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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
this book has:
- wlw friends to lovers
- queer representation
- found family
feeling like she's stuck in a rut, el decides to start doing one wild thing every month for a year. throughout the year, she also ends up moving in with 3 of her friends as they buy a house in the countryside. one of those friends is ray, the person who el has had a massive crush on for the past few years, but never worked up the courage to pursue anything.
this book had a great premise & i love anything with queer found families but it fell flat on many aspects. i felt more chemistry between the side couples (will/tess, jamie/mk) rather than the main one (el/ray) & i was hoping that el would ask out rachel instead because el & ray didn't make sense to me at all. el spent so long pining over ray & ray never showed signs of reciprocating until the housewarming incident which ended up feeling forced & out of nowhere. although i did still love the found family aspect of it & the community which they found within the village - especially their friendship with sally.
tw: alcohol consumption & drug use, infidelity (not of the main couple), death of a grandparent
thank you to netgalley and the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Quercus and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. It’s not a bad book, don’t get me wrong, but it was lacking momentum, excitement and emotion for me, and I found the main character kind of a little bit annoying. Maybe I’m just tired of reading about people who want their lives to be different but make no real effort to do anything about it. El finally quitting her job (even if it was just because something else literally landed in her lap) was such a relief, even though we never experienced the payoff.
I also just felt zero chemistry between the main character and her love interest. I actually genuinely expected El and Rachel to end up together. I felt more chemistry between them in just a handful of exchanges than I did between El and Ray.
However, I ADORED the whole commune thing. I loved this friend group, the found family dynamic, the village life, etc. Every time the whole ensemble were together, I enjoyed it so much more. Every single side character in this book, from the love interest to the random, fabulous elderly neighbour were fantastic. They gave this otherwise fairly dull book so much life and I lived for these moments with everyone together.
This was ultimately an easy read with some really fun moments, and who knows, maybe you’ll love the MC a lot more than me!
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
As always an exceptionally fun and easy read by Laura Kay! A range of diverse and well developed characters highlighting the power of friendships and chosen family. I couldn’t put this book down and finished it in one sitting. Fabulous book can’t wait for more!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a really light-hearted, cute book that I flew through! I would highly recommend as a great palette cleanser. I enjoyed the author's writing style. I will say I wasn't a big fan of the ending, I thought maybe El would move on instead of ending up with Ray but we can't always get what we want. I found the themes of found family with the queer commune on a farm very charming. I didn't quite feel the chemistry between the main character and her unrequited crush/best friend, Ray. It was a cute coming-of-age story, but I was shocked when I found out El was closer to my age rather than a younger adult (18-20) because she truly needed to grow up. I also felt like I was missing some details - for instance, why was El always broke, what was the story with her ex-boyfriend, and why was she so into Ray when she saw what a terrible partner she could be? For a warm fuzzy friendship story, I thought it was pretty good - but as a romance, I wasn't sold on it.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of Wild Things. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of Wild Things. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
This year, El wants to make a change from the monotony her life has become. As the New Year rings in, she promises herself this year she's going to be wild, she's going to live. But so far, instead of leaving her soul-crushing job, moving out of her awful flat share and having crazy adventures; she's managed a small tattoo, broken up with her boyfriend, had a very unsatisfying threesome and given herself a huge headache. And then of course, there's the issue that no matter how wild she tries to be, she's still hopelessly in love with her best friend, Ray - who is not only the most beautiful woman she's ever seen but who knows how to live on the wild side.
So when the perfect chance for a new start, for a wild adventure comes up - she grabs it. Her, Ray and their two friends leave the city behind and move into the countryside to live together in their own personal commune, to start a life together, be closer to nature and make something beautiful in this run down manor in the middle of nowhere.
But now they're here, trying to live in perfect harmony, can she ever tell Ray how she feels? Would she love her back, or will it ruin the life they've worked so hard to build forever?
"The version of myself that only exists in my head, the one who takes chances, steps out of my room and spends the night running wild."
Gloriously funny and brimming with heart, Wild Things shows you exactly why they call it a crush - it's tough enough being crazy for someone and not knowing how they feel, but imagine living with them, meeting their dates, hugging them and still having to act normal? I almost felt in love with Ray myself a few chapters into this book.
Eleanor and Ramona - El and Ray - were sides of the same coin; shy and confident, calculated and impulsive, quiet and loud, but it just worked. Their friends and now co-commune owners, Will and Jamie complete the group to make an honestly stunning display of friendship and love - supporting, nurturing, caring - but so playful and fun. The characters are really the driving force of this story and it's clear how they've all been shaped by not only each other but the other people in their lives that have left a part of them along the way. They're all very different people, with different backgrounds, sexualities, personalities, but they share their love for each other (and Pret sandwiches!)
El is a brilliant narrator, always ready with a witty observation or joke just for us. The pace moves quickly and naturally, showing us little moments of real life that fly by before you've even realised - as El reflects on the past and anxiously over-thinks even now she's a wild woman, letting us into her thoughts in a personal style that makes it feel like a diary or a conversation with a friend. It was like little snapshots, patchwork moments strung together like a memory or a scrapbook and I absolutely loved it. I absolutely adored the way Kay set the scene throughout - the peaceful village life and the bustling business of the city (also, Polo Bar? Wow, that took me back to my own wild nights!)
