What made me request this book was the fact that an author I’ve been wanting to read recommended it quite a lot before its release, since it came out around the same time as her own book. The title and premise intrigued me, so as soon as I saw it on NetGalley, I had to request it.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s the next big romance revelation, but it definitely fulfills its main purpose—the one every reader looks for: to be entertained, to fall in love, to believe that second chances can be just as magical as they are in books.

As for the characters, they didn’t blow my mind, but the chemistry between them is a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the way everything flowed—from their shared past filled with bad memories, to the way they slowly opened up and confessed things to heal that past.

Regarding the atmosphere, it’s a romcom set in the city. It’s not something unique, but I honestly don’t know how, despite the setting being familiar, each story still manages to make it feel different in its own way.

I had the chance to enjoy it in audiobook format, and I liked the writing—it’s simple, dynamic, and light, making it a perfect read to listen to in between heavier books I’ve been tackling this month.

The plot worked for me, and one thing that stood out is that this is the first time I’ve read a romcom where the male lead is bi. That gave the romance a different angle from the usual “player” trope or the “heartbroken by one girl” backstory.

I had a really good time reading it—it would be a perfect summer reread or something to pick up when I need something light between university readings or fantasy books in the future.

Also, the spicy scenes are very well written, making them easy and enjoyable to read or listen to. Everything flows together nicely.

Thanks to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the ALC!
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This audiobook had me from the moment it opened with cheese jokes and weenies, and somehow managed to get even better from there.
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Mazey Eddings delivers yet another sexy and swoony romcom, this time in the form of a second chance romance between Rylie, a chaotic golden retriever and Eva, a sharp-witted black cat who absolutely did not come to play nice.
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Eva Kitt is stuck hosting Sausage Talk, a hot dog centered web show that’s somehow both deeply cursed and weirdly charming. When she goes viral for publicly roasting her college ex, now a heartthrob social media darling known for dismantling toxic masculinity, she’s dragged into a high stakes redemption scheme that involves fake dating for the internet.
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What follows is an emotionally layered love story filled with banter, feminist fire, introspective growth, and, yes, more than a few phallic food jokes. I laughed, I swooned, I may have gasped out loud during a spicy kitchen scene!
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And the audio! Ariela Crow nails Eva’s sarcasm, vulnerability, and reluctant yearning. I felt like I was inside Eva’s head the entire time. Easily one of the most delightful listens I’ve had in ages.
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This one is an absolute joy!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio / St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ALC!

Let's not put this akin to current podcasts. Let's say I started fresh with no idea of where this book was going.

It started a bit slow, I wasn't a huge fan of Eva. She grew on me as the book went on, but I am not sure how Rylie was head over heels for her at any point. She had this tough exterior but was a melted mess inside. I felt similar to her in a few ways, but I'm not a satirical self sabotaging bitch, so that felt off sometimes. Rylie Cooper was the saving grace to this. I looked forward to their interactions. I was content with the ending. I would recommend this as a good breather read between reading slumps, and something so emotionally charged. (there are heavy topics in here but they're relatable - either way check trigger warnings for your own sanity).
Narration was great.

Thank you to the author, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the #gifted e-book and ALC!

I loved this book whole heartedly! I haven’t laughed this hard while tandem reading/listening in such a long time. The plot and premises of this book made it so unique and fun!

I adored Eva’s black cat personality. It made her so relatable in so many ways because not everything (most things in fact) are not happy go lucky for her. The incredibly tall walls she built around herself to protect her feelings made her such a raw and emotional character for me.

Rylie is the perfect golden retriever to Eva’s black cat personality. He is a man in the sense that he can own up to his past self mistakes and does everything in his power to prove to Eva that he’s a changed man. I was literally on the floor laughing at the back and forth banter between the two, it left me wanting so much more. I’m convinced I could read and dozen more books just on Rylie and Eva alone.

If able to choose, the audio is 10000% the way to go with this one. Ariela Crow did a phenomenal job as a single narrator. She really made the entire story come to life for me and the emotion within all the characters was portrayed perfectly with her voice.

I would highly recommend to all my book besties who love hilarious banter between main characters and one of the sweetest, full circle love stories!

This is a sweet and angsty take on a second chance romance. Eva has spent her life struggling with "being enough". Eva find she was to being loved in all the ways she longed to be. Those feelings are complicated and Mazzy Wedding did a great job and demonstrating working through previous emotional trauma to create the life you've always wanted.

This is one of those books where the narrator lives the character and how. The FMC came to life to perfection and it made my experience of understanding her little quirks and moods so much better. Given that the story is written only in the FMC Eva's pov, I loved how the narrator laughed at the right moments, and added little sobs and emotional upheaval and brought Eva to life.

What didn't work for me was the MMC's voiceover. The narrator made the MMC sound a little breathy and weird for me and it just didn't work. I was way too aware of the breathy touch and given that the book is high spice, it took me out of the moments and probably affected my liking of the MMC in general.

The flow of the story otherwise was well done. The little clues and emotions perfect. The story premise with social media and pop culture works well for readers who love banter and high spice, but might not work so well for readers who need more Emotional development to feel the love bloosom. It felt a little too soon.

I adored the FMC so much. Eva kitt is everything. Riley took time for me to like ( his voice narration in the audio made it harder) but I eventually loved him for the way he loved eva.

Kinda wish the book was duet narration but I liked it nonetheless.

2.5 Stars
I found Eva to be insufferable - she was just unnecessarily mean and overdramatic for no reason and she didn't really have any real character growth in the end. Rylie was sweet and way too patient with Eva, I wanted him to stand up for himself more instead of letting Eva constantly walk all over him (like idk what he was so enamoured with bc she was actually such a bitch to him lol). I liked the side characters/friendships but they kind of just faded to the back as the story progressed. Ultimately, this was enjoyable enough but felt longer than it needed to be.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

4 stars

This was a cute story with some serious undertones, friends enemies to lovers, forced proximity. Eva and Rylee dated in college until he ghosted her after an unsatisfying night together.. seven years later, they are both media personalities, and she drunk posts about that night.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, it was a tiny bit spicier than what I generally prefer, but that’s on me not the author. I enjoyed the cameo pit in by Lizzie Blake.. IYKYK

Big thanks The McMillan, audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌭 5 motherf*cking stars! This book was so good and I absolutely blew through it! I was in a reading slump and this is an absolute slump-buster!
🌭 I am obsessed with Rylie and Eva, I love them so much as individual characters and together. They feel so real and relatable at the same time and they are both hilarious. Their dynamic together is incredible 👌 *chefs kiss*🤌
🌭 "Fuck yourself."
“Stop being so charming or I might fall in love with you.”
🌭 Also the spice in this book was perfection. Super well written and, um, where can I find me a Rylie? Asking for a friend, of course... 👀
🌭 I absolutely loved the amount of pop culture references in this. It was so easy to put myself into the story. This book is also just absolutely hilarious! It had me laughing so hard. Obsessed!
🌭 The cameos in this from characters from her other books made me SO HAPPY! If you haven't read her other books, you are missing out!
🌭 Needless to say, I highly highly recommend this book and it has got to be one of my top favorite reads of the year! I would say if you love Ali Hazelwood books, this would be right up your alley!
🌭 Also the audio was amazing and highly recommend as well!
🌭 Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

It was difficult for me to get through this book. I understand the FMC greatly disliked her ex for how he treated her in the past, but the way she treated him was completely uncalled for. She was extremely rude at all times, and that made her very unlikable. It was hard to really enjoy this book due to the character's personality traits.
Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Mazey Eddings for this ARC.

This book is exactly what the romance genre needs right now. It’s so well written and the characters are likeable but flawed in a deeply relatable way. The conversation and banter is written so well that it feels just really “real”. The pacing is fantastic, it felt like the perfect length of story to get enough growth and story in without feeling rush or having too many details added in that don’t contribute to the story. My only gripe with the story was the over-use of the LGBTQ+ community - it felt a bit forced and contrived. While I appreciate the inclusion, it felt overdone and a bit like it was thrown in so frequently to really say “hey I’m inclusive!” which cheapened it.

Audiobook Review

This was my first Mazey Eddings novel, and it certainly won’t be my last. Told entirely from Eva’s perspective, this romance hooked me from the very first chapter. The chemistry between Eva and Rylie sparks instantly, their banter is sharp and engaging, and the emotional arc—from jilted exes to something far more profound—is both heartfelt and empowering. Watching them reconnect while navigating public scrutiny and personal growth made for an immensely satisfying listen.

While I loved the witty exchanges, strong plot, and undeniable chemistry, I did find myself wanting a deeper glimpse into Eva’s life beyond her career. We see her dedication to journalism and her evolving relationship with Rylie, but a fuller sense of her personal identity would have enriched the story even more.

The narration is a standout. The narrator captured Rylie’s tone perfectly, and her pacing, inflection, and emotional delivery elevated the experience. Even though the story is told in single POV, Mazey Eddings’ writing skillfully conveys both characters’ perspectives.

This story does touch on heavier themes, but they’re handled with care and nuance, adding depth without overshadowing the romance.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance listening copy.

Rating: ★★★1/2

3.75 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a copy #gifted of this audiobook. All thoughts are my own. #macaudio2025

I really enjoyed several aspects of this book. I thought the banter was great and I think Rylie was such a nice softie and I loved the fact that he put in the work to be better in the long run. I really enjoyed Eva, I resonated with her a lot in some ways. The disillusioned late 20 something where life seems bleak (FELT). She has a hard exterior but inside she's an anxious girlie that just wants to be loved. I felt very seen by her character in lots of ways. My main issue with the book was the pacing. It felt odd to me that they knew each other for 2 months in college and it had that much of an impact on their future relationship. I feel like some of the things that happened at the 50% mark, should've happened closer to the 75% mark. I also didn't love a lot of her friends choices when it came to how it affected Eva. I think she didn't support her in times she needed to. I think I enjoyed the book the most before the 60% mark. I was cruising through and loved the banter that they were giving each other. I thought that was the part that really made the book shine. Once the tension between the characters was gone, I felt like the plot got lost part of the way. The book gave me secondhand embarrassment at times but I believe that was intentional. I had a PT Cruiser for my first car so any and all jokes about them are valid and I felt so seen.

I really enjoyed the narrator in this one! She had distinct voices for everyone and I didn't have difficulty keeping up.

Favorite out of context quotes: "You headstrong fruit loop." "jomforter"

This book started really strong and I was cackling. I loved the narrator and everything that was happening. As it progressed, I started to tune it out and it dragged. There was a lot that worked. I enjoyed the second-chance romance and the no third act break up. But the dialogue sometimes felt forced and the story dragged. I felt it could have been at least 50 pages shorter. I definitely want to read more by Mazey Eddings!

4.5 - Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of the book!

This book is out now!

The book was such a fun time!! I got the vibes of Amelia Dimoldenberg's Chicken Shop Date series very early on but honestly that comparison came and went the more I continued in the book.

Eva Kitt is an interviewer who host Sausage Talk and interview different B-D list celebrities while eating hot dogs. Rylie Cooper is a former fling whom is now a popular podcaster. Eva was hung up on action he did when they were in college and broadcaster a rant of their short period together that went viral overnight. Thinking she would get in trouble with her employer, the opposite happened and they use this attention for good and put Cooper on Eva's show. Cooper has suave charm and convinced her to go on 6 dates (that's how many they went on in the past) to make up for his younger self.

Cooper wanted desperately to be in the good graces of Eva but she had her walls up very high. Eva came off as very unlikable (in the tropes for this book she is described as black cat which is SO true). I was so worried how I would feel about her throughout the book because it made me feel bad for Cooper because of how standoffish she was towards him. I understand why she was upset but people do change over the years. We did learn why Cooper ghosted her all those years ago. He owned up to it and really wanted to make things right. There was a moment when he was declaring how he felt that just hit me right in the gut: "I liked you then, and despite the desperate pleading of my sanity and your every attempt to push me away, I like you now. All of this is because I want to you know, be around you. Because I fucked it up once and I saw a second change. Because now I'm so deep in this I would crawl through hell on my hands and knees over a bed a broken glass before I let you go again." Pretty much all of Chapter 15 just gave me the heart eyes.

The banter and spice in this is top notch! The dialogue between the two characters flowed so well. And I just love how Cooper did not give up. He was head over heels for Eva and I absolutely loved his nickname of Kitten for her. I would have love to get Cooper's POV but I thought it still was well done with just her single POV.

I paired my reading with the audio and Ariela Crow was our narrator! She is a newer romance narrator and I would definitely listen to her again. I thought she nailed Eva's sassy personality. Her voice and even her male voice reminded me of Jesse Vilinsky.

If you are looking for a funny, banter filled, second chance romance - give this one a read! Great for summer reading!

Hot dogs and a romance novel? Two of my favorite things...so a must read. Eva is a journalist who ends up hosting a show called Sausage Talk where she interviews B-list celebrities. She has a internet rant about her ex and bam Rylie Cooper is back in her life. They strike a deal allowing Rylie to take Eva on a series of dates to prove how much he has changed.

I liked the reflective nature of this book--yes it was cheeky and flirty but also showed real character growth and development. I wish that I had read it instead of listened to it. The story takes a bit of time to develop and the narrator wasn't my favorite to listen to. I will definitely try another of her books, but read it in a physical copy if the narrator is the same.

