This was a good read. I liked the idea of two hikers getting to know each other on the trail. There are some really interesting bonds formed on the trail and I could see this happening! The differences between Alexei and Bend were great... one quiet and wounded the other bright and animated. These two men mix well and there's enough on a connection right off the back for me to feel connected.

I've read books by Anita Kelly before and I really enjoy her work.

Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly is such a soft novel that conveys so much, as our characters, Alexei, and Been, spend the time hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Individually, the two embark on this journey to close one chapter of their life and start a new one.

Alexei is trying to reinvent himself. He's recently informed his parents that he's gay, and they've cut him off. He's not sure who he is without his family. He was also laid off from his job. So without any ties, he will use the hike to find out what he wants for Alexei 2.0. Then we have Ben, who spent most of his 20s not knowing what he wanted, and in bad relationship after bad relationship. He's finally figured that he wanted to be a nurse, and now that he's passed his exams is celebrating with hiking the trail.

I love how Kelly fills this novel with quiet moments, but doesn't sugarcoat life on the trail. Not only are there a lack of showers, but there are dangers that live among the beauty - for example the opening scene.

I enjoy Ben's experience for life, and Alexei's caution. How they are very much opposite personalities, but very right for each other. The forced close proximity of hiking together really gives the two a chance to get to know each other.

Though they are a hiking family of two, Kelly also takes the time to show us that they make friends along the way, sometimes they hike with these other friends, and in a way this expands their found family. Which helps to replace their missing family.

While this is not a coming of age novel, you do see how the characters grow into themselves, become more confident -either through the journey or in the decisions that led them to making the journey.

Anyways, these two precious beans must be saved from all dangers. Also there was a surprise epistolary section.

Content Notes: family estrangement, homophobic language, snakes (brief, but makes a wonderful meet cute)

I loved, Love and Other Disasters so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this novel. I was not disappointed. This book follows the two main characters Lex and Ben as they trek across the PCT. I never thought I would love a book involving hiking and camping but Anita Kelly has proved me wrong. I adore this book and the entire cast of characters.

The characters were lovable, the setting was inspiring, there was humor as well as serious introspection and facing real issues. It’s quiet and beautiful but also raw and real. I highly recommend this novel to all fans of romance. It is perfect.

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the eARC.

This book is adorable, I enjoyed it a lot even if it not my cup of tea at all. But I loved the first book of Anita Kelly, so I had to have this one either! And I totally satisfied with it.
The characters are well written and absolutely loveable, the plot is very simple but cute.
We need more stories like this.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the ARC!

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

When I pick up an Anita Kelly book I always know it’s going to be special. Happily, Something Wild & Wonderful lives up to that hype & it was one of my fave reads of February.

Largely set along the Pacific Crest Trail, this book is about two people connecting to each other as the miles pass & learning more & appreciating more about themselves. That self-appreciation offers some of my favorite moments in this book—we can do hard things, right?

With autism rep, epistolary elements, an adorable guitar performance, a consideration of what faith can mean to someone personally when members of that faith have exiled them, nature and therapy love, & strikingly beautiful final lines, this is a book to love.

5⭐️. Out now!

CWs: Parents exile Alexei from family. A bad sexual experience with someone who was “not so gentle. Not so kind.” Homophobic language.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds up the ebook in front of a flowering redbud tree & blue sky.]

This book is SO soft, earnest, funny, tender, and heartwarming. I cheesy grinned, cackled, eye rolled, and teared up occasionally. I love books that provide an emotional rollercoaster experience and this one did just that but in the best way possible! It’s such a good journey.

This is about two men, Alexei and Ben, who leave their respective homes to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in hopes to find introspection and healing during their journey. Their paths collide on the trail and after discovering how comfortable they are with each other and learning each other’s fears on the upcoming terrain, they decide to stick together on the trail. Over the course of the entire book is them sharing about themselves, them listening, learning, and creating space for one another. It’s beautiful and the way these two care for each other has me crying in the club 🥹🤧

There’s a dinosaur attraction visit, first margaritas, love for fruit loops, and gummy bears. A tender acoustic guitar Wonderwall by Oasis performance that will melt you at how soft it is. There’s autism rep. Plus so much more! Also, we get cameos from our favs Dahlia and London!

If you haven’t picked this book up yet, please do yourself a favor and do so because this book is truly 🥹🥰

CW: homophobia from parents, f slur on page several times in the scene, discussions of faith/reconciling with the church.

The title of this book is so fitting! This novel was wild and wonderful. I’m not sure if I would call myself a nature girl. I enjoy being outdoors but hiking for DAYS?! No cell phone service?! No daily showers?! No ma’am. Not for me. So I was skeptical if I would be able to truly enjoy a book about two people on a wilderness trail. Anita Kelly proved me loud and wrong. I devoured this book
In two days. Because I just needed to see if these two crazy kids ended up together. I loved Ben and Lex. Alsoooooooo I might need to go hiking and start listening to bird calls. Who am I??

I've been wanting to read a book by Anita Kelly and this one sounded fun and unique.
After Alexei comes out to his super religious parents and is disowned, he decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail to contemplate who he is and how to navigate his new life. He meets a handsome stranger named Ben and continues to run into him on the trail. Once they decide to travel together instead of alone, Alexei truly starts to open up and learn more about himself.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It felt a bit insta-love at times, but remembering that these two guys were spending hours hiking together helped me remember they had hours to get to know each other. I thought the author tackled Alexei grappling with his religion well. My favorite quote is "Because you might have been the one to bring me to church, Dad. But I go to know faith on my own. And your interpretation of God is a tragedy." I thought this was a really powerful line because it shows that Alexei didn't falter in his faith even when others tried to tell him his lifestyle was wrong.
I only have two complaints about the book and they are just my personal preference. I wish it was written from the character's POV. I feel like we would have better understood Alexei if we got to hear what he was thinking instead of reading about it. I also felt, at times, that the story had some details that weren't relevant which caused the story to drag a bit.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and gave it 3.5 stars.

THIS. BOOK. Y'all. I am almost speechless (jk I'm never speechless). The romance god's have really blessed me recently because this is another absolutely incredible book in a string of amazing romance novels.

In SOMETHING WILD & WONDERFUL, Ben and Alexei meet while hiking the 2500 mile long Pacific Crest Trail. The backdrop of nature and hiking was something I have never read in a romance before and I adored every second of it. Ben and Alexei had me hooked immediately. They are sweet and thoughtful and funny and HOT. The way that the used nature and hiking to bond and heal from some pretty serious trauma in their past was so beautiful.

I honestly could write about this book for way too long so instead I will just say - YOU SHOULD READ THIS. It is March but I already know this is going to be one of my favorite books of the year.

CW: homophobia, religious bigotry. Alexei was recently disowned by his religious family after coming out. Take care of yourself, readers. <3 (StoryGraph is a wonderful resource for content warnings!)

I inhaled this, it felt both quiet and gentle, while also hitting me in the heart strings. I took many notes as I read this, and am picking out my favorite moments, elements, themes, etc. as well as sharing some things that took me out of the story.


Things that really worked for me:
- This was the Wild book I wanted. Yes for hiking through your internal conflicts and having to sit with yourself for months. Love the premise and Kelly did a great job with describing the hike while also not getting overly technical or overly descriptive.
- I loved the quiet and calm moments between Ben and Alexei. ADORABLE.
-Dual POV really worked well in this. I loved that each lead had very distinct voices, and that things that one person might internally think was negative, the other would find endearing or positive. Yes yes.
-'Lex'
- Alexei working through losing his parents, understanding his faith better, and not losing his religion over his sexuality. I have the experience of the other way, cutting off all ties with religion over the hate it brings out of people. I thought it was a thoughtful element to include religion as such an integral part of Alexei, and that his hiking only made him feel closer to his god. Good for him.
-Online D&D gamers!
-Reading a favorite book out loud at camp together.
-Needing bullet points and excel spreadsheets to get feelings figured out
-Emphasizing that penetration isn't the only way to have sex, and that you don't need to be sexual to be queer.
-Alexei and his sister moments. Had me sobbing. "We've always been siblings, but when I get back, can we be friends?" Writing to his sister, so sweet. I love that Alexei did get to go through a personal growth arc during his hike. And that he did have a supportive sister on his side. He didn't have to be alone.
-I thought it was great to see the unsent letters to one another, and it added some great conflict of 'just talk to each other please! send that damn letter!!'
-Alexi 1.0 > Alexei 2.0
-Both boys go to therapy, we learn in the epilogue that Alexei gets asked about getting an assessment for autism, and that it wasn't a focus of his personality, he just was himself. After getting a diagnosis, he felt like he could understand his brain a bit better and get tools/language to help better advocate for himself.
-Mark Sanderlin did a great job narrating! Would definitely read more from this narrator.


Things I didn't enjoy:
-At times, it felt like Kelly was throwing in conversations and topics that feel relevant in the real world, but also were so clunky for the characters in the moment. I get that they wanted Alexei and Ben to be our competent intersectional and inclusive boys, but also adding in "what's your political opinion" at a family event and then never expanding or talking about it again felt a little performative? Throwing in token side characters that reminded Alexei to reflect on his privilege in passing felt performative? Let's dig deeper if we're going to bring things up. Include a conversation or insightful comment, give us a chapter about that character! If there's time to learn about the elderly hiker, Tumbleweed, there's time to learn about other hikers the guys ran into on a deeper level.
- I'm on the fence about using the f-slur, especially in 2023. And when it feels unessential to the story. I think Kelly showed bigotry excellently in Love & Other Disasters, where we knew that shitty things were being said without actually writing out word for word the hate. That's not something I personally enjoy reading in my romances. There's plenty of queer hate in the real world, it'd be really nice to not have to see multiple multiple multiple f-slurs used. This one kept going with the slur, and it felt gratuitous, and not like it was a pivotal moment for the lead. Alexei wasn't surprised, Ben was, other hikers yelled at them, the end.
- If we're going to read slurs, for the love of god, can we get a full explicit sex scene? This managed to be both kind of open door, kind of fade to black, and kind of explicit? I have no clue how to label it. There was some base grabbing, some opening up, some cum, and then fade to afterwards. Watching faces, euphemisms talking around the sex. Mentioning in passing that they had some great times in a hotel room back at a pit stop. I was also trying to think back on if Kelly has included explicit scenes in their other books, and iirc they did? This one could definitely be a me problem or could be a publishing decision. Just felt like with how much detail was included to the leads noticing things about each other, and how much description was included on the hike or in small moments together, there would be a more descriptive intimate scene.
- Getting a tattoo that reminds you of someone else that you aren't on good terms with is such a risky move. I'm happy Ben got something to commemorate his hiking, but did it have to be of a random bird you barely saw that Alexei said once in passing that he liked? Do it for you, not for someone else.
- I was hoping that "the big move" might have been both leads moving to a new place together, or Alexei moving to Nashville with Ben and getting to experience his family and friends and getting that complete family experience. I was glad that Lex didn't feel like he was running away (since he does that a lot), but also it didn't feel like he was too tied down to Portland.


Overall, this is a 4.5/5 star read. I really was in my feelings throughout this and couldn't stop shedding tears randomly. This was both emotional and very sweet, it was a romance but also some great reflection for both the leads. There's definitely a lot of religion in this, and while I didn't always agree with the choices made, overall, I loved Lex and Ben.

Something Wild & Wonderful is a poignant, atmospheric and thoughtful story with the loveliest, softest characters finding their way to each other and healing their hearts in the process. Ben & Lex are the sweetest characters and show the utmost kindness to one another. This story is full of hope and acceptance and Queer joy and love. Anita Kelly has quickly become an autobuy author for me. Both of their novels were sexy and introspective. I can't wait for what is next!

These two sweet men melted my heart and I adored their quiet, vulnerable love story 🥰 Ben and Alexei meet while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and slowly get closer as they walk hundreds of miles and help each other face their fears. I love that Alexei is quiet and socially anxious and that Ben likes him for exactly who he is. It’s just them and the wilderness and a hundred little moments of realizing they’re perfect together.

I love the setting of the trail and the quirky characters they meet along the way, especially Ruby ❤️

This is the second Anita Kelly book I’ve read and they are so so good at writing feelings. It makes me so happy when I find a writer who makes me feel everything. I cried because the book ended. Why do books have to do that to us?

Several characters from Love and Other Disasters show up in this story and it’s so fun to have them all together!! The next book will feature London’s sister, Julie, and I already can’t wait! Anita is definitely an auto-buy author for me now.

TW: Alexei is going through a lot since he finally came out to his very religious parents and they cut him out of their life, so if that’s something you don’t want to read right now, be aware. Luckily he’s able to find support and love ❤️

Thank you to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book for my honest review.

Thank you so much to Forever Pub, Netgalley, and Anita Kelly for the opportunity to read an early copy of Something Wild & Wonderful.

I came to this book having loved Anita Kelly's writing and creativity in Love & Other Disasters, and this book did not disappoint. What stands out to me is the nuanced and varied queer experiences that Kelly represents in their stories, allowing readers to find a little bit of themselves in each character and to feel seen. How lucky we are to have these stories available to us. This book is affirming, healing, wonderful.

I fell in love with Ben and Alexei. I absolutely loved the creativity of setting the book on the Pacific Crest Trail, with our two protagonists searching for themselves and for healing. You can absolutely tell that the author has a personal connection to the PCT because of the wonderful detail and grounding in the landscape and the culture of the through-hikers. The side characters serve distinct purposes for Alexei and Ben's journey, and they never feel superfluous. (I personally loved Ruby.)

One thing that I distinguishes this book from other romances I have read is that Alexei and Ben each get to pursue their own journeys as they are navigating their relationship, together and apart. As bittersweet as it can be, it makes you want to root for them as individuals as well as a couple, and it feels very realistic and grounded. The realness did get tears out of me, especially in the letters section towards the end. Ooooh, my heart.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, though this book comes with a content warning for homophobia and family abandonment, beautifully offered by Anita Kelly at the beginning of the book.

I absolutely adored Anita Kelly's first book, Love and Other Disasters, and was so so thrilled to get the chance to review this one. It has the same feeling that made me love LaOD and I was so happy to be back in Kelly's writing. The way the setting and plot interacted in this novel made it unlike anything I've read before in such a fantastic way. I loved how Ben and Alexei's characters really highlighted the differences in each other, which in my opinion made them even easier to root for. Also I did spend the whole book calling Alexei a neurodivergent king and having that confirmed at the end was super validating for me as a neurodivergent queen. My favorite read of the year so far, Kelly has done it again :)

Anita Kelly blew me away with Love & Other Disasters so I was beyond thrilled to receive a finished copy of their newest release Something Wild & Wonderful.

This book will take you on an emotional journey, as well as an actual journey on the Pacific Crest Trail (which let’s be honest I could never). This book showcases how brave it is to live authentically and open yourself up to love.

read if you enjoy:
❤️‍🔥insta-attraction
🥹friends to lovers
🌈neurodiverse rep
🥵close proximity

I received an ARC and I’m leaving an honest review.

I admit I was a little taken back at the beginning because I wasn’t expecting the book to start with them meeting a few sentences into the first chapter but OH MY GOD... It was the perfect balance between hurt and comfort. I spend most of the book tearing up because they were just SO SWEET, and then I spend the entire last part bawling my eyes out because of the angst.
And Alexei was so relatable to me personally, which only made me cry harder.

I need a physical copy to highlight and annotate and re-read over and over again.

OMG reading about a 2,000+ hike across the Pacific Coast sound so amazing but I injure myself at hotels so I am not sure I would survive lol. This sounds amazing and I took the train from Oakland to Portland so that kind of counts, maybe.
This was just the sweetest book! I love the idea of solitary people going out on those hikes for deep personal reasons and chance encounters on their soul search that will stay with them forever. Also they may even meet a person that finally gets them. What's more unique than a impossible hike, not many have that in common.
I just loved this journey the journey they both went on emotionally and physically. Another Favorite! Cause I Love - Love and Other Disasters!

🌈I will continue to say this forever. I will never understand how a family can disown their child because of who they loved or how they loved (Don't come at me with a poorly translated verse in a 1,200 page book, I've read a lot of it and pretty sure we are suppose to be focusing on the new section, js, wwjd not that; Matthew 7:1-3).
Love thrown away so carelessly like this is why I want to be a Free Hug Mom- I really need to sign up for that! Also, if you need someone to talk to I am here. If you disagree lets talk about it or you can unfollow that's fine. But I will never not support this community. This was written at the waterfalls.

Thank you readforeverpub for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"Something Wild & Wonderful" By Anita Kelly

I loved everything about this book! It was an enchanting story that takes readers on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, adventure, and love.

The author does an excellent job of immersing readers into the setting and painting a rich and vibrant picture of life on the PTC.

Alexei and Ben’s story is so sweet and I cheered for them the entire book. The ending 🥹

This is a beautifully written and uplifting story that I highly recommend!

This ARC was provided by @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Anita Kelly has done it again: given us a wonderful queer romance full of fun setting, well-developed characters, and a compelling main characters. they’re one of the best queer romance authors out there, and whether you’re new to their writing or an existing fan, consider picking up SOMETHING WILD AND WONDERFUL!

This book was a charming, cute, and well-constructed M/M romance set against the backdrop of the Pacific Crest Trail. Alexei and Ben, our lovers, are hiking the trail for different reasons — but when they meet, they connect, and fall quickly into friendship — and then into something more. But can their relationship thrive when they’re off the trail and back in the “real world?”

All in all, just a delight to read. Both main characters were charming and well-developed, and I was especially fond of Alexei! (though I did wish that the supporting cast had been a little more fleshed out.) The conflicts were realistic and fit well into the flow of the story, and I absolutely adored the epistolary section toward the end. And of course, the PCT itself is kind of the star of the show: it was so fun to read a book set in such a unique environment, especially as an outdoors enthusiast myself!

This book comes out TODAY, 3/7, and I definitely recommend picking up a copy; thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the ARC!

Alexei Lebedev and Ben Caravalho are the perfect couple. The Pacific Coast Trail leads to LOVE.

Something Wild & Wonderful is more than a walking journey, it is a personal journey of acceptance. Alexei has recently been disowned by his religious parents after sharing he's gay. He is trying to find his way in a new life without the love and support of the places he called home. Ben, on the other hand, is openly gay and his family embraces his love life. When their paths intersect in the wild, the love song of birds brings them together.

This is an authentic look at falling in love in world where being queer is viewed harshly by some and not so by others. I fell in love with this couple, and the journey each takes to be their best self for each other. This romance had the best happily ever after, crossing the bridge has a significant meaning at the end for Alexei.

Kelly has beautifully depicted the PCT, and I'm tempted to schedule a hike myself.

Thank you Forever for the advance reader copy.