This was a bit meh mixed with a bit of disappointment and I'm sitting here wondering if 3 stars is too high.

I don't remember Jana or Anil from Kamila's book, but I did enjoy Kamila and Rohan, so I was thrilled to see the plot was taking place at their destination wedding. This cast of characters is pretty big, but most of them are fun.

I struggled with Jana's inner monologue. Her thoughts were a spiraling repetition and it got old pretty fast. I wanted to empathize, but she was never happy, even when she got the outcome she wanted. I feel like Anil (and everyone else), got a bad rap since they're tempered through Jana's POV, however there was minimal growth towards the end.

Plot wise, I don't even know. They go to a resort, they ride in cars to see animals, they spend the night, they go to the next resort and repeat. There's a wedding. At no point does Jana "go wild".

Overall, I debated DNFing, I debated skipping ahead, I ended up skimming a good portion. I'm here for anything Farah writes, but this one will likely be forgotten.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Jana Suleiman grew up trying (and usually succeeding) to do the Right Thing all the time. She was a good girl. And in her mind, the one time she really just followed her heart and fell hard and fast into bed with a man, she got pregnant and found out that she was actually "the other woman" in this situation. Unfortunately, the repercussions of this cost her a job. So even though Jana adores Imani (her daughter), she cannot help but be extremely bitter that her society has not punished Anil (baby daddy) in the same way at all. So when she winds up shoved together with Anil and Imani at the wedding of two of her best friends, some of that resentment starts to be aired out.

I probably shouldn't focus so much on the bitterness, but honestly, for me, that is one of the most pertinent parts of this story. Jana is mad. Rightfully so, but it's also fascinating because Anil really is so likable, it was hard to be mad at him. This book is a follow up to Kamila Knows Best and I feel like I should have read that one first in order to be more sympathetic to Jana (not that I wasn't, but I was also like, everything was complicated! Not really his fault! and that just doesn't feel fair...). All this to say though, this book felt really unique and fresh to me. I loved the setting so much. I loved the conflict here because even if I didn't always understand Jana, I felt like she was so real and honest in her emotions. And Imani is a precious bean whom I adored.

Also, now I want to go on a safari. I would also like to have people protect me like they did Imani and never mention the fact that some people go and hunt REALLY FREAKING AWESOME animals for sport. I just do not understand and I also do not like it. But anyways, setting that aside, I really enjoyed this book so very much and I look forward to picking up more from Heron, hopefully soon!

dnf @ 30%

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t get past the fact that Anil lied to Jana about being MARRIED when they were first together. I’m all for a redemption arc in a second chance romance but this one just felt icky.

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron is a very fun and delightful second chance romance full of family, friends, food, and the occasional lion and elephant!

I loved this book! It was such a great read, funny and lighthearted but also serious at times. I can totally relate to the main character Jana, she is introverted, and reserved but she wants to let loose (see her list 😂) and have fun. I totally felt for her as she navigates a safari trip with her ex and father of her child, while also coming to terms with her feelings. I really enjoyed reading the relationship between Jana and her mother and watching them grow

This is definitely a must read for all rom-com lovers. Thank you @readforeverpub for the eARC!

Farah Heron has become an auto-read author for me. Her adult rom coms are so freaking wonderful (I have yet to read her YA books!) so I was so very excited to read Jana Goes Wild. It was fun and real and I enjoyed reading it but it won’t crack the favourites list.

Here’s the book’s description:
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.
Because I love Heron’s books so much, I didn’t even read the description before requesting the egalley. I also didn’t read it before starting it. The latter was a bit of a mistake. I hadn’t realized this was going to be a romance featuring parents and that’s a storyline that just does not work for me. It’s totally and completely a personal thing so if I do end up reading a book by an author I love, I try to prepare myself before diving in. And because I didn’t, I think it was even harder to get into the story. That said, I recognize how fantastic it is to get rom coms that feature parents. They deserve love too. I just don’t want to be a parent and my bias gets in the way sometimes.

I also don’t know if it was my silly brain or the fact that I wasn’t able to really tuck into the book for long chunks of time but it took me awhile to get into this one. I found it pretty long and even though I remembered Jana from Kamila Knows Best, I wasn’t really getting the Main Character Energy from her. I cared about her, don’t get me wrong, and I was totally rooting for a Happily Ever After for her and Anil. But it was a struggle to get really invested. Her issues seemed to be so very much in her head. They weren’t totally unwarranted, of course. Anil hurt her immensely and those around her were total assholes when she was pregnant with their daughter. I also think she had some anxiety that wasn’t ever addressed in the story - it was just sort of dealt with by saying she was an introvert and couldn’t “people” too much. I think it was more than just simply being an introvert. She refused to let go of the (again, justified) hurt even though Anil had gone above and beyond to prove that he regretted his mistake. I also think she thought people talked about her far more than they actually did. It seemed like she was self-centred but it was her past trauma and her anxiety that was making her come across that way. It all just didn’t really work (for me) for the tension and the issues that needed to be created for a rom com.

Getting to “travel” to Tanzania was super cool. I don’t think I’ll ever do a safari so I appreciated getting to experience it through reading this book. I also appreciated that Jana and Anil both worked in development and cared about making a difference and were conscious of their (and the wedding party’s) tourism and both the positive and negative impacts of it. That all said…holy man, the escapades in Tanzania really seemed to drag. I lost track of time and it felt like they were there for a month or more.

The best parts of the story were when the whole “hashtag Bridal Brigade” were together. I felt a bit bad because I am also an introvert and preferring some of the more vivacious characters to Jana felt incredibly disloyal (but omg when she was talking to someone and said, quite derisively, “you people” meaning extroverts, let me tell you, I cackled!). Heron writes relationships - both romantic and friendship - so extremely well and it was the friendship relationships in this one that shone. (Again, as much as I wanted an HEA for Jana and Anil.)

I know it likely seems like I really, really didn’t like this book. But honestly, I didn’t dislike it. I did have fun reading Jana Goes Wild but I think my expectations for Farah Heron are so high that I just expected more from it. I’ll absolutely keep reading Heron’s books and am already looking forward to what she writes next.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Cute travel romance! I don't normally go for these but this book made me think maybe I need to consider them more often. It was cute and lighthearted and something that made me just get out of my own head.

Although I'm not usually into second-chance romance, I decided to try reading Jana Goes Wild because I was drawn to the cover. Unfortunately, I didn't find it enjoyable for a different reason than I had expected. I had trouble relating to the main character, Jana, who came across as very bitter. I also felt that there was hardly any romance or meaningful interactions in the first half of the book. However, I did appreciate the descriptions of the safaris and scenery, which were enjoyable to read about.

I loved Kamila Knows Best, and I was dubious about whether a book about Jana -- a character introduced in KKB -- would be as good, but Farah Heron delivered another good one. I will say, though, I still like Kamila as an FMC more than Jana, but I loved getting to know Jana better in this book. The premise is that Jana had an intense but short relationship with her child's father that ended when she found out he was separated, but not divorced from, his wife and she had to endure some public shaming from the wife's family, as well. As a result of all that, she maintains a co-parent-only relationship with the father, Anil, and has kept him at arms-length for 5 years.

If Jana was a real person who I knew, I'd probably refer to her as a "tough nut to crack." So, I feel like all the life decisions she's made between KKB and this book totally track with what I'd expect from Jana. I loved that Heron didn't write her to be a "poof- I'm different now!" kind of character. She gradually started to want to step outside her comfort zone, and once she decided she wanted to, she still had to ease herself into doing all of those "vibrant" things. Very real.

Anil was a good character, but I think the narrative tried to veer us into "Anil = Prince Charming; Jana = closed-off" territory, but I didn't buy that. It didn't sound like Anil had been actively trying to make amends or build a better relationship with her for years. It sounded like Anil had been going along with the co-parenting status quo and never actually expressed that he wanted to have any other kind of relationship with Jana (well, not since their original falling out). So, it's not like Jana had just been spending all this time shooing him away or rejecting him. She had nothing to go on aside from a bad past experience, so why would she have tried to make things different before now? He wants a good relationship with her and doesn't feel like they have it...that sounds like an Anil-problem, not a Jana-problem. When they did eventually hook up again, she said she wanted some time to think, but Anil's immediate reaction was to tell people that there was nothing in Toronto for him but his kid, to leave without saying bye, and to ignore most of her attempts to reach out. I never really saw any evidence of him "trying" with her. But, you know, Jana went wild and made it happen anyway so good for them I guess.

In the end, there wasn't much I didn't love about the book as a whole. This should go on your "to-read" list if you like books where the characters travel and the author makes you feel like you're traveling with them, because that was this book's main vibe for me. I feel kinda like I've been to Tanzania now? You should read Kamila Knows Best first, though, because Kamila is the Emma Woodhouse that all other Emma Woodhouses need to be.

Taking place mostly in Tanzania, I absolutely loved this book! Parents Jana and Anil are on safari with their daughter Imani, about a zillion aunties and uncles, and all their friends to celebrate Kamila and Rohan’s wedding (Kamila from Kamila Knows Best, another book I loved!!). Despite successfully co-parenting for the five years since their two-week fling resulted in a child, Kamila and Anil don’t know how to behave around each other and the Serengeti provides an unmatched scenic backdrop so watching their relationship roller coaster. I also appreciated how much commentary it offered on safe sex practices, international development, ethics, undoing generational trauma, and more. This book was so fun, I loved all the characters, and would definitely recommend!

*Special thank you to NetGalley, Farah Heron & Forever pub for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 rounded up. I really enjoyed this book. The safari setting was SO cool. Overall, some parts were a little slow but I loved the characters. I especially loved Imani - her personality was great. I really liked Jana's growth throughout the book. There was also a little too much miscommunication for me but I understand it was essential to Jana and Anil's relationship. I think the lessons in coparenting & the importance of strong friendships were great. While I cannot relate to coparenting since I don't have children, I know so many people out there can. I definitely recommend this one!

I was not completely sold on the first book in this series, but this cover is adorable and the premise sounded fun, so I was excited to dig in. Unfortunately, it was an immediate no from me. I am not okay with the hero's deception, and it's not something I would've been able to get over. So this started off on the wrong foot for me, and things did not improve from there. The tone was different than expected, and - while I clearly understood the heroine's frustration - the tension was not fun to read. We kept revisiting my biggest issue with the relationship over and over. I never got into it, and ended up doing some skimming before ultimately leaving it unfinished.

This book was cute. I am not much of a second-chance romance fan. But I did like the overall story. However, this is not one that I think I will reread.

I loved Accidentally Engaged, and Kamila Knows Best. Unfortunately, I can't say I felt the same about Jana Goes Wild. It wasn't bad, but I wanted to like Jana Goes Wild far more than I did.

Here's what I liked:
— The safari setting
— Description of culture and traditions
— Strong presence of Kamila Knows Best characters
— Supportive female friendships (Bridal Brigade to the rescue!)
— Jana and Anil put the needs of their daughter first; they are great parents
— Anil and Jana’s focus on making the world a better place
— Jana’s grand gesture! ❤️


What I didn’t like:
— I completely understood Jana’s perspective on what Anil did and hated the impact of the fallout on her. However, she came across as bitter, angry, and slightly mean. Her inability to move on dragged the story down.
— Jana’s mom, all I can say is just wow! ☹️

Thank you to Forever for a copy of this book.

I think this might be where the author and I part ways. I read until the end but had a really hard time with the female main character and her insecurities. I kept yelling please go to therapy. I also really don't like young children in book so all in all this was not the book for me at all.

Heron’s latest is a delight from cover to cover. I loved the Tanzania’s setting and how supportive the #Bridal Brigade was of Jana and each other. #Girl Power I read this before Kamila Knows Best, so I didn’t have any of the “expectations” of that book, which turned out to be a good thing. (I’m going back and reading that one now, so it is interesting to see the character changes.) This is a must read for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t quite fit.
4.5 Stars

Jana Goes Wild is the fourth book I’ve read from Farah Heron. Jana Suleiman,attends a destination wedding in Serengeti National Park, where she encounters her charming ex and father of her child, Anil Malek. As she completes a go-wild list with her bridesmaid friends to prove she's moved on, Jana realizes that letting her guard down might lead to falling for Anil once more. I was captivated by the vivid descriptions of Tanzania and delighted to see Kamila and Rohan from Kamila Knows Best as supporting characters. However, I struggled to connect with Jana's character and felt that Anil's personality was underdeveloped. I would've appreciated more insight into their chemistry and relationship outside of their shared parenting responsibilities, gossip/rumors, and the quick summary of their past. Exploring each of their perspectives or contrasting past and present chapters could have added depth to the story. I also would've enjoyed seeing more positive interactions with their child. Overall, I had mixed feelings about this book and second chance romances usually don't resonate with me.

This was my first Farah Heron book.

The beginning was very slow in my opinion. I felt like it dragged on with how much Jana and Anil's past relationship had failed, it was too much. I also started to get annoyed with Jana and how much she beat herself up and wouldn't listen to people when they told her she was fun.

The second half of the book picked up and kept me engaged a lot more than the first half. The #bridalbrigade was probably lying my favorite part of this book, I wish my bridal party was as fun as they were!

Overall, 3.5 stars

This book is eleven and a half hour of Jana being hot and cold, and going woe is me on pretty much every other page. It is too long and and absolutely nothing happens as Jana's thoughts keep circling around the same thoughts of inadequacy and how Anil ruined her life.

Jana was with Anil 5 years years ago for TWO WEEKS and their fling resulted in a daughter - Imani. A TWO WEEK fling where Jana and Anil both somehow fell madly in love. Anil, however, lied about his relation status - his wife had left him but he was still technically married, something he didn't tell Jana. When everything imploded, Anil's wife's parents painted Jana as a home-wrecker to save face. This is traumatizing and Jana is understandably pissed off but not once did she do anything to stand up for herself and set the story straight.

The absolute inaction from Jana as she moans and bitches about her life inside her mind was excruciating as a reader. I did not want to spend another minute reading this book but pushed through. She is just not the kind of character whose head I wanted to be in for an entire book's length.

Also - in Jana and Anil's first appeared in Kamila Knows Best, ANIL CALLED JANA A HOME-WRECKER TOO, THIS ABSOLUTE SHITHOLE OF A MAN. We're supposed to forgive him because apparently he was just frustrated??? Nuhuh.

3.5⭐️

TW: death of parent, infidelity, sexism, panic attacks

I really enjoyed the author’s previous novel, Kamila Knows Best so I was excited to read this second chance romance about co-parents, Jana and Anil.

It started off well with an open door scene and I thought a story about co-parenting would be unique. However, I feel like I enjoyed the last 25% of the book more than the first 75%.

The majority of the story was set at a destination wedding in Tanzania; however, I struggled with this part because it felt repetitive and at times, I found myself bored especially during the constant push and pull between Anil and Jana and her stubbornness to not give him a second chance was making me feel frustrated.

Once they returned to Toronto, after they finally resolved their sexual tension towards the end of the Tanzania trip, is when I started enjoying the story more.