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BOOKWORM REVIEW: Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron

 

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.5
SPICE: 🔥🔥

Sometimes finding love is all about timing.

Jana Suleiman learned a tough lesson about opening yourself up to someone. She trusted Anil Malek with her heart a few years ago only to find out that he was hiding a horrible secret. Unfortunately, their brief romance resulted in a pregnancy that they must now learn how to navigate together.

Fast forward a few years later, and they actually have done a great job of co-parenting and co-existing. And it is about to get tested. A friend's destination wedding in the Serengeti has Jana and Anil living in close quarters with their daughter Imani. Family, friends, and even possible employers get a front-seat view of their angst-filled journey to a second chance. Will they reach their destination, or is their history too much to overcome?

I don't get to read enough of these types of second-chance romances --  the kind where they had HEA within their grasp but the timing just wasn't right -- and I live for them. After a slow start, I did enjoy this read. Jana and Anil had a lot to unpack -- other than literal baggage -- and I liked following the progression of their relationship from co-parents to lovers. 

The single POV from Jana's perspective made her a whole lot more relatable. I can definitely sympathize with an introvert trying to juggle responsibilities to herself and her daughter without buckling under social pressures and judgments. I did wish that we got a glimpse into Anil's thought process once in a while to get a better connection with him.

This standalone read is made even richers with Tanzania in the backdrop and South Asian culture fully represented. This is my first Farah Heron read (and it won't be my last as I just discovered she has an Emma retelling), but I believe the characters in this book had tie-ins in that retelling release.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Farah Heron, Forever Publishing, and Netgalley for providing an ARC. **

ABOUT THE BOOK

The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a delightful rom-com of one woman trying to shed her perfect image at a destination wedding with hilarious — and moving — results, perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.

Jana Suleiman has never really fit in—everyone always sees her as too aloof, too cool, too perfect. The one time she stepped out of her comfort zone she ended up with a broken heart and a baby on the way. Aaaand lesson learned . Now she’s a bridesmaid for a destination wedding in Serengeti National Park, and almost everyone she knows will be there. Her five-year-old daughter. Her mom. Her friends. Even her potential new boss. And of course (because who doesn’t love surprises!) her gorgeous-but-not-to-be-trusted ex.

Fortunately, Anil Malek is a great dad, even if Jana hasn’t quite forgiven him for lying to her all those years ago. Determined to show he has no effect on her whatsoever, she and the bridesmaids concoct a go-wild list to get Jana through the week. Sing karaoke? Sure. Perform their high school dance routine in front of strangers? Okay. But the more she lets down her guard, the less protection she has against her attraction to Anil. And Jana soon realizes it’s one thing to walk on the wild side . . . and quite another to fall for her ex all over again.


MEET FARAH HERON

Farah Heron is the critically acclaimed author of romantic comedies for adults and young adults filled with huge South Asian families, delectable food, and most importantly, brown people falling stupidly in love.

Farah’s books have been praised in The Globe and Mail, Book Riot, Oprah Magazine, Bustle and more, and have been named best of the year by Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, NPR, CBC Books, Kobo, and more.

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