Mazey Eddings knocked this one out of the park. This book had me going from emotional to laughing out loud in minutes. One of my favorite tropes is the black cat FMC where she’s a little mean to him and he’s a golden retriever who is obsessed with her, which this book did SO WELL. I love second chance romances and this one was so delicious. THEIR BANTER!!!!! It was truly top tier, so so funny!! And the chemistry was soooo hot!! I also loved seeing both main characters talk openly about their sexuality (Eva is pansexual, Riley is bisexual) and their journeys of finding that out and how it has affected their dating lives, and their lives in general. Eddings included so many diverse characters and spoke about current issues, especially regarding LGBTQIA+ youth, which I really loved. I also really found the storyline regarding Eva and her workplace at a social media company and how those environments can be so toxic and harmful to be so fascinating. This book was just so tender, hot, and hilarious, so yall definitely need to pick this one up!!!

This book had so much things that I love: second chance romance, bi and pan rep, praise and good girl, and a slow burn. It also was written by Mazey Eddings, so it's automatically a winner for me.

Eva and Rylie hooked up in college, and he ghosted her. She now has her own online show where she interviews C list celebrities while they eat hot dogs, and Rylie is a podcast host. When Eva posts a video calling out Rylie for ghosting her and being terrible in bed, the video goes viral!

They sit down for an interview, and it leads to a series of dates where they explore their feelings and what happened in their past. Rylie is so down bad for Eva, and I loved it.

Eva is setup as an unlikable character, and that's what I enjoyed most about her. She felt like someone who was real.

I read this book in February, but I reread it with the audiobook. The narrator, Ariela Crow, added so much to the story. I loved the book more the second time that I read it.

Well, Actually was the kind of book that quietly sneaks into your heart and surprises you with how deeply it sticks. Mazey Eddings has such a natural talent for balancing laugh-out-loud humor with genuine emotional depth, and this book absolutely delivers on both fronts.

The protagonist, Eva, was refreshingly real, flawed, sharp, vulnerable, and fierce. Her voice felt honest and modern, and I loved how she owned her opinions without apology. She was witty, complex, and easy to root for from the very first page.

I was 100% on Eva’s side when we first heard her account of her past with Rylie. Her pain felt so valid, and I fully understood her sense of betrayal. But as the story unfolded and we were able to see Rylie’s side, it really hit me how relationships are never black and white. While it’s easy to cling to your own hurt, this book reminded me that we often don’t know the full picture of what someone else is going through, what’s in their head or heart. That emotional nuance made the story even more powerful.

And then there’s the romance, sweet, slow-building, and full of tension in the best way. Riley was respectful, charming, and genuinely supportive, without ever falling into the “perfect guy” cliché. The banter between Eva and Rylie was chef’s kiss, amazingly flirty, playful, and filled with that kind of spark that makes you grin while reading. Their dynamic felt authentic and electric, with just the right amount of emotional push and pull.

This story didn’t just entertain me; it made me reflect. If you’ve ever felt like your personality might be “too much,” Eva will remind you that you’re not only enough, you’re someone worth celebrating.

5/5 stars. This one’s going on my “books I’ll recommend to everyone” shelf.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

I love Mazey Edding's books! This one was so good. Both of the main characters had major problems emotionally and were working through them in a healthy, mature ways (him more then her but she got into the healing as the book went on). I would highly recommend this book to anyone who believes in second chances, meeting the right person at the wrong time and taking time to learn how to communicate.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Cute, Fun, but a Bit Trend-Heavy

Well, Actually is a super cute romance with undeniable chemistry between Eva and Rylie. Their banter, tension, and gradual emotional reconnection made this such an enjoyable read. I especially loved how their history gave extra weight to the sparks flying in the present.

That said, the book sometimes feels like it’s trying a little too hard to be trendy. While the modern references and topical themes add personality, they occasionally make it feel more “of the moment” than timeless. The smut scenes are steamy, but sometimes they edge out the main plot, and a few side character storylines pull attention away from Eva and Rylie’s romance.

Overall, though, this is a charming, fun, and flirty read—perfect for when you want something sweet with a bit of spice, even if it’s not destined to become a classic romance staple.

I received this audiobook as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

Eva Kitt is the host of Sausage Talk, a show that interviews B/C list celebrities while eating hot dogs. While known for her deadpan wit, she is struggling with feeling stagnant and stuck with her career. When she films a drunken video roasting an old fling/now nemesis, Riley, who is an internet personality and it goes viral, she is forced to interview him for the views. When forced by her bosses to go on a few dates with him to continue the attention they have been gathering, she learns that there is more to what happened six years ago, and they might still have something there if she is brave enough to explore it.

This was super fun! Sexy and funny; I laughed aloud multiple times. The banter was great, and the characters were likeable, and not one-dimensional. I wish there was a little more at the end to make it more satisfying, but I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship, and had a really good time.

The narration was great! The narrator did a really good job with the emotion and wit of the FMC, and did different voices for everyone, which made it very easy to tell who was talking when. Stellar performance.

I rated it 4.25/5 rounded down to 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listeners copy!

I was so pleasantly surprised by this audio. I loved the characters. I loved the romance between the main characters. The narrators did a really great job.

As a Mazey Edding Stan and a big big lover of the book. I knew listening to this on audio would be a religious experience. And it was everything that I needed it to be. The narrator of this story completely embodied who Eva is at the core of this story. She took this book and completely animated in a way that had me completely captivated. I was cackling and swooning along this story. I felt as if I was there listening to a friend talk to me for hours.

The way listening to the audio of this story just made every single word of this story somehow livelier and an amazing experience. To a beautifully crafted plot, the lovable and slightly chaotic side characters this easy a joy to bless my ears.

Rating: ★★★½ (3.5 stars)
Mazey Eddings’ Well, Actually is a snappy, satirical rom-com that leans into internet culture, viral fame, and the messiness of modern relationships — all while wrapping it in humor and hot dogs. With a premise that feels straight out of a chaotic Twitter thread (in the best way), the story follows Eva Kitt, a frustrated former journalist stuck hosting Sausage Talk and unexpectedly thrown back into the orbit of her college ex, Rylie Cooper — now a reformed internet “feminist boyfriend” type with a fanbase.

There’s a lot to love in the concept: public call-outs, messy exes, performative wokeness, and the blurred line between sincerity and spectacle in digital culture. Eddings’ writing is sharp and often laugh-out-loud funny. The banter is quick, and the premise sets up some great moments of cringe, irony, and emotional whiplash.

However, while the book is undeniably funny, it fell short in one crucial area: emotional connection. I found it difficult to fully invest in the characters, particularly Eva and Rylie. Their chemistry felt inconsistent, and their personal growth never quite clicked into place for me. The story seemed to prioritize cleverness over character depth, which made it hard to stay engaged, even when the plot picked up.

That said, Ariela Crow’s narration is a highlight. She brings Eva to life with just the right mix of dry wit and vulnerability, making the audiobook version a smooth, enjoyable listen. Crow’s performance helps elevate the material, even in moments where the narrative itself starts to lose steam.

Final Thoughts:
Well, Actually is a fun ride with a strong hook and plenty of laughs, especially for fans of contemporary romances that tackle internet fame and feminist discourse. It didn’t fully land emotionally for me, but Ariela Crow’s narration made it worth sticking with. If you're in the mood for something light, quirky, and a bit chaotic, it might just hit the spot — as long as you're not expecting to fall deeply in love with the characters.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

It was a bit hard to get through this one, it's a real slow burn.

It's a second chance romance, Riley was really a fun character, his development was entertaining.
Ava and Riley's bantering was great; I could not stop giggling.

Ava's work situation was quite annoying and frustrating. I wished so many times William would just F right off. I was happy when Ava finally stands up for herself with the help of Riley.

Anyways 3.5 stars for this one.

This is essentially Chicken Shop Date fan fiction, and I am HERE for it.

I knew quickly that this book would not be for everyone, but I had a blast. Eva can be a tough female mc to root for, but I think if you understand her and why she is the way she is, you can get past it. And Rylie!!!! Absolutely adored him. The black cat/golden retriever trope will always be a favorite of mine. Their banter was exquisite. I genuinely loved reading this one and didn’t want to stop. No, it’s not perfect, but you don’t always need that in a book.

I also loved the narrator of this book — she did such a great job, and I loved listening to it.

4⭐️

“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤… 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.”

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 8/5/25

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Eva Kitt never expected to be the host of Sausage Talk, interviewing B-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs, instead of pursuing the journalism career she dreamed of. But when Eva’s impromptu public call out of her college ex goes viral, she’s thrust into the spotlight. It doesn’t help said ex is Rylie Cooper, the very man who ghosted her years earlier.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
🎙️Second chance
🌭Open door spice
🎙️LGBQT representation
🌭Self growth

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
This was an enjoyable second chance romance with a witty, initially likable FMC and some great tension. It was decently paced, well-written, and the spice was perfection 👌🏻. That’s where my praise ends unfortunately. While book explores themes of misogyny and LGBTQ+ positivity, which are indeed important, at times they felt a little heavy-handed. Like the book was a PSA and not a romance. As the story progressed, the FMC became almost insufferable to listen to and some antagonist characters were annoyingly vile. I listened to the audiobook alongside the ebook, and the narrator truly elevated the experience. I found the ebook alone to not have that extra “thing” a story needs to keep me wanting more. The romance aspect of the story and audio narration carried it all for me. I’d recommend this to romance readers who enjoy good banter, emotional depth, and some “satisfying” spice 🌶️.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴:

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: Misogyny, bullying


*Thank you @NetGalley, @MacMillan.Audio and @StMartinsPress for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

#WellActually

Well, Actually completely stole my heart. I read it and listened to the audiobook—and let me tell you, both experiences were incredible. The narration brought even more life to these already unforgettable characters. It felt like I was living the story right alongside them.

The heroine is neurodivergent, brilliant, vulnerable, and so deeply relatable. Her voice (on the page and in my ears) felt like a friend I didn’t know I needed. The banter sparkles, the romance simmers, and the emotional moments hit in all the right places.

But what truly stuck with me? How this story embraces the messy, real parts of life and love—and still finds so much beauty in them. It’s funny, fierce, and quietly empowering.

If you're looking for a romance that balances heart and humor with characters that feel like real people, Well, Actually is a must—whether you read it, listen to it, or do both like I did. ❤️

Just finished the audiobook for Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings and I’m obsessed all over again. I read this earlier in the year, but the audio? Took it to a whole new level. The narrator nailed both characters . I was giggling, kicking my feet, and swooning non-stop. The banter? Top tier. The vibes? Immaculate. 10/10 recommend reading or listening you can’t go wrong.

Second chance romance. I loved the characters. This book was funny and moved quickly. A messy, modern day novel that hooked me right away. Also, if you don’t like your books spicy.. don’t read this! It was extra spicy. 🌶️

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was not expecting to be absolutely head over heels with this book! Everything was perfection. I loved the characters, the tension between them, and the humor! I am absolutely going to be buying a physical copy for my shelf, because this is now an immediate favorite of mine!

Thank you so much for the ARC!

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings has taken the spot as one of my favorite romcoms of 2025.

Written from a single POV of the female MC, this story follows her as she drunkenly calls out her ex from college on social media, which leads to them working together…and the rest of the love story unfolds from there.

This romcom wasn’t only highly entertaining with many laugh out loud moments, but had deep emotional storylines that required growth from both characters. The secondary characters were special, each bringing fun elements to the story to support the hero and heroine.

If you love to laugh but also love a deep connection to the story you’re reading, this romcom is for you!

I listened to the audiobook version of this story which was incredibly well done by a single narrator. I actually recently listened to an audiobook of a middle grade story with my daughter, which had the same narrator. My brain had an interesting time switching from middle grade level listening with this narrator, to this quite spicy romcom, but I wouldn’t change the narrator one bit! She does an amazing job. I listened at 1.5x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.5-1.75x).

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listeners copy.

Great banter - “You’re the human equivalent of Comic Sans”
Our FMC is very sarcastic, which I love, but it can come across as too rude/cold - which works in this book as she’s trying to put up a wall between herself and the guy, but it made her a bit unlikable sometimes. He was the most patient and tenacious guy being there for her even when she acted like she didn’t really want him around. I really liked them together. The characters felt real and flawed but deep down just want to be respected and loved. This was a great summer read!

This sounded like a fun concept - the description and cover reminded me of Chicken Shop Date. I love the fake dating trope, but the second-chance, miscommunication aspect wasn't for me. I think Eva overreacted and held onto that college situationship for much longer than she should have. While Riley was immature and a fuck boy - Eva is so stubborn she cant even see that people change and are different from their college selves. It takes Riley confessing very deep and personal things for Eva to even consider he might be a good person despite all the work he is doing currently.

I also don't love that Eva was written as so mean and angry. I get that her character isn't supposed to be super likeable, but I think the author could have written her in a better light.

I think we all have a college relationship that didnt end on the best terms I just couldnt imagine it living rent free in my head for so long.

Thank you Mazey Eddings, Macmillan Audio, Ariela Crow, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I did read this on Audio and I liked the narrator but her Riley voice was not my favorite - he had too much of a breathy fuck boy voice lol

Overall the book is an entertaining read and had a good resolution, but I think there was too much hype around it.

Tropes: Second chances, glasses-wearing-hero
Rating: 3/5 for story. 4/5 for narration
I'll rate it separately for the narration and the story line:

Narration:
4/5 I liked how Ms. Ariela Crow narrated it. Especially her emotions for the MFC were well spoke. Her narration for the MMC was muffled and gruff, and sounded fake (just being honest).


Story:
This had the potential to be a great story. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the biggest "Not like other girls" and 'not like other men' energy fest. It was so jarring, too. I was rooting for the MFC to be tough, but she would just lose her mind when the MMC showed up. For his part, he is shown to be a complete ass in the past, but now he's literally perfect?

Their interaction is also super weird. She hates him - no, she lusts after him, no, she hates him, no- she hates him. The fact that she can't even be honest with herself on this, shows no progress for her. She's way past growth. She has had no therapy, has not addressed her trauma. On the one hand, she literally blames her brothers and sisters for isolating her, but then she's super grateful that they were in her life.

I won't comment on how much the book focused on gender and sexual preferences.