Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Mazey Eddings’ Well, Actually is a romance novel that doesn’t just flirt with social commentary; it dives straight into it. This is a story that explores the messiness of grief, avoidant attachment, workplace power dynamics and the deep discomfort of confronting one’s identity in a performative world. It touches on queerness, the pressure of labels — all within the frame of a contemporary rom-com.
The plot follows Eva Kitt, an underpaid media host stuck interviewing B-list celebrities over hot dogs, until a viral rant about her college ex, Rylie Cooper, now a beloved “soft masculinity” influencer, puts her in the spotlight. To control the narrative, he proposes a deal: a series of public dates where he proves he’s changed, and she gets content to boost her career.
But what begins as a petty PR stunt soon blurs into something confusing, emotional and well, real.
Flawed, Fierce, and Falling for Each Other
This book feels like a dream: queer representation, a male lead who rejects toxic masculinity and a snarky female protagonist trying to survive misogyny in her workplace.
Eva, our female lead, is complex. She’s unapologetically herself, sharp-tongued, and unshrinking to make others comfortable — which I respected. But she comes with rough edges too, and walls that, at times, need to come down more.
Rylie, her not-so-ex looking for a second chance, is the classic golden retriever type. On the surface, he’s patient, soft, and refreshingly unbound by traditional masculinity. But underneath, he struggles with grief and, by the end, experiences some emotional growth.
Together, their romance is messy and chaotic — one might wonder how the two could possibly end up together.
Queerness, Community, and the Power of Choosing Yourself
Well, Actually offered moments of warmth and insight. It showed the slow, sometimes difficult process of accepting your identity (queerness and labels), and the contrast between those who wear it openly and those still learning how to.
I admired how Eddings represented queerness beautifully, not just as an identity, but as a community. From bisexual and pansexual leads to side queer characters who felt so real.
I also appreciated that Eva wasn’t boxed into performative femininity. She existed outside of polished expectations, and though her rough edges were, well, rough, there is satisfaction in watching a woman choose herself first. She was messy, but she was hers. That felt true.
Still Healing, Still Loving: A Romance in Progress
And despite the heavy themes, there were light moments too. Social media references to the modern lingo that made the book feel current, even meme-ish at times. (If you live online, you’ll definitely recognize the tone.)
By the end of this lengthy romance, one might wonder if these two were really ready to be together. But maybe that’s the point.
Well, Actually doesn’t promise an easy love. It offers something messier: love that is complicated, unbalanced, and still in progress. Love where healing is still happening, and happy endings aren’t perfectly tied up.
If you like your rom-coms layered with emotional nuance, queer joy, social critique, and a golden retriever love interest who learns, unlearns, and tries again — this one might just be for you. You should read it!
About Mazey Eddings:
Mazey Eddings is a bestselling author, dentist, and (most importantly) stage mom to her cats, Yaya and Zadie. She can most often be found reading romance novels under her weighted blanket and asking her husband to bring her snacks. She’s made it her personal mission in life to destigmatize mental health issues and write love stories for every brain. With roots in Ohio and Philadelphia, she now calls North Carolina home.
