This story really captured me. I enjoy an enemies-to-lovers type plotlines (or friends to enemies to friends to lovers in this case), I thought the characters were well flushed out, and had a fun time with the podcasting plot. The situation of both wanting the best for the other leading to a doubly painful situation rather than what they both want because they don't know that they both want it is all too real. Often I find the stakes in a contemporary romance to be a bit too flimsy -- a single conversation could often resolve things, it feels like. This book sidestepped that though of course the characters aren't normal people at all. Still, working together in such a personal way, having to persevere for all sorts of reasons, not being able to confront something you eventually need to, a bunch of careless and badly timed issues cropping up, all these were constructed in a really solid way.

This book can be considered a bit of a cozy read with their comfortable dynamic, all roads leading to and understanding of gender equality, and generally things starting awful and getting better through a vindicating perseverance rather than coincidence.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for providing me with an ARC copy of this ebook.

Tell Me How You Really Feel means so many things in this book besides just the title. Told in dual perspective, the story follows Maeve and Finn as they learn to tell themselves and each other how they really feel.

Cayouette does a remarkable job at capturing the anxiety and inner struggle of opening up when you don't know how those around you will respond. Both characters are conflicted with how to open up to themselves and the others, yet are simultaneously giving advice focusing on just that.

There are many stereotypes that Maeve and Finn deal with, one of which becomes a central theme of the book, and is very important in reality. Cayouette has brought this into the story not in a way that is informational and droning, but woven into the story in such a way that shows it's importance and will stick with you.

While I did enjoy the book, and I really hope to see more books from this author, I don't think this will be one of the top five romance romance novels I recommend. Unfortunately, for those who have read Cayouette's first novel, One Last Shot, I felt the character arcs were too similar between both stories. I hope if we get a third novel, its just as entertaining but with some fresh character development.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette is an enjoyable and lighthearted read, but it didn't quite meet all of my expectations. The story has an interesting premise that explores relationships, self-discovery, and the complexity of emotions, which kept me engaged for most of the book. The writing is accessible and flows well, making it easy to read through.

However, while the characters are relatable, they felt a bit one-dimensional at times, and I would have liked to see more depth in their development. Some of the plot points also felt predictable, which took away from the overall sense of surprise or suspense that I was hoping for. The pacing felt uneven in places, with some sections dragging on a bit too long.

Overall, Tell Me How You Really Feel is a decent book that touches on meaningful themes but didn’t have the emotional impact I was hoping for. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for a quick, light read, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

I liked this one but didn't love it.

I think the author did a good job handling sensitive topics like mental health (anxiety) and wage gap. She was able to get the message across without sounding like an info dump. I did also like that the main characters were podcasters. Felt very modern and different. The writing itself is good. The writing made this a quick, digestible read.

I had a hard time with the characters in this one. The miscommunication between these two is nuts. Doesn't matter whether it's past or present. I'm not sure how they stayed friends for as long as they did. It just became frustrating to read.

Overall, this was okay for me.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

0.5/5🌶️

I appreciated a lot of what the author was trying to do with this book. She directly calls out many forms of sexism in the media and workplace, and her point always hits home. However, going in with the expectation that this was a second-chance, friends-to-lovers ROMANCE novel, this point was driven home a bit too often for me.

Told through present day, and flash backs, the author does a great job of building the foundation needed for this type of novel. You quickly understand the foundation of the MCs relationship and their individual insecurities. However with what felt like less than 10% of the book actually including the couple being together HAPPILY, by the end I almost wished for no HEA. The MMC seemed too dense on the real issues of sexism, and the FMC seemed ragingly insecure. I was rooting for them for MUCH of the novel, but by the end I was so frustrated with their relationship that them being together didn’t even matter anymore.

I enjoyed Betty's debut a lot, so I was excited to read her sophomore novel Tell Me How You Really Feel! I enjoyed a lot of things about it, especially the focus on mental health. Unfortunately, I thought the story did a disservice to Finn as he tried to listen to Maeve but his attempts to be better seemed to never be good enough for her. It was painful to watch him apologize again and again but never in the way she wanted him to. I did love the podcasting elements a lot, and I am hopeful that I'll connect more with Betty's next book. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to St Martin's Griffin for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

The writing is great, but this one just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t get into it and kept waiting for more, but it never came. The whole plot revolved around miscommunication, and Maeve’s refusal to listen to Finn made her come off as bratty and self-absorbed. Plus, the big reveal took way too long, which got frustrating in the end. Overall, this one just didn’t click for me.

3.5 ⭐️

I had mixed feelings about this book. There were elements that I enjoyed but, unfortunately, the book also suffered from poor pacing and a somewhat unlikable male protagonist.

The book starts in the middle of the story, after Finn has betrayed Maeve’s trust but before they’ve made amends. The details are filled in through dual-POV, both in the present and past timelines. I found this to be immediately engaging; almost like a small mystery, waiting to be solved. What on earth could Finn have done to blow up both their personal and professional relationships that badly?

And the answer: Well, it’s definitely not great.

In this way, my main two issues with the book are intertwined. I am all for flawed protagonists and redemption arcs. But a character’s flaws must be in proportion to their growth. If that growth takes place too late in the book, or if the character messes up one too many times, the reader loses sympathy for the character. Because Finn messed up not once, but multiple times, it began to feel like he was incapable of change. I feel like the finished product would have been much better, both in terms of character development and plotting, if Finn had learned his lesson earlier.

As for Maeve, well, I was annoyed that she didn’t practice what she preached, but who among us hasn’t done that before? Yes, this was frustrating, but not nearly on the same level as Finn.

What I did like: Even if it got a bit “after school special” towards the end, this book had some great things to say about nepotism, gender inequality, and emotional intelligence. I mean, these parts were really, really well handled. I wish they hadn’t been bogged down by the weaker elements.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I loved this author’s first book and while I did enjoy this one, it didn’t grab me the way her first did. I do enjoy Cayouette’s writing style and the characters she brings to life. This is definitely a fun read and would be perfect for a beach read. Overall, very enjoyable.

*ARC Review* Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette had a lot of potential, and I really enjoyed the premise and concept—especially the podcasting angle and the themes of second chances, relationships, and personal growth. The story of Maeve and Finn, who have a complicated history but must work together for their viral podcast, is one that definitely pulled me in.

However, there were a few aspects that kept me from fully loving this book. The time jumps, for instance, felt a bit disjointed at times. I almost wished there had been more focus on the relationship before the current day events, especially in terms of their earlier days together. The flashbacks were intriguing, but I feel like more of them would’ve helped build up their connection and given me a deeper understanding of their past dynamic.

As for the characters, Maeve’s anxiety and the triggers that stemmed from her history with Finn were understandably central to her character. Still, at times, her behavior felt a bit frustrating. It often seemed like she was looking for a fight, and when Finn would try to fix things, she wouldn’t let go of her grievances. I understand where she was coming from, but it did get a little tiresome after a while.

Finn also had his own flaws, and while he certainly tried to make amends, some of his actions didn't sit well with me either. Despite these imperfections, I did appreciate his efforts to win Maeve back, even if the tension between them sometimes felt a bit much.

Overall, while the book wasn’t perfect for me, I still enjoyed it. The themes resonated, and the central premise kept me hooked. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more from Betty Cayouette in the future, as I can see her writing improving and evolving with each book.

Finn and Maeve are podcasters who couldn't be more different but have CHEMISTRY. This was by far the most realistic depiction of sex I have read in a book and I loved it. There is some spice but no one is orgasming 7 times and almost blowing their load at a mere glance. 2 out 5 chili peppers.

The banter in the book is excellent and I feel like Maeve's POV is very relatable, especially when she is second guessing herself and her feelings. I enjoyed how Cayouette dug in on the constant internal dialogue of someone who knows they struggle with mental health and is trying to parse through if what they are feeling is their authentic feeling or if it is a byproduct of their diagnosis. I think I learned more about anxiety and intrusive thoughts in this book than I did in the weeks and months I have spent listening to mental health podcasts - honestly made me feel less alone and a huge shoutout for Cayouette for that.

I also really enjoyed her discussions on performative feminism, but I the punchline fell a little short for me. The ending as a whole felt very rushed and I was bummed that a book that captured the nuance of romance so well just glossed over the ending. This is my main driver for three stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

I’m struggling on how to rate this but I think I’ll land on 3.5 ⭐️

The first 2/3 of the book I LOVED! I truly could not put it down and I was so invested in the characters and their highs and lows and friendship and tension and I think the back and forth from present day to past was very well done. The dual POV was also great.

HOWEVER… the last third of the book was sooooo hard to read. Like cringey? In some ways? I think for me, the characters got sloppy and annoying. Repetitive and childish. And strayed too far away from the premise that was built in the beginning. Maeve is a therapist! I know they cover some things at the end but like nothing showed that this was a woman who knew how to communicate her feelings or speak her needs to a partner. Finn went from being a super attractive best friend who supports her in everything to a whiney self indulgent boy who can’t take accountability…it was a weird spot to be. Part of me was hoping they wouldn’t end up together… oops.

THAT BEING SAID… it is obvious Betty is uber passionate about equality and women’s rights and the gender pay gap. 👏🏻amen sister👏🏻 some of the writing felt preachy and not as fluid as it could have been but I get the intent behind it and for someone who maybe doesn’t know much on the issue - maybe having it spelled out for them is helpful. It was a bit too “in your face” for me but I think it’s due to my familiarity with the subject.

All in all I do think I would recommend this book to people, but with disclaimers. And actually… I REALLY would like this podcast to exist 😍

Sadly this book was not for me and I couldn't get into it as I would have liked and didn't enjoy it much. It felt rushed and I didn't connect to the characters so it made it harder to enjoy.


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

This one was absolutely not for me. I had a very hard time getting through it. I saw what it was trying to do, but ultimately, the execution did not work in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There were so many moments in this book that I really was enjoying it and started to connect. But there were more that I could not connect with. I really wanted more of the podcast moments and less of the in-between. The flash backs are so good. Do I recommend? Absolutely! The relationship between Maeve and Finn was so angsty and I looooove that about books. Pick this up for a cute and easy read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this opportunity!

I really struggled to get into this one but once I did, it was pretty enjoyable. I loved the relationship between the main characters. The premise of this book is so fun and modern - podcasting about sex and relationships! While I wouldn't say this was mind-blowing, it was fun and easy to read past the 20% mark.

This book felt like a copy paste of the apple podcast top 10 list, down to the specific examples used by the author. It was really difficult to manage the balance between what I know in real life and what happened in the plot of the book, to the extent that it felt really uncreative at times.

Betty’s writing felt more like a reality TV show than a rom-com, and while that may be relaxing for some, I was not too inclined to read it cover to cover! Pick this up for an easy read with a bit of teenage angst in your mid-twenties mixed in!

So this book is very cute. Two people that are hosts of a relationship podcast aren’t very friendly (one sided) but their show gets popular and goes viral. The MMC is very adamant on getting to know Her and become more friendly 😉. This book is about rediscovering love and friendship.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette is a heartfelt and engaging contemporary romance that blends love, ambition, and personal growth. The novel follows Maeve and Finn, co-hosts of a wildly popular sex and relationships podcast, whose unresolved past complicates their professional success. Told through dual timelines, the story unravels their history of miscommunication and simmering tension, making for a compelling slow-burn romance. With sharp social commentary on gender dynamics and mental health, Cayouette delivers a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read. Perfect for fans of second-chance love stories with depth and authenticity.

The premise was so cute and I loved the male main character but I could not get into the female main character which is why it was not my favourite book!

Author writes in a similar style to Lynn Painter which is great, but the book just didn’t grasp my attention the whole time and took me a while to read.

The book is written more of a Y/A novel which is not bad, but not my usual go to book as a 23 year old. I personally struggled to finish the story because of my dislike of the female main character (she had pick me energy), but that is just my opinion.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for letting me read the arc and for letting me be honest about my opinion!