This book had me laughing out loud. Like physically cracking up and dying of laughter. Major golden retriever black cat energy between the two characters. Great pacing throughout, it captured my attention the entire time. Reading this felt so cozy and safe, like getting wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter day. Absolutely loved!!

Well, Actually... this was a bit of a let down for me. I think the cover is super cute and the plot sounded amazing. I really wanted to like this. I found Eva difficult to like. At times throughout the book, I understood her and related to her, but then she would handle her emotions very childishly. I loved Cooper. I go crazy for an obsessively pathetic love interest. They had pretty good banter. But I really wasn't a fan of how Eva treated him. At times it felt like she was using him, and he'd let her because he earnestly liked her. That dynamic, honestly, disgusts me.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This was another case of ✨ this book just wasn’t for me ✨ bc I can totally see why people love it but I personally didn’t have a great time reading it. I liked Rylie (Rylie from the present, obviously. Rylie from the past I absolutely hate) but that’s it. I had a bittersweet relationship with Eva bc I felt like everyone was really mean to her but sometimes she also wasn’t the nicest person and that left me so confused that I still can’t decide if I loved or hated her 🤨

I’ll admit the girl kinda had a point bc I’d hate him too for everything he did in the past, even after knowing his side, I felt like there was a huge lack of emotional responsibility and that kept me from fully rooting for them to be together.

The premise is great and I’m sure a lot of people will love it but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Thanks Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for the arc 🫶🏻

An excellent page-turner that kept me engaged and annoyed at Eva. I admit I was a little disappointed that there was no on-page suggestion or hint that Eva might continue therapy for herself, as it’s clear she still has a lot in her past that she needs to resolve.

•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 | 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•

Well, Actually is a funny story that I think would go down really well with people who love watching YouTube celebrity interviews and want to gain more insight into what that world might be like. There are definitely many more serious topics mixed in with the lighthearted setting. Reading this, I've realized that ultra modern settings may not be for me, so unfortunately, that was a bit hard to see past during my reading experience.

It was uncomfortable watching our main characters' lives be commented on online by strangers, which I could see being by design as it is an important topic to delve into. There are also some interesting discussions on career goals and limitations, as well as the moral ambiguity that comes with working on social platforms. I feel like the messages may have been a bit stronger if this was lit fic, but that just may be my preference. Overall, I just don't think this was a book that worked for me because of trying to have a mostly lighthearted relationship going on in such an uncomfortable setting and everything being so public. It made it hard for me to see how someone could develop a relationship in that kind of atmosphere. But in the end, it's nice to see a character gain self-confidence and belief, so I definitely appreciated that part of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing an eARC of Well, Actually in exchange for my honest opinions.

If you’re looking for a RomCom that’s not bubblegum sweet, sunshine, and rainbows then this is the book for you!
🌭 Second Chance Romance
🌭 Black Vs Golden Retriever energy
🌭 Slow Burn
🌭 Spicy
🌭 Wit and Banter

Eva Kitt longs to further her career in journalism but is stuck hosting an online segment called “Sausage Talk”. Think "Amelia's chicken shop date" but with hot dogs. One night after a little too much career reflection and prosecco, Eva finds herself scrolling social media when she comes across a face she’s tried to block from her life and social feeds.
Rylie fucking Cooper.
Rylie is now a social media star who has built his “platform on the fallacy that he’s the prophetic one to guide men out of toxic-masculinity” (Eva’s words not mine). Rylie just so also happens to be a former college flame of Eva.
Fueled by past wrongs and prosecco, Eva makes her own social media post calling out Rylie on his past transgressions in juxtaposition to his current internet personality. Little does she know she’s about to go viral and bring Rylie Cooper back into her life.
🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭 🌭
I think people are going to be pretty divided on this book. Eva is very much a love her or hate her kind of character but if readers stick with her they’ll find there’s a reason to her bite. While we do jump right into this books plot, it did give me slow burn vibes.
I know I’m not the only one drawing the line from Eva/Rylie to Amelia/Andrew. And what a blessing because we even get those slutty little glasses mentioned (Mazey are you a witch? How did you know Andrew would give us that Golden Globes moment?!).
The wit and banter in this book is SO good and really gives Black Cat Vs Golden Retriever vibes. While there is a lot of laughs in this book it DOES come with a Content Warning and some heavier topics. I think Mazey Eddings handled these topics with great care and consideration.
Spoiler Maybe? I was about 90% through this book, white knuckling my kindle, waiting for the 3rd act breakup but it didn’t come! I actually really liked the plot device that was used instead- pretty refreshing for a Romance Novel.
I think I would’ve liked an epilogue for this book. We know career wise how Eva is doing but with the heavier topics I think I would have liked to see it mentioned she found her way back to hot Roberta (or someone else). I also really loved our supporting friend characters and would like to have a full circle for them too. Especially Steve! What happened to Steve?? We got introduced to him but then never really saw him again. Poor gentle giant.

“Well, Actually” by Mazey Eddings is set to be released on Aug 05 2025! Pick up your book & Costco dog and get ready for some laughs!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review 🌭

I really enjoyed this book and I'm so grateful to have been provided a free copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Firstly, Eva is not going to be the FMC for everyone. I can see many people not liking her but in my opinion that just adds to her nuances. She is human, and she has faults and she is just so perfectly well written in so many ways. She refuses to acknowledge her feelings, shoving stuff down in an attempt to be a "strong woman" and as someone who struggles with that very thing, watching her realize that everything she feels is valid was so beautiful. She builds a wall up to keep people out to prevent herself from getting hurt, not understanding that sometimes its worth the risk, and when it works out its all the more amazing. I adored her hard edges and quick biting wit, as she refused to hold back her punches. However, as those punches slowly started to lose their force, the true heart of Eva gets a chance to shine.

Secondly, Rylie is absolutely delightful. He takes Eva's hard edges and accepts them, even going so far as to fuel the flames to see what she has to say. He made a lot of mistakes in his life and he doesn't shy away from admitting them and trying to do better. He wants to change and grow, not content to sit in his ignorance. He gives some of the most amazing banter with Eva and I loved every moment he was on the page!

Thirdly, The overall plot was pretty decent and the conflict that arises and comes to a point in the latter half of the book was well throughout. However, I was extremely disappointed in the ending of the book. I didn't like how the major conflict was suddenly shoved aside, given no more than 2 pages of "resolution". I wanted to see more of the consequences come to light and it just felt lacking. If the ending would have been better, this would have been a five star read.

Overall, it was pretty good. I do feel that the author did the book a disservice with the way the ending was handled, but I am glad that I read it. It was one of my better books of January!

if "stop being so mean to me or I swear to god I'm gonna fall in love with you!" was a book

I absolutely LOVED this from mazey eddings! eva is the black cat fmc of your dreamsss and if you like the humor of Amelia's chicken shop date with a sprinkle of extra meanness then you will love this. The banter between rylie and eva is UNMATCHED! I swear anytime Eva says something slightly mean then Rylie suddenly has hearts in his eyes. Even through all of that, I love how sentimental both Rylie and Eva can be. The emotional moments hit even harder when the MCs spend so much of the book trying NOT to be. Ugh I love them!

The humor in this book is so great as well. When humor hits in a book its like CRACK. Mazey Eddings you will always be famous!

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings is a witty, heartfelt rom-com that’s impossible to put down. The dynamic between Eva and Rylie is both endearing and fun, and their interactions keep you hooked from start to finish. Eddings perfectly balances humor with emotional depth, creating a story that feels both lighthearted and meaningful. If you're looking for a charming read with great characters and a lot of heart, this one is a must!

3.8 stars.
When Prince Charming, from Shrek, says, <i>“not here, kitten whiskers”</i> 🥴🤢
When Rylie, our MMC, says, <i>“kitten, I’d rather spend every day getting in a pointless argument with you for sport than be bored and complacent with anyone else.”</i> 🥰😍

This was soooo fun. The banter was funny and entertaining while the tension was THICK. It was frustrating watching Eva Kitt, our FMC, have such low self esteem and struggle to stand up for herself at times, but this story and her overall growth was great to witness. I won’t lie, there reached a point where I was like, “okay do we really need another smut scene right now?” BUT… still enjoyed reading this quite a bit. In fact, I finished it in less than 24 hours.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I am going to need a solid 5-8 business days to recover from this book. This was my first Mazey Eddings read (despite her being recommended to me on the regular) and I have to say... I am hooked and ready to purchase her entire backlog.
I was not prepared for the expert level of banter, self-reflection, romance, and overall HEART this story contained. Eva Kitt is a strong personality, but the way she was written had me cheering for her and feeling empathy and compassion for the deep wounds of her past. And the groveling Cooper took upon himself. Holy shitttttttt. So hot. SO SO SO hot. Listen, I was trying to be as professional as those two were doing their podcast, but all my flabbers were gasted in the best way. Thank you so much to whoever approved me for this ARC and why is August so far away?!?!? I need more people to read this so we can lament together!!!

If sarcasm is your love language - this one is for you. It was hilarious from the start to finish and I couldn’t put it down! Eva Kitt is the host of “sausage party” a web show where she interviews B-list celebrities and internet sensations while eating phallic shaped foods (usually hot dogs). One night she sees her ex (Riley Cooper) from college on social media. He’s a famous podcaster who’s gotten popular for giving dating advice to women online. She drunkenly replies to one of his videos - blasting him for breaking her heart all those years ago. He responds with a challenge - let him take her on a series of dates to show that he’s changed and they’ll post it to their platforms online, but what starts as a way to get more viewership quickly turns into something deeper. I love Eva Kitt. Yes, she is mean and no she doesn’t trust easily. But she GROWS throughout the novel and learns to be vulnerable with herself and Rylie. And I ADORED Rylie “slutty glasses” Cooper. I loved his character growth, his self awareness, and how comfortable he was with his sexuality. I loved that he never pushes Eva to soften herself for the world but just to let him in. He’s a hot nerd and he owns it and i was straight up FERAL for the “good girl” scenes. I haven’t enjoyed a romance novel like this in a while and plan on working my way through Mazey’s backlist now.

From the minute I read the bio of this book I was intrigued….I thought I was going to get the typical contemporary romance but it was so much more. The characteristics of the main character made it feel so real and raw. I felt connected to Eva with the defensive mechanisms throughout the book when it comes to love, relationships, and the value we put on ourselves with our jobs. I wish I had a Rylie in my life who is not afraid to step up and support Eva. Their relationship is now one of my favorites.….
The other thing that needs to be addressed is the next level banter of the two main characters. It is witty, funny, and loving. The sparring between the two main characters makes it oh so much fun to read and had me giggling and kicking my feet. “Well Actually” is a great read for any romance reader who likes a second chance trope, banter, spice, and someone who fights for you and with you!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well, Actually is a second chance romance between Eva and Rylie, six years after a disastrous few weeks of dating and a lackluster sexual encounter in college. After being reunited for a video segment then Eva is roped into dates and more social media videos with Rylie which he uses to right the wrongs of their youthful relationship. This all takes place within the confines of Eva’s toxic workplace and her career struggles. There are a number of serious topics addressed throughout including death, grief, misogyny, mental health, relationship baggage, self-worth, family issues, and coming out. Maybe too many serious issues that they all feel addressed but superficially.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley + SMP for the arc!

I didn’t get the chance to read Mazey’s “Late Bloomer” but I had heard amazing things, so I was very excited to receive an ARC for Well, Actually. Especially since I’m a big fan of Chicken Shop Date and Andrew Garfield (iykyk).

Overall, I really enjoyed it but I did have a hard time relating to/enjoying Eva. I did like her growth by the end but there were times where it was hard to get through. Especially when you think about the grudge she holds over a college fling. However, if it weren’t for Rylie, I’m not sure I would’ve liked this as much as I did. Mazey writes banter incredibly well and Rylie Cooper is something else. I loved every time he was on the page. Is it a cute read? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Yeah! But it’s not my favorite I’ve ever read!

My favorite Mazey Eddings book to date! It is so deeply funny and fun, and I tore through this. The heavier topics are well balanced as always with her books, but the voices are just so unforgettable,I absolutely loved it.

I think the only thing I didn’t like about this book were Landry, William, and the farce of company that Eva worked at. A hot dog interviewing segment?? That should have been the first red flag for this entire company. 10/10 reflected the nasty ugly side Soundbites revealed at the end. While I am sad that Eva had that humiliating meeting, I love that she had support from Rylie AND Aida at what could have been blow to her career.

Eva doesn’t give black cat energy, SHE IS A BLACK CAT. and you know what pairs well with black cats? Golden retrievers. God, Rylie is such a cute match for my girl Eva and her biting comments. He is in love with her just as much as I am.

Usually second chance romances fall a little flat, because if I’m being honest, getting with an ex sounds like a horrible idea. But I LOVED how well Eddings wrote out this trope. You can be young and fuck up, but you can also learn and grown and become a better version of yourself.

10000/10 spice - I feel a little dizzy from those chapters if I’m being honest. Their chemistry was HOT even when Eva was in denial about this whole ordeal.

Very much loved, can’t wait to get a paperback copy for my collection!!!

I was asked to read and review “Well, Actually” by Mazey Eddings. This novel poses an interesting premise about reconnecting with an ex in the most innovative way.

I am new to Mazey Eddings but I found her writing straightforward and honest. I felt this novel was geared more toward the millennial, so as a 50 year old, perhaps a few references went over my head. I also wanted the main female character, Eva, to be less snarky. I felt she was too young to already be so cynical. Though this is categorized as a romance novel, it wasn’t super sweet, though it had its cute moments. The dialogue between Eva and Riley brought their dynamic to life. I also felt the novel portrayed the spectrum of sexuality in a way I have not seen in other novels.

Three and a half out of five stars.

Thanks to Net Galley, the author and publisher for a chance to read this novel.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the ARC! I read Lizzie's Blake's Best Mistake last year and I really loved Mazey Eddings writing style. She writes with a lot of heart and I felt like the characters in this book really go on a journey of self discovery and self acceptance, while they navigate their relationship. Eva and Rylie met in college and had a lackluster couple of dates, despite the fact that they really liked each other. Six years later. Eva is in journalism and interviews B-List Celebrities and Rylie hosts a popular podcast. Eva decides to call out Rylie on his bad behavior in college online and it goes unexpectedly viral. She then is forced to work with him on a collaboration, because the viral video brings a lot of attention to her employer. When they meet up, he convinces her to let him take her on 6 dates. Their connection is fun and flirty and Eva's personality is sassy and
blunt, which I loved about her. This one is definitely 5 stars for me!

Eva Kitt is an incredibly entertaining main character who has had her fair share of misery. Even though she could be miserable, she was also hilarious. I’m not much of an annotator, but I couldn’t stop myself from highlighting her witty lines. I know people are going to say she’s too mean, but I’ve always loved a “mean girl” main character.

As for sweet angel Rylie Cooper, I find it kind of poetic that this man shares a first name with my golden retriever. He is adorable, loving, and is the type of person who always shows up. I am a sucker for a lover boy, and he is the definition of one.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, sarcastic, compassionate, and a lot of fun!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC! This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I feel so lucky that I got to read it early.