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imds's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Abandonment, Death, Dementia, Grief, and Toxic relationship
the_vegan_bookworm's review
- 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
4.5
I do wish the autism was better explored, instead of being implied and then added in the epilogue. It felt obvious that it was where the author was going but I wish there had been some earlier discussions on the subject to really work it into the message being put out.
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Homophobia
Minor: Toxic relationship
madisongturner's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Abandonment
nevawink's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Dementia
amandaboyer's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism, Dementia, Misogyny, and Fatphobia
finesilkflower's review against another edition
3.75
As a nature lover, I love the idea of a romance set on the Pacific Coast Trail. It is a romanticized view, but that is what you are here for in a romance!
The romance is sweet, and the characters are likable and complement each other well. Both characters are painfully earnest and endlessly tender. The main problem I suppose is that it's difficult to imagine why these characters who genuinely adore and want the best for each other would have a book-level of relationship conflict, and as a result Kelly has given them both a level of insecurity and angst that it is actually pretty difficult to deal with (both in technical/authorial terms of being able to resolve it by the end of the book and for me personally as a reader). It sort of felt like Kelly was resolving on "he walks on the trail for a long time and then feels like a different person" to do a lot of work.
Random Observations:
* Alternating POV is one of my romance pet peeves but it's SO common.
* I can't confirm this, but the appearance and demeanor of Alexei led me to imagine he's modeled on the autistic-coded CEO character Evan Speck from Freeform's "Good Trouble" - the softer version of the character who loved turtles, before the soap opera wiped his memory.
* Feels like there was a missed opportunity for Ben to patch up an injury of Alexei's and engage in some hurt/comfort.
* I like that the pining portion of the book isn't the whole thing and they actually move onto a relationship which is more interesting.
* The book contains scenes of sexual tension and sex scenes; I am not sure if I am just bringing my graysexuality to this book, but the sexiness didn't really land with me. It just kind of felt like the tone of scenes randomly shifted between sexiness, tenderness, angst, etc.
What kills me is that there are COMPLETELY genuine romance conflicts you could put in the book without having the two characters be this messy. Ben's job could have created a serious roadblock even if they had been open and communicative about it. Alexei's relationship inexperience and/or neurodivergence could have created communication barriers or expectation gaps. The book could have covered the difficulty of translating an intense trail experience to the real world. I suppose I just felt that Alexei's second abandonment of Ben crossed the Relationship Feasability Event Horizon, so by the end I didn't even want them to get together.
* Dark-eyed juncos are pretty?? Compared to TANAGERS?????
Moderate: Abandonment and Homophobia
daisy1_f's review
- 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
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
kshertz's review
- 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
Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Abandonment, and Sexual content
lowkeymarie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship
jareadforfilth's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship and Terminal illness