Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

by Nellie Wilson (October 4, 2025) Many thanks to @woahnelliewrites for the gifted advanced copy of this wonderful book. Below is my honest review.

Kelly left Anthracite Springs, West Virginia, the day after high school graduation and never looked back—much to the shock of his friends and first love, Sam. Fifteen years later, on the cusp of making partner at a prestigious San Francisco law firm, he’s reluctantly pulled back to the one place he vowed never to return to: his late uncle’s farmhouse, which he needs to repair and sell. 

Unlike Kelly, Sam returned to Anthracite Springs after college and has since poured her heart into the town and its people. She thought she’d moved on from her hurt and anger over Kelly’s sudden departure—until they find themselves face-to-face for the first time in years. But it’s not just Sam holding a grudge. The entire town seems determined to thwart Kelly’s efforts to sell the farmhouse. 

When Sam takes pity on him, she offers a deal: if Kelly provides her with legal advice for her nonprofit, she’ll help him navigate the local vendors for the necessary repairs. As they work together, Kelly begins to see his hometown in a new light, rekindling both his appreciation for the place and his love for Sam. As the farmhouse comes back to life, Kelly starts to wonder if maybe—just maybe—he could come home again, both to Anthracite Springs and to Sam.

I first fell in love with Nellie’s writing in Curated, where she beautifully brought to life a vibrant Colorado town and its university. In Steel My Heart, Anthracite Springs is a richly layered, deeply evocative depiction of Appalachia—capturing its beauty, its grit, and its complexities with a perfect balance of tenderness and honesty. It feels like both a love letter to an imperfect place and an insightful political exploration. 

Nellie has a remarkable talent for crafting characters with depth and care—you can feel the love she pours into each one. Kelly, Sam, and the residents of Anthracite Springs will burrow into your heart, leaving a lasting impact. This is a book I’ll be returning to, and I sincerely hope Nellie continues writing in this world—I’m completely invested in the friend group surrounding Kelly and Sam.