I really wanted to like this, but I don't believe these two should be together.

The pacing and relationship choices weren't the best. These two fight then get together and repeat that cycle in this book- and that's interspersed with (random) throwbacks to their past that eventually disappear before we even come close to the end.

I didn't like Maeve all that much and Finn was just... there. He didn't have all that much going on character-wise other than he was a man and insanely privileged and stupid about it. They also talk a LOT about how good at communication they/Maeve is considering the underlying theme of the book is the miscommunication trope. Both times these two broke up it was because of miscommunication, and I find it hard to believe the woman who throws in that she's a licensed therapist at least once every chapter emphasizes how good she is at communication but also drops the ball twice within the past couple of years with a person who is very important to her.

While I do appreciate a book that tries to focus on the divide between men and women when it comes to wages and fame and what is praised for one and hated for the other... this one wasn't the greatest. I think that was meant to be the theme/main point, but it didn't appear really until maybe 70% in? And when it was finally developed, it was presented in a big chunk so it felt like that large topic was stuffed down my throat, so even though it's a real problem, it felt exaggerated and extreme.

thank you to Netgalley and Betty Cayouette for the arc!

I ended up DNFing at 65%. I just could not get into the story.

I didn't care about their past with each other nor if they would get back together or not. I just found them tiresome.

Thank you so much though NetGalley, Betty Cayouette, and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this novel!

The writing is great. It was a miss for me though. I couldn’t get into it and found myself wanting more. I kept holding more would come, but it didn’t. I dnf this one, sadly.

Betty Cayouette’s *Tell Me How You Really Feel* is a captivating, witty, and deeply heartfelt exploration of love, ambition, and the complex dynamics of professional relationships. Through dual timelines, this novel skillfully depicts both the beginnings of Maeve and Finn’s viral podcast and the intense fallout from their personal and professional histories.

This book is an ideal choice for fans of intricate, messy love stories, especially those who appreciate rivals-to-lovers dynamics with strong queer representation. Maeve and Finn’s journey is an emotional rollercoaster, leaving readers cheering for both characters to find success—whether together or apart.

*Tell Me How You Really Feel* is a poignant and electrifying tale of ambition, connection, and rediscovery. Betty Cayouette has crafted a story that balances wit and heartfelt moments, solidifying her as a must-read author for contemporary romance enthusiasts.

I’m a big fan of Betty Cayouette’s first novel, so it’s no surprise that I also liked this one!

Tell Me How You Really Feel is

I really loved the more emotional scenes where topics like mental health and gender equality or sex disparities are discussed. I love that Cayouette included these topics in her novel as I feel like these are super important things to discuss and bring awareness to.

When Finn and Maeve are communicating well and talking to each other, I really enjoy their relationship. I love how well they know and care about each other. But the miscommunication in this book drove me crazy. They both have a podcast about sex and communicating with your partner yet they can’t communicate with each other! I wanted to scream at them! I’m not sure if this is supposed to be an ironic thing or what, but it just drove me insane. I think if they had just communicated a bit more I would’ve enjoyed this book more.

Overall I liked the whole podcast aspect of this novel and some of Finn and Maeve’s relationship. Tell Me How You Really Feel is a solid read and I am excited to see what Cayouette will write next!

I really wanted to LOVE Tell Me How You Really Feel because I loved Betty Cayouette’s debut so much (One Last Shot).

Tell Me is the story of Maeve and Finn, two podcasters/best friends/lovers/ex-lovers/lovers whose miscommunication drives this story. At times it is actually aggravating how little they can communicate given Maeve is a therapist herself. The dual timeline/multiple POV storyline is handy for backstory and filling in the gaps, though at times it is a bit difficult to follow - hoping with the finished copy it will be easier to understand.

The story does read quickly though (read in a day), and is enjoyable if you can get past the massive miscommunication issues between the lead characters. I appreciated the anxiety story line as well as the pay gap - both are very relevant in today’s society.

Thank you to the publishers (Penguin) and author for this ARC - all opinions are my own.

Maeve and Finn have just received a huge deal for their podcast, Tell Me How You Really Feel. The podcast went viral after their third episode about oral sex. The problem is that Maeve is MAD at Finn and can barely bring herself to be in the same room with him. But Finn wants to get back to what they had. And Streamify, the company that they are contracted with, wants the chemistry that the fans loved and insists on them having a joint appearance once a month. While Finn is the son of a well known Hollywood couple who doesn't need the money, Maeve is from a larger middle class family and can't afford to lose the deal. So she needs to find a way to make the podcast work while not letting Finn crush her feelings again.

I really enjoyed this book! It is told from both Mauve's and Finn's POVs in both present and past tense. Although it was annoying that Mauve and Finn frequently follow their own advice for communicating, I think that's pretty realistic. Plenty of people are great at saying what you should do and giving excellent advice but then are horrible at following through themselves. As someone who also suffers from anxiety, I found the portrayal of Mauve to be realistic. I also loved the focus on therapy and gender inequality. I found it to be a roller coaster ride of emotions - they would fall back into their "old chemistry" and be having a lot of fun and then Mauve would recognize that she needs to protect her heart and put the space back into their relationship. While Finn obviously has rich white guy privilege and seems oblivious to things he should easily notice, he hadn't been a part of "normal" society until college so he would have a considerable learning curve. Yes, his parents are advocates of equal pay but they are still rich and he has a trust so it's not like he lived a hard life at any point financially. And I would expect even the most in touch with his feelings man would be confused with Mauve's sudden changes. I thought that the final big argument between the two was a great change from typical romance books, especially the anger Finn had to experience from his mother.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette is about Maeve and Finn. Two best friends with a viral podcast. The story follows them as they navigate a new podcast deal, betrayals and rediscovering what they mean to each other.

I gave this book 3 stars. I really liked the mental health aspect of it, the dual POVs and the flashbacks but there were times I felt the main characters were too immature for their age.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy and chance to read early.

Tell Me How You Really Feel is out May 2025!

Tell Me How You Really Feel has a great premise and there were definitely some things I liked about it. The mental health rep, the pay gap between men and women, and bringing to light how privilege can make you complacent about things you should be paying attention to. Finn and Maeve landed a huge podcast deal, and I enjoyed reading about Maeve's adventures in "the industry."

However, I did not like that the whole plot was based on miscommunication, and that Maeve absolutely REFUSED to listen to Finn when he wanted to talk things out several times. It made her seem very bratty and self-absorbed. We also didn't even find out what happened until much later in the story, which normally I don't mind, but the amount of time we had to wait to even find out what happened seemed excessive. In addition, the story felt like it could have been over at about 75%, but it kept going and took the plot in another direction, which I didn't feel was needed.

Overall I didn't hate the book, it just missed the mark for me. I would still recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a miscommunication trope and wants to read a story about podcasters, someone new to being rich and famous, and the points I mentioned in the beginning of this review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and were given freely.

Tell Me How You Really Feel is a fun, fiery romance that follows podcast hosts Maeve and Finn as they navigate their complicated history while trying to make their viral sex and relationships podcast a success. After landing a huge deal, the two can barely stand to be in the same room, but Finn is determined to win Maeve back. The story weaves between their current tense dynamic and flashbacks to the early days of their show, offering a deep dive into their complicated relationship. It’s a witty, heartfelt look at fame, love, and second chances.

Not a fan of Maeve, miscommunication tropes, privilege, and constant breaking up. Was a miss for me, which I was really sad about given the other book comparisons to this.

I thought this was a fun premise of a book. I’ve never really gotten into podcasts so I enjoyed getting immerse into that world. Maeve was so easy to root for and very relatable with her dealing with anxiety. I ended up knocking off a star because it felt like every time Maeve and Finn took a step forward, he would do something dumb to make her spiral and they’d have to start over again. But overall, I did like how their relationship grew and getting to read how it developed over the years.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette is a smart, engaging romance that perfectly captures the chaos of fame, the vulnerability of love, and the messiness of mixing business with personal history. Told in alternating timelines that weave between the start of Maeve and Finn’s podcast and their present-day fallout, the story brims with wit, emotional depth, and the undeniable chemistry of two people who can’t seem to stay away from each other.

Maeve is a standout protagonist—witty, driven, and guarded. Her perspective adds layers to the narrative as she struggles to hold onto the career she’s built while keeping her heart intact. Her sharp retorts and no-nonsense approach to work are often contrasted by moments of emotional introspection, making her feel refreshingly human. Finn, on the other hand, is the quintessential lovable screw-up—charming and infuriating in equal measure. His determination to win Maeve back isn’t just romantic; it’s fueled by regret and a genuine desire to be better, which makes him more than just a reckless love interest trying to right his wrongs.

The podcasting world is a clever and modern backdrop for their relationship, with the format allowing Cayouette to explore how public personas can differ wildly from private realities. Their podcast, Tell Me How You Really Feel, focuses on raw and often hilarious conversations about sex, love, and relationships—but the irony is that Maeve and Finn are often the least honest with themselves when it comes to their own feelings. The way their personal and professional lives are intertwined makes their disagreements—and their undeniable pull toward each other—all the more compelling.

The flashbacks to the early days of the show offer a satisfying, slow-burn reveal of how their friendship blossomed into something more and ultimately fell apart. Cayouette captures the giddy excitement of a shared creative passion, the butterflies of early romance, and the devastation when things go wrong. These glimpses into the past add richness to the present-day narrative, where tension crackles with unresolved feelings and the fear that history might repeat itself.

The banter between Maeve and Finn is razor-sharp, often laugh-out-loud funny, but it’s the quieter moments that resonate the most—those beats where the vulnerability slips through the cracks in their armor. The story balances humor and heartache well, though there are moments when the back-and-forth can feel slightly repetitive, particularly as Maeve grapples with whether to give Finn another chance. While the "will they or won’t they" dynamic remains engaging, some readers may wish for a quicker resolution to their emotional stalemate.

Cayouette also does an excellent job addressing the pressures of newfound fame and how it impacts mental health, trust, and identity. The media scrutiny, invasive fans, and career ambitions add layers of complexity to Maeve and Finn’s journey, raising the stakes beyond the typical romance arc.

The ending delivers a satisfying emotional payoff, staying true to the characters’ growth without feeling overly saccharine. Maeve and Finn’s reconciliation isn’t about glossing over their past mistakes—it’s about learning how to communicate, rebuild trust, and show up for each other in a way they couldn’t before.

Tell Me How You Really Feel is an entertaining, heartfelt story that will resonate with anyone who’s ever struggled with the vulnerability of second chances. It’s a love letter to creative partnerships, complicated relationships, and the catharsis of finally saying what’s on your mind. Fans of contemporary romance with sharp humor and emotional stakes will savor this one.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @stmartinspress for an early copy of Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: April 24th, 2025

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217388084-tell-me-how-you-really-feel?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Y7gGETiOEg&rank=2

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑


Tell Me How You Really Feel tells the story of sex and relationships podcast hosts Maeve and Finn in the middle of a major deal, but are struggling to meet in the middle after a conflict between them – when their friendship almost became something more until it wasn’t.

Told in multiple POVs and timelines, the story got quite confusing at first and I felt like it needed more work in terms of linearity and organization. Though the main characters Maeve and Finn have a lot of chemistry to begin with, the conflict between them wherein they have both liked each other since the beginning but haven’t acted upon it until they said yes to a major major offer for their podcast, didn’t exactly feel like a conflict, just more of a series of miscommunication. It was more of on Finn’s side that got me annoyed. The novel shows him as this super sweet and caring partner but also highlights that he’s the biggest idiot in a novel I have ever encountered to date, and the resolution for his character felt forced and rushed, I honestly still think he’s the biggest idiot despite how he resolved his issues with Maeve.

I would have to applaud Maeve’s character, though. She’s a resilient woman, and the novel shows how hard she works. Through her, the story highlights the gap of privileges between genders and how she wanted to fight for equality in rights.

Though a bit of slow burn and quite long for the story, Tell Me How You Really Feel holds promise of a light romance read.

This is the story of two podcast hosts of a popular relationship advice show, who need a lot of relationship advice themselves. Told with lots of flashbacks that felt disjointed and untimely, this story was a fun read but felt very unserious and immature. I am not a miscommunication hater because let's be real: most people struggle with communication in real life too. But this miscommunication was only for the plot progression and felt unrealistic. I think with more editing, this book could've been a lot better.

I'm sorry, I really tried, but I could not finish. The miscommunication drove me nuts and pulled me out of the story.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette is a dual timeline, dual POV novel, which is a lot. I really wanted to like it and I did like the character of Finn. I had a harder time with Maeve and I really just wanted to sit the two of them down and make them have a REAL conversation because they were being quite dense. Although I enjoyed the concept of the novel, it was a miss for me.

Tell Me How You Really Feel follows two podcasters that have landed a huge contract, but struggle with their personal relationship. While I appreciate the pay equality narrative and women supporting women, it was a little heavy with anxiety, miscommunications, and sometimes characters just being dumb. It's not bad, just not my favorite.

This book is miscommunication trope on top of miscommunication trope. Not only do we start with tension between the main characters (of which we know nothing about for a long time), that tension is relieved by the halfway point of the book, and a new problem arises in the last 3/4 of the book and really doesn’t feel worth it. Maeve is angry at Finn for his actions, but she really should be upset at herself for not being honest, and Finn is so incredibly clueless and careless, it really was hard to root for them to get together in the end.

I really hate how this is how it ended up because I did enjoy this book at first. I love what Maeve was trying to do with her podcast, and how she wants to help people with it. I love the look at mental health in this book and the ways it can affect your relationships with friends, loved ones, yourself. It was just an utter miss for me at the end.

I had such high hopes for this one because everyone was pitching this to me as the next “The Ex Talk”. Sadly, Tell Me How You Really Feel did not meet my expectations and fell extremely flat.

Don’t get me wrong this had the makings to be a successful second-chance romance with forced proximity. But this book didn’t quite land for me. My biggest red flag in this book had to be the freaking Miscommunication Trope. And oh how I loathe it in this book. Let me tell you this trope is full front and center. Normally I can tolerate it, however the use in this book took me over the edge. In regards to our characters, Maeve was not relatable and came off as cold and closed off. Finn had his moments, but not enough to grab me to fall in love with him. He felt so under developed and just existed .

My last. If red flag I’m this book was dual timeline flashbacks. The reader isn’t gently Segwayed Into it. Instead we are just flung into without warning. Which felt jarring and ultimately ruined the flow of the book.

Overall, this book was not for me but maybe it will be a better fit for someone else. Big thank you to Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. these thoughts and opinions are my own