Reviews - Something Wild & Wonderful

1.64k reviews for:

Something Wild & Wonderful

Anita Kelly

4.31 AVERAGE

monstergirlreading's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

abbyxbrandt's review against another edition

4.0

The good: I can't resist mutual pining and grand gestures. What a great setting for a romance novel too, falling in love (and processing trauma) while hiking the Pacific Coast Trail. Great use of minor side characters to touch on some intersectional elements of hiking.

The meh: The plot was pretty tepid and I've been trying to put my finger on why the protagonists felt awkwardly written. I think it's because Alexei has All of the Character Traits and Ben barely has any.

Alexei
• extremely introverted - super shy and quiet
• organized, meticulous
• extensive knowledge of birds
• estranged from family
• plays guitar and piano

Ben
• extrovert
• man bun

Overall this had just the right amount of feels, not breezy & forgettable but not too deep or heavy either. Hopeful and heartfelt.

3.5 rounded to 4 because I'm a sucker for a good epilogue.

louiseishere's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective 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

stornierung's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

teallb's review against another edition

4.5

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kitaface's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny medium-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

This made me cry so much. Like honestly SO much.

Actual review:

5 shining stars to this truly wonderful romance.

Something Wild & Wonderful is a beautiful slow burn romance set along the Pacific Crest Trail. Alexei is hiking alone to find himself and grow into the person he wants to become after being disowned by his religious family for coming out as gay. Ben is hiking to meet new people and have an adventure before starting to work as a nurse, something he feels doubts about his ability to do successfully. They meet and form a partnership, each having strengths and weaknesses that balance each other.

The romance is so gentle and sweet, both men having respect and care for each other. Anita Kelly masterfully weaves together an airy and loving romance with heavier topics of grief over the loss of family, religious trauma, homophobia, fear or failure, and (unspecified) lasting trauma from past relationships.

The letters section pushed this book to even further to a 5++ star read for me.