This Close to Okay

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Oh man, This Close to Okay is one of those books that I was thinking about days after I had finished. The story and the writing were so beautiful The characters...I can't even think about without crying. I loved everything about this book.

Give me a moment to gather myself *deep breathe* ohmygoodness! This book has my heart crying, smiling, laughing, yelling all at the same time. The story of Tallie and Emmett colliding, soaring, and falling had me all sorts of in the feels. The last half was riveting and achingly heartbreaking yet it ended, not tied up nicely with a bow, but full of hope for the future.

I seriously did not expect to love this as much as I did (and do) when I started but I am so so happy I was given the opportunity to read it.

Heartfelt thanks to Netgalley for giving me the pleasure to read and review this ebook.

Advance Copy Received from publisher/NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Have you ever read a book that's so beautifully written that you can feel the descriptions, smell the smells and not imagine a life without knowing the characters from a novel? Yes--well here's another....No--check this one out! This Close to Okay is not a light book, but it's so worth the heartaches it will put you through. There's numerous trigger warnings (suicide, depression, mental illness, cheating, infertility), but if you're in a space appropriate for those, this book is well worth the stabs in the heart it'll give you. The characters are flawed and relatable. The story line will break you and piece you back together, and the build of the story is done so incredibly well--almost like the build done in the best thriller. So many of us are "This Close to Okay" and this book is a testament of the power one act of kindness can have, the power of others to affect us, the power of lies of omission, and the power of love and friendship.

I loved this one--read the synopsis--it does better at describing this book in a spoiler free way then I ever can--and if you're able-give this a shot. Leesa Cross-Smith has a new fan that'll begin reading Whiskey and Ribbons soon!

Sorry, let me quickly wipe away the actual tears this book made me cry from my keyboard before I move forward with my review! Honestly, Leesa Cross-Smith has done. it. again. THIS CLOSE TO OKAY is a heartbreaker, a heartwarmer, and a heart-make-happyer. I just get lost in her writing and could tell you to pick up this book for days! You won't regret it if you are looking for a cozy read with grit, humor, and warmth.

We begin the book with Tallie, who pulls her car over while crossing a bridge in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky when she sees a man about to jump. She does not disclose to him that she is a therapist, instead she talks to him as a friend and eventually convinces him to get a cup of coffee and talk. From there, the story spins out over a Halloween weekend as we see a relationship grow and move in completely unexpected ways.

Cross-Smith has such a wonderful way of developing characters and making them four dimensional, living beings that jump off the page. Her pop culture references (I swear, we have the exact same taste in music) as so delightful and always bring a smile to my face as well. Yes, this book will make you cry, but that's only because it's such a wonderful book with wonderful writing and I can't say enough good things about it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leesa Cross-Smith has written a moving story about the destroying power of secrets in This Close To Okay. Mental illness, homelessness, and the unfairness that encroach on our ”perfect” lives can be debilitating. I think we all look for ”signs” sometimes to reassure ourselves that life will get better. One near suicude, one caring person, and a lot of signs point us to believe in the essential goodness of our fellow citizens. The author states, ”After love, forgiveness is the strongest glue holding every family together.” There are so many beautiful moments in this book and I know you will enjoy this one. Bravo to Ms. Cross-Smith. My thanks to net galley for this arc but all thoughts and observations are my own and without bias. @leesacrosssmith #leesacrosssmith @netgalley #netgalley #thisclosetookat @bookofthemonth #botm #suicide #therapy #divorce #race #loss #love #forgiveness #redemption #faith #family #book #books #fiction #bookstagram #reader #reading #mmd #winterreading @lindaleereads2020

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.