... a steamy romcom that invokes the forced proximity/stuck together, accidental pregnancy, and there’s ‘only one bed’ tropes ... First off, I adored this book, especially Lizzie and Rake’s steamy chemistry, and it was more enjoyable than A Brush with Love ... It was great seeing how Lizzie and Rake’s feelings for each other grew throughout the book after being forced to spend lots of time together ... I appreciated the thoughtful inclusion of ADHD representation and the realistic way in which Eddings’ described neurodiversity /// There wasn’t much about this book to dislike but, even though it provided some funny moments, I found some of the descriptions of the erotic pastries to be a bit much. It also seemed as though there were some missed opportunities, such as it would have been heartwarming to have seen Lizzie’s parents finally come to accept, understand, and unconditionally love Lizzie flaws and all ... a steamy and funny rom com that I highly recommend picking up!
... doesn’t shy away from the very real problems that the titular character’s ADHD causes ... Despite his own internal conflicts, including a commitment-phobic approach to romantic entanglements, Rake’s main role in the story is to open Lizzie’s eyes to all she has to offer. Even when she sees herself as a mess, he sees her as beautiful, charming, clever and endearing. Is he a little too perfect? Perhaps. But readers turn to romance novels because we want to believe that there are men like Rake out there: gorgeous, kind men who will come through even when things get messy; thoughtful and insightful men who will love their partners the way they deserve to be loved. Though the romance is a bit unbalanced—Lizzie doesn’t spend an equal amount of time showing Rake that he deserves to be loved as well—it’s hard to complain about seeing a woman who doubted her own value get showered with love, appreciation and respect.
... an unconventional and messy love story brimming with steamy scenes between the instantly attracted duo, and has a raw wit that will leave readers cackling.
Eddings continues to incorporate neurodivergent representation in her latest and does an incredible job of illustrating the difficulties that someone with adult ADHD and RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria) might face in every facet of their life, from the varying perspectives of other characters ... This is a must-read steamy romance that is filled with personal growth, supportive, healthy relationships and friendships, and a message that the way in which someone thinks doesn’t determine their value, because everyone deserves to be loved as they are.
Lizzie is unusual for a romance novel character. She's even more commitment-phobic than Rake, defying gender stereotypes. And Lizzie has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Her need for sensory input makes regular sex an important part of her self-care. Eddings writes with compassion about Lizzie’s difficulties keeping on top of things, and her sex-positive attitude toward Lizzie's love life is a win for feminism. Reading about a neurodiverse heroine like Lizzie is refreshing. This is a funny, tumultuous novel that will inspire readers to think about how different kinds of brains shape our human need for love and sex ... A quirky and engaging second novel from an up-and-coming author.
... charming and surprisingly deep ... Eddings handles Lizzie’s neurodivergence with sensitivity and care, crafting a heroine who will claim readers’ hearts from page one. The supporting characters are similarly well-drawn, particularly Lizzie’s icy, antagonistic mother, who readers will love to hate. This smart love story is a gem.
