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Texas High Series
Always Anika
Anika made herself a promise she wouldn’t date until college—the pickings are slim in a small town high school, and the only guy she likes is so far off-limits he might as well live on the moon. But an English assignment threatens to change all that.
All she has as a wallet-sized photo and scribbled letters, but she’s falling for her military pen pal. His honest words and quiet confidence have her imagining happily ever after when her dream guy suddenly becomes available. Now, Anika has to make a decision. Stick to her plan or follow her heart.
Stelting’s debut contemporary young adult romance, Always Anika, will have you laughing, crying, and adventuring through the rough waters of first loves and second chances. Dive into the story today and get swept away in your own sweet romance.
Always Anika is a young adult contemporary romance in The Texas Star Series. This story will appeal to fans of Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata, Dear John by Nicolas Sparks, and books by Kasie West, John Green, and Sarah Dessen.
All she has as a wallet-sized photo and scribbled letters, but she’s falling for her military pen pal. His honest words and quiet confidence have her imagining happily ever after when her dream guy suddenly becomes available. Now, Anika has to make a decision. Stick to her plan or follow her heart.
Stelting’s debut contemporary young adult romance, Always Anika, will have you laughing, crying, and adventuring through the rough waters of first loves and second chances. Dive into the story today and get swept away in your own sweet romance.
Always Anika is a young adult contemporary romance in The Texas Star Series. This story will appeal to fans of Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata, Dear John by Nicolas Sparks, and books by Kasie West, John Green, and Sarah Dessen.
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About the author
Kelsie Stelting
48 books1,713 followersKelsie Stelting is a body positive romance author who writes love stories with strong characters, deep feelings, and happy endings.
She currently lives in Colorado. You can often find her writing, spending time with family, and soaking up too much sun wherever she can find it.
Visit www.kelsiestelting.com to get a free story and sign up for her readers' group!
She currently lives in Colorado. You can often find her writing, spending time with family, and soaking up too much sun wherever she can find it.
Visit www.kelsiestelting.com to get a free story and sign up for her readers' group!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 20, 2022
You’re telling me she chose Kyle over a hot military man in uniform??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2022
Really enjoyed reading this book, it was cute and wholesome and just a nice relaxing read with out all the drama lol I had found the book on tiktok and was pulled in right away. I love a good love triangle and this one did not disappoint tho my heart broke for the underdog. I read this book in one sitting, once I started I could not stop, tho I really wish there was more story to the book than what we were given it was still a refreshing read from all the paranormal and dark romance I had been reading. If you need something to just sit and relax and refresh, this is your book.
December 16, 2022
such a sweet story
Though I was really rooting for Shawn it does show how hard it can be to love someone in the military. Anika was very wise and knew what she really needed to do. I saw this author on TikTok and I am so glad that I downloaded this book.
Though I was really rooting for Shawn it does show how hard it can be to love someone in the military. Anika was very wise and knew what she really needed to do. I saw this author on TikTok and I am so glad that I downloaded this book.
May 26, 2024
NO IT HAD GREAT POTENTIAL BUT IT WAS ALL RUINED BY CHOOSING THE WRONG GUY, like im so upset you don't even understand how much i hate it
1)I was deceived by tiktok and I expected a totally different type of trope
2) i fucking hate love triangle trope, if i had known its about a love triangle i would've never read it
3)TF YOU MEAN SHE CHOSE KYLE LIKE WHY DID I READ ALL THESE LETTERS THEN?WHAT WAS THE POINT?
1)I was deceived by tiktok and I expected a totally different type of trope
2) i fucking hate love triangle trope, if i had known its about a love triangle i would've never read it
3)TF YOU MEAN SHE CHOSE KYLE LIKE WHY DID I READ ALL THESE LETTERS THEN?WHAT WAS THE POINT?
March 5, 2024
Okay I usually don’t leave a bad review like nothing good to say, don’t say it. But this one literally made me gag.
1. Pick Me’s everywhere (gag)
2. Inappropriate age gap (gag)
3. The way she brushes off the things he says and turns it about her every time (gag again)
I was so excited and loved the idea of this story so much but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
1. Pick Me’s everywhere (gag)
2. Inappropriate age gap (gag)
3. The way she brushes off the things he says and turns it about her every time (gag again)
I was so excited and loved the idea of this story so much but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
June 30, 2018
This story was an easy read with some great characters. I can understand Anika's insecurities, especially after what she experienced with an ex, but was worried that she was going down the exact same road again for awhile there! It's so easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and then have to deal with consequences later.
I loved Kyle's character and that he sought wise advice when it came to relationships and how he framed his future; would have loved to have seen a little of this in Anika herself but have no doubt that the choice she made at the end reflected a period of growth for her.
I loved Kyle's character and that he sought wise advice when it came to relationships and how he framed his future; would have loved to have seen a little of this in Anika herself but have no doubt that the choice she made at the end reflected a period of growth for her.
August 28, 2017
Although far past the ‘young adult’ age group, I purchased and loved Always Anika. A sweet, very enjoyable read.
The descriptive writing and character building made it easy to imagine the scenes unfolding. I was truly invested in all the main characters. If you enjoy the book as much as I did, look for “Always Anika – Ten Years Later”; a much too short, but interesting addition to the plot.
The descriptive writing and character building made it easy to imagine the scenes unfolding. I was truly invested in all the main characters. If you enjoy the book as much as I did, look for “Always Anika – Ten Years Later”; a much too short, but interesting addition to the plot.
August 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This was a sweet wholesome read. I truly enjoyed this read and it was also the first Kelsie book I have read.
Anika doesn’t necessarily have confidence in herself. But when assigned a pen pal she begins to look forward to writing her pen pal Shawn who is serving in the military. But, what happens when the boy you’ve been crushing on admits he’s into you? Anika finds herself torn between Kyle & Shawn. She has to make a decision. It’s not going to be easy. This is a story of following your heart and dealing with the emotions and putting yourself out there and taking a risk letting your heart lead the way.
This was a sweet wholesome read. I truly enjoyed this read and it was also the first Kelsie book I have read.
Anika doesn’t necessarily have confidence in herself. But when assigned a pen pal she begins to look forward to writing her pen pal Shawn who is serving in the military. But, what happens when the boy you’ve been crushing on admits he’s into you? Anika finds herself torn between Kyle & Shawn. She has to make a decision. It’s not going to be easy. This is a story of following your heart and dealing with the emotions and putting yourself out there and taking a risk letting your heart lead the way.
March 28, 2017
What a sweet young adult romance, that had me pulled in two different directions most of the book wondering which one she would pick. The military pen pal, or the sweet country boy. I would say she made the right choice.
June 11, 2018
High School Angst
This is a very believable Young Adult novella. So much of this story is relate able to any adult. Small town gossip and rumors is about the same as big city gossip and rumors in that all of your friends hear about it before you can explain. And rumors and gossip are rarely accurate. The characters and plot of this story are spot on. I really enjoy this author's work. Her YA stories are enjoyable for any adult reader. I bought this book and this is my honest review.
This is a very believable Young Adult novella. So much of this story is relate able to any adult. Small town gossip and rumors is about the same as big city gossip and rumors in that all of your friends hear about it before you can explain. And rumors and gossip are rarely accurate. The characters and plot of this story are spot on. I really enjoy this author's work. Her YA stories are enjoyable for any adult reader. I bought this book and this is my honest review.
August 21, 2018
Great Pen Pal Story
.This is a really good book for a pen pal story. They have to each one of them right to a soldier in the army as a pen pal, and Anika's pen pal ends up coming back and surprising her while she's in school. I would recommend this book to everyone loves a heartwarming story.
.This is a really good book for a pen pal story. They have to each one of them right to a soldier in the army as a pen pal, and Anika's pen pal ends up coming back and surprising her while she's in school. I would recommend this book to everyone loves a heartwarming story.
June 11, 2018
Unique
This book is amazing! I felt like I was waiting on letters from a handsome soldier. It didn't end the way I wanted, but I was engrossed since page one. Perfect for young adults and up:):)
This book is amazing! I felt like I was waiting on letters from a handsome soldier. It didn't end the way I wanted, but I was engrossed since page one. Perfect for young adults and up:):)
June 26, 2023
I wanted to love this but I just couldn’t😭 the ending was cut short and there weren’t a lot of details so I was confused a lot throughout the story. I also found a few errors in the writing. (Spelling, punctuation etc.) i just couldn’t stay connected to the story and wasn’t invested in it like I am with others and I think that’s why it took me so long to finally decide to force myself to finish it. I think it could’ve been so much better if it wasn’t only 122 pages.
March 27, 2018
I give this book a 3.5, it was good. It was a good read if you like love triangles.
September 27, 2024
Cute story line for a high school reader
I liked the story but I felt like it lacked enough character development and sustenance to really be a winner. This seems like a rough draft that still needs 100+ pages of details added. I wanted more of an emotional connection and to read how hard of a decision this was for Anika, but with how quick this was it was too surface level. Also the seriousness of her decision to pick her life partner in high school was a bit of a stretch IMO. Also FYI, through the book it says the pen pal is a year older and 19 but towards the end it says he’s like 4-5 years older so the details aren’t perfect on that either. Great for a quick read though.
I liked the story but I felt like it lacked enough character development and sustenance to really be a winner. This seems like a rough draft that still needs 100+ pages of details added. I wanted more of an emotional connection and to read how hard of a decision this was for Anika, but with how quick this was it was too surface level. Also the seriousness of her decision to pick her life partner in high school was a bit of a stretch IMO. Also FYI, through the book it says the pen pal is a year older and 19 but towards the end it says he’s like 4-5 years older so the details aren’t perfect on that either. Great for a quick read though.
August 7, 2024
I saw a tiktok for this book by the author and the way that she described it was really intriguing. I wasn’t a fan of the way the book actually turned out. I was hoping that Anika and Shawn to end up together I understood the point behind her and Kyle being together. But I didn’t like the way that the story progressed. It’s a very short book so I understood that the plot need to accelerate faster with less details but I feel that there was a lot missing. I did enjoy it I listened to the book will cleaning my house and it was a cute short story but I don’t think I would recommend it to anyone else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2021
This was such a cute story!! There were a bunch of typical instances, but also a bunch of unique ones. Not gonna lie, Anika got on my nerves at times, but I think the reality of all that she was struggling with is very real. Personally, I absolutely love cards & letters. I have several pen pals, myself, & it is so wonderful! It’s crazy how much you can get to know someone & how vulnerable you can be in a letter. I will always have such a fondness & appreciation for the post. There were a couple things that came up, with which I don’t agree, but all-in-all, I think this novel was delightfully crafted & thoroughly enjoyed. Seriously though, Kyle & Shawn were both so great! Kyle was my personal favorite though. It was so enjoyable!!
October 26, 2023
My old kindle was attached to moms account these are my highlights you don’t want to read these
Highlight(pink) - Page 28 · Location 319
They say time heals all wounds, and that may be true, but you can still see the scar that reminds you of the pain that caused it.
Highlight(pink) - Page 29 · Location 328
build walls to see if they want to climb them or knock them down to get to you. Life can be a test sometimes, and some people just test better than others. So far, I think I suck at testing!
Highlight(pink) - Page 28 · Location 319
They say time heals all wounds, and that may be true, but you can still see the scar that reminds you of the pain that caused it.
Highlight(pink) - Page 29 · Location 328
build walls to see if they want to climb them or knock them down to get to you. Life can be a test sometimes, and some people just test better than others. So far, I think I suck at testing!
August 31, 2024
Ok so I read this because I heard it was a pen pal romance. Long story short, it wasn’t a pen pal romance because she didn’t end up with the pen pal!! It was good but I’m also not a huge love triangle person and that was mainly what this book was (I am a sucker for reverse harems so I hate a love triangle). It was good, the writing was good, but it just wasn’t for me. If you like love triangles, you’ll love this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2022
I really hate giving anything below a three star rating, but I couldn’t see myself giving this more than 2 stars. I was 100% expecting it to be a military romance and after reading, I would not classify this as that. Shawn was honestly, for me, the only redeeming factor that allowed it to be 2 stars.
February 24, 2024
it felt like I was reading a bad coming of age story
The writing felt a little immature for what it was marketed as on TikTok and social media. I had high hopes for a romance read but it was more of a coming of age story. It was really short and the plot was bland even with the great concept.
