Wild Goose Chase

by Sarah Adler

An antique dealer and his inconvenient(ly irresistible) new colleague must contend with an illicit stuffed goose and their sizzling attraction, from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler.

Antique store owner Callahan Leitner has an illegal taxidermy goose in his living room.

Why? It’s…complicated.

But it may end his career unless he finds a legitimate way to dispose of the bird ASAP. Unfortunately, there’s an unexpected wrench in his plans—the frustrating, effervescent Annie O’Neill.

Annie is happy to fill in for her uncle at his antique store; it’s the perfect opportunity to gain more experience before opening a shop of her own, and to finally meet his handsome young business partner. Unfortunately, Cal is nothing like the charming man she expected. She’s tempted to take his apparent dislike personally, until she stumbles upon the source of his the contraband waterfowl hiding upstairs.

When the goose goes missing, it puts both of their professional reputations on the line. As Cal and Annie attempt to track down the bird before it can be traced back to the store, their tentative alliance turns into something much deeper. Will the hunt for their felonious fowl lead to true love, or end in ruin?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Rom Com, Adult

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2026

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler writes romantic comedies about lovable weirdos finding their happily ever afters. She lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter, and very mischievous cat. When not working, you can find her attempting to course-correct an ill-advised late afternoon nap with an equally ill-advised late afternoon coffee, as she is incapable of ever learning a lesson.

Reviews

[Marie]

DNF at 55%

I don’t really like either main character, they have zero chemistry, and they’ve also only known each other for what felt like two weeks or something?
Week One, they disliked each other, but Week Two, they’re very into each other for some reason? I personally didn’t understand that development.
The goose storyline sounded intriguing but turned out to be boring. And what else really is there to continue reading for? 🤷‍♀️

__
I’m so excited for this 🤭😍

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I promise you, Annie, that if you’ll still have me, I’ll rearrange my entire soul around you. I’ll gather up the shards of my past and mix them with yours. We’ll string them up on fishing wire and make something new and beautiful together.”


on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ‎♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛᴀʟʟʏ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ” x ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴄʀᴏᴡs
0:16 ─♥───────── 3:08


This one was definitely… a choice. 😭 Wild Goose Chase centers around two people working together in an antique store while an absolutely ridiculous goose-related situation forces them into each other’s orbit, and honestly, I was intrigued because it sounded so weird in the best way.

Unfortunately, I’m not gonna lie, this one was pretty disappointing for me. I did love the antique store setting, though. It was unique, and I really liked watching Annie challenge Cal to step outside of the comfortable little life he’d built for himself. That part of their dynamic was probably my favorite.
But Annie and I… did not become besties. 😭 I appreciated what she was trying to teach Cal about being open to new experiences, but sometimes it felt like if Cal didn’t like something she liked, he was automatically the boring, stuck-in-his-ways one. She could be pretty dismissive of his perspective, and after a while, her attitude started rubbing me the wrong way.

And then there’s THE GOOSE. 🪿 I was genuinely excited to see where this ridiculous storyline would go, but somehow it became kind of boring?? I understand it's a book but this was genuinely SO far fetched (the mannequin part?? that would never happen WHAT) that i could not stay invested.

and Ora’s POV. I’m sorry. 😭 I understood why it was there. I understood the purpose. I genuinely tried. But I was skimming those chapters because they were just not holding my attention. They felt like they were pulling me away from the main story instead of adding something I was invested in. There was already a lot happening, and that just made the whole thing feel even more scattered 😬

That being said, the ending did bring things together better for me. I appreciated seeing Cal finally make himself vulnerable and really put himself out there for Annie, especially after everything between them. The reconciliation was probably one of the stronger emotional moments for me, even though I still wished I had felt more connected to them as people.

Overall, this was definitely an odd, quirky, very different kind of romance. There were some things I genuinely liked, but there were also quite a few things that didn’t work for me. I wouldn’t reread it, but I also wouldn’t say not to read it. I think this is one of those books I’d recommend to a very specific crowd because I can absolutely see the weirdness working for someone else. For me though it’s a 3⭐️

favorite quotes ↓

“In a word association game, if someone said “Annie O’Neill,” I would immediately respond with “bright.” Because she is, in every sense of the word.”

“Somehow knowing this about her—that she’s slow to wake up—feels like an incredible discovery. Like I’ve collected another tiny charming piece out of the hundreds that make up the full set of Annie O’Neill.”

“I want Annie to be mine.
Even more than that, I want to be hers.”

“I’m sort of an expert when it comes to beautiful and rare things. And there’s so much that’s beautiful and rare about you, Annie O’Neill.”

things to know about the book ↓

🪿 workplace romance
🪿 enemies → friends → lovers
🪿 forced proximity
🪿 opposites attract
🪿 quirky romance
🪿 antique store setting
🪿 3rd act breakup
🪿 dual POV

swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 17, 18, 25

Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕

august 12th- I read one book by this author last year and honestly adored it. This plot seems so unique I can't wait!!

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨🪿Wild Goose Chase🪿✨

🙌🏽 Happy Release Day 🙌🏽

This was cute and I mostly enjoyed it. Both the FMC and MMC were terrible communicators and drove me a little nuts throughout the book. I kept wanting them to just communicate like adults.

I also felt like the final conflict was unnecessary and didn’t really add much to the story. It felt like it was there just to create tension at the end.

Overall, a solid 3.5 ⭐️ read

🗝️ What to Expect
• Workplace romance
• Opposites attract
• Forced partnership
• Antique shop
• Treasure hunt mystery
• Small town
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Goose Chase is a quirky romance filled with humor, heat, and heart. The story follows Cal, an antique store owner who is all too happy to work his days away. However, when his business partner goes on vacation and asks his niece, Annie, to help him out with the shop, Cal is forced to work with the chaotic and charming woman and rid himself of his regimented routine.
I had so much fun reading this whimsy filled romance! I absolutely loved the way Annie and Cal came together and fell in love. The two were so tender and vulnerable with each other, and it was so lovely to root for them. I also loved how wild and exciting the whole plot was with the literal goose chase, it was so fun and the perfect background to unite Cal and Annie. This heartfelt and warm romance was so sweet and the perfect read for someone craving a little wonder in their life.

~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review

[Rachel L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

When antiques dealer Cal ends up with a potentially illegal stuffed goose in his possession, it puts him under a lot of stress. That combined with his business partner taking off for his honeymoon and leaving Cal with his inexperienced niece Annie to help at the store, Cal is ready to lose it. When a mistake gets the goose taken from the store, Cal and Annie must work together to track down the bird in the hopes they can find it before anyone who recognizes it.

I thought the idea of this story was actually really fun and original and I really enjoyed the premise. What really fell flat for me was the romance. I felt Cal had been mean to Annie in a way that involved more of an apology or groveling and for Annie to give him a harder time about it. It all felt very swept under the rug. The flash back portions of the book were really cute and I enjoyed them a lot. I also thought the authors note at the end about why this story came about was really interesting. Would have been a higher rating if not for the lackluster romance between the MC's. Sidebar, loved Mara Wilson and Dan Bitner as the audiobook narrators, they always do a wonderful job.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5/5
🌶️ 1/5

If a book features my job—which is not exactly common—I’m in immediately. The fact that both the MMC and FMC are antique dealers (brick-and-mortar vs. online) made this even more fun. And honestly… an illegal taxidermy goose? How could that premise not be entertaining?

The goose-related chaos started to wear on me just a little by the end, which is the only reason this wasn’t a full five stars. Otherwise, I had a great time.

As someone who actually owns an antique store, I was pleasantly surprised by how accurate a lot of the antique business details were. It doesn’t go super deep into the industry, but there were enough little moments that made me think, Yep… that’s exactly how it is.

Did the romance lean a little insta-love? Sure. But I actually think that was the point. These are two wonderfully odd people who just needed someone equally weird to understand them. Cal has the hyperfocused, analytical, “let me tell you everything about this one obscure antique” kind of ADHD. Annie has the creative, hobby-collecting, constantly-chasing-the-next-idea kind. They balanced each other perfectly.

What I’m really saying is that while this is a wild goose chase, it’s also a story about finding the one person who speaks your particular brand of weird.

And maybe I related a little too much… because I was also the kid obsessed with old stuff long before it was cool. Just… not because I tried to rob an antique store. IYKYK

Thanks to Sarah and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Larareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I never taught I would read a romance book that starts with a missing taxidermy goose, but this was sooo much fun! It's actually so refreshing to read and I had the best time.
The banter in incredible and so funny. I was actually laughing out loud multiple times. Annie is such a sunshine person and I loved her with Cal and his grumpiness.They are both so cute and the tension between them is so good. There wasn't a lot of spice, but that tension made up for everything.
The adventure made this book so much better, the chasing, the chaos, the road trip made it so unique!

The single thing that made me confused was how several times Cal tries to hide his accent and corrects himself every time, but there was no actual talk and explanation about this. Why was he doing this? Why did he want to hide it?

Other than this I had a really good time and will definitely read more from Sarah Adler in the future!

[Genna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is the chemistry in the room with us???

I had high hopes with the backstory of the ornithologists and while I enjoyed these chapters more, its not enough to bring my rating higher.

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

"I'm sort of an expert when it comes to beautiful and rare things. And there's so much that's beautiful and rare about you, Annie O'Neill."

I'm sad to say that this didn't work for me. I was worried before I started that the premise- literally about chasing down a taxidermy goose- would be too silly, but I think it actually worked in the context of the story. It was just a bunch of small things that ended up falling flat for me

Annie and Cal were fine- cute, but fine. Cal is a sort of stuck-in-his-ways antiques expert who is still reeling after a breakup. Annie is a antique and curiosity seller who shows up at Cal's shop to cover for his business partner (and her uncle) while he's away. Once the two get past their initial bad start and begin to hunt down the aforementioned Goose, their chemistry improved.

But I don't think they ever had more than just decent chemistry? They talked about their past relationships but that's pretty much it. We finished the book not knowing a single thing about Annie's childhood or really more than the scant details of Cal's. I also found Annie a little condescending towards Cal? Like any time his opinion differed from hers, even though (after that first interaction at least) he wasn't being rude, she would chalk his opinion up to "not knowing any better". Like, he doesn't understand her brand of fixing up antiques? It's because he doesn't know any better! He's just stuck in a rut. He's not as 'fun' as her? He's just doesn't know any better! Like, maybe his opinions are just different from yours but are still completely valid?! Even when Cal professed his feelings, Annie was basically like "well he's only had one relationship, he can't possibly understand what he's feeling". It really drove me nuts

I also just think we didn't get enough time with Annie's character. Again, we don't know much of her backstory and she never felt fully fleshed out. There was too much going on here I think- the chase for the Goose, which tbh could have had one or two fewer stops, Cal working through his grief but also his breakup, their relationship, the past pov with Ora.

Speaking of, while I understood that the pov in 1908 with Ora and John was trying to set the scene for the Goose origins, I truly didn't care. Just did not care one single bit about that plot line. I think it just distracted from the main story

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lexie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ok I lied I’m probably not a contemporary romance girly after all.

[C]

i'm sat

[Kristyn J Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun! More thoughts to come.

[Bonnie G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts with a reading of a US Code section pertaining to taxidermied migratory birds. As a lawyer and a person who just appreciates truly weird shit, this delighted me. I thought I was in for a great read. The book ends with a Behind the Book section that explains how Adams came to the idea of basing a romcom on bird regulation. (If you smugly assert that this is not a wildly creative idea, I am 99.8% confident you are lying.) It is a fascinating creative journey that was fun to hear about and includes a heartfelt statement on the Trump administration's violent assault on environmental regulation. These are the two primary reasons I wanted to love this book. Alas, I did not love this book.

The book has dual timelines. Approximately 3/4 of the book is dedicated to telling the story of Cal and Annie, who stumble into possession of a stuffed goose and later lose it, first by accident and later by theft. There is a sweetness to their relationship that I enjoyed, and I thought quirky, awkward (but hot and professionally successful) Cal was a fun MMC. Annie held far less appeal. There were aspects of the character I liked a lot. She was smart and creative, and was working hard to change the habit of making herself into whatever the man in her life wanted her to be, and to be herself. This was extreeeeemly relateable to me, though Annie, at 26, course-corrected at a much younger age than I did. The problem was that Annie was that manic pixie dream girl romance writers love, and I do not. She is fit and hot despite eating meatball subs every day for breakfast; she likes and creates things that are glittery and consist of found things that hang from wires (and is basing her professional life around this); she commiserates with strangers about their unrequited love. I have read many grumpy-sunshine romances I have liked, but frequently the sunshine-y characters veer into the ick, and that is a deal breaker for me. Annie did not veer as far into the ick as many others. My two biggest "no" characteristics are adults obsessed with Disney princesses and/or who make people pay into swear jars. Neither of those things happened here, so I was annoyed, but not fully repelled. If the whole book had been Cal and Annie, this would be a 3-3.5 star. But the whole book was not Cal and Annie.

