Simple Wild
By: K. A. Tucker
Published Year: 2018
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 390
Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Calla Fletcher wasn't even two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when Calla learns that Wren’s days may be numbered, she knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.
She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this rugged environment, Jonah—the unkempt, obnoxious, and proud Alaskan pilot who helps keep her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.
Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. Soon, she finds herself forming an unexpected bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago. It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.
First Impressions
My friend Stephanie has been telling me to read this book for almost a year now. She absolutely loved it and I think even read it twice in the course of 12 months. The cover is completely up my alley and, having gone to Alaska this summer, I was even more intrigued.
What I thought
Why does the sequel not come out until March?!?!?! (I read this book back in December 2019 and apparently never posted the review)
This book was just as good as Stephanie promised and exactly what I needed after being in a bit of a reading rut.
Calla is a spoiled 20-something who lives in Toronto with her mom and step-father. Her biological dad, who she hasn’t seen since she was 2 or spoken to since she was 14, lives in Alaska and owns a small airline called Alaska Wild. Shortly after getting fired from her job, Calla receives a phone call that her dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer and that she should come visit and get to know him.
Initially, Calla comes off a little irritating. She comes from money and doesn’t seem to realize how lucky she is. Luckily, she’s not completely ignorant, it’s just that she hasn’t really known anything different. I appreciated that a balance was struck between mer being materialistic and relatable. It made some of her selfish moments more relatable. She travels to Alaska with a massive suitcase full of clothes, which I totally get having gone there. I brought way too many options because I honestly wasn’t sure what kind of weather to expect. But when she arrives, Jonah (the asshole bush pilot sent to pick her up) comes in a super tiny plane that doesn’t fit her suitcase and she has to leave it behind in Anchorage. Days later, her suitcase still hasn’t arrived and she is, understandably pissed. Jonah doesn’t seem to get it at all, and this easily could’ve gone into spoiled girl territory, but it doesn’t. It just makes sense to anyone who has traveled and lost luggage that only having one outfit for days on end is beyond irritating.
I also just loved Jonah immediately. One of my favorite tropes is hate-to-love because I love good teasing banter and Jonah and Calla had some great ones. It was also fun to learn his reasons behind his actions. I get irritated when someone does something “just because”, and Jonah always seemed to have a rational reason behind what he did, even if it did seem a little ridiculous.
Add in a strong cast of secondary characters and you have me sold on a book. Aggie, Wren (Calla’s dad), Simon (Callas step-father), and Mable were all solid. I fell in love with Wren and was heart broken as the book went on about his lung cancer diagnosis. I also really loved the love story between Wren and Calla’s mom Susan, as well as the relationships between Susan, Simon and Calla. The complications were realistic and yet nothing that I feel like I read about often.
The writing in this book was also just good. I don’t know how to say anything more than that, given that the last book I read was written so poorly.
This was such a good story. I think it’s one that the longer it sits with me the more I will like it. I am furious that I read it in December and didn’t wait until the sequel came out because I want to read more of Calla and Jonah like now. The character development in this story is second to none and I enjoyed every minute. If you’re stuck in a rut, I highly recommend checking this book out. Also, if you like contemporary romance stories, with a little bit of adventure and some hate-to-love, this book will be right up your alley.