First thought: This book felt like the island of misfit toys romance addition but in a good way. It was major opposites attract, wonky moments, some steamy scenes, a cougar, angry geese all on an island alone. I liked it just didn’t love it.

Davy lives on a remote island, he believed in conservation and self sustainability. He took in a rescue cougar named Baby, cause he can’t say no to those in need. This was his home and sanctuary, his place to escape.

Zoey’s plan has always been laser focused, since her sister barely survived bone cancer. She was going to be a researcher and find a cure, so when her rare bone sample slide accidentally ended up in the hands of Davy she had to be impulsive. So she tracks him down and jumps on his boat and heads into the unknown to his island so she can find it. She needed to get her life back on track, she used her brain not her heart to make decisions.

Now on a remote island with a cougar named Baby lurking and evil geese who want to attack her she has to work with Davy. With a storm and no way to get back to mainland right now, these two will only have each other. They will have to learn to be open, trust and work together.

Then layer in some drama started by the owner of a neighboring island, an officer accidentally getting shot in the foot, being dragged to the local police office, and so much more. Buckle up this will definitely be an awkward and steamy ride.

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Strangers to Lovers
* Opposites Attract
* Forced Proximity
* Secret Identity
* Remote Island
* Dual POV
* Spicy 🌶️

🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿

A brainiac and an island owner fall in love! Sign me up! Unfortunately, such a cute concept fell flat in its delivery. The pacing was too slow and it felt like the story took way too long to get where it was supposed to. The romance itself was very run of the mill, but also unrealistic. I really wanted to like this book because it sounded so unique, but I don’t think this one was for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wild Life was just an okay read for me. There were too many storylines going on in the book for me to focus and it would have been better had the author narrowed it done to just one or two. I liked the characters development of both main characters, and their chemistry was great, but I feel like something was missing, maybe their relationship should have been more of the focus.

This was a cute and kind of quirky book. For the most part, it was enjoyable, but at times,it felt a bit rushed. The main characters were likable and sweet together, but most of the side characters lacked development.

I would have liked more of everything, especially the wild animals. I think more time spent on the island with them would have been great! Overall, Wild Life was a light and quick read with some fun moments.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was such an unexpected good time! The cover is what initially drew me in but the storyline and the characters made me stay. I loved that the setting was a bit unusual in that it wasn't a big city, and all of the characters (I mean every last one of them) was quirky but likable. I'm looking forward to reading more from Wei.

Treat yourself to a heartwarming romance that blends adventure, humour, and passion. Wild Life by Opal Wei contains vivid descriptions that transport readers to the island. If you're looking for a feel-good read with a touch of the untamed, this book is a perfect escape.

Meet Zoey Fong. She’s a grad student with a mission to save her sister from the clutches of cancer. But life has a way of throwing curveballs, and Zoey's plan takes an unexpected detour. Meet Davy Hsieh. He’s a rugged, reclusive island dweller with a past and his island estate is no ordinary paradise. It's a sanctuary for animals, and what starts as a mission to retrieve the tissue sample turns into a week of adventure, survival, and more.

Wei weaves a delightful tale of opposites attracting. Amidst flora, fauna, and a semi-domesticated cougar, they navigate the challenges of the island. This story is not just about survival; it's about opening your heart and taking a leap of faith.

This book had me all in my feels. My Dad suffered from cancer in the last years of his life, and I really found myself relating and placing myself in situations. I absolutely loved it and will be picking up a physical copy for my home library.

Thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN Romance (U.S. & Canada) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

**Review ⭐⭐⭐.5(3.5)/5**
What a fun romance! I had a great time reading *Wild Life* by Opal Wei, which follows FMC Zoey Fong–an aspiring cancer researcher who is increasingly burned out by what she thought was her dream job–and MMC Davy Hsieh–a former boyband member turned island recluse. When Davy accidentally takes an important piece of Zoey’s research, Zoey takes a chance and follows him to his home on a tiny, remote island to retrieve it. Despite their best intentions to stay on their own paths. sparks fly as the two are stranded on the island and they find themselves opening up to one another about their past and uncertain futures.
❤️ What I loved: A fun island setting adds to the adventure (along with a somewhat absurdist storyline), and the connection between the two main characters feels surprisingly believable. It was also surprisingly emotional and dealt with some more serious mental health topics in a way that felt genuine.
😕 What I didn’t love: I found Zoey’s character a bit frustrating—some of the language used to describe her (or of her to describe herself) I wasn’t a fan of, and her commitment to “The Plan” felt a bit like overkill.
*Wild Life* is an easy recommendation to fans of contemporary romance who are looking for something quick, fun, and a little outside of the box!

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Opal Wei, and Harlequin Press, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

Zoey Fong has a Plan. She is obsessed with following it through despite not really enjoying anything about it because she is going to find a way to cure the cancer that almost took her sister's life. When she accidentally loses an important piece of her research to the disarmingly handsome Davy Hsieh, she of course has no other recourse than to follow him all the way to this private island. Davy meanwhile has a simple plan, to create an animal sanctuary on his island and slowly make up for all the damage he's done to his loved ones over years of youthful mistakes. It does not include finding the straightforward and determined Zoey irresistible. But a week of embracing their differences and baring it all leaves both of them forced to face if they're ready to take a leap of faith that will change their plans for the better.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and honestly have not even the slightest bit of constructive criticism for it. Both Zoey and Davy are great characters that have their flaws and strengths. I liked them from the moment they're introduced and it only grew with every tidbit that gets revealed as they're both pushed out of their comfort zone. The fact that there are some legitimately funny scenes and serious conflict that doesn't rely on them doing something awful to each other only made me like this story even more. And that's not even going into how expertly Wei handled tough topics like cancer survival, drug rehab, and anxiety with aplomb and grace.
It might still be a bit early in the year to say this, but this one's going on my best reads of 2024 list.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Feature for the wonderful read!

I am extremely grateful to have been provided an eARC. (All opinions are my own.) As I devoured it, I was reminded of why Ruby Lang/Opal Wei is undoubtedly one of my favorite authors.

Zoey follows Davy to his island estate after he accidentally takes a crucial tissue sample. Romance ultimately ensues, but revelations are also made as Zoey starts to question her life's plan.

The two find themselves in some absurdly funny situations, which provide for entertaining interactions between them. I love the offhand remarks and the humor. I have lots of annotations consisting only of laughing emojis or "hahaha." Most importantly, Wei has convinced me that I should avoid Canadian geese at all costs. As Zoey points out, they lack the "Canadian politeness [Canadians] are known for."

Even while Zoey and Davy find themselves in these situations, their circumstances do not take away from the real-life feel of the characters. What Wei excels at, and is present here, are the characters' thoughtful reflections on their lives. More than once, I was prompted to think about my path while Zoey was taking another look at hers.

I enjoyed this one and would recommend it to those who like screwball comedies and romcoms.

This was too Insta-love for me. The characters had no chemistry; it was very forced. The story felt both too long and not long enough to draw out the relationship.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I had a hard time suspending disbelief for this one. I wanted to love it because I adore Bringing Up Baby, but you're falling in love with a guy you just met on a remote island and he could be a killer or something??? I had a hard time with the fast pace/insta-love.

This book was so cute!! Zoey and Davy get off to a rough start but their story gets a little wacky and a lot cute as it progresses and it's so much fun. Great mental health rep (anxiety; panic attacks) and talking about it in a cultural and community setting. Love all of it!

When Zoey runs into Davy in her research lab and accidentally leaves an important slide with him, she’s determined to get it back. When she ends up following Davy to his secluded island home with surrounding wild life Zoey isn’t sure what to expect. With close proximity and deep conversations about life and future goals, Davy and Zoey grow closer. When a neighbor tries to get Davy arrested due to his elderly cougar, Zoey and Davy have to confront the lives they want to lead.

I loved the setting of this secluded Canadian island! The characters talk openly about mental health and how their pasts contributed to their current issues. Not to mention the supporting characters are hilarious! This was a fun read!

Meet cute, nerdy rom-com perfect for fans of The Big Bang Theory. These two are so easy to fall in love with and root for. Adorable guffaws and all. Enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity for me to read and review this debut!

I tried to get into this one but after several chapters it's a DNF from me. I felt disconnected from the characters and the narrative. I didn't think the main woman was portrayed well and it felt very YA to me.

Thanks anyway for the ARC.

You know those books that are just fun and leave you feeling plain happy every time you pick it up!? That was Wild Life for me! The inside of this book is as lovely, fun, and enjoyable as the cover that initially drew me to it!

Where this book shines though is in the characters! I loved how opposite they were and how fiercely they fell for one another! Their romance was sweet, fun, humorous, tender, steamy, and sweeping!

Davy’s storyline though was my favorite! I loved how his character was crafted and how his story and struggles came together! The mental health rep was especially well done!

All in all this was a really enjoyable read and one I’ll definitely be able to recommend!

3.5, rounded up. This is cute and fluffy and full of shenanigans, but I also enjoyed seeing Zoey and Davy's feelings for one another grow. Their faults and anxieties are also realistic (despite the outlandish setting), which I appreciated.

WILD LIFE by Opal Wei (aka Ruby Lang) is a hot, wild ride. Zoey Fong is a cancer researcher student, while Davy Hsieh is a former boy band member turned animal sanctuary owner. While they seem an unlikely match, when they're thrown together, they find they're actually quite compatible in all the ways that matter most.

Opal Wei's writing is real and entertaining, and Zoey and Davy are moving and genuine feeling, despite what feel like zany circumstances. A keeper.

I was really delighted by Wild Life by Opal Wei and enjoyed it even more than I was anticipating. Essentially Wild Life is about this woman who lives her life according to The Plan. When confronted with the fact that actually maybe she does not want to spend her life in the lab researching bone cancer, she’s not really sure what to do. Fortunately, she’s confronted with that fact at the same time that she winds up needing (“needing”) to accompany a very cute man to his private island that he’s trying to turn into an animal sanctuary. Honestly, with this premise, things could go the romance route or a pretty decent thriller route, but I was thoroughly delighted with the romance route. I really enjoyed this one and although there is a melancholic note to parts of this romance (think Honey Girl almost), ultimately, I found it an easy read that kept me company during a January that refused to end.

Very cute, it read like a movie in the best way possible! The romance and humor were so on point and entertaining, and it was just a fun read. Absolutely delightful!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.