Review by jennameyer - Well, Actually

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

jennameyer 's review for:

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings

4.0

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

📱 First person single POV

🥞 Second chance romance

📱 Fake dating (ish? more like forced dating)

🥞 Black cat/golden retriever

📱 Workplace romance (interviewer and podcaster)

🥞 Enemies to lovers (one sided)

📱 Bi and Pan representation

🥞 Nerdy MMC (with slutty little glasses!)

📱 FMC with rough edges

The blurb of this book really appealed to me. I mean, come on — a Hot Ones, Chicken Shop Date style interview show called Sausage Talk where the FMC interviews B-list celebrities while they eat hot dogs? Color me intrigued from the start! Pair that with the MMC being a podcaster with a history with the FMC and their paths somehow cross again, and I’m hooked.

The MMC, Rylie Cooper, turned out to be one of the sweetest, most earnest, caring, emotionally aware and emotionally available (!!!) men I’ve ever even heard of, let alone read. He was not who I anticipated him being from the beginning of the book, and I truly enjoyed getting to know him and seeing the layers of his character get peeled back, one by one. My issue with Rylie is simply the spelling of his name. While the name itself is gender neutral, this particular spelling leans feminine, so it took some getting used to while reading.

The FMC, Eva Kitt, is a fighter. She is the true definition of a black cat in the black cat/golden retriever relationship. She’s never short of a witty comeback, and I loved her bite as much as Rylie did. She and Rylie had a rhythm in their snappy banter that had me smiling throughout the book. Their physical chemistry was just as explosive as their social chemistry — that spice was damn near scorching, it was so hot!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It made me smile on numerous occasions, and I connected to the characters. My biggest complaint is not about the story itself, but rather, the formatting. The social media comments and the texts blended into the narration, and it was at times difficult to differentiate where each began or ended. Making those into graphics, or indenting them, or something like that, could solve this issue. Similarly, I think that indenting or even italicizing flashbacks to the past could help differentiate timelines so it’s easier to follow.

A few things I loved:

the emotional vulnerability
the jomforter
how Eva and Rylie’s friends blended together into one community

"The truth is, I want all the dates you'll give me because I'm terrified of you, Eva Kitt. And I know I'll need as many opportunities as I can get to shake off the nerves and show you a good time."

“You didn’t know how to do that last time.”

“I’m a big believer in character growth.”

“He unravels me, seam by seam, until I'm nothing but a mess of loose ends and frayed edges and he cherishes me like I'm sacred.”

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early copy of this book! Receiving a free advanced copy of this book did not influence my opinions or the content of my review.

Content Warnings