This book is fabulous and should be a bestseller when it comes out.

It’s listed as a romance, which it is, but it’s also more than that—great well-written fiction. The characters are flawed and funny in a very authentic way. The book as a whole is extremely well-written, well-researched and totally believable. Parts of it—especially those involving the main character’s best friend are scandalously, laugh-out-loud funny.

The main character, Harper, is a top-of-her-class dental student who’s about to graduate and enter a residency program. Early on, it’s clear she suffers from an anxiety disorder that causes her to do and say some pretty outrageous things. Although her behavior irritated me, it seemed totally real and exactly what someone with her condition would do. The author had to have done extensive research on both anxiety and dental school. I learned a lot about both topics. The information in the book was just enough to add authenticity to the story.

Harper’s fine as long as she’s focused on school and her upcoming residency. She has some wonderfully supportive friends who understand her limitations. But when she literally runs into Dan, a first-year “reluctant” dental student, it all becomes too much for Harper to handle. Dan also has a ton of issues to deal with. The chemistry between Harper and Dan is sizzling, and they both realize something a lot more than chemistry is involved here. But nothing comes easy for the couple. The author has them tread an emotionally rocky road before they finally get to their HEA.

I listened to the audible book. The narrator was excellent and really enhanced the humorous parts of the book.

I highly recommend this 5-star book, and look forward to reading more by this author.

'A Brush with Love' starts out okay but then gets progressively worse. There's not much development or (believable) conflict to the romance, but still it was funny and easy to read. But then Harper becomes more and more horrible, and it drained all my enjoyment for the book.

Audiobook: I thought both narrators did an overall good job (except during the dialogue when they had to mimic each other's voices, those parts sounded a bit silly).

I enjoyed the narration, overall. I typically imagine character voices differently in my head so they didn't always match the image of the characters in my head but they both did a great job of narrating Dan and Harper's viewpoints. I didn't love when the male narrator voiced Harper- it just sounded a little whiny and felt like Harper ost some of her dimension, but I generally don't enjoy when narrators have to voice other characters because I've already heard one narrator do it so that's the voice in my head. so I'm not too surprised by my slight irritation with this.

The story is told in alternating POVs between Dan and Harper. Both characters were relatable and felt three-dimensional. Harper's issues with sexism and anxiety helped me feel closer to her while Dan's issues with his family and meeting expectations made me feel for him. I liked the bond between the two and liked how quickly they became friends. Their story did have an element of instalove to it but it fit perfectly with the story. The back and forth between the two and they navigated their feelings toward each other felt more like it was based in understandable fears and apprehension as opposed to annoying. The two characters became close quickly but spent the majority of the book deciding what they needed for themselves and from themselves before deciding to commit to another person romantically, and I respect that.

I'm pretty sure this is one of the only (if not the only) books I've read about dentists/dentistry. I really enjoyed this element to the book! Not only did it help highlight sexism toward women in the workplace but it was just a fun background that I haven't really read before! There are so many books about chefs or rival bookstores/authors (which I love, don't get me wrong!!) so it was really nice to shake things up.

Going back to the sexism in the workplace, I really liked how Harper and her advisor handled the situation. I won't go into too much detail but it was handled so elegantly and professionally that I actually was a little awed and felt so proud of these fictional women for how well they defended themselves.

Both Dan and Harper went through a lot of growth throughout this book and I loved their journeys. The author touched on a lot of great conflicts and real-world relatable issues but nothing felt like it was included just to be a plot or character device. Every aspect of the book seemed to work together really nicely to create an immersive and romantic read. There was a great amount of friendship and humor included with the more serious topics like panic attacks, grief, and battling familial disappointment. This was a fun read and I will definitely be on the lookout for more like this from Mazey Eddings!

This was fun and sweet and sexy.

I liked the progression of Harper and Dan’s relationship. How they started as friends, slowly opened up to each other, and moved to something more.

I felt sad for Harper and her fear of getting mental health support. And I appreciated how she addressed her internalized ableism for some of that fear.

I did wish there was a bit more about how she addressed her anxiety versus the focus on the “before” therapy times. The end felt quickly wrapped up and just overall such a short part of the story.

I absolutely loved the friendships between Harper and her girls. And those scenes were some of my favorites.

I would definitely recommend this.

[cw - death of parent; anxiety, panic disorder]

3.5/5

I don't use this word a lot, but I truly believe this is an incredibly valuable romance novel. Mazey Eddings wrote this for the tired academics of the world. The nerds, the hard workers, the pretty girls with coffee in one hand and Prozac in the other.

Harper Horowitz is smart, hardworking, and passionate. However, she has the self-care skills of a freshman fraternity boy. She doesn't take care of herself and is wrapped in the chokehold of anxiety that she refuses to acknowledge. And while tackling school work, and the sexism of STEM she one day crashes into Dan.

Dan who doesn't; want to be at dental school and who one brush with Harper convinces himself maybe this is all worth it. Dan's story to me was the most compelling, Dan was forced to go to dental school to take over his dead dad's dental practice. He is dealing with so much stress and a lot of his struggles with trying to be your own person but feeling like a disappointment every time you stray away from your parent's wishes. Dan's story broke a part of me because it was very uncannily similar to experiences I have had.

Harper and Dan's relationship however felt..off to me. While I like both of them as people and felt like everyone in the book was a real person that I care about. I felt like their relationship was too...basic? It's similar to any standard relationship in a book and I didn't feel swoony or compelled by their relationship. I don't think every romance has to be extraordinary but I just wish there were more 'oh woW that's so freaking cuTE' moments.

Overall it's a solid read if you want a basic romance with intricate well done characters.

TW: on-page panic attacks, anxiety spirals, gaslighting, emotionally manipulative parents, sexist remarks.

This story is an adorable romance. I enjoyed the relationship between Dan and Harper. The audiobook was an easy listen, the dual narration was done well. Set on the back drop of dental school, the setting is original. I felt like the ending dragged on a little bit, but I still enjoyed the story.

This audiobook was so amazing! The story itself was great but the narration just added so much to the story. Harper is in her fourth year of dental school, so close to a residency in oral surgery. She battles with severe anxiety and claustrophobia but manages it with throwing herself into her school work and a rigid routine.

Dan is starting dental school a little later in life so he’s the same age as Harper but only in his first year. And he’s failing at everything because his heart just isn’t in it. But his dad died recently leaving his mom alone with their dental practice and she needs him to help her run it to secure her livelihood.

They have an adorable meet-cute and instantly have great chemistry. I loved all of their back-and-forth joking and easy conversation. Dan is so incredibly smitten and Harper is so determined not to be. She can’t afford the distraction plus he’s convinced that she’ll be leaving for her residency and that any relationship wouldn’t last with a move anyway. She asks that they just be friends but sometimes she can’t resist.

There are super sweet care taking scenes when Harper has a few really severe anxiety attacks or bouts of claustrophobia. And there are a few when Dan is spiraling because he can’t understand the school work and Harper sweeps in to help him. There were parts of the story that were so fun and light hearted and others that were so sad and emotional and all the way through you were just rooting for this couple to make it! It was really hard not choosing this as my favorite read of January. Maybe I should re-listen to it every month in case it beats out all of that month’s books! 😂

Harper is a dental student with high aspirations. She wants to save the world one dental reconstruction at a time. She is awaiting placement in a top oral surgery residency program when she collides with Dan.

Dan isn’t as enthusiastic about the dental program as Harper and doesn’t take things too seriously. He is interested in Harper from the moment they meet and he agrees to be friends with her, though he wants more. The more time they spend together, the more Harper lets her hair down and her perfectly organized life gets turned upside down.

I listened to the audiobook and thought it was pretty good. I enjoyed the narrators and although I felt parts of the story dragged, it was a cute romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

this was a super sweet romance book and at first it was a bit cheesy but oh my lord was it amazing. At some points I did feel some second hand embarrassment for the characters but its something you see often enough in this industry that its not even a problem anymore. I loved the way the story started and ended. Insta-love is not my thing but with this book I didn't hate it. I honestly felt like It was doing that trope justice. I loved the whole idea of it and I rated it a 4/5. I think that for it to be a five there should be more build up to the whole "let's go out to dinner and make it a date". Other than that I was highly impressed.

A Brush with Love by Mazy Eddings follows dental student, Harper who is anxiously awaiting placement into a top oral surgery residency program when she crashes (literally) into Dan. Harper would rather endure a Novocaine-free root canal than face any distractions, even one this adorable. This story follows Harper and Dan dealing with mental health, parental stress, and struggles with expressing their feelings.

A Brush with Love was a perfect book to read during the Valentine's Day season. It was a super cute and thoughtful romance that realistically showed what a relationship looks like with someone who suffers from panic attacks and extreme anxiety. I definitely recommend this for readers who enjoy Christina Lauren. Can't wait to read more books in this companion series.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to this sweet love story on audiobook, and it was a delight! Eddings gives us a realistic depiction of intense anxiety and all of the social struggles that come with it. The two main characters meet in dental school, and it isn't long before they become best friends who are hopelessly attracted to one other. While Harper wants to avoid romantic entanglement before she leaves for residency, Dan is persistent in his seduction and is obviously perfect for her. Eddings gives us a deep look into Dan's and Harper's families histories and current friendships, making both characters well fleshed out.

I love academic romances! This story is about students in dental school and they are truly soulmates. This was hilarious and I really related to Harper. She struggles with anxiety and has a really hard time dealing with it. Dan is so perfect for her because he can calm her in a way that nobody else can. It got a little spicy and I was NOT expecting it. I would definitely recommend this adorable rom-com.

This book is not a good fit for my audience. Within the first chapter, there was so much language and vulgar conversation that I had to take a pause. Unfortunately, this was not a book that I was able to finish. While it may be a great book for some, it was not for me.

I couldn't finish this audiobook. There are so many things wrong with it, such as:
- overwrought writing
- overwrought dialogue
- unrealistic portrayal of anxiety disorders
- unconvincing narrators.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy love at first sight stories, which is the basic premise of this book. But for the life of me, I just didn't get what each character saw in the other. The author tells us they're in love, and how they feel, but I don't get a real sense of why.
Disappointing. And again, DNF.

3.75 STARS

A BRUSH WITH LOVE is the debut novel of Mazey Eddings . Harper is last year dental student, solely focused on her career until Dan , a first year dental student , who joined dental school after quitting the job that he loved to continue his family's legacy. Their meet cute happens on a rainy day and things progresses with them going on dates and switching to friends. Dan wants a relationship but Harper is reluctant as she is moving away after 6 months.
It has been one of the most anticipated reads of this year. I had high expectations about this book. The insta love part was not for me, but it is a me-problem and not the book's problem. Insta love is a" no no" trope for me . Other than that the book was perfect . The writing was good . It discusses many important issues such as anxiety , misogyny, therapy. I love her friends group. It had its steamy scenes. Dan is so cute . He is definitely up the book boyfriends list . The break at the end was necessary for them to grow individually. The end was absolutely cute. The narration was cool. Can't wait for Lizzie's book.

IF YOU ARE OK WITH INSTALOVE , I WOULD SURELY RECOMMEND IT .
OUT MARCH 1ST

DID I JUST LISTEN TO A NEW ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK?!?!?! I THINK SO!!!!!!

A Brush with Love follows our two main characters, Harper and Dan, who are both in dentistry school and end up crashing into each other. They both have very different reasons for wanting to study dentistry and both are struggling with their pasts and mental health.

I loved the narrators for this book, which is saying a lot because I'm not very picky or overly interested in who narrates a book, but these two did a fantastic job and I was in love! Harper as a character was one of the most relatable characters I have ever read about! I felt so many emotions while reading about her, and even when she made terrible choices I couldn't help but think about how I would have done the same thing. Dan was also such a cool character! He was super sweet and supportive and I would tear up every time he started talking about his family life.

I don't think this book will work for everyone. It has heavy trigger warnings for anxiety, on-page panic attacks and it also delves into deaths of parental figures. While this is a cute contemporary novel, do go into it knowing that it does get very heavy and emotional.

A Brush with Love is a playful, slow burn romance that follows Harper and Dan as they navigate their dental school and their instant attraction to one another.

I wanted to love this one, as I felt there were some really great parts - a meaningful look at dealing with anxiety, in-depth talk about the dental industry and working in what can be a sexist profession. That tooth extraction scene made my jaw drop with how the client talked to Harper! The audiobook had dual narrators which helped immerse me in the story.

I just couldn’t get behind the instant love between the main characters, and then it was a weird pace of intense desire and it being shut down in the name of staying friends. Dan also bothered me at some points, saying he knows he doesn’t need to stick up for Harper but then doing it in multiple scenes.

Overall, this book fell middle of the road for me. I will definitely check out other books by this author as it was the instant love connection that I personally didn’t connect with.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook!

This is a book after my own heart!! I absolutely LOVE when romance novels have a medical focus and this one did just that!! A woman striving to be a dentist, a man who is in dental school but unsure if its his true future. Could they be a good match?!

I thought this audiobook was wonderful! Harper was such a motivating person who strives to be the best. She suffers from anxiety which most of us in the medical field can truly relate to. I really enjoyed her character and appreciated how real she was. Dan was so swoon worthy and such a perfect book boyfriend!! Such a good guy who really does put everyone else in front of himself. I loved their meet cute and Just the overall way their relationship progressed. I loved the two together, and I was pleasantly surprised with the steam that was sprinkled throughout this one! Overall, I enjoyed it and I am glad I got the chance to read/listen to this one!

Tropes:
Slow burn
Friends to lovers
Kind of a miscommunication?

I had the audio book and I can barely tolerate the narrator, I'm not sure why it sounded extremely robotic. Not very enjoyable. The book was cute and I liked the anxiety thing. I felt like it was adorable and sweet and the snow kisses were cute. I felt like the chemistry was lacking a little atleast from harpers side. This was a cute typical romance and I enjoyed it but it wasn't the best thing in the world. Maybe had I had a physical copy I would've enjoyed it more.

This book was absolutely amazing. Harper is in dental school awaiting an oral surgery residency when she meets Dan, a first year dental student from a family of dentists. The thing is Harper lives and breaths dentistry, while Dan is enrolled out of guilt to uphold the family legacy. *sigh*

What unfolds is a love story, rich with wit and sarcasm, and an honest depiction of anxiety disorder. It story felt so organic and authentic. I was rooting for these 2 humans through all the highs and lows.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.