Very sweet! Both of the main characters were very fleshed out in a way that I really appreciated. I also loved how Alexei’s journey really paralleled what he faced on the PCT, especially in the last part of the book, and I wished that this had been truer for Ben and also truer for the development of their relationship.

I, unfortunately, had to DNF this book. I gave it six chapter to capture my interest and it failed to do so. I found that the writing lacked a natural flow and the narrative seemed a bit fragmented and distracting. I liked the premise, but this one was just not for me.

I love Anita Kelly and will read everything from this amazing author. The first book of this series was a favorite of mine last year, so I was delighted to read an early release of Something Wild & Wonderful.

Reading about Lex and Ben's adventures on the Pacific Crest Trail is a swoony romp that also tackles deep issues. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

If I could somehow give this more than five stars, I would without a single ounce of hesitation. I went into this with no expectations, just expecting a cute story set in the good old wilderness but what I actually received was something far more magical than just that. The imagery alone is beautiful and I’ve personally never spent much time on the west coast but I could see it all as if it was right there in front of me. The vividness of the desert, the trees, the birds — it was like a painting being displayed.

Ben and Alexei are two very different people with different paths for their future but the connections feels seamless, soulmate like. They’re easily two of the most likable characters I’ve ever read. They thrive just as much apart, in their own povs, as they do together. I was endeared to them instantly and their love story had me shouting constantly with giddiness. There’s passion, anger, and a tenderness that pulls your heart in and doesn’t let go. I had to set my book down several times to just relish in how gorgeous it was. Watching them grow together and apart was so far beyond just a simple romance. They overcame miles, months, insecurities, and became new people by the end.

My own mother witnessed me crying while reading the last fourth of this book and said, “that’s how you know it’s good.” I connected to Alexei and Ben because they felt not only like people I would know but they felt like me. I’m the same age as Ben and have been through a very similar situation that it actually made my chest ache to read it all put down in words. While Alexei and I have struggled the same mentally. It was so genuine and I know there was care put into every word.

I truly can’t put into words how much I adore this story. There’s no singular way to describe it. I want to start it all over again. The way that Anita Kelly writes is a gift and it should be cherished and experienced by everyone.

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had some ups and downs with this book, but overall it was a lovely, heartfelt story of falling in love on the PCT. I'm going to start with the downs, just to get them out of the way. At the beginning, I felt like the characters were rather one dimensional and flat. That expanded and got better, and by about 20% it wasn't an issue for me. Additionally, (spoiler for ending) (seriously, go to the next paragraph if you don't want spoilers) (Ok, I warned you) the Alexei leaving without any communication scene felt wildly jarring for me. He had never been cruel up until that point, so having a reaction that extreme felt out of place and unwarranted. I almost didn't want Ben to want him back, since no one deserves to be treated that way. Anyway, that was my biggest complaint with the book, and it is a big one, but moving on...

To the good stuff! This was beautifully tender. Watching Alexei grapple with his family, and religion, and how things fit into his world was lovely to explore, and I felt honored to experience it with him as a reader. Ben felt a little more archetypal, but he was still a great character. Their relationship was so heartfelt, and I loved reading about it. Also, as a person whose childhood was shaped by Tamora Pierce, having one of her books as a central point in the story just made my day (though it killed me a little that Alexei was through-hiking with paperbacks rather than loading them up on an e-reader). So, to recap, this was an overall lovely read even if I had some issues with it, and I think it will be absolutely perfect for fans of "The Charm Offensive."

Give me allll the Pacific Crest Trail stories! Especially those with two people coming together to ensure the highs and lows of the trail and ~maybe~ find love along the way.

Something Wild and Wonderful is an adventure that unfolds between Alexei, an introverted nerd that is grappling with being estranged from his family after coming out, and Ben, an amiable newbie to the trail life with a fear of heights and an ability to pull stories out of everyone he meets. The boys hike up mountains, pass all sorts of (dangerous?) wildlife, and admire the beauty that runs from California to Washington.

