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amandaboyer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism, Dementia, Misogyny, and Fatphobia
mmccombs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Sweet and lovely! I really loved how fleshed out and interesting each character was, their romance felt realistic and had great chemistry. I will say that I felt it was way too long and at some moments felt like a stilted handbook for how to have mature conversations. But it was otherwise cute and fun to read, the setting made it feel fresh and adventurous (even as someone who rarely hikes)!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
kellyallenpoe's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
daisy1_f's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Dementia, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Medical content, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
jareadforfilth's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
I loved this book so much, an instant all-time favorite, EASILY. Ben and Alexei are each sooo lovable in their own ways and I love them so much together too! I literally hate nature and this book made me want to hike and camp and just do it all!! There is definitely plot, but it is mostly character-driven and unlike many character-driven books, this one keeps up the pace in a way that is both refreshing and incredibly engaging. I was drawn in for the entirety of this book and loved both of our heroes from the moment we met them. Their arcs are also both so inspiring and beautiful, I can’t rave enough about these beautiful characters, and their friends both old and new are incredible too!!
It is also paramount to stress the beauty of the writing here. Kelly uses their words so impeccably and artfully, I was clutching my heart at the shear colors they were able to paint in their syntax. Props to the editing team too, I’m sure it was a team effort and it truly felt like art. I swooned, I became breathless, I cried, I cheered and felt joy. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Incredible rep, incredible storytelling, incredible characters, gallons of heart and some big nerdy moments with found family and healing? THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ.
It is also paramount to stress the beauty of the writing here. Kelly uses their words so impeccably and artfully, I was clutching my heart at the shear colors they were able to paint in their syntax. Props to the editing team too, I’m sure it was a team effort and it truly felt like art. I swooned, I became breathless, I cried, I cheered and felt joy. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Incredible rep, incredible storytelling, incredible characters, gallons of heart and some big nerdy moments with found family and healing? THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship and Terminal illness
carlyjaebee's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
kelly_e's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
Title: Something Wild & Wonderful
Author: Anita Kelly
Series: Love & Other Disaster #2
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Untamed • Affectionate •
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Alexei Lebedev’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail begins with a single snake. And it is angling for the hot stranger who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Lex is prepared for rattlesnakes, blisters, and months of solitude. What he isn’t prepared for is Ben Caravalho. But somehow—on a 2,500-mile trail—Alexei keeps running into the outgoing and charismatic hiker with golden-brown eyes, again and again.
Ben has made his fair share of bad decisions, and almost all of them involved beautiful men. And yet there’s something about the gorgeous and quietly nerdy Alexei that Ben can’t just walk away from. Surely a bad decision can’t be this cute and smart.
💭 T H O U G H T S
When a trusted book friend described and raved about this book, I instantly added it to my TBR and placed a hold through my library. When my hold finally came through I dropped everything to jump in. At the time, I was in quite a reading slump and Something Wild & Wonderful definitely changed that. I could not put this book down and fell absolutely in love with this story!
As an outdoor enthusiast myself, the Western wilderness of the Pacific Crest Trail was immediately transporting. The imagery - from the desert to the mountains, from the trees to the birds - all of it came to life. At times I even felt like I was taking the journey alongside Alexei. And as other readers have said, it certainly made me want to go hiking and see parts of the PCT.
But it is the characters that truly make this book shine! While I can safely say Alexei and Ben are opposites, they both are facing their respective life challenges. The heartbreaking reality of Alexei's reason for embarking on the journey evoked great emotion and I just felt an instant connection to his quiet, introverted character. The two men come together to help each other in ways they weren't even aware of and in the process being to heal. Ben's family and friends were also just wonderful.
The writing comes together in a tender and compassionate manner creating a purely magical story. The plot just made me heart happy. And even though the romance does happen fairly quick, yet it felt believable and sincere. There's no doubt Something Wild & Wonderful will be on my 2023 favourites list. It took me by utter surprise just how much I adored this book and it definitely made me was to explore more of Anita Kelly's work. I'd also be completely okay if Alexei and Ben got a sequel at some point.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• M/M romance enthusiast
• fans of Allison Cochrun
• readers who likes adventure
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Being still was powerful."
"There will also never be anyone else to take the place of my parents. Some parts of myself will always be missing. But you taught me I can find people. That there will be other people I meet in my life who will understand me. Who will love me. Who will show me how wonderful and surprising the world can be."
"Moving forward was different from running away."
Author: Anita Kelly
Series: Love & Other Disaster #2
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Untamed • Affectionate •
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Alexei Lebedev’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail begins with a single snake. And it is angling for the hot stranger who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Lex is prepared for rattlesnakes, blisters, and months of solitude. What he isn’t prepared for is Ben Caravalho. But somehow—on a 2,500-mile trail—Alexei keeps running into the outgoing and charismatic hiker with golden-brown eyes, again and again.
Ben has made his fair share of bad decisions, and almost all of them involved beautiful men. And yet there’s something about the gorgeous and quietly nerdy Alexei that Ben can’t just walk away from. Surely a bad decision can’t be this cute and smart.
💭 T H O U G H T S
When a trusted book friend described and raved about this book, I instantly added it to my TBR and placed a hold through my library. When my hold finally came through I dropped everything to jump in. At the time, I was in quite a reading slump and Something Wild & Wonderful definitely changed that. I could not put this book down and fell absolutely in love with this story!
As an outdoor enthusiast myself, the Western wilderness of the Pacific Crest Trail was immediately transporting. The imagery - from the desert to the mountains, from the trees to the birds - all of it came to life. At times I even felt like I was taking the journey alongside Alexei. And as other readers have said, it certainly made me want to go hiking and see parts of the PCT.
But it is the characters that truly make this book shine! While I can safely say Alexei and Ben are opposites, they both are facing their respective life challenges. The heartbreaking reality of Alexei's reason for embarking on the journey evoked great emotion and I just felt an instant connection to his quiet, introverted character. The two men come together to help each other in ways they weren't even aware of and in the process being to heal. Ben's family and friends were also just wonderful.
The writing comes together in a tender and compassionate manner creating a purely magical story. The plot just made me heart happy. And even though the romance does happen fairly quick, yet it felt believable and sincere. There's no doubt Something Wild & Wonderful will be on my 2023 favourites list. It took me by utter surprise just how much I adored this book and it definitely made me was to explore more of Anita Kelly's work. I'd also be completely okay if Alexei and Ben got a sequel at some point.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• M/M romance enthusiast
• fans of Allison Cochrun
• readers who likes adventure
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Being still was powerful."
"There will also never be anyone else to take the place of my parents. Some parts of myself will always be missing. But you taught me I can find people. That there will be other people I meet in my life who will understand me. Who will love me. Who will show me how wonderful and surprising the world can be."
"Moving forward was different from running away."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Dementia, Gaslighting, Death, and Sexual assault
familial estrangementsophieamreacher's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
I read this in one sitting and stayed up till 4am to finish this. Absolutely beautiful book that made me smile, laugh, and cry. There’s just such a sense of joy, sadness, and healing. I loved the characters and I respected their decisions which ultimately just made them a healthier couple. Amazing book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Dementia, and Religious bigotry
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
5.0
“I know you always talked about how I saved your life. But I really think, Ben, that you were the one who saved mine.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SOMETHING WILD & WONDERFUL is such a magical, magnetic, and a beautiful story of finding love in unexpected places. I started giggling on page two and I knew I was a GONER for Alexei and Ben. This book checks every box I want in a contemporary romance: fun concept (hiking PCT trail), diverse cast, multifaceted intimacy, humor, and emotional depth in characters.
Alexei is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to find out who the new version of himself, Alexei 2.0, could be. Ben Caravalho is hiking to take a break from men and get away from making bad decisions. A rattlesnake on the trail brings them together the first time, and as they make their separate treks through the 2,500 mile trail, their journeys intertwine. But maybe this is just the trail. Maybe none of it’s real outside this grand adventure. Or maybe they’ve found exactly what they need while trying to get lost.
🏕️ Queer Romance
🏕️ Portuguese and Russian MCs
🏕️ Autistic MC
🏕️ A BLUSHING NERD
🏕️ Introvert x Extrovert
🏕️ Strangers to lovers
🏕️ Forced Proximity
🏕️ FOUND FAMILY
🏕️ They write letters to each other 🥹
⚠️CW: familial estrangement due to queer identity, homophobic language, religion and strict religious upbringing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, Grief, and Religious bigotry
hendrixpants's review
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Religious bigotry