1. Plot: 1
2. Characters: .5
3. Setting: 1
4. Writing Style: 1
5. Pacing: .5
6. Themes: .5
7. Originality: .5
8. Emotional Impact: .5
9. Ending: 1
10. Overall Enjoyment: 1
Total: 7.5/10
Goodreads: 3.5/5

A light, easy read. It's a trope that's been done a lot before (the "woman has traumatic life event and then goes on a wilderness journey") but I still enjoyed the story and Katherine Center's writing style—finished it all in one day.

“Getting what you want doesn't make you happy... Having doesn't make you happy: appreciating does; Happiness is more about appreciation than acquisition.”

I only finished this because it was for book club. I would have been happier to DNF it. Some people might like this, but it had several things that I hate in books. First, the main character is just a mess. She gets in her own way, is just plain mean to her brother and the love interest, and has no emotional maturity. Second, it reads like a YA novel. Angst is hard to stomach in an adult woman. The age difference could have been fine if the author hadn’t used terms like: he’s grown a few inches since she had seen him last, freshly out of braces, and hadn’t been able to vote in the last presidential election. Lastly, and most annoyingly, you shouldn’t write about a wilderness survival course if you have never backpacked before. And if you do, for Pete’s sake, get someone who has to read your manuscript. No one, except military lugging ammo, would wear at 79 pound pack, especially not a woman. You don’t rent hiking boots for a trip like this. You don’t climb a tree to hang a bear bag (you use a rock tied to a rope and throw it over the branch). They make biodegradable soap (you wouldn’t go without washing for 3 weeks and wash dishes with dirt). You would never wipe with a pine cone (there is biodegradable toilet paper and leaves would be better if that wasn’t allowed). The list is longer but you get the idea.

I loved this book. It made me sad at times and hopeful throughout. I was so invested in the characters.

I have enjoyed other books by this author, but this one did't make it past the 10% rule. I cannot read any more than 30 pages of baby brother's best friend flirting with her and their witty banter. Make it stop.

Blegh. Definitely not a book I'd choose for myself (or read again).

Helen, a bland depressed 32 yr old divorcée seeking to “find herself” while backpacking in the wild falls for a 22 year old (who is apparently really handsome & got straight As at Harvard & good at everything & gets along with everyone & turns out to be really rich). But he's liked Helen for years so it's supposed to work out? Anyway, she's a jerk to him most of the time (before and after he declines to have spontaneous sex with her). Then he kisses all the other female characters to “distract” himself from his infatuation with Helen. Super awesome way to start a relationship, amiright?

This novel lacked prose and was devoid of beautiful writing. It did have a tiny bit of actual good advice: happiness isn't having something; it's a state of mind you choose. Also the mention of neuroplasticity and retraining the brain is an important field that needs more awareness.

I'm pretty sure the author has never been overnight backpacking herself and just winged it.
First off, it's a 3 week “extreme” trek (where people frequently get seriously injured) that they let beginners do. Would not happen.
The author had the characters unable to bathe or clean themselves off for 3 weeks & they had to “wipe with pinecones”. Has she never heard of compressed biodegradable towels and camp soap? Or that underarm and groin chafing is a real thing and if you aren't at least wiping down daily you're going to be disgusting and in pain?
Then Helen (who is a teacher & loves taking notes and researching things) didn't research hiking or backpacking before her long trek. She doesn't even own a pair of hiking boots!
And her pack was 70+ lbs. She's 5'4".
The absurd list goes on.

The most unnecessary and stupid plot point was Pickle the rescue dog dying while Helen was away. Pickle was able to be checked out by her brother from vet boarding without Helen's knowledge or permission (that would never happen) and then her brother stored Pickle’s corpse in a duct taped bag (alongside his beer) in a cooler for days. But Helen forgives him almost immediately. What in the actual heck.

I wash my hands of this travesty of a novel.

Language: Several dozen of instances of h**l, a**, d**n (and their variants), and several uses of s**t, d**k, b**ch, and f-words.
Sex/nudity: making out, kissing, implied extramarital sex, reference to past loss of virginity and fornication, mentions of a book with BDSM
Substances: smoking dope, drinking alcohol
Other topics: divorce, miscarriage, parental abandonment, attempted suicide, death of a dog, alcoholism