I devoured this book in one day. WELL, ACTUALLY is one of the funniest books I've read in such a long time. I found myself literally breaking down in laughter (the "jomforter" made me laugh so hard my flatmate asked me if I was okay). And Eddings did a phenomenal job of mixing humor and cutting banter with genuine conversation and growth between our two main love interests. Eva is a woman who will stay with me for a long time: phenomenally witty, never appreciated enough, and powerful as all hell, I'm so glad she found a man like Rylie to give her the love (and the witty sarcasm!) she deserves. Also, any romance book that FIGHTS against the narrative that women should shut up or be smaller has my vote every time. I loved this book. I loved Eva. I loved Rylie. Okay. (Also!!!!!! BI AND PAN REP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Thank you to Mazey Eddings, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings is a rom-com full of heart and heat. Eva hosts a quirky talk show where she interviews minor celebrities while eating hot dogs. Rylie runs a podcast aimed at dismantling toxic masculinity. After Eva stitches a clip of Rylie—calling him bad at dating and bad in bed—they're thrown into a series of fake dates that Rylie recaps on his podcast. What starts as a PR stunt quickly reignites a spark from six years ago.

This was my first Mazey Eddings book, and it definitely won’t be my last! Told in single POV through Eva, this romance hooked me from the start. The chemistry between Eva and Rylie is immediate, the banter is top-tier, and their emotional journey—from jilted exes to something much deeper—is so satisfying. Watching them rediscover each other while navigating public scrutiny and personal growth made for a heartfelt and empowering read.

Tropes:
black cat/golden retriever
forced proximity
workplace romance
second chance romance
bisexual and pansexual representation

This is an open-door romance with emotional depth, witty dialogue, and a focus on self-worth and healing. If you’re into books with sharp humor, layered characters, and genuine chemistry, Well, Actually is a must-add to your TBR.

★★★★.25 !!

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of Well, Actually!

Mazey Edding's writing for me is truly one of a kind. I love the way she writes her characters and their romance. Eva and Rylie were so sweet. This man genuinely had me swooning. He is legitimately in THERAPY.

The banter and the tension!? Their connection, I mean they were totally giving black cat x golden retriever energy! Rylie Cooper radiates golden retriever to his core. The Chicken Shop Date-esque nature of her job was such a unique and fun idea. It all made for such a fun, vibrant yet emotional read. The way one of his dates he plans is them going to a couples therapy session to heal the wounds of their past was such a unique touch and one I felt truly deepened the emotional connection between us and the characters and the characters themselves.

I highly recommend picking this up when it comes out on release day in a few days time!!

“i love you. i want to spend every day listening to you be an absolute shithead to me. if at the end of my life someone asked me what i’d do with one more hour, one more minute, i would fight with you. argue with you. kiss you and hug you and hold you. anything for one more second with you.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

book: well, actually
author: mazey eddings

this book was ADORABLE. i love watching clips of chicken shop date whenever it pops up on my FYP, and “well, actually” was clearly inspired by it. i can often find books inspired by real life pop culture to be cringy, this was SO GOOD and SO CUTIEEE.

eva is one of my favourite FMCs i have read about for a while, she was so relatable to me, i was highlighting so much of her backstory and can’t wait to go back and reread it. also cooper was the epitome of a golden retriever MMC, he understood everything about eva and gave her so much grace, ugh my heart could barely take it 😭

mazey eddings is a fantastic romance writer, i have loved everything that i have read from her, and i adore her side characters just as much as her main characters. very excited to see what she does next! 🥰

read if you enjoy:
🧡 second chance romance
🧡 friends to dislike to lovers
🧡 grumpy/sunshine
🧡 pansexual rep
🧡 bisexual rep
🧡 golden retriever MMC
🧡 incredible side characters
🧡 chicken shop date

(thank you so much to @headlineeternal and @netgalley for the EARC 🫶🏻)

I swear Mazey Eddings continues to get better every book!

We follow Eva who is (let's face it) a hot mess (relatable). After getting a degree in journalism she ends up working for a company where she eats hot dogs while interviewing B-list celebrities for a living. She has some unresolved baggage which comes to a head when she drunkenly stitches her college ex, the one who got away and clawed out pieces when he ghosted her but is now a well known anti-toxic masculinity influencer.

This book was so messy and cringey in the best way. This is like a millenial handbook in trauma healing and why (sorry not sorry) boomers and Gen X are the worst managers and bosses. As a millennial this was so relatable to me and it was so cathartic watching the characters go through their growth. My one criticism ia that I felt some things were left unresolved and I wish we'd had some closure with her family.

Delightful, fun, and a pleasure to read. This light hearted fun read was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. I liked this authors humor and style and while it was my first book, it won't be my last.

3.75 Stars! *Spoilers Included*
This book was such a sweet read. I found the main characters relatable and the second chance romance very fitting for the current dating climate. Ghosting and situationships are rampant in the dating world and this book came in with a refreshing fairytale twist to real life experiences. I really liked Mazey Eddings writing, it was smooth and easy to digest, and the dialogue was very witty (the best part of the book). The chemistry between the two characters jumped off the page and the spicy scenes were both sexy and romantic. I rated it 3.75 stars, as I wished Eva and Rylie got together a little later in the book. The will-they-won't-they tension was well done, and it would have been nice to see that stretched out a bit longer. The story was emotional and funny. I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for something light, romantic and relatable. It would translate well to screen (someone adapt it). Shout out to Chicken Shop Date. I loved the inspiration Mazey took from it!

Thank you to Netgalley & Headline for the approval!

I went into this book with some hope, I didn’t totally love Late Bloomers but thought it was decent enough to give this one a shot. Big mistake. Honestly, this felt like a really bad knockoff of Chicken Shop Date (which I adore, by the way), and it just made me sad how far off the mark it was.

I was immediately irritated by Eva, the main character. She was just so rude! To literally everyone around her. I think she was supposed to come across as sharp and witty, but to me she was just exhausting and off-putting. The male lead was kind of bland in comparison, but at least he wasn’t mean to everyone he met.

Also, and maybe this is just me, but I hate when so-called friends casually call each other “bitch.” That’s not funny, that’s just mean. If a friend called me that, they wouldn’t be my friend. It just added to the weird vibe of the whole thing.

And don’t get me started on the cast of side characters. I’m all for diverse stories and representation, but this felt like characters were just thrown in for the sake of checking boxes. There was no real development or purpose, just filler.

In the end, this book was a big no for me. I had to DNF it, which I rarely do. If you loved it, I’m truly happy for you, but I honestly don’t know how we read the same book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Instant 5⭐️ read for me! The book starts with Eva posting on social media, a bit tipsy, about her (horrible) previous dates with Rylie. He then responds that he wants to make it up to her in 6 dates. And the story begins and ends with a lot of sass and sarcasm. Between you get honest feelings, vulnerability, and just true relationship struggles. Loved the LGBTQIA+ representation. Top it off with a Gilmore Girls reference, and you’ve got a 5⭐️ star book! This book had me laughing out loud and feeling all the feels ! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

‘Well, Actually’ by Mazey Eddings stars “Sausage Talk” (*cough* “Chicken Shop Date” *cough*) host Eva Kitt and social media personality Riley Cooper, who broke her heart in college. When Eva posts some ill-advised commentary on one of his many videos teaching men how to be good partners, their past liaison goes viral. Soon, they find themselves thrust into a series of performative public dates to mend their brands… and the fun begins!

I liked how well-developed both lead characters were - Eva felt so real with her insecurities and the challenges of a toxic workplace, and Rylie was quickly revealed not to be the total dick Eva painted him as… with a tragic back-story and a true eagerness to prove himself as a better person than he was at 21. I also liked how the pair communicated (once they got over themselves) and kept showing up. Eva’s friends were great, and Riley’s flatmates were epic: Lilith definitely needs her own book!!!

This book gets four stars from me and is worth a read… especially if (like me) you’re STILL swooning unironically over Amelia Dimoldenberg and Andrew Garfield’s flirty banter and Hot Girl x Nerdy Guy vibes!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Headline Eternal via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley UK and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for a review!

Listen, was it my favourite Mazey Eddings? No, but it was cute and fun, could be very sexy and fun too. It seemed an obvious play on Amelia Dimoldenberg on chicken shop date with more company drama, and shitty, inappropriate orders from higher ups. ME will remain an auto-read author for me, because she always provides a good reading experience!

This is a second chance romance where she fell first but he falls harder. Well, Actually has plenty of spice, lots of banter and tonnes of tension.

Eva has an online show interviewing minor celebrities over hotdogs (think Chicken Shop Date) - one night she drunkenly duets a video of her ex college boyfriend Rylie, who’s now a social media star. When the video goes viral her network gets her to invite him on her show, as the incident boosted ratings - he asks to take her on some dates to make up for how he treated her in the past and to prove he’s changed. When the fake dates start to feel real, can she give their relationship a second chance? Especially when it’s playing out for views?

This was such a hilarious book, I really liked the personality and characterisation of Eva - how she quipped with Rylie and the comments she made. I equally loved how he reacted to them and how well they worked together. There was such tension and fire in their relationship but they also had their cute moments!

The book also raised awareness and had such great discussions on themes such as misogyny/sexism in the workplace and online - looking at how Eva and Rylie were treated comparatively, and the way Eva was treated at work. There author also did a really good job on the discussion around sexuality - from the issues the characters themselves faced to the way it was championed. This was really well done.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend for a spicy second chance romance with plenty of tension and a lot of laughs. But that also touches on some heavier hitting themes.

ARC copy provided by Headline & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Well, Actually is a spicy, sparkling second-chance romance with bite — and no one delivers biting better than Mazey Eddings. Eva Kitt thought her worst-case scenario was slinging hot takes over hot dogs on a show called Sausage Talk. But when she publicly drags her college ex, Rylie Cooper — now a feminist heartthrob influencer — she doesn’t expect to go viral… or to end up face-to-face with him again.

Their chemistry is undeniable, their past is messy, and the petty games? Impeccable. Rylie proposes redemption-by-dating: a series of very public, very performative dates to prove he’s no longer the clueless guy who broke Eva’s heart. She agrees — not to forgive, but to eviscerate him on-camera and ride the publicity wave. But behind the snark and spite is something tender, something unresolved, something that might just deserve a second shot.

Eddings writes with razor-sharp wit, an eye for millennial messiness, and deep emotional intelligence. Eva is fierce and vulnerable, and Rylie is infuriatingly charming with a real desire to grow. This isn’t just a romance — it’s a reckoning, and a love story built on accountability and earned trust. It’s hot, hilarious, and healing in all the best ways.

This is my favourite Mazey Eddings book so far. I absolutely TORE through this one. I was hooked from the first sentence and then had such a great time following Eva's story. The banter between her and Rylie was top notch and the way they (eventually) dealt with the big moments that came up throughout were so wonderfully done. I laughed out loud at multiple points while reading and felt oddly proud of this fictitious woman when she finally accepted that she could be exactly the way that she was and still be worthy of love. This was the perfect balance of all the things that I love about romance novels.

Eva is working hard to carve out a career in journalism, but for now, she’s stuck in a truly degrading role. Meanwhile, Rylie—an old ex—has managed to find a foothold in the world of social media. When Eva sees one of his posts, she makes what feels like a throwaway comment on her personal account. Naturally, it goes viral. Naturally, Rylie sees it. And just like that, the two reconnect and start collaborating on a new project, opening the door to a second chance. Constantly. Maybe this was amplified by the audiobook narration, which leaned hard into a high-pitched, urgent tone that made every emotional beat sound like a meltdown. Annoyed? Whine. Flirty? Whine. Nervous? You guessed it—whine. It wore me down early.

Rylie, on the other hand, is a sweetheart. But even he has quirks that made me pause: his fashion choices are baffling, to the point where it’s hard to believe Eva would realistically go for him. And his willingness to tolerate Eva’s relentless edge? Borderline masochistic. That said, the romance still follows the satisfying beats you expect in a second-chance love story. No surprises here—and that’s part of the charm. Overall there is humor, tension, and enough heart to keep things moving. And hey—sometimes even a not-quite-right love story deserves a second chance.

I have a feeling Eva might not be everyone’s favourite—she’s definitely an unapologetically angry girl, which isn’t the usual “nice” heroine we often see in romances. But being inside her head really helps you understand why she’s so guarded and why she struggles to trust Cooper. Plus, her humour had me laughing out loud, making the story hard to put down.

As for Cooper, he was an absolute joy. His passion and dedication are genuinely refreshing—total green flags all around. And the smut? It’s seriously impressive, definitely not holding back. Cooper is supportive, persistent, and emotionally available—the perfect match for Eva. Mazey Eddings really knows how to deliver a romance that hits all the right notes!

