First off, I want to thank Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

There aren't many times when I'll forgo giving a book a star rating, but since my unfortunate dislike of this book is entirely my own fault, this is one of those times.

I'll often request books without fully reading the synopsis (or without reading it at all), just because something else drew me in enough, such as prior experience with the author's work, a gorgeous cover, or hype from my friends. This was one of those cases, where I'd just adored A Brush with Love so much, and was so excited that this book was focused on an MC with ADHD, that I didn't even need to read the synopsis to know I was sold on it.

I really should have read that synopsis.

There aren't many tropes that will entirely put me off a book, but the pregnancy trope, especially within a romance like this, is one of them. It's just not a trope or plot point I'm ever really interested in reading in my romance books, and sometimes I even hate those sudden baby epilogues that round off stories sometimes. It's just not something I like, especially right now in this current political climate, where I'm extra sensitive to it. My dislike for this trope obviously translated into dislike for certain aspects of this book which I can't really judge fairly. Did I find this aspect cringy because I just don't care for this trope, or is it actually cringy? Is this thing unrealistic in these stories, or is it just extra unrealistic here? All in all, this had led to my blank rating, because it just isn't fair of me to rate this book low when it's on me for reading a book with something I'm wholeheartedly uninterested in reading. (I am still very sad that the ADHD rep book coincided with the pregnancy book, though, and that's fair for me to still feel!)

What did really work for me was the ADHD rep, personally. There's a lot of focus on it, and how it affects Lizzie in all aspects of her life. The book really takes the time to explore how it affects her in her relationships, family life, career, and perception of herself, but does so in a positive light while still showing the reality of living with ADHD. It's neither overly pessimistic or romanticized, and we see Lizzie both flourish and suffer because of her brain. It also goes specifically into detail about how it's shaped Lizzie, and doesn't just paint her as hyperactive and distracted, but discusses specifics that can come with ADHD, like rejection sensitive dysphoria. It's honestly just really good rep, and I was expecting that, because Mazey's other book did a fantastic job with anxiety, especially in an academic setting.

I did still really love the writing and characters here though, which shows to me that I do still really enjoy Mazey Eddings as an author, and has me excited about the next book she'll write (though I will be reading that synopsis first!)