'Something Wild & Wonderful' by Anita Kelly follows the heartwarming journey of Alexei and Ben as they meet on the PCT trail and form a deep connection that leads to a tender and emotional romance. The book beautifully captures the growth and evolution of their relationship, intertwined with themes of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of chosen and birth families. Anita Kelly's writing style is praised for its ability to evoke raw emotions, create relatable characters, and craft a story that is both heartwarming and emotionally resonant.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, showcasing relatable struggles with personal identity and relationship challenges on their hiking journey.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines lyrical descriptions with dual perspectives, enhancing the emotional landscape of the characters' journeys.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot focuses on two men navigating personal struggles and forming a bond while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, intertwining their journeys of healing and self-discovery.

Setting:

The Pacific Crest Trail serves as a beautifully described setting that enhances the story, providing both physical and emotional context for the characters' journeys.

Pacing:

The pacing is methodical, prioritizing character exploration and emotional development over action or dramatic events.

Notes:

The story features two main characters, Alexei and Ben, who meet while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

Alexei is dealing with the loss of his family, while Ben is recovering from unhealthy past relationships.

Both characters are on personal journeys of self-discovery and healing during their hike.

The book includes themes of acceptance and the struggles of coming out, particularly with family rejection.

The narrative is told in dual third-person perspectives, providing insight into both characters' thoughts and feelings.

It's described as a sweet and gentle romance with some lighter steamy scenes but focuses more on character development.

Supporting characters play a significant role in the story, adding depth to the main characters' experiences.

The writing paints a vivid picture of the PCT, making readers feel as if they are experiencing the hike themselves.

The book addresses real struggles such as anxiety, religious trauma, and homophobia.

It includes a touch of neurodivergent representation, with one character on the autism spectrum.

The story is perceived as comforting, offering a 'warm blanket' feeling, despite addressing some hard subjects.

Readers appreciated the emotional depth and character growth throughout the story.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of homophobia, parental abandonment, and religious homophobia, which may be sensitive for some readers.

Has Romance?

The book contains a strong romantic element as it revolves around the developing relationship between the two main characters, Alexei and Ben.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

From the author of Love & Other Disasters comes a sparkling sullen-meets-sunshine romance featuring two men's sweeping journey across the Western wilderness.

Alexei Lebedev's journey on the Pacific Crest Trail begins with a single snake. And it is angling for the hot stranger who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Lex is prepared for rattlesnakes, blisters, and months of solitude. What he isn't prepared for is Ben Caravalho. But somehow-on a 2,500-mile trail-Alexei keeps running into the outgoing and charismatic hiker with golden-brown eyes, again and again. It might be coincidence. Then again, maybe there's a reason the trail keeps bringing them together . . .

Ben has made his fair share of bad decisions, and almost all of them involved beautiful men. And yet there's something about the gorgeous and quietly nerdy Alexei that Ben can't just walk away from. Surely a bad decision can't be this cute and smart. And there are worse things than falling in love during the biggest adventure of your life. But when their plans for the future are turned upside down, Ben and Alexei begin to wonder if it's possible to hold on to something this wild and wonderful.

Ratings (3)

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Reader Stats (6):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (3)

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Something Wild & Wonderful

Anita Kelly