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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What if, in a year of trying to be cool and ‘wild’, you did the truly wild thing of buying a house and moving into the countryside with your closest friends? And what if it just so happens that the person you’ve been in love with for years, who is effortlessly cool and wild, just so *happens* to be one of those friends? Commune shenanigans and so much pining ensues.
I adored this book!
I’ve seen some negative reviews that described the main character, El, as being whiny and while I could definitely see that complaint at first, I felt it dissipate after the initial chapters. We have to get a sense of where El is at (stuck, and not willing to do very much about it) so that she has the chance to grow and change.
At first it seemed like El never tries at anything, but as I learned more about her it became clear that she has tried in the past, she just gave up. Wild Things is really the story of her trying again - and it’s so lovely!
I will say that for me Wild Things hit more as commercial fiction with a romance storyline rather than as a *romance novel*, because there’s such a strong focus on El’s personal growth and the love story is so slow burn/unclear if it’s one sided for so long. That didn’t bother me (I think the book would have been just as good without an HEA), but I can see how that would be disappointing if you were looking for a swoony romcom (there is rom, and com, but it’s not really a romcom in its construction)!
In the romance vein— Would have loved for this to be a series with all the house mates’ love stories! Still, we get a nice little window into everyone’s HEAs just the same.
I adored this book!
I’ve seen some negative reviews that described the main character, El, as being whiny and while I could definitely see that complaint at first, I felt it dissipate after the initial chapters. We have to get a sense of where El is at (stuck, and not willing to do very much about it) so that she has the chance to grow and change.
At first it seemed like El never tries at anything, but as I learned more about her it became clear that she has tried in the past, she just gave up. Wild Things is really the story of her trying again - and it’s so lovely!
I will say that for me Wild Things hit more as commercial fiction with a romance storyline rather than as a *romance novel*, because there’s such a strong focus on El’s personal growth and the love story is so slow burn/unclear if it’s one sided for so long. That didn’t bother me (I think the book would have been just as good without an HEA), but I can see how that would be disappointing if you were looking for a swoony romcom (there is rom, and com, but it’s not really a romcom in its construction)!
In the romance vein— Would have loved for this to be a series with all the house mates’ love stories! Still, we get a nice little window into everyone’s HEAs just the same.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
WILD THINGS by Laura Kay
El hates her admin job, hates her passive-aggressive roommate, and hates the unrequited love she’s had for her best friend Ray for five years. She’s trying to break free of the rut and trying to be less boring, by doing one “wild” thing each month for a year. In May, she decides the crazy thing is to ditch renting in the city and move to a village with her three best friends, Ray included.
This is a cute read with great rep and some chickens named after Twilight characters. I particularly loved El’s friend Jamie and their new neighbour, an older lady called Sally with a surprisingly colourful life. I do feel though like El really frustrated me as a character. She doesn’t do much growing throughout the book and she can be pretty passive. Sometimes I wanted to shake her: tell Ray the truth or move on, but absolutely don’t get into a housemate situation with her!! That seemed like the worst of both worlds. I would have loved to see El take control of her own destiny a little more.
That said this was a pretty compelling read that I ate up in less than forty eight hours. Great if you are looking for something low stakes.
I haven’t read Laura Kay’s previous books but I know that The Split is pretty beloved.
Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Wild Things is out later this month.
El hates her admin job, hates her passive-aggressive roommate, and hates the unrequited love she’s had for her best friend Ray for five years. She’s trying to break free of the rut and trying to be less boring, by doing one “wild” thing each month for a year. In May, she decides the crazy thing is to ditch renting in the city and move to a village with her three best friends, Ray included.
This is a cute read with great rep and some chickens named after Twilight characters. I particularly loved El’s friend Jamie and their new neighbour, an older lady called Sally with a surprisingly colourful life. I do feel though like El really frustrated me as a character. She doesn’t do much growing throughout the book and she can be pretty passive. Sometimes I wanted to shake her: tell Ray the truth or move on, but absolutely don’t get into a housemate situation with her!! That seemed like the worst of both worlds. I would have loved to see El take control of her own destiny a little more.
That said this was a pretty compelling read that I ate up in less than forty eight hours. Great if you are looking for something low stakes.
I haven’t read Laura Kay’s previous books but I know that The Split is pretty beloved.
Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Wild Things is out later this month.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was such a cute book. I loved the found family. The friendship among the 4 friends was so fun and sweet. I just enjoyed reading the book and had fun with it.
I received the ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received the ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ever since getting pet pigs I am DRAWN to books that include animals and the chickens on this cover caught my attention and I knew I had to request to read this book. Thankfully my request was approved through NetGalley!