The romance in this story is slow, sweet, a little steamy and so heartwarmingly tender - but this isn't just a love story, in fact romance is just one part of life that El is trying to work out. It's a story about a woman stuck in her life and trying to find her place, her people and her purpose. A brilliantly queer, painfully relatable and joyously uplifting story about love in it's countless forms.
So when the perfect chance for a new start, for a wild adventure comes up - she grabs it. Her, Ray and their two friends leave the city behind and move into the countryside to live together in their own personal commune, to start a life together, be closer to nature and make something beautiful in this run down manor in the middle of nowhere.
But now they're here, trying to live in perfect harmony, can she ever tell Ray how she feels? Would she love her back, or will it ruin the life they've worked so hard to build forever?
"The version of myself that only exists in my head, the one who takes chances, steps out of my room and spends the night running wild."
Gloriously funny and brimming with heart, Wild Things shows you exactly why they call it a crush - it's tough enough being crazy for someone and not knowing how they feel, but imagine living with them, meeting their dates, hugging them and still having to act normal? I almost felt in love with Ray myself a few chapters into this book.
Eleanor and Ramona - El and Ray - were sides of the same coin; shy and confident, calculated and impulsive, quiet and loud, but it just worked. Their friends and now co-commune owners, Will and Jamie complete the group to make an honestly stunning display of friendship and love - supporting, nurturing, caring - but so playful and fun. The characters are really the driving force of this story and it's clear how they've all been shaped by not only each other but the other people in their lives that have left a part of them along the way. They're all very different people, with different backgrounds, sexualities, personalities, but they share their love for each other (and Pret sandwiches!)
El is a brilliant narrator, always ready with a witty observation or joke just for us. The pace moves quickly and naturally, showing us little moments of real life that fly by before you've even realised - as El reflects on the past and anxiously over-thinks even now she's a wild woman, letting us into her thoughts in a personal style that makes it feel like a diary or a conversation with a friend. It was like little snapshots, patchwork moments strung together like a memory or a scrapbook and I absolutely loved it. I absolutely adored the way Kay set the scene throughout - the peaceful village life and the bustling business of the city (also, Polo Bar? Wow, that took me back to my own wild nights!)
The romance in this story is slow, sweet, a little steamy and so heartwarmingly tender - but this isn't just a love story, in fact romance is just one part of life that El is trying to work out. It's a story about a woman stuck in her life and trying to find her place, her people and her purpose. A brilliantly queer, painfully relatable and joyously uplifting story about love in it's countless forms.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
I received an ARC of Wild Things through Netgalley. My thoughts are my own.
Wild Things is a romance featuring enemies to lovers as found family with a large splash of humor. There's also a fixer-upper house in the country and 4 chickens. This was a feel good novel from start to finish, even the sad moments felt good, knowing it would all work out.
I think a lot of books, a lot of romances, try for the vibes that this author manages so successfully. I found the story funny, and touching, and I'm a sucker for old houses, the country, close friends groups, and possibly chickens.
The leads, El and Ray have great chemistry as friends and (sapphic) lovers. I really wanted to spend time with them, and see them become a couple, because they felt so right together. The other 2 home owners, Will and Jamie, were great too, with Jamie being particularly funny. He loves his chickens!
When I reach for a romance novel, this is exactly what I want to pick up, and the type of book to make me feel optimistic when the world seems so exhausting and cynical.
(An easy 4 and 1/2 stars.)
Wild Things is a romance featuring enemies to lovers as found family with a large splash of humor. There's also a fixer-upper house in the country and 4 chickens. This was a feel good novel from start to finish, even the sad moments felt good, knowing it would all work out.
I think a lot of books, a lot of romances, try for the vibes that this author manages so successfully. I found the story funny, and touching, and I'm a sucker for old houses, the country, close friends groups, and possibly chickens.
The leads, El and Ray have great chemistry as friends and (sapphic) lovers. I really wanted to spend time with them, and see them become a couple, because they felt so right together. The other 2 home owners, Will and Jamie, were great too, with Jamie being particularly funny. He loves his chickens!
When I reach for a romance novel, this is exactly what I want to pick up, and the type of book to make me feel optimistic when the world seems so exhausting and cynical.
(An easy 4 and 1/2 stars.)
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Thank you, Vintage Anchor, Laura Kay, and NetGalley, for the ARC. Spoilers ahead
I felt this book would be better as a friend's book and not a romance. I didn't feel the connection between El and Ray. I have a hard time with books where the main character has a crush and is just dragged through the mud for this crush. It feels too much like real life, and I read to escape. The crush turned into a lover has to be done well for me to like it.
I loved the idea of all of them buying a house and living together. It is what our world has come to know of days. That part of the story was fun to read. One part got on my nerves when El had a panic attack, and Ray made it worse. There were better ways to handle that situation.
Overall it was an okay book. The friendship was enjoyable to read about.