Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings

Well, Actually is messy, heartfelt, and unexpectedly charming. It’s a sharp-tongued second-chance romance with plenty of bite, warmth, and banter.

Eva’s voice grabbed me from the very first line. She’s prickly, defensive, and laugh-out-loud funny, with a tough shell that makes perfect sense once you understand her upbringing and complicated relationship with vulnerability. I appreciated that her guardedness wasn’t softened to make her more likable. She was complex, often confrontational, and refreshingly self-aware.

This is a true black cat and golden retriever pairing. Rylie is sweet, earnest, and clearly trying to make things right, even if Eva isn’t always ready to hear him out. I liked how his story was revealed through her eyes. We don’t get his POV, but I didn’t feel like anything was missing. His early behavior was more layered than it first seemed, and I liked how the story handled that without letting him off the hook.

That said, some moments felt awkward. A few jokes didn’t quite land and the banter sometimes gave me secondhand embarrassment. The social media premise was clever but didn’t fully connect for me. It’s very rooted in the current online landscape, which might limit its staying power. Still, I believed in their emotional arc, and their connection felt real. I could practically feel that first hug right alongside Eva.

I loved the LGBTQIA+ rep and the commentary on toxic work environments, though I wish that thread had gone a little deeper.

This was my first time reading Mazey Eddings, and I’ll definitely be picking up more.

Pre-Order your copy of Well, Actually here.