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.

From page one the tension between Alexei and Ben is so intensely palpable. These are two people who want for each other immediately upon meeting and they spend the first part of the book hiking through the Pacific Crest Trail and learning about each other. They're both on their own journeys in life and after a while those journeys merge together and it's really lovely. While there are certainly very real subjects brought up, like homophobia, disownment and a general uncertainty/anxiety about life and the future, the characters and story feel very soft, even through conflict. I really enjoyed it.

I loved Anita Kelly's 'Love & Other Disasters' so of course I was excited for this one but it has such a different feel to it in the best way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly March New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

This book is a definite slow burn and moves along at a slower pace than I’m normally used to. Alexei is grappling with family issues that broke my heart and made me keep reading. I wasn’t too into the outdoors, snakes, rest stops stuff so it was hard for me to become invested in the story but I still thought it was a solid read. 3.5 stars.


Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

I absolutely adored this book. It took a moment for me to really get into it, but once I had the opportunity to get to know Alexei and Ben, I fell in love immediately. The conversations about mental illness, disabilities, and religious trauma all wrapped up into one made this book incredibly relatable.

Wow. This was a tender, beautiful, and moving story. I picked up Something Wild & Wonderful as a queer romance (and it definitely delivered that), but it also delivered poignant self-discovery and a story of inner growth. And while I have found conflict in the form of familial homophobia to be over-done at this point, I thought Kelly brought an edge of heart-breaking realism to Alexei's story. I absolutely can't wait to see what else Kelly writes and will be heavily recommending Something Wild & Wonderful to all.

The care and consideration that Anita Kelly uses when writing and developing their characters is so wonderful. Anita writes characters that you can’t help but love. Lex and Ben are such wholesome beings and they have the kindest regard towards others, even when they have not been treated with the same respect. Lex’s storyline was disheartening, but also realistic to how some members of the LGBT+ community are treated after coming out to those closest to them. Lex’s story was inspiring and once he found himself worthy of love, it was really beautiful to see his journey to self-acceptance and making meaningful connections. Ben was such a well-developed character and his energy was infectious. His family interactions and support were so nice to see and his friend group was great. I loved that we had an opportunity to see a crossover of characters from Kelly’s novel, Love & Other Disasters, as I really enjoyed that novel as well.

The writing and descriptions regarding the Pacific Crest Trail were so detailed and wonderful, I felt like I was walking alongside Lex and Ben seeing the landscapes and animals in real time. When I read Kelly’s author’s note and saw that Anita had completed the PCT, it really made sense on how their personal experience helped with beautifully capturing those aspects within the storyline. I was very satisfied with the ending of this novel and I’m so excited for more novels to come from Kelly, as I am such a fan of their work!

Thank you so much to @readforeverpub for the opportunity to read this arc copy in exchange of an honest review.

At this point I'll read anything and everything that Anita Kelly writes. SOMETHING WILD & WONDERFUL is stunning, vivid, emotional, and has such a strong sense of place you'll feel like you're right there with Alexei and Ben on their journey.

Alexi and Ben meet while they are hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail. Alexi is looking forward to a solitary 2,500-mile hike. He wants to process recent (upsetting) events, leave his old life behind, find some peace and answers, and start over with a new life as Alexi 2.0.

Ben is there to challenge himself and have this last big adventure before he settles down in his new career as a nurse. He’s not happy with past Ben who had unsatisfying jobs, failed relationships, and made bad decisions (especially about men.) Hiking the trail will fill him with pride and accomplishment and let him springboard into his new life.

Alexi isn’t looking for a hiking companion. Ben isn’t looking to be tempted by a handsome guy. Alexi is quiet, awkward, anxious, introverted, and kinda grumpy. Ben is talkative, outgoing, extroverted, and full of sunshine! (They’re perfect for each other.)

I loved their journeys, both physically hiking the trail and the emotional paths they travel. The varying sense of place as they trek is wonderful. I know I’ll never hike the PCT, but I got a small taste of it through their eyes. The author gives Alexi and Ben space to process past trauma, room to grow, and time after their conflict to do the emotional labor needed to be ready to come back together. This time apart was so heartbreaking yet necessary, and I loved how the author structured this section of the book. Ben and Alexi’s happy ending is so well earned and worth every heartbreak along the way!

A beautiful, tender, and thoughtful portrayal of falling in love and finding yourself at the same time. Both Alexei and Ben are very endearing characters, but Alexei in particular spoke to me so deeply. I loved Anita Kelly's portrayal of Alexei as being a bit out of sync with people sometimes, and I loved how much Ben loved that about him. It made me, as a quiet, out-of-sync weirdo myself, feel so seen. Ben and Alexei are such a wonderful match and I enjoyed watching their relationship blossom.

Plus, their hiking journey was riveting to read about, as someone who knows very little about the whole hiking thing!

My heart feels so full after reading this book.

THE PREMISE
Alexei and Ben meet hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. While very different reasons brought each of them to the trail, they're both (literally and figuratively) trying to find their way forward following recent events in their lives. Alexei recently came out to his extremely religious family, while Ben recently got out of a toxic relationship. Despite trying resist each other to accomplish what they came for, they're drawn together.

MY REVIEW
I absolutely devoured this book. I loved Anita's writing. The pacing was superb and the character development was fantastic. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. It's a love story but also so much more than that. Seeing how Alexei and Ben supported each other and grew individually throughout the book was so special. They are so tender and vulnerable but also fierce and brave. It's amazing how there are so many small, unforgettable moments that pay off in big ways. The dots are connected beautifully and in such a nuanced way, you don't have to work to 'buy in.'

As a nature lover and hiker, I immediately wished I was headed out to hike the PCT. You feel like you're on the trail with them. It also must be mentioned how great the supporting cast of characters was. Even if the encounters are brief, they make an impression. And finally, it does lean insta-love which I'm not a huge fan of but Anita got my totally on board somehow.

I had only a couple of minor gripes. It was dual POV which I loved but being in third person it got a little clunky at times switching between each MC. The characters also feel a bit younger than their age at times but it wasn't glaring.

Overall, everyone should read this book. It's heartwarming with some spice that will have you wondering why you hadn't read it sooner.

TWs: bigotry, family illness/loss, homophobia, toxic relationships, family estrangement

I have what might not be a popular opinion about this one… I didn’t like it - at first! I have to admit it took me more than halfway through to warm up to it. The first half of the book is necessary to build the foundation of the characters… but it was slow, it was boring, and I was ready to give up (I put it aside a few times). If there weren’t so many other Bookstagrammers posting how much they all loved it, I’d have DNF - and I never, ever DNF. It took me a lot longer than it normally would have to read, because it didn’t keep my attention - at least, the first half.

I know I struggled with Kelly’s previous book (Love & Other Disasters), but eventually found my way through and also by the end, enjoyed it enough. I guess it just takes me until the very end to properly connect to their writing style! I did like the last half, really more the last third of this one quite a bit (told a lot in letters). I also quite enjoyed the part that took place in Nashville, which featured the characters from the first book, London and Delilah, and talked about the cooking competition show they were on.

The found family, the struggle with identity and self-love - all great themes. The love that Ben and Alexei had for each other? That was beautiful. I just wish Alexei didn’t have to search for anything like he did in the first place (tears my heart up, as the sister of a “Ben”, myself - from a very accepting family)! Why can’t the world just accept everyone as they are?!?

I do recommend this one, for people going in know it’s a very slow set-up, slow burn, but ends up being a beautiful, emotional love story.

I received an advance review and listen copy from NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Hachette Audio, and this is my honest feedback.