Second chance romance is not usually my favorite, but this was excellent. As the FMC, Eva is quite honestly a little mean - but I found it refreshing and relatable. I adored her snark and humor, especially in contrast to MMC Rylie…who is just the ultimate simp.

The Chicken Shop Date vibes were immaculate, and the banter was just top-notch. Rylie’s slutty little glasses…the jomforter…so many times I was kicking my feet and cackling.

But Mazey Eddings also has a wonderful talent for incorporating heavy topics like dealing with grief, toxic workplaces, etc. into an otherwise fun, light story. There was also great mental health and queer rep.

(For fans of her prior work, there is also a delightful Lizzie Blake cameo!)

Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC!

And the book is honestly as ridiculous as it sounds, but it works. Eve is a social media maker, doing some random deless. Celebrity type interview show with lukewarm hot dogs in the basement of some building. And yes, it's ridiculous as it sounds right. And she is 28 living in New York City. Wondering if her life is going anywhere i'm drunken event. She lets her true feelings out about a former. Love affair from 6 years ago. But the guy just happens to be a super popular podcaster-- what just happens to tell men, in his podcasts, how to be good? How to be they're for there significant others. How to be respectful? She disagrees.It's his latest video and lets it all out---. she wakes up with almost a million views, and her boss has an idea to capitalize on this new found, fame Riley and her are going to date, and they're going to review their dates and she's going to tell him and what he did wrong. The overall story and premise I did enjoy, but I felt like the main character eve was too hung up on the past and very meme. And I understand when it comes to women, there's a difference between strong and mean, and I felt like she was mean, and I know that wasn't the intent, but it's how I felt that she came across-- the reports are greatly enjoyed. The ending is very good, but I did not find some of the parts of the book relatable. Or believable, it was an okay book kind of like a filler book if I have nothing else to read

*** it is spicy

Thank you, net galley, for this arc.In exchange for an honest review

Mazey Eddings writes with such a unique voice and sense of humor in Well, Actually. This story feels like a time capsule depiction of 2024 internet trends, especially with Eva's social media show where she interviews/flirts with celebrities over a fast food meal. When she uses the show to call out her ex, she is cornered into a new series with said ex on his own social media platform where he tries to prove to her that he has changed (and of course their old feelings for each other surface and they begin to revisit their past connection).

While this premise was charming, the execution came off as trying too hard to land with the current trends on social media. I fear the concept won't age well, but it'll definitely have its moment for those that love Chicken Shop Date and the many pop culture iconic moments that have come from it.

5 stars. This book was outstanding. And like Lizzie Blake, Eva is a character that will absolutely stick with me. She was perfect in every irreverent way. I felt a lot like Riley while reading. About Eva: absolutely smitten and left breathless with the effort of trying to keep up with her. She was so funny and real. And Riley, was a pining fool that I couldn’t get enough of! Everything about this was a good time and I can’t wait to buy a copy to have as a trophy for my collection. A thousand percent would recommend.

I really love Mazey's books. I enjoy how they feature people whose minds work in all kinds of different ways. She has such charactery characters. I greatly enjoyed the fmc in Well, Actually. She was a tough, strong, edgy kind of woman. As a woman who is a leader and also someone with a strong personality, I really appreciated a representation of this kind of woman in a romance novel. Especially alongside a mmc who absolutely loves her strength. I appreciated the representation of misogyny as well, and the slow application of pressure that shows how workplaces can turn toxic by slowly turning up the heat. This book made me laugh and stay up way too late at night reading. Both a fun read and some interesting thoughts. My only negatives (and these are tiny) would be there was a bit of a disconnect for me between fmc in college vs now, it wasn't quite clear to me how she got from being the one person to the other. Also, the mmc was almost too sweet and lovely, but he was a very enjoyable book boyfriend.

I'm a big Mazey Eddings fan and I feel like her Brush with Love series is very underrated, so I was excited to read this arc. Eva took a little while to grow on me, but she did in the end. I did really love Rylie though, how could you not? I thought their story was sweet and passionate. I loved how Eva was able to be vulnerable with him and really let him in even though you could FEEL how hard that was for her. As with all Eddings books there was some great representation depicted. I look forward to more of her books. She is up there with the best Romance authors out there right now.

“Every part of me is yours if you want it.”

full of big feelings, self-acceptance, healing, and forgiveness, WELL, ACTUALLY is a heavy and hopeful journey with late-twenty-somethings as they navigate the future while righting some past wrongs.

Eva Kitt and Riley Cooper’s college situationship ended on a very low note six years ago, and while Riley now tries to expose and correct toxic masculinity one podcast episode at a time, Eva knows just how toxic his brand of masculinity really is — or was. this is why she drunkenly stitches one of his videos and calls him out, instantly going viral. the traction leads to her media company inviting him on her pop culture dating show (think Chicken Shop Date but with hotdogs). the encounter quickly turns into an agreed upon set of dates where Riley intends to change Eva’s perception of him. while she assumes this is all to help heal his brand, Riley is all-in on the girl that got away. will it be possible to overcome the pain that still lingers, or will they get through their contractual obligations and wipe their hands clean of each other once and for all?

Mazey does an incredible job (as always) handling important topics with care. she creates a safe space for mental health discussions and sexual identity conversations while weaving in moments of levity and humor. her writing is like a hug from a loved one! I also enjoyed the character cameos from her A Brush With Love series!

one thing I so desperately wanted was a second point of view. I adore Eva and loved being in her head; I equally love Riley and would have thoroughly enjoyed having access to his brain!
—

this and that:
♡ black cat x golden retriever
♡ boozy brunch
♡ cameos from other Mazey characters
♡ disastrous dates
♡ flashbacks
♡ he’s obsessed x she hates him
♡ he likes her mean
♡ mental health care
♡ nyc living
♡ open door spice
♡ opposites attract
♡ podcaster x journalist
♡ second chance
♡ single pov
♡ storm cloud x sunshine
♡ therapy
♡ queer rep

triggers:
☞ anxiety attacks
☞ death of a loved one
☞ homophobic behaviors x rhetoric
☞ grief
☞ loneliness x abandonment issues
☞ workplace abuse x bullying x harassment

I really enjoyed this book, even though I'm typically not a fan of second-chance romances. But trust me, this guy deserved the shot he got. The heroine is a sassy journalist who finds a video of her college ex discussing red flags in men. Naturally, she’s quick to respond. They enter a dating situation where the MMC has to prove he’s changed. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and the way they navigate their relationship is refreshing—fun, playful, and healthy!

What I liked the most was the therapy session, it's a description of a healthy relationship, and besides, fmc needed this session to understand the depth of what went wrong in college.

The tropes:

• black cat vs golden retriever
• banter
• she fell first but he falls harder
• second chance (2 month fling in college)
• no third act break up
• grief/ abandonment
• good spice

Simply put, I am obsessed. I read this book in less than 24 hours and immediately wanted to pick it up to read it again. Riley and Eva were just ultimate goals. I loved them as a couple and I loved their growth in the story. This had so many great moments about grief and not feeling worthy as well as hilarious banter.

a swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud funny romance that i couldn't put down!!!

well, actually's delicious banter, sizzling chemistry, and charming characters were an absolute delight. miss eva is our hot mean girl who wears her attitude like an armour, but just wants someone to truly choose her. meanwhile, rylie freaking cooper is a cinnamon roll with the patience of a saint and a dirty mouth that had me panting

mazey eddings perfectly balances humour with heartfelt emotion, crafting a story that feels deeply relatable. well, actually is a must-read for anyone thirsty for a steamy, explosive romance!

p.s. i wish this was dual pov – i would eat up cooper's thoughts like a starved woman

thank you for the arc, st. martin's press and netgalley!

loved this romance of eva and rylie. loved seeing the other couples from the other books. loved that they had dates from brunch to couple's counseling. loved their friends. loved the banter between them.

5/5

If you witnessed the insane levels of chemistry on Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date interview this past fall and found yourself asking “Is there a book like this?” boy does Mazey Eddings come through. With her signature knack for crafting unusual romantic circumstances, Well, Actually is a quintessential modern love story of effortless humor, second-hand embarrassment, and pop culture references served with mediocre hotdogs and a quest for redemption. It’s messy, so bisexual, and the kind of book I was always going to fall for. Well, Actually introduces Eva, a down on her luck journalist with black cat tendencies, and Rylie Cooper social media’s darling and golden retriever to his core. They seemingly have nothing in common besides the five dates they went on in college before Rylie unceremoniously ghosted Eva. Well, Actually brings exactly the kind of romance setup I go for: heavy on the mess with imperfect protagonists finding love and meaning in their lives. Mazey Eddings has a grasp on the finite ledge between the humorous and emotional situations and she employs it deftly in her strongest romance to date.

My full review is up now on my blog!

Eva is a bisexual woman with a painful past. After being ghosted by her first love in college, she built up walls around herself. Riley, the guy who hurt her, is now a famous influencer, totally different from the person he was in college. Eva, also an influencer (but smaller scale), calls him out online, and things go viral. Riley, trying to make things right, asks for six dates to prove he’s changed.

The comedy, the chemistry, and the emotional growth between these two were fantastic. I loved how their banter developed and how Riley showed unshakeable patience with Eva, despite her resistance. Their journey felt real and so satisfying to watch unfold. That said, I wish we had seen Eva open up more about her childhood. It would’ve added a lot to understanding why she holds onto her anger towards Riley, and it would’ve made his persistence feel even more grounded.

All in all, I adored this book. It’s definitely one I’ll keep recommending

A romance between two people 6 years after a short romance ended in a ghosting. Fun characters and great dialogue made this a fun quick read. Some graphic sex scenes, if not your thing, I'd skip it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy of this ebook!


If you loved Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date then do I have a rec for you..

I loved EVERY SECOND of this book!!!! Eva was sharp and witty and strong, but so soft on the inside, and I just loved seeing Rylie bring out that softness in her. The banter is incredible, and I loved the way that Rylie took everything in stride and refused to back down from Eva’s barbs. I saw so much of myself in both characters, and was invested in their story right from the start.

Mazey has such a unique writing style that brings so much humor and lightness alongside heavier and more emotional topics like grief without ever feeling like the seriousness is minimized. I found myself laughing through tears at multiple points throughout the book!

I absolutely loved this! It was funny. The banter was great. There were actual feelings!

I’m not sure how I completely misunderstood the premise of this book and for some reason thought it was going to be similar to the movie The Ugly Truth (which I love). It is not similar at all, but in a good way! Eva and Rylie are forced to work together after she calls him out on social media and their resulting interactions are hilarious.

Eva’s interior monologues and comments though out the book were fantastic, and I imagined Rylie with a perpetual smirk on his face the whole time. I loved their communication style (witty comments all the time!) even though I’m sure I would hate it if someone talked to me like either of them do in real life. All the things I love in a romance book were there.

This was my first Mazey Eddings book and it did not disappoint!

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

A second chance romance featuring a main character who isn’t always likable, which I wholly appreciate.

Eva is cutting and sarcastic, but also guided by emotional trauma and the feeling that everyone is moving on without her. I think it’s refreshing that her perspective in the story is not to always be right and always be trying to please everyone, but to be a brat and to act on her emotions.

I don’t really love second-chance romance, but i do feel like this one was done in a palatable way(no one cheated, it wasn’t a lengthy relationship to start with, Eva admits that she emotionally invested too much in someone who clearly wasn’t ready to reciprocate.

I appreciate the addition of bi and trans characters whose identity is not their entire character, and to me that felt modern in a way that wasn’t trying too hard. I absolutely despise the name and spelling “Rylie” for the male main character and I do absolutely feel that it was extremely obvious that he was a man-written-by-a-woman. That being said, I love a rom-com and I read 90% books written by women, so that isn’t a deal-breaker for me.

All in all: a delight, a palate cleanser, a quick spice-containing book that made me happy.

1. Would I recommend it? Yes
2. Would I read it again? Probably not
3. Would I read a sequel? I would read other books about this group of characters
4. Would I read something else by this author? 100% yes
5. Would I buy a hard copy? Probably.
6. Would I keep the hard copy as a bookshelf trophy? Probably.

I’m obsessed with Eva and Rylie!! I loved how they were written and all the banter between them. I super appreciate how dedicated Rylie was; he really gave off “if he wanted to he would” vibes.

The plot was easy to follow, and I felt like everything was wrapped up really well by the end. I was taken aback by the Landry/William/Eva convo at the end, but I think that was intentional so the reader could feel exactly how Eva felt in that moment.

I feel like we didn’t get a ton of character development from Eva, but I finished the book feeling like she would make an effort to work through her previous anxieties. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the pet name “kitten,” but that’s just a personal preference!

Overall, another fantastic book from Mazey Eddings! I find Eddings does an amazing job at crafting her characters and writing their dialogue in a way that’s really funny and relevant, but not cringy.

Well, actually this might be my favorite Mazey Eddings novel yet!

After a big night in, Eva Kitt posts a video about calling out her ex - but since her ex, Rylie, is a beloved social media personality things get out of hand very quickly. And when Rylie offers a deal to go out on dates with Eva to change her opinion, the dates start feeling a bit too…real.

I loved how authentic and nonapologetic Eva is and how Rylie is obsessed with everything about her. Rylie may be one of the biggest simps I have ever read, in all of the best ways. One of my favorite things about Mazey Edding’s writing is the character arcs that promote self-love and embracing imperfections. I believe this makes the characters feel more relatable and the story more fulfilling.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who wants to laugh, feel released from societal pressures, or maybe just wants some spicy scenes of characters with good bed chem.

Thank you SMP and Netgalley for the eARC!

Eddings immediately sucks you in with the amazing writing style and premise of the book. Eva basically has an Amelia Dimoldenberg style job and one evening, she's drunk and posts a stupid little video about her ex that goes viral. The dynamic between Eva and Rylie is very much like that between Amelia and Andrew Garfield and I just adored it so much.

Eva Kitt. I can see how people would think she's "a bitch" and not like her because she stands her ground and doesn't let a boy dictate how she should behave, but she isn't without vulnerabilities either. If you took the time to understand her, you would see that she's actually very soft and just wants to be loved. I think her characterisation is a perfect representation of having abandonment issues, and that was so perfectly done in my opinion. She's really cool and her heels and red lips are such statement pieces, I loved that.

Rylie Cooper. I genuinely loved this man so much. All he wanted was to right his wrongs and love Eva the way she deserved to, but I absolutely loved that Eva didn't let him in right away. She pushed back for so long and that's exactly what I wanted. I need the man to be so down bad and pathetically gone for their women and that's exactly what Rylie was. He didn't once give up and loves Eva in spite of her insecurities of her personality that she thinks would be "too much" for someone else to handle. I think he wasn't one without his flaws, but his growth shown was amazing and especially the therapy scene... oh that got me, I was in tears.

Both of our main characters together had amazing banter and chemistry and the tension was off the charts. The first 50% had me giggling and kicking my feet and the latter half had me tearing up and many moments and I think all in all this was a perfect contemporary romance novel with an amazing romance and also the representation was so healing! Two main characters on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, a main character on SSRI's and a side trans character! This was my first from Mazey Eddings as well and definitely not my last!