Guys…. Guys… GUYS!!!! This book was everything!

Eva Kitt’s career is stuck hosting Sausage Talk—until a viral call-out of her college ex, now internet darling Rylie Cooper, puts her back in the spotlight. To rehab his image (and hers), Rylie proposes a series of staged dates. Eva’s determined to expose him, but when the fake romance starts feeling real, she has to ask: has the boy who broke her heart actually changed?

Mazey is by far one of the best people on the planet but then she writes an amazing FMC (mean but in a fun cute way) with MY name. Uh YEAH sign me up.

Rylie is a stubborn simp but in the best possible way! Eva definitely needs to get out of her own way sometimes, dang girl, but I did really enjoy her growth and character development throughout the book!

I grabbed this on NetGalley based on the excellence of the cover and because I’ve really loved some other Mazey Eddings books, but ultimately this one didn’t work as well for me as I’d hoped. I think I found Rylie a little too well adjusted with too good of a therapist (I like my men to be a bit of a hot mess) and Eva a little too fragile and brittle emotionally and lacking in confidence professionally in a way that didn't totally track for me. While this might be relatable for a younger reader (they are 28) for me, I wanted them on more even footing in their self-assurance. This may have been mitigated by dual POV but because we are only in Eva’s head we don’t ever see Rylie’s anxieties or thoughts directly. Also I wanted the boss plot line to be much more prominent to the story--it felt like a missed opportunity. However while this wasn’t for me, I still think Mazey is a very talented writer and I suspect this book might be really perfect for some readers. If you want a black cat/golden retriever contemporary, I definitely urge you to give this one a try.

Mazey Eddings has such a way with words! This book definitely brought me through a wide range of emotions. This book is for people who love dry humor, healing from trauma, and pop culture podcasts.

Eddings always delivers a warm and spicy story. What a gift it is to see what she can do with so many different character relationships.

This was such a fun romance to read. I don’t often enjoy the banter between main characters because it can get pretty cringey, but Eva and Rylie were hilarious! They had the perfect tension and sarcastic-filled relationship.

I loved their backstory and was so invested in how Rylie went from being the douchebag who broke Eva’s heart to the charming and kindhearted man in the present. I also loved the chemistry between the two of them, but I knew it was the ultimate romance when they said “I love you” for the first time during an argument.

In classic Mazey Eddings style, there was excellent LGBTQ2S+ representation, which is always incredibly important to me. And of course, the spice was God tier.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for my gifted copy!

2.25 ⭐️
This one just was not one for me. There were a few cute parts, but overall I felt that there were so many parts that were just unnecessary, childish, and kind of toxic. I think some people will really like the style it was written in and the back and forth between the main characters, but it was just not for me. The story also hit on some topics and took on directions that I wasn’t expecting at all and felt thrown in just for added dramatic effect, vs actually adding to the storyline. It was also way more open door than I expected, so many of those parts I had to just skim over. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Nope this book was not for me! I absolutely could not stand the FMC. Her attitude rubbed me the wrong way the whole time and I could not stand her.

I strongly disliked this book from the very beginning and I thought it would get better but not for me it didn’t. I genuinely wanted to roll my eyes and groan the entire book. I guess in general I try to avoid people who act the way the FMC does and I certainly don’t want to read about them.

Not only was she childish in uploading her drunk video but the way she talks to people (especially Rylie Cooper) is absolutely ridiculous. So because something happened YEARS ago she’s gonna hold a massive grudge, drag him publicly through the mud and can’t accept the fact that people can genuinely change.

This whole book felt so toxic back and forth between the FMC and MMC and I just wasn’t here for it.

I know there are people who will love this but it wasn’t me.

2/5 stars.

I haven’t met a Mazy Eddings book that I haven’t loved and Well, Actually was no different. Eddings really does the romcom vibe with a side of healthy raw feelings so well. I adored Eva, even with how bitchy she was and Rylie was the perfect person to really bring out the soft in her. I adored them and his push for healthy communication. And their banter, top tier! Truly loved this one and can’t wait to see what Eddings gives us next!

I really liked this book! Well, Actually… I LOVED this book!
I see myself in the FMC and her feelings of inadequacy based on her past experiences. It leaves her feeling undeserving of love or not knowing how to accept it when it’s there. My experiences have been different obviously, but it’s nice to see that you’re not alone ya know? Also I love that this was giving Chicken Shop Date but with a twist. Cooper Riley is such a good character and he is multifaceted with his past, his sexuality, his whole personality in general. I really like the queer representation woven throughout the book!

Thank you to St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for early access to Well, Actually in exchange for my honest opinion. I could not get enough of it, and I listened to the audiobook as fast as possible. I challenge you to read or listen to this book and NOT crave a hot dog!
Eva hosts B-list celebs over hot dogs on Sausage Talk, not the communications career she expected, but life in your 20’s is messy, as I think we all know. One night she makes a social media video to her small personal account complaining about her college ex’s lack of skills in the bedroom, as he has become known for his podcast breaking down toxic masculinity and giving men advice to be better partners. But then her rant goes viral. What follows is definitely fun, but deeper topics including mental health, women in the workplace, and LGBTQ+ challenges are also addressed.
Having read all of Mazey’s books, I loved this one almost as much as my favorite, Lizzie Blake, and Lizzie and Rake make a cameo in this one, which was so fun. The narrator Ariela Crow is new to my ears, but she did a fantastic job with the audiobook. I mean, the banter in this book is so good that it doesn't even need a great narrator - but her male voice, in particular, was absolutely perfect.
If you're looking for a fun, steamy romance, you should definitely read this one when it comes out Tuesday - and I definitely recommend the audiobook!

This book felt like watching your favorite chaotic YouTube interview go completely off the rails in the best way. Eva’s viral call-out and forced reunion with Rylie is pure entertainment, and the black-cat-meets-golden-retriever energy made their banter sparkle. Rylie is ridiculously easy to root for, and the second-chance setup had just the right mix of spice and sincerity.

That said, Eva’s snark sometimes slid into mean-girl territory, and the pop culture references were a little heavy-handed. But I still tore through it, laughing and cringing in equal measure. If you love messy exes, sharp banter, and a romance that doesn’t mind getting a little petty on the way to happily-ever-after, this one’s worth the read.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. True rating 3.5 rounded up. This was fun and flirty and full of banter.

I loved the premise of this one.

Overall really enjoyed this! The cover is definitely what drew me in intiailly. I have mixed results with Mazey's books, but I really enjoyed this one

I had really, really high hopes for this one. As a girl who is chronically online and obsessed about the Amelia/Andrew Chicken Shop Date, I was expecting those vibes. Instead I felt that most of the characters felt one dimensional. The banter started strong but by 60% the FMC just came off as mean rather than snarky and witty.

I considered DNFing this one many times but stuck it out, and while I did like the resolution of the story, I ultimately didn't love this story.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so much fun to read! Well, Actually is funny, clever, and a bit of a wild ride. Seemingly inspired by Chicken Shop Date, this story was unique and fun. The premise grabbed my attention right away and set the stage for some really hilarious moments.

What I loved most was how much heart there was behind all the humor. Every character had their own back story, and it was so satisfying to watch them grow and heal throughout the book. Eva and Rylie both fascinated me as individuals and together they were a tornado of witty banter (seriously the banter was so good) and perfect spicy moments. I loved that they both felt so real, and we got to see them learn, grow, and discover how to support and care for each other.

The supporting cast of characters was absolutely wonderful! Eva and Rylie were surrounded by great friends and I loved each of them! Aida, Ray, and Lilith were just as clever and funny as our MCs and brought warmth and depth to the story.

I do think this is a fabulous book, but shockingly the romance wasn’t my favorite part. The best element for me was seeing a group of people finding their places in the world. This book covered deep topics of family trauma, healing from your past, personal growth, and accepting yourself. I think it did this so well and I connected with the characters because of it.

Overall, this book was such a fun, unique, and heartwarming read. It made me laugh so hard I cried. I flew through it and enjoyed every second.

First off, THE COVER! I immediately knew this book was going to be absolutely fantastic just by literally judging this book by its cover! The fact this was super similar to the chicken shop date was *chef's kiss*. The banter in this was top tier. If you are a fan of black cat FMC and golden retriever MMC, second chance romance, banter and wit, angst, and a HEA- then look no further. One of my favorite reads of the year!

Listen. It’s so rare for me to eviscerate a romance. By and large, I love them all. It’s literally why I read them. But this book wasn't for me.

Mazey Eddings had the potential for a strong, direct, sassy fmc in the palm of her hands and decided to turn her into a full blown avoidant bitch. She doesn’t say a nice thing about Cooper until like 68% of the way in. And no job is worth the blatant abuse she subjects herself to.

Two stars because Cooper was sweet and earnest and Eddings does have a fun writing style. Some funny banter too.

"You seem to be having a lot of feelings right now, but please note that I'm not in charge of managing them." - adding this to my lexicon.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. 5-star romance coming through!! You have no idea how good that feels coming from someone who is really, really picky with romance. I love the genre, but I often have a hard time pinpointing what exactly makes for a good one in my opinion. I picked this one up because I saw it marketed as a black cat x golden retreiver romance, and I’m a sucker for a reversal of the grumpy x sunshine trope, but maybe that’s just because I’m the grumpy one in my marriage. Eva was certainly grumpy, but I appreciated how Mazey let us in on the reasons why. There was a depth to Eva that helped explain the reasons for her disposition, and my heart went out to her. I certainly understand why, even despite the explanation, other readers might find her unlikable, and I definitely agree there’s something to be said about owning your past and taking accountability for your current actions, but I just really had a soft spot for Eva and understood that she was often coming from a place of hurt, and I think Rylie understood it as well, which made his treatment of Eva incredibly tender and loving. I really loved the way he saw past Eva’s defenses and called her on her bullshit, but in a way that never made her doubt his feelings for her. And I loved how the two of them became a team who faced challenges together; that’s something I’m just a sucker for in romances. I’m so, so glad I fell for the marketing of this book because it delivered on its promise and then some.

3.5/5 🌭 I love chicken shop date and have been wanting to read something by Mazey Eddings forever so I’m glad I picked this up! It was a fun second chance romance that wasn’t afraid to explore deeper themes like grief and unfair workplace environments. Personally I think I’m growing out of romances with main characters in their early/mid 20’s (and the spicy chapters were not my cup of tea), but if you like snarky banter and golden retriever boyfriends I think you’d like it!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!