I identified with Lizzie so much, because I also have ADHD. It was wonderful to read about a character with ADHD that was written by a neurodiverse author.

Lizzie was such a great character, she was hilarious and unapologetically herself and I loved it and I loved that Rake loved her for it as well.

Rake and Lizzie were the absolute cutest and I really liked the unplanned pregnancy trope in this book. I think it worked so well for this story and these characters. Even if you aren’t a fan of this trope I still encourage you to read this book because I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

This book was such a warm hug and I loved it so much.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy of this ARC. It is available today and I highly recommend you put it on your TBR.

CW: unplanned pregnancy, talk of abortion, toxic family, ableism.

The follow up to A Brush With Love and featuring a couple of mentions and visits from the characters first met in the first book, Lizzie Blake gets her own book and story and I think it might be even better - and I truly loved the first!

Lizzie suffers quite badly from ADHD, and is forever forgetting things, which makes life hard, but holding down a job really difficult - her employers can’t rely on her remembering important details and completing critical details, having a tough time getting to work on time, and so on.

One particularly tough evening after yet another firing, she ends up at a local bar (to meet someone off a random app), and starts chatting with a really cute Aussie, who happens to be there with coworkers, in town for just a few days. They hit it off and … one thing leads to another, and several weeks later, she’s making an international phone call to Sydney, disrupting Rake’s perfectly ordered and boring and predictable life… and making a whole lot of changes to try and help get through the ADHD.

I absolutely adored this story, the progression of the relationship between Lizzie and Rake, and Lizzie’s fantastic evolution! It was super well-written like the first book, and kept me hooked the entire way through, devouring it in a single sitting. I highly recommend this to everybody!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and this is my honest feedback.

While this review is about the book and not the author, I must say that Mazey is an adorable ball of fresh air and for this reason, I could not help but imagine her as Lizzie the entire time I was reading this book. I wanted Lizzie to be my best friend (Mazey, this means you too, yes). I wanted to hug her and be there for her and smack her family upside their heads (Mazey, not your family. I think you have a fairly supportive family who don’t deserve to be smacked).

Lizzie has been largely misunderstood for most of her life due to both her ADHD diagnosis but also her different way of looking at the world (which you might argue are connected). Mazey does an incredible job of depicting adult ADHD, what it feels like to not belong as an adult, the feeling of new adults scrambling to fit the mold society deems appropriate for them… all of it. This book was pure gold.

But I also have to say that while one of my not-so-favorite tropes was in this book, Mazey managed to include it in the best possible way and I think it only added to the book more rather than detracting from it.

Everything about this book was phenomenal and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings

Published: September 6, 2022
St. Martin’s Griffin
Pages: 332
Genre: Romance
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Mazey Eddings is a neurodiverse author, dentist, and (most importantly) stage mom to her cats, Yaya and Zadie. She can most often be found reading romance novels under her weighted blanket and asking her boyfriend to bring her snacks. She’s made it her personal mission in life to destigmatize mental health issues and write love stories for every brain. With roots in Ohio and North Carolina, she now calls Philadelphia home.

“I don’t want an out. I’ll see you in thirty-six hours.”

Lizzie is used to being seen as different. Having ADHD has provided her with a thick skin and a unique outlook. Rake is focused on his career. He wants nothing to do with romance. When a wild weekend with feisty redhead results in an unplanned pregnancy, everything changes. Little did either know, they were about to fall head first down the rabbit hole of love.

This was a sweet story. It has spice, and sweet words, and a happy ending.

I enjoyed the characters. Rake was a perfect leading man. He was the best fit for accepting Lizzie and her chaos.

I enjoyed the side characters as well. The plot flowed well, and the story was engaging. I enjoyed how well developed the storyline was and how thorough the presentation of an ADHD mind works.

The scene descriptions were incredibly well done, and you felt as though you were in the rooms things were happening in—a sweet story with an unconventional but perfectly imperfect couple.

This was a really cute and lovely read. I loved how there was ADHD disability representation in it and how respectfully and lovingly it was done. I also enjoyed how we got to see a bit of characters that were in her other book and also that there was some spice and naughtiness in the story.

Lizzie Blake struggles with ADHD. During one terrible day, she loses her job and aims to lose herself for a night - with some unintended consequences. A chance encounter changes her life - but not quite in the way she would expect.

I liked the balance between characters and how neurodivergence can shape so many aspects of life and relationships.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

I wanted to love this and it was good it just wasn’t quite there for me. I am not a fan of the insta-love tropes and Lizzie and Rake are definitely the insta-love couple. It had so many great parts but the rest just kind of fell flat for me.

I enjoyed 𝗔 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 by Mazey Eddings and this follow up, which follows Harper's friend Lizzie but can also be read as a stand alone, is just as much of a delight.

Baker Lizzie struggles with ADHD and has sworn off relationships because they make her already messy life even messier. But when a two-night stand with Australian Rake leaves her with a literal bun in the oven, Lizzie has to figure out how to get her life together and reassess her stance on letting people in.

Lizzie is such a fantastic character (she often left me laughing out loud) and her experience with ADHD is emotional to read about. I also loved Rake who moves halfway across the world to be with Lizzie and has demons of his own to battle. The couple's banter is terrific, the evolution of their relationship feels realistic and holy cannoli do they bring the steam!

If you're looking for a romance with as much heat as it has heart, look no further than 𝗟𝗜𝗭𝗭𝗜𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗘'𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to review.

Lizzie Blake is known for her mistakes, kitchen fires, losing jobs, questionable bangs… you know the kind. That’s why she sticks with one-night affairs when it comes to love. Lizzie craves the physical release and outlet that these one-night stands bring. But then she meets Rake, the handsome and charming Aussie only in town for the weekend. He’s perfect. And that is what makes saying goodbye just little bit harder. What also makes it harder? The tiny bun in her proverbial oven; half her and half Rake. Flustered and surprised by Lizzie’s best mistake yet, these two must take a leap of faith to discover what their relationship can be and how they can be the best for their growing family.

I LOVED this book. I am a huge fan of the accidental pregnancy trope, so I had high hopes going in and was not disappointed. BUT if you are iffy on the trope, this book does it well and differently than some other similar titles. My favorite part of the book was Lizzie. Lizzie is an imperfect character but like Hazel in Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, you begin to fall in love with her. She is wildly frustrating but endearingly unique and earnest in her attempts at making a better life for herself and her baby.

On a more serious note; I am a neurodiverse lady myself. When you feel and are different than a lot of the characters you see in books and movies, you start to feel like a true love isn’t possible. Reading about Lizzie, Rake and their little family, I felt pride, hope and love for all of us out there that have felt too “messy” to love. So thank you Mazey Eddings for this joyous and adorable read!

This was my first book by Mazey Eddings and I really enjoyed it! I instantly loved the chemistry between Lizzie and Rake and how incredibly human they are. When their two night stand has an unexpected result, their relationship becomes more permanent than either expected. Will they take on the challenge together as friends, or as something more? Keep reading to find out!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake! All of the following opinions are my own.

This was my first time reading a Mazey Eddings novel and her writing did not disappoint! Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake was a bright, warm book to escape into and one that I'll sure to be re-reading for years to come. The story centers around Lizzie, a vibrant young baker who specializes in (redacted for fun spoiler!) and her one-night-stand-turned-baby-daddy, Rake, as they get to know each other while grappling with their newfound parenthood. Lizzie has adult ADHD and she's open about it throughout the story, never letting it define her but instead eager to learn her brain. It was so refreshing to read about a main character with that level of transparency, with no ounce of self-deprecation, but instead with self-awareness and all the intention of reframing the way Lizzie viewed self-love. While on the topic of love, the romance between Lizzie and Rake is fun, fast-paced, steamy, and most importantly, tender; I can't imagine their story unfolding any other way. The heart of the book is, as the dedication states, being deserving of love even after a lifetime of being told you're "too much" or "too loud," and it truly delivered! Mazey Eddings is now an auto-buy author of mine, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings is a quirky, delightful rom-com that will have you believing in love and laughing out loud.

Lizzie has spent her entire life trying not to screw things up and yet all she tends to do is screw things up! Humor, spice, ADHD, dysfunctional family, one night stand (for two nights 😉) and a surprise pregnancy and Lizzie is running off the rails.

A charming story, even though it seems a bit of a stretch at times to be even close to reality, Mazey Eddings builds a great story that leaves you cheering for Lizzie and Rake.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
#stmartinspress #NetGalley

This was a very funny book and I really enjoyed Lizzie and Rake as two individuals. Lizzie has always been told that she is “too much, too loud, too messy” all her life and I am a sucker for those kinds of characters and always want what’s best for them. Here through a series of insta-lust, stuff happens, and she winds up being pregnant with a stranger.

I have to say this is Mazey’s second book and I really like her writing style. I find her to be witty and hilarious. However, what didn’t work for me are the tropes I wrote earlier. I am not a fan of insta-love/lust and ultimately it didn’t fully work for me here.

All in all, this was a good beach book.

Huge thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

When Lizzie gets pregnant from her two night stand, Rake does everything to help, including moving across the world. She is insecure following how she has always been treated because of her adhd, but will now be her chance to prove everyone wrong?
A fun and quirky read.

Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake is pretty much serotonin and sunshine in a book for me. Mazey Eddings continues to have me fall in love with the words she writes, the characters she develops, and the representation that has me connecting with her stories and making me feel less alone. Lizzie was a character I had already known and loved from A Brush With Love. Learning her story and how she always felt she was too much had me wanting to cry with relief at not being the only one that has been told this and feels this. Rake was such a caring and loving partner. He accepted Lizzie for who she was and loved all that she is. Mazey, you are incredible and I can't wait to fall in love with your books even more.

Thank you to both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ St. Martin’s Griffin for this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts/review

There I was, reading Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake and first chapter, BAM, there was major 🔥. No sweet romance, no build up, no glances across the room. Just bam. But, even though it was all a bit much and chaotic, it totally worked with this sweet book. It is the story of Lizzie who suffers from severe ADHD and has been ostracized and struggled throughout her life for it. Until a wild one night stand results in an unplanned pregnancy that changes everything for Lizzie.

I laughed out loud at this book. I loved the dynamics between Lizzie and her hunky Australian, Rake. I loved Lizzie’s quirkiness. I also loved the rawness and real life look at Lizzie’s struggles and how she was so often mistaken for being lazy, careless or messy instead of suffering from a mental illness. And I loved seeing Lizzie overcome what she has been dealt with and learn to stand on her own two feet. And as a plus, there were some crossover characters with A Brush of Love!

I enjoyed the writing but I could not for the life of me get behind the choice to keep this child honestly. Maybe it’s bc we’re in a post Roe US and abortion rights are at the forefront but like no thanks! Also there was some almost but not quite abortion shaming that just felt odd. The chemistry between the characters was great but did not really buy the romance.

I loved Lizzie and Rake.

This little rom-com was wonderfully done. The humor was on point. The spice was perfect. The way the author worked ADHD into the mix was absolutely perfectly done. The side characters were so great. I especially loved Bernadette!

I fell in love with both of these characters and their stories. I wish they were both real so I could know them and be apart of their lives.

Read this one if you like feel good romances that remind you of something as sweet as You’ve Got Mail.

**Please aware that there is unplanned pregnancy in the book. So, if that is something you aren’t into or is a trigger for you, you may wanna skip out on it.

🧁 Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings 🧁

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶
Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022

“Just because your brain works differently from neurotypicals, it doesn’t mean you deserve to be valued any less. It doesn’t mean your love is a burden or a liability.”

Lizzie Blake is loud, vibrant, exuberant, has zero filter, and has ADHD. She never felt like she belonged anywhere, her family never understood her, and she felt she was always too much of a burden to be in a relationship. She was only into one night stands and never wanted to get too close to anyone. That is until she met Rake, a sexy Australian who was in Lizzie’s home town for a few days. A one night stand turned into a two night stand…and two weeks later came a positive pregnancy test. Rake is determined to be there for Lizzie and the baby by leaving Australia and moving to Philly. The bulk of the story includes Lizzie and Rake adjusting to their lives platonically as parents to be.

A slow freakin’ clap for the mental health rep in this book! 👏🏻 Lizzie was so damn relatable and I really appreciated how ADHD was represented. All Lizzie wanted in life was to love and be loved in return, but she always felt the way her mind worked was a burden to those around her. I loved how Rake not only accepted her for who she was but felt her quirks and idiosyncrasies were the best qualities about her.

I absolutely hated Lizzie’s mom in this book 😡 I wanted to drop kick her multiple times. But I admired Lizzie for finally standing up to her mom and not allowing anyone to be in her life who didn’t accept her for who she was.

I also loved the epilogue…Lizzie and Rake figured out what worked for them and their relationship. They didn’t care about meeting society’s or anyone else’s expectations of what a “happily ever after” should look like.
This book was so cute, hilarious, but also had some depth to it.

I finished reading it this afternoon and am so in love with this book!

I absolutely adore Lizzie and Rake and the definitely stole my heart. These characters are marvelous and their story is so well written that it came to life from page one.

I really enjoyed the scene where Lizzie walks him around her city, showing it off with so much pride. Rake seems to understand her more than anyone, including her own family. He let’s Lizzie be unapologetically herself and loves her that much more for it.

A Few Other Noteworthy Tidbits:
•Strong FMC
•Swoony MMC
•ADHD Rep
•Surprise Pregnancy
•Only One Bed
•Giggle Worthy Banter and Flirting
•Laugh Out Loud Moments
•Amazing Friend Group
•Spicy Scenes
•Tissue Grabbing Moments
•Erotic Pastries
•Family Drama

If anything I’ve mentioned above jives with you, please go read this book. You will not be disappointed!