Plot: 1
Writing: .5
World building: .5
Characters: 1
Themes: 1
4/5

Spice: 3.5/5

What you can expect:
- Hate to love
- Witty banter
- Brother's best friend
- Mental health rep (PTSD)

I was not expecting the gravity and depth we got regarding mental health. I loved it. A lot of it was heavy, but I think there was a good balance with the witty banter. There were a lot of funny, juvenile moments that I would hate in everything else but works for this childhood-frenemies situation.

Indira is a psychiatrist in therapy for her own issues and Jude is an emergency physician working in various overseas clinics. I really liked how intentional the mental health rep was. I liked seeing it from a physician's pov as I've often wondered how doctors/surgeons cope with it all.

I love the communication. There's not lying or creeping around in secret. It's (for the most part) all out in the open. The communication during spicy times is immaculate. It's continuous and I could tell really helped make both of the characters feel safe and secure.

<spoilers>
I'm sorry...but how do you have the audacity to get caught cheating and then have the mistress show up at every event your ex-girlfriend's brother's wedding events?? Do you have NO SHAME? sheesh. And the fact that her brother didn't say anything to him. Fine, keep the guy in your wedding, but don't allow him to bring his new gf! Even if their split was mutual, the brother should have been more active but I guess we saw him gaslight Indira on multiple ocassions so....

I think we could have explored the who dad issue a little deeper but I liked that the POS didn't get much page time. lol. I also think it's important to see instances where some characters just can't be redeemable, because that's life. Sometimes we just have to cut out the toxic and move on.

Weird Questions I Had While Reading This Book:
- Do people really get tested regularly even when they're not active? This is the second book I've read this week where both parties haven't been active in months/years but they've been regularly tested.
- What is it with food being an aphrodisiac?! This was a k!nk I wasn't expecting from this book. lol

</spoilers>

I would definitely recommend this one for those who love rom coms with more depth.

The narrators were amazing. I never really love male narrators narrating spicy parts, especially the girl's parts...but this one was done really well.

The focus on mental health is a big part of the story and can be heavy at times. Please take a look at the triggers before diving in.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook. This is my honest review.

Thank you to Mazey Eddings and Macmillian for the ARC of this book.

For me this is a 4.5/5 stars.

General Description: Indira's life is turned upside down a month before her brother's wedding, and Jude's life starts to settle down after months in warzones. The frenemies find themselves both crashing at Indira's brothers' house (Collin) and they come up with a plan to pretend to be each others' wedding dates: Indira gets to shove it in the face of her ex, and Jude can escape all the noise without being asked where he's going.

The good:
- The emphasis on therapy. I truly love when books have fantastic mental health representation and this book has it for me.
- The frenemies to lovers vibes. I thought this was done so well!
- The situations they were put into and how they learned about each other I thought was done really well. I could not put this book down.
- I also love most of the side characters (the ones you're supposed to) and I hope we get more in this universe!

The reason for a .5 star loss: there are 3 spicy scenes in this book. 2 I thought were well time/placed, but the middle one was not necessary in my opinion and took away from the flow of the book. however, this is my opinion and I am not a big spicy book person.

In summary: This was a fantastic read and I can't wait to read more Mazey Eddings!

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings is the third book in a series that follows a group of friends as they each find love. Each book can be read as a standalone, but the other characters do make appearances which is fun if you've read the other books. I will say this book is by far my favorite of all three. The book is about Indira, a woman who walks in on her boyfriend cheating so moves in with her brother, his fiancé, and his childhood best friend. As she and her brother's friend hang out more and fake date to make things less awkward around her ex, both of them start to catch feelings.

I really enjoyed this book and its handling of mental health and anxiety, as well as how the pressure and expectations to push past those feelings can exacerbate them. The book also covered many fun romance tropes include brother's best friend and fake dating.

I listened to the audiobook and the dual narration was on point. Overall a very enjoyable listen! Highly recommend!

Oh. My. God. This was great! It gave me all the feels. I really didn’t think this could be as great as book two but I was so wrong. Mazey did an awesome job and I loved it. Intense moments with lovable fun and great kisses. **Sigh**
Things I loved:
• the romance and undeniable chemistry.
• enemies to lovers.
• The wedding.
• The writing.
• The steam
And all I want to do is think about this happy ending and hug this book!
Highly recommend this. And I almost forgot the narrators for the audiobook were amazing! Imani Jade Powers and Joe Arden were perfect and brought something extra special to this novel.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

this was a cute read. i enjoyed their relationship and how it came to be. i felt so bad for jude and all of his heartships, but the way he overcame them was awesome. the love story between the 2 was so cute and postive. everytime he pushed her away she was right there refusing to let him go. i was expecting this to be more about the wedding date, but this was so much more.

The Plus One is equal parts charming, sweet, sexy, and endearing. The characters are dealing with real life issues while trying to navigate life, relationships, and their jobs. This is the third book in the “A Brush with Love” series, and it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I also appreciate how the author address mental health issues in her books. In this book a character has PTSD, and it is handled with care and grace.

Indira has a great job and apartment but has her life turned upside down when she comes home and catches her boyfriend cheating on her. She moves in with her brother before his wedding while looking for a new place to live.

Jude is a doctor who has traveled the world to treat humanitarian crisis. He has PTSD and has traveled back home to attend his best friend’s wedding.

Indira and Jude bickered as kids but now find themselves pretending to be in a romance to get through the wedding festivities, but you guessed it, things are beginning to feel real.

It is all about the journey with romance books and this is quite the steamy, honest, and lovely journey. I enjoy how the characters open up and communicate with each other.

This is a wonderful series, and this book was no exception. The characters are likeable, and their issues feel real and authentic. I had both the e-book and the audiobook and loved the narration of the audiobook. It is so well done and so enjoyable.

I highly recommend this series. All books in the series are fantastic, well written, endearing, and fast reads.

The amount of times this book made me teary should be illegal. “The plus one” made me feel ALL the emotions. Jude and Indira and two perfectly broken humans. The banter and bickering was good hearted and fun. Indira knows that “fixing” Jude isn’t what he needs. All he needs is for her to love him. I love how far both characters evolved from the start of the story to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book gets better and better every time I read it. My love for Jude and Indira (and Mazey Eddings) knows no bounds. It's hilarious and heart wrenching, and so real and so raw. The peanut butter scene is a little unhinged and might make you think about it a little too much, but it's all part of the quirk and charm. I love the love Harper, Lizzie, Thu, and Indira have for each other. I cried while reading the e-arc, and sobbed while listening to Imani Jade Powers and Joe Arden bring this story to life. I have been a Joe Arden fan for years, I'm pretty sure he could make the US tax code sound seductive, and I'd listen to it. I had not listened to anything narrated by Imani Jade Powers, but I was blown away. She did fantastic capturing Indira's personality, the snark and gentle side. Buy this book in any format available, buy it in all the formats. It will have you cackling and fill your heart with all the good warm fuzzy feelings.

I didn't care for A Brush With Love, but adores Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake, so I had high hopes for The Plus One. Unfortunately it looks like I'm 1 for 3 with Mazey Eddings books and I think a lot of it comes down to the male narrator when listening to the audiobook. I just did not like the male narration in either A Brush With Love or The Plus One.

Also, PTSD and therapy are heavily featured. While I think the author handled it with gentleness yet realness, I felt at times it was a little too drawn out and repetitive.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, fake dating, brothers best friend

Steam level: HIGH

🔊Song Pairing: You and Me - You + Me

💭What I thought would happen:

I mean obviously fake dating for a wedding which was pretty accurate because this book offered very little surprise/originality

📖What actually happens:

Indira has just walked in on her boyfriend Fucking a woman, both covered in peanut butter. Sadly he’s still a guest at her brothers wedding and she needs a hot date…Jude her lifelong enemy/brothers bestie is back from Sierra Leone working as a Dr in third world countries. There is definitely some chemistry but both Indira and Jude have mental battles to face, self improvement must take priority.

🗯Thoughts:

Again, I know this will be an unpopular opinion…I am full of them lately but I just don’t think Mazey Eddings is for me - at least not so far. Should I continue to try…perhaps. I DNF’d A Brush With Love and Lizzie Blake was cute with a solid 3.75⭐️ rating.

I felt this was quite dramatic, and most of the time rightfully so, in terms of how Jude is suffering from PTSD, the drama between him and Indira thought sooo unnecessary most of the time. I mean hello brothers best friend…my favourite snack!

Overall, it was perfectly adequate. I believe I read it too closely with Happy Place and it just seemed far too similar in the theatrics.

⚠️ mental illness, ptsd, cheating

Indira is getting ready for her brother’s wedding as a newly single woman when she runs into her old childhood friend/nemesis, Jude. Jude has been dealing with significant anxiety after working as a surgeon in war-torn areas. To make Indira’s ex jealous, they “act” as though they’re dating…. And they’re there for each other as no one else could be.

Sweet and quite steamy. Mental health issues were described well and handled with grace by Eddings. Excellent narration.

GENRE: Romantic Comedy
RATING: 5/5
SPICE: 4/5
SUB-GENRES: Fake dating, Enemies to Lovers, Mental Health
​RELEASE DATE: APRIL 4, 2023

"I'm not here to fix you! I'm here to love you!"
****

I could not put this book down. It is my second 5-star book of the year, and it was so unexpected and wonderful. "The Plus One" by Mazey Eddings is a romance novel that tells the story of two childhood enemies, Jude and Indira. Despite their initial hatred for each other, they end up fake dating, and their relationship grows into something more.
One of the standout aspects of the book is the witty banter between the two characters and how Eddings expertly weaves in emotional moments that tug at the heartstrings. The book tackles deeper issues such as sensory overload and therapy, which adds an extra layer of complexity to the characters. Eddings explores these issues in a sensitive and nuanced way that is both relatable and thought-provoking.
​
Additionally, Eddings' writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it a quick and enjoyable read. The characters are well-developed and their chemistry is palpable. Their relationship is not without its challenges, but it's heartwarming to see them work through their issues and grow closer.

Honestly, "The Plus One" is a must-read for me. If you love humor, heart, and spice with well-developed characters and emotional depth. Mazey Eddings has crafted a beautiful love story that will leave readers feeling satisfied and swooning for Jude and Indira. Pick it up at your local bookshop when it comes out April 4th. You won't regret it.

Please note: I received this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed the story and characters. Didn't love it though. I do like how Mazey Eddings writes her conversations and the characters internal thoughts - both real and entertaining. I really like Indira and her character arc and relationships and her personality and how she dealt with stuff; but I could not get into Jude. I didn't not like his character, and I saw glimpses of why him and Indira were good for each other, but I couldn't get into him as a character or really see their attraction. Because of that, I just couldn't get fully invested in the characters or the story as much as I would have wanted to.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

This was my first Mazey Eddings book, and it won't be my last!

I loved the mental health representation in this romance. It made the characters' relationships feel genuine and realistic. The story has it's humorous moments, but it also went deep with emotions. It was the perfect balance!

The audiobook quality was fantastic, too. I was able to go up to 1.8x speed.

There are truly not words perfect enough to describe this book and it’s beautiful humanization of mental illness. I laughed at the banter, I cried at the therapeutic words, I screamed when Indira and Jude kissed for the first time. And of course, it’s a romance book, so steamy scenes were involved! This book sucked my soul from its body and shot me into literary heaven.

The portrayal of two characters with different types and degrees of mental illness, and their journey to work through and support each others recovery should honestly be require reading for every human on the planet. Many authors write about mental health in their characters as flaws to be fixed by their lovers or as fun, personality quirks. They turn mental health into a sideshow and exploit toxicity in the name of romance.

But Mazey writes about mental health how it truly is and should be: an ironically taboo yet universal human experience that we can support each other to overcome, and live with, and love with. That being imperfect does not mean settling for less than, and imperfection does not mean unworthy. I knew that Mazey could see me when I first read about Lizzie, but now I know that Mazey can see the whole world when I read about Indira and Jude.

💭Thoughts:
This is book three in the Brush With Love series. It can be read as a stand-alone. Though I really enjoyed book two in this series, so it was fun to get glimpses of Lizzie, Rake, and their sweet baby in this book.

I was really interested in the premise of this book due to my work as an ER nurse. I was looking forward to learning about Jude’s mental health issues related to his job as a emergency physician. I ended up feeling very conflicted about Jude’s work with the GHCO. On one hand I felt terrible for him because of his PTSD and secondary trauma from the things he saw during the war, but then he sounded so selfish when he talked about how he embellished his skills to get the job. That innocent people may have been hurt because of his lack of skills.

As the book progressed, I started to feel like there were more and more pieces of the story that were missing. It isn’t explained well why Jude and Indira are childhood enemies, especially when both frequently look back on seemingly positive memories. The enemies to lovers vibe just isn’t there in this one. I’d say this is more of a older brother’s friend to lovers trope. Snarky without the enemy part.

The middle part of the book really slowed for me and I caught the urge to skip forward. The ending is sweet and I felt like it helped counteract some of my earlier frustrations. Overall, it’s a quick and snarky romance.

I didn't realize this was book 3 but I'd read book 1 and there wasn't anything I couldn't understand without reading past books.

Indira has a bad day: a bad day at work, she's ignored her therapist, and she walks into her boyfriend getting peanut butter all over her couch and another woman. When she packs up and heads to her brother's house, her childhood nemesis, neighbor and brother's best friend is already crashing there as well.

Over the course of a beautiful discussion of love, mental health, PTSD, as well as a funny commentary on weddings, Indira and Jude move from Nemeses to Friends as they help each other to grow, get help, stand strong and stand strong for one another. Mazey Eddings has a talent for discussing mental health in a meaningful way that gives proper weight yet is still lighthearted and allows for her characters to be quirky, real, and grow within the stories.

#arc
#netgalley
#theplusone

This is a fun enemy to fake dating to lovers read. It's a bit heavier than I had anticipated, but very entertaining nevertheless. Despite their resistance, Indira and Jude were meant to be together. I loved how good they were for each other and how they both blossomed through the story. Both narrators did a great job bringing this story to life. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Plus One was not at all what I was expecting but that’s not a bad thing. The story follows Indira and Jude who were childhood enemies.

Indira is fresh off a horrible breakup where she walked in on something you never want to walk in on. Jude is a doctor who is dealing with a lot of trauma from treating patients in different parts of the world during emergency situations.

Indira's brother is getting married and that’s what brings Jude and her together. Indira keeps running into her ex and the crowds and loud noises are triggering PTSD from Jude’s work. They pretend to be a couple which will end up helping both of them in this situation.

Seeing how Indira and Jude navigate all these difficult scenarios was touching. This book really hits some hard subjects and does it all well. This book also promotes the importance of using tools around you like therapy and it handles all that perfectly.

My biggest complaint about the book has to do with the romance elements. I don’t like the explicit detail that so many books go into now. I do not think graphic sex is the only way to show two characters love each other. So many books show a couple's love without going into all the bedroom detail and in my opinion that is more effective.

* childhood "enemies" to lovers
* brother's best friend
* fake dating
* forced proximity
* no 3rd act breakup

Oh, wow I really enjoyed this! It was definitely a bit heavier than I had anticipated - both of our characters are struggling with their mental health (our MMC is struggling with PTSD and our FMC is working through effects of abandonment), and I enjoyed how they both became each other's support system. It started with small acts of kindness which then blossomed into bold and outward support that was driven by love and protectiveness. And while it did cover some serious topics, it did have fun banter and great secondary characters.

Rating: 4 stars