Review: The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

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.

• Title: The Simple Wild
• Author:  K.A. Tucker
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Publication Date: 7 August 2018
• Genre: Romance 
• Targeted Age Range: Adult
• Content Warnings: Parental death, cancer, body shaming (minor), cheating (side character), parental abandonment
• Rating: ★★★★★

I didn’t anticipate loving this book as much as I did, but I am so glad I decided to pick it up on a whim. I had first seen this book make its rounds on Tik Tok, and it immediately captured my attention. I love romance novels, especially ones that are set in a small town, so I knew this would be a good read for me. The Simple Wild is a fun, charming read that takes readers into the depths of snowy Alaska. The Simple Wild follows Calla, who journeys to a small town in Alaska to reconnect with her estranged father. There, she meets a band of characters including swoon-worthy charter pilot Jonah. This book has dislike-to-lovers, cozy winters and enough drama to keep you turning the pages. Honestly, I think this book might be a contender for my favourite romance novel – and that is saying something.

As mentioned before, this story follows Calla and her time adjusting to life in Alaska while she reconnects with her estranged father. Despite being born in Alaska, Calla’s mum moved them away when she was two to Toronto, so she never knew life in the snowy tundra. Calla starts the novel as a spoiled young woman, and watching her develop throughout the novel into a different person was so lovely. You can see the moment she realises that she was taking a lot of things for granted, and starts making the effort to become a better friend, daughter and love interest for those around her. It’s really nice to be able to see a character change throughout a book, rather than see them stay the same. I think K.A. Tucker wrote Calla’s character development beautifully, and I think readers will get a lot of satisfaction from it. 

The plot of this novel was fast, and often hard to put down. I read it over two days, including on my commute to work, and I found myself getting antsy over not being able to continue reading. I loved getting lost in the world Tucker has created, and I can’t wait to dive back in when the spin off novel releases in January. Tucker is a wonderful writer – she writes with beautiful descriptions yet it remains easy to read. It’s not a struggle, and you’ll soon find yourself halfway through within a blink of an eye. In fact, the writing is so beautifully descriptive it’ll feel like you’re alongside the main characters in the middle of a polar night. I’d almost go as far to say that it makes me want to visit Alaska in the future. 

Oftentimes in romances the main couple struggles to communicate, inevitably leading to the dreaded third act break up. Thankfully, there was no sign of this in The Simple Wild. Every moment conflict arose between our couple, they immediately had a serious conversation and worked through it together. It was refreshing to see a couple genuinely want to improve themselves and work through anything that goes their way, I wish more romance novels did this. Not only did it feel rewarding as the reader to see them work through their problems, but it made them more believable as a couple. You were cheering them on and rooting for them throughout the whole book, and it made you love Calla and Jonah even more. 

My favourite part about this book was seeing Calla reconnect with her father. Wren and Calla have a lot to learn from each other, and seeing them open up to having a relationship was so lovely. Wren genuinely wants to get to know Calla, and the reader gets to see him try so hard to connect with her. While Calla resists at the beginning, we see her open up to having a relationship with her father despite not seeing him for twenty plus years. I loved their relationship, and it was one of the many highlights in this book. 

Ultimately I think this book is near perfect, and I am already itching to reread it. Despite being an easy read, it has so many emotional moments you go on a roller coaster ride. You’ll be laughing, crying and fighting alongside our band of characters. I look forward to reading anything else this author writes, especially the spin off that’s coming out in January!

Let me know your thoughts on this book if you’ve read it down below! 

Links for The Simple Wild: Goodreads | TheStoryGraph | Bookshop | IndieBound