It’s a much more serious book than at first glance. I love the initial set-up, the mental health issues, family trauma, and wilderness education. But I quickly lost interest with the miscommunication angle. I really really really don’t like how the characters are misled or are willfully dismissive. The blind leading the blind leading the blind.

Further, the romance was so inappropriate, given what the characters believe, and left me with no respect for Darcy or any of her actions. Or Teagan for that matter when he eventually enables the situation. Throw in a handful of secondary characters with only bad qualities highlighted and it’s hard to like a book without any characters to respect or support.

I was still curious to see everyone get healthy or proper diagnoses, to make any of it worth it, so I mostly stuck it out till the end (i.e. I skimmed parts). The relationship issues get worse. The foundation/work stuff was interesting, though, but by the end I was just over the outrageous and immature behavior surrounding all the serious subjects.

* I received a free early ecopy from the publisher via netgalley

Hmm, what to say. I really wanted to like this book. I am always excited for more books with chronic illness/anxiety rep and as someone who experiences panic attacks I totally related to Teagan and thought that the author did a great job of portraying them well. I loved the nature aspect of the book, I am all about a National Park and loving animals. And I thought the portrayal of addiction and generational trauma was really well done.

All that to say, there was a lot I liked about this book, but I do have one very large problem with it. I was not a fan of all the lying about why Teagan was at the retreat. It started out as miscommunication, which is one of my least favorite tropes, but. I was dealing. But it really turned me off when it became outright lying, and not just from Teagan but also his sister. It didn't feel fair at all to Darcy, a character I really felt for. I wish Katie would have found some other way to create tension because this just did not sit well with me in a book that otherwise treated sensitive topics well.

I really enjoyed this one. Bear with me Now is not only a romantic comedy with some adorable and laugh out loud funny moments but it has raw, vulnerable, and realistic characters. The portrayal of mental health issues solidified it for me as being a great read. I’m now even more excited to read the author’s other novels when she writes more. This is an excellent debut!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

DNF at 40%.

I really wanted to like this book but I just found the characters to be so unlikeable. The premise is a little out there but it would have been okay if the characters were more relatable. I also did not like the way the addiction and mental health issues were addressed in this one. There were several times I couldn't tell if the characters were being serious or making light of some very serious issues.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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.

BEAR WITH ME NOW is a brisk, edgy and quirky romance starring Darcy Albano who is a resilient, strong beautiful lady employed at a wilderness retreat as a trail guide who meets Teagan Van Zijl, a handsome guy who lands in the hospital after an anxiety attack. His sister, Sloane, books them a getaway at a Yellowstone therapy retreat to work on their addiction issues. Darcy is convinced Teagan is an alcoholic, but he is embarrassed why he is really there to correct her. After Teagan nearly gets eaten by a bear and saved from the jaws of death by Darcy whose only concern is for the bear, flames of attraction erupt between them.

When Teagan goes back to work, he offers Darcy a job as his companion to help with his addictions. Truthfully, Teagan doesn't want to lose Darcy, as she is not a qualified therapist. However, back in New York city they fall in love. However, Teagan isn't getting any better with his troubles. Will he tell Darcy the truth?

Mental issues, smart-alecky banter, flawed characters, and more fill the pages of this entertaining romantic tale. BEAR WITH ME NOW is a fantastic story about learning to love each other, faults and all. The author handles Teagan's mental health with care. Also, Darcy is a multi-layered individual with problems of her own. When Teagan confesses all to Darcy will she leave? This is an intriguing romance with bite!

A nice solid slow build romance filled with the usual wrong conclusions as people don't actually listen to each other - or at least one side doesn't. 2 people in miserable jobs living less than their best lives, meet each other, have an attraction - but can they actually make it work in the real world.

One hiding a secret from shame, the other just not sharing because they don't want to lose what leverage they have in the "relationship".

Cute escapism with some lessons learned, if you listen carefully.

Book: Bear With Me Now
Author: Katie Shepard
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Berkley, for sending me an ARC. I was really surprised with how much I ended up enjoying this.

In this one, we follow Teagen and Darcy in a chance encounter. Teagan and his sister are at a nature/wilderness rehab centre. After a bear attack, Teagan finds himself at Darcy’s mercy. He is a patient and she is the groundskeeper. This is crossing lines. Darcy is also down on her luck. She wants to be a wildness officer, but can’t pass the classes and struggles to keep up with the reading and writing. She and Teagan start off as not being able to stand each other. However, as time goes on, they start to develop this bond that ends up leading into something more.

I enjoyed seeing Teagen and Darcy’s relationship take off. We see them start off as enemies, then friends, and then into more romantic feelings. It is a slow development. I enjoyed getting to see their relationship form and develop. It is not without its rough patches either. Remember that Teagan is a patient at rehab. Darcy believes that he is a recovering alcoholic, but that’s not the case. He has a mental illness and has panic attacks. However, he can’t blame himself to tell Darcy the truth. She takes up this role as his sober companion. This happens after his stay at rehab it cut short by the need to return to work. Darcy thinks that this will be a disaster for his treatment. This is what brings up the idea of the sober companion.

Recovery is at the forefront of this book. We also see how Teagen was more willing to say that he was an alcoholic and go along with that role instead of admitting that he had bad panic attacks. This ties into the stigma of mental illness and how society views it. Teagen fills this role and how people view mental illness. I wish that Teagen had been more forthright about what was really going on with him. I think it would have added an additional punch to the story. Still, I did enjoy seeing it included in the book and how much of an impact it can have on a person’s day to day life.

The writing also brought the story home. We see a light tone when needed, but also take on this more serious tone at other times. The romance between the two characters is cute and I liked how it was developed. I also enjoyed the more serious tone when needed. The recovery journey is taken in a serious light. This switch between the two tones is the mark of a great author. In order to bring home a story such as this, you must be able to make your writing fit the story you are trying to tell. Katie nails this and does it in a way that leaves the reader with an impact.

Overall, I will say that I was very impressed with this title. This is one of those books that just pulls you and leaves you wanting for more. As soon as you pick it up, you find yourself unable to put it down and that is the sign of a great book.

This book comes out on April 25, 2023.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/2Vp8W1Xmsac

Bear With Me Now is a rom-com with a lot of heart.

This one started off strong for me. I love a wilderness theme and a good pun so I was all in. There are enough funny moments to land this one firmly in rom-com territory as advertised, but it does have a lot more depth and angst than I was expecting. Not a bad thing, just something to be aware of. If you are looking for a total fluff read, this one isn’t it.

I loved Darcy’s character. She is strong, smart and capable. She loves nature and animals and is passionate about her chosen career as a wilderness guide. She has strong opinions and isn’t afraid to share them (most of the time). Life continues to kick her ass, but she keeps going with tenacity.

Teagan was a little harder for me to like as a book boyfriend, but only because he isn’t my particular brand of book boyfriend. And that’s okay. There is a book boyfriend out there for everyone right? Teagan is sweet and kind, generous and thoughtful. He is also painfully shy and has a hard time articulating his thoughts and emotions. Although he wasn’t my cup of tea, I loved him for Darcy. Together they were yin and yang, a perfect fit. If only they could get out of their own way. I did find the last quarter of this book a little angsty for my taste as both Darcy and Teagan’s self-doubt got in the way of them being together. Again, not a bad thing necessarily, just not something I personally enjoy.

One thing I really appreciated about this book was the in-depth look at the challenges both characters were facing; Teagan with his anxiety, and Darcy with her dyslexia. Through the eyes of these characters, readers get insight into what it is like to live with either of these conditions. I can’t speak to the dyslexia experience personally, but I can say Katie accurately captured Teagan’s experience of anxiety. I love that more and more authors are exploring these issues. It’s about time in my opinion, and Katie did a great job of exploring these topics in a sensitive and caring manner. It helped both Darcy and Teagan feel real and fully developed as characters.

If you like your rom-coms with a little more depth, give Bear With Me a try.

I really enjoyed this book! When Teagan's sister forces him to take a stay in a wilderness rehab center after a serious anxiety attack puts him into the hospital, he's mistaken for an alcoholic and rescued from a bear attack by Darcy, an employee at the center who is at a crossroads in her career and life in general. These two had wonderful chemistry and I loved how they helped each other grow. I especially liked the way Darcy responded to the well-meaning Teagan when she learned the truth. The open communication between these two was really lovely to see. Although this book is more of a contemporary romance than a romcom, there are consistent moments of humor and witty dialogue that help to keep the book light even when dealing with serious issues like mental health.

