Lizzie Blake is a bit of a mess.

Her bedroom is a disaster, she’s barely hanging on to her job at a fancy bakery, and she is definitely NOT looking to add a love interest to the mayhem that is her life. Lizzie breaks her cardinal rule of only having one night stands upon meeting Rake, an emotionally unavailable Australian man only in town on business. But when she decides to really tackle her ADHD and force her brain to cooperate, she learns her time with handsome Rake has a lingering effect: she’s pregnant.

Mazey Eddings spins a rom-com as full of humor as it is heart, making readers swoon, blush, and laugh out loud all within the same paragraph. (This title does have some spice, so be prepared these aren’t fade-to-black love scenes!).

This is such a fun read because of the characters. Lizzie and Rake are lovable, flawed, and utterly relatable. Lizzie, having been told her whole life that her brain is broken and she has to change it to fit the neurotypical demands of the world, begins to learn that is more than her diagnosis. Her vibrant personality is delightful, and everyone but her can see this. As she learns to love herself, that opens her up to loving someone else.

I loved the ADHD representation in this novel, especially how it can present in girls and women. The messaging of allowing your brain to work for you, instead of trying to force it to run a different program, is uplifting and encouraging. Lizzie isn’t perfect, but she’s also harder on herself than she deserves. When Lizzie makes a mistake, no one feels worse about it than her. I also appreciate how the less-talked about facets of ADHD take shape, including the rejection sensitivity.

The leading man, Rake, is just as well-developed as Lizzie. He’s still healing from his own past trauma, unable to recognize how his workaholic tendencies are a coping mechanism. As he and Lizzie navigate life as platonic coparenting roommates, hijinks and hilarity ensue. But the beating heart of the story is about learning to forgive and love oneself before loving another.

This novel is beautifully done, with two leading characters that are intricately developed and make the world they live in feel tangible. Wonderful neurodivergent representation, healthy friend groups, changing sibling dynamics, and addressing toxic family members are all touched upon in this laugh out loud funny novel that will make you chuckle, gasp, and get teary eyed, all on the same page.

Thank you to author Mazey Eddings, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy such that I could share my honest opinions.

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake will be available September 6, 2022. You can pre-order it from Bookshop.org here. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org. I will earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase.