Eva has been given a challenge. She has been challenged by a former boyfriend to go on a series of six dates. She is forced to go by her boss for social media views. He, Rylie, is an influencer that claims to be progressive and knows how to "treat" a woman. She, in a drunken stupor, responds to a post and tells "everyone" that he does not know how to treat a woman and not only gave her a forgettable experience, but he ghosted her after.

Now Eva finds herself having fun with Rylie and learns that private lives do not exist for influencers, which may lead to her losing her lousy job as host of Sausage Talk, but also her dream job or working as a journalist.

I enjoyed the book, for the most part, there was a little backstory that felt a little like noise, but majority of the book was interesting and helped develop the characters. I will recommend this book to some of my more advanced students.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was okay. I’m usually all for a smutty romance, but I found myself skipping over the smut scenes as I just didn’t care for these two as a couple. To me, the MMC could have done better. Eva was whiny, rude and hard to please no matter what was happening. Yes, I can appreciate a baddie who doesn’t take shit, but Eva was too much. Every time I thought, hey is this where they get together? Nope. Eva gets mad at something small and runs away. This happens until 70% when she finally decides Rylie is ready despite his numerous attempts to show her throughout the story.

I will say I did enjoy the witty banter between the two, I just couldn’t get passed Eva being so insufferable. This was a fun slow burn romance, so I will give it 3.5. I just really couldn’t stand Eva.

** spoiler alert ** ARC Review: This was my first Mazey Eddings book, & it will not be my last. I really enjoyed her writing style, her characters, & her politics, as reading is political. Her LGBT representation & “hate the rich” attitude, had me kicking my feet the whole time in appreciation. I can’t wait to go back and share so many quotes from this book as I highlighted and saved so many, funny, cute, and crying worthy.

Focusing on “Well, Actually,” a second chance romance, with the biggest example of black cat girl and golden retriever bf I’ve seen in a minute. Eva Kitt gave the banter and attitude I’ve looked for in a mc female for a while, internally and out loud in front of whomever. I love that this played into all aspects of her life, relationship, work, etc. She is met with the opposite, Rylie Cooper who is a representation of character development gone right and a positive affirmation God. The tension, the humor, the drama, I ate this up. As a fellow BPD girly, Eva will also be one of my personal relatable characters as her, “I love you, I hate you, don’t leave me,” energy was strong. Thank you for the ARC, already purchased the pre-order special edition.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. This book was just not for me, I got to about the 10th or 11th chapter and just couldn’t finish it… I thought it was really slow pace I feel like I’ve heard the story 1 million times before, and there was just nothing really special about it for me. I think that a lot of it was very repetitive and jumpy from one chapter to the next and I just wasn’t in love with the characters or falling in love with the story so I couldn’t make myself finish it.

I loved the concept of this book and did enjoy reading it. I loved the MMC and really enjoyed his story in the book. He may have messed up, but he was in college. People can make mistakes and then learn and grow from them. I think how this was portrayed.

I just didn't love the FMC and that made it difficult to like the overall book more. Once she got together with Rylie, she completely ignored her life responsibilities and thought there would be no consequences. I found this hard to understand. Her boss was awful, but that doesn’t excuse her behavior. She is an adult and should act like it.

I have a feeling most people will adore this book. I will continue to read Mazey Eddings books, but this one was a miss for me.

The banter between the main characters, Eva and Cooper, was incredible, it had me laughing out loud and doing a double take at some of their comments. I really enough this take on a second chance romance, how developed and fully fleshed out it felt. This was a fresh take on a trope I’ve read many times. I loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup, that Cooper said absolutely not when Eva tried to take it there.

My only critique would be to give us the chapter where Eva actually takes down her bosses who had been bullying her and terminated her employment for a scheme they set up. The buildup to the conflict was sprinkled throughout the book and got my blood boiling, which was the intention. I wanted that final confrontation where Eva takes them down after her termination, because that scene had my heart ripped out, I desperately wanted the confrontation and to see those characters deal with the consequences of their actions. We got an epilogue chapter telling us what happened on a live stream podcast instead of us getting to experience it.

Otherwise I loved Eva and Cooper rehashing the past and falling in love with each other despite some truly horrific dates.

**Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings – A Seriously Relatable Read**

Alright, so if you’re into snarky, witty banter and a book that feels like that friend who always has the perfect comeback, *Well, Actually* is where it’s at. Mazey Eddings serves up a story full of clever twists and fun “well, actually” moments that’ll have you laughing and nodding along in total agreement.

The characters are totally on point—quirky, real, and not afraid to speak their minds. You’ll find yourself vibing with every sarcastic remark and inside joke. The dialogue feels like a group chat full of sass, and the narrative just gets how complicated and hilarious life can be when you’re trying to figure out who you really are.

