The Plus One Summary, Characters and Themes

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings is a heart-tugging, slow-burn romance about two emotionally wounded individuals learning how to love and be loved. 

Centered around Indira, a psychiatrist nursing fresh heartbreak, and Jude, a trauma-scarred doctor back from global crisis zones, the novel blends mental health, humor, and healing into a romance that’s as vulnerable as it is sexy. When the two are forced to fake-date during a family wedding, sparks—and emotional walls—start to fly. Eddings doesn’t shy away from tough topics like PTSD and abandonment, making this story both a swoon-worthy rom-com and a tender exploration of human resilience.

Summary

Indira is a psychiatrist who walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her—with a disturbingly casual jar of peanut butter in the scene—and abruptly ends the relationship. Disoriented and needing space to recover, she moves into her brother Collin’s home, where she’s dismayed to find Jude, Collin’s best friend and her lifelong nemesis, also staying there. 

Jude, a doctor recently back from a traumatic deployment with a global health organization, is emotionally shut down, riddled with PTSD, and running on sarcasm and denial.

Their bickering starts immediately, filled with decades of pent-up annoyance and unspoken tension. But beneath the snark lies something deeper: mutual recognition of pain. Indira is reeling from a history of abandonment—especially by her father—and questions her self-worth, even as a professional mental health expert. 

Jude, meanwhile, has built an emotional bunker after years of witnessing tragedy. Despite their emotional armor, Indira and Jude begin to see past each other’s walls.

Things get more complicated when the duo decides to fake-date. What begins as a defense mechanism—to get Indira’s ex off her back and help Jude navigate the wedding social scene—turns into something more emotionally loaded. 

Pretending to be in love forces them into close proximity, physical closeness, and emotional vulnerability. Jude’s protectiveness grows real when he confronts Chris, Indira’s ex, and claims her as his partner. But the lines between pretense and reality blur fast.

Wedding events and forced togetherness push their chemistry to the forefront. They share moments that are both lighthearted and raw, like watching Grey’s Anatomy with Collin, or Jude accidentally seeing Indira naked. 

Therapy continues to be an emotional anchor for Indira, helping her peel back the layers of self-doubt, while Jude stubbornly resists help, terrified of what digging deep might uncover.

Jude’s breaking point arrives during a high-stress GHCO simulation, triggering a full-blown PTSD episode. Indira becomes his emotional lifeline, gently guiding him to confront his feelings rather than bury them. As their connection deepens, Jude begins envisioning a future outside trauma zones—one where he can have peace, purpose, and Indira. He tells her he loves her, allowing himself to be seen in a way he’s long resisted.

But the emotional terrain is still rocky. 

Indira’s absentee father reemerges via social media, announcing the arrival of a new child, reopening childhood wounds. At Collin’s wedding rehearsal, the situation boils over, and Indira makes a firm decision to cut her father out of her life. Her emotional empowerment mirrors Jude’s, who finally admits he cannot return to crisis work.

He confronts the GHCO board and chooses therapy and healing over continuing his destructive cycle, even if it means taking on financial debt. It’s a pivotal moment of growth, choosing love and self-preservation over self-destruction.

In the epilogue, a year later, Indira and Jude have built a life rooted in healing—not just for themselves, but for others. They open “Hope Renewed Care Clinic,” a trauma-informed nonprofit offering mental health care for underserved populations. Their professional partnership is just as strong as their romantic one.

The Plus One concludes with a sense of closure and optimism. Indira and Jude, both scarred and resilient, create a new narrative for themselves—one where love doesn’t save them, but empowers them to save themselves and others. It’s a story of redemption, growth, and the slow, beautiful burn of falling in love when you thought love wasn’t for you.

Characters

Indira

Indira is a deeply empathetic psychiatrist who grapples with her own emotional turmoil, especially after experiencing betrayal in her personal life. Early in the story, her vulnerability becomes apparent when she catches her boyfriend Chris cheating on her, which sets the tone for her emotional journey throughout the book.

