a swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud funny romance that i couldn't put down!!!

well, actually's delicious banter, sizzling chemistry, and charming characters were an absolute delight. miss eva is our hot mean girl who wears her attitude like an armour, but just wants someone to truly choose her. meanwhile, rylie freaking cooper is a cinnamon roll with the patience of a saint and a dirty mouth that had me panting

mazey eddings perfectly balances humour with heartfelt emotion, crafting a story that feels deeply relatable. well, actually is a must-read for anyone thirsty for a steamy, explosive romance!

p.s. i wish this was dual pov – i would eat up cooper's thoughts like a starved woman

thank you for the arc, st. martin's press and netgalley!

loved this romance of eva and rylie. loved seeing the other couples from the other books. loved that they had dates from brunch to couple's counseling. loved their friends. loved the banter between them.

5/5

If you witnessed the insane levels of chemistry on Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date interview this past fall and found yourself asking “Is there a book like this?” boy does Mazey Eddings come through. With her signature knack for crafting unusual romantic circumstances, Well, Actually is a quintessential modern love story of effortless humor, second-hand embarrassment, and pop culture references served with mediocre hotdogs and a quest for redemption. It’s messy, so bisexual, and the kind of book I was always going to fall for. Well, Actually introduces Eva, a down on her luck journalist with black cat tendencies, and Rylie Cooper social media’s darling and golden retriever to his core. They seemingly have nothing in common besides the five dates they went on in college before Rylie unceremoniously ghosted Eva. Well, Actually brings exactly the kind of romance setup I go for: heavy on the mess with imperfect protagonists finding love and meaning in their lives. Mazey Eddings has a grasp on the finite ledge between the humorous and emotional situations and she employs it deftly in her strongest romance to date.

My full review is up now on my blog!

Eva is a bisexual woman with a painful past. After being ghosted by her first love in college, she built up walls around herself. Riley, the guy who hurt her, is now a famous influencer, totally different from the person he was in college. Eva, also an influencer (but smaller scale), calls him out online, and things go viral. Riley, trying to make things right, asks for six dates to prove he’s changed.

The comedy, the chemistry, and the emotional growth between these two were fantastic. I loved how their banter developed and how Riley showed unshakeable patience with Eva, despite her resistance. Their journey felt real and so satisfying to watch unfold. That said, I wish we had seen Eva open up more about her childhood. It would’ve added a lot to understanding why she holds onto her anger towards Riley, and it would’ve made his persistence feel even more grounded.

All in all, I adored this book. It’s definitely one I’ll keep recommending

A romance between two people 6 years after a short romance ended in a ghosting. Fun characters and great dialogue made this a fun quick read. Some graphic sex scenes, if not your thing, I'd skip it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy of this ebook!


If you loved Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date then do I have a rec for you..

I loved EVERY SECOND of this book!!!! Eva was sharp and witty and strong, but so soft on the inside, and I just loved seeing Rylie bring out that softness in her. The banter is incredible, and I loved the way that Rylie took everything in stride and refused to back down from Eva’s barbs. I saw so much of myself in both characters, and was invested in their story right from the start.

Mazey has such a unique writing style that brings so much humor and lightness alongside heavier and more emotional topics like grief without ever feeling like the seriousness is minimized. I found myself laughing through tears at multiple points throughout the book!

I absolutely loved this! It was funny. The banter was great. There were actual feelings!

I’m not sure how I completely misunderstood the premise of this book and for some reason thought it was going to be similar to the movie The Ugly Truth (which I love). It is not similar at all, but in a good way! Eva and Rylie are forced to work together after she calls him out on social media and their resulting interactions are hilarious.

Eva’s interior monologues and comments though out the book were fantastic, and I imagined Rylie with a perpetual smirk on his face the whole time. I loved their communication style (witty comments all the time!) even though I’m sure I would hate it if someone talked to me like either of them do in real life. All the things I love in a romance book were there.

This was my first Mazey Eddings book and it did not disappoint!

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

A second chance romance featuring a main character who isn’t always likable, which I wholly appreciate.

Eva is cutting and sarcastic, but also guided by emotional trauma and the feeling that everyone is moving on without her. I think it’s refreshing that her perspective in the story is not to always be right and always be trying to please everyone, but to be a brat and to act on her emotions.

I don’t really love second-chance romance, but i do feel like this one was done in a palatable way(no one cheated, it wasn’t a lengthy relationship to start with, Eva admits that she emotionally invested too much in someone who clearly wasn’t ready to reciprocate.

I appreciate the addition of bi and trans characters whose identity is not their entire character, and to me that felt modern in a way that wasn’t trying too hard. I absolutely despise the name and spelling “Rylie” for the male main character and I do absolutely feel that it was extremely obvious that he was a man-written-by-a-woman. That being said, I love a rom-com and I read 90% books written by women, so that isn’t a deal-breaker for me.

All in all: a delight, a palate cleanser, a quick spice-containing book that made me happy.

1. Would I recommend it? Yes
2. Would I read it again? Probably not
3. Would I read a sequel? I would read other books about this group of characters
4. Would I read something else by this author? 100% yes
5. Would I buy a hard copy? Probably.
6. Would I keep the hard copy as a bookshelf trophy? Probably.

I’m obsessed with Eva and Rylie!! I loved how they were written and all the banter between them. I super appreciate how dedicated Rylie was; he really gave off “if he wanted to he would” vibes.

The plot was easy to follow, and I felt like everything was wrapped up really well by the end. I was taken aback by the Landry/William/Eva convo at the end, but I think that was intentional so the reader could feel exactly how Eva felt in that moment.

I feel like we didn’t get a ton of character development from Eva, but I finished the book feeling like she would make an effort to work through her previous anxieties. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the pet name “kitten,” but that’s just a personal preference!

Overall, another fantastic book from Mazey Eddings! I find Eddings does an amazing job at crafting her characters and writing their dialogue in a way that’s really funny and relevant, but not cringy.

Well, actually this might be my favorite Mazey Eddings novel yet!

After a big night in, Eva Kitt posts a video about calling out her ex - but since her ex, Rylie, is a beloved social media personality things get out of hand very quickly. And when Rylie offers a deal to go out on dates with Eva to change her opinion, the dates start feeling a bit too…real.

I loved how authentic and nonapologetic Eva is and how Rylie is obsessed with everything about her. Rylie may be one of the biggest simps I have ever read, in all of the best ways. One of my favorite things about Mazey Edding’s writing is the character arcs that promote self-love and embracing imperfections. I believe this makes the characters feel more relatable and the story more fulfilling.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who wants to laugh, feel released from societal pressures, or maybe just wants some spicy scenes of characters with good bed chem.

Thank you SMP and Netgalley for the eARC!

Eddings immediately sucks you in with the amazing writing style and premise of the book. Eva basically has an Amelia Dimoldenberg style job and one evening, she's drunk and posts a stupid little video about her ex that goes viral. The dynamic between Eva and Rylie is very much like that between Amelia and Andrew Garfield and I just adored it so much.

Eva Kitt. I can see how people would think she's "a bitch" and not like her because she stands her ground and doesn't let a boy dictate how she should behave, but she isn't without vulnerabilities either. If you took the time to understand her, you would see that she's actually very soft and just wants to be loved. I think her characterisation is a perfect representation of having abandonment issues, and that was so perfectly done in my opinion. She's really cool and her heels and red lips are such statement pieces, I loved that.

Rylie Cooper. I genuinely loved this man so much. All he wanted was to right his wrongs and love Eva the way she deserved to, but I absolutely loved that Eva didn't let him in right away. She pushed back for so long and that's exactly what I wanted. I need the man to be so down bad and pathetically gone for their women and that's exactly what Rylie was. He didn't once give up and loves Eva in spite of her insecurities of her personality that she thinks would be "too much" for someone else to handle. I think he wasn't one without his flaws, but his growth shown was amazing and especially the therapy scene... oh that got me, I was in tears.

Both of our main characters together had amazing banter and chemistry and the tension was off the charts. The first 50% had me giggling and kicking my feet and the latter half had me tearing up and many moments and I think all in all this was a perfect contemporary romance novel with an amazing romance and also the representation was so healing! Two main characters on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, a main character on SSRI's and a side trans character! This was my first from Mazey Eddings as well and definitely not my last!

it's called flirting, Amelia. it's called FLIRTING

✰ 5 stars, blunt and abrasive women with dry humor are my achilles heel. mazey should get an award for writing pages upon pages of comedic gold in the form of flirting and banter. I was simply sat to listen to this woman throw witty insults at this man the entire book, and he salivates over it like the pavlovian dog he is. bonus points for the queer leads and incredible couples therapy representation.

platform: netgalley ebook arc

This is my first time reading a book written by Mazey Eddings, and I’m so glad I did. Well, Actually is about Eva Kitt, the host of Sausage Talk, who interviews celebrities over hot dogs while yearning for a career in journalism. When Eva stumbles across a video by Rylie Cooper, her ex-boyfriend and a popular podcaster who grew his popularity by guiding men out of toxic masculinity, she is enraged. She spontaneously stitches his video and criticizes the hypocrisies of his guidance. As a result of Eva’s actions, her video garners attention and becomes viral, causing Rylie to propose a deal with her: allow him to take her out on a date to show that he has changed. Begrudgingly, Eva accepts Rylie’s proposition, but with each consecutive date, Eva struggles to keep her feelings for Rylie from resurging again.

Eva is such a relatable character. She is extremely flawed, jaded, prickly, yet vulnerable and guarded. Her standoffishness and cold exterior act as a defense mechanism in order to avoid being hurt again by the people she loves and cares about. On the other hand, Rylie is accepting, patient, considerate, and self-aware. His journey with his mental health and how he learned to cope with it allowed him to fully understand who he is as a person and how he can better himself as a result of it. Additionally, grief played a key role in shaping Rylie into the man he has become and the leading factor as to why he created his podcast helping and advising men from the effects of toxic masculinity. I loved these two characters, especially Rylie. He is the brightest green flag in a field of green flags. I loved how patient, persistent, and considerate he was of Eva, and his unwavering and steadfast love for her was immaculately written. Also, he hopelessly yearns and grovels for her, which is always a huge plus.

This book is for the surly people who have been hurt and taken advantage of by the people who they have loved in the past. It’s a book about allowing yourself love and grace and becoming vulnerable so that you don’t have to shoulder all the burdens by yourself. But most of all, it’s a book of acceptance, forgiveness, overcoming fears, and acknowledging that you’re more than just your past mistakes.

I absolutely adored this book so much, and I will definitely be reading more from Mazey. I’m so excited to read what she has planned for the future, but until then, I’ll be reading her backlog in the meantime.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story surprised me in the best way possible. A second chance romance with undeniable heat and tension. Layered with some of the best banter I have read in a story, this story had me laughing, swooning and unable to put it down for a single second.

Eva was such a complex character who has the front of an icy exterior but it’s really just a way to cover up deep insecurities and so much hurt. I love how Eva was unapologetically herself but also had moments of self doubt. I could feel myself completely relate to her and also want to be her best friend at the same time. Riley’s character is definitely one of my favorite MMCs to date. He is a man who is reflective, communicative and a man who owns up to his mistakes. He was goofy and silly but also was such a stable force that Eva needed. These two complete opposites came together to create the perfect pair.

The plot to this story was fast paced and so entertaining. I love the way this felt like such a modern story with really relatable themes and characters. I felt every character in this story was so strongly developed I felt a part of their friend group. The hidden meaning behind this story of being okay with being a mess, talking through your feelings with real and raw emotions this story evokes in you.

I’ve always been such a big fan of this author but I love the growth of a writer I can see shining through this story. Diverse representation, so many characters you can relate and such a heartwarming and fun story.

this is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last!!!! I read this in like 8 hours and have no regrets! Eva is an fmc some readers might have issues with but I resonated so much with her character and her flaws. To see her character growth was everything to me. Rylie IS bby girl!!!!! The way he was determined to not let Eva’s fears rule her. How caring and soft he could be but also wouldn’t hesitate to give back as much sass to Eva as she was giving!! I thought the different topics featured were done well, like loss, mental health/therapy rep, and queer rep. Highly recommend!!

I love Mazey Eddings' writing!!!!! Rylie Cooper is actually the blueprint. His tenacity and generosity were truly admirable, especially when it came to stubborn and strong-willed Eva. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! Cannot wait for this book to be out in the world.

I was so excited when the cover and synopsis for this book was revealed! It seemed loosely (very loosely) inspired by one of my favorite web series, Chicken Shop Date, but with a hot dog-shaped twist.

I think overall I'd give this a 3.75/5. Well, Actually had the characteristic Mazey Eddings dialogue: fun, flirty and effervescent. There were multiple times I was giggling along with the characters' banter. The book solidly falls under the "black cat heroine/golden retriever hero" trope, which admittedly is not one of my favorite tropes. I struggled a bit with the characters -- Rylie was very Justin Baldoni-coded and I wished Eva had a bit more character growth. I don't know that she changed at all throughout the book (which, to be fair, took place over like two weeks lol) but it was frustrating how often she reverted to self sabotaging. I also wish more of the plot focused on the podcast recaps, it feels like we abandoned the central story a bit quickly. All that is to say, it was a fun, quick read and i'd recommend it to anyone looking for something lusty and charming!

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

I always love a book that deals with mental health and touches on how someone’s coping mechanisms can go from healthy to unhealthy and then back again. I also will always be a sucker for healing arcs and I love that even though originally there is heart break, which in turn creates some very strong walls around the heart….eventually those walls come down for the right reasons and for the right person!

I always love a book that deals with mental health and touches on how someone’s coping mechanisms can go from healthy to unhealthy and then back again. I also will always be a sucker for healing arcs and I love that even though originally there is heart break, which in turn creates some very strong walls around the heart….eventually those walls come down for the right reasons and for the right person!

I have complex feelings about this book. On the one hand Mazey does a great job addressing mental health struggles and healthy (and unhealthy) ways to cope with those struggles. She wrote about characters who are complex and multi- faceted and she places a clear emphasis on her characters sexual orientation making a point to have a heavy representation of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The FMC and MMC both went through rough family circumstances before they met each other that led to an unhealthy relationship with unhealthy expectations of one another and I guess most of us have those stories or ex’s and wouldn’t hate a chance to go through therapy together and to have such healing conversations. I think the healing together aspect was well done and the reminder that when someone lashes out they are typically going through something awful themselves that has nothing to do with us, and yet they can still be held accountable for hurting those around them.
I was pretty off- put with the use of so much cussing and the fact that Eva’s character is so degrading, even when she’s “teasing”. I get that her character has been through so much at the hands of her family of origin and that is rough and truly clouds one’s worldview and future relationships and her career as a journalist is greatly marred by being surrounded by profit clowns and degrading men, I get that. I just think it was such a common thread throughout the entire book of how miserable and snarky she is and it just wasn’t my cup of tea.