Rom-Com for the Overthinkers

Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It blends romantic comedy with an honest exploration of anxiety, intimacy, and the pressure to meet life’s imagined milestones on schedule.

Brooke Averick’s debut follows a protagonist who appears to have everything figured out except the one area she feels she cannot navigate: romantic vulnerability. While the novel delivers the humor, chemistry, and emotional payoff readers expect from the genre, its greatest strength lies in its portrayal of a heroine whose struggles feel specific and authentic. Phoebe’s journey is messy, awkward, and deeply relatable, particularly for readers who have questioned whether they’re falling behind their peers.

The novel is a contemporary romance that values self-understanding as much as happily-ever-after fulfillment.

A New Voice in Romance

Early reception has highlighted the novel’s distinctive blend of humor and mental health representation, with many praising Averick’s willingness to portray anxiety without romanticizing it.

Readers and critics alike have pointed to Phoebe’s relatability and the book’s emotional honesty as standout qualities. As Averick’s debut novel, Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It has also introduced a new voice to the romance genre, one shaped by internet-era wit and a desire to broaden the kinds of protagonists who get love stories.