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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
I cannot say enough good things about this book truly! It was so sweet and absolutely delicious to get to read through this. I cannot wait to see what Anita Kelly graces us with next! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!!
Wow! I was not expecting that. This book warmed my heart, then tore it shreds, just to put it all back together bigger and better than it was to start.
This story is so special. It’s a love story in every sense of the word. Learning to love somebody else fully, but also learning to love yourself. I cried so much, both happy and sad tears because this book will get you in the feels. I felt every emotion that Alexei and Ben were experiencing so deep in my soul. Geeze, Anita Kelly can really write! Don’t get me started on their letters to each other. I was mush! The conflict in the story also made sense (although it nearly unalived me). It didn’t feel like the “it’s 75% through and we need something to cause drama that nobody would actually ever do” type of drama you see in some romance (no hate! I enjoy that too!). By that point, I knew Lex and Ben, and as much I didn’t want it to be so, I understood where each of them was coming from.
Speaking of Ben and Alexei, I feel in love with both of them right out of the gate. Ben is everything that intimidates me in a person. Outwardly confident, sure in themselves, can talk to any random stranger, but deep down they actually are as insecure as the rest of us. Alexei is almost the perfect puzzle piece to Ben. Quiet, nerdy, a little insecure, but stronger than anybody would ever give him credit for. Not only are they both extremely interesting characters on their own, but together, they are magic.
The setting was also absolutely perfect. The PCT became almost another character in the story. It was also extra special to me because of all the places I recognized from growing up in Southern California. I mean the detour to the Cabazon dinosaurs (I have a print of those little roadside attractions hanging in my house, so yes, I felt Ben’s excitement to see them)! The nostalgia was hitting hard! Anita describe everything so perfectly, that you don’t need to know these places to picture it all, but knowing them made it a little extra special.
I really enjoyed Love & Other Disasters but this was a whole other level. I’ll be thinking about for a while and it will definitely be a reread for me when it comes out next year.
I have more to say, but I’m barely coherent right now because I can’t believe how good this book was.
*arc provided via edelweiss
This story is so special. It’s a love story in every sense of the word. Learning to love somebody else fully, but also learning to love yourself. I cried so much, both happy and sad tears because this book will get you in the feels. I felt every emotion that Alexei and Ben were experiencing so deep in my soul. Geeze, Anita Kelly can really write! Don’t get me started on their letters to each other. I was mush! The conflict in the story also made sense (although it nearly unalived me). It didn’t feel like the “it’s 75% through and we need something to cause drama that nobody would actually ever do” type of drama you see in some romance (no hate! I enjoy that too!). By that point, I knew Lex and Ben, and as much I didn’t want it to be so, I understood where each of them was coming from.
Speaking of Ben and Alexei, I feel in love with both of them right out of the gate. Ben is everything that intimidates me in a person. Outwardly confident, sure in themselves, can talk to any random stranger, but deep down they actually are as insecure as the rest of us. Alexei is almost the perfect puzzle piece to Ben. Quiet, nerdy, a little insecure, but stronger than anybody would ever give him credit for. Not only are they both extremely interesting characters on their own, but together, they are magic.
The setting was also absolutely perfect. The PCT became almost another character in the story. It was also extra special to me because of all the places I recognized from growing up in Southern California. I mean the detour to the Cabazon dinosaurs (I have a print of those little roadside attractions hanging in my house, so yes, I felt Ben’s excitement to see them)! The nostalgia was hitting hard! Anita describe everything so perfectly, that you don’t need to know these places to picture it all, but knowing them made it a little extra special.
I really enjoyed Love & Other Disasters but this was a whole other level. I’ll be thinking about for a while and it will definitely be a reread for me when it comes out next year.
I have more to say, but I’m barely coherent right now because I can’t believe how good this book was.
*arc provided via edelweiss
Anita Kelly has yet again knocked me to the ground with their writing. This book feels different than any romance I've ever read. It's not a typical whirlwind love story, this is literally step by step the journey of two characters finding themselves and walking into love. They consider everything carefully and they take their time. And even when they stumble and fracture themselves, they step back, consider what went wrong, and they work toward the healing they need. Alexei and Ben don't fall into each other, they take each other by the hand and stabilize one another for their entire journey. Something Wild and Wonderful is soft and quiet and considerate. It settles into your bones like the trail does to Ben and Lex and it leaves a lasting impression..
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
Something Wild & Wonderful is the story of Alexei and Ben, two men who separately, and then together, hike the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,600 mile trail that spans the west coast of the U.S. from Mexico to Canada. Both men are at starting points in their lives, and hope to find closure and clarity on the grueling trek.
Writing about a journey is one of the oldest forms of storytelling. When your characters are literally moving from one point to another, you need to make the emotional payoff of the metaphor especially poignant, and Alexei and Ben’s character growth is deep and compelling. They are very different characters, who come from very different backgrounds and are traveling the trail for very different reasons; yet the way their relationship grows as they respond to the challenges and discomforts is realistic and exciting.
It’s wonderful to see Ben, who you meet in Kelly’s first novel Love & Other Disasters, as a fully fleshed-out character. His personality, his joy, as well as his struggles with self-worth and a path forward. So much of Ben is told between the lines — you get his story, and his past, and the reasons he wants to hike the trail, but his true character is in between all those things. He is a slightly unreliable narrator, particularly about himself. There’s a difference between the story he tells himself about who he is, his strengths and flaws, and who he actually seems to be. Ben’s journey through the book is to start to see clearly that he doesn’t necessarily have the truest picture of himself, and bringing those images of himself closer together.
It’s kind of rare to read about a queer character who experiences religious trauma and still feels connected to God and to faith, and for that I’m so grateful for Alexei. His family’s rejection is so closely tied to their religious upbringing, and yet his ability to recognize that those are their choices and not the heart of faith is deeply profound, and I think relatable for more queer people than some may think. I ached for him so much throughout the story, his longing and his grief, and the way those things interacted with this desire for change and how he learns to love Ben. I can’t remember the last time I felt so moved by a character’s sheer and palpable desire to be loved and cared for, and how joyous I felt for him as he finds love and clarity on the PCT.
The structure and pacing of the book changes part-way through, and while at first it seemed like a way to quickly get through the back end of the story, I see now why the change happened, both for the reader and the characters, and it made me really appreciate how Kelly tells that part of the story.
I honestly can’t find much fault at all in the novel — it gives incredible emotional heft and handles extremely sensitive topics with such thoughtfulness and care while still being funny and joyful and utterly swoony. I feel lucky to have read it and I know I’ll be returning to it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
*4.75 Stars
If you haven’t don’t yourself the favor of reading Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly, you should absolutely do so. Something Wild and Wonderful features, once again, the most precious characters to grace my iPad screen. Ben is outgoing, wears his heart on his sleeve, and Alexei is more guarded, and has some walls to take down. The men meet on the PCT hike, and become unlikely hiking buddies. The romance buds from there, and it had me blushing and kicking my feet.
This book also features coming out in a religious family, and how someone might try to move on from that not going well. Alexei’s journey felt so personal, it was like we were walking it with him. We see the very real scenario in which strangers will call a gay couple a slur just for existing. But we get to see the good, as well. We get to see people stand up for our MCs, and our MCs grow into who they are as people.
I just absolutely loved this, and thank you to Forever & Netgalley for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review
If you haven’t don’t yourself the favor of reading Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly, you should absolutely do so. Something Wild and Wonderful features, once again, the most precious characters to grace my iPad screen. Ben is outgoing, wears his heart on his sleeve, and Alexei is more guarded, and has some walls to take down. The men meet on the PCT hike, and become unlikely hiking buddies. The romance buds from there, and it had me blushing and kicking my feet.
This book also features coming out in a religious family, and how someone might try to move on from that not going well. Alexei’s journey felt so personal, it was like we were walking it with him. We see the very real scenario in which strangers will call a gay couple a slur just for existing. But we get to see the good, as well. We get to see people stand up for our MCs, and our MCs grow into who they are as people.
I just absolutely loved this, and thank you to Forever & Netgalley for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review
adventurous
emotional
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
9/10
Over the past year, Anita Kelly became one of my favorite romance authors. I have read everything they have published, and I can confidently say their writing gets better with every new work.
Something Wild & Wonderful revisits the world of Love & Other Disasters, following a new cast of characters.
Alexei is hiking the Pacific Coast Trail, trying to find meaning in his life after his coming out had unwarranted consequences. There, he meets the carefree and charismatic Ben, who is trying to escape a string of bad decisions and figure out what his next steps in life could be. The two men embark on an emotional journey and just happen to find love along the way.
This book hit so close to home in ways I can’t explain without spoiling it. It handled sensitive topics and bigotry queer people face every day (this is not a spoiler, it is in the author’s note at the beginning of the novel). Kelly consistently writes nuanced familial relationships and queer found family in the best possible ways. This book is so heartwarming and filled me with hope as I read it.
It is a fairly low-stakes romance (which is my favorite kind of romance), focusing more on the individual character’s journey of self-discovery. The romance is built around a message of self-love and that is something we need more of in the romance genre.
Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Religious bigotry
Aaaaah, i loved this. I couldn't care less about hiking or really nature in general, but i DO love Anita Kelly, so when i heard they were coming out with a hiking book i figured i might as well read it. I felt... snuggled in a sleeping bag? But without it being cloying? I really grew to care about both of the MCs and believed in their growth. And there were lots of parts that were just a joy! Was there anything revelatory about it? No. But. I don't think there needs to be. It was a sweet, kind, funny, sarcastic, easy book with some emotional resonance and (spoiler) proof that every romance doesn't have to end in a proposal. Also, i loved the London and Delilah updates!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
Loved this one, I adored getting to know Ben and Alexei and following their journey on the PCT, and watching them fall for each other and learn to trust one another was a beautiful thing. Absolutely looking forward to a reread, would recommend!
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:
No