Hello everyone! 💖 Welcome back to another romance ARC review.
Today’s review is about Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings, a new rom-com that I initially saw described as Chicken Shop Date,but with hot dogs. Now, I don’t watch Chicken Shop Date, but I think most of us saw the viral clips of the host, Amelia, having undeniable chemistry with Andrew Garfield (which, to be fair, he could have chemistry with anyone).
While I am not an avid watcher of the show that this book may or may not be based on, I was intrigued enough by the premise to request this one on NetGalley, and man, I am really glad I did.
Well, Actually comes out August 5, 2025.
GENERAL INFO
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings Published on August 5, 2025
Genres: Romance, Romcom, Spicy
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Eva Kitt never expected to be the host of Sausage Talk, interviewing B-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs, instead of pursuing the journalism career she dreamed of. But when Eva’s impromptu public call out of her college ex goes viral, she’s thrust into the spotlight. It doesn’t help said ex is Rylie Cooper, a beloved social media personality that has built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners.
Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed. Eva refuses to play nice, but agrees to the scheme to advance her own career and continue defaming Rylie’s good name. When these manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.
.
The Characters
The book follows Eva, the host of an online show where she eats hot dogs with her guests. Eva could be characterized as “rude and mean.” But what I appreciated most was how Mazey Eddings took the time to unravel why Eva is the way she is. A lot of her feelings were incredibly valid, and I saw myself in her more than once.
That said, there were a few moments (especially in the latter half of the book) where her abrasiveness felt a little overdone. Some of her dialogue started to feel less like natural snark and more like trying too hard to be edgy. I think part of this is due to the obvious Amelia Dimoldenberg connection being made, and it took me out of the story a couple of times.
Now let’s talk about Rylie Cooper. Rylie Cooper was definitely my favorite character. He was charming and kind, but also emotionally mature and willing to take responsibility for his past mistakes. It was refreshing to see a second-chance romance where the love interest actually made an effort to improve. And a man who goes to therapy?? Automatically moves up the ranking for me.
“Every part of me is yours if you want it.”
As for the side characters, they were a bit underwhelming. I believe I read somewhere that Rylie’s best friend Lizzie was the main character of a previous book? However, I also wanted more of her in this book. I love a found family or strong friendship dynamic in my books, but I didn’t feel that any of the side characters were standouts. I especially disliked Eva’s “best friend.” I never quite grasped the connection between the two, and since their friendship played a significant role in the final plot, I never really cared if they were friends by the end.
The writing and plot
This was my first book by Mazey Eddings, and I was pleasantly surprised by her writing. I highlighted SO MANY quotes during my read-through, and I was even laughing out loud at some of the lines. I think the biggest strength was the obvious connection between the two main characters.
While it reads like a fun rom-com on the surface (with a lot of hilarious banter), the story tackles a number of serious topics. Both Eva and Rylie are going through a lot in their personal lives, and Rylie, in particular, has an unfortunate backstory involving loss. Not only that, but the book also tackles ideas of toxic masculinity, internet culture (and the idea that women should be more “likable” online), and inappropriate workplace dynamics.
I loved that we got to see Eva’s actual life goals throughout the story. It was clear that she was using the show in hopes of securing a more serious journalism job, but at the same time, she was also a victim of a corporation that prioritized engagement and views.
My only major issue was the lack of balance in terms of tone throughout the book. There were times where it felt like the story was feeling very heavy, but it was quickly undercut by a sarcastic comment. There were a couple of instances where it worked–when one of the characters was actively trying to lighten the mood–but there were too many times where the change in tones was too abrupt.
And, of course, I have to comment on the spicy scenes. I thought they were extremely well done and didn’t come across as cringy to me at all. The emotional connection between Rylie and Eva helped with this a lot. Also…can we get more contemporary romance with the praise kink? Asking for a friend.
Overall Thoughts
Well, Actually was a fun, quick romance, but it didn’t shy away from exploring real emotional depth. Eva may come across as unlikable to some, but if you enjoy a snarky, layered main character (and a love interest who values communication), this book is for you. I had a lot of fun reading this one, and I will definitely be watching out for more Mazey Eddings in the future.
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Those are all of my thoughts on Well, Actually! Is this book something you are interested in checking out? Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time, xx
One comment