This is a really sweet romance! Second chance romance isn't always my thing and I def struggled to identify with Jana but that didn't take away any joy from reading this book! It would be so hard to give a second chance to someone who intentionally or not really screwed up your career and life. And Africa! I have only been to South Africa on the continent but I love books set there.

I love this author, and when I saw the adorable cover, I knew I was in for a fun treat!

Some of my favorite things were the great conversations the friends had, the lush setting in Tanzania, along with all of the animals, the culture and food descriptions, as well as traditions.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-slow burn
-second chance romance
-emotional
-🔥off the charts chemistry
-destination wedding in Tanzania

*many thanks to Forever and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This book sadly was not my jam. I tried very hard to get into it but the writing just could not draw me in. I thought it was going to be a fun adventure type of book with some comedy and romance but I just found myself annoyed. It took me entirely way too long to finish because I had to keep starting and stopping, rinse & repeat.

Everything that Farah Heron writes just sucks you in, and this book is no exception. It has an AMAZING setting (I want more travel romcoms, STAT), grumpy/sunshine MCs, a delightful cast of characters, and a whole lot of baggage and emotion to sort through before we get to our second-chance HEA (but it's totally worth it, and well-earned!) I completely enjoyed every minute!

First off, this cover is absolutely amazing. Seriously, 10/10 to the cover artist because it’s perfect and fun and really sets the scene for the book! I’m not a fan of second chance romances and this book was no different, unfortunately. I just felt there was too much misunderstandings that could have easily been solved if the characters communicated with each other properly. I did love the co-parenting relationship between the two MCs. Ultimately, they were a sweet couple, but getting there took a while.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

3.5⭐, 2🌶️

I didnt love this book, but I didn't dislike it either. I think as a second chance romance, it made sense to be as long as it was, but it still felt rather long and dragged out for me at times.

Jana and Anil had a whirlwind romance, until Jana learned he was still married...then she learns she's pregnant. 5 years later, they are both on a Tanzanian vacation for their friends wedding, and as Jana is pushed out of her comfort zone more and more, her and Anil grow closer and start to question their co-parenting relationship.

All I know is I'm torn between whether I want to go watch Mamma Mia, or any and all documentaries I can find about the Tanzanian wilderness.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC of Jana Goes Wild, by Farah Heron.

I have really enjoyed Farah Heron and will continue to pick up her work. She has both a unique voice and yet this is perfect for anyone wanting a cute romance, mass appeal here.

I really wanted to like this one as the cute cover and second chance premise drew me in immediately. Unfortunately, I did not like any of the characters from the beginning and couldn't finish the book. I really hate leaving reviews for books I did not complete - hopefully a patient reader will enjoy the ending of this one!

4.25/5
My Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🍆/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

Farah Heron is easily one of my favorite romance writers, and as soon as I started Jana Goes Wild I knew I was going to love it. It is fun to know that she took her own experiences on safari in Tanzania and was able to bring them to life in this story. I loved the characters as well as the backdrop, and this book is loaded with animals and mouthwatering descriptions of yummy food. I didn't even realize Jana and Anil were both in Kamila Knows Best which I've already read, and now I kind of wish I would have read all her books in order one after the other. I love it when authors do things like this, and I wasn't able to fully appreciate it since it has been so long since I read Kamila.

The audiobook is also narrated by one of my favorites Soneela Nankani, and once again she did a beautiful job with the characters and the book as a whole. This is already a laugh-out-loud funny read, and Nankani just made those parts even better. There is a bit of spice to the story, but it wasn't anything too extreme and it didn't happen too often, so it was basically perfect for me on that front. The friendships both crafted and built in the storyline were heartwarming and touching, and at times provided fantastic lighter moments that specific scenes needed. Jana is a very relatable character, and even though I am not a mom or a professional of her skill level I found plenty of other things I could easily relate to. This second change romance absolutely stole my heart, and I loved all the Disney references! Read this if you enjoy a bit of steam, uncomfortable moments, and destination weddings.

This cover is so good! I just could not get on board with this couple at all. I absolutely could not stand Anil with his lying, cheating self. I feel sorry for Jana! If stay together for the baby was a book, it would be "Jana Goes Wild". They need to just co-parent civilly and move on from any type of romantic relationship between each other. I tried to like this book, and there were moments when I was in the groove and interested, but all in all, all I got was a headache.

Jana, the main character, is instantly likable and easy to connect with. Her struggles with past heartbreak, the challenges of single motherhood, and her desire for personal growth are portrayed realistically and with great empathy. This story tackles forgiveness, love, and the complexities of relationships. Each character has their own quirks and complexities, making them relatable and integral to the narrative's development. The chemistry between Jana and Anil (the ex) is palpable, their interactions are filled with unresolved emotions and unspoken words. The story is truly delightful and engaging and the exploration of cultural identity and traditions adds an extra layer of richness to the story.

Jana Goes Wild
By Farah Heron

I have always dreamed of going to a Safari in Tanzania and having that as a backdrop of the story for a destination wedding is the perfect place for a second chance at love – with your ex that is… Dr. Jana Suleiman is a single mother to an adorable daughter and finds herself the bridesmaid at a destination wedding with her long time friends, her new boss, and her ex – her daughter’s dad. This is a story that is fun and though it’s a slow burn, I found all the ways we got to the HEA fun, exciting, a romp, and so hilarious. A great story and just loved all the descriptions of the animals, the food, and learning about Muslim traditions.

Jana Goes Wild was a bit of a wild card. I fell in love with the cover which is why I requested this book. However, the story inside didn’t live up to the artwork for me. Jana’s thoughts just went around in circles and were repetitive. Even when she ended up with what she wanted, she was just unhappy. Some others may enjoy, but overall this one just wasn’t for me.

Um I guess I'm not a fan of a rom com with a small child involved. The romance was also suuuuper forced for me.

Thank you to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Farah Heron book, but it most certainly won’t be my last! This second chance and forced proximity romance was a book rich in African culture with beautiful landscapes. It was the perfect backdrop for Jana and Anil to reconnect. The group of friends in the book were their biggest cheerleaders.

This was a slow burn, but I was here for the whole thing!

4 stars


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It was hard to get attached to Jana. She felt a bit aloof and distance but that’s probably she is as a character. Anil, on the other hand, I couldn’t get a feel for him. Overall I enjoyed the book.

This novel legit transported me to Tanzania, and I was over the moon that Jana got her own book. This is one of those grumpy/sunshine novels with two parents doing their best to co-parent their daughter. They are stuck together for a wedding weekend, giving the forced proximity vibes we love. The growth in both MCs was beautiful to see unfold on the page. I loved the descriptions of the world around them, and the slow burn is always my favorite. This is such a tremendous quick romance that everyone should pick up.

Tropes:
-Second Chance
-Forced Proximity
-One Bed
-Grumpy/Sunshine

I so wanted to love this one, because there were elements I definitely enjoyed. But the main character, Jana...she just wasn't for me. She had so much resentment towards Anil, and I just loved him.

I really loved the previous book in this series and was looking forward to this one because of the unique setting. I loved getting to see the characters from the previous book, but otherwise this book fell a little flat for me. I think I wanted there to just be a little bit MORE. I can't say of what, but I just felt it was missing something that the other book had. Overall, I really like this author and I'll definitely be continuing to read their work. And I think that others will really love this one, and don't get me wrong I still liked this book, it just wasn't a 5 star for me.