Wild Things is written in first person single POV and I normally prefer dual POV, but Laura made single POV work with this one. I don’t feel like any part of the story or any other character development was lost due to this.
El, Ray, Will, and Jamie move out of the city and into an old farmhouse where DIY projects and remodeling become a huge part of their lives. There’s so much more than that in this book, though. You’ll see romance, character growth, friendship growth, and self-discovery.
El is trying to find herself, dealing with hidden feelings for Ray, and seeing what fits best for her. I think my favorite part of this is El’s journey to self-discovery.
Tropes:
- Friends to lovers
- LGBT+ rep
- Found family
- Awesome side characters
- Forced proximity
Wild Things is being published on May 23, 2023 so make sure to grab it!
Wild Things is written in first person single POV and I normally prefer dual POV, but Laura made single POV work with this one. I don’t feel like any part of the story or any other character development was lost due to this.
El, Ray, Will, and Jamie move out of the city and into an old farmhouse where DIY projects and remodeling become a huge part of their lives. There’s so much more than that in this book, though. You’ll see romance, character growth, friendship growth, and self-discovery.
El is trying to find herself, dealing with hidden feelings for Ray, and seeing what fits best for her. I think my favorite part of this is El’s journey to self-discovery.
Tropes:
- Friends to lovers
- LGBT+ rep
- Found family
- Awesome side characters
- Forced proximity
Wild Things is being published on May 23, 2023 so make sure to grab it!
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
A lazy slow burn beach read would be the perfect description. With that being said I wish more happened between El and Ray, I was rooting for them the entire book. The dynamic between the friend group helps progress the story but I really wish more happened. But overall such a lighthearted and sweet romance novel!
Eleanor is stuck in a rut—personal and professional—and makes a promise to herself to have a year of Wild Things, where each month she does one big thing that pushes her out of her comfort zone. So when the opportunity comes up to move into a queer commune—or at least, a run-down old farmhouse in the London commuter belt—she jumps at the chance. Except it means that now El will be living with Ray, the woman she's been unrequitedly crushing on for years.
Wild Things is a cute, light, queer romcom. El and Ray's getting together is a slow-burn and fairly low-key, and the book's emphasis is as much on El's growth as a person as it is on that. Laura Kay has a knack for finding the right balance so that this is cosy and happy-ending-y without being saccharine, with secondary characters who are easily distinguishable from one another without being irritating Bundles of Quirks and/or One-Liners. This was a perfect read for a blustery, snowy February evening.
Wild Things is a cute, light, queer romcom. El and Ray's getting together is a slow-burn and fairly low-key, and the book's emphasis is as much on El's growth as a person as it is on that. Laura Kay has a knack for finding the right balance so that this is cosy and happy-ending-y without being saccharine, with secondary characters who are easily distinguishable from one another without being irritating Bundles of Quirks and/or One-Liners. This was a perfect read for a blustery, snowy February evening.
I was absolutely thrilled to have been sent an advanced reader’s copy of Laura Kay’s new book, Wild Things. Wild Things follows the main character Eleanor and her adventure of doing one wild thing each month, a goal she set herself in fear of being seen as boring by her best friend/crush of many years.
This book is classed as LGBTQIA+ as well as General Fiction (Adult) and is set to be released in May 2023.
What I liked about it
Wild Things has been a refreshing change of pace compared to the kind of books I usually read. As someone who has anxiety and is bisexual, I found myself connecting with El instantly and recognising a lot of my own behaviours throughout the book. I feel as though I might just need a wild year myself. As the reader we witness El grow as she tackles unrequited feelings, being stuck in a job she hates, the minefield that is the dating scene and, more interestingly, buying a house in the countryside with her friends and converting it into a “gay commune” :). Honestly, this book was amazing and truly worth the read.
What I didn’t like about it
To be completely honest, I don’t even know why I include this section in my reviews. I never actually have anything relevant, let alone constructive to say.
This book is classed as LGBTQIA+ as well as General Fiction (Adult) and is set to be released in May 2023.
What I liked about it
Wild Things has been a refreshing change of pace compared to the kind of books I usually read. As someone who has anxiety and is bisexual, I found myself connecting with El instantly and recognising a lot of my own behaviours throughout the book. I feel as though I might just need a wild year myself. As the reader we witness El grow as she tackles unrequited feelings, being stuck in a job she hates, the minefield that is the dating scene and, more interestingly, buying a house in the countryside with her friends and converting it into a “gay commune” :). Honestly, this book was amazing and truly worth the read.
What I didn’t like about it
To be completely honest, I don’t even know why I include this section in my reviews. I never actually have anything relevant, let alone constructive to say.