-3.5 stars-

This wasn't my favorite CL book. While this was definitely a little different than your typical contemporary romance, I was still wishing there was more. I didn't think the two MC's had a strong connection and continued to focus more on the plot rather than their relationship. In addition, I always struggle with 3rd POV and think that I would've felt a stronger connection with the book if it had been dual POV.

There's just something about Christina Lauren books set in Utah.

If you like Indiana Jones, National Treasure, The Maze of Bones/39 Clues series, The Inheritance Games, and really any sort of adventure that includes puzzles, codes, clues, and twists, you will love this one.

My biggest complaint with most adventure stories is that I don't have a lot to root for besides the main plot of the adventure—and SOMETHING WILDER does not have that problem because it has ROMANCE! And amazing romance at that! I usually don't love a second chance romance, but WHEW this one had me in my feels and it was the perfect amount of steam for the story.

TW: gun violence, death, financial insecurity, loss of a parent (past)

I've been to the red rock of Southern Utah a few times, but never the truly rural parts in this book (and obviously not the parts that the authors made up). Cowboy lifestyle is not for me, and reading this made me know for sure I won't be wanting to recreate the story. The amount of dirt and grime alone is enough to turn me off from any trips hiking down there.

This book has some fun plot twists, only one tent, a lot of stuff about codes that went over my head except for ~the code~ which I find to be absolutely hilarious.

Best of all, it had a firecracker best friend! I consider myself to be that character in the book of life (and I am quite happy with my best friend side character energy, thank you very much). I hope Nicole gets her own spin-off like Fizzy from The Soulmate Equation is!

Thank you so much to Gallery Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

As always I absolutely love a book from Christina Lauren. This book was a really cute book and was a really fun concept. I loved that the female was the rugged one in this book. I was thrown for a loop on the twist and loved the banter. I loved all the clues and felt like I was trying to decipher a mystery along with the characters in the book. I can’t wait to get my own print copy. I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Something Wilder was a bit different then what I've come to expect from Christina Lauren. This was my favorite Christina Lauren book that I have read so far. I recommend going into it without knowing anything about it.

📖 BOOK REVIEW

BOOK: Something Wilder
AUTHOR: Christina Lauren
FORMAT: Physical
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
PUB DATE: 5/17/22
RATING: 9/10
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you so much @gallerybooks and @christinalauren for my #gifted advanced copy of SOMETHING WILDER, out yesterday!

MY THOUGHTS

It’s hard to go into a CLo book and not have naturally high expectations, but this one absolutely exceeded all my expectations! I loved it.

The writing is phenomenal. It’s the perfect mix of show and tell. It’s modern and full of humor with witty banter that had me laughing out loud. The characters were so well done. I absolutely loved how developed but different from each other they all were. The plot was fantastic. The plot twists throughout the story added so much more dimension and made it l such a unique story line. I commend CLo for their creativity with this one. Especially with the setting!! It’s full of fun adventure, puzzles and code deciphering & a swoony second-chance love story that had me turning the pages as fast as I could.

I found this book to be primarily plot-driven as opposed to character-driven. While I did enjoy that & think it made for a really great story, I wish we got a little more depth on the two MCs and the time they spent apart.

This was truly a knockout book and I’m so glad I read it! Definitely recommend it

What a great plot! Christina Lauren always intrigue me with their unique storylines. I find it so interesting that two authors can come together to so seamlessly create a fun, romantic adventure!

This is a quick, adventure packed summer read that I think will fly off the shelves. The cover will really pop on shelf and Christina Lauren have such a cult following already. Their characters are relatable, but not predictable which I find rare.

I highly recommend Something Wilder for a romantic beach bum in need for a summer getaway.

I was slightly disappointed by this book. It didn't have the same spark as the authors' past books. I enjoyed the characters, and how the relationships developed, but I found parts of the books to be very obvious. I wasn't surprised by any of the betrayals or the love proclamations. The authors' have written some of my favorite romances, and I will keep reading, but this one wasn't one of my favorites.

I was in a bit of a rom-com burnout earlier this year, and Something Wilder was the perfect solution to fix it! It was so refreshing and full of adventure and mystery!
 I could picture the scenes playing out in my head! The setting descriptions were so vivid, and like classic CLO dialogue, it had me laughing constantly!


Something Wilder starts off with a flashback to a young couple madly in love, Lily and Leo. Fast forward a decade later, they're both living very separate lives. Lily's father was a famous treasure hunter, and now she takes tour groups through the red rock canyons of Utah on searches for fake treasure. Leo works a fancy job in NYC and is about to leave for his annual boys' trip, which, unknown to him, has been booked on an excursion with Lily's tour company this year.

What starts as a fake treasure hunt quickly turns into a very real one, and the story is filled with adventure, romance, drama, humor, unexpected turns, and so much more!

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
-Christina Lauren (obviously!)
-National Treasure (the movie)
-Second Chance Romance
-The Great Outdoors

What a wild ride this one was! I went into this book completely blind thinking it was a typical CL romance but this one was so much more than that! The Ranch and Yellowstone vibes I really enjoyed the location of this book. Western desert with horses and canyons. The authors did an amazing job putting so much detail into the scenery. I could really visualize myself there with the characters. I loved the main character Lily, she was a no nonsense tough cowgirl. And Leo, hello new book boyfriend 😍 A wild, western ride with a romance aspect. I definitely recommend this one!

Let me begin by saying that I started reading Contemporary Romances because of Christina Lauren. This duo brought me a lot of laughs and appreciation of the genre in numerous books that I have looked forward to and enjoyed. This book is nothing like their other books. This is a second chance romance set around a search for a missing treasure. No witty banter, no laughter, no levity. Serious things happen on this adventure. Yes there is still romance and some steamy moments but it is a departure from their usual style.

This story has the treasure hunting adrenaline of Indiana Jones without the funny moments. I loved the setting, deciphering the clues and the hunt for the treasure. . I just didn't feel the chemistry between the love interests, probably because they had to focus on staying alive!! Their relationship was just unrealistic given the circumstances they were in. This was just an average story for me. I appreciate that they are trying something different, it is good to change things up but I was a little disappointed. I miss the fun!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

What a delight this book was. I loved that it was not the run of the mill romance. It had grit and adventure and a story that was a bit sexy. I loved that there was more to this story than met the eye. A super fun book any reader will wish they could hop right into and experience it for themselves!

4 ⭐️ A fun Wild West meets Indians Jones, second chance romance!


WHAT TO EXPECT:

✔️ City boy / Country girl
✔️ Utah setting
✔️ Ranches & horseback riding
✔️ Treasure hunt/riddles
✔️ Shocking twists and turns
✔️ Second chance romance
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ One sleeping bag trope
✔️ A little bit of spice


Summary:

Lily Wilder and Leo Grandy fell in love at her family ranch in Wyoming one summer. Her dream was to take over the ranch and run it with Leo. However, unexpected news takes Leo home to New York, and Lily doesn't hear from him again. But what's worse is Lily's father ends up breaking her heart even more by selling off the ranch.

Ten years later, Lily is barely making ends meet and runs Wilder Adventure, a tourist expedition company based in Utah. Her father, Duke Wilder, was a renowned treasure hunter and left behind a journal filled with maps and riddles that supposedly led to hidden treasures. And even though she's still pissed at Duke for destroying her dream, she'll use whatever she can get to make enough money and buy back the ranch.

The next group Lily ends up taking out on an adventure is a couple of guys from New York. And to her surprise, one of them is Leo Grady. There's nothing quite as awkward as being stuck in the wilderness for a few days with the man who broke your heart. But maybe the fresh air and a treasure hunt are exactly what these two need to find what they're looking for.


My Thoughts:

This story was so much fun!!! I loved that this was basically Indian Jones meets the Wild West. The plot got a little crazy and was unbelievable, but I had a blast reading it! I've never read a story like this, so I found it refreshing.

The romance was incredibly swoon-worthy. I love that Leo was such a cinnamon roll and absolute simp for Lily, and Lily was a strong FMC with heart. These two are the victims of bad timing and miscommunication (that wasn't entirely their fault). So when they finally saw each other again, I couldn't help but root for Lily and Leo the entire time. 💕 There was so much love and tension between the two that it radiated off the page. I hope these two are living happily ever after because they deserve it!

Nicole and Walter were such fun secondary characters. I loved Nicole's brash and Walter's shyness and how both are incredibly loyal. It was fun seeing their dynamic with the group and how they interacted with each other since they are total opposites. But truly, Walter is a gem and needs to be protected at all costs.

My biggest complaint . . .

While the plot twists were shocking, the characters' reactions were even more so. I can't really go into more details without spoiling the story. But, I was stunned and a little horrified at how flippant these characters were about the situation they find themselves in. People in real life would never "continue" on so casually.


Overall, this was such a great book filled with action, adventure, humor, love, and betrayal. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and never predicted where the story was going. Definitely something I'd recommend if you're looking for a solid summer read.


Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.

With love, death, and a treasure hunt, this book has it all! I was on the edge of my seat the whole book!

Lily, daughter of a famous treasure hunter, Duke Wilder, lives in Utah, running fake treasure hunts, trying to make ends meet. She is thinking of hanging up her hat, when she realizes a man she was in love with, Leo, shows up on her tour. He and his friends cause tension, make trouble, and provide a hilarious backdrop for a treasure hunt to remember. Lily will have to confront her past with Leo and about her dad before it costs Lily her life.

Soulmate Equation was amazing, and Unhoneymooners was one of my favorites too, but Something Wilder missed the mark for me. It was okay, but not great. Admittedly, I am not a fan of western settings, so that may have played a part in my disdain, but I disliked this book. There were pieces that felt so unrealistic, and made me cringe. They weren’t corny just seemed so unfathomable that it felt stupid to keep reading. I did enjoy the romantic plotline and thought that part of the story was okay. Overall it was a good read, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it as fiercely as I would her other books.

Thank you Simon & Schuster/Gallery and NetGalley for the early review copy! All opinions are my own. While I think Christina and Lauren are the sweetest peo[ple and we share a literary agency, this in no way influenced my appreciation of their book.

SOMETHING WILDER was a wild ride in the best way. With unexpected twists and turns, sumptuous descriptions of desert life, sunsets, rare rains, and breathtaking vistas, along with an adventuring, treasure-hunting plot, this felt deeply in the vein of their excellent craft yet fresh in its plot and premise.

Second chance romance can be hard to pull off without a dual timeline, but this single timeline interwoven with flashbacks worked great for me. Maybe that's because rather tha feeling like their love was a full-on second chance, Leo and Lily's love was portrayed as more like a cord that got pinched, whose power was paused until it could be straightened out again, allowed to flow freely. These two never stopped loving each other, and I love how CLo portrayed that realization dawning on both of them.

The cast of secondary characters ranged from infuriating (looking at you, Terry [and Brad!!!]), endearing and entertaining (Sweet [Potato] Walter), and fiercely loyal and lovable (bada$$ Nicole).

I always look to Christina and Lauren for an engaging premise and beautiful craft, and like always, they didn't disappoint. After the past few years prohibiting travel, I loved being swept away to a wildly different place and enjoy both a romantic and escapist journey.

Christina Lauren's Something Wilder offers romance, adventure, and mystery. A great book to take you away from everyday life.

Something Wilder is another fantastic romance by Christina Lauren! As soon as I saw the premise and setting for this new release, I knew I was going to love it! There was just the right amount of romance, steam and even some suspense! Lily and Leo's second-chance romance might be my favorite of CL's contemporary romances so far!

Synopsis: Lily Wilder hates her life. She’s single and living paycheck to paycheck while doing job she never thought she would do after her father passed… leading tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rocks in Utah. When her ex-boyfriend unexpectedly shows up with his friends, the group embarks on a treasure hunt that turns into an experience they’ll never forget… for better AND for worse.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I’m a big fan of Christina Lauren, but their last few releases haven’t been working for me at all They politely reminded me why I was a fan again with Something Wilder!

What I Liked:
Second Chance Romance
Strong Heroine
Action packed

Issues:
I wanted more of a backstory between the couple so I could feel that connection and tension down the road of them being reunited.

Light, fun read, but not my favorite by this duo. While I enjoyed the plot, I had trouble connecting to Leo and Lily, and wasn’t cheering for them as a couple the way I have in other Christina Lauren novels. The level of adventure was quite entertaining!

I’m in love with this book! One of my top reads for 2022, no question. It’s kind of a departure for the authors, but we get the romance, memorable characters, and great plot we’ve come to expect. The location is fantastic, it acts as a character in the book with its many challenges and secrets.
This is such a fun book. Treasure hunting, death defying hikes, outlaw trails, secret codes and more, it has everything a reader could want. And don’t forget the second chance romance, which is perfect. The characters have hot chemistry that fits perfectly into the book.
I was sorry when it ended, if I could give it 10 stars I would. 5 stars!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.