It may not be my cup of tea, but it could be yours
The writing felt a little immature for what it was marketed as on TikTok and social media. I had high hopes for a romance read but it was more of a coming of age story. It was really short and the plot was bland even with the great concept.
It may not be my cup of tea, but it could be yours
August 20, 2024
Not my jam.
**spoilers
I was unaware just how much love triangle was in this book. Toeing the line of cheating which I hated and it made me very uncomfortable. Also the ending? Is this even a military pen pal romance in actuality? Or is it a childhood friend romance? Going into this, this is not what I expected at all and I think it should be marketed differently for sure.
**spoilers
I was unaware just how much love triangle was in this book. Toeing the line of cheating which I hated and it made me very uncomfortable. Also the ending? Is this even a military pen pal romance in actuality? Or is it a childhood friend romance? Going into this, this is not what I expected at all and I think it should be marketed differently for sure.
August 28, 2024
Got this book because my name is Anikka and I have primarily dated military guys. This book comes off to me as YA which is totally fine, I love YA books…but it is so poorly written. It is a short book, but I don’t think that’s any excuse to jumping from one thing to another. If the story had a better flow I may have enjoyed it more.
October 4, 2024
Good for a “pallet cleanser”
This is a very short read. Finished it in a couple hours between chores. It’s a cheesy romance with not much fluff. Cute, but simple. Similar to what you’d expect on Wattpad. It’s good to read in between books to clear the slate.
Overall, not the worst thing I’ve read, but not the best.
This is a very short read. Finished it in a couple hours between chores. It’s a cheesy romance with not much fluff. Cute, but simple. Similar to what you’d expect on Wattpad. It’s good to read in between books to clear the slate.
Overall, not the worst thing I’ve read, but not the best.
July 26, 2019
I absolutely love this book, and couldn't put it down!! This story was such a fun read it had me hooked from the very first page to the last. I love the concept of how they meet through being open pals! This book made me laugh, smile, and swoon! Another homerun hit by this amazing author!
February 21, 2021
Enjoyed!
This is a super sweet and clean YA romance. I was intrigued by the pen pal aspect. I liked the alternate ending better than the ending in the book but it was a quick cute read
This is a super sweet and clean YA romance. I was intrigued by the pen pal aspect. I liked the alternate ending better than the ending in the book but it was a quick cute read
March 5, 2022
Anika’s heartbreaking beautiful journey to love
Anika has a past that makes her views and thoughts of her self very low and now two years later she moves on with the help of others. Love comes in many shapes in sizes and Anika learns this in her heartbreakingly beautiful journey. Seeing her grow, move on, and find love with her old friend Kyle was beautiful even if at one point I thought Shawn was her forever man. I think her story ended perfectly for her.💖
Anika has a past that makes her views and thoughts of her self very low and now two years later she moves on with the help of others. Love comes in many shapes in sizes and Anika learns this in her heartbreakingly beautiful journey. Seeing her grow, move on, and find love with her old friend Kyle was beautiful even if at one point I thought Shawn was her forever man. I think her story ended perfectly for her.💖
December 15, 2022
I thought this was going to be a cute story. What I got was a lot of references to religion, poor writing, and an ended that had me shaking my head.
Whats worse was the span of time that it all took place. Transitions were poorly written...
Whats worse was the span of time that it all took place. Transitions were poorly written...
November 5, 2024
I loved this book. I read it within one day, which is really good for me. I'm a slow reader. And the ending and Anikas' decisions at the end of the book made me cry a lot, to say the least.
But it was a really good book and got me out of a reading slump of a couple of months.
But it was a really good book and got me out of a reading slump of a couple of months.
January 29, 2025
SPOILERS:
I was so sad about the ending and who she ended up with. I even read the alternate ending but it was pretty much the exact same words just slightly twisted so she ends up with the other guy that I thought the whole point of the story was about. I'm a milso and was looking for a short and sweet book about an active duty military couple but this ended up being more focused on the FMC and her falling in love with this other guy while writing to her pen pal.
I was so sad about the ending and who she ended up with. I even read the alternate ending but it was pretty much the exact same words just slightly twisted so she ends up with the other guy that I thought the whole point of the story was about. I'm a milso and was looking for a short and sweet book about an active duty military couple but this ended up being more focused on the FMC and her falling in love with this other guy while writing to her pen pal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews