This was such a fun premise and I absolutely loved how our male main character handled every situation! I loved the vulnerability he displayed, how he stood up for our female lead and how he didn't runaway when she needed him most! Excellent example of a book boyfriend!!!

Well, because I was curious I requested this as an Audio ALC and I am so glad that I did!! When I first read the ebook I had rounded down to a 3⭐️ rating but after finishing the audio, I enjoyed it so much more and changed it to a solid 4 star read.
While the narration was a touch slow for me personally, Ariela Crow did a fabulous job! She was able to allow me to embrace the prose and took the edge off how awful I had initially found the FMC to be.

I am fond to leave my initial review below simply to show how a different format can transform a work. My thoughts are still true and valid but having a different experience with the characters allowed me to enjoy it despite their problematic natures.

So in the end, get the audiobook! Oh and I should mention that I am really loving these MacMillan Audio productions. They are always crisp and clear but also the lead in music does such a great job settling the story’s emotions from the start. I find it really helpful.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from MacMillan Audio through NetGalley to read which gave the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

Original review:


3.25⭐️
I have mix feelings about this books. On one hand I enjoyed the overall story and I am a sucker for second chance romances and the writing itself is very good- I mean that in the technical sense. The story flows and is fast paced where I’m sure dans will read it in one sitting.

That being said… I got pulled to this book to begin with for the queer representation and I loved how much there was throughout. However, I do feel like the author created the characters simply to have diversity for diversity sake without having and character development.

Also, the FMC? How awful of a person can she be? I get being snarky as your personality but she treats people awfully. It’s toxic and in some cases abusive.

The MMC? Boring. He has no substance and the amount of abuse that he takes is concerning in 2025 when it’s not called out. I’m fine with having problematic characters and situations but I prefer when the author is responsible and at least brings light to the fact that said behavior is not to be tolerated in reality.

I enjoy when books have a scant sprinkle of current events, pop culture etc.. but this is as if the cap on the jimmy container was loose and they dumped all over the ice cream..
Now everyone not from MA can go Google what a jimmy is the same way folks will have to Google many of these references which will be irrelevant in no time.

Overall, the concepts and story has such promise but the execution was way off base.
And to add, I think I had a big problem with the acknowledgments which refer to the authors sensitivity readers. Obviously didn’t people have different thresholds but I generally don’t have strong reactions to fiction but this to me crossed a line of sorts.

I am thankful to have gotten the eARV for free from St Martins Press through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and SMP for the free AlC and e-book. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I love mazeys writing and how she weaves a story. This may be my new favourites of what she's written. I love how inclusive her books are and the spice whewwwwww.

Suggest giving it a try

5/5☆

3.5 stars

Fans of second chance romance will have fun with this one. Folks who are no longer in their 20s will be reminded of exactly how glad they are about that during this read, too.

Eva is trying hard to make a name for herself as a journalist, but she has a truly degrading role at this time. Rylie, an ex from long ago, has done better in his quest to develop some level of prominence in social media. After viewing one of Rylie's posts, Eva makes what feels like an obvious error by posting a response on her personal account. To the surprise of only Eva, people see it...Rylie included. Ulitmately, the two reconnect and make a business plan that obviously opens the door for a second chance. Not a bad start.

These characters did drive me absolutely bonkers in specific ways. Eva is mean. Really mean. More than that, she whines. I suspect this bothered me more because I listened to the audiobook and there is a real leaning in to that whiny, urgent, whaaaaah kind of vibe. Irritated? Whine. Turned on? Whine. Anxious? Whine. You get it. I'd had it with this very early. On the other hand, Rylie is very likeable but (1) has the worst style (who cares, but some of these details? You're telling me Eva's going for this IRL? Wild.) and (2) this makes it almost disturbing that he wants to put up with Eva. These two are a lot, IMO.

As is typically the case in romance, there are exactly no surprises here, and that's part of the fun. I appreciated the effort to give these characters lives outside of each other, but the professional growth thread with Eva also really fell flat for me.

