Eva calls out her now social media famous ex-situationship from college (Rylie Cooper) by stitching his TikTok with a live of her talking how bad he was in bed and how he ghosted her.
This immediately goes viral and her job (as a B-list celebrity interviewer while eating hot dogs —- like chicken shop date…but with hot dogs) decides they want her to interview her ex.
This was laugh out loud funny and clever. The tension between the two was *chef’s kiss*.
I loved it till about the 2/3rd point where it lost some steam but overall thought it was a cute rom-com.

I wanted to like this book more than I did, I usually adore Mazey's writing.

This may be more of a me issue, but I haven't found a "black cat" FMC that I absolutely loved, and this is the case here as well. Eva was a little too intense for me and made me feel more for the MMC then sense the attraction between the two.

This book is such a quick read that I didn't hate it completely, but not being in love with the characters is a big deal.


Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Well, Actually!

Okay… how do I rate this? I’m teetering between a 3 and a 4, but after mentally unpacking it on my entire drive to work (and nearly missing my exit twice), I’m leaning 4 stars!

Let me start with a confession: I’ve never watched Chicken Shop Date. I’ve seen TikToks. I know Andrew Garfield exists. Who doesn’t? I adore him. That’s about it. So, while I got the concept, I kind of wish the book had pulled inspiration from the show instead of just doing a Hot Dog version. Like, sure, quirky food interviews are fun, but do we really need ketchup-covered déjà vu?

Also… Aida. Girl. No. Someone needs to sit her down and say, “You are not the friend you think you are.” Maybe with a PowerPoint. Maybe with snacks.

But with that said, I loved this story. I devoured it like a hungover brunch burrito. Was the grammar a little chaotic? Yes. Were there typos? Absolutely. But look, Zodiac Academy is one of my favorite series and it’s basically written in crayon, so who am I to judge?

What mattered is that I couldn’t put it down. The banter? Chef’s kiss. Eva (our FMC) was delightful, Riley (our MMC) had me swooning like it was a core workout, and their chemistry? Practically illegal in 17 states.

And the LGBTQ+ rep? Fantastic. It didn’t feel forced, it felt normal. Because it is normal. No one complains when a book has “too many straight people,” so let’s not pretend diverse casts are somehow overwhelming. I adored the inclusivity.

The one liners made me giggle. The relationship had that delicious slow burn with spice energy. The backstories were heartfelt and believable, not like they were yanked out of a soap opera writer's recycling bin.

So yeah, I picked 4 stars. Because even with its flaws, this story lived rent-free in my head the whole commute.

I truly enjoyed it. Messy, hilarious, heartfelt, just how I like my books (and honestly, my life).

Eva is probably packaged as an "unlikeable heroine", but actually crosses the line into being awful. Maybe it stems from her own insecurities and also she's maybe defensive from what transpired between her and Riley, but gd did she have to swipe at him at every single moment? No respite with this one.
I don't understand it, because we are shown how earnest and understanding Riley is trying to be, we are not shown that he deserves Eva's bitchiness towards him, so maybe that's why my brain can't compute.
Anyway, people will love it, I hope, but it seems like there isn't a Mazey Eddings book out there for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Well, Actually
Mazey Eddings
Pub: 8/5

Eva Kitt never expected to be the host of Sausage Talk, interviewing B-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs, instead of pursuing the journalism career she dreamed of. But when Eva’s impromptu public call out of her college ex goes viral, she’s thrust into the spotlight. It doesn’t help said ex is Rylie Cooper, a beloved social media personality that has built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners.

Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed. Eva refuses to play nice, but agrees to the scheme to advance her own career and continue defaming Rylie’s good name. When these manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.

My Thoughts:
Well, Actually was a fun, banter filled, second chance romance. I adore Mazey and her writing so much. Her books are always so entertaining to read and have me cracking up with her style of humor. Rylie and Eva’s romance was cute, steamy, and funny but also layered with emotional depth. Eddings did great job balancing everything out to give us an authentic feeling story with realistic characters.

What I enjoyed;
🌭 Second Chance
🌭 Workplace Romance
🌭 Black Cat X Golden Retreiver
🌭 Snarky/Witty Banter
🌭 Mental Health Rep
🌭 Bi/Pan Rep
🌭 Jomforter 🤣
🌭 Cameos

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

At this point, it's just me and my list of book boyfriends against the world.

Instead of talking about how dreamy this whole thing is, how Rylie is the perfect man and the similarities with a talk show we’re very accustomed to, I want to thank ME for a character with a bitch-y attitude not because she needs a reason to but because that’s literally her love language.
Actually, I’d have loved to see her being nasty and hurtful to a couple of characters, but I guess that will only prove the point of her being a bitch just for the sake of it.

As a spitefull person myself, who doesn't give second chances when I decide we’re done, I get Eva like none of you can, and let me say: yes, absolutely, this check a reality test and it’s also what I’d done in more than one occasion — even the ugly-crying-over-your-job part, where I’ll have been enraged too, but still crying and thinking the world is ending.
Which leads me to the impossible task of explaining how much Riley is the perfect partner, especially for someone who doesn't rely on others.

There's a part of me who believes this thing just came out of my imagination and now I’m doomed to mourn the boyfriend I'll never have, this is how much I'm depressed over these two.
But how fun will it be when I re-read it in a year or so?!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Mazey Eddings has quickly become one of my favorite authors—no one writes witty banter quite like she does, and Well, Actually delivers!

This story centers on Riley and Eva, who have some lingering tension from a messy college breakup. When Riley unexpectedly (and publicly) calls Eva out, things spiral fast. Eva, now a podcast host—not her dream job, but it pays the bills—finds herself caught up in a viral moment that leads to a very unexpected dare: date her ex.

Riley is determined to redeem himself, but Eva isn’t ready to forgive and forget. Still, reconnecting could give her career the boost it needs—even if getting close to Riley again goes against every one of her instincts.

This book is full of sweetness, humor, and lots of chemistry. I loved their banter and only wish it had been written in dual POV (my favorite!). If you’re a fan of second-chance romance and enemies-to-lovers stories, Well, Actually needs to be at the top of your TBR. It’s the perfect beach or poolside read—sweet and impossible to put down.

5 stars ✨

UMMM WHAT THE HELL!!!!

Biggest thank you and kiss on the forehead to SMP Romance and Mazey Eddings for this ARC!! Eva and Rylie have cemented themselves a place in my top books of 2025 list!!

There is very little I love more than a second chance romance, especially when done right!! There was so much that went wrong between Eva and Rylie when they were in college, so much for them to work through to even have a chance at having something new be strong enough to last. What I loved so much about this story was that it was fairly obvious some of that work needed to be done within themselves, and you are able to see the steps they both have and will take to be better for themselves and for their partner!

Rylie Cooper!!! WHAT! A! MAN! I will be thinking about him and his sl*tyy little glasses for the next eternity!! Learning about what Rylie was growing through back in his college years helped to put into perspective why he was treating those around him like garbage. I love that he doesn’t make excuses for it, he put in the work to learn and grow and show up in the present to prove he is not that same person anymore! And oh sweet baby jesus, what a man he turned out to be! I need him, bad!

Eva Kitt is perhaps the most spot on inner dialogue of any character I have ever read to all of my own inner thoughts and fears for myself, reading this so often made me feel raw and vulnerable but it was also so healing. Seeing Rylie learn her, and learn when to challenge or call her out on being scared, and seeing her learn how to call herself out and challenge herself to not give in to her insecurities, it truly made me sob and filled me with so much joy!!!