If you love a story that’s equal parts smart humor and genuine heart, *Well, Actually* is a must-read. It’s like the perfect blend of wit, wisdom, and those “I can’t even” moments we all know too well.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**

I ATE THIS UP!! this book was so funny, like i was laughing out loud and hot while also discussing important topics like internalized homophobia, grief, and women in media. i love rylie and eva, as stated previously, would let them WALK ME LIKE A DOG RUFF RUFF!

i adored eva and thought she was so realistic! WE NEED MORE MEAN WOMEN!!!! after being ghosted by her first everything she doesn’t let herself become emotionally attached to other people bc she’s scared they’ll leave her. when someone gets too close she pushes back 10 times harder and overreacts. AND WHATS WRONG WITH THAT!? nothing it’s a normal human response! she’s messy and at times cruel but she’s also extremely insecure and sad. when she meets rylie we get to see her on her path to becoming for vulnerable and open to loving someone again.

mazey included really great conversations about women in media, the double standard they’re held to, the scrutiny they’re exposed to, and how employers exploit their employees. i was ready to fight eva’s bosses oh my GOD!!! i seriously imagined their office as an evil lair. HATED THEM.

rylie is SOOO BABYGIRL. i want to give him a big fat forehead kiss!! he was so kind and thoughtful and unflinching in his love for eva and his friends! won’t give too much away but his storyline about the things he was going through in college were so important and gave so much context to why he treated eva the way he did! i truly believed his growth and his desire to be a better person.

rylie and eva has SUCH GREAT CHEMISTRY! their banter was so funny, my cheeks hurt from smiling. even when they were hurling insults back at each other i was like why is this doing something to me?? 🔥 they really challenged each other and could give as good as they got! on top of their sexual chemistry their emotionally vulnerable moments were so beautiful and i really got to see different side of them.

i already want to read this book again! the banter was quippy and funny and smart, the romance was so sexy and tender, and the characters felt so authentic!! i’m running to read mazey’s backlog! if you like strong women, a man that’s down bad, and loveable characters READ THIS BOOK!!

ps if you love larynn from the co-op you’ll love eva!!! 💖

thanks to smp and netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. "Well, Actually" was a fun little romcom, and I loved every minute reading it. I loved the tropes, the characters were fun and I really enjoyed the execution.

My second 5 star read of 2025 and I loved it so so much!!! Black cat x golden retriever is one of my favorite tropes EVER and this was what I needed exactly!!! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a more golden retriever, down bad mmc than Rylie Cooper. I LOVED HIM! Eva is my girl and I adored her. I could relate to her so much and don’t want to hear a bad word against her!! I loved both of their backstories and the emotional depth we got for each of them. I love that they had a lil history and how they reconnected was so good. The banter, tension, bickering, flirting it was all SO GOOD!! I thought the premise and plot was so fun and unique. The story was so entertaining and engaging and I was never bored!! I couldn’t put the book down and was excited to pick it up when I wasn’t reading it. I could rave on and on about this book. I can’t wait to read it again when it officially releases!! Thank you SMP for the early copy 🩵

“Well Actually” by Mazey Eddings is an enemy to lovers trope. Eva Kitt is an inspiring journalist who works at a low budget podcast where she eats hot dogs while interviewing C or D list celebrities. After having a few too many cocktails one night, her doom scrolling leads her to her ex’s social media page. Rylie Cooper is a successful podcaster whose show focuses on deconstructing toxic masculinity. Eva loses it and exposes the hypocrisy of his past behaviors and his current platform. Her post goes viral and her company jumps on the opportunity to benefit financially from her engagement. The surprising aspect is that Rylie actually agrees to a live episode of “sausage talk”. There the two arrange to have 6 dates and debrief live on either her show or his podcast.
I loved this book. It’s everything you want in a romance. It took awhile so it’s definitely a slow burn but it’s worth it in the end. 4 star read. I recommend this to any romance fan. It’s cute, witty, and spicy at times. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book has such an adorable idea for the storyline that from the get-go I had all the anticipatory glee. There were so many cute parts and for sure there is all the quipped comebacks that nake for fun reading. It feels authentic and the characters read as they should, for the most part. Warning spice level is way to high for me and so I found myself skipping great swaths of the book. The end is a bit of a slow fizzle but overall still meets the market niche and delivers on the genre. Thanks netgalley for the ARC copy for my honest review!

Mazey Eddings has become and autobuy author for me from the start. I'm kind of a "go big or go home" kinda gal and everything about her writing is BIG! Big emotions, big mental health topics and (in this new book) BIG SPICE! Overall, I really enjoyed it on the exact level I anticipated. On the spice note, it was heavier than I remember her other books being so there's that! Prepare to go on a fun adventure with Eva and Rylie (and fall in love with them along the way). Enjoy!

Wicked smart, hilarious, and sexy! Loved the tension and build up between the main characters. The second chance romance was easy to route for and love. It slowed down a bit in the end, but ended sweetly.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

The best straight dynamic is that of a man-hating, bitchy woman and a man who is turned on by it, and Well, Actually DELIVERS on that front. There is nothing sexier in straight relationships to me than a man who worships the ground that a woman walks on, making Rylie Cooper all the more sexier in Mazey Eddings' 6th novel. While I do have to admit that I am nowhere close to the age of the main characters, I was still able to fall in love with their romance as Eva and Rylie rekindle their relationship. Eddings does an incredible job at writing characters that you will either love or hate, depending on your personal taste.

