Your Preview Verdict: Anxious Hearts by Guy Sigley

Buy a copy of Anxious Hearts here.

Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:

After reading the blurb for this book I started reading it with trepidation having convinced my self it wasn’t for me. I was wrong. Interesting story line, strong, likeable but nonetheless flawed characters and most importantly easy to read. Surprises, disappointment, joy, sorrow- this book has it all. If I had to fault it then it would be with the ending- I would have been happier had it finished without the last chapter. However I wasn’t overly upset with the way everything turned out. Michelle, VIC, 5 stars

It’s so rare that the person you are supposed to be with has loved you most of your life. Kelly and Finn are each other’s Person, trying to fix each other and be the best friends they each need. Can they believe in themselves enough to take a chance on the romance they both deserve. Such a great read with characters that will stay will you long after turning g the last page. Deanne, VIC, 5 stars

Anxious Hearts was an insightful story about two people that were almost each other’s kryptonite. Finn’s anxiety spirals were palpable, and I could completely empathise with the self-imposed pressure cooker Kelly found herself in. You know a story is written well when you start to feel frustrated that the characters are missing the, what seems glaringly obvious to you, signs that things in their life need to change in some way. Compassionate, funny, and gloriously flawed in all the ways it should be, this book is as equally enjoyable as it is exquisitely painful to read. Chrissie, WA, 5 stars

‘Anxious Hearts’ deserves a solid 5 stars. Guy Sigley explores how anxiety can be both a burden and a strength. The novel resonates through its well-developed characters, Kelly and Finn, whose journeys are as heart-wrenching as they are uplifting. Sigley’s ability to depict the characters struggles and triumphs made it feel personal and drew me into their emotional worlds. The book is relatable and thought-provoking. It tackles anxiety with such honesty, making it not only an emotional experience but a reflection on human resilience. For anyone who loved ‘One Day’ or ‘Something Bad is About to Happen’, this novel will hit the right notes. This is one of my favourite reads this year, and I will be recommending Anxious Hearts to fellow book lovers. Whether you’re drawn to characters who feel real or stories that challenge your perspective, this book ticks all the boxes. Tara, NSW, 5 stars

Anxious Hearts is not a book I would normally choose to read, but I was captivated from the start. The characters were so relatable, and helped me understand how debilitating anxiety can be, and how the offhand comments of people can cause it to perpetuate throughout their lives. Lucia, VIC, 5 stars

I underestimated this book when I first picked it up assuming it was just a romance novel. However, the story and characters developed depth and complexity which had me hooked until the end wondering if there would be a devastating end to the story. Fantastic book. Graciela, NSW, 5 stars

Occasionally, a book grabs you by the heartstrings and tugs so hard you practically implode from the sensation. Anxious Hearts is one such book. What I expected and what I got were worlds apart in all the best ways. A true sentiment and dedication to the struggles of life, not only from a mental health perspective, but from a relationship perspective. Not in a soul-sucking, doom and gloom way, but in a realistic display of true human experience way. The character interaction and development were outstanding. The story invoked all the emotions in a tidy, concise 300-odd pages of literary art. I cried, I laughed, I gasped, I grumbled. I felt that sick pit of anxiety in my stomach before being lifted so high with all the warm and fuzzies that you hope the characters finally get to experience. This is a clear 5-star read for 2025 from a solid Aussie writer, and a book that I will be recommending to all. Kristen, QLD, 5 stars

Feisty, you go Kelly! What a way to start a book. This is how I felt when I first started reading anxious hearts. As I continued reading the characters stared to form. Kelly the outstanding junior doctor with one explosive personality, and Finn the handsome talented actor with so much fear it seeks to ruin him. Such great friendship formed with these two when they were in school together, becoming best friends throughout their lives. They both deal daily with their own demons together and individually to try and achieve some sort of happiness and success. Quite rightly everything goes bad for both of them, and each tries to get through the worst of problems without destroying themselves and others in the mix. I really enjoyed anxious hearts, not having read Guy Sigley’s work before, he handles these subjects’ characters with warmth, humor and compassion. I loved, loved loved the ending. well done. Dee, VIC, 5 stars

I loved this book. It was hard to put down and I was intrigued to find out what would happen next. I also had a sense of dread that suicide could happen at any stage. The flashbacks helped build character substance, especially as I wanted to know what happened to Finn’s father. The author explored mental health well and it was relatable. It was crazy to see how fast drugs can affect someone especially their finances, work and relationships with others. I would have liked to know more about the characters in the ending. I felt there was too much of a jump into the future and I wanted to know how it occurred as I was invested in the characters. Tara, WA, 5 stars

Kelly O’Mara is relentless in her pursuit of excellence. In her late twenties, she’s an outstanding junior doctor preparing to sit her specialist pediatric exams. She will sacrifice friendships, a social life and romance to be the best among her peers. But this self-imposed pressure means she’s constantly on edge – an explosion waiting to happen. Finn Walsh understands Kelly better than anyone. On the surface, he’s a successful actor, but behind the television smile he’s battling an overwhelming fear that every move he makes could lead to disaster. Anxious, self-loathing and plagued by a sense of impending doom, away from the camera Finn struggles to hold back the darkness of everyday life. What stands out in this story is the bond between Kelly and Finn. They’ve been best friends since they were kids, two souls who really get each other. Their connection is heartwarming, serving as a safe space where they can find healing and strength. But just when you think they can weather any storm together, the weight of their expectations and fears starts to pull them apart. Although the story alternates between Kelly and Finn’s perspectives, this an easy read. You get to dive deep into their minds and really feel what they’re going through. The characters are well written and incredibly relatable, and you can’t help but empathize with the struggles they are facing while trying to overcome their personal demons. If you’re looking for a good weekend read, I’d highly recommend this book. Christine, TAS, 5 stars

As a retired health professional I generally avoid fictional mental health stories. However, the description of Kelly, a main character had me intrigued. Finn is Kelly’s childhood friend and has his own struggles with catastrophizing most simple circumstances. This story of how both characters live a day at a time, is extremely well researched. I felt as if the characters were colleagues I knew, and patients I had cared for. The beautiful and enduring friendship of Kelly and Finn into adulthood is rather inspiring. The digital age of course, can be another trigger for anyone with mental health concerns. Something many average people take for granted. The two friends fiercely protect each other, in ways many people would find impossible to maintain. I was scared to reach the concluding chapters, while still unable to stop turning the pages. The authors research and insight into those living with mental health struggles is to be applauded. This book reminds us to be a little kinder to those we come across in the business of our everyday lives. Margaret, NSW, 5 stars

I loved the character ‘Kelly’ as she was bold, brave & gutsy in her career pursuit of excellence. I love how the book explores a few different levels of life challenges too. A pleasure to read, I fact I could not wait to continue reading more often than time allowed as it kept me intrigued the whole way. A beautiful love story of two people through their life challenges. Maria, QLD, 5 stars

Guy Sigley, as the author of Anxious Hearts feels to have direct insight into the power of anxiety on our mental health for good and for worse. This novel explores friendship, relationships, career development and the impact that personal mental health challenges can have upon both pushing us forward and pulling us apart. The characters in this novel were well written and intriguing, making me want to read on and know more about how they are going to progress throughout the storyline. The settings and relationships portrayed were both realistic and reflective of the emotional turmoil within each of the main characters. They had me wanting them to figure out a way to be both happy and successful in their work, relationships and themselves. Lisa, QLD, 5 stars

Wow. What an insight into the true story of how anxiety affects people. Being an anxiety sufferer myself, I truly appreciated the way it is portrayed in this book. Enjoyed the story . The story of Kelly and Finn is realistic and well written. A wonderful book from start to finish. Angela, WA, 5 stars

This was a very moving story, and a compelling read, albeit a little disturbing. I found myself invested in the characters and their complex lives. Great dialogue, plenty of humour and believable locations and situations. The ‘supporting cast’ also had great back stories, which helped explain Kelly and Finn. I found myself with an ‘anxious heart’ by the end of the book, fearing the worst, as I do love a happy ending. Thank goodness for the epilogue. Victoria, NSW, 5 stars

I loved the book Anxious Hearts. A lovely simple read that can be completed in one sitting. I particularly enjoyed the fact the book was Australian and sweet in Australia. Highly recommended reading Tina, SA, 5 stars

In Anxious Hearts, Guy Sigley has painted a deeply moving picture of two individuals that are struggling with mental health. Kelly is an obsessive perfectionist who is living on the edge of breakdown and Finn is a successful actor that can’t do “normal” life. They have been friends since childhood and have provided each other with the support that no one else has been able to. The story touches on themes such as drug use, depression and suicide which may make difficult reading for some. Readers may recognise aspects of the characters in themselves or acquaintances and I think it could give one a better appreciation of the struggles faced by everyone day to day. Can they live their lives apart or do they need each other to make their anxious hearts complete? Anxious Hearts is a disturbing, sad at times, but ultimately hopeful modern love story. Janelle, NSW, 4 stars

The book was right to start with a trigger warning. It was a little difficult to witness both characters self-destruct, especially from the downward spiral of drug addiction. For this reason, I don’t recommend to people in recovery from drug addiction – I felt this book romanticises it a bit. I really liked the two main characters Kelly and Finn. You can tell how much they love and care about each other and are each other’s bedrock. It’s their own fears that they are too messed up that would tear up their friendship. I thought Finn’s internal monologue from his crippling anxiety quite interesting and wondered if people can catastrophise in the way he does. It must be terribly exhausting. The ending wrapped up a bit too quickly, but it was a believable and satisfying ending. Phew. Cindy, WA, 4 stars

Anxious Hearts by Guy Sigley is a heartfelt story of two friends unraveling under pressure. Honest, raw, and empathetic—it captures the reality of anxiety with compassion and depth. I really enjoyed Anxious Hearts by Guy Sigley. It is the journey of two childhood friends who place unrealistic expectations on themselves which causes them to spiral into anxiety attacks. Kate is aspiring to be the best paediatric doctor she can be, studying for exams, working as a junior doctor at a hospital as well as just trying to get through life causes her to spiral into anxiety & fear of failure. Finn is an actor on the brink of a huge acting opportunity but is fighting crippling anxiety attacks. Kate & Finn are each others lifeline until their anxiety results in a toxic spiral. Finn’s internal monologue while he is spuraling into the anxiety abyss is engaging & makes you feel great compassion for his plight. We, WA, 4 stars

The “Trigger warning” in regard to the various themes underlying “Anxious Hearts” is warranted and a respectful gesture from the author. From the start the reader is aware that the story they are about to read will deliver some raw, confronting moments. I liked both the main characters Kelly and Finn. At times, it was heart wrenching on a path of self destruction. Reflections on incidents from their earlier lives showed the long term impact of childhood trauma. Some of the people around Kelly and Finn placed unnecessary pressure on our main characters to further their own personal goals. In their defence, while they appear to have no empathy not have been aware of their inner struggles. Not in their defence they may be totally uncaring and ruthless. In particular, I did not like Ashley who comes across as self centred and not concerned about the possible repercussions of her actions to Finn. While Guy Sigley adresses the various mental health issue with great compassion and insight a few times it seemed that a particular issue, incident or outcome was treated lightly or even romanticised. A very thought provoking read. Susan, QLD, 4 stars

I may be the wrong demographic audience for this novel (I was under 30 once upon a time), however I am pleased to see more novels written about mental illness – novels which do not lightly brush over the details of “mental health episodes”. The author has well described the anxiety and the codependence of the main characters. Showing that life can be messy, there where a few roadblocks to slow the trajectory of the romance. It’s a story about mental health and love. The ending was a bit too neat, though it was easy to see it coming. May they all live happily ever after. Indigo, NSW, 4 stars

Kelly and Finn, the greatest love story that never was. They have known each other since 11 years old, and supported each other through their anxiety riddled lives. Toulah is their friend who is a support as well as a reality check for Kelly. Kelly meets Eli and Finn meets Ashleigh. These two add into the anxious mix and create more drama in Kelly and Finn’s lives. Will their love survive all this? Will Finn’s ultimate sacrifice make a difference? Lisa, QLD, 4 stars

At first I thought the mental episodes the characters experienced were a little over the top and exaggerated, but then once you became more aware of their pasts I felt like I judged them too quickly. And maybe thats a lesson for the reader in this book, we will never truly grasp what another person has been through unless you know their whole story. It was a great read! Kylie, QLD, 4 stars

Kelly and Fin have been inseparable since childhood. Two broken souls bonded over their shared struggles, they’ve always been each other’s safe haven. Until they reach their breaking point, when the rift opens and their friendship becomes toxic, the weight of their fears and expectations begin to overwhelm them both. Beautifully written, Fin and Kelly are filled with a depth and anxiety that leaves us wanting more. It’s almost like watching a car crash in slow motion, you know this is all coming to a head, you can see it from a mile away but you’ve just go wait until the disaster hits in order to figure out what to do next. The mental health challenges of both characters were very well written and I liked that their experiences of how they reacted to what was happening differed and weren’t necessarily the typical expression of anxiety or depression. I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t help feeling invested in the relationship between the characters. Liat, NSW, 4 stars

Kelly and Finn have always been each others rock, but when things fall apart, their bond is shattered and their lives are turned upside down. A powerful, raw and heartbreaking tale highlighting love, struggles with mental health and the pressure people find themselves under nowadays. Sarah, QLD, 4 stars

Friends since childhood, Kelly and Finn have been inseparable. Kelly strives for excellence in paediatric medicine and Finn in a successful television actor. Behind these individual achievements both live with anxiety and have always supported one another through life’s ups and downs. In striving for their individual success and the pressure and expectations they place on themselves makes Kelly and Finn question whether their friendship can withstand these challenges. Anxious Hearts is a sensitive and compassionate exploration of anxiety, love, relationships and what constitutes success. Holly, WA, 4 stars

Anxious Hearts is a tender and uplifting story about friendship, love and the challenges of living with anxiety. Through the journeys of Kelly and Finn, the book shows how differently people experience and manage their struggles, while raising the constant questions: can they truly be together, or are they better apart. The Characters that shone most for me were Toula and Eli, whose unwavering support, patience and unconditional love provided a steady anchor throughout the story. Their presence was a reminder of how important it is to have people in our lives who show up and never give up. Everyone deserves a Toula and an Eli. An honest, heartfelt story about anxiety, resilience, and the people who never let us go. Melissa Dobson, NSW, 4 stars

Guy Sigley’s book ‘Anxious Hearts’ is an easy style to read. My preference for shorter chapters was met in his book. It is a page turner and hard to put down. The main characters bear their souls in telling their own personal life stories of the struggles they face daily. Other characters as onlookers, find it confusing and hard to understand what some people are experiencing. They are disgusted by the bad behaviour displayed in public with no regard for those affected by their insults. The plot develops with one catastrophe after another. Challenges are met with anger and frustration. This plunges the main characters into despair as to what their future holds for them. The book shows the reader how life is so easily turned upside down. Our reaction to every day struggles is varied and dealt with in different ways. Some people find it easier to cope than others who need help to carry on with their lives. This book is well worth reading. Cherylene, QLD, 4 stars

Anxious Hearts is the story of Kelly O’Mara and Finn Walsh, best friends since school – both with issues. Kelly is a junior doctor studying to be a paediatrician about to take her exams. She always has to be the best at what she does. No-one could put more pressure on her than she does herself. She is always on edge and one step away from exploding. Finn is an actor on the cusp of making it to the big time. He understands stress as his mind never stops and it usually takes him to the worst case scenario. He is hard on himself and looking for the worst. They help each other when their worlds are tough and everyone else only sees the good parts, until they don’t and this is when it all starts to unravel. They have a hard time getting through the day, let alone being there for each other. Their relationship is fractured and spirals until they have to decide what they will do to repair themselves and their relationship. This is an interesting story of society and the pressure we put ourselves under. It only takes one moment or decision to change our paths. It can be hard to deviate our plans even if it is the best thing for us. This is a book to get you thinking about the difficult topics which it does well. A great book for anyone to explain or assist with hard issues of anxiety, depression, drug use and bad thoughts. Tara, SA, 4 stars

Anxious Hearts by Guy Sigley follows Kelly, a driven, ambitious medical student, and Finn, an anxious actor, friends since age 11. Kelly’s public outbursts threaten to jeopardize her pediatrician dreams, while Finn battles panic attacks and his past. Their platonic bond anchors them through mental health struggles, social media challenges and career demands but begins to shake when they consider new romantic relationships. The story contrasts medicine and acting and includes a rapid descent related to drug use which results in a final happy ending. Well written and easily read in a weekend, the heartfelt depiction of friendship and resilience makes this an enjoyable read. Meg, QLD, 4 stars

Anxious Hearts by Guy Sigley Despite the book cover indicating the book is a romance novel, be aware this is a serious book covering very complex topics. The two main characters are very nice people, Kelly a young Doctor, studying to become a Paediatrician and Finn, an aspiring and very popular actor. Kelly and Finn have been best mates since they were eleven years old. They share a common bond of living with severe anxiety and deal with this through their friendship calling each other warriors. I really enjoyed the book; the author surprises the reader often with the way the story changes, and Kelly and Finn are very engaging characters. The anxiety experienced by both Kelly and Finn is very real, overwhelming and confronting, which is the emotion the author wanted the reader to experience. Kelly and Finn make decisions that totally surprised me, and the outcome of the decisions was difficult to read, even though not totally unexpected. I have an increased empathy with those who live with anxiety, and the subtle education about mental health is done brilliantly. Toni, QLD, 4 star

Anxious Hearts sees lifelong friends, Kelly and Finn, trying desperately to keep on top of their chosen careers while struggling with their own private demons, Kelly with perfectionism and Finn with anxiety. The two have always been there for each other as support, but never any thing more as they deem themselves too broken. As they try to navigate through their respective lives, things reach breaking point. This is book is an exploration of love, trauma and modern life. It was quick read which came to a quick and abrunt ending. Karina, QLD, 3 stars

This book highlights the impossible standards we set for ourselves in this demanding, fast-paced world. Kelly is a driven junior doctor, and Finn a successful actor. Their once-solid friendship begins to fracture under the weight of pressure and expectation. I found that this was a hard book to review because it pushed me outside my comfort zone, but sometimes that’s exactly what a good story should do. The writing was strong, and once I started it, I needed to finish it. That said, it wasn’t quite the right fit for me personally. The intensity of the anxiety, fear, self-destruction, and self-doubt portrayed by the characters was uncomfortable to sit with at times, and I found it overwhelming. Where the book truly shines is in its portrayal of mental health struggles and the difficulty of finding balance in life, relationships, and work. Readers who appreciate raw, authentic depictions of these challenges, and don’t shy away from difficult emotions, will likely enjoy Anxious Hearts. Clare, ACT, 3 stars