As an Oregonian and avid hiker, I was thrilled by descriptions of several notable landmarks (both trail and food related), as well as the depiction of how this grueling walk can bring two people together so quickly. There were so many feels, all of them great. Don’t miss this emotional, gay romp through dust, snow, and forest when it comes out next year. Thanks to NetGalley for an early review copy, all opinions are my own.

I don’t even have words for how beautiful this book is. Alexei and Ben are two of the most genuine characters I’ve ever met in romance novels. Their journey really is something wild and wonderful.

Anita Kelly’s writing is just so emotional and beautiful, it’s impossible not to want to keep reading. At the same time, I didn’t want to get to the end because I wanted to have Ben and Alexei with me for a bit longer.

They’re both so precious. Each with their own individuality. Each amazing in their own way.

“Part II”, which is told only through letters, had me sobbing. The intensity of their feelings was so well explored in those pages, it left me wanting more.

This was the first book I read by Anita, but I’m definitely going back to read more of their work, especially Love & Other Disasters now.

I loved this book! I found Anita Kelly by way of Love & Other Disasters. I have been anxiously awaiting the next book by this wonderful author, and it certainly did not disappoint. I LOVED the banter between the two main characters. Additionally, some books are lacking diversity in the queer experience. There is no one way to come out, be queer, and find love. This is something the two characters must grapple with, and I loved that.

A wonderful, cute, read. As an avid outdoors person, I now feel drawn to go hike the PCT and find my crew.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the arc!

This book takes place on the Pacific Coast Hiking trail. Where the two main characters are trying to heal. Ben and Alexei have a meet cute and continue to run into one another. They eventually start hiking together.

Alexei is trying to find himself after the traumatic estrangement of his parents. While Ben is find himself after a toxic relationship.

This book contains the raw, powerful, and emotional journey of Ben and Alexei. It is a must read.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRHPbq56/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj3iqzOyFye/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Anita Kelly’s books so far have had an odd sense of emotional catharsis that I can never put my finger on. I barely relate to 30% of the characters’ lives and struggles yet I find myself letting go of a massive weight after finishing books written by them.

Something Wild and Wonderful is like kicking off a pile of heavy blankets to finally take a breath of fresh and unsmothered air. The pain and release of the book was deep and healing. I love Ben. I love Alexei. I loved everything about this book.

Two small changes: the line “lizard brain” comes from antisemitic dog whistles and the line “spazzed out” has ableist roots primarily against people with neurodivergencies. Neither were in the book maliciously and were probably just an oversight but should be taken out if there is still time to do so before final print runs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I immediately felt kinship with Alexai as a neurodivergent spreadsheet nerd, who loves the quiet and connects with minimal people.

I loved Ben's huge open loveable heart, how he slowly but surely coaxed Lex out from behind the walls built.

I loved how the story, while predominantly following Alexei's journey, coordinated so well with Ben's own journey.

The love, which was somewhat insta but not..(I don't usually like insta love) just worked here. It's something many people do, when you've been broken hearted, and you lack confidence, it's easier to get sucked into the orbit of someone else. But it morphed into this super aware, slow burn love of absolute acceptance of themselves and each other.

There were parts that made me smirk, laugh and many more parts that brought tears to my eyes.

The author dealt with really heavy topics of grief and loss of family after coming out in such an excellent way, highlighting that not everyone gets their preferred family ending, but that the individual can be okay with support from friends, found family, therapy etc.

The spice was perfect; enough detail to feel their desires, mutual consent, their discussions of what they liked or didn't, while highlighting the intrusive thoughts that are normal.

I thought the pacing was excellent, at first when they came together around 30 something % in I wondered where the story could go l, and while I thought the PCT setting was done so well, by not shoving 'nature is the best' etc down your throats I was a little concerned that the day in and day out of the hike would get repetitive.

The author broke it down into parts and the letter section just broke me. There's something about being able to experience some letters being sent, and some just written, weeks apart showing the characters growth...

I'm going to be thinking of this book for a long long time.

Thank you for the advance copy of Something Wild & Wonderful - I was absolutely thrilled to receive it because I loved Anita Kelly's earlier book. This book knocked it out of the park! Absolutely wonderful character development with fantastically loveable characters. I thought the setting was also wonderfully realized. Now I'm itching more than ever to hike the Pacific Coast Trail! Do not sleep on this title - go get it!

Quiet and shy Alexei meets outgoing and friendly Ben while hiking from California to Canada, and though Alexei had original planned to spending his time on the PCT alone, he can’t say no when Ben asks to walk with him. I was surprised by how lovely and warming the story of Alexei and Ben’s journey was.

Alexei tends to disassociate during social interactions and I had never identified that part of me in a character before, Anita Kelly does a wonderful job describing how it feels and where someone’s mind can wonder during similar situations. Something Wild and Wonderful has been added to my list of books that I will come back and reread every few years. 4.5 stars.

Pickle.

Pickle

A brief summary of Something Wild & Wonderful: Ben & Alexei meet while hiking the Pacific Coast Trail. They keep running into each other and are instantly drawn to each other.

Anita Kelly is my new Must Read author. Now this is a much slower book than their last book, but it works here.

This book has so much I look for in books lately: humor, realistic characters, tenderness. I loved reading it, & I’m excited to read it again.

(Disclaimer: I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

I enjoyed the premise of Something Wild and Wonderful and the characters of Alexei and Ben. And I love seeing the LGBTQ representation! However, the dialog wasn’t easy to read and just didn’t feel natural. It was hard to get into for me, but I’m still glad I read it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

A fun and charming story about Alexei and Ben who meet on the Pacific Coast Trail and are drawn to each other. Both of them have had some personal issues that led them to the trail. Ben is unable to see the many positive traits about himself after failed and toxic relationships. Alexie needs the time and space to figure out what he will do now that his parents have cut him out of their lives when he told them he was gay. I enjoyed the scenes from the trail meeting other hikers, the struggles along the way with weather, the trail and finding water. It was the relationship that grew between Ben and Alexie that was a joy to read. They both had many issues to deal with along the way. This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I’ll read more that they write.
I just reviewed Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly. #SomethingWildWonderful #NetGalley

I'm delighted to say that this lives up to the high bar set by Love & Other Disasters! Something Wild & Wonderful is a very loose sequel which follows London's friend Ben as he hikes the Pacific Crest Trail. Ben has just finished nursing school and is reflecting on the changes he wants to make in his life going forward. On the PCT he meets Alexei, who likewise is hiking the trail in an attempt to start his life over. Their chemistry is instantaneous, but as Ben learns more about Alexei's history (his ultra-religious family kicked him out when he told them he was gay) he worries that a relationship isn't what either of them needs. Despite the requisite misunderstandings and third-act breakup, this was a really sweet story about two fundamentally kind human beings falling in love and trying to work through their baggage, and I really enjoyed the ride!

I’m the couchiest of couch potatoes and yet I found myself entirely caught up in this opposites-attract queer romance between two hikers who meet on the Pacific Crest Trail. Ben and Alexai are each hiking for very personal reasons yet the attraction between them convinces loner Alexai to agree when extrovert Ben suggests they become trail buddies.

Even if you’re not an outdoorsy type, Something Wild and Wonderful exudes joy about experiencing nature. And while joyful and beautiful, the descriptions weren’t quite enough to entice me into hiking because she didn’t shy away from describing the practicalities like no bathrooms or showers plus bugs!

Alexai and Ben captured my heart immediately - so caring about each other even as they struggle with their own emotional trauma. Give me all of the hurt comfort with a sultry slow burn, please! Anita Kelly is so gifted with creating characters I want to hang out with - I loved the scenes with Ben’s family and friends. Plus it was nice to check in with characters from Love & Other Disasters.

I don't like romance so I don't read it often but Anita has created characters that I liked and felt invested in and the romance seemed secondary to me. The main characters are well rounded and seemed like real people that I could know. Their personal journeys while on their journey together were beautiful, and heartbreaking, and joyful, and just all the things you want to see from your characters.
This story is lovely and Anita's writing is wonderful. Highly recommended.

I loved this book! Everything about it was fantastic. The characters, the atmosphere, it was incredible!