I am a HUGE fan of Lynette's Prison Healer series, so I was very excited to to see this realistic YA from Noni. While this will be a purchase for my HS library because I think the demographic who loves similar novels - The Same Boat by H. Green will gobble this up, it wasn't it for me. Other books about two people getting lost in the wilderness , surviving together, and more realistic conflicts. Some in this novel were just too far fetched. The end was also an issue for me.

Thank you to Blackstone publishing and NetGalley for providing me the ark!

Oh my God??? This book was such a delight. I just finished my masters degree and education until the past month. I haven’t really been able to read and today. I literally just picked up this book and it is the best thing the most joyful thing I have read in a while.

First off the characters were so incredible. Xander is truly an icon a man for the people protecting his girl summer protecting his boy Maddox he is a king! Truly, like when I tell you, this man is so amazing. I mean it. Charlie is so relatable and like honestly I would be freaking the fuck out too if I was in the middle of the woods with a famous actor who is very much very closely tied to a lot of of my trauma. They were both just so cute and oh my God they’re going to Iceland at some point together!!!!!!

This book obviously is a little unrealistic when it comes to like the reality TV aspect of it and all that stuff and oh my God when that plot twist came, the scream I scrumpt!!!! Like literally breathtaking.

Also, I just really appreciate how this book handled discussion sexual assault and the challenges of dealing with trauma in the performance industry. Xander and Summer truly went through so much and so did Charlie and I just really think that this was handled with so much care and respect and I’m just I’m so proud of just all these characters these characters I like my baby and oh my God, Xander and Maddox need a fucking hug.

Is this book a little insta lovey? Yes. But I mean when you were trying to survive in the woods with a hot man girl, you’d be jumping on that I’m just saying.

This was so fun and I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a bit of fun and cute romance!

When this book became available to request on NetGalley, I automatically requested it. The author's Prison Healer series is an underrated gem and I needed to get my hands on more of her work. This book is completely different - not fantasy - but not devoid of the charm I came to love from this author. Despite or maybe even because of some of the rather egregious - and rather perilous - scenarios the characters are subjected to throughout the book, this book was a great read. The book may have some unlikely events, but at the heart of it an in rebel amount of character growth. Here we have two people, Charlie and Zander, battling demons - one is dealing with grief and the other is trying to repair his public image, but also another kind of grief. Charlie’s alive, but not living, in the wake of her mother’s death. Zander is trying to recover what he lost or may lose in the wake of his accident: his best friend and his career. The way the revelations unfold is well-timed and the chemistry between the main characters was good. You can’t help but root for them individually and for a future that includes them together. The book was funny, adventurous, harrowing, heart wrenching, and full of discovery. That’s what this story is at it’s core, a journey of self-discovery.
I’m finding it difficult to say more without spoiling anything. I really think people just need to pick this one up.
I recommend this book to everyone. If you are dealing with grief, have dealt with, or just because at some point we all do, then this book is for you. This book is also for anyone that is stuck, whether it be in life, love, work, grief…
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an early reader digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely, honest and my own.

Thank you Blackstone publishing for the ARC of this amazing book! I think I went through every emotion while reading this. I loved the storyline and the ups and downs it gave. The character development was wonderful! I felt everything that Charlie and Zander went through. I was holding my breath, giggling, crying and panicking right along with them. The emotional tragedies that both characters went through and how there experiences in the wild healed them and helped them grow was so evident through Lynnette Noni’s words. Thank you for the experience of Wandering Wild.

Wait. This was really really cute.

Some HEAVY topics, but also soooo cute!

We kind of forget that at 17/18 years old, it’s transformative. We’re trying to figure out who we are and want to be. We have big dreams and goals and Charlie and Zander are prime examples. But they both have some real trauma that they’re carrying around.

If I learned anything from this story, it’s that I would not survive in the wilderness but also that it’s so important to have that person or people in your life that truly know you and who you can be totally transparent with.

Now to decide if I need galaxy hair at my next hair appointment!

Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the early copy!

okay so
as much as i absolutley love lynette noni
and as much as I was excited for her to write a contemporary romance,
I think I prefer her fantasy books much more (especially the prison healer)
and it is one of her first contemporary books, so I don't expect it to be perfect, but I didn't love the characters, and it often felt pretty unrealistic
I'm still glad I read it, and I hope lynette noni keeps on trying new genres :)
overall, 3.75 stars!!

This is a cute YA romance survival story. It’s a little cheesy, but I suppose I’m sensitive to sappy stuff because I normally avoid books with romance as the main plot. However, I’m a sucker for survival stories, so I gave this a shot. I will say that it is a little plodding and takes a long time to get to the part where the main characters are stranded. There are a lot of sweaty palm moments, though, especially in the latter quarter of the novel. I’d pretty much be dead several times over.

Overall, I’d give this a 3.5. It held my interest, and it’s really cute, but it’s not something I’ll reread.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I tried reading this and it just didn’t click with me. Ultimately I just couldn’t get into it like I wanted to.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC.

This book was so cute—I devoured it in less than 24 hours! But beyond the sweetness of the story, Wandering Wild touches on some truly heavy topics, especially around grief and learning how to move forward.

As someone who recently lost a parent, this book hit incredibly close to home. It was a tender, comforting reminder that even in the depths of grief, we are still allowed to live fully—to find moments of joy, to fall in love, to keep going.

This is a clean, heartfelt teen romance with a lot of emotional depth. A 4.5-star read, no question.


IG: @_readinginthewild | @biancamaria.xo
TOME: https://tomebooks.com/user/readwithb

4⭐️

Zander is a movie star in need of a repair to his image so he can keep a dream role. Charlie is just trying to get by, lost after the passing of her mother. The team helping Zander schemes up a contest that take him and one fan into the wilderness all while being filmed for reality TV. Charlie’s best friend Ember enters and wins—only she can’t get cleared to go. What’s the logical step? She transfers the win to her bestie, Charlie. Adventure, suspense, and confessions ensue.

I really enjoyed this YA novel. The pacing kept me interested and wanting more. The setting of a national forest in Australia is unique and the author painted vivid pictures of the scenery.

Zander and Charlie’s banter and chemistry shine on the page. You’re rooting for them to resolve their differences. You feel enraged for them when things go wrong. Though the novel is YA, it reads with maturity and good character development. Enjoyable for readers of many ages.

Cutest adventure YA book ever.

It was a hook you from the start kind of book. The way the characters evolved in the story perfection.

Enemies to lovers in YA form with multiple almost’s throughout the book was THE BEST.

I was not expecting this to be so precious but it was in the best ways.
Firstly, my favorite part of this whole book was the adventure itself. Survivor shows are always so interesting to me so seeing older teens facing these deathly trials made me even more intrigued to see what’s next. With that said, the whole book is the survivor plot so if you’re not interested in that then skip this. I loved it though, I loved the reason why they were there too.
The plot was simple but done so well. A superstar trying to fix his public image and a young lady lost and grieving the death of her mother, both going on an unwanted adventure.
Calling this a romance is a very big stretch. This to me would just be a contemporary adventure, not a romance. We an attraction build, most definitely. But not the main focus. What was most important in the story was not only the challenges but the character development and facing the grief that hangs on them. Both our characters are heavy with sadness and the way it was handled throughout the story was nice. You start to feel for them and only want the best.
Anyone looking for a book with humor, high stakes, and great emotional development will love this book.

Unexpected Heart Pounding Adventure and Heartfelt!

4.25★

After a string of bad decisions lands Zander on Hollywood’s “bad boy” list, he’s thrown a lifeline in the form of an unusual PR stunt: a rugged Australian wilderness adventure alongside a contest winner. Enter Charlie, a former fan, now reluctantly along for the ride. What follows is a high-stakes, Man vs. Wild-style journey packed with survival challenges, simmering tension, and unexpected emotional depth.

This book took me by surprise in the best possible way. While the pacing slowed in a few spots, the constant stream of new obstacles kept me fully engaged. I found myself genuinely holding my breath during some of the more intense scenes! The dual POV lets us experience the adventure from both characters, but it still moves the story along without any retelling.

Zander and Charlie were refreshingly relatable. I loved that their relationship didn’t start off smoothly; it made their gradual connection feel all the more authentic. Their banter was sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and I was flipping pages just waiting for that first kiss. Beyond the romance, the story beautifully weaves in themes of grief, loss, mental health, and the complexities of family and friendship, giving the story real emotional weight.

And the ending? Absolute perfection! The kind that had me kicking my feet and grinning like a fool. I mean, the crab costume? Hehe. If you're looking for an emotional, slow-burn romance with adventure, heart, and healing, this one’s for you!

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

So many mixed feelings!! I love a fun and unique plot, and most of the time it works for me as long as there is an understandable reason behind it. Two teens joining an intense wilderness adventure and falling in love over hiking and stars? Should have been fun, but felt actually crazy. I feel like it’s hard to discuss the plot without spoilers, but the amount of near death experiences on this wilderness adventure was crazy. Also the twist at the end was astronomically crazy in a way that I am still so conflicted over. Like what?! Someone who has read please talk to me because I must discuss. What worked for me the most was the characters, they both had such a good energy and their connection really developed in an amazing slow burn. It was still a lot of fun, but totally crazy hahaha

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Ever since I read Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill in 2024, I have been on a lookout for a great adventure young adult book. When Lynette Noni announced this, I was astounded. This sounded just like Wild About You. It was anything but. My expectations were sky high and they got toppled very hard, very fast. This was more focused on the drama/showbiz part than the adventure. The fmc was too bitter for no logical reason. She 'hated' him because he supposedly jilted her. I jotted down to jealousy. She was not fun to read. The guy wasn't any better. His name is Zander ffs. I was bored to tears and the immature drama was lame.

I was not expecting a genre shift from Lynette Noni, but her contemporary romance Wandering Wild is just as good as her fantasy books.

I love romances that are more focused on the individual characters and their growth rather than lovey-dovey. The personal problems add to the push and pull, making it more realistic and adds to my emotional investment. I don’t know if I would classify this as a ROMANCE romance, but the hinting and teasing is there. I did like the two main characters and their developing relationship, so their interactions definitely kept me going. Zander was the lifeblood of this story for him. His character in particular was really intriguing and relatable and I found myself really looking forward to his chapters.

I wish there was more time spent on the big plot reveal. It frustrated me how it was handled and brushed over so quickly compared to the rest of the book. I would have wanted more pages to resolve certain character arcs. And where is my epilogue!? I wanted to see Zander and Charlie happy together as a couple after surviving in the wild and I didn’t get that.

That being said, I enjoyed this quick read and absolutely recommend this to contemporary romance readers!

This book had me whisked away on a thrilling yet calming adventure through the blue ridge Australian mountains. I love a good slow burn enemies to lovers trope mix in a little romcom situation it’s an immediate *YES* for me! I throughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun summer read. The attention to atmospheric detail just really set the tone! I love the characters and felt a little bonded to them which means they were written right!
Thank you to the publishers, NetGalley, and Lynette Noni for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Lynette Noni is a phenomenal author, and although this was very different to her other books, I still couldn't put it down. Wandering Wild is a fast paced read with plenty of emotion and little twists that kept me gripped. I loved it!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy to review

4.5 stars

This was such a fun treat for a book. Initially I didn’t realize it was YA, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. But I quickly forgot about that and really enjoyed the story being told. I kept thinking how the book was kind of my guilty pleasure. It wasn’t super realistic or believable, but it was a fun and enjoyable story. I really loved Zander and Charlie. Their moments together were everything and I loved all of their high-stakes adventures and near brushes with death. I did predict the twist at the end, and wasn’t surprised by it, but it didn’t detract from the story or the enjoyment at all. It was easy to read and pick up at any given moment. Thank you to Lynette Noni, NetGalley, and Blackstone Publishing for the free eARC.

-celebrity mmc
-surviving together
-grief and trauma
-adventurous
-closed door

This book was exactly the type of romance I would expect from Lynette noni. I feel her books have great character driven stories and this book was exactly that. The tension and character development was top teir and the pacing was so good you can read this book in a single day. Such a joy to read.