Lizzie is a totally lovable character -- she has her challenges, particularly ADHD, which makes it difficult for her to navigate in the world of careers and relationships. But she owns it, and meets life head-on. This is a romantic story with lots of humor that will keep readers engaged until the end. I look forward to recommending this title.

*Rounding up from 3.5*

I love so much of this book. I loved that the topic of ADHD wasn’t just used as the reason Lizzie was weird or was ‘normal’, because there isn’t such thing as ‘normal’. Even though Lizzie’s symptoms might’ve been exaggerated in some parts, it was the fact that it was talked about.

I also strongly disliked parts of the book. Specifically how the pregnancy trope was done. I love a good pregnancy trope. Not this one. I felt it was just something to bring the two together, and I know that’s what a lot of them are about but there’s was no warmth to it. What makes a good pregnancy trope is the love for the baby transferring between the couple, and I didn’t feel that happened.

I would also like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

THIS IS THE FIRST ROMANCE I HAVE EVER READ WITH ADHD REPRESENTATION AND IT WAS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had just finished reading A Brush with Love and this one was even better. Eddings, how did you do that? UGH! I just loved every single moment of this book. I have literally zero criticisms. I just, tore through it in a few hours and then I immediately wished that I could re-read it. That is a rare occurrence for me as a reader. I genuinely loved this book. Please read it and then also read Eddings' other book too. You will not regret any time spent with this author. I promise.

This may just be my new favorite book and I hope this series never ends at this rate! I loved Mazey Edding's A Brush with Love, and this was even better. Maybe its just because I lived in Philly for several years, but I could see this story come to life and that makes the best books. Lizzie is such a fun character but in a completely believable way. I empathize with her struggles but am cheering her on with her successes. The people she meets along the way from Rake to Bernadette were well-written and authentic. I like how Rake and Lizzie had issues going into their situation, but dealt with them in a mature, adult (late 20s) fashion. The friend group surrounding Lizzie is phenomenal (I want more of their stories!) and her relationship with her given family was heartbreaking but I loved how she handled it. I just want more and more from this author. Amazing read and highly recommend!

A very cute rom com read, that also opened my eyes to a lot of the struggles someone with ADHD can face as well as the internalized ableism society has. The relationship development and the chemistry between Lizzie and Rake is amazing, and I love the way they find their best selves. Even tho pregnancy fics are not my personal cup of tea, the way it was written here was quite touching.

Mazey is so skilled at character development, and I found this to be the shining point of the book. Lizzie Blake starts off really struggling with self esteem issues and how to deal with her ADHD. However, as she is forced to really reevaluate her life once she discovers she is pregnant, she begins to take more control over her life. And with Rake by her side, she begins to really accept herself as she is and realize how beautiful her brain can be as well.

Since this book focused much more on self-development first, it contained a lot less of the problems I find pregnancy fics to typically have. This wasn't a story of two unprepared and unqualified people scrambling to accommodate a baby, it was more of a tale of a joint effort for self improvement to become a healthy partnership. And the pregnancy struck a good balance between the sole focus and a plot device to get the two characters back together.

My main qualm with the book is that the end seemed to introduce a lot of cartoon-villainy characters and very tropey actions. It seemed very much as just the Final Test for the two characters to demonstrate their devotion towards each other. However, I really liked the way that Lizzie dealt with her family, and it definitely showed a lot of growth from the person she was in the beginning of the book.

Overall, a really fun and spicy read, and the smut was 🔥🔥🔥

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC of this book! I’ve willingly read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.

If you’re anti-baby/pregnancy/red-headed heroine, LIZZIE BLAKE’S BEST MISTAKE might not be the book for you. Fortunately, as a lover of any sort of trope involving babies/children/pregnancy AND as a redhead, this book was absolutely perfect for those reasons and many more.

After meeting at a bar on the heels of a disastrous almost-date, Lizzie, who has ADHD which manifests itself in what many only recognize as a larger-than-life personality and inability to sit still or be on time, meets Rake, an Australian hunk who’s in town for business. The two immediately hit it off, Rake charmed by her big booming laugh and sharp wit, and, following a one-night stand turned two, they go their separate ways, not knowing that their tryst has resulted in lingering feelings for both of them, but a baby as well. Rake uproots his (rather monotonous) life and moves to the States, deciding he will do anything to support Lizzie and their unborn child in any way they need.

As I said before, though, LIZZIE BLAKE’S BEST MISTAKE is so much more than a book about a surprise pregnancy that brings these two complete opposite characters together. You can immediately feel the connection between Lizzie and Rake and that’s made even more obvious with how Rake seemingly understands and appreciates Lizzie’s brain jumping from thing to thing and her big personality, just like the best friends who have become her family in place of the biological family members who spent years (and still do) trying to fit Lizzie into a mold she just doesn’t fit in.

LIZZIE BLAKE’S BEST MISTAKE is not only well-written, but, just like Mazey Eddings’s first novel, A BRUSH WITH LOVE, is so, so relatable and beautiful. Lizzie struggles with keeping a job and finding what she’s passionate about after having it ingrained in her that no matter what she does, she’s going to screw up anyway. There are family members who can’t grasp that Lizzie’s brain works in a different way and didn’t get her the help she needed, just seeking out the help that would mold Lizzie into the person they think she should be, so she’s coped the best way she knew how, while fighting the voices of those who should have been beside her every step of the way.

All Lizzie desires is that universal need to be wanted, accepted, and loved for the person you are, to be enough for someone even when many people see her as too much. And Rake does.

I loved LIZZIE BLAKE’S BEST MISTAKE and desperately didn’t want it to ever end.

Ahhh!! This book was literally soo amazing!! The feelings, vibes, words all very well written!! It took me a while to get invested but after finding out what the whole “mistake” was everything fell into place! I love how it shines light on some of the things adult ADHD can occur/encounter. My full review will be on my instagram account (in.an.alternate.world)! If you love, sorta friends to lovers, one bed, forced connections this is the one!! Thank you for letting me review this amazing journey!!

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book!! I had submitted a request hoping for the best but preparing for the worst and was SO happy to see I was granted access.

All that being said, this is a book with the accidental pregnancy trope. While I know that those books are definitely not universally loved, and I do think they can and are done in ways I don’t love sometimes, this one was good!! I think my personal problem with some pregnancy trope books is the back and forth with weather the couple actually cares for each other or if it’s just the pregnancy keeping them together and that is DEFINITELY not the case here, the character’s affection for each other is clear even when they’re just hooking up.

On another note! The ADHD rep in here was great, the discussion of ableism in the workplace and at home was so great. The rep of what a supportive friend, roommate, partner looks like was also wonderful. It was just so beautifully written. My only thing is I felt like at the end of the book it wasn’t really mentioned any more and I would have liked to see a little more discussion of how Lizzie was coping and how her and Rake were moving forward with it, especially because there is concerns as to how it’ll impact the relationship discussed pretty early on.

Read For:
🧠 ADHD Rep
🧠 Accidental Pregnancy
🧠 SPICE SPICE SPICE
🧠 Forced Proximity
🧠 Found Family
🧠 H standing up for/defending h

Overall, I loved this book! I literally devoured it in 3 hours (when I REALLY should have been asleep LOL). Mazey really is a wonderfully written and becoming an auto-read author for me!

TW: ableism

Publishing September 6, 2022!!!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Griffin for the opportunity to review!!

I was so thrilled to get this galley!! Mazey Eddings is an auto-read author for me, she is so good at creating relationships, writing dialogue, and coming up with genuinely hilarious moments for her couples. Lizzie is such a delight and her character-arc is so well done and I was really rooting for her. At first I thought maybe Lizzie and Rake were a little too insta-love, but then I decided it didn’t matter. I also thought there were a few moments where the forbidden love was a little repetitive, but ultimately the payoff was great. These books are so quick and smart and are now my go-to romance novel recommendations. Thank you so much Netgalley!

I have really been on a rom-com kick lately, and this one was another happy and joyful read. Lizzie Blake is without a doubt one of the most lovable characters I have ever read. The author did a beautiful job of representing Lizzie’s ADHD in a respectful and real manner that makes you both adore and ache for Lizzie and her struggles. This one follows the “accidental pregnancy” trope, but even as you know what’s coming, you find yourself laughing, crying, and swooning. I loved the characters of Lizzie and Rake, and loved seeing their lives come together even more. It made me smile from start to finish, and I felt genuinely happy when I closed this book. It releases in September, so make sure to “add to cart” now!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.


Will be posted on Instagram -@woodfordgirlsread

Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake starts off with a bang (literally)! It's not often that a book actually makes me laugh out loud, but Lizzie's hilarious monologues made me LOL multiple times.

The juxtaposition of quirky, eccentric, chaos queen Lizzie and protective caretaker and planner, Rake, made for some very endearing moments. I loved how intrigued Rake was by Lizzie's mind, and how what she perceived as flaws turned out to be just what he needed to bring some joy into his previously mundane life.

Overall, it was a cute story with some laugh out loud moments.

- ADHD & RSD representation

Tropes:
- Accidental pregnancy
- Forced Proximity
- Only one bed
- It was supposed to be a fling!

This second book in the Brush With Love series centers around Harper’s friend Lizzie. Lizzie is a raucous free spirit who tries not to let anyone get too close. Having ADHD, its been Lizzie’s life story of being a hyperactive letdown. When a chance meeting with Australian Rake (yes, Rake!) at a bar alters Lizzie’s life forever. After their weekend of fun, Lizzie discovers she’s pregnant and lets Rake decide how he wants to handle their “situation”. Rake ends up moving to Philadelphia to try and co-parent with Lizzie. Trouble is, no matter how hard they try Lizzie and Rake can’t deny the spark and attraction is still there between them. Learning to live with each other and their different personalities leads to an even deeper love and respect for one another. This book has given me a better insight to understanding how the brain of a person of ADHD functions. Mental health is probably my favorite thing about Mazey Eddings writing, helping make the public more aware and accepting of different mental health conditions. First with Harper and her anxiety and now Lizzie and her ADHD. This was such a beautiful story of peeling away layers to self acceptance.

An accidental pregnancy romance, where the FMC has ADHD and is trying to get her life together and the MMC is an emotionally repressed Australian. Lizzie is a peripheral character in A Brush With Love but takes center stage here. She’s likeable and I love the discussions about how she copes with ADHD, but what I wanted from the book was more show, not tell. More scenes showing me the growing connection between Rake and Lizzie besides sex. More scenes showing Lizzie doing a good job at her new job. More of the day to day.
3.5 stars. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

More than a romance, I just found the characters and how they talked to each other laugh out loud funny. But in a good way.

Lizzie is incredibly funny, gives no f’s, and takes charge while bringing Rake along for the ride. The ride being pregnancy after the couple’s one night stand.

I don’t love accidental pregnancy to romance plots, but this one wasn’t bad. Pretty enjoyable.

I knew when reading 'A Brush with Love' I wanted to hear Lizzie's story. This was so much more than I could have anticipated. The author does such an excellent job with Lizzie's mental health and ADHD. This book could really be read as a standalone but it was great to have little cameos from Harper and Dan from 'A Brush with Love'.

There were so many moments in this book when I was laughing out loud and other moments when I reflected and related to Lizzie. This book was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking.

I can't wait to see what Mazey Eddings does next!

I didn't realize because the description of the book on here is so minimal, but this is an accidental pregnancy story. I don't like that trope at all, so I've decided not to read it. If I had known, I would not have requested this book.

I'm very conflicted, but I really liked the characterization. I felt that there was so much complexity and depth the author put into these characters. Maybe like an 84% like? So like 8.4/10, roughly four stars.

