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Big Wild Love Adventure
After being ditched at the altar, Emmy Shaw’s heart, like her dented food truck, is definitely not open for business. Deeply in debt to her parents and evicted from her apartment, she takes a friend’s drunken dare and fills out an application for a new dating-adventure reality show. She never expects to be chosen—or to get a chance at the show’s huge cash prize, which could put her life back on track.
But when she’s abandoned in the middle of the jungle two months later wearing only a bathing suit and a backpack, she questions if being on the show might be even worse than the #emmytrashtruck hate brigade she left back home. Then she meets her fellow cast members—including sexy, inscrutable Wes—and starts to reconsider, wondering if maybe money’s not all she stands to gain from this experience.
After a year of abysmal failures, this summer of cave treks, jungle hikes, impromptu talent shows, and a sexy flirtmance turns out to be just the thing to help Emmy rebuild her shattered confidence. She signed up for the show to hide from the mess her life had become, but this escape from reality might be just what she needs to find herself.
But when she’s abandoned in the middle of the jungle two months later wearing only a bathing suit and a backpack, she questions if being on the show might be even worse than the #emmytrashtruck hate brigade she left back home. Then she meets her fellow cast members—including sexy, inscrutable Wes—and starts to reconsider, wondering if maybe money’s not all she stands to gain from this experience.
After a year of abysmal failures, this summer of cave treks, jungle hikes, impromptu talent shows, and a sexy flirtmance turns out to be just the thing to help Emmy rebuild her shattered confidence. She signed up for the show to hide from the mess her life had become, but this escape from reality might be just what she needs to find herself.
370 pages, ebook
First published June 20, 2022
9 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Julianna Keyes
15 books703 followersJulianna Keyes is a Canadian writer who has lived on both coasts and several places in between. She's been skydiving, bungee jumping and white water rafting, but nothing thrills - or terrifies - her as much as the blank page. She loves Chinese food, foreign languages, baseball and television, not necessarily in that order, and will go to her grave swearing that 'ain't' is not a word. She has volunteered in Zambia, taught English in China, and dreams of seeing pink dolphins in the Amazon. It'll happen.
She also writes happily offbeat thrillers as Elaine Murphy.
She also writes happily offbeat thrillers as Elaine Murphy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
May 28, 2022
This book was so much fun to read! I love dating shows so it’s no wonder that reality tv rom coms are becoming one of my favourite tropes. If you like tons of drama, romance in a high stake setting, and amazing secondary characters, then this is the perfect read for you!
Our heroine, Emmy, runs into a string of bad luck when her fiancé leaves her at the alter (for his pregnant girlfriend) and her baking business experiences a mishap. In need of extra cash to pay off her debts, Emmy signs up for Big Wild Love Adventure without any desire to experience the ‘love’ aspect of the show. When Emmy arrives in the jungle, she is immediately drawn to the serious and stoic Wes and suddenly finding love on reality tv doesn’t seem so far fetched.
This book is full of all of the drama you’d expect from a reality tv show with sizzling romances on the side and lots of character growth. Emmy signed up for the show for the cash but she ended up getting so much more as she learned to let go of the past and look to the future.
This is the perfect summer read for fans of Bachelor in Paradise and Love Island!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Our heroine, Emmy, runs into a string of bad luck when her fiancé leaves her at the alter (for his pregnant girlfriend) and her baking business experiences a mishap. In need of extra cash to pay off her debts, Emmy signs up for Big Wild Love Adventure without any desire to experience the ‘love’ aspect of the show. When Emmy arrives in the jungle, she is immediately drawn to the serious and stoic Wes and suddenly finding love on reality tv doesn’t seem so far fetched.
This book is full of all of the drama you’d expect from a reality tv show with sizzling romances on the side and lots of character growth. Emmy signed up for the show for the cash but she ended up getting so much more as she learned to let go of the past and look to the future.
This is the perfect summer read for fans of Bachelor in Paradise and Love Island!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2022
Since the 'vacation bubble' hit so well for me on a previous read, I felt like it was a great time to dive in to BWLA. I am a Keyes fan, a huge one, I love what she writes even if I don't love the books (and for me, her 3s are always a little different) her writing is always crisp and unsentimental, and can be simply beautiful as a result. Her characters are always, always full characters. When I read her afterward that she had to cut this book down a bunch I believed it. It's one of the first time she's had such a large cast of secondary characters that I can recall--and boy did she rock that too. At first I feared a scapegoat type but she deftly avoided that with her characteristic depth. This book also ended up hitting me as her lightest-I live for Keyes's brand of angst so I did miss it, but that's only because of what I come to expect from the author in the way of big feelings (big negative, stress feelings). This book did have her brand of humor all over it, it was delightful, it didn't feel punchy or over the top and it avoided any mean elements.
Emmy's life has basically fallen apart, one crash after the next. You can feel her stress in the opening scenes. From there, she and her assistant/friend submit her to a game show that reminded me of Paradise Island (because I'm old). She gets picked of course, and finds her goals changing throughout the duration of the game. The connections she made were lovely, and the way the majority of the contestants were simply kind was also a wonderful antidote to current events. The romance is slow burn, the slowest of slow burns. And honestly, very light on the sexual content in the end. It's central, but so is Emmy's journey, and Emmy is such a heroine to root for that if there's a problem with this book it's that she dominates that, but I certainly did not mind-just a warning though-this is really Emmy's book and it is in first person so it may be at the detriment to fully exploring the hero.
Of course there were characters here I just adored, but I don't want to spoil some of those journeys either. If you have never tried a Keyes, this is a great place to start. If rom-com isn't your thing, she really does have something for everyone.
Emmy's life has basically fallen apart, one crash after the next. You can feel her stress in the opening scenes. From there, she and her assistant/friend submit her to a game show that reminded me of Paradise Island (because I'm old). She gets picked of course, and finds her goals changing throughout the duration of the game. The connections she made were lovely, and the way the majority of the contestants were simply kind was also a wonderful antidote to current events. The romance is slow burn, the slowest of slow burns. And honestly, very light on the sexual content in the end. It's central, but so is Emmy's journey, and Emmy is such a heroine to root for that if there's a problem with this book it's that she dominates that, but I certainly did not mind-just a warning though-this is really Emmy's book and it is in first person so it may be at the detriment to fully exploring the hero.
Of course there were characters here I just adored, but I don't want to spoil some of those journeys either. If you have never tried a Keyes, this is a great place to start. If rom-com isn't your thing, she really does have something for everyone.
July 23, 2022
This is FUN and my Bachelor/Are You The One?/Survivor-loving heart is elated. As much as I like reality TV on television, I don’t think the premise always translates well into romance novels. Well, I’m happy to be proven wrong because I loved this. The found family feels are epic. I legit cried several times — that end scene, when all the contestants are supporting Emmy during her encounter with [redacted character]? Amazing, one of the best scenes I’ve read all year. And Tad wins my vote for Most Surprisingly Improved Secondary Character.
What I didn’t love:
- Couple remarks about Wes’s weight loss after his childhood, paired with his focus on healthy habits and cutting down on impulses. Thankfully there were only a few throwaway lines, but it was unnecessary and could’ve been cut easily, imo.
- I recently read JK’s college romance with lots of explicit sex… This is not that book, lol. There’s one sex scene but it does that weird fade-to-black thing after mild foreplay. Upon reflection, I think the low heat fits the book because there’s so much plot surrounding the challenges and elimination repairing drama. But the low heat was unexpected and I felt bereft, so I’m knocking off a star.
But!!! Everything else was 💯 and I’m surprised there isn’t more hype. Overall, I loved this book because it is — as Jess says — an actual romantic comedy that makes you laugh. An endangered species, sadly.
What I didn’t love:
- Couple remarks about Wes’s weight loss after his childhood, paired with his focus on healthy habits and cutting down on impulses. Thankfully there were only a few throwaway lines, but it was unnecessary and could’ve been cut easily, imo.
