there's just something about queer people healing in nature that gets me emotional. do i like being in nature? absolutely not. will i read about others enjoying nature and lose my mind about it? absolutely yes. i loved the idea of these two people finding one another and themselves on this absolutely wild hiking journey. no part of me can imagine taking on a hike like this, but i immediately understood the appeal to and how it would be healing to both alexei and ben. i really enjoyed both their separate and joined journeys in this book, and my sweet, sweet, alexei made me cry several times. while my journey isn't the same as his, parts of it hit so very close to home that i found myself crying and smiling simultaneously. this is such a beautiful book about healing yourself for yourself, and what beautiful (and sometimes scary) things can happen when you live the life you've longed to. [id: a blue fjallraven backpack with rainbow striped handles lies on the ground at the top of t...