Her professional life as a healer contrasts with her personal struggles, and she often doubts her worth, questioning if she is “enough” both for herself and the people around her. Despite these self-doubts, Indira is strong, resilient, and determined to heal.

As the story progresses, she forms a bond with Jude, and her empathy becomes one of the key factors in their relationship. Her vulnerability is not just a result of the past trauma but also an essential part of her growth.

Indira’s relationship with her family, particularly her brother Collin, highlights her struggles with abandonment issues and a need for connection. As she faces challenges and grows, her internal strength and capacity for healing herself and others are fully realized.

Jude

Jude is a war-worn doctor whose deep emotional scars from his experiences in conflict zones are central to his character arc. Initially, he presents himself as emotionally distant, using sarcasm and humor to deflect deeper feelings.

His PTSD and the emotional numbness that stems from witnessing trauma and death in his line of work cause him to disconnect from his emotions. At the same time, his protective instincts start to emerge, particularly in his interactions with Indira.

Jude’s character is built around his internal struggle—his desire to protect others while simultaneously avoiding the emotional closeness that could make him feel vulnerable. Despite his resistance, Jude begins to soften around Indira, revealing his deeper layers.

His emotional breakdowns and his eventual willingness to seek therapy signal a turning point in his character development. Through his relationship with Indira, Jude learns to face his trauma and begin healing, ultimately making a life-altering decision to prioritize his mental health over his career in the GHCO.

His journey is one of self-acceptance, vulnerability, and the courage to change.

Collin

Collin, Indira’s brother, plays a significant role in the emotional backdrop of the story. His relationship with Jude, his best friend, is crucial to the plot, as it helps set the stage for the evolving dynamic between Jude and Indira.

Collin’s impending wedding and the tension surrounding their estranged father bring out both humorous and poignant moments. While Collin is supportive of Indira, his own issues with family dynamics and the wedding preparations make him a somewhat passive character in terms of personal growth.

However, he acts as a catalyst for the emotional growth of both Jude and Indira. Collin’s open and caring nature, particularly in the way he navigates his relationships, contrasts with Jude’s more guarded and emotionally complex character, helping to highlight Jude’s growth throughout the story.

His presence provides a sense of familial stability for Indira, especially when she faces challenges related to her father.

Jeremy

Jeremy, Collin’s fiancé, serves as a quieter but important character in the story. His relationship with Collin offers a supportive backdrop to the central emotional struggles of the main characters.

Jeremy’s presence highlights the stability and love that contrasts with the more tumultuous relationships that Indira and Jude are navigating. While Jeremy is not a major player in the plot’s emotional conflicts, his role as Collin’s partner offers a sense of balance and normalcy amidst the chaos.

Jeremy’s inclusion in the story provides a subtle reflection of a healthy and secure relationship, which serves as a quiet reminder to Indira and Jude of what they could achieve if they allow themselves to be vulnerable and open to love.

Chris

Chris, Indira’s ex-boyfriend, represents the emotional betrayal that triggers much of the story’s early conflict. His infidelity serves as the catalyst for Indira’s emotional journey, as she struggles with feelings of inadequacy and abandonment.

Chris’s appearance in the story is minimal but significant. He symbolizes Indira’s past wounds and the patterns she has carried with her in her relationships.

While he is not a fully developed character in his own right, his role in the plot is crucial for pushing Indira toward self-discovery and growth. Chris’s actions force her to confront her own self-worth and challenge her beliefs about love and trust.

As Indira moves past her relationship with him, Chris serves as a reminder of her resilience and her ability to heal and move forward.

Themes

The Trauma of Emotional Baggage and Healing Through Vulnerability

One of the most significant themes in The Plus One is the exploration of trauma and its long-lasting effects on individuals. Both Indira and Jude carry deep emotional scars from their pasts—Indira’s stemming from childhood abandonment and her strained relationship with her father, and Jude’s rooted in the trauma of witnessing violence and death while working in conflict zones.

This theme is intricately tied to the healing process, as both characters embark on a personal journey to confront their emotional wounds. Jude’s inability to open up and his use of sarcasm as a defense mechanism exemplify how people can avoid vulnerability to protect themselves from further pain.

The theme is amplified through their developing relationship, as their emotional closeness offers them a safe space to express their fears, insecurities, and scars. It is through their shared vulnerability that they begin to heal, both individually and together.

This theme underscores the profound impact that trauma can have on one’s ability to connect with others and the importance of breaking down emotional barriers to find true healing.

The Complexities of Identity, Self-Worth, and Professional Life

Indira’s journey in The Plus One is marked by her grappling with issues of self-worth, particularly as a professional woman who is also emotionally scarred. As a psychiatrist, she is skilled at helping others heal, but she struggles with feelings of inadequacy, especially when faced with her own personal turmoil.

The tension between her professional identity and her emotional vulnerability highlights the complex relationship people often have with their sense of self. Indira’s fear of being seen only as a healer and not as a romantic partner demonstrates her internal struggle to reconcile her identity as a professional with her desire for connection and love.

This theme is mirrored in Jude’s journey, where his sense of self is heavily influenced by his work in high-risk trauma zones and the need to prove his strength despite emotional fragility. The story delicately illustrates the challenges of balancing professional roles with personal growth, and the difficulties inherent in acknowledging one’s own limitations and vulnerabilities.

The Healing Power of Love, Intimacy, and Emotional Support

The evolving relationship between Indira and Jude is at the heart of the narrative, and it underscores the theme of love as a powerful force for healing. Their initial connection, based on a shared fake-dating arrangement, eventually transforms into a genuine, deeply emotional bond.

Love in The Plus One is portrayed not only as a romantic attraction but also as an avenue for emotional growth and support. Throughout the story, both characters provide each other with the comfort and understanding that they cannot find elsewhere.

Jude’s slow but steady acceptance of Indira’s emotional support, despite his initial resistance, shows how love can help individuals open up and confront their inner demons. In particular, the moments of vulnerability that both characters experience, including their intimate conversations and the physical closeness that develops, showcase how love and emotional support can enable individuals to heal and move forward.

The story demonstrates that true intimacy goes beyond physical attraction and is rooted in mutual respect, understanding, and the willingness to face one’s deepest fears together.

The Role of Family Dynamics and Generational Trauma

Family plays a crucial role in shaping the characters’ emotional worlds in The Plus One, particularly in terms of how familial relationships influence their sense of identity and healing. Indira’s complex relationship with her family, especially her father, reflects the theme of generational trauma.

Her father’s abandonment, coupled with his repeated failure to show up for her, deeply impacts her emotional development and contributes to her struggles with trust and self-worth. This theme is explored further during the wedding events, where Indira’s father’s absence forces her to confront the emotional void he left in her life.

On the other hand, Jude’s family is depicted as a loving but somewhat detached unit, and his struggles with PTSD and the need to shield them from his pain highlight how trauma can affect family dynamics. The way both characters process their relationships with family—whether through estrangement or through attempts at healing—illustrates the complexities of family influence and how unresolved issues can ripple through generations, affecting individuals in profound ways.

The Transformation of Trauma Into Purpose (From Healing to Activism)

The final arc of the story brings the theme of transformation into sharp focus, particularly how personal trauma can be channeled into a larger purpose. Both Indira and Jude ultimately find a way to turn their experiences of emotional pain into something constructive and meaningful.

Jude’s decision to leave his emotionally destructive career in trauma zones and Indira’s idea to start a nonprofit trauma clinic are both pivotal moments in the story. These actions represent the theme of finding purpose through pain—transforming personal suffering into an opportunity to help others.

The creation of the “Hope Renewed Care Clinic” symbolizes not only their personal healing but also their shared mission to provide aid to others in need. This transformation, which is a central theme in the conclusion of the book, underscores the idea that healing can lead to empowerment and that individuals can take their darkest experiences and use them to make a positive difference in the world.

It’s a powerful message of hope, resilience, and the potential for growth after trauma.