The Mountain Between Us

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

The Mountain Between Us is a work of survival romance. Ben and Ashley find themselves in extreme circumstances after the plane crash. They’re lost in the wilderness, with no traces of humanity anywhere near them. They have extreme injuries, lack food, and face the cold and the dangers of the wilderness. The novel explores their struggle to survive these circumstances, highlighting the resilience of humanity and their physical and mental strength when facing extreme circumstances.

One major component of their survival is love. For Ben, his love has two elements: his past with Rachel and his growing feelings for Ashley. Both help motivate him since he hopes to return to Rachel one day and also has a strong desire to save Ashley. This exemplifies how survival romance novels place characters in extreme situations that eliminate many factors of everyday life. They don’t have to worry about jobs, typical responsibilities, or any of the mundanities of everyday life; instead, they’re focused only on their survival and their commitment to one another.

One important component of Ben and Ashley’s relationship is that it isn’t based in any way on physical attraction or lust. Despite seeing each other naked, helping each other bathe, and even helping each other use the bathroom, they never experience moments of lust or physical affection.