Bear With Me (Un-bearably in Love Book 1) by Opal Andrews

The cutest shifter book I've read so far in 2026!!


From the blurb:

Dennis

I booked two weeks of peace and privacy at a secluded cabin. So why do I almost immediately come across a naked man holding a fish in his mouth in the stream behind it? Turns out Bjorn is a bear shifter, he's double-booked in the cabin, and he says I'm his fated mate.

How does he know this? Because once a shifter meets their fated mate, they can't control their shifts unless and until they're claimed. And Bjorn definitely can't control his shifts now. Too bad for him I'm not interested in being set up with a mate by the invisible sky fairies.

Bjorn

I've met my mate! Finally, finally. But…he seems weirdly resistant to my charms. Luckily we're double-booked in this cabin, and there's only one bed. He'll have to get close to me whether he likes it or not!

Just as I'm making plans to charm him, I get a phone call from home: someone is very ill, and I need to come home. Except I keep uncontrollably turning into a bear, which means no air travel and I can't drive myself. So how to get across the country? Apparently, as a passenger in a truck driven by my maybe-mate. But when we get to my home den, things get even more uncomfortable with the input of my pushy-but-affectionate grandmother, a foul-mouthed den alpha, and two parents with sticks up their you-know-whats.

Can I win over Dennis and get my happily ever after, or will I have to choose between staying permanently as either a bear or a man?

Bear With Me is a slow-burn, low-angst MM paranormal romance featuring a sunshiney bear shifter and a grumpy human. Mpreg is not a thing in this universe, nor are a/b/o dynamics. This book is written in alternating third-person POV, with open-door sex scenes.


Angel's review:

Have you ever had a book cover catch your eye so much that you want to read it from the cover alone? I've never had that happen until this book. When I saw this cover I was immediately intrigued, it reminded me of the movie Brother Bear, and when I read the blurb, I knew I HAD to read this!

I am so glad I read this amazing book, not only did I get introduced to a new-to-me author's writing style, but I also got to enjoy a lovely book with fantastic characters!!

Bjorn is a bear shifter with a sunshine personality, who rented a cozy cabin in the woods for a bit of rest and relaxation, he's always wanted to meet his fated mates but knows he has to be patient... He never expected to meet his mate while naked and holding a fish in his mouth...

Dennis is the storm cloud to Bjorn's warm rays, he is a bar owner who finally booked a cabin for his time off work. He's long overdue for a break and time away from chaos, so when he arrives at his cabin and finds a naked man who swears to be his fated mate, he's not pleased. Add in the fact that they double booked the same cabin, and now Bjorn's shifts are uncontrollable, let's just say Dennis isn't getting the vacation he planned on having.

I really enjoyed this book and I loved the way it was written. Both characters are full of so much personality that you can easily tell them apart, they contrast each other while also complimenting each other beautifully! I love that juxtaposition at work! I also am a huge fan of the slow burn that occured in this book, I'm glad it wasn't insta-love or insta-lust, I'm really happy they took their time to get to know each other first before doing anything else.

Bjorn is such a sweetheart and I love him so much, he's literally a real life teddy bear, who just wants Dennis to accept him. And Dennis, while being a grump, does have some good attributes too, he does care for Dennis even if it takes him a bit to admit it.

I thought the way Dennis had Bjorn's back in regards to Bjorn's cruel family was so sweet, and showed that while Dennis might've not accept being mates completely, he still cares about Bjorn and wanted to help protect him.

I thought everything in this story was fantastic! The characters were excellent, the plot was great, the writing and the pace of the story was really well written, and the side characters provided an extra spice to the story. I absolutely loved Bjorn's Gran, she's such a hoot, and a meddler of epic proportions but that's why she was so amazing. Overall, I really adored these characters, and loved this story.


Bear With Me is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription