Maci Bookout Says She’s Excited for Viewers to “Get to Know the Real Ryan [Edwards]” on Season 2 of ‘Teen Mom: The Next Chapter’

Maci Bookout isn’t just playing nice with her ex Ryan Edwards-she’s singing his praises. 

Maci and Ryan– who share 15-year-old son Bentley– have worked over the last year or so to repair their once very strained relationship. The resulting friendship will be showcased this season on ‘Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.’

“Especially as we get later into the season, you get to see Ryan and who he is as a human,” she told In Touch Weekly.

“I feel like for all the years [on the show] he was struggling with drug use, but later in the season you will really get to just see Ryan and get to know him,” Maci said.

Throughout 2023, Maci was in attendance for a few of her ex’s (many) court dates and last summer, she publicly defended her decision to support the 36-year-old, in spite of his legal and relationship issues. 

Ryan and his girlfriend Amanda Conner– who met while they were both in rehab– even managed to score an invite to Maci and husband Taylor McKinney’s house on Easter this year. 

While Maci admits she’s still “trying to navigate” her and Ryan’s co-parenting situation, she’s excited that fans will soon get an update on Ryan and his life. 

“Everyone will finally get a chance to get to know the real Ryan and see who he is and how his relationships are developing,” she told People.

Though co-parenting with Ryan (instead of Ryan’s parents, Jen and Larry Edwards) is “new for everyone,” Maci insists it’s going “really well.” She also revealed that in Season 2 of ‘The Next Chapter,’ viewers will “probably see something [they’ve] never seen before on the show” between her and Ryan, as well as Ryan building his relationship with Bentley.

Maci confirmed to the outlet that she also approves of Ryan’s girlfriend, Amanda Conner, claiming the pair “have a really solid friendship” and “a genuine care for one another.” 

“She is fantastic,” Maci added. “She’s just really supportive of Ryan and his relationship with Bentley and his co-parenting relationship with me.” 

The mom of three went on to reveal that she’s formed a pretty solid friendship with Amanda herself, one that has been “really easy and natural.” 

“We click and just really get along,” Maci said. “The most important thing is she’s just really supportive of all the relationships and things that go on with Ryan. It definitely helps for [Ryan] to be in a relationship where that is happening.”