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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
On the surface, this book is about two strangers who meet while hiking the Pacific coast trail when one saves the other from stepping on a rattlesnake.
Alexei is afraid of hiking the desert, and Ben afraid of the snow. Both of them looking for the long quiet hike to help them figure some things out while their lives are changing. They decide to walk together for a while…Well Ben decides they’ll walk together and Alexei decides maybe he’s okay with it. They start by building a friendship, but wonder if trail magic will give them something more.
Beyond that though, this book is about So Much More -
Finding yourself, and deciding who you want to be. Grieving family members who haven’t actually died. People who are only in your life for a moment, but have an impact for life. Making tough decisions, when one dream is at absolute odds with another. Unsent letters - I thought my heart would crack in half reading some of those. And most importantly - finding what you want and then fighting for it.
I want everyone ever to read this one, it is beyond good. I don’t even have the words, I kind of just want to shove it at people and shout READ THIS.
Thanks (so much) to netgalley and forever/grand central pub for the ARC
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever of Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book before it’s publication on March 7, 2023!
Magical. This book is magical.
Magical. This book is magical.
I fell in love with Anita Kelley’s writing when I read their last book, Love & Other Disasters. I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this book, Something Wild & Wonderful, before it’s release. Now, I simply cannot wait to hold the physical copy in my hands and give it a giant hug — returning the giant hug this book was for me.
As with Love & Other Disasters, I loved the dual narration between Alexei and Ben. Getting insight into their thinking, their emotions, and their past created such a beautifully woven story. Anita Kelly handled their pasts — traumas, difficult relationships, emotional hurt — with such gentle grace. Even though our life experiences are different in many ways, I could see myself in these characters in a way that so few authors are able to do so beautifully.
Knowing the genre of this work, I could anticipate a bit of the ending (and that is not a critique in any way!). But what I didn’t expect — and what I appreciate so deeply — is that, up until the end, Alexei and Ben still got their own endings. They each still grew and changed and had plans that were their own, intertwined with their relationship. I love how from beginning to end, it was a journey of self as much as a journey of relationships.
Most importantly, I love the way Something Wild & Wonderful highlighted multiple queer experiences. Alexei’s family and Ben’s family; their experiences and challenges of friendships; their own journeys around self-discovery and sexuality; and Alexei’s changing relationship to faith. As a reader, I saw myself in pieces of each of their experiences. There is nothing more affirming than that when reading a book.
And I can’t finish this review without mentioning the letters. Every one of letters in the section Kennedy Meadows to Cascade Locks made me cry. Sent and unsent, equally.
I am so thankful to Anita Kelly for offering these words to the world and to the queer community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment
One thing about me is that you could not pay me to go on long hikes and become one with nature. I will take my hot showers and my fancy mattress, thank you. You really, genuinely, won't even be able to get me to go camping.
But luckily this book isn't about me, and this hiking trail is one of the most interesting settings I've read about. I truly felt like I was there from the very first sentence. But, like, without the pain and the bugs and the sleeping outside in a tent. That makes this book an excellent example of what I love about reading.
I've been a fan of Anita Kelly's since I read their first Moonlighters novella, but this is definitely my favourite book of theirs so far. It just made me feel SO invested, right from the start. It was very clear from the story how hiking this trail heightens your emotions so much, which was clear to see from Alexei and Ben's immediate bond.
As an autistic person, I especially related to Alexei. It's not mentioned in the book if he's neurodivergent, but it was briefly mentioned in the acknowledgments, and he just gave me many autistic vibes. I love how earnest he is and how genuine of a person.
But luckily this book isn't about me, and this hiking trail is one of the most interesting settings I've read about. I truly felt like I was there from the very first sentence. But, like, without the pain and the bugs and the sleeping outside in a tent. That makes this book an excellent example of what I love about reading.
I've been a fan of Anita Kelly's since I read their first Moonlighters novella, but this is definitely my favourite book of theirs so far. It just made me feel SO invested, right from the start. It was very clear from the story how hiking this trail heightens your emotions so much, which was clear to see from Alexei and Ben's immediate bond.
As an autistic person, I especially related to Alexei. It's not mentioned in the book if he's neurodivergent, but it was briefly mentioned in the acknowledgments, and he just gave me many autistic vibes. I love how earnest he is and how genuine of a person.
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*Thank you to NetGalley, Anita Kelly, and Forever Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review*
I absolutely loved this book: a meaningful romance with characters that just stole my heart. I love Anita Kelly’s writing—they always create characters that feel so authentic. Alexei and Ben are two characters that really had to grow on their own and together throughout the plot. They communicated (and failed to communicate) in ways that felt real and tender and complicated. They had funny and awkward sex, sex with feelings, sex driven by lust and physicality. All of this felt very real to me, even in the context of a romance novel.
Anita Kelly strikes a masterful balance of meaningful thematic content and delicious tropey ridiculousness. They explored a lot of themes that resonated deeply with me: faith and queerness, finding your own family, processing feelings, healing by being in nature; it also, of course, had lots of the sweet, tropey goodness that I love in a romcom (Only One Tent, grumpy/sunshine, love letters, horny nonsense).
Some heavier topics (and potentially difficult for some readers) include religious trauma/homophobia, family estrangement, coming out, and implied sexual assault/dubious consent. In my opinion, all of these were handled with grace and care. Highly recommend for fans of queer romance with depth!
I absolutely loved this book: a meaningful romance with characters that just stole my heart. I love Anita Kelly’s writing—they always create characters that feel so authentic. Alexei and Ben are two characters that really had to grow on their own and together throughout the plot. They communicated (and failed to communicate) in ways that felt real and tender and complicated. They had funny and awkward sex, sex with feelings, sex driven by lust and physicality. All of this felt very real to me, even in the context of a romance novel.
Anita Kelly strikes a masterful balance of meaningful thematic content and delicious tropey ridiculousness. They explored a lot of themes that resonated deeply with me: faith and queerness, finding your own family, processing feelings, healing by being in nature; it also, of course, had lots of the sweet, tropey goodness that I love in a romcom (Only One Tent, grumpy/sunshine, love letters, horny nonsense).
Some heavier topics (and potentially difficult for some readers) include religious trauma/homophobia, family estrangement, coming out, and implied sexual assault/dubious consent. In my opinion, all of these were handled with grace and care. Highly recommend for fans of queer romance with depth!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail