This is a unique romance featuring Jana, a friend of Kamila and Rohan from Kamila Knows Best, and her ex Anil. Jana and Anil coparent a 4 your old from a very short relationship that crashed and burned when Jana found out Anil was still legally married. They are thrown together at the destination wedding of Kamila and Rohan in Tanzania. Jana is polite but still extremely resentful of Anil, even though she still has feelings for him. And he obviously still has feelings for her. He has respected her wish to communicate about their daughter as little and as distanced as possible, but now that they have 2 weeks to be in each others company, he’s hoping for a fresh start.
The romance was a bit boring to me, and repetitive. A few intensive conversations could have sorted everything out, but Jana was determined to hold on to her resentment and kept going back to her one complaint - my reputation was damaged and yours wasn’t. Especially since her reputation recovered nicely and she now has an amazing job, a beautiful daughter, and a coparent who is a dream of a dad. I usually love 2nd chance romance but this one was too one dimensional for me. It would have been more believable if it had taken place a year or 2 after the initial breakup. 5 years is a long time to harbor a resentment over something that everyone else has moved on from.
The setting was my favorite part. The parks, the wildlife. the nature tours - Farah Heron brought Tanzania to life in the most beautiful way. My next favorite part was the wedding itself - the extended family, the clothes, the food, not to mention more of Kamila and Rohan. The side characters in this novel were funny, warm, and endearing. You’re going to love them!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early eARC. All opinions are my own.

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron 🦒🐘

I was immediately drawn in by the cover of this book when I first saw it. The setting for the majority of the book was a lot of fun being in Tanzania and getting to see a glimpses of the group on safaris seeing a bunch of animals.

I think everyone should go into this book expecting women's fiction with a hint of romance rather than a true romance. The romance was part of the story and there's a happily ever after, however it's not the focus. The focus is on Jana and how she is balancing being a single mom, a family and friend group who loves her but might be a bit too overbearing at times, how she feels about Anil unexpectedly showing up on the trip, and how she thinks about herself. Once I realized that I enjoyed the story a lot more.

Jana held a bit more of a grudge than I would have towards Anil. Yeah, he did something that was pretty bad, however he's proven time and time again that he is a good guy and wanted what was best for Jana and Imani while leaving what was best up to Jana. I would have loved to have seen more dialogue between them as they got reacquainted with each other. I think that would have helped me be more convinced of their chemistry instead of mostly hearing Jana's thoughts and almost skimming over their interactions.

Jana is a strong character and I related to her in moments given I am also the person who is quiet and much prefers to be alone versus in a large group of people. Overall, a fun read with a light romance that's more focused on character growth.

3.5/5 stars ⭐️
1/5 spice level 🌶️

Oh my gosh, this book! I picked it up not really knowing what to expect and I ended up completely loving it. (Even if I did want to shake some sense into both Jana and Anil multiple times.)

I love stories that suck me in but also subtly teach me about locations, cultures, professions, etc. that I’m unfamiliar with. It was really interesting to see how Kamila and Rohan incorporated both their own tastes and their family culture into their destination wedding, particularly since their parents were originally from East Africa. I enjoyed the big extended family dynamic, especially the push-and-pull between generations. Imani is adorable, but also a completely normal kid who sometimes gets on her parents’ nerves. I appreciated this fact a lot. It all felt very true-to-life.

I’m kind of fascinated by Jana and Anil’s jobs, particularly because it gave them a unique perspective into the role of ecotourism and how it affects the local people and economy.

NOTE: This book follows side characters from Kamila Knows Best but can easily be read as a standalone.

Jana Goes Wild is a stand-alone, contemporary romance. The MCs get a second chance at love after reuniting to celebrate a friend’s wedding.

While they do have quite a bit of chemistry throughout the book, Jana seems to be consistently trying to push any kind of feelings away. The storyline is loaded with miscommunication between the pair, starting with the lies that separated them both in the first place.

The book does hinge on my least favorite romance trope, unexpected pregnancy. While I love a second chance romance, I don’t generally care for couples who seemingly get back together just for a child. Jana is so combative towards Anil, rightly so, that for them to turn around their attitudes so quickly is quite the stretch.

While this was not my favorite of this author’s work, I have enjoyed her other books and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing)!

In the past, the heroine and the hero had a wonderful time that resulted in a pregnancy. In the present time, the heroine arrives at the location of her friend's destination wedding with her daughter and mother in tow. There the heroine meets the hero, who she hasn't forgiven for lying to her in the past. During this time, the heroine decides to let loose. Along the way, the heroine reconnects with the hero. Will the heroine and the hero have a second chance at love in this book?

This Farah Heron book is the sequel to KAMILA KNOWS BEST but can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the setting of this book and how the characters interacted within this setting. There were distinctive characters in this book, and I enjoyed how some characters from the previous book appeared in this story. There were some good and bad facets of the main couple of this book. I liked the growth that the couple made individually, but there were times that each of them was not likable in my view. It would have been nice to have a bit more details in certain areas of the story, especially in certain resolutions that needed them in my opinion. Overall, a nice Farah Heron book with a beautiful book cover.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this read. This was the first book of Farah Heron that I was able to get to. I have copies of her other books but never read them before and this was entertaining as well as informative to the Indian culture. The wedding setting description was good and the book was quite easy to read. Good conversations and good times in this book.

Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of this book. I always enjoy a good second chance romance, especially one where it's messy because you have to co-parent a child. The story focuses on a 2 weeks in Tanzania and areas nearby for Kamila and Rohan's wedding. Jana is forced to interact with her baby daddy who they had little interaction since Imani was born. I loved the description of Tanzania made me ready to go and visit. I wasn't a fan of Jana and her attitude towards Anil which was pretty much lack of communication and all assumptions. Anil really stepped up on the trip as a parent and showed he was a catch. I did enjoy Jana's growth as she slowly starts she starts letting go of her past and what people thought.

I am usually an avid child hater, second-chance romance hater, and single parent romance-hater in books. This one definitely proved me wrong. Wow. This one was truly spectacular and it had me sobbing from about the 60% mark until the end. I'm glad that Kamila was prominent in this novel, as she was probably one of my favorite characters I had read this year, making this one a super highly anticipated release. I love that Anil and Jana were so loveable, instead of their horrible and rude Jane Austen counterparts. I will be thinking about this one for awhile!

Happy Release Day to JANA GOES WILD by Farah Heron. I couldn't decide on which photo to choose, so you get two. Thank you @readforeverpub for the ARC of the novel.

Did you finish KAMILA KNOW BEST, and think that Jana, Kamila's foe turned friend needed her own romance novel? And that her story would be a second chance between her and Anil? If the answer is yes, then you need to pick up JANA GOES WILD.

JANA takes place about five years after KAMILA ends. Jana, her mom, and her five year old daughter are heading to Tanzania for Kamila and Rohan's destination wedding. At the last minute, Anil, who originally declined, is able to join the wedding party after he rearranges his schedule. Even though they are successful co-parents, they have done so with minimal communication and contact This vacation/wedding with lots of forced proximity between Jana and Anil. Giving them a chance to really talk, and reveal secrets, clear up misunderstandings.

Heron does such a good job in showing us how Jana was hurt by rumors and gossip, and how it effected her future, leading her built to protect herself.

I just love how we go on a journey with Jana - as she learns to forgive Anil, comes to an understanding with her mother - all leading her to relax, and being more accepting of things.

JANA is full of slight humor (dik-dik photos, a fake relationship, paint your own ceramics). There are also a few Disney references. Am I forgetting anything? Probably lots, so go pick up this book for yourself.

*Note that during their initial relationship, Anil can be considered a cheater, but there are extenuating circumstances, and Heron takes the utmost care with the situation*

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron
Contemporary romance. Diverse / Own voice. Second chance troupe.
Jana falls in love but only afterwards finds out Anil Malek is already married. Jana is committed to give her daughter the best possible life so arrangements are made to evenly split custody and care. Jana does her best to never actually see Anil in the transfer between parents and it’s all working out. Both Jana and Anil are part of a destination wedding event in Tanzania, East Africa and as the karaoke and singing and parties put them together, their attraction renews and strengthens. Anil is single now all the friends and family help push them together. Resistance is futile.

Overflowing and rich with East African cultural references, local foods, dress, and traditions. The romance was a bit on-again, off-again but it was Jana coming to certain realizations that mattered and made a difference. The grand gesture was perfect.

Recipes for cheddar and potato samosas and mandazi fried donuts included at the end.

I received a copy of the from NetGalley and the publisher.

While I love Farah Heron books this wasn’t my favorite.

I did enjoy it just not as much as much as some of her others. I think for me it was just the circumstances of the couple/family situation going it wasn’t my favorite. And I normally love second chance romances but this was just a bit to repetitive for me, going in a circle to many times.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

This second chance at love story was a cute and light read. The main characters are likeable with the side characters funny and overly involved. I also enjoyed the added storyline of the safari and animals making an appearances.

I was instantly drawn to this book for the cover. This is my first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed Jana’s story but struggled with a lot of the issue between her and Anil. The plot is very mess and complicated but it was an easy read and enjoyable.

ARC copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

Jana finds herself face to face with her ex when they both are part of a destination wedding party in the Serengeti. Forced proximity leads to old feelings resurfacing, but Jana is reluctant to trust Anil again after a perceived betrayal.

I loved the setting of this story and the second chance romance. The chemistry between them was fantastic and they obviously belonged together, so the miscommunication trope was especially frustrating. I found myself yelling at the book telling them to just have a conversation already!!

That being said, I did really enjoy this one and would definitely recommend it. It was fun and adventurous and had many funny moments. Perfect for a beach or vacation read!

Thank you so much to Forever and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Jana Goes Wild is a second chance romance that finds a former couple who is co-parenting heading on a two-week trip to Tanzania for a wedding.

Jana and Anil were in a relationship five years ago that ended badly when Jana found out she was pregnant. Jana and Anil have had their issues with one another over the years, but Anil has always been a very good father and they have found a way to co-parent their daughter well over the years.

Now that the two, along with their daughter, are in forced proximity in Tanzania for the wedding, the chemistry between Jana and Anil is hard to ignore. The question is, will they be able to get past all that happened in the past to be able to actually build something going forward?

There is no question that Anil was a great father, and the way the co-parenting was written was amazing. I loved that it was written the way it was; there are so many times that it is not written where there is cooperation and this was a breath of fresh air. I did feel like there were times that Jana was a bit hard to take because she had such a hard time forgiving. I understand the position she was in, but after awhile you don't want to root for someone when they get that way too many times. I also loved all of the details about the wildlife and the safaris and just the land that is Tanzania. What a wonderful place it would be to go visit!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

This book was cute! Not an "OMG I can't put this down" read, but also not a DNF book. I enjoyed picking it up every night and liked the characters - it was a nice escape from life. There were cringe-worthy moments, teary eyed moments and also laugh out loud moments. The characters were fun, their interactions enjoyable. I think it is a great book for anyone looking for a light-hearted read.

The last time Jana stepped out of her comfort zone she ended up pregnant and heart broken. When she finds herself in Africa with her family, close friends, daughter and ex, she decides it is time to let loose. The bridal party helped her come up with a go-wild list to get through the week with her ex. However, the more she lets down her guard, the more she realizes that she may be falling for her ex all over again. Will her heart survive the trip?

I am a fan of Farah Heron so when I saw Jana Goes Wild I was so excited. And while this isn't my favorite of hers, I think if you're committed to second chance storylines, this still might be for you. It's a book about wondering if we can put the past behind us, move forwards, and it doesn't shy away from the emotional baggage and whiplash. For Jana, not only did Anil lie to her, but she suffered misogynistic rumors and more.

Rightly so, Jana has a twofold chip on her shoulder. This unexpected reunion forces Jana to confront her feelings. To see if it's possible for Jana and Anil's relationship to move into friendlier territory. Jana Goes Wild is entirely focused on Jana. On her figuring out her future, her feelings towards Anil, and her ability to leave her comfort zone. While there were some moments that felt particularly repetitive, especially towards the end, I enjoyed it.

