If you are obsessed with chicken shop date with Amelia and Andrew, this is for you!!

5/5 for the giggles and kicking my feet
3.75/5 overall story and characters

I absolutely devoured this in less than 24h. The banter!!! I was giggling and kicking my feet so much I woke up my boyfriend several times. The grumpy X sunshine trompe was top tier and I would define it as : baddie X golden retriever.

This is THE romcom I needed to cure my soul and wash aways all my sins (not all but most, let’s be realist). The fact we got no third act breakup?? I could kiss the ground this author walks on. I crave more romcom like these and in my wildest fantasies I wish this could become one of these two things : 1) canon for Amelia and Andrew, 2) a movie.

Also, I absolutely adored that the author says in the beginning : this is a fluff romance nothing more. Talk about assuming what your book really is! Like hell yes, we fell into some clichés and into unrealistic territory but who cares? The goal was to write a feel good romcom and the author excelled brillantly.

Sidenote : The author is a dentist?! Well, this book was such a good side quest. Hope she does more!

*Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book in exchange of my honest review*

I really loved this book.


Eva's prickly exterior masks an extremely tender underbelly full of self doubt.

Rylie's wholesome enthusiasm for life seems trite until the earnest backstory provides a compelling explanation.

The conceit is silly, but that's the point. At times the conflict seems so glaringly obvious, but the fact that Eva doesn't see it coming seems to be in line with her backstory.

I loved the dynamic between Eva and Rylie, and the evolution of their relationship.

This book was super adorable and an enjoyable read. It reminds exactly of Amelia Dimoldenberg's Chicken Shop Date (if you know, you know) which I LOVED and was so interesting to read. I was drawn in almost immediately especially because of the premise and fell in love with the two main characters, Eva and Rylie.

Eva is headstrong, stubborn and driven -- such a strong female lead. She'll be relatable to so many readers because of how much she craves but also fears love. This girl has some serious abandonment issues. Rylie on the other hand is so adorable and devoted and surprisingly hilarious... with a hidden dominant side to him that I won't go into any more detail about.
I thought the flashbacks were arguably some of the more interesting parts of the book, and there were points where I found myself losing a bit of interest due to slow pacing or too much stubbornness on Eva's part. I loved all of the inclusivity and representation. At times it got overboard or cliche (like the throuple? Really?) But those smaller things aside, Rylie's journey to coming to terms with his bisexuality was so raw and impactful.

I think the way this book handles sexuality and identity is for the most part very fluid and natural, especially with both the main characters being bi. And the romance is so heartwarming. Overall I was very pleased with this book and definitely have to check out Macey Eddings' other work!

Thanks so much to St. Martin's and NetGalley for this ARC! 📚

This book feels very of the moment, with its premise being a mashup of elements from recent media hits: the dry, deadpan host of Chicken Shop Date, the sex-positive podcast energy of Nobody Wants This, and the online reaction culture of TikTok.

I was intrigued by this concept (and the cute cover) but, unfortunately, not sold by its delivery. This story is a pastiche of these popular romcom media and trending moments that doesn't quite capture the magic of these inspirations nor offer a particularly novel take on these themes and tropes.

The main characters were pretty archetypal and the side characters were largely forgettable and sparse in appearances. The antagonists were, in my opinion, predictable and a bit cartoonish in their villainy. The writing was fine and the plot was predictable, though this was not off-putting; it made for a quick read. It tried to tackle some serious topics (which I won’t describe to keep this review spoiler-free), though the inclusion of these themes juxtaposes the breezy, flirty energy of the read.

Its protagonist neatly falls into the current archetype of the typical late-twenty-something woman living in New York. You know, the woman who’s using sardonic and cutting quips to hide her inner hurt. The woman who thinks she’s different from everyone else, despite having very relatable problems and experiences. The woman who is feisty and defensive, protective of herself yet lacking some self awareness. Yet, she’s also doesn’t take responsibility for her problems and is quick to blame others. The woman who strives to be a girlboss at work (and even has one as a mentor), yet often runs away from her problems—until, of course, her love interest prompts her to develop and face her fears head-on.

Eva checks all the boxes of this type of character. She’s pretty standard, though she did, thankfully, have some moments of self-awareness, which kept her from being an entirely unlikable and one-note take on this archetype.

The love interest (Rylie) was a more interesting read. He is your standard guy who, despite the protagonist’s repeated rejections, is completely down bad for her from the start. He’s a golden retriever, thoughtful and devoted to the main character, and ready to give her the world. For all this, he did have some depth with references to his backstory which was appreciated. He was the more forward-thinking half of the duo, responsible for “solutions” to their problems that kept the plot moving. He could match the protagonist’s sarcastic, flirty banter on-screen/on-air and off. And he strove to have good, open communication with our protagonist within the first half of the book—a commendable effort in a genre that so often relies on miscommunication and poor communication for the third-act conflict.

I think this book would appeal to readers looking for a fun and breezy fast-paced afternoon read that strives to capture the spirit of Nobody Wants This and Chicken Shop Date.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was cute! The FMC was a bit too spicy for me at times. However, there was good banter and a fun plot!

Second chance romance is not usually my favorite, but this was excellent. As the FMC, Eva is quite honestly a little mean - but I found it refreshing and relatable. I adored her snark and humor, especially in contrast to MMC Rylie…who is just the ultimate simp.

The Chicken Shop Date vibes were immaculate, and the banter was just top-notch. Rylie’s slutty little glasses…the jomforter…so many times I was kicking my feet and cackling.

But Mazey Eddings also has a wonderful talent for incorporating heavy topics like dealing with grief, toxic workplaces, etc. into an otherwise fun, light story. There was also great mental health and queer rep.

(For fans of her prior work, there is also a delightful Lizzie Blake cameo!)

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

And the book is honestly as ridiculous as it sounds, but it works. Eve is a social media maker, doing some random deless. Celebrity type interview show with lukewarm hot dogs in the basement of some building. And yes, it's ridiculous as it sounds right. And she is 28 living in New York City. Wondering if her life is going anywhere i'm drunken event. She lets her true feelings out about a former. Love affair from 6 years ago. But the guy just happens to be a super popular podcaster-- what just happens to tell men, in his podcasts, how to be good? How to be they're for there significant others. How to be respectful? She disagrees.It's his latest video and lets it all out---. she wakes up with almost a million views, and her boss has an idea to capitalize on this new found, fame Riley and her are going to date, and they're going to review their dates and she's going to tell him and what he did wrong. The overall story and premise I did enjoy, but I felt like the main character eve was too hung up on the past and very meme. And I understand when it comes to women, there's a difference between strong and mean, and I felt like she was mean, and I know that wasn't the intent, but it's how I felt that she came across-- the reports are greatly enjoyed. The ending is very good, but I did not find some of the parts of the book relatable. Or believable, it was an okay book kind of like a filler book if I have nothing else to read

*** it is spicy

Thank you, net galley, for this arc.In exchange for an honest review

Mazey Eddings writes with such a unique voice and sense of humor in Well, Actually. This story feels like a time capsule depiction of 2024 internet trends, especially with Eva's social media show where she interviews/flirts with celebrities over a fast food meal. When she uses the show to call out her ex, she is cornered into a new series with said ex on his own social media platform where he tries to prove to her that he has changed (and of course their old feelings for each other surface and they begin to revisit their past connection).

While this premise was charming, the execution came off as trying too hard to land with the current trends on social media. I fear the concept won't age well, but it'll definitely have its moment for those that love Chicken Shop Date and the many pop culture iconic moments that have come from it.

5 stars. This book was outstanding. And like Lizzie Blake, Eva is a character that will absolutely stick with me. She was perfect in every irreverent way. I felt a lot like Riley while reading. About Eva: absolutely smitten and left breathless with the effort of trying to keep up with her. She was so funny and real. And Riley, was a pining fool that I couldn’t get enough of! Everything about this was a good time and I can’t wait to buy a copy to have as a trophy for my collection. A thousand percent would recommend.

I really love Mazey's books. I enjoy how they feature people whose minds work in all kinds of different ways. She has such charactery characters. I greatly enjoyed the fmc in Well, Actually. She was a tough, strong, edgy kind of woman. As a woman who is a leader and also someone with a strong personality, I really appreciated a representation of this kind of woman in a romance novel. Especially alongside a mmc who absolutely loves her strength. I appreciated the representation of misogyny as well, and the slow application of pressure that shows how workplaces can turn toxic by slowly turning up the heat. This book made me laugh and stay up way too late at night reading. Both a fun read and some interesting thoughts. My only negatives (and these are tiny) would be there was a bit of a disconnect for me between fmc in college vs now, it wasn't quite clear to me how she got from being the one person to the other. Also, the mmc was almost too sweet and lovely, but he was a very enjoyable book boyfriend.

I'm a big Mazey Eddings fan and I feel like her Brush with Love series is very underrated, so I was excited to read this arc. Eva took a little while to grow on me, but she did in the end. I did really love Rylie though, how could you not? I thought their story was sweet and passionate. I loved how Eva was able to be vulnerable with him and really let him in even though you could FEEL how hard that was for her. As with all Eddings books there was some great representation depicted. I look forward to more of her books. She is up there with the best Romance authors out there right now.

“Every part of me is yours if you want it.”

full of big feelings, self-acceptance, healing, and forgiveness, WELL, ACTUALLY is a heavy and hopeful journey with late-twenty-somethings as they navigate the future while righting some past wrongs.

Eva Kitt and Riley Cooper’s college situationship ended on a very low note six years ago, and while Riley now tries to expose and correct toxic masculinity one podcast episode at a time, Eva knows just how toxic his brand of masculinity really is — or was. this is why she drunkenly stitches one of his videos and calls him out, instantly going viral. the traction leads to her media company inviting him on her pop culture dating show (think Chicken Shop Date but with hotdogs). the encounter quickly turns into an agreed upon set of dates where Riley intends to change Eva’s perception of him. while she assumes this is all to help heal his brand, Riley is all-in on the girl that got away. will it be possible to overcome the pain that still lingers, or will they get through their contractual obligations and wipe their hands clean of each other once and for all?

Mazey does an incredible job (as always) handling important topics with care. she creates a safe space for mental health discussions and sexual identity conversations while weaving in moments of levity and humor. her writing is like a hug from a loved one! I also enjoyed the character cameos from her A Brush With Love series!

one thing I so desperately wanted was a second point of view. I adore Eva and loved being in her head; I equally love Riley and would have thoroughly enjoyed having access to his brain!
—

this and that:
♡ black cat x golden retriever
♡ boozy brunch
♡ cameos from other Mazey characters
♡ disastrous dates
♡ flashbacks
♡ he’s obsessed x she hates him
♡ he likes her mean
♡ mental health care
♡ nyc living
♡ open door spice
♡ opposites attract
♡ podcaster x journalist
♡ second chance
♡ single pov
♡ storm cloud x sunshine
♡ therapy
♡ queer rep

triggers:
☞ anxiety attacks
☞ death of a loved one
☞ homophobic behaviors x rhetoric
☞ grief
☞ loneliness x abandonment issues
☞ workplace abuse x bullying x harassment

I really enjoyed this book, even though I'm typically not a fan of second-chance romances. But trust me, this guy deserved the shot he got. The heroine is a sassy journalist who finds a video of her college ex discussing red flags in men. Naturally, she’s quick to respond. They enter a dating situation where the MMC has to prove he’s changed. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and the way they navigate their relationship is refreshing—fun, playful, and healthy!

