I've adored every book in this series! I was actually expecting a lighter book than what this book turned out being, but I really enjoyed the emotional journey that Indira and Jude went on. I loved seeing their bickering and how they slowly let down their guard with each other.

The overall synopsis of The Plus One was that the female main character has to move in with her brother and his partner in the run up to their wedding because she catches her boyfriend cheating on her. At the same time, her brother's childhood/ lifetime best friend is staying at the house because he has come for the wedding and is based overseas for his job. The two main characters haven't liked each other for no particular reason since childhood, so it is initially tense when they realise they will be spending the next couple of weeks in the same house. Unfortunately, the FMC's ex is part of the wedding party, and he brings along the girl he cheated on her with, so she ends up in a fake dating situation with the MMC. He agrees to it because he is struggling with PTSD and she gives him an excuse to leave busy wedding events etc. The fake dating doesn't last particularly long, and they enter into a proper relationship and we see how this develops for the majority of the book.

I went into The Plus One thinking that it would be mainly centred around a fake-dating trope/ plotline, however I found that it became relatively minor compared to the other tropes and sub-plotlines - forced proximity, brother's best friend, and a significant focus on the male main character's experience of PTSD. Also, whilst I normally prefer dual POVs compared to third person POVs, the book flipped its focus between either main character's perspectives, so I enjoyed the book's POV choice.

Overall, I rated the book a 4.25/5. I can't say there is a specific reason as to why I enjoyed the book so much, but Mazey's writing was really engaging and the storyline was very sweet.

Another very solid rom-com by Mazey Eddings! I love the fact that our romance heroes - Indira and Jude - are real people with real world problems. In addition to great chemistry and banter between the two, I especially enjoyed the communication between characters and the portrayal of mental health issues. My only critique is that the story could have included a bit more conflict - the plot felt a bit too smooth overall. Nevertheless, The Plus One is a cute, timely rom-com ideal to curl up on the sofa with. Would definitely recommend!

Wow this one was a pretty emotional read, the author portrays the complicated world of trauma well. Jude and Indira have a connection from childhood in this brothers-best-friend romance. They have great chemistry and fantastic banter! Indira, whilst dealing with her own personal issues supports Jude when he needs it the most and their friendship evolves into more!

There are quite a few tropes in this book, fake dating, enemies to lovers, childhood friends but it all combines perfectly!

This is the third book I’ve read from this author and they just keep hooking me in! Thank you to the publishers for a copy via @netgalley 🫶 this one is out tomorrow, I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the advance reader copy.

I loved this book so much! It’s your classic enemies to lovers; with the main characters working through their own issue’s separately but then together.
There’s a lot of issues discussed like mental health, abandonment and also survivors guilt to name a few.
I thought the author handled the issues well, and didn’t make everything fairytale easy and sorted in one go.

The main characters Indira and Jude are funny and feel real in their experiences and feelings. I also really liked the communication elements within the book as well, some romance books enjoy having misunderstandings and this one made it a key component of the relationship.

Overall I would recommend this to those who like romance and complex characters.

A sweet, enemies-to-lovers and brother’s best friend romance with plenty of banter between the two main characters. It was dual perspective which I think really helped as there was lots of talk of mental health issues and particularly PTSD. Being able to hear about this from the character’s perspective was much more effective and I feel like it was tastefully done. I feel like the romance was a bit quick and would have preferred a bit more tension but it was still a good read!

The moment I finished this I was sad it was over, from the beginning I had been hooked and I loved every second , the writing is so good and what I I loved most about this book is how relatable the characters are, Mazy has clearly researched well and it shows with how well and sensitively she deals with the PTSD and mental health in the book. The only thing I didn’t like was the end, or rather the fact that it did, I still wanted more
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It’s a third book from the series A Brush with Love. The Plus One focuses on relationship between frenemies Indira and Jude. Indira is a therapist who herself has mental issues, problems with her father, but she tries to cope and be supportive for her brother who’s getting married. She’s just broke up with her boyfriend who unfortunately is going to come to her brothers wedding with a girl. Now Dira must find someone who could pretend to be her new boyfriend. Fortunately, her brothers bff and her biggest pain in the … is coming to town. Meet Jude, a doctor who in order to avoid payments for medical studies agreed to work around the world where humanitarian crises appears. From outgoing and proud man he turned into an introvert who cannot cope with traumas from his job. When Indira proposes crazy plan to be her fake boyfriend he agrees because somehow this irritating woman calms down his nerves and fears.
I love that this book highlights mental health issues and give this kind of support and compassion feeling. Indira is this character who struggles from her past but she’s always there for Jude and she doesn’t push him, she’s letting him open to her on his terms. Jude is this sweet guy who tries to spare his loved once from his problems but he appreciates what Dira does for him. He shows his love to her in small gestures.

A dual POV, fake dating and lots of spice to keep up the interest and heat. The plus one is a an excellent read for the spring/summer and I can’t wait to see what Mazey brings out next. I didn’t realise before starting that the previous books feature the other characters love story but this does not impact this book at all, and can be read as a stand-alone.

What I loved about this book is the fact you could really connect to the characters on an emotional level, especially Jude who I recognised early on was suffering from PTSD (I had it after my eldest daughter was born and spent time in NICU). I feel the authors has taken the time to do research into mental illnesses and it really shows throughout the book. I also loved that she put a trigger warning at the start which I feel will help a lot of people decide if they want to read this or will it trigger them. The only thing I wasn’t keen on was the ending, I felt it rushed and I wished it would of been a bit different but that is personal preference.

Where to even start with this gorgeous, heartfelt, will-punch-you-in-the-gut-with-feelings-but-in-the-best-way book?

By turns hilarious and heartwrenching, I fell totally in love with Jude and Indira's story and was devouring this book at every opportunity I got (while simultaneously not wanting it to end!) I saw so much of myself in Indira and her struggles, and the slow development of her romance with Jude was beautifully done.

Plus, the spicy scenes were fire, as always. Mazey Eddings is an auto-buy author for me and I already can't wait for her next book!

This is my first Mazey Eddings book (although I do have her other two books on my shelves waiting to be read) and while I did enjoy it, it is not at all what I expected.

Based on the cover and the blurb (which calls it a Rom Com), I expected exactly that. A cute fluffy romance with some of my favourite tropes, however what I got was quite different. The book predominantly focused on Jude’s crippling PTSD, with a bit of Indira’s abandonment struggles on the side. Don’t get me wrong it was done very well, especially the PTSD, it’s just not what was advertised so I felt a little thrown as I read it.

It did have some humour and laugh out loud moments and of course it had some tropes I love-
fake dating, brother’s best friend and it was dual POV but I wish it was marketed properly.

As I said, I did enjoy it and rated it 3.75⭐️ rounded up to 4. I will go on to read Mazey’s other books that I already own but I will go in expecting heavier topics than advertised.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read A Brush With Love and i absolutely adored it so when i saw this i could not wait to read it. I was hoooooked. The moment i picked it up i just couldn’t put it down, i loved every second of this book. Mazey Eddings writing is so addictive, it had me up all night finishing it. Cannot wait for what she has next.

"Just once, she wanted to be someone worth staying for."

"He glanced at her, and gave his most genuine attempt at a smile. It was slow and hesitant and probably looked more terrifying than anything, but he had to try. Indira’s eyes trailed to his mouth, tracing his lips. Then she smiled back, and it, ever so slightly, tipped Jude’s world upside down."

"He wanted to explain that he didn’t deserve sex and he was too broken for intimacy."

"Jude caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles before letting it go. “I think you should start having higher expectations from me,” he said with a rough laugh. “Because you deserve the world.”"

"He’d forgotten that happiness wasn’t a banging, violent emotion like all the others that bombarded him every moment. Happiness was soft. Uneventful. It was holding Indira’s hand. Sitting next to her on the couch and listening to her talk. It was a quiet cup of coffee with her next to him reading a magazine. It was teasing her, being goofy and pretending to pass out after sniffing her feet, making her shriek in outrage and giggle. Happiness was them."

"If heaven existed on earth, it was in a blanket fort with Indira Papadakis."


I broke my max 3 quote rule and I simply do not give a fuck.
(I left out my favorite quote that’s in Chapter 12 because it deserves to be read for the first time in context)

I loved A Brush with Love.
I made Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake my entire personality for WEEKS.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN THE PLUS ONE IS LITERALLY ME IN BOOK FORM?????
Like I am in these pages and these words (not the relationship ones my single ass wouldn’t know lol) and I have frankly never felt more seen and understood. Which is funny because I thought that was how I felt with Lizzie Blake.

This book is a masterclass on how to balance the kisses, the hugs, the cries, the sexy times and the funnies. I'll be thinking about this book till the day I die.

A journey to understanding your hurt, wanting to heal, and committing to wanting better for yourself. I love me some GOOD sexy and funny times but the EMOTIONS are what really get me and Mazey is always doing the most in her books.

I'll miss Harper and Dan and Alex and Thu and Lizzie and Rake and Indira and Jude. The Love on the Brain crew as I will always think of them as.

And that’s all the intelligible words that I can put together about this book. All my other thoughts are keyboard smashes, screaming into the void and giggling hysterically till someone snaps me out of it.

MVP: Mazey I LOVE YOU

(THANK YOU to NetGalley and Headline for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you for my eARC of this book. It took me a few chapters to get into this one as it all felt very dramatic and intense to begin with, once I got into the story however, I fell in love. I love the romance element, as well as the secondary characters and the cameos from Eddings’ other books. I love that some tougher topics were address and that the entire story wasn’t overly smooth or perfect.
I love that the enemies to lovers element wasn’t dragged out and the spicy scenes were great!

Well I think it’s safe to say that Mazey Eddings has done it again; she really is the queen of mental health and neurodivergent representation. How Eddings is able to write such brilliant rom coms, that also delve into really heavy waters and explore all the messy facets of what makes us who we are is something else. I loved both Harper and Lizzie’s stories and Indira’s was quite simply the perfect finish for this group.

The Plus One is the story of Indira and Jude; once sworn childhood nemesis they have been thrown back together in the lead up to Colin’s (Indira’s big brother and Jude’s best friend) wedding. During the pre wedding events Indira is forced to interact with Chris, her very recent ex and the woman he cheated with. Whilst Jude is struggling to be back following his time abroad as an emergency doctor. In order to help one another they hatch a plan to be each others fake dates. But what happens when they’re feelings being to feel anything but fake?

The Plus One is perfect for fans of:
❤️ older brother’s best friend
🩺 childhood enemies to lovers
❤️ only one tent
🩺 fake dating
❤️ no third act break up (whoop)

But what truly makes this book special is the way that Jude and Indira become each others safe space. Theirs is a very special relationship, in which they acknowledge each of their hurts and pains, but where neither is trying to fix the other. Instead they’re in it together, helping one another as each continue on their own healing journeys. Eddings handling of Jude’s severe anxiety and PTSD was done so very sensitively, likewise was her handling of Indira’s issues relating to her sense of self worth. Eddings really has a gift in writing these deep, flawed and beautifully real characters.

I highly recommend this one and will read anything that Eddings has to offer next.

This book. THIS BOOK GETS ALL OF THE STARS!! When I say I devoured it. I mean I devoured it. I'm so thankful that NetGalley gave me the arc of this. I fell in love with these characters and it had so many of my favourite tropes! I'll definitely be buying a physical copy.

What the book is selling and what it actually offers is two completely different things.

Illustrated cover says light, fun-hearted and good fun - basically everything this story is not.

The title screams wedding and fake dating - this made up such a small part of the story.

The PTSD storyline was great and is such an important topic to talk about but then it needs to be advertised as the main focus because it did overshadow everything else in the story.

The pacing was super slow and I dragged my feet to finish this story. There were scenes that were absolutely irrelevant and could easily be cut out for example, the scene where Jude buys Indira an office chair. Why? What value does this scene add?

All in all, this story has potential but definitely missed the brief in a lot of ways.

5⭐️ The perfect ending to Harper, Lizzie, Thu & Indira’s stories- Mazey Eddings has done it again and has now cemented her place as an autobuy author for me😍 (as well as made sure I shall be forever traumatised by Peanut Butter🤣)

If I was to describe The Plus One in 5 emojis it would be:🥜💐🏕️🐝🥵

Now I LOVED Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake and it was always going to be a struggle to beat it but Indira and Jude came pretty close. What I love about Mazey’s books is the real and raw exploration of trauma, mental health and neurodivergence she captures. It is so relatable and honestly it is so helpful and amazing for people who have these issues to see a true representation of their experience.

Despite covering some really deep and meaningful topics, this book was also a classic romcom that had both laughing and crying throughout. It also has soooooo many tropes but it never felt like they were forced- they just seemed to work! There was:
💚Brother’s Best Friend
💚Enemies to Friends to Lovers
💚Forced Proximity
💚Fake Dating
💚Only one bed tent

Also something we love to see- No👏🏻Third👏🏻Act👏🏻Breakup👏🏻

Dira and Jude are the cutest and let’s be real Jude is a Heartthrob… Sorry Dan and Rake but I think he’s taken the crown (and my heart)👑

If you love steamy rom coms, shenanigans, so much chemistry and realistic characters with realistic problems and a realistic relationship then you need to pick this up now.

Mazey Eddings has done it again! I adored reading the stories of Harper and Lizzie so I was super excited to continue with Indira. Indira and Jude together are SO endearing and opposed to some of the fake-dating tropes, it felt super natural and realistic. I found myself laughing out loud but also being completely hit in my feels with Jude’s back story. I loved this book!!

A sweet and touching, childhood frenemies to lovers romance with faking dating, which also addresses anxiety and PTSD

After Indira and her childhood nemesis Jude are thrown together for her brother's (and his best friend's) wedding, they unexpectedly team up to become each others fake date whilst they try to deal with their separate issues. But, all too soon, things behind to feel all too real...

This is #3 in the A Brush with Love series, but could be read as a standalone. I would recommend reading them all though, as the characters all feature in each other's books, plus all three books are so different!

Honestly, this last installment really surprised me! After the cuteness and lightheartedness of the first two books, this one hit me differently. Taking a long look at mental health, trauma, insecurities stemming from childhood, therapy and communication, it felt real and full of hope. It's a lot more heavy and series than its predecessors, particularly Lizzie Blake, and made me well up several times. It was such a journey for the characters, and I adored the way they supported eachother. They were both so brave and vulnerable.

Even though The Plus One was emotional, it was also sexy and funny. Colin's wedding and the preparations leading up to his big day were fun, and I loved seeing Harper, Lizzie and Thu again!

Indira and Jude had done great banter and tension, and there were some extremely hot open door scenes 🔥

This was a great ending to the series, and I will definitely be reading more of whatever Mazey Eddings writes!