Wow. I think this was my favorite out of the three! This was emotional and I truly felt the connection between Jude and Indira. There was some great chemistry here.

Jude is Indira's brother's best friend and they grew up together. Jude and Indira hated each other all throughout their lives and would constantly annoy one another. A wedding, temporary leave, and an unfortunate peanut butter incident bring Jude and Indira to stay at Collin's house. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, fake dating, only on tent, what's not to love?

I LOVED how this book discussed and handled Jude's trauma. And how Indira approached it. How they tease one another and their banter is so fun, but they also work through heavy stuff from both of their lives. This was a beautiful story! Just know that there's plenty of cute romance, but there's also some heavy stuff that goes on.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press!

CW: medical trauma, PTSD, panic attacks, infidelity (not main characters)

This book was super cute!! The characters felt so real and relatable, and you could tell that they truly cared for each other. I wish that we got a little more backstory from their past so it didn't feel as insta-lovey but that's my only complaint. Would definitely recommend this for a fun but emotional read!

When Mazey Eddie‘s newest book The Plus One showed up on my inbox I squealed with delight, a literal squeal! This book literally blew me away. I didn’t realize how much I needed Indira’s story until I got to read this beautiful book! The whole series is wonderful and amazing. This series has amazing romance and even more importantly it has real friendship between women. Mazey Eddings’ showcases stories of women who have careers and lives but also want love. The Plus One has some trigger warning as the story really went deep into how trauma and family really shape us into our adulthood. Mazey Eddings has become one of my go to authors in recent years and I am so happy for her success.

Thank you @mazeyeddings and @SMPRomance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I finished this book a few days ago, and just needed to sit with my thoughts before writing a review. Because this book was everything I hoped it would be and more. The third book in the ABWL series, and it ended on the strongest note. "The Plus One" is officially my favourite book in the series, and an undisputable 5 star read.

This book takes incredibly hard issues and treats them with an incredible amount of love and compassion. I fell in love with Jude and Indira from page 1, and have never rooted for two characters more in my life. I appreciated that Eddings didn't write in a 3rd act breakup for these two, and they overcame their trauma together through love, openness, and THERAPY.

This book made me laugh and cry in equal measure. It's burrowed its way into my heart, and even writing this review I feel like I can't express how much this book impacted me and how much it means to me. I hope when it comes out, you will all give it a read because it has immediately become one of my favourite books ever.

I wish I could articulate my feelings for this better, but suffice to say I vocally, staunchly, and forcefully recommend this book and all of the other ones in the ABWL series.

I think it's a testament to how much I loved this book and this series that I'm actually crying as I write this review, realizing that I will never get to revisit these characters again. They mean so much to me, and I just want everyone to feel this way about these books.

I know this book isn’t due out for awhile but after gleefully cheering when I was approved to read this I couldn’t wait! I am late to this author’s writing, as I read Lizzie Blake before the first one. But now I know! I have read and listened to the first couple books, they can be read alone. Let me tell you, with this author there is no bad times while reading. I smiled broadly and laughed so hard, I snorted! There is no other way to describe this book except absolutely 100% enjoyable!!

PS the audiobooks for the first two are incredible. I know I must have looked silly laughing my butt off driving. But the good mood it brought was worth the looks!

I happily and volunteer reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and this one was a real winner. Some vague spoilers, so if you don’t want to read on just know I loved it.

I really enjoyed the banter between characters and the deeper topics of mental health. I love a book where the love interests end up anchoring each other through hard times like Indira and Jude did. I also really liked that it didn’t have the typical “big misunderstanding breakup” 80% in, it felt raw and real. I really enjoyed this read and these characters. I was sad to see it end because I loved living in this world for the length of this book!

The Plus One

5/5 stars

This book was so good! I am for sure a Mazey Eddings fan! Her previous novels, A Brush With Love and Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake were such good reads for me, I could not wait to dive in to Indira’s story.

After walking in on her boyfriend with another woman, finding her car out of commission, and in need of a place to go, Indira Papadakis shows up on her brother’s doorstep to find her least favorite person in the world: Jude Bailey. Home for his best friend’s wedding (who, consequently, is also Indira’s older brother, Collin), Jude is grappling with life and a job he does not enjoy. Living under the same roof has Indira and Jude seeing more of each other than they would like (right?). As Collin’s wedding approaches, chaos ensues. Jude’s anxiety continues mounting, while Indira keeps running in to her cheating ex. To survive, the two hatch a plan: pretend to date. At this point, what could possibly go wrong?

I think The Plus One is Mazey’s best book yet. With each book, her writing and character development continues to improve. I fell deep in love with each of the characters and didn’t want the story to end!

Also, I want to note that the way Mazey pens mental health in her novels is so real and so respectful. Mental health is not talked about enough in society, nevertheless books, so I am so glad they are at the forefront of her novels.

Also also, can we talk about her book dedications? They are THE BEST. 😭

If you have a chance, preorder The Plus One, add it to your TBR, or request it from your library ASAP.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy of the book!

I will never understand how Mazey Eddings is able to balance humor, romance, and mental health so well to create characters whose journeys are so amazing to watch!
Jude and Indira’s relationship is tension-filled and so sweet. I loved seeing them fall in love! The combination of them knowing each other since childhood and the drama of the impact of Jude and Colin’s friendship made for a great love story.
PTSD is handled really well through Jude’s story arc. I’m always so impressed when I can understand and empathize with a character’s experience that I’ve not experienced myself.
Also, I loved seeing Dan and Harper and Lizzie and Rake again! Found families are so realistic and make this story so much richer!

I felt very close to love for A Brush with Love, and I liked Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake, but I full-on loved The Plus One. I thought Dan was top tier, and then we met Jude. Jude just completely tugged at my heartstrings, and I wanted the best of everything for him. I loved that Indira really saw him. She saw his hurt and his heart and she handled him with such care. I love her as well. I love that we got glimpses of their past growing up but didn’t get overloaded by whole flashbacks. I appreciated that Jude’s trauma wasn’t exploited by adding detailed descriptions of the losses he faced in his assignments. The therapy-positive message and mental health destigmatization in this book is so well done and so important. I was rooting so hard for these two and felt very proud of their journeys, both individually and together. I believe this is the last book in the series and, in my opinion, Mazey Eddings wrapped it up with the best of the three with this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

I wasn't sure if I'd love a book in this series as much as I loved Lizzie's book, but this book was incredible! I adored the characters of Indira and Jude. They had amazing chemistry, and I appreciated their communication skills. I really love how Eddings writes characters who are flawed, and extremely relatable. This was just an overall beautiful story and I can't wait for another book from Mazey!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Despite the cute cover and title, this is not a fluffy rom-com (see trigger warnings in the author's note). It is actually well rounded and contains a little bit of everything: deep, fluffy, sad, funny, sweet, romantic, spicy.

I enjoyed the author's take on the enemies to lovers trop as she explored the many facets of a romantic relationship enmeshed with real world problems. The two main characters, Indira & Jude, have a long history and a lot of baggage to work through. This book was laugh out loud funny and well as deeply insightful. I especially appreciated the way in which mental health and mental illness was addressed in a healthy and positive way.

*slow clap for Mazey Eddings* How does she do it?! She consistently writes charming romances filled with creative use of tropes, incredible steam, endearing characters, top notch banter and sexual chemistry, and all the feels. I loved this book so much and thought was a perfect addition to her Brush with Love series. Her writing brings joy but also contemplation- which is such a powerful thing. I really enjoyed the sensitive and vulnerable way she handled the topics of divorce, childhood trauma, PTSD, career burnout and mental health in this book. While the subject matter was heavy, this book was a delight to read! It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me swoon and it made me feel. Can't wait to read every single thing she ever writes!

Thank you SMP Romance and Netgalley for my copy.

Collin is Jude’s best friend. They are now doctors and have been friends since elementary school. Indira is Collin’s little sister and was always wanting to do things with Collin and Jude. As they grew up, Jude and Indira became great enemies, constantly throwing barbs at each other. Collin is getting married, and Jude is home from his doctor responsibilities in war torn or disaster areas. He has lost more patients than he has saved and cannot imagine being happy himself. Indira’s ex-boyfriend will be at the wedding with the person he cheated with, so Indira is not anxious to be by herself. Jude offers to be her fake boyfriend. Jude has always had a love hate relationship with Indira, but he realizes there has been more love than hate. Indira is surprised to learn she is harboring feelings for Jude as well. With Indira, Jude feels secure. How does she help him endure the last year of his contract with PTSD invading his system?
I loved the characters in this book. Indira speaks her mind and even though she has abandonment issues she holds herself together. Jude suffers from PTSD and is not holding himself together unless he has Indira by his side. I loved all the festivities Jeremy and Collin have going working up to the wedding itself. They embody love for each other and for their friends. I like that this book shows that even doctors who are successful can suffer mental health issues. It takes a lot of bravery to overcome the fears and doubts. Working with supporting therapists and friends make all the difference in the world.

I was expecting a light hearted friends to enemies romance but this book is more than that. We have two people who grew us together. Jude was Indira’s brother’s best friend and Indira and Jude had what appeared to be a mutual dislike of each other. When they are thrown together for her brother’s wedding we find out there has always been more. Jude however is dealing with some serious PTSD from his 2 years as a doctor in war torn and impoverished countries around the world and this is where the lighthearted part ends. His PTSD is front and center and we have a front row seat to his pain and healing. There are some steamy scenes in the book which may not appeal to all readers. I appreciated two people who dealt with their misunderstandings by talking to each other.

I really enjoyed this book. Mazey Eddings does an amazing job of creating layered and interesting characters that are completely different across all of her books. Indira and Jude's snark is pretty funny and I loved the backdrop of her brother's wedding unfolding. I also love how therapy was a normal part of the event progression. I don't know much about living with PTSD, but the representation here seemed as intense as I would imagine it be. One of my very favorite parts of Mazey Eddings books is that the characters aren't magically fixed at the end. They still have to put in work to manage their respective issues. Love doesn't erase the challenging parts of life, but it does make navigating them much less lonely.

She has done it again. I would follow mazey eddings to the edge of the earth if she asked me too. Her books are incredible and this is just another example.

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings
A Brush With Love #3
Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: April 4, 2023

Today marks Thanksgiving, at least in Canada. I certainly know what I’m thankful for. It’s the opportunities a new story presents. Maybe it will be a form of escapism. Maybe you’ll read something and come out of it with a little more understanding and have grown. Maybe you’ll find a character who reflects part of your own journey and feel less alone. Maybe you’ll laugh. Maybe you’ll cry. Most of all, the story will stay with you long after you finish the last chapter. Sometimes you might just experience one of these things and it will be a great story, or maybe you’ll read a Mazey Eddings novel and experience it all.

Eddings is back with her latest novel in the Brush with Love series, this time we follow Indira in her journey of healing and love. You absolutely do not need to read the previous novels (although you should because they are fantastic!) to appreciate the story. As is common with a love of romance series the characters featured in each novel are a part of a friend group but I found that knowledge of them to this particular story wasn’t as integral to understanding the character’s background as it was in Lizzie’s story.

In the author’s bio she is on “on a mission to destigmatize mental health issues and write love stories for every brain.”. Well Eddings, I think you are most certainly on your way to doing so with this series. This book is still a romance but it is heavier in tone than the previous novels. Fret not, it’s still full of playful moments, spicy encounters, and silly banter. However, Eddings manages to create a story that teaches us that love isn’t about fixing a person, it’s about being their safe space for them to be themselves and to offer support.

It is a fantastically crafted story and I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever Eddings comes up with. Seriously, I’m talking novels, IG posts, grocery lists. I’ll take whatever I can get.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced reading copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sad that the A Brush with Love series has come to an end! Unfortunately, this one is the weakest link for me. I started off loving it and was really pleased with the discussion of mental health. I flew through the first 3/4 of this novel and then it kind of fell off the rails for me. I feel like it wrapped up way too cleanly and easily for me. I usually hate a third-act breakup, but I felt like this story lost all tension and made it kind of boring for me. There wasn't much to dislike, but there was just something missing for me. I do love Mazey Eddings's characters though and loved the cameos of the previous couples. Definitely look up trigger warnings before reading this one.

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

Review posted to Goodreads 10/10/2022: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4999598820

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. At the start of the year, I read A Brush With Love and absolutely loved it. Little did I know there was about to be a whole series to follow. When I requested this book, I didn't realize it was part of the series, I just knew I loved Mazey Eddings' writing style and I was beyond excited to find out it was part of a series I loved. I absolutely loved Jude and Indira in this book. They were so drastically different but exactly what the other needed in their hardships. They were supportive and helped each other through a lot of hard situations. And the best part was the portrayal of mental health in this book. I'm glad I found out about this book and got the chance to read it and I'm excited to go back and read the second book in the series cause Rake and Lizzie were absolutely adorable side characters!

This was a really sweet story and has all of my favorite tropes: fake dating, brothers best friend, only one bed (tent). It has the perfect amount of tension and spice to make it impossible to put down, and the caring hearts of the characters make you want to spread kindness.