It kills me to rate this so low but I promised an honest review and an honest review is what I plan to give.

I was so excited to jump into this book. I had seen the raving reviews about its humor and a good rom-com is always the fastest way to this book lovers heart. Unfortunately, I didn’t find much funny about this book at all. Eva was so incredibly mean to Rylie and honestly I spent the majority of the book just kind of feeling uncomfortable. Also I didn’t feel much chemistry between the two of them.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and St. Martins Press for a complementary ARC of Well, Actually in exchange for my honest review. You always send me the best ARCs so I am sad that this might be my first ARC from you that didn’t receive a 4 or 5⭐️ review.

wow. WOW.

First and foremost, I would like to say that Rylie Cooper, I am very fond of you and you have become the top of my book boyfriend list!

This book had me laughing, swooning, giggling, and tearing up the entire way through. I loved the dynamic and banter between Rylie and Eva so much, it made their relationship seem so raw and authentic.

There were so many important topics that were discussed in this story that I feel like added so much more to this story than just two people falling in love. The queer community representation in this book felt so natural, sometimes it can feel forced when people include queer reps in their stories when the relationship isn’t necessarily queer but this felt the furthest from forced.

Thank you NetGalley, Mazey Eddings, and St. Martin’s Press for giving me an advance copy of this book! I will cherish it and hold it close to my heart for years to come!

Well, Actually is a hilarious second chance romance which follows Eva and Rylie. Eva and Rylies romance goes back to college and was a passionate but short relationship which ended up in a ghosting.

This book has 'black cat/golden retriever' energy and does it well. Eva is our resident black cat with a sarcastic comment for everyone. Rylie is our golden retriever who is tall, handsome, and a nerd.. as excepted. I found their chemistry both believable and palpable. I loved their energy together, snarky commentary, and authenticity to their experience and how it helped shaped their lives as they ventured into adulthood.

Honestly, my biggest gripe with this book was the spicy scenes. I felt like it was the perfect amount sprinkled throughout, however, they felt very formulaic. There was nothing I haven't read here.. down to exact phrasing. While I love a trope.. I do not enjoy reading the same description of a spicy scene in every romance book. It felt like 'insert slightly dominant sex her' was entered when writing this,

Regardless, I really enjoyed this story and would recommend to other spicy romance readers.

A previous reader noticed this as a black cat crosses golden retriever story and I couldn’t have described it better!

This was actually a beautiful story with humor sprinkled throughout adding light moments. While I love a spicy book, I actually think there was a tad bit too much in this book (and what felt like an entire chapter dedicated to it) that it actually took away from the story! Overall, 3.5/4 stars out of 5 though!

Thank you to Net Galley for the arc but this was a no for me. The female main character was so irritating; she had so much anger towards Cooper for something that happened years ago while they were in college. Her retorts come off as childish, not funny or even sarcastic. There is zero chemistry at all between the characters and neither character is even interesting.

I really liked this book!

The unique dynamic between the love interests was really fun to read. I love a grumpy character and Eva was such a good one, and Rylie had really great depth for being a golden retriever hero.

In a booktok world, where so many books, characters, and storylines feel familiar, Mazey Eddings really made this book stand out.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC.

Well, Actually was a fun read. The banter between Eva and Rylie was top notch. I enjoyed Eva ‘black cat’ vibes. Solid 4 stars.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and author Mazey Eddings for the opportunity to read this ARC 💕

Rating: 5 🌟
FMC: 4 🌟
MMC: ♾️ 🌟
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

I am simply in love with this book!! I was sold from the first sentence alone 😆 I kept telling my husband after every chapter that I just KNEW it was going to be a 5 star read for me. The writing is clever and witty, the banter is top-notch, and the tension and spice were perfect!
There were a couple times where I wanted to grab Eva by the shoulders and shake some sense into her, because Rylie is so amazing (definitely made the book boyfriend list for sure!). But overall, I have no criticism of this book whatsoever! I can't pre-order this fast enough!

- Second chance romance
- Praise
- Black cat/golden retriever
- The best banter!
- Bi representation

I really and truly enjoyed this book from start to finish. I loved the banter between the main characters. Their struggle and frustration to communicate and meet each other where they are felt real to me.

I sometimes enjoy a story for the premise but struggle with the writing. This book was not that it was written so well and I felt like the author’s approach to see five topics wasn’t forced or uneducated.

Have already started recommend to everyone I can

Fast-paced and romantic, with lots of incisive social commentary on how women can be treated in the workplace and the double standards that still exist. I loved both main characters and enjoyed getting to know them and watching them fall in love.

This was an absolute delight. Eva and Rylie's chemistry is unmatched and I loved the premise of redemption that the plot was centered around. This book was so funny and the banter was just wonderful. The development of the characters relationship was so well timed (perfect amounts of flirting and yearning) and their communication was great. The ending left me surprised but thrilled. I also loved how this book covered so many issues that are relevant to being a 20-something in today's world - it really resonated with me and I think many readers will also feel seen. So so happy that I was able to receive and read an early copy of this!

Thank you NetGalley and st martins press for this arc!

Unfortunately this book wasn’t really for me, the FMC felt a bit 2 dimensional to me. The banter was pretty good if not a tiny bit overdone, this is a second chance romance so if you like those this might be the book for you! I think I would have enjoyed this a bit more if Eva wasn’t as rude as she was. Also the hot dog thing kind of put me off a bit to be completely honest. I did however enjoy Riley’s character

Funny and emotional new book from Eddings, with great bi representation all around. The inciting incident of the call out on social media was very funny, and even though the dating scheme felt a little forced, the resulting story was really fun.

I never wanted this book to end. The characters were so well developed, real, and like-able. I found myself rooting for them and relating to them. It's so nice when there is a romance novel that has a plot as well and this really hit the mark. Definitely going to read other Mazey Eddings books as soon as possible!

If you like your romance with a dash of social commentary and a heap of humor, this book is well, actually pretty fantastic.

Ever wondered what happens when your college ex becomes a self-proclaimed guru of healthy masculinity? Ava Kitt finds out the hard way in this deliciously spicy second-chance romance. Currently stuck hosting "Sausage Talk" (yes, that's exactly what it sounds like) instead of pursuing serious journalism, Ava's viral callout of her ex Rylie Cooper leads to an unexpected proposition: let him prove he's changed through a series of staged dates, all for his eager social media audience.

What follows is a clever dance of wit, redemption, and perfectly timed hot dog puns. Eddings serves up a masterclass in character growth, showing how toxic masculinity can indeed go to rehab - with receipts. The bi/pan representation is chef's kiss, and the banter? Sharp enough to slice those questionable wieners they're eating.

While the premise could've been as messy as a hot dog eating contest, Eddings navigates the complexity of forgiveness and growth with the precision of a master griller. It's funny, it's genuine, and it proves that sometimes the best relationships are the ones that come with a side of humble pie.

Eddings is a hit or miss author for me but this book was absolutely a hit. Funny, charming, and hot, I truly couldn't put it down. I read it on the train and had to physically stop myself from laughing out loud multiple times. I love how Edding's characters feel real. They're struggling with normal human things--their mental health, their sexuality, being looked over at work. Little details like that always help me latch onto the characters and root for their romance. I would read a dozen spinoffs.

I struggled with the start of this book but was loving it by the halfway point. I really liked the spice in this one. I have yet to read a Mazey Eddings book I didn't like

I think this might be my favorite of Mazey’s books. I really enjoyed the banter between the main characters. The degrading work Eva had to do in order to even have a job wasn’t far from what some people have to deal with in certain industries.

Mazey Eddings has always written such devourable books. I love her characters + pacing so much.

This was so good!! But corny at some points, so that’s why I took off a star. It felt preachy at times, which I guess tracks with the whole podcasting storyline, but I don’t love when books start to sound like motivational speeches.

The smut was really good😏 (as always; mazey eddings has always written good smut). The drama had me hooked from the very beginning. I was genuinely kicking my feet and giggling within the first 5%.

Thank you so much for NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! This is the second Mazey Eddings book I’ve read and it was so fun!

Anyone who has been gutted in the past by a relationship can resonate with Eva’s Hot Girl attitude. At times she was unlikable and brash, but that only made her more real.

I loved Riley’s ability to soften Eva’s harsh exterior. I also appreciated the positive queer representation and how it impacted the characters growth.

It wrapped up a little too perfectly, but that’s the reason to love a happily ever after! Overall, this book was a win for delicious banter, spice and love.