After a DUI, Zander Rune needs to revamp his image to land his next acting role. He agrees to appear on a survivalist reality show with a fan to show a different side of himself to the world. In walks Charlie Hart, a girl how doesn't fawn over him and seems to actively dislike him. Can Zander make a meaningful connection in front of the camera? Will he discover why Charlie hates him? What will happen when the reality tv gets too real?

This was a cute adventure story set in the wilds of Australia. Well designed character who feel real and some heartfelt moments for everyone. I would certainly read more by Lynette Noni.

thanks to netgalley and publisher for this opportunity!

this is a cutesy little rom-com with forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers on her side. character development was good, and the romance was adorable. overall, I loved it!!

4 ✨

How did I, a 35 year old mom of 3, find herself SQUEALING alone in the middle afternoon? All with the help of Lynnette Noni! The survival backdrop helped to elevate the YA plot. It added several high stakes moments, which made this book impossible to put down! I loved the depth Noni added to these characters as we got to walk alongside two wounded souls who ended up putting their armor down. Fantastic great! Great for fans of Lynn Painter.

Wandering Wild by Lynette Noni

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5

I have a lot of thoughts about this book, but overall, I really enjoyed it! I have been wanting to read The Prison Healer series by Noni for some time now and just haven’t gotten around to it, but I will definitely be bumping it up the TBR list. This book would be a fun read for fans of the DCOM Starstruck or readers who love Bear Grylls or The Amazing Race. This is one big survivalist adventure!

This book is a crazy adventure rollercoaster. I think I had whiplash by the time I got to the end.
I loved that this book actually covered some heavier topics. I think it made the story very well-rounded and gave the characters lots of emotional depth. Charlie and Zander were interesting characters to read about it and perfect for this story.

I was squirming in all kinds of ways throughout this whole read, though 😳. Charlie is much braver than me because I would have plopped my pretty little butt down and refused to go no farther at many different points, especially in the slot canyons and cave diving. That’s a big fat NO for me. Literally why were there so many life-threatening situations. I genuinely don’t understand how that was allowed by the production company! I get they signed their lives away at the beginning but my goodness. I will say it kept me hooked, though, so there is that.

I was so mad at the end when they got back home from the trip. I was FUMING! Like I genuinely was upset with them. That was so uncalled for and unnecessary. It felt illegal. It should have been illegal honestly. I would have been suing everybody if I was Charlie and Zander.

I enjoyed the romance, though! It felt like they built a solid friendship foundation first and really got to know each other before going for it. This is a clean romance, so it would be a great YA pick for a book club.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Lynette Noni, and NetGalley for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

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