This book was very cute, if a little heavy handed with the lessons at points! I really liked the MCs and the premise. I thought some of the strongest sections were about managing anxiety and how anxiety can play a role in relationships.

This book is charming, witty, and fresh. Two rivals, one podcast. Can they make (sound) waves without destroying each other? Bravo, Betty!!!

Maeve and Finn have been friends since college and are cohosts of one of the most popular podcasts Tell Me How You Really Feel. After signing one of the biggest podcast deals ever, Finn and Maeve have a falling out. Despite their falling out, the show must go on and the pair must find a way to work together to fulfill their contract.

Tell Me How You Really Feel was a book that I was so excited to read. I really wanted to love this book, but it just fell flat for me. This book focuses heavily on a second chance romance between the two main characters. While I normally enjoy second chance romances, the issues between our two main characters just felt so repetitive. Every fight felt like it would get resolved between the two characters and then would be brought up again a few chapters later. Both characters just felt incredibly immature, and for a book that was so focused on communication, the lack of effective communication was frustrating to read.

Another big element of this book discusses female empowerment and the gender pay gap. Maeve, the female main character, has a contract incentive that will allow her to become to highest paid female podcast host if Tell Me How You Really Feel can maintain a spot as the number one podcast for 6 consecutive weeks. While this is a topic that can be interesting in a book, the execution fell flat. The way it was brought up in the book felt more like I was being lectured instead of reading it in the book.

I would give this book 2.5 stars rounded up. I really wanted to love this book, but it just fell flat for me. Thank you so much to the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the premise of this book but just couldn’t get on board with the MMC. He needed more of a redemption arc or to do more of the heavy lifting in the relationship. Some great banter and would love to have the FMC in my friends group!

This entire book was the two main characters not communicating (which is ironic given they co-host a podcast which is essentially about communicating) but, I’m not going to lie, I was entertained for the first 85% or so until I truly started to get annoyed with the MMC (Finn). This dude makes like three massive transgressions throughout the book and I do not get why the FMC (Maeve) keeps forgiving him! He’s this entitled, rich boy who has gotten everything he has ever wanted and it shows. Maeve had her own issues but I could overlook all of them compared to the glaring red flag that is Finn.

I actually really enjoy the author’s writing style and I liked her first book. I think she can come back from this with another solid romance. She does a great job writing banter and the chemistry between the characters was legit.

The theme of gender pay equality was great. Really loved that the author highlighted that and how overlooked it is but the more were too many problems with the rest of the book from a thematic standpoint for me to truly enjoy it.

I loved Betty’s instagram. I actually accidentally found her little free library in Salem. I loved her first book. So it should come as no surprise to anyone that her second book is just as good.

The idea that you got forced to work wirh the one person on the planet you would want to avoid is very fun to play with through out the story, I couldn’t wait to see where the story was going next.

Rating: 1.25 ⭐️

This book had so much promise, but ultimately wasn’t for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters at all and didn’t feel like they even made sense together. The storyline was fun, I liked the podcasting concept. Finn was pretty much the ultimate Nepo Baby and it made me so mad every time he was just ignorant to everything going on. Maeve was a bit better of a character, but I still just didn’t love her. Also there were just so many Finn moments throughout this that IRKED ME! Like i’m sorry showing up at HER PHOTOSHOOT and then being in all the photos when you already know that people think you’re better than her, i’m sorry just no. My favorite part was when Maeve called Finn out after the article because I think he needed to hear that. Basically what i’m saying is i’m a Finn hater, but anyways enough of that. This book in the end was not my favorite, but I think there’s definitely a lot of people who would really enjoy it.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book started out really strong for me. I was invested in what happened with Maeve and Finn to get them from being best friends to can't even stand being in the same room together. I was hooked on the podcast parts and seeing the past-present POVs from both sides really helped make this book work. But around 50% and through the rest of the book, I was getting more annoyed and frustrated than invested. Maeve and Finn communicated so poorly for two individuals praised for their honest communication. At first I understood it, in the beginning because that's how everything unfolded, but then it just kept happening and I was starting to get sick of it. I even skimmed a lot towards the end just to get out of reading about another miscommuniation moment between them. I was rooting for Finn and Maeve but by the end, I was actually hoping they wouldn't end up together because they saw every flaw, even some minor ones as huge blaring red flags. However, I really enjoyed Betty Cayouette's writing style and the way she describes settings really makes me feel like I'm in them too. I would like to read another book by her in the future, as long as it isn't a book solely about miscommunication like this one felt like.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC and all opinions are my own.

I want to start off by saying that I deeply appreciate the chance to read this eARC. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this opportunity.

However, this book was not for me. I hated Finn. This wasn't just a run-of-the-mill miscommunication. It was mishandling a relationship and then playing it off as romance. And then building up Maeve as someone who is working on establishing her professional credibility to end up being kind of...spineless? The intended appeal did not land for me, sadly.

Book Review: Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book had such a promising premise, and while I genuinely enjoy Betty Cayouette’s writing style, I found myself more frustrated than invested as the story unfolded.

The miscommunication trope isn’t a favorite of mine to begin with, but this story really put it through its paces—and not in a good way. For two characters who constantly talk about honesty, accountability, and emotional maturity, they do very little to actually embody those values. It felt like a case of “do as I say, not as I do,” and that disconnect made it hard for me to root for them.

Their dynamic left me more annoyed than anything, and I struggled to feel the emotional connection that the story was clearly aiming for. That said, the author's talent is undeniable, and I’d love to see her explore different themes or relationship arcs in future work—hopefully with a little less miscommunication and a little more follow-through.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the ARC in exhange for my honest review.

Very ok, this book did not excite me. The mile min character was a walking red flag. I was not rooting for him!

Tell Me How You Really Feel follows Maeve and Finn, co-hosts of a popular podcast with a complicated past. I liked the structure with flashbacks, and Maeve’s anxiety and drive really stood out. Finn starts off kind of clueless, but his growth felt believable. It’s a solid take on second chances with some real emotional depth. A quick, engaging read if you’re into messy exes and podcast drama.

Thank you @stmartinspress for the #gifted ebook arcs. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book had an interesting premise about two podcasters who don't get along and are forced to work together. I think the miscommunication trope isn't my favorite as it just makes me upset and leaves me wanting more for these characters. There were a lot of issues that could have been resolved with talking to each other and I kept hoping for more.

This is just an ok read. I was not a big fan of the characters. They are immature and I wanted to Gibbs slap them on more than one occasion.

Thank you Net Galley and Publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

I'll tell you how I really feel... bored, unenthused, icky. I wanted to like this book, but I really didn't. Their whole relationship is a constant red flag. I hate miscommunication, and that's the entirety of this book. She never lets him apologize for anything, and he just keeps doing stupid stuff. It felt like a toxic relationship they should both walk away from. They're supposed to be adults but the way they yell and handle any mistake is juvenile. I didn't really like the back and forth pov, it just all felt messy and not coherent. It could have been done better.

I DNFed at around 60 percent. While the concept is unique and intriguing, I wasn’t drawn into the story. There was not enough discussion of the characters history with one another for me to connect with them personally.

What I liked about this book is that Maeve was open about her sexuality, even co-hosting a podcast about it. I also like that the gender pay gap was addressed throughout the book. What I didn't like was Finn and how wishy-washy he was. He had a lot of growing up to do to learn how to treat someone he supposedly loves better. I didn't like that Maeve just believed everything he said after his actions didn't match his words. I really wanted to love this book because of Maeve.

This one really tested my patience with the miscommunication trope.

While I understand that some tension is necessary in romance, this book pushed that trope to its absolute limit. The main characters constantly talk about honesty, accountability, and building a healthy relationship—but their actions repeatedly contradict their words. It gave major “do as I say, not as I do” energy, and that disconnect made it hard for me to stay invested.

The story is told through a dual timeline of present-day and flashbacks, and I will say the author does an excellent job laying the groundwork. You get a clear sense of the characters’ history, emotional baggage, and why they struggle the way they do. Unfortunately, that strong foundation didn’t quite pay off for me.

It felt like less than 10% of the book showed the couple actually together and happy. I was rooting for them for a good part of the story, but by the end, I was so frustrated with their dynamic that I didn’t really care whether they made it or not.

I do enjoy the author’s writing style and would definitely read more from her in the future—but I sincerely hope she takes a break from the miscommunication trope in her next book. These characters just weren’t it for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

The miscommunication trope between main characters that have built their entire friendship and career off of being fully open and honest but are the complete opposite... I don't really like reading red flag main characters that I'm supposed to be cheering on. I think I would have been less annoyed if Finn was a better human.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette offers a fresh and engaging look at a complicated podcasting duo trying to navigate fame, past heartbreak, and their rekindled feelings. Maeve and Finn’s viral show about sex and relationships has landed them a major deal, but their rocky history makes working together a tense balancing act.

The dual timeline—jumping between the early days of their podcast and the present—adds depth to their evolving relationship and showcases their chemistry. Cayouette’s sharp dialogue and contemporary setting make for an entertaining read.

While the premise is promising and the characters relatable, some plot points feel predictable, and the emotional arcs occasionally lack the impact they could have had. Fans of slow-burn romances with a modern twist will find this a worthwhile, if somewhat familiar, story.