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Eternal for a copy of this ARC! All opinions my own.

I thought that this premise sounded so fun, but this didn't live up to the hype for me. I didn't warm up to Eva like I thought I would. Her personally just kinda annoyed me honestly. I didn't get the chemistry between the two main characters as much either. Perhaps it's just me, I am sure this will find its audience. But, I'll continue to read from Eddings.

I'm very conflicted with how I feel about this book. The premise sounded so fun and it was a really interesting take on tropes, but I struggled to feel the connection between the characters. Although I loved the banter between Eva and Riley, at times it just felt like she was unnecessarily rude so I couldn't warm to her. While we do get to hear about her background and why she is so standoffish so I understand why she struggles to be genuine and open up to people, at times she was just mean so I really struggled to understand why Riley liked her so much.

Riley, on the other hand, was a great character and I would've loved to have his point of view. I think that would have helped me to feel the connection between him and Eva and understand his feelings.

The book does cover a lot of important issues, such as biphobia, mental health, and workplace harassment, and I think these were handled really well. Although I do feel like the resolution of the workplace harassment storyline was very rushed and would have liked to see more about that. The mental health representation was very well portrayed though, which I've found to be the case throughout Mazey Edding's books.

Thank you NetGalley and Mazey Eddings for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chicken Shop Date but with questionable hotdogs and more savage banter... that sound like a bit of me, not gonna lie!

Meet Eva and Rylie: a black cat x golden retriever pairing with some issues to deal with.

Plot & Premise
Eva Kitt, once the journalism prodigy, now hosts Sausage Talk and awkwardly interviews minor celebs over lukewarm hot dogs. A drunken TikTok callout of her ex (can we really call him an ex after four dates a hook up six years ago?), Rylie Cooper, viral influencer hellbent on fighting fragile masculinity, triggers what she thinks is a pr nightmare for the company she works, but they decide to capitalise on her newfound TikTok fame and kick off a six dates experiment to test if Rylie has truly changed.

Fake dating? Yes. Toxic masculinity? Debunked. Chemistry? Off the charts. Is Eva fighting against this chemistry? Hell yes, she is.

💖 Characters & Chemistry
Eva is sharp, unapologetic and deeply relatable. Snark is her love language but the girl has got walls. Her emotional armour can be off‑putting at times and, I’m not gonna lie, I did struggle to like her at certain points.
Rylie, the golden‑retriever ex turned Insta‑influencer, is sweet, earnest and constantly evolving.
He shows accountability, vulnerability, and growth and yes, he will charm you with his curls and his crewneck collection.

🎭 Tropes & Themes
Second‑chance romance, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, grumpy x sunshine
Tackles serious topics, like toxic masculinity, grief, queer identity, biphobia, treatment across social media and sexism in the workplace

⏳ Pacing & Structure
The banter is top-tier and the fake-date trope sparkles
As I mentioned above, I did struggle with Eva’s “defensive” tactics when trying to avoid admitting her feelings. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to stop doing this to herself and to Rylie.

🎙️ Overall Vibe
Not gonna lie, it did give me Taylor Swift song vibes: witty, emotional, redemptive. 


👑 Go For It If…
You want laugh‑out‑loud moments + tear‑jerkers
You’re drawn to authentic, flawed characters
You’re into socially aware romances: think mental-health icons, biphobia, toxic masculinity, queer chemistry

🔔 Final Rating: 4 ⭐️
A messy, modern, deliciously real second‑chance romance that hits hard with witty dialogue, emotional depth and a couple worth rooting for.

This book is an actual delight.

A perfect balance of witty banter and humour, emotional vulnerability and intimacy.

I'm not usually the biggest fan of slightly mean and obnoxious characters, but Eva was so funny, clearly a little traumatised, but deeply loving and caring. Her and Rylie were so good for each other, matched each other's humour and overall energy so utterly perfectly, and their chemistry was off the charts.

At times it felt like maybe a breakup was coming, but then things would turn around so incredibly nicely with a mature conversation. The addition of the couple's therapy session was such a nice touch here, because it's something Eva desperately needed.

I just really loved the overall humour and the jokes here, the cultural references, all the memes etc. It all made this book have such a nostalgic feel to it.