i keep thinking about Alexei and Ben even though I finished this book a spell ago. I want to share this one with my spouse, who I think would really really appreciate the utter awe the author brings to the characters as they trek the Pacific Crest Trail. The little details that appreciate the beauty, the risk, and the sense of accomplishment that can come from tackling such an epic quest. He'd really connect with that, and I think so many readers will too.

As a VERY lapsed Catholic, I found Alexei's connection to his Christian faith one that is lovely, and what I hope folks who find comfort and belonging in their religion also feel. He has been hurt by his parents' religion, but he still finds his place in his way, with time and distance and healing. Alexei isn't fully healed from the traumas and rejections of his past, but he's working on it.

As for the romance, Alexei and Ben's relationship was so soft and so wonderous, and horny in a very fun way. I loved how they opened up to each other over the course of the book, and really loved Ben's family so much - and while it hurt to see Alexei hurting over how open, loving, and accepting Ben's family (both blood and found) is, seeing that struggle and the culminating HEA was worth the pain (if that makes sense). Ben's struggle with school, his career//life choices, being a "slut" as his friends' described him, it was great to see him too finding his way and believing that he is worth everything, and not to accept less.

There's an epistolary element at the end that I won't spoil, and a tattoo as well, and really this one will stick with me for a long while.

I did start by listening to this, and the narrator did a decent job (not my fav ever) but for a single narrator doing two distinct characters it did work. I did switch over to print to finish.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC