5⭐️ gahhhhh this was perfect 🥹

Eva feeling like she’s difficult to love, & the way Cooper is soooo down bad for her 😭

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC & MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

✦ tropes & stuff:
💫 second chance
💔 hate to love
🐈‍⬛ black cat x golden retriever
🌭 workplace (podcaster x interviewer/host of “Sausage Talk”)
🥸 fake(ish) dating
💙 he falls first (OBSESSED)
🧠 mental health rep
🌈 bi x pan rep
💖 single 1st person pov/single narration

•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•

🎧 audio+ebook | ⭐️: 5 | 🌶️: 3 |

I loved everything about this.

Their banter was absolutely TOP TIER my goodness 👌🏼 and Eva’s inner dialogue was absolutely hilarious.
I loved her entire being.

Loved their nicknames for each other - her calling him “baby girl” and him calling her “Kitten” or “little demon” 🤭 how she *hates* it but really loves it

You can tell Eva is a girl with a tough exterior while inside she’s just heartbroken, wanting and deserving to be loved for who she is, and NOT HAVE TO CHANGE A SINGLE THING ABOUT HER! 💔

Cooper showing Eva that someone could be there for her, and not abandon her or leave, or find her to be “too much” 🥹🥹🥹

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Ariela Crowe is the PERFECT Eva - she captured her spunky personality and heart so well!
I wasn’t a huge fan of her “man voice” but that is often a struggle for me with a single narrator.

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Pub Date: 8/5/25
Format: audio/ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adore Mazey Eddings and her books have such an incredible mix of charm, vulnerability, and steam. Well, Actually was one of my most anticipated romance releases of the year and I was so excited to get my grubby little paws on it early so big thank you to Netgalley and St Martins for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is a second chance romance that has the backdrop of an online interview called Sausage Talk where our FMC interviews celebrities over hotdogs. I’m sorry but this is genius and I love Mazey’s silly genius brain so much. Basically our host Eva ends up having her ex on the show and they have to go on some dates for content. Oh nooooo what ever will they do.

I am obsessed with this book’s love interest Riley. He is so genuine and honest from the jump and his no bullshit approach is so refreshing. He was so soft and kind but also didn’t let himself be pushed around which I loved.

Where I did have a bit of an issue with this book is unfortunately Eva was very grating. I love how Mazey can write flawed female main characters because hi hello we are all flawed and still worthy of love. However, Eva’s continued immaturity in this novel did grate on me after a while.

That being said, I did read the first 55% of this book in audio format and honestly almost DNF’d it because of my feelings on Eva and a friend told me to switch to the ebook and I am so glad I did. I think a lot of my negative feelings regarding Eva were *highly* influenced by the narrator. I really struggled with how she made a complex character incredibly whiny and also made everyone so breathy.

SO all of that being said I highly recommend this book (though it still didn’t top The Plus One for me I think it will forever remain my favorite) but please eyeball read this one if you can! It has all the wit and banter that you love and expect from Eddings and I think it’s going to be a great success!

While this book is definitely fast-paced and fun, I struggled with the MMC. I liked who he was in the present, but his past choices and the lack of insight into how he got from there to here left me feeling a bit detached. I appreciated the growth, but I wish we’d seen more of that journey unfold.

The FMC, on the other hand, was hilarious and unexpectedly relatable. I know she might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I loved her. The sass is a shield—she just wants to be loved, and I felt that deeply.

Overall, it was an entertaining read, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression.

Thank you so much to @netgalley , @macmillan.audio & Mazey Eddings for this ALC copy of Well Actually! I absolutely loved this book in audio form and the way the narrator brought both Eva and Rylie to life!

Quick Synopsis:
Viral drama. Fake dates. Real feelings.
When Eva’s takedown of her ex Rylie goes viral, the last thing she expects is a second chance. But as their public “redemption arc” plays out, the banter turns real and so do their feelings.

My thoughts:
This book was such a fun read that I flew through! I absolutely loved Rylie Cooper our FMC and his “slutty little glasses” he’s the golden retriever type done right . Eva Kitt, our black cat heroine, was equally sharp, layered, and relatable. Their dynamic had me hooked from the start, especially with the mix of second chance and frenemie-to-lovers tropes, which are always a win for me.

What made this story hit even deeper was how much I saw pieces of my own college experiences reflected in both Eva and Rylie. Like Eva I was definitely hurt by a couple relationships that left a less than desirable taste in my mouth & like Rylie I had gone through a life/family altering experience my freshman year of college that greatly affect my experience and opening up to others.

Mazey Eddings balances laugh-out-loud humor with truly touching emotional moments, and I was here for all of it. Like “Three pump Chump” & “ Jumforter” 🤣….

I especially appreciated how Rylie helped bring out Eva’s softer, more vulnerable side, it made her growth throughout the story feel real and earned. Once they worked through their past hurts, they could see each other for who they were now and not 10 years in the past.

There were definitely moments of frustration, especially with some of the toxic coworkers and so called “friends” in Eva’s life (ugh ), but watching her navigate that and come into her own was incredibly satisfying. Definitely a spicy, sweet, and emotionally layered rom-com that left me smiling!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.25/5 stars!

At first, I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about this one… but by the end? I loved it!! 😍 Mazey Eddings absolutely delivered with a romance that felt smart, raw, and surprisingly real.

This book has ✨top-tier banter✨, a romance that’s both sweet and thoughtful, and a delightfully unapologetic FMC who’s here to shake things up. Eva is sass incarnate 🔥—bold, loud, emotional, and completely herself in every moment. Not everyone will vibe with her anger or bitterness, but that’s exactly what made her feel authentic to me. Watching her grow without ever losing her edge? SO satisfying. 💪💋

And Riley?? Our MMC was serving emotional intelligence on a silver platter. 🧠💖 He’s gentle, grounded, and genuinely wants to do better—which is exactly the kind of energy we need more of in romance books.

The story itself might hit a little too close to home for some—it’s honest, a little messy, and not always neat. But that’s what made it feel so refreshingly real to me. 🙌

Also… I have to ask… is this inspired by Amelia’s Chicken Shack Date Interviews on YouTube?? Because I was getting those vibes and I LOVED IT. 🍗📹

This was my first Mazey Eddings book, but definitely not my last!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the author, and MacMillan Audio for the advance listen. 🎧💜

I voluntarily read, listened to, and reviewed advanced copies of this book and audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Eva desperately wants to be taken seriously as a journalist but she’s stuck interviewing low ranking celebrities while they eat hotdogs. A series of bad decisions leads her to drunkenly call out her college ex, Rylie, on social media. With her career now hanging in jeopardy, she agrees to work with him on a new segment of her show.

Well, Actually is a stand-alone contemporary romance. This story of second chances does contain open-door content.

Eva has an aggressively relatable personality and I love her for it. Mazey Eddings always writes exceptional dialogue and the banter in Well, Actually is top tier. The more hate and disgust Eva throws at Rylie, the more he just wants to follow her around like a little puppy. While the relationship between Eva and Rylie is obviously crucial to the plot, I also enjoyed watching Eva figure out what she wanted for herself beyond romance. Eva’s personal growth rounds out the story in an important way.

This is one of the rare times in which I preferred reading the ebook to listening to the audio.

Mazey Eddings is one of my auto-buy authors. I can’t wait to see what she has next for her readers. I know it’s going to be delightful, whatever it may be.

What a delight! The deadpan humor, the banter, the (initially, at least) unlikable heroine. I loved that this book was written all from Eva's POV - it made Rylie's college days red flags brighter and easy to spot. The second chance was well executed - Rylie going to therapy and working on himself was a great transformation. I appreciated that he was not well and was fully aware of it at the time.

Ariela Crow's voices are great - her guy voice is fantastic! I found the pacing of the narration at 1.0 speed to be glacially slow though. I normally listen to books at 1.25x, and I bumped this up to 1.75 to remain engaged.

ALC review! 

Well, Actually was good! It was a fun story with some fabulous banter between Eva and Rylie.
The narrator was great. The pacing was good, and she was able to play both Eva and Rylie perfectly. She did a great job adding emotion and excitement where it fit.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

Well Actually is the tale of Eva and Rylee, successful in their respective careers, and once college lovers, finding their way back to each other after Eva makes a drunk TikTok. They go on dates in hopes to recover their tarnished reputations. They find something more meaningful in the end! There is LGBTQ+ representation in this book, mentions of work place abuse, and mentions of death.
There were SO many laugh out loud moments, I loved the detail the author put into each character.
Although Eva could be hard to stand at times, this is due to her avoidant attachment. So although it can be frustrating, it still makes sense to the story. She projected confidence, but was deeply insecure about herself, and a people-pleaser. She is also passionate and hilarious! Black cat vibes
Rylee is a total frat boy turned feminist goofball. Stricken by grief, he changed his life around. He is loyal, quirky, and honestly kinda cringey but it works for him. I loved his sweatshirts and denim comforter! He is just such an oddball.
This book had open door spice, which is totally okay, just not my style.


Memorable quotes🤩
“He reminded me of how a goose flaps its wings”
“Slutty little glasses”
“I’m a freak in the jeats”

Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

unfortunately this wasn't for me. i cannot keep my focus on this book . dnf 30% thankful i got the audio arc

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy! You can pick up Well, Actually on August 5, 2025.

Mazey Eddings' writing was absolutely delightful in this book. Her banter and dialogue were whip-smart and had me genuinely laughing out loud. I wish I could meet Eva and Riley in real life just to see their dynamic play out before my eyes.

But the heart of this book isn't wittiness and one-upping rival journalists. In reality, we see two people who were very hurt in their past attempting to reconcile and acknowledge how far they've come as adults. Eva is one of the most guarded characters I've ever read, and while I understand why her emotional walls are in place, it was wonderful to see her becoming more vulnerable with Riley. And, in a similar vein, it was heartwarming to see a man who hides behind charm and humor emerge from his shell and be vulnerable in return.

Their relationship was so electric (as were their spicy scenes), but it didn't get to that point easily. I wish Eva hadn't let her fear and anger control her behavior toward Riley for quite as long as it did, especially when he did nothing in the present to deserve it. But again, I understand where she's coming from and why she was reluctant to accept that he'd changed.

Overall, if you love a rivals-to-lovers, second-chance romance with the biggest black cat and golden retriever dynamic imaginable, then pick up this book! Also, if you love the vibes of Amelia from Chicken Shop Date and Andrew Garfield, this is your book.

🔥🪭 Whew — I had to grab a fan after finishing another FIVE STAR sizzling romcom from Mazey Eddings! And honestly, I’d love a sequel about Eva and Rylie — I’m not ready to say goodbye to them yet!

This book checked all the boxes for me:
✅ A wild social media post gone totally wrong 📱
✅ Dark humor, sarcastic jokes, and hilarious banter 🗣️
✅ A black cat vs golden retriever romance vibe 🐈‍⬛🦮
✅ Great representation of characters from different backgrounds

And what made it even better? The audiobook narrator, Ariela Crow, was amazing! She brought Eva and Rylie to life and made their back-and-forth banter even more fun to listen to!

I first discovered Mazey Eddings through her A Brush with Love series, which I also totally recommend. I seriously can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Mazey Eddings, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read this charming and spicy book before it comes out on August 5th, 2025!

Publication: August 5th, 2025
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings

I really loved this one. The second-chance romance was full of banter, tension, and real emotion. I felt so much for these characters, Eva was strong and sharp, and Rylie had that sweet golden retriever charm but with real growth. Their chemistry was everything. Plus, the narration was so well done, it pulled me in and made the story even better. Right now it’s a 4.5, but the more I think about it, the closer it gets to a 5.

Thank You, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Nik’s ARC Review
📚 Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
🎧 Audiobook Length: 11 hr 33 min
💗 Genre: Contemporary romance
📕 When Eva posts a viral video calling out her ex, now a well known social media star, their past is suddenly put in the spotlight. To save his reputation, Rylie proposes a series of public dates to prove he’s changed. Eva hesitantly agrees, hoping the exposure will help her with her own career. But as Eva and Rylie begin to unpack the past and what went wrong, the question becomes is this just damage control or a really a second chance at love?

👩‍❤️‍👨 OTP Energy: 5/5
I was so anti-Rylie in the beginning and loved when Eva kept putting him in his place. Once these two confronted what went wrong between them, I was rooting for them until the end. Rylie turned out to be the golden retriever boyfriend every girl hopes for and it was refreshing to finally see Eva put her guard down for him.

🎙️ Narrator Energy: 5/5
Ariela Crow’s performance as Eva was top tier. Her reactions to the drunken video and accidental text felt so real. It was like I was standing next to a friend mid-freakout, trying my best not to laugh while giving my moral support.

💚 Emotional Impact: 4/5
This book had me laughing at Eva’s social media mishaps and swooning over Rylie’s openness to his vulnerability. Can we take a moment for the couple’s therapy chapter though? That gave me all the feels.

⭐️ Final Verdict: 4/5
It’s rare to find a rom-com that has truly comical moments, the spice we all love and need while also diving deep into bigger themes such as grief and sexuality. I am looking forward to reading more by Eddings. Well, Actually did not let me down.

4.25⭐️ Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for the alc in exchange for an honest review!

I've had a copy of the arc sitting on my kindle for awhile now (for shame) and got approved for the alc recently and opted to listen to 'Well, Actually'. I will say, Ariela Crow did an excellent job narrating Riley Cooper. I typically don't like a female narrated male, i.e. I never have, but WOW did she have me blushing and giggling and fanning myself! She also definitely brought the sass and attitude that was Eva Kitt, almost too well lol. To the point that I almost would have preferred to read this and create my own version of Eva in my mind, but it didn't take away from the overall experience and please don't let that deter you! I would absolutely recommend the audiobook.

This is a story about two hot nerds getting a second chance at a relationship in a completely unconventional, but also modern and relatable, way. And I had an absolutely amazing time. Mazey Eddings writing style is witty and sharp, but she also has this way of fleshing out the most guarded and vulnerable emotions in her characters. I could see how other's couldn't move past Eva's mean exterior, but I am glad I gave her chance, because it was ultimately just a facade. Eva has hurts just like any woman, man, or non-binary individual and she just hasn't learned how to efficiently cope with them. Which I get was pretty annoying. Especially at 70% in, I was thinking, if this girl does not get on board with this man who is so clearly down bad for her...I might well, actually lose it lol. She and Riley were perfectly matched for one another, however. Like I said, two hot nerds. I liiiiived for their banter and the spice wasn't too bad either, hehe. Eva's work environment was infuriating, but I'm sure a completely 100% accurate representation of corporate America. Eddings does a great job of making that the central conflict (thank god no third act break up) and in that way I think so many women will be able to relate. Here's to hoping that they can just find a Riley Cooper to cheer them on ;) I will be purchasing a trophy copy on August 5th ♡ ︎

A bonkers rom-com with a prickly heroine who hosts a pop culture segment interviewing celebrities over hot dogs. When a drunken rant about an ex who now has a podcast goes viral, she must have him on her show and agree to 6 do-over dates. Of course sparks fly along the way!

There were scenes that genuinely made me laugh out loud and I think this could be adapted easily for film. The heroine is kind of insufferable at times, but the hero is into it and I think they make it work. An entertaining romance that's clearly drawing on that woman who does the chicken shop celebrity interviews in the UK! The audio narration is really excellent with the single narrator nailing the two characters. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

When Eva calls out her college ex, Riley, on social media for the man he used to be not measuring up to who he claims to be today, six years later, the two reunite for publicity and ad revenue. Except Riley never got over Eva, and she thinks it’s all for show.

I couldn’t help but be obsessed with this story. I love a snarky, sassy, stubborn FMC. Eva knows how to put Riley in his place. I unfortunately could relate to her past trauma that had her second-guessing how anyone would put up with her, stick with her. I loved reading Riley’s version of showing up for Eva.

The secondary characters were perfect, except for the dick bags Eva worked with. Since this was my first Macey Eddings book, I look forward to reading the stories the secondary characters starred in.

Apparently I am ignorant to the real-life social media inspiration for this story, and maybe that allowed me to truly enjoy the book.

I was able to experience this story via audio thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. Narrator Ariel Crow put on an incredible performance. I no doubt enjoyed this story more because of Ariel’s narration.

This was my first read from Mazey Eddings and I’m immediately putting her other books in my cart!

I couldn’t get enough of Riley and Ada!! Like please Mazey, give me more!!! The banter and funny quips between them was delicious.

After ghosting Ada from their two-month-long situationship in college, she’s always held a grudge against Riley Cooper. Since Riley, she hasn’t been able to feel like she deserves love. When she calls him out on social media years later, he begs her for a second chance, to turn his red flags to green. She agrees to six dates with him, while they keep their social channels updated on the saga. If you loved the Andrew Garfield x Amelia Dimoldenberg chicken shop date, you will be drooling over Well, Actually!!

🌭 Bi MMCs
🌭 Slutty little glasses
🌭 Mental health rep (couples therapy!)
🌭 Hate to love
🌭 Black cat x golden retriever
🌭 Second chance

I LOVED this book! HOWEVER, the audio took me out of it. I love this narrator but I'm sorry to say that I don't think adult fiction is for her. I hate saying that so much but I have to be honest about what I thought about the audiobook! Her voice felt too young for this character and it felt uncomfortable during the spicy scenes.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for the ARC!

First, thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to listen to Well, Actually early. I really enjoyed this audio book. The narrator did a good job of keeping the story entertaining. The banter between the 2 main characters was beautiful. I love a snarky quick witted fmc!
Things to note:
- second chance romance
- grumpy/ sunshine
- queer representation
- open door spice

Overall it was a solid romcom! If you are a fan of a golden retriever mmc, this one is for you!

I loved the narration in this book. The story started out great. Eva was strong, clever, and funny. But in her interactions with Rylie, she turned to mush. She completely lost her backbone. DNF ~20%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.