Betty Cayouette’s sophomore novel, Tell Me How You Really Feel, delivers a thoroughly modern romance that captures the zeitgeist of our podcast-obsessed culture while exploring timeless themes of vulnerability, ambition, and self-worth. Following her debut novel One Last Shot (2024), Cayouette firmly establishes herself as a voice to watch in contemporary romance with this emotionally intelligent exploration of two podcast hosts navigating fame, fortune, and feelings.
At its core, this is a second-chance romance between Maeve, a licensed therapist with anxiety and perpetual imposter syndrome, and Finn, a charming nepo baby trying to forge his own path outside his famous family’s shadow. The novel’s greatest strength lies in its thoughtful examination of power dynamics in relationships—both romantic and professional—and how easily miscommunication can derail even the strongest connections.
Premise: Podcasts, Passion, and Problematic Power Dynamics
The story follows Maeve and Finn as they navigate the aftermath of their brief romantic entanglement that ended badly when Finn began dating his childhood crush, Cassidy. Now faced with a lucrative three-year exclusive deal with streaming platform Streamify for their sex and relationships podcast “Tell Me How You Really Feel,” they must find a way to work together despite their painful past.
What elevates this premise beyond standard romance fare is Cayouette’s sharp examination of gender dynamics in the entertainment industry. Through flashbacks interspersed throughout the narrative, we witness how Maeve and Finn’s friendship blooms into something more as their podcast gains popularity, only to splinter when miscommunication and assumptions tear them apart. The present-day storyline tackles the challenges they face as they attempt to maintain their professional relationship while dealing with unresolved feelings and industry-wide sexism.
Character Development: Flawed, Fascinating, and Fully Realized
Cayouette excels at crafting multi-dimensional characters with relatable insecurities and authentic growth arcs:
- Maeve is brilliantly realized—a clinically trained therapist who ironically struggles with anxiety and imposter syndrome. Her character embodies the challenges many women face in male-dominated industries, constantly questioning her worth and wondering if her success stems from her own merit or simply proximity to someone more naturally privileged. Maeve’s journey toward claiming her accomplishments and speaking up for herself resonates powerfully.
- Finn starts as somewhat frustrating but grows substantially throughout the novel. His privilege blinds him to many realities Maeve faces, yet his genuine desire to understand and be better makes his character arc satisfying. His struggle between wanting normalcy while being drawn to creative pursuits adds compelling complexity.
The supporting cast shines equally bright:
- Maeve’s sisters provide crucial emotional support while calling out both protagonists when needed
- Finn’s celebrity parents (particularly his mother Evangeline) offer nuanced explorations of fame and its impact on family dynamics
- Cassidy, rather than being a one-dimensional “other woman,” emerges as a thoughtful character with her own agency and insights
Writing Style: Witty, Warm, and Wonderfully Balanced
Cayouette writes with confident pacing, shifting between past and present seamlessly while maintaining narrative momentum. The dual perspective structure allows readers to understand both protagonists’ internal struggles, creating empathy for each even when they’re at odds.
The dialogue sparkles with authenticity, especially in the podcast scenes and banter between the protagonists. Cayouette has an ear for how people actually speak, and this extends to her representation of anxiety—Maeve’s intrusive thoughts and spiraling fears are rendered with painful accuracy that will resonate with many readers.
Strengths That Make This Novel Stand Out
- Representation of anxiety: The novel portrays anxiety not as a quirky character trait but as a complex condition that impacts relationships and decision-making. Maeve’s coping mechanisms and therapy journey are integrated organically into the narrative.
- Exploration of privilege: Through Finn’s character, Cayouette examines how privilege operates—not with heavy-handed messaging but through realistic blind spots and gradual awareness.
- Modern career aspirations: The podcast setting feels contemporary and well-researched, avoiding common pitfalls of “glamorous job” romances by showing the actual work involved.
- Meaningful conflict: The conflicts between Maeve and Finn aren’t contrived but stem from genuine character differences and real-world issues like pay inequality and credit distribution.
- Sex positivity: The novel handles discussions of sexuality with refreshing frankness that aligns perfectly with the premise of a sex-and-relationships podcast.
Areas for Growth: Where the Novel Falls Short
Despite its many strengths, the novel isn’t without flaws:
- The resolution of the pay gap storyline feels somewhat rushed, with corporate mechanisms conveniently falling into place to address the inequality
- Some readers might find the numerous podcast celebrities and industry jargon occasionally distracting
- The final chapters move at a slightly accelerated pace compared to the thoughtfully developed earlier sections
- A few side plots (like Maeve’s murder-scene house) are introduced with emphasis but don’t fully pay off narratively
Thematic Richness: More Than Just Romance
What elevates Tell Me How You Really Feel beyond category romance are its thoughtful explorations of substantive themes:
- Gender inequality in media: The novel doesn’t shy away from examining how women must work twice as hard for half the recognition
- Mental health stigma: Through Maeve’s journey, Cayouette normalizes therapy and anxiety management
- The cost of fame: Both protagonists grapple with the personal price of public exposure
- The power of genuine apology: The novel distinguishes between performative contrition and meaningful accountability
- Finding purpose versus finding success: Finn’s character arc particularly delves into the difference between external validation and internal fulfillment
Final Verdict: A Smart, Sexy Second-Chance Romance
Tell Me How You Really Feel delivers exactly what the best contemporary romance should: compelling characters whose journey toward each other parallels their personal growth, authentic obstacles that feel grounded in reality rather than contrived for drama, and emotional catharsis that feels earned rather than gifted.
Cayouette’s sophomore effort confirms her talent for crafting relationships that feel modern and relatable while exploring timeless emotional truths. This novel will appeal to fans of:
- Emily Henry’s emotionally intelligent romances
- Casey McQuiston’s dialogue-heavy relationship dynamics
- Tessa Bailey’s steam balanced with substance
- Sally Thorne’s workplace relationship tensions
For readers who enjoyed Cayouette’s debut One Last Shot, this follow-up demonstrates significant growth in character complexity and thematic depth while maintaining the emotional honesty that made her first novel appealing.
Who Should Read This Book?
This novel is perfect for:
- Romance readers who appreciate substantive conflicts beyond simple misunderstandings
- Anyone navigating professional relationships with romantic potential
- Podcast enthusiasts who will appreciate the behind-the-scenes glimpses
- Readers seeking authentic portrayals of anxiety and therapy
- Those who enjoy stories about women claiming their professional worth
At its heart, Tell Me How You Really Feel is about the courage required to be vulnerable—both in love and in work—and the power that comes from truly being seen. Betty Cayouette has crafted a romance that feels both thoroughly modern in its setting and timeless in its emotional resonance, delivering a satisfying read that will leave readers eagerly awaiting her next book.
