Of a thousand lives stacked up on top of each other.” – Simon “I know I’ll never love anyone like I love Baz. Whereas Wayward Son was very much a cross-country adventure that feelings had to take a back seat to, emotions are entirely at the forefront of Any Way the Wind Blows. Snarky comments are punctuated with kisses and certainty, rather than raised wands and fists. They still hold fast to the important roots of their relationship, but their combative and uncertain edges with one another have finally softened into something comfortable and beautiful. Simon and Baz both feel so wonderfully fleshed out and characterized after all that we’ve seen them through. Any Way the Wind Blows finally delivers all of the beautiful, wonderful, soft, heartbreaking, tearful, incredible (and dare I say spicy) Simon and Baz moments that we’ve all been patiently waiting for. And then a cavernous chasm opened up between them throughout Wayward Son after their brief honeymoon period. Or even the friends stage, for that matter. I need Baz’s lovesick pining and Penny’s snappy commentary like I need air.), but it also means that most of the first impressions of Baz and Simon were painted through the eyes of a pair of enemies-to-lovers who had yet to reach the lovers stage. It works so well for this series (I honestly can’t imagine reading this story only from Simon’s perspective. In Carry On, we spent a lot of time getting to know everyone through Rowell’s use of ever-shifting character perspectives.

Rowell has spent years building up to the events of this book, and finally seeing them all play out feels like a metaphorical dam of feelings is bursting open and spilling out inside of you.

My immediate thoughts upon turning the final page of Any Way the Wind Blows were that I felt completely and entirely emotionally flayed … but in the best way possible. Warning: Spoilers for Any Way the Wind Blows to follow.

Carry on simon and baz