Well, Actually was one of those books that was so good because it was funny, sweet, entertaining, and the characters owned their imperfections. They didn't apologize for who they were, only their actions that might have caused hurt.

Eva was super snarky. She could be sarcastic and downright mean at times. It was partly to hide the hurt she holds onto and partly her sense of humor. I wondered if she would continue to be likable with all the meanness and she was because her thoughts and intentions weren't horrible. She had a traumatic past with Rylie and Rylie had a lot to make up for. Rylie redeemed himself in my opinion. I enjoyed getting to know him and his past and current intentions.

Eva and Rylie reuniting was highly entertaining. I enjoyed the drama, the interviews, and the dates. There were so many humorous moments combined with the ones that made me swoon. Well, Actually was so much fun. I didn't want it to end.

If you love watching Amelia on Chicken Shop Date interact with Andrew Garfield, this book is very much for you. Eva is the host of a hot dog themed guest show and Rylie is a podcaster. One drunken video later, and they are stuck together on dates. It was fun to read and I’m so glad Mazey Eddings didn’t soften Eva’s hard edges. Loved it.

This book is the first I’ve read by Mazey Eddings and is 5 stars for me. Love a strong female lead. Loved the dynamic between Eva and Rylie. Oh and I absolutely love a second chance romance. The representation in this book was fantastic and the writing was just, ugh, chef’s kiss. I *actually* laughed out loud. In fact at some points I was fully cackling. I also cried my little eyes out. I think I related a lot with Eva as far as her home life and college relationship with Rylie and this book shattered my heart and put it back together. I connected with this book and look forward to reading more by Mazey!

Well, Actually was great for my spirit after a particularly rough week.

That is because of the novel’s focus on kindness and inclusion - for example, at one point the mmc talks about word choice and harm of others. Amazing in a culture that is increasingly becoming immune to the ha we cause each other.

Eddings excels at character development, and I cared about the characters quickly. This second chance romance was set within the context of the mmc’s self-acceptance of his sexuality and grief journey; and the fmc’s… healing and growth.

My biggest frustration was the fmc’s almost over-the-top bitchiness. We knew she was hurt and struggled with some mental health challenges, but her personality…. She was just obviously deeply injured and unable to step outside herself. It almost distracted from the story. And there were moments when I wondered why the mmc would want to date the fmc.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to others. 3.5 rounded to 4⭐️s!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing this advanced e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

I was excited for a romance that is Chicken Shop Date coded, but I ended up feeling like it didn’t really work. And while I appreciated the nuanced feminism AND that the mmc is a podcast bro who is actually unpacking misogyny and toxic masculinity, I disliked both main characters and I felt overall their relationship lacked chemistry.

So… Eva, the fmc. I appreciate that she's a well-developed character with a distinct personality and voice. I love her sharp wit and how quick she is with her biting comebacks, but her emotional stuntedness holds me back from fully connecting with her. Like, I get that the whole fake date thing might have been really awkward for her, but she agreed to the stunt (as much of an HR violation as it was), and to just run out on multiple dates was so immature. And then her childish avoidance is even called out in their therapy session and she still behaves terribly. And Rylie, the mmc, felt incredibly bland—like plain white toast with no butter or jam. He didn’t feel fully developed, and I never really got a sense of who he was. I didn’t find myself looking forward to any of his scenes, which, admittedly, is a bit of a problem in a romance novel. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I just think a man making a living off of performative allyship is a bit of a walking red flag. I’ve just seen enough examples where it’s all surface level, that I don’t trust it cough Justin Baldoni cough.

But all that aside, there were moments that could have been so great that ended up falling flat. Like, I really think their whole history truly is “he’s just not that into you” when it could’ve been “desperate longing from afar” and that would’ve made it so much more fun to read. I especially disliked that when they were originally dating, we find out he was actually pining after his ex. Like I know that storyline was added in for ✨biphobia trauma✨, but to me, it felt like it cannibalised the main relationship.

Anyways, I definitely didn’t hate it! And there were some moments of pure genius (the shower scene haha) and I liked the ending… but I walk away feeling like these two kids would not make it. Eva, in particular, needs boatloads of therapy and I can’t really see anything other than infatuation fueled by a degradation kink from Riley. It doesn’t feel like happily ever after.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 follows Eva Kitt drunkenly roasting a brief college fling - Rylie Cooper for their disastrous short lived relationship and uploading it online only for it to go viral within hours...oops.

~

I despise when books try to so pathetically woke.

Most topics covered in this book are a significant concern of society. Agreed. Yet to make it this into some sort of a gravy of minority/harassment/discrimination/trauma galore was doing a bit too much.

Even still, if you manage to piece together the romance under all that. First off kudos to you.
And secondly, it was a little too sudden for my liking. She goes from hating his guts to jumping his bones in the span of one chapter.

Regardless of all that, my first concern when I read the reviews for this book was, I'm going to hate Eva. Spoiler, I didn't. She stood her ground. She never broke down and always had her back. I respect that. Shame the lack (overdose) of plot ruined it for me.

~

3.73 / 5 ★

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I giggled, kicked my feet, and twirled my hair during the entire book! I am obsessed! I want more!

The representation of the LGBTQIA+ community is so beautiful! I also love the representation of mental health and therapy!

I am forever living by the “Hot Girl” mantra! I’m striving to be Eve when i grow up❤️

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC! This book reminded me so much of the Chicken Shop Date episode with Andrew Garfield… so much sexual tension and chemistry. There was a lot of nuance and healing that happened in this book on top of the aforementioned sexual tension and chemistry. I could barely put it down. I will be reading more of Mazey Eddings in the future!

Mazey Eddings just has a knack for writing books that are full of humor and spice, but also with a layer of emotional depth helping both characters heal from past trauma.

This was a very enjoyable enemies-to-lovers, in which the FMC was a complete feral cat and the MMC a cuddly, green-flag-waving puppy of a man.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The spice is spicing HARD! No pun intended but it fits. I love Cooper and just want to jump into this book and steal him from Eva. The black cat and golden retriever has never hit so good in a romance book before.

Another great book by Mazey Eddings.

A big thing that I always love in novels is well-rounded characterization, and Eddings’ book didn’t disappoint. I loved Rylie and Eva’s unique characters. Rylie was such a cinnamon roll, and while he did hurt Eva in the beginning, we get a complete background as to why he had hurt her. We see his growth throughout the novel and his absolute adoration for Eva and the way he unfailingly chooses to never leave her side. Eva — while she is pretty mean to Rylie for a good portion of the story and has a tendency to overreact to things (like the first date, for example) — feels so relatable and just plain human. She’s not perfect, Rylie’s not perfect, and both characters acknowledge their imperfections during the novel. It was refreshing to get to see them acknowledge their personalities and grow together.

Even the characterizations of Eva’s bosses, Landry and William, didn’t feel one-dimensional, though they were the obvious villains. Their personalities were damn near perfect portrayals of those who bully employees in the name of profits. I can certainly relate to Eva on that front. Here’s a quote that I really liked and felt it deep inside me: “We've become far too comfortable as a society disregarding the humanity of people and using them as output machines we can abuse until they break.”

I also loved that Eddings acknowledged the very real hardships that women face in our society today, the misogyny that bleeds in through every aspect of our lives, whether that’s online or in person.

My only (minor) suggestion is to stick to one method of referring to Rylie. I get that referring to him as Cooper was Eva’s way of keeping him at arm’s length, because she was still battling all those complicated emotions she had about him, and Rylie was her way of finally connecting with him. But it was still a little jarring when she immediately switched to calling him Rylie, then back to Cooper, then back to Rylie again.

Other than that, this was a fantastic story and I can’t wait till it officially hits shelves. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to read this book early.

As someone as prickly as Eva, I have very much feel so seen with this book. I love it fron start to finish, and very much has set so much higher the bar when it comes to man. Rylie is definitely mu staple book boyfriend. Totally a must read!

I really enjoyed this second chance romance with extreme banter and fun loving ribbing. The chemistry is thick and easily to fall in love with. There are a lot of deep emotion topics that give extra depth to the plot and make you fall in love just a little bit more, If you weren't already infatuated with Rylie backstory. I am proud of the way our FMC stood up for herself in the end and the healing it did to her heart and mine ❤️‍🩹. For anyone who was every ghosted or waiting for a phone call that nerve came this is the story to heal you heart and get a glimpse of what could have happened on the other side.

Eva has big goals she'd like to reach in her journalism career, but right now she is the host of Sausage Talk, and online celebrity interview series. When a drunken video about her somewhat famous ex-boyfriend, Rylie Cooper, goes viral, Eva's boss decides to capitalize on the attention. They invite Rylie to come on Sausage Talk, where he gets Eva to agree to go on a series of dates with him to prove to her that he has changed.

This was my first Mazey Eddings book, but it definitely won't be my last. I was giggling and kicking my feet for so much of this book. This book was second chance romance and black cat vs. golden retriever, and it was done so well.

Both of these main characters were so well done. I loved that Eva was so unapologetically herself. She had such a hard exterior, but had so much softness hidden underneath it all. She was funny and sarcastic and just really cool. And Rylie was just such a good guy with a kind heart. They had great chemistry together.

Also love love love that the third act conflict wasn't a break up.

My only complaint is that I wish the whole 6 dates and 6 podcast episodes thing would have went on a little longer. When they got together and all of that just stopped, it felt like we very abruptly shifted.

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

Mazey Eddings delivers yet again. With wit, charm and spicy banter I was hooked from the start. Well, Actually also hits some more emotional topics and Mazey navigated them with grace. A story with lovable yet unhinged characters (because what else should we expect??) this book is a one sitting read that has you wanting to befriend everyone on page as they navigate life and growth.

(ARC read via Net Galley)
Goodreads Review

I gobbled this up like Kirby in the 5 hours since I was approved in NetGalley to get my hands on this! Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for gifting me an ARC 🩵

Eva. A girl after my own heart. I too never want to voluntarily listen to man’s opinion.

Lovers to enemies to lovers is my FAVORITE and this book snapped me out of my romance novel ick slump - as I knew Mazey would.

Highly recommend, this is a good one and so funny! If you love sarcasm and earned vulnerability, you will not be disappointed.

4.5 STARS

This was a fun read with banter for days, but also some emotional depth. It’s single POV, but still enjoyable. I felt giggly, giddy, and my heartstrings were pulled. It’s definitely a recommended read.


I voluntarily read an early copy

I absolutely LOVED this book! It had be obsessed from the beginning and literally laughing out loud. This was overall so so sweet and funny and I really enjoyed it!!

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

3.5-4??? I was really loving this (as I do with every Mazey Eddings book I’ve read) but after awhile it just kind of fell off. I loved Eva until I didnt, she was snarky and funny but then the shine wore off and she came off as a gigantic bitch. How many times is she going to run off and he comes chasing after her it happened at least 3 times. Rylie Cooper- Rylie. Cooper. It was kind of annoying that she kept referring to him by each name I got Confused what his name actually was. I felt like he was way too much of a simp for her and had no back bone. But also at the same time if he had felt as bad as he did about what happened with them in college it would’ve been more believable he reached out to her since she’s a social media celebrity. I found there to be a lot of extra fluff I didnt care about (all their friends and the gala event was unnecessary) and Eva’s bosses at the end became comically evil. I would have preferred if book showed more college flashbacks and less of Eva being a snotty brat.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Well, Actually is a hater to lover, look at me now done right romance that has some really funny moments as well as some reflective ones I have no doubt many readers can relate to. Eva is a somewhat abrasive journalist who is trying to grow past her show Sausage Talk (think the hot sauce challenges but with hot dogs and Eva being the grumpy cat host) to more serious topics. Rylie is a guy she dated back in college who is making a name for himself as an influencer/podcaster who also doles out advice about red flag guys. One night Eva goes viral tearing Rylie down based on their past relationship and when she interviews him in a set up by her work to take advantage of her trending rant Rylie throws down a challenge - try some reset dates so he gave prove himself good.

The setup was very cute as was the growth of Rylie and Eva’s eventual ownership of the tough and take no prisoners image she portrays. The story did drag a bit and some of those in Eva’s support network really needed to better understand how to put care and support before themselves. I loved to see a happy ending for these two, and the path to getting there was entertaining, if able to sprint a bit more vs. meander.