TW : Depression , self harm, suicide, panic attacks, PTSD, Anoexria, Pychosis, OCD,


Closer to Okay by Amy Watson was lot of things I expected and many things I didn't. Kyle Davies has been struggling with depression almost all her life and is now In "Hope House" an institution to monitor her health with other people. This is a simple story about a girl trying to cope up with her reality, navigating her mental health along with her relationship. It was hopeful and compassionate and was able to cover some mental health struggles to give a brief peek over how it can be.. It was a straightforward book where you can guess where the story is headed..
But it won't be able to stand up to ur expectations if you are looking for more depth.. The characters were not as developed and the writing mostly felt disjointed and particularly blury around the direction it was heading..
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the eARC...

I really appreciated the realistic portrayal of depression and anxiety and the author's note at the beginning explaining some of the triggers belonged to her too. I found myself rooting for Kyle from the beginning and her character seemed very driven by emotions and a wish to recover.

There were parts that fell a bit flat to me though. The stereotype of the know-it-all therapist felt off and jumps in the timeline further into the novel felt clunky at times. I was also never sold on Kyle and Jackson's chemistry/relationship building either. While their passion for coffee and baking made sense, one day they were strangers, and the next they were madly in love. I wish there'd been a bigger build up to make me want to root for them throughout the whole book. With a death occurring mid-book and Kyle having a severe reaction to it, I was also surprised that the character was never mentioned again once Kyle got out from Hope House.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you for the eARC.

3.5 stars for this book!

This book was so interesting and unique. I enjoyed the vibes of the book so much and I found the story comforting, especially with the coffee and baking theme. The way mental illness was represented in this book was very realistic. I appreciated the way the author discussed Kyle’s point of view and how they approached her recovery. I also loved the other characters and I think they contributed a lot in making the book more catchy and enjoyable to read. The romance between Jackson and Kyle was also one of the things I liked most about the book, the angst in their relationship and seeing them try to be together then realising how they’re not yet ready to be together. However, there were some parts where I had a hard time getting lost in the book. I think there were some parts where the writing was not able deliver what is was supposed to.

I would give this a 3.5 star rating.
CW: ED, mental health su**ide.
I think mental health is a deeply fascinating and precarious topic. I think severe mental health issues in fiction, especially romance, can take very dark turns very fast.
I grew up in the 2012-2015 tumblr era that glamorized EDs. depression, self-ha**, su**ide, etc. I have also struggled myself with all of those topics growing up (I am doing way better now). So sometimes I have a hard time reading romance books that heavily involve topics such as those. I think when written well, I find the books to be some of my favorites, but when not written well they have to be some of my least favorite. This one was in the middle for me. I really liked how it is portrayed not in a way that glamorizes mental health issues, but in a way that is constructive to those that do. Ultimately, everyone, in some capacity, has or is struggling with mental health. And sometimes when you're going through it, it feels like it will never end. But this book teaches us that we can heal, and we can find happiness in our lives. Our adversities don't define us.
I do think the added element of romance was a bit much, and I kind of wish it hadn't been added. I have been in a codependent relationship while struggling with mental health issues, and it wasn't healthy for either him or me. I watched this youtube video called "our conception of love is messed up" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcbEiZQ9B7o and it really made me think about how society portrays love. When we think of love, we think of what someone else can do for us. "If he wanted to, he would". We focus so much on being loved, that we don't ourselves learn how to love in a healthy way. For me, when I was in a relationship and struggling with severe anxiety/depression, neither of us was happy. I couldn't love the way I know I can because I was struggling so much. Thinking on it now, I don't want to be in a relationship with someone unless I have taken the measures I need to cope with it. I wouldn't be ready otherwise.
I think as a whole the book is good but could have been done without the pressure of romance. I think Jacksons still could have been introduced as a love interest, but that shouldn't be the main plot point, but rather a side plot point. I think if the story was just about Kyle's journey of healing I would have enjoyed it more. the romance itself felt out of place and weird in all honesty. I think if Jackson was introduced as a possible love interest but their dynamic remained as friends, a second book probably could have been written that did deal with them building a romantic relationship out of friendship. Sometimes slow burn is necessary!!

welll, i really wanted to enjoy this book. but alas, i did not. it just didn't do it for me and i wish i would have loved it. thank you so much to netgalley for letting me read this one early!! i am always grateful!!!

Despite the heavy topic, this cup was like a warm mug of tea. Kyle is such a sympathetic, well-developed character and the writing makes the reader see parts of her in themselves. Having struggled with mental health myself, I really appreciate the honest approach that Watson took to writing about such a heavy topic. The story is inspiring to love yourself and the romance is oh, so cute. I am so thankful to Alcove Press for the advanced review copy of this book, it was truly a delight.

This book presented a pretty realistic commentary on mental health and live with depression. A lot of Kyle’s experiences were very similar to my own, so it was nice to have that representation. However, it did feel like this book carried undertones of humor in regards to mental health. Maybe it was just trying to lighten the mood, but for whatever reason, I didn’t appreciate that.

I appreciated that the book showed us characters living in a halfway house, but the depiction of Hope House felt like a caricature. Everything seemed a bit over the top and hard to believe. Dr. Booth especially came across as almost satirical and while it did show that not everyone knows or has your best interest in mind, I found his depiction a bit problematic. Not all doctors are that way, and I would hate for someone with mental health struggles to read this and not seek help when needed because of the way Dr. Booth was written.

Kyle and Jackson’s relationship, while very sweet, seemed to go from zero to codependent really quick. While I loved that Jackson was there to support and take care of Kyle, I didn’t generally love the way their relationship was portrayed.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Alcove Press. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for this ACR for an exchange for an honest review.

Very nice novel, I thought it was well written.

For some odd reason I couldn’t open the file from my shelf, from one day to another it wouldn’t let me download it. So I can’t really have an honest review of the full book yet, but for now:

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an e-arc !!!

Kyle’s story was touching, I really liked how character driven the story was and the realistic topics it talks about.

Though in some parts the writing was a little bit off, it was still an enjoyable read.

i think the author approached the subject of mental health illnesses very realistically while it not being too harsh/dark to overshadow the pace of the book. i do wish there was more depth to the male main character so we saw more of what he was struggling with, but while some may feel like the relationship between the main characters was lacking or not written well, i think the author hit it on the spot as to handling a relationship while struggling with internal battles. overall a great read!

Kyle signed her legal rights over to a doctor at the hospital after her suicide attempt, and now she had to convince the doctor she is listening to him. But she really wants to make a play for the guy who runs the coffee across the street from the halfway house the doctor runs.
I liked this book in theory but it didn’t feel as if the author knew anything about American healthcare. Where are the Insurance companies? It isn’t so simple to sign away legal deciding rights. And the doctor just seemed so evil and unrealistic. Meh. It was fine but wouldn’t read again

I can honestly say this book will stay with me a long while.

Kyle is a complex character I can see myself in. The story is heartbreaking and hopeful in a way that leaves you sad to see it end.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review 'Closer to Okay'!
I was really intrigued by the description of this book, so I was excited to read it. It follows Kyle, a pastry chef and a mental health patient on the path to recovery at Hope House. While residing at this facility, Kyle develops an interest in the coffee shop and its owners across the road.

This is a quick read and written in a very simple, dialogue-driven way. While I enjoy a quick read, I actually think the story could have benefitted from slowing down and taking its time to build and develop its characters and relationships. At times, it felt like there were jumps in the development of the story. and I couldn't understand why characters were reacting or feeling the way they were. It would have been nice to spend more time inside Hope House with the other residents, as I really enjoyed the interactions among them the most. I don't think the romantic side of the story was that strong but as a slice of life story about mental health, 'Closer to Okay' held a lot of potential.

This was a lovely and compassionate story that touches on mental health struggles and how there is hope and the possibilities of moving forward in life when dealing with them. I absolutely loved how Kyle was portrayed and how realistically and sensitively her journey was handled. While I also really enjoyed the relationship between Kyle and grumpy Jacksons, there just wasn't enough of it there for me to buy into it and completely feel that connection. I just needed a bit more with them.

Thanks to Netgalley for this book in exchange of an honest review

Overall, I enjoyed the book because it shows the reality of a lot of people and I have always liked to read about mental health, but there were parts in which it was a little boring and slow. Also, I did not find a connection between both protagonists and I am still unsure if Booth is the good or the bad guy.

If you want to read something about mental health, this is the book for you.

3.5 ⭐

I really liked accompanying Kyle on this recovery journey, it made my heart feel warm, I liked it a lot because it deals with the issue of mental health, nowadays it is an issue that everyone should worry about and to which we do not give so much importance. I loved the culinary part too. This is a great story! A must read!

I really enjoyed this book, especially bc it talked about mental health issues, plus there was a bit of romance on the side. Not only that, coffee and pastries are two of my most favourite things in the world, and reading about them in this book gave me so much comfort. Mostly, i admired Kyle’s journey to recovery. Overall, a very warm and comforting read, will recommend.

#netgalley #closertookay publication date 11 Oct 2022
Wow wow wow This is a love story with a mental health story, I loved it because it touches on an important issue of suicide, my favourite character was surprisingly Eddie. Love this book 5/5 stars

Closer to Okay follows the journey of a baker, Kyle who because of *reasons* has ended up in a psych ward called Hope House, where she is surrounded by other patients, nurses and a doctor who structures her daily routine. Adjacent to the Hope House is a cafe where 2 barestas (one whose always filtering with the customers and the other whose never been seen smiling) work. Guess who Kyle falls for when she walks into the cafe??? The one who never smiles aka Jackson who also has severe daddy issues. But will Jackson and Kyle ever allowed to be one with Jackson's overly influential politician father and Kyle's controlling doctor?? Pre-order your copy RIGHT NOW to find out 😌🤪
A tale on mental disorders, a grave topic was executed beautifully in a calm authentic manner. For someone like me who avoids reading 'dark' books this book felt like a cool breeze. I instantly fell in love with the characters and the various friendships in this book were like a warm hug in the middle of the night. ALSO JACKSON IS SUCH A GENTLEMAN NEW BOOK BF ALERT GUYYYYSSS. All the bakery related descriptions were testing my patience in Ramadan haha. The only part I didn't like was when Kyle cursed Dr. Booth beacuse as a psychology major I felt attacked even though I shouldn't have but reading from Kyle's perspective helped me in insight building and avoid Booth's mistakes when the time comes. The fluff in this book you guys is simply ADORABLE.

“Being with you and not being with you is the only way I have to measure time”

This story is sooo important! I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of Closer to Okay and I have to say that it was a refreshing and powerful spin on your classic boy meets girl. We follow Kyle, our powerful main character, through her time at a mental health facility where she is battling with her depression. Kyle is sorting through her own emotions but also tries to help her friends in the facility, falls in love and has to make the transition back into her “normal” life. The message of this book hits close to my heart as I am passinate about mental health. It was so amazing to see the complexities of mental health portrayed in a real way but with the underlying message of never losing hope. This would have been a 5 star read for me but I needed my happy ever after epilogue (but that just a me thing). Thank you Netgalley, Alcove Press and Amy Watson for giving me early access to this amazing story. Closer to Okay comes out on 11 October 2022.