This book was a fun treat! I loved it! It was a good reset after I read a heavier book. It kept me flipping pages well past my bedtime!!

This wasn’t necessarily a bad book, it was just not my cup of tea! I had a hard time connecting to the characters and found the romance/relationship not very convincing. I never truly felt the love between Lizzie and Rake, and even in the end I definitely felt it more on Rake's side than Lizzie's,

As someone who (normally) loves a good pregnancy trope, I just did not vibe with this one. It felt like the pregnancy was somewhat forgotten within the story. Yes, it was why Rake was there and kept them together, but there wasn't much else to it. The ending was kind of abrupt as well. It was odd how it jumped from 20-something weeks to 12 weeks post birth. What happened in between?

I can’t help but wonder how different the story would have been if Lizzie was the one to go to Australia. It would’ve made more sense to me- she didn’t have a job, lived with a roommate, and did not have a close family. I understand her connection to her friends, but I don’t think it was strong enough for her to HAVE to stay in the city. I also don’t think I like the friend group? They weren’t super supportive and sometimes just mean (a hug and apology doesn't solve anything if you don't talk about it!). The fact that Rake left his loving family, stable job, and good home to go be in Philadelphia (within such a short time span!) was way too unrealistic. They didn’t really even talk about it. Maybe the author wanted to make a point about women normally having to give up things when they have children, but it just did not seem like the logical choice here. I either wish the story was more developed or went in a different direction.

Thanks so much for the ARC and I will not let my disinterest in this book deter me from reading more Mazey Eddings in the future!

I loved the unconventional route to love in this book.

An unplanned pregnancy between two flawed characters with out of this world chemistry? YES PLEASE.

Lizzie is a firecracker. She says what she thinks, and although she believe she's too much, I found her to be a breath of fresh air. I love heroines who actually talk like women do. Her sub-plot with managing her ADHD felt authentic and I enjoyed the connection to baking being a coping strategy to help manage it.

I wish I could see Rake in real life because his description is swoon-worthy. I typically don't need my heroes to drop everything to be with a woman but his choice to leave Australia to be a present father added a layer to his complexity.

My only qualm is that the relationship felt a little too dependent on physical attraction. The lust steamed off of the pages but I was hoping a deeper emotional connection would develop.

Vulnerable and endearing, Lizzie Blake brings a new level of comedic raw emotion that I couldn’t get enough of!

Lizzie has made a lot of mistakes, so when she is fired from yet another job, she breaks her own rules and has a “two-night stand” with a handsome man she meets in a bar. Rake, visiting the USA from Australia on a work assignment, has been recently hurt in the love department – but what harm can come out of sleeping with a vivacious red-head before returning home? When Lizzie finds out she is pregnant (um – did you know condoms can expire?) and decides to keep the baby, Rake is determined to be a part of his child’s life – no matter the cost.

Mazey Eddings combines a mix of laugh-out-loud comedy and tender emotions, while pushing some literary boundaries that some authors refuse to cross (toxic family relationships; adult ADHD).

This was like a love story in reverse: in most books the reader experiences a slow build romance where we are just waiting for “the act” to happen. Here, the novel starts out with a bang and then the parties tiptoe around each other wondering if a sexual relationship is now the best idea. This plot line was refreshing and brazen, making this a must read. However, with how sexually crazy the book started, I do think the attempts at only having a platonic relationship wore thin after a while and dragged on a tad.

I absolutely loved Eddings’s writing style, and her sensory word choices left me with colorful, vivid images (i.e. descriptions such as “sunshine” and “softness” pulled me right in to what each character looked like or what they were experiencing). The characters were believable and relatable, and you found yourself rooting for their happy ending. As a side FYI – I definitely was picturing Nadia Cakes (a Minnesota bakery) while reading . . . which brought on more giggles!

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake is well worth the read and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley for this charming ARC; all opinions are my own!

I truly enjoyed this book and I LOVE Mazey’s writing style. While I didn’t connect with Lizzie in terms of her ADHD in the same way I connected with Harper and her anxiety (From A Brush With Love), I really enjoyed the open and honest discussions of mental health within this novel. I loved being able to picture the streets of Philly, too! I can’t wait to read what Mazey writes next, she’s a must-read author for me!

I adored this book. Mazey Eddings knows how to pull at your heartstrings, I absolutely loved "a brush with love" so when I found out she was coming out with a new book, i new i had to get my hands on it and boy, it did not disappoint.
Was I a fan of the pregnancy trope, no, but I was absolutely hooked from the beginning. Rake, in all his Australian charm, was amazing. Everything about this book was entertaining and i hardly put it down.

Lizzie whirls through life with ADHD and has found herself without a job and pregnant from a two-night stand. Rake moves from Australia to the US to coparent and the two swear to keep things platonic as they move in together.

I loved reading from a character with ADHD's perspective. The author portrayed Lizzie's thoughts and feelings so honestly and real and the way that
Rake accepts her so completely from the start touches your heart. Her friends were written as they should be, both supportive and concerned. There was some family growth, but not all where I had hoped.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised!

5/5 Stars
3.5/5 Spice

TW/CW : Termination of a Pregnancy (Past), Pregnancy, Misogyny, Cheating (Past), Abusive Parents

Rep : ADHD (Own Voice)

I can’t put into words how much this book truly means to me. It made me feel seen and understood as someone who got an ADHD diagnosis out of the blue after having years of emotions being too much at some points, the impulse control problems, and everything else that comes with having ADHD. I haven’t read a book with such good ADHD rep like this and the explanations of how Lizzie sees and deals with the world was amazing. This is so far my favorite read of the year.

I loved both of the characters and truly related to Lizzie a lot on how her ADHD presents itself. Lizzie Blake has always been seen as the problem child, acting out as a child and not fitting into the perfect child mold that her parents always wanted, but she is still going out into the world and trying to prove herself to both her parents and partially herself. Rake is an Australian business man that is just trying to work hard and doesn’t have much of a life outside of his work. Everything for both of them when Lizzie realizes that she got pregnant after her two night stand with Rake. They both have to work through past experiences while figuring out how to “platonically” co-parent their future child.

The ADHD representation in this book is some of the best I’ve ever read, it felt very realistic from the standpoint of someone who has ADHD. When Lizzie explains some of her reactions to Rake for different events throughout the book it felt so well done and explained in a way I’ve never fully thought of. Lizzie explains at one point why she reacts to rejection so differently than most due to Rejection sensitivity dysphoria, which for Lizzie makes it feel like she has done something horribly wrong when she is rejected for any reason even if it makes sense to most people. I also loved the inclusion of physical contact to calm Lizzie down as it’s something that can be very helpful to some to help deal with the overwhelming emotions and sensory.

I thought the storyline was amazing and I loved getting to see Lizzie and Rake both grow as people and try to figure out how they will manage having a child together while trying to stay just friends, when they both have growing feelings. The relationship between Lizzie and Rake felt well paced and I really loved how much you could really feel the amount of love between them.
As the description said there is an erotic baking scheme that is very intresting. I wish we got to see a bit more of Lizzie fully taking control over her life and helping to massively expand a business she got a job at as a baker. Lizzie after losing her job at a different bakery, gets an interview at Bernadette’s Bakery which has been running a small underground erotic baking business but with Lizzie’s help that gets taken to a whole new level. It was really refreshing to see that people with ADHD can take control of their lives and still be successful and love their jobs even though they might struggle with other things.

If you are looking for a romance novel with spice, ADHD representation, lovers to friends to lovers, and some very funny moments this is for you. One of the best scenes is the whipped cream scene, if you know you know.

I was so excited to have an opportunity to read Lizzie Blake's story after I read and loved A Brush With Love. Now I know I'll read anything Mazey Eddings writes! Both her books have exuded so much joy and fun, while also giving me new perspective on the specific challenges of her wonderfully neorudiverse characters. Also, I'm ready for a Rake to pop into my life. :)

I honestly don’t know where to start with this review other than to say this is more than a five star read for me.

What I love about Mazey Eddings’s writing is the way she can be super versatile. She can give us spicy, romantic, and heart wrenching within the course of a few hundred pages. That paired with the neurodiverse representation she gives us is just incredible.

When it came to this book I enjoyed every moment of it. I fell in love with Lizzie in A Brush With Love and after reading her story I realized it was probably because I felt connected to her character. A lot of struggles she faces are what I have been dealing with my entire life, and this book and character made me realize I’m not alone in those struggles. But Lizzie is also a character who just brings me joy. She’s sassy, spunky, and confident in her sexuality (a favorite quality in my female MCs). She also faced her challenges and all I wanted to do was protect her, but she protected herself when needed.

Also Rake is an amazing love interest overall, even if he had some learning to do. I’m telling you, you will fall in love with him, get angry with him, and fall all over again.

Oh and I loved Eddings infusing the story with nods to romance books. And as a romance reader I fangirled every time one of these popped up. Plus she chose some of my favorite tropes;forced proximity, one bed, pregnancy. So I was just smitten with this story almost immediately.

I just loved this book more than I can accurately express with words. I finally found a character who I connected with on so many levels. In fact this book made me feel seen and I can not stop tearing up every time I think about it. So thank you Mazey and ST. Martins press for bringing this book into my life.

So unpopular opinion, I love an accidental pregnancy trope. Always have. I know it can be problematic, but what can you do?

I read A Brush With Love earlier this year and was excited to learn more about Lizzie. I related to her because she also had ADHD so I was super invested in her getting a HEA.

Lizzie could come off as a little "much." I understood why she seemed so insecure. And Rake was an interesting partner for her. It was definitely an opposites attract. He was strict and put together.

The steam was on point. And the mutual pining was SO GOOD. I needed some dual narration in my life and this was just perfect.

I realized towards the end I had to make this a five star book. Their relationship was too special and how they stood up for each other just really hit me.

Check this one out in September! You don't want to miss it.

⭐Book Review⭐

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher @smartinspress for the #AdvanceReviewCopy

Book Summary:
Lizzy Blake's most desired thing is to be accepted and loved, but living with ADHD has made it difficult to be in long-term romantic relationships. After being stood up, and a chance encounter with a hot Australian guy she meets on the same night, she ends up... pregnant!

Can Lizzy and Rake co-parent without the hot, steamy roll in the sack they had when they met? Isn't that a loaded question!

I really liked this one. It's a fun, easy, and super steamy read that had me rooting for the couple from the beginning. I liked Lizzy and all her quirks. ADHD is well represented and provides insight into what it's like living with it for those unfamiliar with the diagnosis. Rake is the perfect guy all around, sometimes a little too perfect even. But his little misshap at the end helped to 'round him out'.

There are a lot of detailed sexual scenes, so if reading about that makes you uncomfortable, stay clear, otherwise, enjoy!

Although funny at times, the story isn't convincing. We're told the characters are falling in love, but it's difficult to see why as their relationship doesn't really progress beyond a mutual understanding and physical chemistry. By the end, I didn't really care whether they worked out or not.

How could you not enjoy this book? It's spicy, extremely heartfelt. and has some wonderful ADHD representation. I know the accidental pregnancy trope can be tricky to get people to get into, but it's so much more than a plot device, and it's done very well, and handled in a realistic, yet new and refreshing way. This is my first Mazey Eddings experience, but it definitely won't be my last!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Lizzie is a baker that comes off a little "frazzled" to most people. Since she has a hard time connecting with people, especially men, she doesn't normally have serious relationships. One night stands is the name of the game for her.

When she meets Rake at the bar after her online date turns out to be... less than satisfactory, she goes back to the hotel with him. She has to go back the next day after their romp in the sheets to get her key ring. This leads to a few more fun times and then Rake is one a plane back to Australia. Then EVERYTHING changes.

I was hesitant about this story due to one of the tropes that it has-accidental pregnancy- but I really enjoyed it. I loved how Lizzie and her ADHD is represented and her neurodivergent ways. Her inner thoughts were relatable and entertaining. Both main characters growth is well written in the book and their relationship is sweet.

Rake sounds like the most caring man and I really love the way that he dotes over Lizzie and cares for her. The side plot about the bakery making erotic goods make me laugh. I would really like to read more books by this author.

I loved the exploration of Lizzie’s condition and how it impacted so many facets of her life. It truly gave me pause to reflect. Rakes willingness to listen and learn was refreshing.

I will start by saying I enjoyed this. This is a story that helps bring awareness to ADHD. It shows now having ADHD can affect all kinds of relationships. We follow Lizzie who struggles with ADHD. She feels things very intense and due to that has an unplanned pregnancy. This is a forced proximity romance. Lizzie learns to begin putting herself first foremost. All in all this is a great book to add to your collection and to read.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Griffin for the eARC for my honest review.

This book was cute, it was light and fun. I think Mazey did a good job depicting ADHD, and how parents have certain expectations of their children. There wasn’t a super deep plot point and most of it was just a feel good book, but in a rom-com isn’t that what you’re looking for? I giggled a lot through this book, and while I typically don’t love the unplanned pregnancy trope this was cute and I loved that Lizzie was a strong independent woman and didn’t let anyone stand in her way.

First off, I want to thank Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

There aren't many times when I'll forgo giving a book a star rating, but since my unfortunate dislike of this book is entirely my own fault, this is one of those times.

I'll often request books without fully reading the synopsis (or without reading it at all), just because something else drew me in enough, such as prior experience with the author's work, a gorgeous cover, or hype from my friends. This was one of those cases, where I'd just adored A Brush with Love so much, and was so excited that this book was focused on an MC with ADHD, that I didn't even need to read the synopsis to know I was sold on it.

I really should have read that synopsis.

There aren't many tropes that will entirely put me off a book, but the pregnancy trope, especially within a romance like this, is one of them. It's just not a trope or plot point I'm ever really interested in reading in my romance books, and sometimes I even hate those sudden baby epilogues that round off stories sometimes. It's just not something I like, especially right now in this current political climate, where I'm extra sensitive to it. My dislike for this trope obviously translated into dislike for certain aspects of this book which I can't really judge fairly. Did I find this aspect cringy because I just don't care for this trope, or is it actually cringy? Is this thing unrealistic in these stories, or is it just extra unrealistic here? All in all, this had led to my blank rating, because it just isn't fair of me to rate this book low when it's on me for reading a book with something I'm wholeheartedly uninterested in reading. (I am still very sad that the ADHD rep book coincided with the pregnancy book, though, and that's fair for me to still feel!)

What did really work for me was the ADHD rep, personally. There's a lot of focus on it, and how it affects Lizzie in all aspects of her life. The book really takes the time to explore how it affects her in her relationships, family life, career, and perception of herself, but does so in a positive light while still showing the reality of living with ADHD. It's neither overly pessimistic or romanticized, and we see Lizzie both flourish and suffer because of her brain. It also goes specifically into detail about how it's shaped Lizzie, and doesn't just paint her as hyperactive and distracted, but discusses specifics that can come with ADHD, like rejection sensitive dysphoria. It's honestly just really good rep, and I was expecting that, because Mazey's other book did a fantastic job with anxiety, especially in an academic setting.

I did still really love the writing and characters here though, which shows to me that I do still really enjoy Mazey Eddings as an author, and has me excited about the next book she'll write (though I will be reading that synopsis first!)

I would probably give this one 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding it up to 4 for Goodreads because I'm feeling generous and this was really cute.

Once again, I really loved the way that Mazey Eddings portrays neurodivergence in her books as I think she takes a lot of care with her characters. I was really interested in how Lizzie's ADHD was written, especially as someone who does not have ADHD, but has people very close to her who do. Obviously this isn't going to be an exact replica of everyone's experience, but it did help me understand better how someone with ADHD might process certain experiences.

I loved that there was an opposites attract element to Lizzie and Rake's romance, and I loved how fiercely Rake always defended Lizzie. However, my main sticking point was that I don't really understand why they completely threw out the idea of being romantically involved when they found out Lizzie was pregnant. There is definitely middle ground between getting married and being completely platonic, and I didn't really understand why they felt like they couldn't explore that until like 75% of the way through the book. I also feel like the same thing happened as in the first book where the wrap up was too quick! I wanted pining, but then I wanted the cutesy relationship while Lizzie was still pregnant! Not just an epilogue after the baby was born!

Anyway, I still found this book really endearing and I will definitely pick up Mazey Eddings's future books, especially within this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this ARC!