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Bear With Me Now
10 hours, 28 minutes
Two people are ready for their lives to get a little wilder in this romantic comedy by debut author Katie Shepard.
After being hospitalized for panic attacks two years after his mother’s death, charitable foundation executive Teagan van Zijl is dragged by his sister to a wilderness therapy retreat in Montana. Lost in the woods, Teagan nearly gets eaten by a bear but is saved by an angel in muddy hiking boots—the program’s handywoman, Darcy Albano, that is. After spending the summer with Darcy, Teagan realizes he doesn’t want to return to New York without her. He hires Darcy as his sober companion—a position he doesn’t actually need filled and for which Darcy is completely unqualified—hoping she can help him figure out how to move forward. But once they get to the city, all Teagan can think of is how to confess the truth while keeping her in his life.
Darcy Albano thought she was going to work as a wilderness guide when she was hired on the camp staff, but ended up a handywoman instead—only the latest screwing-over she’s endured since her ex stole her car and her parents ruined her credit score. But Teagan van Zijl is the silver lining she didn’t expect to appear—clearly going through something but willing to commit to Darcy’s unique brand of wilderness education as the cure for what ails him. They form an unlikely bond based on the unexpected support they provide each other. Darcy never imagined staying in the city, but with Teagan’s unshakeable belief in her abilities, anything seems possible.
Two people are ready for their lives to get a little wilder in this romantic comedy by debut author Katie Shepard.
After being hospitalized for panic attacks two years after his mother’s death, charitable foundation executive Teagan van Zijl is dragged by his sister to a wilderness therapy retreat in Montana. Lost in the woods, Teagan nearly gets eaten by a bear but is saved by an angel in muddy hiking boots—the program’s handywoman, Darcy Albano, that is. After spending the summer with Darcy, Teagan realizes he doesn’t want to return to New York without her. He hires Darcy as his sober companion—a position he doesn’t actually need filled and for which Darcy is completely unqualified—hoping she can help him figure out how to move forward. But once they get to the city, all Teagan can think of is how to confess the truth while keeping her in his life.
Darcy Albano thought she was going to work as a wilderness guide when she was hired on the camp staff, but ended up a handywoman instead—only the latest screwing-over she’s endured since her ex stole her car and her parents ruined her credit score. But Teagan van Zijl is the silver lining she didn’t expect to appear—clearly going through something but willing to commit to Darcy’s unique brand of wilderness education as the cure for what ails him. They form an unlikely bond based on the unexpected support they provide each other. Darcy never imagined staying in the city, but with Teagan’s unshakeable belief in her abilities, anything seems possible.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2023
103 people are currently reading
13907 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
March 5, 2023
Bear with me is such a lovely book questioning the sensitive issues including mental health problems, self growth, parental abuse, addiction problems with honest and realistic approach!
Main characters are so much likable and multi layered, easy to resonate with. Especially Darcy Albano is perfect kind of badass, resilient, powerful heroine, trying to hold on her life after being abandoned and betrayed by her own family and screwed over from her car thief ex!
She only accepted to be trail guide at camp site where the wealthy people from addiction problems booking the place for esoteric healing therapies but instead of that she keeps cleaning, hauling things, doing the other staff members’ chores!
And Teegan Van Zijl finds himself dragged into the camp facility by his sister Sloane after having a psychological breakdown. He inherited the charity from their late mother who also suffered from addiction issues: the same charity is bleeding money. Extra stress and too much responsibility put extra pressure on his shoulder! His sister Sloane who suffers from addiction problem books two from for this special retreat in Montana and insists this will he their chance to recover!
When Teegan takes a walk in the trail without giving much thought, his collecting berries plan result with unfortunate encounter with a very hungry bear! Luckily he’s saved by his guarding angel wearing muddy boots with very pissed off attitude! That’s how Teegan and Darcy meets.
After spending special time in the mountains, their friendship blooms quickly. Darcy realizes Teegan is not spoiled trust fund baby just like the other guests of the retreat. And Teegan offers her to go to NY with him to become his sober companion. But what he didn’t mention is he just created this job to spend more time with her in the big city. Could Teegan come clean about feelings without losing Darcy forever? Could Darcy survive in the big city? For answers to those questions just buy your copy, bury your head into those pages!
Overall: sweet-swoon- soft, absolutely entertaining, light hearted reading with lovely MCs!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Main characters are so much likable and multi layered, easy to resonate with. Especially Darcy Albano is perfect kind of badass, resilient, powerful heroine, trying to hold on her life after being abandoned and betrayed by her own family and screwed over from her car thief ex!
She only accepted to be trail guide at camp site where the wealthy people from addiction problems booking the place for esoteric healing therapies but instead of that she keeps cleaning, hauling things, doing the other staff members’ chores!
And Teegan Van Zijl finds himself dragged into the camp facility by his sister Sloane after having a psychological breakdown. He inherited the charity from their late mother who also suffered from addiction issues: the same charity is bleeding money. Extra stress and too much responsibility put extra pressure on his shoulder! His sister Sloane who suffers from addiction problem books two from for this special retreat in Montana and insists this will he their chance to recover!
When Teegan takes a walk in the trail without giving much thought, his collecting berries plan result with unfortunate encounter with a very hungry bear! Luckily he’s saved by his guarding angel wearing muddy boots with very pissed off attitude! That’s how Teegan and Darcy meets.
After spending special time in the mountains, their friendship blooms quickly. Darcy realizes Teegan is not spoiled trust fund baby just like the other guests of the retreat. And Teegan offers her to go to NY with him to become his sober companion. But what he didn’t mention is he just created this job to spend more time with her in the big city. Could Teegan come clean about feelings without losing Darcy forever? Could Darcy survive in the big city? For answers to those questions just buy your copy, bury your head into those pages!
Overall: sweet-swoon- soft, absolutely entertaining, light hearted reading with lovely MCs!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
February 23, 2023
Author Katie Shepard's first novel, Bear With Me Now, is a good read that delves into the complicated topics of mental illness, addiction, and generational trauma This novel has its share of enjoyable times, is wonderfully written with probably the best wit I've seen in a romance novel, but it also has a few flaws that keep it from being completely 5-star fantastic.
After Teagan, a charity executive, has a panic attack and is hospitalised, his sister forces him to attend a wilderness rehabilitation retreat in Montana. Nearly devoured by a bear, he is rescued by Darcy, who had been serving as the camp's handywoman. Darcy eventually becomes Teagan's sober friend after the two relocate to New York together. Despite the fact that the story is very entertaining and the characters are likeable and relatable, it seems only Teagan any sort of redemptive journey while Darcy and Sloane's struggles just sort of *disappear*, which is disappointing since they are well developed characters that I was rooting for.
This novel has its ups and downs in terms of exploring mental illness, addiction, and parentification. Teagan's perspective on his social anxiety treatment appears to be more focused on discussing the medication's side effects, but he doesn't seem to go to therapy, and just stops taking medication at some point with limited side effects, which is unlikely; meanwhile, Darcy's learning disability isn't explored at all (seems the solution is just to be rich?) and Sloane's addiction is swept under the rug with little attention paid to it.
Bear With Me Now is a pleasant first novel but I was expecting a bit more. If you're in the mood for a cute rom-com, I would definitely recommend it, but I'm not sure I would recommend it for disability/mental illness representation as an OwnVoices disabled reviewer. To be fair, the representation is not bad either - just could have been better.
This novel is set to be published on April 25th, 2023.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸. 𝗜 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆.
After Teagan, a charity executive, has a panic attack and is hospitalised, his sister forces him to attend a wilderness rehabilitation retreat in Montana. Nearly devoured by a bear, he is rescued by Darcy, who had been serving as the camp's handywoman. Darcy eventually becomes Teagan's sober friend after the two relocate to New York together. Despite the fact that the story is very entertaining and the characters are likeable and relatable, it seems only Teagan any sort of redemptive journey while Darcy and Sloane's struggles just sort of *disappear*, which is disappointing since they are well developed characters that I was rooting for.
This novel has its ups and downs in terms of exploring mental illness, addiction, and parentification. Teagan's perspective on his social anxiety treatment appears to be more focused on discussing the medication's side effects, but he doesn't seem to go to therapy, and just stops taking medication at some point with limited side effects, which is unlikely; meanwhile, Darcy's learning disability isn't explored at all (seems the solution is just to be rich?) and Sloane's addiction is swept under the rug with little attention paid to it.
Bear With Me Now is a pleasant first novel but I was expecting a bit more. If you're in the mood for a cute rom-com, I would definitely recommend it, but I'm not sure I would recommend it for disability/mental illness representation as an OwnVoices disabled reviewer. To be fair, the representation is not bad either - just could have been better.
This novel is set to be published on April 25th, 2023.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸. 𝗜 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆.
April 4, 2023
DNF at 50%.
I was so excited about this summary and cover but holy disappointment! The characters are supremely immature and if I had to read that the FMC refused to listen to the MMC one more time, I would have thrown my kindle across the room. The meet-cute could have been hilarious (it was more like a meet-cringe) and the aftermath from the incident with the bear irritated me.
The reason I didn't DNF earlier is because I loved the setting and advocacy of wildlife. There was so much potential with mental health issues represented and I loved the outdoors feels. Ultimately though, I couldn't get passed the brush offs and severe lack of communication.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
I was so excited about this summary and cover but holy disappointment! The characters are supremely immature and if I had to read that the FMC refused to listen to the MMC one more time, I would have thrown my kindle across the room. The meet-cute could have been hilarious (it was more like a meet-cringe) and the aftermath from the incident with the bear irritated me.
The reason I didn't DNF earlier is because I loved the setting and advocacy of wildlife. There was so much potential with mental health issues represented and I loved the outdoors feels. Ultimately though, I couldn't get passed the brush offs and severe lack of communication.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
April 27, 2023
Happy release day! Many thanks to Netgalley and Chelsea Pascoe at Berkley for offering me this title for review; Bear With Me Now will be released April 25th.
I waver between 2 stars for plot and maybe 3.5 for the odd redeeming line of dialogue or funny thing Darcy does. We'll say it evens out to 3 stars.
So, I think the whole gist of this plot was kind of a headscratcher to begin with. I guess I simply don't know why you wouldn't admit to a panic disorder, particularly to a stranger in a far-off seasonal resort whom you may never see again, and instead let a misconstrual of your problem go so far. Alcoholism is triggering to me personally, so this probably wasn't the best choice for me to begin with; to lie about it and let Darcy carry on for literally 87 percent of the plot working hard to be an earnest sober companion was upsetting, to say the least.
The book is quite dense for a contemporary romance, unfortunately prolonging my frustrations. I honestly don't know where it all came from, Teagan's inner thought narration perhaps, and I started skimming.
As likable as Teagan was, a soft, skinny tall boy with severe anxiety issues, he was also a wealthy, white Manhattan resident, and I could only connect so much with him, besides the aforementioned issues. Darcy was a funny character, adorably invested in her wildlife studies, quoting random facts and advice throughout. I found her dialogue one of the best parts of the book, her bluntness and pragmatism endearing.
The sex and other intimacy scenes were great, and I enjoyed how creative their first sex scene was, given that Teagan's prescription had some adverse libido effects. The treatment of his mental health issues was done well besides the obvious problems I had with the charade part of things. The ethical implications of the whole thing...Well.
A book made up of a few good parts interspersed with much less enjoyable content is just that. I hope this book finds its reader niche.
I waver between 2 stars for plot and maybe 3.5 for the odd redeeming line of dialogue or funny thing Darcy does. We'll say it evens out to 3 stars.
So, I think the whole gist of this plot was kind of a headscratcher to begin with. I guess I simply don't know why you wouldn't admit to a panic disorder, particularly to a stranger in a far-off seasonal resort whom you may never see again, and instead let a misconstrual of your problem go so far. Alcoholism is triggering to me personally, so this probably wasn't the best choice for me to begin with; to lie about it and let Darcy carry on for literally 87 percent of the plot working hard to be an earnest sober companion was upsetting, to say the least.
The book is quite dense for a contemporary romance, unfortunately prolonging my frustrations. I honestly don't know where it all came from, Teagan's inner thought narration perhaps, and I started skimming.
As likable as Teagan was, a soft, skinny tall boy with severe anxiety issues, he was also a wealthy, white Manhattan resident, and I could only connect so much with him, besides the aforementioned issues. Darcy was a funny character, adorably invested in her wildlife studies, quoting random facts and advice throughout. I found her dialogue one of the best parts of the book, her bluntness and pragmatism endearing.
The sex and other intimacy scenes were great, and I enjoyed how creative their first sex scene was, given that Teagan's prescription had some adverse libido effects. The treatment of his mental health issues was done well besides the obvious problems I had with the charade part of things. The ethical implications of the whole thing...Well.
A book made up of a few good parts interspersed with much less enjoyable content is just that. I hope this book finds its reader niche.
January 1, 2024
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 18+
Special thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I really wanted to like this book. Largely because the author’s name is Katie Shepard, which is my cousin’s name (or it was, before she got married). Also it has disability rep! What else could you ask for?
A lot, apparently.
The characters had no depth, no personality, and no chemistry. The story didn’t really go anywhere, and the entire premise… did not work for me.
Darcy and Teagan meet at rehab, where she is the groundskeeper and he is an inpatient. He’s there because, for some reason, his sister decided to drag him to rehab for drug addiction and alcoholism to treat a panic disorder. So, Darcy thinks he’s an alcoholic. And when he has to leave early, she decides to go with him and be his sober companion while he lies about being an alcoholic. Also while they sleep together and have a romantic relationship. What.
They do touch on the potentially ethical dilemma of SC screwing her recovering alcoholic for about a sentence, but decide it’s fine because “she’s not his sponsor or his therapist.” Wrong. Also they don’t consider the quite obvious negative effects that would have on his purported recovery if their relationship went south. Like, I get he’s not actually an alcoholic, but Darcy thinks he is. But I digress.
Anyway, they decide this is totally a great idea! And Teagan decides to just, lie to her indefinitely without getting any help for his actual mental health issue. Also he goes off his meds without talking to a doctor because they’re giving him ED, which Darcy has no problem with him doing. And aside from a single comment from his sister of “you did WHAT?!” it’s never condemned as a dumbass thing to do.
You know what other stupid thing is prevalent throughout the book and never condemned? The comparison of addiction and panic disorders, as in panic disorders are worse to have than addiction. Teagan has multiple internal monologues about how it would’ve been easier to have an addiction, because he could just not drink, but his panic disorder is a part of his brain chemistry and he’ll have to live with that forever. That’s not how addiction works and that entire thought process is fucked on so many levels. So many. Similarly, when talking to his sister about her own potential addiction, Teagan tells her she just has to decide to do better and go to rehab, as if it’s that easy. Darcy’s thought process about the whole thing seems nontoxic, but this aspect is never addressed from her POV, and it’s never condemned in the novel.
None of this worked for me, and I’m beyond disappointed that that’s the case. But even outside of the rep, I simply did not care about the characters, the setting, the world. It all felt underdeveloped. While these things weren’t terrible, I’m not sure I could call them good, either. I can’t say I recommend this book, nor do I intend to pick up any of this author’s future work.
Age Rating: 18+
Special thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I really wanted to like this book. Largely because the author’s name is Katie Shepard, which is my cousin’s name (or it was, before she got married). Also it has disability rep! What else could you ask for?
A lot, apparently.
The characters had no depth, no personality, and no chemistry. The story didn’t really go anywhere, and the entire premise… did not work for me.
Darcy and Teagan meet at rehab, where she is the groundskeeper and he is an inpatient. He’s there because, for some reason, his sister decided to drag him to rehab for drug addiction and alcoholism to treat a panic disorder. So, Darcy thinks he’s an alcoholic. And when he has to leave early, she decides to go with him and be his sober companion while he lies about being an alcoholic. Also while they sleep together and have a romantic relationship. What.
They do touch on the potentially ethical dilemma of SC screwing her recovering alcoholic for about a sentence, but decide it’s fine because “she’s not his sponsor or his therapist.” Wrong. Also they don’t consider the quite obvious negative effects that would have on his purported recovery if their relationship went south. Like, I get he’s not actually an alcoholic, but Darcy thinks he is. But I digress.
Anyway, they decide this is totally a great idea! And Teagan decides to just, lie to her indefinitely without getting any help for his actual mental health issue. Also he goes off his meds without talking to a doctor because they’re giving him ED, which Darcy has no problem with him doing. And aside from a single comment from his sister of “you did WHAT?!” it’s never condemned as a dumbass thing to do.
You know what other stupid thing is prevalent throughout the book and never condemned? The comparison of addiction and panic disorders, as in panic disorders are worse to have than addiction. Teagan has multiple internal monologues about how it would’ve been easier to have an addiction, because he could just not drink, but his panic disorder is a part of his brain chemistry and he’ll have to live with that forever. That’s not how addiction works and that entire thought process is fucked on so many levels. So many. Similarly, when talking to his sister about her own potential addiction, Teagan tells her she just has to decide to do better and go to rehab, as if it’s that easy. Darcy’s thought process about the whole thing seems nontoxic, but this aspect is never addressed from her POV, and it’s never condemned in the novel.
None of this worked for me, and I’m beyond disappointed that that’s the case. But even outside of the rep, I simply did not care about the characters, the setting, the world. It all felt underdeveloped. While these things weren’t terrible, I’m not sure I could call them good, either. I can’t say I recommend this book, nor do I intend to pick up any of this author’s future work.
April 7, 2023
Suspending some disbelief is something I’m used to doing when I read a thriller but I don’t tend to have to do this as much in a romance but it is absolutely necessary here. From the beginning when Teagan gets attacked by a bear things verge on outlandish and only proceeds from there. Everything about this one just felt off for me, I never bought into Teagan and Darcy’s relationship which makes things difficult when it’s a romance, I want to be invested and it just never happened for me. There is a lot of mental health rep here and while lots of it is portrayed well there were some big yikes moments for me too. I can’t even really explain it, I was just uncomfortable. Unfortunately this was just a miss for me.
September 9, 2023
(If you liked this book, are set on definitely reading it, or happen to be the author, please just don’t read this thanks)
Wow, this book was terrible and flat out offensive. Terrible representation of alcohol addiction and mental illness. Reading it was a wild ride, I should have DNFd but I continued out of spite and to take one for the team. Multiple times while I was reading my jaw dropped because I couldn’t believe they actually said and did some of the things they did.
Title: Bear With Me Now
Author: Katie Shepard
Pub date: 4/25/23
Date read: 5/1-5/2
Source: Libby
Format: Audiobook
Narrator(s): Savannah Peachwood
Characters: Teagan and Darcy (side; Sloane, Adrian, Rachel)
Setting: a therapy retreat in Montana and later NYC
Tropes: Opposites attract, fish out of water
Rep: there is mental health rep in this book but it’s bad.
Spice: open door, 2-3ish spicy scenes.
CW: alcoholism, drug use, addiction, lying and deceit, bad representation for alcoholism and mental health
Do yourself a favor and skip this one. Probably will end up being the worst book that I will read all year.
Wow, this book was terrible and flat out offensive. Terrible representation of alcohol addiction and mental illness. Reading it was a wild ride, I should have DNFd but I continued out of spite and to take one for the team. Multiple times while I was reading my jaw dropped because I couldn’t believe they actually said and did some of the things they did.
Title: Bear With Me Now
Author: Katie Shepard
Pub date: 4/25/23
Date read: 5/1-5/2
Source: Libby
Format: Audiobook
Narrator(s): Savannah Peachwood
Characters: Teagan and Darcy (side; Sloane, Adrian, Rachel)
Setting: a therapy retreat in Montana and later NYC
Tropes: Opposites attract, fish out of water
Rep: there is mental health rep in this book but it’s bad.
Spice: open door, 2-3ish spicy scenes.
CW: alcoholism, drug use, addiction, lying and deceit, bad representation for alcoholism and mental health
Do yourself a favor and skip this one. Probably will end up being the worst book that I will read all year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 11, 2022Hi friends! I wrote this book. I have included an author’s note before the text of the book itself, but I am reposting the CW here to help you decide whether this is a book for you:
This work strives to realistically depict issues of mental health and disability and includes depictions of ableism, including ableist language. This book also depicts substance abuse, the prior death of a parent as a result of drunk driving, misogyny, an animal attack, explicit and graphic sexual content, and vulgar language.
I hope you enjoy it!
This work strives to realistically depict issues of mental health and disability and includes depictions of ableism, including ableist language. This book also depicts substance abuse, the prior death of a parent as a result of drunk driving, misogyny, an animal attack, explicit and graphic sexual content, and vulgar language.
I hope you enjoy it!
October 30, 2023
For a book with a bear in the title and one on the cover, there's a surprising lack of them inside. I was expecting bears on every corner, I have been duped!!!! There are some other wild animals though, and I liked that part, and Darcy caring so much about them.
The part I wasn't very fond of was ditching the wilderness for city life, and the mental health rep which was covered in other reviews so I won't go into it.
I liked the romance though, even if it did start off as a misunderstanding as to why Teagan was in rehab in the first place. But I was annoyed at Darcy not listening to him when he said he wasn't an alcoholic 10 billion times and she was like that's what they all say.
The audiobook was really good, I liked the narrator and I think she's why I liked it this much in the first place. If you're planning on reading this, get the audio.
The part I wasn't very fond of was ditching the wilderness for city life, and the mental health rep which was covered in other reviews so I won't go into it.
I liked the romance though, even if it did start off as a misunderstanding as to why Teagan was in rehab in the first place. But I was annoyed at Darcy not listening to him when he said he wasn't an alcoholic 10 billion times and she was like that's what they all say.
The audiobook was really good, I liked the narrator and I think she's why I liked it this much in the first place. If you're planning on reading this, get the audio.
June 16, 2023
Now I turn around and find I am lost in the woods 😣
Look the cover drew me in.
The biggest issue I had with this book was how they handled addiction and very sensitive topics. It honestly felt wrong rooting for these two. I understand miscommunication will typically happen in a contemporary, but when you find out what he isn’t telling her 🤨
Darcy never listened to anyone and Teegan just enabled everyone around him. I didn’t believe these two were falling for each other.
In conclusion, there should have been more bears…
Look the cover drew me in.
The biggest issue I had with this book was how they handled addiction and very sensitive topics. It honestly felt wrong rooting for these two. I understand miscommunication will typically happen in a contemporary, but when you find out what he isn’t telling her 🤨
Darcy never listened to anyone and Teegan just enabled everyone around him. I didn’t believe these two were falling for each other.
In conclusion, there should have been more bears…
April 17, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a great time with this book! After finding himself in the hospital for panic attacks, Teagan is talked into going to a wilderness rehab by his sister, Sloane, who also is attending. Teagan has no desire to attend of the activities so he spends his day working alongside Darcy. Darcy and Teagan soon form a bond and I thought that there were good for each other.
I really liked Darcy and Teagan. They had fantastic chemistry together and really seemed to be meant for each other if they could each figure out their individual issues. The story did have a bit of a different feel during the second half of the book but I found it equally enjoyable. I did wish that they would have been more honest and listened to each other a little better but they did eventually learn and I enjoyed seeing the growth of their characters.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Savannah Peachwood did a fantastic job with the audio. I found the narrator’s voice to be very pleasant and I loved the fact that she was able to bring this cast of characters to life. I thought that she did a great job with both the male and female characters’ voices. I do believe that the narrator’s performance added to my enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a fun story filled with great characters that I wanted to see find a way to a forever together. I do hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
I had a great time with this book! After finding himself in the hospital for panic attacks, Teagan is talked into going to a wilderness rehab by his sister, Sloane, who also is attending. Teagan has no desire to attend of the activities so he spends his day working alongside Darcy. Darcy and Teagan soon form a bond and I thought that there were good for each other.
I really liked Darcy and Teagan. They had fantastic chemistry together and really seemed to be meant for each other if they could each figure out their individual issues. The story did have a bit of a different feel during the second half of the book but I found it equally enjoyable. I did wish that they would have been more honest and listened to each other a little better but they did eventually learn and I enjoyed seeing the growth of their characters.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Savannah Peachwood did a fantastic job with the audio. I found the narrator’s voice to be very pleasant and I loved the fact that she was able to bring this cast of characters to life. I thought that she did a great job with both the male and female characters’ voices. I do believe that the narrator’s performance added to my enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a fun story filled with great characters that I wanted to see find a way to a forever together. I do hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
March 4, 2023
Review coming soon.
June 23, 2023
I was fortunate enough to get an early ARC of this novel. What a wonderful debut!
Bear With Me Now follows the story of two broken people who meet by happenstance and who find healing (and love) through each other. Shepard's prose and her wit are both razor sharp, and she has created two immensely memorable characters in Darcy and Teagan. I couldn't help falling in love with both of them as they fell in love with each other. I can't wait to read more of what Shepard has in store!
Bear With Me Now follows the story of two broken people who meet by happenstance and who find healing (and love) through each other. Shepard's prose and her wit are both razor sharp, and she has created two immensely memorable characters in Darcy and Teagan. I couldn't help falling in love with both of them as they fell in love with each other. I can't wait to read more of what Shepard has in store!
June 3, 2023
This book was a fun, very cute read! I was much more into the first part than the second part, but let’s dive in, shall we? Teagan gets roped into a wellness retreat meets rehab by his little sister Sloane, after he’s spent a week in the hospital after having a pretty severe panic attack that made him think he was actually dying. Working at his late mother’s charity has finally done him in. Or maybe it’s all the long working hours, zero fun or social life, and very little sleep? All of the above, probably. So Teagan thinks his sister may be on to something. He decides to embrace Montana life, and goes on a hike before picking some wild berries. The only problem is, those berries were a certain bear’s dinner, and he doesn’t take too kindly to Teagan helping himself to it.
He’s saved by wildlife expert Darcy, who promptly tears him a new metaphorical asshole after she gets him to safety. Does he care about wildlife at ALL? Why would some big city idiot think he could go hiking in bear country all alone and unprepared, basically forcing Darcy to mace the bear. Man, rich people are dumb! But they make nice and Darcy follows him back to New York City to be his sober companion. It’s her sole duty to make sure Teagan stays off the sauce and gets back to his daily life in a much more healthy ways the only problem is, Teagan hasn’t exactly been honest with Darcy. In fact, he’s been a liar liar pants on fire. He’s not actually an alcoholic. He just doesn’t want to let Darcy go.
I really loved Teagan and Darcy! Teagan is shy, a little nerdy, very cautious and uncertain, but also funny and enormously sweet. Darcy is loud and boisterous, hilarious and charming, and has so much knowledge about wildlife! Together they make a great couple, and I dug it. I also really appreciated Teagan’s mental health rep about anxiety. I totally understand hating the corporate world and the glorified workaholic trend that seems to follow New Yorkers (and most Americans) around. Sloane was a adorable, I really liked Rose and Adrian (can those two please get together?!) and HATED Nora, but of course that was the point. I kinda wanted more from the ending, but it was a nice finale all the same. I had a great time reading this one!
He’s saved by wildlife expert Darcy, who promptly tears him a new metaphorical asshole after she gets him to safety. Does he care about wildlife at ALL? Why would some big city idiot think he could go hiking in bear country all alone and unprepared, basically forcing Darcy to mace the bear. Man, rich people are dumb! But they make nice and Darcy follows him back to New York City to be his sober companion. It’s her sole duty to make sure Teagan stays off the sauce and gets back to his daily life in a much more healthy ways the only problem is, Teagan hasn’t exactly been honest with Darcy. In fact, he’s been a liar liar pants on fire. He’s not actually an alcoholic. He just doesn’t want to let Darcy go.
I really loved Teagan and Darcy! Teagan is shy, a little nerdy, very cautious and uncertain, but also funny and enormously sweet. Darcy is loud and boisterous, hilarious and charming, and has so much knowledge about wildlife! Together they make a great couple, and I dug it. I also really appreciated Teagan’s mental health rep about anxiety. I totally understand hating the corporate world and the glorified workaholic trend that seems to follow New Yorkers (and most Americans) around. Sloane was a adorable, I really liked Rose and Adrian (can those two please get together?!) and HATED Nora, but of course that was the point. I kinda wanted more from the ending, but it was a nice finale all the same. I had a great time reading this one!
May 6, 2023
Teagan van Zijl emerges from a mental breakdown, a hospital stay and a haze of anti-depressants to find himself on the way to a wellness retreat in Montana. The trip has been organized by his 22-year old sister Sloane, who's also checking in because she's on her way to developing substance abuse issues.
Darcy Albano is a navy veteran who's working at the Montana retreat as the latest in a line of seasonal jobs and bad choices. The people in her life have been a series of betrayals and disappointments, so she's self-reliant to a fault, even to the extent of not revealing to anyone that she has sever dyslexia, all while trying to complete a degree.
When Teagan goes hiking by himself in bear country and still in a fog from his medication, he has an encounter with a bear. Darcy is just in time to save him and the two hit it off, with a relationship that grows through Teagan's stay at the retreat. Only, Darcy thinks Teagan is an alcoholic rather than suffering from mental health issues. When Teagan leaves, he and Sloane manage to convince Darcy to join them as a "sober companion" for Teagan.
This all sounds something like a romantic comedy, but it's really not. I'm not sure why it's been marketed as such. Both Teagan and Darcy are desperately sad people whose own circumstances have left them very poorly placed to be in a healthy relationship, and there's a lot to think about here in terms of whether their relationship is happy. Teagan is lying because he's afraid Darcy will leave and Darcy won't commit because she doesn't trust anyone to do right by her.
Where the book shines is that central tension, that neither of them are healthy relationship-material, but their actually healthy relationship is what puts them on the right path to becoming so. Bonus for depicting a sexual relationship where one of the protagonists is on SSRIs and taking that seriously.
Darcy Albano is a navy veteran who's working at the Montana retreat as the latest in a line of seasonal jobs and bad choices. The people in her life have been a series of betrayals and disappointments, so she's self-reliant to a fault, even to the extent of not revealing to anyone that she has sever dyslexia, all while trying to complete a degree.
When Teagan goes hiking by himself in bear country and still in a fog from his medication, he has an encounter with a bear. Darcy is just in time to save him and the two hit it off, with a relationship that grows through Teagan's stay at the retreat. Only, Darcy thinks Teagan is an alcoholic rather than suffering from mental health issues. When Teagan leaves, he and Sloane manage to convince Darcy to join them as a "sober companion" for Teagan.
This all sounds something like a romantic comedy, but it's really not. I'm not sure why it's been marketed as such. Both Teagan and Darcy are desperately sad people whose own circumstances have left them very poorly placed to be in a healthy relationship, and there's a lot to think about here in terms of whether their relationship is happy. Teagan is lying because he's afraid Darcy will leave and Darcy won't commit because she doesn't trust anyone to do right by her.
Where the book shines is that central tension, that neither of them are healthy relationship-material, but their actually healthy relationship is what puts them on the right path to becoming so. Bonus for depicting a sexual relationship where one of the protagonists is on SSRIs and taking that seriously.
June 20, 2023
First things first. PLEASE STOP LISTING BOOKS AS ROMANTIC COMEDIES IF THEY ARE IN FACT SERIOUS AND MOSTLY DEPRESSING AND NOT AT ALL COMEDIC.
Good freaking grief this book constantly made me want to bang my head against the nearest wall.
I was intrigued in the beginning. Teagan's POV was sad from the get-go but Darcy seemed so interesting. I liked that she was strong and was into wildlife. Then all of that went out of the window as Teagan began the scam of his life which made absolutely no sense (why would you not admit to having a panic disorder and instead literally pretend the entire novel that you're an alcoholic, how is that better?).
This whole book was so serious after the strange beginning. And it's not even all that much about wildlife or bears, especially when half of the book takes place in NYC.
I wanted to like this one but it just became about Darcy actively spending the whole plot trying to stop Teagan from being an alcoholic, which he never even was, and then they canoodle but it feels so forced. There is no actual chemistry here.
Good freaking grief this book constantly made me want to bang my head against the nearest wall.
I was intrigued in the beginning. Teagan's POV was sad from the get-go but Darcy seemed so interesting. I liked that she was strong and was into wildlife. Then all of that went out of the window as Teagan began the scam of his life which made absolutely no sense (why would you not admit to having a panic disorder and instead literally pretend the entire novel that you're an alcoholic, how is that better?).
This whole book was so serious after the strange beginning. And it's not even all that much about wildlife or bears, especially when half of the book takes place in NYC.
I wanted to like this one but it just became about Darcy actively spending the whole plot trying to stop Teagan from being an alcoholic, which he never even was, and then they canoodle but it feels so forced. There is no actual chemistry here.
January 1, 2023
Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of Bear With Me Now by Katie Shepard.
The cover drew me into this book and I was expecting something a little different than what this book was. It didn't take me long into this debut romantic comedy for me to see how far-fetched this book was which disappointed me.
The whole bear attack scene wasn't a funny meet cute and I'm sorry a doctor would totally know that's a bear scratch.... I'm a huge backpacker and National Park fan and from that point on I was almost hate reading this book.
It just gets more far-fetched for me with the sober companion and I didn't find any of this book cute or fun, plus I'm not sure the representation of mental health and addictions are that well covered in this book.
The cover drew me into this book and I was expecting something a little different than what this book was. It didn't take me long into this debut romantic comedy for me to see how far-fetched this book was which disappointed me.
The whole bear attack scene wasn't a funny meet cute and I'm sorry a doctor would totally know that's a bear scratch.... I'm a huge backpacker and National Park fan and from that point on I was almost hate reading this book.
It just gets more far-fetched for me with the sober companion and I didn't find any of this book cute or fun, plus I'm not sure the representation of mental health and addictions are that well covered in this book.
April 8, 2023
3.5 rounded up
I have mixed feelings about this debut romance about two lost people trying to figure life out and finding solace in each other. The meet disaster in this book was top notch (who can beat being rescued by a woman from a bear??). When Darcy saves Teagan during his stay at a wilderness therapy retreat in Montana the two hit it off and Teagan ends up offering Darcy a job as his 'sober companion' back in the real world.
What he doesn't tell Darcy is that he's NOT an alcoholic (though his mother was). Instead, he suffers from extreme anxiety and panic attacks and was hospitalized in the past because of it. Darcy too is floundering from not having finished her degree, largely in part to having undiagnosed dyslexia.
Together in the city Darcy and Teagan grow closer while also realizing Teagan's sister, Sloane, needs serious rehab help herself. Sloane is a fun character that reminded me a lot of Alexis from Schitt's Creek. Where this book lost a star rating from me was the miscommunication and lying Teagan does about his true condition. I didn't love that he hid what was really going on from Darcy.
Overall though the disability and mental health rep in this book was excellent, Darcy is a kick ass female main character and the whole premise was unique and fresh. The narration by Savannah Peachwood was also well done and I would definitely read the next book this author writes. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and @prhaudio for complimentary digital copies in exchange for my honest review!
I have mixed feelings about this debut romance about two lost people trying to figure life out and finding solace in each other. The meet disaster in this book was top notch (who can beat being rescued by a woman from a bear??). When Darcy saves Teagan during his stay at a wilderness therapy retreat in Montana the two hit it off and Teagan ends up offering Darcy a job as his 'sober companion' back in the real world.
What he doesn't tell Darcy is that he's NOT an alcoholic (though his mother was). Instead, he suffers from extreme anxiety and panic attacks and was hospitalized in the past because of it. Darcy too is floundering from not having finished her degree, largely in part to having undiagnosed dyslexia.
Together in the city Darcy and Teagan grow closer while also realizing Teagan's sister, Sloane, needs serious rehab help herself. Sloane is a fun character that reminded me a lot of Alexis from Schitt's Creek. Where this book lost a star rating from me was the miscommunication and lying Teagan does about his true condition. I didn't love that he hid what was really going on from Darcy.
Overall though the disability and mental health rep in this book was excellent, Darcy is a kick ass female main character and the whole premise was unique and fresh. The narration by Savannah Peachwood was also well done and I would definitely read the next book this author writes. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and @prhaudio for complimentary digital copies in exchange for my honest review!
April 27, 2023
Teagan van Zijl is not sure why his sister dragged him to a wilderness therapy retreat in Montana after being hospitalized for a panic attack. The retreat location is actually a deluxe rehab location and now Teagan is about to undergo intense therapy, therapy he really doesn’t need. While it is true that Teagan’s anxiety doesn’t fit the purpose of what is offered at the retreat, for the sake of his sister, he agrees to stay.
Darcy Albano is taking college courses and one day hopes to be a park ranger. Her current job was to be a wilderness guide at the retreat where Teagan is at now, but in all actuality, she is a glorified handywoman. When she hears that Teagan is at the retreat for his alcoholism, she takes a personal interest in keeping him on the straight and narrow. However, it is his mental health at risk, and this is something that Teagan keeps from Darcy.
Teagan and Darcy actually meet when he takes a walk that lands him right into the path of a bear. Darcy notices his absence and manages to save his life. When Teagan must return home for the work that led to his anxiety attack, Darcy decides to go with him to serve as his sober companion, as she still believes he is an alcoholic. Meanwhile, the two share a connection, albeit tenuous at times. Will Teagan ever be able to reveal the truth to Darcy, and how will she handle things? This was a sensitive story filled with sexual tension and a delightful happy ending.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Darcy Albano is taking college courses and one day hopes to be a park ranger. Her current job was to be a wilderness guide at the retreat where Teagan is at now, but in all actuality, she is a glorified handywoman. When she hears that Teagan is at the retreat for his alcoholism, she takes a personal interest in keeping him on the straight and narrow. However, it is his mental health at risk, and this is something that Teagan keeps from Darcy.
Teagan and Darcy actually meet when he takes a walk that lands him right into the path of a bear. Darcy notices his absence and manages to save his life. When Teagan must return home for the work that led to his anxiety attack, Darcy decides to go with him to serve as his sober companion, as she still believes he is an alcoholic. Meanwhile, the two share a connection, albeit tenuous at times. Will Teagan ever be able to reveal the truth to Darcy, and how will she handle things? This was a sensitive story filled with sexual tension and a delightful happy ending.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 8, 2025
An absolute disaster! This is why I don’t judge a book by its cover and assume it’s going to be good because it’s pretty 😆
*massive spoilers ahead*
This book could’ve had so much potential but i didn’t feel any chemistry towards the two characters. On top of that, the fact that Teagan didn’t openly tell Darcy the issues he was dealing with destroyed any hope I had for this story.
Anxiety is something that runs close to my family & I can’t imagine someone not being honest about their struggles and have everyone else assume it’s alcoholism.
*massive spoilers ahead*
This book could’ve had so much potential but i didn’t feel any chemistry towards the two characters. On top of that, the fact that Teagan didn’t openly tell Darcy the issues he was dealing with destroyed any hope I had for this story.
Anxiety is something that runs close to my family & I can’t imagine someone not being honest about their struggles and have everyone else assume it’s alcoholism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2023
3.5 stars. I mean... I liked it because I was hiking while listening to a book about a park ranger but there were many wilder things about this book that had me extend my belief. Also, wtf to the ending when we finally understand what his mental illness is.
May 12, 2023
and the award for biggest letdown of the year goes to...
man, the constant weird shit about thinking he's an alcoholic/faking alcoholism was a n n o y i n g and i don't appreciate the way it was handled.
no real chemistry between the two, the female mc was EXTREMELY annoying while the male mc was just kind of a doormat and made decisions i didn't understand.
the sex was really inappropriate in the context of this unlicensed person acting as a "sober companion".
really pissed me off in a lot of places. bummer.
man, the constant weird shit about thinking he's an alcoholic/faking alcoholism was a n n o y i n g and i don't appreciate the way it was handled.
no real chemistry between the two, the female mc was EXTREMELY annoying while the male mc was just kind of a doormat and made decisions i didn't understand.
the sex was really inappropriate in the context of this unlicensed person acting as a "sober companion".
really pissed me off in a lot of places. bummer.
April 9, 2024
well that was strange
May 7, 2023
Review to come
February 8, 2023
Bear With Me Now is an enjoyable read featuring heavier topics such as mental health and the affects of alcoholism. Make sure you check the authors notes before reading if those topics are something you are sensitive to!
Teagan Van Zijl is not having a great time right now. After his alcoholic mother passed 2 years ago, he inherited her position as CEO of the family charitable foundation. However, the foundation is floundering and nothing he’s doing is helping. The stress gets so bad that he has been hospitalized. After being checked out by his sister, Sloane, he is immediately checked into a fancy, woodland rehabilitation facility. But funnily enough, Teagan doesn’t need rehab - Sloane does. Convinced by his sister to remain in rehab to work on his health and support her, he winds up meeting Darcy Ablano, the handywoman of the facility. Darcy is zealous about the woods and the wildlife that live there. When Teagan gets swiped by a bear, she is the one who takes him to the hospital. This sets off a chain of events that slowly bring them closer together.
Ok, so, this book is definitely not my usual type of romcom. This book focuses heavily on mental health and the symptoms and feelings that accompany mental health issues as well as alcoholism and how it can affect a family even after the alcoholic is gone. Teagan, for example, suffers from intense anxiety and panic attacks. I’ve had panic attacks before and the depiction of them feeling like a heart attack is so accurate. I appreciated that the subject was never glossed over. I also appreciate how Teagan’s struggle with his mother’s alcoholism and the choices she made were discussed. Teagan is a good guy who had a less than present parental situation.
Darcy is passionate to a fault. She is a firecracker of a character, but she overcompensates for past failures by being somewhat abrasive. She is incredibly stubborn. That said, she is very passionate about wildlife and protecting ecosystems. Darcy is one of those people who walk the walk when it comes to conservation and protecting wildlife.
Teagan, on the other hand, is so stressed about everything in his life that he’s not able to ask for help and is just passive. He makes a good foil for Darcy. Teagan is running the charitable foundation and hates his job, yet he feels that he’s the one who has to claw the foundation into better cash flow. There’s several times in the book where he’s offered help or support and he refuses, because he doesn’t want to be a bother or he feels he should shoulder it himself. Teagan’s motto would be ‘I’m fine’ even if he wasn’t. And it makes it tough to watch him be so down like this because Teagan is genuinely a good man. He wants to do right by everyone, but he needs to start doing right by himself.
The pace of the book was mostly good. I wish that they’d spent a bit longer in the woods in Montana. The time in New York was a bit longer than I anticipated but it was very interesting reading how Teagan behaved in his ‘natural habitat’ and seeing how Darcy adjusted. The third act twist happened in the last couple chapters and felt a bit rushed, but it was still an enjoyable ending and I was pretty satisfied with the outcome.
The chemistry between Teagan and Darcy is great. The banter between them is entertaining and the spicy times were also fun to read. Darcy and Teagan both grow over the course of the book and I found myself rooting for both of them by the end!
Also, Katie mentioned on Instagram that there may be otters involved in this book and I can confirm: THERE WERE THREE! 😍
Overall I think this is a great debut for Katie and a great introductory read where mental health is so critical to the story. I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!
Thanks very much to Berkley Romance and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Teagan Van Zijl is not having a great time right now. After his alcoholic mother passed 2 years ago, he inherited her position as CEO of the family charitable foundation. However, the foundation is floundering and nothing he’s doing is helping. The stress gets so bad that he has been hospitalized. After being checked out by his sister, Sloane, he is immediately checked into a fancy, woodland rehabilitation facility. But funnily enough, Teagan doesn’t need rehab - Sloane does. Convinced by his sister to remain in rehab to work on his health and support her, he winds up meeting Darcy Ablano, the handywoman of the facility. Darcy is zealous about the woods and the wildlife that live there. When Teagan gets swiped by a bear, she is the one who takes him to the hospital. This sets off a chain of events that slowly bring them closer together.
Ok, so, this book is definitely not my usual type of romcom. This book focuses heavily on mental health and the symptoms and feelings that accompany mental health issues as well as alcoholism and how it can affect a family even after the alcoholic is gone. Teagan, for example, suffers from intense anxiety and panic attacks. I’ve had panic attacks before and the depiction of them feeling like a heart attack is so accurate. I appreciated that the subject was never glossed over. I also appreciate how Teagan’s struggle with his mother’s alcoholism and the choices she made were discussed. Teagan is a good guy who had a less than present parental situation.
Darcy is passionate to a fault. She is a firecracker of a character, but she overcompensates for past failures by being somewhat abrasive. She is incredibly stubborn. That said, she is very passionate about wildlife and protecting ecosystems. Darcy is one of those people who walk the walk when it comes to conservation and protecting wildlife.
Teagan, on the other hand, is so stressed about everything in his life that he’s not able to ask for help and is just passive. He makes a good foil for Darcy. Teagan is running the charitable foundation and hates his job, yet he feels that he’s the one who has to claw the foundation into better cash flow. There’s several times in the book where he’s offered help or support and he refuses, because he doesn’t want to be a bother or he feels he should shoulder it himself. Teagan’s motto would be ‘I’m fine’ even if he wasn’t. And it makes it tough to watch him be so down like this because Teagan is genuinely a good man. He wants to do right by everyone, but he needs to start doing right by himself.
The pace of the book was mostly good. I wish that they’d spent a bit longer in the woods in Montana. The time in New York was a bit longer than I anticipated but it was very interesting reading how Teagan behaved in his ‘natural habitat’ and seeing how Darcy adjusted. The third act twist happened in the last couple chapters and felt a bit rushed, but it was still an enjoyable ending and I was pretty satisfied with the outcome.
The chemistry between Teagan and Darcy is great. The banter between them is entertaining and the spicy times were also fun to read. Darcy and Teagan both grow over the course of the book and I found myself rooting for both of them by the end!
Also, Katie mentioned on Instagram that there may be otters involved in this book and I can confirm: THERE WERE THREE! 😍
Overall I think this is a great debut for Katie and a great introductory read where mental health is so critical to the story. I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!
Thanks very much to Berkley Romance and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 10, 2023
Edited with quotes! Okay, so this is probably more like a 4.25⭐️ than a straight up 5⭐️, but I have to say I really don't understand the dislike for this book. I thought it was cute and hilarious at moments and sweet at moments and, well, actually meaningful in its treatment of mental health issues and the deeply rooted stigma around them. It addresses how alcoholism is (currently) treated socially as a (relatively) acceptable and understandable problem that deserves sympathy and grace (and I'm in no way saying it doesn't), but anxiety and panic attacks are seen as personal failings.
It also weaves in the side effects of anti-depressants (tiny bone to pick, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds aren't necessarily the same and some anti-depressants actually make anxiety worse, ask me how I know) in a realistic way, not just as a throwaway mention or plot device.
Lack of accommodations for learning disabilities is also highlighted in a way that draws attention to the myriad ways these things affect not just grades or classroom behavior, but also the trajectory of someone's life and how they're treated by others outside of school.
Am I biased because a lot of these things hit closer to home than I'd like? Maybe, idk, but book tastes are so subjective anyway so whatev. I enjoyed it. I didn't find it exploitative like another book I read last year that treated autism in a weirdly voyeuristic, patronizing way.
I do admit my gender-normative brain got hung up on the names in this book, Teagan and Sloane and Darcy 🥴
Might come back later and drop in some quotes I underlined. I just feel like this debut is under-appreciated! Is it perfect? No. Is it worth reading? I think so.
--
Some quotes that stuck with me:
When Teagan is anxious at an event, Darcy delivers this gem of advice:
🤣🐺
The moments that hit uncomfortably close to home 🙃, Teagan downplaying his problem as "not real":
😖😖😖
Darcy, from her lifetime of others disappointing her:
🥺🥺🥺
Me, on group trips:
Teagan down *bad*:
and
🥹🥹
Aaaaand many little quips, like "thick of facial hair, strange of hat"; "grand theft otter"; and "three pots of coffee in a Burberry trench coat." 🤭🤣
It also weaves in the side effects of anti-depressants (tiny bone to pick, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds aren't necessarily the same and some anti-depressants actually make anxiety worse, ask me how I know) in a realistic way, not just as a throwaway mention or plot device.
Lack of accommodations for learning disabilities is also highlighted in a way that draws attention to the myriad ways these things affect not just grades or classroom behavior, but also the trajectory of someone's life and how they're treated by others outside of school.
Am I biased because a lot of these things hit closer to home than I'd like? Maybe, idk, but book tastes are so subjective anyway so whatev. I enjoyed it. I didn't find it exploitative like another book I read last year that treated autism in a weirdly voyeuristic, patronizing way.
I do admit my gender-normative brain got hung up on the names in this book, Teagan and Sloane and Darcy 🥴
Might come back later and drop in some quotes I underlined. I just feel like this debut is under-appreciated! Is it perfect? No. Is it worth reading? I think so.
--
Some quotes that stuck with me:
When Teagan is anxious at an event, Darcy delivers this gem of advice:
“Gray wolves use social grooming to show pack allegiance. If you’re at a loss for what to do without a drink in your hand, try nibbling gently on the fur around one of the other guests’ scent glands.”
🤣🐺
The moments that hit uncomfortably close to home 🙃, Teagan downplaying his problem as "not real":
This will pass. This is all in my head. This isn’t really happening.
😖😖😖
Darcy, from her lifetime of others disappointing her:
“You don’t have to worry about it. You know me. You know it would never be me who left."
“I can’t ever know that,”
🥺🥺🥺
Me, on group trips:
The man had briefly emerged to drink coffee and be awkward, and then he’d retreated to his room again.
Teagan down *bad*:
If she stayed, he thought, this was what the rest of his life would look like, every night. Teagan didn’t mind being awake now, because there wasn’t a thing he would change about what his world looked like at night.
and
“I’m happy with you. I love you. You’re that first cup of coffee that gets me out of bed in the morning. You’re the song on my playlist for the drive home. You’re every good thing that I promise myself to get through the day.”
🥹🥹
Aaaaand many little quips, like "thick of facial hair, strange of hat"; "grand theft otter"; and "three pots of coffee in a Burberry trench coat." 🤭🤣
August 16, 2023
I really wanted to like this, but a lot of things bothered me in this book. Mainly, the miscommunication that turns into straight out lying. Teagan is at rehab to support his sister, but he suffers from panic attacks. While at first he corrects Darcy’s assumption that he’s an alcoholic and she straight up doesn’t listen to him at all, eventually he decides it’s better to just go along and pretend instead of tell her what is really going on. Ok. Then she spends all this time bing his sober companion when he didn’t need one. Ok.
I did not like Darcy at all. She was pushy, didn’t listen to others and makes a big point about being vegan, but then orders eggs at a restaurant? What?
There were a couple of sex scenes that made me cringe and didn’t seem loving at all. This book just felt like a huge mess.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a galley to read and review.
I did not like Darcy at all. She was pushy, didn’t listen to others and makes a big point about being vegan, but then orders eggs at a restaurant? What?
There were a couple of sex scenes that made me cringe and didn’t seem loving at all. This book just felt like a huge mess.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a galley to read and review.
May 21, 2023
This is another book where the cover does not do a good job of setting the tone for the book (the blurb does a little, but it's still vaguer than I think subject matter like this deserves.
October 13, 2024
3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐️
2 / 5 🌶️
Spicy Chapters: 16, 23
Teagan (MMC) and Darcy (FMC)
Dual POV narration, and the narrator on Audiobook was fantastic 🙌🏻🤩.
Kate Shepard is a new author to me, and I must say that although this book has not been life changing, it was a very enjoyable read (4 stars at least) up until the 50% mark aprox, when Darcy leaves Montana to follow Teagan to New York.
The book has some very funny moments that made me laugh out loud. I.e.: There's a scene at the beginning of the book where the MMC gets attacked by a bear. After Darcey saves him, he's injured on his hip. When she's going to check the bleeding, she discovers that he's wearing Cookie Monster underwear briefs that say: "I'm nom nom" on his waistband. She thinks: the bear would've been embarrassed to eat this man 🤣 LOL.
I enjoyed how the author balanced it out between serious topics such as mental illness, anxiety, alcohol abuse, and lighter ones, as well as adding sprinkles of humor and lighter topics. I also found the dynamic between quiet, introverted Teagan and the more outgoing, decisive, confident Darcy pretty charming. They balanced and complimented each other out pretty well.
The spicy scenes aren't very hot 🌶, unfortunately. Teagan is self-conscious, and Darcy the one taking initiative pretty much throughout the book, including in bed 🛌. There's nothing wrong with that, but just not my personal cup of tea.
At the 2/3ds mark, the story started to get boring. Darcie was in NYC shadowing Teagan as her "sober companion," and not much happened for a long while.
Teagan has panic atacks, it's so sad and pitiful to read. I felt so much empathy towards him. He feels so much shame and is embarrassed about it. I just wanted to wrap the MMC in my arms and give him a hug 🫂. Also, he's so oblivious to women's flirting and thinks so little of himself... it's kind of unrealistic. I mean, he's young, rich, has a good job (that he hates but doesn't quit because he feels responsible for the foundation that his mother used to manage but made a mess of), is considerate, kind, good and generous in the bedroom... the full package, really!
It's frustrating because there are so many situations in this book where the solution to the characters' problems is literally in front of them (i.e., the foundation needs donations/money. Teagan's sister is great at speaking to wealthy people, who'll make big donations & raise a lot of cash $$$. But Teagan refuses and won't allow her to help 😩🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️). It's as if they are creating their own problems and refusing to solve them logically and practically.
Anyhow, this book had a lot of potential and started off great. I wouldn't re-read it again, but I don't regret having spent some time discovering a new (to me) author and finding out more about the characters.
Happy reading! 📚
2 / 5 🌶️
Spicy Chapters: 16, 23
Teagan (MMC) and Darcy (FMC)
Dual POV narration, and the narrator on Audiobook was fantastic 🙌🏻🤩.
Kate Shepard is a new author to me, and I must say that although this book has not been life changing, it was a very enjoyable read (4 stars at least) up until the 50% mark aprox, when Darcy leaves Montana to follow Teagan to New York.
The book has some very funny moments that made me laugh out loud. I.e.: There's a scene at the beginning of the book where the MMC gets attacked by a bear. After Darcey saves him, he's injured on his hip. When she's going to check the bleeding, she discovers that he's wearing Cookie Monster underwear briefs that say: "I'm nom nom" on his waistband. She thinks: the bear would've been embarrassed to eat this man 🤣 LOL.
I enjoyed how the author balanced it out between serious topics such as mental illness, anxiety, alcohol abuse, and lighter ones, as well as adding sprinkles of humor and lighter topics. I also found the dynamic between quiet, introverted Teagan and the more outgoing, decisive, confident Darcy pretty charming. They balanced and complimented each other out pretty well.
The spicy scenes aren't very hot 🌶, unfortunately. Teagan is self-conscious, and Darcy the one taking initiative pretty much throughout the book, including in bed 🛌. There's nothing wrong with that, but just not my personal cup of tea.
At the 2/3ds mark, the story started to get boring. Darcie was in NYC shadowing Teagan as her "sober companion," and not much happened for a long while.
Teagan has panic atacks, it's so sad and pitiful to read. I felt so much empathy towards him. He feels so much shame and is embarrassed about it. I just wanted to wrap the MMC in my arms and give him a hug 🫂. Also, he's so oblivious to women's flirting and thinks so little of himself... it's kind of unrealistic. I mean, he's young, rich, has a good job (that he hates but doesn't quit because he feels responsible for the foundation that his mother used to manage but made a mess of), is considerate, kind, good and generous in the bedroom... the full package, really!
It's frustrating because there are so many situations in this book where the solution to the characters' problems is literally in front of them (i.e., the foundation needs donations/money. Teagan's sister is great at speaking to wealthy people, who'll make big donations & raise a lot of cash $$$. But Teagan refuses and won't allow her to help 😩🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️). It's as if they are creating their own problems and refusing to solve them logically and practically.
Anyhow, this book had a lot of potential and started off great. I wouldn't re-read it again, but I don't regret having spent some time discovering a new (to me) author and finding out more about the characters.
Happy reading! 📚
April 4, 2024
There's things I really liked about this book. The humor is strong and all the nature preservation topics are right up my alley. I think the pacing in the middle hurts the book a bit, but overall, fun read. Congrats on the debut!
Now, here's what I really need to discuss. Darcy kept reminding me of Dina from Superstore. I don't think it was the author's intention at all but added another very amusing layer to the book. If you like to mentally cast your characters I highly recommend. 😂
Now, here's what I really need to discuss. Darcy kept reminding me of Dina from Superstore. I don't think it was the author's intention at all but added another very amusing layer to the book. If you like to mentally cast your characters I highly recommend. 😂
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