Whilst I enjoyed this book, I finished it with the feeling of being ‘incomplete’. Here we have two attractive and successful main characters, Kelly and Finn. Both are incapable of controlling their behaviour sufficiently to enjoy their lives, except when they are together. Kelly has decided they can’t be together, denying their undercurrent of sexual chemistry. instead, Kelly let’s anger rule her life. Finn is crippled by anxiety unless he is working as an actor, where he can become someone else. There is an awful lot of self-loathing by the two of them, even though to an outsider, they have everything anyone could want. When Kelly is offered the opportunity of a lifetime, she self-sabotages herself, almost costing her the job of her dreams. When Finn tries to move on without Kelly, his low self esteem leads him to drug addiction to cope due to his low self-esteem, damaging his high profile irreparably in the process. The solution, apparently, is for the two of them give in and get together, keep each other grounded and start a family. Although this was a tidy ending, I’m not certain that in the real world, that solution would work long term. So frustrating. Kathy, VIC, 3 stars

From the very attractive cover, I actually thought this would be a self help book. Thankfully, it’s a gentle romcom with a good dose of reality in the form of juggling anxiety & stress with dating. Very relatable, and delved into issues we should all talk about more. Moderately entertaining but not really my preferred genre. Chris, WA, 3 stars

Anxious Hearts is a difficult book to rate. It is about Kelly & Finley and their feelings on life, their chosen careers and for each other as supporting friends with no romance between them. Kelly is a budding extremely bright doctor who loses control in a supermarket. I think we can all identify with her but not the outcome that later has consequences. Finn is a budding actor and is locked into his past and what if’s of life and is persuaded against his better judgment to eter the world of drugs. Well written but truly not an enjoyable book to read but once started you need to finsih to find out if they leave the world and how, do they become an item together or with someone else, do the get the careers they are aiming for. Lots of various endings could occur. I googled Guy Sigley and yes it is the son of Australian television personality Ernie Sigley. Elaine, NSW, 3 stars

Anxious Hearts by Guy Sigley is a combination of my favourite fiction subgenre: stories about the human condition, and one of my least favourite: melodramatic romance. I struggled with the repeated references to the characters’ physical attractiveness as part of their character development and the overwrought trope of the brilliant but flawed woman rescuing the handsome, somewhat inept man, and the redemption arc given the serious family of origin and addiction issues covered. I appreciate there’s a strong market for this genre of fiction but, unfortunately, it didn’t ring true for me. I enjoyed the author’s clearly accomplished writing and some of the dialogue felt very realistic. I hadn’t heard of the author before and, after a Google search, am quite interested in some of his other books that look like they have a comedic element. Leanne, QLD, 2 stars

Two very flawed characters, both with mental health issues. Kelly, striving for perfection, prone to violent outbursts and self harm. Finn, germaphobe, suffers from panic attacks, works out until he passes out and then becomes addicted to drugs within 6 weeks…. She almost ruins a career that’s she has worked towards for years and he’s just about to make it big time in the movies until he doesn’t then they live happily ever after in the country. This did not make for a happy read. I felt anxious myself reading every page. Certainly not an enjoyable read leaving me very unsettled. Would not go out of my way to recommend this book to any of my friends. Julie, WA, 2 stars

Anxious Hearts was not the right fit for me. While the writing style was easy to follow, and the book a fast read, I felt like the storytelling fell into reliance on both tropes, and stereotypes that left it feeling a little dated. The level of swearing felt unnecessary and broke me out of the world of the book. I did enjoy moments when Kelly and Finn interacted with their friends and would have loved to see some more of these instances explored in depth as part of the protagonist’s development throughout the book. I would have also liked to see more exploration of the impact of their decisions on other characters in their wider circle. Zoe, VIC, 2 stars

This one wasn’t for me. I found Kelly and Finn to be too damaged, too self-centred and too unlikable. Mary, QLD, 2 stars

Anxious Hearts may appeal to some especially the younger generation but the content , language and the storyline is not my cup of tea. I am unable to finish this book. Julie, NSW, 1 star

Buy a copy of Anxious Hearts here.