This book affirmed that second chance romances are not for me. Especially when there is a child actively on the pages of the book. It just leaves a sour taste in my mouth, it's a little too.... Real? And I use books to escape. I felt like the child was a little too real and brought me back to my reality one too many times.

Five years ago, Jana Suleiman had a fling with the charismatic Anil Malek. They were so in sync that even after only a couple of weeks, Jana felt ready to throw the rules out the window and fall head over heels for the guy. Always a perfect rule follower, even when it made her awkward and unpopular, it was a freeing experience doomed to end in a trash fire. When a series of texts flew in from an unknown number, accusing her of being a homewrecker but with more colorful language, Jana had to face all the questions she hadn't asked in the whirlwind of the romance. Anil was married to someone else. Jana was pregnant. And the two would only ever be distant but competent co-parents. Or so she thought.

Now we find Jana, her daughter Imani, and her mom on the way to Tanzania for a wedding (Kamila's!). Both Jana and Anil are in the wedding party, but Jana took comfort from knowing his work schedule wouldn't actually allow him to attend. His surprise reversal is not a welcome change of plans for Jana, who tries to avoid her ex and manage their 50/50 custody via app.

I'm surprised to find myself reading a second "fake exes" plot this year. In this one, Jana discovers her mom has been spreading around that she and Anil are divorced to paper over Imani's true, more shameful, origins. She's even unwittingly told the lie to the man who is considering hiring Jana for a new job, and the lie only gets more and more out of hand when Dr. Lopez and his wife appear as guests at the wedding. Anil agrees to support the tale to protect Jana's job prospects and help her mother save face, but only if Jana considers inviting him along when she takes Imani to Disney for the first time. Jana is confident it will ruin a perfect vacation to have him there, but Anil doesn't want to miss such a big moment and thinks they could get along well enough to make it a good family experience.

As much as I loved Kamila as a protagonist, I have more in common with Jana. Especially the stubborn, wears-her-emotions-on-her-cranky-face part. It's no wonder, then, that I'm sympathetic to her position as an Olympic grudge holder. That wasn't enough to save me from my dislike of a second-chance romance. Jana and Anil's shared daughter does something to mitigate the situation for me because their angst must always be tempered by their shared love for someone outside themselves. And while that's not a given for exes who share a child, it's true here. It gives them something to strive for beyond romantic reconciliation but has a way of encouraging that very outcome all the same. Unfortunately, Jana's hot and cold attitude, also identified by Anil, hit me with the same frustration he feels, even though I scraped together more empathy than he did from my time in Jana's head, seeing her hangups and worries.

There are other relationships in the story worth discussing. Tanzania is a special destination for the wedding party. Jana's parents are from there, and when they last visited in her teenage years, her father was still alive. Jana's story with her parents made me cry at its resolution. I wish we'd seen more of that as the story progressed. Another plotline didn't lack for airtime but needed more development. I think it's a classic example of instafriends. Friendship plots often miss the attention and care that romances get, both in and out of the genre. In this story, I appreciated that Jana had an uneven experience with trying to build a social circle, since it's more true to life, but I also think the supposed magic of the group was a bit outsized compared to what we actually saw or what you could expect from a real bridesmaid group. Though Jana's attempts to make friends didn't always make her feel closer to them, the end result was a group who would drop everything for her and organize around making her dreams come true.

As a random aside, I have to say that I loved all the ABBA references, a niche that has surprisingly served me well in more books than this one. I appreciate all this author does to write outside the box and give us characters with real difficulties to overcome. Kamila Knows Best is still my favorite, but I'm glad I read this one and saw Jana's story through to its conclusion. Thanks to Forever for my copy to read and review!

I liked this book! I actually got to read this while on vacation in Tanzania which was truly a delight to have some shared experiences with the characters. I hadn’t read the previous book in the series but it didn’t slow me down from enjoying it! You can easily pick up this book as a standalone, but it did make me curious to go back and read the other book!

I liked Jana - she was relatable and funny despite herself and her chemistry with Anil was great. I appreciated how she gained confidence and overcame shame to get what she wanted. I even cried! Would recommend if you are looking for a fun, easy and heartwarming read.

Farah Heron delivers a heartfelt narrative that beautifully captures the complexities of second chances and personal growth. The Tanzanian setting is vividly portrayed, immersing readers in the sights and sounds of the Serengeti. Jana's journey of self-discovery is both relatable and inspiring, as she learns to let go of past hurts and embrace vulnerability. The chemistry between Jana and Anil is palpable, making their slow-burn romance all the more satisfying. This novel is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and hope.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Farah Heron books! This one was equally enjoyable like her others. It was a great second chance romance and I loved the easter eggs to the other books (Kamila Knows Best!) A great contemporary romance with a diverse cast.

Quick Summary: A complicated second chance romance

My Review: Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron is a 2023 contemporary romance.

About the Book: "Jana Suleiman has never really fit in... The one time she stepped out of her comfort zone she ended up with a broken heart and a baby on the way. Now she’s a bridesmaid for a destination wedding in Serengeti...and almost everyone she knows will be there. Even...her gorgeous-but-not-to-be-trusted ex."

In My Own Words: Two imperfect people meet and have a whirlwind romance. Everything is going well until a bomb drops. Not only does all hope seem to be lost, but a baby on board becomes a reality. When an event brings the exes back together, they must learn how to navigate the situation, deal with their feelings, find their balance, and put their best foot forward for their little.

Question to Consider: What is possible when you learn how to release the anger that holds you back and let love (and communication) in?

My Final Say: This story had some challenging issues at hand. It was so easy to understand the emotions and feelings that Jana had. To put oneself out there and be vulnerable with someone you give yourself to (not matter how quickly), only to find things so far removed from what was thought - that is hard. Dealing with that, raising a child, wanting something better, trying to survive the uglies that come from wrongful perceptions, no wonder she felt what she felt.

This story was about survival and about finding happiness with self, with one's relationship, and with what's needed for reconciliation in life. Going through the topsy turvy was all a part of the "wild" experience.

Now, regarding Anil. First of all, truth and transparency come first. Period. Projecting is unacceptable. Be a great dad, but also be better when it comes to being real with self and with the woman you say you love. I feel what I feel about him; he never should have put Jana in the position she found herself in.

The love they found together was tainted by the circumstances they went through. Although they got their HEA, it was a peculiar second chance aha.

The pacing of this story was slow, but I think it needed that. The fact that it had so many emotionally rich dynamics was not lost on me. This was not a cutesy romance; it was a gut punching "you did what" situation wrapped in the cover of a romance. If readers are able to dig deep, I think they will walk away with more than they might have initially approached the story with.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever), and to NetGalley. I am incredibly appreciative for the opportunity to review this title. It was a pleasure.

includes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance romance, single parent

first off, can we talk about the cover? the power a beautiful cover has on me will always be so powerful.

my favorite part about this book is feeling so immeresed in the setting. I really really enjoyed feeling like I was there!

what happens when jana alongside anil have to go on a two week long vacation? jana and anil are co=parenting their child, but do they get along? nope. the tension between both of them? WHEW. They might have been fighting one another but their chemistry was always there.

I enjoyed reading this book!

This book was such a delightful surprise—Jana Goes Wild is everything I love in a romance and more. The cover is beautiful, but the story inside? Even better. This is my third book by Farah, and I can already tell it won’t be my last. The fact that I’m planning to go back and read *Kamila Knows Best* (a modern *Emma* retelling!) shows just how much I’ve been captivated by Farah’s writing. The relationship between Jana and Anil, as well as their emotional journey, was so gripping, and I was hooked from the start.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the emphasis on coparenting. The dynamic between Jana and Anil was tense, yes, but also real. Their history was complicated, but they both made such an effort to raise their daughter together. Watching them navigate that tension while trying to build a foundation for themselves again made the emotional stakes even higher. It also provided such a rich backdrop for the forced proximity that came later—having to go on a trip together? Oh, the tension was palpable. The slow burn was so well done, and by the time the payoff came, I was all in. I may have even been fanning myself during that coshowering scene (🥵).

I’ll admit, there were moments when Anil felt a little self-pitying, and it seemed like he didn’t fully grasp how difficult it was for Jana to be around him. But I think that was part of his character growth, and it added a layer of realism to their story. Jana’s internal struggle felt so raw and real, and I loved seeing her come to terms with everything. The way they worked through their past was painful but so beautifully executed.

It had a fair amount of angst—especially with the third-act breakup (and yes, I typically don’t love that trope), but the way Farah wrote it made it work. There was so much emotional depth in this second-chance romance that I couldn’t help but get caught up in all the feels. And when Jana had her moment with her mom at the end? I was crying. Truly, that scene is going to stay with me for a long time. It was such a beautiful, tender moment that really tied everything together.

If you're looking for a second-chance romance that is emotional, tense, and incredibly rewarding, Jana Goes Wild is definitely one to read. It’s the perfect mix of slow burn, forced proximity, emotional growth, and of course, a satisfying payoff. This book truly has it all.

*Jana Goes Wild* by Farah Heron is a vibrant, second-chance romance with rich cultural representation and a stunning destination setting. Jana and Anil’s journey is emotional and heartfelt, but the past infidelity makes their romance harder to fully root for. Still, the character growth and charming moments make it an enjoyable read. I’ve loved Heron’s other books and am excited to see what else she comes out with!

Unfortunately despite loving Kamila Knows Best this one felt a bit short for me. I love Farah Heron's writing which was the saving grace for me because I was not invested in the second chance romance. To be fair that trope is very hit or miss for me, but I was hoping it would work for me here. And it did at times, but I think the book could've been shorter because I was so tired at the end of the book. Jana's journey wasn't well structured for me (which like yes I know real life is messy but this is a book so) and I wanted a bit more from all of her story lines.

I did love seeing Kamila and the other characters from the first book so much and I do love a wedding setting! The fact this was set in Africa on safari was a fun time and unique!

The audiobook also had some great sound effects which made it immersive.

Overall I can't wait to read more from Farah Heron, but this was a miss for me.

A cute second-chance romance! I loved the setting, the characters and the overall reading experience. It was a solid, entertaining read!

I am a big fan of Farah’s, and it’s not that this book was bad in anyway, it just wasn’t for me. The characters didn’t call to me and I wasn’t interested in the romance. But it is still well-written, and I know several people who like it. It just wasn’t for me.

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron is a fun, heartwarming romance that follows Jana as she steps out of her comfort zone to navigate family expectations and a growing romance. Jana is a relatable, engaging protagonist, and her personal growth throughout the story makes her easy to root for. The chemistry between the characters is sweet and well-paced, and the book’s setting adds an adventurous twist. However, the pacing drags a bit in the middle, and some parts of the story feel predictable. A few secondary characters are also underdeveloped, leaving some relationships feeling shallow. Overall, it's a light, enjoyable read for fans of rom-coms with a touch of adventure, though it doesn't offer many surprises.

Ok, can we get a big applause for this beautiful cover but also this beautiful story that is inside this book!! Several moments made my heart so happy as Jana prioritized her growth and happiness. And it was wonderful to see Imani, one of the cutest kid characters ever, thrive and be the recipient of so much love

Such a cute cover and a fun, interesting location. I did like the start and was pulled in pretty quickly. But the repetitive nature of the relationship arguments, the few times I had to suspend my disbelief - a few times I found the mc really frustrating - it meant that I did have fun with the story and found it cute but was also distracted by a few things I didn't love.

If you want a unique local, forced proximity and a story about pushing yourself to try to forgive and try new things - then this might just be the one for you. It really was cute!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron. Pub Date: May 2, 2023. Rating: 3 stars. I love the cover of this novel with all of the animals displayed. Secondly, I love second chance stories and this one was definitely an interesting one. Jana has some baggage in which she once stepped outside of her normal self and somehow ended up with an ex and a baby. Fast forward five years and she ends up in Serengeti National Park as a bridesmaid in a wedding. Also, her ex just so happens to be there. Regardless, Jana is determined to have a good time, but does she fall for him all over again? I thought the author did a good job portraying co parenting and diversity throughout the book, but I grew annoyed with Jana and all of her emotional resentfulness. Not that her feelings were not justified, but at some point you have to let it go to move forward. I liked this novel, but I did not love it. Thanks to #netgalley and #foreverpublishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really sweet second chance romance!! The way Anil was still pining over Jana was so cute; and I loved watching their relationship develop. I’ve always been a fan of Farah Heron, so I’m glad I ended up enjoying this one!

As just a novel, I actually really enjoyed Jana Goes Wild. As a book that has been marketed as a romance however, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much.

In the prologue, we are given a glimpse of what Jana and Anil's initial relationship looked like five years ago, before Jana learns Anil's secret. And instead of truly rebuilding a romance between the two, the story relies heavily on the chemistry seen in the prologue before Jana's (understandable) resentment clouds their relationship for most of the book. There was just not enough of a buildup for me to believe the declarations of love at the end of the book, especially considering how much of the book Jana holds onto her resentment.

I do, however, believe that the arc of forgiveness between Jana and Anil works. Their reconciliation feels genuine, and with a few changes, though what changes I couldn't tell you, the romance definitely could've worked. As it stands, it feels like just. because Jana can finally stand to be around Anil, Heron decides that's enough to say they're in love.

Aside from the romance, there was a lot I enjoyed about the story. I was invested in every relationship outside of the main romance, especially the platonic ones. There are many beautiful displays of friendship throughout the story that I loved.

I also really enjoyed seeing Jana grow as a person and in her relationships throughout the novel.

Overall, 3.5 stars.

There were a lot of things to like about this book: it was an African safari with lots of animals and had a road trip aspect, with the guests of the wedding all traveling from one National park to the next in Tanzania. I didn’t know there was an Indian community in Tanzania. And with Jana’s home base being in Canada and doing international work, the whole book had a very international feel. I thought the sexual tension between Jana and Anil was good and I kept reading to see when they would finally act on their feelings.

What I didn’t love was the way Jana’s feelings kept seesawing back and forth. Sometimes the will they or won’t they can create more tension, but in this case it felt like Jana was standing in her own way for no good reason.

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron
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Jana is a single mom to her five year old daughter, so she needs to be very organized and responsible. She is asked to be a bridesmaid at a destination wedding. The other guests on the trip include lots of friends, her mother, her potential new boss, and her gorgeous-but-not-to-be-trusted ex and baby daddy.
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What I liked:
-There was a lot of humor throughout the story.
-The destination wedding takes place in Serengeti National Park, and that was pretty awesome to hear about.
-Jana’s friends are a close knit bunch who are really looking out for her. I liked the checklist they gave her to try to “go wild”.
-Usually second chance romances are not my favorites but this one was a lot of fun to read. I really liked Jana and Anil, and was really rooting for them.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I listened to the audio and it was excellent. If you love romcoms then this is a great one to read.