likable!!!

This story was completely enthralling from the beginning and it was so fun to read. I was hooked by Eva’s hilarious and mortifying drunk post and watching the fall out bring Rylie back into her life was so good.

Rylie Cooper is a baby girl to us all now and I feel so lucky to have witnessed these two characters connect. Honestly it’s one of the best books I’ve read all year. Mazey Eddings did a magnificent job at integrating important depth in a variety of areas while keeping this story so funny and engaging. I can’t wait to tell everyone to read this.

Perfect read for: ~*~electric~*~ banter, bi and pan rep, black cat x golden retriever energy

Some important topics this book relates to are: loss, sexuality and repression, relational trauma impacting self worth and future relationships. There’s also anxiety representation and panic attack visibility. Mazey Eddings handled all of these subjects with care and did a beautiful job at connecting with them and giving the characters space to nurture themselves and each other as they continuously heal.

Seriously this book was clever, hot, and compelling. It was also just so damn funny. It is the perfect summer read!!!!

My thoughts:
I have to say main characters,Eva and Riley, had me laughing out loud pretty much throughout the book. Their banter is off the chart! Those snarky comments…loved them! Throw in some steamy, spicy moments and you get a well-rounded story.
Well, Actually is a fast-paced romcom that does contain some sensitive topics.
The story takes us on an emotional ride for sure.
This is my first book written by author Mazey Eddings. I hope to read more by her.