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!

Well, Actually was such a fun read!! This was a snappy second chance romance set in the world of online content creation. Eva is working for a larger media company and making a show that’s very reminiscent of Chicken Shop Date, but she and her guests eat hotdogs. Rylie is a man with a podcast (I know. GROAN) but he’s spoon feeding emotional intelligence to young men. Eva knew Rylie in college and he was everything he preaches against now and she can’t stand that he’s built a platform on dishonesty. She takes to TikTok one evening (after a few drinks) to expose him for the fraud he is only for the company she works for to capitalize on the controversy and book him for her show. Once they’re face to face again, Rylie convinced Eva to let him take her on six dates and prove to her that he’s changed.

This book was a good time! I was giggling, I was kicking my feet, I was ready to grab our FMC and shake her by the shoulders. Normally an unlikable main character is really frustrating for me, but Eva being in her own way for the majority of the book made a lot of sense for the story. Her self destructive behavior really tracked for her backstory and I love that we got to watch her explore that. Rylie Cooper was a quintessential babygirl MMC and I loved him. I love that he was so open with his healing journey and so earnest with our FMC. The banter was quick and witty and I was eating it up. To me, this didn’t really read like a second chance romance because both characters were obviously different people from the versions of each other that they knew and I kind of loved that.

My biggest criticism is that this felt very topical with the pop culture references and very specific, obvious inspiration taken from real social media. I’m chronically online so I understood it all/knew where the inspiration came from, but I don’t know that this will feel as fun or relevant in a few years. Occasionally I was a little annoyed with our FMC being especially self destructive, but I do understand why she was written that way.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, though!!
4⭐️

This will be one of my favourite romances of the year! It was such a delight. I was giddy right from the begging and could not stop laughing as I was reading it.

Eva may not come off as the most likeable character, but I absolutely loved. She sarcastic and snarky, but as we get to know her, why see why she’s so guarded and has a hard time opening up. I just want to give her a hug and tell her I was routing for her and hoped all her dreams would come true. On the other hand, Rylie was a true golden retriever. So lovable and sweet, always smiling. I loved their dynamic and the banter between these two; it was quick and witty and probably my favourite part of the book.

The book had so many funny moments, but the author did a very good job of balancing more serious and emotional topics. I also loved that the book showcased a diverse range of characters, notably the two main characters who are pansexual and bisexual.

I listened to the ALC narrated by Ariela Crow which was fantastic. She did such a great job bringing all the characters to life, in particular Eva and her dry humour.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ALC. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Read as a mix between ebook and audio I found it hard to get into this book. Which is in no way a reflection of the narrator because I thought she did a great job. Especially with using different accents and tones for Eva, Rylie, and the various other side characters

I am honestly left with such a mixed bag of emotions on this one because at times the banter was spot on and I was giving with them. However then a few pages later everything just felt forced and it took me out of the story. A big part of that may be personal preference though because the nickname kitten makes me cringe.

Although this wasn’t a bad read, it wasn’t a standout one either. Which is a little disappointing because I absolutely loved The Plus One by Mazey.

Read if you love:
🐈‍⬛ Black cat/ golden retriever
❤️ Second chance
🌈 Bi/ pan rep

Than you St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my review copies in exchange for an honest review!

The story centers on Eva, a professional journalism hopeful who now hosts a show called "Sausage Talk," interviewing celebrities over hot dogs. Her career takes an unexpected turn after she posts on social media about her ex, Rylie Cooper, goes viral. Her toxic workplace turns this into a money grab, forcing a partnership with Rylie with a live interview with them together. Rylie, a social media influencer known for teaching men how to be good partners, puts Eva on the spot and suggests a series of dates to make up for his past toxicity. They agree to the arrangement, but as the dates unfold, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell what is a genuine second chance and what is simply a scheme for social media clout.

At the beginning, I was absolutely loving this book. The premise was fresh, and Rylie was great with his sly comments and changed self. However, as the story progressed, I became pretty annoyed by the female main character, Eva. While I understood her reasons for being upset about being ghosted years ago by Rylie, she just wasn’t getting over it and I don't understand why, he was a great character from the start. The back-and-forth between them went on for a few chapters too many, dragging the story out past the point where I would have expected them to resolve their miscommunication. This book also covers some heavy topics, including a toxic workplace environment, but the execution of it all felt a little off for me. It had a lot of great layers, but I struggled to connect with the characters and the plot didn't grab me as much as I'd hoped after that initial excitement. Narration was excellent, 5 stars there!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 8/5/25.