Baking scenes were hilarious. This was like a funny, raunchy version of great British bake off. Loved both of Mazey eddings’ books. I hope she keeps writing

I squeeeeeed in the parking lot and got weird looks from the cars parked next to me when I received this ARC. I read A Brush With Love (Eddings' debut novel), and Lizzie was so endearing and supportive to the heroine in that story, so I was beyond excited to hear she had her own book coming... and it didn't disappoint. Not. One. Bit.

Lizzie's character blew me away to be honest. There were so many moments and descriptions that resonated with me HARD CORE. I have not been diagnosed with ADHD, but am also neuro divergent and Eddings reminded me how beautiful brains can be.

The relationship with Lizzie and Rake didn't follow the often expected timeline of a romance novel and I appreciated that so much. Not only do we get delicious steam and slow burn between the two, but we also get this super REAL melding of lives. These lovebirds will stay in my heart for a very long time, just as Dan and Harper have (characters from the first novel, A Brush with Love).

LOVED:
* Lizzie's Brain! She sees the world in such a colorful and magical way and NO FREAKING WONDER Rake couldn't help but fall in love with her
* Bernadette - Erotic Pastries. Enough Said.
* He calls her Birdy... and the story behind it is precious.
* This couple doesn't just banter, they troll each other hard and it's delightful

WOULD HAVE LOVED:
* Um, just more... forever. Please build a legacy series from Lizzie's life story. kthxbai.

FAVORITE QUOTES (holy shishkabobs there are sooo many!)
* "every crafted confection, allowed her nervous system to sigh in relief. The constant flood and buzz of energy zipping randomly from neuron to neuron could finally be allowed."

* "She decided she could do this. Be more responsible. Turn a new leaf. The problem was, Lizzie had turned so many new leaves, she could be a decaying forest floor for how many of them had failed."

* "She was a ball of energy and fire and noise, so different from the calm and controlled way Rake measured his days. Some deep hidden part of him was trying to scramble out of it's cage and bask in her energy."

* "Hugs were miracles. Drastically underrated daily miracles."

* "Lizzie's energy tugged at him like the moon pulls the tide, and there were countless moments when he wanted to give in to the current."

* "It's like I'm looking up at all the energy that lives inside of me. Like whatever divine being or miracle of science that made all these beautiful stars, also made me. Whatever allows for stars to exist also allows for me to exists."

OVERALL:
MUST READ. 100%. I will literally recommend this book to every person I can talk to about it.

Thank you for Mazey Addings and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. I received an advanced review copy for my honest review and here it is. Tada!

Lizzie is great at one-night stands. But something about Rake-- the gorgeous Australian man she met at the bar-- has thrown her for a loop, and when she picks up the keys she accidentally left in his hotel room, she sleeps with him for a second time, which is, for her, almost unheard of. Two weeks later, with Rake safely back in Australia so she doesn't have to worry she'll give into her desire and sleep with him a THIRD time, she discovers that she's pregnant. When she calls him to let him know, Rake surprises her by jumping on a plane to talk things through in person. He's insistent that he wants to move to be near her, and wants them to move in together so he can support her and be right there when the baby comes.
The spark between Lizzie and Rake is intense, sweet, funny, and sexy all at once. Right from the beginning it would be almost impossible not to root for them, and they only get more lovable (individually and as a couple, try as they might to keep things platonic).

Something I really appreciated about this book was that Lizzie has ADHD, and it was one of the first times I've ever seen that part of myself reflected in a book so well (something Mazey Eddings has done twice now-- the anxiety rep in A Brush With Love was also very familiar). The ADHD is shown as something that creates a lot of problems for Lizzie but not as a moral failing of hers (except from a character we're meant to see as the bad guy).

I've been a HUGE fan of Mazey Eddings since about the first page of A Brush With love and didn't think it would be possible for me to love this book even more, but Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake is one of my favorite books I've read in a really long time.