I've read and enjoyed a few books by this author. While this wasn't my favorite, I definitely recommend it to second chance fans and I'll look forward to what comes next (a second chance of my own)!

Grateful for the ALC of one of my favorite books of the year! I was so happy to get to reread this one ahead of pub day in its audio form. Ariela Crow did a fantastic job narrating. I loved her performance and the subtle nuances of her different vocal tones.

From the cover (which has had me in a chokehold since its reveal) to the last page, I loved everything about this book.

Number one: Eva. I adore her in all her caustic glory. She’s a tender heart deep inside of the tough shell her past and the world at large has made her. She’s also simply someone whose personality has a sharp edge, and good for her! She’s such a nuanced character. She presents herself as tough as nails, she guards her heart, yet she struggles just as much as anyone else with her insecurities and concern about pleasing others before considering her own wants and needs in certain situations. She has never had a place or person who has made her feel unconditionally welcome to be exactly who she is and be loved for it.

Which brings us to Rylie. The shared history between the two of them allows Eva that space because he already hurt her once, so forget dimming any part of herself down. Rylie is the ideal kind of man to be that for her. At 22, he sucked. Sure, we learn more about who he was at that time and it lends a sense of empathy and understanding, but the way he treated Eva as a byproduct sucked and there’s no denying it. The best part is, he knows that and he owns it. AND he’s done the work in the six years since to sort through his mess. He’s grown from who he was at that time. He’s approach and actions and words with Eva are the reward for that work. He’s so smitten with every part of her and isn’t afraid to communicate it while never asking her to change.

I’m sorry I’m writing a dissertation and haven’t even gotten to the actual story yet, but I’m here now. The premise, the set up, the execution, the dynamic shift, and the fallout are all so well done. The pacing, the banter, the balance between humor and deep conversations and emotions, everything. The first “date” had me full-body laughing at the beginning and all in my angsty feelings for Eva and Rylie by the end. One of their “dates” cracked me wide open. The situations the two of them had to face and the way they handled them felt so genuine to both the story and the real world.

Mazey Eddings continues to get better and better with each new book. There’s a reason she’s an auto buy author for me. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC and Macmillian Audio for the ALC, both via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

ARC read: 2/7/25-2/9/25
ALC listen: 7/21/25-7/22/25

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

You should read it if you like:
🧡 black cat / golden retriever
🧡 queer rep 🏳️‍🌈
🧡 the best banter that ever bantered
🧡 second chance romance
🧡 mental health rep

I had read Mazey’s novel, Late Bloomer, and adored it. When offered the chance to read Well, Actually early, I jumped at the chance. Black Cat / Golden Retriever is my favorite trope. Add in THE BEST banter I’ve read this year and you’ve got the formula for a novel I can’t put down.

I related SO heavily to Eva, who uses her wit and sarcasm as a shield. She puts on a mask of a well put together woman so that no one looks deeper to see her real feelings. She’s trying to make a name for herself in a job that she doesn’t love (totally everyone trudging through their 20s).

She gets drunk and makes a reply video to a man who she had a relationship with in college who had made a name for himself trying to break down the walls of toxic masculinity. She calls him out for basically being the exact opposite of person he prides himself on being. Her employer takes the opportunity to monetize this when her video goes viral. They make a deal to go on 6 dates so he can prove to her that he is no longer the man she knew in college. That he had changed for the better over the past 6 years and is the man he presents himself as online.

Will they make it through the 6 dates? Will a spark be rekindled as the dates progress? Will Eva continue to hide behind her mask and shield her feelings with snarky comments? I’ll let you read to figure out the answers!

Update 7/22/25:
I just had the chance to listen to the audiobook before its release. The narrator, Ariela Crow, is new to me, but she did such a wonderful job. She had distinct voices for each character, including the MMC. Not every narrator who voices female characters can pull off a great male character voice. It was low and gravely, just as described by the author.

The banter hits SO much better in audio form. I found myself laughing out loud so many times. Even when I knew what was already going to happen. It made me feel the tension even more between the two main characters.

You should absolutely pick this book up when it punishes on 8/5/25.

Rating this based of the audiobook performance, 10/10. You can never go wrong with Ariel Crow aka Jesse Vilinsky. Her upbeat, cheery voice exudes all things summer vibes. Her boy voice is probably about as good as it gets. I can listen to it without wanting to cringe.

As for the book… this book was just not for me unfortunately. I decided to give it a second chance going in with an open mind because I had seen other ARC reviews say this book was hysterical. When I saw the audio had Ariel Crow I knew if anyone could help this book win me over it would be her. Apparently not even the great Ariel Crow could overshadow the cringiness of this author’s writing. Well, more so the delivery and message more than the writing. I enjoy her writing style, it flows easily and has a natural flow. It even had me laughing from time to time. I just could not get past how toxic the female lead was. She is so mean to the MMC, it was an uncomfortable reading experience. I feel like maybe Mazey Eddings should consider finding a new genre because I don’t think romance is her strong suit.

To be published August 5, 2025

Mazey Eddings did it again with a second-chance romance that tries to go right to the heart strings and will get there, but it does take awhile. Eva Kitt, a journalist whose claim to fame is eating hot dogs with C list people but wants to focus on more serious journalism, goes off on a drunken tirade about a previous hookup (Rylie Cooper) who has now gained some online notoriety. As one may guess, the clip went viral and the redemption story sends them on a series of dates for vlog material. Their friend group really ties most of the story together and builds off the energy Eva and Rylie have. Eva immediately hates everything about the forced dating trope and her energy is a bit of a turn off for awhile but stick with it.
Admittedly, it took me entirely too long to like either of the characters. Eva was kind of a bitch and Cooper made me roll my eyes with his positive masculinity nonsense and how hard he was trying at the onset, it felt artificial at the beginning. (That first date!)
What kept me going was Eddings writing style, which is very similar to that in Late Bloomer.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Nothing I love more than being an absolute menace. Especially to men. Eva Kitt was the biggest ball buster of all time, with the most hilarious comebacks. I want to be her when I grow up. Some might call Eva and unlikable FMC, and to those people I say it’s ok to be wrong. I fully support women using bullying as a coping mechanism. And I love the men who can take it, dish it back, and still love and support their mean ass woman (small love letter to my husband. gross.)

I loved this one. Laughed out loud. The spice was spicing. And the book boyfriend was book boyfriending. And the audiobook? Perfection. Ariela Crow was a perfect Eva Kitt! 10/10 HIGHLY recommend.

First my eyes, and now my ears have been blessed with the audiobook ALC. I don't know what I did in a previous life to deserve this, but thank you, past me (and, more appropriately, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio), for the absolute privilege.

Eva Kitt spends her days scarfing hotdogs on camera while interviewing pseudo-celebrities, and her nights moonlighting as a blogger and aspiring hard-hitting journalist. The days? Rough. Feeling particularly feisty (and a little inebriated) one night, she posts a scathing video calling out her college “ex,” Rylie Cooper--a now-popular podcaster--for his deplorable college behavior. The video goes viral, and suddenly Eva is forced to confront her ex, her past, her stagnating career, and a hearty dose of sexism and nepotism along the way.

This was my first book by Mazey Eddings and, as a huge fan of Chicken Shop Date, I was ALL IN. If you are a fan of witty banter, emotionally mature MMCs, sassy side characters, and porcupine FMCs--prickly shell, soft center--then this is the book for you. I tore through these pages like a woman possessed.

The character growth....the banter....the slow burn...the banter...the pining...the banter...the green flags...THE BANTER.

As our girl would say: Eva, I want to be you when I grow up.

Ariela Crow nails this narration. Her tone is EVERYTHING, perfectly embodying Eva's strength and insecurity. The sass literally slapped me in the face.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Mazey Eddings for the absolute privilege of receiving this ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Mazey Edding's book and the cover literally couldn't be a more spot on of the characters! The cover is originally what pulled me in and I'm so happy it lived up to it. I was fortunate enough to get a print and audio arc of this so I did a tandem read and it was easily top 3 audiobook narrations for me (which is impressive given how much I read/listen to). Mazey's writing and banter is top notch, but also the narrator's personality totally brought it to life! Now as far as the actual book, I hadn't expected this to be such an emotional read but it was worth the tears to read Eva's growth and of course Rylie's unwavering swoon worthy personality. Their personalities shine through so much - I laughed and cried so much, they're perfectly flawed and real.

Eddings’s romcom follows 27-year-old aspiring journalist Eva publicly dating a man she was romantically involved with in college. Rylie seems to have traded his jock and frat days for podcasting about fighting toxic masculinity. The two haven’t kept in touch since he de facto ghosts her, but in a weak and unsober moment, she accidentally calls Rylie out for his toxicity back in college. Her media company capitalizes on the attention she garners and sets up a live-air date. On their date, Rylie asks for a second chance in a series of six dates. After each date, the two debrief their time on his podcast. Between dates one and three, Eva’s feelings for Rylie rekindle, and she lets down her guard to truly give him the second chance he wanted.

The concept of the novel and the initial execution intrigued me. I appreciated the complex characters and the general representation. Eva’s unrelenting sarcasm and the heavy content around social media promotion ultimately leaned too contemporary for my preferences. I ended up skipping through the last third of the book pretty quickly.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC. I shared this review on GoodReads on July 21, 2025 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7759715699).

This witty and charming contemporary romance serves up the perfect blend of rivalry, nostalgia, and sizzling fake-dating tension. The story follows two main characters—former college “sweethearts” turned rival podcast hosts—who haven’t spoken in years since their messy breakup. But when Eva makes a drunken post about Rylie that accidentally goes viral, the two are forced into a series of fake dates for cross-promotion causing sparks to start flying again…and not just the argumentative kind.

What starts as a PR stunt quickly becomes complicated as old feelings resurface. Their chemistry is undeniable, whether they’re debating live on air or navigating awkward “candid” date moments for their listeners. The banter is sharp, the emotional tension is palpable, and the slow-burn second chance romance will leave you grinning.

Perfect for fans of “enemies”-to-lovers, second chances, and media-centered love stories, this book delivers heart, humor, and just the right amount of angst. You’ll find yourself rooting for these two to stop faking it—and finally admit what’s been real all along. If you like the famous internet shows, Chicken Shop Date and Hot Ones, this book is for you!

This book was such a delight—truly one of those hidden gems I just want to shove into everyone’s hands. It gave me major Book Lovers by Emily Henry vibes (which, let’s be real, is the highest compliment I can give). I love a sharp, snarky FMC who doesn’t have to soften or play nice to be lovable, and Eva nails that. She’s smart, driven, a little emotionally guarded, and just petty enough to keep things interesting—and I adored her for it.

And then there’s Rylie. Sweet, soft, patient Rylie. My actual dream man in fictional form. He’s the perfect foil to Eva’s bite—gentle in all the right ways but never boring. Every scene with him had me full-on swooning.

Were there moments I wanted to shake Eva? Absolutely. But honestly, that just made the story feel more real. She’s complicated and stubborn, and watching her slowly open up was so satisfying. The chemistry? Off the charts. The banter? A+. The secondhand embarrassment? Painfully delicious.

This one was the perfect mix of heart, heat, and humor. If you’re a fan of fierce girls with walls up and the soft boys who patiently climb them, add this to your TBR immediately.

This was surprisingly good. I went in with no expectations. I love, love the banter. A Plus. The characters had great chemistry and I laughed out loud at several moments. The narrator was incredible.

