Something Wild & Wonderful

by Anita Kelly

Overview

From the author of Love & Other Disasters comes a sparkling sullen-meets-sunshine romance featuring two men's sweeping journey across the Western wilderness. 

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538754887
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	33,807
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Originally from a small town in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Anita Kelly now lives in the Pacific Northwest with their family. A teen librarian by day, they write romance that celebrates queer love in all its infinite possibilities. Whenever not reading or writing, they’re drinking too much tea, taking pictures, and dreaming of their next walk in the woods. They hope you get to pet a dog today.

To learn more, visit:
AnitaKellyWrites.com
Twitter @daffodilly
Instagram @AnitaKellywrites

Editorial Reviews

10/24/2022

This appealing contemporary romance from Kelly (Love & Other Disasters) has Alexei Lebedev meeting Ben Caravalho while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Sheltered Alexei came to the PCT to find a “new version of himself” after his conservative parents cut him out of their lives for coming out as gay. Out and proud Ben develops a growing attraction to “Lex” as their paths keep crossing—including in one memorable scene when the men curl up in a tent together while an animal howls outside. Their relationship becomes definitively romantic when they head into town for a real dinner—and share a real bed—but both fear their fling may only last the length of the trek. When Ben asks Lex to pause his journey and come home to Nashville with him for some family celebrations, Lex reluctantly agrees. The trip is beneficial to both—until Ben gets an irresistible job offer that derails both his plan to complete the PCT and his budding love with Lex. The leisurely pace and heartfelt bond between the guys makes for pleasant, swoony reading. Kelly should win some new fans with this one. Agent: Kim Lionetti, Bookends Literary. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"A gorgeous, curative read about the new identities people create by giving themselves permission to heal from the pain of the past and what can be discovered as they immerse themselves in the vast, untamed, wonderful wilderness. A deeply satisfying, romantic story worth getting lost in."

—Kirkus

“Brimming with tenderness, hope, humor, and healing, this romance is truly something wild and wonderful. A must-read for those looking for stories with a big heart.”—Ashley Herring Blake, author of Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

"Something Wild & Wonderful is my favorite kind of romance, a tender, achingly beautiful journey of love and healing—harrowing passages through grief, thrilling ascents of growth, that glorious vista of recognition that these two people are exactly where they're supposed to be, exactly as they are, learning to love themselves, to love another, to let themselves be loved, too."—Chloe Liese, author of Two Wrongs Make a Right

“I can’t get enough of Anita Kelly’s writing. As I followed Ben and Alexei on their journey, I was enthralled by the palpable care and tenderness that went into both the tiniest details and the most sweeping emotions, creating a stunning romance that feels epic and intimate all at once. Something Wild & Wonderful made my heart ache in the best way possible.”—Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake it in Hollywood

"A heart-tugging triumph! Every step Ben and Alexei take on the Pacific Coast Trail reverberates with vulnerability, adventure, and sweaty, crackling tension. Something Wild & Wonderful is the rare romance where the characters feel like new friends and also kindred souls you've known your whole life. Kelly never fails to bring the perfect combination of humor, swoons, and grounded emotion."—Timothy Janovsky, author of Never Been Kissed

"Filled with unforgettable and shimmering moments of hope, bravery, and the reminder to live life as authentically as possible, Anita Kelly’s Something Wild & Wonderful overflows with a soft but undeniably sexy tenderness – one that shines with the magic of falling in love on your own terms."

—Chip Pons

“Kelly crafts an absolutely engrossing love story... It's a celebration of living our lives fully as ourselves—the courage that requires but also the abundant rewards. Can you give a book a Michelin star? A+”—Entertainment Weekly on Love & Other Disasters

"A delicious confection of a story: savory, succulent and also a bit salty in spots...The only bad thing about this book is that even after you’ve gorged on the whole thing, it’ll leave you wanting more."—Bookpage, starred review on Love & Other Disasters

"This chef’s-kiss debut that brilliantly explores the idea of being true to yourself with insight and compassion. In between all the deliciously snarky wit, simmering sexual chemistry, romantic yearning, and quippy banter, Kelly also delivers some moments of romantic hope and happiness that will long resonate with readers."—Booklist, starred review on Love & Other Disasters

“Kelly will whet your appetite from the first page, capping off the wonderful feast with the absolute sweetest of happy-ever-afters.”—Kirkus, starred review on Love & Other Disasters

"A stunning debut."—Library Journal, starred review on Love & Other Disasters

"This debut is delicious in every way."—Buzzfeed Books

"Love & Other Disasters is by turns funny, sweet and hot, but Anita Kelly's emotional river runs deep—this romance will stay with readers long after they've turned the last page. A deeply emotional yet buoyant romantic comedy about finding love and self."—Shelf Awareness

“A sweet debut… a nonbinary protagonist in a mainstream romance is cause for excitement and the characters spark with chemistry. The heartwarming result will leave readers eager for more from Kelly.”—Publishers Weekly on Love & Other Disasters

"Sweet and sexy and wholly delicious. I'm head over heels for these two delightful disasters—three if you count Dahlia's magnificent hair as a separate character. Anita Kelly writes with tremendous warmth and care, and these pages shine with joy."—Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk

"With only one book, Anita Kelly has landed among my all-time favorite authors."—Meryl Wilsner, author of Something to Talk About

“Kelly writes wildly charming, exquisitely vibrant, and achingly tender prose and has a unique gift for making readers feel safe, loved, and understood within her pages. This story is both fantastically fun and crack your heart wide open vulnerable. I can’t wait to buy it for everyone I’ve ever met.” —Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2023

Alexei Lebedev has only been hiking the Pacific Coast Trail for a few miles when he meets Ben Caravalho. Awkward and quiet, Alexei intended to do the trail solo, but Ben creeps under his guard with kindness and, well, hotness. Ben is hiking the PCT as an adventure—his last before settling into a new career. He didn't mean to fall for Alexei. But the quiet hiker is cute and smart, and Ben can't resist, no matter how hard he tries. Hiking together, the duo form a friendship, then a romance, one that lifts both up at a time when they need it most. Alexei and Ben are likable, relatable characters written with great depth and emotion. Both are carrying more baggage on their journey than just their packs, and readers will laugh and cry with them as they learn to share the load. VERDICT This steamy opposites-attract m/m romance from Kelly (Love & Other Disasters) is impossible to put down. Highly recommended.—Heather Miller Cover

Library Journal

★ 2023-01-12
Two men meet while hiking in the West Coast wilderness.

Many people hike the Pacific Crest Trail every year, and they each have their own motivations. Alexei Lebedev has already resigned himself to his journey being a mostly solitary affair—leaving room for the occasional small talk shared with fellow travelers, of course. That all changes when he meets Ben Caravalho, a handsome stranger with gloriously unruly hair and a dazzling personality. What could have been merely a passing encounter turns into more as Alexei keeps running into Ben, over and over, until the two decide it simply makes more sense for them to hike together than apart. There's no denying the attraction between them, but there are complications. Alexei is still coming to grips not only with being gay, but being out, and Ben's history with a vastly supportive family couldn't be more different. But the more they walk, the more Alexei finds himself willing to try on a number of levels—opening up, embracing the sides of himself he's been afraid to acknowledge, and being honest about what he's feeling—for Ben's sake as well as his own. Meanwhile, Ben is coming off of a string of bad relationship decisions, but even he can't deny the fact that Alexei has carved out a unique niche in his heart. Kelly has crafted a gorgeous, curative read about the new identities people create by giving themselves permission to heal from the pain of the past and what can be discovered as they immerse themselves in the vast, untamed, wonderful wilderness.

A deeply satisfying, romantic story worth getting lost in.

Kirkus Reviews