It was an Okay book. It read like a Lifetime movie with confusing love, mental health, deceit, mysterious people and pasts.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book to review. I will be posting my full review on my IG page @readingmama_reviews a little closer to its February pub date. I am still processing my thoughts about this one, because it was SO good. Add this one to your TBR immediately if you haven't already done so!

“This Close to Okay” is a fictional story that alternates between two people who meet in a super-random way. Emmett is sitting on a bridge, waiting to jump. And Tallie, a therapist, is driving by and comes to his rescue. The rest of the story is their 3-day(ish) journey together. It’s about how these two strangers come together when they are at their loneliest, and try to hide parts of themselves—for as long as they can.

On many occasions, I thought to myself, “This would never happen.” I also wanted to throw the book a few times because of all of the dishonesty and crazy choices that our protagonist, Tallie, makes.

“This Close to Okay” is just that. Okay. It’s not great, but not terrible. It’s sometimes interesting, and sometimes too slow. Many times, it’s unbelievable and at other times very human and realistic.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, I truly enjoyed reading this book. This book was emotional, touching and so well written. It was a great story about hope, mental health, letting go and healing. I started this late last night and didn’t want to stop because I was so intrigued by where the story was going and how it would end. I highly recommend adding this to one’s TBR list!

I’m giving this a 4.5 stars! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this advanced readers copy!

This was... breathtaking. Poignant and timely and gut-wrenching and uncomfortable and beautiful and heartwarming.

These are characters who will stay with me for a long time.

*I received an ARC thanks to the publishers via netgalley.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺 by Leesa Cross-Smith is about a life-changing weekend between two strangers: a therapist and the man she prevents from ending his life.

This one is difficult to review because I think it’s one of those books that is really subjective to each reader. It touches on a plethora of heavy subjects which makes it difficult to say if a book is good or bad when it could be something that someone relates to or helps them deal with things.

Personally, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this one. It’s tough to say that because the author clearly is talented and I liked some aspects of this book ,for instance the way she presented racial injustices, but even that was too quickly touched on (in my opinion). That entire storyline could’ve been a book on its own. My issue was that she just brought in soooo many hard topics, and while I celebrate them being discussed, the way she executed some of the subjects felt wrong at times. It was kind of sad how a lot of this book basically was saying, “you’re depressed and suicidal? No worries, here’s an attractive female and a Halloween party for you! Boom suicidal thoughts gone!” Some of my favorite books are some of the most uncomfortable or sad I’ve read, but there’s a difference between having topical subjects in a book to feel relatable and executing them in a tasteful way.

I’m not a therapist or anything, but I think the way the therapist role was being portrayed was offensive. To go against your moral code as a therapist and then spend time with someone who is depressed and suicidal while lying about your profession just seems like something a therapist would never do. I’d really like to hear a therapists thoughts on this one!

Thank you @netgalley @grandcentralpublishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

**Potential spoilers/trigger warnings: depression, anxiety, suicide, alcoholism, impersonation, religion, divorce, racism, infertility, infidelity, loss of child, PTSD, prison, OCD.

This book was so emotional - it gave me all the feels. The majority of the story takes place over the course of a single weekend & let me tell you, it’s the kind of story that draws you in & doesn’t let go. I found myself rooting for the characters & hoping for so much for them. I loved the ending & how it wasn’t what I wanted, but exactly what I felt the characters needed. Beautifully written; heart-wrenching, sweet, & hope-filled all at once.

Also, I wanted to add - for me personally I really enjoyed the Kentucky connection & the setting. The author lives in Louisville, the book is set in Kentucky, & I am born & raised in the Bluegrass State. It was so fun to read about a Sunday afternoon at the Speed Art Museum - something I’ve experienced many times & love!

Big thanks to NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for my advanced reader ebook copy! This book will be published in February 2021.

This book....WOW! I did not really know what to expect going into it, but it far exceeded my expectations. This book tells the story of Tallie and Emmett. Tallie is a therapist who was driving when she saw Emmett about to jump off a bridge, so she stops her car and runs over to talk to Emmett. Tallie convinces him to join her for a cup of coffee and to come back to her house so she can make sure he stays safe. While she does not want to tell him bout her job, she is determined to provide a safe space for Emmett. They spend the weekend together and Tallie realizes she also needs to be healed. But they both have secrets that threaten to ruin the strong bond they have created. We alternate chapters between Emmett and Tallie as we learn what was bringing Emmett to the bridge and what Tallie wants with her life.

This book was so emotional and powerful and thought provoking. These characters made such significant impacts in each other’s lives and it was cool to see how much they opened up to one another and evolved in their time together. Tallie had been through a lot in the last year and Emmett really helped her to let go and be more confident. Emmett has had an extremely difficult life that has really impacted his mental health. This is an extremely emotional story that I would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on February 2, 2021.

Leesa Cross-Smith has written an intensely moving story about two strangers who meet under odd circumstances at just the right time for both of them. It’s a chance meeting that will change both of their lives in ways they both desperately need. These two couldn’t be any more different, but at that moment, they are two souls who need the acceptance each can offer. I literally read this book in one sitting; I could not put it down. Smith’s writing style was easy to follow, and I felt her characters’ pain in each word. I felt the hope and joy as they realized that possibly there was more to be had in this life.

The story is told in dual POV by Tallie and Emmett. Tallie is a therapist who finds Emmett about to jump off the bridge into the Ohio river on her way home from work. She stops and talks him down, and he leaves with her. They end up spending a weekend together that changes their lives forever. Much happens in the weekend, and I couldn’t stop reading because I was eager to find out what would happen. It didn’t end the way I was hoping, but the author chose an ending that was better and right. This is all I will say so as not to give anything away.

This is a story about losing everything you’ve ever wanted and having the strength to reach out for help. It’s a story about offering a hand to strangers when they need help, even when you need help yourself. And finally, it’s a story about letting go. I will be thinking about this for a long time. I gave it four and a half stars, rounded up to five. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this touching book. #netgalley #ThisCloseToOkay

Leesa Cross-Smith manages to write stories that are sweet and heartwarming no matter what sorts of messed up things are happening to her characters. I really loved Tallie, who stays sunny and hopeful in spite of all the messed up choices, events, and people around her.

Leesa Cross-Smith writes people and relationships so gorgeously, and THIS CLOSE TO OKAY is no exception. Her newest novel features two strangers who meet on a bridge one rainy night in Louisville and spend the remainder of the weekend together, sharing an unusual intimacy while also keeping their own secrets. Fans of Cross-Smith's first novel, WHISKEY & RIBBONS, will find much of the same to love in this one while also getting to experience completely new characters and ideas.

Five stars to this gorgeous novel. I'm a big fan of Leesa Cross-Smith's writing and THIS CLOSE TO OKAY certainly does not disappoint!

The stories of Tallie and Emmett are immediately captivating and grab the reader's attention. The alternating POVs are handled deftly.

I especially enjoyed following along the characters' journey as they grow. As it turns out, Emmett is not the only character who finds some enlightenment; Tallie does too. I was cheering for them both.

A heartwarming story of love and loss and exquisite longing. These characters will stick with me for a long time. Highly recommended for fans of literary fiction.

This was a super deep, emotional book about love, loss, longing, and learning. I really liked Leesa Cross-Smith wrote and executed her story. I would definitely read more from her.

I finished this book a few days ago but I've been sitting on my review because this book was just so good and so powerful, I loved it. I don't want to say much, I want you to read it.

On a rainy night in Kentucky, Tallie is on her wait home when she spots a man standing on the side of a bridge. Without hesitation, she jumps out of the car and convinces him to join her for coffee.
Over the course of an emotional weekend, Tallie make it her mission to provide a safe haven for Emmett. What Tallie doesn't realize is she may need some healing of her own.

This book alternates between Tallie and Emmett which I love alternating POV, specifically in this book you can get a good read on each character.
Both characters face some hard truths.
This is an emotional, powerful story that I laughed and cried at.

Such an amazing book, put on your tbr for February 2021.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.