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.

Another banger from Mazey Eddings! I really connected with Eva. I wish we could’ve gone a little deeper with Riley. But overall, a very funny and swoony read.

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Narrator: Ariela Crow
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 8/5

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for my free book and to Libro.fm for my complimentary audiobook!

Well, Actually is a fun second-chance romance with a unique setup. Eva Kitt is a struggling journalist who’s stuck hosting a quirky talk show called Sausage Talk. She goes viral for publicly calling out her college ex, Rylie Cooper, who happens to be a beloved influencer teaching men how not to be terrible. When Rylie proposes a series of public dates to prove he’s changed, Eva agrees, sparking a slow-burn romance built on grudges, growth, and undeniable chemistry.

I was obsessed with the first half of this book. The banter is amazing and hilarious, and the chemistry is off the charts. It was funny, fast-paced, and just so entertaining to read. But somewhere in the middle, things slowed way down and started to feel a bit repetitive. Not bad, just not as sharp as the beginning.

Eva was definitely a highlight for me. She’s messy, defensive, and sometimes mean, but she’s also self-aware, stands up for herself, and has good reasons for why she’s guarded. I loved watching her slowly open up to Rylie. Their romance is a true slow burn, and I loved how there wasn’t any instant forgiveness, but a gradual rebuilding of trust and respect.

The narration by Ariela Crow was perfection! I loved the way she brought all of the characters to life.

Overall, this was a really solid, mature romance about growth and second chances.

This was my first book by Mazey Eddings and it definitely won't be my last! I loved it so much.

Eva was the perfect black cat character to Rylie's golden retriever. I loved how obsessed he was with her and how nothing she did could push him away. Her default setting was to be mean and sarcastic, but it was her way of protecting herself from hurts that began in childhood and were cemented in college when she first fell for Rylie and he broke her heart.

When a video Eva makes about Rylie goes viral, her bosses set up an experiment where they go on 6 dates and he attempts to fix the wrongs he did to her in college. But the more time they spend together, the more he chips away at her armor. However, her job depends on their viral vitriol, and her bosses will not be thrilled if the two of them fall for each other. Again.

The chemistry between these two was off the charts!! The banter, the smoldering looks, the text messages. I ate it all up! The writing style was fantastic, and I was caught up in the story immediately. Eva's bosses were the perfect villains and even though I absolutely hated the way they treated her, they were written so well. I will say that Eva's best friend Aida was truly awful. I hope to never have a "friend" like that in my life! I also wished Eva had stood up for herself more professionally, but ultimately I was proud of the way she greaw as a character by the end.

If you're looking for an enemies-to-lovers, black cat/golden retriever romance with bi-sexual rep, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the e-arc!

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Well, Actually is a super interesting and funny read! There is lots of humor, heart, self-discovery and self growth throughout. Overall, an enjoyable story with a delightful combination of classic romance tropes, including second chance romance and black cat/golden retriever. An amusing and witty read!

Eva Kitt dreamed of having a journalism career but instead she hosts Sausage Talk, where she interviews celebrities over hot dogs. But then Eva posts a video calling out her ex and it goes viral. Her ex is Rylie Cooper, a well-known social media personality who teaches men to be good partners. Rylie ends up on an episode of Sausage Talk and they make a deal that he will take her on several dates to make up for his behavior. Eva reluctantly agrees in order to advance her own career and show the world what Rylie is actually like. However, the fake dates start to feel real and Eva begins to wonder if there might actually be something real and worth pursuing between them.

Eva’s sarcasm and wit hilariously pairs with Rylie’s friendliness. Their chemistry is great and they ultimately work very well together! The shenanigans, banter, and chaos, along with the vulnerability, makes their relationship feel real every step of the way. Having them initially reconnect because of social media works to give a modern twist to the second chance trope! While certain parts of the story were occasionally too prolonged, the humor and heart makes it an engaging and entertaining read. A fun and exciting contemporary rom com full of heart, romance, and laugh out loud moments!

Well, Actually is one of my favorite reads so far this year. It has relatable characters, humor, and a loveable romance.

Eva is such a relatable character, I too use humor and sarcasm to deflect. I love how both Eva and Rylie have baggage. Seeing them work through it was so satisfying.

I loved it when Eva and Rylie through witty quips and sharp words back and forth with each other. You could really see their chemistry. I really loved them together.

If you’ve read any of Mazey’s other books, you’ll notice some couples make an appearance 👀 This book also has a really good plot and pan and bi main characters, if you’re wanting a book with some lgbtq rep. .

I don't have the words for how much I loved this story! I couldn't put it down because I was so invested in Rylie and Eva's journey. Second chance is one of my absolute favorite tropes because when it is well executed like it is here the yearning is top tier. I adored how we got to know what went wrong between them from the beginning so we could spend the book watching Rylie win Eva back. And damn did he win her back! I wasn't sure how he was going to do it after their rocky start but he stole my heart with his sincerity, steadiness, and good humor. Watching him respond to her snark with his own brand of snark or disarming her with his earnestness was an absolutely delight. If you're looking for a book with hilarious banter, heartfelt declarations and so much pining this is the book for you!

2.5 (very generously) rounded up.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and it just didn't do it for me.

When I started reading it, I was feeling like it may be put up on my shelf next to First Time Caller by B.K. Borison, it had a similar vibe and similar banter and sass. As we got to the trauma of it all, I was reminded of Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone, another one of my 5 star reads this year, with its heaviness and emotional-depth.

In the end, what I got was the immature, petulant, self-degrading to the point of exhaustion love child of those two books. Eva was an exhausting main character.

Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!

Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press for the earc. All opinions are my own.

Well, Actually puts ex situationship Eva and Riley together after Eva goes on a drunken rant online. They have to make content now to continue to get more traffic to Eva’s employer. Meanwhile Riley wants a do over on the whole relationship, and Eva is just an angry cat.

I really struggled with this book. Some parts I loved loved, some parts completely disgusted me. We learned about Riley’s past and how he’s trying to better himself. Meanwhile Eva also had difficult times in her life, but she’s turned bitter and antagonistic instead.

Mazey Eddings has done it again - I really loved this peek behind the curtain of those famous YouTube shows - this felt relevant and had a couple that I was really rooting for. Even if they were a bit rough around the edges. A great addition to any romance collection.

What a pleasant surprise! Mazey Eddings is so witty and really knows how to write some zingers because some of her lines left me in absolute shambles with my jaw on the floor. I'm an absolute sucker for second chance romance and black cat FMC + golden retriever MMC dynamics so this was right up my alley. Eva and Rylie are not perfect individuals, however, and the way their relationship rocks back and forth while they try to repair what's broken may not be for everyone.

As much as I enjoy a messy relationship, if you don't get on with Eva, I can totally see how it'll be difficult to get past some of her more volatile reactions. The thing is, she's self-aware and self-conscious about her actions. It comes from a place of hurt and her own trauma, and I would've loved to see Eva really grapple with those things in a way that didn't overly rely on validation from a romantic partner.

That being said, I truly adored their chemistry and the way they play off of each other. I also appreciated the representation found in all corners of Eddings' books. From the main couple to their friend groups, it's obvious that she put a lot of care into weaving them into the story with intent and care.

I have loved some of Mazey's books, but this one fell short for me. It was cute in the beginning, but I couldn't get on board with the insta-love when there was so much hate initially. I also thought she tried to put just a little bit too much into the book with all the different representations--i found it taking away from the story for me.

I wish I liked this one more, but still so grateful for the early copy!

3.25/5

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin Press and Mazey Eddings for an early copy of Well Actually!

I wanted to love this book so bad! It’s heavily inspired by Amelia’s chicken shop date and had me instantly intrigued. But sadly, it didn’t quite click for me.

Eva, our FMC, was a tough one. I totally get that she’s meant to be guarded and skeptical of the people around her, but I found her pretty hard to connect with. Even though Cooper definitely had it coming at first, she still treated him and even her friends pretty harshly. She had some hilarious, razor-sharp one-liners and killer sarcasm, but overall, her vibe just wasn’t for me.

Cooper, though? Total golden retriever energy. He was patient, kind, and gave Eva the space she needed to work through her stuff while constantly showing up for her. He also did some real self-reflection, which I appreciated. He grew, and he helped Eva grow too.

This might not have been a perfect match for me, but if you’re into black cat/golden retriever dynamics, there’s a good chance Well, Actually will charm you right up!

What a fun book! I loved the references to previous characters of hers, the strong feminist message, and the relationship between Eva and Cooper is SO fun. I had a great time reading their make up dates. I can never wait for more Mazey books!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is for the girlies who have never gotten over anything in their life. Ever. And for the girlies who hate men.

If the worst thing that has ever happened to you was a guy ghosted you after a few 'dates' in college, life is not that bad. Not bad enough for Eva's piss poor attitude.

This was a truly frustrating read. This is my second Mazey Eddings book and will most likely be my last. I do not find this type of bully humor to be funny or endearing and this seems to be Mazey's MO.

I kept reading for some sort of redemption arc for Eva- I needed her to see how her acting like a straight up bitch to everyone was not the way to live her life, but no such awakening happened. There was no real character growth (in my opinion) and her treatment of Rylie throughout the whole story was just terrible.
I really hoped this might be an Eleanor in "The Good Place" situation- where she is a trash bag human and gets her shit together and becomes a better person once she realizes the error of her ways. Eva did no such thing.
I was also looking for more clarity and growth on her family situation- listen, baby girl Eva needs some serious therapy.

This was a lukewarm Temu Chicken Shop date inspired story that I just could not get into. As the saying goes, there's a bun for every hot dog, and Eva is very lucky that Rylie was as into her brand of bitchiness as he was.

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings was such a fun and surprisingly heartfelt read. I went into it expecting something light and cute (which it totally was), but it also had way more emotional depth than I thought it would. The main character was super relatable, especially with how she dealt with anxiety and trying to figure herself out. The romance was adorable without being too cheesy, and the banter actually made me laugh out loud a few times. It did get a little predictable at times, but overall I really enjoyed it. Definitely a cozy read I'd recommend to friends!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy of this story in exchange for my honest opinion.

Chicken Shop date with hotdogs and second chance romance. Yes please.

Eva is the host of a YouTube like show that interviews celebrities while she causally roasts them and they both eat hotdogs. With some cringey unfortunately events leads to having her college hookup on the show to prove to her boss that she can play the game and hopefully can do the journalism she is interested in.

Banter was great. I love she’s kinda mean he’s a golden retriever obsessed with her kinda trope. It was a sweet romance with heart tugging topics that Eddings always handles with care.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an alc

This book was SO good!! The banter between Eva and Riley was absolutely amazing. I love that no matter what happened they were there for each other. I thought it was refreshing that rather than breakup in the end when things weren’t great Riley just said I know you want to break up with me but this is why you shouldn’t and this is what’s going to make it okay. It was so nice to see them actually work through it and be there for each other.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is my first Mazey Eddings book so I wasn't sure what to expect. But the blurb of an enemies to lovers and second chance love story drew me right in and I'm so glad I read this one! It was a lot of fun and I'm definitely hooked on this author and will read more of her in the future!
Eva Kitt calls out her ex on social media and it goes viral. When her boss finds out, they= company want to take advantage of the video's popularity to help boost the company's views. To do so, Eva must form an alliance with said ex, Rylie Cooper, and put herself out there by going on dates with him and using his PodCast to review them.
This book is quintessential enemies to lovers. I truly had no idea how these two would possibly get over what made them enemies in the first place. But Mazey made it work. Their verbal sparring was top notch.
Eva's past with Rylie revolves around their dating and the relationship Eva thought she would get versus what Rylie actually gave her. She gave all her firsts to him but he blew her off. They had so much to work through in this book. And it just worked. I can't really talk too much about the hows and whys without spoiling things but let's just say Rylie had a lot of trauma he needed to work through that he never told Eva about. This story is his redemption.
The chemistry between these two was top notch. And their banter. I laughed so hard so many times. But there are also a ton of tender moments and moments where clarity between them becomes super emotional and heavy. So much so Eva has a hard time handling it. There is one scene with couples therapy that happens and it's probably one of the most raw scenes in a romance book I have ever read.
Eddings paces this book perfectly. And YAY for no third act break up. These two truly learn how to work through their stuff and come out healthier on the other side. There's mental health and LBQTQ+ rep throughout, as well, which I absolutely loved because Eddings did it right.
This book had me laughing, crying, clutching my chest, and made me a bit of an emotional wreck, but in a good way. There are so many lessons to learn. There's insecurities and grief along with happy times and sweetness. And Eddings balances it out perfectly.

Mazey has done it again. Not only is this book hilarious, with the banter between the two characters, and especially Eva with her one-liners, but it so full of heart. Mazey always deals with mental health in such a way that gives the characters depth, but also shows how they are working on themselves to be the best versions of themselves. This book also had me blushing with the spicy scenes that also showcase the emotion between Eva and Rylie so well. Mazey wrote another book that will be one of my all-time favorites. I don’t want to spoil but I especially love how it wrapped up as well, felt very empowering. I seriously loved this one so so much! Thank you Mazey for this wonderful story with laughs, tears and so much heart.