Thank you NetGalley and thank you so so much Macmillan audio for granting me the pleasure of listening to the audio!

I want to start by saying that I loved this book when I read the eARC and listening to the audio ALC made me fall in love all over again.

Imani Jade Powers and Joe Arden narrated this enchanting book by the fabulous Mazey Eddings. They did such a fantastic job bringing Indira and Jude to life. They both get five full jars of peanut butter for their performances. I cannot wait for the book to come out in just a few short weeks.

A big, fat, chunky thank you to Mazey Eddings for writing such amazing characters. Their flaws are beautiful, their self-care is inspiring, and the way they love is worthy of it’s pwn Taylor Swift concert.

I hope listeners love this story and these characters as much as I do! Heart emoji!

A very huge thank you to MacMillan Audio for granting me access to this title. I am unsure if I would have finished the novel in hard copy. The Plus One by Mazey Eddings, in truth, is not my favorite of her books, but I still very much enjoyed it.

Indira and Jude are both thrown together when Indira's brother decides to marry the love of his life. Jude is home from his most recent deployment and while. he's glad to be back spending time with his bestie, anxiety is bubbling in him at what feels to him the most random/inconvenient times. Indira has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her (this scene actually cracked me up thanks to my book chat squad) and now she's crashing at her brother's. Soon to be married, Indira's brother has a less than ideal packed household, worse, Indira and Jude are like oil and water, they don't mix. Their playful/legitimate dislike is intense from the start, but with a little forced proximity and mutual beneficial needs for assistance and these two cook up a plan to survive the wedding together.

I want to warn that this book covers PTSD a lot. While the overall gist of the story is light, the ongoing struggles for Jude are very real. He experiences debilitating anxiety and panic attacks.

I have very little patience for redundant vocabulary and Eddings falls into this trap a lot in this book. I thought I was being overly critical, until I noticed my book group mentioning similar things.

What impressed me was that Mazey Eddings didn't end the book where most authors would. She followed through to give us full closure for both of our main characters. .

This was such a cute and easy romcom. The banter between the two main characters is phenomenal, and I love a good enemies to lovers trope… This also had a mix of fake dating as well which makes it even more dynamic. I really enjoy the characters and the writing style.

Loved this one- have loved the whole series! Jude and Indira are the best for the back and forth banter. I love the long history that comes with them and that they have been in each others lives for forever yet get thrown together and realize that love is coming there way.

Audio is phenomenal! Love when there are 2 voices because I feel more pulled into the story!

review: the plus one by mazey eddings 💕💒

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"trauma & happy endings aren't mutually exclusive..." 💭

swipe right for synopsis ➡️
release date: April 4th, 2023 ✨🎉

✨ MY THOUGHTS ✨

⚠️ cw: mental illness (especially PTSD), panic attacks, infidelity, war, violence, medical trauma, grief, ableism & abandonment ⚠️

if you love interconnected standalone books, dual povs, the forced proximity & fake dating trope, brother's best friend with a hint of childhood enemies to lovers, mental health awareness, lgbt+ representation, couples who communicate & a little bit of spice this book might be for you....💕🥂

alexa play this is me trying by taylor swift 🎶

🌟 RATING: ★★★★★ STARS
🥵 SPICE SCALE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

mazey eddings is one of my favorite authors, but I'll never forgive you for ruining peanut butter for me. 🤣 it was gonna be hard to beat lizzie & rake, but indira & jude stole my heart. this one was a little bit darker theme wise, but i was still laughing, sobbing, swooning & blushing. i really enjoyed the lack of a third act break up. it was more of an exterior conflict & not a standard couples fight.. i really hope that made sense 🤦🏽‍♀️😅 i definitely recommend this entire series series!! the audiobooks are perfection!! i love all of the girlies & just want to be a part of their friends group. plus, their significant other's just *chefs kiss* 💕 @katebrownreads i'm totally counting this as another buddy read 🤣

thank you @netgalley @macmillan.audio & @stmartinspress for the free advanced copy!!

#sarcasticbrunettereads #theplusone #mazeyeddings #bookstagram #bookreview

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The Plus One (Book 3 but a Standalone)

I loved this book. It was deep. It was funny. It was spicy. Did I mention it was deep already? Trigger warnings were announced at the beginning of the read/audiobook and the toppings were really handled well. No spoilers but Chapter 12 hit me HARD. I’d literally be laughing one moment during the Cheesecake Factory scene and then on the verge of heartbreak. But it added so much to the characters!

You’ll see lots of the characters from her first books A Brush with Love and Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake throughout the story along with Indira’s brother getting married 🏳️‍🌈.

This has so many tropes like brothers best friend, close proximity, fake dating, and childhood frienemies. But also heavier things like mental health, PTSD, divorced childhood.

The audiobook was fantastically narrated and I highly recommend pairing it.

Thank you netgalley, MacMillan audio, publisher and Mazey Eddings for the #gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review. HUGE fan of the narrators and kept my attention the whole book. This book is now my absolute favorite Mazey book. I am so pumped that I placed a pre-order for it while listening. Older Brothers best friend enemies to lover takes mental health issues in the most respectful way. I am looking forward to everything mazey writes.

3.5 stars.
Indira and Jude are childhood frienemies. Jude is Indira’s brothers best friend and they are faking a relationship for her brothers wedding.
I enjoyed this book well enough. I would have liked it much more if it were first person especially since it was dual narration. The audio narrators did a good job.
The half star comes solely from the moment that their relationship is discovered because that made me laugh out loud.

Indira had it all. Until she walked in on her boyfriend covered in peanut butter with another woman that is. She immediately ends it because of the cheating, but also, who uses peanut butter in the bedroom? Unfortunately for her, when she arrives at her brothers house to stay for a bit, her arch nemesis from childhood Jude is also staying there. Her brothers wedding is fast approaching, so when Jude offers to be her fake boyfriend from the wedding, she can’t say no.

One thing I truly love about Mazy Eddings books is that she does not shy away from discussing mental health. I think it’s so important for that to be shown in the books we read, because that is a very common part of most peoples lives. I just loved Jude and Indira, and how much they truly loved and cared for each other, even when they pretended the hate ran deep. This book contained all the tropes, and I couldn’t have asked for more. It was a fantastic rom com!

This book has so many things I love . . . fake dating, enemies to lovers (since childhood), best friend’s sister and forced proximity.

Indira catches her boyfriend in a compromising position on her couch and heads to her brother Collin's house as a refuge. Little does she know, her childhood enemy, and Collin's best friend, Jude is home for Collin's wedding and staying at Collin's place. Jude is on an extended leave from his humanitarian doctor job.

Collin and Jeremy's wedding is quite the to-do with many activities and events leading up to their wedding day. Indira's ex is a relative of Jeremy's and will be at the wedding. Jude is dealing with some PTSD from the things he has experienced in his job. Indira and Jude decide to "fake date" at the wedding to support each other, despite their "enemy" status.

I loved Indira and Jude. When they reminisce about childhood, you see they didnt' really ever hate each other. And watching them catch feelings was fun.

The author dealt well with Jude’s trauma and mental health. Indira being a psychiatrist who works with children dealing with their own PTSD, and having her own trauma from her parents' divorce, allowed her to not only support Jude, but realize she needs to confront her own trauma and deal with it. Jude’s and Indira both grew so much during this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press (for the ARC) and MacMillan Audio (for the ALC) in exchange for my honest review.

After walking in on her boyfriend in the act with someone else, Indira leans on her brother (Collin) for housing leading up to his wedding. Jude has just come back from working as a travel physician, he is staying with his best friend (Collin) before he is shipped out again. Indira and Jude have hated each other since childhood, and are now both under the same roof until Collin's wedding. Jude and Indira decide to strike up a fake dating scheme to get revenge on her ex and his new girlfriend.

This book is filled with witty banter, grumpy/sunshine, and hilarious sibling clapbacks. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the pre-wedding events. The camping scene was particularly hilarious. Character relationships went beyond Indira and Jude. Their relationships with Collin and Jeremy were also explored and appreciated. Sibling conversations felt true to life.

Mental health representation from the male perspective is something I don't see very often. It's a nice change to see the FMC as the anchor for emotional support, and the MMC as the vulnerable character. Trigger warnings are listed in the audiobook prior to the start of the book.

I'm nor sure how she does it, but Mazey Eddings handles a very difficult topic while maintaining levity through a romantic comedy.

Jude is Indira's brother's best friend, The thing is, they always hated each other, as sure as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Now that Collin is getting married to Jeremy and are planning on many events leading up to the big day, Indira and Jude, her to get back at her ex, Chris, and him because she has a very calming effect on his anxiety, decide that fake dating would help them both get through tough times during these events.
This is book 3 in the A Brush with Love series, a brother's best friend, enemies to fake dating to lovers romance, and I loved it! I loved the banter, the side characters, the focus on mental health and how grounded the main characters are. I've already read book 1, but I'm definitely going back to read book 2 (I didn't know this was a series!). You can totally read this as a stand alone, but I strongly recommend reading at least book 1, A Brush with Love, not because you need to, but because it is so good!
The narration on the audio book was great.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

💚 What’s it about?
Indira is a psychiatrist with an okay love life. That is until she walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her. She packs up her stuff and moves in with her brother and his fiancé, right before their wedding.

