Bear with Me Now

When a panic attack sends Teagan van Zilj to the hospital, his sister whisks him away from the big city to a wilderness therapy retreat. Wanting to avoid afternoon meditation, Teagan takes off on a hike through the woods alone and finds himself face-to-face with a bear. Thankfully, Darcy, a camp staffer, is nearby and rescues him. As they return to real life, Teagan and Darcy become inseparable and must figure out the way forward. Shepard’s debut is a layered, sexy romance between two people contending with grief, insecurity, and hurt. Savannah Peachwood narrates Teagan and Darcy, sensitively depicting their personal growth and struggle to live authentically. Her narration perfectly captures the back-and-forth sparring between two opposite personalities who are attracted to each other despite their best efforts. The romance between the two main characters does take a frustratingly long time to spark, and even then, it still feels lackluster. Still, the characters’ journey is heartening, and their desire to help each other be their best selves is endearing.