From the author of Love & Other Disasters, named a “must‑read” by USA Today, PopSugar, SheReads, and Harper Bazaar, comes a sparkling grumpy-meets-sunshine rom-com featuring two men’s sweeping journey across the Western wilderness.
Alexei Lebedev’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail began with a single snake. And it was angling for the hot stranger who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Lex was prepared for rattlesnakes, blisters, and months of solitude. What he wasn’t prepared for was 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.
Something Wild & Wonderful is published in the US by Forever and in the UK by Headline Eternal.
It will also be published in Germany by HarperCollins; more info to come on when the German edition will be available.
“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 (Starred Review)
“This is a romance in which affection, desire, admiration, appreciation and respect radiate from every page. It’s crystal clear from the start that Alexei and Ben don’t just enjoy each other—they are actively good for each other. Something Wild & Wonderful is so sweet and satisfying that you’ll want to read it again and again, just to experience the various journeys within its pages.” — BookPage (Starred Review)
“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. This steamy opposites-attract romance from Kelly is impossible to put down. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
Ben & Alexei’s Playlist ❤
Something Wild & Wonderful is the follow-up to Love & Other Disasters, and exists in the same universe, but can also be read on its own.
Thank you so much for your support of Ben & Lex’s story; it means so much to me.
While Something Wild & Wonderful is a romance, and contains all the ideals I most love about romance—humor, heart, and hope—this book also contains difficult subject matter. Take care of yourself if any of the following might be tough for you.
Content Warnings: familial estrangement due to queer identity; religion and strict religious upbringing (Christianity); alcohol usage; harsh homophobic language (used in Chapter 16); mentions of Alzheimer’s/dementia care; brief references to past toxic romantic relationships.
Anita Kelly 