What I liked the most was the therapy session, it's a description of a healthy relationship, and besides, fmc needed this session to understand the depth of what went wrong in college.

The tropes:

• black cat vs golden retriever
• banter
• she fell first but he falls harder
• second chance (2 month fling in college)
• no third act break up
• grief/ abandonment
• good spice

Simply put, I am obsessed. I read this book in less than 24 hours and immediately wanted to pick it up to read it again. Riley and Eva were just ultimate goals. I loved them as a couple and I loved their growth in the story. This had so many great moments about grief and not feeling worthy as well as hilarious banter.

a swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud funny romance that i couldn't put down!!!

well, actually's delicious banter, sizzling chemistry, and charming characters were an absolute delight. miss eva is our hot mean girl who wears her attitude like an armour, but just wants someone to truly choose her. meanwhile, rylie freaking cooper is a cinnamon roll with the patience of a saint and a dirty mouth that had me panting

mazey eddings perfectly balances humour with heartfelt emotion, crafting a story that feels deeply relatable. well, actually is a must-read for anyone thirsty for a steamy, explosive romance!

p.s. i wish this was dual pov – i would eat up cooper's thoughts like a starved woman

thank you for the arc, st. martin's press and netgalley!

loved this romance of eva and rylie. loved seeing the other couples from the other books. loved that they had dates from brunch to couple's counseling. loved their friends. loved the banter between them.

5/5

If you witnessed the insane levels of chemistry on Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date interview this past fall and found yourself asking “Is there a book like this?” boy does Mazey Eddings come through. With her signature knack for crafting unusual romantic circumstances, Well, Actually is a quintessential modern love story of effortless humor, second-hand embarrassment, and pop culture references served with mediocre hotdogs and a quest for redemption. It’s messy, so bisexual, and the kind of book I was always going to fall for. Well, Actually introduces Eva, a down on her luck journalist with black cat tendencies, and Rylie Cooper social media’s darling and golden retriever to his core. They seemingly have nothing in common besides the five dates they went on in college before Rylie unceremoniously ghosted Eva. Well, Actually brings exactly the kind of romance setup I go for: heavy on the mess with imperfect protagonists finding love and meaning in their lives. Mazey Eddings has a grasp on the finite ledge between the humorous and emotional situations and she employs it deftly in her strongest romance to date.

My full review is up now on my blog!

Eva is a bisexual woman with a painful past. After being ghosted by her first love in college, she built up walls around herself. Riley, the guy who hurt her, is now a famous influencer, totally different from the person he was in college. Eva, also an influencer (but smaller scale), calls him out online, and things go viral. Riley, trying to make things right, asks for six dates to prove he’s changed.

The comedy, the chemistry, and the emotional growth between these two were fantastic. I loved how their banter developed and how Riley showed unshakeable patience with Eva, despite her resistance. Their journey felt real and so satisfying to watch unfold. That said, I wish we had seen Eva open up more about her childhood. It would’ve added a lot to understanding why she holds onto her anger towards Riley, and it would’ve made his persistence feel even more grounded.

All in all, I adored this book. It’s definitely one I’ll keep recommending

A romance between two people 6 years after a short romance ended in a ghosting. Fun characters and great dialogue made this a fun quick read. Some graphic sex scenes, if not your thing, I'd skip it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy of this ebook!


If you loved Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date then do I have a rec for you..

I loved EVERY SECOND of this book!!!! Eva was sharp and witty and strong, but so soft on the inside, and I just loved seeing Rylie bring out that softness in her. The banter is incredible, and I loved the way that Rylie took everything in stride and refused to back down from Eva’s barbs. I saw so much of myself in both characters, and was invested in their story right from the start.

Mazey has such a unique writing style that brings so much humor and lightness alongside heavier and more emotional topics like grief without ever feeling like the seriousness is minimized. I found myself laughing through tears at multiple points throughout the book!