Never judge a book by its cover, is all I will say about this. I initially thought it was going to be one thing but it turned into something else.

I am relatively surprised by this book, on the surface, it looked to be a fun, easy-going rom-com - and that is me purely judging by the beautiful cover., but this is so much more than that, it has a seriousness to it that surprised me a lot. But, I did enjoy it immensely, I can't say I loved, loved it but it is compelling and engaging and I adored the humour and wit entwined with the serious subjects of mental health illness and addiction.

I am an advocate of mental health illness discussion and raising awareness of how traumatising it can be for the person suffering and for the family, so to realise that this was a significant plot point first had me pleased that the author was bringing up such an important subject to the forefront of peoples minds but also worried as times mental health illness can be portrayed in such a hard way without consideration for those it effects, i needn't have worried the author has written a compassionate and sympathetic story which deals with hardship but that is elevated by the wonderful humour threaded throughout.

Bear with Me is an easy-to-read and engaging book, it's not the 'perfect' rom com and I don't think it can be labelled as a disability romance either, it felt to me like it's trying to fall into both categories but doesn't quite fit in either, which I thought was a shame as it has great potential and I think if you come into this book with an open mind and just enjoy it for the charming story it is then it can and will be enjoyed because despite my personal reservations I did enjoy this and I will read more from this author in the future.

I was lucky to read an advanced copy of "Bear With Me Now," and I loved it! It tells the story of two people who meet and help each other heal from their past traumas while falling in love. The author, Katie Shepard, has a sharp wit and creates memorable characters in Darcy and Teagan. The book deals with heavy topics such as mental health and alcoholism, so readers should check the author's notes before reading if those topics are sensitive to them. Teagan is struggling to manage his family's charitable foundation, and after being hospitalized due to stress, he is convinced by his sister to go to a woodland rehabilitation facility. There, he meets Darcy, a passionate handywoman who is enthusiastic about wildlife conservation. Despite being very different, they become closer after Teagan is attacked by a bear, and they begin to grow and heal together. The chemistry between them is great, and their banter is entertaining. The book also features three adorable otters! Overall, "Bear With Me Now" is an excellent debut that deals with mental health issues in a realistic way, and I can't wait to read more from Katie Shepard.

⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
- Wilderness
- Miscommunication
- Sibling Bonds

I wanted to enjoy this book so much more than I did. Bear With Me Now starts off strong and then falls apart for me. There were many funny parts and times where I laughed but everything was too far fetched for me to really buy into.

Mental health, alcoholism, addiction and learning disabilities are all tackled but not well, in my opinion. They seem to be tossed around more as mere plot devices for the convenience of the story.

Lastly, I couldn't get over the enormous miscommunication that was kept up until the 87% mark. The MMC blatantly told the FMC numerous times that she had it wrong but she flat out refused to believe him and when she finally did believe him, she was upset that he hadn't told her sooner! That was frustrating to say the least.

Bear With Me Now started out with a bang! I loved being in Montana and enjoyed all the retreat hijinks and interactions between Darcy and Teagan. Being in the great outdoors with someone as enthusiastic and knowledgable as Darcy was a pleasure. And let me tell you, if I wasn’t laughing, I was smiling during this part of the book.

The story got a bit heavier when Teagan and Darcy returned to New York. Back to “real life” and all the things that had been wrecking havoc on Teagan’s mental health. There were amusing bursts, but I did feel this part of the story dragged a bit for me.

However, the book had a strong finish. I was filled with glee and shedding those happy tears which are both great indicators of my adoration for this book. Though the story wasn’t perfect, my overall enjoyment was high. I thought Shepard did a fantastic job with these characters. They were well formed, and I appreciated her approach to Darcy’s personal issues. I am sure readers will love the way these two supported each other, and will be rooting for their success as well as their HEA.

Initially, I was drawn into this novel by the wonderful cover and the synopsis. It seemed promising as the author stated it was a romance featuring realistic portrayals of mental health and I was excited to read something fluffy that was grounded in reality.

The first half of the book was intriguing and I was drawn into the character’s respective journeys. However, this book only works with the greatest suspension of disbelief and can be frustrating as the characters continuously fail to communicate truthfully with one another. Furthermore, the premise is supposed to focus on mental, but I felt like there was a huge missed opportunity with Darcy and to some extend with Teagan as their issues were only ever dealt with on the surface level.

Lastly, Darcy and Teagan never had any chemistry and the romance lacked any element that felt compelling. Instead, I skipped over the culmination of their romance in favor of just finishing the book. Overall, the book had potential but it should have stayed at the retreat and foregone leaving for the city and subsequent strange storyline where Darcy was a sober companion without any training.

3 stars.

The cover definitely contributed to me requesting this book. But then I read the synopsis and knew I had to have it. I love books set in the outdoors and struggle to find ones that draw me in and make me feel like I’m roaming the forest with the characters.

Unfortunately, I liked this one but never quite clicked with Teegan and Darcy. This book is a romance, but tackles difficult subjects including mental illness, alcoholism, and addiction.

I was not a fan of the romance. I never was quite convinced of Teegan and Darcy’s romance. It fell a bit flat for me.

Overall, the book is pretty forgettable. It was enough to hold my attention, but now that I’ve finished, I’ll probably forget about it soon enough.

Bear with Me Now by Katie Shepard

Teagan Van Zijl, is handsome, charming, and way too serious for his own good. But the seriousness came from having an alcoholic mother and from having to raise his little sister from the time he was twelve years old. He took this task seriously because he had to take it seriously. Their mother was all about parties and booze and Teague and his sister, Sloane, were on their own.

Years later, twenty two year old Sloane has dragged a drugged Teagan to a wilderness therapy retreat. Sloane is there because she needs rehab due to cocaine abuse. Teague is there because Sloane doesn't want to be there without him. Teague had been in the hospital due to a vicious panic attack and wasn't even clear headed when Sloane swept him away to this expensive Montana rehab resort. He has a non profit charity to run and it's hemorrhaging money. He needs to be back at work but he wants to do what is best for Sloane and he's still reeling from his "not a heart attack, panic attack instead" diagnosis.

Meet Darcy Albano, who has flitted around working bottom rung manual labor jobs in wilderness areas while having spent over a decade trying to get her degree. Something is not right with her understanding of the written word and it's slammed doors in her face all her life. Now Darcy won't even try for jobs that require paperwork, her confidence when it comes to work and school are at rock bottom and her dreams of becoming a park ranger are just that, dreams. But through a major amount of misdirection and miscommunication, Darcy is now going to be Teague's sober companion. How does Teague end up with a sober companion that he doesn't need, for an affliction he doesn't have, while his real needs are being swept under a rug, leaving him more fragile than ever?

Yeah, so these people don't say what they need to say to each other. Teague and Darcy have life long trauma and they are going about things all the wrong ways. But that's life, even when unearned, shame, guilt, embarrassment, and the need to fix others can keep one from getting the help needed. These two are so attracted to each other, the chemistry is so right, but Teague's one little lie and Darcy's jumping to way too many conclusions makes this a romance that may be bound to end way too soon. I hurt for both Teague and Darcy and wish they could really be honest with each other but both feel they have too much to lose to show themselves completely. There is humor here, there is a bear and other wildlife, but the serious issues are what make the story so interesting for me.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book tackles some heavy topics but still manages to be sweet and light-hearted overall. An enjoyable read with very likable characters.

2.5 stars so I'm rounding up.

"Bear With Me Now" started out pretty strong but it quickly became extremely problematic and unbelievable. I tried- I really, really did- to sink into the fiction of it all...but it didn't happen. Despite being well written and humorous, I couldn't get past the almost cavalier way addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, and learning disabilities were handled. There was a lack of chemistry between the main characters. Nobody got the help they truly needed. The shenanigans with the otters was straight up unnecessary. And while HEA is pretty much a requirement for my books, the resolution for "Bear With Me Now" was frustrating at best.

Bear With Me Now is a wonderful debut that somehow remains both charming and funny even while it deals with heavy topics like alcoholism and mental illness. Teagan and Darcy were fantastic characters. They both had a lot of issues to work through, but they made each other into better people, and I appreciated how Shepard showed that love can't cure everything but it can help us begin to heal. Plus baby there are baby otters! (Any book is better with cute animals.)