Many thanks to NetGalley and Vintage Anchor for providing me with an eARC of Wild Things in exchange for my honest review!

While I didn't find Wild Things to be particularly remarkable, that doesn't take away from the fun I had gliding through its lightheartedly queer tale. It's very much the sort of book that's low on plot and high on breezy vibes, which is all right, considering how likable the ensemble of characters is here. I'll admit, though, that this did grip me a little more when it entered the third act and amped up the stakes. And as someone who can be iffy towards the friends-to-lovers trope, I found it to be charmingly executed here (but perhaps I'm being more lenient toward the trope as someone who's currently in a real-life friends-to-lovers relationship).

All in all, I'm officially rating Wild Things 3.25 out of 5 stars. I'm happy I checked it out, and I'll keep an eye out for more of Laura Kay's work in the future.

“Wild Things” by Laura Kay is fun, queer chick-lit novel. I would most definitely not call this a romance, despite the rom-com tag. There is a romance here but it’s more of a sub-plot, one I enjoyed, but still, just a sub-plot.
Eleanor (El) has been stagnant for a while. She’s at a dead-end job and barely makes it paycheck to paycheck. She has a roommate she doesn’t like and is floundering in her love life. She’s had a longtime crush on her best friend, Ray, but doesn’t want to rock the boat with telling Ray how she feels.
El is considered dull and boring by many and decides she’ll do one wild thing a month. One of her wild things includes buying a house with her best friends Ray, Jamie, and Will. Will was planning to buy the house with his girlfriend but changes plans once his girlfriend dumps him.
This was my first read by Kay and I was impressed. The characters and friendships really stood out and I enjoy the way Kay writes. I also really liked her dry humor. This is British and I loved that it felt British as it doesn’t always. “Wild Things” has a bit of a slow start but I was hooked before I knew it. Things really pick up once they actually move into their DIY home and El is confronted with her feelings for Ray in a new way.
My main issues is I think El was too passive. I know that that is one of the main points but things really just fell into her lap. I would rather have her been more purposeful about some of the changes that happen. I was happy to see her accept herself as she is but everything happened just a little too easy in the end.
Overall, I liked this a lot. It has me interested in Kay’s previous work and I will most definitely be reading whatever she puts out next.
I received an ARC from Vintage Anchor via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved these characters - I am a huge fan of "found family" reads, this one was fantastic.
El is determined to shake up her life - hence the year of wild. After her friend is dumped his long term girlfriend, El and her core group of friends decide to buy a house together.
Which means El will be cohabitating with her long term crush, Ray.
The unrequited love story does not enjoy the main plot of this book - Lavender House and her occupants' adjustment to country life and self discovery.
Great story!

two best friends, one huge crush, and a year that could change everything… this lovely group of friends moves to the country and creates a queer commune that is delightful and quirky, and their story is lovely in all the best British ways! it’s a short and sweet read with great characters and so much heart. thanks for sending me this one, @vintageanchorbooks! 🥰

⭐️⭐️⭐️— i liked it! #radthreestarreads

This was such a cute story! Love the representation and the banter. Highly recommend checking this one out of you love a good romance novel!

This book is absolutely wild!!!!!!


Thank you soooooo much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

"Wild Things" by Laura Kay is an emotionally charged and beautifully written novel that tugs at the heartstrings. Kay's storytelling is poignant and captivating, drawing readers into the lives of the characters as they navigate the complexities of love, loss, and personal growth. This evocative and touching tale leaves a lasting impression, making it a must-read for those seeking a deeply moving and heartfelt narrative.

Thank you Vintage Anchor and Netgalley for this arc. This book is about good friends who move to the countryside of England. The main character, El, agrees to do one wild thing each month for the next year. She tries to date while the whole while having a crush on her best friend, Ray. This British queer chick-lit book is fun and enjoyable. The book shows us chosen family and a friends to lovers trope. Definitely read this if you enjoy British chick-lit books.

This was such a fun book! I loved the writing style. It's immersive and genuine and gripping. The characters were relatable and I enjoyed reading their journeys over the course of the book. Cannot WAIT for lore from Laura Kay!

This was fantastic. I loved every second of reading it and I can't wait to see what the author comes out with next. It was a wild ride!

"Wild Things" by Laura Kay is a novel that explores the complexities of relationships, self-discovery, and the pursuit of happiness. While the premise and themes are intriguing, I found myself struggling with the pacing, making it a slow read overall.
The characters themselves are well-developed, with their flaws and strengths adding depth to the story. I appreciated the complexity of their relationships and the genuine emotions they convey. Kay has a talent for crafting relatable characters with realistic struggles, making them feel authentic and human.
"Wild Things" by Laura Kay is a novel that explores important themes and presents well-crafted characters. While the book has its merits, the slow pacing proved to be a significant hurdle for my reading experience. If you enjoy character-driven stories and don't mind a more contemplative pace, this book may resonate with you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vintage Anchor, and Vintage for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A light, fun read.
Manythanks to Anchor Vintage and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

One thing I absolutely loved in this book was the rep!

Imagine you move out into the countryside with a group of your friends, buy a house and form a little gay commune? Well, if you have or haven't, then Wild Things is for you!
I enjoyed this book, but I did put it down multiple times and pick up other books instead of finishing this. Even though I eventually did, there was just something missing for me. I do think other people would love this!

This was an absolutely delightful rom com that started off slow, but as I got to know and love the characters, I truly could not wait to see where they ended up.

El is trying to have a wild year. Despite being stuck in a dead end job, living with a room mate she hates, and being hopelessly in love with her best friend, this is going to be her year. Which is how she ends up buying and moving into a house in the country with said best friend and two other friends, the newly christened Lavender House.

This book felt like everything I should love in a book. It sounds like a dream, right? Queer friends moving into a home together, raising chickens, and making lovely friends with the neighbors in their amazing open village. I loved the parts of the book that focused on the friendships and village life. It was utterly charming, and I don't think I could ever get enough.

Unfortunately, I found the romance between El and Ray almost painful to read. El just seemed to lack agency, and I genuinely had no idea if Ray was 1) so oblivious that I wonder if she's even actually friends with El or 2) aware of El's feelings and stringing her along. I really mostly leaned towards 2, which made me almost angry when they ended up actually getting together. Especially because El seemed to stumble into most everything that happened in the book. Just because she is risk-averse doesn't mean she can't make moves towards what she wants; I think it would have been more satisfying if she had learned enough from her experience building Lavender House to actually start going towards what she wants, instead of everyone having to bring opportunities to her.

Anyone who's ever struggled to see their path forward in life will relate to El's Wild Year. This book's also for all the people who ever dreamed about owning a home with their found family.

The worst part about this book is that *I* can't just piggyback off my token straight best friend to form a queer commune fall in love with my best friend/roommate! Jokes aside, I adored this quaint but deeply relatable romance about a queer woman who wants to live more on the wild side and then learns that the wild side lives within herself. I adored the setting. I adored the messy human feelings. I adored the millennium antics. I adored it all.

a cute and charming romcom that was delightful.

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

Slow to start, but once you get to know Eleanor and this found family of hers it settles and is full of quirk, fun characters and cozy moments. The book balances romance with a ton of personal growth for El. I love the idea of tackling one big idea a month to push the bounds of a comfort zone! Overall a happily cozy, light-hearted read! 3.5⭐️

This one just wasn’t for me- the protagonist’s indecision grated on my nerves. I did really enjoy some of the side characters and their journeys, and would’ve enjoyed more of them!