This book was perfection. I don't think that mental health is talked about enough in books- and the ones that do talk about it don't talk about it well enough. Mazey Eddings created such an amazing story about two people who learn to love themselves, each other, and survive each day while battling their own demons everyday. Its not often that I connect with the main male characters.. but my heart was with Jude every step of the way. I felt that I read this book when I needed it the most. That reminder that therapy is scary, weird, hard.. but it's okay to admit needing help and seeking it. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this story, or about Mazey Eddings. Thankful for this opportunity to read this amazing story.

Mazey Eddings has quickly become an all around favorite of mine! Thank you for NetGalley, St. Martin's and Mazey Eddings for the privilege to read and review book three in the Brush with Love series, The Plus One! As a fan who has read the prior two books, I was so excited to receive this and dove right in!

We start with Indira, who is in an unsatisfactory relationship, walking in on her cheating boyfriend. With her relationship ending on such a sour note, she moves in with her brother and his partner who are also hosting his best friend/her childhood nemesis, Jude Bailey. Though they still know how to push each other's buttons, they also realize how much has changed in the time they have been a part. They come to realize that staying near each other benefits them both in different ways, and, of course, sparks fly.

Mazey Eddings has such a wonderful way with words; she really knows how to bring these real and raw characters who are flawed and broken forward and push for their happy ever after. Though the present timeline in the events of this book was short, you can truly feel how these characters build their relationship through their interactions, their shared history and their ability to share their vulnerabilities with each other. I cried as I sympathized with these characters and their ongoing struggles, their desire to move forward and how they succeeded in the end. Previous characters made lengthy cameos and while I'm truly sad to bid these characters adieu, this absolute gem of a book made it worth it.

The Plus One is Mazey Eddings third installment in her A Brush With Love series. I like that while the characters in the books live within the same universe, and make crossover appearances, each book can also be read as its own standalone and focuses on its own characters and themes.

This book was an enemies to lovers romance. The main characters, Indira and Jude, are both physicians and have known each other their whole lives, although aren’t particularly fond of each other. Mental health is a prevalent theme in this novel, and the book begins with a particularly thoughtful and considerate trigger warning written by the author. Honestly I wish every book started this way.

I enjoyed The Plus One. I previously read A Brush with Love, but missed the second book in the series and have added it to my TBR. A sincere thank you to netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an electronic arc of The Plus One in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

After Indira walks in on her boyfriend with another woman, she runs to her brother's house to stay until she can find another place to live. It's there that she comes face to face with her frenemy growing up and her brother's best friend, Jude Bailey. He's in town for her brother's wedding.

Jude is a surgeon who chose to devote four years of his life performing emergency medicine in areas of need or disaster/conflict zones in exchange for his medical school being paid for. He has thirteen months left in his contract. Being in these areas has taken a toll on his mental health. He has severe guilt over taking the spot when someone more qualified could have done it. He has PTSD from what he has experienced.

I loved Indira. The way she spoke, the way she called Jude funny terms of endearment. She is so likable and real. Her times with her therapist were some of the best scenes of the book. She and Jude strike a deal to be in a fake relationship so she can save face from her ex (who is also in the wedding) and she helps to calm him. She can save him from getting too overwhelmed.

Soon, though, they realize that both of their feelings aren't fake, and Indira and Jude must figure out their next steps. I really enjoyed all aspects of this book-the mental health representation, the comedy, and the steam. (I don't know if I will ever look at peanut butter the same way again.)

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Giffin for the digital ARC of this book!

Mazey Eddings' "The Plus One" was honestly a breath of fresh air. The chemistry between the two leads, Indira and Jude, was practically leaping off of the page. The story seriously just kept getting better and I don't think I've ever felt like interactions felt so real between two characters in a romance! Indira and Jude not only felt great together but were both compelling leads on their own. I loved all of the looks into therapy in this novel as well - as someone who's been in therapy myself it felt exceptionally well done. I haven't read any of the other books in this series before but I feel especially inclined to after enjoying this one so much! Highly recommend for fans of the romcom genre, romance in general, and avid Bob's Burgers thanksgiving episode marathoners.

Mazey Eddings’ books have each given me the space to feel seen, loved, and hopeful, but The Plus One will hold a particular space in my heart forevermore. Indira and Jude’s story is consummately that of broken people finding love and reshaping the puzzles of their lives to slot into place with each other; I devoured it.

Indira is a psychiatrist struggling with perfectionism, feelings of inadequacy, and a fear of abandonment, and Jude is a trauma doctor wrestling with post-traumatic stress in the wake of his assignments with a global health organization in grave humanitarian crises. We follow these fools stumbling past their lifelong dislike for one another until they find the intimacy of knowing someone so well and realize a real romance. It’s the slowburn progression of understanding that you can, in fact, trust each other that utterly devastates me. Throughout, Jude and Indira have chemistry in spades – the verbal sparring is fun and teasing, the physical tension between them builds like an elastic pulled perfectly taut, and the payoff is spectacular.

I’ve never been a fan of the brother’s best friend trope, but the character dynamics played extremely well. The dislike-to-love arc felt logical, given Dira and Jude were pretty bratty kids. Mazey spun familiar tropes – fake dating, “enemies” to lovers, forced proximity – exactly right to keep them refreshing while delivering on precisely what we love. BLESS there is no contrived third act breakup to be seen!

Mazey’s commitment to representing neurodiversity healthily is something I never take for granted. In this book, there’s plenty of dialogue between the two main characters, as well as with each of their therapists, that validates the pain these characters face and affirms their deserving of love and support as they live and heal. This is a story of finding love, imperfect as it is, and learning to build a more beautiful, hopeful world for us within it. Because love isn’t a cure or a solution, but it helps us along all the same.

This book is tender, affirming, sexy, and silly in equal measure, and it simultaneously broke me, healed me, and made my heart bloom.

A great book by Mazey! This was the most adorable rom-com filled with all our favorite tropes that BookTok loves! I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a little fluff and sweetness in your life

Once again, another 5 star read from Mazey Eddings!
I love how Mazey writes her characters - nuanced and real, a little messy but deserving of so much love. Jude and Indira definitely have frenemies energy - they say they are enemies, but when push comes to shove, they can't hide the fact that they really do care about each other.
It's been years since Jude and Indira have really spent time together, but when Jude returns from his medical assignment overseas and Indira catches her boyfriend cheating on her, they both end up living with Indira's brother and helping him prepare for his upcoming wedding. Pretty quickly, Indira notices Jude isn't exactly the guy she remembers, and as much as he is saying he's fine, Indira can tell he isn't. Turns out Jude is dealing with a lot of trauma from his work with the Global Healthcare Organization. Indira becomes a safe space for him, and since she also needs space away from her ex, the two decide to fake date for the wedding festivities. But the "fake" doesn't last very long, and these two admit that they want way more with each other.
Both Indira and Jude have to put in a lot of emotional and mental work, individually and together, to work through trauma, pain, rejection. I adored seeing the ways Jude and Indira loved each other and supported each other through thick and thin.
I also loved seeing the other characters from "A Brush with Love" and "Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake" in this one. I love this friend group and am so sad that this series is over! But I will absolutely continue to read everything Mazey writes! :)

4.5 stars

Mazey Eddings continues to write incredible romance novels with The Plus One, the third installment in her A Brush With Love series.

Indira walks in on her boyfriend with another woman, and packs up to head to her brother's house to stay until she can find a new place to live. Who else happens to be staying there but her brother's best friend, and Indira's childhood nemesis, Jude.

Jude is on a brief leave from his position with the GHCO to see his best friend Collin get married. After traveling for three years as a doctor in areas experiencing humanitarian crises and war, Jude is struggling to adjust. Even though he and Indira have never gotten along, there is something safe and comfortable in their constant bickering. To help Indira out, Jude offers to be her fake-date to any wedding events since her recent ex will be there.

Fake dating, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity, oh my! Eddings writes incredible characters that feel like real people and I appreciate all the care she takes in writing about different mental health topics. If you like Emily Henry and haven't given Mazey Eddings a shot yet, you absolutely have to.

Oh, and did I mention there's no third-act breakup? It was so refreshing to read these mature adults be able to have a conflict or fight and resolve it and come out stronger on the other side.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’d give this book 3.5 stars if I could. The romance part felt a little predictable, which is the only thing keeping it from a solid 4. Indira, Jude, and their love story are immensely likable. Emotionally nature characters who handle their lives like true adults? With communication? You love to see it. Their “enemies” to lovers, childhood antagonists vibe was very fun, and I was especially glad to see her brother/his best friend handle them getting together with maturity as well. Overprotective brothers get old so fast.

But I think what’s really important about this book and what works best is it’s treatment of mental health. PTSD and therapy both get frank discussion, and we see that it’s not an easy fix. Mental health is a constant battle, almost always feels uphill, but making the effort is so, so important. Some books you walk away from feeling warm and fuzzy from the romance. This book, I walk away wanting to truly take care of my brain and my emotions, and I’m glad I read this.

The best romance I’ve read thus far this year. I discovered @mazeyeddings last year when I read Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake and The Plus One is a continuation of connected characters but can be read as a standalone too. I am not exaggerating when I say this book is everything. I absolutely adored both characters and their relationship. I loved loved loved how pro therapy the storyline is, especially when it comes to men’s mental health and the mental health of our healthcare workers. It is a topic that could feel heavy but Mazey does a great job at balancing this with witty and clever banter between the two MCs. The dual POVs were spot on and the enemies to lovers trope felt authentic and believable. I cannot recommend this one enough! Pub Date is this upcoming Tuesday, 4/4.

The Plus One by Mazy Eddings
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub Date: 4/4

After finding her boyfriend in a compromising position with another woman and a jar of peanut butter, Indira moves into her brother’s house until she can find a place. When she arrives, she discovers that her childhood nemesis/frenemy, Jude, is also staying there. Her brother is getting married soon, and Jude is in town for the wedding.

Jude is a doctor who has traveled the world to help with various humanitarian crises. He suffers from PTSD and anxiety from the things he’s seen and is having a hard time readjusting to civilian life. Because Indira is forced to see her ex and his new girlfriend at every wedding event (of which there are many), she makes a deal with Jude to fake date until the wedding is over. This will help Jude disguise his social anxiety, and Indira won’t have to go to the wedding alone. But the forced proximity and fake affection make them feel things they didn’t think they’d ever feel for each other, and their fake dating turns into real feelings that neither of them knows how to deal with.

This book had everything I love in a romance novel: a sassy heroine, witty banter, sizzling chemistry, amazing supportive characters, and delicious steam. Jude and Indira are relationship goals with their healthy, open, and honest relationship. These two go from frenemies to friends to lovers seamlessly, and I loved every second of it! Childhood friends-to-lovers is my favorite because the shared history between them makes their eventual relationship feel like it’s been a long time coming and has an “it’s always been you” quality that I adore.

Eddings is a master at addressing mental health issues and normalizing getting help through therapy in her writing. I love her humor and writing style and the diversity of her characters. This was a moving and powerful read while also feeling light and humorous. And it includes some of my favorite tropes, like brother’s best friend, forced proximity, and fake dating.

This is the third book in the Brush With Love series, and it was great to see characters from the previous books! I still haven’t read Lizzie Blake, but it’s on my immediate TBR after loving this one. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the chance to read and listen to this one early.

I had no idea that this was book three of a series until I was done reading it and was adding it on GoodReads. Whoops! I don't really like to start in the middle because there were couples that were in the book and had I read the other two books, I would have understood the inside jokes.

This was a triple trope, enemies to loves, fake dating and brother's best friend. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope because its always full of chuckle inducing banter but that was short lived. Fake dating is not my favorite because, well, it ends up feeling really fake. Plus, all of her friends knew the truth so it was really just one person they were faking for and was he really worth it? I mean, yes because that's how their relationship started but it just seemed like a silly reason to me.

This book talks about mental-illness and PTSD so if those are triggers for you, this may be a book you'll want to skip. The story itself was swoony and steamy. What I liked and it stood out for me was that the characters didn't dwell on physical appearances. They mention how beautiful or handsome but nothing like, his chiseled body was so hot, I can't wait to touch his rock hard abs. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a hot physique but it was nice to have a bit of a change.

Overall, it was a cute read. I would definitely recommend reading the other books because the other couples are present a lot in the story and it would be nice to understand what they're talking about.

I really enjoyed this one! I thought the way it started off was perfect! We have Indira who just caught her live in boyfriend cheating on her in their apartment. So she runs to her brothers house for safety, and when she gets there she notices she isn’t the only one staying there, her child hood nemesis and her brothers best friend Jude is also staying there. her brother is getting married and Jude a doctor in 3rd world countries but he is home on to attend the wedding. Indira and Jude have never got along, from the time they where kids and now they are stuck living in the same house. As the wedding festivities start, Indira ex boyfriend is also in the wedding is around and her and Jude come up with a plan to fake date for these events so Indira doesn’t have to be alone and watch her ex with his new girlfriend. I really liked Indira’s character, she is a therapist and pretty self aware and had me laughing a lot of the times. But I really think it was Jude and his story who stole the book, he is suffering from PTSD from all his time overseas with all the tragedy he has faced but he knows doing this is the only way he can pay off his student loans. He also feels like feeling this way about it all, all the flash backs and panics attacks are a huge failure on his part and he keeps everything all inside. Intill as Indira gets to know the adult Jude and the therapist inside of her sees the signs and with her help Jude really has great character development. Their relationship was so cute and they really helped each other in so many ways! This is definitely spicy! But no 3rd act breakup! Which is something I think we can all appreciate! My favourite part of this book though was the bob burgers scene! I also find comfort in the thanksgiving episodes!! The mental health rep in Mazey books once again is amazing and I definitely recommend this one!

OMG! I can’t gush about this book enough! It was heartbreaking but hopeful and the chemistry between Indira and Jude was magnetic! I listened to the audiobook and both narrators were phenomenal - so emotional and captivating. Jude’s backstory was especially gut wrenching; it took a lot of restraint to not be openly sobbing while listening at work. It literally felt like Labyrinth by Taylor Swift in book form! I previously read Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake and Eddings again delivered in capturing mental health issues in a way that felt relatable and authentic. Eddings has now solidified her spot as one of my favorite authors!

Indira and Jude have known eachother since she was six because Jude and Collin, her brother, were best friends. All three became doctors. Indira a childhood psychiatrist and has mental health but sees a therapist, Collin an ER Doctor and Jude worked for GHCO in the fields wherever they sent him for humanitarian crisis as a surgeon. He has PTSD and lots of triggers He signed up for four years to pay off his medical debt completely.

Fast forward to now and being home for Collins wedding. And she has just had an ugly breakup and was going to crash with Collin and Jeremy and then sees Jude. He sees Indira and how she's become a beautiful woman and they are both in the wedding party. And they have to coexist in the same environment. Together...

A lot happens. They both have a lot of baggage. They both have figuring out to do. There's fiasco, triggers, stress points, and more. Do they "fake it" til they make it? Does it get messy? Does love cure all? Do they walk away from everything?

You will have to find out!

I give it FOUR STARS AND THREE SPICINESS

Favorite Quote:
..."You can hurt and also be loved. You can feel sadness and also feel laugh and joy. Good emotions can coexist with hard ones. You can struggle and suffer and learn to heal while also love. The best place to start is by giving yourself permission to feel with abandon. Feel everything."

Thank you for allowing me to read this advanced copy NetGalley

I really enjoyed reading this book which is about two childhood enemies who come back to town for a wedding and their hate for each other is turning into something else. I really enjoyed Eddings' writing style in this book. I haven't read the first two books in the series but I felt that you didn't need to. The storyline was very well written and I enjoyed the plot. There were a lot of conflicts that keep readers entertained in this short book and I never felt bored while reading this book. There were moments like sharing a tent, heartfelt moments, etc that really brought out this book. The pacing was perfect and loved the setting. This book is written from dual perspectives which I enjoyed.