As a child, I was a huge Bollywood fan, and used to be obsessed with Indian weddings (of course imagining my own someday). As soon as I read the blurb, I was hooked, and read through this enticing novel within a few days. Thank you @thatsoestelle for drawing my attention to this one.

This wonderful rom-com is perfect for the fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez! We meet the main character, Jana Suleiman, who steps out of her comfort zone and ends up in a precarious position after she endures a break up and is pregnant. Now, she is a bridesmaid for a destination wedding taking place in Serengeti National Park with her five-year-old daughter and her mom, and she meets her ex, Anil Malek.

As the wedding fesitivies unfold, Jana, in a very human way, seeks to be free (and that he has no effect on how she actually feels about him!). Along with the other bridesmaids, she creates a “go-wild” list as she explores everything from singing karoke to performing their dance. Her attraction to Anil doesn’t seem to subside no matter how much she tries. The romantic tension between Anil and Jana is so intense, I kept on turning the pages, and wanted to see “will they? won’t they?” much like how do you when you have friends on a date or seeing the show Indian Matchmaker seasons!

Mid-way through, Anil and Jana get at odds with each other as the veneers fall through as they confront their past. And, perhaps, this is what is at the heart of this heart warming novel - about choices. Her pregnancy and choice to have Imani becomes a cause of contention, which made me admire her so much. Also, the societal expectations upon them even though they are in Tanzania as her mom berates her for spending time with her ex - the common “log kya kahenge/what will people say”. Nonetheless, this rom-com is relatable, fun, and refreshing. I am very picky about the romance genre but love these messy stories as they just tell us how we are all human just wanting to be accepted.

Thank you @readforeverpub, @grandcentralpub, and @farahheronauthor for the gifted copy of the book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Forever (GrandCentralPublishing) for the gifted e-book ❤️ #gifted

Read if you like: Dual POV, second chances, bucket type list, miscommunication trope, slow burn, steamy 🔥

I loved Kamila Knows Best, and this one did not disappoint. Jana and Anil are exes who have a daughter. They are both in Kamila and Rohan's designation wedding. Their chemistry is off the charts. You feel it immediately. I can't stand the miscommunication trope, but it fit in this book. Jana was incredibly hard on Anil, in my opinion. Anil can do no wrong for me. I love him so much. I tried not to find Jana unlikable because of how she treated him. This was a great second chances romance to me. The build-up was perfect. The banter was top-notch. I highly recommend it!

This is my first book by the author and I have deduced that there are other books about characters in this world and this is another couple. Maybe I would have liked them more if I was more invested in the overall story.

I loved the cover of the book and along with the blurb, made me very excited to read this book. I was excited to read a book about Eastern Africa and to see how it would play into the story, since it was interesting enough to almost be a character itself. It was really neat to learn more about Tanzania and imagine what a high end destination wedding to a safari would be life. Definitely the highlight of the story!

Sometimes when I see a gorgeous cover and read a fun blurb, I get sidetracked. I really didn't consider what some of the tropes could be. I hate, with a passion, meddling parents, aunties, uncles, and friends who think they know best. We had a bit of that here, especially Jana's mother who told fibs and no one called her on it. It added to the ridiculous vibe that told us it wasn't going to end well. Also, Jana is clearly an introvert and is shamed for not being as outgoing as the others. So rude. There was a vague and unclear backstory about Anil and we weren't really given much detail and then it was glossed over and made Jana look like she was holding a grudge. Once trust is broken, it's really hard to bring that back and again, made Jana look crazy for having her feelings. Anil complained because Jana was hot and cold, but he was, too. Sure, he proposed when he found out she was pregnant, but did he explain that he really did want to marry Jana for herself and not because she was pregnant? I don't blame her for saying no. And Anil says Jana is unhappy because they don't hang out as friends or because of her facial expressions, but what has he done to clarify or converse with Jana? Communication works both ways, especially if someone has told you they struggle with it.

The #BridalBrigade made me cringe at first but I really respected them during the morning after and when they got back to Toronto. Part of that was Jana opening up, but it also seemed to be more accepting friendships. It made me happy when they had charcuterie night.

Overall, I loved the descriptions of the places and the food. I wasn't a fan of Jana and Anil's story.