SOMETHING WILD & WONDERFUL

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.