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Summary
Summary
The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a delightful rom-com of one woman trying to shed her perfect image at a destination wedding with hilarious -- and moving -- results, perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory .
Jana Suleiman has never really fit in--everyone always sees her as too aloof, too cool, too perfect. The one time she stepped out of her comfort zone she ended up with a broken heart and a baby on the way. Aaaand lesson learned . Now she's a bridesmaid for a destination wedding in Serengeti National Park, and almost everyone she knows will be there. Her five-year-old daughter. Her mom. Her friends. Even her potential new boss. And of course (because who doesn't love surprises!) her gorgeous-but-not-to-be-trusted ex.
Fortunately, Anil Malek is a great dad, even if Jana hasn't quite forgiven him for lying to her all those years ago. Determined to show he has no effect on her whatsoever, she and the bridesmaids concoct a go-wild list to get Jana through the week. Sing karaoke? Sure. Perform their high school dance routine in front of strangers? Okay. But the more she lets down her guard, the less protection she has against her attraction to Anil. And Jana soon realizes it's one thing to walk on the wild side . . . and quite another to fall for her ex all over again.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Heron's fun sequel to Kamila Knows Best takes readers to a destination wedding in Tanzania. Chronic introvert and overachiever Jana Suleiman has always played it safe--until she meets hunky Anil Malek and begins an international fling. Then she learns that Anil is still married to the wife he told her he'd split from. Devastated, she ends their affair--and only later does she learn that she's pregnant with his child. Five years of strained co-parenting and avoidance later, the pair are reunited at the Tanzanian wedding of a mutual friend. Jana's determined to steer clear of Anil, now single, while there, but she can't help admiring his charm with their daughter, Imani. To distract herself, Jana whips up a "letting loose list" with her fellow bridesmaids, which includes items like wearing brighter colors and doing karaoke. As Jana loosens up, however, her resurfacing emotions for Anil become harder to ignore and she teeters on the precipice of falling back in love with her ex. The familial chemistry between Jana, Anil, and Imani is undeniable and the unique setting and delightful dynamic within the rest of the wedding party add to the charm. This is a treat. Agent: Rachel Brooks, BookEnds. (May)
Kirkus Review
A destination wedding might be just the ticket to reuniting a woman with her ex. Jana Suleiman was always known as a good girl who followed the rules--until five years ago, when a brief but intense fling with Anil Malek led to a broken heart and life as a single mother. Now, she and Anil both live in Toronto and successfully co-parent their daughter, Imani, but Jana is careful to keep an emotional distance from Anil. He's a wonderful father to their daughter, but he's still the man who broke her heart. Jana and her extended family, including her mother and daughter, are traveling to Tanzania for a destination wedding in the Serengeti National Park. Once they arrive, she is appalled to discover that Anil will also be a member of the wedding party. Jana's plans for a relaxing two-week vacation are ruined by Anil's presence. Suddenly, her private life is once again under intense scrutiny from her colleagues, friends, and extended family on the trip. Jana is a character who is both fierce and tender, determined to do right by herself and her daughter. With the help of the other bridesmaids, she makes a "letting loose" list to help her escape the rut she's in, but everything keeps bringing her back to Anil. The challenges facing the couple are complex. Jana is righteously angry at the way society has punished her for being a single mother while simultaneously rewarding Anil for being an attentive father. Anil has steadfastly tried to support Jana and Imani, but he doesn't know how to earn forgiveness for the mistakes of the past. Heron's novel is an exemplar of the "second chance" romance trope, with Jana and Anil working through layers of misunderstanding before they can trust each other again. A beautiful, compelling romance celebrating second chances and forgiveness. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Heron's latest multicultural rom-com, following Kamila Knows Best (2022), centers on Kamila and Rohan's gorgeous-destination wedding in Tanzania, where bridesmaid Jana Suleiman gets a second chance at romance. Jana is a proud single mom of a precocious preschooler, but co-parenting with her ex is hard, especially when he shows up unexpectedly as a groomsman in their friends' over-the-top Indian wedding. Anil Malek regrets lying to Jana about his marital status when they had a steamy fling five years ago, and he's been trying to make amends ever since. In their traditional South Asian Ismaili Muslim community, divorce is more acceptable than having a child out of wedlock, which makes navigating this wedding even more difficult for Jana, whose mom insists to the other wedding guests that Jana and Anil used to be married. Stifled by expectations, Jana finally lets loose and shows the world her wild side, but in doing so she also risks revealing her hidden feelings for Anil. Fans of Sonya Lalli and Sonali Dev will be enchanted by the rich cultural details and vivid settings Heron conjures.
Library Journal Review
Five years ago, Jana met Anil, the perfect man. Then she learned he was still married and that she was pregnant. Since then, outside of a co-parenting app, they've barely spoken a word. When their best friends get married, the forced proximity leads Jana and Anil to consider their relationship, their desires, and their unsettled anxiety from years before. Soneela Nankani's outstanding narration captures Jana's character development as she learns to release shame and accept herself and her unique family. Nankani channels Jana's range of emotions--embarrassment, frustration, and joy--as she slowly falls in love again with Anil. She ably switches between characters, pulling listeners into deep conversations that are constantly interrupted by dozens of people at the wedding. The audio enhances themes of communication and miscommunication with the inclusion of typing and clicking sounds as the characters text back and forth; this device brings out Jana's acute anxiety as she anxiously awaits the buzz of an incoming response. VERDICT Heron's (Kamila Knows Best) hilarious yet introspective second-chance romance is perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Talia Hibbert. Listeners will be charmed by its slow-burn relationship and enchanting happily-ever-after.--Carmanita Turner