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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
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
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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 loved the sweetness of these characters. I loved the mental health and neurodiversity rep and the mention of therapy. I wish I had known about the religious aspect. I don't like reading about that topic, but at least it was done well. I didn't feel quite the ick I sometimes do. I guess it's an okay message that one can be gay and Christian, but personally it's not one I am confident in.
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Realy loved this one! Made me want to attempt to PCT, even though I don't do the outdoors 🤣
Lex and Ben were adorable! I loved watching them fall for each other and also take theor time to grow and learn more about themselves both together and apart.
Lex and Ben were adorable! I loved watching them fall for each other and also take theor time to grow and learn more about themselves both together and apart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Picked this up as a happy and quick read and it delivered exactly that! The main characters were very sweet and genuine, and I like how their own journeys progressed in complement to their relationship together. Alexei’s story was especially meaningful :)
My main reason for only 3.5 stars is:
I don’t love a third act breakup based on miscommunication. I understand Alexei’s position but it wasn’t fair of him to leave Ben like that, just like it wasn’t fair of Ben to then refuse to communicate with Alexei (and not see where Alexei was coming from in the first place). For some reason that made it fall a little flat for me. I think it was authentic to their characters but it still felt off to me, and I also wish we got a little more time with them afterwards as payoff.
My main reason for only 3.5 stars is:
Do I want to drop every single one of my responsibilities and go hike the PCT or the Appalachian? No. Do I wish that I had done that in my 20s? Also, no. Does this book make it seem like a really freaking cool thing to do? Absolutely. What a privilege to feel safe enough to do a massive hike by yourself.
Lex has gone to the PCT to figure out how to live his life as a gay man with some pretty massive religious trauma. He has to come to terms with his parents' reactions, and how he feels about his own faith in the face of their hate. Hiking by oneself seems like a pretty good place to figure some of those things out to be sure. Then there's Ben who is just taking a break between finishing his degree and starting his career. And they can't seem to get enough of each other.
I loved the everyday magic that this book lives with. That was the best part, the part that makes hiking cross country sound like something that I could actually get down with it. I don't even like birds, but I was halfway interested in birding while Lex was talking about his wildlife encounters. That's real magic right there.
Little bit of a spoiler, I love a grand gesture, and this was a spectacular grand gesture. I think the best part of it was that it wasn't only romantic. Don't get it twisted, it WAS romantic. But it was full up and I loved it.
hopeful
lighthearted
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
The beginning was so boring, there's nothing more dull than listening to an hour-long description of hiking when you already know the ending (happily ever after). I don't care about these 2-d perfect men and their walking courtship.