Brothers best friend + fake dating done right! It's so good and so real, the romcom aspect hits all the pleasure points to make this a good read but the characters being so well developed makes this story devourable and honestly a top 10 for the year, because I just don't see much being able to top this for my Reread-ability metric.

You know that trope in romance books where one or both of the characters are "broken" and all they needed to fix themselves was love? Nope! None of that here! These characters were self aware, mature, present with themselves and each other, and fully capable of acknowledging their hurts and wrongs.

And you know that part in fake dating where its all drawn out to the point where you're annoyed at the sheer improbability of their choices for the sake of *drama*? Not here! The fake dating here was truly out of expediency and convenience for their situation and not just something pulled out of thin air to drive the plot, it was external fake dating but internal "we need socialization breaks and lets use each other as an excuse for that" which I loved.

This book touches on a lot of deep relatable issues (PTSD, family trauma, mental health, etc.) and what truly sealed the deal for me here was that it didn't pose love as a cure all that magically fixed every life situation at the end of the day. They had to find and work for practical solutions to fix these issues and the love they found along the way was just a huge bonus.

My one gripe is that the last ~15% of the book seemed to *zoom* through the story, it didn't feel rushed per se it just felt like everything was wrapping up at warp speed via time gaps (like a few days to a few weeks worth) while I was trying to absorb the events in real time.

Thank you St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!

The Plus One is a wonderful childhood friends/enemies to lovers story. Indira suddenly finds herself needing to crash at her brother's where she finds her old childhood friend/nemesis Jude home for long break from his work as a critical care doctor overseas. Thrown together often as they help with the wedding activities of Indira's brother, they discover a lot of steam under the old banter/bicker.

A truly wonderful story where issues of stress, anxiety, and the stigma associated with seeking help are dealt with masterfully and with great humor.

Mazzy’s writing keeps getting better with every book published and this is one to not skip!!

Synopsis: When Indira breaks up with her boyfriend, she crashes at her brother’s house, unaware that her brother’s best friend, Jude, is staying there as well until her brother’s wedding festivities are over. While Indira and Jude have always fought and bickered, the two make a plan to fake date to comfort each other through all the upcoming events. Of course, with all the forced proximity, the two start to realize that maybe they don’t hate each other after all.

Thoughts: This story had me feeling everything! I was smiling, laughing, crying and swooning. Indari and June had the best chemistry with the perfect balance between emotional moments and laugh-out-loud banter. I truly loved Mazzy’s message that you do not have to be strong all the time (especially if you are a guy), and how it is okay to rely on someone else for support. And while they were each struggling with their own traumas, they way they looked out for and supported the other unconditionally was so special to witness. I also appreciated how the conflict was realistic and not a break up for the sake of it!

Read if you like:
-Brother’s best friend
-Forced proximity
-Childhood enemies to lovers
-Open door romance
-Therapy positive books
-Fake dating
-Wedding festivities
-Funny banter
-Cameos from Mazzy’s previous books

Thank you SMP for the ARC! Pub date 4/4

When Indira walks in on her boyfriend, you know, she grabs all her belongings and runs to her brother Collin and his fiancé’s house. But when she arrives, her childhood nemesis Jude, opens the door. Turns out he’s in town for Collin’s wedding and he’s crashing at his house, too. With all of the pre-wedding activities, Jude is stressed and Indira is forced to see her cheating ex. They make a deal to be each others fake dates for the wedding. The other problem? They’re starting to fall for each other.
This book was the 3rd in the Brush With Love series and I really enjoyed it. Mazey Eddings writes such strong female characters with truly relatable real-life issues and Indira was no exception. She was tough and compassionate, but still vulnerable from her dad walking out on their family 20 years ago. I liked that her and Jude didn’t immediately fall for each other, they really needed to work through some things to get there. There’s great humor written throughout, I cackled out loud multiple times while reading. This book was the perfect addition to this series and it did not disappoint.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book, but I will try.

I absolutely loved the story - it was beautifully written and I liked that it alternated between Indira and Jude throughout the story.

I LOVED that Jude was written as an actual man with feelings. Other books do this, but with his character the emotional development that is done between beginning and end is just.. perfect! His growth was probably my favorite thing about the book. His willingness to do what he needs for himself and his happiness was wonderful. I cried once he was finally free.

I want to be friends with Indira. She also has wonderful character development BUT she knows when to stop and assess whether she needs to be involved, she's there for Jude when he needs her and his space, and overall knows how to read her friends and family members to where she can comfort them but also when they need their time to decompress.

The spice was *chef's kiss* and not overwhelming (or dramatic). I think the best part is that THEY NEVER GAVE UP ON EACH OTHER. They work through everything together and communicate so well.

I laughed, I cried, and I am grateful for this beautiful book about healing and a realistic relationship. 5/5, 10/10 and I will be reading her other books.

All my favorite tropes in a romcom but also very realistic.

After reading Lizzie's story I knew I had to follow up and read Indira's.

After discovering her boyfriends infidelity, Indira heads to stay with her brother. Unbeknownst to her she's walking into a forced proximity, brother's best friend, enemies to lovers scenario.

Jude is back to see Collin wed Jeremy and now has to "suffer" living with the sarcastic Indira while helping with wedding prep. Jude is struggling and has to hide his mental Illness to keep everything at bay to get through Collin's wedding.

A heart warning, story where you can relate at some level to each character. I loved this one the best and the ending fit so perfectly.

3.5 stars. This book didn’t really grab my attention until after about 30-35%, but after that, it was smooth sailing. I enjoyed the angst.

Book Rating: 5 stars, so good!

Overall Impression: Oh where do I start? This book is like a healing therapy session. But with romance and spice. This book will make you FEEL. You'll feel it all while reading Jude and Indira's story. You'll love every minute of it, even the parts that bring tears to your eyes. Mazey Eddings has this way of weaving important mental health conversations into a page turning book.

What I liked: Jude is one of my favorite male main characters of all time. We got to experience his complete journey through this story. It was intense at times and we really got to go inside his mind. The male friendship between Jude and Collin is one of the best I've read. Just constant unconditional love and emotion we don't get to often experience between men.

What I would change: Nothing. This story is perfect. Keep writing more Mazey Eddings!

Would I buy it? 100% I am buying this for me and everyone I know.

Would I tell a friend to buy it? I'm going to tell them all to pre-order!

1-5 Spice Scale: A solid 3, the spice scenes in this are so so so good. It's like so HOT but so loving and sweet at the same time.

Favorite quote: "But having someone around with the potential to love her had felt better than being alone. Being lonely. Indira so badly wanted to be loved."

I really, really liked The Plus One. The book follows Jude and Indira, two former childhood enemies. Jude is best friends with Indira’s older brother, Collin, and has recently returned home for Collin’s wedding. The Plus One portrays Jude’s struggles with PTSD in a poetic, heartbreaking, and brutally honest way. I felt very seen by so many of his thought processes. Since the author,
Mazey Eddings, has also struggled with PTSD, Jude’s journey was so authentic.
Beyond that, Indira and Jude’s friendship was one of the most endearing parts of this story. Their relationship developed really naturally, and it was so sweet to watch them fall in love.

My only complaint is that the first quarter of the book dragged a bit, so it was harder to get into, but then the last 3/4 being utterly fantastic made up for it.

I definitely recommend for anyone who has been a fan of Edding’s past work.

When Mazey Eddings wrote The Plus One, she really said let’s hit these readers with one emotional gut punch after another. I have never cried more.

Jude and Indira grew up together, despised one another, and are now forced to share the same living space and it starts off exactly how you’d expect with them taunting and teasing each other. But behind the humor and snark, these are two people who are deeply hurting and they can sense the other’s pain and it’s so nice to see them lay their proverbial weapons down to help the other person, eventually leading to them helping themselves too. The whole story is just heartbreaking and beautiful, full of hope and healing. Could not love it any harder.

There is one part in particular (the house analogy) that absolutely destroyed me, to the point where I had to set the book down and just lay in bed and sob because it was so well-written and relatable. Mazey writes about mental health with such care, in a way that’s raw and real and it’s my absolute favorite thing in the world. Will recommend this book a million times over.

Thank you so much for an arc of The Plus One by Mazey Eddings.

I am such a fan of Edding’s writing . I love the representation she includes with her characters and her writing is so heartfelt and meaningful. She can also bring the steam! I know I can always count of great Character development and I loved seeing Indira and Jude in this novel. They developed both individually and as a couple and it felt authentic. Eddings is definitely on my auto buy list! I highly recommend this book and series!

I received this book from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

I did enjoy this book! There were a few spots I thought were unnecessary but overall I enjoyed it and will be recommending

Great mental health representation and depiction of second chance romance. I love reading books where you are able to see the make character showcase vulnerability. I believe that there should be more books depicting men with mental health representation in order for it to be normalized—especially ptsd—which is a very common disorder.

however i will say, that this book didn’t capture my interest

What a gorgeous story! I love Mazey’s writing but what really stood out to me about this story was the unique representation of PTSD. I’ve read a lot of contemporary romance and I don’t think I’ve ever read a main character actively handling such acute PTSD. I legitimately wanted to reach through the pages and hug Jude, but let Indira do the job. I also loved Indira’s complexity, the intricacies of the sibling’s best friend trope and that such humor could be brought to a story featuring mental illness. Mazey has definitely found a space for herself in contemporary romance, a much needed voice writing about mental health, friendship and love. Looking forward to her next story and/or series!

5/5 starts

Thank you to St. Martin's, NetGalley, and the author for my early review copy.

Content warnings: Content notes: parental abandonment, strained family dynamics, medical care provider trauma, PTSD, panic attacks.

I absolutely adored this book! I have loved all of Mazey's books and I continue to learn so much about mental health from her books.

The first scene (although is not good with infidelity) is by far the funniest scene I've read in a long time. Peanut butter, the cat, the 'other women', I was laughing so hard!

This book is exactly what I love in romance books. Funny, emotional, amazing character development and depth in the characters, sweet side characters and steam!! Jude and Indira each carried their past mistakes and hurts with them into their 'fake' dating and I loved how they stepped up for each other.

This book is a stand alone from her other books but it was so fun to see the previous main characters become side characters in this book.

Overall, this book was incredible, one that I want on my shelf and I can't wait for other to read it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of The Plus One in exchange for my honest review!

I'd already read a previous contemporary romance by Mazey Eddings, A Brush with Love, and I remember liking it, but also finding some issues with it, particularly in regard to its depiction of mental health. As for its standalone sequel, Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake, I haven't read it yet, so I can't judge how that turned out, although I must say that I'm not a huge fan of the accidental pregnancy trope. But when it comes to the next book after that, The Plus One, I ended up being charmed by it. It takes fake dating, which I already adore, and combines it with the childhood rivals-to-lovers trope (I initially categorized it as enemies to lovers, but then realized rivals to lovers is much more suitable) in order to create a sweet and down-to-earth romance with plenty of lovable chemistry between Indira and Jude. I also appreciate the mental health rep that comes through Jude, which I found to be more sensitively written than what I'd read in A Brush with Love. I do think the ending gets wrapped up a bit too tidily, but all in all, The Plus One is worth checking out if you're looking for a contemporary romance that can be both lighthearted and serious.

Final rating: 3.75 stars rounded up to the full four

what an incredible novel. the mental health representation was amazing and well-written, all of the characters were incredible, the conflict between the main characters didn’t feel forced or placed there just to have it. i cried and laughed so much as i read. the spice was on page and not gratuitous at all. i also appreciated the content warnings in the beginning of the book letting us know what was to come without any spoilers. it really helped me to prepare to feel what jude and indira were going through. seriously wish i could explain how wonderful of a read this was.

thank you netgalley, St Martin, and Mazey Eddings for the ARC!

All I want to do is wrap Dira and Jude up and never let go. The banter, the support, the joy, and the love... ugh!!! It's such a tender, heartfelt romcom that had me crying and giggling on an airplane. The Plus One is spicy and emotional in all the best ways.

It's hard to believe that the trilogy is over! I have loved these characters and getting to read their love stories. Mazey Eddings did masterful work tackling delicate topics with care, love, and healing. This book in particular is heartwarming and lovely and made me feel all gooey inside. AND no third act breakup!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the advanced copy!

I tried so hard to like this one. It didn’t capture my attention, even after the first 50 pages. I’ll more than likely try again, because the characters and storyline seemed so likeable.