Well, Actually is technically listed as a queer romance on Goodreads, at least, which is true to an exetent. Eva Kitt is a pansexual hot girl who processes her emotions by being a bitch to everyone around her with a bisexual boyfriend. This isn’t me criticizing her character; this is the character of the hot girl that Eddings quickly establishes within the first few pages. Throughout the novel, we see Eva’s evolution as she processes her emotions in a healthy way, despite the strange situation that her career has forced on her. I really enjoyed how Eva’s feelings about Rylie evolved with the very subtle detail of the name that she addressed him by. It is a detail in the actual writing that made me like it a little more.

I am not typically a romance reader, nor a “smut” reader. These genres feel like escapism for older women who need to remind themselves that love is real. I do not fit into any of those categories, so I am far out of the target audience that Eddings writes for. However, I was surprised by how much I did enjoy the majority of this novel. The writing style flows well, the pacing is fast and is easy to read for simple enjoyment rather than diving into the world of journalism, but still is strong in what it offers politically in the world of reporting.

Eddings is a talented writer, with an immersive style that allows you to visualize the setting and characters very well. Her passion for writing shines in the language used, and the cast complements each other highly in Well, Actually.

I've loved Mazey Eddings books since I read A Brush With Love so just add this to the greatness pile. Every book is just as good or better than the last. I'm amazed by authors that can do that. Congrats on an amazing book.

I haven't read a Mazey Edding's novel that I haven't liked. This one gave Chicken Shoppe Date vibes, and I love that!

Eva is a prickly woman who has a lot to say. I don't mean just about Rylie. She is intelligent, passionate, and wants to do right when it comes to true journalism. She has a tough exterior, definitely, but that is her defense mechanism. Growing up as a middle child in a household where she's told to toughen up, she did just that-learned how to put up a wall when it comes to relationship and use humor as a shield for emotions. After all the heartbreak from her own family then college Rylie, can't really blame her for that. She has so much love to give, yet no one seems to want it. Well, except for Rylie. Rylie messed up big time six years ago, and he knows it. Now, he is grabbing the chance to make up for his past behavior towards Eva. Honestly, this man is so charming, flirtatious, patient, and he can take (and love, love) Eva's personality, feminine rage and all. He is just who Eva needed. Eva and Rylie's relationship is complicated because of all the experiences they had outside of their own relationship. As college students, there was still a lot of growing up and learning to do. As adults in their late twenties, they have a better grasp of who they are.

>> Tbh, I didn't really like Eva but she kind of grew on me
>> Hated the toxic work environment of Soundbites, Eva's employer
>> Loved Eva's and Rylie's witty banter

Thank you for the e-arc @SMPROMANCE!

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the arc and for getting me out of my reading slump!!!

I absolutely adored the first half. Loved that there were no meet cutes, just meet disasters. Loved the ANGST. Loved Eva being an unwavering snarky stubborn b*tch throughout the whole book and NEVER CHANGING FOR A MAN!!! It would be an honour if she insulted me. I was scared she would be another dimensionless fmc, but her character blew me away. She’s so real, so raw, so human. I am her and she is me.

AND RYLIE COOPER?!?? I fear I will never forget him.

My only issue is that once they got together, the plot was lost. I’m sure the author had reasons for including spicy scenes, but 3 back to back chapters (and many more times for the rest of the book) was a bit absurd when the entire first half was a drought. Some were definitely necessary, but not all.

Other than that, the ‘inclusivity’ felt very natural, it didn’t feel like I was being force fed lgbtq & queer representation. I thoroughly enjoyed Eva & Rylie’s story - MY true black cat & golden retriever <3

Listen, i LOVE a brash FMC. If you say she is “unlikable” I’ll immediately be adding it to my TBR. She’s not polite, she’s sarcastic and honestly, GOOD FOR HER.
I cackled my way through this. I’ve never highlighted so much in my life. The one liners are hilarious and Rylie’s love confession was immaculate.
The only reason it’s not 5 stars for me is because once they got together, the spice just kinda took over. I was hoping we would get to see more than 3 of the 6 dates. Once they started banging all dates went out the window. Otherwise i loved it.

Mazey Eddings books are really entertaining, I really enjoy her characters. This one was not up to par as her previous books for me. I appreciate the idea, and the originality of the story line. I liked Riley and I liked Eva, but I did not like their chemistry? I'm not sure what it was, it may have been that this was chemistry they originally had off page, even with recalls and some of the flashbacks, I felt like Eva had been seriously hurt by her situationship with Riley, even though he didn't seem all that into her, and maybe that's the point, Riley had a lot going on the first time he and Eva got together, so he was meant to seem a little cold. I appreciate the parallels between lack of communication the first time around and the constant presence of it the second time around. I liked Eva and Riley's black cat and golden retriever vibes (although I'm not gonna lie, sometimes they seemed a little cartoony). Overall a really fun book, I just wish I'd felt more of a connection between the main characters.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!