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A review by winds0fchange19
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
This was my first book of Anita Kelly’s and honestly, they’ve blown me away and I will read every book they ever write from now on.
This book was captivating from the very beginning. Being told from both Alexei and Ben’s POV was definitely a good decision and I’m glad we got to see this story told from both of their perspectives. It was beautiful and thoughtful and I absolutely fell in love with both. At this point, I don’t know which character I love more! They’re both unique, have their own voices, and have well fleshed out personalities. I loved that they’ve included cultural references for both of their respective cultures as well as the inclusion of both Russian and Portuguese language that feels immersive and doesn’t break up the text. It does not feel as if it were included for the sake of diversity, but that the author truly took the time to get to know their own characters and share them with the reader in ways that makes you easily fall in love with them.
Another thing I absolutely loved was how well Alexei was written especially. I was not shocked at all to find out about theautism diagnosis. The way the author has taken the time to lovingly craft this character, to understand how his mind works, and show us who he is was beautiful. Waiting until the very end of the book to reveal this to us, and to Alexei, was a decision I can fully stand behind. I am so happy to have been able to learn and love Alexei as he is and understand exactly who he is without it being explicitly stated right away. As someone with similar diagnosis's, it means the world.
On top of it all, Anita’s love for nature and hiking was so obvious throughout. This was so beautifully written, so inspiring, and you can tell they’ve got the knowledge to back up the story. It’s real, they’ve not made it out to be an easy walk in the park, but instead a challenge. The way these characters have grown both together and apart during their respective journeys was inspiring to read and honestly, it left me wanting to hike the PCT myself. I loved this book and I can’t wait to pick it back up for a reread already.
This book was captivating from the very beginning. Being told from both Alexei and Ben’s POV was definitely a good decision and I’m glad we got to see this story told from both of their perspectives. It was beautiful and thoughtful and I absolutely fell in love with both. At this point, I don’t know which character I love more! They’re both unique, have their own voices, and have well fleshed out personalities. I loved that they’ve included cultural references for both of their respective cultures as well as the inclusion of both Russian and Portuguese language that feels immersive and doesn’t break up the text. It does not feel as if it were included for the sake of diversity, but that the author truly took the time to get to know their own characters and share them with the reader in ways that makes you easily fall in love with them.
Another thing I absolutely loved was how well Alexei was written especially. I was not shocked at all to find out about the
On top of it all, Anita’s love for nature and hiking was so obvious throughout. This was so beautifully written, so inspiring, and you can tell they’ve got the knowledge to back up the story. It’s real, they’ve not made it out to be an easy walk in the park, but instead a challenge. The way these characters have grown both together and apart during their respective journeys was inspiring to read and honestly, it left me wanting to hike the PCT myself. I loved this book and I can’t wait to pick it back up for a reread already.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia