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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I knew I was going to love this book from the first chapter. Ben and Alexei's story was like a warm cup of cocoa. It made me feel so happy. And as someone who is absolutely an inside cat, I loved getting to live vicariously through them as they hiked the PCT. I feel like the conflicts in the book felt realistic, especially Alexei going no contact with his parents. This is something a lot of queer people have to go through, and seeing Alexei's journey of healing and finding himself was so wonderful.
Ben's family is what I wish all families could be. But I'm also glad to see that Ben's life wasn't totally perfect. He had his own stuff to figure out, and while Alexei helped him realize that, he didn't need to put that pressure on Alexei to fix everything.
I really hope Anita Kelly keeps writing books in this universe because they just make me so happy. Seeing queer joy is so important, and we need more books like this.
Ben's family is what I wish all families could be. But I'm also glad to see that Ben's life wasn't totally perfect. He had his own stuff to figure out, and while Alexei helped him realize that, he didn't need to put that pressure on Alexei to fix everything.
I really hope Anita Kelly keeps writing books in this universe because they just make me so happy. Seeing queer joy is so important, and we need more books like this.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Anita Kelly is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance writers. What a fun concept, strangers meeting while walking a months long hike. Both characters were great but Alexei has my entire heart.
Thanks to netgalley for arc.
Thanks to netgalley for arc.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read Kelly's other book last year, and I was super excited for this one, not even realizing it was in the same universe (which I didn't realize until Chef's Special was mentioned lol).
Alexei and Ben's relationship was beautiful. They were both well-written characters with complicated stories that made them feel so real. Alexei's coming out journey and his complicated relationship with faith were so important and relatable. Ben's journey to realize he was deserving of good love was also beautiful, although this book definitely felt like Alexei's story. My only thing is that I wish Alexei's autism and diagnosis had been a little more than a mention at the end of the epilogue.
The descriptions of the trail and the adventure Alexei and Ben went on were so well-written, as were the letters they wrote to each other and that Alexei wrote to his family in the middle. The side characters felt full and like real people, something that is a sign of a fantastic author to me!
I loved the little bit of the characters of the last book being featured in this one and I look forward to rereading Love & Other Disasters soon because it's the June pick for my book club!
Alexei and Ben's relationship was beautiful. They were both well-written characters with complicated stories that made them feel so real. Alexei's coming out journey and his complicated relationship with faith were so important and relatable. Ben's journey to realize he was deserving of good love was also beautiful, although this book definitely felt like Alexei's story. My only thing is that I wish Alexei's autism and diagnosis had been a little more than a mention at the end of the epilogue.
The descriptions of the trail and the adventure Alexei and Ben went on were so well-written, as were the letters they wrote to each other and that Alexei wrote to his family in the middle. The side characters felt full and like real people, something that is a sign of a fantastic author to me!
I loved the little bit of the characters of the last book being featured in this one and I look forward to rereading Love & Other Disasters soon because it's the June pick for my book club!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Medical content
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
- white allocis gay mlm, alexei is russian-american, christian, and autistic, ben is portuguese-american
- trail love, hiking through trauma
- i just!
- anita kelly writes books that are hugs
- like, the hugs that come right when you need them, the hugs that you can pour yourself and your tears into
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No