Lynette Noni trades fantasy for the rugged wild in Wandering Wild, and the result is a thrilling, heartfelt escape that pairs pulse-pounding adventure with slow-burn romantic tension so sharp, you’ll feel it in your chest.

At first glance, Zander Rune and Charlie Hart couldn’t be more different. He’s a disgraced Hollywood heartthrob with a messy rep to clean up. She’s a no-nonsense teen with zero patience for entitled celebrities—and even less interest in fake fan contests. But when a social media stunt strands them for real in the unforgiving Australian wilderness, their survival depends on more than just instincts and first aid kits. It depends on trust. And maybe a little chemistry.

From white-knuckle cliff climbs to breathless cave crawls, Noni doesn’t hold back on the action—but it’s the emotional depth that really hits. Zander isn’t just a bad boy; he’s broken in all the right ways. And Charlie? Fierce, guarded, and full of quiet strength. Watching them lower their defenses and open up in between dodging snakes and rationing granola bars? Absolute magic.

🎒 Wandering Wild is like The Hunger Games meets The Sun Is Also a Star—raw, romantic, and unexpectedly healing. If you love enemies-to-lovers with real stakes and characters who fight just as hard for each other as they do for survival, this is your next obsession.

Perfect for fans of Jenn Bennett, Sarah Dessen, or Kasie West with a wild streak.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wandering Wild is a captivating blend of magic, mystery, and emotional depth that sweeps readers into a richly imagined world brimming with secrets and self-discovery.
I really enjoyed the connection between the main characters, watching their relationship grow felt natural and heartfelt. The friendships were also a highlight, especially the bond between the lead and her best friend, though I wish those side characters had more page time.
That said, some parts dragged a little, and a few challenges felt repetitive. The ending felt rushed, and I would’ve loved an epilogue to tie things up more fully. Still, the emotional core of the story and the strong character dynamics made it a great read overall.
Make sure to read the trigger warnings!

3.5 Stars

As a big fan of Lynette Noni's previous work, I was intrigued to see a contemporary from her. This one has such an entertaining concept with Bear Grylls vibes, and I was very impressed with the level of detail as the characters trek through the wilderness and learn survival skills along the way. The imagery is vivd, and there are many scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. While the concept is interesting, I was a bit frustrated with some moments at the beginning as the characters constantly circle around secrets, and I found some parts a bit predictable. However, I still enjoyed the book overall, and I hope to see more contemporaries from Lynette Noni in the future.

DNF @ 15% — I am currently in a reading slump. I’m sure this book would be right up my alley if I was in the mood to read it, but I currently am not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Lynette Noni so it is no suprise that I enjoyed this book. Do I struggle with celebrity romance? Yes. Was it a problem for me here. Yes again. But even through that, I had a good time and I would read it again!

I have to say that I really loved this book. It had everything in it that I love to read.

Zander is a Hollywood actor and in the prime of his career when he is in an accident and is charged with DUI. His career is at stake and he must do something to win the world over again as a good guy not a bad guy. Then his manager has an idea that will put Zander back in the lime light. His manager comes up with a plan that Zander will do a four-day reality TV adventure led by renowned survivalist Rykon Hawke.

At first Zander thinks it is crazy but then his manager convinces him to do it. That's where Charlie comes in. She and her best friend enter the contest and when her best friend wins she is so happy but she is sick and can't make the trip. That is when her best friend asks Charlie to take her place. At first Charlie says no but then she changes her mind and decides to do the trip.

As Zander and Charlie meet Charlie is not happy because she hates Zander and what he did because she lost someone special to a DUI but as they days go on the two of them become closer then friends. They share everything about each other and when they get into some rouble on the trip they must learn to trust each other and rely on each other.

This was an amazing book that I loved. It was like I was right there with Zander and Charlie. It reminded me of the show Survivor. I loved this book and I will be re-reading it again. Thank you to Net-Galley for allowing me to read this arc.

This is the first book by Lynnette Noni I have read, and I have added all of her other books to my TBR now because this one was so good!
The book is a dual POV, YA romance following Charlie and Zander. Charlie is a recent high school graduate taking a gap year, and Zander is a celebrity trying to save his tarnished image and keep his spot in this new movie. Charlie is very sarcastic and the banter between the MCs is so well done! Zander plays off of her attitude, while also trying to break down the walls she keeps up.

I was expecting a slightly cringy survival “we share a tent and fall in love story”, but what I got was SO MUCH MORE. The story deals with grief very heavily, and as someone who recently lost a close family member, this book hit me HARD. I was crying right along with the characters. Not only does the book deal with grief, it also goes into the healing afterwards, which is what really made the story shine. I’ve read stories that had character deaths for the sake of the plot, but this story felt like it was coming alive for me. I could feel the raw emotion in the pages.

