Let’s talk about something that deserves more space in our favorite love stories: romance books with anxiety rep. As someone who reads a lot of romance, I’m always on the lookout for characters that feel real. Ones who love deeply, fumble their way through vulnerability, and also deal with anxiety, panic attacks, burnout—you name it. Because mental health struggles don’t disappear when love shows up.

This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

11 Romance Books with Anxiety Representation That Feel Like a Warm Hug

This list is for the readers who’ve seen themselves in those heavy moments. For those who want to feel seen and soothed. These anxiety rep romance books bring mental health representation to the page in thoughtful, nuanced ways without making the character’s arc just about “getting better for love.”

Whether it’s social anxiety, depression, burnout, or just the day-to-day overwhelm of life, these romance novels offer something powerful: hope, softness, and the reminder that you’re worthy of love exactly as you are.

Prefer to watch instead?

Why Anxiety Representation in Romance Matters

Romance novels have always been a safe space for exploring emotions, and that includes the ones that are hard to sit with. Seeing characters with anxiety be loved, desired, and respected isn’t just comforting. It’s validating. These stories remind us that mental health journeys are not a barrier to love; they’re a part of being human.

If you’ve ever felt like you were too much or not enough, like you had to get your life together before you could be worthy of a happy ending, these books say otherwise.

So go ahead and grab one (or five). Your heart will thank you.

Best Anxiety Rep Romance Books

Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren

Hollyn Tate is a bright, witty content creator who lights up the New Orleans scene under her online persona, Miz Poppy. Offline? She’s struggling with severe social anxiety and a stutter she’s worked hard to mask. When her job pushes her to go public, improv actor Jasper becomes her unlikely coach, and maybe something more. This is a tender, steamy, affirming romance that shows how love and growth can coexist without being the same thing.

Grab Yes & I Love You on Amazon

Untouchable by Talia Hibbert

Hannah is the town pariah after a personal scandal, now working as a live-in nanny for brooding single dad Nate. What unfolds is a slow, sexy burn between two people navigating trauma, mental health, and trust issues. Talia Hibbert never misses when it comes to complex, emotionally resonant heroines, and this one? Chef’s kiss.

Grab Untouchable on Amazon

Truthfully Yours by Caden Armstrong

Anxiety and accountability collide in this heartfelt rom-com set in Scotland. After going viral for calling out ableism at a con, Charlie hides away at a bookstore program, only to end up rooming with a hot actor who’s caught in the fallout. Cue flatmate rules, enemies-to-lovers tension, and neurodivergent rep that feels honest and empowering.

Grab Truthfully Yours on Amazon

Everything for You by Chloe Liese

Gavin is grumpy, guarded, and dealing with chronic pain and anxiety. Oliver is sunshine, younger, and now Gavin’s co-captain. Forced proximity, emotional walls, and deep vulnerability make this one unforgettable. Chloe Liese brings nuance and tenderness to mental health rep, especially in grumpy/sunshine dynamics.

Grab Everything for You on Amazon

Tough Guy by Rachel Reid

Ryan is a professional hockey player with off-the-ice anxiety, trying to find joy in a new city. Fabian is a flamboyant musician who remembers the almost-kiss they shared back in high school. What follows is a beautiful opposites-attract story that doesn’t gloss over the hard stuff but wraps it in warmth and steam.

Grab Tough Guy on Amazon

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Anna is a violinist dealing with autism, anxiety, and the crushing weight of expectations. Quan is the motorcycle-riding soft boy who sees her clearly. Their connection is slow-building and full of care, especially as Anna’s burnout worsens. This book doesn’t flinch away from the mess, and that’s what makes it hit so hard.

Grab The Heart Principle on Amazon

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Jacob has severe anxiety, and Briana is navigating burnout and family stress. Their connection starts with letters (yes, swoon) and builds into something much deeper. Abby Jimenez balances emotional weight with levity in a way that feels both healing and heartwarming.

Grab Yours Truly on Amazon

In the Weeds by BK Borison

Beckett is a grumpy farmer with a quiet kind of sadness, and Evelyn is a social media star burning out from the online grind. When they reconnect, it’s about rediscovering joy and what feels real. Low-angst, beautifully written, and quietly vulnerable.

Grab In the Weeds on Amazon

Best of Luck by Kate Clayborn

Greer’s got a lottery win and a whole lot of pressure to prove herself. When Alex, a photojournalist carrying his own invisible wounds, steps in to help, their connection feels earned and steady. This book is soft in the way that anxiety needs, thoughtful, romantic, and real.

Grab Best of Luck on Amazon

Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young

Lane is figuring her life out, Matt is her grounded best friend. They’re renovating a school bus together (yes, really), and the tension is just chef’s kiss. This is a story about finding stability in each other, even when your own path feels rocky. Sweet, sexy, and full of emotional depth.

Grab Next to You on Amazon

First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel

Preeti is juggling family expectations, career stress, and serious anxiety, all while cohabitating with her ex. This second-chance romance doesn’t sugarcoat how hard mental health can make love and life feel. But it also delivers one of the most satisfying emotional payoffs.

Grab First Love, Take Two on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety Rep in Romance Novels

What does anxiety rep mean in books?

Anxiety rep (short for representation) means that a character’s experience with anxiety, whether generalized, social, panic-related, or trauma-induced, is portrayed in a realistic, thoughtful way. These characters often manage symptoms while also navigating love, life, and relationships.

Are these romance books with anxiety rep heavy or uplifting?

Both! Some books dig deep into mental health struggles while others keep it lighter and hopeful. The beauty of this subgenre is the emotional honesty, it can be comforting, cathartic, and still deliver swoony moments.

Why is it important to see anxiety representation in romance?

Because everyone deserves a happy ending. Seeing people with anxiety find love, support, and joy on the page can help readers feel seen and validated. Plus, it challenges harmful stereotypes about mental health and relationships.

Looking for more romance with mental health rep? Drop your favorites in the comments!

Read More

• Dive deeper into more book recs by book tropes
• More books with mental health rep

Pin It for Later