I love this series so much! While this book did not quite live up to how much I adored the previous one in the series (Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake), it was still filled with plenty of wit, charm, and chemistry.

FMC Indira finds her boyfriend in bed...well, couch? I think? with another woman. She ends it, but can't completely get away from him because he is the cousin of her future brother in law.
MMC Jude has just returned from a traumatic time working as a doctor overseas, and is staying with his best friend who is about to get married. That best friend, is Indira's older brother.
They both end up staying in the same place, sadly there were two beds :( BUT they hatch a fake-dating scheme so that Indira doesn't have to feel alone or pitied during the wedding festivities. Since Jude and Indira have a rather contemptuous history, this also brings in the enemies to lovers trope.

As romance readers know, there's a fine line between love and hate and the line is usually at the doorway to the bedroom because holy chemistry, Batman! This book was deliciously spicy!

While there are times that the dialogue is over the top, there are also some amazingly tender and real moments. I appreciated how the author works to normalize therapy and de-stigmatize mental health struggles, too.

I definitely recommend this whole series!

The plus one is charming, endearing and a lot story you can help but to root for to the very last page. While this book is a series it can easily be read as a standalone. Every book in this serious has a center around the struggles of mental health. The way they are described and explained in these stories make these characters feel like real life people. It helps you feel seen and heard. The care and thoughtfulness this author has put behind these characters and these struggles help you connect in a deeper level to these two and make you root for them every step of the way. This is a beautifully written novel about Indira and Jude who have always bickered as kids but find them selves in a fake dating arrangement at Jude’s best friends wedding but soon those fake feelings start to feel too real. We watch Jude and his struggles of PTSD and indira trying to move on from the betrayal her ex boyfriend caused her. This story has the most likable characters and a plot line that keeps you interested to the very end.

I love Mazey Eddings so much for writing books that make me feel SO MUCH!

The Plus One was no exception, it had amazing writing and lovable characters! I love the PTSD rep, and how real the characters faced felt!

Mazey Eddings has a talent for writing a rom-com with depth. Indira and Jude’s story was a great conclusion to the Brush of Love series. The focus on mental health and therapy felt genuine and grounded. The childhood enemies to lovers (with a sprinkle of fake dating) was well paced and made sense to their character development. I loved that we got to visit with the characters in the previous books. Overall, this was an absolute heart-string pulling delight!
Thank you St Martin’s Press, St Martin’s Griffin, for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a cute enemies to lovers/ fake dating romance! If you need a plus one for the weekend, this book is it.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This was very sweet and well-written, but the story itself was forgettable. I hadn't read the first two books of the series before reading this, but it didn't take away from my reading experience.

I enjoyed observing Indira and Jude growing together and opening up to each other more and more. I felt that the author handled the difficult topics well. It was so interesting to read about the fictional global health organization that Jude was shackled to in order to escape from his crippling medical school debt. The mental health crisis those medical professionals experience as a result of the horrors they witness isn't really something I've ever thought about before.

That said, I wish there was a little more conflict between the characters. This is marketed and posed as a childhood-nemeses-to-lovers story, and I didn't feel satisfied with the setup of that plot point. In my opinion, a trope like that requires a lot more tension in the relationship before they discuss their differences and points of view and move forward with the romance aspect.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this and will definitely read more Mazey Eddings in the future!!

Thank you, Griffin and NetGalley, for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one once I started it, but I fell for these characters so fast! I laughed out loud in chapter one... PEANUT BUTTER??? IYKYK, right? Anyway, i immediately loved Jude and was so excited to hear about his job, life and trauma. I loved that bond between the main characters and the unresolved hidden feelings. Great read, loved every minute.

Well that was a disappointing end to the year. I had been sinking into a depression and couldn't bring myself to read anything but fanfiction. Finally I felt better enough to try a book again, so I picked one that looked sweet and funny and adorable. Everything about the cover and synopsis: "a sparkling romantic comedy" led me to believe that would be what I would get.

Unfortunately, that was *not* what I got. What I got was a depressing tale that started with Indira walking in on her boyfriend and another woman. In a failed attempt to perhaps inject some humor, they were coated in peanut butter. It wasn't funny. Just gross. From there we get many sessions of Indira with her therapist talking about her childhood trauma and fear of inadequacy. And from Jude we get PTSD flashbacks to working at an emergency hospital in a war zone.

They snipe at each other a little bit but mostly are miserable. Here and there were flashes of something that could have been connection or sweetness and that's all that kept me reading. Unfortunately, somewhere around 40% in we switch to full on lust and constant sex scenes (that weren't written very well). The language tended toward the crass. Indira's brother and her husband were truly insufferable as they dragged their wedding party from one event to another and forced them to make the decorations. They were also incredibly blind to Indira and Jude's suffering. The brief glimpses we get of other side characters aren't really much better.

I gave up at 60% after admitting to myself that it wasn't funny, it wasn't romantic, and I hated all the characters.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Griffin for providing an early copy for review.

Mazey Eddings books are always enjoyable and downright perfect for when you’re in a reading slump. Her writing has a way of just pulling you in to the story.

I love Mazey Eddings and I have loved this series about this group of friends. While I really enjoyed The Plus One, I do think it was my least favorite of the series, but really that just goes to show how strong the series is! Normally, brother’s best friend is not a trope I particularly enjoy, but the author combined that with childhood rivals to lovers in a way that I found really fun to read.
One thing I think this author does so well is write about mental health. I have found all of her books so relatable and felt very seen by her mental health representation. I will pick up whatever Eddings chooses to write! 3.5 stars.

This was on my list to read forever and I needed something different between reading a series. But then I realized this was part of a series, and left me a little confused. However, I enjoyed this - highly emotional book, lots of complex issues to uncover. I enjoyed the character development throughout. I will check out other books from Mazey! Thanks for the ARC! :)

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. This is book #3 in the "A Brush With Love" series.

Indira comes home to find her boyfriend of some time on the couch, peanut butter everywhere, having relations with someone else. She grabs a bunch of her stuff and her cat and leaves to moves in temporarily with her brother. The only issue - not only is he in pre-wedding mode - his best friend from childhood, Jude is there. Jude and Indira do not get along. However, with nowhere else to go, she crashes in the other spare room.

As they spend time together, Indira sees that all is not well with Jude. He puts on a brave face, but she can see beneath that. As they spend time together, they realize, maybe they can be friends, or even more.

I love this series. The books are so thought provoking and you hope for the happy ending that is coming.

While I love a Mazey Eddings book, this one fell a little flat for me.

The banter and childhood enemies to lovers were there at SO GOOD. But the fake dating element felt like a tacked-on afterthought.

And nature of this book was pretty heavy - a main character has PTSD from working as a surgeon in war torn countries. That and therapy was the true focus of the story. That’s ok! Because the romance was sweet, but for me, it wasn’t what I want/look for in romance books.

Just know that going in!

(I didn't include a star rating in my goodreads review)

This book wasn’t really my cup of tea. I didn’t enjoy the dialogue and it was difficult to empathize or really care much about the characters. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Mazey Eddings is a brilliant writer and that is reflected clearly in The Plus One.

This is my second book from Mazey Eddings and I loved everything about it but most of all, Indira and Jude, their Frenemies to Lovers story is *Chef's Kiss*. The evolution of their relationship is my favorite kind to read and helped to pull me out of a reading slump with its palpable tension and witty charm.

I loved that Lizzy and Rake made appearances, overall I enjoy the cast of characters in this story and the way their relationships fall in and out of sync throughout this series. There is something so refreshing about how the author tells this story that makes it so beautiful, it's not just a romance novel, it has depth and meaning that evokes various feelings while reading. Highly recommend!

*This can be read as a standalone.
*Please check trigger warnings before reading*

Mazey Eddings wraps up the A Brush with Love series with "The Plus One," delivering a childhood frenemies-to-lovers romance filled with humor, heart, and a touch of steamy tension. This book stands as a testament to Eddings' ability to infuse real-life issues into romantic narratives.

Indira and Jude, previously introduced in the series, take center stage as they navigate the complexities of fake dating, all against the backdrop of Indira's brother's wedding. What begins as a humorous attempt to navigate the awkwardness turns into a deeper exploration of mental health, trauma, and the intricacies of adult relationships.

While the first two books in the series were characterized by their cuteness and lightheartedness, "The Plus One" takes a more serious turn. Eddings delves into themes of anxiety and PTSD, providing a poignant look at how childhood insecurities and trauma impact adulthood. The characters, Indira and Jude, emerge as brave and vulnerable individuals, making the narrative feel both real and hopeful.

The wedding preparations add a delightful layer of humor, and fans of the previous books will enjoy catching up with familiar characters. Eddings' writing skillfully balances emotional depth with humor, ensuring that even in the midst of heavy themes, the story remains engaging and entertaining.

"The Plus One" may mark the end of the A Brush with Love series, but it leaves readers with a sense of fulfillment and the hope that Mazey Eddings will continue to enchant with her storytelling in future works. Whether you're a devoted fan of the series or a newcomer, this book offers a satisfying conclusion and a reminder of Eddings' talent for crafting compelling, multifaceted characters.

-Special thanks to NetGalley UK, Headline Books, and St. Martin's Griffin for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 Stars

The normalization of therapy in this book was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Jude and Indira are the kind of couple that I look up to completely 😭🤍

The way that both Jude and Indira have so much depth as characters is insane in such a good way, Mazzy did such an amazing job with this book.

Absolutely adored this sweet romance. Didn't know it was part of a series but have read the others (out of order) and didn't seem to be a problem for me. I can't wait for more from this author.

i did not realize that this was book 3 in a series which made it a little bit difficult to get into but when i did it was very spicy and enjoyable. the tropes were fantastic. thank you net galley for the e arc :))

The representation of mental health was fantastic. It’s weird to say that but the sentiment is there. The representation of mental illness & struggle & fight with PTSD was great.