Even though I thoroughly enjoy a good romance, I'm always delighted and a little thrilled when I come across a really well-written romance novel. I'm not saying the genre lacks quality writers – more that a lot of folks (including myself at times!) consider this genre one of the easiest to write. And so often as I've cracked the spine on a new one, the stories are lackluster and often hokey. In boredom or even disgust, I have often closed the book within a chapter and set it aside for good.

A Brush with Love is one of those romance novels that restores my faith in the genre. Not only is the craft of writing well-executed on these charming pages, but the author digs deeply into a lot of challenging emotional moments and beautifully explores a main character who deals regularly with anxiety – deep anxiety.

Even better than all that is the characters. They’re quirky, down-to-earth, and mostly realistic (I mean, what Adonis is fully realistic? They always seem just a little “too good to be true.”). I immediately liked the main characters, despite having zero interest in the story’s setting at a dental school.

The imagery, emotions, settings, and romance all felt real, honest, appealing – even in moments of intensity and awkwardness. Perhaps, those moments are part of what makes this book so good.

If you enjoy a good, grown-up read (it does get a bit steamy throughout) with warm, appealing characters who can speak the truth of love, life, and pain as you indulge in some heart-tingling romance, you’ll enjoy this well-crafted, entertaining book by the talented Mazey Eddings.

Mazey Eddings has written a beautiful balancing act of a romance. A Brush With Love is simultaneously tender and intense, sexy and soft, cerebral while still accessible. Dan and Harper are each vulnerable and guarded, and you can feel their mutual yearning radiating from the page. Grief and guilt are major themes throughout, without being too heavy or skewing focus from the romance. Harper's friend group is hilarious, and somehow both familiar and aspirational; it's the friend group every person dreams of having. This will definitely be one for my keeper shelf.

I'm not really sure why I didn't love this. Our couple was cute, this was a quick read, and the premise sounded interesting. For some reason though, this didn't mesh together well. I felt like i was reading this just to say I did, not because I was actually enjoying it.

I did get slightly frustrated by the lack of communication between our characters, but that seems to be a given in romance novels. In fact, the miscommunications weren't actually too bad in this one. So I'm really not sure why I didn't like this one. There wasn't anything I disliked, but I didn't really liked anything about it either.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Another great example of neurodiversity representation in romance novels, and I'm here for it.

I very much enjoyed this cute love at first sight story. I really thought that the characters had great chemistry and I also felt they were realistically written and very much enjoyed seeing how they related to one another and their surroundings. University is a time that a lot of us can remember as being filled with pressure and anxiety, and I really enjoyed seeing it portrayed that way, but in a completely realistic light as opposed to overly dramatic and cringe-inducing.

I think the best part was that it was clear that the author completely understood the topics she was addressing and didn't try to make them feel overly relatable. She just let them breathe. Big fan of this book.

I'm definitely very excited to read more by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

#abrushwithlove #mazeyeddings #netgalley

Thanks for netgalley for the opportunity to read this cute book. I am a sucker for a rom-com and this one didn't disappoint. Such a cute love story!

Really enjoyed being part of Harper and Dan's world as they got to know each other. Absolutely loved how much detail was shared about Harper's anxiety; her daily routines, sometimes all-consuming anxious thoughts, occasional panic attacks, and the ways in which anxiety impacts her life on a daily basis. It was all so realistic and relatable (to someone with an anxiety diagnosis) and though it affected all of Harper's interactions, her anxiety did not negatively impact the story at all. Dan has his own struggles, and it was wonderful to see Harper and Dan support each other.

This wonderful rom-com can be enjoyed by Adult Contemporary and Romance readers, and also Young Adult Contemporary readers. Though the characters are in their mid-twenties, this is set at a college (dental school), with family expectations and interference by hilariously nosey friends.

This is a terrific book. Harper is one of the top students in her dental program, in the final year of her program and on track for a prestigious oral surgery residency. She has no time for romance or any other distraction from her professional path -- until she crashes into a first-year dental student, Dan. Dan is attractive, funny, and compassionate, and Harper is drawn to him. At first, Harper insists they remain only friends, feeling she can't commit to romance, given her imminent departure from Philadelphia and her hesitancy about any distractions from her school work. But as they spend more and more time together, Harper's resolve is tested and she must confront whether her life has room for more than just work -- and what it means to share her full self with someone else.

I really enjoyed this book. Harper and Dan are both terrific characters. The author did an excellent job of demonstrating how they are drawn to each other -- as well as how their past experiences and traumas informed their approach, and difficulties, in navigating a serious relationship. The book is also one of the most nuanced portrayals of anxiety that I have read.

Highly recommended!

This book was adorable and sexy, with very much needed anxiety rep. The main character's anxiety felt real and was treated with such tenderness. The interactions and chemistry between the main characters was scorching and charming all at once. I loved watching these two fall in love. A must for any romance fan!

thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Since I had the absolute honor and pleasure of beta reading - I already know. I just can't wait for the rest of the world to see the absolute glory that this book is. This book saved me. It was EXACTLY what I needed. A neurodiverse main female character who happens to be an ethnic minority struggling through her crazy stressful grad school, juggling studying, friendship, love, and finding a way to accept and love herself?? SIGN ME TF UP. The connection I found with this book was everything. Not to mention it is KNEE SLAPPING HILARIOUS!

Where do I even start? This book made me understand anxiety, mental illness, guilt, and shame on an entirely new level. I FELT the emotions that Harper and Dan were struggling with. I understand so deeply now.I am so honored to have been one of the first people to read this beautiful story it it’s entirety.
This story about two dental students, banged up by the unfairness of life and coping as best they can, who find a safe place to land in each other's arms, is absolutely unforgettable. This is a brilliant debut novel about the glory and pathos of love, and you need to pre-order it now!

This was not at all what I was expecting! It held a lot of details but also had some humor. It also gives the reader a great look into the mind of someone with anxiety. Very cute romance with enough tear-jerker moments and topics to really give the characters a lot of realistic depth.

While A Brush with Love had a slow start, this book ultimately won me over with its sweet relationship between the two main characters, the dental puns, and the refreshing novelty of a romance set against the backdrop of dental school. I can't wait until I can get my hands on a physical copy.

DNF @ 10% ….. I usually dont dnf this early into a book but man … this did not look like it was going to get any better. it was so boring and insta-lovey I’m disappointed. maybe I’ll come back to it when it comes out

A Brush With Love is the debut novel from Mazey Eddings.
It is a real, honest, and raw look at navigating love while surviving dental school, debilitating anxiety, and grief.
Harper Horowitz is a dental super-genius. And the day she literally crash lands into Dan Craige's life was one that changed them both.
This book is SO unique in that, Mazey herself was navigating the dental school world as she wrote this, so without getting overly clinical in that part of the story (and it's important because it's Harper's whole world), you can get a real honest grasp on the pressure the students are under while also trying to have a real life outside of that. Dan is starting the game late to fulfill a "duty" that was placed on him by his father & mother. Knowing full well that his heart simply isn't in it. Especially not when he sees Harper's passion and love for the field. This one is a slow burn but it's not without a TON of sexual tension just bubbling right there under the surface. The undeniable attraction between the two leads, not just physically but emotionally & mentally too.

Mazey handles Harper's anxiety with such care and honesty. I don't think any two people experience or feel their anxious thoughts the same but it's so reaffirming to read a character who shares a lot of similarities as yourself. Mazey also has such a wild sense of humor and that is just one of the themes carried throughout the book. She's got a new and unique voice in romance and I can't wait to see what else she does next. The cast of friends is also incredible and so naturally you get invested there too, and I'm so excited to see their love stories unfold.

Full disclosure as well: Mazey and I are friends, primarily through social media.

Many thanks to NetGalley, and the publisher for the free copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been following Mazey on Bookstagram for a while now so I was SO excited to get the chance to read her debut, A Brush With Love.

This is a romcom between Harper, an aspiring oral surgeon in her final year of dentistry school, and Dan, a first year dental student who may or may not actually care about teeth. As someone who is TERRIFIED (seriously, it’s actually embarrassing) of the dentist, I worried about connecting with these characters. I definitely had nothing to worry about.

As someone who deals with anxiety on a daily basis, I connected with Harper so easily. Mazey managed to put the feelings and daily struggles of someone trying to manage an anxiety disorder into words that felt so relatable. The healthy narrative throughout this book about the importance of taking care of your mental health and that it’s okay to reach out for help is SO important. The one thing that made it even more authentic to me was Harper’s ability to be in control in her professional environment, particularly in one scene where she managed a difficult patient. Even anxious people have their domains where they are assertive and confident and I loved that that was depicted as well as the low points.

Alright, let’s take a second to swoon over Dental Dan. WHAT A SWEETHEART! Dan was so patient with Harper and always wanted to lift her up (as he should!). Dan had a completely different path than Harper that brought him to dental school and I really enjoyed reading about his struggles both with his family and what was expected of him.

I really really enjoyed reading about Harper and Dan’s stories both as individuals and seeing them figure out their own needs, and also seeing how they complimented each other as a couple.

If you’re looking for a sweet romcom that also has some really great conversation surrounding mental health, this is definitely for you. Also, the cover is ADORABLE and I can’t wait to have a physical copy to put on my shelf.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings! This dental school romance was so sweet and so accurate to being in professional school. I enjoyed how Eddings switched points of view from Harper and Dan so the reader really gets to know what's going on with each character. It is so cool to see anxiety and therapy woven into the story. This one will be a must read for sure add it to your library hold NOW!

Oh my, this book is a swoony delight. The romance, the friendships, the deft way anxiety is handled. Everything is just so well done. It was everything I hoped for and more.

I am cry and I am so happy about that.

Harper is a mid-20’s dental student in her final year. She has a plan, a clear path, and nothing will stop her….except Dan: a hottie with a body & brains to match. Between the pages of this beautiful book, there is grief and loss and anxiety but also triumph and redemption and growth.

I can’t put into words how *seen* this book made me feel. As someone who suffers with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), it is basically impossible to turn my brain off, to get it to just ~chill~. I overthink everything. I think about everything all at once, all the time and yet I’m thinking about nothing at the same time. I cried, Harper crewed, and together we crowed (I tried to conjugate the verb there…how’d it go?).

A Brush with Love is the story of a type A girl who learns what it is to love and be loved in return. I think that’s a lesson we can all use and take with us.

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Thank you so much to Mazey, my wonderful, brilliant friendo for (somehow) getting an ARC of this book into my hands. I am forever in your debt.

Harper and Dan are in Dental School. Harper is a Type-A student in the last year with generalized anxiety disorder and is trying to get into an elite residency program. Dan is in his first year and dental school was not his choice. He is miserable. However his parents own a practice and his father was a world famous dentist. Though his calling is finance, after his father died, he has been expected to go to dental school so he can fill his father’s shoes.
And then they meet… Dan knows almost immediately that he is in love with Harper but she simultaneously keeps him at arms length while letting him slip in as a ‘friend’. She is so afraid of losing focus or letting anyone see her anxiety disorder. But Dan is able to break through, at least for a while. However, it all becomes too much for Harper and she breaks it off. When they both end up in New York, he in finance and she in a residency program will they be able to come back together?
This is a moving love story that manages to be redemptive without getting bogged down in the heavy issues of anxiety disorder, losing parents and dealing with crushing expectations. Those things just make it more real, the characters more endearing and likable.
I would recommend this book to my patrons.

Our library visitors will most certainly enjoy this contemporary rom-com, and the best part is the strong, independent female lead. Thank you for the ARC!

DNF -did not finish. I decided not to keep reading this novel because I did not connect with the writing and plot. Thank you, netgalley and publisher for the early copy.