Scan barcode
A review by calvinjosephyork
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly
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