I enjoyed this book so much! At first, I thought it was your cheesy Christian romance book, but it is so much more than that. It's about overcoming your trauma through prayer and therapy! All too often, people don't think you can have the Holy Spirit and go to therapy.

Kit is working through her uncertainties and relies on God for everything. After a traumatic experience, she struggles to trust people, especially the attractive boy at her new college.
Levi is the only one in his family who believes in God and is the only one who doesn't value his money over the people in his life. As Levi works to stay close in his relationship with God, he also discovers what it means to be patient and listen to God's will, not your own.

Overall, I loved this book! It took me a quarter of the way into the book before I connected with Kit and Liam. Learning to trust in God fully, even when things seem bleak. That is the overall message, along with finding love unconventionally.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

kit earns a scholarship to mayberry university in texas, giving her the perfect chance to escape the painful memories of her past in colorado. as she battles ptsd, her new beginning quickly gets complicated when she attracts the attention of levi whittaker.

i had a hard time getting into the book. it was really slow and the story felt repetitive, constantly cycling through the same pattern - levi likes kit, but whenever he gets close, her past trauma is triggered, causing her to pull away, and this happens over and over again, which became kinda tiring. i also disliked the miscommunication between the characters.

i really liked the portrayal of the friend group though - it wasn't just a perfect, idealized version where everyone gets along all the time, but it also showed their struggles and challenges.

the narration had dual pov's , but without distinct voices for the characters, it felt monotonous and lacked depth.
kristina read the text well, but she didn't change her voice, making it hard to follow who was speaking, and at times, i found it confusing.

the book had some cute moments though, and i really liked the pop culture references.
i found the main characters likeable and relatable, especially kit.
the ending was satisfying, and i was happy with how it turned out.

the book is perfect for readers who enjoy slow burn romance and christian themes!



*thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

The characters all felt authentic and I loved watching them grow as the story progressed. By the end, I was getting teary-eyed because I was so invested in the characters. The atmosphere of the school setting was well written and the pacing was spot on with the story. I also loved the modest romance of the story and the unapologetically Christian aspect of the story as well. One of the best romance books I've read this year.

The author, Kristina Welch, also narrated the audiobook and did an amazing job. she was easy to listen to and brought life and joy to the story.

I love this cute little YA read. The narrator was great! I loved all the references and that fact that our FMC was determined to live for Jesus. While she had some trauma it didn’t overshadow her character. Levi was a sweet and comforting character!

This was such a sweet Christian read! Will review more on IG :) Thanks so much NetGalley & Kristina 💞💞

Dorm life in a Christian College. Laced with humor this hip book is a good read for thw younger generation trying to find there place, career, or who they are, by following God's uidance. I rate it a 3.5 .

Should a beautiful book, reflecting on God Grace and Love for us. I love the relationship each person in this book had with God. I love how easy and relaxed their communication/prayer was with God. In everything they did they acknowledge and asked for his direction. I pray I am able to reflect this in my own life.

“How does a girl know if she has found the right guy? What is she falling in love with?”

Kit is starting college. She sees, meets, and starts hanging out with Levi as a friend. Loud sounds make her panic and she feels like she is reliving a traumatic experience she had involving a guy.

Likes: the internal dialogue with herself and her prayers to God, hearing scriptures from the Holy Spirit. Pop culture references.

I love that the characters weren’t perfect, didn’t try to act perfect, and were just regular people living out their faith and convictions. I love that their conversations were deeper.

I want to read more books with characters who live out their faith.

This story encapsulates what it’s like to work through the messy process of healing from a trauma while trusting God to work all things for good.
The author beautifully portrays what it can be like to receive God’s guidance through a constant open line of communication.
The depiction of flash backs, triggers, and frustration over having to behave differently to cope is palpable.
The FMC’s struggle to work through these moments goes on at a realistically painful pace, but it makes it incredibly relatable.
Through it all there is a beautiful message that God is in control and that it’s ok to trust Him with everything; even with the most painful and confusing parts of us.
This book is worth checking out, especially if you’re going through a time of trusting while healing.

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW:

This was a very cute romance story that I found to be very unique. It is beautifully written and has memorable characters that make you root for them. Kit's journey felt real and authentic. Levi was a very likeable guy that was very understanding and sweet. The side characters and friendships in the story were also fantastic!

The audiobook was read by the author. She did not use different voices for different characters though, so I got a little confused sometimes about who's pov we were in or who was talking. I had to pay quite a bit attention and take mental note with this.

Ughhhhh. I struggled so badly with this book. I really wanted to like it, but it just fell really flat. My biggest issues: the audiobook was awful. I hated the narration. There were dual POVs but the narrator didn’t distinguish between any characters and it was very dull. Another issue: I couldn’t stand the MFC. She was so annoying. I wanted to like her inner voice and prayers (I was thinking it would be like Redeeming Love as Michael spoke to God), but they just seemed … disingenuous? I’m not sure, I can’t quite put my finger on it. Was there a plot? It was repetitive and seemed to go in circles. Levi likes her and anytime he gets near her some past trauma triggers Kit and she backs off. And over and over and over again. It was painful to get through. Again, I badly wanted to like this Christian college novel, but it just wasn’t it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC (even though it took me until after publication to finish it because I disliked it that much.)

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this book for my honest feedback.

🎧This book started slowly for me, and some elements felt clichéd. However, I persisted and was rewarded with a heartwarming story. The movie and song references were a delightful touch. The romance with Levi is sweet, and their shared faith adds depth to the story. The writing style is also simple and engaging.
It follows Kit and her life after a scholarship to Mayberry University in Texas, which also happens to be a means for her to escape the awful memories Colorado holds because of her ex, despite her loving family. Kit struggles with PTSD, and things become instantly complicated when she catches the eye of college sweetheart Levi Whittaker. She tries to avoid him, but soon finds that Levi is more than what meets the eye—he is as Jesus loving as he is humble. As Kit gets to know Levi, she gradually eases her heart open, and allows God to perfect His work in her. My favourite thing about this book is it's honesty about the struggles that come with healing. It is a heartwarming romance, perfect for fans of Christian fiction.

*Anything (Mayberry University #1)* by Kristina Welch is more than just a romance novel—it’s an experience, a feeling, and exactly the kind of story that stays with you long after you turn the last page. I’ve read plenty of romances, but this one? This one is special. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a love story—pure, heartfelt, and filled with the kind of love that feels truly ideal.

The main character was so incredibly relatable that at times, I felt like I was reading about myself. Her struggles, her emotions, and her journey mirrored so much of what I’ve felt in my own life, and that made the book all the more personal. The way faith and Christianity were woven into the story felt so natural and uplifting, adding depth and meaning beyond just romance. It wasn’t preachy—it was inspiring, and it gave me something to hold onto.

This book reminded me why I love reading—to escape, to believe, to find hope in stories. *Anything* did just that. It gave me hope, it made me dream, and it left me with a warmth that I know will stay with me for a long, long time.

Kit is looking forward to college. Not only weould it be a fresh start but also to forget the painful things that happened to her in highschool. But God doesn't want her to forget. So God sent her Levi, the very person that keeps reminding her of her painful past? Why doesn't God just take all the pain and memories away? Why does Levi keep giving the attention that she seem to like but doesn't want?

Since it's the Lenten season, I figured reading a book about communicating with God would be great! And I'm not gonna lie, this book made me realize that I should talk to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit more. It's been awhile since I read a Christian book, because I read a lot of secular books. And this book just really reminded me of how good it is to be connected with the Lord.

Anyway, going back to the book, I thought the plot was good. And I really liked the characters a lot too. I really like how confident they are to talking with God and the relationship they have with Him too.

What I like about the book the most is the way it describes the struggles and the hard parts. By the way, this book comes with a warning at the beginning. And I thought the author handled those parts well. I do think that they can be triggering, but they're realistic as well, without them shoking the reader in to pain.

The romance was... alright... I liked the parts how the characters talk to God about the other... But I don't like that they keep rushing into things. Yes, the book takes place for a number of months. But I feel like something like this can take place for years. I'm guessing this is for the pace of the book, but in my opinion, for this to be realistic, something like this should take place in years.

I experienced this book as an audiobook, and this was narrated by the author. I did like the way she delivered the book. But there were times that I didn't even notice that it was Levi's perspective I was listening to. I also liked that the singing parts were sung. This felt like she was reading a story to the listener.

Overall, I liked this book. Moreso, on how it made me feel about God. I thought the romance was generic. But I like Kit's character development, and the way her relationships helped her with that.

The story was very inspiring and I liked the direction it took. I like the idea that we can overcome and God will direct our oaths to do so. The narration was all right? But it would have been easier to listen to if there were distinct character voices.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. I had a hard time getting through this boom because I didn't like the narrator. It was very robotic and I think I would have enjoyed just reading this novel instead of listened to it. The story itself was good and I enjoyed the faith part of it. I would recommend to everyone.

I requested this audiobook and the phsyical book ARC at the same time, not expecting to get accepted for both.

I did not finish this book - as someone who was SA'd and openly speaks about it, I would have appreciated a trigger warning prior to requesting. The description stated "traumatic event" but that could literally be anything.
I got about 75% of the way done and it the book was well written, I just struggled to sympathize for Kit because I know that therapy and talking about what happened to me was a big part of my healing process. Yes, I prayed a lot about it and healing is not the same for everyone, but I started to get frustrated at it.

Anything by Kristina Welch is a heartfelt Christian YA contemporary romance that explores the complexities of faith, healing, and love in a relatable and emotionally resonant way. Narrated with warmth and authenticity, this audiobook follows Kit and Levi, two university students who are navigating their own struggles with God, faith, and each other.

Kit, dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event and feeling distant from God, is cautious and hesitant to trust. Levi, on the other hand, is charming and confident—until Kit's presence turns his world upside down. Their slow-burn romance is filled with emotional depth as Kit grapples with her past and the painful process of healing, while Levi tries to understand her resistance to him.

The beauty of Anything lies in its honest portrayal of faith struggles—the “struggle-bus” moments where God seems silent, yet the story shows how faith unfolds in unexpected ways. Welch weaves in humor, pop culture references, and genuine emotion, offering both levity and profound moments of introspection.

If you're looking for a story that combines a tender romance with real-life spiritual struggles, Anything offers a compelling and relatable journey. The audiobook brings the characters' chemistry and emotional depth to life, making it a perfect listen for fans of Christian romance with a meaningful message.

Upon first hearing about Anything by Kristina Welch, I thought this book would relate to everything about me, and it did! It was right up my alley and it was such a fun cute read! All the pop culture references in it were so hilarious, and there were times where I found myself gigging and laughing over the book jokes and moments. I thought it was just perfect!

Meeting Kitt and her new friends, especially with how she was nervous about making mew friends given what has happened at her old school, she enters college trying to be different, and with Christ with her, she is so relatable in having to put her trust in the Lord, and know that things will work out for the best if she puts her faith in him, which is such a good reminder for everyone. And we also meet Levi, who is the super cute gentleman who meets Kitt at school, and they have keen interest in each other, but with so many struggles they have faced, they try to get to know each other first. But as always, with struggle and wanting to make their relationship the best they can be, they have to find a way to work through their issues and they also find support in each other.

I loved how real the friend group was and it was not just some polished painted picture where everyone is so happy with each other, but it also showed the struggles of a. friend group. I think the way Welch wrote this story was truly amazing in the way that as we followed Kitt, we were able to see how to overcome those challenges.

This book is perfect for any reader who loves a slow burn and friends to lovers romance, with a cute friend group, and the most relatable FMC. Thank you so much to NetGalley for an audiobook arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Okay, hold on to your hats, because this book *is the hug your heart needed* wrapped up in a slow-burn romance that’ll make you believe in *true love* and maybe even start praying for a Levi of your own (seriously, where do I sign up?). If you love swoon-worthy moments, gentle care, and a dash of faith, this one’s for you.

Let’s talk about Levi for a second. He’s the perfect blend of *patient* and *strong* (like, "I will walk you home from the movies while holding your hand and also protect your heart like it’s the last cookie on earth" strong). *Is it just me or is he the man of God we all deserve?* Because wow, he’s making us all think we could use a little more of that "God’s plan" energy in our lives.

And then there's Kit—she’s relatable, real, and totally worth rooting for. The chemistry between her and Levi? Off the charts. We’re talking *electric slow burn* where the tension is so sweet you’re almost too nervous to turn the page in case they accidentally bump into each other too hard and it turns into the kiss of the century. But seriously, this isn’t just a romance; it’s a journey of trust, healing, and some of the most heartwarming moments you’ll ever read.

What makes this extra special is the little bits of humor and life scattered throughout. I mean, there are pop culture references galore (I’ve never felt so seen), a bestie squad that’s essentially your own personal cheer team, and enough *"Oh my gosh, they’re so cute!"* moments that you’ll need a box of tissues on standby. Plus, there’s a dance studio, secret pasts, and *the most swoon-worthy proposal you’ve ever read*.

Also, can we talk about the *cookies vs. brownies* debate? I mean, is it even a debate? (No spoilers, but if you’re Team Brownie, we need to talk.) But honestly, this book has it all—humor, sweet moments, faith, and a love story that makes you believe in fairytales… just with more praying and fewer glass slippers.

And the *climax*? Tears, tears, and more tears. When Kit finally opens up and Levi shows just how much he cares—*heartbreaking in the best way*.

I had the *absolute pleasure* of reading this as an ARC, and let me just say, it was a *privilege* to witness the magic of this story unfold. The pacing, the character growth, the chemistry—everything about it felt *just right*. I’m already looking forward to re-reading it because this one’s going to stick with me for a long time.

I’ll just say this: I need the movie, and I need it *yesterday*. This book is pure magic and 5 stars is an understatement. If you want a love story that’ll make you want to hug your favorite people and believe that God’s plan really is the best one? This is your read. (Seriously, I need more. Now.)

*Also, I'm definitely making a playlist for this.*