- I recently read JK’s college romance with lots of explicit sex… This is not that book, lol. There’s one sex scene but it does that weird fade-to-black thing after mild foreplay. Upon reflection, I think the low heat fits the book because there’s so much plot surrounding the challenges and elimination repairing drama. But the low heat was unexpected and I felt bereft, so I’m knocking off a star.
But!!! Everything else was 💯 and I’m surprised there isn’t more hype. Overall, I loved this book because it is — as Jess says — an actual romantic comedy that makes you laugh. An endangered species, sadly.
July 20, 2022
AN ACTUAL ROMANTIC COMEDY, I'LL BE DAMNED. This book actually made me laugh out loud. I have no notes.
June 10, 2022
As a big time reality TV fan, I couldn’t wait to jump into this book. Get ready for some fun with Survivor meets the Bachelor/Bachelorette!
Our heroine Emmy owns a food truck business that is failing and she fills out an application to join a reality TV show (while under the influence) to not only try to win money to save her business but to go on a big wild love adventure.
She doesn’t plan to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere to find where she will be staying over the next month, she doesn’t plan on meeting real friends that she ends up really caring about and let’s not even talk about her different suitors she’s meant to get to know each week (both on a purely platonic basis and maybe something more) that will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting her to find her love match.
Emmy has trust issues because of her past, she works hard and never has time to live life, to have fun, and to find her confidence in herself and her choices so this big wild love adventure is just what she needs at just the right time.
Readers looking for a fun beach read with hilarious characters and a heroine who finds the unexpected in a crazy situation should pick up this book. I had a smile on my face the whole read through!
Our heroine Emmy owns a food truck business that is failing and she fills out an application to join a reality TV show (while under the influence) to not only try to win money to save her business but to go on a big wild love adventure.
She doesn’t plan to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere to find where she will be staying over the next month, she doesn’t plan on meeting real friends that she ends up really caring about and let’s not even talk about her different suitors she’s meant to get to know each week (both on a purely platonic basis and maybe something more) that will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting her to find her love match.
Emmy has trust issues because of her past, she works hard and never has time to live life, to have fun, and to find her confidence in herself and her choices so this big wild love adventure is just what she needs at just the right time.
Readers looking for a fun beach read with hilarious characters and a heroine who finds the unexpected in a crazy situation should pick up this book. I had a smile on my face the whole read through!
June 16, 2022
If you have a love for summer reality TV, this book capture the quirky, eyebrow raising, and heartwarming antics of watching one. It was such a fun read from start to finish and if you are a fan of books with hilarious moments, lovable side characters, and romance-you need to pick this up!
This story following Emmy who, less than a year ago, was left at the alter. She is a talented baker with big dreams but, unfortunately life is hard. Her assistant suggests the way to help her small business is obviously one thing: money! She is a huge fan reality TV and has tried many times to get on one with no success. She suggests to Emmy that is they apply and she gets on, this can be the thing that her business needs, advertising and a cash prize. On a whim, (and with the help of a few drinks) Emmy and her assistant apply for the new show Big Wild Love Adventure. No one is more surprised than Emmy when she gets the call that she made it on the show. Not only does Emmy get a chance to win a cash prize, she also gets a chance at love.
This book was incredible and everything I needed in a summer read! I loved how well developed the side characters were! You really fall in love with everyone and are not wanting them to get voted off like you do when watch a real reality TV show. The show itself was so much fun and always had twists and turns that were sometimes ridiculous and entertaining. There was also meat to the story which I loved. Emmy, and the other characters, had a journey of self discovery throughout the book. Overall this was a wonderful read and I am so happy it was as exciting as the synopsis sounded!
A huge thank you to Netgally for providing me with an eARC of this book!
This story following Emmy who, less than a year ago, was left at the alter. She is a talented baker with big dreams but, unfortunately life is hard. Her assistant suggests the way to help her small business is obviously one thing: money! She is a huge fan reality TV and has tried many times to get on one with no success. She suggests to Emmy that is they apply and she gets on, this can be the thing that her business needs, advertising and a cash prize. On a whim, (and with the help of a few drinks) Emmy and her assistant apply for the new show Big Wild Love Adventure. No one is more surprised than Emmy when she gets the call that she made it on the show. Not only does Emmy get a chance to win a cash prize, she also gets a chance at love.
This book was incredible and everything I needed in a summer read! I loved how well developed the side characters were! You really fall in love with everyone and are not wanting them to get voted off like you do when watch a real reality TV show. The show itself was so much fun and always had twists and turns that were sometimes ridiculous and entertaining. There was also meat to the story which I loved. Emmy, and the other characters, had a journey of self discovery throughout the book. Overall this was a wonderful read and I am so happy it was as exciting as the synopsis sounded!
A huge thank you to Netgally for providing me with an eARC of this book!
September 4, 2022
Not sure how to rate this book. Ultimate rating is probably 3.5/5 stars, but it ended on a really annoying note for me so rounding down.
The good:
-This was really easy to read, which is not something I can say about most books these days (that's a me problem, but still, it was nice to find something that I could just get through without struggling too much with focus)
-I mostly really liked the characters (caveat below) and the romance was nice, although not one that really got me invested
-The Bachelor In Paradise type format was really very fun. I had some minor nitpicks on logistics, but overall, I spent most of the book seeing the Show Twists as things the Bachelor producers would absolutely do
-A contemporary romance billed as a romcom that wasn't sad (caveats below), even though it dealt with some of the characters' baggage!
The not-so-good:
-Wes having streaked through the outfield at Yankee Stadium is an automatically disqualifying thing for a romance hero for me. Especially when it kept being brought up, and later it was revealed that it happened very recently, and not when he was drunk and 19 years old. (1) Based on everything else about Wes, it just didn't seem to fit his personality. (2) I'm sorry, but if your romance hero is someone I can imagine Michael Kay having to talk about as interrupting the Yankees' broadcast because some idiot ran out onto the field, then you have created a problem for me, as a reader who (this past month aside) watches or listens to basically every inning of every Yankees game, 162 games a year. I didn't realize this was going to be a thing for me, but as soon as I read it, my reaction was "Oh, no. This is going to be a Problem."
-This book was billed as a romcom but... I didn't actually find it funny at all. I think some of the things that were supposed to be funny ended up being really high secondhand embarrassment to me. Emmy's wardrobe was a major one.
-The ending generally was really fast and unearned. The way the ILY happened really annoyed me, as did the throwing the option to get married at the three remaining couples (which, for the record, there was a HIGH volume of successful couples based on the total volume of people on the show). This isn't a nitpick about reality tv, because similar things have definitely happened on the Bachelor before. I just didn't like it as a plot device because it distracted from the other thing I wanted them to focus on. Which, of course, then they did not.
-And this leads me to one of my #1 pet peeves about reality tv couples: We virtually never see them talking about what their lives are going to be like long-term and how they see themselves making it work (and then, shocker, it usually does not work). Yes, yes, I know, we got a few moments of them talking about Philly and NY being close and her coming to visit him. But... they actually are building lives and careers in two different cities. She's actually taking her money and starting a new business in Philly! How is that ultimately going to work?? ANYWAY, this book had an opportunity to address it and did not. So, this ended on a really meh note for me.
The good:
-This was really easy to read, which is not something I can say about most books these days (that's a me problem, but still, it was nice to find something that I could just get through without struggling too much with focus)
-I mostly really liked the characters (caveat below) and the romance was nice, although not one that really got me invested
-The Bachelor In Paradise type format was really very fun. I had some minor nitpicks on logistics, but overall, I spent most of the book seeing the Show Twists as things the Bachelor producers would absolutely do
-A contemporary romance billed as a romcom that wasn't sad (caveats below), even though it dealt with some of the characters' baggage!
The not-so-good:
-Wes having streaked through the outfield at Yankee Stadium is an automatically disqualifying thing for a romance hero for me. Especially when it kept being brought up, and later it was revealed that it happened very recently, and not when he was drunk and 19 years old. (1) Based on everything else about Wes, it just didn't seem to fit his personality. (2) I'm sorry, but if your romance hero is someone I can imagine Michael Kay having to talk about as interrupting the Yankees' broadcast because some idiot ran out onto the field, then you have created a problem for me, as a reader who (this past month aside) watches or listens to basically every inning of every Yankees game, 162 games a year. I didn't realize this was going to be a thing for me, but as soon as I read it, my reaction was "Oh, no. This is going to be a Problem."
-This book was billed as a romcom but... I didn't actually find it funny at all. I think some of the things that were supposed to be funny ended up being really high secondhand embarrassment to me. Emmy's wardrobe was a major one.
-The ending generally was really fast and unearned. The way the ILY happened really annoyed me, as did the throwing the option to get married at the three remaining couples (which, for the record, there was a HIGH volume of successful couples based on the total volume of people on the show). This isn't a nitpick about reality tv, because similar things have definitely happened on the Bachelor before. I just didn't like it as a plot device because it distracted from the other thing I wanted them to focus on. Which, of course, then they did not.
-And this leads me to one of my #1 pet peeves about reality tv couples: We virtually never see them talking about what their lives are going to be like long-term and how they see themselves making it work (and then, shocker, it usually does not work). Yes, yes, I know, we got a few moments of them talking about Philly and NY being close and her coming to visit him. But... they actually are building lives and careers in two different cities. She's actually taking her money and starting a new business in Philly! How is that ultimately going to work?? ANYWAY, this book had an opportunity to address it and did not. So, this ended on a really meh note for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2022
Please consider donating to my gofundme so I can set up a production company specifically so I can get this turned into a movie.
June 15, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When I first started this book, I wasn't exactly sure if I would like it; reality tv shows are not my thing in real life, so I was a little hesitant. I am so glad I gave this book a chance, because it ended up being one of my favorite books I have read in 2022!
Big Wild Love Adventure follows the story of Emmy, who was jilted at the altar when her fiancé says he can't marry her because he got his mistress pregnant. In the ten months since, she has been pouring everything into her food truck business, which makes one custom designed treat a day. Suffice to say, girl is not thriving. With the loving help of her friend (and alcohol), she decides to sign up to be a contestant on Big Wild Love Adventure, where she could walk away with $250,000. She is surprised to find out she gets picked and ends up going to Panama to compete for the cash prize- and maybe find love.
I am usually not a huge fan of slow burn, because I am impatient and I want to find the characters happy sooner rather than later. I didn't have that impatience with this book, however. I think with it being a reality tv show with challenges, it helped keep things exciting and fresh. I would find myself getting nervous and having to use my hand to keep myself from skipping to the end of the page during eliminations (is this just me? please say it isn't). Julianna Keyes does a great job of flushing out not only the main characters, but the secondary characters, as well. Not only are you enthralled in Emmy and Wes's "will they won't they," you also start really worrying about the secondary characters. You also realize the comradery that must happen behind the scenes of a reality tv show. There is a very sweet scene in the story that truly shows how much everyone has changed within the time they are in Panama, and it left me in a puddle of tears.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone! If you are a fan of slow-burn, adventure, comedy, you will love this book. Even if this usually isn't your cup of tea, I suggest you read it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When I first started this book, I wasn't exactly sure if I would like it; reality tv shows are not my thing in real life, so I was a little hesitant. I am so glad I gave this book a chance, because it ended up being one of my favorite books I have read in 2022!
Big Wild Love Adventure follows the story of Emmy, who was jilted at the altar when her fiancé says he can't marry her because he got his mistress pregnant. In the ten months since, she has been pouring everything into her food truck business, which makes one custom designed treat a day. Suffice to say, girl is not thriving. With the loving help of her friend (and alcohol), she decides to sign up to be a contestant on Big Wild Love Adventure, where she could walk away with $250,000. She is surprised to find out she gets picked and ends up going to Panama to compete for the cash prize- and maybe find love.
I am usually not a huge fan of slow burn, because I am impatient and I want to find the characters happy sooner rather than later. I didn't have that impatience with this book, however. I think with it being a reality tv show with challenges, it helped keep things exciting and fresh. I would find myself getting nervous and having to use my hand to keep myself from skipping to the end of the page during eliminations (is this just me? please say it isn't). Julianna Keyes does a great job of flushing out not only the main characters, but the secondary characters, as well. Not only are you enthralled in Emmy and Wes's "will they won't they," you also start really worrying about the secondary characters. You also realize the comradery that must happen behind the scenes of a reality tv show. There is a very sweet scene in the story that truly shows how much everyone has changed within the time they are in Panama, and it left me in a puddle of tears.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone! If you are a fan of slow-burn, adventure, comedy, you will love this book. Even if this usually isn't your cup of tea, I suggest you read it.
December 5, 2022
The title of this book kind of perfectly sums up the reading experience, too. This was certainly a big wild reading adventure; it made me laugh out look several times (not easy to do) and I cared about almost every single character.
Is it ridiculous? Yes. Did I care? No. It read to me like a crossover between the reality tv shows Love Island and Survivor, and I found most of it absolutely hilarious. I loved Tad and the way his character progresses throughout the book. He's also the one who has the most oneliners, so bonus points for that.
And the romance between Wes and Emmy was sweet and I was rooting for them pretty much from the get-go.
Really, it's best not to overthink things when reading this book and just enjoying the ride.
Is it ridiculous? Yes. Did I care? No. It read to me like a crossover between the reality tv shows Love Island and Survivor, and I found most of it absolutely hilarious. I loved Tad and the way his character progresses throughout the book. He's also the one who has the most oneliners, so bonus points for that.
And the romance between Wes and Emmy was sweet and I was rooting for them pretty much from the get-go.
Really, it's best not to overthink things when reading this book and just enjoying the ride.
July 24, 2022
VERY FUN. basically read it in one sitting, no regrets.
January 14, 2023
Who am I that I was like I think I was genuinely more into the friendship bits and the character growth than the romance?! The romance was good too though.
June 19, 2022
I love Rom Coms and dating shows and jumped at the chance to be a part of this book tour. This book did not disappoint. It's light, fun, and perfect for the beach! I loved the drama, romance, and the supporting characters are amazing.
In this book, we follow main character, Emmy, who has had a run of bad luck. About a year ago she was left at the alter (for his pregnant girlfriend of all things), her baking business needs a cash infusion. When her assistant suggests they sign up for a reality show (which she loves), and a few drinks later, their application is submitted. Emmy is shocked when she learns she been accepted and not only does she have a chance at a cash prize, but she also has the chance to find love, what could go wrong?
I loved the characters and all the shenanigans throughout the book. What I liked best is that each of the characters learned to know themselves better through self-discovery. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good reality show and I look forward to reading more of this author!
In this book, we follow main character, Emmy, who has had a run of bad luck. About a year ago she was left at the alter (for his pregnant girlfriend of all things), her baking business needs a cash infusion. When her assistant suggests they sign up for a reality show (which she loves), and a few drinks later, their application is submitted. Emmy is shocked when she learns she been accepted and not only does she have a chance at a cash prize, but she also has the chance to find love, what could go wrong?
I loved the characters and all the shenanigans throughout the book. What I liked best is that each of the characters learned to know themselves better through self-discovery. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good reality show and I look forward to reading more of this author!
September 28, 2024
˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚
📚 Big Wild Love Adventure - Julianna Keyes
⭐ 3.7/5
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((Thanks to @netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with the e-ARC of this amazing book!))
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💌 REVIEW:: This book was so much fun to read. It was quick and easy, filled with loveable character scenes and witty remarks. 💚
Emmy is a baker fallen on hard times in her business and in desperate need of money. Drunk with her friend one day, she applies to a reality tv dating show, hoping to redeem herself and her business, and really isn't concerned with finding love. But as she spends more time with the fellow contestants on the show, she comes to realise that there's more to life than money. Sometimes it takes going through some super tough times to be able to understand yourself and your needs better.
The book stays pretty clean, just a fun and sweet romance novel. Julianna, the author does a nice job of wrapping up everyone's storyline, and I'm still trying to understand what happened at the end because it felt a little rushed but i look forward to reading more about the side characters soon. 💕
📚 Big Wild Love Adventure - Julianna Keyes
⭐ 3.7/5
.
((Thanks to @netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with the e-ARC of this amazing book!))
.
💌 REVIEW:: This book was so much fun to read. It was quick and easy, filled with loveable character scenes and witty remarks. 💚
Emmy is a baker fallen on hard times in her business and in desperate need of money. Drunk with her friend one day, she applies to a reality tv dating show, hoping to redeem herself and her business, and really isn't concerned with finding love. But as she spends more time with the fellow contestants on the show, she comes to realise that there's more to life than money. Sometimes it takes going through some super tough times to be able to understand yourself and your needs better.
The book stays pretty clean, just a fun and sweet romance novel. Julianna, the author does a nice job of wrapping up everyone's storyline, and I'm still trying to understand what happened at the end because it felt a little rushed but i look forward to reading more about the side characters soon. 💕
June 12, 2022
"When he's close, I find those dreams morphing to make room for something else, something I didn't think I wanted to feel again, something I didn't think I was ready for."
Ditched at the alter, business disaster, bad reviews, and evicted, Emmy Shaw has nowhere to go but up. A few drinks, and some convincing from her friend, Emmy has entered to be a part of a new reality TV show called Big Wild Love Adventure. Only thing is, Emmy never expected to be picked. But it's impossible to turn down a chance at winning thousands when you're deep in debt and living in your parents basement.
After making it through the jungle in nothing but a bathing suit, Emmy arrives at the villa and is just along for the ride, hopefully making enough to pay back her parents, but not expecting or hoping for more. Between all the challenges, recouplings, and emotional rollercoasters, Emmy really didn't imagine she'd fall for anyone or make connections the way she did while on BWLA. While we were rooting for the people in the villa, so was Emmy. She was forming real friendships with them and seeing something worth working for, besides the money.
Emmy and Wes, both with their fair share of personal issues, manage to make a real go of things together, but have to deal with the reality that awaits them both on the outside.
This book is PERFECT if you're a fan of Love Island and/or Survivor. I just finished binge-watching season 5 of Love Island UK and was feeling the show hangover, but this book was exactly what I needed. I not only fell in love with Emmy and Wes, but the other contestants in BWLA too. It was exactly what you want any reality competition show to be. The book was filled with crazy challenges, big romantic connections, and hilarious experiences between the people in the villa.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Julianna Keyes for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
↠ 4.75 stars
Ditched at the alter, business disaster, bad reviews, and evicted, Emmy Shaw has nowhere to go but up. A few drinks, and some convincing from her friend, Emmy has entered to be a part of a new reality TV show called Big Wild Love Adventure. Only thing is, Emmy never expected to be picked. But it's impossible to turn down a chance at winning thousands when you're deep in debt and living in your parents basement.
After making it through the jungle in nothing but a bathing suit, Emmy arrives at the villa and is just along for the ride, hopefully making enough to pay back her parents, but not expecting or hoping for more. Between all the challenges, recouplings, and emotional rollercoasters, Emmy really didn't imagine she'd fall for anyone or make connections the way she did while on BWLA. While we were rooting for the people in the villa, so was Emmy. She was forming real friendships with them and seeing something worth working for, besides the money.
Emmy and Wes, both with their fair share of personal issues, manage to make a real go of things together, but have to deal with the reality that awaits them both on the outside.
This book is PERFECT if you're a fan of Love Island and/or Survivor. I just finished binge-watching season 5 of Love Island UK and was feeling the show hangover, but this book was exactly what I needed. I not only fell in love with Emmy and Wes, but the other contestants in BWLA too. It was exactly what you want any reality competition show to be. The book was filled with crazy challenges, big romantic connections, and hilarious experiences between the people in the villa.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Julianna Keyes for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
↠ 4.75 stars
July 8, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was cute and a perfect summer, low conflict light read.
I liked the premise, a reality show modelled on those Bachelor in Paradise or Love Island type shows where you get a bunch of singletons together in a warm, remote paradise, ply them with drink and have them in pair off, do challenges and throw in last minute twists etc. The 'in front of the camera' stuff felt like a real reality show.
But the behind the scenes stuff was where the more interesting story was told -- how all the characters interacted with each other when supposedly the cameras weren't on. I liked that no one was an outright villain (line on reality tv shows) and that different sorts of relationships formed to varying degrees amongst the cast. But this is all from Emmy's (the main female character) first person POV, so we are limited in how much we really get from the other characters. So there wasn't a lot of real depth to anyone. Not even Emmy, I think.
There were some major laugh out loud moments and the on-camera twists kept the story moving.
So not something that is going to stick with me for long, but like I said a nice, light summer read.
This was cute and a perfect summer, low conflict light read.
I liked the premise, a reality show modelled on those Bachelor in Paradise or Love Island type shows where you get a bunch of singletons together in a warm, remote paradise, ply them with drink and have them in pair off, do challenges and throw in last minute twists etc. The 'in front of the camera' stuff felt like a real reality show.
But the behind the scenes stuff was where the more interesting story was told -- how all the characters interacted with each other when supposedly the cameras weren't on. I liked that no one was an outright villain (line on reality tv shows) and that different sorts of relationships formed to varying degrees amongst the cast. But this is all from Emmy's (the main female character) first person POV, so we are limited in how much we really get from the other characters. So there wasn't a lot of real depth to anyone. Not even Emmy, I think.
There were some major laugh out loud moments and the on-camera twists kept the story moving.
So not something that is going to stick with me for long, but like I said a nice, light summer read.
July 10, 2025
4 uplift stars 🌟
- reality show
- poor vs rich
- friendship
I am not a fan of reality shows as I find them too staged. So I was very reluctant to start this book, I thought I would find it too shallow. What a pleasant surprise it was, it uplifted my mood completely ❤️
The show was very creative with twists and turns, and besides mixing them up once in a while, all characters pretty much grew in me.
I still cannot believe Emmy didn’t ask for a change of her wardrobe and kept wearing those ridiculous things 😆
- reality show
- poor vs rich
- friendship
I am not a fan of reality shows as I find them too staged. So I was very reluctant to start this book, I thought I would find it too shallow. What a pleasant surprise it was, it uplifted my mood completely ❤️
The show was very creative with twists and turns, and besides mixing them up once in a while, all characters pretty much grew in me.
I still cannot believe Emmy didn’t ask for a change of her wardrobe and kept wearing those ridiculous things 😆
July 30, 2022
I have no other words than this was just pure perfection and I haven’t laughed this hard in ages.
If you love:
✨Reality TV drama
✨Intrigued by the mix of Survivor meets the Bachelorette/Bachelor
✨Beach reads
✨Cutest of friendships
✨Laughing your face off
Than this book is for you.
The ending was perfect, the romance and steamy scenes made me cling to the pages and I read this in one sitting. No regrets tho. This was amazing.
If you love:
✨Reality TV drama
✨Intrigued by the mix of Survivor meets the Bachelorette/Bachelor
✨Beach reads
✨Cutest of friendships
✨Laughing your face off
Than this book is for you.
The ending was perfect, the romance and steamy scenes made me cling to the pages and I read this in one sitting. No regrets tho. This was amazing.
October 23, 2022
This was a very fun read! But Megs, I think it should be made into a TV show, not a movie.
June 6, 2024
3.25 Stars
June 7, 2022
This book was so fun to read. If you love reality TV then you'll surely love this book. Its about a group of people chosen to star in a tv show to find love (...and some money).
Emmy is the sweetest f/mc ever, she's down to earth, loyal, cheeky and the most realistic character you'll ever read. You'll learn about her ups and downs, her kindness and so much more. Instead of leaving with the money she came for, she leaves with restored confidence, the most amazing friends, a story of a lifetime, and most importantly, love.
My second favourite character? Tad. And before anyone says anything, yes he was a dick in the first few chapters but he was always there for Emmy and supported her through the whole show, he's a sweetheart really. Plus he was just a laughable character.
Although I must say the ending took me for surprise (which you'll have to find out why by reading!!) but I enjoyed that a lot. It was a a little sad but we still got our HEA that we wanted for Emmy.
If you enjoy rom-coms, loveable characters, reality tv (especially since love island UK started this week...), tragic backstories, challenges, adventures and so much more - then read this book!
Thank you Netgalley who kindly provided the ARC in return for an honest review! This book will be published 20/06/2022 so get your hands on it ASAP!!
Emmy is the sweetest f/mc ever, she's down to earth, loyal, cheeky and the most realistic character you'll ever read. You'll learn about her ups and downs, her kindness and so much more. Instead of leaving with the money she came for, she leaves with restored confidence, the most amazing friends, a story of a lifetime, and most importantly, love.
My second favourite character? Tad. And before anyone says anything, yes he was a dick in the first few chapters but he was always there for Emmy and supported her through the whole show, he's a sweetheart really. Plus he was just a laughable character.
Although I must say the ending took me for surprise (which you'll have to find out why by reading!!) but I enjoyed that a lot. It was a a little sad but we still got our HEA that we wanted for Emmy.
If you enjoy rom-coms, loveable characters, reality tv (especially since love island UK started this week...), tragic backstories, challenges, adventures and so much more - then read this book!
Thank you Netgalley who kindly provided the ARC in return for an honest review! This book will be published 20/06/2022 so get your hands on it ASAP!!
May 30, 2022
A fun, light summer read, Big Wild Love Adventure is a novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction and romantic comedies. It has all the ingredients : lovable characters, funny conversation and an intriguing premise (that lead to some great shenanigans) so it’s the exact opposite of, say, all those boring rom coms Netflix keeps putting out. That alone, in my opinion, is already a great selling point.
Emmy has problems. Of course she does, she’s a struggling Philadelphia Baker and a woman scorned. After a series of disastrous events, she decides to go on a reality TV show with the hopes of avoiding her problems and resolving them at the same time. She never imagines that it will be anything more than an awkward experience where she’ll roll her eyes at everything while trying to make some money. Handsome and a closed-book, Wes is unexpected. In fact, her entire experience is positively unexpected. And her escape from reality may turn out to be just what she needs to find herself.
An instant classic for me ! It reminded me of Sophie Kinsella novels which pull me to themselves with their plots that are equally divided between a journey to self-discovery/actualization and a slow-burn romance.
For starters, I really liked Emmy. She was down to earth with a great sense of humor and she was in general a nice person, without being the martyr. Also, she’s the heroine who has hit rock bottom, for whom I admittedly have a weak spot. But then she gets some room to breathe and get her head together. And then there’s Wes, who is simply biding his time while enjoying the sizzling chemistry between them (the kitchen scene, anyone?). Wes wormed his way into my heart with the fact that while he may be a serious man, he still can make fun of himself and go toe to toe with Emmy. I couldn’t get enough of these two and that was my biggest problem with this novel. I didn’t get enough of these two. I need a bonus epilogue stat ! Like maybe a marriage scene so that we finally see Emmy get what she deserves on that front ?
Finally, I mean… reality TV. What. A. Concept. Also a great loophole for the ‘coincidentally meet my ex’ trope. Just a quote to show how cooky everything was :
“‘Tonight, our gentlemen adventurers are hoping to get a ticket on the Love Cruise, but uh-oh –they don’t have any money! If they want to board the ship, they’re going to have to let their lips do the talking, if you know what I mean.’
We do know what he means, so we cheer again.”
Stray Observations :
- Spice is closed-door, or off-page or fade-to-black… Whatever you want to call it.
- Shoutout to Tad, who slowly completed his transformation into a butterfly. I really hope he gets his own book where we are pleasantly surprised by cameos from Big Wild Love Adventure.
- I loved that there’s a scene referencing the math lady meme. I’m pretty confident in saying that it was my favorite scene in the whole book.
I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and I thank the author and the publishing team for it !
Emmy has problems. Of course she does, she’s a struggling Philadelphia Baker and a woman scorned. After a series of disastrous events, she decides to go on a reality TV show with the hopes of avoiding her problems and resolving them at the same time. She never imagines that it will be anything more than an awkward experience where she’ll roll her eyes at everything while trying to make some money. Handsome and a closed-book, Wes is unexpected. In fact, her entire experience is positively unexpected. And her escape from reality may turn out to be just what she needs to find herself.
An instant classic for me ! It reminded me of Sophie Kinsella novels which pull me to themselves with their plots that are equally divided between a journey to self-discovery/actualization and a slow-burn romance.
For starters, I really liked Emmy. She was down to earth with a great sense of humor and she was in general a nice person, without being the martyr. Also, she’s the heroine who has hit rock bottom, for whom I admittedly have a weak spot. But then she gets some room to breathe and get her head together. And then there’s Wes, who is simply biding his time while enjoying the sizzling chemistry between them (the kitchen scene, anyone?). Wes wormed his way into my heart with the fact that while he may be a serious man, he still can make fun of himself and go toe to toe with Emmy. I couldn’t get enough of these two and that was my biggest problem with this novel. I didn’t get enough of these two. I need a bonus epilogue stat ! Like maybe a marriage scene so that we finally see Emmy get what she deserves on that front ?
Finally, I mean… reality TV. What. A. Concept. Also a great loophole for the ‘coincidentally meet my ex’ trope. Just a quote to show how cooky everything was :
“‘Tonight, our gentlemen adventurers are hoping to get a ticket on the Love Cruise, but uh-oh –they don’t have any money! If they want to board the ship, they’re going to have to let their lips do the talking, if you know what I mean.’
We do know what he means, so we cheer again.”
Stray Observations :
- Spice is closed-door, or off-page or fade-to-black… Whatever you want to call it.
- Shoutout to Tad, who slowly completed his transformation into a butterfly. I really hope he gets his own book where we are pleasantly surprised by cameos from Big Wild Love Adventure.
- I loved that there’s a scene referencing the math lady meme. I’m pretty confident in saying that it was my favorite scene in the whole book.
I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and I thank the author and the publishing team for it !
July 15, 2022
I received this book from Goddess Tours in exchange of an honest review.
😍 Baking!! So much baking! I just love that our MC loves baking and made it, or is at least trying to make a career of it because things aren’t going to fine for her in the beginning. Her truck full of yummy food is falling apart and things go worse from there. But she does her best and I just love how creative she is with thinking up recipes. She has some yummy stuff and I wish there were recipes included in the book because I am a big baker myself (just hobby and stress-relief) and would have loved to try out a few of her things. Yum!
😍 Those clothes that Bailey added to Emma wardrobe. Oh boy. Oh boy. Those were hilarious, offense, and why would you do that to your best friend? XD Not only were there bad puns (including I want your frosting) but also upside down pineapples.
😍 The boys! There are many of them with this being a show, but I was mostly invested in Wes, Alex, Brian. And eventually also Tad! Yep, that man grew on me. He was rude/weird in the beginning but as the story continued I could see the potential in him. As for the others, Brian sure had some chemistry with Emma, at least at first and I found him very sweet and hot. Then there is Alex who I liked from the start and who I first hoped to see with Emma.. but then I hope he and Paige would hit it off. Because they sure made a sweet couple. Lastly, there is Wes. Wes was so sweet and the tension between him and Emma was just flowing out of the book. I was hoping each time that Emma would be able to pair with him because these two needed to kiss. XD He was also really sweet and caring.
😍 Loved that in the beginning it was a lot of trying to survive but quite soon they just became sort of a family and it was fabulous. I loved how they hoped things would go well for each other. And later in the book when a certain character makes an appearance they are there to support Emma and make sure she is fine. I just loved that. Often with reality show books you have maybe a friendship or two, but not a group that forms a family.
😍 The friendship between the girls, especially Emma and Paige had such a wonderful friendship and I loved how they shared things, talked about everything, supported each other.
😍 The reality show challenges + twists. They were tons of fun. They include hikes, kissing booths, talent shows, and more. I was looking forward to each new challenge and wished I could participate in a couple. Plus, the twists were really well done. I won’t spoil on what they were.
😍 I loved how the contestants had to go to the villa. Not the easiest way, but definitely a fun way.
😍 I loved the ceremony at the end of each week (I believe that was it). It was an interesting thing to read about. From re-pairing to shooting your shot with a heart-shaped arrow. Along with fancy dresses and glitter.
😍 Loved reading about the house, about the nature around it. The villa especially, I just wanted to go there and take a dive in the swimming pool. Yas! Or go behind the waterfall for some peace and quiet.
😍 It was fab that we also got to read about the producers/people behind the cameras. At times there were scenes and we would read how they would motivate the contestants, laugh at what happened during challenges, or supported the contestants. They also made sure everything went well and that made me so happy. Sometimes reality shows get really manipulative, so I liked the change in this one.
😍 Healing! The MC has had a difficult time, with a man who stood her up at the altar (to be with his pregnant girlfriend), a food truck accident, a loss of her home, and much more. She hasn’t had the easiest time, and I loved that as the book progressed we saw her feel better and happier. I loved that she noticed this as well. I loved that she found new friends, that she opened up her heart, discovered that not all men are dicks, and more. I loved that she got even more motivated for her baking as well.
😍 The cover was so fun!
😍 The tweets at the end were a nice addition. Like seeing some from the public but also some from the contestants.
😍 The epilogue!
SPOILER!!!! 🤔 Not entirely sure how I felt about Emma winning that many of the challenges or getting that lucky with some other things. It just felt a bit easy and I wished for just a bit more excitement. More tension. END OF SPOILER!!!!!!!
All in all, I flew through this book and for once I don’t mind not being able to sleep because that meant I could read this one! Haha. I would recommend this book to all who love reality shows and romance books.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
😍 Baking!! So much baking! I just love that our MC loves baking and made it, or is at least trying to make a career of it because things aren’t going to fine for her in the beginning. Her truck full of yummy food is falling apart and things go worse from there. But she does her best and I just love how creative she is with thinking up recipes. She has some yummy stuff and I wish there were recipes included in the book because I am a big baker myself (just hobby and stress-relief) and would have loved to try out a few of her things. Yum!
😍 Those clothes that Bailey added to Emma wardrobe. Oh boy. Oh boy. Those were hilarious, offense, and why would you do that to your best friend? XD Not only were there bad puns (including I want your frosting) but also upside down pineapples.
😍 The boys! There are many of them with this being a show, but I was mostly invested in Wes, Alex, Brian. And eventually also Tad! Yep, that man grew on me. He was rude/weird in the beginning but as the story continued I could see the potential in him. As for the others, Brian sure had some chemistry with Emma, at least at first and I found him very sweet and hot. Then there is Alex who I liked from the start and who I first hoped to see with Emma.. but then I hope he and Paige would hit it off. Because they sure made a sweet couple. Lastly, there is Wes. Wes was so sweet and the tension between him and Emma was just flowing out of the book. I was hoping each time that Emma would be able to pair with him because these two needed to kiss. XD He was also really sweet and caring.
😍 Loved that in the beginning it was a lot of trying to survive but quite soon they just became sort of a family and it was fabulous. I loved how they hoped things would go well for each other. And later in the book when a certain character makes an appearance they are there to support Emma and make sure she is fine. I just loved that. Often with reality show books you have maybe a friendship or two, but not a group that forms a family.
😍 The friendship between the girls, especially Emma and Paige had such a wonderful friendship and I loved how they shared things, talked about everything, supported each other.
😍 The reality show challenges + twists. They were tons of fun. They include hikes, kissing booths, talent shows, and more. I was looking forward to each new challenge and wished I could participate in a couple. Plus, the twists were really well done. I won’t spoil on what they were.
😍 I loved how the contestants had to go to the villa. Not the easiest way, but definitely a fun way.
😍 I loved the ceremony at the end of each week (I believe that was it). It was an interesting thing to read about. From re-pairing to shooting your shot with a heart-shaped arrow. Along with fancy dresses and glitter.
😍 Loved reading about the house, about the nature around it. The villa especially, I just wanted to go there and take a dive in the swimming pool. Yas! Or go behind the waterfall for some peace and quiet.
😍 It was fab that we also got to read about the producers/people behind the cameras. At times there were scenes and we would read how they would motivate the contestants, laugh at what happened during challenges, or supported the contestants. They also made sure everything went well and that made me so happy. Sometimes reality shows get really manipulative, so I liked the change in this one.
😍 Healing! The MC has had a difficult time, with a man who stood her up at the altar (to be with his pregnant girlfriend), a food truck accident, a loss of her home, and much more. She hasn’t had the easiest time, and I loved that as the book progressed we saw her feel better and happier. I loved that she noticed this as well. I loved that she found new friends, that she opened up her heart, discovered that not all men are dicks, and more. I loved that she got even more motivated for her baking as well.
😍 The cover was so fun!
😍 The tweets at the end were a nice addition. Like seeing some from the public but also some from the contestants.
😍 The epilogue!
SPOILER!!!! 🤔 Not entirely sure how I felt about Emma winning that many of the challenges or getting that lucky with some other things. It just felt a bit easy and I wished for just a bit more excitement. More tension. END OF SPOILER!!!!!!!
All in all, I flew through this book and for once I don’t mind not being able to sleep because that meant I could read this one! Haha. I would recommend this book to all who love reality shows and romance books.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 3, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶/5
First, I would like to thank Julianna Keyes and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Wow! What a fun ride! Think Bachelor in Paradise meets Big Brother meets Love Island. I think this was the perfect start to summer. It made you want to go outside, enjoy everything that life has to offer, and fall in love. I am a sucker for the reality tv trope, and always love watching people compete and find love throughout the process. I honestly believe that this was one of the most well done reality/competition/dating tv books I've read. Sometimes it feels like the authors go too quickly through the challenges and skim over the reality tv aspect. I think Julianna Keyes did a fantastic job of showing the challenges, the growth, and the romance between characters.
And speaking of characters, can I talk about how much I love them? Legitimately, I spent the first 70% of the book trying to figure out who was my favorite. You have Emmy, whose life is a little bit of a wreck but she continues to face life head on. There's Wes, who won my heart with small smiles and cute banter. And then there's Tad. TAD! Who quickly rose through the ranks to be one of the standouts of this book. I think the cast of characters in this book is one of the things that makes it so special.
One thing I will say is that it might have been a smidge too long. Without giving too much away, there are twists in the book/competition that happened multiple times and really could've happened once or twice and achieved the same effect. While this book felt like watching a season of reality tv--it really felt like a /season./ Including all of those episodes that feel unnecessary and moments when you're tempted to fast forward through. I think the book could've been 50 pages shorter and just as compelling, exciting, and fun.
Overall, this book was such a great blend of plot and character growth. It moved at a good speed, with the challenges and twists in BWLA to keep it going, but it also gave you moments of heartfelt connection to characters. I couldn't put this book down and devoured it in the span of an afternoon. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to get out of their head and escape into the outrageous, blissful, fun world of Emmy and Big Wild Love Adventure. This will not be my last Julianna Keyes book!
🌶🌶/5
First, I would like to thank Julianna Keyes and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Wow! What a fun ride! Think Bachelor in Paradise meets Big Brother meets Love Island. I think this was the perfect start to summer. It made you want to go outside, enjoy everything that life has to offer, and fall in love. I am a sucker for the reality tv trope, and always love watching people compete and find love throughout the process. I honestly believe that this was one of the most well done reality/competition/dating tv books I've read. Sometimes it feels like the authors go too quickly through the challenges and skim over the reality tv aspect. I think Julianna Keyes did a fantastic job of showing the challenges, the growth, and the romance between characters.
And speaking of characters, can I talk about how much I love them? Legitimately, I spent the first 70% of the book trying to figure out who was my favorite. You have Emmy, whose life is a little bit of a wreck but she continues to face life head on. There's Wes, who won my heart with small smiles and cute banter. And then there's Tad. TAD! Who quickly rose through the ranks to be one of the standouts of this book. I think the cast of characters in this book is one of the things that makes it so special.
One thing I will say is that it might have been a smidge too long. Without giving too much away, there are twists in the book/competition that happened multiple times and really could've happened once or twice and achieved the same effect. While this book felt like watching a season of reality tv--it really felt like a /season./ Including all of those episodes that feel unnecessary and moments when you're tempted to fast forward through. I think the book could've been 50 pages shorter and just as compelling, exciting, and fun.
Overall, this book was such a great blend of plot and character growth. It moved at a good speed, with the challenges and twists in BWLA to keep it going, but it also gave you moments of heartfelt connection to characters. I couldn't put this book down and devoured it in the span of an afternoon. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to get out of their head and escape into the outrageous, blissful, fun world of Emmy and Big Wild Love Adventure. This will not be my last Julianna Keyes book!
June 27, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book in return with honest review!
I pick this book because of the unique concept. The only Reality Show I followed is the Korea one and when this book offer me a reality show to get adventure and also love, I'm really excited to read this one!
Emmy has been in bad luck since her wedding broken. Her man leaves her for another pregnant women, what make it worse is he leave her on their wedding day, on the altar. Since than Emmy try to get her life back, but it is not easy and she meet failure after failure. Until her assistant persuade Emmy to join reality show called Big Wild Love Adventure. She only set her goal for the Prized Money but unexpectedly she find another thing here that she think already lost in her life.
Like I said before, I love this concept and author really can portray it well. All the games, all the adventure are really well explain. I can feel the euphoria from the contestant and I love how author use the jungle as the main background so all the games related to a really adventure.
What I don't expect is I'm in love with all the character that play in this reality show. Emmy as the main character of course I love her. She really a great one, with all the failure she got she still standing strong and focus on her goal. The contestant in this show became such a great friend for Emmy and I love the way interact with each other, they feel like a best friend like a family. Even though they have to fight each other, they still care too much for the others. I love they stand for Emmy with what happen in this book. Of course not all the characters are good here but even the bad ones I like.
When we talk about the relationship, I feel like Emmy and Wes didn't have a strong one at first. Because they're not really interact with each other but Emmy maybe like him first. But, after they become partner the whole relationship between two become better.
One thing I don't like is the way the show end. I don't know why they need to do "something" like that and just causing drama at the end. I wish the author just use another approach if she want to add drama at the end because it just not make sense to "force" people to that. Well maybe I just didn't like Emmy hurt again.
I pick this book because of the unique concept. The only Reality Show I followed is the Korea one and when this book offer me a reality show to get adventure and also love, I'm really excited to read this one!
Emmy has been in bad luck since her wedding broken. Her man leaves her for another pregnant women, what make it worse is he leave her on their wedding day, on the altar. Since than Emmy try to get her life back, but it is not easy and she meet failure after failure. Until her assistant persuade Emmy to join reality show called Big Wild Love Adventure. She only set her goal for the Prized Money but unexpectedly she find another thing here that she think already lost in her life.
Like I said before, I love this concept and author really can portray it well. All the games, all the adventure are really well explain. I can feel the euphoria from the contestant and I love how author use the jungle as the main background so all the games related to a really adventure.
What I don't expect is I'm in love with all the character that play in this reality show. Emmy as the main character of course I love her. She really a great one, with all the failure she got she still standing strong and focus on her goal. The contestant in this show became such a great friend for Emmy and I love the way interact with each other, they feel like a best friend like a family. Even though they have to fight each other, they still care too much for the others. I love they stand for Emmy with what happen in this book. Of course not all the characters are good here but even the bad ones I like.
When we talk about the relationship, I feel like Emmy and Wes didn't have a strong one at first. Because they're not really interact with each other but Emmy maybe like him first. But, after they become partner the whole relationship between two become better.
One thing I don't like is the way the show end. I don't know why they need to do "something" like that and just causing drama at the end. I wish the author just use another approach if she want to add drama at the end because it just not make sense to "force" people to that. Well maybe I just didn't like Emmy hurt again.
June 1, 2022
Big Wild Love Adventure:
Overall, this book was so tropey and wholesome. I just had a really good time reading it. It was a perfect balance of serious and comedic. I've never read a book quite like it before and I'm happy about that. It gave a really good message too.
Things I Liked:
I love the premise so, so much and I think Emmy is amazing.
Bailey and Emmy's friendship is so cute/relatable.
I laughed a lot reading this book. For example, Karly's random act of kindness for Tad had me sobbing tears of laughter.
The exposition was done really well- it felt so natural and I immediately was drawn into the story.
All the characters are equally hilarious and I love it. Also, the fact that all the girls actually support each other? We love to see it!
Oh my god, the first actual kiss scene??? That was so great.
Emmy and Tad's friendship made me so happy. I like how they were really supportive each other too.
I LOVE how Karly and Emmy make up while they're in the woods together. It really subverted a lot of reality TV tropes especially since the rest of teh girls were already so close.
The ending was perfect!!
Things I Didn't Like
The story begins before it feels like it should. I think instead of it starting with Emmy successful, it should start with her at the lowest of lows- instead of sort of being like "oh yeah, I live in my parents' house now", it should've begun with her getting her eviction notice or the letter from the influencer's lawyers. That would've set the tone of the book a lot faster.
Overall, this book was so tropey and wholesome. I just had a really good time reading it. It was a perfect balance of serious and comedic. I've never read a book quite like it before and I'm happy about that. It gave a really good message too.
Things I Liked:
I love the premise so, so much and I think Emmy is amazing.
Bailey and Emmy's friendship is so cute/relatable.
I laughed a lot reading this book. For example, Karly's random act of kindness for Tad had me sobbing tears of laughter.
The exposition was done really well- it felt so natural and I immediately was drawn into the story.
All the characters are equally hilarious and I love it. Also, the fact that all the girls actually support each other? We love to see it!
Oh my god, the first actual kiss scene??? That was so great.
Emmy and Tad's friendship made me so happy. I like how they were really supportive each other too.
I LOVE how Karly and Emmy make up while they're in the woods together. It really subverted a lot of reality TV tropes especially since the rest of teh girls were already so close.
The ending was perfect!!
Things I Didn't Like
The story begins before it feels like it should. I think instead of it starting with Emmy successful, it should start with her at the lowest of lows- instead of sort of being like "oh yeah, I live in my parents' house now", it should've begun with her getting her eviction notice or the letter from the influencer's lawyers. That would've set the tone of the book a lot faster.
June 10, 2022
QOTD: Would you ever compete on a reality show?
My A: No way! 😅
.
I LOVED this book! This was fun, fast paced and fresh. This is the second game show romance I've read in the past month and I'm quickly learning I love them. I read a bachelor themed book last winter and didn't love it, but apparently if you throw in a little action and competition, I'm hooked!
.
I thought this was the perfect mix of flirty fun and heated competition. I could picture the setting perfectly, the games easy to understand and the show not taking over the plot while still remaining in focus. There were a few characters that will take you by surprise and I loved the twists the production company threw at the competerters. All in all, a fantastic book that I HIGHLY recommend you pack in your pool bag this summer!
.
BLURB:
After being ditched at the altar, Emmy Shaw’s heart, like her dented food truck, is definitely not open for business. Deeply in debt to her parents and evicted from her apartment, she takes a friend’s drunken dare and fills out an application for a new dating-adventure reality show. She never expects to be chosen—or to get a chance at the show’s huge cash prize, which could put her life back on track.
But when she’s abandoned in the middle of the jungle two months later wearing only a bathing suit and a backpack, she questions if being on the show might be even worse than the #emmytrashtruck hate brigade she left back home. Then she meets her fellow cast members—including sexy, inscrutable Wes—and starts to reconsider, wondering if maybe money’s not all she stands to gain from this experience.
After a year of abysmal failures, this summer of cave treks, jungle hikes, impromptu talent shows, and a sexy flirtmance turns out to be just the thing to help Emmy rebuild her shattered confidence. She signed up for the show to hide from the mess her life had become, but this escape from reality might be just what she needs to find herself.
My A: No way! 😅
.
I LOVED this book! This was fun, fast paced and fresh. This is the second game show romance I've read in the past month and I'm quickly learning I love them. I read a bachelor themed book last winter and didn't love it, but apparently if you throw in a little action and competition, I'm hooked!
.
I thought this was the perfect mix of flirty fun and heated competition. I could picture the setting perfectly, the games easy to understand and the show not taking over the plot while still remaining in focus. There were a few characters that will take you by surprise and I loved the twists the production company threw at the competerters. All in all, a fantastic book that I HIGHLY recommend you pack in your pool bag this summer!
.
BLURB:
After being ditched at the altar, Emmy Shaw’s heart, like her dented food truck, is definitely not open for business. Deeply in debt to her parents and evicted from her apartment, she takes a friend’s drunken dare and fills out an application for a new dating-adventure reality show. She never expects to be chosen—or to get a chance at the show’s huge cash prize, which could put her life back on track.
But when she’s abandoned in the middle of the jungle two months later wearing only a bathing suit and a backpack, she questions if being on the show might be even worse than the #emmytrashtruck hate brigade she left back home. Then she meets her fellow cast members—including sexy, inscrutable Wes—and starts to reconsider, wondering if maybe money’s not all she stands to gain from this experience.
After a year of abysmal failures, this summer of cave treks, jungle hikes, impromptu talent shows, and a sexy flirtmance turns out to be just the thing to help Emmy rebuild her shattered confidence. She signed up for the show to hide from the mess her life had become, but this escape from reality might be just what she needs to find herself.
June 20, 2022
"i didn't know what to expect when i signed up for this show. i didnt expect to be dropped in the jungle, to meet these people, to form these types of friendships. and i really, really didn't expect to fall in love."
want to start off by saying thank you netgalley for this arc !!
ahh i loved this so much. it wouldn't be a book that i would pick up to read randomly, and really the only reason why i read it was because i saw it on netgalley, applied for it and got accepted to read it, and so when starting the book i didn't expect the greatest thing to come out of, especially since of the plot but it was so fucking cute.
it was such a fun read, and the found family was amazing. the reality tv show idea was amazing, and such a good idea. you don't see a lot of books with this kind of genre, so it was different.
wes and emmy have my heart. i was kinda confused who emmy would get together at first, and had to skin the blurb again for clarification that she was getting with wes. they started out without any chemistry, which i didn't really like and i was dreading writing a bad review because of that, but later into the book (like 40% in i want to say?) they started getting that chemistry i was craving for.
if i was totally different person and was reading that part of my review i probably wouldn't read this book because of the long wait, BUT during that 40% where wes and emmy didn't really have any chemistry, the found family came in, so it all goes together very nicely.
i recommend it very much and im very grateful i was able to get the arc for this book !! it was very fast paced and i finished it under 4 hours (it's 2am, but it's okay). if you are looking to get out of a reading slump, i recommend this book a lot !!
want to start off by saying thank you netgalley for this arc !!
ahh i loved this so much. it wouldn't be a book that i would pick up to read randomly, and really the only reason why i read it was because i saw it on netgalley, applied for it and got accepted to read it, and so when starting the book i didn't expect the greatest thing to come out of, especially since of the plot but it was so fucking cute.
it was such a fun read, and the found family was amazing. the reality tv show idea was amazing, and such a good idea. you don't see a lot of books with this kind of genre, so it was different.
wes and emmy have my heart. i was kinda confused who emmy would get together at first, and had to skin the blurb again for clarification that she was getting with wes. they started out without any chemistry, which i didn't really like and i was dreading writing a bad review because of that, but later into the book (like 40% in i want to say?) they started getting that chemistry i was craving for.
if i was totally different person and was reading that part of my review i probably wouldn't read this book because of the long wait, BUT during that 40% where wes and emmy didn't really have any chemistry, the found family came in, so it all goes together very nicely.
i recommend it very much and im very grateful i was able to get the arc for this book !! it was very fast paced and i finished it under 4 hours (it's 2am, but it's okay). if you are looking to get out of a reading slump, i recommend this book a lot !!
May 24, 2022
Thank you to NetGallery, Julianna Keyes, and Victory Editing Co-Op for providing this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
First off, let me just say - I am LOVING the trend of reality dating show books that are coming on the market. This is a fun 2022 trend! I have a guilty pleasure with reality tv (aka trash tv) - and this definitely hit the mark for me! It was a hilarious rom-com experience that was mixed in with adventure, and Bachelor in Paradise vibes (but different).
Poor Emmy - she has just been going through it. Being left at the alter... and facing financial difficulties so many business owners face (and more on the viral front). I love that her friend peer pressures her into drunken shenanigans and applies to be on this show. She never imagined it would actually happen! So when she is presented with the reality (hehe) of becoming a cast member on this show BIG WILD LOVE ADVENTURE - it has the potential to be life changing!
I felt like I was actually watching the show, but I loved that the narrative allowed the reader to get inside of the contestant's mind to see what was really going on underneath the facade of what viewers see on a tv. After being thrown into the Panama jungle, Emmy never expected... Wes. Suddenly more than just money is in the line here.
I really enjoyed the development of Emmy and Wes's love story. I loved how this experience helped her emotionally heal, and learn her worth. She is a FMC that is inspirational. I am looking forward to purchasing a physical copy of this when it launches next month!
First off, let me just say - I am LOVING the trend of reality dating show books that are coming on the market. This is a fun 2022 trend! I have a guilty pleasure with reality tv (aka trash tv) - and this definitely hit the mark for me! It was a hilarious rom-com experience that was mixed in with adventure, and Bachelor in Paradise vibes (but different).
Poor Emmy - she has just been going through it. Being left at the alter... and facing financial difficulties so many business owners face (and more on the viral front). I love that her friend peer pressures her into drunken shenanigans and applies to be on this show. She never imagined it would actually happen! So when she is presented with the reality (hehe) of becoming a cast member on this show BIG WILD LOVE ADVENTURE - it has the potential to be life changing!
I felt like I was actually watching the show, but I loved that the narrative allowed the reader to get inside of the contestant's mind to see what was really going on underneath the facade of what viewers see on a tv. After being thrown into the Panama jungle, Emmy never expected... Wes. Suddenly more than just money is in the line here.
I really enjoyed the development of Emmy and Wes's love story. I loved how this experience helped her emotionally heal, and learn her worth. She is a FMC that is inspirational. I am looking forward to purchasing a physical copy of this when it launches next month!
May 23, 2024
What a wild, big, lovely adventure this book was!
It’s been on my radar and I was fortunate enough to receive a copy from Netgalley and Victory Editing.
This book satisfied my reality tv loving heart and the premise of the show translated well into this novel.
I laughed, I cried, I giggled and I sighed!
I loved Emmy, whose life was a dumpster fire and she used going on this show to reset and win some money to fix her financial woes.
Wes was a silent broody over thinker and I loved him too.
I needed a bit more sexy time between them I think.
Tad was the highlight! I loved that character haha
This is truly a rom com that had me laughing!
It’s been on my radar and I was fortunate enough to receive a copy from Netgalley and Victory Editing.
This book satisfied my reality tv loving heart and the premise of the show translated well into this novel.
I laughed, I cried, I giggled and I sighed!
I loved Emmy, whose life was a dumpster fire and she used going on this show to reset and win some money to fix her financial woes.
Wes was a silent broody over thinker and I loved him too.
I needed a bit more sexy time between them I think.
Tad was the highlight! I loved that character haha
This is truly a rom com that had me laughing!
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