sometimes we can have a manic pixie dream boy, as a treat. this book is very very good at capturing FEELINGS and how one does (and does not) cope with FEELINGS. i will say it's weird to read a book where one of the main characters has the same name as your partner, though. on the fence about that.

As someone who had a blast when Amelia Dimoldenberg and Andrew Garfield’s flirty exchange took over the internet, this book gave me those exact same feels.

I really enjoyed reading about Eva. Even though she had a tough exterior, the book was sensitive to her background, providing context for why she was the way she was. Rylie was such a fun and lighthearted character, and I truly appreciated how much he cared for Eva, giving her the space and time she needed to come to terms with their relationship.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mazey does it yet again! I always devour her books and this one was no exception! The banter is immaculate, the characters are so relatable, and it was overall a great time.

Eva and Rylie had a terrible hookup 6 years ago and Eva was ghosted after. When she’s tipsy and posts a video sharing the story on social media, it blows up and Eva finds herself back in Rylie’s orbit yet again. She reluctantly agrees to a series of six dates with Rylie as he attempts to make up for his past mistakes. Will Eva’s prickly attitude deter Rylie’s chance to atone for his actions?

If you enjoy black cat energy from your FMC, a bisexual MMC in slutty little glasses, and maybe a hot dog or two, you should definitely read this book!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for access to the eARC!

Well actually, I adored this book. Eddings had me hooked from the first page. The banter, the main characters and their development, everything was top tier.

I could write so much more, but I don’t want to give anything away. I will say this: if you want a rom-com that will have you swooning and kicking your feet, read this book. If you love goofy, golden retriever MMC, read this book. If you’re in your late 20’s (or 30’s) and you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one without it all figured out, read this book. Honestly, the only thing I didn’t like about it is that I have to wait six months to get my hands on a physical copy!

Mazey Eddings put magic in this book, from the beginning I was absolutely enthralled.

The black cat/golden retriever energy from Eva and Rylie was done so perfectly. Eva’s character might not be for everyone but she was such a breath of fresh air. She owned her personality and was unapologetic about it. Rylie was the definition of sunshine.

Rylie’s growth was so moving, seeing him struggle with his sexuality and dealing with loss was heartbreaking but so integral to who he became as a person.

Eva spent years holding people at arm’s length and refusing to let her guard down. We saw her slowly open up and allow herself to feel all her emotions.

I am typically a little wary when a book integrates popular social media and modern lingo, it can come off as a little cringey but in Well, Actually it was done so masterfully.

The comedy, the storyline, the characters and their growth. I couldn’t have asked for a more.

The ONLY thing I will say I was not a fan of was the pet name “Kitten” I could not get past it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book has a bit of representation which is great but the toxic masculinity parts had me rolling my eyes. It was a cute story in general but just wasn't the right book for me.

4.5 stars!!!!

i literally loved EVERYTHING about this book. i love eva, i love riley, and i loved them together so much!!! the banter between them immediately gripped me and the romance was AMAZING!!! i can’t wait for this to release so i can get my hands on a physical copy and im definitely going to read more of mazey eddings!!! utterly OBSESSED with this book.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters. The representation in the novel is excellent (bi rep, pan rep, pro-therapy). Even though the situation is a little uncommon (interviewing B-list celebrities), I think a lot of people will have been through something like this in their early twenties. This romance is witty and the tropes were executed well. I loved Eva's personality as someone who can be angered by things. My only complaint is it was just a tad too lengthy but overall I will be recommending to my followers. I will post my review closer to the pub date.

Eva is a blogger/journalist working for Soundbites Media doing talk shows with B and C-List celebrities. When she drunkenly makes a video commenting on her Rylie Cooper’s video (her ex) about deconstructing toxic masculinity, it goes viral. She ends up filming a talk show with him, during which he begs for the chance to take her out on a series of dates to prove he has changed since their college days when they knew each other.

This book genuinely had me laughing out loud, right from their first date. It was obvious that Rylie had done so much growing from when he had first known Eva, and he is basically completely obsessed with her the entire book. I appreciated that after they got together, there wasn’t a giant miscommunication or falling out in the third act. While issues popped up, they dealt with them together. I enjoyed their dynamic, and was rooting for them the entire time.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Upon the publication date, I will post my review to Goodreads and edit this review to include the link.

I struggled a little with my thoughts on this one! I think a lot of readers will love it, and I enjoyed some aspects of it, but overall, I'm not sure if it was entirely for me? The premise was so much fun, and I am always here for a Black Cat Girl/Golden Retriever Guy romcom. The opposites-attract nature of Eva and Rylie's dynamic was so well-done, with their witty banter, sparkling chemistry, and just their interactions together in general! I also liked that while their characters might seem stereotypical on the surface, their development is really thought-out, and we see that there's even more to them than meets the eye.

That being said, I kind of wish this story had pulled more directly from the inspiration of something like Chicken Shop Date, like having Eva and Rylie be two strangers meeting and having this immediate chemistry, rather than the second-chance romance angle. That could just be my personal taste when it comes to romcom tropes, but I feel like it might have worked better in this case! I also think pop culture references in books are super fun, but here I wondered if there were almost too many, which could cause the book to feel dated. Overall, I feel like a couple of these things are just more of a preference, and other readers might love those aspects of the story! I'd still recommend romance lovers give it a try, especially if you're intrigued by the creative plot or just enjoy a second-chance romance. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

4.5⭐️

This book was so freaking cute!! I had no idea what to expect when I first started reading, but wow this was such a great romcom, I literally could not stop laughing.

Rylie Cooper. The man that you are. I fell in love with him from the beginning, and I loved him until the last page. To learn about his past experiences, and learn what he went through to become the man he is? Perfection.

Don’t even get me started on my love for Eva. She is so misunderstood, but her character growth through out this book was so freaking amazing.

I adored this book, and I’m so thankful I was able to read an early copy!

This book is about Eva Kitt who has her own segment where she eats hot dogs and interviews people. She goes onto social media to put her ex-fling, Rylie Cooper, on blast and it backfires when her boss forces her to have Rylie as her next interviewee.

I thought this book had its funny moments. Eva is sarcastic and witty. However, I do feel like she can be a bit bratty and overly needy when it comes to being in a relationship. I also felt like Rylie was this polite, nice, “I’ll take care of you forever” type of man but does a complete 180 when he’s in intimate settings. It was just not my cup of tea.

The shihtzu slander really turned me off but that is a personal thing lol. This book was OK. The beginning was enjoyable when getting to know the characters but I feel like it kinda fell flat. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely adored the relationship between Rylie and Eva. Their constant banter and chemistry allowed me to turn the page with ease. I also appreciated the relatability of Eva and her constant fear of rejection and not feeling good enough. The need to feel ashamed at times when she should have felt proud or kindness towards herself. This has been one of the best books I’ve read this year and was so glad to have the opportunity to read it before it came out.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Well Actually, and it completely sucked me in from chapter one! I loved the FMC’s tough, sarcastic personality—I really connected with her. However, there were moments when I felt she could have been a little kinder to the MMC, especially after we learned why she developed that as a coping mechanism.

Both the FMC and MMC were really likable to me, though I can see how the FMC might not be for everyone. The MMC, on the other hand, was such a genuinely sweet character, and I loved the balance he brought to the dynamic.

Overall, this was an engaging and enjoyable read that kept me hooked!

Reviews are hard for me because I generally read for the vibes and have the hardest time remembering character names and actual plot details once I finish a book. So I figured I’d just start writing reviews based on what stood out to me and what I’d tell a friend who wanted to know about the book.

Vibes of Well, Actually
Banter!
Communication!
Verbal consent and praise!
Seriously hilarious moments!

Eva Kitt is snarky and bitchy and amazing. I didn’t think she was over the top and the more we found out about her asshole family and truly terrible past with Riley, the more I understood why she kept her guard up. It was beautiful to see her let that down with Riley.

Riley “Baby Girl” Cooper. That man sure did put his money where his mouth is (which was down under and it was so damn hot) 🥵 How was this man single?? Like holy shit. Golden retriever in gray sweatpants. Per👏🏼fect👏🏼ion

There’s a delicious cameo from one of Mazey’s other main characters and I couldn’t have loved it more. Thank you immensely to St. Martin’s Press and the author for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Well, Actually. @MazeyEddings @smpromance #WellActually #MazeyEddings #SMPRomance #StMartinsPress

I knew this was going to be good when the car ride to their first date literally had me laughing OUT LOUD. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Eva and Rylie and loved that even though she was "bitchy" the romance still managed to be real and soft. I also loved that even after they got together the dynamic didn't change, she was still "abrasive" and he and never wanted her to be anything other than herself. I loved how Eva grew throughout the book and how they worked to open up and communicate. I also loved the fact that there was no third act breakup, he stood by her and she let him. I also giggled every time she called him "baby girl". The only thing that could have made this book better would be if it was dual POV because I would pay money to read things from Rylie's perspective.

I am a huge Mazey Eddings fan, so I was extremely excited to get my hands on an ARC of this one!!! If you love "Amelia's Chicken Shop Date", you will love this!!!

Mazey has the undeniable talent of writing characters who are incredibly complex & layered, who carry so much depth, and who grow SO much throughout her books. Both Rylie & Eva are two wonderfully written characters.

Eva is not your typical female lead, but I loved her for it. While there were times she may have frustrated me, I also understood her so completely. She's guarded, feisty, & headstrong. But at the same time, she's caring, hilarious, and loving. We witness her healing & growing through so many things, and her character development is truly wonderful. I loved her!!!

Rylie is ???!!!! I don't have words!!! He is charismatic, intelligent, and inviting. His caring, attentive & kind personality was the perfect match for Eva. I loved getting to know more about him, learn his backstory, and get to understand him in the same way we do Eva. He is equally as hilarious & witty. His draws you in & holds you there the entire time!

Rylie & Eva's relationship is FILLED with chemistry, tension, old wounds, and growth. Their banter, the connection, and the undeniable love between these two is SO GOOD. I absolutely adored getting to see them work through their past, heal their hurts, and grow through them!!! Seeing them both find comfort, safety, and happiness with each other was so wonderful. Also the smut in this is DIVINE. I laughed, I blushed, I swooned, and I felt so much for & with these two.

It wouldn't be a Mazey Eddings book without lots of representation!!! The pansexual/bisexual representation, alongside shining a light on internalized biphobia, was absolutely wonderful. I love the way that it was incorporated into the story. As always, the representations in her books are always a highlight!!!!

I have yet to meet a book by Mazey Eddings that I don't thoroughly enjoy. Highly recommend!!!

I really enjoyed this until the last half of it, when the conflict and resolution felt rushed, especially since Eva’s “revenge” was what she had wanted all along. I wish we had seen more of what shaped Eva beyond just her internal thoughts. That being said, Eva and Riley were so much fun. The banter, the barbs, the chemistry, he was obsessed with her from the start, and she wasn’t exactly nice, but he loved her for it.

This book was such a fun read with its sharp banter, compelling characters and its social commentary on double standards for men and women. I really loved was the gender reversal with their personalities (I cannot read another sunshiney woman to a grumpy male character). I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

This was such a wonderful slow-burn romance. They have such a smoking chemistry, but Eva is determined not to reveal her vulnerability and hurt with Rylie. I love that Rylie is patient and really sees Eva. Eva is sarcastic and sharp and doesn't suffer fools. Living in a man's world (especially in her job) has made her hide her soft side underneath a carapace. Rylie has evolved and grown after forcing himself into hypermasculinity at university while struggling with his bisexuality. He's determined to change things for other men and Eva, still burned from their short, failed dalliance, is suspicious.

The only issues I had were at times the pace dragged a bit and I wish some of her workplace issues was dealt with a bit earlier. For someone who is sharp, I was surprised Eva couldn't see the machinations going on and I wish this was expounded a bit more.

Overall, a fun, sexy and swoony read. I think this is Mazy Edding's best book.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is laugh out loud, tears in your eyes, hilarious in my opinion. I loved the banter between Eva and Cooper so much. Cooper is truly one of the best book boyfriends ever, I was BLUSHING so hard at everything he said. Mazey always does an incredible job at showing vulnerability in her characters, and I loved the therapy and self work Cooper did and encouraged Eva to explore as well.

Eva is so real in so many ways, I think her emotions throughout the story felt very relatable. All she really needs is some love and attention and sometimes someone really does have to spell it out for you how much they care for you to see it over your own self hatred. Shes constantly hiding behind humor and the impression of this strong woman, and I loved the message just because someone is outwardly tough, doesn’t make them less human.

Mazey Eddings is a true gem, she’s one of my favorite authors and this book really shows her personality I think.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc.