Mortified to admit that I left this review sitting for so long that I basically forgot what happened.

What I do know is that this was my least favourite of the three books in the series. Not by much. Don't get me wrong, I still greatly enjoyed it and Eddings' signature dry humour and banter. Her books haven't failed to make me laugh out loud yet, and for that alone I will read anything she writes. This just didn't quite give me what I wanted. Really needed more wedding and fake dating shenanigans, not going to lie. Indira and Jude were perfect to really pull one over on their friends ... and themselves.

As with her previous books, Eddings writes a heartwarming story with genuine mental health rep. In this case, PTSD, and it's tough to get through sometimes. Jude really was struggling to keep himself calm in the most common of situations, and it's impossible not to feel what he's experiencing. In his job as a humanitarian doctor, he's seen too many hopeless things that keep him up at night. Bro needed a hug so bad. I found Indira to be a good counterbalance for him. Being a therapist, she was able to recognize that something was off with him and begin to help him, all while the pair of them fall in love. I'm usually not a fan of childhood friends/enemies to lovers, but this was so cute!

I'm always calling for romance novel conflicts that aren't fights ... but not like this. Which makes me feel like an ass. This conflict was centred more on Jude's PTSD and how he's struggling to cope with what is going on, and while I have absolutely no issues with that, that big relationship climax felt like a blip. I kept waiting for something to happen between Indira and Jude, expecting the other shoe to fall. And honestly, that's what made this my least favourite. I just needed more from the last 25%.

I wasn't sure if we were going to get a fourth book for Thu, but from the way this wrapped up it is clear that the series is done. And I'm okay with that. Everyone got their happy ending and I thought it was very sweet and quite satisfying to see where each couple ended up a few years down the road.

Another wonderful romance from Mazey Eddings!

Like the other books in the Brush with love series that follows four close women friends, this story has excellent mental health and therapy rep!
It's honestly one of the best books I've read that normalizes therapy and expounds on how it's such an individual journey. It can be scary as well as rewarding but ultimately can be so worth doing, especially with so many people out there struggling!

In this book we get to know Indira who ends up fake dating her brother's best friend, Jude - a doctor who's been working overseas in war-torn countries and is suffering from severe PTSD. While Indira is in therapy herself for anxiety she recognizes the signs that Jude is struggling and does her best to be there for him.

Steamy but so heartfelt and emotional! My favorite romances have great emotional depth and don't shy away from hard topics and this book is on par with some of the best. Recommended for fans of authors like Abby Jimenez or Dylan Newton. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review! This was also great on audio narrated by Imani Jade Powers and Joe Arden and has wonderful cameos from the other characters in the series!