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A review by mahz
Bear With Me Now by Katie Shepard
3.0
"That was her. That was the one. That was the only woman for him.
Tropes:
• Friends-to-lovers
• Opposites Attract
• Mental Health
• Generational Trauma
• Inherited Addiction
• Neurodivergent Leads
• Shy MMC x Bold FMC
*Covering up some stuff just to be on the safe side in case they might be considered spoilers.
The premise alone was a novel concept and I was ready to dive into the wilderness, experience wildlife (bc no way would I ever in real life), watch these characters grow past their obstacles, and fall in love. The story begins with Teagan being checked into a wellness resort with his younger sister Sloane, after a week-long stay at the hospital for a severe case of panic attack. The resort is predominately geared toward individuals struggling with substance abuse which we learn Sloane suffers from while Teagan suffers a different kind of mental health condition. However, when the resort’s maintenance gal, ex-military and wildlife lover Darcy, meets Teagan, she naturally assumes he’s like everyone else there and suffers from alcoholism. Despite their polarizing personalities, they grow close and develop a deep bond that when Teagan attempts to check himself out early, Darcy readily agrees to be Teagan’s sober companion while he re-acclimates to his life as a sober person. Essentially she is asked to babysit him by his well-meaning and matchmaking sister.
Overall, while the plot was clunky and I definitely had to suspend disbelief for certain things to work, I did like both of the leads as individuals and it was clear how they complement one another. I wouldn’t say that this is a traditional rom-com relationship where everyone’s issues are tied up neatly, I do think it ends on a more realistic note where both individuals are very aware they have a long road ahead of them but the important thing is that they want to work on it together as a team. I did have my reservations about certain aspects (3 main ones) like how the dynamic between Darcy and Teagan was a bit inappropriate when she became his sober companion, especially given she was under the impression that she was helping him through his alcoholism. But again, I think this was something we are meant to overlook because Darcy is inexperienced and she doesn’t have the means to do proper research due to her undiagnosed dyslexia. I do appreciate that this aspect of antidepressant was acknowledged but I also think his use of them were brushed over too casually. It’s a vital component to his well-being which is Darcy’s objective.
But that being said, I don’t know, this book felt different from other rom-coms I’ve read. And not in a bad way either. I’ve read rom-coms featuring neurodivergent characters and sensitive themes like mental health and alcoholism, but I will say Katie Shepard adds her own style and flair to these tropes and I can appreciate that. Plus there were so many moments that were just absolutely sweet between Darcy and Teagan. Just so wholesome and lovely. While I did have issues with certain aspects, I’m still open to reading more of her books. I think my disappointment primarily stems from the fact that the concept of this story was great and could have been a fantastic exploration into the trials and tribulations of recovery, and the concept had a lot of potential but the execution was rickety. I don’t know if this was independently published but at times like these, I would love to work with the author and offer to be a soundboard.
I’m also tickled to learn that Adrian, a quirky character with an eccentric life, is going to have his own book. Bear With Me Now does give us a peek into his life enough that I’d be interested to see where his story goes. It was just so bizarre and amusing lol. All-in-all, despite my frustrations, I think it’s worth giving this book a chance and I’m optimistic that Katie Shepard will continue to hone her craft.
Tropes:
• Friends-to-lovers
• Opposites Attract
• Mental Health
• Generational Trauma
• Inherited Addiction
• Neurodivergent Leads
• Shy MMC x Bold FMC
*Covering up some stuff just to be on the safe side in case they might be considered spoilers.
The premise alone was a novel concept and I was ready to dive into the wilderness, experience wildlife (bc no way would I ever in real life), watch these characters grow past their obstacles, and fall in love. The story begins with Teagan being checked into a wellness resort with his younger sister Sloane, after a week-long stay at the hospital for a severe case of panic attack. The resort is predominately geared toward individuals struggling with substance abuse which we learn Sloane suffers from while Teagan suffers a different kind of mental health condition. However, when the resort’s maintenance gal, ex-military and wildlife lover Darcy, meets Teagan, she naturally assumes he’s like everyone else there and suffers from alcoholism. Despite their polarizing personalities, they grow close and develop a deep bond that when Teagan attempts to check himself out early, Darcy readily agrees to be Teagan’s sober companion while he re-acclimates to his life as a sober person. Essentially she is asked to babysit him by his well-meaning and matchmaking sister.
Overall, while the plot was clunky and I definitely had to suspend disbelief for certain things to work, I did like both of the leads as individuals and it was clear how they complement one another. I wouldn’t say that this is a traditional rom-com relationship where everyone’s issues are tied up neatly, I do think it ends on a more realistic note where both individuals are very aware they have a long road ahead of them but the important thing is that they want to work on it together as a team. I did have my reservations about certain aspects (3 main ones) like how the dynamic between Darcy and Teagan was a bit inappropriate when she became his sober companion, especially given she was under the impression that she was helping him through his alcoholism. But again, I think this was something we are meant to overlook because Darcy is inexperienced and she doesn’t have the means to do proper research due to her undiagnosed dyslexia.
Spoiler
Another aspect that rubbed me the wrong way was how Darcy was disproportionately blase about Teagan’s use of antidepressants just as Teagan was disproportionately blase about his sister’s substance abuse. I would think that once Darcy learned that he was prescribed them upon his discharge, she would investigate further and try to gather as much intel about the antidepressants if only to tie it back to his sobriety journey. But the only role that knowledge has is that she now becomes aware that Teagan has trouble performing sexually while on the medicationsSpoiler
And then there was the glaring issue of Sloane’s neglect, the person who actually did suffer from substance abuse. It might not have been so severe that she ended up at rock bottom, but it was still worth addressing especially because she was the one who took the initiative to check her and her brother into the rehab facility. Yes, she was predominately motivated due to fear for her brother’s health and safety but I think there were ways to include Sloane in Darcy’s new job as a sober companion while keeping the focus on Teagan and the Darcy/Teagan relationship. Certain things just felt like plot devices without being fully developed and as a result, it felt like there were deep holes and gaps in the story. Darcy’s inexperience and reading troubles didn’t feel like adequate enough excuses for the way certain things panned out.But that being said, I don’t know, this book felt different from other rom-coms I’ve read. And not in a bad way either. I’ve read rom-coms featuring neurodivergent characters and sensitive themes like mental health and alcoholism, but I will say Katie Shepard adds her own style and flair to these tropes and I can appreciate that. Plus there were so many moments that were just absolutely sweet between Darcy and Teagan. Just so wholesome and lovely. While I did have issues with certain aspects, I’m still open to reading more of her books. I think my disappointment primarily stems from the fact that the concept of this story was great and could have been a fantastic exploration into the trials and tribulations of recovery, and the concept had a lot of potential but the execution was rickety. I don’t know if this was independently published but at times like these, I would love to work with the author and offer to be a soundboard.
I’m also tickled to learn that Adrian, a quirky character with an eccentric life, is going to have his own book. Bear With Me Now does give us a peek into his life enough that I’d be interested to see where his story goes. It was just so bizarre and amusing lol. All-in-all, despite my frustrations, I think it’s worth giving this book a chance and I’m optimistic that Katie Shepard will continue to hone her craft.