The Simple Wild
Series: Wild
by: K.A. Tucker
Check it Out: Goodreads
Calla Fletcher was two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when her father reaches out to inform her that his days are numbered, Calla knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.
She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this new subarctic environment, Jonah—the quiet, brooding, and proud Alaskan pilot who keeps her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.
Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. As time passes, she unexpectedly finds herself forming a bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago.
It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.
I have been putting off reading The Simple Wild for so long since it’s release. I knew that with all the hype I would have to read it at a time where I would leave my expectations at the door and was in the mood for it. While the plot did keep me reading, I can’t say that I loved it like everyone else.
This is such a character driven book. So me just thinking that they were okay and also a bit terrible really hindered my enjoyment here. I’m not of those people who can enjoy a story but not the characters, they go hand in hand for me. I thought that Calla was so spoiled and Jonah was an ass for most this story. I never really liked them. This offers a romance that’s so slow burn that by the time it happens and the book ends, I realized that I wanted more of it because it seemed so short.
Calla and Jonah really made this book hardly enjoyable for me. I’m going to be completely honest here. I don’t really think that Calla changed here. Sure she wore less makeup but I really couldn’t see anything else that changed about her. I seriously and honestly don’t see all the love for Jonah. He was a judgemental asshole for so long that I couldn’t really see him any other way. All his smart ass remarks really rubbed me the wrong way. I really wanted to jump through the pages a couple of times.
What did I like? I really enjoyed Tuckers writing and loved that this book was mostly set in Alaska. Tucker painted really good scenery that I could picture while reading. However, that sadly can’t get me to raise my rating.
All in all, The Simple Wild wasn’t a book that I loved. I was expecting more from this book because of the hype and it read like a simple contemporary for me. Would I read the sequel that’s coming out? Maybe, but I’m not in a rush.
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We definitely had different feelings about this book, but that’s okay. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy this one more.
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Same here. So many people love it and I wanted to love it too.
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I’ve heard great things about this one too! I know that a lot of people love it, but I’m sorry it didn’t hit quite right for you. I just read her most recent release, Say You Still Love Me, and it was quite good, I thought.
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I was thinking of reading another book by here to give her another writing another shot.
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Oh boo! I’ve seen this around a lot but after your review I am hesitant, ha.
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I think I’m just the odd man out on this one. So many people love this book.
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KA Tucker has always been a difficult author for me to read. I love the premise of her stories, but I just don’t like the characters much, and that makes it difficult. Love the review Kayla!
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I was thinking about giving another book from her a try, but I wouldn’t even know where to start.
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I had heard a lot of hype for this book and I’m sorry to hear you didn’t love it, although the Alaska setting sounds cool. But the characters don’t seem very likeable at all which is a shame!!
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The Alaska setting was so great! I hate that I couldn’t love it like everyone else.
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Ah sorry it wasn’t a winner for you. I loved it!
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I feel like I was the only one who didn’t love it. I really wanted to.
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Ha Kayla this is one that I plan to read next month (buddy read) so now I am crossing my fingers!!!
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I hope you enjoy it more than I did!
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Great review, Kayla! I haven’t read this book but heard great things about it! I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you!
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Thanks Raven! I’m sad it didn’t work out either. It’s such a well loved book in the community.
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Oh god this makes me so nervous! I have been dying to get my hands on this book especially since I go so hard for books with Alaskan settings. But dang, you and I talked about this before and you know how much I value your opinions. Definitely going to wait to pick this book up.
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I would still give it a read. So many people in the book community love this book.
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I will have to sit on it. I don’t want to end up in another reading slump.
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I can understand that! These past few weeks I’ve been dodging one.
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Oh? Which one are you currently dodging?
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I’ve been dodging a reading slump 😆
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Hahaha! I thought you meant actual books! 😂
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