I admit that I read romance books because I’m addicted to happily-ever-after stories, but the more I read romance, the more I also learn about human emotion, suffering and perseverance. Some of my best book teachers are books that feature real world issues affecting the main characters. One such issue that affects millions in this country is mental illness where 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental illness during their lifetime and 1 in 25 experience a serious mental illness.*
To help raise awareness to this very important health topic, I’ve put together a list of my favorite romance books that feature characters living with a mental health condition.
The authors of these books not only write creative storylines with exquisite prose, but they also write realistic characters showcasing what it’s like to live with a specific mental health disorder. They don’t perpetuate stereotypes about these disorders but portray them in the most humanistic way to shed light on topics which aren’t always discussed due to stigma, shame or discrimination.
Reading these books has taught me a lot about various mental health disorders – how they can affect a person personally but also how their illness may impact his or her relationships. Mental illness can be isolating but it is also very common. Any way that we can bring greater awareness to this important health topic, even in romance books, is a win-win.
Each of the romance books below feature a different mental health disorder, and are books that I highly recommend reading! Check them out, learn something that you may not already know and help raise awareness to this important health topic.