The main characters in this book are Indira and Jude. I have to say that Indira annoyed me quite a bit but was still a great, understanding person. It was just some moments where she was still trying to be that enemy and bantered. Jude, I really enjoyed it as I felt connected to his character. He was very well-written and developed. I enjoyed how much they understood each other even though they didn't want to and had such cute moments. There were many side characters and some I'm guessing is from the first two books. I really enjoyed Indira's brother and his fiancé. They were such an amazing couple and are funny. So the best part is the romance which is childhood enemies which we honestly don't see often or ones that were well written. I really enjoyed how this one was written as it was slow and steamy.

The ending was well done and I really enjoyed how this book came to me. I honestly did not expect it to be written like this as the cover makes them look perfect but each character has their own story which readers can connect to. Eddings is a fantasy writer and loving her style. I will be reading more of her books in the future because no way will I be missing her books.

First off, thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the early copy of Eddings' Third book in her Brush With Love series. I was lucky to also receive A Brush with Love and Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake as well so was super excited to be approved again to get this one!

I’d just like to make a note to applaud Eddings on her inclusive characters. She has written main characters with ADHD, Anxiety, PTSD etc. and I appreciate that. Being neurodiverse herself I think she does the characters justice and doesn't make these things their fatal flaw.

In this book specifically, I encourage readers to check the Trigger warnings as there is discussion of war and medical trauma.

Ok back to the story … I loved Indira. She struggled with her own feelings of inadequacy and I appreciated her banter with her therapist (even while being a psychologist herself.. Further proving that therapy can be for everyone!). I can’t lie … the beginning had me a little thrown off and not as invested (queue PB questions) but as the story progressed I got more and more involved. Her sarcasm and wit, especially with Jude, was A+. I loved Indira’s unwavering commitment, even with Jude pulling away.

Jude, oh Jude. My heart broke for him. Overall he was a great MMC, but there were times when his withdrawals irritated me as a reader. I fully understand they served a purpose and had to do with his PTSD, but can’t help that it made me want to shake some sense into him. Watching him and Indira, forever nemesis, slowly funnel their ‘hatred’ of each other into a really deep and meaningful love was *chefs kiss*.

Brothers Best Friend, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, HEA … this story hit all my favourite tropes.

3 ⭐

This book was more than fluff and nonsense romance. Though it did have its share of romance and spice.

Best Friends brother and fake dating laid the ground work, but it also touched on much deeper subjects like invisible disease, mental illness and ptsd. It had themes of taking care of yourself and allowing yourself to be happy. Indies is a therapist in the book, but this book is therapy for us all.

I enjoyed reading this story and will be back to read the rest in the series.

Fake dating, brother's best friend, almost second-chance romance all combined. What more could I want?

Indira and Jude have always hated one another. They bickered their way through their childhood. Indira seems like she has everything going for her, but then she walks in on her boyfriend with a stranger. Jude has spent the last three years traveling the world to treat medical emergencies in places with humanitarian crises and his quick trip home for his best friend's wedding is a struggle for him to readjust to "normal" life. The wedding events turn out to be extremely stressful for Jude and Indira hates seeing her ex all the time. They decide to fake date, but it starts to feel a bit too real.

First off, this book is not the happy, fluffy story that it seems like it's going to be. Definitely read the content warnings; Mazey Eddings does a great job of laying them out at the beginning of the book. Indira and Jude do spend a lot of time actually trying to understand what the other person needs and seeking to fulfill that when possible. They are very supportive but also realize that they can't solve all of the problems that each is experiencing. They both really have to work on themselves and I appreciated the mental health representation and the demonstration of the importance of therapy.

My biggest frustration with this book was the pace at which Jude, and to some extent Indira, actually acknowledged their need to grow as an individual. While it feels very realistic, it was still hard to support them in their relationship together when they weren't really in places individually where true emotional vulnerability is possible. While no one should have to wait to feel "fixed" to find love, I think it was a bit hard to believe that they truly loved one another when they weren't really being fully honest about themselves. This is definitely a personal opinion, so I don't think this will be a universal feeling for all readers, but it was how I felt while reading.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book and I think it gives us a great representation of PTSD and trauma and mental health. If you're in a place where reading about those things is manageable, I definitely recommend trying out this book. It's particularly good if you read the other books in the series so you can see all of the connections between the people in the story.