Mental Health Awareness Month: Romance Books That Heal

Brooke Gilbert
May 27
6 min read

Why representation matters and the romance novels that have been my lifelines

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as someone who lives with chronic health conditions including chronic pain that affects my mental health, I wanted to share something close to my heart: the romance books that have truly seen me, held me, and helped me heal.

There's something magical about finding yourself reflected authentically in a story. Not the sanitized version of mental health struggles, but the real, messy, beautiful truth of what it's like to navigate the world with an invisible illness or mental health condition.

That's exactly why I chose to reveal the cover for my upcoming novel, The Heartbeats of Aloha, this month. Luna, my heroine, deals with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression while healing from past emotional abuse, while the mmc, Reef, carries his own emotional scars. Their story is one of healing together, and it felt right to share it during a month dedicated to mental health awareness. These are all things that I struggle with as well, and while tackling these mental health topics in a novel has been challenging for me, I feel OwnVoices is so important in storytelling. Books like the ones below have gotten me through so many difficult times, and they inspire me to continue sharing my experiences as well. Many of them are OwnVoices, and the authenticity through which they are told is one reason I believe they have had that power.

P.S. I have dyslexia, so if there's audio for these books, then this is how I read them. I can highly recommend the audio!! For Hoang's books there is a music accompaniment with the audio that is incredible!

Books That Have Been My Lifelines

The Helen Hoang Series

I cannot overstate how much these books mean to me. I re-listen to this entire series when my pain is at its worst. Helen's representation of anxiety, mental health struggles, and autism is absolutely incredible. She writes with such authenticity and care that every time I revisit these stories, I discover something new that speaks to my experience.

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Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

As someone with vasovagal syncope, seeing this condition represented accurately in romance was life-changing. But beyond that, the way Hazelwood handles past emotional trauma and the anxiety that comes from previous toxic relationships? Chef's kiss. Plus, the STEM representation and fake dating elements made this an absolute favorite.

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Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

This one hit me hard. The depression representation is brutally honest - there's a third-act breakup that's so realistic it hurts if you struggle with depression. I won't lie, there were moments I had to put it down because it was too real. But stick with it. The ending is absolutely worth the emotional journey, and the healing feels earned.

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Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

One of my absolute favorite books! The way Jimenez handles emotional abuse and its lasting effects is both heartbreaking and hopeful. She doesn't minimize the trauma, but she also shows how love - both self-love and romantic love - can be part of the healing process. And if you're looking for more by her, my second favorite is a quick read, The Fall Risk! Perfect for rainy days or bad pain days that have got you down and you need a quick hit of endorphins. Never underestimate the power of a great romance, I say!!!

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What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella

Kinsella's exploration of grief and terminal illness diagnosis is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. The length is perfect, the balance between heartbreak and hope is flawless, and the way she handles the process of coming to terms with mortality is both raw and beautiful.

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Hidden Gems with Incredible Representation

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

The ADHD and OCD representation in this book is some of the best I've ever encountered. It was a little steamier than I expected, but the mental health rep is so authentic and incredible that this easily became a favorite! (And hey, you can always skim the spicier parts if that's not your thing!)

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Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer

The interstitial cystitis and anxiety representation in this book spoke to my soul. As someone who deals with chronic health conditions, including both of these, seeing a heroine who lives with invisible illness while still getting her happily ever after was everything. And Meltzer is one of my favorite authors! The Matzah Ball is INCREDIBLE!! Listening to her new book now!

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More or Less Maddy by Tess Holloway

The bipolar representation in this book is incredible and something we never see, especially in romance. One of the few other instance I can think about is Silver Lining Playbook, but we don't get a perspective inside the character's mind in a film. Still, that movie is wonderful if you haven't seen it! Holloway writes with such care and authenticity about the highs and lows, the medication struggles, and the way mental health affects relationships and following your dreams.

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Other Favorites Worth Mentioning

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez - The social anxiety rep is spot-on
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It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover - Whatever you think about Hoover's other work, this book's handling of abuse and recovery is powerful. It even helped me recently break my bad dating pattern.
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One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid - The grief representation is beautifully done
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Carry Me Away by Ashley Weston - Handles domestic abuse with incredible care and authenticity

From My Own Heart: Mental Health in My Books

Writing mental health representation has always been close to my heart because I write what I know. In The Irish Fall, I explored suicidal ideation, PTSD, and anxiety. The Paris Soulmate deals with suicidal thoughts and anxiety disorders. The Butterfly Kiss tackles emotional abuse and the anxiety that lingers long after you've escaped.

And in my upcoming release, The Heartbeats of Aloha, Luna, struggles with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks while healing from past emotional abuse and chronic illness, and Reef has his own scars. This is the first time I've truly opened up about depression in my writing and made mental health the focus. So if you liked the rep in The Irish Fall, then I think you're really going to enjoy this journey! Luna's story is deeply personal to me, and it felt right to share it during a month dedicated to mental health awareness. Luna and Reef's love story is also one about healing, because sometimes the best medicine is knowing you're not alone.

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Why This Matters

Mental health representation in romance isn't just nice to have - it's necessary. For those of us living these experiences, seeing ourselves reflected authentically in fiction is validating, healing, and hope-giving. It reminds us that we deserve love stories too, that our differences don't make us less worthy of happiness, and that we aren't alone.

I think sometimes we forget about the power of romance . . . Romance, at its core, is about hope. It's about the promise that no matter how dark things get, there's light ahead. Love and healing are possible. That we are all beautiful and worthy of love. And that's pretty powerful. So next time someone accuses you of reading or writing romance, hold your head up high and think of the beauty those books hold. And how they made you feel.

What's Next?

I'm always on the lookout for more books with authentic mental health representation. What romance novels have been your lifelines? What books have made you feel seen and understood?

Drop me a comment or send me an email - I'd love to add to my ever-growing TBR pile of books that heal hearts.

And if you're struggling right now, please know: you're not alone, your story matters, and you deserve all the love and happiness in the world.

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month, friends. Take care of yourselves. 💚

About Brooke Gilbert Brooke Gilbert is a sweet romance author who believes in happily ever afters for everyone, especially those who need a little extra healing along the way. When she's not writing, she's probably reading with her emotional support book pile nearby and emotional support dog. Her spotify and audible have too many books for her phone to hold. Find her latest releases and connect with her reader community at brookegilbertauthor.com.

Love and all the spoons,

Brooke 🥄✍️