This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

BOOK 16 OF 2021

RATING: 3.5/5

I really enjoyed spending a few days with Tallie and Emmett. Tallie meets Emmett when she sees him on a bridge ready to jump, and as a trained therapist (unbeknownst to him), she is able to talk him off the ledge and convinces him to join her for a cup of coffee. After he agrees, Tallie convinces him to come back to her place and she is determined to create a safe space for him to heal, recharge, and return home. As they become more vulnerable with each other, they both learn that there are secrets the other is hiding.

In the authors note, Cross-Smith notes how she likes to create “cozy vibes” in her books, and this was so true! A lot of time is spent in Tallie’s house, where a lot of her and Emmett’s conversations take place. The setting feels very intimate; because the book really hones in on the relationship between two people whose paths cross unexpectedly.

Even though I felt the writing was overly descriptive at times, I enjoyed it. Tallie is a great character: caring, empathetic, curious and interesting, and I like how we got to know her more through learning more about Emmett.

Overall, an enjoyable slower paced, character driven book you can cozy up with over the weekend.