TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL

BETTY CAYOUETTE is an author, viral video content creator and cinematographer. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University in only three years, and currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts. Betty created @bettysbooklist, the viral TikTok/Instagram account which is one of the top book recommendation accounts in the world and is featured in outlets such as The Boston Globe, Euronews, Fox News, The London Times and Glamour UK.

“Cayoutte gives a new meaning to ‘hot mic’ with an unforgettable story of modern media and modern love.” —Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of The Roughest Draft

“It’s smart and nuanced and delivers on everything you hope for in a romance— tons of heart, palpable chemistry and a really satisfying ending.” —Annabel Monaghan, USA Today bestselling author of Summer Romance

“Crackled with chemistry… A must read for romance lovers.” —Sophie Cousens, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year

“Betty Cayouette’s Tell Me How You Really Feel is a frothy romp through the world of celebrity podcasting that also has a surprising amount of heart — it’s the cross between Call Her Daddy and romcom nepo babies you didn’t know you needed!”  —Ali Rosen, bestselling author of Recipe for Second Chances

“Sexy, smart, intimate, and authentic.” —Rachel McRady, author of Sun Seekers  

1. Are you a podcast listener? If so, what are your favorite shows? If not, what type of show do you think you’d be most interested in?

2. Maeve and Finn come from very different backgrounds. How do you think this influences their goals and personalities?

3. Throughout the book Maeve struggles with clinical anxiety, and we see how much it impacts her life. Finn also has a panic attack after struggling with receiving hateful messages. When is a time you felt anxiety in your life? What were your strategies for dealing with it?

4. Maeve and Finn, as well as their podcast guests, share extremely intimate details of their lives on their show. Could you ever see yourself speaking so candidly about your own life?

5. There are many conversations about the impact of the gender wage gap throughout the book. How has the gender wage gap impacted people in your life?

6. Finn struggles to accept his passion due to childhood trauma. Is there anything that you loved doing in childhood that you now don’t do? If so, why?

7. Maeve and Finn’s big podcast deal is for a truly mind-boggling amount of money. If you suddenly got a podcast deal for millions of dollars, what would you want to spend money on?

8. Which of the podcast episodes that take place in the book was your favorite? What did you enjoy about it?

A Letter from the Author

Dear Reader,

Each day as I walk through town, work out at the Y, drive to the beach, or cook dinner at night, I listen to podcasts. Some are about finance, others about writing, or true crime, or celeb interviews. But my absolute favorites, the ones that are the background for hours upon hours of my life, are sex and relationship podcasts.

Every week I count down the days until the next episode of my favorite shows are released, and I’ve gone to live events here in Boston alongside other fans of the shows. I love the wisdom and humor of the hosts, and their incredible storytelling. After listening to the most intimate details of their lives for years, I almost feel like I know them, and that is what inspired me to write Tell Me How You Really Feel.

Tell Me How You Really Feel is about the hosts of a viral sex and relationships podcast. Their show about helping each other finding Mr. and Mrs. Right, while giving hilarious and explicit advice, goes viral after only a few episodes, and two years later they get a historic podcast deal. Unfortunately, they also have an epic falling-out and must figure out how to work together and fake their incredible chemistry that has now turned to hatred, while navigating becoming bona fide celebrities.

I loved writing characters that get to absolutely hate each other and make mistakes. It was exciting, and I feel like Maeve and Finn’s chemistry truly leaps off the page. Their different backgrounds—Finn is a nepo baby, while Maeve has pulled herself up by her bootstraps—cause even more tension, and I loved every second of getting to know them. Writing this book was an absolute joy, and I can’t wait for readers to meet Maeve and Finn.

Thank you for reading.
Sincerely,
Betty Cayoutte