And Jude is also staying with them. Jude is Indira’a brother’s best friend, and her nemesis since childhood.

Jude is also on leave from his work as an emergency physician for a global health organization and experiencing PTSD from the work. Between that and Indira trying to avoid her ex with his new girlfriend, the two form a fake dating alliance.

💚 My thoughts?
😭😍😭😍😭😍

My gosh I love this book. The frank discussion of mental health and how it’s viewed not only by the average person, but by the medical community (at least in this story) is heart breaking.

Indira and Jude as a couple may be my new favorite. Their sweet banter, earnest love, mutual respect for the other had me swooning.

One of my tells for how much I love a romance novel is how much I root for the couple. These two were like megaphone shouting, pom pom shaking cheer level.

I am so impressed by the level of unpacking mental trauma that Eddings did on this book. It won my heart, and it will likely win yours too.

🎧 The audiobook narration is superb. I have a huge voice crush on Joe Arden and have been known to buy audiobooks just because he narrates them. He impresses on this one, just like the others. Narrator Imani Jade Powers does a wonderful job as Indira.

I adore this romance series. This is the third and final (I assume) book in the A Brush with Love series. Each romance has dealt very realistically with some aspect of mental health. The first book had a dental student experiencing high anxiety, the second included an FMC who is very ADHD and facing an unexpected pregnancy. I’ve been looking forward to Indira’s story and am not disappointed.

Indira Papadakis walks in on her boyfriend of two years cheating with another woman. She packs her stuff and moves in with her brother Colin and his fiancé. Much to her surprise Jude Bailey, her brothers best friend, is also staying at the house. Jude was her childhood nemesis as she tried to tag along with he and her brother when they were young. Indira and Jude are fun together as they turn their teasing onto Colin and his groom to be as they prepare for their wedding.

Indira is still dealing with the childhood trauma of a father leaving and starting new families. He was never dependable. That pain is what made her choose to be a psychiatrist and she especially enjoys helping children. Her work is fulfilling. She sees what everyone else in the friendgroup is missing. Jude is suffering PTSD. He is a surgeon and took a scholarship with a fictional doctors without borders type of organization. He has one year left of his five year commitment. But he clearly has symptoms and she can’t see how he can return to war zones. She doesn’t want to be his therapist but talks with him and helps ground him. Years or knowing each other adds to their connection and makes it easy to switch from friends to something more.

I love Indira and Jude together. They are hot and steamy one minutes, sarcastic and laugh out loud funny the next. And both their stories snagged my emotions just like the other books in the series. Jude’s explanation of his thoughts are raw and it is frustrating that his health organization is not more helpful or understanding. Eddings writes in a way that normalizes counseling and therapy. It makes me wish it was easily available to everyone. I love that there isn’t an angst moment between the MCs but it is more trying to figure their path forward.

I highly recommend this book and series. They are not as cutesy as the darling covers suggest. There is real depth, pain and emotion in these stories. Extra kudos for including positive LGBTQ representation with brother Colin. I was given the ARC from St. Martin’s Press and also the audio book from Macmillan Audio and alternated between the two. I especially loved the gravely voice of Imani Jade Powers as Indira. Joe Arden did well as Jude too. I’ve listened to all the audio books in the series and they used different narrators. I’m leaving this review voluntarily. (4.5 Stars)

I loved this book! It does an amazing job covering the difficult subject of trauma. Specifically PTSD. It is taken seriously and handled with care all while telling a great story.

I especially love the dynamic between Jude and Indira. The way she watches over him is one of the sweetest things I have ever read. Swoon!

The only thing that let this book down for me (a little bit) was the ending. Don’t get me wrong, I love the way it ends, just not necessarily how it’s told. Not a dealbreaker, and definitely doesn’t take away from whether or not I would recommend this book.

Cute read!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review or completely my own.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! I am a Mazey Eddings fan for life. She wrote Jude’s PTSD so well. Indira was such a good character, I love the growth she went through. 10/10 would recommend. The audiobook is really well done. The narrators were excellent.

4.5★ Summary: When long time frenemies Indira and Jude are thrown together for her brother’s huge wedding celebration, they devise a plan to be each other’s fake dates. Soon, however, things begin to feel a bit too real…

Thoughts: I really enjoy Mazey Eddings story telling and the wonderful, life-like characters she creates. This is the third installment in her Brush With Love series and while Lizzie still holds the number one spot, I loved this one and our MCs Indira and Jude, almost as much.

