Well, Actually feels exactly like a nostalgic 90's rom com movie, I don't even know exactly how to describe it, but the vibes were top tier. Rylie was a blushing little cinnamon roll and I just adored him. I would recommend this to people looking for a sweet fun time.

Eva was such a complex character. Her exterior was Ice Queen, mainly due to her job and the fact that she had been overlooked and, in some cases used, her whole life in her journey to find a place where she belonged. She also wanted to be wanted for herself which made sense especially that she was raised in a family that never seemed to care about her or her well-being. Her animosity towards Riley made sense because he was the first person she opened up to and this was after he pursued her.

And to his credit Riley was accountable about the hurt he caused her and others and was willing to do whatever to make amends. That was really endearing to read because Eva did not make it easy for him and she shouldn't have been expected to her. But his actions showed he was genuine and the scene that turned the tide for me was where Eva and Riley were reading 'mean' comments about themselves for the collaboration. When it became apparent that William was purposefully making Eva read the most vile comments about her because he was a chauvinistic jerk, Riley called him on it and ended the recording.

I feel that this book was unique in that Eva and Riley's story started after what amounted to a third-act breakup. We were given snippets of their past relationship and got to see them for their second chance at romance which ended up being successful. Riley is one of the most swoon-worthy heroes I've ever read and I've read a lot of M/F romances. He is the type of partner that most people want because he is very much Golden Retriever Cinnamon Roll energy but is a delightful demon in the bedroom.

This was yet another winner from Mazey and this book was amazing and just the breath of fresh air I needed. Highly recommend.

This book is my first from Mazey Eddings and I’d definitely be open to reading more of her work! This book was written well, following the inner dialogue of our FMC and including bits of her personality in each sentence. The two main characters also had major chemistry! I had butterflies whenever they would flirt with each other and it had me rooting for them the whole time. The biggest downside, however, was that the plot of this book had so many different directions and nothing really closed any loops. I understand the idea of what was intended to happen to get the characters to fall in love, but it was almost used as a gateway and none of it was executed to completion. The way the conflict at the end happened, could have been different in my opinion. Overall I would recommend this book!

I really liked Eva, but I couldn't get into Rylie much. I did think their romance felt genuine and the timing was well done. I hate the nickname Kitten, even if it is a play on Eva's name, so I cringed every time Rylie used it. Overall, I enjoyed this one, and I would read other books by Mazey Eddings.

3.25 stars

The banter between the couple was alot of fun. The tiktok and pop icon references were fun but sometimes to much. The mmc definitely gives golden retriever energy. The journey to their second chance was sweet.

A drunken social media post Eva makes about Rylie, a guy she dated in college goes viral. Since Rylie’s podcast grants him some celebrity, Eva’s boss decides to ask that Rylie be a guest on Eva’s saucy Sausage Talk show. This gives Eva the opportunity for a dating do-over in this second chance comedic romance.

Snarky Eva comes across as borderline mean at times, because Rylie seems totally committed to a never ending redemption tour. He broke her heart years ago, yet while not forgiving him, she always seems feral for him. Both characters had issues related to their families, but no one from either family impacts the story in the present time.

I would have liked to have seen more of Eva’s fun friend Ray and less of her friend/coworker Aida, who is pretty toxic for a good portion of the plot. To be fair though, their workplace is a hot mess and a significant part of the overall conflict.

I really liked how Eva encounters couples who Eddings granted happily ever after in previous books. Eddings does a great job showing how Eva’s college relationship with Rylie negatively affected her, making her drunken video seem plausible.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

A really fun second chance story. The depth of both main characters was a strength, and I think the work-place drama felt balanced with the bantering and romance of Rylie and Eva's relationship.

A sassy queen and a king who thrives on words of affirmation you say?! The setup felt reminiscent of Chicken Shop Date, which made me eager to dive into the story! Unfortunately, it didn't quite capture my interest as I had hoped!

Regarding the female main character, Eva, I understand she was attempting to project a tough facade. While she is indeed strong, demanding, and a bit dry, she also tries to reveal a vulnerable side. However, this portrayal didn't resonate with me enough to root for her or feel a connection. Eddings simply fell short. Eva's sarcasm felt inconsistent and lackluster; although I found her amusing, her character left me yearning for more: more sass in the midst of workplace drama (her actions were quite peculiar), more accountability from her friends, and more vulnerability with Riley etc.

Overall, this book is undoubtedly a tribute to contemporary internet culture (Hello, Chicken Shop Date, very niche TikTok slang, podcasts about absolutely nothing), and that. Anyways I was left wanting from this book to completely hook me!

One quote i found quite endearing: ""I hold him closer, pick up his hand and kiss the tip of each finger, then the center of his palm, then place it over my heart, and let the quiet comfort of the TV lull me to sleep with his arms wrapped around me."

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the arc!

This is a great book. Mazey Eddings is always an auto buy author for me and this did not disappoint.

One of my favourite Mazey Eddings books I’ve read?! And considering the fact that I’ve read all of her books and she’s one of my favourite authors, this is high praise!

I was hooked right from the beginning!! The banter, the constant insults, the comebacks, the sizzling chemistry and of course, the black cat x golden retriever energy?! Chef’s kiss 🤌🏻

Every thing I could’ve wanted in a romance book was there and then some. I adore how Mazey writes her characters, their vulnerable moments, sharing their struggles and life experiences with each other, it never fails to make me tear up.

I am definitely going to keep coming back to this one because it has definitely made it to my favourites of the year!

This was hilarious, definitely had some laugh out loud lines. The banter was fantastic. I think there was room for their relationship to explore why Eva is so “tough” and why she thinks everyone is going to leave her, especially in regards to her childhood and upbringing l. This was a great black cat/golden retriever second chance love story. Rylie was utterly ridiculous and I loved him. I can’t wait to experience again as an audiobook when it comes out!

Well, Actually- Mazey Eddings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @mazeyeddings for an Advance Reader Copy of this book, on sale August 5, 2025!

I couldn’t put this book down. Not even for a second! I thought about this book and these characters all day and still am as I write this, days later!
I adored every page, every word. I highlighted every joke because I was cackling so hard!! I can’t even put into words how FUNNY this book was! The sass, the razzle dazzle, the banter… I cannot.
This book encompassed my ideal relationship, with heavy roasting as a love language. It portrayed such healthy examples of boundary setting, communication, conflict resolution, personal and relational growth, working towards a common goal with your partner, and so many RAGING GREEN FLAGS.
Mazey, if you’re reading this… you’ve officially created my new favorite book boyfriend. 🥹
When a drunk TikTok publicly shaming her ex accidentally goes viral and backfires, Eva Kitt is forced to confront him on her social media channel. Riley Cooper, the beloved content creator, responsible for calling out toxic masculinity and smashing the patriarchy alongside women, has bitten off more than he can chew when he goes toe to toe with Eva to try and make amends.
A hilariously disastrous rom-com that will have you belly laughing FOR SURE!
A million stars from me!
Read if you love:
•Enemies to lovers
•Queer and minority representation 🌈
•Second Chance romance
•Slow burn
•Reverse grumpy x sunshine
•Golden Retriever x black cat
🌭 💻 ✍️ 🗞️ 💋 👠 🩷

The banter in this really is top tier and had me cackling so many times and I definitely felt the tension between the MCs! I was LOCKED IN for the first half and loving it!

Then around the halfway mark it got to be just a smidge too much for me idk. Romance can get really cheesy QUICK for me and it’s normally around the time the spice starts lol. Also something about the pet name kitten? Doesn’t do it for me.

Also as a side note you have to be chronically online and up to date with TikTok I feel like to like this book. Which I am! But I feel like that will age quickly and in six months half of the references won’t be relevant anymore.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

This was a cute and quick read, but more of a palate cleanser than the main course, if that makes sense . I'm a sucker for second chances, and I really enjoyed the premise of Eva and Riley's story, but I wouldn't say I loved it. There were some parts that fell a bit flat for me (the issues with communication, the pop culture references were a bit much).

Good vibes overall, just not my favorite. Thank you for the opportunity to read.

I would rate this story 3 out of 5 stars. It is a quick and easy read following Eva and Rylie. It proses as a second chance romance after a falling out in college— with a bad end where everyone needs therapy.

The story surrounds the fact that Eva spoke about her bad experiences, and Rylie wants to prove her wrong that he is a changed man. He runs a podcast and soon they take on the challenge of 6 dates to prove he has matured outside of frat boy Rylie.

This book had such a cute premise , but unfortunately fell extremely flat for me. Eva was absolutely infuriating and just honestly unreasonable as a FMC and so immature i had a hard time believing she is representative of someone in their mid twenties. The writing was full of pop culture and TikTok references, and felt so extremely woke that I had trouble finishing it. I did like Rylie, and it did pick up the second half, but overall I don’t think it was for me. I’m not familiar with the author’s other stories, but I’m sure this is right up someone’s alley , just not mine. It did however provide a palate cleanser between heavy fantasy reads.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Marten’s Press, and Mazey Edwards for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

She’s a NYC big wig journalist… kinda… she eats room temperature hot dogs and interviews D list celebrities.
She has big dreams and small outcomes to show for them.

He is making a living showing men… how to be, well decent people, and the opposite of him 6 years ago. He took a small idea and ran with it and saw almost instant results.

While throwing a Friday druken pity party Eva decides that she is going to speak her truth about Rylie… what she wasn’t expecting was hundreds of thousands of people and her boss was going to see her drunk ramblings.

New to the spotlight she is now forced to face the man himself in person to make herself a household name. However, he has other plans, he is going to prove to her that he is different then he was when she knew him last.

This book is a romcom through and through. There is so many witty, laugh out loud lines that has me cracking up in bed. Also as a mid twenty girly myself I could relate to so many of her feelings as she navigates not being where she wants to be in comparison to those her age.

This book is one of my favorites of the year and was an absolute gem. I’m so appreciative to have been given the book early and give my thoughts on it. It was an easy fun read and i definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc!

Oh boy. First off, the premise sounded so intriguing and fun. Unfortunately, this was not for me and Eva and Riley may be the most unlikable characters I've ever read.

Eva is an incredibly negative person and there might not be a single page in this whole book where she is not complaining about something. The way she acts at the beginning of the book, is the same way she acts at the end. She has NO character development. We found out that she's the way that she is because of how she grew up and then her and Riley's brief relationship 6 years prior, also contributed to how she is. I can understand some of her feelings but it's clear she hasn't spent any time working through these to at least find some sort of peace. Instead, she's become spiteful and vindictive. Again, in some ways I can understand her side but it also became so unbearable to read and she isn't a pleasant person.

As her and Riley's relationship progresses, she constantly doubts him, pushes him away, and is incapable of communicating. Even 85% through the book, she's still acting this way!!!! Every few pages Riley has to keep repeating himself and reminding her that he likes her because she's always doubting him. It's exhausting.

Then we have Riley, the male podcaster (clutching my pearls). I get it, his podcast is teaching men to not be incels but it's revealed that he was also a walking red flag at one point. He had some better moments compared to Eva but I found him incredibly dull. I also feel that he wasn't good about standing up for himself to Eva. She could be so harsh and I think he needed to set more boundaries.

The whole purpose of this arrangement is so Eva can advance her career but there is minimal focus on her career throughout the book and how any of this is even helping her. Yeah, we get moments of her dealing with the company she works for but there is more focus on the relationship and yeah, that's it! It almost seemed like all of this was backfiring on her but benefitting Riley.

Overall, the book fell very flat and was not executed well.

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings:

Mazey Eddings has written a charming, second-chance romance with Well, Actually. She manages to blend sharp wit, emotional depth, and unmistakable chemistry into one cozy novel! The story follows Eva Kitt, a cynical talk show host, who finds herself entangled in a viral social media moment after calling out her college ex, Rylie Cooper, now a beloved internet personality. Their forced collaboration leads to a series of public dates, blurring the lines between past grievances and present attractions.

Eddings masterfully develops the dynamic between Eva’s guarded personality, and Ryan’s likable charm. Their banter is both hilarious and heartfelt, making their journey from adversaries to lovers incredibly satisfying. The novel also thoughtfully explores themes of personal growth, forgiveness, and the complexities of modern relationships.

With its engaging narrative and relatable characters, Well, Actually is an outstanding contemporary romance. Fans of enemies-to-lovers and second-chance stories will love this book!

“I always expected my career would revolve less round wieners then it does”

Eva Kitt is a journalist who doesn’t love her current job of interviewing celebrities while eating hot dogs, but it pays the bills while she works towards Tipsy doom scrolling one night, she runs across a post from Rylie Cooper, an ex from college. She posts her own video, telling the world he’s a hypocrite as he ghosted her & was bad in bed. Her post goes viral, Rylie contacts her & proposes they go on some redo dates to clear his name. Her boss gives her a chance to save her job… do the interview.

I honestly wasn’t hooked on this book in the beginning. I wanted to argue with Eva. I think this is by design, just like a real human, Eva has her walls up, but once you get under her skin you see her vulnerability & rawness. About 30% in I was hooked both in the book & cheering for Eva. At 50%, I was posting crying videos about wanting to talk to my 22 year old self about her worth.

I loved the social commentary in the book of issues women face. The scene where they read mean comments is *chefs kiss* Seeing Rylie’s emotional growth was healing. I appreciated the diversity representation.

My only complaint was that it was a dual POV, I wish I could have read some from Rylie’s perspective! But that's my own issue.

“I am not sure I even like myself half the time, how could I expect someone else to like me enough to stick around” -- direct quote from the book. If this speaks to you, and you like some spice I highly recommend this book!

From the first page, this book has Mazey’s vibe IMMEDIATELY and I loved it.

I think Mazey was able to capture the struggle of being a woman and balancing the mean with the soft. Eva is my favorite person ever and I want to be her when I grow up. I’m SO happy we were able to have this book from her POV because the internal struggle and monologue had me in tears from the tender parts to the hilarious parts. This book is wrapped up so perfectly and I thought was paced so well.

If you are not into the FMC battle herself and deny herself love/joy, this book is NOT for you. You have to be a champion for this FMC and know that there is great history there.