The “couples therapy” scene in this book was perhaps one of the most raw reading experiences of my entire life. Seeing so many of my own inner thoughts and fears displayed in that setting was once again so healing! I love the representation of therapy in this book, how much good you can tell going to therapy has done for Rylie, and how much the two of them get out that one session!! It was truly a turning point in their relationship, where they really began to put it all out there, and I am so glad Rylie brought them there to have that support from his therapist!!

This book isn’t all insecurity and grief and other heavy things weighing on them, there is also so much banter between these two that had me actually laughing out loud! This book was so well balanced, everyone needs to read it!!

3.5⭐️ – A sweet romance with a black-cat heroine, but left me wanting more depth

I enjoyed Well, Actually overall, especially seeing a black-cat energy main character like Eva, which felt fresh and relatable. The romance between Eva and Rylie was charming, and I appreciated how Rylie made her feel seen, prioritized, and appreciated. However, I wish the story had gone deeper into Eva’s emotional journey, particularly her complicated relationship with her family and her feelings of being unloved or overlooked.

While it was heartwarming that Rylie filled some of those emotional gaps, I hoped to see Eva come to terms with her past independently, learning that she can’t change others but can heal herself. Her friends seemed poised to support that growth but played a surprisingly small role; she essentially distanced herself until they showed up. The focus leaned heavily on the romance, which was lovely, but I would’ve liked a more balanced plot that also explored friendship and familial closure.

Also, her bosses were truly awful, and while Eva showed backbone with Rylie, I hoped she’d have that same energy in standing up for herself at work. Still, this was a pleasant read with tender moments and a unique MC. I’m looking forward to seeing what Mazey Eddings writes next!

ugh this was SO GOOD. my first mazey but i’ve had her on my tbr forever and now i can’t wait to dive in to her other books asap

Well, Actually is a witty, heartfelt rom-com that doesn’t shy away from vulnerability. Eddings masterfully balances humor with genuine emotion, crafting a heroine who feels both refreshingly real and endlessly lovable. The banter is sharp, the chemistry sizzles, and beneath it all is a powerful message about self-acceptance and being truly seen. Fans of smart, messy, deeply human love stories will find so much to swoon over here

Eva Kitt's journalism career at SoundBites is far from glamorous; her webshow "Sausage Talk" involves eating lukewarm hot dogs with B-list celebrities – definitely not her dream job. After one too many drinks, Eva leaves a scathing stitch on an ex-boyfriend's video, publicly calling him out. The video explodes, and her bosses, naturally, decide to capitalize on the viral moment.

To be honest, Eva was so annoying at the beginning of this book that I almost stopped reading. Her snarkiness was a tough sell! Thankfully, the narrator's fantastic performance kept me going. Things get interesting when Riley Cooper, the ex-boyfriend and a fairly famous podcaster, comes onto "Sausage Talk," determined to redeem himself. He convinces Eva to sign up for six dates, hoping to prove he's changed.

I absolutely loved Eva and Riley's romance, especially when they bravely attended couples therapy to clear the air. It was a highlight! And as a fan of the author, I cheered for the cameo by Lizzie Blake, from the first book I read by her. As the story unfolded, learning about Eva's hidden vulnerabilities and the reasons behind her sharp exterior made me feel for her, and I eventually grew to really like her. Both the writing and the narration were thoroughly enjoyable.

This was so freaking cute! The perfect romcom and it even had some serious emotional depth to it. I really loved it.

The banter between Rylie and Eva was top notch. Some of the best I’ve read in a long time! Their story was original, honest, and not just all lovey dovey. Which I liked so much that there was a back story and one with some trauma and depth to it!!

Rylie Cooper is also a man who likes to eat and we love that 😏🥵🫠

Favorite moments:
“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.”

“I’m starving, baby. Let me taste you instead.”

“Kitten, every part of me is yours if you want it.”

Super cute! I had a really great time reading this and it helped me get out of my slump. Really fun concept and it was a unique concept that broke up the other romance books ive read recently

Eva (27) pays the bills by dryly interviewing low-level celebs while eating hot dogs and being cranky about it for a media company that still won’t let her put her journalism degree to better use.

Rylie (28) is a charming, handsome podcaster helping men be better (goodbye, toxic masculinity!) and encouraging women to only accept the greatness they deserve from them.

When a certain clip of his rankles her in the exact wrong moment, she replies via video with truth bombs about her own (terrible) experience with him when they were in college together six years ago, expecting no one to see it.

Of course it goes viral, and she’s forced to partner up with Rylie to save face (and her job) by interviewing him. This turns into a longer gig, and that creates opportunities for SO MUCH FANTASTICNESS to happen.

If you love when two clever characters with bonkers chemistry verbally play with each other (Adorable banter! Snappy sparring! She’s a spitfire! He’s charming as heck!), prepare to go bananas over this book.

Every time he responded to her barbs, pokes and grumblings, I swear my heart grew bigger as I melted into a sparkle-eyed goo puddle. His understanding of her, his love and grace…he was such safe, gentle place for her to land and grow in.

A really great balance of humor, earnestness, swoons, work drama, kindnesses and growth.

Unputdownable.

Read if you like:
• Contemporary romance
• Single POV
• Snappy, sexy, laugh-out-loud banter
• Second chance
• Positive mental health rep and deliberate work to be/get/do better
• Inclusive and accepting story
• Open door spice

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press and Mazey Eddings for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wild one - the banter!

She is brutal and he loves it.

Eva and Rylie met in college, went on a few dates and it ended badly. Years later, Eva sees a video online with Rylie talking about how to treat a woman and Eva adds her biting perspective thinking her few followers will get a laugh. Waking up to the video going viral wasn’t her plan. And being forced into collaborating with Rylie really wasn’t her plan.

Rylie was a pretty unique MMC. He wasn’t total cinnamon roll/golden retriever but was close. The way he adored Ava giving him a hard time is borderline insane but he was all about it so I’m happy for him and his masochist self!

The one thing I wish was brought up or addressed was Eva’s really sad family dynamics. It’s talked about briefly but it’s clear it has had a big impact on her so it seemed like a loose storyline for it to not come back around at some point.

Oh also, her bosses are literally awful and I hope they are destroyed in the public opinion they liked to manipulate.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have a few Mazey Eddings’ books on my shelf, yet this is the first one I’ve read. If the others are as good, I’m missing out. Eva and Rylie and met in college, formed a connection, until Rylie ghosted Eva. Fast forward 6 years, and through an angry drunken video that gets posted to the internet, that Eva doesn’t expect to get many views, they are reconnected. Eva has become a hard edge, sarcastic person over the years, while Rylie has had a full on reframing of who he is. Can these two figure out what went wrong and become friends again or more? They at least have to tolerate each other for work purposes now…which brings a whole other layer of drama. I’ll say Rylie is the kind of guy all girls who feel like they are spiraling out want in their corner. He may started out a total jerk, but he redeems himself.

Eva Kitt and Rylie Cooper, with his slutty little glasses, could run me over with his PT Cruiser, and I would say thank you. That is all.

Mazey, once again I am in awe of your storytelling. With complex characters, well-rounded backstories, workplace drama and power dynamics, the confrontation of toxic masculinity, the ups and downs of going viral, and intentional, diverse queer representation, Well, Actually has it all. 10/10. No notes. It's perfection. (And the cameos from previous characters had me grinning--I've been a Mazey fan since the very beginning!)

Well, Actually a single POV, queer, second-chance, black cat x golden retriever romance with a LOT of hotdogs (not a euphemism), and it's everything I could have asked for and more.

✨ Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: electric tension with snappy banter
🎶 Song: i love you, i'm sorry - gracie abrams
📖 Favourite Quote: "Because now I'm so deep in this, I would crawl through hell on my hands and knees over a bed of broken glass before I let you go again."
📚 Would I recommend? HELL YES!!!
💬 Final thoughts: immediately want to read this one again.

In the package:
📦 second chance romance
📦 snarky/witty banter
📦 black cat x golden retriever

Eva and Rylie are college exes that are thrown back into each other's lives after she replies to one of his TikTok's calling him out. Eva's a host of a "Sausage Talk" hot-dog show (think Chicken Shop Date YouTube show) and she's thrown into a new segment with Rylie after he offers a “make‑up-date” series aired on his platform to prove growth.

WELL I'VE FOUND A NEW BOOK BOYFRIEND TO ADD TO MY TOP 10!! Rylie oh Rylie *swoons* 🤭 golden retriever, words of affirmation king with glasses!! I mean what more do you want!? I couldn't stop picturing him as Seth Cohen with glasses. 🧎‍♀️ Rylie tries to make it up to Eva after royally screwing up back in college and boy does he TRY, TRY, TRY. I would have folded a lot quicker than Eva, I'm sorry. He's so kind, selfless, caring and showed so much growth. We love a man who works on himself to become a better version of himself. Eva was snarky and unapologetically herself. Her quick witted comments were hilarious but a little too mean at times. She had her walls up for so long but Rylie eventually broke through them, after working overtime. Their tender moments were my favourite 🥹

There are lots of laugh out loud moments balanced with emotional depth, which made this a well rounded book! I wish there was an epilogue 😭

📚Read if you enjoyed: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

Readers will either love this book or hate it. There won’t be much middle ground. Why, you ask. Eva, the FMC. She’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but, boy, is she mine.

The Eva you see and the Eva you get are the Evas she chooses to show you. The host of a pop culture podcast, Eva makes a living being crass, irreverent, and sarcastic. She has a quick wit, sharp tongue, and unlimited supply of snark. It’s not her dream job of being a hard hitting journalist, but it pays the bills. One night and a few glasses of bubbly in, she stumbles across a podcast hosted by the college boyfriend who ghosted her. His entire schtick is about fighting against toxic masculinity —the exact opposite of the frat dude he was in college. She rage records a rebuttal and, oops, somehow it goes viral. Her bosses see it as an opportunity to capitalize on her 15 minutes of fame and arrange for her to interview Rylie Cooper; her nemesis. Rylie claims to be a changed man and proposes a series of dates to prove it. Hold on; it’s about to get hot in here!

HELLO!!!! From the moment Eva and Rylie are reunited it is like setting off a barrage of fireworks - or dynamite - or TNT. They are each other’s perfect foil. Their chemistry is off the charts and their banter electric. More perfect dialogue has not been written. (It’s particularly delicious in the audio format where you can literally hear the sarcasm dripping off every word.)

I loved so much about this book. The aforementioned banter is sharp, witty, and hot as hell; but for all its bite, it is surprisingly deep. Rylie is the ultimate cinnamon roll. His heart is all soft and mushy and he is determined to win over Eva. The spice is spicy, spicy, spicy and might cause swooning or, at the very least, require fanning oneself. The slow unraveling of their messy pasts is done with tenderness and a gentle touch. There is a big moment that occurs that might be one of the most touching I’ve read.

But the biggest reason I love this book is EVA. Oh, lordie, do I feel seen. Eva surrounds herself with a hard shell. She is caustic and sassy and uses her sharp tongue as a shield. Beneath that impenetrable veneer is an insecure, vulnerable heart that never feels good enough or important or special. You know the type - the uncertain introvert who projects as a confident, has her act together extrovert. That’s Eva and never before have I related to a character more. Some will find Eva unlikable and angry. I found her to be a kindred spirit.

So, should you read this book? Absolutely, yes if you love smart dialogue, incredible growth arcs, well written consensual steam, and positive LGBTQ+ representation. This book took me entirely by surprise with its depth. It is among my favorite contemporary romances of all time. Give Eva a chance. She may surprise you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.