Review: A Brush with Love by Mazzey Eddings
Thank you St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin for my copy! as well as Libro.fm for my audiobook copy! All thoughts are my own.
Another day, another review of a romance novel. Today, I’m sharing my review of A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings. This is one romance novel that I have been seeing HYPED since around the summertime and it finally releases March 8, 2022! It’s a sweet story with a little bit of “spice” thrown in about two students in dental school. It dives into a lot of issues, like strained parent/child relationships, grief, anxiety, and the stigma around therapy.
Sadly, it wasn’t a knock out for me. I enjoyed aspects of it, but it isn’t a new favorite. Read why below!
Synopsis:
“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.”
What I Liked:
Anxiety and Therapy Discussion—The stigma around therapy is one that really needs to end and I loved how it was addressed in this book. Therapy is GOOD for our brains and can only help us to be happier, more fulfilled individuals in life and work.
The Premise—In another life, I wanted to go to medical school, so I loved seeing a peek into the lives of dental students. It’s hard work! And I thought the idea behind the romance was fun but sadly, not my favorite use of the trope.
What Didn’t Work:
The Trope (Insta-Love)—If you’ve read my review before, you know insta-love just doesn’t do for me UNLESS the author is able to really sell it in a believable way. I didn’t find myself connected to this insta-love story from the beginning, so unfortunately, as the story progressed I wasn’t invested.
Overload of Issues to Overcome—I’m hesitant to say this because I don’t want to be misunderstood. As humans, we deal with so much every day, so I know there is a lot to be said that this is an authentic experience. But I really feel like there was just too much and it left a lot of loose ends. I could be because I listened to it via audio, but I don’t know. Something just didn’t click!
Content Warnings:
Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death of parent, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness