Review: Wild Life by Alison Brodie

☆☆➹⁀☆ 5 stars☆➹⁀☆☆

What it’s about:

She says he’s got five per cent body fat and one per cent brain activity.
He says she’s a foul-mouthed tart.
Meet Faustine and McPherson.

Faustine is terrified of responsibility.  She lives in New York filling her time with dead-end jobs and high-end stimulants but when she hears that Beech Wood Rise is about to be flattened, she heads home to England. The ancient woodland holds her only memories, and she’s going to fight every step of the way to stop the land developers.

McPherson is a land developer. McPherson has a mission: to build low-cost housing for the poor. And Beech Wood Rise is his next project.

Oscar dislikes his aunt and takes up residence in the abandoned tree-house on Beech Wood Rise.  Suddenly his peace is shattered.

Oscar watches the battle between Faustine and McPherson with a spectator’s enthusiasm, while fanning the flames of war. However, a temporary ceasefire is called when Faustine and McPherson discover Oscar is not as carefree as he appears.

What they don’t know is: all their careful life plans are about to be challenged.

Oscar has just decided that Faustine and McPherson would make great parents. HIS parents.

Now all he has to do is make them fall in love.

Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK

My Thoughts:

Wild Life by Alison Brodie is a quirky romantic comedy. At first, it does not seem like any form of a romance, but stick with this crazy, fun read, and you’ll get an unexpected happily-ever-after.

As the story progresses, Ms. Brodie peels away several layers, exposing the deepest secrets of each of the seemingly stereotypical characters. They turn from shallow and self-centered to emotionally damaged and empathetic people. Each stands by their righteous indignation about the atrocities they are trying to right. Each steadfastly believes in the truth of their cause and the insensibility and selfishness of the other’s cause.

A curvaceous, redheaded party-girl, who fills out a corset and a lingerie-modeling contract nicely, can also be a caregiver to a nine-year-old in need of a break. A nine-year-old old-soul who can take care of an addict and makes a mean “cuppa”, can also be a lost lonely little boy who needs tender care yet can play cupid. A millionaire land developer can also be a compassionate man who is haunted by childhood memories.

Wild Life is full of surprises. The engaging fast-paced plot may not always be realistic but it grabbed me and hung onto my heart. Delightful secondary characters and little twists and turns kept the story interesting.   Overall, a delightful read with a message about environmental and social stewardship.

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