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!

3.5/5 stars
A sweet second chance romance that felt like the second chance was actually warranted! Two young people with a great connection who found each other at a time when they were too traumatized to handle their connection correctly. The characters felt very real, well flushed out, and lovable, but flawed. Eva is funny and charming, but impulsive and stubborn. I found myself getting a bit frustrated with Eva’s choices, , but it felt realistic to her character and her mental health struggles. I also loved the queer story lines in this book, I did not know this book would be queer before picking it up, but it was such a joy to have queer story lines in a romance about a heterosexual relationship. Additionally, the narration of this audio book was lovely! So much personality, tone, and uniqueness conveyed in their performance. Overall this was a delightful read and I will definitely be recommending it to my queer & romance book loving friends!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audio book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND MACMILLAN AUDIO FOR THIS FREAKING ALC!!!!!!

I’ll just say this here and now: I love Mazey Eddings and whatever she writes is magic. This book is no exception. Eva was quite the FMC and Rylie… sheezus merryweather in flight, take me now. Holy crap. I have a new book couple I’d like to join and be a throuple. And my book gf, Lizzie Blake, made a cameo that delighted me so much!!!! I might have squealed. Okay, I squealed.

Ariela Crow was bliss to listen to performing this masterpiece!!!!

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Mazey Eddings and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me the chance to read/listen to this book ahead of release day! This book is relatable for all readers and embodies the ability to change and grow over time.

Eva Kitt and Rylie Cooper have a not so great history that came out in a VERY public way due to Eva’s very public humiliation of their previous dating history. The fact that both of them ended up in the social media entertainment business is highly coincidental. But mostly the fact that their past has truly affected them in different ways. Rylie really just wants a chance to win back his kitten and I am here for it. While the initial winning back did NOT go as planned, Rylie is consistent and persistent in his pursuit. Seeing Eva’s walls break down for him and process through both of their traumas was the absolute highlight for me. Every girl deserves a Rylie to show up for them when they don’t believe in themselves.

If given the chance, please pick up the audio version of this book! The narrator is absolutely perfect for this. She did a great voice conversion for all characters. So well you might even think that there’s multiple narrators!

I’m going to have to put this one to the side at 43%. Eva is SO MEAN and it feels like she has to school her smile into her “signature scowl” every five minutes. I actually saved a quote that said “…I say like an insolent child” because I feel that it perfectly sums up her character. I’ve never seen someone who was so determined to be miserable.

Eva Kitt is a host of Sausage talk where she interviews B list celiberities over hot dogs. This is not what she had planned for her journalism career but it is what she has. When she ends up calling out her college ex, while drunk, who is a socal media personality he ends up talking her into 6 dates on air and with her job on the line she has to accept.
It was interesting to see their dynamic, especially in the beginning you can see the animosity that Eva had towards Rylie, as he was toxic back in college. I do end up liking how everything ends up playing out. We always find out in books that there’s a reason why characters act the way they act. And i like over time that we find out what those reasons were in here. Riley does end up putting up with a lot from Eva she isn’t really always the nicest person to RIley. The back and forth banter between the two was fantastic and I loved that RIley never gave up.
This is a second chance.
Black cat x golden retriever
Second chance romance
And the spice is very very nice!

I did do this one as and audio listen and the narrator is Ariela Crow. This was my first narration by this narrator and I would 100% listened to them again! I loved the different voices they did. I loved the enthusiasm given and the different tones that were used. It really was more acting and brought me into the story and made it such an enjoyable experience.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I was lucky enough to get the eARC a few weeks ago and got to re-read with audio. My statement still stands, Mazey’s writing is so FUN. And while I love seeing it on the page, the narrators really made the humor pop. Absolutely loved!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Macmillan audio for the ALC, can’t wait to shout about this come release day!!

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.