I liked Jana Goes Wild, though she really doesn't go "wild". It's more stepping outside her comfort zone. Jana and her baby daddy have a complicated past, and end up going on a trip to Tanzania together for a wedding. They spend about two weeks in Tanzania dancing around each other, having conversations about themselves and their adorable daughter. I really appreciated that regardless of how things worked out the first go around they were both solidly in their daughters life.

Things are rocky with them throughout the book as they deal with the past. Jana couldn't let anything go, Anil was trying to court her, but he was going about it in strange ways. There was a lot of miscommunication in this one, but that was balanced by some sexy scenes.

This is a personal thing, but it drove me nuts that it was almost always "Anil Malek" and not just Anil. It kind of annoyed me that from Jana's point of view she kept referring to him that way.

I enjoy Farah Heron and I liked "Kamila Knows Best," but this follow-up sadly fell a little flat for me. The romance didn't have the depth I was looking for in a second-chance, and while I wanted to enjoy it, I had to convince myself to finish reading instead of DNFing. I'm excited to see what Farah Heron does next, despite this one not being for me!

3 stars!

I think unfortunately for me this book caught me in the middle of my not as into contemporary romance reading slump and also included the single parent trope, which I don't read very often. I was excited for this book because I love second chance romance but I honestly found their child and the FMC a little annoying. I did think the Tanzanian safari setting was my favorite part of the novel, but the repetitiveness of Jana and Anil's arguments left me completely frustrated.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Typical cutsie book. It was okay. Jana meets a guy, they have an amazing 2 weeks together and then she finds out she is still married. To top of the scandal she is pregnant. Flash forward, their daughter is 4, they co-parent decently enough, but mostly don’t talk. Jana is part of a wedding party with people she’s known since she was a kid and it’s in Africa (Tanzania) . Turns out baby daddy Anil is able to come last minute and didn’t tell her. He’s all sweet and thoughtful on the trip, she hates him, but also secretly loves watching him with their daughter and gets some feels. The author describes the setting too much. Shit happens on the trip and then Jana and Anil bang on the last night. She needs time to think and everyone goes home. Jana thinks Anil is getting back with his ex wife and people at her new job are gossiping about her. It’s all a misunderstanding, she does a karaoke grand gesture for Anil, they bang again and live happily ever after.

4 stars

Ack! I just realized I never submitted this review! I read this a few months back and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a spicy, 2nd chance romance, that is in the MOST amazing setting! I had never really wanted to travel to Africa, but Farah Heron has so vividly depicted the scenery, that I'm saving my pennies to go on safari!

Thank you to Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the digital ARC in return for an honest review!

Jana Goes Wild is mostly set in Tanzania while Jana is at/in he wedding of her friends Kamala and Rohan. Jana and her daughter, Imani, have travelled with her mom, many aunts and uncles, friends and other people for a destination wedding. Unfortunately, Jana’s ex Anil also shows up as part of the wedding party. After being betrayed by him 5 years ago, Jana has not been near Anil since except to talk about their daughter. But after she, Anil, and Imani spend more and more time together on this incredible trip, Jana starts to want something more from their relationship. Can she forgive Anil for hurting her before, and does he even feel the same about her? I loved the characters in this book. They were good friends who encouraged one another and had fun together.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Years ago, Jana hadn't expected the path her future would take, but now, she's built a happy and fulfilled life for her daughter and herself.

Or so she thought...

During a destination wedding for her meddling best friends, Jana will be given a second chance on a future she'd given up on.

But will her family's lies jeopardize everything?

I love the Desi representation and Africa safari wedding! And Jana's little girl is the absolute cutest!

I really wanted to like this book as the concept is great. However, I never liked either characters and wasn't feeling their second chance romance. Wasn't rooting for either of them the entire time. A little too much deceit

I’m really torn - surprise pregnancy trope, HEAVY miscommunication, second chance romance.

Only one of those I actually like and I will give it a hint that it’s not the first two…

I wanted to love this one but the miscommunication really was what knocked it from a 4 to a 3.
I enjoyed the story for its Happy Ever After, but it was just okay to me.

I want to try another book by this author because I think I could have loved it if the tropes were different.

Huge thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed being back in Farah's world and enjoyed the direction she took this story. It was great to see a couple that was successfully co-parenting even though they were not together. The miscommunication was slightly annoying but necessary for the story. Overall, I enjoyed this read!

I really wanted to love this book but just couldn't get into it. I had to DNF around 15% in. I wasn't excited to pick it up and even the safari premise, which I love!, didn't hold my interest. Thanks so much to the publisher for my copy and I hope all who read it enjoy it!

I loved this second chance romance!

Normally, accidental pregnancy is my least favorite trope. But Heron did a phenomenal job constructing a believable relationship that villainized neither party.

Full review to come on blog.

Since meeting Jana and Anil in Kamila Knows Best and it was heavily hinted that they would get their own book, I couldn’t wait for their book to come out! Cut to about a year later, we finally get Jana Goes Wild¸ which despite coming out a year is actually set a couple years after the end of Kamila Knows Best. This allows readers to meet Anil and Jana’s adorable daughter, Imani and to see them as co-parents while also shining light on what actually transpired between the two of them in the past. The actual story of Anil being married is kind of wild but also a sad example of how toxic family can be, as well as how harmful cultural expectations can be to everyone if people aren’t willing to be adaptable and let them evolve. While I came for the slow burn romance and inevitable reunion between Anil and Jana, I appreciated the positive representation of co-parenting, particularly Anil being the best “girl dad” as well as both the female and male friendships in the book. Sure Jana Goes Wild could definitely use more wild and fun times especially with the “Bridal Brigade” and “Groom Platoon”, however I appreciated how both groups evolved into actual friends when they got back home as they were so good for Jana who was an introvert who wanted to expand her world just a bit more. I also wish we got more of the romantic relationship between Jana and Anil, as that’s what I was eagerly anticipating. With this in mind, the payoff at the end was satisfying even if I would’ve liked to see more of them together than apart. If you enjoyed Farah Heron’s other books and like me, wanted more of Anil and Jana after reading Kamila Knows Best then Jana Goes Wild is a must read!

I was excited to read first-time-for-me-author Heron because she came highly recommended by my dear friend Vassiliki Veros of the Shallowreader blog and romance scholar. Unfortunately, Jana Goes Wild wasn't terribly wild for me. I could overlook that I couldn't warm to the protagonists and found the Imani annoying rather than a scene stealer. I did think the conglomeration of characters and their names when the party arrives at the Serengeti resort quite tedious. But even that I could overlook, looking forward to scenes when Anil and Jana would exchange banter and/or begin to work things out. What left me cold, however, was Heron's flat, uninspiring stye. Maybe it works for many readers, as her popularity proves, but it didn't work for me.

Jana Goes Wild is a fun and fabulous rom-com and a perfect way to escape this summer.


We love Farah Heron’s books here at Romance By The Book. Her storytelling is fun, witty, and just so enjoyable. I was pumped for this book because I LOVED Kamila Knows Best, and Jana Goes Wild takes place in the same world with many of the same characters. This book takes place a few years after Kamila’s book. Jana, her family, and friends are heading to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania for Kamila’s wedding. Jana is looking forward to spending time with Imani, her daughter. Still, her excitement lessens when she realizes that Anil Imani’s father will also be attending the destination wedding. First, I have to gush about the setting. I just fell in love with Tanzania. Farah does an amazing job at transporting her reader to this National Park. Everything felt lush and vivid, and I wish I could go there myself.

We met Jana in Kamila Knows Best; she was Kamila’s rival. In the previous book, Jana returns home pregnant with no intention of marrying the baby’s father. Jana’s situation was quite the scandal, and everyone (including me) wanted to know the juicy details of what happened between Jana and this mystery man. Farah did not disappoint me with this book. I enjoyed Jana’s story. Farah hooks us in right from the very beginning. The first chapter has Jana and Anil starting this new relationship, but things take a turn for the worse when Jana finds out that Anil is still married. Things become even more complicated when Jana finds out she is pregnant. The next chapter is five years later, and Anil and Jana have mastered co-parenting Imani. I loved how Jana and Anil put their differences aside and put their daughter’s needs first. They created this wonderful loving environment for their daughter (who is adorable.). It was a great example of healthy co-parenting and how families often come in all shapes and sizes.

Jana is Kamila’s opposite in almost every imaginable way. Jana is reserved, quiet, and a bit prickly at times, whereas Kamila has this larger-than-life personality and really is the life of the party. I liked Jana as a character, she has worked hard for everything in her life, and even though she can come across as a bit prickly, she truly has a heart of gold. I loved watching her navigate through various relationships in her life. Connecting with people doesn’t come naturally to her, but she really does try, and those closest to her know that.

