This is NOT what I expected from CL but I was HOOKED from start to finish. This is definitely my favourite book of theirs yet! A second chance romance with... a hell of a twist. When I tell you this is what I least expected, THIS IS WHAT I LEAST EXPECTED.
Something Wilder is action packed from start to finish, with a western whirlwind romance to boot. I love second chance romance and this was done beautifully following a mystery filled adventure with puzzles and riddles to boot. There was so much thought into this storyline and I’m so glad that these guys decided to take a completely different direction with this book because I totally ate this up. Adorable main characters with a connection that never faded? Loveable side characters? This is what we needed in 2022!
The book follows the story of Lily Wilder who is a treasure hunting guide in the wild west. However, when the boy she fell in love with one summer ten years ago returns and the connection returns and they’re forced to ride the ups and downs of the retreat together, friendships are tested and truths are revealed.
I loved this book and if you’re looking for something different from CL, this is exactly what you need!
thank you netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another great romance from Christina! I loved it so much I couldn’t put it down and I was so sad when I got to the end! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book!

I love a Christna Lauren romance and so I could not wait to get a chance to read this but I think it fell a little flat for me. The whole treasure hunt side story, premise just wasn't really my scene and I found it a little tiresome. I wanted to see more of Lily's bestie Nicole and I wanted more of a build up and character building of Lily and Leo.
I enjoyed this book but it didnt pull me in the way Christina Lauren normally does and I am not sure how a death / murder in this storyline really meshes with a falling in love romance. It was a story that I enjoyed but had a fair few niggles that meant i just didnt love the book

It’s safe to say I saw Christina Lauren and I clicked request before I even read the blurb, when it comes to their books I know I’m going to enjoy it.

So I went completely blind into Something Wilder and let me tell you I’m glad that I did. I wasn’t expecting the cowboy outlaw aspect of it, and it was strangely something I really enjoyed. I loved how sweet Leo was and how caring he is to Lily. It gave me Twice Upon a Blue Moon vibes with the lovers to strangers back to lovers trope.

I will say though, some of it was hard to keep up whos perspective we were reading from and that muddled a little bit of the storyline. It wasn’t my favourite book they have written but considering their back catalogue that is some tough boots to fill. I just found it a little lacking for my tastes.

But with that being said it was still a fun, quick and adorable read which was more around family and discovery with an added romance.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

I loved this book. It was a perfect, sweet, escapist romance. Perfect for a summer read. The story follows Lilly Wilder as she is reunited with her first love, Leo when he ends up on an adventure holiday run by Lilly and her friend Nicole. There are lots of twists and turns that saw the plot line become much more of an adventure than I had initially expected. This made the story fun and also quite addictive.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fun romance and I highly recommend to all!

Something Wilder

I was so excited when I got approved for this ACR on NetGalley - I absolutely LOVED The Unhoneymooners so was very happy to have the chance to read another Christina Lauren masterpiece.

The clue really is in the name of this book because it was a wild ride! It read like watching a 3D film and a huge IMAX screen with surround sound and everything. I loved the theme of treasure hunting and the Wild West that ran through this book it really elevated the traditional rom com genre off the page.

I’m usually not a massive fan of second chance romance but I think the unusual setting and plot twists in this story really made it for me! I loved how fiercely independent Lili was and how determined she was to get to the bottom of her father’s clues. And Leo was such a sweetheart - supportive, loving and understanding.

I found that as the book began to pick up speed so did my reading and by the last few chapters I just couldn’t put it down and was almost as desperate as Lily and Leo were to find out where the treasure was hidden! This book really takes you on a journey and makes you feel like you’re there with the characters and it was so amazing to read such an immersive rom com.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance that will have you in the edge of your seat with anticipation and feeling like a treasure hunting cowboy/cowgirl then this is ABSOLUTELY for you. New fave trope unlocked right there 😂

If you are up for a summer adventure, this book will deliver that. But if you are looking for a romance read, you might want to adjust your expectations before reading the book as it is very different from the books that are currently in Christina Lauren’s catalogue.

If you love Indiana Jones and The Inheritance Games, this book serves up lots of action, plot twists and fun banter. I enjoyed the puzzles, codes, and riddles - they make the reader think, but what I’m impressed by is how they all come together to tie the story together and deliver the main message.

Lily and Leo are also characters with their own back story and it is interesting watching them explore this second chance romance. There was also a unique overlay of sadness in the story but that did not take away from the laughter.

If I had to improve on this book, it would be to have more of a focus on the romance as compared to the adventure since it is pitched as a rom-com. I felt more could have been done to explore the second chance romance trope between Lily and Leo.

Really hard to rate this book! I think the issue for me that the book was so random. When something happens in chapter 10 (I think), it was completely unexpected, it was a start of not your typical book! However, I then got bored with the treasure hunt, and then from chapter 22 onwards, I skipped the book and searched on my kindle copy certain words so then I understood what happened 🤣. I was actually glad that I did that, because when I read the last three chapters (I actually read, and not skimmed), the ending annoyed me. I actually understood what happened from my skimming.

Overall, not my thing. I wanted to try something different to what I usually go for, but I quickly got bored with the treasure finding story line.

~thank you to the publisher Little Brown Group, UK , Piaktus, NetGalley and Christina Lauren for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review ~

Tropes: second-chance, boy obsessed, forced proximity, one sleeping bag, city boy/country girl

Okay first of all - ‘Something Wilder’ is a very apt and appropriate title, because wow was this WILD (absolutely pun intended).

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, let me just say that my favourite romance duo are back with yet another hit, and I am once again worshiping at the alter that is Christina Lauren.

I adore CLO with my entire heart, so imagine the squeal I let out when I received the ARC for 'Something Wilder'. Now, this is quite the departure from the CLO we all know and love in terms of their overall style, but it was honestly such an immense breath of fresh air to read. Fear not, the typical traits of a CLO read were still very much present - MCs you just can’t help but root for, witty dialogue with some laugh-out-loud humorous moments, and loveable (for the most part) secondary ensemble you want to be adopted into. All wrapped in an highly entertaining package. I’ve truly never read a romance like it and my god, was it a fun adventure! Expect treasure hunting, puzzles, wilderness (described so well I may add, that you’d believe you were out there in traipsing through the desert in Utah) and all the plot twists (some you could probably see coming for a mile away and some that will audible make you say WHAT THE HELL repeatedly).

While ‘Something Wilder’ is a much lighter romance compared CLO’s previous works, so if you’re expecting an Unhoneymooners or Josh and Hazel type rom-com, this may not be to your taste and you’ll probably be a little disappointed in that sense. That being said, I still fell in deeply in love with Lily and Leo, and the love those two had for each other. There was the perfect balance of angst, steam and romance. And Leo said some swoon-worthy things which is a sure fire way to get me to fall in love with a character.
Reflecting a bit more on the romance, what I loved most about this couple and truly appreciated, was the miscommunication/the reason they became estranged in the first was not dragged out. Add to that, whenever they had an issue going forward they would actually talk it out like mature adults, a wild concept I know! There was no third act craziness, thank the heavens.

‘Something Wilder’ was a fast-paced, thoroughly entertaining page-turning read set behind a beautiful sandy dest backdrop with the craziest - in the best way- cast of characters. A perfect summer-time read!

Before I go, I’m going to level with you guys, you truly need to suspend belief for this one. Like it's most *definitely* a fictional read. It got a bit weird, wacky and chaotic at parts, but if you take my advice (re: suspend belief) and just roll with the vibes, then you’re in for a *very* wild ride.

4 ☆

I have loved the writing duo Christina Lauren's previous books and so jumped at the opportunity to read this their latest. I was intrigued by the premise, two exes reunited on an adventure holiday who joined together on a treasure hunt

I really enjoyed this book, and the combination of romance and adventure is not something I have read before, and so was a welcome change. I did not guess all the twists in the plot, and enjoyed that I was always left guessing. My only criticism is that I felt Lily and Leo's romance was not given as much time as I would have liked, with the treasure hunt taking up the majority of the plot. I would have liked to read more about their relationship.

On the whole, another excellent read from Christina Lauren, and one I would not hesitate to recommend.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for sending me this arc. I will be posting this review on my Goodreads and Storygraph accounts, and on Waterstones and Amazon upon publication.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/57438368-georgie
Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/gfairs’

Not sure what to say about this one really, not what I expected at all. Second chance romance with action.

I was really intrigued to pick up this latest book by writing duo Christina Lauren. The premise, two exes reunited on an adventure trail, with the prospect of hidden treasure to be found was right up my street.

I did really enjoy the book, the setting was great and I don't recall having read another contemporary romance with a similar setting before. I liked the character of Lily, she was interesting and independent, though I didn't really feel like I ever got a proper grip on Leo's character. The plot was fun and I didn't have it all as worked out as I thought I did. It paid off well overall, but I think the romance wasn't quite as convincing as some other CL books; I was more intrigued by the treasure hunt than the romance.

Existing fans of CL will enjoy, and people looking for a romance book with a bit of adventure.

Something Wilder is both a second chance romance and a thrilling hunt for long lost treasure.

I have read a few other books by Christina Lauren and this one has quickly become my favourite. The premise of this book was incredible and extremely well executed. It had the perfect blend of romance and suspense, making the book impossible to put down.

Lily Wilder is the daughter of a man who dedicated his life to finding hidden treasure. To make ends meet, she has been taking tourists on fake treasure hunts for years. One day, Leo Grandy, her ex boyfriend, ends up being one of those tourists and Lily knows that this trip would be very different to those prior.

This book is full of shocking twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. Whilst it is very different to Christina Lauren's other books, I have no doubt that fans will love it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book as an Arc from Netgalley, and Little, Brown Book Group UK (Thanks!)

Prior to reading this, the only Christina Lauren novel I had read was The Unhoneymooners, a very different setting to this, Something Wilder. Wild indeed, this book is a lot more serious, a great deal more intricate, and chock full of tension.

We Follow Lily Wilder and Leo Grady, ten years after their relationship crumbled apart. Lily, the hardy daughter of renowned treasure hunter Duke Wilder, runs “treasure hunt” tours through the canyons, inspired by her late fathers’ extensive research on the Outlaw Trails, specifically those leading to the hidden treasure of famed outlaw, Butch Cassidy. She hates it, but it pays the bills.

Leo, a mathematically brained suit from New York, has had his hands full for the last ten years, taking care of his younger sister, Cora. But when his annual boys trip takes him back to Lily’s world, the pair fight to keep their old wounds from re-opening, and their feelings from flooding back.

But it doesn’t stop there. There’s a major plot turning point pretty early on, and the real adventure beings. I won’t go into too much detail, as I don’t want to spoil anything. This event is what takes this story into a thrilling adventure novel, packed with mystery, and clever details that kept me hooked. However, I did feel that this turning point was not handled as realistically as its seriousness warranted it to be, and for the rest of the novel, though intrigued by the story and excited to see where it went, I felt that its impact had been lost. Something pretty life changing just happened, but it’s brushed aside to follow the books new direction. The characters are not as haunted or disturbed by this as I felt they should have been.

Despite this, I really enjoyed the adventure of this story, and romance is the cherry on top. I felt each character had an inner life and distinctive qualities. Though some aspects of the character relationships were predictable, the plot definitely was not. The romance is not the “witty banter” kind, but a sore, love-sick, gut-wrenching kind. The writing of the landscapes are so descriptive I felt transported, and wanted to be there with them. This genre-blend worked brilliantly and exceeded expectations!

This book was such an unexpected delight. I was anticipating something very different but I loved what I got even more than what I expected.

Above all this book was absolutely great fun. Daring, sexy and romantic, it was full of adventure and danger and love and life.
Lily and Leo's chemistry jumped off the page, and it wasn't just their sexual chemistry but their romantic connection that really made their story come alive. Getting to read Leo's POV did a lot to help build this incredibly sweet love story.

In terms of the adventure, I was fully happy to suspend disbelief and go all in on the action. It was a wild ride and I enjoyed every moment.

This was so fun and wholesome ❤️

You will have to suspend a lot of beliefs while reading this but the adventure and treasure hunting aspect of the story was such a breathe of fresh air. That along with the second chance romance was just perfection.

Leo and Lily promised to be together forever but something happened obviously and Leo left. Now 10 years later, Leo along with his friends turns up on the Adventure business, run by Lily which takes the two of them on one hell of a ride.

Both Leo and Lily are pretty great characters and are easy to root for. I loved that they talked pretty early on to clear the air between them. And even if it didn't resolve the hurt and longing of the past, it was such a wonderful start to their second chance. I honestly, loved all the focus that the authors put into communication between the two of them and made them talk to each other regarding their feelings, wants and also what they would expect from each other and their relationship.

I am not a romance reader primarily but I always check out Christina Lauren's work as they never disappoint. This book was no different.

A perfect summer romance with the twist of adventure!

Christina Lauren you never fail to pull out the stops!
This is romance on another level, although you can tell where its gonna end up there’s heaps of twists and turns that will keep you hooked! It’s not your typical boy meets girl romance either, there’s so much more to this beautiful story.
Girls you’ve done your homework on how to hike a mountain etc too! You could’ve made it all up and I wouldn’t have a clue but I’m still impressed! Love love loved it!!

christina lauren!!!! they don't know how to miss! i love a romantic adventure, i love a driving goal where people work together and fall in love. one of my most anticipated reads of the year and for good reason. thank god it lived up to my hype.

Something Wilder is the new book from romance book writing icons Christina Lauren. It follows Lily and Leo who ten years ago were very much in love until one day Leo left and never came back.

A decade later, Leo returns but can they ever get back to what they once were?

I loved the romance in this book it was a second chance love and the characters were both great and perfect for each other. Unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of the treasure hunting side plot I found it over drawn out and a bit random also something really bad happens and there’s no repercussions for anyone and it’s just a weird thing to put in a romance book (I won’t spoil it but you’ll know when you get to that part).

Randomness aside this was a cute romance that will leave you rooting for the characters to end up together.

Something Wilder is an entertaining second chance romance. Lily and Leo hasn’t seen each other in ten years when they suddenly meet again. Leo is with three of his friends on a adventure trip where Lily and her best friend Nicole are the guides. It’s a story with a lot of surprises along the way and suspenseful at times.

It’s written in third POV which was okay. The most of the story takes place outside so there’s a lot of description which I could have been without. It’s a second chance but sadly I felt the chemistry was lacking between Lily and Leo. I enjoyed them but I expected more tension and heat since they share history.
The side characters especially Nicole was great. She along with Lily kicked ass and Walt was just a sweetheart.
Overall a great and entertaining story but I would’ve liked more romance since it focused more on Lily and her relationship with her father and his legacy.


Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an early ARC