10 Things I Can See From Here was a solid contemporary story about family, mental health and first relationships. The characters and their dynamics were definitely what made this book for me. Romances tend to be a hit or miss in these kinds of stories but Mac managed to balance Maeve and Salix’s blossoming relationship perfectly with the other elements of the story. It was never overpowering or unrealistic. It unfolded at a steady pace from simple attractions through several awkward, fumbling first dates until it hit that steady relationship stage. I absolutely adored seeing Maeve and Salix test our their dynamics and learn about each other throughout the story. I loved that there weren't any cases of miscommunication or unrealistic tragic backstories. It was a simple girl-meets-girl storyline that was incredibly sweet and lovely. It is just so nice to have another good f/f romance to ship!

The anxiety rep was also fantastic. I don’t have much more to say about it. It was done so well and with such a genuine voice that I would happily recommend it.

The characters were a tiny bit of a mixed bag but for the most part, fascinating. My biggest problem was definitely Maeve’s mother. We were told that she and Maeve were close but I never saw that in the story; not only did she jet off to Haiti with her unusual boyfriend but she did so when her daughter - who has severe anxiety - was not in a particularly good place. I did not like her very much at all.

Maeve’s step-family, on the other hand, was perfect. I could cry over how much I adored seeing Claire and Maeve’s relationship unfold. It was nice to have a supportive stepmother in the story. Yes, their relationship was far from perfect but they could lean on each other when they needed and grew so much closer as the story progressed. I don’t know what else I could ask for. Her stepbrothers were adorable. I loved them too much for words. I also really liked how Maeve’s relationship with her father was handled. Was he my favourite character of all time? Dear God, no. However, I felt like it was one of the most authentic 'alcoholic parent’ I have ever read. Their relationship was complex and messy. There were no right answers. They struggled, they fought, but they were family and worked through it and I loved, loved, loved that we got to see this common trope done differently and finally done well, in my opinion.

The one aspect of this book which let me down was the portrayal of sexual assault. I was so grateful that we touched upon it, especially how it raised the point that many assault cases with a female perpetrator go unreported, but it did feel a tad rushed. I wished that it had been given some more page time or played a larger role in the overall story.

Overall?

10 Things I Can See From Here was a solid contemporary story. The portrayal of anxiety and family were beyond fantastic. I really enjoyed the unique characters and complex relationships. The romance was adorable. It was realistic and fumblish first love that made me smile. I am so happy to have found a solid f/f romance to recommend! The writing and the plot were engaging. I liked almost every aspect of this story and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.

Please be aware of trigger warnings before checking this one out for yourself because sexual assault, addiction relapses, and suicide are central themes.

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