Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I found Well, Actually incredibly difficult to get through. The constant inclusion of TikTok comments throughout the book was distracting and made it hard to enjoy the story. It felt overly focused on social media, which pulled me out of the narrative instead of enhancing it.
The romance wasn’t appealing at all, and I didn’t connect with the characters. The main character, in particular, was unlikable and bitter, making it hard to root for her.
The writing style itself was cringeworthy and didn’t appeal to me. Overall, I didn’t enjoy the book, and it was more frustrating than anything else.
Would not recommend to those looking for a well-written, romance book. This book is not cute or romantic.

This was a 3.5 stars for me! I love Mazey’s writing style and laughed out loud multiple times. I felt that the FMC was a little too mean at times for the MMC and wanted them together sooner. I loved the name switch thing that Mazey did, iykyk. While this one wasn’t my favorite, I still really enjoyed and would recommend to others.

Well, Actually - ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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PUB DATE: August 5th
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FEATURES:
-Adult Contemporary Romance
-Second Chance Romance
-Verbal Sparring
-Snark and Sarcasm
-Podcasters
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Eva and Cooper dated in college. He was many of her firsts - and then he broke her heart.
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Now, 6 years later, Eva is forced to work with Cooper for her job… to go on dates with him and then re-jash them on air.
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WHY 5/5: While the humor is beyond top notch, the verbal sparring is the perfect blend of witty-snarky-sizzle, and the character growth is uniquely beautiful, I will shout about this book because:
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The universe needs more assertive, snarky, FMCs.
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Women do not need to fit into narrow, sunny or passive boxes to be loved.
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Eva is a force. She is smart, she speaks her mind, and nothing escapes her notice. I want to be her best friend.
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Thank you @netgalley for my eARC copy. I was given this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this! A second chance romance playing off the shtick of chicken shop date, I loved the chemistry and relationship that built between the main characters, and thought the look into toxicity in the workplace and uncertainty in your career was well done.

My one gripe would only be that, at times, Eva’s hardheadedness went a bit too far, but also, I recognize that’s simply how her character was written and it didn’t take away from the overall story.

Also - the cameos from the author’s previous books were so fun!

honestly? this book is everything. it's gut-wrenching. it's hilarious. it's romantic. it's emotional. it's fierce. mazey eddings has done it yet again. this book is perfect for black cat x golden retriever lovers, he falls first, lovers (sort of?) to enemies (on her side) to lovers? i can't wait to buy this book for everyone i know.

book: 5/5
spice: 3/5
banter: 5/5

Baby’s first ARC and it did NOT disappoint! I loved “Well, Actually” so much more than I was anticipating. I had never read a book by Mazey Eddings and I am so excited to devour her previous works.

I admit that I had some preconceived notions of what to expect from this book based on the summary and cover art. I assumed it would be a fun romance without much depth to the characters or the story. Oh, how I was wrong. The novel explored themes of grief after loss, bisexuality self shaming, workplace bullying, forgiveness and so much more.

I absolutely love a story where the FMC experiences a personal journey and growth, and this book achieved that. I loved how Eva became softer with Rylie, but still stayed true to her self. I loved that she was able to understand Rylie and his experience that led to their initial breakup while still having her feelings of abandonment validated. I love nothing more than a well written second chance trope, and this one killed it. Their banter was so funny and the romance was SO cute.

Well, Actually Mazey Eddings from St.martins publishing was a very funny, easy read. It was a great feel good story where second chances have a happily ever after. This book was about two people who meet in college and ended on really bad terms. One drunken night post turned into a race to save their careers and in doing so causes them to fall in love. This is a first for me from this author and I'll definitely one clink her books in the future. Thank you so much from #netgalley for a chance to review this book.

This made me more emotional than I planned. There were parts of the MC that I connected with so strongly which pulled my into the story even more. Such a great mix of sweet, heartfelt and SPICY. Eva and her babygirl Riley were the perfect golden retriever/black cat couple. Ugh, I love them!

I loooove chicken shop date (which seems to be very influential for this book) and I was torn between really liking this book and cringing from it at times. There were times that I laughed out loud (I’m looking at you first date car scene) and times when I checked out. I love a FMC who is grumpy and bitchy and a MMC who is a total golden retriever. That trope makes up for my least favorite- the second chance romance. However, I actually liked how this second chance plot went. The character growth through it was great- although towards the end it teetered that line between having conflict and dragging the conflict out *too* long.
3.5/5 ⭐️ @goodreads pls make it so I can give half stars I beg of you
4/5 🌶️ I felt that the spice was really well done and spicier than I was expecting!! Although I’m not complaining about that

If you know me you know that I love my slow burns. There's just something about letting the characters really connect before they fall in love that I just eat up every time. Now second-chance romance books aren't always my favourite but I thought this book was really well done. They really were the right person at the wrong time, and there was just something so real about Eva and Rylie.s story.

If you enjoy these tropes give this a read:

-Black cat x golden retriever
-She hates him but he's OBSESSED with her
-Like he's LITERALLY obsessed
-Lots of praise and I mean a lot ( we love praise in this club)

Well, Actually was such a great read. Very charming as it contained a lot of very modern humour (as a Gen Z myself, I found my people with this one.)

The tension was absolutely impeccable. The dislike to lovers between the two where they really did commit to the dislike was oddly refreshing and made the first kiss feel incredibly rewarding to read.

I feel the end wrapped up a bit fast. While I don’t typically have this sentiment, this book probably should’ve been a bit longer. I felt it was trying to tackle a lot of great topics, but didn’t have enough time to really do so.

Great read though, and I’m excited to read future books by this author.

I liked this book, I think the idea and inspiration behind it was cool and the writing flow was good. I didn’t really connect with the mfc, I understood her grudge at first but the way she continued to act toward the mmc because of it ended up being frustrating for me.
I had a fun time while reading but I already know I won’t find myself thinking back to it in the future.

I lovedddddd this book i thought it was so so cute my favorite tropes i love a grumpy fmc i love a second chance romance it was everything to me. I definitely recommend this book please read it was lovely!!

Well Actually by Mazey Eddings is an irresistibly bingeable read that had me hooked from start to finish. Once again, Eddings demonstrates her exceptional ability to take familiar tropes—this time, the black cat/golden retriever dynamic—and breathe new life into them with her signature wit and charm. The chemistry between Eva and Rylie is undeniable, and the tension that builds as they navigate their past and present is engaging and compelling.

Eva, with her tough exterior and sharp tongue, makes for a relatable and strong heroine, though at times, her grudge against Rylie felt a bit overextended. Her reluctance to let go of the past and accept his growth became a bit redundant. As much as I admired her prickliness, I couldn't help but wish she’d have delved deeper into her emotional layers, particularly her fears of abandonment. That being said, Rylie is everything you could want in a romantic lead—emotionally mature, self-aware, and undeniably hot. His growth throughout the novel is incredibly satisfying, especially as he works to make amends for past mistakes.

Despite a few frustrations with Eva's character arc, the story ultimately delivers a heartfelt and satisfying second-chance romance. If you're a fan of witty banter, emotional growth, and a touch of delicious tension, definitely give this one a read. Trust me, you'll finish it in a day—it's that bingeable! Find this on shelves August 5.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

(3.75 stars)
thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this as an arc!
if romance is one genre you liike to read from, then PICK this one up once it comes out, this is the blueprint for romance and tension... think andrew garfield and amelia dimoldenberg interview´s type of tension!
i had a great time reading this and i think if you are looking for a romance that fast paced but not entierly silly, then this is the one

At first, I thought this book was inspired by Amelia Dimoldenberg's "Chicken Shop Date" with Andrew Garfield, but just a couple of days ago, I saw the author's story that this book was actually written before that date ever happened! Soooo, this is the OG, people!

What can I say except that I loved every single second of this book? It had some of the best banter I’ve ever read! Like, genuinely, I was giggling and kicking my feet while reading—which was really difficult to control in public places. 🤭

The story follows Eva Kitt, the host of Sausage Talk, where she interviews B-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs instead of pursuing the journalism career she once dreamed of. One day, after a particularly rough experience that makes her question her professional life, she gets a little sloshed and impulsively calls out her college ex, Rylie Cooper. Rylie is now a beloved social media personality who has built his platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners. My girl basically stitches one of his videos and exposes him—I was dying laughing. 😭

Obviously, things get real the next morning when her boss pressures her to confront Rylie on Sausage Talk. During the interview, Rylie makes Eva an offer: six dates that, according to him, will "change her perception of him" and prove that he has changed and grown. Eva, a headstrong feminist with razor-sharp wit, is reluctant to agree to his terms—but she does it anyway. And, to her surprise, he ends up proving himself right.

Eva has always felt like no one's priority. She hasn’t allowed herself to fall in love since what happened with Rylie, leaving her emotionally closed off. On top of that, she’s never been close to her family, and growing up feeling like an afterthought to your own parents creates insecurities that are incredibly hard to shake as an adult. But Eva covers it all up with humor, quick comebacks, and never letting anyone see through the cracks.

As Eva and Rylie’s dates unfold, we get to know more and more about these beautifully deep characters. I’ll be honest—up until the second date, the book started to lose me a bit. I was really into it at the beginning, but I felt myself slipping. But then came the third date. I won’t spoil it, but that moment answered so many of my questions as a reader and became a huge turning point in their relationship.

From that point on, we see their relationship evolve, and let me tell you—I had a constant smile on my face. 🤭 Their love blossoming, her running away from him, him not letting her go. And then, when they finally start dating, something happens that makes her feel like it’s all her fault. She’s scared, so she tries to break up with him—but HE WON’T LET HER!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!Everyone deserves a partner who will fight for them and alongside them, and Rylie Cooper was exactly that.

Even once they got together, their banter was still intact, and I LOVE couples who have insane chemistry before and during their relationship! You can see them engaging in their witty back-and-forth, but deep down, they’re both giggling and swooning. That was so Eva and Rylie. We only had Eva's POV, but it was obvious that Rylie loved every second of her pissing him off. And as for Eva, we got to experience all her feelings while bantering with him. I will die on a hill screaming that everyone who loves banter needs to read this book!

I related to Eva's character so much, and that made the book even better for me. I felt seen by this beautifully flawed yet deeply real and lovable character.

One thing I absolutely hated was how Eva was manipulated and used as a pawn by her company. At first, I understood that they wanted publicity from her calling out Rylie and their interview, but even after she publicly came clean about their relationship, they still wanted to capitalize on it. That was just sick. But I was so proud of Eva for standing up for herself and getting back at them toward the end.

All in all, this book had the best banter, chemistry, groveling, and spice. Both characters were equal parts adorable and slutty!!! This author is officially on my auto-buy list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this fun, quick paced rom-com. Everything about this said cute easy to read contemporary rom-com. Even the third act crisis wasn’t horrible to get through! Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I will certainly be making my way through the rest of her work. It was funny, smart, and thoughtful. I tend to gravitate towards rom coms that approach serious topics and this certainly does that with grace and respect for people with those lived experiences. Loved it and I am excited to read more!

Eva and Riley met in college and had a short fling before he ghosted her. Several years later, Eva calls Riley out on social media which ends up going viral and putting her in an awkward position at work. Her company spins the viral post to benefit them and requests that Riley comes onto Eva’s talk show. Riley tells Eva he has changed since college and regrets the way he treated her. Eva is witty, snarky and has no interest in believing a word Riley says. I loved this book. I laughed out loud several times — the accidental text and the skim milk scenes 😂

Black cat x Golden retriever
Second chance romance
He’s obsessed with her, She’s annoyed by him
Open door romance

Thank you St Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you Mazey Eddings and Netgalley for this ARC!

5⭐️//2.5🌶️

Eva Kitt had higher aspirations for her journalism career, but interviewing B- and C- rated celebrities on her show "Sausage Talk" is what pays her rent in New York, and buys her flawless outfits. A drunken night at home ends up with Eva online blasting her college ex, Riley Cooper - beloved social media influencer/podcaster/toxic masculinity de-constructer (?). After being shoved into the spotlight over-night (quite literally), Eva comes face to face to the guy that wronged her years ago while having to interview him on Sausage Talk. Eva is once again put in the spotlight when Riley asks her to give him a chance to redeem himself, and to take her out on a few dates.

If asked what my favourite thing about this book is, I wouldn't even know where to begin. The banter, the sass and mockery as a love language, the witty comebacks, the series of unfortunate disasters that comprised that first date, the overall energy and tension between Eva and Riley - I loved it all. This book brought me to tears from laughter, but also tugged at my heart from all the yearning and unwavering affection Riley showed Eva after their reunion. Themes of grief and feeling like you are not good enough, for romantic partners or parents, are treated with such care and tenderness, I was a big pile of mush on the floor. I loved this book and cannot wait to see what else Mazey writes in the future.

Favourite scene: First date 🤭
Favourite 🌶️ scene: "I know I shouldn't be here" 🤭