The romance between Charlie and Zander was the weakest part of the story compared to everything else. It felt insta-lovey, although it was adorable. I am not sure if I could see the characters long-term (Charlie is too much of a realist and Zander is the spontaneous one) but I did like how much the characters trusted each other in the rough terrain. I will eat up the enemies-to-lovers trope every single time.

The story was set in the mountains of Australia, where Charlie and Zander face multiple obstacles in this survival reality show. They propel down cliff faces, swim in dark caves, cross an old bridge, and fight off the deadly wildlife around them. The story was exciting, and I felt the adrenaline rush just reading about the crazy things they faced. It almost made me want to leave the comfort of my own home..almost.

Overall, this book greatly exceeded my expectations. The dark topics were handled wonderfully, and it placed a big emphasis on doing what makes you happy and live your life to the fullest.

Potential Triggers:
Death
Loss of a parent
Mentions potential self harm (not in detail, but alluded to)
Drug usage (alluded to)
Drunk driving

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lynette Noni captured my attention and had me in a massive chokehold with The Prison Healer series. Still one of my all time favorite YA fantasy trilogies to date. I knew the second I saw this posted I'd have to take a stab at snagging an ARC and I am glad I did! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book. I love how Lynette weaves in mental health representation so effortlessly. This story has moments that leave you on the edge of your seat and moments that leave you near tears.

I absolutely recommend reading this book!

Lynette Noni solidified an automatic read / purchase author after devouring her Prison Healer trilogy. While this is nothing like that trilogy, it is still full of Noni’s fun writing style, light (YA level) spice, fun banter, and unique voice. The adventure was scary and the twists were definitely ones that kept the story flowing quickly.

If you enjoy adventure, enemies to lovers, and drama, this is the perfect read for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Charlie reluctantly agrees to go on wilderness survival camping trip with movie star Zander—only for their lives to actually be placed in peril due to unexpected events.

I loved Lynette Noni’s fantasy books when I read them earlier this year, so I was excited for her latest release. This one is a very different vibe (YA contemporary romance), but it had the same well-written characters and unique premise. I also really enjoyed the audio production and thought both narrators were great.

Overall, this was a fun and cute YA novel, and I think readers who read more YA contemporaries will probably really enjoy this one. For me, this is not quite my genre, and I thought it was a bit forgettable and required a LOT of suspension of disbelief toward the end. It also felt like it was trying to do too much and address multiple deep/difficult topics at once, which was a bit overwhelming.

On the whole, I would lean more to recommending this than not…but probably only if you know you enjoy this genre/style.

CW: Death of parent; car accident; alcohol/drug use; suicide attempt; sexual harassment

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I love Lynette Noni's writing and this book delivered. Following Charlie and Xander's journey was such a fun, emotional ride. This book really makes you think about life and how short it can be.

Lynette has a way of describing her settings in such a beautiful way. The wilderness setting was so detailed, it felt like I was there. It also focused on mental health in a really honest way. It was just what I needed. I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

such a fun read, i adore charlie and zander. i loved seeing their relationship grow and the way they brought out the best in each other and helped each other through tough moments was adorable

: ̗̀➛ “just try to remember that this trip isn’t only about survival. because life isn’t about survival—life is beautiful, and it’s meant to be lived.”

This was such a fun read. I loved Charlie and Zander. The forced proximity trope worked so well in this one. I loved seeing their relation grow and the helped each other through the different trials they faced while in the wild. Overall this was such a fun and quick read.

his a beautifully written story with a great setting and likable characters. The author does a great job exploring themes of survival, identity, and quiet strength. I appreciated the emotional undertones and the introspective moments that added depth.
The plot felt a bit predictable and the troubles the characters faced felt a bit repetitive after a while. However, it was refreshingly different and I loved that it was set in Australia. I’d love this to be an interconnected series because the side characters were great too.

5⭐

thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

now playing: stay - harrison goodell

spoiler free

13+

romance: 4/10 (one kiss, characters fall in love, characters fall asleep in each other’s arms)

cursing: 1/10 (hell and damn maybe once or twice)

violence: 3/10 (perilous survival situations)

other: alcohol, smoking, and drugs are not depicted on page but are mentioned, one minor character is nonbinary and is referred to as they, one homosexual married couple who are prevalent during the first half of the book

tw: loss of parents to drunk drivers, past, off page. suicidal thoughts and off page attempt mentioned. side character is in remission from tuberculosis

tropes: “i hate you” to “i love you”

first person, present tense

dual pov


–OVERVIEW–

lynette noni is my favorite author and for good reason.

all of her book men are the greenest of green flags,
her mental health rep makes me feel scene,
her writing paints a beautiful picture in my head,
i can be laughing one minute then literally full on sobbing the next

wow, this book truly was a work of art.

and for all of you who loved my brother’s review of the hunger games? he’s now reading this book so when he finished i’ll add his anecdote to the bottom (and to everyone who’s been saying he needs to finish the hunger games saga, he knows and he’s working on it)

i was actually screeching while reading this. sitting on the couch with my family while they binged the rambo movies they kicked me out bc i was being too disruptive lol

one thing i could’ve done less with is all the pop culture references?? like wdym charlie looks up white haired anime character with blue eyes and literally compares zander to satoru gojo?

–PLOT–

an anime character and a chameleon walk into a restaurant…

–CHARACTERS–

zander
⤷ my shaylaaaaa
i adore him 😭
(not as much as jaren, but only bc jaren had 3 books and zander has 1)

charlie
⤷ she’s such a girl boss. i love how she was emotionally mature and gentle but that only made her stronger.
she kept up with the guys in the wilderness well enough but her femininity wasn’t erased to compensate

ember
⤷ bestieeeee

summer and maddox
⤷ 😭💕 my children

everyone else
⤷ frick you

–CONCLUSION–

i wish i could read this for the first time again

4.5 Stars

What wouldn't you do for a friend that almost died and is like YOUR PERSON in this world? Would you subject yourself to an all-out adventure in an Australian national park with their celebrity crush, WHOM YOU DESPISE FOR GOOD REASON, just because they can't? Well, that is what our girl Charlie finds herself doing. She joins celebrity Zander Rune on a filmed expedition with his "number one fan" (the adventure was a grand prize) and a Bear Grylls stand-in. The problem is, this is being filmed for promo, and when the adventure takes a turn for the worst, Charlie and Zander are forced to put their differences aside and brave the wilderness to save themselves. Of course, we have the vibes of will-they-won't-they, but it's more like that glorious moment in the Hunger Games when Katniss kisses Peeta and it rips your heart out because OMG JUST ADMIT YOU LOVE EACH OTHER. The twist was interesting, and the ending was realistic and hopeful. I really enjoyed every minute!

Don't take secrets to the woods, the trees are always watching and listening.

Wandering Wild by Lynette Noni is YA contemporary novel that is filled with romance and the ultimate need to survive. She hates him. He needs her. Can they survive when all they have is each other? Zander Rune was the darling of Hollywood until he fell from glory and was labelled a problematic bad boy. His public image needs fixing—fast—or he’ll lose the role of a lifetime, and all his dreams with it. Charlie Hart is a regular teenage girl who despises everything Zander represents. But thanks to her scheming best friend and an ill-timed social media competition, Charlie finds herself pretending to be Zander’s biggest fan on a four-day reality TV adventure led by renowned survivalist Rykon Hawke. When their trip goes horribly wrong, Charlie and Zander are left stranded in the wilderness. No Rykon, no film crew, no rescue. The only way they’ll survive is if they trust each other. But in order to do so, both will have to let go of the ghosts of their pasts, and just maybe find themselves—and one another—in the process.

What I liked most about Noni's work, is the relationship between Charlie and Ember. In this, it created a unique day time/nighttime juxtaposition between their personalities. I loved how Charlie cared for her, despite the rest of the world not really being able to nor really knowing how to. I also loved the general hiking aspects of the novel, as an avid hiker, I enjoyed that unique perspective Noni presented. I think my favorite part was when the tour guide tried to get them to propel down the waterfall.

I think the most lacking part of Wandering Wild was the general lack of romance. Even though it's advertised as a contemporary romance. The only real romantic thing happened on the very last page, but even then, it was a bit lack luster. And that is where I shall leave that complaint, so I don't spoil stuff.

Regardless, I think it would be grand to have a sequel from another character's perspective. But I know Noni mentioned that this would her one and only contemporary title. So one can only hope, one day.

⭐️ 3.25 to 3.5 stars
Wandering Wild is a cute, very YA read. I loved Lynette Noni’s The Prison Healer trilogy, so I came in hoping I’d love this too, but it didn’t quite do it for me, especially in the beginning and middle. For a good portion, it felt like a solid 3-star read.

The last 40% got progressively better and I felt more engaged. Once the story focused more on just Charlie and Zander’s interactions, the banter was really cute in the midst of the wilderness. What this book definitely did was make me want to go to Australia and try rappelling and other adventures in a much safer way than they did lol.

It wasn’t my favorite read, but the latter part improved things. A solid 3.25 to 3.5 stars overall.

This book was super cute and so fun. I haven’t read YA contemporary in a very long time so this was a refreshing read. (15 year old me would have absolutely loved this book). I loved the characters in this book. The wittiness, sarcasm, and dialogue were great and natural. Parts of the book were slightly cringey but that’s to be expected (and it can also add to the plot…sometimes too realistic can be a bad thing). The story was very interesting by as well. This truly was an adventure book and it was so cool to learn about survival and different parts of the wilderness.
I thought the writing style was excellent; descriptive, but not boring and lots of dialogue to advance the plot.
The ending was super cute and I thought it tied things up nicely.
I don’t have much to critique about this novel, but when a book makes me roll my eyes with the writing, dialogue, or convenient plots, I can’t give it super high stars; this rating is heavily based just on preference. Overall I really enjoyed this book; it was super cute and a fun read.

3.5 stars.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.