This one I think for me felt very random because all the ones I have picked up of theirs previously have been very relatable to my life so when I got into this one and found it was about a treasure hunt in the outback it wasn’t quite what I expected however that did make parts of it even more enjoyable than if they had been predictable.

I found the writing to be as captivating as ever and I think it says a lot that I wasn’t lost in the first 30 percent which is VERY horse focussed when I am definitely not a horse person.

This book is definitely pretty action packed which made it a quick read for me. Although the trope was more second chance romance it also felt very insta love at times and there was one scene that was very questionable (let’s say rather than oh no only one bed, there was oh no only one tiny one person sleeping bag) 😂😂

The way that this book came together was really clever although I did find it a little bit too convenient at times in the way that things were worked out but then I think that matched the easy tone of the book.

Overall I did enjoy this book just not as much as the other books I’ve read by the author(s) although I think that maybe that’s more of a me issue in not feeling as connected to the story as I have with their other books. I would recommend this one if you are looking for something fun and easy to read.

I really loved this book. It was my first book I’ve read by Christina Lauren and I must say I’m really impressed.
This wasn’t like a typical romance, it was full of adventure, drama and excitement.
It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I just wanted to carry on reading!
I liked how the second chance romance wasn’t the whole focus of the book and I liked the few twists that happened along the way!
I will definitely be reading more from Christina Lauren

This was the most fun CL book I've read in some time. Think National Treasure with a touch more romance. This second chance romance really hit the spot for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this. All opinions are my own.

This book almost felt like a cinematic experience. It was like watching a high budget rom com, with Hollywood stars as the leads, unfolding before my eyes. It had the most beautiful locations, the funniest lines, and took turns I was not expecting.

Something Wilder really keeps you on your toes. When you think you know where the story's going, it soon steers you in the opposite direction. I was so hooked.

Every character was incredible with huge amounts of personality. And just when you're thinking 'why is this character here?' or 'this feels too much like a coincidence', everything clicks into place.

This book has everything I never knew I needed in a Summer read. There's an adorable romance, yes, and I was absolutely rooting for these two characters. But it also has mystery, suspense, clues and puzzles, hunting for treasure, camping, bonfires, even horses!

This is definitely the type of book you want to go in knowing the least about it. So get your hands on it as soon as you can! Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Actual rating: 4.5

This book is so good I don't even know where to start - Christina Lauren have yet again written an achingly beautiful love story that I couldn't put down!

The way that they've described both Lily and Leo's emotions had me feeling like I was right there with them, experiencing the highs and lows of their adventure. I was not only captivated by the romance in this book, but also the mystery and adventure of the storyline, which is not something I would usually read.

I loved all the plot twists throughout the book that kept me on my toes and eager to continue reading, but most of all I loved Leo and his adoration of Lilly.

I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who loves wants to be swept off their feet into a world of adventure, love and friendship!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

R E V I E W

Something Wilder - Christina Lauren 🏜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publish date - 17th May.

A second chance romance and a fake treasure hunt gone wrong? I didn’t know this was something I needed in my life but it was such a fun read!

While this is a romance, there’s much more to this book than rekindling an old flame - there’s adventure, a bit of mystery, some action, grief, and a few twists along the way. I was definitely sold on Lily and Leo’s chemistry but enjoyed that their relationship wasn’t the only focus of the story and there were other things to be invested in too!

It took me a couple of chapters to get my bearings with the situation and the characters, but Christina Lauren’s writing is just so easy to read and I became absolutely hooked after that. The characters are all so well written, and they’re such a motley crew which made for great reading on this adventure.

There are some parts that are a lil far fetched, but I easily got over it. There’s also quite an unrealistic “spicy” scene which made me cringe… please let me know if you know 😂

Overall I really enjoyed this and would absolutely recommend 🥰

OK where do I start with this? Right, from the synopsis and cover and just general vibes. I thought I was going to get a storyline about boy-meets-girl falls in love. Something happens, they reunite, little journey and boosh happy ever after. So, when I started reading and I was being introduced to the characters I did start getting that lovely feel good vibe and I let myself be whisked off on an adventure.

Little did I know that Christina Lauren had a few tricks up their sleeve 😁 and when the first "event" happened, I had to take a little step back and think where this story was heading? And then when something else happened I smiled and realised that this wasn't just your average love story. And I loved it.

It feels like a parody of a wholesome love story. Where all the bad luck that could happen happens. But with such a fantastic storyline weaved through it gave it gusto and something different.

I can't really go into the finer details of the plot because I think you just need to go into this story knowing the bare minimum and be thrust into the depths of the plot.

Lily Wilder is a great character and with Leo the lovesick city boy by her side its just pure chemistry 😁 the other characters that bring the storyline together are essential and put the cherry on the top of a super story.

I loved this book. If you liked Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, you would definitely like this book. I like reading about the puzzles and riddles, it was different to what they usually write, but I loved it nevertheless.

4 - 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕 - ⭐️‘𝒔

This book took me by complete surprise! When I realised this was labelled as an adventure romance I wasn’t sure what to expect, but let me tell you it was really a wild ride the entire book that I really really enjoyed it from start to finish. This is very different from your typical romance book but it was honestly really refreshing to read something like this, it was just very light hearted and fun the entire time.

The adventure plot line really kept me guessing the entire time I was reading, and there was little twists and turns every second and some crazy plot twists that I didn’t even see coming! As soon as you pick up this book you don’t want to put it down as you just end up dying to know what is going to happen next, I pretty much devoured it in one sitting as it just had my attention hooked from start to finish.

Now the characters, let me tell you, as soon as the MMC Leo showed up on the page, I was OBSESSED with him. I love him and his character, and also the chemistry and on page connection between him and the FMC Lily was fantastic. Despite them both having a slightly complex past together these two just work so well. Their romance mixed in very nicely with the crazy plot that was happening in-between.

I also really loved the side characters, they were written just as well and brought some really fun vibes to the story. There was so many character interactions that made me laugh out loud, there was a ton of witty banter and who doesn’t love a friendship group you feel like you’d want to be apart of? Also a special shout-out to my boy Walter, he was my fav side character, a cute adorable soft boy, it’s so hard to not absolutely love him!

I will say that the romance does take a little backseat for the adventure plot, so if you are coming into this book expecting really heavy romance/rom-com vibes that these authors usually bring into their books you won’t get that here, but it doesn’t mean it was any less enjoyable as there so much happening to keep you interested!

If you are looking for a crazy read, packed with adventure, Wild West vibes complete with the desert background, horses and more, with some funny characters and lots of twist, turns, puzzles and just a whole bunch of wacky moments sometimes then I’d definitely recommend to pick this up for a fun, quick read.

A different kind of romance. This is set in such an unusual location. I wasn’t sure how the treasure hunt would pan out but it worked well. I liked the characters and their relationship together.

thank you little brown for the netgalley arc!

i LOVED this, this was such a different vibe from christina lauren and they did not miss.

i wasn't sure how i would feel about the book being set in a remote area, first impressions made me think the book and the romance would be more slow going due to the setting. but i was wrong because this book wasn't dull for one second. i really liked the ranch and desert vibe, it made everything feel more high stake since the characters were secluded. i felt transported in the desert scene and i could vividly imagine what it was like, the heat and surroundings. i liked the main character lilly and leo, i could feel their chemistry and it didn't feel forced or wooden, their backstories as individuals and past together made me feel connected to them.

i didn't realise how much i would love the underlying mystery element to this book! so much drama and intrigue, i gasped out loud at certain revelations and scenes. it was refreshing to read a romance book that had various side plots alongside the main story arc, it kept me engaged and dying to know more. i adored it and i really hope they write something similar like this in future books!

despite how much i loved this, i really hoped the ending was fleshed out just a little bit more especially with later revelations but it did not impact my enjoyment on this book at all.

another fantastic novel from our favourite author duo! a sweet second chance romance with a hint of mystery and drama, i couldn't recommend it more!

Having read and enjoyed several Christina Lauren books before, I was confident I knew what I was getting into with Something Wilder: something funny, with a cute central romance and well rounded background characters, and ultimately light and relaxing. How wrong I was.

Which is not to say that Something Wilder isn't funny: it is. Nor that it lacks a cute central romance: that's all present and correct. But the book takes a swerve approximately a third of the way in and becomes much more tense than I was expecting. It makes reviewing it rather tricky, because spoilers would, well, spoil the reading experience. So suffice it to say that I enjoyed it very much: if you're a fan of Emily Henry romances but also enjoy a good thriller, this is the book for you.

Wow, wow, wow! That’s it! That’s all I can say about this book😅.

Romance lovers! Run and don’t walk to get this one!

In my view, this is the best yet from the Queen Duo of Romance - Christina Lauren!

Something Wilder has everything you can possibly think of in a romance novel – swoon worthy protagonists, fantastic storyline in an exotic setting and adventurous treasure hunts, full of fun and mystery.

Synopsis –

Lily is a tourist guide running fake treasure hunts in the red canyons of Utah. Having grown up with the notorious treasure hunter & explorer Duke Wilder, she is well versed in solving the codes & puzzles he casually left her with. But it’s her father’s ranch that she is desperate to buy back & own. When Leo with whom she had a fling over a decade ago, turns up as one of her guests, they are now compelled to confront their complicated history. Unfortunately, their carefully planned treasure hunt goes awfully wrong & that’s when Lily needs to handle the mess her father has left her with.

Review -

Oh what a fantastic setting! The authors take you on an exciting journey through the Wild West – the red canyons of Utah in all its glory. Their descriptions are so illustrious that you can visualize the backdrop, as if you are right there!

The narrative begins with a flashback of the events that happened a decade ago at Wilder Ranch, where Lily and Leo first meet and that’s the beginning of everything between them.

I quickly warmed up to Lily – her simplicity and resourcefulness with a tough exterior, yet at the same time a soft and caring inner persona - that is full of warmth and friendly nature.

Her initial trepidation at unexpectedly seeing Leo as one of her guests on tour throws her, but I loved how she quickly rebounded, unfazed and ready to face it all off.

Leo is just as much a sweetheart as Lily. His handsomeness, charm, geeky wit and intelligence are impossible not to fall head over heels for!

Lily’s fake treasure hunt tour that suddenly turns very real, soon becomes the spotlight here. I enjoyed the intrigue and suspense packed into this - the way its linked with Duke’s past, his relationship with Lily and the cryptic clues he’s left behind.

This convoluted game of life and death for Lily and Leo - as they navigate the dangerous mazes of the canyons, added in with some crafty twists and code deciphering, truly gives us all the thrills of the wild west as well as a heartwarming and a gorgeous romance.

Take it from me, the hype is almost always real with Christina Lauren!

Thanks NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing the e-ARC in exchange of an honest review!

I was over the moon with approval! 🥳

In ‘Something Wilder’ we meet Lily and Leo. Years ago they fell madly in love after only knowing each other a short while. Lily was about to take over her dad’s ranch, and Leo decided to stay with her. Even though his life was previously in New York. Everything seemed perfect between them. But then one night, Leo receives a phone call and leaves Lily suddenly behind. Lily never heard from Leo again, and now ten years later, life couldn’t have been more different.

Lily never got to own the ranch. And now she is hosting fake treasure hunts with her best friend to make sure she is able to pay her bills. After ten years she didn’t expect to meet Leo again when he is one of the tourists she is supposed to guide. She is definitely troubled by seeing him again after all these years. But she will never let him know, how much he hurt her.

I definitely loved the idea of ‘Something Wilder’. Even now when I’m writing this review, I still love the sound of this book. But unfortunately it just didn’t really work for me and I found myself struggling to keep on reading.

The supposed romance between Lily and Leo, was something I just didn’t really feel. They where supposedly madly in love once, but I just couldn’t really feel their chemistry. And when life pushed them apart, I had trouble believing the fact that they just let each other go. Now they meet again, and I would have loved to have felt more excitement and passion. But they where just.. It just didn’t work for me.

What I definitely enjoyed was the suspense part in this book. Sure, it felt a bit sudden, but I enjoyed the change and I found myself interested in learning more about what happened.

Overall, this read just wasn’t really for me.

(Review will be up on my blog on May 18th)

I have long since loved Christina Hobbs and Lauren billings and all that they have put out in the world. Their books are not only must buys at this point, but must consumes at unearthly rates until I’ve devoured whole stories in a single sitting and wanted to, immediately, flick back to page one to immerse myself in the narrative all over again.

Let me tell you, Something Wilder did not disappoint.

There was a different flavour to this book, a different under current, an adventure and a mystique that wasn’t quite like anything I’ve read by them, and I adored it. I’m a fan of a good adventure, a good mystery, a good treasure hunt, and when I found out that Christina Lauren of all must-reads were writing a romance adventure I was simultaneously nervous and excited.

Nothing about this book was a let down. The past and present clashed beautifully, and somewhat painfully, to create something richly real. At no point did I doubt Lily Wilder, doubt her prowess in her position and knowledge, doubt her power and her drive, and that held it all together for me. She wasn’t overcome by events, didn’t become untangled like a loose thread that was pulled by the story and unravelled in front of our eyes, no, she stayed true to who she was at the start with nothing but growth and depth and healing.

And Leo was the lost city boy in need of mooring, in need of something (or someone) to tether him in the present and not bob along through life. I don’t know if it’s the point in my life I am at personally that made this hit home so truly, but his story of facing what came to him and following paths not quite chosen by him but not ones he wanted to divert from either was oddly close to some sort of unexpected bone. Reading him find himself, bits and pieces of who he was a decade prior before tragedy struck, who he was in between and is now, who is as a member of a group of friends that didn’t always seem to mesh and with a woman who was important to him was fascinating and emotional and amusing.

The adventure itself, the Wild West living and the hunt for missing treasure appealed to the inner child and traveler within me who wants to explore and seek out some lost gold. It never felt overly contrived, just enough routed in plausible reality to make it both realistic enough and entertaining aplenty. Everyone had a role in the operation, the code solver, the one with the knowledge, the villain(s) who applied the pressure, the plucky sidekick to save the day, the collective pieces that make this sort of thing to special.

Yes, the book itself was different in some ways to what came before but there was still the sprinkling of what makes their books so them. There was amusing banter between the romantic protagonists and between he side characters. Nic stole the show in many ways as is so often in their books. The love and lives of the people always feel genuine, are either normal or possible, have mundane elements to escape from and dreams to walk towards, and it’s one of those things about these books that makes it so much easier to connect.

All in all, I loved it. I really loved the slight side step into different genres without losing what makes their books so wonderful.

This book is an absolute blast. It’s sort of City Slickers meets Romancing the Stone and I am totally here for it. It’s a second chance story between the feisty Lily and gorgeous Leo, and an adventure tale as they seek Butch Cassidy’s hidden treasure in the perilous canyons of Utah. Madcap, sexy and oh-so-well written, as Christina Lauren’s books always are. Proper escapism expertly delivered in a wild, wild ride.

I went into this blind and it’s safe to say I was shocked! Definitely not your typical romance book, and especially not something I expected to read by these authors. Pleasantly surprised and ending up really enjoying it!

Couple of the twists I did not see coming AT ALL, but some were easily guessed (to be expected though)

The book actually reminded me of the film national treasure.

Overall, I felt like this was more of an action story and the romance was the subplot. Not necessarily a bad thing as I still really enjoyed it!

It's the first book i read by Christina Lauren and I never read anything else by this authors. The reviews I read were all positive and I can say I discovered a very entertaining and interesting authors.
This book is very funny and fast paced, a second chance set in the West. I rooted for the characters and laughed a lot.
I can't wait to read the other boosk.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Something Wilder
Romance / Adventure / Western
Something Wilder follows the story of Cowgirl Lily Wilder, Daughter of famous adventurer Duke Wilder. Lily finds herself leading fake treasure hunting adventure holidays through the Utah Desert to make ends meet.
Unexpectedly, she finds herself in close proximity with her long lost, first love, Leo who had suddenly disappeared from her life, long ago. Forced to deal with her past, Lily is all business trying to protect her once-broken heart.
Leo Grady arrives to the dusty and dry desert with his band of brothers for a long needed adventure from his anonymous city lifestyle. The last thing he expects to find on this treasure hunt is the one that got away.
The trip takes a disastrous turn and the group are forced to consider that the legendary tales of infamous Duke Wilder’s treasure and abundant riches may not be fables after all. Can the group work out their differences and work together to go on the most dangerous adventure yet?
Especially when Leo is locking eyes with Lily across the campfire. Will she risk it all?

**************************************************************
First of all, I could NOT believe my luck when I received an ARC for this story. One - because its Christina Lauren! Two - I am a horse nerd and it is my life’s mission to go on a dude ranch holiday. I am an avid fan of Heartland and the blurb promises to deliver on my favourite things – horses & romance reads.
Wow. WOW. This story was so, SO much more than I anticipated. My expectations were already super high as Christina Lauren books are much revered. I just couldn’t have expected THIS.
This book was a riot of romance and adventure set in the hot, dry desert and Canyons of Utah. Cowboys and outlaws, puzzles and riddles, guns and embraces, I have truly never read anything like this before.
I loved the characters, each so individual and well developed. Lily and Nicole were strong, formidable women, but I have to say the supporting characters almost stole the show.
There were actual laugh out loud moments which are a rarity for me. There were also tender moments depicting a delicate emotionally and physically absent father – daughter relationship.
The imagery was fantastic, I could feel the sand on my skin, the heat from the flames. I could see the canyons and caves vividly.
The tropes: Second chance romance, forced proximity.
It was so nice to see the female protagonist to be so self-assured and resourceful. She didn’t NEED Leo and I loved that. He was the respectful and daring love interest that she needed. Her Equal.
This book is so much more than a romance though, the Treasure Hunt, Puzzles and Riddles were my unexpected favourite element of the story. The complexity of them was really impressive and totally enthralling.
There was some predictability with the story, I expect this with romance reads. There is a comfort in that which I like. However, this was offset against the hardest hitting twists that I just could never have expected. So. Well. Done!
I never re-read books but I will read this again and the author’s full backlist. Your girl is obsessed.
Thank you so much to Little, Brown Group UK, Piatkus, NetGalley and of course, Christina Lauren for sharing an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Bookstagram review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdkgaoXAgy6/

Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an e-ARC in return for an honest review.
Something Wilder was a change in direction from what I would usually expect from Christina Lauren. whilst the writing duo are better known for their laugh out loud Romances, Something Wilder is more action-focused with the second-chance romance between treasure hunter's daughter, Lily Wilder and city boy, Leo Grady being more of a subplot. Although I did enjoy the book it just didn't hit all the right spots and I found that I was focusing more on the side characters and their chemistry than I was on the main characters and the fun, but slightly predictable treasure hunting adventure.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. Would I reread it? Probably not.
Review posted on GoodReads