Well, that was cute! I definitely got some The Love Hypothesis vibes with this one. Although it was a fairly light romance, I did enjoy the deeper themes of mental illness, grief, loss, etc. While my anxiety is a little different than Harper’s, I found the description of her journey to feel authentic and deep. I am really happy to see more representation of mental health in the romance genre lately.

3.5⭐️

(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!)

The hype for this book was so real for me. Harper's a Jewish dental student with anxiety, weighed down by the lingering trauma and grief of losing her mother as a child when they were both in a car accident. Dan's in dental school at the insistence of his mother, trying to live up to his deceased father's legacy, even though he hated the man and hates returning to school for something he's not passionate about. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me in the romance department and a full raging mess in the friendship category.

Instalove vibes are pretty *shrug* to me as a general rule. In this case, it's at least instant infatuation. it reminds me of a teenage crush in timbre but with two adult people. I have great fondness for both teenagers and for occasionally acting like them. It's probably good for your health. But the overall lack of maturity from two 26-year olds, one of whom gets to be addressed as "Dr." was jarring. Even their language felt like a badly written teen drama at times. For example, who asks a friend if she "humped" last night? For that alone, I would kick a friend to the curb, and this group has worse to answer for.

This could have been friends-to-lovers except they go on a date before the whole friends thing comes about, which casts a weird vibe on the whole affair. I felt like it placed more emphasis on the very intense lust they were mutually ignoring rather than actually building a friendship. Also, after one month, she considers him her best friend, so sorry to the previous holders of that title. It's less surprising once you've met them. More on that later. Dan's solicitousness towards Harper could be charming at times and overbearing at others. Like it's good he respected her wishes and the degree of intimacy she's comfortable with to stay friends only, but it always felt like he's just in the wings, waiting for her to reverse her decision and date/be in love with/have sex with him as if it's a foregone conclusion.

In general, Dan's white knight complex was a bit much for me. He wants to fix Harper's problems, even when it's not appropriate, i.e. in a work setting where she is the higher ranking person in the room. He also beats up her academic rival/tormentor, who is the cartoonish face of misogyny. So tada! he saved her from all the other sexist micro-aggressions, as well. Miracles happen, as they often do for cishet white men. His possessive caveman behavior (his words) isn't any better because of his self-awareness on the matter. Dan also wants to save his mom, who is cast in a decidedly helpless yet somehow also domineering role for most of the book. Also, his dad is an emotionally manipulative POS end of story, but I can't be the only one amused slash perplexed that Dan's most subversive/slackerly decision was to seek a job in ~finance~, where he is impassioned to make money and (in his own words) climb the corporate ladder. The shame! The piles of money! How could he not have pursued the noble profession of dentistry?? Like I would be ashamed of that, but your typical upper middle class white dad probably wouldn't be.

Now for my complete meltdown about the friendships. Harper's relationship with her best friends feels very 3-vs-1 Mario Party mini-game, where her friends reinforce her feelings that she's odd or not making the right choices because they all side against her. And it's true that Harper isn't living her healthiest life. Her anxiety runs rampant through everything, and her laser focus on school leaves room for little else. But apparently instead of asking what do you need? or how can I help? these friends decide that for themselves. They don't know about Harper's struggles with mental health, but they've intuited some aspects of it and could be responsive. They are pushy to the point of manipulating her into a bikini wax so she can "feel sexy" and entice Dan. I can't fathom an argument where that's a healthy crossing of boundaries. She is pressured into attending a party even though they know she doesn't like them, and then they lose track of her when she has a panic attack due to the conditions they introduced her to. wtf. The next morning, they show up to ask her if she's ok before moving on to the "important" questions about if she had sex or not afterwards. Even hearing she had a panic attack, they persist in asking follow ups that completely ignore her mental health. Harper (rightfully) blows up at them for their priorities, and they bring up therapy (maybe not the right time) and her dead mother (probably never a good time) and then everyone pretends the conversation didn't happen as if no changes need to be made. "Strong female friendships" were part of the hype for this book, which left me especially disappointed. Dan's best friend is somehow worse because I never observed him to have a positive quality. He judges him loudly and for all to hear about how he ignores his mom's calls as if there aren't a million reasons somehow may have a less than positive relationship with a parent, all valid.

Humans, this anxiety representation in the genre (or anywhere) was meant to be so powerful. But I spent the whole time distracted by what a shit support system Harper had and wondering how her experience would have been different with friends and a love interest who worked with her instead of for her.

First of all, the acknowledgments have me crying like a baby ✋🏻😭 :

"And to my readers with a mental illness: I see you. I believe in you. You are worthy of love just as you are. Hold strong in your faith of the happily ever after, whatever that may look like. It isn’t a fantasy but a reality you deserve."

Here's some rapid-fire info about the book:
• Friends-to-lovers (aka the best trope 😍)
• Dual POV (for the full experience)
• Loved the sarcastic banter
• SUCH a sweet, cutesy, swoon-worthy romance 🥺
• Genuinely, really GOOD anxiety rep

The anxiety representation:
Before the book starts, the author informs us that our mc Harper has general anxiety disorder. That immediately piqued my attention because, as a person with anxiety, I've never read a book like this before (which came as a real shocker to me tbh and needs to be remedied). In my personal opinion, I can confidently say that the anxiety rep was written so well that I wish I could read a hundred other books exactly like this one.

The way Harper (kinda) successfully puts up her "normal" front to everyone she knows, while on the inside it feels like she's drowning in anxiety was so relatable. At one point, she thinks "Anxiety screamed for it to end, while another fragment of her mind begged for more" and I could count on at least both hands the amount of times that I have felt the exact same way that I could tear up just reading this line out of pure catharsis.

I also have never felt more called out by a book in my LIFE. The fact that the following quote was from chapter two (TWO) of this book, had me gearing up for a full on attack right from the beginning:

"How was she supposed to date when even the simplest things threatened to disrupt her emotional equilibrium? How was she supposed to regularly and willfully plunge herself into the heart palpitations and a churning stomach that came with opening herself up to someone? And how was she supposed to expect another person to see her chaotic ugliness and still want to be with her? There was no point in setting herself up for failure."

IM SORRY WHAT? I'm just trying to enjoy a rom-com here. I did not need to be called out like that MAZEY 🤺🤺

Friendships with other women:
This was my second favourite thing about this book. Harper's friends were always honest with her, even if it was about things that Harper refused to acknowledge and in the end, no matter what, her friends were there for her. Simply put, the friendships she has with the other women in her life was just beautiful 💕

Now for the romance:
Dan was super freaking cute. Was he the best book boyfriend ever? No. There were some moments that were so cringy that I wanted to hit him (e.g. the first cat scene 🤪 What the heck was that??). And yet........ they were so cute together that by the end I was truly rooting for them!

I also love how the first part of this book was funny, full of banter, so sweeeet and then by the end of it, ouuuuf the angst 😫 So good!

The reason that it isn't getting 4 stars is because I did find it a bit too monologue-y and Dan was a tad cringy at parts. Other than that though, as a women in STEM with anxiety, I appreciate this book more than this author will ever know, and for that, I say thank you❤️

Rating: 3.5⭐️/5

This was a funny and heartfelt love story, with real-world representation and realistic dynamics between the main characters. I love that the heroine battles anxiety and the way she learns to cope throughout the conflict was so well-done. I loved the hero’s journey through his emotional struggles as well. The dental school setting was wonderfully STEM-insist, allowing our heroine to fight the patriarchy head-on. Love it!

There's a lot to love about this unique, swoony debut, and if it wasn't plagued by some major pacing issues, then it probably would've been an easy 5-star rating for me. First and foremost, I LOVED the hero. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who is too adorable and patient for his own good - literally. He puts up with a lot from our anxiety-ridden heroine, even when she got on my nerves. Their meet cute is the thing rom com dreams are made of, and it took very little time for me to realize that I was going to love the writing. I loved the distinct, layered storyline, and how this felt so fresh and different. It pains me that I can't give this a 5-star rating, but there were just a few too many fumbles along the way.

The story follows Harper, a dental student who is at the top of her class. She loves what she does, and can't wait to graduate soon. When she meets Dan, they're both immediately smitten. He's also a dental student, but one who is still struggling to find his footing. As the two spend time together, they are forced to acknowledge their mutual attraction. Dan is ready for more, but Harper will be moving soon - and she can't have any distractions in the meantime. They agree to become friends, but it's tough to remember all of the reasons they should stay apart when they just want to be together.

If this is the author's debut, then I'm definitely excited to check out more from her. Dan is one of the sweetest heroes I've read about in a long time, and I loved the richness of the storyline. Dan struggles with family expectations while Harper tries to manage her anxiety, and the complexities added that special something to the story. It was easy to feel the connection between them, and the friends to lovers vibes worked here. Unfortunately, it's almost instalove for these two, so obstacle after obstacle was required to keep them apart. That kind of pacing meant that Harper pushed Dan away again and again and again. It was too much. I wanted to bask in the super swoony vibes and not let the story get bogged down by unnecessary roadblocks. It was enough to put a damper on this otherwise delightful read, but I still enjoyed it as a whole.

I was initially drawn to A Brush with Love because it seemed to be a unique and original storyline. I can honestly say that it was. The characters in this book were in dental school which is a setting that I've never read previously.

I had mixed feeling about this book as a whole. I think it was well written and had detailed descriptions. Where it fell short for me was that at times there was too much detail. As a casual reader, I didn't want that much detail about things going on at dental school. It was a lot for me to muddle through. I was fine with dental school being the backdrop for the story. I simply didn't need to be that in depth into the daily activities.

I thought the author did a nice job describing how anxiety can impact someone. Harper and Dan both had different forms of anxiety. She was spot on in how she described the emotions that flood your body when you aren't sure how something is going to turn out.

Overall, I found this to be a sweet story with a creative "meet cute." I liked Harper and Dan as characters and the development of their relationship was gradual and believable. In addition, I was pleased with how the storyline resolved itself.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

When I first saw the premise of A Brush with Love being floated around social media, I will admit, I was more than a little curious. I’d read many a romance with law students and med students and art students and here, finally, was this untapped market where two people met and fell in love while…scraping plaque off someone’s teeth. Ok, well, when put like that, one does become a little wary. After all, cavities and halitosis rarely make for sexy bedfellows and despite the author herself being a dental student and that old advice about writing what you know, setting a romance around two dental students did seem a bridge too far. (No apologies for this sad dental pun, it was low-hanging fruit and I plucked it).

I will also admit that going in, I sent up a fervent prayer that there weren’t going to be too many “dentist-y” things in the book. I have a healthy fear of the dentist and I just wanted some vague references that these two characters happened to be in dental school without any real details about what that might entail. Unfortunately, 20% in I got hit with a rather detailed explanation about root extraction that will now live rent-free in my head for a good long time. It is what it is. I will add that it was really the last bit of dentistry in the book so if you want to read but like me, don’t want to know about the pesky details of cavity fillings and root extractions, if you can get through the first 20%, you’ll be good to go.

All that aside, this book took me on a real journey. Harper, dental student extraordinaire, is a bit of a mess. She’s got a lot of anxiety and her mother died in a car accident when Harper was 12 and Harper was in the car with her. Raised by her aunt and uncle, Harper contends with this traumatic loss by keeping people at bay and focusing on her goals, mainly to graduate dental school and get into the surgical residency program of her dreams. She basically avoids the things she can’t control and relentlessly controls the things she can – mainly her academic life.

Dan, a first-year dental student, is battling his own difficult past. As the son of a world-renowned dentist and a pioneer in the field of restorative dentistry, he broke with family expectations and went into finance. To say that his late father was emotionally and verbally abusive would be underselling it as his decision to not follow in his father’s footsteps caused his father to lash out and label him an utter disappointment. When his father dies, his mother (also a manipulative parent in my eyes) implores Dan to leave the career he loves and go to dental school and take over the family business so that she doesn’t lose her livelihood. Whew! Toxic parental relationship at its finest.

When these two broken souls meet, they are both floundering and a little lost in their own way. Harper, knowing she’s graduating and leaving in a few months, is loath to start anything serious and insists that they can be only friends. Dan, almost instantly smitten with Harper, reluctantly agrees to their plan, rationalizing that having Harper in his life as a friend is better than not having Harper at all. And so these two embark on a sexually charged friendship that finally culminates in them giving in to their mutual attraction at around the 70% mark. It’s definitely a slow burn with lots of tension so if that’s your jam, then you will enjoy this book.

However, there are certain things in this book that really did not work for me. Part of that is, Harper’s emotional issues surrounding her anxiety are so obvious to Dan, he picks up on it pretty quickly. But, she also has a core group of friends who she’s been friends with for a while and at the beginning, I have to say, I really felt that the friend group was a bit toxic. This is the second book I’ve read in as many months where the FMC is really struggling emotionally and mentally and definitely needs therapy and her friends basically just urge her to loosen the reins and bang the hot love interest. There’s a particular scene where one of her friends explains that Harper always makes them come to a particular bar “instead of any of the thousands of fun bars in Philly” and I don’t know, maybe I’m extra sensitive, but it felt like these friends were just ignoring all the signs and just constantly judging her for her choices and behavior.

I will say that around 60% in, the friends finally wise up and realize Harper definitely needs help and unsuccessfully urge her to seek help. However, that Dan saw it immediately and her friends took so long to realize something is off, is a little bit baffling to me.

This was definitely darker than I expected and covers a whole host of issues and maybe the real problem is that there were so many issues combined between Dan and Harper, both as individuals and also as a pairing, that it felt like none of them really got enough space to be fully fleshed out. The dark scene towards the end is legitimately dark and honestly, made me wonder how these two characters were ever going to find their way back to each other. And while the last 10% of the book is really good – in fact, I think it might be the strongest part – I wish some of that had come sooner. I’m glad that it’s a book with an epilogue that takes place 6 months after the previous chapter ends because if the author hadn’t made it clear that both of these characters are in therapy, I’m not sure I would have really believed in their relationship working out.

All in all, I think the book was ok, I liked the characters well enough but I do think the plot needed a little more fine-tuning. Interestingly enough, the character who made the comment about the fun bars is, I believe, the FMC in her second release and I’m interested to see how her story plays out. She’s a baker so one thing is for sure – there will definitely be no root extractions.

Content Notes: FMC has anxiety, FMC’s mother died in a car accident and the FMC was present in the car (off-page), toxic parental relationships, off-page parental death from cancer, misogyny, verbally and emotionally abusive parent

This was a super cute rom/com love story about our two main characters, Harper and Dan. They are dental students, in their last year of university. Harper is a very excellent student with a plan laid out for her life after college and Dan does not fit into it. She meets Dan by ruining his project and offering to help rectify the situation. This story is about a subject I have never read about, dental students, and I thought that was unique and set this book apart from all the others.
I highly recommend this read, it is a lovely distraction from all the craziness happening in the real world!
I was given an arc in exchange for an honest review from Net Galley and St Martens Publishing.

Thank you so much for an arc of A Brush With Love!

I loved everything about this book!! A Brush With Love is an own voices romantic comedy that is funny, sweet and vulnerable. I loved Harper and Dan and their growth and development throughout the novel. I also loved the friend group! The mental health representation was also written about with such care.
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This is definitely a book that I will be rereading in the future. I loved Edding’s writing and can’t wait to read more from her!
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Content: generalized anxiety disorder, loss of a loved one. There’s also some ableist and sexist language which is condemned on page.

Dental Dan. That’s it. That’s the review. Dental Dan is a saint among men and none of us are worthy of him. Even knowing the struggles going inside Harper with her internal monologue, even being married to someone with anxiety, it was hard to like her as she pushed everyone away. Dan and her friends however were there for her. Showing up, leaning when she needed a wake up call, supporting and not pushing. I loved seeing inside a dental school, irs not something I know anything about. The deep talks, the steam, and just the female friendships were so very enjoyable in this one! I loved Harper’s transformation in this book to love able, hard to love, to broken, to healing, to healed (with therapy support).

I really love it when romance takes me into a world I haven't been before, no matter how mundane it may seem on the surface. 𝗔 𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗛 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 takes place in the world of Dental school and I loved this setting! And the slow burn between Harper and Dan is torture (in the best way, obvi).

𝗔 𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗛 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 starts with a hilariously awkward Meet Cute and just gets better from there! Harper is such a complex female lead. She is driven, smart, passionate, and (sometimes) wonderfully awkward.

Dan is so swoony! I actually found him a little TOO perfect. I wish his character had some flaws besides wanting to make his family happy (is that even a flaw?).

𝗔 𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗛 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 does a great job of tackling some more serious issues like loss, anxiety, familial expectations, and complex friendships. This book also reps seeking professional therapy, which I always love.

I took off one star because of the perfection of Dan and because after the meet cute the story slows considerably. The pace doesn't pick back up until about half way through. These things aren't deal breakers at all though. I loved 𝗔 𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗛 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 and definitely recommend it!

Oh my TOOTH FAIRY!! This book was so much more than I expected and swept me off my feet. I don't know how Mazey Eddings legit made me fall in love with two dental school students, but she did. In fact Harper and Dan may have become one of my favorite bookish couples.

I don't even know where to start with this book, because I absolutely adored every part. I think what Mazey Eddings managed to do with her debut novel, was explore a bunch of complexities of real world problems while giving the reader a cute and funny romance. She delves into the complexity of living with anxiety, and she showcases all the depths in Harper's character due to this experience. There were many points within this book that I know most people would hate how Harper acted, but to me she showed me pieces of myself even in the bad moments. I never knew I needed this representation until I got this book in my hands. Now I have been motivated to take control of my own mental illness issues, because I saw myself in this character who learns how to take control of her own mental illness and leaving the stigmas behind.

And let's not forget that Eddings also explores the grief process, sexism, academia and classicism, and emotional manipulation of a parent. Among many other serious topics, she does so in a realistic way. I will forever be grateful that she gave us this book that deals with so many heavy topics that we all experience in our everyday life.

I will also say the romance was absolutely beautiful. I loved every moment of Dental Dan and Harper's love story. It was so sweet I think I may have developed cavities. But in all seriousness, their relationship development was beautiful to watch. Dental Dan has raised the bar I have set for my expectations of men...I mean I want someone who thinks my hands are beautiful and is obsessed with every part of me.

Eddings has done an amazing job with this debut, and I can not wait for her next books. Lizzie's story is already a highly anticipated release for me, especially after getting to know her in this book.

I will also say the romance was absolutely beautiful. I loved every moment of Dental Dan and Harper's love story. It was so sweet I think I may have developed cavities. But in all seriousness, there relationship development was beautiful to watch. Dental Dan has raised the bar I have set for my expectation of men...I mean I want someone who thinks my hands are beautiful and is obsessed with every part of me.

Eddings has done an amazing job with this debut, and I can not wait for her next books. Lizzie's story is already a highly anticipated release for me, especially after getting to know her in this book.

A Brush with Love was a fun and unique setting for a romance novel. And after my own string of dental work, it seemed like a good time to read this romance. I appreciated the mental health rep for Harper and loved Dental Dan! They were such a sweet couple, with a slowly unfolding romance!

Harper is anxiously awaiting placement into a top oral surgery residency program when she crashes (literally) into Dan. Harper would rather endure a Novocaine-free root canal than face any distractions, even one this adorable. A first-year dental student with a family legacy to contend with, Dan doesn’t have the same passion for pulling teeth that Harper does. Though he finds himself falling for her, he is willing to play by Harper’s rules. So with the greatest of intentions and the poorest of follow-throughs, the two set out to be “just friends.” But as they get to know each other better, Harper fears that trading fillings for feelings may make her lose control and can't risk her carefully ordered life coming undone, no matter how drool-worthy Dan is.

Blood, gore, and extra-long roots? No problem. The idea of falling in love? Torture.

A book with potential. Dealing with a main character with anxiety is refreshing and adding a sweet understanding male lead is a great combo. There were a mixture of events that pulled me in and pulled me out. Generally it was a good read but not a great one for me personally and just had hoped for a bit more momentum.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

What worked for me: I really enjoyed the dental school setting (I dated a guy in dental school in college very briefly) and reading about the trials and dedication needed. I appreciated the focus on Harper's anxiety and how crippling it can be. Anxiety is so real and so prevalent but still seems taboo in our society so I'm glad to see a book openly exploring it. I also liked that Dan's struggle with what he wanted versus what his parents (dad) expected of him was a main focus. I can very much remember feeling the same as Dan through
high school and college and I think parents today put even more on their kids shoulders.
What didn't work for me: Harper and Dan's romance was a bit too insta love for me. I need more banter & angst, but I do think the book was meant to focus on
the deeper topics and not so much the romance. The story did drag a bit in the middle for me and I found myself speeding up the audio.
Overall this is a cute debut.

I admit I wasn’t sure about A Brush with Love at first. When I started it I had no idea where it was going to go. But as I read more I became more and more endeared by Harper and Dan. And the way the last 10% was done really sold me on how amazing this book was. Dan and Harper had an amazing spark, as friends and as more. Watching as Harper let go of some of her control and allowed herself to fall for Dan was magical. It really showed what the right person in your life can do and how it can shift your priorities to still get what you want out of life but to have more too. Simply put, this book was just delightful and something everyone needs to read!

A BRUSH WITH LOVE by Mazey Eddings is a wonderful, heartbreaking, and healing story!
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I connected with Harper on another level. Her anxiety and panic is something that I am currently dealing with myself and I felt so seen by her experiences.
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Dan… oh wow 🤩
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He was so patient and attentive to Harpers queues and my heart melted for him. Especially for his own personal struggles he was facing.
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Also, this book had a nice side of steam and I was here for it!!
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Thank you St martins press for an early copy!

Finally, a hyped book that deserves all the hype!

I haven’t been this invested in a couple in awhile, but oh my gosh. I am in obsessed with Harper and Dan. They are sweet & hilarious and their friends are amazing too!

Harper…my heart ached with her as she faced crippling anxiety. Im lucky to not have anxiety, but through Mazey’s writing, I now understand how debilitating it can be. And Dan…he was such a beautifully written hero. He stood by Harpers side through thick & thin.

This is out now & I can’t recommend it enough!

TW: anxiety, panic attack (current), death of a parent (happened in the past), sexism in work environment

This book and its author are an absolute delight! I flew through this story and loved everything about it. I rarely laugh out loud when I'm reading but I couldn't stop with this one. I also thought the anxiety rep was sensitively portrayed and nuanced. Really nice to see! Mazey is a gem of a new voice and I can't wait to read more from her!

I enjoyed this book, I was hoping for more based on some of the earlier reader comments. The spark was there between the main characters even though Harper fought it at every opportunity. She was in the car when her mother died, and she suffers from severe anxiety to the point of self-destruction. I would have thought she would have gotten help prior to dental school.
The only way she can survive is by setting up strict rules and boundaries for herself, and Dan threatens to tear down her walls and her sense of strict control.

From the publisher:
Harper is anxiously awaiting placement into a top oral surgery residency program when she crashes (literally) into Dan. Harper would rather endure a Novocaine-free root canal than face any distractions, even one this adorable.
A first-year dental student with a family legacy to contend with, Dan doesn’t have the same passion for pulling teeth that Harper does. Though he finds himself falling for her, he is willing to play by Harper’s rules.

I like how the author addresses Harper’s anxiety and Dan’s sense of guilty responsibility, it was discussed with sensitivity and the treatment was handled well. I recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.