Take a photo of a barcode or cover
jennybuysbooks 's review for:
Something Wild & Wonderful
by Anita Kelly
Wow! I was not expecting that. This book warmed my heart, then tore it shreds, just to put it all back together bigger and better than it was to start.
This story is so special. It’s a love story in every sense of the word. Learning to love somebody else fully, but also learning to love yourself. I cried so much, both happy and sad tears because this book will get you in the feels. I felt every emotion that Alexei and Ben were experiencing so deep in my soul. Geeze, Anita Kelly can really write! Don’t get me started on their letters to each other. I was mush! The conflict in the story also made sense (although it nearly unalived me). It didn’t feel like the “it’s 75% through and we need something to cause drama that nobody would actually ever do” type of drama you see in some romance (no hate! I enjoy that too!). By that point, I knew Lex and Ben, and as much I didn’t want it to be so, I understood where each of them was coming from.
Speaking of Ben and Alexei, I feel in love with both of them right out of the gate. Ben is everything that intimidates me in a person. Outwardly confident, sure in themselves, can talk to any random stranger, but deep down they actually are as insecure as the rest of us. Alexei is almost the perfect puzzle piece to Ben. Quiet, nerdy, a little insecure, but stronger than anybody would ever give him credit for. Not only are they both extremely interesting characters on their own, but together, they are magic.
The setting was also absolutely perfect. The PCT became almost another character in the story. It was also extra special to me because of all the places I recognized from growing up in Southern California. I mean the detour to the Cabazon dinosaurs (I have a print of those little roadside attractions hanging in my house, so yes, I felt Ben’s excitement to see them)! The nostalgia was hitting hard! Anita describe everything so perfectly, that you don’t need to know these places to picture it all, but knowing them made it a little extra special.
I really enjoyed Love & Other Disasters but this was a whole other level. I’ll be thinking about for a while and it will definitely be a reread for me when it comes out next year.
I have more to say, but I’m barely coherent right now because I can’t believe how good this book was.
*arc provided via edelweiss
This story is so special. It’s a love story in every sense of the word. Learning to love somebody else fully, but also learning to love yourself. I cried so much, both happy and sad tears because this book will get you in the feels. I felt every emotion that Alexei and Ben were experiencing so deep in my soul. Geeze, Anita Kelly can really write! Don’t get me started on their letters to each other. I was mush! The conflict in the story also made sense (although it nearly unalived me). It didn’t feel like the “it’s 75% through and we need something to cause drama that nobody would actually ever do” type of drama you see in some romance (no hate! I enjoy that too!). By that point, I knew Lex and Ben, and as much I didn’t want it to be so, I understood where each of them was coming from.
Speaking of Ben and Alexei, I feel in love with both of them right out of the gate. Ben is everything that intimidates me in a person. Outwardly confident, sure in themselves, can talk to any random stranger, but deep down they actually are as insecure as the rest of us. Alexei is almost the perfect puzzle piece to Ben. Quiet, nerdy, a little insecure, but stronger than anybody would ever give him credit for. Not only are they both extremely interesting characters on their own, but together, they are magic.
The setting was also absolutely perfect. The PCT became almost another character in the story. It was also extra special to me because of all the places I recognized from growing up in Southern California. I mean the detour to the Cabazon dinosaurs (I have a print of those little roadside attractions hanging in my house, so yes, I felt Ben’s excitement to see them)! The nostalgia was hitting hard! Anita describe everything so perfectly, that you don’t need to know these places to picture it all, but knowing them made it a little extra special.
I really enjoyed Love & Other Disasters but this was a whole other level. I’ll be thinking about for a while and it will definitely be a reread for me when it comes out next year.
I have more to say, but I’m barely coherent right now because I can’t believe how good this book was.
*arc provided via edelweiss