3.75 Stars!

This was so cute and fun. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook in the mean time.
I'm so excited for the next books in the Mayberry University series.

4.5⭐️s Kristina does a beautiful job of sharing how trauma is so hard to work through. While there is no actual SA in the book, it does portray the main FMC dealing with anxiety and fear from getting away from an attempted SA. Please be careful with your mental health if that subject matter is too much of a trigger.

The power of prayer is strong in this book. Both Kit and Levi are walking through hard personal trials. As they continue to be drawn to each other, Kit’s PTSD prevents them from truly getting to know one another. She struggles with being open and honest about her trauma. Meanwhile, Levi has some family issues that caused him to want to pursue his own path. If you love a book about prayer, trauma healing, and just sweet gentle moments, give Anything a read. It’s out today!!

Thank you @_kristinawelch and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. #anything #powerofprayer #netgalley #alc #arc #advancedlistenercopy

3.5 rounded to 4. For an independently published and narrated book, I was very impressed with the execution. The plot was interesting and the characters were relatable to me personally. I also really enjoy when Christian books tackle the hard things. There was definitely a theme of struggling to honor God in your relationships before and after marriage. It also highlights how PTSD can happen even if the trauma is avoided. I would easily give this book to a teen or young adult and I think it had some great lessons for young Christians. I became a little frustrated with what felt like miscommunication - it just dragged on a touch longer than I thought was necessary. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and very impressive for a debut novel that is self-published.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the gifted copy of the audiobook. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Kisses, attempted SA (non-descriptive - by reference only)

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I have a love/hate relationship with Christian fiction. On the one hand, I love books centered on Jesus. On the other hand, I don’t like how I know how the book will end before I even start it. Unfortunately (or fortunately I guess since I really do love a happy ending), that is the case here.

I do like that the author showed an accurate portrayal of living with PTSD and anxiety, but it does come off as very hallmark-ish still. I loved how rooted in scripture this was and the way each of the MCs talked to and about Jesus. Something that bothered me was that apparently Levi can do zero wrong, which came off as strange to me. Everyone has a few character flaws, and fictional characters need them too.

All in all, this book had good and bad points. If you want a hallmarky, chick flick, quick read, go for it. If you prefer closer to real life situations and characters who are a little more fleshed out, maybe skip.

I enjoyed this romance. Kristina Welsh navigates coming of age issues really well. Friends and intimate relationships are so tricky in college. There was a great balance to the conflicts and resolutions. As a novel, it is well-written and well-paced . I never felt that the story lagged at any one point. I particularly loved the "pray without ceasing" element in the two MCs. It was something special. The verses used were appropriate in context and highlighted the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This cute swoony romance deserves attention and following! I think there's some cheesiness, too. I do think I would have enjoyed a physical copy of this instead of the audio. It's narrated by the author, but it was flat at times. I would rate it 3.25 stars for audio quality but 4 stars for content.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

Thanks to advance copies from NetGalley, I had the pleasure of reading this in print AND listening to this on audio. This book is a college romance that is a clean read with a Christian emphasis. I appreciated that the author tackled real-life issues that teens/young adults face but did so with a Christian worldview. I will recommend for my HS daughter to read! This is perfect for people looking for a lovely romance that will point them to seek God for wisdom. 4-stars! Specific to the audio version, I loved that the author reads by herself, which is always a win for me. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARCs!

Anything by Kristina Welch just didn’t hit the mark for me. The premise of the story was interesting but I didn’t connect with any of the characters and didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

"Anything" is a well-written story that addresses significant topics, making it relevant for readers of all backgrounds—whether they identify with a faith or not. It explores the challenges and nuances of navigating friendships and romantic relationships in our modern world, which is a subject many can relate to. The book offers thoughtful commentary and raises important questions that resonate with today’s social and personal dynamics.

That said, despite its strengths, something about the execution felt off for me. While I appreciated the themes and the effort the author put into crafting the story, I struggled to stay engaged. The narrative lacked the spark or depth that would have drawn me in more fully. The characters and their interactions, while well-written, didn’t quite evoke the emotional connection I was hoping for.

Although the book had its moments, overall, it left me feeling underwhelmed. It’s clear the author had good intentions and a meaningful message, but the delivery fell short of making a lasting impression. For this reason, I’m giving it 2 ⭐.

3.75 Stars ⭐️- I would consider this a slow burn that warms your heart...eventually. The two main characters were slow to win me over, stumbling through their issues frustratingly unhurried, but their struggles felt authentic. Frustratingly so, but authentic nonetheless. By the end, I found myself completely hooked, eager to see how everything would turn out.

Pop culture references added a fun layer, though I must note: can we please give Taylor Swift a break already? She’s been through enough. This book tackles some hefty themes, and I respect how the author handled them with nuance and care, even when it took a while to get there. It’s a story that rewards patience, one that leaves you longing for all relationships to look like Kit and Levi.

Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vibes ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heart Eyes 😍😍😍

*Thank you NetGalley for providing this early audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This book was cute - I was desperate for an audibook and ended up with this - the narrator reads a lot of self help Christian books so switching to reading this book helped me to finish it. It’s cute but very religious - obviously.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

True to the cover exclamation, this book is for the Jesus Freak. Freak in a good way. This story is for those who love Jesus and seek His will and guidance in every situation. I loved the heart and the purpose of this story. It boldly proclaims Jesus and the Christian faith. It deals with real issues and struggles. I recommend this for older teens and 20-somethings navigating relationships and school life. It’s a story of faith and trust.

Nice little Christian romance that discusses struggles of students in college and maintaining faith.

"Anything" by Kristina Welch pulled me back to the significant time of my adolescence examining my actions, words, and emotions surrounding God and my relationship with others I think that Kristina did a great job and that YA audiences will connect with Kit and Levi and their stores. Both of them reflective in their walks with the Lord. I think that the pop culture references, honest conversations about God with themselves, and the intertwined nature of scriptures throughout the chapters made this book a wonderful read on navigating faith in your college years. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I do recommend if you are looking for a Christ centered book that is lighthearted and examines modern day christianity and a personal walk with Jesus.

I was super intrigued to see this audiobook on NetGalley! A contemporary Christian YA romance novel? Yes please!

'Anything' is one of the purest love stories I've read! Kristina Welch’s writing is wildly entertaining and yet beautifully emotional. We need more modern novels like this, that dive into the real struggles adolescents face while showing dependence on God! Specifically, following Kit's journey to trust God amidst anxiety prompts me to cry out to God when I face similar panic.

I highly recommend this to any fan of contemporary romance who either already loves the Lord or is curious about how following Him can bring hope and healing to all of life! I am so looking forward to the rest of this series! Kristina does a great job of focusing in on the dynamic main characters while hinting at the interesting side characters enough that I’d love to read about any of them in a future book. Kristina's narration does a great job at fully immersing me in the story she wrote.

Special thanks to Kristina Welch and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Such a great audiobook! Love the book and movie quotes, so fun!! The faith content was incredible. I love the strong relationships with God the characters have, they really live their faith. And the slow burn romance was written so well!

Thank you to Netgally for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!

Couldn't get into this one. Tried but DNF'd at about 50% along.I did enjoy the narration but found the story too slow for me.

This is a book about real faith, including the struggle-bus kind. It’s about how God orchestrates our lives far better than we ever could, even when His healing and answers don’t show up on our timeline. I dive into the confusing, frustrating, and exhausting parts of following Jesus, always with levity, a sense of humor, and pop culture references. If you love slow-burn romance with depth and tender moments, you'll find plenty to root for in Kit and Levi’s story.