Two For The Love Of One

Disclaimer: As someone who was in a long-term relationship with a partner who suffered from severe mental illness, I strongly encourage you to prioritize your own well-being before diving into this book. This is, at its core, a story about mental illness—what it means to love someone through it, and the emotional weight that comes with that love. I appreciate that the author handled such a delicate subject with care, portraying the experience of being the partner of someone with mental illness in a way that felt deeply realistic. However, I cannot speak to the accuracy of the portrayal from the perspective of the character experiencing the illness.

Katarina, a Canadian social worker seeking a fresh start, moves to New York City in hopes of finding herself. It’s there that she meets Ben, a born-and-raised New Yorker working at a magazine thanks to his well-connected brother. His controlling parents believe they’re “helping” him, but their influence looms over his life.

Katarina and Ben’s connection is instant and intense. He sweeps her up in a whirlwind of tourist adventures, and their chemistry quickly turns into something physical. But just as their relationship begins, Ben disappears for several days, leaving Katarina to assume she’s been ghosted.

Told in dual POV, the story allows us to see both sides—what’s happening with Ben during his absence, and the struggles he’s facing. When they reunite, their relationship escalates quickly, evolving into a deep, consuming love. But love alone isn’t enough to erase the challenges they face. Between family conflicts and Ben’s ongoing mental health battles, their relationship is put to the test.

This isn’t a traditional HEA; rather, it’s a “happy for now.” Mental illness isn’t something that simply disappears, and the book acknowledges that reality—the ups and downs, the unpredictability, and the resilience required to navigate a relationship touched by it.

What to Expect:

Emotional depth: A raw, realistic portrayal of love and mental illness.
Spice level: High. Expect dirty talk, roughness, and some restraint.
Trigger Warnings: Mental health struggles, drug and alcohol abuse, overdose, and forced hospitalization.

If you’re looking for a romance that explores the complexities of loving someone with mental illness while delivering emotional depth and intensity, Two for the Love of One is worth the read. Just be sure you’re in the right headspace for it.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Blurb:

When suave, self-assured Ben picks shy, overwhelmed Katarina out of the crowd in busy New York City, neither expects a cup of coffee to turn into obsession. Sparks fly, and so do their inhibitions, as they discover love, connection, and lust.She’s a naïve, small-town girl finding her place in the world.

Feeling unsettled after finishing college and experiencing another breakup, Katarina decides to spread her wings to see what life has to offer. New York City feels like the perfect place to both lose and find herself.

He’s a jaded, big-city boy hiding from his demons.

Ben is handsome, smart, confident, exciting and ridiculously sexy. He is also quiet, disturbing, and secretive.

They can’t control their electrifying desire.

As she discovers more about her needs and his secrets, Katarina finds herself stuck in a world she thought she desperately wanted, with her heart tethered to a man who might just destroy her.

Is her love strong enough to withstand the truth, or will she lose herself in its reality.

Xoxo, Melissa