Publisher: Self-published (The Unbending books).
Release Date: November 4th, 2025.
Category: NA, Christian, Contemporary.
Series: Mayberry University #2.
Source: gifted from author. All opinions are my own, honest opinions.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
One frenetic runner.
One compulsive helper.
A collision they can’t seem to stop—
And a God who won’t follow their lead.
Always singing Sophie Appel has a system—stay busy, feel later. Austin Scott is the strong and swoony golden retriever of Mayberry University. But lately, it’s all fetch and no naps.
Total opposites. Accidental best friends. And absolutely nothing more, even if the chemistry is sparkier than the pickles electrocuted in Chem Lab. It’s for the best. Really. He’s headed for a porch-swing life. She’s aimed at passport stamps. Their futures don’t match, and scratching the itch for more would only leave them in desperate need of a first-aid kit.
But when one of them goes off script, the pent-up feelings combust into something unruly, beautiful … and dangerous. Egged on by their way-too-helpful found family and the full-blown chaos that is life at Mayberry, they bulldoze through the messiest parts of faith. Like depression, jealousy, family wounds, and temptation. Then comes growth they can’t stomach, imperfect obedience, and a love that costs more than they thought.
It’s not easy. Sometimes obedience to the still, small voice looks like inaction. Sometimes a simple prayer feels like a fight.
Why does obedience feel impossible?
Can we ever measure up to who He says we are?
My Thoughts:
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed ‘Anything’, book one in this series, so when I heard about Anywhere I couldn’t wait to read it! I was not prepared for the rollercoaster ride this was! My poor emotions!
We are back at Mayberry (before the epilogue of Anything), and this time we get to see the POV of Levi’s best friend, Austin, and Kit’s friend, Sophie. I loved Austin and Sophie in Anything so was so excited to find out this book was about them!
Austin and Sophie like each other, but Sophie has a boyfriend (not for long), and Austin feels God is telling him to wait. Until he is given the green light. Once they are together, their love is giddy and overwhelming. As much as they like each other, both have issues they need to work on.
Sophie has had a hard family life and has issues with her self-esteem. She hides behind a loud personality, but she is insecure and suffers from depression that comes from time to time bringing dark and twisty days.
Austin is a people pleaser, wanting to do God’s will. He pushes himself so hard and never takes care of himself. I could tell he was heading toward burn out, and I just wanted to scream at him to slow down and rest!
I had no idea where this was going to go, and I was surprised by the direction it went in. It gets heavy, and I was put through the emotional wringer! But the ending was perfect.
Anywhere was well written with realistic characters. Welch doesn’t shy away from tackling hard topics, shining a light on grace and forgiveness. This is heavily Christian, which I enjoyed. It was great seeing more of Levi and Kit again, and I loved how supportive they were of Austin and Sophie.
I highly recommend if you love contemporary Christian romance that is college set.
Technically you could read this as a standalone, but you will get so much more out of it if you read Anything first.
I am looking forward to book three!
Clean/closed door. See my Goodreads for full content warnings here.
Rochelle L. Sharpe 