About 1/4 of this book was the Ora and John story set approximately 100 years back, and I loathed it. For some reason, the author decided some old-timey writing style was required, and it was wretched. The whole story was contrived you-go-girl nonsense. I get what Adams was trying to do, but it was awful. When the story shifted to that timeline, my whole body tensed as I prepped to muddle through. This was 1-star content.

My rough mathematics puts 75% 3-3.5 and 25% at 1 at about a 2.65, so this gets the GR roundup to 3. BTW, I listened to the audio, and the readers, Mara Wilson and Dan Bittner were great. Therese Plummer (who I assume did the Ora section and Mara Wilson was I assume Annie) was fine -- I hated the story so much it is hard to say for sure how the performance landed.

**There is a plot point dependent on Cal having to take two days to drive from Baltimore to NYC. Assuming he did so by car and not by bicycle or stagecoach, that is 3 hours. If he had come back the same day, as anyone would do- which I do, and which my friend Lisa does all the time- it would have totally changed the story. Also, there is a very primary theme of these people not being able to make a relationship work because he lived in Baltimore and she lived in Asbury Park. This is about 2.5 hours. These are not hurdles; these are pebbles on the road. People who cannot figure these things out are not even trying. This bugged me

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing about Sarah Adler is she is going to get me obsessed every time! Wild Goose Chase is her fourth book and is definitely encroaching upon Mrs. Nash's Ashes as my favorite. If you think "what could possibly be interesting or fun about chasing a contraband taxidermied goose," - you'd be surprised at how entertaining it can be! There was something so charming about this story being set in an antique shop. Maybe it's because I spent a lot of my youth following my parents into antique shops, but I found the writing is super visual and I can always picture everything really well. The idea of chasing down a taxidermied goose is exactly what I want and need from a Sarah Adler book.

I found myself really drawn to Cal's (Callahan) chapters in this story, because he was really charming in his gruff and dry humor. He was the perfect compliment to Annie's whirlwind and chaotic energy (hence her eating a meatball sub for breakfast). The dual POV was delightful and I was happy we got to see the story through both Annie and Cal's eyes. SO many incredible tropes here, especially "stuck in a mansion with only one bed." I'm going to eat up a grumpy sunshine every time. Plus, you have a little layer of grief woven through the story. Cal is grieving his antique shop mentor, Graham, and as the story continues, the reader comes to understand why Cal has become so rigid in his ways.

And then you have another element that I've come to know and love and expect from a Sarah Adler book: a dual love story set in another timeline. In this case, the story between Ora and John chasing a rare bird in 1908. Not only are both stories set in Maryland, they have something in common. Each of the four main characters has excellent quirks, banter, and unique storylines. Wild Goose Chase puts a fresh spin on both contemporary and historical romance. You can also tell just how much research into birds went into this story (don't miss the author's note at the end). I always know I'm going to learn more about Maryland culture and history when I read a Sarah Adler book, which is something I truly appreciate.

Writing character growth across the main romance, but also the minor romance, is very impressive and Sarah nails it. The banter between Cal and Annie was delicious, as was the sexual tension. If you want an unapologetic FMC, Annie is your gal. I love that she is learning who she is by herself as a person and working towards her dream of opening an antique store of her own, with a twist on antiques.

I was also pleased I caught a reference to Finders Keepers, her last novel and also Happy Medium. I'm wondering if there was something from Mrs. Nash's Ashes too, it's been a while since I read it.

Ultimately, both stories tied together beautifully and satisfyingly. I truly can't wait for more people to read this wonderful book. I also can't wait to see what Sarah Adler writes next, and I would die to see her write a book that's the reverse of what we've expect, mostly historical with snippets of a modern romance. I'll read whatever she writes.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Meredith Schorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Goose Chase was everything I've come to expect from a Sarah Adler book: quirky, whimsical, and 100% original without compromising on the romance! Loved the secondary love story. The way it ended left such a smile on my face.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Brooke]

dnf @ 50% sept 2026

the way i just don’t care one bit and they’re already fucking and i feel nothing for them together at all

[carolyn.reads.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
2🔥

Quick Breakdown

Strangers to Lovers
Grumpy x Sunshine
Antique Store Owner & an Upcycler
He’s Down So Bad
Demisexual Rep
Two Love Stories in One
Treasure Hunt
Silly, Yet Poignant
Dual POV
Open Door - Mild to Moderate

Antique store owner, Cal is currently in possession of an illegal stuffed goose.. it’s a long story. He’s trying to find a legal way to dispose of it (for a friend!), when Annie enters his life. She’s here to cover for her uncle at the antique store while he’s on honeymoon, in hopes of getting some IRL experience before opening a storefront of her own. They repeatedly bump heads until Annie discovers the goose & it subsequently goes missing. The unlikely pair then work together in search of the fowl, literally going on a “wild goose chase” to find it.

This quirky, silly goose of a book made my nerdy, adventure loving heart so happy. The perfect mix of unique, humor & heartfelt. I fell so hard for both Cal & Annie. Cal was the perfect grump, a little awkward & socially off in a way I can totally relate to. Secretly though, he was the biggest softie. Annie was a perfect counterpart to break him out of his shell & keep him comfortable there.

SO MUCH to love here outside of the main romance, too. There was the ridiculous in a good way goose hunt & the cast of characters we met along the way. There is also a secondary romance set in 1908 featuring a woman in STEM I found myself quite invested in & rounded out the book in such a satisfying way.

I enjoy Sara’s writing time & again, but the it’s the audio performances that stole the show for me. It’s narrated by the ever talented Mara Wilson, Dan Bittner & Thérèse Plummer. Mara once again knocked it out of the park & I stand by Dan being one of my favorite narrators for beta/cinnamon roll heroes.

Definitely recommend this one if you’re a lover of quirky, silly, unconventional romances!

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Goose Chase was exactly the kind of quirky rom-com I love picking up. A missing illegal taxidermy goose, a cozy antique store and two people who absolutely did not want to fall for each other made for such a fun time. Cal and Annie had great chemistry and I loved how their reluctant partnership slowly turned into something more. Their opposites attract dynamic was so endearing. I really enjoyed their romance paired with the past timeline flashbacks that had a bit of a romance and mystery of its own that tied the whole story together at the end. The plot was a chaotic literal goose chase and the banter was really charming. This was an entertaining read from start to finish.

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 What is the strangest thing you’ve ever found buried deep in your attic? My kids were pretty horrified when they found the probably haunted wooden composite doll head from 1902 that I found buried in our backyard when I was little. They begged me to get rid of it but I was not going to mess with the aura of our house, as things have been mostly quiet these days. They have since come to peace that we coexist with this doll.

But when antique dealer Callahan’s ex-girlfriend finds a stuffed goose taxidermy in her attic, they are familiar with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918 and Cal is now in possession of this bird and terrified of the consequences. But a stuffed goose is not the only thing ruffling his feathers (yup, I went there), because when his partner goes on vacation, he is left with his quirky yet cute niece, Annie. There’s a lot to cover up between the potentially felonious fowl and the feelings he’s catching for his reluctant partner in crime and it’s one hilarious journey. As the tension builds between the two and the shift moves from enemies to lovers, their world turns into mayhem that just brings them closer.

Sarah Adler takes readers through the colorful neighborhoods of Baltimore as Cal and Annie attempt to track down this hot goose that has now gone missing since coming into Cal’s possession. Everything about this plot and the characters is perfectly balanced. Wild Goose Chase brings Adler’s signature humor and a heartwarming romance, combining the mundane and strangest facts to deliver a five-star, delightful read.

[ash]

I had a bit of a hard time getting into this one. The premise really intrigued me, and I really liked Callahan, he was definitely the highlight for me.

I struggled more with Annie. At times her perspective just didn’t fully click for me, and it made it harder to stay into the story. Something about it just didn’t quite land for me.

That said, the writing was great and I did like the overall plot. I ended up DNFing this one, but I think it just comes down to personal preference and timing. It just wasn’t my vibe right now, but I can see other readers really enjoying it!

[Jessica J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh, this is third time this month that one of my favorite authors has left me underwhelmed :-/

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

honestly mostly just wishing the whole book was ora and john's 1908 flashbacks

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐

I adore a quirky romance, but even I have to admit I got a little tired of the taxidermy goose shenanigans about 75% of the way through this one. Callahan and Annie were cute, but that could only carry me through so far.

Also, while I appreciated the background of the goose, the flashback timeline with Ora did not work for me on several levels. Most importantly, I think it disrupted the pacing of the modern storyline in a really jarring way, especially when I had no idea going into this one that we were dealing with a dual timeline at all. But on top of that, Ora and John's love story...kind of sucked?? Maybe it's just because their chapters were very short in comparison, so everything had to move at a breakneck speed to hit the important plot points, but there just wasn't enough there to justify Ora's forgiveness of John's misdeeds in my opinion. It was all tell and no show, and it just ended up bringing the whole book down as a result.

[Ania · Rating 3 out of 5]

The audiobook narrators did an amazing job with this book. That's the only reason I made it to the end. The plot was lacking something. The interactions between Annie and Callahan didn't feel organic. Their emotions and actions were changing really fast and out of the blue. The moment when Callahan described "finding Annie" to "finding a great rug" was so cringy...I know they were working at an antique store, but it was just too much.

[Emily Shaw]

I really thought I was going to love this one. Didn’t 👎

[user · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genuinely one of the dumbest books I've ever read. I NEVER posts reviews, so you KNOW I truly feel this in my soul. I could not suspend my disbelief for the premise (literally it would have been FINE if they just contacted someone at fish & wildlife explaining the situation) for even a second and it just got worse from there. the hunt for the stolen goose was even stupider than the premise, and I hated every second of it. characters were boring as hell and had no chemistry. I skimmed the smut scenes, thats how little I was interested in them. I have given this author multiple chances now and I am sad to report happy medium was an outlier and is unlikely to be repeated. I will not pick up any more books from her.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out kind of funny, but just felt exhausting after awhile. Cal is an uptight wet blanket who doesn't really have any friends. Annie is a manic pixie dream girl. Both recognize they need therapy. After two weeks together, the first of which they're butting heads, they realize they're in love/lust (Cal is even ready to move in together.) You get this against the scene of them trying to absurdly trek down a taxidermied goose that keeps changing hands. But that ending... after five months of no contact, Cal shows up in her store saying he's been on a ton of dates, sold off everything in his life, and is moving to be near her. It's a bit too much. I think the book actually would have been better if they remained friends and concentrated on the goose chase.

[Sarah]

DNF @ 41%. I'm just not into either timeline, and I don't really like any of the characters.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of the ebook and audiobook.

This book is a romantic comedy featuring a past/present time.

In the present Cal is a dorky antique dealer. Annie is his business partner’s niece who shows up to help him run his shop.

There is a fun story about an illegal taxidermy goose. The goose adventures are just so ridiculous. I kind of just had to go with it. The feelings that developed between Cal and Annie are so sweet.

There is also the story of Dr. Ora Belmont Worthy in 1908. She is an ornithologist (scientist who studies birds). This part of the book also features John Morse who runs a newspaper and is a talented illustrator. I was so obsessed with this part of the book. I was so invested in Ora and John. I really loved this part of the book.

The last chapter of Wild Goose Chase is not set in the present. But I loved it so much. It explained everything and was so perfect.

Audiobook narrators:
🎧Mara Wilson as Annie. Dan Bittner as Callahan. Dual narration in the present.

🎧Thérèse Plummer as Ora in 1908 chapters

Audiobook thoughts:
Mara is so good as Annie. She uses such a seductive and sultry voice. She really made Annie such fun to listen to. I enjoyed Dan as Cal. And the two of them together were so fun.

Thérèse Plummer is exceptional in the 1908 chapters. I don’t always enjoy past chapters. But this part of the book was so interesting. I actually looked forward to them. She is excellent at doing both Ora and John’s voices. And I loved the 1908 chapters so much!

[Annie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: Quirky, hilarious, and cozy—a thrilling goose chase with a slow-burn romance that’s as odd as it is endearing. The dead goose steals the show.

Cal, a co-owner of an antique store, gets roped into helping his ex with her extremely illegal taxidermed goose. Meanwhile, Annie is in town confronting her own past demons. Together, they trace the goose… literally—and along the way, discover they might be more than just hunting partners.

Lol. This is such an odd little book. Sarah Adler has the funniest premises—I mean, a contraband dead goose?! How do you even come up with that? I was obsessed. The chase was thrilling, odd, and endearing all at once. Adler perfectly blends cozy vibes with humor.

The dual timeline with Ora, an early 1900s ornithologist, added intrigue and suspense. I just needed to know where this goose came from! Honestly, the plot is so original 😂

The romance is sweet and slow-burning. Annie and Cal are a perfect match. Cal is pure golden retriever energy. The chemistry isn’t scorching, but it’s cozy, rewarding, and heartfelt—a true cozy romance.

If you’re looking for an eccentric, thrilling romance featuring a dead goose, this is your book. Seriously, the goose is the best part.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.