Thank you to NetGalley and @MacMillanAudio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, Actually is a fun blend of messy feelings, sharp humor, and second chances but with a feminist twist.

Eva Kitt’s life hasn’t gone quite to plan. Instead of chasing hard hitting stories, she’s stuck interviewing washed up celebs over questionable hot dogs. But when she calls out her ex, Rylie Cooper, during a taping of her show and it goes viral, everything shifts. Rylie isn’t just any ex, he’s now a well known “woke” influencer teaching men how not to be trash. Awkward.

Forced back into each other’s orbit, Rylie proposes a bizarre redemption arc: public dates with Eva, posted to his channel, in hopes of proving he’s changed. Eva, still pissed (and rightfully so), agrees but mostly to roast him and ride the attention wave.

I loved how Mazey Eddings plays with power dynamics, social media culture, and personal growth here. Eva is prickly, smart, and hilarious. Rylie walks a tightrope between charming and infuriating, and watching them slowly dismantle their baggage is so satisfying.

The banter is A+, and the chemistry builds in that enemies-to-lovers but make it slightly traumatized kind of way. That said, the pacing does wobble in spots. Some moments felt a bit stretched or repetitive but overall, the story holds up with heart and humor. I can't forget to mention Ariela Crow the narrator, who did a fantastic job bringing to life the characters and the story.

If you like a rom-com with teeth, accountability, and an FMC who doesn't hold back, this is the audiobook for you!

4 Stars!

#NetGalley, #WellActually, #MazeyEddings, #MacMillanAudio

Well, Actually
Mazey Eddings
Pub: 8/5
4☆

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, a beloved social media personality that has built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners.

Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed. Eva refuses to play nice, but agrees to the scheme to advance her own career and continue defaming Rylie’s good name. When these manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.

My Thoughts:
Well, Actually was a fun, banter filled, second chance romance. I adore Mazey and her writing so much. Her books are always so entertaining to read and have me cracking up with her style of humor. Rylie and Eva’s romance was cute, steamy, and funny but also layered with emotional depth. Eddings did great job balancing everything out to give us an authentic feeling story with realistic characters.

What I enjoyed;
🌭 Second Chance
🌭 Workplace Romance
🌭 Black Cat X Golden Retreiver
🌭 Snarky/Witty Banter
🌭 Mental Health Rep
🌭 Bi/Pan Rep
🌭 Jomforter 🤣
🌭 Cameos

I alternated between reading with my eyes and ears and it was a great mix. Ariela Crow’s narration was so well paired to bring Eddings words to life.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me both a digital ARC and an ALC of Well, Actually. I experienced this book with both my eyes and ears, which created the perfect immersive reading experience. Although M/F romance isn't usually my go-to, I made an exception because I thoroughly enjoyed Eddings’s Late Bloomer last year and was eager to see what she would do next.

From the start, Eva’s vibe is reminiscent of Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Date persona—deadpan, self-aware, and quietly chaotic. She interviews B-list celebrities on a hot dog vlog she clearly doesn’t enjoy hosting, while secretly nurturing a dream of becoming a serious journalist through a blog almost no one reads. She’s stuck, frustrated, and burning with unresolved resentment toward her college ex, Rylie Cooper—now a beloved social media influencer who peddles relationship advice and dismantles toxic masculinity… conveniently leaving out his own history of toxic behavior.

The catalyst for the story is a tipsy, emotionally charged video Eva posts in response to one of Rylie’s videos—one where he describes red flags in relationships that, ironically, describe how he treated Eva. This viral moment sets off a public and professional entanglement between the two, one that is sometimes hilarious (their first date is a comedic disaster) and often tense. Eddings has a knack for early comedic beats, and I genuinely laughed out loud—startling my wife across the room—during some of their more slapstick encounters.

But the story shifts tonally as their relationship deepens, and that’s where it began to lose its footing for me. As a demisexual reader, I struggled with how the emotional and psychological complexity of Eva's character clashed with the overall tone of the romance. While it’s clear that Eva’s cutting persona is a shield developed from past trauma, it’s difficult to see what Rylie sees in the guarded, performative version of her he insists on chasing. And even when things between them begin to improve, their dynamic still leans heavily on biting banter and barbed comments that never quite landed as romantic for me.

There’s a lot happening in Well, Actually—personal growth, workplace politics, media commentary, romantic tension—and while much of it is compelling, it occasionally felt like too much. The emotional roller coaster left me unsure how to feel, especially when certain harmful behaviors were left unchecked or insufficiently addressed. I admire Eddings’s willingness to explore complicated characters and uncomfortable truths, but in the end, I couldn’t quite suspend disbelief enough to feel fully satisfied.

This book has its strengths, particularly in the way it opens up conversations about performative allyship, emotional boundaries, and authenticity. But ultimately, this particular ride—while occasionally funny and sharp—wasn’t one I’d choose to take again.

I had such a blast reading this book! It was the perfect mix of humor, heart, and just the right amount of tension. The whole second chance theme really got me—there's something so satisfying about seeing characters who, despite everything, find their way back to each other. But what I loved even more was the man who didn't stop at the first obstacle. It’s so refreshing when a character pushes through and takes initiative instead of shying away when things get tough. Watching him fight for what he wanted made the story feel even more rewarding.

And the fake dating on social media? I could not stop laughing! It brought such a fun, modern twist to the story. The way the characters navigated it was so entertaining, and their interactions were just perfect. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and it was so easy to get lost in their story. It felt real, messy, and completely relatable.

I loved how the book balanced humor and emotions. One minute I was laughing out loud, and the next, I was genuinely invested in their journey. It’s one of those books that pulls you in and keeps you hooked, not just because of the plot, but because of the characters who feel like they could be real people.

Eva Kitt's journalism career at SoundBites is far from glamorous; her webshow "Sausage Talk" involves eating lukewarm hot dogs with B-list celebrities – definitely not her dream job. After one too many drinks, Eva leaves a scathing stitch on an ex-boyfriend's video, publicly calling him out. The video explodes, and her bosses, naturally, decide to capitalize on the viral moment.

To be honest, Eva was so annoying at the beginning of this book that I almost stopped reading. Her snarkiness was a tough sell! Thankfully, the narrator's fantastic performance kept me going. Things get interesting when Riley Cooper, the ex-boyfriend and a fairly famous podcaster, comes onto "Sausage Talk," determined to redeem himself. He convinces Eva to sign up for six dates, hoping to prove he's changed.

I absolutely loved Eva and Riley's romance, especially when they bravely attended couples therapy to clear the air. It was a highlight! And as a fan of the author, I cheered for the cameo by Lizzie Blake, from the first book I read by her. As the story unfolded, learning about Eva's hidden vulnerabilities and the reasons behind her sharp exterior made me feel for her, and I eventually grew to really like her. Both the writing and the narration were thoroughly enjoyable.

Eva Kitt and Rylie Cooper, with his slutty little glasses, could run me over with his PT Cruiser, and I would say thank you. That is all.

Mazey, once again I am in awe of your storytelling. With complex characters, well-rounded backstories, workplace drama and power dynamics, the confrontation of toxic masculinity, the ups and downs of going viral, and intentional, diverse queer representation, Well, Actually has it all. 10/10. No notes. It's perfection. (And the cameos from previous characters had me grinning--I've been a Mazey fan since the very beginning!)

Well, Actually a single POV, queer, second-chance, black cat x golden retriever romance with a LOT of hotdogs (not a euphemism), and it's everything I could have asked for and more. The audiobook narrator Ariela Crow delivered a PHENOMENAL performance. Her narration was immersive, and I instantly sank down into the story. I kept looking for more chores to do around the house, just so I could keep listening.

This unfortunately didn’t work for me personally. I didn’t love the writing style at all. It’s my first book by this author so perhaps I will pass on them. The style felt like it was trying too hard to be literary but then had slang and strange phrases. It just didn’t mesh well, especially heard out loud via audio. Unclear if it was delivery by the narrator or the writing that made it not work.

Greatly appreciate the advance copy in exchange for my honest review! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

This one didn’t quite land for me. The narrator, Ariela Crow, brought a lot of energy—think perky cheerleader meets mildly condescending teen. It didn’t suit the story, at least not for my ears.

As for the plot, the whole “we haven’t spoken in six years but let’s act like it’s been six minutes” dynamic didn’t ring true. I kept waiting for some emotional buildup or tension to make the reconnection believable, but it never really came. Maybe I just wasn’t the right audience for this one.

Readers will either love this book or hate it. There won’t be much middle ground. Why, you ask. Eva, the FMC. She’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but, boy, is she mine.

The Eva you see and the Eva you get are the Evas she chooses to show you. The host of a pop culture podcast, Eva makes a living being crass, irreverent, and sarcastic. She has a quick wit, sharp tongue, and unlimited supply of snark. It’s not her dream job of being a hard hitting journalist, but it pays the bills. One night and a few glasses of bubbly in, she stumbles across a podcast hosted by the college boyfriend who ghosted her. His entire schtick is about fighting against toxic masculinity —the exact opposite of the frat dude he was in college. She rage records a rebuttal and, oops, somehow it goes viral. Her bosses see it as an opportunity to capitalize on her 15 minutes of fame and arrange for her to interview Rylie Cooper; her nemesis. Rylie claims to be a changed man and proposes a series of dates to prove it. Hold on; it’s about to get hot in here!

HELLO!!!! From the moment Eva and Rylie are reunited it is like setting off a barrage of fireworks - or dynamite - or TNT. They are each other’s perfect foil. Their chemistry is off the charts and their banter electric. More perfect dialogue has not been written. (It’s particularly delicious in the audio format where you can literally hear the sarcasm dripping off every word.)

I loved so much about this book. The aforementioned banter is sharp, witty, and hot as hell; but for all its bite, it is surprisingly deep. Rylie is the ultimate cinnamon roll. His heart is all soft and mushy and he is determined to win over Eva. The spice is spicy, spicy, spicy and might cause swooning or, at the very least, require fanning oneself. The slow unraveling of their messy pasts is done with tenderness and a gentle touch. There is a big moment that occurs that might be one of the most touching I’ve read.

But the biggest reason I love this book is EVA. Oh, lordie, do I feel seen. Eva surrounds herself with a hard shell. She is caustic and sassy and uses her sharp tongue as a shield. Beneath that impenetrable veneer is an insecure, vulnerable heart that never feels good enough or important or special. You know the type - the uncertain introvert who projects as a confident, has her act together extrovert. That’s Eva and never before have I related to a character more. Some will find Eva unlikable and angry. I found her to be a kindred spirit.

So, should you read this book? Absolutely, yes if you love smart dialogue, incredible growth arcs, well written consensual steam, and positive LGBTQ+ representation. This book took me entirely by surprise with its depth. It is among my favorite contemporary romances of all time. Give Eva a chance. She may surprise you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars, rounded up

This book had me smiling, laughing, and swooning the whole time! Ariela Crow is excellent as the audiobook narrator!

When celebrity interviewer Eva accidentally goes viral for calling out her college ex, he convinces her to give him another chance to capitalize on their popularity and save his reputation.

The dynamic between Eva and Rylie is SO GOOD! They have such good chemistry and amazing banter! Both main characters are well-written and well-developed in a way that makes their relationship easy to root for.

I LOVED Rylie so much!! I loved way he continued to show up and see past Eva's defenses, the way he lowkey loved it when she was mean to him, and the way he worked on himself and became a better man after the first time he was with Eva!

Read this book for:
- a smooth and down bad mmc
- quick-witted humor
- nicknames (she calles HIM babygirl!!)
- grumpy fmc / sunshine mmc
- second chance romance (after lots of therapy and personal growth)
- viral internet fame

The only reason this one is 4.5 instead of 5 stars is because it is much spicier than I prefer. If you like a spicy contemporary romance, you will absolutely love this!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review!

"So caked up on a Sunday morning"

Eva Kitt and Rylie Cooper have the best banter. From their forced dates (and not so forced dates), to her calling him Baby girl and the bumper sticker.

Eva has a lot of work to do. Her past has made her self isolate in the worst way. She needs to unpack what all of that with her dad and they way he treated her. I honestly don't know how she can even still have some good feelings toward siblings that did what they have.

Rylie, after going through a death of a family member, did some questionable things while healing in college. And that included hurting Eva. But after some time he put in a lot of work to better himself. And now that he has a somewhat not great second chance with Eva he jumps on it. Even though she is now treating him like crap.

Second Chance
Slow Burn
MMC Bi-Sexual
FMC Pansexual
Black Cat x Golden Retriever

Spice Level: 1.5

I received an advance review copy audio version. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the opportunity to listen to this book. Ariela Crow an amazing job narrating this audiobook.

Well, Actually…I fear Mazey will never write something I love as much as her A Brush with Love series🙃🥲 BUT this was an improvement over Late Bloomer for sure!!

✨hate to love
✨fake(ish) dating
✨workplace romance
✨bi + pan rep
✨inspired by the insane chemistry between Andrew Garfield + Amelia Dimoldenberg + chicken shop date
✨black cat x golden retriever

I think the idea of this one was great - I highlighted a lot of relatable quotes! BUT the FMC was a smidge too mean for my taste and the second half of the book was almost entirely smut so I got a bit bored. And I also hate the pet name “Kitten”🥴

I think you need to be chronically online to enjoy a lot of these references (and they likely won’t age well) but if anything else I hope people take from this one that NO JOB is worth this mental warfare and treatment!!🫷

The audio narration was great and really kept things moving for me!!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook. Enemies to lovers she’s makes a video post making fun of a college one night stand saying what a lousy lay he was, and when it goes viral her work place decides to use the media to their advantage and makes her do a live show with him. He decides while their live that he should be able to redo his mistake and go on 7 dates.

Ex's to lovers
Fake dates
Second chance
Set in New York

Single narration, but each character had a distinct voice. Even Eva’s regular voice vs deadpan stood out.

Banter, meet spice. This was so fun and definitely a twist on the whole second chance/workplace romance trope. The hot dog puns? LOL. I loved the give and take, and how Riley dished it back too.

One major complaint and one minor- MAJOR: okay I LOVE a good grumpy/sunshine, but towards the beginning Eva takes it too far on the dates. MINOR: ummm when she is thinking about the night before their first time and it’s mentioned Riley is literally crying over an ex, and you still sleep with him the next day?? No confirmation of who the ex was, or if was even about an ex at all.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC and ALC.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get into this one. I really enjoyed Lizzie Blake and The Plus One, and I was really excited about this concept. Sounded a little like Chicken Shop Date and i absolutely love that!
For me, the pacing was off. It really didn't flow well for me. I found myselt zoning out constantly, rather with the ebook or the audio. I originally thought maybe the audio was the issue (the narrator felt a little monotonous) but I ended up having the same problem with the ebook as well.
Overall, points for concept, because I think that the premise is very intriguing. However, execution was off for me.

This book. Wow. 🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭 (it’s 5⭐️, but on theme)

I don’t really know if I have all the words to summarize how phenomenal this book was Eva (Kitten) and Rylie (Baby Girl) were everything I wanted - I say this because I related soooo much to Eva and her relationship with Rylie felt so much like my relationship with my husband. I adored our girl - she’s hard, strong, and shows her love through acts of aggression and verbal borages. *swoon* This is definitely a book where if you don’t like it or the FMC, please dont tell me. It will hurt my feelings (and also we probably shouldn’t be friends). 

Ths book did so much right. Rylie was such a sweet cinnamon roll. It drove me crazyyyyyy wanting to know what went on with the couples “then”-college storyline and we we got it, I just wanted to give our boy a tap-tap on the head for everything he went through. (That’s how I show my love). THE GROWTH!!! I mean going to couples counseling for a date? Idk how that was a swoon, but it was and I looooooved it.

“You are the sharpest, fiercest person, I know. I have never been more off-kilter than when you let me into your life. I can’t even begin to predict what godless thing you’ll say or do next, and I have a very healthy fear of your bad side. And, fuck, I love you. I want to spend every day, listening to you being an absolute shithead to me. at the end of my life, someone asked me what I do with one more hour, one more minute, I would fight with you. Argue with you. Kiss you and hug you and hold you. Anything for one more second with you.”

🌭Second Chance Romance 
🎙️Black Cat x Golden Retriever 
💛BANTER, BANTER, BANTER 
🎙️Workplace-ish 

“You cant even raw dog vision so I’m not particularly eager to take life advise from you.” I SCREAMED 🤣

P.S. I’m already doing a reread of this book with the audiobook and Ariela Crow does an AMAZING job voicing Eva & Rylie and adding sass, anxiety, and emotion into all the scenes. This audiobook is serving as a comfort re-read and I’m gonna be rereading this book a lot. Calling it now!

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC, and @macmillan.audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Out 8/5/25.

I second chance romance with great banter and deep moments. This book was more emotional than I expected for both characters but it gave them greater depth and made me feel so much more for each of them. I was rooting for them together and separately. There were some funny moments as well and great character growth. There is some spice as well. I will for sure be picking this author`s next book!

4.25⭐️

Well, Actually is a witty, emotionally layered, and utterly charming second-chance romance with a unique twist. Think viral podcast drama, simmering unresolved feelings, and the kind of banter that makes you smile and feel deeply seen.

Eva is a podcast host with major Amelia Dimoldenberg Chicken Shop Date vibes. She’s dry, witty, and armed with killer deadpan charm. Rylie is the host of a podcast aimed at helping men unlearn toxic masculinity and become better partners.

They sort of dated six years ago, but things didn’t end well… and Eva definitely hasn’t forgotten. When she impulsively stitches one of his videos, the post goes viral, and both their producers see an opportunity. To capitalize on the buzz, Eva and Rylie are roped into going on dates and debriefing them on his podcast afterward. What follows is top-tier banter, chaotic chemistry, and a slow unraveling of past feelings.

Eva is your classic black cat FMC; she’s sarcastic, emotionally guarded, brilliantly witty, and quietly vulnerable beneath her sharp edges. She brings major angry girl energy, and I loved every second of watching her navigate these new feelings and coming into her own. Rylie, on the other hand, is pure golden retriever. He’s thoughtful, patient, emotionally intelligent, supportive and deeply devoted in a way that makes you long for a Rylie of your own. He’s the definition of “if he wanted to, he would”; he listens, learns, and truly shows up. The emotional growth, particularly in how Rylie creates a space where Eva feels safe being her vulnerable self, is one of the book’s standout strengths.

Their history adds depth to every interaction, and the forced proximity of podcasting after their dates creates a sizzling dynamic filled with tension, humor, and so much heart. From hilarious podcast moments to emotional honesty, this book blends laugh-out-loud charm with real vulnerability.

If you love second chances, and a “you’re so mean, I’m going to fall in love with you” energy, then this book is for you!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

***Update: I was lucky enough to also receive the audiobook of Well, Actually, and let me tell you, this story hits just as hard on audio as it does on the page!

Narrator Ariela Crow absolutely nails Eva’s snark, sarcasm and deadpan charm. Her voice was exactly what I had imagined while reading, and the emotion she brought was raw, vulnerable and incredibly moving. She really captured Eva’s inner world in a way that made me love her character even more. The only thing that would have made this better was duet narration!

If you love second chances, a “you’re so mean, I’m going to fall in love with you” energy, and a romance filled with vulnerability and emotional depth, then this book/audiobook is for you!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC and St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!

Well, Actually was a funny, sexy second-chance romance. It was my first book by Mazy Eddings and I thought it was well-written with great characters and a good story. I was given the audiobook version and the narrator did a great job of bring the characters to life.

~~What I liked ~~
-The characters were great, well developed with good depth. The story is told from Eva's POV, so we get to see her reactions and thoughts throughout the book. She was a likable character, with my kind of humor. The MMC, Rylie, was also a good character, even if we don't get to see what he was thinking, he was charming and funny. Both characters seemed authentic, which made me enjoy the book more.
-The story was enjoyable. I was sucked in from the beginning and was entertained the whole time.
-The connection between the MCs was sweet. What started as a rocky situation led to a loving and supportive connection.

~~What I didn't like~~
-I didn't really get the job conflict at the end of the book. Maybe I just missed something.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend. It is an explicit open door romance, but there aren't any safety warnings for content.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ALC.
I already knew the story but wanted to experience it as audiobook.
Listening speed: 2x
Narrator: Ariela Crow
Feedback: Really enjoyed the narrator’s performance. Expressive, and perfectly matched to the tone of the story. Made it an easy and engaging listen!