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theforereffect's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It's a solid read if you like contemporary romance with humor and heart.
I have mixed feelings, personally. On the one hand, I liked the care that was spent on Jude's journey and some of the banter, but on the other hand I disliked the constant tonal shifts and the fact that the woman has to do all of the emotional work.
I think this book has a split personality. At times it wants to be a sexy rom-com about a couple of childhood enemies fake dating at a wedding. So many tropes! Fun!
On the other hand, it wants to be an emotional journey about two traumatized people finding safety and hope in a childhood friend as adults.
What happens is the book feels way too long, spends next to zero time at the actual wedding (it's called The Plus One! And it's barely about a wedding!), and poignant moments are then punctuated with a sex joke or a reference to "fake dating!!" as if to remind the reader that this is a rom-com.
This book gets extra points for skipping my least favorite part of all romance novels. You know the part. This is only the second book I have encountered that has skipped that 3rd act scene and I love it. More books like this, please.
But not exactly like this, because this one is a teeny messy.
I have mixed feelings, personally. On the one hand, I liked the care that was spent on Jude's journey and some of the banter, but on the other hand I disliked the constant tonal shifts and the fact that the woman has to do all of the emotional work.
I think this book has a split personality. At times it wants to be a sexy rom-com about a couple of childhood enemies fake dating at a wedding. So many tropes! Fun!
On the other hand, it wants to be an emotional journey about two traumatized people finding safety and hope in a childhood friend as adults.
What happens is the book feels way too long, spends next to zero time at the actual wedding (it's called The Plus One! And it's barely about a wedding!), and poignant moments are then punctuated with a sex joke or a reference to "fake dating!!" as if to remind the reader that this is a rom-com.
This book gets extra points for skipping my least favorite part of all romance novels. You know the part. This is only the second book I have encountered that has skipped that 3rd act scene and I love it. More books like this, please.
But not exactly like this, because this one is a teeny messy.
sahanasure's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved this book! I will admit the beginning of the book was such a drag and I had to force myself to get through it but once I got half way. I fell in love with the characters and the romance (childhood enemies to lovers). It is very spicy (just saying) and this is definitely a book I will read again!
karishb's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I love the mental health aspect of this novel
tessticoal's review against another edition
4.0
It is very hard to do enemies to lovers in contemporary romances but this book does it really really well!
hellokittenface's review against another edition
2.0
SPOILERS!
(2.5 stars)
I was hoping there would be more “enemies” in this “enemies to lovers” book. I felt like there could’ve been more quips between Indira and Jude. Things seemed to just move very fast with their relationship which made me feel like they were more “trauma-bonded” (that might not be the correct word for it). Their relationship just didn’t seem very believable to me. Overall, I did appreciate Indira being so supportive of Jude and helping him with his PTSD. But at times, Indira was so unlikable! Especially towards Collin and Jeremy. Like the chapter after the house had been vandalized, she was so immature and inconsiderate about the situation. Like. Take accountability! Y’all are grown ass adults and were too busy getting busy!? Y’all had one job!
I would’ve liked to have more info and background about Jeremy and Collin. I honestly thought we’d be getting more during the wedding but it was barely a chapters worth?? All the lead up to the wedding and then we get “OOP! It was beautiful and they cried! Moving on…” Not to mention, the title and the cover definitely makes it seem like a lot of the story would center around them being each other’s plus one AT THE WEDDING.
I didn’t think the chapters needed to be separated by Jude/Indira. Too many of them were from Jude’s perspective. Would’ve been totally fine if it had just been Jude’s perspective from the get go.
The writing came off as fan fiction to me as well. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it just feels like I should be reading this on Archive of our Own. Not gonna lie, I was picturing Sam Winchester as Jude lol
Also…I really didn’t need details about Jude’s hard cock every time Indira giggled.
(2.5 stars)
I was hoping there would be more “enemies” in this “enemies to lovers” book. I felt like there could’ve been more quips between Indira and Jude. Things seemed to just move very fast with their relationship which made me feel like they were more “trauma-bonded” (that might not be the correct word for it). Their relationship just didn’t seem very believable to me. Overall, I did appreciate Indira being so supportive of Jude and helping him with his PTSD. But at times, Indira was so unlikable! Especially towards Collin and Jeremy. Like the chapter after the house had been vandalized, she was so immature and inconsiderate about the situation. Like. Take accountability! Y’all are grown ass adults and were too busy getting busy!? Y’all had one job!
I would’ve liked to have more info and background about Jeremy and Collin. I honestly thought we’d be getting more during the wedding but it was barely a chapters worth?? All the lead up to the wedding and then we get “OOP! It was beautiful and they cried! Moving on…” Not to mention, the title and the cover definitely makes it seem like a lot of the story would center around them being each other’s plus one AT THE WEDDING.
I didn’t think the chapters needed to be separated by Jude/Indira. Too many of them were from Jude’s perspective. Would’ve been totally fine if it had just been Jude’s perspective from the get go.
The writing came off as fan fiction to me as well. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it just feels like I should be reading this on Archive of our Own. Not gonna lie, I was picturing Sam Winchester as Jude lol
Also…I really didn’t need details about Jude’s hard cock every time Indira giggled.
librarianlinds's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
knk1084's review against another edition
4.0
Always enjoy Mazey’s books. Deadbeat dad stuff was too relatable (from the mom perspective). Pretty steamy.
emiliac95's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! The steamy scenes were steamy and it had very good messages on mental health
bookishthespian's review against another edition
4.0
The Plus One is book #3 in the Brush with Love series, but can 100% be read as a standalone...which is what I did. I just discovered Mazey Eddings with this book, and I really enjoyed her writing style, her storytelling, and her characters, so I'll definitely be going back to read the first 2 books in this series, and I look forward to whatever stories she comes up with next.
* Stellar therapy and mental health rep!
* Tropes: Brother's best friend, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating
* Content warnings: severe PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, parental abandonment, and infidelity
What I liked:
- That Indira was a mental health professional, and while she was very good at it, she still had her own mental health struggles. It felt very realistic. And because of her training and her own experiences, she was able to recognize what Jude was dealing with and help him navigate his way through it, while not attempting to "fix" him.
- I loved the strong female friendships! I can't wait to go back and read the first 2 books to spend more time with these women.
- While it's on the heavier side for a rom-com, I really appreciated that the author didn't shy away from challenging topics.
- I loved Indira and Jude! Their banter was on point and very natural, and it was fun to watch their relationship change and grow.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my eARC in exchange for my honest review! I loved reading it!
* Stellar therapy and mental health rep!
* Tropes: Brother's best friend, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating
* Content warnings: severe PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, parental abandonment, and infidelity
What I liked:
- That Indira was a mental health professional, and while she was very good at it, she still had her own mental health struggles. It felt very realistic. And because of her training and her own experiences, she was able to recognize what Jude was dealing with and help him navigate his way through it, while not attempting to "fix" him.
- I loved the strong female friendships! I can't wait to go back and read the first 2 books to spend more time with these women.
- While it's on the heavier side for a rom-com, I really appreciated that the author didn't shy away from challenging topics.
- I loved Indira and Jude! Their banter was on point and very natural, and it was fun to watch their relationship change and grow.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my eARC in exchange for my honest review! I loved reading it!
moodymichaela's review against another edition
5.0
The Plus One is a childhood enemies-to-lovers, brothers best friend, fake dating contemporary romance novel that checked so many boxes for me!! Its sweet, steamy, funny and had such great banter. But its also deep, emotional and navigated trauma and mental health in a beautiful way.
Our protagonists Indira and Jude are so endearing and lovable that I was enamored right away.
Thanks so St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 🤍
Our protagonists Indira and Jude are so endearing and lovable that I was enamored right away.
Thanks so St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 🤍