Refreshing truly, The Plus One by Mazey Eddings is Jude’s story and centers around his PTSD. Psychiatrist FMC (Indira) and Trauma Surgeon MMC (Jude) are childhood nemesis turned adult nemesis who realize they love each other. A very honest, warm, love story based on loving people through their darkest hurts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mazey Eddings, and St. Martin’s press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.

"The Plus One" took me by surprise. Based on the cover and synopsis, I thought this would be a light-hearted Rom-Com. I can pleasantly say though that this was so much more than that (and no knock on rom-coms because I love them).

While I haven't read the previous 2 installments in this series, this novel as a stand-alone felt very grounded and realistic in the way all of the characters were portrayed. Except for one action taken by a side character in the beginning, all of the characters thoughts and actions felt very realistic and made the characters feel fully-fleshed out.

I wasn't expecting the slightly darker themes in this book to hit as heavily as they did. The male main character, Jude, suffers from PTSD, and this is a major plot point for his character arc. Mental health and self-awareness were big themes in this book and I appreciated the care and respect the author used in writing about these experiences.

Overall I highly enjoyed reading this book and how the author gave a fitting conclusion to this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

<i>*This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review*</i>

I was not expecting this to be such an emotional ride! Eddings has an impressive way of writing about mental health issues that comes through very genuine on page. I loved both the characters and their personal journey and seeing them find each other. Really, really love this author!

First, I just have to say that I LOVE that the author does an amazing job of looking at how PTSD can really affect a person's life and the importance of having someone in your life that can help pull you out. The acceptance of getting therapy when it is needed is beautifully portrayed in this story. I love the enemies to lovers aspect too. And while the plot is absolutely beautiful and needed, I personally could have done without the detailed spicy scenes and all of the f-bombs. I think it somehow cheapened the importance of what was really needing to be said. But maybe that appeals to more people and now more readers will know how to possibly help someone in need? Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. The author does a great job of navigating traumas of the characters and reminds the reader why therapy is so great but at the same time you’re getting that forbidden frenemies to lovers and siblings best friend love story that I love. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes that trope and who admires real life struggles in our from coms.

I’ve read and enjoyed everything by this author. I will say this one is definitely deeper and more emotional than her first two books. They all deal with mental health issues, but this one was definitely a deeper dive. If that isn’t triggering for you, then I highly suggest checking this book out!

There’s a hurt/comfort role reversal which was nice to see, and I don’t think Mazey would write a book that didn’t have some humor. Oh and if you read the first two books we get to see how everyone was doing, and I loved that!!!

With all 3 of Mazey Eddings's books so far, I've found a lot to love.

Dual POV romances are my bread and butter, so I liked this one after just barely starting. But the thing I love most about her is that her books never fail to make me laugh. The one liners in this are incredible!! A+ dialogue.

It's hard to pick a favorite character, with the way she writes them all so well. You end up loving each one more than the last and feel so much for them.

From reading the premise of this book I had really hoped to enjoy this book, but something about it really fell flat. I couldn't connect with the characters and that was frustrating, and then the writing was difficult to enjoy. The flow of the book seemed to be all over the place, and I had hoped that it would grow on me throughout the book, but honestly it was not enjoyable for me. I liked the idea of what it was about but did not enjoy the book as a whole. I don't mean to give a bad review just because, but this book was very difficult for me to into. Overall, wouldn't recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Mazey Eddings is quickly becoming one of my favorite reads. This book is my favorite of the trilogy thanks to the mental health descriptions and dealing with that in personal relations. Just gah!

First, thanks to @NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinions and ratings!

This book was so unexpected and wonderful. It was deeply emotional without bogging down the romance or making it overtly sad. The characters are so relatable and fun, and utterly angry and hot for each other.

Our heroine Indira is a psychiatrist who is whip-smart, super witty, and loves to torment her brother's (and her) childhood friend our hero Jude. Jude is a surgeon that's struggling with some serious trauma from working to help people in some war-torn, underdeveloped areas. They both end up living under the same roof just before their brother/best friend’s wedding.

This book is just beautiful, and I found myself laughing, crying, and even highlighting passages to make sure I covered certain points with my own therapist. The romance is steamy and lovely, and the supporting characters are hilarious and special therefore I have to give this book 5 stars because it deserves no less.

This is an absolutely beautiful story that Eddings has created in her novel. I was captivated by the love story of Indira & Jude from the first pages. And while Eddings incorporates very serious issues, especially around mental health, PTSD, anxiety & depression, she balances the realities of living with mental illness/wellness with stunning insight & the light-hearted relationships between all her characters.

I love this book - I cannot wait to read Eddings next novel!

🌸BOOK REVIEW🌸

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

"I don’t know how she does it, but somehow every book Mazey Eddings writes becomes my new favorite. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Jude and Indira, both individually and as a couple. The Plus One is deliciously tropey, but also raw, honest, psychologically rich— and scorchingly hot." —Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake It in Hollywood

I loved Indira and Jude’s story! Indira is a psychiatrist who has a disastrous breakup (involving the funniest cheating scene ever!) Only problem, her now-ex is a groomsman in her brothers upcoming wedding. Enter Jude, her childhood arch nemesis, who is also in town for the wedding. Jude and Indira are both working to overcome some mental health hurdles, and this book handles those in a beautiful, respectful way.

Recommend if you like:
🌸Fake dating
🌸Childhood enemies-to-lovers
🌸PTSD/Mental health rep
🌸Diverse side characters
🌸Funny banter
🌸Emotional character growth

Publish date: April 4, 2023

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress and @mazeyeddings for the ARC!

#bookreviews #arcreview #netgalley #theplusone #romancereads #romancereviews #romancerecs #books #bookstagram #bookish #bookreviewer #bookreview #2023firstread

The Plus One was a quick read following Indria and Jude. The dual point of view was nice but I'm not a huge fan of 3rd person books.

I did love the first half of the book but the second half was a little too fast emotionally for me.

I would definitely recommend to a friend!! This is my third book by the Author so I obviously I love her books!

Indira walks in on her boyfriend, Chris, with another woman and flees with her cat to her brother Collin's house. Collin is preparing to marry his partner, Jeremy, soon. Upon arrival, she runs into Collin's best friend, Jude. Since they were young, Indira and Jude didn't get along. With the upcoming wedding, Jude is also staying with Collin. Will these two ever see eye to eye?

THE PLUS ONE, is a steamy romance that features, enemies to lovers and fake dating. It's the third book in the Brush With Love series. Although, I really enjoyed this story, I didn't find it as funny as her previous novel. I'd like to mention, there are some trigger warning of PTSD, cheating and emotional repercussions of growing up with divorced parents.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Y'all have no idea how excited I was when I seen that Eddings had written another book!

I loved her two previous titles.... But I do believe this one takes the cake!

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings was spectacular!

I devoured every single word. With a unique ability to blow me away emotionally, Eddings strikes again!

I absolutely loved the snarky banter and the romance between Indira and Jude. I loved it so much that I was laughing out loud numerous times and had a permanent amused smile on my face during their scenes.
The romance, writing style and wit in this book is second to none. I have nothing but praise for this book

Simply put I don't think anyone can do fake dating + childhood enemies better than Mazey Eddings!
Or adding in the mix of anxiety, mental illness and PTSD. Because she does is perfectly!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second Mazey Eddings book I have gotten through NetGalley and this is the second time I have thoroughly enjoyed her work. This book had both a light-hearted rom-com feel all while touching on some more serious subjects such as mental health, PTSD and more.

I loved the slight overlap of characters from the other book but also being able to read this as a standalone as well. But it does make it fun to hear what the other friends and their significant others are up to. This book had a LOT of tropes in it but they all came together in the best way.

There is just enough steamy scenes in this along with some great plot points that made it enjoyable over all. This one earned a 4-star rating from me. I loved the characters and the story was super cute over all. I would recommend this for readers who want a rom-com that has a more serious side to it as well.

Big thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

All I can say is wow.

This books covers some topics that are uncomfortable but I'm so glad that she did! The importance of getting the help you need was beautiful! Mental health is so important!

Also Indira and Jude are just amazing! Loving the brothers best friend trope! Never fails!

Jude has returned home to attend his best friend, Collin’s wedding and is struggling with PTSD after serving two years as a surgeon in conflict zones. Indira, a psychiatrist, has just come out of a bad break-up, and Collin’s wedding is resurfacing childhood trauma from their parents’ divorce. Jude and Indira, childhood nemeses, find themselves both crashing at Collin’s house in the lead up to the wedding and, of course, romantic shenanigans ensue.

The Plus One is an incredibly sweet romance with great mental health rep. It also covers an impressive number of tropes: fake dating, enemies to lovers, childhood sweethearts, brother’s best friend, and only-one-tent, to name a few!

I appreciated how much the characters communicated (especially since miscommunication is so often used as a plot device in romance novels). I could have done with slightly less giggling (despite covering some pretty serious topics, someone is giggling on every other page). All in all, if you are looking for a sweet, sensitive, open-door, mental-health forward romance, definitely check out The Plus One!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Two childhood friends and one younger sister who always hung around them. Come together for the wedding of Collin and Jeremy both successful doctors. Jude Bailey best friend to Collin since childhood. coming back for the celebration, he is a surgeon that travels to parts of the world that no one really speaks about. Then there is In Indira Collins sister who is coming off a bad breakup.and crashes her brothers home needing a place to land.
Indria who is a perfectionist always trying to fix a situation is thrown into a fake romance with Jude. Supposedly they do not like each other, but since Indria 's ex boyfriend is in the wedding party she need a distraction from him. Enters Jude Bailey a doctor hiding many secrets that he is afraid to let out and figures being around Indria would help until he starts feeling things he never expected.
The Plus One takes us on a journey of self loathing and self healing. The struggle with PTSD and how you are not deserving to be happy. That is Jude Bailey until Indria brings Jude to the point of not running away from his fears and that he does deserve happiness. Indria has her own issues many about abandonment . That every relationship she has they leave her like her dad did.
I love the characters of Jude and Indria tow people both in tough positions of hurt but choose to work together to get to the other side. They showed that even though their sexually chemistry was there they both needed to forgive themselves and heal. Especially Jude who felt he didn't deserve happiness. Ms. Eddings gave Jude a real soul when she wrote about his torments. It was a book of hope that with the proper help people can survive. I
Thank you St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC. Thank you also to Ms. Eddings for writing a book about topics that touch the real person. Not many would touch on these trauma issues. These characters have left really a mark. I know this is book three in the series. I will surely look for the first two and any other future books from Mazey Eddings. 4.5 stars
'

This was heavier than I thought and had almost 100 pages of character backstory and feelings better getting into it all which was good but also could maybe been shortened a little bit? Wow the chemistry and spice was piping between these two! Such a beautiful heartbreaking story with them healing eachother ahhh so poignant! So unique never read anything so beautifully raw and real. Only took off a star from being perfect because I normally don't go for super serious heartbreaking stories even though this was really beautiful