A Brush with Love A Novel by Mazey Eddings Narrated by Emily Lawrence; Vikas Adam

​

I received a digital audiobook of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Ok first off trigger warning for fear of mental health treatment, perceived stigma  of seeking mental health treatment, anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, compulsive behaviors as well as parent death. Props to the author for putting her own trigger warning front and center at the start of the book.

Now as a person who is currently taking SSRIs for my own anxiety/compulsive behaviors and has been to counseling - the whole time I read this I just wanted to pull this girl aside and give her the - normalize mental healthcare/ mental healthcare is self care speech. If you are experiencing untenable moods and thoughts - you do not have to go it alone, even if you do not have understanding friends and family there are understanding and helpful medical professionals that can help you find the right tools to support your mental health. Everyone’s different and may require different methods but seriously SSRIs can make such a difference when you find the right one. Ok Ted talk over.

On the one hand I liked how supportive and persistent and patient Dan was however there were a couple of times where readers who are very concerned about the clarity of consent might have some thoughts but it didn’t bother me personally because you’ve got her inner monologue and know she’s on board even though she’s constantly getting in her own way and struggles to recognize her wants vs needs and that it’s ok to want things that make you happy. 

Additionally one of her reasons for fighting the pull to Dan is the theory that if you don’t get close to anyone you won’t get hurt when they leave you because everyone leaves. Conversely she has a circle of three close lady friends she’s let in so far that they have a key to her apartment sooooo….. where’s the line? Is it men? She didn’t know her father but that isn’t really gone into about being a reason for this feeling. The writing was great. I just became frustrated on occasion with the characters when their main problems were of their own making. Additionally the male narrator was good but there was something about the way he did the high emotion or high steam times that made it feel a little cringey to me but I don’t think it would have been if I had been reading it in kindle/book form. Slow build, steamy, open door.  

4/5