What happens when a burnt out, high strung cancer researcher runs into an anxious, handsome, recovering boy bander with a private island and a elderly cougar? Shenanigans, wild animal attacks, a massive storm, run-ins with the law, and the complete abandonment of The Plan.

Zoey Fong already has an M.D., but she is in a prestigious doctoral program to be a cancer researcher so she can cure cancer in kids like her sister. She hates her program, her lab mate, and the mug collection she didn’t ask for, but what can she do? She has a Plan.

Davy Hsieh has come to the university for an appointment, but he gets lost, finds Zoey, and never makes it to his meeting.

“He took in her snapping dark eyes and the soft body under the crisp shirt. She was fluffy and angry, like a delicious cake that would give him violent heartburn. He still wanted a bite.

He turned on his best smile.

“Why do cis men think I’m the happy helper booth around here? Tell me this? I mean, I’m working. I’ve got a microscope. I’ve got this whole-” she waved her arms at the empty hall “-I’ve got this whole setup. And these men, these men are forever wandering in asking me for things”

I love a good rant. Zoey and Davy have multiple good rants in them. I also love it when the sunshine one loves the prickliness of the grumpy one. Zoey accidentally gives an important slide to Davy, and the two spend time together trying to locate and recover it. They very quickly fall into like, lust, and love. Davey, though, isn’t quite the sunshiney handsome that Zoey initially takes him for. The two of them take on more responsibility than they should, and because they do it themselves, they recognize it in each other. They give each other permission to let go of the tight grip they have on themselves.

I enjoyed this so much. Opal Wei beautifully balances the madcap with the heartfelt. I’m going to need a physical copy of this one on my shelf.

The author provides a content warning: Some readers may find topics discussed in this book difficult. These include cancer and terminal illness, anxiety and mental illness, flawed family relationships, and the mistreatment of animals. Neither the cancer nor the mistreatment of animals happens on page.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

The premise drew me in, but something about this book did not interest me. I think the book could have been written a little differently. The book's pacing was very slow, and I was surprised I could finish it. Both main characters were not very interesting, and felt like they were not developed well. Overall, this book had potential, but it missed the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Harlequin Publishing for giving me a copy of the book.

Baby the cat is the star of this book. Overall, the romance and the chemistry between Zoey and Davy was super cute and swoon worthy. I loved their interactions and I love how much they love each other. But their relationship wasn't believable. I feel like the book needed a few more chapters, in order to flesh out the romance between Zoey and Davy and really amp up the electricity between them.

I liked the characters & the backdrop, but I just couldn’t get into the main storyline. It just wasn’t very believable. Some funny bits and definitely some steamy scenes. It just sort of fell flat for me overall.

Such a very cute story with spice. Zoey Fong has The Plan for her career even though she has been hating it. Davy Hsieh is trying to get a wildlife sanctuary started on his island off Vancouver, BC. They meet when Davy is looking for a professor at Zoey’s lab. In a mixup he ends up with Zoey’s precious slide and the craziness, fun, and love begin. Anxiety is a part of the story and it is dealt with well.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wild Life by Opal Wei is a celebration of spontaneity featuring two spontaneity-resistant main characters. Sometimes The Plan Zoey Fong lives by doesn’t feel exactly how she envisioned. Perhaps it’s even suffocating her. Davy Hsieh is in self-imposed (heavily-influenced by his father) exile as he works to protect animals. Davy and Zoey have an instant connection and their relationship develops over a short period of time. Their conversation styles don’t match and things get messy as they navigate big life decisions. Thinking about changing your own version of “The Plan”? Check this one out!

Zoey is a cancer research fellow, trying to find some way to help work toward better treatments for adolescent bone cancers like her sister had. But she's run down, exhausted, overwhelmed, and feeling like she's getting nowhere. When the Handsome (aka Davy) shows up at her lab asking for directions to someone's office, she's immediately distracted, and never really gets it together again. Davy is just trying to start his big cat sanctuary and stay away from people. But Zoey is beautiful and a great distraction herself.

This is definitely a spicy romance. It's one of those lust at first sight kind of books, and they're hopeless for each other in a matter of days and upending their lives for each other after knowing each other for two seconds. But the progression is well written, and the initial flurry of anxiety from Zoey that starts them on their path to each other feels real and reasonable.

This was a silly, fun, light and fast read. It's perfect for anyone that needs a good escapist romance. I enjoyed it.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

The Plan was simple: find a cure for the cancer that nearly took her sister’s life. But for Zoey Fong, something about The Plan isn’t working anymore. When a crucial tissue sample accidentally winds up in the hands of a very distracting—and disarmingly handsome—visitor, Zoey jumps at the chance to follow him home to retrieve it.

Davy Hsieh’s rugged island estate is no manicured suburban park. His plan is simple: establish a legitimate animal sanctuary and embrace life as a hermit to make up for a sketchy past. Zoey invading his fortress of solitude should not, under any circumstances, be a romantic development.

A sweet and quirky book with likable, engaging characters. The plot is not overly developed or complicated, but overall this is a fun, light, and quick read.

I walked away feeling incredibly grateful for the author’s candid approach to the writing. From the achingly realistic and witty characters and the devastating detail of all that is stacked against them to the sheer beauty of their love for one another, this is one those books that is simply unforgettable.

Zoey Fong is your typical Type A personality. She has The Plan and is determined to stick with it come Hell or high water. Currently enrolled in a MD/PHD research program, Zoey is studying the same cancer her younger sister had as a child. The only problem, she hates the research. Overly responsible, Zoey feels guilty even thinking about quitting and feels stuck on her path. Then former boy band member, current wild animal rescuer Davy Hsieh bumbles into her life. When a mix up leads to Zoey’s research slide ending up on the remote island Davy is trying to turn into a wildlife sanctuary, Zoey spontaneously decides to accompany Davy back to the island to retrieve it. When a storm leads to Zoey being stranded for a few days, she and the well meaning Davy get to know each other. The unexpected connection leads both Davy and Zoey to rethink the current course of their lives and consider making some changes. Will they be for the better or end up destroying their lives?

Opal Wei’s Wild Life is a fun, flirty, fast read. Zoey and Davy are quite the characters! Zoey is high strung, smart, and a fierce defender of her loved ones. Her sense of responsibility is so strong, she pushes her own happiness to the side. Davy is sweet and almost naive. He’s leery of being close to those he loves because of his self destructive past. Despite their differences, they can’t help but be attracted to each other. They just spark. Wei’s writing is zippy, campy and hilarious. A throwback to the 1930s/1940s romcoms. “Bringing Up Baby” anyone? Wild Life is a low angst, sweet romance that leaves the reader smiling.

This was a cute book overall and I would recommend it for anyone interested in k-pop love stories.

I think it did the k-pop star love story and did it well - our FMC had no idea who he was, even after she found out he was famous, so it didn’t have that power dynamic ick factor.

Some of the ecology and tiger ethic stuff was a little iffy but I think they pulled through it and managed to give that a nice little bow. I think the FMC could have had a tidier ending after dealing with all of her own emotional drama.

Ultimately, I’d recommend this for a fluffy read.

By turns madcap and seductive, I loved Opal Wei's Wild Life. You can definitely count me as someone who grew up watching the 1938 screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby, and Wei's gender-flipped reworking is witty and romantic.

While I frequently laughed at the foraging hippie innkeeper, and the antics with the tranq gun, and the riffs on boy bands (always go for the shirtless one), it was the love story itself that I adored the most.

Davy was a perfectly swoony hero: affable, well intentioned, and torturing himself for his (perceived) past mistakes. Plus, he plays the piano--is anything hotter? And his perfect match was Zoey: no nonsense, single-minded, but maybe kinda sorta doubting herself after a lifetime of certainty.

Wei here--and in previous incarnation as Ruby Lang--writes intimacy as well anyone penning romance today. This is a worthy and wonderful addition to her body of work.

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

Thank you to @Harlequin for the ARC. I enjoyed this book very much. Zoey are main character is trying to make right what happened to her sister as a child but it is not where her heart is. Davy is trying to put his youth behind him and make up for some mistakes made. A mix up happens and they are secluded on a private island with a wild cat. The humor and love story make this book a must read.

This is a story of learning to believe in yourself and realizing that just because you had a plan it’s okay to change your mind and start over. I think this story will touch a lot of people who are questioning their self and their decisions. 10 out 10 highly recommend!

More like 3.5. Adorable characters. Great pining. The plot is a little thin but the plot didn't feel like the point. I loved that it kept reminding me of Bringing Up Baby but not really because a cougar is a cougar. Davy and Zoey were great. I would definitely recommend this romcom to someone with a free weekend.

Wild Life is such a fun read that gives a different take on your standard small town romance. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read it early!

I really enjoyed this while reading it. Its fun and romantic.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Wild Life by Opal Wei is an enchanting romantic adventure that is sure to captivated my attention from the very beginning. This delightful tale took me on a thrilling journey as the characters embark on a quest to find a lost slide while facing various unexpected challenges and disasters.