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keraashley's review
4.75
I’m only deducting .25 because a little bit of communication would have solved the first almost break up, but the resulting convo and getting back to each other part was so good that I’m not even that mad.
Alexi has been disowned by his homophobic shithead parents and his dealing with finding himself on the Pacific Crest Trail, where he keeps running into Ben, who is using the trail to take time to himself and figure out his future wants and process a family death and a shitty ex-bf.
Them continually finding each other and then walking together and being honest and open and growing and vulnerable is so gorgeous. These men are so sweet and perfect for each other omg.
Alexi has been disowned by his homophobic shithead parents and his dealing with finding himself on the Pacific Crest Trail, where he keeps running into Ben, who is using the trail to take time to himself and figure out his future wants and process a family death and a shitty ex-bf.
Them continually finding each other and then walking together and being honest and open and growing and vulnerable is so gorgeous. These men are so sweet and perfect for each other omg.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
republicofben's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
5.0
A fast favorite of this year! This book tugged at every one of my heartstrings. I was so motivated to finish it by the end that I took a long lunch break one day from work to make it to the finish line. Highly recommended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Homophobia
marioosa517's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Mental illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia, Dementia, Alcohol, Vomit, Excrement, Medical content, Drug use, and Blood
vanhooon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
calvinjosephyork's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
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
4.25
This was just truly such a surprising, wonderful read. I didn’t expect it to be as powerful and compelling as it was. The prose was gorgeous too.
Loved the way religion and queer identity was explored here. Absolutely profound and really comforting.
However, this is a note to all authors, stop giving your romantic leads massive friend groups that are only around for a few scenes. It’s so much work to sort who is who when I’ve gotten like one description of their hair color. Just give them like 2-3 friends, it’ll be fine, I promise.
I loved our two main characters, but the cover art really threw me. Very uncanny valley and they also didn’t match their descriptions well. I had a hard time picturing Ben as the lean, scrawny one and so forth.
One thing I was not a big fan of was how easily Alexei was let off the hook. The letter writing chapters were so beautiful and might’ve been my favorite piece of the book, but Alexei leaving was so cruel to Ben. I think he was too easily forgiven. Personally, I think it would’ve made more sense and been more powerful to have Alexei made a grand gesture and apology to Ben. Why was Ben the one doing all that? And then on top of that, he knows how overwhelmed Alexei can get so a big gesture felt strange? I just don’t like how Alexei was let off the hook so easily just because of his personal hurt and trauma. I appreciated that Alexei addressed he should be the one apologizing but Ben just being like “Oh, you apologized in your letters, it’s fine!!” What the fuck!? That’s the second time that Alexei left Ben unexpectedly and hurt him. There should’ve been so much more of a conversation around “Hey, how the hell do I know you’re not going to do that again, Alexei?”
One thing I loved about their breaks apart was how great the writing was during that time. The first time there’s not an exhausting level of separation and they rekindle relatively easily, and then the second time, we get this GORGEOUS expression through letters. I couldn’t get over how good that piece was.
But!! I’m still mad that Ben was the one coming after Alexei. I also was lowkey hoping that the email piece would come back into play.
Loved the way religion and queer identity was explored here. Absolutely profound and really comforting.
However, this is a note to all authors, stop giving your romantic leads massive friend groups that are only around for a few scenes. It’s so much work to sort who is who when I’ve gotten like one description of their hair color. Just give them like 2-3 friends, it’ll be fine, I promise.
I loved our two main characters, but the cover art really threw me. Very uncanny valley and they also didn’t match their descriptions well. I had a hard time picturing Ben as the lean, scrawny one and so forth.
One thing I loved about their breaks apart was how great the writing was during that time. The first time there’s not an exhausting level of separation and they rekindle relatively easily, and then the second time, we get this GORGEOUS expression through letters. I couldn’t get over how good that piece was.
But!! I’m still mad that Ben was the one coming after Alexei. I also was lowkey hoping that the email piece would come back into play.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
gondorgirl's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
hijinx17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time - Anita Kelly is quickly becoming a favorite author!! So thoughtfully written, it's funny, emotional, hopeful, healing, and so much more. Fantastic found-family. Complex and well developed characters you're rooting for the whole way. Five stars all day long.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
spuriousdiphthongs's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
michelle_bernice92's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Religious bigotry
septi's review
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Could not put it down. Very cute, loved both main characters. Almost made me cry miltiple times from sadness and joy
Best book ive read this year so far
Best book ive read this year so far
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia