Something Wild and Wonderful

          

Title: Something Wild & Wonderful

Series: Nashville Love #2

Author: Anita Kelly

Publisher: Forever, March 7, 2023

Pages: 385

Genre: LGBTQ+ Contemporary Romance

Alexei Lebedev’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail begins with a single snake. And it is angling for the hot stranger who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Lex is prepared for rattlesnakes, blisters, and months of solitude. What he isn’t prepared for is Ben Caravalho. But somehow—on a 2,500-mile trail—Alexei keeps running into the outgoing and charismatic hiker with golden-brown eyes, again and again. It might be coincidence. Then again, maybe there’s a reason the trail keeps bringing them together . . .

Ben has made his fair share of bad decisions, and almost all of them involved beautiful men. And yet there’s something about the gorgeous and quietly nerdy Alexei that Ben can’t just walk away from. Surely a bad decision can’t be this cute and smart. And there are worse things than falling in love during the biggest adventure of your life. But when their plans for the future are turned upside down, Ben and Alexei begin to wonder if it’s possible to hold on to something this wild and wonderful.

Do I want to drop every single one of my responsibilities and go hike the PCT or the Appalachian? No. Do I wish that I had done that in my 20s? Also, no. Does this book make it seem like a really freaking cool thing to do? Absolutely. What a privilege to feel safe enough to do a massive hike by yourself. 

Lex has gone to the PCT to figure out how to live his life as a gay man with some pretty massive religious trauma. He has to come to terms with his parents' reactions, and how he feels about his own faith in the face of their hate. Hiking by oneself seems like a pretty good place to figure some of those things out to be sure. Then there's Ben who is just taking a break between finishing his degree and starting his career. And they can't seem to get enough of each other. 

I loved the everyday magic that this book lives with. That was the best part, the part that makes hiking cross country sound like something that I could actually get down with it. I don't even like birds, but I was halfway interested in birding while Lex was talking about his wildlife encounters. That's real magic right there.

Little bit of a spoiler, I love a grand gesture, and this was a spectacular grand gesture. I think the best part of it was that it wasn't only romantic. Don't get it twisted, it WAS romantic. But it was full up and I loved it. 

Ratings

Stars: 5/5

Spice: 2/5