This book took me by surprise in the best way. I went in expecting a fun romance but it delivered so much more — packed with emotion, depth and characters that felt real. The chemistry? Absolutely electric. And the spice? Perfectly done. I was giggling, kicking my feet, fully invested from start to finish.

Honestly, this is one of the best romances I’ve read in a long time. Mazey Eddings nailed it, and I can’t recommend it enough!

What’s better than a second chance romance? A grumpy-sunshine, tough-as-nails FMC going head to head with the bestest of boys, sweetest crewneck wearing, golden retriever MMC. I adored Eva and Riley’s second chance at love and appreciated the tender hearted vulnerability that laved the way to their ultimate reconnection.

I actually did enjoy Well, Actually. It was silly and fun, and took only a couple of hours to read through. The dialogue was snappy and the concept was cute.

However, overall, I didn't think the plot or character development was enough to bump it to a 4 star. First, the characters were not very interesting or likable for me? I didn't find Eva's "black cat" personality very believable, though it made for some good one-liners. Why so mean for no reason? Her job and her dependence on it also seemed tenuous - is all she does the hot dog appearances once in a while? Does she do any other work? How is that a full-time job (when its clear she doesn't have a ton of exposure and is not celebrity-level famous). Why wouldn't she be leveraging her small presence through social media? So many questions. And Cooper's influencer job seemed similarly baffling. It also sounded like he lived in a mansion by NYC standards. I didn't find him as a character very likable at all - the development over just 6 years was not believable, his whole personality seemed to be liking Eva. There was no depth to either of them, and no growth. It felt rushed and cobbled-together. Everything was surface-level.

Despite having quite a few things I disliked, it was a fluffy, fun read nonetheless and I expect other fans will enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This book was so fun and cute and also a lot more emotional than I was expecting. I couldn’t help but love Rylie - he was just so charming and sweet and so incredibly obsessed with Eva. Learning about why he acted the way he did in the past made me love him even more and I was obsessed with his collection of weird sweatshirts. Eva took a little longer to grow on me but I ended up really enjoying her character. She had really great growth throughout the book and I liked how she slowly opened up more and more to Rylie.
This was a fun premise. I liked all the “fake” dates they went on and how they debriefed them on the podcast. There were a lot of fun elements and I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was both funny and emotionally quite heavy. Both characters have past trauma, although the MMC has mostly worked through it. This is single point of view from the FMC, so she's the one we see grappling with her issues. It feels very current, as the author clearly did her research by spending lots of time online 😉. This is pretty spicy, but only after about 70%. I would have liked more with her family, even if it's only her realizing how awful they were to her and to acknowledge their behavior was a them problem, not a her problem. I often find it very difficult to read books where the FMC is being taken advantage of/bullied, and usually DNF, but this one hit differently to me. Perhaps because the heroine's reaction to this is to just be an ice cold b!tch rather than get trampled on (or to at least not let anyone see that she minds being trampled on). Because we can see how vulnerable she is inside, I don't think this made her too unlikeable. [For those wondering about the "queer" tag, the MMC is bi and the FMC is pansexual.] Anyway, this is pretty ramble-y, but I'll just sum it up to say I liked it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My first 5 star read of the year!!!! I want to shout my love for this book for all to hear. From the very first chapter I was hooked. I couldn’t put the book down. I was giggling, blushing, kicking my feet, laughing out loud, and simply GUSHING over the words that came out of Rylie + Eva’s mouths. These two had c-h-e-m-i-s-t-r-y!!!! The flirting and tension was so freaking good. I literally was smiling like an idiot every time these two went at it. Eva is my girl!!!! I don’t want to hear a single negative thing about her. I will take it very personally lol. I felt so seen through Eva’s character. Rylie is mmc of my dreams. His dedication to Eva and the grovelling had me drooling!!!! Mazey Eddings has a way of creating beautifully flawed characters with so much depth but also with such humour. I’ve read all of Mazey’s books and I truly loved all of them. Well, Actually is now a top fav romance for me and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this baby!!!! y’all are gonna FREAK.

My first 5 star read of the year!!!! I want to shout my love for this book for all to hear. From the very first chapter I was hooked. I couldn’t put the book down. I was giggling, blushing, kicking my feet, laughing out loud, and simply GUSHING over the words that came out of Rylie + Eva’s mouths. These two had c-h-e-m-i-s-t-r-y!!!! The flirting and tension was so freaking good. I literally was smiling like an idiot every time these two went at it. Eva is my girl!!!! I don’t want to hear a single negative thing about her. I will take it very personally lol. I felt so seen through Eva’s character. Rylie is mmc of my dreams. His dedication to Eva and the grovelling had me drooling!!!! Mazey Eddings has a way of creating beautifully flawed characters with so much depth but also with such humour. I’ve read all of Mazey’s books and I truly loved all of them. Well, Actually is now a top fav romance for me and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this baby!!!! y’all are gonna FREAK.!!!

Looking for your next romcom? Look out for Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings. This was a good one. Pick it up on publication day.

This was the most millennial book I’ve ever read. And I’m still not sure if that’s a compliment or not. As a zillennial, I exist with a foot in each generation, and the respective cultures. This allowed me to understand the references even if I didn’t find them funny… not the best outcome.

What I did like: I liked the discussions about second chances when the person truly has worked on themselves and changed. Rylie’s character development was earned and clearly thought out, which I appreciate. I also liked the side characters!

What I did not like: I did not like Rylie’s name. I know it’s a small thing, but characters constantly switched between his first and last name causing me to question if it was the same person. I also could not get over the overt connection to BuzzFeed. Again, I may not have been the direct audience this book was written for, but I still would have like more world building and less direct references to a real life organization under a different name.

Overall it was a just ok book that I would recommend to a chronically online millennial but probably no one else

Oh Mazey Eddings the woman that you are!! I read Late Bloomer last year and fell in love with Eddings writing. I could not contain my excitement when I got the arc for Well, Actually. The banter is so good between Eva and Riley is so good I found myself laughing out loud multiple times, but more than anything, what I love about this book the most is the tenderness. Eva and Riley’s feelings for each other are so soft, so kind, so understanding. Reading about two people being so open and vulnerable with each other is so comforting. And I relate to Eva so much, in many ways, but mostly I relate with her fears of being abandoned, forgotten, replaceable. And Riley, you sweet, patient, loving man. A man after my own heart. His love for Eva gives me so much hope. I’m so glad I got to read their story and I can’t wait to purchase the physical copy because are you kidding with that cover???? Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!

Sausage talk host Eva is feeling a bit unsatisfied with her life and career. She didn’t imagine at 27 she’d be living alone and interviewing b-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs. Things start to pick up after she blasts social media star Rylie Cooper for being a shitty lay among other grievances. What she doesn’t anticipate is that Rylie is actually thrilled to see her and wants a second chance. 6 dates to win her back all being recapped via podcast. But can Eva ever trust Rylie again after the way he treated her?

There are good books and then there are books so good you forget you’re reading. This book fell into the second category. I literally could not put it down. The writing was fun and captivating, the characters were flawed but lovable, and the romance was swoon inducing. I had a fantastic time reading this and I think anyone who enjoys steamy second chance romances will like this one!

Second Chance
Sassy FMC
Caught in the rain ☔️

Thanks St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 this was amazing!

This will get a special page in my reading journal!
I enjoyed this so so much! The characters were amazing, their banter???? Shut up it was SO good! Their chemistry, their bickering, their banter also didn‘t stop once they got over their problems with each other which was absolutely perfect!
I laughed out loud so many times while reading which is saying a lot! Evas and Rileys story was the perfect mix between humor and seriousness and their love and adoration of each other!!!, i loved the topics the author discussed in this, the grief, how to handle toxicity at the work place, just communicating with each other about everything actually. I loved the characters and the side characters and their journeys!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc and Mazey thank you for writing this!!! I can‘t wait to get my hands on a copy and reread this many times in the future

Well, this was a delight, actually!

The chicken shop date inspired rom-com I never knew I needed, this had top tier banter, and lovely characters. The pacing of the book was really well managed thanks to the backstory and the tension between Eva and Rylie.

A fun read and Mazey's best work to date, in my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This was a fun read! I read this in one sitting because it definitely kept me wanting more.
I was giggling most of the book because of Eva she was witty and funny. She did get me angry a few times but she also was making her self angry and was aware of what she was doing so I gave her grace in knowing she can at least acknowledged when she was being dramatic! I would definitely recommend this book!

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!