Tag Archives: Mental Illness

This page lists books that contain trigger warnings for the depiction of mental illness.

See also Anxiety, Panic attacks, Suicide, Self-harm, Phobias, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Addiction.

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

Anna Hart is a missing persons detective in San Francisco. When tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna, desperate and numb, flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. She lived there as a child with her beloved foster parents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her. Yet the day she arrives, she learns a local teenage girl has gone missing. The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna’s childhood, when the unsolved murder of a young girl touched Mendocino and changed the community forever… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Physical child abuse
  • Paedophilia & child sexual abuse
  • Alcoholism
  • Animal abuse

The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May

The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May

Deep in a forest, Aileana Kameron claws her way out of the earth. Back from the dead with no memory of who she is or what has happened to her, the Falconer now possesses even greater otherworldly powers and a ruthless instinct to kill—and the one piece of knowledge that can change everything. Two fae monarchs, Aithinne and Kadamach, stand on the brink of war, and according to an ancient curse, one must die at the hand of the other or all the worlds will perish. Once, Kadamach was known as Kiaran, and he… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • PTSD & trauma including flashbacks and memory loss
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Dead bodies
  • Emesis
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother recounted
  • Death of a friend, on-page
  • Murder, attempted murder & mass murder, on-page
  • Graphic torture
  • Kidnapping & captivity
  • Sword & knife violence
  • Fire, off-page
  • Loss of autonomy (nonconsensual mind invasion & memory manipulation)

From Scratch by Katrina Jackson

From Scratch by Katrina Jackson

Sea Port is a tiny southern town on the verge of collapse looking to entice people to move to the middle of nowhere and start life anew. Mary Woods, stinging from her life as a failed academic, takes the opportunity by the reins and resettles in Sea Port to try her hand as a small-town baker. A few days before the opening of her shop, Confections by Mary, she runs into small-town cop, Miguel Santos, and small-town fire chief, Billy Knox and there’s a whole lot of chemistry to go around. Welcome to Sea Port, where the town baker, cop and fire chief fall heavily in lust.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Queermisia
  • Child sexual abuse recounted
  • Physical child abuse mentioned
  • Domestic abuse mentioned
  • Parent with alcoholism & alcohol abuse mentioned
  • Physical assault mentioned

Blame It on the Billionaire by Naima Simone

Blame It on the Billionaire by Naima Simone

It was a night filled with secrets, lies…and soul-stealing passion. And now the blackout that turned lowly executive assistant Nadia Jordan and start-up billionaire Grayson Chandler into insatiable lovers leads to a proposal Nadia can’t refuse. As she steps into Grayson’s privileged Chicago world, will his matchmaking mother and vengeful ex destroy her dreams? Or will her fake fiancé make those dreams a reality?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Slut-shaming
  • Classism
  • Sexual harassment mentioned
  • Cheating recounted
  • Parent with alcoholism
  • Pregnancy
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a brother from an aneurysm recounted

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson

Princess Thia was born to be a crow rider—a warrior. In her kingdom of Rhodaire, magical elemental crows keep the city running. But when the Illucian empire invades, they kill all the crows in a horrible fire that also robs Thia of her mother and mentor. Then Thia’s sister, Caliza, becomes the new queen of Rhodaire, she is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the Illucian heir in an effort to save her people. Prince Ericen is rude and cruel and Thia can’t imagine travelling into the heart of an enemy city after so much has been taken from her. But before she… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Ableism & internalised ableism
  • Racism
  • Forced arranged marriage
  • Cheating mentioned
  • Depression (theme)
  • Nightmares
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Self-harm & self-injury
  • Serious injury of a loved one
  • Dead bodies
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother on-page
  • Death of an aunt, off-page
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Physical assault
  • Torture
  • Fire
  • Graphic animal death, on-page
  • War themes, including invasion & colonialism

Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees

Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees

Lud-in-the-Mist – a prosperous country town situated where two rivers meet: the Dawl and the Dapple. The latter, which has its source in the land of Faerie, is a great trial to Lud, which had long rejected anything ‘other’, preferring to believe only in what is known, what is solid. Nathaniel Chanticleer is a somewhat dreamy, slightly melancholy man, not one for making waves, who is deliberately ignoring a vital part of his own past; a secret he refuses even to acknowledge. But with the disappearance of his own daughter, and a long-overdue desire to protect his young son, he realises that something is changing in Lud – and something must be done.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Body shaming
  • Infidelity
  • Addiction
  • Death of a child

Midsummer Moon by Laura Kinsale

Midsummer Moon by Laura Kinsale

Ransom Falconer, Duke of Damerell, is sent to see if Merlin Lambourne, the famous inventor, has created a truly magnificent innovation that can be used in the war against Napoleon. What Ransom doesn’t realize is that Merlin is a woman, and not everyone wants to see her invention become a reality. Merlin Lambourne is a brilliant yet slightly eccentric scientist whose dream is to build a flying machine. Nothing can distract her from her goals, and Ransom offers her refuge at his estate-a safe haven to work on her invention undisturbed. But when Merlin’s dream puts them both at risk, Ransom must overcome his own fears and realize… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Antiziganism
  • Amnesia
  • Gambling addiction
  • Drugging
  • Concussion
  • Stillbirth recounted
  • Death of a wife recounted
  • Gun violence
  • Kidnapping
  • Arson

I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagán

I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagán

Wife. Mother. Breadwinner. Penelope Ruiz-Kar is doing it all—and barely keeping it together. Meanwhile, her best friend, Jenny Sweet, appears to be sailing through life. As close as the two women are, Jenny’s passionate marriage, pristine house, and ultra-polite child stand in stark contrast to Penelope’s underemployed husband, Sanjay, their unruly brood, and the daily grind she calls a career. Then a shocking tragedy reveals that Jenny’s life is far from perfect. Reeling, Penelope vows to stop keeping the peace and finally deal with the issues in her relationship. So she and Sanjay agree to a radical proposal: both will write a list of changes… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Substance addiction
  • Overdose
  • Chronic illness
  • Infertility mentioned

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton

Event planner Kate Sweet is famous for creating the perfect happily-ever-after moment for her clients’ dream weddings. So how is it that her best friend has roped her into planning a bestselling horror writer’s book launch extravaganza? But the second Kate meets—or rather, accidentally maims—the drop-dead-hot Drake Matthews, her well-ordered life quickly transforms into an absolute nightmare. Drake Matthews is tired of the spotlight and tired of his reputation as the Knight of Nightmares. He’s really a nice guy! But he’s not prepared for Kate, a fearless agent of chaos in steel-tipped stilettos, or for that sweet sting of… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Cheating recounted
  • Domestic abuse mentioned
  • Military-Related PTSD
  • Suicide mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Amputation
  • Terminal cancer mentioned
  • Death of a mother in a house fire mentioned

Her Perfect Lies by Lana Newton

Her Perfect Lies by Lana Newton

Claire is beautiful. Claire is famous. Claire has a handsome husband and a house to die for But Claire doesn’t know any of that. Claire isn’t even sure who she is. When Claire Wright wakes in a hospital, she sees a stranger staring back at her in the mirror. With no memories from before the devastating car accident that left her and her father with life-changing injuries, she must navigate the life of a stranger along with all the mistakes her former self left behind. As Claire discovers the person she used to be she must also unravel the mystery that surrounds the accident. But the more Claire uncovers, the more she will be.… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Cheating
  • Amnesia