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lauraelovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
5.0
An all-time favourite series. I love watching Calla slowly grow to embrace Alaska. Although I love her and Jonah’s banter and budding relationship, the true heart of this story is Calla getting to truly know the father she never met. A beautiful story with humour interwoven to help offset the heaviness
I would love to get even a chapter or two from Jonah’s POV. I think it would help to make him just a bit more likeable (but honestly I love him anyway, despite a few eye-roll worthy comments here and there)
I will never get tired of this story and am excited to dive back into Wild at Heart
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment
antidietleah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Cancer
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
cass_ev's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I cannot believe it took me almost 4 years to read this book since I first heard of it, it checks so many boxes for me:
✔️Wilderness setting/mountain vibes (I’m fascinated by Alaska and would love to visit someday)
✔️Cozy, small town romance
✔️Heroine who undergoes a lot of personal growth
✔️V attractive and funny “wilderness man” love interest
✔️Grumpy-sunshine trope (arguably my favourite romance trope to walk the Earth)
✔️Exploration of not only romantic love but the complexities of familial and platonic love
✔️Steamy but slow burn romance that feels realistic to me
✔️Funny banter between all the characters
What I was wary on was the cancer content since I’ve become all too familiar with it and how scary it is when your parent has it. But I liked Tucker’s handling of the subject, it didn’t feel too heavy but it also didn’t feel like it was taken too lightly either. There were moments where I wanted more emotional turmoil and depiction of grief from the characters but maybe I need to chill with the emotional masochism.
However, pacing was great (though I got a bit mixed up on the timelines but that could’ve been me just absolutely devouring this book and getting confused) and felt like it moved forward naturally without it stalling. Calla is such an interesting heroine since at the beginning I did not like her in the slightest—she was spoiled and judgemental—but then once she started to open her mind a bit and embrace the Alaskan lifestyle and people more then she really became someone I rooted for! I also loved the subtle Canadian reference to Toronto and the TTC lol.
Good thing there’s 3 more books in the series bc I would be panicking about what to read after loving this book so much! Brb cuddling up under a plaid blanket with a lit candle while the snow is falling outside to read the next book.
✔️Wilderness setting/mountain vibes (I’m fascinated by Alaska and would love to visit someday)
✔️Cozy, small town romance
✔️Heroine who undergoes a lot of personal growth
✔️V attractive and funny “wilderness man” love interest
✔️Grumpy-sunshine trope (arguably my favourite romance trope to walk the Earth)
✔️Exploration of not only romantic love but the complexities of familial and platonic love
✔️Steamy but slow burn romance that feels realistic to me
✔️Funny banter between all the characters
What I was wary on was the cancer content since I’ve become all too familiar with it and how scary it is when your parent has it. But I liked Tucker’s handling of the subject, it didn’t feel too heavy but it also didn’t feel like it was taken too lightly either. There were moments where I wanted more emotional turmoil and depiction of grief from the characters but maybe I need to chill with the emotional masochism.
However, pacing was great (though I got a bit mixed up on the timelines but that could’ve been me just absolutely devouring this book and getting confused) and felt like it moved forward naturally without it stalling. Calla is such an interesting heroine since at the beginning I did not like her in the slightest—she was spoiled and judgemental—but then once she started to open her mind a bit and embrace the Alaskan lifestyle and people more then she really became someone I rooted for! I also loved the subtle Canadian reference to Toronto and the TTC lol.
Good thing there’s 3 more books in the series bc I would be panicking about what to read after loving this book so much! Brb cuddling up under a plaid blanket with a lit candle while the snow is falling outside to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Minor: Blood
kellyjcm's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Opposites attract romance, mostly set in remote Alaska. First person POV - Calla only. Very emotional at parts - check trigger warnings.
I struggled with the depictions of both Calla and Jonah. Calla came across as whiny and too easily adapted to Alaska life for a character claiming to LOVE city life. Yet I did have sympathy for her character. I just felt she was a bit two-dimensional. Jonah is a bully at the beginning, and does a couple of things that are really controlling before they even get in a relationship.
Those pieces aside, I enjoyed the falling in love phase, the steamy bits, and that Jonah was honest and forthright with his feelings about everything.
I was very interested in Wren and Susan's relationship - how they got together, their failed marriage, holding a torch for one another through the years. It felt the most real of everything.
Great side characters, too: Agnes, Mabel, and Simon. Reading his POV would have been fascinating.
I struggled with the depictions of both Calla and Jonah. Calla came across as whiny and too easily adapted to Alaska life for a character claiming to LOVE city life. Yet I did have sympathy for her character. I just felt she was a bit two-dimensional. Jonah is a bully at the beginning, and does a couple of things that are really controlling before they even get in a relationship.
Those pieces aside, I enjoyed the falling in love phase, the steamy bits, and that Jonah was honest and forthright with his feelings about everything.
I was very interested in Wren and Susan's relationship - how they got together, their failed marriage, holding a torch for one another through the years. It felt the most real of everything.
Great side characters, too: Agnes, Mabel, and Simon. Reading his POV would have been fascinating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Terminal illness
Moderate: Grief and Bullying
agiecummings's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
When I first started this book, I was a little wary of Jonah and his whole “why do you wear so much makeup” thing because it reeked of “you do this for men” and I was not into that.
But I will say this book, and Jonah, won me over in the end. I think it was the way in which they slow built everything at the beginning.
I also wept at the parts about Calla and her dad. To start with a prologue that was left sort of looming throughout was so beautiful. And their relationship was a joy to witness. Not saying we can’t read about the realities of cancer and its toll on the body, but I think, in this context, the amount we were given was perfect.
I absolutely adored the ending, but am I crazy to want more of an epilogue?? Is that why there are more books?? I have to do more research clearly. But I really enjoyed it in the end.
But I will say this book, and Jonah, won me over in the end. I think it was the way in which they slow built everything at the beginning.
I also wept at the parts about Calla and her dad. To start with a prologue that was left sort of looming throughout was so beautiful. And their relationship was a joy to witness. Not saying we can’t read about the realities of cancer and its toll on the body, but I think, in this context, the amount we were given was perfect.
I absolutely adored the ending, but am I crazy to want more of an epilogue?? Is that why there are more books?? I have to do more research clearly. But I really enjoyed it in the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
clareasday's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Abandonment, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Vomit
Minor: Alcohol
jcrawford31's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Blood
maisystar's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, and Cancer
ivanaestaba's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
i read this book so many years ago i still love it as much as i did back then. i sobbed my way through the book once again, the cozy scenery, the family aspect, the forgiveness and the grief and just Calla and Wren and Jonah and Agnes and everyone, these characters still are so close to my heart, I love them with my entire being.
and I get that this book might not live to everyone expectations and I the critics are valid, but I'm so biased I will take no criticism on this book!!!! period
and I get that this book might not live to everyone expectations and I the critics are valid, but I'm so biased I will take no criticism on this book!!!! period
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Cancer
allibenny's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
If you need a good cry
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief