Love & Panic by Raina Ash really took me by surprise in the best way. I didn’t expect to get so attached to Natalie, but I did—her struggles felt raw and real, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The way this book explores mental health is so thoughtful and honest; it really stood out to me.

I’ll be honest—there were a few moments where I thought the editing could’ve been a bit tighter. Some parts felt slightly rough around the edges. But even with that, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story overall.

What really stuck with me was how the book handled its themes—love, anxiety, self-worth—in a way that felt authentic, not forced or overly dramatic. If you’re looking for a read that dives deep emotionally and isn’t afraid to show the messy parts of life, this one’s worth picking up.

Regardless of how heavy the themes were, I found myself rooting for Natalie and Dean, and wanting to see how they’d heal together. The writing, and the pace were both so engaging.
This story was heartfelt, hopeful, and completely uplifting. It shows how healing can start in the darkest moments. I loved how two wounded souls found strength in each other, building a bond so genuine that it stayed with me long after I finished.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

This was the first book I read by Raina Ash and was I ever surprised by her writing. This is a slow burn because the characters have a lot of trauma to work through. I absolutely loved seeing how much growth and healing happened with the two. This emotional rollercoaster did not disappoint! I felt like the writing was really good and had depth to the characters. I definitely can't wait to see what her other books are like. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Pink Fox Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

This book was good!! I enjoyed it a lot. The author had me hooked from the very first chapter. I will definitely read this again in the future.. I 100% recommend people read this book.

This is told from two different POV's the narratives take you on a journey of a woman suffering from a panic disorder due to a terrible accident and the other is a man who suffers from grief and tries to numb the pain with alcohol. They develop a friendship that helps them to cope, but unexpectedly deeper feeling develop and both struggle to fight it.

This is very heavy for those dealing with mental health!

I attempted to get into it, I wanted to love this after all the great reviews, but ultimately I kept putting it down and not getting called back.

Wow!! Thank you Netgalley for this early copy. This book was simply Wonder. The characters were great and the storyline was on point. I am normally too impatient for slow burn stories but this kept me hooked.

This was such a great read and very different from my usual books. Natalie and Dean both have different mental health conditions and I think they were represented extremely well. Natalie was lovable from the beginning and I was rooting for her through every step of her journey. Dean was a grump but a lovable one, even more so when you gradually uncover his past. I really liked the fact that they realised they had to work on themselves separately instead of fixing each other and that working on your mental health never has a quick fix. It’s dual POV which is great because you get to go into the minds of both characters. I was completely absorbed in the story and although it was a slow burn with lots of ups and downs I was still hooked until the end. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Have you ever wanted to read an authentic account of a neuro-diverse character? If like me, you have, then this book will not disappoint. Natalie is such a likable character and you are just rooting for her to succeed at her goals. Even though Dean is an unrepentant alcoholic, the writer beautifully highlights how anyone can fall into a dark place and turn to alcohol to numb the pain.

This book tells the story of how two broken people can help put each other back together. It'a not all sunshine and roses. There are no quick fixes. Its an evocative story, well paced with characters you can't help but love.

I highly recommend picking this book up.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

TW: mental illness, alcoholism, suicidal thoughts

This book pulled me in almost as soon as I started reading it, and I found it very hard to put down. It follows 2 main characters, Natalie and Dean, who are each struggling with mental health and trauma from their past. As someone who has anxiety and has experienced panic attacks, I thought the descriptions were spot-on and realistic. Natalie and Dean end up meeting in an unconventional way, but I loved how they each accepted the other for who they were and didn't judge. The story was interesting with a lot of ups and downs that kept me invested in the story. I was glad to see a lot of growth in both of the main characters over the course of the story while also being realistic about how these things take a lot of work, time, and sometimes you fall backwards in the process, but that's okay. The book left me with a feeling of hope and a positive outlook about a topic that often holds a lot of stigma. I really enjoyed the romance aspects of the story as well, and found that it came to a satisfying conclusion. There's a couple steamy scenes, but it's not excessive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A special thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of the book and the opportunity to provide my honest feedback!

Good read! Give yourself time to get into the story, about 30-40%, and you will not be disappointed. Once you get to know the characters, you love their personalities and interactions. The story brings first-person knowledge on mental situations that showcase a different perspective. I also enjoyed the hilarity thrown in!
P.S. read the authors note!

This was a very middle-of-the-road book for me. But I do know people I can recommend this book to that will love and enjoy it.

The protagonist of the novel is Natalie, a woman with relatively severe PTSD, agoraphobia, and panic attacks who intervenes to save Dean, an alcoholic and bereaved doctor. Natalie and Dean agree that in exchange for her assisting to keep her safe while having her frequent panic attacks, she will provide him with a private spot to drink.

This dual point-of-view story follows a woman who has panic disorder as a result of a horrible event, and a man who is grieving and attempts to consume alcohol to dull the pain. They form a bond that aids in their adjustment, but surprisingly deeper feelings arise, which they both find difficult to fight.

Since they both had a lot of trauma and issues to work through, this was a very gradual process, which, in the end, I believe truly helped them. Dean would frequently make me want to hit him across the head with his desire to only make life terrible for himself.
The representation of mental health and therapy was excellent. Due to how much healing and progress occurred with the two, I started crying at the conclusion. Natalie made such incredible progress towards the end that I simply wanted to embrace her. In the beginning, she seemed fairly content with her problems, but once she recovered from her crisis, I grew to love her even more! I adored Natalie so much! I was scared for a while about Dean there, but he came through and I'm so glad he ended up where he did.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an e-arc!

An emotional read, the story of Dean and Natalie. Some parts close to home for me but still a good read and portrayed well.

A beautifully well written book on mental health struggles with a bit a romance. Really enjoyed Natalie and Dean’s relationship and how they mutually helped each other with their health issues. The emotions I went through were worth it, lots of highs and lows but they managed to pull through in the end.

Not me jumping into another slowburn!?!? In all honesty, I read this book because of the concept - a female ridden with anxiety, a doctor done with medical practice and tired of life. How could these two possibly fit in the same story? I had to find out and I wasn't disappointed!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the raw truth depicted here that accompanies mental illness. It isn't a defined and easy path to overcome struggles. As is seen in this book, it is two steps forward and what feels like 10 steps back! Great book to read if you want a little positivity in a world that never stops being negative and ugly!

This is a first time read for me by this author, but it definitely won't be my last. If you're a fan of Colleen Hoover, then this book is right up your alley. This is a heartwarming and inspiring story that will give you all the feels. The story has a grumpy/sunshine trope and is told in dual POV. It follows Natalie, a woman who is smart and witty and has a kind heart, and she suffers from agoraphobia and panic attacks. Dean is a former pediatric surgeon and after experiencing a family tragedy and divorce, is now an alcoholic by choice. One day he passes out in front of Natalie's building almost getting hit by a bus, until Natalie comes out and saves him. They then make an interesting deal where she gives him a safe place to drink while he becomes her guide to the outside world. And so begins a beautiful relationship between them.
The story was amazing and brilliantly written showing the two different health issues and how these two struggling individuals helped each other and guide each other on a difficult journey of personal growth. Such an emotional story that pulled at my heartstrings and I could not put it down. I was captivated from start to finish. The author did an excellent job of creating an engaging story and bringing the characters to life. The characters were realistic and endearing and I couldn't help but fall in love with them. Their struggles will break your heart, but leave you rooting for them till the end. A beautiful story that I wholeheartedly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Love and Panic by Raina Ash is a loveable story about a woman who has panic disorder who ventures out of the safety of her home to save a man who has drunkenly fell face first in a snow packed street.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of Love & Panic.

I was looking for a good romance book to read and I found it. I don't understand why you aren't hearing more about this book. This book is a second chance romance filled with grief, anxiety and love. I couldn't get enough of Natalie and Dean! I didn't want their story to end.