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jessicafaith's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Pregnancy
meghanvolkman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
gracereadsandruns's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What an interesting book- as someone trained in mental health I am always nervous to read a book where the main character is a therapist. This was so well done. Tallie and Emmett are such flawed characters. I yelled at her in my head a lot in the beginning- "Tallie, be safe!" She did a lot of things that would be considered dangerous and/or unethical but she did this with the intent of saving a life. Emmett did a lot of regrettable things, like lying to Tallie. You could feel his pain radiating through the book. Two flawed people, with troubles of their own, get together for a crazy weekend, in order to save a life. His? Hers? Both? Highly recommend reading to find out. Love to see books that normalize mental health, suicide awareness and grief. Amazingly written and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Lots of trigger warnings: suicide, loss of spouse, loss of child, infertility, infidelity, mental illness, anxiety, PTSD.
Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary ARC
Lots of trigger warnings: suicide, loss of spouse, loss of child, infertility, infidelity, mental illness, anxiety, PTSD.
Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary ARC
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
biblio_jordyn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This Close to Okay follows Tallie and Emmett. Two people who have met by chance and circumstance. Tallie is driving on a bridge and sees Emmett about to jump and she can’t just walk away. Emmett and Tallie both have their inner demons and this story is how they get This Close to Okay.
What could have been better?
Some parts of what was going on in the relationship with Tallie and Emmett. As a mental health provider parts of it didn’t sit well with me.
What I liked?
The presentation of flawed and relatable characters.
The discussion surrounding mental health and the grounding/therapeutic techniques that are interwoven within the story. They were both accurate and I feel like they could help others.
The constant reminder that it is OKAY to not be okay. Feel how you need to feel, feel it completely. There is no timeline on healing. There is no timeline on grief. There is no timeline on getting yourself where you need to be. Everyone handles things in their own time.
The idea that kindness goes a long way. That someone, somewhere cares and that there’s help out there.
Here are my two favorite quotes:
“Depression was a vacuum that sucked out everything — leaving nothing behind except the burdening of nothingness”
“You’re human and have to reconcile that with yourself somehow, forgive yourself. Allow yourself to feel everything deeply, to grow and learn.”
This book was, overall, a good read. One that I appreciate more the more I sit away from it.
What could have been better?
Some parts of what was going on in the relationship with Tallie and Emmett. As a mental health provider parts of it didn’t sit well with me.
What I liked?
The presentation of flawed and relatable characters.
The discussion surrounding mental health and the grounding/therapeutic techniques that are interwoven within the story. They were both accurate and I feel like they could help others.
The constant reminder that it is OKAY to not be okay. Feel how you need to feel, feel it completely. There is no timeline on healing. There is no timeline on grief. There is no timeline on getting yourself where you need to be. Everyone handles things in their own time.
The idea that kindness goes a long way. That someone, somewhere cares and that there’s help out there.
Here are my two favorite quotes:
“Depression was a vacuum that sucked out everything — leaving nothing behind except the burdening of nothingness”
“You’re human and have to reconcile that with yourself somehow, forgive yourself. Allow yourself to feel everything deeply, to grow and learn.”
This book was, overall, a good read. One that I appreciate more the more I sit away from it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death and Racism
Minor: Infidelity
leighannezinsmeister's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
sallysimply's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
WOW, I love this! I knew almost nothing about this book, and the little I had heard seemed like a good enough premise, so I picked it up.
I started the book intending on reading just a chapter or two before shifting to another book for the night, but I could not stop! I kept saying, “just one more chapter” until the whole thing was done.
I love the characters, I love the pacing, I love that we get just this slice of their lives. The way we learn the truth about Bridge/Emmett totally worked for me. The ending totally worked for me.
What a delightful surprise this was!
I started the book intending on reading just a chapter or two before shifting to another book for the night, but I could not stop! I kept saying, “just one more chapter” until the whole thing was done.
I love the characters, I love the pacing, I love that we get just this slice of their lives. The way we learn the truth about Bridge/Emmett totally worked for me. The ending totally worked for me.
What a delightful surprise this was!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, and Racism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
bookswithmybulldog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
sfbookgirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This story is about two strangers, Tallie and Emmett, and how their lives collide over the course of a weekend. I really enjoyed certain elements of the book (mental health awareness, racism, the relationship between the two main characters, and the alternating perspectives) but where the book falls short for me is the dialogue and the pacing. Despite this, the story is touching and beautifully articulates the power of relationships.
The book begins with Tallie, driving on a bridge in Kentucky, when by happenstance, notices Emmett dangling over the edge, about to end his life. What follows is a weekend of relationship building and how these two strangers learn how to heal from past traumas together. Heartbreaking, this narrative showcases human vulnerability and the need for comfort.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
findingcassandra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racial slurs and Medical trauma
Minor: Alcoholism
soobooksalot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
In February, the month of hearts, This Close To Okay both warms and wrenches.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy for review!
Tallie is driving one rainy night when she happens upon a man about to jump off a bridge. As a therapist, she intervenes and saves his life. As a human, she brings him into her home for the weekend.
The majority of the story takes place over their four days together.
There is so much emotion weaving the plot together, which includes witty and realistic dialogue amidst many questions about Tallie's visitor from the bridge. Though lies and omissions make up many of the interactions, there's an overall feeling of authenticity. Like we could have truly heard of these characters, known them.
Author Leesa Cross-Smith's approach to the writing issues of depression and anxiety, infertility, infidelity, race, grief and loss, is completely absorbing. Relationships of all kinds - family, friends, spouses, lovers and strangers - make up the foundation.
For a different type of relationship story with some serious issues explored, do check this one out. Recommended!
Released yesterday, Feb. 2.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy for review!
Tallie is driving one rainy night when she happens upon a man about to jump off a bridge. As a therapist, she intervenes and saves his life. As a human, she brings him into her home for the weekend.
The majority of the story takes place over their four days together.
There is so much emotion weaving the plot together, which includes witty and realistic dialogue amidst many questions about Tallie's visitor from the bridge. Though lies and omissions make up many of the interactions, there's an overall feeling of authenticity. Like we could have truly heard of these characters, known them.
Author Leesa Cross-Smith's approach to the writing issues of depression and anxiety, infertility, infidelity, race, grief and loss, is completely absorbing. Relationships of all kinds - family, friends, spouses, lovers and strangers - make up the foundation.
For a different type of relationship story with some serious issues explored, do check this one out. Recommended!
Released yesterday, Feb. 2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief