I didn’t expect a book to reach me the way this one did. Anxious Hearts by Guy Sigley is raw, real, and unforgettable — a story that breaks you open and somehow puts you back together again.
Anxious Hearts is a 2025 modern romance novel written by Australian author Guy Sigley. It tells the story of Kelly, a junior doctor approaching her exams to become a paediatric specialist, and Finn, a famous actor, both struggling with the pressures of life and anxiety. They are childhood friends, but they struggle to maintain their bond as their crippling fears and pressures threaten to pull them apart; raising the question, can love really overcome all odds?
I’ll be honest — I usually struggle to stay engaged with fiction. But Anxious Hearts by Guy Sigley completely broke that pattern. From the very first page, I was hooked. I couldn’t put it down, not because of some contrived suspense or dramatic twist, but because of the sheer emotional truth pulsing through every line.
Sigley’s writing is incredible — there is this wonderful synergy that flows between the past and the present, creating a beautiful balance between the separate lives of Kelly and Finn and the delicate ways their worlds intertwine. The unique perspectives of each character are portrayed with perfect balance, offering insightful takes on their individual and shared experiences. Both characters feel vividly real, and I often felt as though I was right there with them sharing the moment. Every part of this story is written so emotively, it all just feels real.
What struck me most was the raw, authentic portrayal of anxiety. I have never read anything that so accurately captures the inner experience of anxiety — the spiraling thoughts, the exhaustion, and the quiet ache of simply trying to hold yourself together. It’s written with such empathy and insight that it’s clear the author truly understands what it means to live with anxiety, not just observe it.
As I read, I could feel everything: their stress, their pain, their longing, their desire. Their emotions echoed in my own chest. At times, the story hit me so hard that I cried real tears — not out of sadness alone, but out of recognition.
That said, Anxious Hearts does not shy away from the darker corners of the human experience. It deals with heavy and deeply affecting themes surrounding mental health, addiction, self-harm, and suicide. These moments are handled with sensitivity and truth, but can be confronting with the honesty they portray and therefore is not a story for the faint-hearted. I would gently urge readers to approach it only if they feel emotionally safe and ready to engage with such themes. For those who do, the honesty within these pages can be profoundly validating and enlightening.
And then there’s the epilogue — a perfect, understated conclusion that delivers the emotional closure the story needs while still leaving space for reflection. It ties together Kelly and Finn’s journeys in a way that feels honest and earned, allowing the reader to exhale at last. Yet it doesn’t close the door completely. Instead, it leaves a soft, lingering openness — the sense that their lives continue beyond the page, evolving quietly in the spaces we can only imagine. It’s the kind of ending that settles your heart even as it keeps your thoughts alive long after you’ve finished reading.
Anxious Hearts is more than a love story; it’s an exploration of vulnerability, resilience, and the fragile courage it takes to open your heart when fear tells you to close it. It’s a book that lingers — raw, honest, and profoundly human.
If you’ve ever lived with anxiety, loved someone who has, or simply crave fiction that feels emotionally real, this book will stay with you long after you turn the final page. For readers who appreciate character-driven stories and writing that brims with empathy, Anxious Hearts is an unforgettable experience — one that deserves to be read slowly, felt deeply, and remembered.
Thank you to Anxious Hearts author Guy Sigley and to Echo Publishing for sending me this book to read and review. I am looking forward to reading Guy’s next story.
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