Thank you NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC for an honest review! The cover had me hooked from the start!

I loved parts of this story; call me crazy, but I really liked Eva. She's so raw, real, and relatable. She isn't someone I would likely be friends with in real life, but I admire her as a character all the same. She is witty and sharp. I also loved the enemies-to-lovers, but still mean-to-each-other-in-love vibe Eva and Rylie have. There were moments that I found myself giggling out loud and kicking my feet up.

I also really appreciated Rylie and his total love and care for Eva. Even when she is being a total brat, he is there for her and loves her through it. That kind of true love is what romance novels are all about. They had killer chemistry. Honestly, I desperately wish I could have given this book more stars because I loved this couple.

However, the main plot and how the ending wraps up with Eva's company felt a bit half-baked. Her bosses were frustratingly and obviously villainous. I also got frustrated at times by Eva's lack of consideration and self-awareness regarding her friends and relationships. And Rylie forcing Eva into couples therapy so he could reveal his secrets in a way where she would have to listen felt wrong. Couples therapy after only six days also felt wrong.

So, there were a few drawbacks that kept this as a 3.5-star read for me. All that being said, it's still a good story, and I'm totally making my sister read it once it comes out. It just may not be for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I’ve read a few Mazey Eddings books prior to this one and I really enjoy how she mixes the fun of a standard rom com with real-world relationship issues. This book is no different. This book is an enemies-to-lovers/grumpy sunshine/second chance romance but this time SHE is the grump and he is maybe not sunshine completely but a mostly sunny day.

One of the things I liked about this book is that it models healthy communication between 2 people who clearly have a lot of trauma in their past. Yeah, sometimes it was messy but that’s real life.

There are quite a few spicy scenes in the book. I don’t typically shy away from that type of content in books but I felt like a couple of them were timed wrong storyline-wise and I found myself skimming them. That said, she does write great scenes!!


Solid 4 star book. It does deal with toxic workplace, bullying, death and bisexuality but Eddings handles all of that with care.

I LOVED THIS! Such a fun story. I fell in love with Eva. I found her relatable in an odd way. This is the type of book you forget that you're reading.

Well, Actually is an enemies to lovers rom-com where she's the grump and he's the sunshine. The story is well written with excellent banter and plot. I was so into the story that it was hard for me to put it down and participate in reality. I really liked all the characters and how they were written. I felt what Eva felt for the entire story; when she was mad, i was mad. The distain for Eva's boss was felt with the story. My only issue with We'll, Actually was that once Eva and Rylie got together the witty banter stopped and I was disappointed. Overall, it was an excellent read and I will be reading more books by Mazey Eddings. This is the second book I've read by her (A Brush with Love the other) and they were both five star reads. She's an excellent writer.

Eva is a host for a show at her work. She is funny and, well, mean. She works in a hostile environment and hopes to make her way to real journalism some day. Rylie is a social media influencer who has everyone’s heart as he works to take down toxic masculinity. After a night of drinking Eva posts some not so nice things about Rylie and it goes viral. He was someone she dated and fell for in college and he left her disappointed (and without an orgasm apparently). Both parties agree to come on her show to do some damage control and capitalize on the popularity of their moment and they face their past while they are doing this.

Mazey Eddings wrote a delightful, funny and heartfelt romance novel. I laughed. I cried. I felt all the things. I wanted more when it was over. I cannot wait to read more from Mazey.

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

Five stars! This is a contemporary romance novel that skillfully employs many of the tropes we know and love while also addressing issues that are forefront in the minds of many romance readers! There's nothing preachy or dogmatic about this easy-to-read novel; Eddings takes the reader on an adventure that's full of relatable heartwarming and humorous moments in equal measure!
Eva and Riley had a bad situationship/relationship in college. They seem to have moved on, and both are pursuing careers in social media. One evening, Ada sees and calls out Riley's "Dating advice for men" video as being completely at odds with the Riley she knew "back in the day".
They soon find themselves in a social media frenzy, which leads to some very public "dating" and interacting, This then leads to some very relatable and also hilarious situations. Eva is a snarky, whip-smart FMC who can't quite put the pieces of her life together (relatable much?) and Riley's a golden retriever guy who just keeps trying even when he gets it wrong. Can they make it work with a second chance?
Loved every minute of this book and am looking forward to more from this author!

I loved the characterization and the detailed backstories in this novel. I was rooting so hard for Eva and Riley the whole time. I think the book did an excellent job of exploring trauma and how it can be overcome despite past mistakes and regrets.

Thank you to the St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, Netgalley, and Mazey Eddings for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book is about to become my entire personality. I devoured it in 24 hours and purchased a paperback copy after reading only 20% of the book as a trophy for my bookshelf.

This book is hilarious and hilariously quote-able. (One of my favorites: the Universe is a messy b that loves disrupting my peace of mind.) The story of Eva Kitt, a journalist on a semi-pop culture internet show, makes a mistake and calls out a former college situationship, who is now an influencer, on the internet attached to one of his videos. They have to come together and fake date in order to save both of their reputations and jobs, and watching them reunite years post college is both fun and funny.

I related to these characters immensely. I loved all of the positive themes, including being pro-therapy, and watching the characters deconstruct their time together to evaluate how it influenced them in the years since and how they would like it to influence their future. Eva and Rylie are magnetic together, and I so enjoyed watching them navigate a second chance romance amidst social media.

I can't wait to re-read this book again! This was my first, but not my last, by Mazey Eddings!

So many lols 😆 the dynamic between Riley and Eva is a very specific flavor of cutthroat playfulness and I’m OBSESSED. This story is drenched in pop-cultural references (and their fictional counterparts) including Nick Miller’s iconic microtropic “Stop being so mean to me or I swear to God I'm going to fall in love with you!”

Riley is so steadfast, the poster boy of positive therapy progress, while Eva seems very aware of precise details of her trauma without the tools to navigate it in a productive way.

I hope these two pop up in cameos of other Mazey Eddings masterpieces because I love them to death and feel so at home and enamored with this little pocket of the fictional world. 🤩

Big thanks to St Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Mazey Eddings for the ARC for review!!

4.5 stars, rounded up.

This book was such a pleasant surprise! The pacing was just right, keeping me hooked without rushing through anything, and the characters felt so real and relatable. The plot flowed nicely, and I found myself really enjoying the entire experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The banter!!! The fun! The opposites attract!!

I loved the tropes in this book and I always enjoy a second chance romance. As with all of her books, there is a perfect blend of depth and fun. You can’t help but adore Rylie!

Mazey Eddings has crafted a lively, witty second-chance romance that feels both modern and deeply heartfelt. The story follows Eva Kitt, a journalist who never imagined her career would involve interviewing B-list celebrities about hot dogs instead of chasing serious stories.

I really liked this concept of two people who knew each other in college where they hooked up, and it ended badly, only for them to meet again years later and discover that people can change. That aspect was so fun and well-written. Because a lot of the time in second chance romances, what happened in the past is either stupid and nonsensical or simply unforgivable.

Now the romance? Amazing slow burn. I know it won’t be for everyone because it takes time for Eva to trust Rylie and so it also takes a while for him to win her over.

There is a lot of good representation in this book: bi rep, pan rep, pro-therapy. The plot is fun, even if you have to suspend your belief a little sometimes. There is a lot of character growth. I enjoyed the framing of how tender of a time your early twenties is and how it can have a lot of influence on you operate in relationships later in life.

This is the kind of book that feels like your favorite rom-com with a bit more heat and heart. If second chance romances and great banter are your thing, don’t sleep on this one!

I wish I could be more hot girl reserved with my feelings, like Eva, but unfortunately, I’ve always been more of an emotions on my sleeve kinda girl, which means I’m going to scream/yell onto every media platform about how much I adore this book. Eddings latest novel follows sarcastic and dry humored Eva Kitt, a host of celebrity interview show Sausage Talk (think Chicken Shop Date), who after mistakenly going viral, is forced to confront and reconnect with her ex, Rylie Cooper, a popular social media star personality who uses his platform to combat toxic masculinity. Well, Actually has peak banter and snark, but beyond that, impeccably encapsulates that late twenties vulnerability and grind while also providing poignant LGBTQ representation. Thank you to Net Galley and St Martins Press for the ARC and to Mazey Eddings for writing a book where each page is filled with both jocundity and stirring inspiration. “You’re the human equivalent of comic sans” will go down in history as the best one liner ever written. Well, Actually releases on Aug 5, 2025. Cheers to absolute blackout reads, sweet friends.

I adore Mazey Eddings and jumped at the chance to read her new book, especially when it was described as a second chance romance.

Eva Kitt is a hardened journalist stuck in the beginning stages of her career. Rylie Cooper is a reformed frat bro with a podcast and his own corner of the internet. After a little too much wine, Eva comes across one of his videos and decides to call him out on his lies. Publicly. Online. When she wakes up the next morning, she’s gone viral and caught his attention again, as well as her boss’.

There are so many layers to this book. I was so invested in Eva’s journey. Eddings does an amazing job of creating characters through backstory, emotions, and experiences. I was rooting for Eva the entire book.

The nicknames in this book are next level. Nicknames always seems to be a big topic in my book discussions and these do not disappoint. There’s also a cameo from my favorite Eddings pair, Lizzie and Rafe! Which made me want to reread their story!

(3.75 rounded up)

Did I have fun while reading this because of all the banter and witty comebacks? Absolutely!

Did I feel inspired to eat a beef hot dog for lunch to remind myself there are still good hot dogs after reading this? Absolutely!

Am I inspired to go rewatch some Chicken Shop Date episodes after reading this? Absolutely!

Well, Actually was a fun read full of banter that made me giggle, the characters addressing serious topics in unhealthy and healthy fashions, spice, and lots of talk of comfort food (mac & cheese is also my love language).

This was my first read by Mazey Eddings and after this fun read she will definitely be on my radar!

Thank you NetGalley & St Martin's Press for the advanced copy ✨

Okay so I was a little hesitant starting this one. The trigger warnings (which I don’t generally read) spooked me a little (hello death of a loved one trauma, nice to see you) and I did put off reading this one for a bit. But once I picked it up, I genuinely could not put it down. I stayed up WAY past my bedtime, was dragging at work the next day, and rushed home to finish the last bit of the story.
Our girl Eva works at a news/entertainment company that really gave me Buzzfeed vibes. She’s the host of a recurring video bit called Sausage Talk where she sits down with various low level celebrities and eats a bunch of hot dogs while chatting. Eva’s friend is her producer, and after a rough talk with the Powers That Be, they both start getting a little worried about their jobs and future with the company.
Like any girlie in her 20s, she handles the stress by drinking on her couch and shit talking her ex. On the internet. By stitching a tik tok he posted about how not to be a complete dumpster fire on dates. Turns out this ex hosts a whole podcast on toxic masculinity, and how to detox.
Naturally, the high ups at her Buzzfeed but not Buzzfeed job are displeased, which doesn’t seem like is out of the ordinary for them. Eva ends up hosting a live show with our podcaster/ex Riley. Riley suggests they go on a series of dates to show Eva how he’s changed and isn’t a complete internet fraud.
Shenanigans ensue. Hard truths are shared. And Eva’s bosses continue to be the absolute worst.
What I really liked about this book was the writing style. I thought it was fun and really showcased the characters, personalities and diverse representation. It captured the heavily internet/media focused aspects of the story in a way that looking back on it, I had to think if I listened to it or physically read it because it felt like it could 100% be a podcast, or a series on a entertainment/news website. The author also handled difficult topics that are prevalent in today’s society in a way that was well done, relatable, and (I think) could really provide good perspective on how to handle situations like some the characters find themselves dealing with. Like who hasn’t dealt with a hostile work environment? What woman hasn’t dealt with a male coworker (or man in general) that was just the worst? And in today’s dating world, as unfortunate as it is, who hasn’t been ghosted? Or even done the ghosting? There was also a wonderful amount of diversity in characters shown, including LGBTQIA+ rep and mental health rep.
Eva as a main character was so solid. She had me hooked right away. I read this at a time where I was really disillusioned with my job and maybe that’s why. But she is so unapologetically herself and I LOVE that. Eva shows a solid amount of character growth throughout the book, culminating in her finding strength to call out this toxic workplace, forcing light on issues and misogyny that was not just limited to her, but many other employees. She was able to move past her issues to work on strengthening relationships with her friends and Riley. She was able to recognize when she didn’t handle something well, and own up to it. That’s something that’s so hard for people to do. And yeah, I know that it’s fiction and it’s way easier to write someone doing that than actually doing that in real life, but I don’t feel like it’s something that’s touched on often.
The chemistry between Eva and Riley was top tier. The spice was well written and did not overpower the story itself. It was a great balance between plot and smut, even with there being a decent amount of smut. This is not something I’d put in the “all smut no plot just vibes” category.
The story ended on Riley’s podcast, so it came very full circle from opening on Eva’s show. At the end of it, I was sad that it was over, but was so satisfied with the story that was told and its conclusion. I just get real attached to the characters and never want to leave them behind. This was the first Mazey Eddings novel, but will definitely be picking up some more of her things.

I would definitely check this one out if you liked First-Time Caller. Very similar vibes—excellent characters, the banter is bantering, and it’s so well written.

Tropes: second chance, forced proximity, workplace romance. Even a little grumpy/sunshine, but our girl Eva is the grump.

I really liked reading this book. I loved the romance between Eva and Rylie. I appreciated the way they explored themes of identity and community in a way that felt real and authentic.

The book is definitely thought-provoking and made me think about my own experiences and relationships. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys memoir or essay collections.

As a fan of Chicken Shop Date and the enemies-to-lovers trope, I was really excited for this book. This was my first book by Mazey Eddings, and she delivered with this black cat x golden retriever energy, second-chance romance. I loved the banter between Eva and Rylie and the growth both characters achieved during the novel.

Rylie Cooper was a fantastic MMC. Boy was down bad and he showed it. Eva, however, was not my favorite FMC. I know Rylie hurt her in college, but she was so mean to him throughout most of the book. As the story progressed, I became frustrated with her inability to forgive his past actions and see his growth into a thoughtful, self-aware man. That being said, I enjoyed the book as a whole and look forward to checking out Mazey Eddings previous works.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy for my review.

This is more like 2.5 stars for me, which I rounded up to 3, because I liked Rylie Cooper so much. Eva on the other hand, got on my last nerve. I'm not a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, so that's partly on me for reading it anyways, but I was so annoyed with how many times she kept pushing him away, when he was clearly so genuine. I liked them as a couple a lot once they finally got together, but that didn't happen until 70% through the book. I basically slogged through up until that point. Also, I didn't get or like the title... It was weird to begin with, and then was never even hinted at or alluded to, so that just felt like a loose end. (This whole review feels whiny, but oh well, it is what it is.)

This book was actually given to me for free from NetGalley as an arc in exchange for my review, and clearly it's my honest opinion.