Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book gets five FAT, SHINY, GLITTERY STARS!!!!!!!!!! CAN I GIVE IT TEN? TWENTY? TAKE THEM!!

As a person with severe anxiety, you have literally no idea how seen I felt while reading this. Mazey's way of portraying Harper's struggles was raw, delicate and painful but completely real. Also, her relationship with Dan was adorable AND steamy (what else can you ask for?) It was an intense read for me as a person battling with anxiety, but I highly reccomend everyone to give it a shot whenever you feel ready. I think you will find a pretty nice ally with Harper. That's the beauty of books. I'm definitely buying a thousand copies when this book comes out.

A really charming debut! I was sold on Eddings' voice as an author right from the get-go, and I always love finding romances about professions that don't get a lot of focus in the genre (or at least less focus than others). The instalove (or instalust, I suppose) element didn't really stick out to me at all, especially since Harper and Dan really do try to make a go of it as friends for a while. The only thing that was a little tough to read was the dark moment of the book, in which the two of them say some pretty cruel things to each other, and then it only took a handful of chapters indicating they'd been apart for months before they decided to forgive each other and give it another shot. Pacing-wise, I think having a little more time on-page to really let them reconcile would have improved the story over a grand gesture scenario, but overall this was a lot of fun even in spite of the tougher, more emotional plot elements.

a romance set at a dentist school was a first for me but it was SO MUCH FUN it was so cute i adored harper and dan so much; the irony about this book being about dentists is how sweet and fluffy it was

it was a little insta-lovey but right up my alley! harpers friends were GREAT lizzie was so funny

if you’re looking for a book with great friendships and good anxiety rep this is the book for you!

Debut author for me, and what a debut it is! I am so excited for everyone to love and devour this story!

Thank you St. Martin's and Netgalley for this arc.

I really wanted to love this book. Cute cover, rom-com, dentistry!, female character doing well in a demanding field of study, Jewish rep, mental health rep, I should have loved it. But it broke down for me very quickly. This is a personal rant but I'm tired of the mismatch of rom-com-y covers for books with deep issues and this book has got some. I also have to say that insta-love is not my favorite - at all. That's a "me and not the book" problem though. But as I have problems believing such an instant connection, I also have problems rooting for couples brought together by it. Then there's dental school. I thought "yay, something different!" but blah, I wasn't thrilled. Watching Dan force himself to study something he obviously hated was wearing, as well. I'm sorry but this just isn't a book for me. DNF

This is both an incredibly sweet (but not sugary) romance novel and an accurate (but not pedantic or preachy) depiction of how anxiety, grief, and unrealistic parental expectations can affect one's relationships and one's sense of self. While a dental school seems like an unlikely place for love, the book produces a lot of steamy scenes alongside a relationship that blossoms from friendship (a short-lived friendship, I might add) to a solid romantic pairing. Part of me hated how perfect Dan was, but the other part of me (the part with anxiety) was so taken with how much he cares about Harper and supports her (though I wish she had reciprocated). The dialogue is also raunchy and laugh-out-loud funny.

Grab this if you're looking for something with depth but still want a depiction of a swoony romantic relationship.

First off what a cute cover! I would be lieing if i didn't say that it pulled me in.

Secondly, I hadn't seen a contemporary romance involving dental students before so the concept sounded very interesting to me.

However, I just could not seem to connect with the characters or story fully. The internal frustration from Harper and her Inate ability to hold herself to such a high standard was refreshing to see from a lead female character.

Dan was interesting to read but I felt like he was just too hot headed in some intellectual moments.

underachiever?
All it takes is one run-in, literally, for both of their lives to change.

Harper Horowitz is a fourth-year dental student at Callowhill University, at the top of her class, with her eyes on dental surgery. She truly knows and loves all things about dentistry.
Then there is Dan Craige, a freshman, who is struggling with every class in part because this is a career, he never wanted for himself.
Despite their differences, following one brief interaction, they find themselves repeatedly together, making it hard to fight their growing attraction.

Harper was a fascinating heroine, so intelligent and determined to succeed. Yet she has a vulnerability that is exposed several times in this book, with her anxiety in crowded situations. The author did a great job of capturing that anxiety and exploring how that impacted Harper in everyday situations. It made sense why she limited herself socially in the past.

Dan coming into her life was both a blessing and a curse. He is there for support when Harper gets overwhelmed and more importantly, doesn't judge her for it. He also shows her there is more to life than academics. I loved how he didn't give up on her when she tried to dismiss him.

Being untreated for her condition, Harper has some major problems as the story progresses, which she doesn't really handle too well. But in the end, she's got a good core group of friends to help her navigate those uncertain waters.

Overall, this romance presented two likeable characters, who on the outside seem like opposites, are actually the perfect match.

Thank you to TurnthePages & St Martin Publisher for allowing me to be a part of the Book tour. I have been provided a copy of the book to read and review.

Harper is in her final year of dentistry and is trying to get accepted into a specialty that is incredibly competitive. The past few years she's been in the top of her classes. She feels like her life is crumbling and her future is crashing ever since she crashed into Dan in the hallway and his mold for his first year program broke. She helps Dan rebuild his mold and they become friends but her life is now more chaotic and she can't afford any more distractions and she needs to graduate and focus on getting into the Maxillofacial Oral.

The main character of this book suffers from anxiety and suffers from panic attacks throughout the book. Recently I am noticing a trend where there are more books written with characters that seem to experience some anxiety, depression or panic disorder which is nice to see. I believe that all of us at some point of ours will experience some sort of emotional instability and part of being human is acknowledging and working to find some tools to help us through these challenges.

I thought this was a cute romcom with a greater focus on what it feels like to be anxious and have panic attacks as we experience how Harper feels as she is going through her studies and as she copes with her intense program and dating. I did enjoy the book and it was a good read, it was heartbreaking reading the struggle the main character was experiencing as the character was likeable. Sometimes the story became a bit confusing and I had some difficulty understanding the description used for Harper's anxiety but I feel that everyone's experience with anxiety is different. If you like romcom books that will keep you reading I would suggest this one. It's a bit different from other books in the genre that I have read, it follows the friends to lovers trope.

Ohhh this book was good. The writing was so deliciously laugh-out-loud funny at times, I really felt like I was witnessing interactions between friends. For example, “Thu relayed the embarrassing scene in such graphic detail that Harper wondered where she could get some bamboo shoots to shine up her fingernails instead of this torture.” I mean wow, talk about descriptive. The author was an ace at using creatively descriptive language to help transport the reader into Harper’s world (for example, “Harper wondered why she left her bed before April” when describing the winter weather in Philadelphia - I am reading this in Boston in February, so yeah, this one hit the mark haha.

There’s a lot to love and a lot of love in this book - beautiful friendships, a fiery romance, and most importantly, the discovery of self love and self care. This was not your average romance novel because the story delves deep into the effect that Harper’s anxiety has on her life (vividly, and honestly). I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and felt it made it stand apart from other books like it as a result. I did find it a bit strange that the book could be so honest in its portrayal of anxiety but then still do the whole sweeping-romance-that-nothing-in-real-life-can-compare-to thing, but as a romance novel I guess a little suspension of disbelief is expected, it just felt a little disingenuous because the book is so raw about her anxiety, it felt like Dan shouldn’t be the perfect man because it made an otherwise realistic book feel unrealistic/unattainable.

Ultimately I docked a star because what I loved most about the book (the writing) was also it’s downfall for me - there was just too much of it. I found myself skipping paragraphs of fluff to find the meat of the plot towards the end. I ADORED the writing (here’s another favorite line: “there weren’t enough drawers in the world to unpack that emotional baggage”) but I feel the editors should’ve been a little bit more judicious about their editing.

Overall, loved this book. 4.5 rounded down to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one was just meh for me 😕 I didn’t love any of the characters, wasn’t feeling the love connection, and while I can applaud featuring a main character who struggles with anxiety, I have yet to find a book that I can relate my anxiety to. It always seems to be all or nothing. I know anxiety is different for everyone, and I’m sure a lot of people will relate to Harper, but unfortunately, I’m not one of them. I also couldn’t get behind their relationship. I feel like it would have helped if we got to know them more as individuals first. To me, that’s worse than a book where two people meet and instantly fall in love. I need to know them separately before I can support their relationship. I feel like this is going to be another The Love Hypothesis and will be super popular. I can definitely see the appeal, but I beginning to think I’m not the target audience for these types of books 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin for my copy! as well as Libro.fm for my audiobook copy! All thoughts are my own.

Another day, another review of a romance novel. Today, I’m sharing my review of A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings. This is one romance novel that I have been seeing HYPED since around the summertime and it finally releases March 8, 2022! It’s a sweet story with a little bit of “spice” thrown in about two students in dental school. It dives into a lot of issues, like strained parent/child relationships, grief, anxiety, and the stigma around therapy.

Sadly, it wasn’t a knock out for me. I enjoyed aspects of it, but it isn’t a new favorite. Read why below!

Synopsis:

What I Liked:

Anxiety and Therapy Discussion—The stigma around therapy is one that really needs to end and I loved how it was addressed in this book. Therapy is GOOD for our brains and can only help us to be happier, more fulfilled individuals in life and work.

The Premise—In another life, I wanted to go to medical school, so I loved seeing a peek into the lives of dental students. It’s hard work! And I thought the idea behind the romance was fun but sadly, not my favorite use of the trope.

What Didn’t Work:

The Trope (Insta-Love)—If you’ve read my review before, you know insta-love just doesn’t do for me UNLESS the author is able to really sell it in a believable way. I didn’t find myself connected to this insta-love story from the beginning, so unfortunately, as the story progressed I wasn’t invested.

Overload of Issues to Overcome—I’m hesitant to say this because I don’t want to be misunderstood. As humans, we deal with so much every day, so I know there is a lot to be said that this is an authentic experience. But I really feel like there was just too much and it left a lot of loose ends. I could be because I listened to it via audio, but I don’t know. Something just didn’t click!

Content Warnings:

Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death of parent, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness

Character Authenticity: 3/5 Steam Rating: .5/0 Overall Rating: 3.5/5

This friends to lovers romance follows Harper and Dan, both dental students. Harper is awaiting placement in an oral-surgery residency program while Dan has just started his first year after making a career change. Harper is determined to succeed and has no time for distractions this close to graduation, plus she'll most likely be moving away in a few months for residency so she doesn't see the point of starting any relationship now. The two agree to just be friends but as they spend more time together, they both develop feelings that become hard to ignore. But Harper is afraid that giving into her feelings would mean risking her carefully planned future and Dan is willing to try his best to convince her that being with him doesn't mean giving up what she wants. This, for me, is the perfect slow burn friends to lovers romance. Harper and Dan have instant chemistry but their friendship is also a genuine connection. I prefer friends to lovers where we actually see them be friends first before giving into their feelings. Harper and Dan are the rare romance book couple where I think they are truly a perfect match for each other. Dan, in particular, had some great snort-laugh moments that caught me completely off guard. Their dynamic was *chef kiss* perfection and I loved how both of them felt so relaxed and comfortable with the other to share some of their innermost thoughts and feelings that they both admit they've never really told anyone else. I really loved the inclusion of Harper's anxiety and the particular ways that it presents itself in her life and how Dan and their relationship all intertwine. Great cast of side characters and I really hope we get more from this friend group in the future. Also, I was so excited to have a non-traditional career path for a romance character - oral surgeon!

Thanks NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC

Expected publication date is March 1, 2022

A Brush with Love: Mazey Eddings

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

Harper is top of her class in dental school and has everything planned out for final year. An clumsy accident introduces her to first year student Dan. They quickly fall for one another but try to “just be friends” so Harper can concentrate on her final semester.

A Brush with Love has a nice mix of sweetness, humor, and spice. The banter and teasing between Harper and Dan had me laughing from their very first interaction. The author describes Harper’s anxiety in such a unique and relatable way.

The dialogue and plot made this book very hard to put down. I don't think Iv'e ever come across dental school as part of a storyline before and it was interesting to compare it to what I know of other types of medical school. I read almost the entire thing in one sitting.

I look forward to reading more of Mazey Eddings’ work in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley, Mazey and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did see a lot of myself in Harper's anxiety disorder, and even if you can't understand how it physically feels to deal with what she is going through it is written so that you can feel her pain because of it. While she seemed immature at times it was nice to see her growth by the end of the book. Dan is so patient and loving with her from the very start, all while fighting family issues of his own. While this was a solid 3.5 star read, the way the anxiety rep was represented bumped it up for me.

3.75 STARS

A BRUSH WITH LOVE is the debut novel of Mazey Eddings . Harper is last year dental student, solely focused on her career until Dan , a first year dental student , who joined dental school after quitting the job that he loved to continue his family's legacy. Their meet cute happens on a rainy day and things progresses with them going on dates and switching to friends. Dan wants a relationship but Harper is reluctant as she is moving away after 6 months.
It has been one of the most anticipated reads of this year. I had high expectations about this book. The insta love part was not for me, but it is a me-problem and not the book's problem. Insta love is a" no no" trope for me . Other than that the book was perfect . The writing was good . It discusses many important issues such as anxiety , misogyny, therapy. I love her friends group. It had its steamy scenes. Dan is so cute . He is definitely up the book boyfriends list . The break at the end was necessary for them to grow individually. The end was absolutely cute. Can't wait for Lizzie's book.

IF YOU ARE OK WITH INSTALOVE , I WOULD SURELY RECOMMEND IT .
OUT MARCH 1ST

It was a great debut novel, it just wasn't for me. It read very YA/New Adult to me and I don't typically connect with those books. The school the MC's attend is very heavily part of the plot, so much so that it is basically a MC itself. I just am not interested school related drama or details regarding dentistry. I feel like paragraphs could have been replaced with a simple sentence of "Harper explained xyz to Dan." While I appreciate the representation of anxiety on the page, I wanted to shake Harper for not seeking therapy before the end of the book. I have lived with anxiety myself and can say it isn't really living. She needed someone to suggest therapy to her early on. It was hard to read her struggle without support. The humor was fun, even though it seemed like everyone had the same quirky personality. Even though I didn't particularly enjoy the book, I'm giving it 3 stars because I do think it was well written for a debut and more appropriate for a different audience (ie. not me).

THIS BOOK DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL ME OUT LIKE THAT!!!!


It’s been quite a while since I read a book where I related to a main character to such an extent like I did with Harper in this one! Her anxiety, her need to be perfect in school all the time, her ambition and drive, her fear of crowded spaces… I truly could not believe how much of myself I saw in Harper.


Dan was such a sweet cinnamon roll!! We need more soft boys like him. He liked Harper so much but was willing to just be her friend as long as it meant they could still spend time together. He gave up a job he loved to pursue a degree on something he didn’t enjoy just to help his mom. He took care of Harper when she had panic attacks and was always there for her. How could anyone not love him? He was such a great guy. I loved him!

Dan and Harper were so cute as well. I loved the moments between them when they were friends and were spending all the time together. I loved their build up until they actually got together. It felt very organic, although I do think the beginning gave me insta lovey vibes. I like that they didn’t pursue a relationship immediately after that first meeting and date, because it gave the relationship time to flourish and their friendship come to a point where it was perfectly progressed to romance.


I also absolutely LOVED the side characters. Harper’s friends were a blast to read about and get to know. They were hilarious and such great friends to Harper (even when she didn’t deserve it)

And the last of the positives was the mental health rep which was incredibly well done! Also the sexism moments felt soooo realistic, specially considering Harper was in the medical field.


Now to the reason behind me not giving this 5 stars. Even though I really did like Harper, I had some problems with her sometimes. She was just so rude with her friends and Dan sometimes. I understand that was her anxiety speaking but everyone was so understanding of her and helpful but she refused to listen and continues to be incredibly rude to people who loved her and wanted the best for her.

And in regards to the romance, I would’ve liked some of the friendship moments between Harper and Dan to be shown instead of told. I just really love the friendship part and would’ve loved to read more scenes of that stage of their relationship!


Overall, very solid debut! I loved and relayed to Harper in ways I didn’t even imagine possible, the romance was super cute, and the side characters were amazing! I can’t wait for the author’s next book!

"Loving you is the easiest thing I’ll ever do.”

Excuse me, did someone order a new book boyfriend? Because Dan Craige is *IT* for me! And I refuse to share! ♡

A Brush with Love is an incredibly beautiful love story revolving around two people navigating life with raw personal grief and trauma.

Harper is about to graduate dental school and has lived with crippling anxiety — especially through the years since the sudden death of her mother. She’s not looking for love.

Dan is in his first year of dental school as a non-traditional student — trying to fulfill the unmet expectations and looming legacy of his dead father. He’s not looking for love.

But sometimes, we find things we aren’t looking for, and they push us to be better, to grow, and to open ourselves to new experiences.

Dan’s vulnerability and unabashed devotion paired with Harper’s hesitancy and simultaneous drive (yes, they seem like opposite traits, but you’ll understand when you read it) are the perfect ingredients for a couple you’ll root for from the moment you meet them on the page.

The tension, passion, and love between Harper and Dan is undeniable— with through-the-roof chemistry. Though the path to one another is bumpy and eventful, you know that it will ultimately be worth every moment.

The growth journey of these two characters (as individuals and as a couple) is unforgettable. A Brush with Love was written beautifully, palpably, and with such care. It doesn’t shy away from real, hard topics, but Mazey Eddings wrote this story with the utmost respect and sensitivity.

I want to warn all readers to approach this story with attentiveness and preparedness for the triggering topics: most specifically anxiety and the death of a loved one.

The only negative thing I can say about this book is that I already know it is in the running to be my favorite book of the year, and it’s only January 9th!

And if you still need a few bullet points, read if you like:
♡ deliciously slow slow burn romance
♡ neurodiverse main character
♡ witty banter (with hilarious oral innuendos, it is dental school, after all)
♡ the sweetest cinnamon role love interest
♡ late-20s main characters
♡ solid 007, Spider-Man, and LOTR references
♡ supportive friend group

Thank you so much to Mazey Eddings and the team at SMP Romance (St. Martin’s Griffin/St. Martin’s Press) for sending me an ARC of A Brush with Love. This book publishes on March 1, 2022. I highly recommend preordering it!

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5🌟 3🌶

Please check CWs!

What I LOVED: The romance in this was SO GOOD! It was the main reason I couldn’t stop reading! It was a bit of love at first sight and insta attraction so it started off very swoony. I especially love all the se/xual pining when they tried and failed to be “JUST” friends. I loved their cute dates, study dates, banter, chemistry and dental puns and that scene when Harper was teaching Dan about muscular structures and it led to other muscle uses 😝

I absolutely loved Harper! She was strong, intelligent and so driven, I was constantly in awe of her passion and achievements! We love women in STEM! Her anxiety rep was heatybreaking relatable. Her lashing out was something I personally understood and I wish I had read this book when I was younger. This book taught me more about the importance of therapy and how having mental illnesses doesn’t make me any different and that healing is not something to be ashamed of. It’s a journey towards helping our brain function to the best it can.

Then here comes, Dental Dan. He was such boyfriend material! I’ve always loved heroes who are just so in love that they constantly make the first move and plan the dates and Dan was exactly that. I loved how he constantly gave Harper the loving and the space she needs when she needs it. Despite his tragic backstory and reason behind being in Dental school, that made him all the more relatable and easy to love!

What I LIKED: It was so fascinating to me being in a dental school setting and I learned more about teeth than I ever expected in life. I definitely could relate to the heartbreaking reality of what pressure and expectations do to you in college and university so I quite enjoyed that aspect.

The side character in this were equally amazing! Harper’s group was the most wholesome and supportive (including Alex and the adorable, Judy!) so I absolutely loved them. But the one I’m most intrigued and excited about is Lizzie, I CANNOT wait for her book next!


What I DIDN’T ENJOY: The constant sexism, misogyny and undermining towards women especially present in academia will forever irk me! Those scenes that showed exactly that angered me so bad 😫

THIS BOOK IS PERFECT IF YOU LOVE:
• instant attraction/love at first sight
• empowering feminists in STEM
• academia setting
• amazing friend group
• mental health/anxiety rep, therapy talks