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A Brush with Love #1
A Brush with Love
Harper is anxiously awaiting placement into a top oral surgery residency program when she crashes (literally) into Dan. Harper would rather endure a Novocaine-free root canal than face any distractions, even one this adorable.
A first-year dental student with a family legacy to contend with, Dan doesn’t have the same passion for pulling teeth that Harper does. Though he finds himself falling for her, he is willing to play by Harper’s rules.
So with the greatest of intentions and the poorest of follow-throughs, the two set out to be “just friends.” But as they get to know each other better, Harper fears that trading fillings for feelings may make her lose control and can't risk her carefully ordered life coming undone, no matter how drool-worthy Dan is.
Blood, gore, and extra-long roots? No problem. The idea of falling in love? Torture.
A first-year dental student with a family legacy to contend with, Dan doesn’t have the same passion for pulling teeth that Harper does. Though he finds himself falling for her, he is willing to play by Harper’s rules.
So with the greatest of intentions and the poorest of follow-throughs, the two set out to be “just friends.” But as they get to know each other better, Harper fears that trading fillings for feelings may make her lose control and can't risk her carefully ordered life coming undone, no matter how drool-worthy Dan is.
Blood, gore, and extra-long roots? No problem. The idea of falling in love? Torture.
324 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2022
About the author
Mazey Eddings
7 books1,985 followersMazey Eddings is a neurodiverse author, dentist, and (most importantly) stage mom to her cats, Yaya and Zadie. She can most often be found reading romance novels under her weighted blanket and asking her boyfriend to bring her snacks. She’s made it her personal mission in life to destigmatize mental health issues and write love stories for every brain. With roots in Ohio and North Carolina, she now calls Philadelphia home.
Her debut novel A Brush with Love is being published by St. Martin’s Press.
Her debut novel A Brush with Love is being published by St. Martin’s Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,933 reviews
May 19, 2023
Oh boy! This is… this book… this…. Christ! I cannot gather my words… I’m an emotional mess! I felt like I am overwhelmed because of extremely intense feeling injection! I felt too much! I loved this book too much and it hurts!
I haven’t read something so true, so genuine, so sad, so heartfelt, so touchy, so beautiful! My emotions spinning around in everywhere! I cannot collect them!
Dan and Harper… Harper and Dan… you’re adorable! Those vivid, lovely, fragile, broken but still tough souls earned my entire love! They are not perfect! Both of them suffer from their pasts, burdens they carry. They were so merciless to themselves, hurting their souls by putting too much pressure.
Harper is so close to be placed into a top oral surgery program. She’s studying all night, getting straight As,perfect board scores: she’s OFMS ( Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery): her choice of specialty program. She seems like perfectionist, genius, intense: a kind of robot but you couldn’t get so wrong about her characteristics: she hurts so much from her loss of her only family, building walls around herself, suffering from anxiety disorder, trying to hard to be perfect.
She pushes herself so hard to be successful, to be on the top to be untouchable. In that way she thinks nobody hurts her when she suffers from loneliness at the top, all by herself.
Dan, first year dental student with famous father’s legacy, struggling to keep up and accidentally his path crosses with Harper.
He deals with his own traumatic issues and getting bullied by students who know his father’s talent: because his father’s sudden dying affected him so differently anyone can imagine.
First of all: his father was demanding, controlling who liked to humiliate and verbally abuse him for years. After his passing away, he is forced to help her father to run his father’s residency because his mother keeps making complaints how hard to run the business by herself. He rejects his mom’s calls not to hear her extra complaints and he already left his promising job at finance to become dental student.
As Harper suffers from self destruction, he struggles with duties, family baggages, guilt feeling gnawing him inside.
Both of them quickly form a unique, passionate bond. Harper doesn’t want to fall for him because she has to concentrate her career and bright future ahead of her: love attraction would be only a distraction for her, wouldn’t be? And she will eventually leave after 5 months as soon as she gets her acceptance from one of the residency programs.
But what if attraction is stronger to destroy the barriers she’s built? What if she cannot function properly without him by her side? Could she restrain her anxiety monster who tries to take control of her? Could she learn to open her heart?
Oh my goodness! This book is poetic, lyrical, soul healer! It was so much better from entire romance books I’ve lately read and I’m so sure it guaranteed its position at best 5 romance reads of 2022! ( I know it is too early to declare but I follow my heart and my heart follows this amazing book! )
Dear Mazey Eddings did amazing job by writing this debut! She already earned a great fan ( me! Me and me! ) I’m looking forward to read her future works!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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I haven’t read something so true, so genuine, so sad, so heartfelt, so touchy, so beautiful! My emotions spinning around in everywhere! I cannot collect them!
Dan and Harper… Harper and Dan… you’re adorable! Those vivid, lovely, fragile, broken but still tough souls earned my entire love! They are not perfect! Both of them suffer from their pasts, burdens they carry. They were so merciless to themselves, hurting their souls by putting too much pressure.
Harper is so close to be placed into a top oral surgery program. She’s studying all night, getting straight As,perfect board scores: she’s OFMS ( Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery): her choice of specialty program. She seems like perfectionist, genius, intense: a kind of robot but you couldn’t get so wrong about her characteristics: she hurts so much from her loss of her only family, building walls around herself, suffering from anxiety disorder, trying to hard to be perfect.
She pushes herself so hard to be successful, to be on the top to be untouchable. In that way she thinks nobody hurts her when she suffers from loneliness at the top, all by herself.
Dan, first year dental student with famous father’s legacy, struggling to keep up and accidentally his path crosses with Harper.
He deals with his own traumatic issues and getting bullied by students who know his father’s talent: because his father’s sudden dying affected him so differently anyone can imagine.
First of all: his father was demanding, controlling who liked to humiliate and verbally abuse him for years. After his passing away, he is forced to help her father to run his father’s residency because his mother keeps making complaints how hard to run the business by herself. He rejects his mom’s calls not to hear her extra complaints and he already left his promising job at finance to become dental student.
As Harper suffers from self destruction, he struggles with duties, family baggages, guilt feeling gnawing him inside.
Both of them quickly form a unique, passionate bond. Harper doesn’t want to fall for him because she has to concentrate her career and bright future ahead of her: love attraction would be only a distraction for her, wouldn’t be? And she will eventually leave after 5 months as soon as she gets her acceptance from one of the residency programs.
But what if attraction is stronger to destroy the barriers she’s built? What if she cannot function properly without him by her side? Could she restrain her anxiety monster who tries to take control of her? Could she learn to open her heart?
Oh my goodness! This book is poetic, lyrical, soul healer! It was so much better from entire romance books I’ve lately read and I’m so sure it guaranteed its position at best 5 romance reads of 2022! ( I know it is too early to declare but I follow my heart and my heart follows this amazing book! )
Dear Mazey Eddings did amazing job by writing this debut! She already earned a great fan ( me! Me and me! ) I’m looking forward to read her future works!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
medium blog
January 8, 2022
The romance in A Brush with Love is so sweet and adorable. I loved Harper and Dan and their kisses in the snow (they must have such great oral hygiene and fresh minty breath, what with them both being dental students), but I especially connected to Mazey's depiction of anxiety disorder. It felt authentic, personal, and deeply vulnerable, and it made the book shine for me. It felt real.
As far as I know, I don't have anxiety disorder, but in Harper, I saw myself, and she made me feel less alone. Seeing her struggle, I learned to be more compassionate--to others and me too.
I'm so excited to see what Mazey writes in the future. I think she's going to touch a lot of hearts.
As far as I know, I don't have anxiety disorder, but in Harper, I saw myself, and she made me feel less alone. Seeing her struggle, I learned to be more compassionate--to others and me too.
I'm so excited to see what Mazey writes in the future. I think she's going to touch a lot of hearts.
April 6, 2022
cute. cheesy. lighthearted with realistic representation. everything you want and expect from this kind of story. does it add anything new to the genre? nope. but will this give you a reading experience filled with goofy dentists and sweet romance? it sure will. cant really say much more than that!
↠ 3.5 stars
↠ 3.5 stars
February 19, 2024
Harper Horowitz is in her last year of dental school and is anxious about her future placement into an oral surgery residency program. In truth though, Harper is anxious about a lot of things.
She has an anxiety disorder. Because of this, Harper often struggles to keep herself focused and negative repetitive thoughts at bay. In spite of her challenges, however, Harper excels as a student and takes it very seriously.
Heading to class one day, Harper, distracted and in a rush, crashes into a jaw-droppingly cute boy named, Dan.
Her literal wrecking ball force of a crash destroys a project he had been working on. Harper, remembering how difficult that portion of first year had been, guiltily offers to help him repair it.
Working together on the project, the two hit it off. They feel comfortable with one another and the banter back in forth is flirty and fun.
Dan finds himself quickly falling for Harper, but she is pretty clear with him, she doesn't want any distractions. She can't afford it at this point in her life. They have to stay just friends.
Lines get blurred though and the 'just friends' mandate becomes more and more difficult to maintain.
Harper feels out of control. This whole Dan debacle is overwhelming. She needs her life to return to the way it was before the infamous crash, but is that what she truly wants?
A Brush with Love is such a smart, witty and romantic comedy. I fell in love with Harper from the very first chapter. I feel like she came to life on the page, and don't even get me started on Dan.
Swooning from the start!
Even though this is cute and funny though, that's not all it is. Both Harper and Dan had great depth of character with some hard-hitting story lines in their past.
Both of them were struggling to move past self-doubt, guilt and fear. I loved watching them open up with one another about their pasts and really support each other through those moments. Their vulnerability was beautiful.
Eddings did a great job balancing the humor with serious, real-life issues that many Readers will be able to relate to.
One of my favorite aspects was the incredibly fun dialogue. Harper had a great friend group and the dynamics between them all was fantastic. If you are a Reader who loves hilarious dialogue, you have to read this.
The one, very small critique I have with this story, is that I didn't feel any real conflict in the plot until about the 70% mark. Then it felt like that wrapped up too quickly after it presented itself.
That's extremely minor though and completely personal taste. You may read this and feel that it is perfectly paced. It is super fun the whole way through, I just could have enjoyed a bit more time with the resolution to the conflict.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I did listen to the audiobook and it was absolutely fantastic. I definitely recommend that format to Readers who enjoy audiobooks.
Also, I was super stoked to see that this is the first book in a companion series by Eddings. This makes me so happy. I cannot wait for the next book!!
She has an anxiety disorder. Because of this, Harper often struggles to keep herself focused and negative repetitive thoughts at bay. In spite of her challenges, however, Harper excels as a student and takes it very seriously.
Heading to class one day, Harper, distracted and in a rush, crashes into a jaw-droppingly cute boy named, Dan.
Her literal wrecking ball force of a crash destroys a project he had been working on. Harper, remembering how difficult that portion of first year had been, guiltily offers to help him repair it.
Working together on the project, the two hit it off. They feel comfortable with one another and the banter back in forth is flirty and fun.
Dan finds himself quickly falling for Harper, but she is pretty clear with him, she doesn't want any distractions. She can't afford it at this point in her life. They have to stay just friends.
Lines get blurred though and the 'just friends' mandate becomes more and more difficult to maintain.
Harper feels out of control. This whole Dan debacle is overwhelming. She needs her life to return to the way it was before the infamous crash, but is that what she truly wants?
A Brush with Love is such a smart, witty and romantic comedy. I fell in love with Harper from the very first chapter. I feel like she came to life on the page, and don't even get me started on Dan.
Swooning from the start!
Even though this is cute and funny though, that's not all it is. Both Harper and Dan had great depth of character with some hard-hitting story lines in their past.
Both of them were struggling to move past self-doubt, guilt and fear. I loved watching them open up with one another about their pasts and really support each other through those moments. Their vulnerability was beautiful.
Eddings did a great job balancing the humor with serious, real-life issues that many Readers will be able to relate to.
One of my favorite aspects was the incredibly fun dialogue. Harper had a great friend group and the dynamics between them all was fantastic. If you are a Reader who loves hilarious dialogue, you have to read this.
The one, very small critique I have with this story, is that I didn't feel any real conflict in the plot until about the 70% mark. Then it felt like that wrapped up too quickly after it presented itself.
That's extremely minor though and completely personal taste. You may read this and feel that it is perfectly paced. It is super fun the whole way through, I just could have enjoyed a bit more time with the resolution to the conflict.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I did listen to the audiobook and it was absolutely fantastic. I definitely recommend that format to Readers who enjoy audiobooks.
Also, I was super stoked to see that this is the first book in a companion series by Eddings. This makes me so happy. I cannot wait for the next book!!
April 24, 2022
✨Did this book even mention toothpaste?✨
I get the summary says oral surgery but every piece of marketing laid so thick into toothbrush, toothpaste, and things that make you think “dentist” not “major and intense oral/facial reconstructive” surgeon. I get it, it’s on me. This is the one time the summary was actually very accurate. But the cover? The connotations? That’s on them. “Dental Dam” Dan being a dental student made zero sense and was only added to make it more dentisty. It honestly terrified me because he was really going to become a dentist, something he literally hated and that grossed him out. A DENTIST. KEEP HIM AWAY FROM MY MOUTH IN ALL SCENARIOS.
It did not feel like a dentist book. I thought they would be swooning over each other in a workplace romance way, but nope. They’re both in school and we barely got to see any dental or oral surgeon stuff. We rarely see them dentist. I knew Harper was an oral surgeon, but we rarely got good behind the scenes look at what it was like. It was mainly just about the rigor of the school and pressure of it all. Yes, that’s useful information for Harper’s character, but it didn’t feel like the book I signed up to read.
✨
As for Dan and Harper, I disliked them both. First it was Dan, then it was Harper, then it was both. What a journey! Like ping pong! Watch out for these balls of fury. Neither felt like they were actually 26-year-old adults. They acted like undergrads in most scenarios, even younger in others. Their decisions were embarrassing at times and I never felt the connection because this was the, and I mean THE, most instant case of insta love I have ever experienced.
I couldn’t even tell you the timeline of their relationship. They met and BOOM they’re all touchy feely, wanting to lick random extremities and graze teeth everywhere. (I assume this was because it was a “dentist” book? Tongues, mouths, teeth, etc. Idk just stick with oral.) He was saying she’s the most gorgeous gorgeous brained girl. She was saying he was her safe space from anxiety. It felt like a week for a relationship that had the familiarity of three years. He was kissing her forehead, slow dancing and humming in her kitchen, and being SO touchy before they even kissed. They were nearly getting it ON before they even kissed. It just seemed way too intimate, way too fast. Dan had absolutely nothing more to his name than being obsessed with Harper and being in dental school for a ridiculous ridiculous reason. Oh baby, lemme lick your nose.
✨
Dan was a spineless toad. Harper is kinda the worst to him and he’s like wow her brilliant mind and beautiful hands. His mom guilt-tripped him into dental school at 26, while he had a whole ass career which was fucking WEIRD. How do you let someone guilt you into DENTAL SCHOOL? He has Harper so high on a pedestal she can see across the Pacific. He’s eager in the worst way. Like just so obsessed with her. He is painfully obtuse, singleminded, heavy handed, and absolutely unrealistic. I was never attracted to this weird man child. He was never a cinnamon roll. He was an untoasted, unbuttered, unflavored piece of sandwich bread.
He is the type of man you dream up in the first draft. Dan is your ideal, your wet dream. Just so goddamn devoted to you. Then you start dating him and realize he is an absolutely boring shadow following you around. You realize the chase was more fun than the catch. Then you realize that this book didn’t even have the chase! It was so insta love I was distraught. They met, he was like wow, she was like wow, he was like marry me, she was like tbh I’m tempted but women can’t have a relationship and goals because that’s #hard. She blames him for making her like him so much that she forgets deadlines. Not just blames, but reads him to filth. HONEY WHAT THE FUCK.
✨
Harper as a character was trying to accomplish way too much in one book. Her character was being pulled in so many directions they effectively canceled each other out in the story as a whole. I just couldn’t with her blaming Dan for everything and let me remind you I PRETTY MUCH HATE THE MAN. I’m sorry but she’s very very bad to Dan and she admits she is being cruel and lying and wrong but she keeps laying it the fuck on. It was really fucked up. I support neither of these characters.
Right off the bat, this book tried to do something by making “shit” the first word. Personally, it just set the tone for me and it was pretty accurate. For me, it means the book is going to fundamentally understand my soul… or tell me to go fuck myself. What I mean by this is that I think being “a relatable teen” is a huge thing this book tried to do. It tried to do it too hard and too much. The main culprits were Harper’s caricatures dressed up as friends. Some of the words that came out of their mouths just really baffled me. Half of this book was Harper and Dan. The other half was a mix of weird phrases and cringey one-liners from the supporting cast. Most landed severely off beat for me.
Her friends were simply included to be “comic relief,” which is fine I suppose, but they weren’t funny, just cringey. Sorry, but I draw the line and one “titty” mention per book. Also randomly trying to get a Brazilian? So fucking bizarre. I have never wanted to strangle anyone with my Fallopian tubes, thank you very much. I would never go anywhere near a bone zone. Alex having sweet relief? Good God I’m sorry but NO. It was a bad mix of frat boy, dad, and Twitter language. I genuinely wouldn’t want to know any of these people in real life.
✨
As for the audiobook, I didn’t mind Harper’s narrator but good lord Dan’s guy just… went for it. Unfortunately, I didn’t particularly like any way he got the get. His voice for Harper was grating to say the least, making her sound about 16 years old. It was horrifying during the sex scenes. Not only did we have him doing Harper’s weirdly young voice, but we also had this man being so overcome. I’d wager he was damn near close to achieving orgasm. I would have preferred Harper’s narrator to narrate the whole thing. The narrators also talked super slow. I listened to this at 2.0 speed and never even broke a sweat.
Stripping away everything else, the main, driving force working against our “lovers” was Harper not being able to balance Dan and her school. Which I suppose is fine and realistic, but the way she blamed him was just so Not A Good Time. The third act break up was just so hard to swallow. It made Harper, who could have been an incredibly nuanced character, turn into one bad decision after another. Just a really bad crush. That’s all it was. I am, at once, absolutely not shocked that people loved this book and fundamentally shocked that people loved this book. And I think that makes perfect sense.
⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶*/5
*idk the steam was fine but not great nor anywhere near good enough to save this book. It was like 2.5 scenes? Sex was always a solution to a larger problem, which made it more annoying than satisfying.
Btw, also who is Elizabeth. I literally couldn’t tell you. She appeared out of nowhere and I’m very confused. She had a mom that was bad? Did I black out? The probability is likely.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced audiobook. All opinions are honest and my own.
I get the summary says oral surgery but every piece of marketing laid so thick into toothbrush, toothpaste, and things that make you think “dentist” not “major and intense oral/facial reconstructive” surgeon. I get it, it’s on me. This is the one time the summary was actually very accurate. But the cover? The connotations? That’s on them. “Dental Dam” Dan being a dental student made zero sense and was only added to make it more dentisty. It honestly terrified me because he was really going to become a dentist, something he literally hated and that grossed him out. A DENTIST. KEEP HIM AWAY FROM MY MOUTH IN ALL SCENARIOS.
It did not feel like a dentist book. I thought they would be swooning over each other in a workplace romance way, but nope. They’re both in school and we barely got to see any dental or oral surgeon stuff. We rarely see them dentist. I knew Harper was an oral surgeon, but we rarely got good behind the scenes look at what it was like. It was mainly just about the rigor of the school and pressure of it all. Yes, that’s useful information for Harper’s character, but it didn’t feel like the book I signed up to read.
✨
As for Dan and Harper, I disliked them both. First it was Dan, then it was Harper, then it was both. What a journey! Like ping pong! Watch out for these balls of fury. Neither felt like they were actually 26-year-old adults. They acted like undergrads in most scenarios, even younger in others. Their decisions were embarrassing at times and I never felt the connection because this was the, and I mean THE, most instant case of insta love I have ever experienced.
I couldn’t even tell you the timeline of their relationship. They met and BOOM they’re all touchy feely, wanting to lick random extremities and graze teeth everywhere. (I assume this was because it was a “dentist” book? Tongues, mouths, teeth, etc. Idk just stick with oral.) He was saying she’s the most gorgeous gorgeous brained girl. She was saying he was her safe space from anxiety. It felt like a week for a relationship that had the familiarity of three years. He was kissing her forehead, slow dancing and humming in her kitchen, and being SO touchy before they even kissed. They were nearly getting it ON before they even kissed. It just seemed way too intimate, way too fast. Dan had absolutely nothing more to his name than being obsessed with Harper and being in dental school for a ridiculous ridiculous reason. Oh baby, lemme lick your nose.
✨
Dan was a spineless toad. Harper is kinda the worst to him and he’s like wow her brilliant mind and beautiful hands. His mom guilt-tripped him into dental school at 26, while he had a whole ass career which was fucking WEIRD. How do you let someone guilt you into DENTAL SCHOOL? He has Harper so high on a pedestal she can see across the Pacific. He’s eager in the worst way. Like just so obsessed with her. He is painfully obtuse, singleminded, heavy handed, and absolutely unrealistic. I was never attracted to this weird man child. He was never a cinnamon roll. He was an untoasted, unbuttered, unflavored piece of sandwich bread.
He is the type of man you dream up in the first draft. Dan is your ideal, your wet dream. Just so goddamn devoted to you. Then you start dating him and realize he is an absolutely boring shadow following you around. You realize the chase was more fun than the catch. Then you realize that this book didn’t even have the chase! It was so insta love I was distraught. They met, he was like wow, she was like wow, he was like marry me, she was like tbh I’m tempted but women can’t have a relationship and goals because that’s #hard. She blames him for making her like him so much that she forgets deadlines. Not just blames, but reads him to filth. HONEY WHAT THE FUCK.
✨
Harper as a character was trying to accomplish way too much in one book. Her character was being pulled in so many directions they effectively canceled each other out in the story as a whole. I just couldn’t with her blaming Dan for everything and let me remind you I PRETTY MUCH HATE THE MAN. I’m sorry but she’s very very bad to Dan and she admits she is being cruel and lying and wrong but she keeps laying it the fuck on. It was really fucked up. I support neither of these characters.
Right off the bat, this book tried to do something by making “shit” the first word. Personally, it just set the tone for me and it was pretty accurate. For me, it means the book is going to fundamentally understand my soul… or tell me to go fuck myself. What I mean by this is that I think being “a relatable teen” is a huge thing this book tried to do. It tried to do it too hard and too much. The main culprits were Harper’s caricatures dressed up as friends. Some of the words that came out of their mouths just really baffled me. Half of this book was Harper and Dan. The other half was a mix of weird phrases and cringey one-liners from the supporting cast. Most landed severely off beat for me.
Her friends were simply included to be “comic relief,” which is fine I suppose, but they weren’t funny, just cringey. Sorry, but I draw the line and one “titty” mention per book. Also randomly trying to get a Brazilian? So fucking bizarre. I have never wanted to strangle anyone with my Fallopian tubes, thank you very much. I would never go anywhere near a bone zone. Alex having sweet relief? Good God I’m sorry but NO. It was a bad mix of frat boy, dad, and Twitter language. I genuinely wouldn’t want to know any of these people in real life.
✨
As for the audiobook, I didn’t mind Harper’s narrator but good lord Dan’s guy just… went for it. Unfortunately, I didn’t particularly like any way he got the get. His voice for Harper was grating to say the least, making her sound about 16 years old. It was horrifying during the sex scenes. Not only did we have him doing Harper’s weirdly young voice, but we also had this man being so overcome. I’d wager he was damn near close to achieving orgasm. I would have preferred Harper’s narrator to narrate the whole thing. The narrators also talked super slow. I listened to this at 2.0 speed and never even broke a sweat.
Stripping away everything else, the main, driving force working against our “lovers” was Harper not being able to balance Dan and her school. Which I suppose is fine and realistic, but the way she blamed him was just so Not A Good Time. The third act break up was just so hard to swallow. It made Harper, who could have been an incredibly nuanced character, turn into one bad decision after another. Just a really bad crush. That’s all it was. I am, at once, absolutely not shocked that people loved this book and fundamentally shocked that people loved this book. And I think that makes perfect sense.
⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶*/5
*idk the steam was fine but not great nor anywhere near good enough to save this book. It was like 2.5 scenes? Sex was always a solution to a larger problem, which made it more annoying than satisfying.
Btw, also who is Elizabeth. I literally couldn’t tell you. She appeared out of nowhere and I’m very confused. She had a mom that was bad? Did I black out? The probability is likely.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced audiobook. All opinions are honest and my own.
February 28, 2022
3 stars for this one! I did not feel the chemistry between Harper and Dan. The relationship felt awkward and super forced. The storyline didn’t feel very original or interesting to me and I found myself bored at some parts. Overall, I have to say this book was decent for a debut novel but there was nothing that was extra special or unforgettable about this book unfortunately. While this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me, I do look forward to giving the author another try in the future.
Thank you Net Galley and St. Martins Press for an ARC in return for my honest review.
Thank you Net Galley and St. Martins Press for an ARC in return for my honest review.
April 19, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ this was a fluffy, light, cute read! exactly what you’d expect from this type of book. some parts were a bit too cheesy for me but it was cute regardless. the anxiety rep had to be my favorite & I related to that part of harper so hard, it hurt. I adored seeing what it’s like to struggle w anxiety in a book. and it was done SO WELL in my opinion. Nothing too crazy in here but like I said.. ✨fun✨
the worst part about dan was the fact that he somehow was against the Chris Evans casting as cap?!??? fck outta here. goodbye.
“loving you is the easiest thing i’ll ever do.” <3
the worst part about dan was the fact that he somehow was against the Chris Evans casting as cap?!??? fck outta here. goodbye.
“loving you is the easiest thing i’ll ever do.” <3
August 3, 2023
“Walls were good. Walls were safe. Walls offered protection when her anxiety made it feel like the world was falling apart and her body was quickly dying.”
Being conflicted about a book is damn annoying.
This is a very raw, real and ugly depiction of what anxiety can look like. What the academic pressures can push you into becoming. What it looks like when you consistently ignore your own well-being, even though it’s clear as day that you are drowning.
Harper was relatable in some way. As someone who also struggles with anxiety, parts of Harper I felt on a visceral level. Other aspects about her anxiety felt too far off for me to relate to. It was severe, it was destructive and it was toxic. And whilst I’ve experienced that severity on some level, Harper became annoying to read about.
But I’m trying to figure out whether that’s because they triggered me in some way. Or if I have a lack of patience for certain things now that I’ve been on my own journey of healing. Not that I can’t be compassionate about it. But the sympathy was missing.
Dan was the real star of the show. Soft, sweet and so kind. His character was another one that felt relatable as well. He was too pure and we like those.