Right off the bat, The Plus One features a lot of tropes I adore. I’m a big fan of enemies to lovers and brother’s best friend, and have really taken a liking to fake dating. I think each and every one of these tropes was well executed and felt very authentic to the story. Nothing felt forced or out of place.

I always love the representation Eddings includes in her books, and this was no exception. The PTSD and anxiety Jude copes with, along with the therapy Indira undergoes, were all presented in a very realistic and honest way. In fact, the therapy sessions in which Indira opens up about her history with Jude, were some of my favorite scenes hands down.

My only criticism is that there were times were the story seemed to drag just a bit, and therefore might have been just a tad too long. Otherwise, I think this is a really great romcom with a lot of emotional depth and I highly recommend both the book and the series.

Read if you like:
•enemies to lovers
•brothers best friend
•fake dating
•forced proximity
•mental health rep
•open door Romance

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mother forking, Mazey Eddings. Where have you been all my life? Please never stop writing. The only author to ever make me enjoy the dreaded pregnancy trope has done it again. The Plus One, the third and final installment in the Brush with Love series, was perfection. Chef's kiss!

After walking in on her boyfriend and another woman, Indira moves in with her brother, Colin, and his fiancé. Adding insult to injury, her childhood nemesis, Jude, who is also her brother's best friend, is in town for Colin's wedding. Now, both unexpectedly living under the same roof, Indira and Jude discover that perhaps they are more than just each other's past. Maybe they are each other's future.

This book is funny and sexy, with a genuine representation of LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse characters. However, don't let this pretty cartoon cover fool you. This is more than just another romantic comedy. Both main characters struggle with trauma, and Eddings explores mental health in a deep and thoughtful way. Eddings' normalization of professional therapy and meaningful communication between partners is something I hope to see more of in the romance genre.

I felt so seen reading Indira and Jude's stories, and I don't know if I've ever connected to a character more than the way I did with Indira. Her relationship with her father mimics mine in a disturbingly similar way. Indira's scenes dealing with her feelings of parental abandonment and self-worth had me sobbing and yet praising her for her choices.

Jude's struggle with PTSD was so raw. This is the second book I've read recently, where the MMC deals with depression and anxiety. Focusing on the male character is so refreshing. Something else I loved was Colin and Jude's friendship. They talked about serious issues, their fears, and their hopes. They say I love you. What happened to male friendships in books? Please, please give us more of this.

The romance itself was made for me. It was impossible not to root for Indira and Jude. They are a new all-time favorite couple. Their chemistry is spot on, and damn Eddings writes a steamy scene the way I like them.

If I have any critiques, I would say it is a tad too long. Also, I think the fake dating subplot could have been done differently or left out completely, as most of the side characters know of the ruse.

Also, I will never look at peanut butter the same way again. If you know, you know.

I listened to the audio, and I enjoyed the narrators, especially the male POV. He felt everything he was reading, and I felt so present in those scenes.

Read this if you love emotional romances with meaningful conversations and witty banter. Perfect for fans of forced proximity, frenemies to lovers, fake dating, and older brother's best friend.

One other thing: while this is technically a standalone, I do recommend reading the series in order because this book wraps up all the storylines, and it is nice to see what happens to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It isn't every day that I rave as much about a book told in third person as I will about The Plus One, but when I tell you that this book was literal perfection, I truly mean it.

I was first introduced to Mazey Eddings in Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake and quickly made my way back to read the beginning of the Brush with Love Series and while I adored both of those titles, The Plus One is entirely on a whole new level.

Between Mazey's superb writing, the top tier connection between the two main characters, and the absolute heartbreaking journey they are each on, I found myself tearing up several times while quickly turning around to laugh out loud. The spice is glorious, the vulnerability of the characters mimics real life in some of the truest ways, and the connection they build to become each other's person is one of the purest connections I've ever had the pleasure to read.

Perhaps the only thing better than the story is the brilliant performances by Imani Jade Powers and Joe Arden that are both filled with so much raw emotion that you can actually feel what their characters are experiencing. While Imani is a new-to-me narrator, I will fully stand behind the fact that this is Joe Arden's absolute best performance to date.

This book is one of my all time favourite romances. Mazey Eddings writes neurodivergent characters with such love and care that the reading experience feels like a moment of healing. Jude and Dira are exceptional leads and their journey to love is one of pure delight. Both the audiobook narrators hit it out of the park with their stunning and humorous interpretation of Mazey’s words, bringing the delight and joy of the dialogue and tenderness of the story in their narration styles.