I am really enjoying Mazey Eddings's novels- they are funny, smart, and deal with real issues without ever losing the focus on a happily ever after. A Brush with Love made me enjoy reading about dentists- which was definitely unexpected. Now this has some of the best descriptions of adult ADHD I've seen in lit, let alone romance, without ever pandering or feeling unnecessary. I was in love with Lizzie right from the start, so no wonder Rake fell for her! I am not usually a fan of the baby tropes, but it was well done here and as believable as one can expect.

I can't wait to read her next in the series! Can I admit I hope it's Thu...

Such amazing ADHD representation! I love that Eddings provides mental health representation in every rom-com she writes, it means a lot to me to see myself represented in one of my favorite genres! I think this book in particular was super fun, romantic, and inspirational. A lot of people would love this, especially fans of travel novels!

Love the story! I loved reading about Lizzie and what it's like for her to live with ADHD. Sweet story, quick read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake.

This open-door romance centers on the evolving relationship of Lizzie and Rake, who meet as a one night stand, go for a second night and then find out they are connected for a lifetime. Lizzie’s adult ADHD diagnosis is a big part of her life, resulting in feelings of inadequacy and let down. Rake brings fresh perspective and insight as they get to know each other.

I was excited to read more about Lizzie after A Brush With Love and her personality was as funny and effervescent as I remembered. I loved the way humor and sarcasm were used to deepen their connection, something I relate to fully.

The scene and setting of Lizzie’s environment was set well, initially being described as chaotic and stressful and changing as her own awareness, coping and relationships changed.

In this book the friends from her youth were not the most enjoyable side characters. I loved getting a glimpse into her friendship with Bernadette and her brother and SIL.

This book had a lot going for it, it charmed me from the 3rd chapter, but I had a hard time staying engaged with it around the halfway point. It felt a bit redundant for a bit. I kept going and I’m glad I did.

I love Mazey’s writing! A Brush with Love was so good and this one was even better. Such a fun romance story.

I did find Lizzie pretty funny and I could see a big personality like hers being a magnet for some around her. Could see how an outgoing personality like hers can pull people to her. Charismatic is what I would call her. Rake, I would say is the ying to her yang. He is the person he wants to be around her…I almost feel like even though Lizzie’s name is in the title it’s just as much Rake’s story and we see some character development for him too. His growth as a man and a man in a relationship. A good romance read.

I wouldn’t say this was necessarily a bad book, it just wasn’t my cup of tea!

I didn’t find the romance connection between Lizzie and Rake convincing. Just never felt like love, more like list, which in a sense is a type of “connection”.

I would recommend this to my romcom loving friends. It just wasn’t for me!

This book is so sweet and adorable with just the right amount of spice! The characters are super lovable and the chemistry between the main characters had me rooting for a happy ending as soon as they met. I typically try to avoid accidental pregnancy tropes, but I loved the author’s first book so much that I had to give this one a shot. And I have to say, this is my favorite pregnancy trope book that I have ever read. The story was so fast paced and intriguing that I got to the ending and still wanted a whole other book about them. Rake is probably one of the best book boyfriends out there because he always knew exactly the right thing to say to Lizzie. I look forward to reading anything else that Mazey Eddings comes out with!
Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

“I love you like a heart beats or a fish swims. It’s automatic and unavoidable, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. You’ve busted into my heart and carved your name into every chamber.”

Mazey Edding’s stole my heart with her debut novel when she managed to incorporate real life into her romance. She has done it again with Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake. I love her representation in her characters and how realistic her stories are.

“You’re a work of art. You’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

Lizzie and Rake have instant attraction/chemistry, especially after he protects her from a terrible human. Rake is from Australia and just visiting, so they decide to indulge in their attraction just once. Except it happens a few more times… and that “just once” idea happens to end in an accidental pregnancy.

“You’ll probably never fully grasp how wonderful it is to know a person like you exists.”

Lizzie has always been told that she is “too much.” Too loud, too spacey, too disorganized, etc. She has ADHD and it is a huge part of who she is, but it’s not all she is. I thought Mazey did great at giving a realistic point of view about having ADHD and how the person feels behind the scenes. Lizzie is a bright burst of energy, the sunshine personality to Rake’s grumpiness, and I loved her. Her humor and extroverted personality is something I quickly fell in love with.

“Because life was a shadow before, but you’re the sun. And I want the world to know that I’m an absolute fool for you and nothing makes me happier.”

Rake is the literal perfect human for Lizzie. Even though their relationship did not start off ideally for them, he embraced this new change and did whatever he could for Lizzie. Including moving to a whole new continent. He is one of the few people to truly accept and embrace Lizzie for all that she is, and it warms my heart every time he recognizes the privilege of knowing her. The more I learned about him, the more I loved him.

“You don’t understand how it changes a person to hear you laugh.”

As I said, Mazey’s writing and stories are so real. She will be an author I continue to read every new release. I am an absolute sucker for a pregnancy trope and was so thrilled to see she was writing one. Mazey as a person is an icon and I hope everyone falls in love with her stories.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars
🌶🌶🌶/spice level
🖤Tropes: accidental pregnancy, friends with benefits to lovers, forced proximity, only one bed, grump/sunshine, heroine with ADHD, Australian hero

Lizzie is struggling with her ADHD and holding down a job when she meets Rake at a bar. They both agree that this is a two-night stand; nothing more. Easier said than done. An unexpected pregnancy leaves them both reeling, but this mistake may end up being exactly what they both need.

After being in a reading slump for a while now, Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake was exactly what I needed! This read is quirky, yet refreshing, and I fell in love with the characters from the start. I’m a huge fan of dual POVs and this text executes them well. I could understand Lizzie and her struggles and loved how open and endearing Rake came across through his actions.

I really enjoyed the representation of individuals with ADHD, especially adults with the diagnosis. Plus, I learned about RSD, or Rejection Sensitivity Disorder. This is a foreign term to me, but insightful and this book reinforces that individuals that have ADHD may operate differently or have struggles, but they are not lazy. I hate how Lizzie was treated and made to feel invaluable by those who best knew her, but that’s why I love Rake’s character. From the beginning, he’s caring and tries to build up Lizzie. I would say there was one encounter Lizzie completely bulldoze Rake and his feelings, and she should have apologized. However, in the long term, I think Rake is a wonderful influence and a solid partner.

This funny, lighthearted read was a breath of fresh air! It’s my first read by Mazey Eddings, but I’m looking forward to more of her books!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! I highly recommend this book!

This was an easy and delightful read. Touching on the perils of toxic families and weaving that into complete and utter love. Remorse and reconciliation. I enjoyed all the emotional vulnerability of the characters. It also addressed mental illness which is very rarely done. This was a fantastic read. Perfect for summer.

this isnt necessarily a bad book, i just didnt believe it.

with romance novels where there really isnt much of a plot other than two people falling for each other, the connection between the characters really needs to shine and i just didnt see that with this one. i was never actually convinced that rake and lizzie had any sort of bond other than lust. which is a type of connection, its just not the deep connection i would expect for someone who flies halfway across the world, quits their job, and coparents with someone they know fewer than three days.

it just seems so unrealistic, so implausible, so over-the-top that i couldnt get into the story. i also realised while reading this that im actually not a fan of the ‘unexpected pregnancy’ trope. it just doesnt work for me at all, personally.

This charming read made me laugh & cry in the best possible way. In this follow-up to a Brush with Love, we follow the dual perspectives of Lizzie and Rake, who have a fling with unanticipated consequences. Their banter and relationship were so funny as well as cute. The portrayal of Lizzie's ADHD felt accurate and insightful. I highly recommend this read and anxiously await Mazey Eddings next release!

What happens when you grow up in a loveless home with a cold parents? What happens when a child has ADD/ADHD and parents don't understand the diagnosis? You get a women who treats sex like a sport and has trust issues. Lizzie demonstrates the importance of being there for your kids and supporting them especially when there is mental health issues. I have one major fault with this book, and thats the author didn't bring in therapy. Otherwise its a quick read with lots of humor.


*******************I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.**********************

Whoa! What a ride. It was very fast-paced. The writing style kept me hooked and I didn't find myself losing any interest. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and how real the story felt. The author did a great job painting the setting, so it was easy for me to visualize the scene played out before me. I recommend giving this one a chance!

I loved Mazey Edding's first book, "A Brush with Love" and was looking forward to this second installment featuring Lizzie as the main character.

Lizzi, a larger than life baker who is "too much" for most people, meets buttoned-up Australian Rake at a bar and a one night stand between them turns into more. First, the positives: I love love love that the author focuses on characters with mental illness or other types of neurodiversity. I learned a lot about living with ADHD, and specifically about rejection sensitive dysphoria, which I had never heard of. I love the relationship between Lizzie, Harper, Indira and Thu and the way they are each other's chosen family.

However... I didn't love this book. It felt over the top and forced, so many situations were contrived, all characters besides Lizzie and Rake felt like stereotypes. It just didn't pull me in.

This wasn’t necessarily a bad book, it was just not my cup of tea! I had a hard time connecting to the characters and found the romance/relationship not very convincing. I never truly felt the love between Lizzie and Rake, and even in the end I definitely felt it more on Rake's side than Lizzie's,

As someone who (normally) loves a good pregnancy trope, I just did not vibe with this one. It felt like the pregnancy was somewhat forgotten within the story. Yes, it was why Rake was there and kept them together, but there wasn't much else to it. The ending was kind of abrupt as well. It was odd how it jumped from 20-something weeks to 12 weeks post birth. What happened in between?

I can’t help but wonder how different the story would have been if Lizzie was the one to go to Australia. It would’ve made more sense to me- she didn’t have a job, lived with a roommate, and did not have a close family. I understand her connection to her friends, but I don’t think it was strong enough for her to HAVE to stay in the city. I also don’t think I like the friend group? They weren’t super supportive and sometimes just mean (a hug and apology doesn't solve anything if you don't talk about it!). The fact that Rake left his loving family, stable job, and good home to go be in Philadelphia (within such a short time span!) was way too unrealistic. They didn’t really even talk about it. Maybe the author wanted to make a point about women normally having to give up things when they have children, but it just did not seem like the logical choice here. I either wish the story was more developed or went in a different direction.

Thanks so much for the ARC and I will not let my disinterest in this book deter me from reading more Mazey Eddings in the future!

I loved the unconventional route to love in this book.

An unplanned pregnancy between two flawed characters with out of this world chemistry? YES PLEASE.

Lizzie is a firecracker. She says what she thinks, and although she believe she's too much, I found her to be a breath of fresh air. I love heroines who actually talk like women do. Her sub-plot with managing her ADHD felt authentic and I enjoyed the connection to baking being a coping strategy to help manage it.

I wish I could see Rake in real life because his description is swoon-worthy. I typically don't need my heroes to drop everything to be with a woman but his choice to leave Australia to be a present father added a layer to his complexity.

My only qualm is that the relationship felt a little too dependent on physical attraction. The lust steamed off of the pages but I was hoping a deeper emotional connection would develop.

Vulnerable and endearing, Lizzie Blake brings a new level of comedic raw emotion that I couldn’t get enough of!

Lizzie has made a lot of mistakes, so when she is fired from yet another job, she breaks her own rules and has a “two-night stand” with a handsome man she meets in a bar. Rake, visiting the USA from Australia on a work assignment, has been recently hurt in the love department – but what harm can come out of sleeping with a vivacious red-head before returning home? When Lizzie finds out she is pregnant (um – did you know condoms can expire?) and decides to keep the baby, Rake is determined to be a part of his child’s life – no matter the cost.

Mazey Eddings combines a mix of laugh-out-loud comedy and tender emotions, while pushing some literary boundaries that some authors refuse to cross (toxic family relationships; adult ADHD).

This was like a love story in reverse: in most books the reader experiences a slow build romance where we are just waiting for “the act” to happen. Here, the novel starts out with a bang and then the parties tiptoe around each other wondering if a sexual relationship is now the best idea. This plot line was refreshing and brazen, making this a must read. However, with how sexually crazy the book started, I do think the attempts at only having a platonic relationship wore thin after a while and dragged on a tad.

I absolutely loved Eddings’s writing style, and her sensory word choices left me with colorful, vivid images (i.e. descriptions such as “sunshine” and “softness” pulled me right in to what each character looked like or what they were experiencing). The characters were believable and relatable, and you found yourself rooting for their happy ending. As a side FYI – I definitely was picturing Nadia Cakes (a Minnesota bakery) while reading . . . which brought on more giggles!

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake is well worth the read and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley for this charming ARC; all opinions are my own!

I truly enjoyed this book and I LOVE Mazey’s writing style. While I didn’t connect with Lizzie in terms of her ADHD in the same way I connected with Harper and her anxiety (From A Brush With Love), I really enjoyed the open and honest discussions of mental health within this novel. I loved being able to picture the streets of Philly, too! I can’t wait to read what Mazey writes next, she’s a must-read author for me!