Them two together made sense. The start of the book and their meet-cute was beyond wholesome. The banter had me laughing out loud and it was just lovely to read.
However, the constant push and pull between them became extremely annoying. It got tiring and rather than that push and pull making sense, it just made me irritable.
For a debut, this was still pretty good. The writing was a standout and I know I’ll be reading more from Mazey Eddings.
Trigger warnings for loss of a parent, emotionally abusive parents, anxiety and panic attacks.
Being conflicted about a book is damn annoying.
This is a very raw, real and ugly depiction of what anxiety can look like. What the academic pressures can push you into becoming. What it looks like when you consistently ignore your own well-being, even though it’s clear as day that you are drowning.
Harper was relatable in some way. As someone who also struggles with anxiety, parts of Harper I felt on a visceral level. Other aspects about her anxiety felt too far off for me to relate to. It was severe, it was destructive and it was toxic. And whilst I’ve experienced that severity on some level, Harper became annoying to read about.
But I’m trying to figure out whether that’s because they triggered me in some way. Or if I have a lack of patience for certain things now that I’ve been on my own journey of healing. Not that I can’t be compassionate about it. But the sympathy was missing.
Dan was the real star of the show. Soft, sweet and so kind. His character was another one that felt relatable as well. He was too pure and we like those.
Them two together made sense. The start of the book and their meet-cute was beyond wholesome. The banter had me laughing out loud and it was just lovely to read.
However, the constant push and pull between them became extremely annoying. It got tiring and rather than that push and pull making sense, it just made me irritable.
For a debut, this was still pretty good. The writing was a standout and I know I’ll be reading more from Mazey Eddings.
Trigger warnings for loss of a parent, emotionally abusive parents, anxiety and panic attacks.
June 20, 2022
3.5 stars! This is another tricky one to review for me. I love love LOVED everything about the romance in this book. Harper and Dan's chemistry leapt off the page and I adored how absolutely feral they were for each other, lmao. I also really loved how Harper had zero chill about her love of dentistry and how she wasn't afraid to completely nerd out over it at any given moment. With all that being said, this was not an easy book to read. The depictions of Harper's anxiety were extremely visceral and raw and at times (as someone who struggles with moderate anxiety on the daily), hard to get through . If you're someone who is sensitive to on page panic attacks or anxious thought spirals, I would maybe steer clear of this one. However, if you think if you can handle reading about that, I definitely recommend checking this out because Harper and Dan's romance was truly top notch. I also just adored the writing style as a whole and I look so forward to carrying on in this series and reading more from Mazey Eddings in the future.
CW: death of a parent, anxiety, panic attacks, depictions of claustrophobia, verbally abusive parents, car accidents, terminal illness
CW: death of a parent, anxiety, panic attacks, depictions of claustrophobia, verbally abusive parents, car accidents, terminal illness
March 24, 2022
Harper is obsessed with getting accepted into a top oral surgery residency program! She eats, breathes and sleeps all things “oral surgery.” Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration, but she truly is one highly focused gal!
Dan is also a fellow dental student, but lacks the passion and drive that Harper has. But he is however, driven to want Harper in his life. Unfortunately for the infatuated Dan, Harper is focused on one thing only…and that’s not men! Well, at least not right now anyway.
Can the two carry on satisfied with just being friends? Is that enough for either of them? Or will their hearts win out in the end?
An adorable, sweet romance that thoroughly filled my heart. Even though Harper was a bit intense for me I still found the storyline and their friendship very entertaining.
I listened to the audio and enjoyed the narration compliments of Emily Lawrence and Vikas Adam.
Thank you to libro.fm for my 🎧copy.
Dan is also a fellow dental student, but lacks the passion and drive that Harper has. But he is however, driven to want Harper in his life. Unfortunately for the infatuated Dan, Harper is focused on one thing only…and that’s not men! Well, at least not right now anyway.
Can the two carry on satisfied with just being friends? Is that enough for either of them? Or will their hearts win out in the end?
An adorable, sweet romance that thoroughly filled my heart. Even though Harper was a bit intense for me I still found the storyline and their friendship very entertaining.
I listened to the audio and enjoyed the narration compliments of Emily Lawrence and Vikas Adam.
Thank you to libro.fm for my 🎧copy.
December 26, 2023
25th december:
this was ADORABLE and surprisingly deep!
➥ plot
this was my first book about dentists, so it was interesting to experience the progress and stress of becoming a dentist alongside the characters - I didn't really know that there was so much material you had to study. the book also focused on mental health and anxiety a lot since Harper has to deal with severe anxiety attacks. i think many people who deal with the same thing may feel seen because I think the way she deals and also does not deal with it reflects some people's actions.
the most "exciting" (but negative) aspect was to read about the sexism in dentistry. it made me so mad to see all these men act like they're superior or that men only wanted to see other men, even if they weren't fitting doctors. it's such a big problem in so many jobs and I always find it important to address it, especially because it could reach readers who are experiencing the same thing and thus showing them that it must be dealt with and that they aren't alone with it.
generally, the story focused more on the relationship between harper and dan than on the dentist thing. thereby, i had the chance to learn more about them as individuals, which definitely made the book more interesting!
➥ writing
while of course there were some "special dentist words", the writing was mostly very easy to read. i really loved that there were two povs, it added much more depth to the story and the characters.
➥ characters
as I already said, Harper is a pretty relatable main character. her traumatic past still heavily affects her daily life. she has problems with some closed spaces, especially if it's filled with many people, and her attacks easily get triggered. also, she has some communication issues and rarely talks about her experiences.
I felt so sorry for her. she had a constant stress which was produced by the dentist school and her own high standards, which I definitely relate to in some way. she's also such a sweetheart who cares a lot for her loved ones, thus making her multifaceted character.
however, I was a biiiit annoyed by her sometimes because she just didn't want to go to therapy despite literally everyone around her saying how important it is for her. I understand that it may be realistic, but come on haha... luckily, she did go to it in the end, so I saw some character development!
I never thought that I'd fall for a dentist but oh, here we are. dan is HOT in so many ways. he payed for her food on the very day they met and was sooo sweet, instantly smitten with her. he regularly pays for her beverages and the food they bought. he went grocery shopping with her on their first date and payed for her groceries despite literally only knowing her for a few days. additionally, he helped her get over an anxiety attack although he didn't really understand what was happening, which just shows how caring he is. also, he's so funny, even has dimples and has hot arm muscles!! he's both confident but also got sweetly nervous around harper the first weeks. he's literally perfect.
he's also got a bit of a traumatic past that he still struggles with: he's influenced by his already dead, very strict father, has problems with his grieving mother and isn't in his wanted career path. therefore, I was so so happy to see how his life got better in the end, he really deserves the very best.
the side characters, who were mostly Harper's friend group and Dan's roommate, were so fun! I love how they all supported each other and became a big group of friends.
➥ Dan and Harper
here's the thing: they were insta crush/love. but before you drop this book from your tbr, listen!! it was done so well! i normally despise this trope and avoid it at all costs. I wasn't aware of this book having that trope, so it obviously took me by surprise but luckily, I continued because they were so very adorable from the beginning on. it just made sense for them to have crushes because they complement each other wonderfully and help the other one deal with their problems.
there was a third act breakup, but it also just made sense and fit Dan and Harper's situations. it had to be done because they had to realise their how deep their feelings for each other are and that they need the other one. they're just amazing <3
➥ conclusion
this was definitely worth the read! it's a lovely romance story with in-depth characters and so many funny scenes.
-----------------------
rtc tomorrow :)
------------------------
in the mood for a romcom after all the fantasy (and mystery) books i've read recently 😌
this was ADORABLE and surprisingly deep!
➥ plot
this was my first book about dentists, so it was interesting to experience the progress and stress of becoming a dentist alongside the characters - I didn't really know that there was so much material you had to study. the book also focused on mental health and anxiety a lot since Harper has to deal with severe anxiety attacks. i think many people who deal with the same thing may feel seen because I think the way she deals and also does not deal with it reflects some people's actions.
the most "exciting" (but negative) aspect was to read about the sexism in dentistry. it made me so mad to see all these men act like they're superior or that men only wanted to see other men, even if they weren't fitting doctors. it's such a big problem in so many jobs and I always find it important to address it, especially because it could reach readers who are experiencing the same thing and thus showing them that it must be dealt with and that they aren't alone with it.
generally, the story focused more on the relationship between harper and dan than on the dentist thing. thereby, i had the chance to learn more about them as individuals, which definitely made the book more interesting!
➥ writing
while of course there were some "special dentist words", the writing was mostly very easy to read. i really loved that there were two povs, it added much more depth to the story and the characters.
➥ characters
as I already said, Harper is a pretty relatable main character. her traumatic past still heavily affects her daily life. she has problems with some closed spaces, especially if it's filled with many people, and her attacks easily get triggered. also, she has some communication issues and rarely talks about her experiences.
I felt so sorry for her. she had a constant stress which was produced by the dentist school and her own high standards, which I definitely relate to in some way. she's also such a sweetheart who cares a lot for her loved ones, thus making her multifaceted character.
however, I was a biiiit annoyed by her sometimes because she just didn't want to go to therapy despite literally everyone around her saying how important it is for her. I understand that it may be realistic, but come on haha... luckily, she did go to it in the end, so I saw some character development!
I never thought that I'd fall for a dentist but oh, here we are. dan is HOT in so many ways. he payed for her food on the very day they met and was sooo sweet, instantly smitten with her. he regularly pays for her beverages and the food they bought. he went grocery shopping with her on their first date and payed for her groceries despite literally only knowing her for a few days. additionally, he helped her get over an anxiety attack although he didn't really understand what was happening, which just shows how caring he is. also, he's so funny, even has dimples and has hot arm muscles!! he's both confident but also got sweetly nervous around harper the first weeks. he's literally perfect.
he's also got a bit of a traumatic past that he still struggles with: he's influenced by his already dead, very strict father, has problems with his grieving mother and isn't in his wanted career path. therefore, I was so so happy to see how his life got better in the end, he really deserves the very best.
the side characters, who were mostly Harper's friend group and Dan's roommate, were so fun! I love how they all supported each other and became a big group of friends.
➥ Dan and Harper
here's the thing: they were insta crush/love. but before you drop this book from your tbr, listen!! it was done so well! i normally despise this trope and avoid it at all costs. I wasn't aware of this book having that trope, so it obviously took me by surprise but luckily, I continued because they were so very adorable from the beginning on. it just made sense for them to have crushes because they complement each other wonderfully and help the other one deal with their problems.
there was a third act breakup, but it also just made sense and fit Dan and Harper's situations. it had to be done because they had to realise their how deep their feelings for each other are and that they need the other one. they're just amazing <3
➥ conclusion
this was definitely worth the read! it's a lovely romance story with in-depth characters and so many funny scenes.
-----------------------
rtc tomorrow :)
------------------------
in the mood for a romcom after all the fantasy (and mystery) books i've read recently 😌
April 5, 2023
3 stars
Oh how I wanted to love this book! It was a slow burn romance, a heroine with anxiety, and a hero that was so sweet. It had parts that were great but overall this one was just okay for me.
Harper is a driven dental student getting ready to start her residency. She is focused on school over everything and then she meets Dan. Sigh. We love Dan, don’t we? He doesn’t have that same drive that Harper has but he tries his best to support her and understand her. He’s just the best.
It’s not that I didn’t like Harper, I just felt like she didn’t care as much about Dan as he cared bout her. Not by a long shot. I did like the writing and I felt like the anxiety rep was really well done. I will definitely read more by this author, but this one was not my favorite.
Oh how I wanted to love this book! It was a slow burn romance, a heroine with anxiety, and a hero that was so sweet. It had parts that were great but overall this one was just okay for me.
Harper is a driven dental student getting ready to start her residency. She is focused on school over everything and then she meets Dan. Sigh. We love Dan, don’t we? He doesn’t have that same drive that Harper has but he tries his best to support her and understand her. He’s just the best.
It’s not that I didn’t like Harper, I just felt like she didn’t care as much about Dan as he cared bout her. Not by a long shot. I did like the writing and I felt like the anxiety rep was really well done. I will definitely read more by this author, but this one was not my favorite.
March 30, 2023
3.85⭐
Content warnings from the author: Loss of a loved one, an anxiety disorder, panic attacks, grief, sexism and ableist language.
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, debut, slow burn, steamage
Harper and Dan meet at dental school when they literally run into each other and take a tumble.
It's Harper's passion to become an oral surgeon. This is not the case for Dan as it's just expected of him to follow in his legendary fathers footsteps.
Since Harper is all about studying, studying, studying she wants to keep Dan in the friends category so she doesn't lose focus.
I did not like how Harper acted in the hospital, but I thought the author did a good job of capturing what it feels like to be under pressure and to feel like you were betrayed.
Eventually, these 2 get their happily ever after, but not without a few hiccups along the way.
I was rolling when Dan met Judy 🤣 🤣 I wish I could meet her.
This was a good debut novel. The rom was a slow burn and the com was pretty good. I always love when told in dual pov too. I'll be looking for future books from Mazey.
Narration
Emily did an all around nice job of narrating.
Vikas did a nice job as a man, but he needs to work on his female voice.
*Thanks to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio and Mazey Eddings for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Content warnings from the author: Loss of a loved one, an anxiety disorder, panic attacks, grief, sexism and ableist language.
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, debut, slow burn, steamage
Harper and Dan meet at dental school when they literally run into each other and take a tumble.
It's Harper's passion to become an oral surgeon. This is not the case for Dan as it's just expected of him to follow in his legendary fathers footsteps.
Since Harper is all about studying, studying, studying she wants to keep Dan in the friends category so she doesn't lose focus.
I did not like how Harper acted in the hospital, but I thought the author did a good job of capturing what it feels like to be under pressure and to feel like you were betrayed.
Eventually, these 2 get their happily ever after, but not without a few hiccups along the way.
I was rolling when Dan met Judy 🤣 🤣 I wish I could meet her.
This was a good debut novel. The rom was a slow burn and the com was pretty good. I always love when told in dual pov too. I'll be looking for future books from Mazey.
Narration
Emily did an all around nice job of narrating.
Vikas did a nice job as a man, but he needs to work on his female voice.
*Thanks to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio and Mazey Eddings for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
March 16, 2022
This is such a smart, compassionate, witty, and poignant romance that made me laugh one moment, then wipe my eyes the next. Dan’s gone-for-her love for Harper was swoony, sexy, and tender; Harper’s slow unfurling into vulnerability with Dan, as she entrusted to him her fears and grief, her anxieties and hopes, was beautifully touching. Mazey has a unique talent for rendering raw, human experience with both humor and heartfelt care—this story, like its characters, affirms that all of us are worthy of love and happy endings, that mental health struggles do not preclude us from joy and love and intimacy.
Tenderly written and oh-so-sexy, A BRUSH WITH LOVE LOVE brims with emotional depth, whip-smart banter, and sizzling chemistry. In short, this story completely stole my heart.
Content notes: anxiety disorder, death of a parent (past, off page), sexism and ableism in the workplace.
Tenderly written and oh-so-sexy, A BRUSH WITH LOVE LOVE brims with emotional depth, whip-smart banter, and sizzling chemistry. In short, this story completely stole my heart.
Content notes: anxiety disorder, death of a parent (past, off page), sexism and ableism in the workplace.
December 12, 2023
This is a Young Adult/Adult Romance. The characters in this book is older then young adult, but they acted younger and in college. I got young adult feelings from this book. This book was really hard for me to get through it because I really hated the romance in this book. I did love how the anxiety and grief parts was written and handle. There was parts I loved so much, but there was parts I hated so much. I also did not love the characters in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (St. Martin's Griffin) or author (Mazey Eddings) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
March 7, 2021
One of my all-time favorite romance novels. Gorgeously written, wonderfully empathetic, and full of smart, fantastic dialogue. And it made me want to hug my dentist.
February 21, 2022
One of the easiest 5-stars ever. It has been a hot minute since I have read a traditionally published romance and given it 5-stars…7 months to be exact. But this book? This book is it.
A lot of “romcoms” lately haven’t been romcoms, but not only did I laugh my booty off to this book, but the romance had me squealing into my pillow. I swear, I added an extra 5 years to my lifespan from how much this book made me smile.
And while the cover is cute and it is technically called a slowburn romance…the sexual tension is PALPABLE. Like, my stars, their chemistry was off the page with their flirtations. Everything was well worth the wait with all the teasing.
Also, THE FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS. Man, I love a good romcom where the female friendships are also A+ quality. We stand women supporting women and also being goofy as hell and meddling in their love lives. I loved Harper’s group of friends—especially Lizzie and Thu. I really hope all her friends get their own books!
Now, there are serious topics discussed—especially when it comes to anxiety disorders and loss of a loved one and feeling pressure to meet expectations—but they are dealt with beautifully. I really understood how Harper felt because I felt like that while I was premed with my anxiety.
Overall, Mazey Eddings is an author to keep an eye on because she will take the romance world by storm.
**I read an ARC from SMP**
A lot of “romcoms” lately haven’t been romcoms, but not only did I laugh my booty off to this book, but the romance had me squealing into my pillow. I swear, I added an extra 5 years to my lifespan from how much this book made me smile.
And while the cover is cute and it is technically called a slowburn romance…the sexual tension is PALPABLE. Like, my stars, their chemistry was off the page with their flirtations. Everything was well worth the wait with all the teasing.
Also, THE FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS. Man, I love a good romcom where the female friendships are also A+ quality. We stand women supporting women and also being goofy as hell and meddling in their love lives. I loved Harper’s group of friends—especially Lizzie and Thu. I really hope all her friends get their own books!
Now, there are serious topics discussed—especially when it comes to anxiety disorders and loss of a loved one and feeling pressure to meet expectations—but they are dealt with beautifully. I really understood how Harper felt because I felt like that while I was premed with my anxiety.
Overall, Mazey Eddings is an author to keep an eye on because she will take the romance world by storm.
**I read an ARC from SMP**
Read
September 26, 2021Greetings! As the author, I wanted to drop a quick trope overview for the book! If you choose to read, I hope you enjoy your time with Harper, Dan, and their ridiculous friends!
ABWL has:
🥵Slow Burn
🌲Horny pining
🐈Obscenely large cat
🌪Meddling friends
😩Idiots-to-lovers
🧠Mental health rep (heroine with an anxiety disorder)
🍆Beta/cinnamon roll hero
👄On page sex scenes and use of profanity
I tried to be as mindful as possible about dental phobia, and there are no on page dental procedures. If you need more details about the dental aspect, I'd be more than happy to answer your questions over email!
TW's are included in the text but just to make you aware there are discussions about losing a loved one and grief as well as incidents of sexism and ableist language. These last two are vehemently condemned by the narrative, the character, and myself.
ABWL has:
🥵Slow Burn
🌲Horny pining
🐈Obscenely large cat
🌪Meddling friends
😩Idiots-to-lovers
🧠Mental health rep (heroine with an anxiety disorder)
🍆Beta/cinnamon roll hero
👄On page sex scenes and use of profanity
I tried to be as mindful as possible about dental phobia, and there are no on page dental procedures. If you need more details about the dental aspect, I'd be more than happy to answer your questions over email!
TW's are included in the text but just to make you aware there are discussions about losing a loved one and grief as well as incidents of sexism and ableist language. These last two are vehemently condemned by the narrative, the character, and myself.
February 6, 2022
“You don't have to brush all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep.”- Unknown
Harper is very serious about being an oral surgeon. She is awaiting placement in op oral surgery residency program. She knows what she wants to do with her life, she has her goals, she doesn't have time for much else.
Dan is a first-year legacy dental student. His father was a dentist and there has been HUGE pressure for him to follow in his father's footsteps. But does he have the teeth, err, I mean heart for it?
Harper literally crashes into Dan, and they are off to the races. They form a 'friendship' but both are attracted to the other. So, you pretty much know this book is about the journey and I liked how both characters had their own individual journeys to go on as well as the one they went on together.
This book touches on anxiety, the pressure of expectations - those we place on ourselves, and the one's others put on us, attraction, goals, and romance. There are steamy scenes and heartfelt scenes and all the scenes in between.
I listed to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration as well as the story. I enjoyed both characters and was rooting for them. Plus, there is enough sizzle in this book to melt some snow.
Enjoyable, endearing, and entertaining.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Harper is very serious about being an oral surgeon. She is awaiting placement in op oral surgery residency program. She knows what she wants to do with her life, she has her goals, she doesn't have time for much else.
Dan is a first-year legacy dental student. His father was a dentist and there has been HUGE pressure for him to follow in his father's footsteps. But does he have the teeth, err, I mean heart for it?
Harper literally crashes into Dan, and they are off to the races. They form a 'friendship' but both are attracted to the other. So, you pretty much know this book is about the journey and I liked how both characters had their own individual journeys to go on as well as the one they went on together.
This book touches on anxiety, the pressure of expectations - those we place on ourselves, and the one's others put on us, attraction, goals, and romance. There are steamy scenes and heartfelt scenes and all the scenes in between.
I listed to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration as well as the story. I enjoyed both characters and was rooting for them. Plus, there is enough sizzle in this book to melt some snow.
Enjoyable, endearing, and entertaining.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 17, 2022
Ok guys this book is absolutely and utterly delicious. No kidding, this is The Love Hypothesis level magic. The writing is funny and brilliant and the story…
Harper has one focus in life: to become an oral surgeon. She’s been working hard towards this goal and is not willing to allow any distractions that could prevent her from achieving it. What’s also important, Harper suffers from anxiety and panic attacks and feelings are not only distracting, they are out of her control and out of her comfort zone.
But as a smoking hot first year student Dan storms into her life with his overwhelming charm and cute dimples, she can’t exactly stop herself from feeling…
Dan has his own demons to fight, but he is always there for Harper in a way that made me swoon and melt into a puddle. His only flaw is that he thinks, that Tobey Maguire is a better Spider-Man than Tom Holland. He is otherwise an absolutely perfect cinnamon roll.
This story was so moving and beautiful! It’s a slow burn, but it was really burning from the moment they met. I loved their chemistry; all these covert glances and light touches 🥰… It was so wonderfully written!!! And spice!! Yes, don’t worry, there’s enough of that too.
I loved watching Harper break down the walls around her heart and I’m afraid I may have fallen in love with Dan in the process 🫣. You can laugh all you want, but so will you if you decide to pick up this book 🤡
This is a fun read, but the author included the following TW to consider: anxiety, panic attacks, sexism, discussion of grief and ableist language.
Harper has one focus in life: to become an oral surgeon. She’s been working hard towards this goal and is not willing to allow any distractions that could prevent her from achieving it. What’s also important, Harper suffers from anxiety and panic attacks and feelings are not only distracting, they are out of her control and out of her comfort zone.
But as a smoking hot first year student Dan storms into her life with his overwhelming charm and cute dimples, she can’t exactly stop herself from feeling…
Dan has his own demons to fight, but he is always there for Harper in a way that made me swoon and melt into a puddle. His only flaw is that he thinks, that Tobey Maguire is a better Spider-Man than Tom Holland. He is otherwise an absolutely perfect cinnamon roll.
This story was so moving and beautiful! It’s a slow burn, but it was really burning from the moment they met. I loved their chemistry; all these covert glances and light touches 🥰… It was so wonderfully written!!! And spice!! Yes, don’t worry, there’s enough of that too.
I loved watching Harper break down the walls around her heart and I’m afraid I may have fallen in love with Dan in the process 🫣. You can laugh all you want, but so will you if you decide to pick up this book 🤡
This is a fun read, but the author included the following TW to consider: anxiety, panic attacks, sexism, discussion of grief and ableist language.
September 23, 2021
*3.5 stars*
You guys don't even know how badly I wanted to 5-star-love this book. I mean, a contemporary romance book about a Jewish dental student?? Where have you been all my life!? Plus, I so badly want to support Mazey Eddings in her debut, which is even more impressive since she is a dental student herself. However, when it came down to it, I had some issues with the story.
Let's start with the good. Mazey Eddings's dental content is on point (natch), and I adored reading about the little dental school, nerdy details. Trust me when I say she gets everything right, and I was smiling along thinking about the colored scrubs by grade and taking those stupid alginate impressions. I also really loved her anxiety rep, and I thought that the side characters were all funny and interesting. Lots of good things to enjoy in this book.
However, I struggled a bit with a few aspects of the story, also. I found the male MC to be too forgiving and a little lack-luster. He felt like a pushover in every aspect of his life, and I thought he gave the female MC too much leeway without her giving him the same considerations in return. I wasn't a huge fan of them together, mostly because I felt sorry for him for putting in a ton of effort that was only half-heartedly reciprocated.
For me, the pacing was a little off also. I lost some steam while reading the middle of the book, and I actually put the story down and started another one before coming back to finish this. I think something about how they got together really early and then sort of dragged along wasn't as engaging for me. I did, however, liked how well they knew each other and their intimacy towards the end.
I think this book was a strong debut from Mazey Eddings, even if I'm a picky, jaded romance reader who has super high expectations. Mazey did the dental profession proud, and I'm sure most readers will eat this one up.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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You guys don't even know how badly I wanted to 5-star-love this book. I mean, a contemporary romance book about a Jewish dental student?? Where have you been all my life!? Plus, I so badly want to support Mazey Eddings in her debut, which is even more impressive since she is a dental student herself. However, when it came down to it, I had some issues with the story.
Let's start with the good. Mazey Eddings's dental content is on point (natch), and I adored reading about the little dental school, nerdy details. Trust me when I say she gets everything right, and I was smiling along thinking about the colored scrubs by grade and taking those stupid alginate impressions. I also really loved her anxiety rep, and I thought that the side characters were all funny and interesting. Lots of good things to enjoy in this book.
However, I struggled a bit with a few aspects of the story, also. I found the male MC to be too forgiving and a little lack-luster. He felt like a pushover in every aspect of his life, and I thought he gave the female MC too much leeway without her giving him the same considerations in return. I wasn't a huge fan of them together, mostly because I felt sorry for him for putting in a ton of effort that was only half-heartedly reciprocated.
For me, the pacing was a little off also. I lost some steam while reading the middle of the book, and I actually put the story down and started another one before coming back to finish this. I think something about how they got together really early and then sort of dragged along wasn't as engaging for me. I did, however, liked how well they knew each other and their intimacy towards the end.
I think this book was a strong debut from Mazey Eddings, even if I'm a picky, jaded romance reader who has super high expectations. Mazey did the dental profession proud, and I'm sure most readers will eat this one up.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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February 28, 2022
Oof, I don't know if this was a situation of expectations just being too high -- and for a debut, no less -- but maybe my expectations were just too high. Even after all this time, I haven't learned.
I don't want to downplay all the good within these pages, the conversations around how grief changes you, the shocking way anxiety can control your life and how debilitating it is, even with coping and control methods, the importance and positivity around therapy.. and like, I did find the main characters cute.
But this book just didn't take over my mind or my thoughts. I obviously reached for it way early, because I was keen, but I wasn't bowled over by this. It's good, sometimes very good, sometimes very sweet, but overall? I don't think I'll remember it in a week.
I did like that this centered around dentists, I don't think I've ever read (or, now that I think about it, watched..) a story with this as the career or back drop and it was interesting to have that change in scenery.
I feel like a heel; I'm bummed to have read this so early (hi from June 2021! does 2022 suck less? please say yes..) and now won't be screaming and shouting and pushing this on everyone and anyone I know. I still think if you were interested, you should absolutely give it a shot. I think it's very possible I'm just the human embodiment of a wet blanket these days so this could totally just be a me thing. That said, I would read this author again, for sure.
3.5 stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I don't want to downplay all the good within these pages, the conversations around how grief changes you, the shocking way anxiety can control your life and how debilitating it is, even with coping and control methods, the importance and positivity around therapy.. and like, I did find the main characters cute.
But this book just didn't take over my mind or my thoughts. I obviously reached for it way early, because I was keen, but I wasn't bowled over by this. It's good, sometimes very good, sometimes very sweet, but overall? I don't think I'll remember it in a week.
I did like that this centered around dentists, I don't think I've ever read (or, now that I think about it, watched..) a story with this as the career or back drop and it was interesting to have that change in scenery.
I feel like a heel; I'm bummed to have read this so early (hi from June 2021! does 2022 suck less? please say yes..) and now won't be screaming and shouting and pushing this on everyone and anyone I know. I still think if you were interested, you should absolutely give it a shot. I think it's very possible I'm just the human embodiment of a wet blanket these days so this could totally just be a me thing. That said, I would read this author again, for sure.
3.5 stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
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February 16, 2023DNF at 43%
i wanted to like this so bad. i hadn't been enjoying it since like 5% in, but i forced myself through it because i was sure i could overcome the ick this was giving me.... but after 2 weeks of putting this off and cringing every time i opened the ebook to the point where i stopped reading after just a few pages, i think it's time to admit defeat (sorry emily!)
my main gripe with this book is that it's one that SHOULD be so relatable to me, and yet i refused to identify with the main character because i found her so unbearable. the main character has general anxiety and issues with wanting to stay in control (AKA, being afraid to add a relationship to her daily structure), and yet this book just felt like the author was throwing buzzwords like "feminism" and "patriarchy" around. it was impossible for me to want to relate to her, maybe because i found it so cringy that she takes her job so seriously? idk
the relationship in this felt so boring and yet the entire inner monologue for each character was how different and beautiful and special the other character was, and i just didn't see it. for example, harper often cited wanting to climb dan like a tree over the tiniest things like his favorite movie is top gun (????? ok, that's every man bestie) or he touched her palm with his fingertip. that was a real scene (that took like a full page).
additionally, this book was just so corny writing style-wise, and it made me very aware that i was reading a book with wannabe catchy dialogue rather than getting lost in a realistic story. it even did the tropey thing where the first kiss scene ended in a "BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP" of her alarm clock because she had only dreamt it. that's literally a writing tactic i used when i was 12.
i'm still debating reading her sophomore novel because i heard it's better, but man am i sad that i couldn't force my way through this and be less critical. maybe i just can't read books set in a workplace anymore but this was just annoying and tiring. nobody psychoanalyze me because at this point i think it just means that i've given up that real love exists and am therefore more cynical when i read about it lol leave me alone.
i wanted to like this so bad. i hadn't been enjoying it since like 5% in, but i forced myself through it because i was sure i could overcome the ick this was giving me.... but after 2 weeks of putting this off and cringing every time i opened the ebook to the point where i stopped reading after just a few pages, i think it's time to admit defeat (sorry emily!)
my main gripe with this book is that it's one that SHOULD be so relatable to me, and yet i refused to identify with the main character because i found her so unbearable. the main character has general anxiety and issues with wanting to stay in control (AKA, being afraid to add a relationship to her daily structure), and yet this book just felt like the author was throwing buzzwords like "feminism" and "patriarchy" around. it was impossible for me to want to relate to her, maybe because i found it so cringy that she takes her job so seriously? idk
the relationship in this felt so boring and yet the entire inner monologue for each character was how different and beautiful and special the other character was, and i just didn't see it. for example, harper often cited wanting to climb dan like a tree over the tiniest things like his favorite movie is top gun (????? ok, that's every man bestie) or he touched her palm with his fingertip. that was a real scene (that took like a full page).
additionally, this book was just so corny writing style-wise, and it made me very aware that i was reading a book with wannabe catchy dialogue rather than getting lost in a realistic story. it even did the tropey thing where the first kiss scene ended in a "BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP" of her alarm clock because she had only dreamt it. that's literally a writing tactic i used when i was 12.
i'm still debating reading her sophomore novel because i heard it's better, but man am i sad that i couldn't force my way through this and be less critical. maybe i just can't read books set in a workplace anymore but this was just annoying and tiring. nobody psychoanalyze me because at this point i think it just means that i've given up that real love exists and am therefore more cynical when i read about it lol leave me alone.
March 26, 2022
A Brush with Love is the story of Dan and Harper. Two dental school students who are instantaneously desperate for one another. There is no slow burn or build up, its just desperate need for one another. Something that would more typically happen in a drunken stupor.
Harper just wants to focus on her dental school with no distractions or anything filling up her days (no pun intended). Dan on the other hand is fraught by tension and duty to continue the legacy of his father's dental practice.
Unfortunately, A Brush with Love could have been so much more. An interesting direction would have been to dig deeper into Dan's family and his obligations to his family. It would have also been fascinating to learn more about Harper's anxiety. Instead,
A Brush with Love was a juvenile story based around lust. I really struggled to finish it as the insta-love felt awkward and boring.
I do believe the author has potential as this is her first novel. 2/5 stars.
Thank you to Netgally and Macmillan audio for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Harper just wants to focus on her dental school with no distractions or anything filling up her days (no pun intended). Dan on the other hand is fraught by tension and duty to continue the legacy of his father's dental practice.
Unfortunately, A Brush with Love could have been so much more. An interesting direction would have been to dig deeper into Dan's family and his obligations to his family. It would have also been fascinating to learn more about Harper's anxiety. Instead,
A Brush with Love was a juvenile story based around lust. I really struggled to finish it as the insta-love felt awkward and boring.
I do believe the author has potential as this is her first novel. 2/5 stars.
Thank you to Netgally and Macmillan audio for this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2022
3.5.
Things I liked about this book:
- I thought the way the author wrote about anxiety and grief accompanied by untraditional family dynamics was great
- The writing was funny at times, and overall was of good quality
- I'm a sucker for a will-they-won't-they scenario
- The dialogue felt natural
Things I didn't like:
- The pacing was a bit off kilter, and the book was hard to push through at times; had this not been a review opportunity I definitely would've DNF'd sometime in the middle to third act.
- The male love interest insulted Andrew Garfield and I'm being so serious when I say biggest turn off lmao. Like literally threw the book across the room. This will not bode well in this economy.
- The writing/plot felt kindaaa generic. I don't think I'll remember much about this book when I look back on it 6 months later.
Audiobook: I was able to listen to this on audiobook which I am so grateful for!! Audiobooks are a lot easier for me to read with. I enjoyed Harper's narrator, and Dan's for the most part EXCEPT when he was trying to imitate a woman's voice when reading Harper's dialogue. It felt very grating.
Things I liked about this book:
- I thought the way the author wrote about anxiety and grief accompanied by untraditional family dynamics was great
- The writing was funny at times, and overall was of good quality
- I'm a sucker for a will-they-won't-they scenario
- The dialogue felt natural
Things I didn't like:
- The pacing was a bit off kilter, and the book was hard to push through at times; had this not been a review opportunity I definitely would've DNF'd sometime in the middle to third act.
- The male love interest insulted Andrew Garfield and I'm being so serious when I say biggest turn off lmao. Like literally threw the book across the room. This will not bode well in this economy.
- The writing/plot felt kindaaa generic. I don't think I'll remember much about this book when I look back on it 6 months later.
Audiobook: I was able to listen to this on audiobook which I am so grateful for!! Audiobooks are a lot easier for me to read with. I enjoyed Harper's narrator, and Dan's for the most part EXCEPT when he was trying to imitate a woman's voice when reading Harper's dialogue. It felt very grating.
April 11, 2022
4.5⭐️ I absolutely adored this book! This was such a cute rom-com.
This book not only was a friends to lovers story but it also was a slow burn that deals with a lot of important topics which I loved.
Harper was so AMAZING. I love that she didn’t take anyone’s BS and made sure to call anyone out when they tried to put her down. She is such a strong character and I appreciated how vulnerable she was talking about her anxiety and loss. Now with Dan he is the definition of a cinnamon roll man. I love how much he cared for Harper and how understanding he was. Ugh this book was amazing!
“Harper, loving you is the easiest thing I’ll ever do.”
Thank you St. Martins for this ARC.
This book not only was a friends to lovers story but it also was a slow burn that deals with a lot of important topics which I loved.
Harper was so AMAZING. I love that she didn’t take anyone’s BS and made sure to call anyone out when they tried to put her down. She is such a strong character and I appreciated how vulnerable she was talking about her anxiety and loss. Now with Dan he is the definition of a cinnamon roll man. I love how much he cared for Harper and how understanding he was. Ugh this book was amazing!
“Harper, loving you is the easiest thing I’ll ever do.”
Thank you St. Martins for this ARC.
April 11, 2022
4.5 stars
I loved A Brush with Love , even if it reminded me that I need to schedule a dentist’s appointment!
Harper is determined to be at the top of her class in dental school so she can hopefully get the oral surgery residency she wants. She studies HARD—it’s practically all she does.
One day she bumps into Dan, a handsome, first-year dental student. And she literally bumps into him—on a rainy day, she slips down some stairs and directly into him. They immediately feel an intense connection for one another, but Harper does not want any distractions from her career goals, so she decides they can only be friends. As much as that’s the last thing Dan wants to be, he’d rather have Harper as a friend than nothing at all.
But the more time they spend together—even as friends—the more that Harper is distracted by her feelings for Dan. Harper’s life is carefully ordered for a reason, to help her keep her intense anxiety and claustrophobia at bay. Will letting him in throw her into disarray that badly? And Dan is dealing with his own issues—he’s only in dental school because of parental pressure, and he has a lot of resentment and damage because of that.
Can two people struggling to stay afloat in so many ways find strength in being together? Or will Harper’s fears and need for control doom them?
There is so much to love in A Brush with Love —neurodiversity, the banter between Harper and Dan and with their friends (their friends cracked me up), even the Jewish representation. I don't know that I've ever read a rom-com that took place in dental school! This was really a memorable story for so many reasons.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
I loved A Brush with Love , even if it reminded me that I need to schedule a dentist’s appointment!
Harper is determined to be at the top of her class in dental school so she can hopefully get the oral surgery residency she wants. She studies HARD—it’s practically all she does.
One day she bumps into Dan, a handsome, first-year dental student. And she literally bumps into him—on a rainy day, she slips down some stairs and directly into him. They immediately feel an intense connection for one another, but Harper does not want any distractions from her career goals, so she decides they can only be friends. As much as that’s the last thing Dan wants to be, he’d rather have Harper as a friend than nothing at all.
But the more time they spend together—even as friends—the more that Harper is distracted by her feelings for Dan. Harper’s life is carefully ordered for a reason, to help her keep her intense anxiety and claustrophobia at bay. Will letting him in throw her into disarray that badly? And Dan is dealing with his own issues—he’s only in dental school because of parental pressure, and he has a lot of resentment and damage because of that.
Can two people struggling to stay afloat in so many ways find strength in being together? Or will Harper’s fears and need for control doom them?
There is so much to love in A Brush with Love —neurodiversity, the banter between Harper and Dan and with their friends (their friends cracked me up), even the Jewish representation. I don't know that I've ever read a rom-com that took place in dental school! This was really a memorable story for so many reasons.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
March 6, 2022
First of all, the acknowledgments have me crying like a baby ✋🏻😭 :
"And to my readers with a mental illness: I see you. I believe in you. You are worthy of love just as you are. Hold strong in your faith of the happily ever after, whatever that may look like. It isn’t a fantasy but a reality you deserve."
Here's some rapid-fire info about the book:
• Friends-to-lovers (aka the best trope 😍)
• Dual POV (for the full experience)
• Loved the sarcastic banter
• SUCH a sweet, cutesy, swoon-worthy romance 🥺
• Genuinely, really GOOD anxiety rep
The anxiety representation:
Before the book starts, the author informs us that our mc Harper has general anxiety disorder. That immediately piqued my attention because, as a person with anxiety, I've never read a book like this before (which came as a real shocker to me tbh and needs to be remedied). In my personal opinion, I can confidently say that the anxiety rep was written so well that I wish I could read a hundred other books exactly like this one.
The way Harper (kinda) successfully puts up her "normal" front to everyone she knows, while on the inside it feels like she's drowning in anxiety was so relatable. At one point, she thinks "Anxiety screamed for it to end, while another fragment of her mind begged for more" and I could count on at least both hands the amount of times that I have felt the exact same way that I could tear up just reading this line out of pure catharsis.
I also have never felt more called out by a book in my LIFE. The fact that the following quote was from chapter two (TWO) of this book, had me gearing up for a full on attack right from the beginning:
"How was she supposed to date when even the simplest things threatened to disrupt her emotional equilibrium? How was she supposed to regularly and willfully plunge herself into the heart palpitations and a churning stomach that came with opening herself up to someone? And how was she supposed to expect another person to see her chaotic ugliness and still want to be with her? There was no point in setting herself up for failure."
IM SORRY WHAT? I'm just trying to enjoy a rom-com here. I did not need to be called out like that MAZEY 🤺🤺
Friendships with other women:
This was my second favourite thing about this book. Harper's friends were always honest with her, even if it was about things that Harper refused to acknowledge and in the end, no matter what, her friends were there for her. Simply put, the friendships she has with the other women in her life was just beautiful 💕
Now for the romance:
Dan was super freaking cute. Was he the best book boyfriend ever? No. There were some moments that were so cringy that I wanted to hit him (e.g. the first cat scene 🤪 What the heck was that??). And yet........ they were so cute together that by the end I was truly rooting for them!
I also love how the first part of this book was funny, full of banter, so sweeeet and then by the end of it, ouuuuf the angst 😫 So good!
The reason that it isn't getting 4 stars is because I did find it a bit too monologue-y and Dan was a tad cringy at parts. Other than that though, as a women in STEM with anxiety, I appreciate this book more than this author will ever know, and for that, I say thank you❤️
Rating: 3.5⭐️/5
"And to my readers with a mental illness: I see you. I believe in you. You are worthy of love just as you are. Hold strong in your faith of the happily ever after, whatever that may look like. It isn’t a fantasy but a reality you deserve."
Here's some rapid-fire info about the book:
• Friends-to-lovers (aka the best trope 😍)
• Dual POV (for the full experience)
• Loved the sarcastic banter
• SUCH a sweet, cutesy, swoon-worthy romance 🥺
• Genuinely, really GOOD anxiety rep
The anxiety representation:
Before the book starts, the author informs us that our mc Harper has general anxiety disorder. That immediately piqued my attention because, as a person with anxiety, I've never read a book like this before (which came as a real shocker to me tbh and needs to be remedied). In my personal opinion, I can confidently say that the anxiety rep was written so well that I wish I could read a hundred other books exactly like this one.
The way Harper (kinda) successfully puts up her "normal" front to everyone she knows, while on the inside it feels like she's drowning in anxiety was so relatable. At one point, she thinks "Anxiety screamed for it to end, while another fragment of her mind begged for more" and I could count on at least both hands the amount of times that I have felt the exact same way that I could tear up just reading this line out of pure catharsis.
I also have never felt more called out by a book in my LIFE. The fact that the following quote was from chapter two (TWO) of this book, had me gearing up for a full on attack right from the beginning:
"How was she supposed to date when even the simplest things threatened to disrupt her emotional equilibrium? How was she supposed to regularly and willfully plunge herself into the heart palpitations and a churning stomach that came with opening herself up to someone? And how was she supposed to expect another person to see her chaotic ugliness and still want to be with her? There was no point in setting herself up for failure."
IM SORRY WHAT? I'm just trying to enjoy a rom-com here. I did not need to be called out like that MAZEY 🤺🤺
Friendships with other women:
This was my second favourite thing about this book. Harper's friends were always honest with her, even if it was about things that Harper refused to acknowledge and in the end, no matter what, her friends were there for her. Simply put, the friendships she has with the other women in her life was just beautiful 💕
Now for the romance:
Dan was super freaking cute. Was he the best book boyfriend ever? No. There were some moments that were so cringy that I wanted to hit him (e.g. the first cat scene 🤪 What the heck was that??). And yet........ they were so cute together that by the end I was truly rooting for them!
I also love how the first part of this book was funny, full of banter, so sweeeet and then by the end of it, ouuuuf the angst 😫 So good!
The reason that it isn't getting 4 stars is because I did find it a bit too monologue-y and Dan was a tad cringy at parts. Other than that though, as a women in STEM with anxiety, I appreciate this book more than this author will ever know, and for that, I say thank you❤️
Rating: 3.5⭐️/5
March 7, 2021
Rating it 5 stars without even reading it because it's my friend's book and I do what I want 😌
Read
March 9, 2022DNF.
I was not invested in their romance/storylines enough to continue, so rather than forcing myself to listen to more of the audiobook, I decided to move on.
I was not invested in their romance/storylines enough to continue, so rather than forcing myself to listen to more of the audiobook, I decided to move on.
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