A Brush with Love

Harper Horowitz is a dental student in her final year, dealing with severe anxiety as she pursues her dream of becoming an oral surgeon. During a chance encounter at the university clinic, she meets Dan Crabtree, a first-year student who needs significant dental work. Their connection grows through a series of appointments and interactions at school, but Harper's focus on her career and her struggles with anxiety create complications. Dan's own challenges with art and family expectations add another layer to their developing relationship. The story follows their navigation through dental school pressures, personal fears, and the possibility of romance. The Philadelphia dental school setting provides a backdrop for their individual journeys of self-discovery and healing. This romantic comedy explores themes of mental health acceptance and the balance between professional ambition and personal happiness. The narrative shows how vulnerability and honesty can lead to deeper connections and personal growth.

Readers found this dental school romance delivered a combination of anxiety representation and workplace dynamics. Many appreciated the authentic portrayal of panic attacks and mental health struggles, with several reviewers noting it helped them feel "seen." Readers liked: - Realistic depictions of dental school life and terminology - Chemistry between main characters - Mental health representation - Balance of heavy themes with humor Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in middle sections - Some communication issues between characters felt forced - Secondary characters lack development - Dental terminology overwhelming for some readers Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (12,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) BookBub: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) One frequent comment from positive reviews: "Finally a romance that doesn't treat anxiety as something that can be 'fixed' by love." Multiple negative reviews cited difficulty connecting with the characters' decisions in the latter third of the book.

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🦷 Author Mazey Eddings draws from her own experiences with anxiety and dental school to create authentic representation in her romance novels. 💘 The story features a unique setting in dental school, making it one of the few romance novels to explore the demanding world of dentistry students. 🎨 The title "A Brush with Love" is a clever play on words, combining the dental theme with the romantic storyline. 📚 This debut novel was part of a two-book deal with St. Martin's Griffin, leading to Eddings' second book, "Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake." 🩺 The book addresses mental health issues, particularly anxiety and panic attacks, while maintaining the lighter tone expected in contemporary romance novels.