by Kaylie Seed
Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, mental illness, infidelity, infertility, loss of a child
Leesa Cross-Smith’s latest novel This Close to Okay is a story about hope and taking chances. Tallie notices a young man sitting on the edge of a bridge and feels obligated to intervene. Even though she is a therapist, she is reaching out to this young man not because of her job, but because she feels like it’s her duty as a human being. Emmett just isn’t sure if there is anything left out there for him and is seriously contemplating suicide when this woman reaches out to help. Telling the story in the third person from both Tallie and Emmett’s perspectives, Cross-Smith weaves together a stunning tale filled with secrets, compassion, and healing.
Tallie and Emmett form a bond with one another that can only be described as that of soulmates. They were destined to meet and change each other’s lives. Cross-Smith has lovingly crafted these characters with strengths and flaws that make them feel incredibly real. Tallie and Emmett both have lessons for the reader to learn throughout This Close to Okay, and Cross-Smith accomplishes this flawlessly.
Cross-Smith’s prose is rich and decadent. She has clearly put a lot of time and effort into creating her characters, the setting, and the overall story. Even with the heavy topics that are brought up all throughout This Close to Okay, Cross-Smith is eloquent and respectful. This is how a book about mental illness should be written. The themes all work together well, and while the topics are not new to the writing world, Cross-Smith has still managed to make them her own. This Close to Okay is nuanced beautifully and it is evident to the reader that Cross-Smith is a seasoned writer who is passionate about what she creates. I personally need to check out more of her work, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
*Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review