This black cat x golden retriever, second chance, fake dating romance was so cute! I love the mental healt positivity and the communication between the two MCs was on point. I absolutely loved Cooper! While I was not the biggest fan of Mazie Eddings' last couple of books, I really enjoyed this one!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I just couldn’t connect with either of the main characters. The FMC was unbearable at times and the MMC was too perfect (in the present). I actually wish we got more of their friend’s backgrounds, because their stories seemed much more interesting.

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

I was really looking forward to this book as I’ve rated all of Eddings' previous books 4 & 5 stars. I also thought the cover was very cute. Eva Kitt wants to be the journalist she studied to be. But her work is being the host of Sausage Talk, which has her interviewing B-list celebrities while eating hot dogs. Evidently this is a play on a currently popular Chicken Shop Date show. (I had to ask my daughter about that as I had no clue.) Rylie Cooper has a popular podcast with over a million subscribers. He has a good guy persona and his show is about men being better partners. Well, Eva hooked up with him in college and then he ghosted her so she publicly calls him out. In return he shows up on her show asking her for some dates to prove he has changed. They can talk about it on both their shows and increase each other's ratings.

The set up is decent but Eva is in constant put down mode. She calls him baby girl, which I loathe when men use that as a pet name for women. I thought it was equally obnoxious for her to use it on him because it was being used as a derogatory word. My daughter DNF’d the book at the 24 percent point and I understood her feelings. I pushed forward and the story redeems itself and gets better. He has a reasonable explanation for his college self’s actions and she has reasons why it caused her trauma. But his first date goes horribly and one of the dates he takes her to couples counseling. I honestly wasn’t sure if the second one was for laughs or not.

Edding’s has touched feelings with past characters who have struggled with ADHD and anxiety. I was surprised when I finished this book that I didn't care if the pair got together or not. It does end in an okay place but I wanted something more concrete.

Thank you so much to HEA at St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts! 💌

Well, Actually is a true romcom delight!! I can easily see this being made into a movie someday, the characters were so tangible and the dialogue is just 🤌🏻✨ Mazey’s sense of humor is so uniquely her and so fun to experience, I was laughing so much throughout this book.

The story also tackles some very noteworthy conversation points around sexuality, workplace harassment and overall advocation. I think the bi/pan representation woven into these characters was so thoughtful and explored in a way that was both vulnerable & powerful and I really appreciated that.

*Internalized biphobia is referred to but doesn’t occur on page*

I had some difficult connecting with Eva in the first half because in my humble opinion, she was extremely harsh with the mmc and some situations were hardly ever escalated enough for some of the responses she gave but eventually we see her soften and this made it easier to relate. Eva and Reily definitely embody a Black Cat x Golden Retriever dynamic so if that’s something you like, you’re going to love!

Now Rylie…ahem, Rylie :))))) A KING! The only man who deserves the right to a podcast! One of the most likable mmcs I’ve encountered with such a phenomenal back story. I really enjoyed his character and felt myself smiling so big during his more shining moments 🤭

If you subscribe to Chicken Shop Date on YouTube or love Andrew Garfield, you should definitely read this ;)

When a clip from Eva Kitt’s show calling out her ex goes viral, she instantly thrust into the spotlight that her ex Rylie Cooper is already a part of.

Coming together to come to terms with this was truly and bad ending the a relationship or just a one off, Eva takes Rylie’s offer to go on a series of dates to prove he is truly not a bad guy and to document it along the way. Eva reluctantly agrees and is dead set that it will end just as tragic as when they dated many years ago.

Will Rylie be able to redeem himself in Eva’s eyes, or should they have just kept the past in the past?

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

I really enjoyed the banter and the writing style of this author. There were so many one liners that had me laughing out loud or squealing at how cute Rylie was. My only gripe is that I wish Eva wasn’t so mean to him. This really only bothered me during the first few dates that they had. After I got to know her baggage and why she even admitted that she’s that way, it made more sense. I accept that it definitely led to some great character growth by the end!

Overall, this was a cute and fast paced read. This was my first book by Mazey Eddings and it won’t be my last!

Well, Actually was my first Mazey Eddings romance and I have to say I enjoyed her writing style and character development. Initially I really didn’t like Eva, our FMC. I just thought she was too “tough” and rough around the edges like she was putting on an act and was saying and doing things to get a reaction from others. Then I soon realized that this was also what made her so likeable and eventually so vulnerable. She clearly was trying to be tough to protect herself and put up walls to save her from hurt in both personal and professional areas of her life. So really this made her a lot more of a real character to me. I LOVED Rylie though, right from the get go. I knew he was a good man and had changed despite what Eva initially believed. He was so darned cute in his strange sweaters, with his glasses that slipped down his nose and his blushing. I love how hard he tried, and how kind he was.

The banter in this book was also fire. They had magic right from the start with their jokes, wittiness, meanness and fun together. Loved it. Also the spice level was good once we got there, which was nice :)

Overall I enjoyed this novel and I have to say thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

***ARC Review***
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Pub Date: Aug 5, 2025 in all formats

This book started off strong from the first sentence, and it just got better from there!
Eva Kitt is a strong, outspoken, Hot Girl, with an attitude, and a dream of becoming a real journalist. As of now, she's the host of a fluffy internet show "Sausage Talk", where they eat hot dogs and she interviews c-level celebrities. (Total Chicken Shop Date vibes, which I love!) She really dulls her sparkle for her job, because in real life, Eva is larger than life! She is MEAN and HILARIOUS, and doesn't hesitate to sprinkle a little microfeminism wherever she goes!

When she comes across a video online of her college ex, Rylie Cooper, she learns he has a large following for his podcast based off eradicating toxic masculinity, she makes a clap-back video calling him a fake and outing his horrible treatment of her in the past! This video goes viral, and next thing she knows, her boss is taking advantage of the discourse and forcing her to do an interview with him. It all spirals from there, because to her horror, Rylie is truly apologetic and wants her to give him a chance to explain everything and hopes to be friends!

I absolutely loved the way Eva walked Rylie like a dog, AND how he loved it! She's the queen of deflating a man's ego. This book was full of amazing banter, chemistry, and surprising emotions. It has a diverse cast of characters, including Bi and Pan main characters. It touches on a lot of deep subjects like workplace bullying/harassment/exploitation, sexuality/homophobia/bi-panic, emotional neglect, death of a loved one, and more.

I enjoyed every minute of this book, and I felt like I just kept highlighting! Here are a few lines that I loved:

"F* yourself." "Stop being so charming or I might fall in love with you." (Okay, Nick Miller!)

"You're the human equivalent of Comic Sans."

"I feel like you'd buy art off cruise ships."

"We're way too different. For example, your love language is physical touch. My love language is mac n cheese. This would have never worked between us."

"Nate: Have a great day, kitten <3
Eva: Don't tell me what to do <3"

Well, Actually is the ultimate black cat x golden retriever, second chance, MMC in glasses, She's Mean & He Likes It, sweet, swoony, and spicy romcom!

4.75⭐2🌶️

I received an advanced copy of this eBook, and this is my honest review. Thanks NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and author Mazey Eddings for the eARC!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me access to an arc of Well, Actually.

I’ll be honest that I requested the arc because it was a predicted pick for a book box to which I subscribe. I went into the book hoping to enjoy it, but I didn't have high expectations since I can be picky when it comes to contemporary romance. I was happily shocked and loved reading the book so much.

Well, Actually had me hysterically laughing, tearing up, and experiencing second-hand embarrassment (in the best way possible). The romance was top tier (excellent banter and tension), and even though it was a romance novel, the progression of the relationship felt believable. This might count as a slight spoiler, but I appreciated that the book didn’t have a third-act breakup, and the characters communicated instead (😱 *gasp*).

I loved Eva and am well aware that she was the main character, but Rylie was the real star of the show. He somehow managed to be desperate but not pathetic??? Every time Eva was a bit too mean, I felt like she was kicking a puppy that just wanted her to love him. I enjoyed relentlessly mean Eva, who was present at the beginning of the book, but her character growth was appreciated. She learned to process her trauma and improve her negative behavior while still maintaining her snarky, sarcastic attitude.

My only big complaint is that I really didn’t like Eva’s best friend. I felt like she needed to do way more to redeem herself in the end.

Read if you enjoy:
- Second chance romance
- Funny nicknames
- Cringey sweatshirts
- Catastrophic dates
- Grumpy x sunshine
- When he’s just a little scared of her
- Slutty little glasses

Ex-situationships are not typically my thing- neither is second chance; but this was so cute. If Sausage Talk was a real show bet your bottom dollar I’d have my notifications turned on! Hot dogs have had an hard time coming back from all the fake meat slander. Equally fun, sweet and spicy. Can’t wait to add this to my shelves when this goes on sale, and the cover is eye catching and darling.

3.75 ✨ rounded up!!!

I really wanted to love this book. But I just couldn't get past Eva and how immature she was for being 27. Like please get help. Riley was fantastic though, probably the only saving grace to this whole book. He WAS the walking green flag that he was advertising online.

I didn't really find any particular part of this book very memorable, mainly because I could not get past Eva's attitude towards any and everything. I wanted so badly to sit her down and hold her hand and tell her that she can't complain about everything but do absolutely nothing to fix it. Or even worse, self sabotage herself at every turn! I think I made it to 80% when I had to accept that this just was not the book for me, unfortunately. I know Mazey has put out other incredible books, I personally didn't want to read such a negative narrator the entire time.

Mazey Eddings does it again! Well, Actually is another heartfelt, emotionally rich novel bursting with romance, authenticity, and charm. From the first page, I was hooked, devouring every word like it was a secret meant just for me.

The characters are incredibly relatable and layered, each carrying their own unique struggles, quirks, and desires. Whether you’re here for the swoon-worthy romance or the deeply human moments, Mazey delivers on all fronts. The plot is ever-evolving, keeping you engaged while still allowing space for reflection and emotional connection.

The LGBTQ+ representation in this story is woven in beautifully and meaningfully, adding another dimension to the already diverse and inclusive cast. It’s refreshing to see queer characters written with such warmth and depth.

If you’re looking for a story that will make you feel seen, laugh, cry, and believe in love in all its forms, Well, Actually is the book for you. An absolute gem.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first book by Mazey Eddings and I loved it!

Well, Actually is a laugh-out-loud rom-com about a social media personality, Eva Kitt, and her ex college fling, Rylie Cooper. It’s immediately apparent that Rylie treated Eva like trash in college and she does not hold back one night when she decides to blast him on social media. In an effort to capitalize on her brutal honesty, Eva’s boss forces her to interview Rylie and he’s still as charming as he was all those years ago. I found this story to be relatable, honest, and hilarious. I appreciated that this storyline did not follow the typical enemies-to-lovers trope, Rylie did not have a motive other than genuinely just redeeming himself in Eva’s eyes. This book was spicy at the right times, and heartfelt at others. All-in-all, I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to another spicy rom-com reader. Looking forward to reading more of Mazey Eddings books!

Mazey Eddings continues to deliver heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply relatable stories, and Well, Actually is no exception. I always find comfort in her writing...her voice is sharp, witty, and inclusive in ways that feel both natural and necessary.

This one explores chronic illness representation with honesty and nuance, something that’s not often done so well in rom-coms. The main character’s struggles and strength are never minimized, and it makes the romantic journey all the more meaningful.

Tropes I loved:

Grumpy/Sunshine

Forced proximity (travel buddies!)

Slow burn with undeniable chemistry

Found family and personal growth arcs

Mazey’s books always feel like a hug and a challenge all at once; funny, swoony, and full of important conversations. Highly recommend if you're looking for a romance that balances light and depth with charm and heart.

This was a cute read and i loved the chicken shop date type of plot and the vibes it brought to the book. The fmc is a journalist that has been relegated to doing fake dates in the studio with desperate artist that need a publicity push. The fmc doesn’t like the job but is there to elevate her journalism career so she feels stuck. The mmc is an influencer that teaches men how to be better and not toxic, he is very popular and the fmc doesn’t like him because of how he treated her in the past.

After the fmc posts a drunken video response to the mmc’s video she is stuck having to do a publicly stunt with the mmc. As they do the videos together they start spending time with each other and getting to know each other again. I loved the banter between them and how even when they started hooking up they still had the banter. I liked that they had to work for trust and to get over the past. Overall this was a fun, and quick paced romance. Thanks to SMP for this arc!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🌶️🌶️🌶️

The set up: Eva and Rylie briefly dated in college (with disastrous results). Years later, Eva is the host of a Chicken Shop Date esque celebrity interview show called Sausage Talk and Rylie is a beloved social media influencer. One drunken night, Eva puts Rylie on blast on social media— which leads to Rylie proposing that they go on a series of dates so he can show her how he’s changed.

Eva’s biting wit was so fun, but even better was how Rylie *enjoyed* her snarky comments (often directed at him). The book felt very 2000s romcom (definitely got how to lose a guy in 10 days vibes)— especially with the early “fake” dates.

Their chemistry is great and the spice is spicing 🥵 I really loved when the walls came down and they show their vulnerability.

I loved the bi x pan rep! I feel like it’s often the FMC who is bi/pan, but having them both be queer was 🫶

Read if you like:
- Second Chance Romance
- Fake Dating (ish)
- He Falls First
- Banter
- Social Media Plots
- Hate to Love
- Workplace Romance
- Bi x Pan Rep
- Mental Health Rep

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

“Kitten, I’d rather spend every day getting in a pointless argument with you for sport than be bored and complacent with anyone else.”

Hi, I cried at least 3 separate times while reading this. I wish I could give this six stars. I saw A LOT of myself in Eva… As a whole her character is extremely complex and her pessimistic energy radiates through the pages. That being said, she still deserves the soft moments everyone craves even though she puts on a hard exterior. While Riley is just crawling on his knees begging her to drop her walls and give him a second chance.

The premise of Well, Actually for fills my chicken shop date but make it a book energy perfectly and it “well” executed. Give me all the slutty little glasses moments please & thank you.

I fear this is a book I will not be able to stop talking about and will press upon anyone who would listen.

Pub Date: August 5 2025

ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. Thank you.

review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads

This book was such a delight. I loved the banter and witty conversation. The honest portrayal of Eva using humor as her weapon and Rylie was just swoon. So many aspects of this story I adored, definitely recommend!

i loved this so much! the tension and banter between eva and rylie was perfect. and eva was absolutely hilarious.

inspired by the chicken shop date show, this book has eva, the FMC, hosting "sausage talk," an interview show where she sits down with celebrities and ask them questions over hot dogs. eva is the queen of sarcastic deadpanned comments, but her dream is to become a real journalist and cover serious stories.

one night, while drunk scrolling, she comes across her ex-fling, rylie cooper, offering dating advice to women. without a second thought, she hits the video reply button and shares her not so positive story of dating rylie six years ago. when her video becomes viral, she's forced to confront rylie in real life. he offers her a deal: he will take her on six dates to show her he's changed and make up for his past behavior.

i love a yearning, pining MMC trying to get back the one that got away, and that was exactly that and more. rylie is down bad for eva, and he's just happy to get a second chance with her, even though she's less than enchanted to be spending time with him. the back-and-forth between those two was so entertaining and funny!

and i loved the moments where eva finally let herself be vulnerable and show her true feelings and hurt. she might seem cold and mean, but underneath it all, eva is a sensitive woman who thinks she's too hard to love and everyone will leave her if they get to know the real her.

also kudos for the pansexual and bisexual representation that was so well done!

This was so cute (and surprisingly spicy as hell)! I literally stayed up til 6:30am reading this because I kept thinking “I’ll put it down and sleep at the next lull” and then it never happened!! Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this eARC, I can’t wait for release day to get my shelf trophy 🥰