3.5/5 stars. There was a lot I liked about this book, but overall I think it was trying to do too much and there wasn’t enough space to fully explore what mattered most in the story.

I loved the Pacific Crest Trail setting, but it didn’t feel convincing to me. There was very little focus on the isolation, physical and mental challenge, and self-reliance that non-fiction books about through-hiking always emphasize, and most of the hiking scenes felt like they could have been about day hikes or overnight camping. The characters spent just as much time in civilization and with other people as they did on the trail, and the life-changing nature of the experience was told to us rather than shown.

Alexei and Ben have complicated reasons they’re on the trail and serious issues they’re trying to work out in their personal lives. Unfortunately, the book spends much more time setting these up than it does exploring or resolving them. All of the characters’ major issues and feelings are worked out off-page and told to the readers through letters that only show the resolutions the characters came to, but not how they arrived at them. Because this is a romance, none of those resolutions were surprising; what mattered was the characters’ perspectives on what was happening, but the reader is denied even a glimpse of that. My connection to the characters was severed by this writing decision and the ending didn’t feel satisfying as a result.

Similarly, there were several times when the book brought up and resolved complex issues in just a few sentences, and it felt like a box-checking exercise that didn’t add anything to the story. Mentioning that a Black character talked to the MCs about racism on the trail without any concrete details, or having Alexei’s autism diagnosis mentioned in two sentences in the epilogue, does not do justice to these issues and feels dismissive.

As for the portrayal of Alexei’s autism, I thought Kelly did a good job treating Alexei as a person instead of a collection of stereotypes. However, as with many books about autistic characters, I felt at times that the focus was more on how Alexei’s traits were externally perceived rather than on his internal experience. For example, Ben seems to have a lot more thoughts and feelings about the times when Alexei doesn’t participate in group conversations than Alexei does; Alexei’s perspective never really explores anything beyond “we didn’t have anything in common so I didn’t say anything.” This isn’t to say that Alexei was poorly written; I just know from Kelly’s other book that she’s capable of nuanced, piercing character explorations and would have liked to see her delve more deeply into Alexei’s thoughts.

I also struggle with how Alexei really didn’t have any autistic traits other than social communication differences. Writing about disability is complicated because not every story with a disabled character is about the experience of being disabled, and disability representation certainly doesn’t need to (and shouldn’t) only show disabled characters struggling. So I don’t think writers need to fully explore every aspect of disability in every story, but at the same time, it’s frustrating to read yet another autistic character who isn’t shown to have any traits in any of the categories that make up the autism spectrum except social communication differences. It just doesn’t feel authentic, and reinforces the stereotypical view of “high-functioning” autistic people as socially awkward but otherwise no different from anyone else. That other potential traits were referenced only in an offhand way, like having Alexei’s only sensory processing issue being irritation at the feel of a motel comforter, isn’t enough, and shows a lack of understanding of how these traits actually manifest.

I think the autism portrayal here is more positive than negative, and I think some autistic readers will feel represented by it, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for from this author.

After Love and Other Disasters, I had very high expectations for this book, so maybe I’ve unfairly judged this book as a result. I just think Kelly is capable of showing how people work through thorny issues and would have liked to see more of that here.

The final 15% of this book took it from okay to great for me - I loved the letters so, so much and cried while reading a number of them!

I really loved how soft and tender this love story was. There wasn’t a lot of tension between Alexei and Ben, just a steady thrum of attraction and comfort, and while I loved the ease of it, I do wish a little more push and pull would have been added to their story.

I felt like the PCT aspect was done exceptionally well and I loved the journey that both men went on, both emotionally and physically. Alexei’s in particular was incredibly heart wrenching, but so fulfilling by the end. I didn’t love how the author pushed the characters apart at the end, but if they hadn’t, we wouldn’t have gotten the letters, soooooo….

All in all, this was a really beautiful strangers-to-lovers story with a unique, moving setting and a cast of loveable, easy to root for characters!

I knew I was going to love this book from the first chapter. Ben and Alexei's story was like a warm cup of cocoa. It made me feel so happy. And as someone who is absolutely an inside cat, I loved getting to live vicariously through them as they hiked the PCT. I feel like the conflicts in the book felt realistic, especially Alexei going no contact with his parents. This is something a lot of queer people have to go through, and seeing Alexei's journey of healing and finding himself was so wonderful.

Ben's family is what I wish all families could be. But I'm also glad to see that Ben's life wasn't totally perfect. He had his own stuff to figure out, and while Alexei helped him realize that, he didn't need to put that pressure on Alexei to fix everything.

I really hope Anita Kelly keeps writing books in this universe because they just make me so happy. Seeing queer joy is so important, and we need more books like this.

“They called it a trail magic, the things that appeared on the trail when you needed them most.”

It has:
Character growth and development
Family estrangement
Queer identity
Romance 💗
(Check TW)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Not normally a nature girlie - I skimmed through the nature descriptions at first (hi. I’m the problem it’s me). This was a lot more setting focused than the one other hiking book I read (All Rhodes Lead Here). By chapter 4, I was fully immersed and appreciated what nature-y adventure they were about to get into next.

✨ “Moving forward was different from running away.”

As I continued to read, I expected an outdoorsy book with a dose of romance but what I got was a heartwarming story of discovering oneself, the search for true family and dealing with the aftermath of being shut out from people you thought loved you. It was also a story of faith and what exactly that means.

It was also a swoony, steamy story between two different people who came into each others’ lives in the most unexpected time. Alexei + Ben’s journey was equal parts endearing, gut-wrenching & explosive in the best possible way. 💗

✨ “Mainly, I am sorry for getting so attached to you when I knew the whole time that I was broken.”

I thrive on happily ever afters; it’s the reason I read romance/romcoms. This story has one but it also doesn’t. And I appreciated that Anita Kelly wrapped it up this way. Their writing is so immersive, like one of those books you can pick up anywhere and not feel like you put it down at all.

Some of my favorite quotes:
🌲 “I don’t know where I belong, and everything hurts.”

🌲 “Rattlesnakes, at least gave you a warning. Mostly, like anything else, they just want to exist. Mostly, they just wanted you to listen.”

🌲 “And your interpretation of God is a tragedy.”

🌲”I came to the PCT to find this new version of myself. But sometimes, since coming back here, I only feel more lost.”

Thank you to Forever Publishing for this arc; all opinions are my own.”

Anita Kelly is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance writers. What a fun concept, strangers meeting while walking a months long hike. Both characters were great but Alexei has my entire heart.

Thanks to netgalley for arc.

I don't think that I'm properly capable of articulating how much I loved this book. It was deeply emotional, yet funny at the same time. Anita Kelly is truly a fabulous author. Their character writing was stellar; I loved both Alexei and Ben so much, and their relationship was adorable right off the bat. The pacing of the story was perfect, and the writing was incredible; this is truly a new favourite.

There was really something special about this book which follows Ben and Alexei on their hiking journey but also a journey to healing and self-discovery. I fell in love with the characters and how they encouraged growth and supported each other. Alexei was an absolute gem, dealing with his coming out, his distance from his family and how to move forward in his life as a gay man. Ben and his family were the beautiful counter to that with their warmth and acceptance.

What threw me off a little was the pacing of this book- it is not your typical pacing for a romance story, but then again this is not your typical romance so I can understand that. There was also a lot of hiking and talk about hiking, for those who are less-hiking inclined. Overall though, the feeling that I took away when finishing this book was a butterscotch warmth in the middle of my chest and the beautiful way that this author maneuvered a very difficult- and real- subject and for that reason I would recommend.

This book is a perfect example of how I like romance books. It is soft and swoony and so sweet but not saccharine. There's real baggage for each of the characters and struggles that they have to get through in order to be together. The writing is very atmospheric and as someone who would stay indoors all day if possible, the descriptors of the PCT were at the same time terrifying and beautiful. I could never but it made for a great setting.

I listened to this whole book trying to pinpoint exactly what it was about Alexei that I just resonated with and then we find out that he's autistic and yeah that tracks 😂

My favorite part of this whole book though was the last third and the letters. If you know you know. This felt so, I don't even know what the right descriptor is, but the entire premise of it plus the execution of the letters was just absolutely top tier. I loved it so much.

With the release of Something Wild & Wonderful, Anita Kelly has truly cemented themself as an auto-buy author.

It's only March but this is hands down my favorite read of 2023 so far. I could not put it down. Anita Kelly' writing is so cozy and sucks you right into the lives of the main characters. The plot was fantastic and the love story was incredibly heartwarming. Anita Kelly is an auto-buy author for me now!

Something Wild & Wonderful is not only a sweet, strangers-to-lovers queer romance, it’s a journey in self love and acceptance.

Alexei and Ben are both hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, trying to process their own traumas and figure out who they are. As they are on different internal journeys, I thought how they got to know each other and explore their histories was well done. The meet cute was unique and adorable, and I feel foreshadowed the types of people they are and how they compliment each other.

The setting was amazing, and felt like another character that I was glad to have in this story. I thought it was a fun and fresh way to “force proximity”. Not to mention the metaphor of creating your own paths, which was discussed towards the end.

While I liked the ideas of the letters in the latter part of the story, I did miss the detail and immersion into trail life that the first part of the book brought.

Thank you Forever for the digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Anita Kelly's last book, Love & Other Disasters, but this one completely blew me away.

Alexei Lebedev is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail as a way to plan his new life as Alexei 2.0. He came out to his family and his parents disowned him. He has a lot to figure out about himself as well as what he wants his future to look like, and months of solitude seems like the way to do it.

Ben Caravalho has always felt restless, and decides to hike the PCT as a last-ditch effort to get that feeling out and have a big adventure before he 'grows up', starts making smart decisions, and focuses on his career. He's sworn off men, because he never seems to make good decisions when it comes to love or lust.

The two of them spent months preparing for this trip—they trained, packed supplies, researched—but neither of them could have prepared for meeting each other, and the growth and love that they'd find along the way.

Both characters are so infinitely loveable, and the way they care for each other just melted my heart. They're funny and tender, and ultimately help each other work through some pretty heavy feelings of not being enough. I wish I could read this book for the first time, all over again. It gave me all the heart eyes.

grumpy x sunshine, friends to lovers with a hint of forced proximity?! oh my goodness, this was such an enjoyable book. alexei & ben had the best chemistry! it was a fantastic queer romance read. i loved it so much. 💕

Simply put, I am obsessed with this book.

Okay I’ll elaborate- I am obsessed with Ben and Alexei and Ben’s family and the Pacific Crest Trail and Ruby and Ben taking pictures of everything and their one word observations to each other. It was giving Nick and Charlie from Heartstopper and I LOVE THEM.

So Alexei has recently come out to his family and was essentially disowned by his conservative Russian parents. He decides to process this by hiking the PCT by himself, reflecting and journaling and absorbing the silence- until he sees a rattler and saves Ben from it. They run into each other again a few days later, at which point Ben is INTRIGUED and Alexei is convinced to walk together, at least through the desert.

Obviously it’s a romance, but their story is more than that. It’s a self-confidence journey, it’s a self-discovery journey; the end isn’t the end of the trail or discovering their true selves. The journey continues, and it made me hopeful, gave me butterflies, and gave me so much joy. Please do yourself a favor and pick up Anita Kelly’s Something Wild and Wonderful- you will not regret it! And thank you so much to NetGalley, Forever, and Anita for the eARC and physical ARC to squeal about wherever and whenever I was reading!

Anita Kelly is officially a must-buy after this!! Their characters are so human, they breathe such life into their settings, and their romances are so sweet yet so spicy! I adored Ben and Lex's journey to themselves and each other on the PCT. I devoured it in a day! Would 100% recommend. Time to go hiking!

5 stars

Ahhhh I loved this!! Everything about it was perfection. Ben and Alexei stole my heart and they can keep it! I wasn't expecting all the emotions to come out of me in this one!

I love Anita Kelly's writing so so much. It was fun to see cameos by characters from Love and Other Disasters! I thought Alex and Ben were so brave for hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I am not an outdoorsy person and this book did not change my mind on that. It's such a great place to set a romance novel though. But Something Wild and Wonderful is more than a romance. It's also about self-acceptance and found family and rejection and so much more. I really just wanted to hug Alex for a lot of the book. For two such opposite people, I think Alex and Ben complimented each other in all the best ways and it made their relationship that much better. Something Wild and Wonderful will make you swoon, smile and cry. It's a definite need to read.

Many thanks to Forever Publishing for an early copy of this book. It is out now wherever you buy books and this one is one you should for sure grab ASAP.

Fantastic read! The novel was a little slow at first, but I stuck with it. Something Wild & Wonderful ended up being a really beautiful story.

thank you to netgalley and forever for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review :)

where do i begin?? sw&w is the kind of romance that i want more of... a romance that tackles such heavy topics (tw: familial estrangement due to queer identity) while weaving in a genuine love story and healing from pain and grief. both of these elements share the stage so well that it's a seamless transition from each.

alexei is so so strong and works through so much grief on his pct journey. his journey with his faith throughout was one i have struggled with a lot and it was handled with such compassion and care. i love him! there needs to be so many other stories like his in every genre.

ben was also a character that i found myself hurting for, his reasons separate and different than those of alexei. he is like a a warm blanket on a cold night, comforting in all the best ways.

anita kelly wrote such a beautiful story!!!

Something Wild & Wonderful, is well, something wonderful! and in the wild! Alexei and Ben are both so lovely, and independently hurting, it warmed my heart to watch them find themselves alongside each other, while also learning so much more about trail hiking than I ever thought I would. I was not prepared to be facing my own religious trauma through a romcom, but it was so raw, and honest, it made my heart ache for Alexei, and for all of us who’ve gone through it.