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loveinpanels's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Homophobia
Moderate: Terminal illness and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death
rickireadss's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an earc!
ANITA HAS DONE IT AGAIN!!! they have made me fall head over heels with two mcs and had me going through all the emotions. i absolutely loved this even more than book 1 - i think i could read 1000+ more pages of alexei and ben just doing mundane stuff. this also made me kinda want to go hiking?? although i’m the least outdoorsy person EVER so do with that what you will. i just really enjoyed every second - the emotional journeys both alexei and ben were on were heartbreaking and again, had me feeling all the emotions. i just love them both so much, and i cannot wait for julie’s book!!!
⚠️: homophobia, religion and strict religious upbringing, religious bigotry, toxic relationships (past), panic attacks/disorders, injury/injury detail, death, dementia, homophobic slurs, familial estrangement due to queer identity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, and Homophobia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Dementia
instalovewithbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Thank you to Forever for a free review copy. All opinions are my own.
I wasn't sure if I was going to finish this book, because it's been a high pain day regarding my hands, and holding a book has been a bit difficult, but I did it!
And it was well worth it.
Anita Kelly creates such a in-depth world, where you really feel like you're with Alexei and Ben on this adventure. I really enjoyed the dual POVs, and how you get to know each of them seperately.
Ben is such a kind soul. Seeing someone who is Portuguese in literature too, is amazing, and I am so glad it was there. I don't see many Portuguese characters in media at all, so it was refreshing to see this kind and caring Ben.
Alexei has just been thrown out of his family (his parents only, his sister is great), and his church. He was raised in a hardcore religious family, and when he told his family he was gay, they kicked him out. Which, is upsetting to say the least - but sadly expected. Many families will disown their child if they come out of the closet even now.
They both come to the PCT, looking for something specific, but find each other, and the story continues on.
I really loved this book. And I believe if you are reading this review - to go read it. It's so well done, and I am shocked at my audacity sitting so long on not reading Anita Kelly's works of brilliance.
I wasn't sure if I was going to finish this book, because it's been a high pain day regarding my hands, and holding a book has been a bit difficult, but I did it!
And it was well worth it.
Anita Kelly creates such a in-depth world, where you really feel like you're with Alexei and Ben on this adventure. I really enjoyed the dual POVs, and how you get to know each of them seperately.
Ben is such a kind soul. Seeing someone who is Portuguese in literature too, is amazing, and I am so glad it was there. I don't see many Portuguese characters in media at all, so it was refreshing to see this kind and caring Ben.
Alexei has just been thrown out of his family (his parents only, his sister is great), and his church. He was raised in a hardcore religious family, and when he told his family he was gay, they kicked him out. Which, is upsetting to say the least - but sadly expected. Many families will disown their child if they come out of the closet even now.
They both come to the PCT, looking for something specific, but find each other, and the story continues on.
I really loved this book. And I believe if you are reading this review - to go read it. It's so well done, and I am shocked at my audacity sitting so long on not reading Anita Kelly's works of brilliance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Death and Toxic relationship
kayles514's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Minor: Toxic relationship and Death
decklededgess's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trigger warnings: alcohol, death of family member, dementia/alzheimer's, emotionally abusive and toxic relationships, grief, homophobia and slurs, depression and anxiety, physical injury, religious bigotry
How do you explain a book that made you properly sob for the first time in six years... Like fully ouch my feelings were wrecked.
Anita Kelly takes on religious trauma and unlearning internalized homophobia in a very physical journey to self discovery as Alexei decides to walk the Pacific Crest Trail. His emotional development through the stages of grief of being disowned by his parents paired with him finally allowing himself the freedom to fall in love was the perfect emotional concoction of bittersweet. I found myself deeply relating to his journey of self acceptance, finally allowing himself to feel love and explore his sexuality in a way that wasn't formulaic or squirreled away like a dirty little secret.
Ben was also such a sweet lead. I didn't expect a POV for him because Alexei's story was the core of the book but Ben's path to healing from emotionally manipulative ex boyfriends was also a tender storyline that complimented Alexei's so well. In fact Alexei's story to accepting his softer self and Ben's story of accepting love that strengthens him were perfectly complimented in ways I didn't expect. I also really loved reading about Ben's family, his struggles with academics, and his nurturing tendencies that made him who he was.
Ben and Alexei are also both neurodivergent, which was delightful to come across. It's a new habit of mine to pick out traits in "grumpy" characters that code them as autistic (although the grumpy part is not always the case). So I was right on the money in figuring out Alexei is autistic. It isn't a central part of the story, but it's a central part of his personality that does get acknowledged later in the book. It was good to read neurodivergent plot lines that weren't the central part of the book. They make us who we are but they do not declare our whole selves. Same goes for Ben and his ADHD. That isn't explored explicitly in the story but the markers are there for anyone who can recognize the behaviours.
I love this book with all my heart. Anita Kelly has written some of the most exquisite books I've read in the past few years and I cannot wait to read everything else they put out in the future.
How do you explain a book that made you properly sob for the first time in six years... Like fully ouch my feelings were wrecked.
Anita Kelly takes on religious trauma and unlearning internalized homophobia in a very physical journey to self discovery as Alexei decides to walk the Pacific Crest Trail. His emotional development through the stages of grief of being disowned by his parents paired with him finally allowing himself the freedom to fall in love was the perfect emotional concoction of bittersweet. I found myself deeply relating to his journey of self acceptance, finally allowing himself to feel love and explore his sexuality in a way that wasn't formulaic or squirreled away like a dirty little secret.
Ben was also such a sweet lead. I didn't expect a POV for him because Alexei's story was the core of the book but Ben's path to healing from emotionally manipulative ex boyfriends was also a tender storyline that complimented Alexei's so well. In fact Alexei's story to accepting his softer self and Ben's story of accepting love that strengthens him were perfectly complimented in ways I didn't expect. I also really loved reading about Ben's family, his struggles with academics, and his nurturing tendencies that made him who he was.
Ben and Alexei are also both neurodivergent, which was delightful to come across. It's a new habit of mine to pick out traits in "grumpy" characters that code them as autistic (although the grumpy part is not always the case). So I was right on the money in figuring out Alexei is autistic. It isn't a central part of the story, but it's a central part of his personality that does get acknowledged later in the book. It was good to read neurodivergent plot lines that weren't the central part of the book. They make us who we are but they do not declare our whole selves. Same goes for Ben and his ADHD. That isn't explored explicitly in the story but the markers are there for anyone who can recognize the behaviours.
I love this book with all my heart. Anita Kelly has written some of the most exquisite books I've read in the past few years and I cannot wait to read everything else they put out in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Dementia
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