If you are a fan of second-chance romances, then you will love this book. Jana has not forgiven Anil for lying to her about being married. She has made it her goal not to be in the same room as him, which she has been pretty successful at, thanks to co-parenting apps and her mom taking over pick-ups. It is obvious that Anil still has feelings for Jana, and he wants to have a relationship with Jana. The tension and chemistry between these two just leap from the pages, and when they pretend to be in a relationship, things only heat up more between them. It was wonderful watching Jana slowly start to let go of her resentment and hurt feelings towards Anil. Their love second chance love story has a slow-burn feel, and I loved the ending.

Jana Goes Wild is a fun and addictive rom-com!

This was a fun, romantic adventure! The description of the settings were amazing, and the characters all interesting. The second chance romance was well done. Overall, a very fun summer read!

Five years ago Jana Suleiman's life was turned upside down by a terrible betrayal.

Now, she and her young daughter are headed to Tanzania for a destination wedding for two of Jana's oldest friends. Of course, she fails to realize that the man who broke her heart all those years ago will also be there.

Having to be around Anil is bringing up old memories and hurts. She doesn't know if she can ever forgive him, but for the sake of their daughter, she needs to try.

I absolutely loved this book's vivid storytelling. Farah Heron really knows how to describe the African landscape to perfection. I felt like I was riding along with the characters. You can tell that it's somewhere near and dear to the author's heart. The love just jumps off of the page.

Farah Heron also made the double standard that exists between men and women deftly felt. Jana experienced a great hit to her personal and professional lives after the implosion of her and Anil's relationship. She's still feeling the after effects - whispers and judging. Whether or not she realizes it, there's an internal shame that Jana carries around because of what happened. I think the biggest thing of all is, with Anil, Jana really felt like she had met her person. She doesn't easily make friends and isn't close to many people, but with Anil it was almost instantaneous. She was on her way to falling for him, so to lose that so abruptly along with everything else that occurred at the time, really caused Jana to turn in on herself.

There is a lot for Jana to unpack, and the moments when Jana speaks her true self were some of the best in the book. Unfortunately, they're far between at first, as the story builds upon itself rather slowly. There were quite a few times where I felt like we were on repeat with the same situation coming up again and again. I still enjoyed the story, but felt like maybe some things could have been paired down and I don't think this would have impacted the growth that we got to see from Jana.

Overall, while the journey to the end was sometimes a little rough, it was still all worth it as the ending was perfect.

I wanted to love this book so much. I mean first off, how stinking cute is that cover?! But, unfortunately this book didn’t really work for me. I couldn’t stand the main character and I felt like the book was too slow for me. I know others loved it, so I think this is just a case of not being the right book for me!

My local Himalayan restaurant should lay Farah Heron a finders fee because every time I read one of her books I crave samosas! Very cool touch with the recipes included, but let’s be real. I’m not that clever.

This book was very cute. I was very invested in the characters and their happy ending. The only downside was the 3rd act misunderstand was so intense. I wanted to smack her! If Jana was a friend I would have been forced to make her see reason. I would recommend this book to romance readers. It had some spice and was definitely open door, but it also had a great story and explored many types of relationships. 4/5 stars.

Jana’s a single parent who’s looking to restructure her career so she can be with her daughter, Imani more instead of traveling so much for work. She’s interviewed for her ideal job, and now she, Imani, and her mother are off to Tanzania for a wedding. There’s an unexpected surprise when her ex and baby daddy, Anil is also part of the wedding party. Anil had been married - unbeknownst to her - when they’d hooked up. As coparents, they do exceedingly well, but she otherwise keeps her distance. Also a potential employer is a part of the wedding festivities and traveling with them. This collision of her two worlds along with the gossip that has surrounded her has her on edge during the trip.

I liked so many aspects of this storyline. I understood how she was trying to find her footing, the resentment that the affair disrupted her career and the gossip that ensued, both in her professional and personal life. The shame her mother unwittingly makes her feel for being an unmarried mother. The gossip subplot irked me a lot. Honestly her mom, as good-intentioned as she was, also made me cringe with some of her actions.

The bright side was the setting of Tanzania. I enjoyed learning of the different places and the food. I also loved the undeniable connection between Anil and Jana, but it took a while for her to feel that she could trust her feelings and him. Another thing I liked was the ABBA karaoke. It was so much fun!

I thought this was a good, enjoyable read. I rooted for Jana and her happily ever after. I rooted for her and Anil and their family. I came away from it feeling so content.

Thank you @netgalley & @readforeverpub for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.