Betty Cayouette wrote a banter filled goodtime about a pair of Podcasters who are meant to be. Even though I thought I would find the podcasting bit to be annoying, its serves the plot well. I was super invested in Maeve's journey by the end. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin snd NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I read this last night in one sitting. It stayed up way too late way way too late but it was so good. I loved it, maeve, and Finn were so good. The characters were so good together.I wish we knew a little bit more about maeve finn is a child of a hollywood power couple who goes to school in pennsylvania, thinking he can fly under the radar. Maeve is 1 of 4 daughters and she feels like her achievements are the least important and together. After college, they end up both living in New York City. Where finn works in finance and maeve is getting her therapy license on a when they start a podcast, a little slow going at first, but the third episode with some help of some relaxers day go all in on their personal experiences and our viral sensation, the book starts with um, starting a brand new podcast deal worth a bajillion dollars and they are not in a good place. And we learn why and what happened and what leads to it, and it's just so so good, I love it. I don't know how there could be more but I wish there could be more. I could see this being a fun Netflix movie. Oh so good so so so

We meet Maeve and Finn in LA when they are in the midst of signing a huge exclusivity deal with Streamify (think Alex Cooper Spotify Exclusive Deal for Call her Daddy) for the sex-relationship podcast they cohost, Tell Me How You Really Feel. Exciting butttttt Maeve (middle-class girl from Pittsburgh) hates Finn (a Hollywood nepo baby).

Throughout the story we get numerous flashbacks to the origin of the podcast, which Maeve and Finn, friends from college, created in New York when Maeve was studying to be a therapist and Finn was working in Consulting at Morgan Stanley.

Overall easy read, but didn’t live up to my expectations. The miscommunication between Maeve, a therapist, and Finn never ended, and I felt certain plot points were underdeveloped and some overdeveloped. Also, for having a sex podcast the spice was severely lacking. I think the author has promise though so will pick up more that she writes.

Anxiety ridden
Gender gap. Pay gap
Women rights
Podcasting

I didn't love the fight breakup then fight breakup. Normally I don't love one second act breakup but this book had two.

Maeve has a lot of anxiety and Finn has a lot of white privilege. They are learning to navigate it and what it means to have an award winning podcast.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

This was a perfect read for a nice long weekend. Not only was it funny but the characters were great and there was actual serious stuff discussed that is relevant today.
The main character had a great vibe that I felt like I could really feel and the side characters really brought everything together for a great story. I would definitely recommend this book to readers, and I’d like to think NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this adorable book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Maeve has just been offered the opportunity of a lifetime. A contract to record her podcast and be elevated to celebrity status. It’s everything she’s been working for, but there’s a catch. She has to continue working with her cohost Finn who she cut ties with for breaking her heart. Finn wants nothing more to get back into Maeve’s good graces and repair their friendship. He doesn’t know if he can hope for more than that. As the pair are forced to work together on the podcast, Maeve’s walls start to come down. But will they ever be more than just friends again?

I really liked the idea of this one but it just felt forced. I’m not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, and this book is mostly built on that premise, and the fmc is a therapist, like c’mon. With random flashbacks thrown in throughout with no real organization, this just felt like a flop to me. The writing is actually really good though, the author has some real promise. I just think the story/plot creation needs major work.

Forced proximity
Second chance romance
Friends to enemies to lovers
Podcast about sex and relationships

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story had a lot of potential and a really interesting premise but it fell a little flat overall. The main characters have been friends for a long time and started a podcast together about relationships that has gone viral and been picked up by a network. The problem is that they had a night together and now they can't seem to get along. The reason they can't figure things out is that FMC refuses to have a proper conversation about what happened. It truly felt like our FMC was really struggling with her maturity and the whole book could've been solved by one conversation and the miscommunication trope is not working for me.

I was given an advanced copy in exchange for my review. This is my honest opinion I am giving voluntarily. EVERYONE is going to be talking about this book, I’m calling it now! I love this authors writing style and I appreciate the dual POV, because there’s two sides to every story. At the same time I was rooting for both of the characters, I wanted her to stick to her guns and make him work for it while I also was hoping he stuck it out and won her over. The author does an amazing job of hooking you and demanding you to turn the next page to find out what happens. Bravo! Highly recommend!

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette is a terrific second chance at love story featuring Mave and Finn.

Podcasters Maeve and Finn have just landed the deal of a lifetime for their sex and relationship podcast, but they found that they absolutely hate each other and because of their deal, they have to fake it until they make it.

Following their breakup when Maeve can't stand the little cuts to her heart that Finn gives her, there are terrific story points about mental, sexual, and familial emotional health.

Maeve and Finn both grew as people, friends, and partners by the end of the book.

I really enjoyed how relatable the characters were and it's rare that you root for both characters after a breakup, but I did. I wanted them to both get what they wanted and needed to be happy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advance copy in consideration of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another heartwarming second chance romance from Betty Cayouette! I loved the premise of this book and the forced proximity between the main characters created great tension and a believable route back to each other. Maeve and Finn were perfectly flawed characters and it was fun to see them both grow. And I wish there was a real "Tell Me How You Really Feel" podcast!! Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I am a self-admitted book worm, and I have been the majority of my life. Here lately, I gravitate towards suspenseful books. Ultimately, at my core I am still a fan of romance. Because of this, I was very excited to read this book.

Although I read Betty’s previous book “One Last Shot,” I still didn’t really know what to expect with this one. I was definitely intrigued by the plot description. I liked how this book switched perspectives, and also you could see before and after the huge “event” in the book.

Usually, when reading a book like this, there is a character that I am “rooting for” more than the other. The interesting this about this book is that I was never on any one character’s side. I could see both sides of their perspectives, because they were both so well written. Not to say that there weren’t some times when I wanted to be able to reach through the book and shake them, but I felt that way for both of them equally (LOL).

Ultimately, I truly enjoyed the book, and felt completely satisfied with the ending. I definitely recommend this book.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

I couldn't put Tell Me How You Really Feel down. The concept of this story was fun. I loved the podcast plotline. I think is a delightful read that will resonate with anyone who appreciates a well-crafted romance. Definitely, this a must-read for fans of contemporary romantic fiction.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for the ARC!

I was really intrigued by the setup of this book: two podcast hosts with their first big deal who are no longer able to work together because in the FMC’s (Maeve) view the MMC (Finn) ruined their friendship and budding relationship.

I really liked Maeve, especially that she was a businesswoman who knows her worth. But I didn’t feel chemistry between the two leads. There are some flashbacks throughout to explain how they became estranged but ultimately the big rift didn’t make a lot sense to me and it was hard to root for them to be together.

I enjoyed glimpses of the side characters but I wish the conversations were about more than Maeve and Finn’s rift.

Tell Me How You Really Feel feels fresh, rich in character and consequential. On the surface, Tell Me How You Really Feel is a friends to lovers and second chance romance, two of my favorite tropes. At its heart, however, it graciously explores topics like anxiety, trauma, sex, connection, parental expectations, familial duty and the gender pay imbalance in ways that don’t feel preachy or overshadowing of the romance, and yet still significant. Future Betty Cayouette offerings are definitely going directly to my TBR pile.

In short, Tell Me How You Really Feel is entertaining, steamy, and impactful, making it a very easy read to recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Maeve and Finn have signed a mega deal with a streaming platform after creating a viral sex and relationships podcast. Except as they begin a new season, Maeve doesn't want to be near Finn after his choices left her feeling second best yet again. But, if she wants to make a solo show, she needs Finn, and he refuses to let her go. Will Maeve be able to open her heart again?

I was so engrossed from the first sentence that I had no idea it was nearly 2am when I finished! I liked how Cayouette made the angst subtle, instead focusing on Maeve and Finn's personal growth as they find their way back to each other. I adored how in tune they were with each other (oh my heart about the dorm!). I just wanted to lock them in the podcast studio to kiss and make up! There was also strong mental health representation (though I'm baffled why Maeve, who has anxiety disorder and is a clinical psychologist, didn't recognise a panic attack and insisted on blood tests).

Refreshingly, I liked that we learn early why Maeve is angry with Finn, instead of endless flashbacks waiting for the big secret (which was my complaint of 'One Last Shot' and a lot of other second chance romances). Instead, the flashbacks helped flesh out their growing relationship and how their issues fuelled their mistakes.

I love a second chance romance and once again Betty Cayouette delivers in spades with well-drawn characters with a sparkling chemistry. This gem of a book was so charming. Maeve and Finn felt so real, I nearly went to search for their podcast! I can't wait to read it again. And again. And again.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

From the blurb I thought this book was going to be a really engaging read, unfortunately, I really struggled with the writing style, plot points and several of the main characters. Had this not been an ARC I think I would have probably DNF'd this book.

I hope this story finds its intended audience, it just wasn't a fit for me.

Thank you Betty Cayouette, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!