This book was an absolute delight—truly a gem! It gave me serious Book Lovers by Emily Henry vibes, which is high praise in my world. I adore a love story featuring an icy, snarky female main character, especially when she’s unapologetically herself and not expected to soften or change. Eva is the perfect example: smart, hard-working, driven, and carrying just enough of a chip on her shoulder to make things interesting.

And then there’s Rylie. Oh, sweet, sweet Rylie—what a dreamboat! I’m a sucker for a soft boy, and he’s the epitome of one. He’s kind, patient, and the perfect counterbalance to Eva’s sharp edges. Honestly, every scene with him just made my heart melt.

There were definitely moments when I wanted to reach into the pages and shake Eva, but that’s part of what made the story so enjoyable. She’s complex, flawed, and stubborn—just as she should be. The chemistry between Eva and Rylie was sizzling, the humor had me grinning ear to ear, and the second-hand embarrassment? Totally worth it for the payoff.

This book was the perfect blend of sharp wit, heartfelt romance, and laugh-out-loud moments. I can’t recommend it enough! If you love a story with a fiery FMC and a lovable soft boy, this one’s a must-read.

“Well, Actually” was a sharp and emotionally honest rom-com with crackling banter and surprising depth. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Eva and Rylie, and I appreciated how the story explored mental health and toxic masculinity in a way that felt both thoughtful and genuine. That said, Eva’s constant sarcasm made her a little hard to warm up to at times, and a few moments in the story felt a bit repetitive. I also would’ve liked to see more depth in the supporting cast, especially her coworkers. Still, it was a fun, modern romance with something to say.

The narrator, Ariela Crow, had a nice voice, but her delivery felt a bit flat. It didn’t have much emotion, which made some of the humor and deeper moments fall a little short. While her narration style didn’t quite work for me, I still really enjoyed the story overall.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for an advance audiobook in exchange for my review.

4.5 ⭐️

wow this narrator was FABULOUS!!! she truly brought these two fools to life in the best way! i can’t stop GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET!

i already KNOW everyone and their mama is going to hate eva. she stood for angry girl rights and we only want nice, palatable women in our romances 😃 it was also very clearly inspired by amelia’s chicken shop dates iykyk. and yet, being in her head you completely understand where her guardedness comes from, including why she’s so untrusting of cooper (while also being laugh out loud funny with a touch of unputdownable-ness for pizazz!)

COOPER on the other hand was a fucking delight 😫 I NEED THIS KID WITH AN UNRIVALED PASSION i swear to everything holy y’all. greenest of green flags. mouth of a sailor starring in a porno vibes 🙂‍↕️ (the smut literally goes so hard, it is *actually* panty-melting) he is the most supportive, persistent, loving, emotional available kids out there and he’s absolutely perfect for her. this is why i read romance. mazey eddings, you continue to raise the bar!

It took me a bit to warm up to Eva, with her strong black cat personality but all the bite masks a vulnerable woman who's never felt like she was enough to be loved for who she was, making her DEEPLY relatable. When a video she posts lambasting her semi-famous podcaster ex, Riley, goes viral, her boss practically forces her to capitalize on her ten minutes of fame for clicks to drive traffic to the online site she works for.

What follows is a fun, emotional, second chance romance that has Eva and Riley going on six dates and rehashing them on his podcast but things get messy when the two give in to the very real chemistry that still lingers between them. I loved that Riley wouldn't let Eva run away from her feelings!! One of their dates even involves seeing a therapist together and unpacking the unresolved feelings from their breakup when Riley ghosted her in college.

This was also full of spicy open door scenes, had two fully dimensional queer MCs (Eva's pan, Riley's bi), included a fun cameo where Eva does an interview with Lizzie from a past book and saw Eva standing up for herself against workplace bullying and harassment. Highly recommended for fans of books like Truly madly deeply by Alexandra Bellefleur. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!