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Lucy on the Wild Side
A charming and wildly funny new romantic comedy by Kerry Rea, author of The Wedding Ringer.
Lucy Rourke has two great loves in her life: the gorilla troop she cares for as a primatologist and the laundry list of reality TV shows she watches to escape the fact that her actual love life doesn’t exist. And like a reality contestant gunning for the final rose, Lucy’s laser-focused on one thing: getting promoted to head keeper. So when a wildlife docuseries hosted by hotshot TV personality Kai Bridges chooses her zoo as its summer filming location, she sees an opportunity to showcase her beloved gorillas to the world and land a starring role in her department.
When Kai and his film crew arrive, however, it's obvious to Lucy that Kai cares more about sky-high ratings than the gorillas, and he considers her a camera-averse know-it-all whose wardrobe consists entirely of khaki. But she’s surprised to discover there’s more to him than his rugged good looks and cheesy catchphrases...and that maybe a promotion isn’t the only thing she wants. But when secrets from their pasts threaten to complicate everything, Lucy discovers that happiness and success aren’t the same thing—and that finding joy just might mean getting a little wild.
Lucy Rourke has two great loves in her life: the gorilla troop she cares for as a primatologist and the laundry list of reality TV shows she watches to escape the fact that her actual love life doesn’t exist. And like a reality contestant gunning for the final rose, Lucy’s laser-focused on one thing: getting promoted to head keeper. So when a wildlife docuseries hosted by hotshot TV personality Kai Bridges chooses her zoo as its summer filming location, she sees an opportunity to showcase her beloved gorillas to the world and land a starring role in her department.
When Kai and his film crew arrive, however, it's obvious to Lucy that Kai cares more about sky-high ratings than the gorillas, and he considers her a camera-averse know-it-all whose wardrobe consists entirely of khaki. But she’s surprised to discover there’s more to him than his rugged good looks and cheesy catchphrases...and that maybe a promotion isn’t the only thing she wants. But when secrets from their pasts threaten to complicate everything, Lucy discovers that happiness and success aren’t the same thing—and that finding joy just might mean getting a little wild.
341 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2022
56 people are currently reading
9203 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Rea
3 books286 followersKerry Rea is a 2017 and 2019 #Pitchwars mentee. Her work has appeared in Seventeen Magazine. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and four dogs
The Wedding Ringer
is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews
August 26, 2022
3.5*
Lucy has dedicated her life to the one single thing she loves most….gorillas. Working at a zoo in Columbus Ohio, she desperately wants the promotion to senior primatologist!
Kai Bridges, a larger than life TV personality known for his documentaries on wildlife, will be filming right here at Lucy’s zoo! Unfortunately, Lucy suffers from foot in mouth disease and is immediately at odds with Kia.
This is an enemies to lovers trope (not one of my favorites.) Initially I had a hard time warming up to Lucy, finding her character to be a bit immature. But when the romantic heat🔥 rose between the characters I completely turned my thinking around and was rooting for the couple! I even came close to shedding a tear at the end. Almost…lol!
Overall a fun, sweet romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing
Lucy has dedicated her life to the one single thing she loves most….gorillas. Working at a zoo in Columbus Ohio, she desperately wants the promotion to senior primatologist!
Kai Bridges, a larger than life TV personality known for his documentaries on wildlife, will be filming right here at Lucy’s zoo! Unfortunately, Lucy suffers from foot in mouth disease and is immediately at odds with Kia.
This is an enemies to lovers trope (not one of my favorites.) Initially I had a hard time warming up to Lucy, finding her character to be a bit immature. But when the romantic heat🔥 rose between the characters I completely turned my thinking around and was rooting for the couple! I even came close to shedding a tear at the end. Almost…lol!
Overall a fun, sweet romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing
October 17, 2022
✨“I had a very very very very fun time…and I don’t just mean the banging I mean all of it.”✨
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book!!! I’m absolutely classifying this as a romcom because I laughed so much and was so taken by the story. The com even started before the rom! My parents and I have also been watching this chimpanzee show, and while not gorillas, this felt very relevant for the moment.
✨
What I loved:
🦍 The whole set-up of Kai being the son of Lucy’s idol was just so good. Not only was he a sexy 8th wonder of the world, but their banter and fighting was electric. Sometimes enemies to lovers don’t feel like enemies but BOY howdy these two fought so well!! One of my favorite microtropes is overheard insults and this didn’t disappoint.
🌿 The steam was so unexpected!! There was a full explicit scene and one other moment, as well as a lot of talk about banging once they broke that dam. I think the spice level for the story perfectly, and definitely added a star to the rating alone. I hadn’t read anything by this author before so I really had no clue how much we were gonna get. Also Kai’s accent in bed >>>
🦍 I also really loved all of the mommy issues here. A lot of the times it’s daddy issues, but I really liked how each of their maternal relationships mirrored each other and connected them. The issues definitely added some angst, and were pretty integral to the story. I was also just fascinated by the dynamics since both mothers were celebrities and how that impacted their children.
🌿 The gorilla content was so vivid and fun to read about. Sometimes the more fringe professions of characters can get a bit boring when they become a main focal point, but I loved it here.
🦍 The Steve Irwin and Jane Goodall influence was STRONG with this one. Kai and Lucy were a blend of both amazing humans.
✨
What I Didn’t Love (SPOILERS)
🌿 While the third act breakup 100% made sense when viewing the book solely from Lucy’s POV, I do think Kai DEFINITELY got steamrolled here. There’s a part where he does something Lucy doesn’t like, and she totally misunderstands his intentions. It’s understandable, but she also put him behind gorillas nearly every time in this book—something his mother also did.
Kai was the one who apologized and made everything right at the end. I wanted it to be a bit more balanced since Lucy said some pretty rough things. (I did like though how she was still going to go to him until the she saw him filming. It was unexpected as I thought she was just gonna write him off from the start, so I did like that bit of growth.)
🦍 This one is pretty simple: When a book heavily revolves around a certain animal, PLEASE don’t kill the animal. I understand what the death meant to the plot, but damn I still don’t want it. Yes Lucy was way too obsessed with her job and needed to take a step back, but that shouldn’t be at the expense of the animal (in a romcom at least animal death is just too far) 😭
✨
Overall, this book was a lot of fun and the audiobook performance was absolutely fantastic!!! I recommend listening to the it when you get the chance because his accent!!! (The narrator is a consistent favorite of mine.)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶.75/5
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley and PRH Audio for an ALC of the audiobook.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book!!! I’m absolutely classifying this as a romcom because I laughed so much and was so taken by the story. The com even started before the rom! My parents and I have also been watching this chimpanzee show, and while not gorillas, this felt very relevant for the moment.
✨
What I loved:
🦍 The whole set-up of Kai being the son of Lucy’s idol was just so good. Not only was he a sexy 8th wonder of the world, but their banter and fighting was electric. Sometimes enemies to lovers don’t feel like enemies but BOY howdy these two fought so well!! One of my favorite microtropes is overheard insults and this didn’t disappoint.
🌿 The steam was so unexpected!! There was a full explicit scene and one other moment, as well as a lot of talk about banging once they broke that dam. I think the spice level for the story perfectly, and definitely added a star to the rating alone. I hadn’t read anything by this author before so I really had no clue how much we were gonna get. Also Kai’s accent in bed >>>
🦍 I also really loved all of the mommy issues here. A lot of the times it’s daddy issues, but I really liked how each of their maternal relationships mirrored each other and connected them. The issues definitely added some angst, and were pretty integral to the story. I was also just fascinated by the dynamics since both mothers were celebrities and how that impacted their children.
🌿 The gorilla content was so vivid and fun to read about. Sometimes the more fringe professions of characters can get a bit boring when they become a main focal point, but I loved it here.
🦍 The Steve Irwin and Jane Goodall influence was STRONG with this one. Kai and Lucy were a blend of both amazing humans.
✨
What I Didn’t Love (SPOILERS)
🌿 While the third act breakup 100% made sense when viewing the book solely from Lucy’s POV, I do think Kai DEFINITELY got steamrolled here. There’s a part where he does something Lucy doesn’t like, and she totally misunderstands his intentions. It’s understandable, but she also put him behind gorillas nearly every time in this book—something his mother also did.
Kai was the one who apologized and made everything right at the end. I wanted it to be a bit more balanced since Lucy said some pretty rough things. (I did like though how she was still going to go to him until the she saw him filming. It was unexpected as I thought she was just gonna write him off from the start, so I did like that bit of growth.)
🦍 This one is pretty simple: When a book heavily revolves around a certain animal, PLEASE don’t kill the animal. I understand what the death meant to the plot, but damn I still don’t want it. Yes Lucy was way too obsessed with her job and needed to take a step back, but that shouldn’t be at the expense of the animal (in a romcom at least animal death is just too far) 😭
✨
Overall, this book was a lot of fun and the audiobook performance was absolutely fantastic!!! I recommend listening to the it when you get the chance because his accent!!! (The narrator is a consistent favorite of mine.)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶.75/5
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley and PRH Audio for an ALC of the audiobook.
October 4, 2022
Chemistry while filming and hoping for a promotion is an ideal set up for this enemies to lovers trope by Kerry Rea. Spoiler alert: The animals steal the show! All the information about the animals shows that Rea knows her stuff or knows how to research well for Lucy on the Wild Side. I loved the characters and thought they had a fun plotline.
Fun and entertaining, the characters and animals will probably win your heart over like they did mine. I enjoyed every minute of this engaging read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and author Kerry Rea for this digital review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my reviews are voluntary and my opinions are my own.
Fun and entertaining, the characters and animals will probably win your heart over like they did mine. I enjoyed every minute of this engaging read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and author Kerry Rea for this digital review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my reviews are voluntary and my opinions are my own.
August 23, 2022
I really loved Kerry Rea's The Wedding Ringer and couldn't wait to read her next book! Lucy on the Wild Side was an entertaining and often hilarious mix of romance and women's fiction. There are some serious topics addressed though that may be upsetting to readers, so please check the CW's below prior to reading.
A few things to look forward to:
- The tropes! Enemies to lovers, workplace romance, it's just a hookup, friends with benefits, slow burn, and forced proximity.
- I loved the zoo setting. It was very cool to get a behind the scenes look at the life of a keeper. Also, there were tons of oddball and hilarious animal facts! (pseudopenis LOL)
- The spice! I was expecting fade to black and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't
- Lucy's character arc. She came across a bit immature in the beginning, but a lot of the book focuses on Lucy's journey to accept and forgive her past and to live a "bigger" life. It was satisfying to see her grow and change.
Overall I really enjoyed Lucy on the Wild Side, but I did feel that the enemies vibe was a little too forced in the beginning. I also was not a fan of the miscommunication and jumping to conclusions at the end. Lucy really needed to grovel in my opinion and I didn't like that Kai had to extend the olive branch more than once to get her to listen. There was also a lot of unexpected discussion about motherhood and the decision to have/not have children. It's a big topic in the novel because of Lucy's previous relationship.
I both read and listened to the audiobook of Lucy on the Wild Side and enjoyed Emily Lawrence's performance a lot. She was the perfect Lucy and her comedic timing was spot on. Unfortunately, her narration as Kai was a bit confusing. His accent seemed to change from chapter to chapter (Irish? South African? Australian?) and I'm still not sure what it was supposed to be.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4 stars
CW: Death of gorillas (on page in the present as well as discussion/descriptions of an incident in the past involving poachers), grief, parental abandonment (past), both MC's have strained relationships with their mothers, stage fright, anxiety, panic attacks (on page)
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
A few things to look forward to:
- The tropes! Enemies to lovers, workplace romance, it's just a hookup, friends with benefits, slow burn, and forced proximity.
- I loved the zoo setting. It was very cool to get a behind the scenes look at the life of a keeper. Also, there were tons of oddball and hilarious animal facts! (pseudopenis LOL)
- The spice! I was expecting fade to black and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't
- Lucy's character arc. She came across a bit immature in the beginning, but a lot of the book focuses on Lucy's journey to accept and forgive her past and to live a "bigger" life. It was satisfying to see her grow and change.
Overall I really enjoyed Lucy on the Wild Side, but I did feel that the enemies vibe was a little too forced in the beginning. I also was not a fan of the miscommunication and jumping to conclusions at the end. Lucy really needed to grovel in my opinion and I didn't like that Kai had to extend the olive branch more than once to get her to listen. There was also a lot of unexpected discussion about motherhood and the decision to have/not have children. It's a big topic in the novel because of Lucy's previous relationship.
I both read and listened to the audiobook of Lucy on the Wild Side and enjoyed Emily Lawrence's performance a lot. She was the perfect Lucy and her comedic timing was spot on. Unfortunately, her narration as Kai was a bit confusing. His accent seemed to change from chapter to chapter (Irish? South African? Australian?) and I'm still not sure what it was supposed to be.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4 stars
CW: Death of gorillas (on page in the present as well as discussion/descriptions of an incident in the past involving poachers), grief, parental abandonment (past), both MC's have strained relationships with their mothers, stage fright, anxiety, panic attacks (on page)
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
September 17, 2022
I loved, loved, loved Kerry Rea’s LUCY ON THE WILD SIDE so much that I don't even know where to start, so I'm just going to make a list of everything that makes it rom-com gold:
✨ Random animal facts as banter (I literally loled SO many times😂)
✨ Hot, misunderstood South African animal tv show host with a heart of gold
✨Rough-around-the-edges heroine who's so delightfully awkward and unapologetic and hilarious and *chef's kiss*
✨Delicious slow burn enemies to lovers romance with elements of office romance thrown in for flavor (my jam, y'aaaaall)
✨Gorillas! Wildlife! Conservation!
✨Complicated family relationships and characters who work at addressing their trauma
✨Personal journeys full of growth
✨Sooooo many relatable, spot-on Columbus, Ohio references, not least of all, the wonderful Columbus Zoo & Aquarium (I was born & raised in C-bus & reading LOTWS made me feel like I was revisiting my childhood💖)
...and so much more! I could keep going, but I suggest you simply stop what you're doing and go read this wildly entertaining, delightful slice of rom-com joy for yourself. Highly recommend!
✨ Random animal facts as banter (I literally loled SO many times😂)
✨ Hot, misunderstood South African animal tv show host with a heart of gold
✨Rough-around-the-edges heroine who's so delightfully awkward and unapologetic and hilarious and *chef's kiss*
✨Delicious slow burn enemies to lovers romance with elements of office romance thrown in for flavor (my jam, y'aaaaall)
✨Gorillas! Wildlife! Conservation!
✨Complicated family relationships and characters who work at addressing their trauma
✨Personal journeys full of growth
✨Sooooo many relatable, spot-on Columbus, Ohio references, not least of all, the wonderful Columbus Zoo & Aquarium (I was born & raised in C-bus & reading LOTWS made me feel like I was revisiting my childhood💖)
...and so much more! I could keep going, but I suggest you simply stop what you're doing and go read this wildly entertaining, delightful slice of rom-com joy for yourself. Highly recommend!
October 26, 2022
Review coming soon.
September 26, 2022
If you love animals, workplace romances/enemies to lover trope, then this is a great pick for you!!
A rom-com set in a zoo....what a unique setting!!
I didn’t know I loved gorillas until after I read this book. They are so full of emotions and you learn to understand them through Lucy’s work at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. You’ll also learn some gross animal facts that you could have probably lived without ever knowing :)
I loved that Lucy is a little awkward, but always herself no matter what her surroundings. She can be assigned to gorilla poop-scoop duty or attend a fundraiser to encourage donors to write big fat checks to the zoo, Lucy never strayed far from who she is....even sometimes wearing her “uniform” to the party functions at the discontent of her boss/best friend.
Saying that Lucy is an introvert is putting it mildly and of course, I loved this about her since I could relate to her so easily.
She is a workaholic and pushes herself outside her comfort zone in an effort to be promoted to a job that she has always wanted, senior keeper at the zoo. I’m sure most introverted bookworms will be able to relate!
All is going well at the zoo when Kai Bridges, host of On the Wild Side, enters the story. He is at the zoo to show viewers on his show the magic of wildlife starting with filming at Lucy’s zoo!! Lucy is camera shy by the way, so this does not make her happy at all!
I’ll just say that the relationship between Lucy and Kai is a rocky one and the banter is both fun and phenomenal, oh and the slow burn is so worth the wait!! I’m not going to give any spoilers here; you’ll just have to read it!!
The book does include some more serious subject matters such as parental neglect and wildlife conversation. I loved the way Kerry Rea was able to weave these issues into her master storytelling.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but I am anxious to read her first book which was published in 2021
A rom-com set in a zoo....what a unique setting!!
I didn’t know I loved gorillas until after I read this book. They are so full of emotions and you learn to understand them through Lucy’s work at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. You’ll also learn some gross animal facts that you could have probably lived without ever knowing :)
I loved that Lucy is a little awkward, but always herself no matter what her surroundings. She can be assigned to gorilla poop-scoop duty or attend a fundraiser to encourage donors to write big fat checks to the zoo, Lucy never strayed far from who she is....even sometimes wearing her “uniform” to the party functions at the discontent of her boss/best friend.
Saying that Lucy is an introvert is putting it mildly and of course, I loved this about her since I could relate to her so easily.
She is a workaholic and pushes herself outside her comfort zone in an effort to be promoted to a job that she has always wanted, senior keeper at the zoo. I’m sure most introverted bookworms will be able to relate!
All is going well at the zoo when Kai Bridges, host of On the Wild Side, enters the story. He is at the zoo to show viewers on his show the magic of wildlife starting with filming at Lucy’s zoo!! Lucy is camera shy by the way, so this does not make her happy at all!
I’ll just say that the relationship between Lucy and Kai is a rocky one and the banter is both fun and phenomenal, oh and the slow burn is so worth the wait!! I’m not going to give any spoilers here; you’ll just have to read it!!
The book does include some more serious subject matters such as parental neglect and wildlife conversation. I loved the way Kerry Rea was able to weave these issues into her master storytelling.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but I am anxious to read her first book which was published in 2021
February 6, 2023
I loved everything about this book! Its funny, heartfelt, tender, drips with emotion (especially at the end) and even has some spicy scenes! Lucy on the Wild Side is just the PERFECT read in every way. Not only do we get a budding romance between two people who quickly have beef with each other but we also get to learn about gorillas, being a zoo keeper, and other fun facts about animals. Kerry Rea surprised me by adding an emotional plotline about insecurities sustained from childhood and how they can affect people throughout their lives. I was able to really get to know Lucy because of this and had so much empathy for her. Was I expecting how close I would get to these characters? Nope! And saying goodbye to them was REALLY hard. But I loved the adventure of this one and I know other readers will too!
If you’re looking for a romcom with all the trimmings, one that will make you laugh AND cry then make sure to grab this one. I’m sad I didn’t read it when I first bought a copy but I’m so glad that I finally did. I needed this book in my life.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧: 🔥 🔥
If you’re looking for a romcom with all the trimmings, one that will make you laugh AND cry then make sure to grab this one. I’m sad I didn’t read it when I first bought a copy but I’m so glad that I finally did. I needed this book in my life.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧: 🔥 🔥
May 22, 2022
I love this book! Lucy is childfree by choice, which I know is something a lot of readers want. It's SO funny (I actually laughed out loud and highlighted so many lines), very steamy, and it's SET IN COLUMBUS!
August 19, 2022
I am hearby declaring myself Kerry Rea's biggest fan. I absolutely loved her debut, The Wedding Ringer, and I was worried how her sophomore effort would stack up - however, there was absolutely no need to worry - Lucy on the Wild Side was AMAZING.
Lucy, a zookeeper, who is child free by choice and secure in that decision, is such a breath of fresh air. Enter Kai, a reality TV host who is zoo royalty, guaranteed to turn Lucy's life upside down. Lucy's relationship with her animals was one of the most endearing parts of this book - and there are a lot of amazing moments to choose from.
I will be eagerly awaiting whatever Rea writes next!
Thank you to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Lucy, a zookeeper, who is child free by choice and secure in that decision, is such a breath of fresh air. Enter Kai, a reality TV host who is zoo royalty, guaranteed to turn Lucy's life upside down. Lucy's relationship with her animals was one of the most endearing parts of this book - and there are a lot of amazing moments to choose from.
I will be eagerly awaiting whatever Rea writes next!
Thank you to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
September 18, 2022
Sometimes a book just hits you right in the feelings spot and this book did that for me. Both our protagonists had less than ideal upbringings and it's made them react to the outside world in different ways, one in going small and one in going big. Watching them navigate that difference, and in particular, watching Lucy stretch herself out of her shell while maintaining boundaries that are COMPLETELY logical and rational, was a lot of very good stuff. One of my big complaints in the romance genre is that long standing family problems, no matter how great or small, are solved by hugs by the end of the book, and so I feel compelled to identify this book as an example of how NOT to do that, but to also bring a character to what may be a healthier place for them. So, so, SO well done by the author. There is one really large content warning that I'll put below, but I just thought this was so well done and it was a delight to see my adopted hometown portrayed in a way that I recognize.
Content Warning:
Content Warning:
October 20, 2022
In the words of Kai Bridges, wowza! This was so good. If you loved The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea but wanted more focus on the romance, I think you'll be super pleased with this one!
With her intense energy and sometimes inappropriate animal facts, Lucy Rourke was awkwardly adorable. Working as a primatologist at an Ohio zoo, her life revolves completely around her career. But then the famous Kai Bridges shows up with plans of filming his next wildlife documentary—and let's just say, Lucy is not impressed by his outwardly charm.
Kai is my favourite type of hero to read about. He was so much more than his confident TV persona. Both with complicated childhoods and repressed pain, I loved seeing the bickering, heated relationship with Lucy grow into a really tender example of trust and support. Lucy finding the balance of joy outside her career while still honouring her passion was so heartwarming.
And the gorillas! I was equally invested in these furry characters. What a fascinating career to read about! An easy five stars!
(heat level: mostly fade to black / closed door, but has one explicit open-door scene)
With her intense energy and sometimes inappropriate animal facts, Lucy Rourke was awkwardly adorable. Working as a primatologist at an Ohio zoo, her life revolves completely around her career. But then the famous Kai Bridges shows up with plans of filming his next wildlife documentary—and let's just say, Lucy is not impressed by his outwardly charm.
Kai is my favourite type of hero to read about. He was so much more than his confident TV persona. Both with complicated childhoods and repressed pain, I loved seeing the bickering, heated relationship with Lucy grow into a really tender example of trust and support. Lucy finding the balance of joy outside her career while still honouring her passion was so heartwarming.
And the gorillas! I was equally invested in these furry characters. What a fascinating career to read about! An easy five stars!
(heat level: mostly fade to black / closed door, but has one explicit open-door scene)
September 21, 2022
2022 Fall Bingo (#FallInLoveBingo🍂): Lights, Camera, Action!
Content Notes:
This rating is more a reflection of my complicated feelings about gorillas in zoos, and less about the actual book (which is great, though I could’ve done with less pop culture references). Always here for bitchy, snarky heroines who have a vulnerable streak a mile wide. I really loved how unapologetic Lucy was re: her childfree goals. Read via audio (narrated by Emily Lawrence).
Disclaimer: I listened to a free audiobook from the publisher (PRH Audio App) in exchange for an honest review.
Content Notes:
This rating is more a reflection of my complicated feelings about gorillas in zoos, and less about the actual book (which is great, though I could’ve done with less pop culture references). Always here for bitchy, snarky heroines who have a vulnerable streak a mile wide. I really loved how unapologetic Lucy was re: her childfree goals. Read via audio (narrated by Emily Lawrence).
Disclaimer: I listened to a free audiobook from the publisher (PRH Audio App) in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2022
Calling all animal lovers!!! This contemporary romance has sooo much heart. Environmental/animal issues, family trauma, anxiety, and evolving characters who grow. High tearjerker potential! Lots of animal trivia!! I loved the unique setting chosen for this romance which sets it apart. Recommend!
September 21, 2022
Lucy On The Wild Side не е просто книга за хората, отдадени на грижата за дивите същества в природни паркове и зоологически градини. За огромната любов , която генерират в часовете наблюдение, приспособяване и стремеж за опазване на видове, заплашени от изчезване. Ако в дивата природа орангутани, лъвове, жирафи и видри се подчиняват на закона за оцеляване на по - силния, в зоологическите градини целта е да оцелеят всички обитатели в близка до естествената им среда. И трудът на ветеринарни лекари, диетолози и гледачи е благороден и важен.
Но в този екзотичен сюжет Kerry Rea е вмества няколко други момента от човешкото поведение. Стремежът към успех в кариерата. Приоритетите в живота на всеки от нас и правото да имаме такъв в момента, в който станем родители. Цената на избора между професия и майчинство. И горчивото наследство от емоции, спомени, отношение и преживявания, които оставяме у децата си. Ако искаме да сме обичани и уважавани родители, трябва да сме дали любов и уважение. Ако като майки жонглирането с професия и отглеждането на деца се окаже трудна задача, то едно от двете ще страда. Въпросът е кое ще предпочетем.
Знам като дете какво получих от родителите си като отношение към себе си и към мястото ми сред тях. И знам какво решение взех в момента, когато имах дъщеря си. Всеки човек е различен. С различни стремежи, нужди и цели. Приоритетите се променят понякога в движение. Средства за живот, авторитет, слава са важни и потребни. Но онова, което води мен всеки ден е , че любовта няма заместител. Присъствието и подкрепата , когато съм нужна е условието да съм майка. Подаръкът е, че всяка нова стъпка в израстването на дъщеря ми се случва пред очите ми.
Като чета за коплексите и страховете, които са придобили от детството си героите в книгата, разбирам , че съм на прав път. И дори щастието и успехът да не са едно и също нещо, аз съм получила най - важното от двете.
Тук няма трилър, не сме на щрек за жестоки и алчни герои, не сме под напрежението на действието / освен когато следим дали бебето орангутан ще намери сурогатна майка в съвсем чуждото стадо на зоопарка/. Но в книгата има много съпоставки и ситуации, които са били неми за размисъл за мнозина в един или друг момент. До каква степен сме продукт на грижовността на родителите си и докъде зависи от самите нас какъв живот ще изградим от емоционалното си наследство.
* " През повечето време възрастните всъщност не знаят повече от децата. "
* " А щастието и успехът не са едно и също нещо.”
/ Lucy on the wild side
Но в този екзотичен сюжет Kerry Rea е вмества няколко други момента от човешкото поведение. Стремежът към успех в кариерата. Приоритетите в живота на всеки от нас и правото да имаме такъв в момента, в който станем родители. Цената на избора между професия и майчинство. И горчивото наследство от емоции, спомени, отношение и преживявания, които оставяме у децата си. Ако искаме да сме обичани и уважавани родители, трябва да сме дали любов и уважение. Ако като майки жонглирането с професия и отглеждането на деца се окаже трудна задача, то едно от двете ще страда. Въпросът е кое ще предпочетем.
Знам като дете какво получих от родителите си като отношение към себе си и към мястото ми сред тях. И знам какво решение взех в момента, когато имах дъщеря си. Всеки човек е различен. С различни стремежи, нужди и цели. Приоритетите се променят понякога в движение. Средства за живот, авторитет, слава са важни и потребни. Но онова, което води мен всеки ден е , че любовта няма заместител. Присъствието и подкрепата , когато съм нужна е условието да съм майка. Подаръкът е, че всяка нова стъпка в израстването на дъщеря ми се случва пред очите ми.
Като чета за коплексите и страховете, които са придобили от детството си героите в книгата, разбирам , че съм на прав път. И дори щастието и успехът да не са едно и също нещо, аз съм получила най - важното от двете.
Тук няма трилър, не сме на щрек за жестоки и алчни герои, не сме под напрежението на действието / освен когато следим дали бебето орангутан ще намери сурогатна майка в съвсем чуждото стадо на зоопарка/. Но в книгата има много съпоставки и ситуации, които са били неми за размисъл за мнозина в един или друг момент. До каква степен сме продукт на грижовността на родителите си и докъде зависи от самите нас какъв живот ще изградим от емоционалното си наследство.
* " През повечето време възрастните всъщност не знаят повече от децата. "
* " А щастието и успехът не са едно и също нещо.”
/ Lucy on the wild side
August 10, 2022
Who knew I needed a romance with a zoo and a troop of gorillas as the backdrop? Kerry Rea knew exactly what I needed even when I didn’t, I absolutely adored this one!
Lucy was the kind of heroine we’ve all been waiting for, she’s child free by choice, fiercely passionate about her career and hilarious. This was full of witty banter between Lucy and Kai and there were so many funny pop culture references interspersed in their exchanges that made me laugh. While much of this was light and funny with the enemies to lovers trope being executed perfectly there was so much emotional depth as well. Both Kai and Lucy experienced trauma in their childhoods and have to work through their issues and this gave their story such a genuine and mature feel. I adored this one just as much as I loved The Wedding Ringer and highly recommend both books.
Lucy was the kind of heroine we’ve all been waiting for, she’s child free by choice, fiercely passionate about her career and hilarious. This was full of witty banter between Lucy and Kai and there were so many funny pop culture references interspersed in their exchanges that made me laugh. While much of this was light and funny with the enemies to lovers trope being executed perfectly there was so much emotional depth as well. Both Kai and Lucy experienced trauma in their childhoods and have to work through their issues and this gave their story such a genuine and mature feel. I adored this one just as much as I loved The Wedding Ringer and highly recommend both books.
September 15, 2022
It's so rare to find a book set largely in a zoo, with the heroine as a zookeeper and the hero the reincarnation of Steve Irwin. Not seriously, but he certainly fit the bill well enough. Making it a rom-com seemed absolutely perfect, with enemies to lovers through in alongside some forced proximity. Sign me up! However, while the comedy and writing style was really well done, and I found myself eager to see how the story would end, particularly for the gorillas, I was quite disappointed in the main characters. The heroine read much younger than the 30 year old she was supposed to be, reacting immaturely and treating the hero with over-the-top disdain. The hero basically let her do that the entire book, with very few moments of backbone showing through. Had the heroine been a smidge less self-absorbed and the hero had more self-respect...this could have easily been a four-star read.
The story opens with Lucy, an inspiring junior primate keeper who desperately wants to become the next Dr. Charlotte Kimber. She has dreamed of working with gorillas since she was a young girl dropped on her grandmother's doorstep by her neglectful actress mother. Dr. Kimber was her idol, so naturally she assumed Kai Bridges would be just as amazing. However, their first meeting was less than stellar. Kai overhears her giving a talk on the gorillas, and he tells her she had one of her facts wrong about his mother. Affronted at his audacity to "mansplain" to her, when she clearly remembers the fact as being written in his mother's book, she sets out from that point on to hate Kai. Unfortunately for her, Kai is being paired up with her to film an episode for his tv show, and she can't refuse to participate without giving up her chance at a promotion. So they begrudgingly get started, and as they spend more time together, Lucy slowly....slowly...realizes that Kai may not be the big jerk she thought he was. There may be more to him than his dazzling smile and millions of social media followers.
Let's start with Lucy, shall we? Lucy acted like an adult in her early 20s at best. She was generally unpleasant throughout the book, and even when she could see she was wrong, she had a hard time letting go of her incorrectly held grudges. She said so many awful things about Kai that if it were me, I wouldn't have given her one iota of help. Instead, Kai, being the good person that he was, set aside his hurt over what she said and worked to help her overcome her fear of being on camera. What a guy. Was he perfect? Maybe a little too much. He came across as a doormat for a good portion of the book, only barely standing up for himself to Lucy a handful of times and doing a much larger showing of backbone later on in the book. I liked him but wish we had a bit more angst going both ways. It was often Lucy being rude and Kai laughing it off. Which is fine. I just wish he had given her a taste of her own medicine now and then. And don't get me started on how Lucy treated her sister - I'm sorry, half-sister, since she made a point to correct people, sometimes in front of poor Mia. Why? Because Mia was treated well by Lucy's mother, and Lucy was jealous. She is thirty years old and treating a ten year old like that.
The gorillas were lovely. Had the story had zero romance, it may have been better...although it would still have Lucy, so that's up for debate. It was very interesting to read about the runnings of the zoo, how an orphaned gorilla would be introduced to a new family. I was touched, and I wish there were more books to read that included a zoo as the backdrop. Or at least animal conservation. It's so important and fascinating to read about.
Overall, I give three stars for the writing style, the comedy and the gorillas.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
The story opens with Lucy, an inspiring junior primate keeper who desperately wants to become the next Dr. Charlotte Kimber. She has dreamed of working with gorillas since she was a young girl dropped on her grandmother's doorstep by her neglectful actress mother. Dr. Kimber was her idol, so naturally she assumed Kai Bridges would be just as amazing. However, their first meeting was less than stellar. Kai overhears her giving a talk on the gorillas, and he tells her she had one of her facts wrong about his mother. Affronted at his audacity to "mansplain" to her, when she clearly remembers the fact as being written in his mother's book, she sets out from that point on to hate Kai. Unfortunately for her, Kai is being paired up with her to film an episode for his tv show, and she can't refuse to participate without giving up her chance at a promotion. So they begrudgingly get started, and as they spend more time together, Lucy slowly....slowly...realizes that Kai may not be the big jerk she thought he was. There may be more to him than his dazzling smile and millions of social media followers.
Let's start with Lucy, shall we? Lucy acted like an adult in her early 20s at best. She was generally unpleasant throughout the book, and even when she could see she was wrong, she had a hard time letting go of her incorrectly held grudges. She said so many awful things about Kai that if it were me, I wouldn't have given her one iota of help. Instead, Kai, being the good person that he was, set aside his hurt over what she said and worked to help her overcome her fear of being on camera. What a guy. Was he perfect? Maybe a little too much. He came across as a doormat for a good portion of the book, only barely standing up for himself to Lucy a handful of times and doing a much larger showing of backbone later on in the book. I liked him but wish we had a bit more angst going both ways. It was often Lucy being rude and Kai laughing it off. Which is fine. I just wish he had given her a taste of her own medicine now and then. And don't get me started on how Lucy treated her sister - I'm sorry, half-sister, since she made a point to correct people, sometimes in front of poor Mia. Why? Because Mia was treated well by Lucy's mother, and Lucy was jealous. She is thirty years old and treating a ten year old like that.
The gorillas were lovely. Had the story had zero romance, it may have been better...although it would still have Lucy, so that's up for debate. It was very interesting to read about the runnings of the zoo, how an orphaned gorilla would be introduced to a new family. I was touched, and I wish there were more books to read that included a zoo as the backdrop. Or at least animal conservation. It's so important and fascinating to read about.
Overall, I give three stars for the writing style, the comedy and the gorillas.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
November 30, 2022
3 ⭐
Lucy Rourke trabaja en un zoológico como cuidadora de gorilas, su jefe le dice que si quiere ser ascendida en su trabajo tiene que salir de su zona de confort. Para eso tiene que hacerse cargo de que una gorila bebé que se quedó huérfana encuentre una madre sustituta 🥺 Lucy tiene un gran amor por los gorilas y su trabajo, el único problema es su miedo escénico, ya que Kai Brigdes, un presentador de un programa de vida silvestre ha decido llevar a cabo sus grabaciones en el mismo zoológico en el que Lucy trabaja, y estás grabaciones incluyen a Lucy.
Me gustaba la idea del libro, además que la autora te lo vende como un “enemigos a amantes”. Pero me siento insultada porque el “odio” entre ellos solo venía por parte de Lucy y por una razón completamente tonta. Desde el principio se nota que Kai solo quería ayudar a Lucy, pero ella es una mujer de 30 años y actuaba como si tuviera 12.
Ella decía cosas horribles sobre Kai y exageraba cada cosa él que hacia. Lucy también trataba mal a su “media hermana” de 10 años, solamente porque estaba envidiosa. Y sin mencionar que se comportó como una cretina con sus amigas.
En fin, el libro estuvo medio entretenido pero me hubiera gustado que Lucy no fuera no tan mentepolla.
La historia de los Gorilas fue lo que más me gustó🥺 Zuri😭
“Because we might be animal-fact-spouting weirdos, but we’re weirdos who were made for each other.
Always have been, always will be.”
Lucy Rourke trabaja en un zoológico como cuidadora de gorilas, su jefe le dice que si quiere ser ascendida en su trabajo tiene que salir de su zona de confort. Para eso tiene que hacerse cargo de que una gorila bebé que se quedó huérfana encuentre una madre sustituta 🥺 Lucy tiene un gran amor por los gorilas y su trabajo, el único problema es su miedo escénico, ya que Kai Brigdes, un presentador de un programa de vida silvestre ha decido llevar a cabo sus grabaciones en el mismo zoológico en el que Lucy trabaja, y estás grabaciones incluyen a Lucy.
Me gustaba la idea del libro, además que la autora te lo vende como un “enemigos a amantes”. Pero me siento insultada porque el “odio” entre ellos solo venía por parte de Lucy y por una razón completamente tonta. Desde el principio se nota que Kai solo quería ayudar a Lucy, pero ella es una mujer de 30 años y actuaba como si tuviera 12.
Ella decía cosas horribles sobre Kai y exageraba cada cosa él que hacia. Lucy también trataba mal a su “media hermana” de 10 años, solamente porque estaba envidiosa. Y sin mencionar que se comportó como una cretina con sus amigas.
En fin, el libro estuvo medio entretenido pero me hubiera gustado que Lucy no fuera no tan mentepolla.
La historia de los Gorilas fue lo que más me gustó🥺 Zuri😭
“Because we might be animal-fact-spouting weirdos, but we’re weirdos who were made for each other.
Always have been, always will be.”
September 12, 2022
4.5
Much thanks to PRHAudio for a complimentary audio copy and NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
I really, really enjoyed this enemies to lovers workplace romance between primatologist Lucy and reality tv star Kai who get thrown together when Kai and his film crew are hired to promote Lucy's zoo. Lucy was an easy character to love! I enjoyed that she was so career-focused and wasn't afraid to admit she didn't want children. The chemistry between Lucy and Kai was also sizzling and I enjoyed how they were able to bond over shared toxic parental relationships. Full of humor and heart, this was great on audio and recommended for fans of books like An unexpected paradise by Chelsea Curto. It was also really refreshing to read about a career I haven't seen much in romance books! The gorillas definitely stole the show in this book as far as I was concerned!
Much thanks to PRHAudio for a complimentary audio copy and NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
I really, really enjoyed this enemies to lovers workplace romance between primatologist Lucy and reality tv star Kai who get thrown together when Kai and his film crew are hired to promote Lucy's zoo. Lucy was an easy character to love! I enjoyed that she was so career-focused and wasn't afraid to admit she didn't want children. The chemistry between Lucy and Kai was also sizzling and I enjoyed how they were able to bond over shared toxic parental relationships. Full of humor and heart, this was great on audio and recommended for fans of books like An unexpected paradise by Chelsea Curto. It was also really refreshing to read about a career I haven't seen much in romance books! The gorillas definitely stole the show in this book as far as I was concerned!
June 17, 2022
4-4,5 STARS
This was such a fun read, I adored the characters and I loved the story.
Lucy is my new favorite character!I could easily relate with her and she make me smile a lot!She is fiesty and funny.Kai is also amazing. They have such a great banter, and in the beginning there is a lot of tension between them.
This is a cute, heartwarming,refreshing and fun story!It's fast paced and you can't stop yourshelf from falling in love with them.
I highly recommend it!
This was such a fun read, I adored the characters and I loved the story.
Lucy is my new favorite character!I could easily relate with her and she make me smile a lot!She is fiesty and funny.Kai is also amazing. They have such a great banter, and in the beginning there is a lot of tension between them.
This is a cute, heartwarming,refreshing and fun story!It's fast paced and you can't stop yourshelf from falling in love with them.
I highly recommend it!
November 24, 2022
4.5/5 stars
This book is a romantic comedy and takes place at the Columbus Zoo.
The narrator is Lucy (1st person POV). She is a zookeeper.
I loved the female friendships. I loved Lucy's little sister Mia. I loved the zoo setting. And I adored Lucy's job with the gorillas. I am completely obsessed with gorillas now. They were such an incredible part of this story.
I also really liked the romance. And thought that Kai's wild life show On The Wild Side was so much fun. Overall this was such a fun read. But it also featured some more serious issues. I really enjoyed this book.
This book is a romantic comedy and takes place at the Columbus Zoo.
The narrator is Lucy (1st person POV). She is a zookeeper.
I loved the female friendships. I loved Lucy's little sister Mia. I loved the zoo setting. And I adored Lucy's job with the gorillas. I am completely obsessed with gorillas now. They were such an incredible part of this story.
I also really liked the romance. And thought that Kai's wild life show On The Wild Side was so much fun. Overall this was such a fun read. But it also featured some more serious issues. I really enjoyed this book.
October 24, 2022
An enjoyable read with our heroine suffering some serious mommy issues. I didn't expect to love the zoo keeper aspect so much!
January 12, 2023
Heart, humor and feels. This book had fantastic pacing with a strong, hilarious and relatable narrative. Lucy was a girl I’d befriend in a heartbeat and her career, though tough at times, has always been a dream job for me.
The premise was unique and fun and the dialogue between Lucy and Kai was too-notch. There was never a dull moment and my favorite was their back and forth weird animal facts.
This is a definite re-read for me.
The premise was unique and fun and the dialogue between Lucy and Kai was too-notch. There was never a dull moment and my favorite was their back and forth weird animal facts.
This is a definite re-read for me.
September 22, 2022
📚 Hello Book Friends! LUCY ON THE WILD SIDE by Kerry Rea was sooooo gooood! I enjoyed this enemies to lovers romcom. The relationship between Lucy and Kai was beautiful and sexy. I loved all the animal facts she told each other. I learned quite a bite of new things. I also loved everything about the gorillas, especially little Keeva. This story warmed my heart. If you are looking for a fun romcom with substance, this one is it!
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November 17, 2022
3.5
Lucy es una primatóloga que trabaja en un zoológico y desea ser promovida a jefe de cuidadores. Para esto debe trabajar de la mano con Kai, un presentador de tv engreído y pagado de sí mismo (según Lucy), que está grabando el día a día de los gorilas que ella tiene a su cuidado.
La historia empieza como un Enemies to lovers, pero Lucy es desesperante. Todo lo que hacía Kai lo veía mal, y el tipo no hacía nada en su contra. 😒 En esta historia creo que sí hubiera apreciado un POV de Kai.
Ya después de la mitad del libro mejora el personaje de Lucy. Hasta me hizo llorar la babosa. 😭
Honestamente sí me gustó el libro, a pesar de esos detalles.
PD. Amamos a Keeva y a Zuri. 🥹🦍
📖
“You are enough, Lucy. You’re a force of nature. That’s what the world will see—a passionate, brilliant zookeeper who’s changing the world one baby gorilla at a time.”
Lucy es una primatóloga que trabaja en un zoológico y desea ser promovida a jefe de cuidadores. Para esto debe trabajar de la mano con Kai, un presentador de tv engreído y pagado de sí mismo (según Lucy), que está grabando el día a día de los gorilas que ella tiene a su cuidado.
La historia empieza como un Enemies to lovers, pero Lucy es desesperante. Todo lo que hacía Kai lo veía mal, y el tipo no hacía nada en su contra. 😒 En esta historia creo que sí hubiera apreciado un POV de Kai.
Ya después de la mitad del libro mejora el personaje de Lucy. Hasta me hizo llorar la babosa. 😭
Honestamente sí me gustó el libro, a pesar de esos detalles.
PD. Amamos a Keeva y a Zuri. 🥹🦍
📖
“You are enough, Lucy. You’re a force of nature. That’s what the world will see—a passionate, brilliant zookeeper who’s changing the world one baby gorilla at a time.”
October 13, 2022
probably more of a 3.5, but ended up being one I'm glad I finished. I would have DNF'ed this if I wasn't reviewing the audio for Library Journal as the start is quite slow, but once I hit the 40% mark it picked up a lot.
Single POV, featuring a gorilla expert and zookeeper who struggles with work life balance who develops feelings for TV star Kai, host of THE WILD SIDE, an animal education series much like The Crocodile Hunter. I felt this story skewed slight more into Lucy's personal journey, but overall I felt satisfied with the romance too. Kai is sexy as hell, and at first I thought Lucy was being quite mean to him for not great reasons at all (judgey judgey was a bear), but I appreciated she took ownership after some cringe-y moments and learning that she shouldn't make assumptions, just like others do about her.
I very much appreciated the mom issues developed in this story for both Lucy and Kai, and where those issues were left at the end (no magical fixes, big boundaries being set, some bridges tentatively being planned), and at first the gorilla stuff was a bit too much but I made it through!
Also, bravo to making Lucy a stalwart no-kids ever person, so much so her crappy ex was trying to convince her to change her mind so she got rid of him. yay! loved that.
This is again heavier than that sunny cover denotes, and I would love to see this developed for screen because it would work very well on it.
The narrator also did a great job with the voices, including Kai's sort of mixed bag South African/Aussie/British mix explained by his moving around constantly.
Glad i stuck this one out.
BIG content note - there is a really sad animal death (both in the past, discussed and a major part of the plot) so do take care if you are sensitive to that. it was really sad.
Single POV, featuring a gorilla expert and zookeeper who struggles with work life balance who develops feelings for TV star Kai, host of THE WILD SIDE, an animal education series much like The Crocodile Hunter. I felt this story skewed slight more into Lucy's personal journey, but overall I felt satisfied with the romance too. Kai is sexy as hell, and at first I thought Lucy was being quite mean to him for not great reasons at all (judgey judgey was a bear), but I appreciated she took ownership after some cringe-y moments and learning that she shouldn't make assumptions, just like others do about her.
I very much appreciated the mom issues developed in this story for both Lucy and Kai, and where those issues were left at the end (no magical fixes, big boundaries being set, some bridges tentatively being planned), and at first the gorilla stuff was a bit too much but I made it through!
Also, bravo to making Lucy a stalwart no-kids ever person, so much so her crappy ex was trying to convince her to change her mind so she got rid of him. yay! loved that.
This is again heavier than that sunny cover denotes, and I would love to see this developed for screen because it would work very well on it.
The narrator also did a great job with the voices, including Kai's sort of mixed bag South African/Aussie/British mix explained by his moving around constantly.
Glad i stuck this one out.
BIG content note - there is a really sad animal death (both in the past, discussed and a major part of the plot) so do take care if you are sensitive to that. it was really sad.
September 7, 2022
Being that I LOVED Kerry Rea’s debut, The Wedding Ringer, this was one of my most anticipated reads for the fall. I’m happy to say that the story lived up to my expectations and was just SOO good!!
There was a lot to love!! For someone who knew nothing about gorillas, or a zookeepers life in general, I finished the book feeing like a pro! The animal facts sprinkled throughout the story were hysterical, watching the gorillas interact brought warmth to my heart, and the process of filming the docuseries was fun to see. There was also some unexpected steam that we did not get in Rea’s first book, and I was all for it! I am not always one for enemies to lovers, which is the primary trope in this book. While Lucy’s immaturity was a bit annoying in the beginning, when she disliked Kai for silly reasons, there was a ton of character-development and self-growth that made it impossible to not route for her. It was also interesting to see two main characters that were both struggling with maternal issues and how they used their experiences to connect on a deeper level.
Read if you like:
-Enemies to lovers
-Fun banter/ chemistry
-Fun animal facts/ zoos
-Family drama
-Awesome grandmother figures
There was a lot to love!! For someone who knew nothing about gorillas, or a zookeepers life in general, I finished the book feeing like a pro! The animal facts sprinkled throughout the story were hysterical, watching the gorillas interact brought warmth to my heart, and the process of filming the docuseries was fun to see. There was also some unexpected steam that we did not get in Rea’s first book, and I was all for it! I am not always one for enemies to lovers, which is the primary trope in this book. While Lucy’s immaturity was a bit annoying in the beginning, when she disliked Kai for silly reasons, there was a ton of character-development and self-growth that made it impossible to not route for her. It was also interesting to see two main characters that were both struggling with maternal issues and how they used their experiences to connect on a deeper level.
Read if you like:
-Enemies to lovers
-Fun banter/ chemistry
-Fun animal facts/ zoos
-Family drama
-Awesome grandmother figures
September 13, 2022
4.5 ⭐️. Another strong romance from Kerry Rea!
Synopsis: Lucy Rourke is a primatologist for a gorilla troop and, with laser-like focus, is doing everything she can to be promoted to head keeper at the zoo. When a wildlife docuseries selects her zoo for its summer filming location, Lucy knows this is her chance to prove that she deserves this promotion. Upon meeting the host, TV personality Kai Bridges, it is clear that they have different priorities--Kai appears to care more about his show ratings than he does the gorillas. However, as Lucy gets to know Kai, she is surprised to learn that there is more to Kai than his cheesy "wowza" catchphrase. In fact, they might not be so different after all...
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers story, despite it not being my favorite trope. It took me a little to warm up to the story, but ultimately I was really rooting for this couple. I enjoyed the added emotional/familial components to this story as well. Finally, all of the funny animal facts are 1. Educational and 2. Hilarious. I can only imagine Kerry googling “weird, sexual animal facts” as she wrote this book!
Thank you to PRH Audio for my ALC.
Synopsis: Lucy Rourke is a primatologist for a gorilla troop and, with laser-like focus, is doing everything she can to be promoted to head keeper at the zoo. When a wildlife docuseries selects her zoo for its summer filming location, Lucy knows this is her chance to prove that she deserves this promotion. Upon meeting the host, TV personality Kai Bridges, it is clear that they have different priorities--Kai appears to care more about his show ratings than he does the gorillas. However, as Lucy gets to know Kai, she is surprised to learn that there is more to Kai than his cheesy "wowza" catchphrase. In fact, they might not be so different after all...
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers story, despite it not being my favorite trope. It took me a little to warm up to the story, but ultimately I was really rooting for this couple. I enjoyed the added emotional/familial components to this story as well. Finally, all of the funny animal facts are 1. Educational and 2. Hilarious. I can only imagine Kerry googling “weird, sexual animal facts” as she wrote this book!
Thank you to PRH Audio for my ALC.
August 10, 2025
I enjoyed all the zoo activity and the story has a great premise.
Lucy is super immature and very annoying as a result.
Kerry did make me cry though, so bonus points for that.
Lucy is super immature and very annoying as a result.
Kerry did make me cry though, so bonus points for that.
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