Good, if predictable, historical romance with an island survival aspect. An ocean liner at sea in the Pacific full of the wealthiest Americans of the early 20th century has an accident and sinks. Vida Hazzard and dozens of others are stranded on an uninhabited tropical island, where a love triangle ensues along with Vida’s slow discovery that the world is more than clothes and parties, and that she longs for adventure and true love. The message that a young woman should stop worrying about what society thinks and listen to her own heart is a strong lesson even for today’s women.

I'm starting to think my review of every book with a nonsensical love triangle is just going to be me yelling "THEY CAN ALL HOLD HANDS! THEY HAVE MORE THAN ONE HAND! LET THEM ALL HOLD HANDS!"

If you are wondering what Anna Godbersen's (of Luxe series fame) new novel Beautiful Wild is about, imagine Titanic, but instead of Jack dying in the end, Rose, Jack, and Cal end up shipwrecked together on a deserted island. This book has all the trappings of early 20th century life for the rich and famous, including sumptuous ball gowns, luxury ocean liners, dashing young men, daring young women, and societal reputations to uphold.

Vida Hazzard has gotten herself into a sticky situation by spending time with the very handsome, very eligible Fitzhugh Farrar, and her honor is on the line. So what's an upper class girl to do when her reputation is in tatters? Why get the boy to marry her, of course! Which is why Vida, with parents in tow, sets sail on Fitz's luxury ocean liner to make him fall in love with her. Aside from all of the things that can most definitely go wrong on a massive ship in the middle of the ocean, Vida wasn't counting on falling more for Fitz's enigmatic friend Sal than for Fitz himself. When a hurricane wrecks their ship, these three find themselves stranded on an island where they have to learn how to survive in ways they never had before. But who will Vida choose - the charming Fitz or the rough-around-the-edges Sal?

Beautiful Wild was a mixed bag for me. Having never read Godbersen's Luxe series, I don't have a pre-ordained affinity for her like many of her other readers do. I didn't know what to expect; however, I did anticipate something a little deeper than what Godbersen provides in this book. Val, Fitz, and Sal are shallow and lack dimension and that little something special. Vida, in fact, is quite insufferable, and is just as haughty and flighty as you would imagine a girl of her standing to be. There's nothing endearing about her, and good luck to whichever guy she ends up choosing because he is going to have his hands full with her! As for the male characters, they were fairly indistinguishable from each other to me, and I felt indifferent toward both of them. I also found the writing in Beautiful Wild to be quite awkward and difficult to follow at times, and there were numerous passages that just could not hold my interest.

So, in all, Beautiful Wild is an "okay" read, but Titanic definitely did the doomed ship at sea story line better. This one lacks passion and purpose.

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I enjoyed this historical ya from Anna Godbersen. The queen of teen historical fiction. She had a knack for bringing the world and time period alive to make the reader feel like they are there. And the Beautiful Wild is no different.

Godbersen has quickly risen to the top of my favorite authors' list with her magnificent storytelling abilities. This book is no exception! Through typical YA storytelling, we encounter a delightful Historical Fiction tale that is wonderfully displayed. Though I hesitate to give away too much of the somewhat-predictable plot, I am happy to say that this book touches on themes sure to encompass a variety of interests and delight readers from many walks of life. I cannot recommend it enough!

Anna Godbersen is a wonderful writer of YA historical fiction. Beautiful Wild explores the desires of women in the early 20th century. When an unsinkable ship carrying Vida, a young, ambitious woman on an adventure to find her husband, sinks, several passengers are washed up on a far-flung island. Vida discovers that the social conventions she has followed her whole life have no place in the wild. She must find out what she is really made of to survive.

I think the plot is a great way to explore how social conventions limit us, especially women. Who would you be if no one was looking anymore?
I do wish the story was paced a little better. It all happens quite quickly, and relationships don't take enough time to develop. It is a little predictable, but I love the concept so much that those flaws can be forgiven.

I highly recommend you read any of Godbersend's books!

I wanted to love this YA romance, but sadly it was a bit too young for me. YA can be hit or miss for adults and while my adult self didn't love it, I could see my teenage self ADORING it. As a 36-year-old, the emotional depth of the characters left something for me to be desired, but with ballgowns, a love-triangle, and a story set on a stranded on a desert island, I can see the appeal for younger readers. If you are an adult that likes YA, I'd say skip it, but if you are a teenager - dive right in!

Beautiful Wild is certainly NOT the other books I’ve adored by this author. There isn’t anything wrong with it per se, but it’s flat. There just isn’t enough spark. The island is intriguing but it’s not special. It doesn’t bring enough to create a dazzling new world of intrigue.

I can’t buy into the love interests either. There isn’t much there to make any of the events believable. Vida is so flippant and her change is too sudden and drastic. Even with the constant pulse of desire for adventure, she’s just not believable. None of the characters sizzle.

So disappointing. I had such high hopes.

It’s more of a 2.5 book but since I didn’t hate it, I can’t dip below 3. If this is a series, though, I won’t continue it.

I have loved Anna’s books since I stumbled upon The Luxe. When We Caught Fire is a favorite to book talk students. But I didn’t love this story as much as the others. It felt far fetched and yet believable. I just didn’t fall into this one like I did the others.

Unless you are that one remaining person on the planet who hasn’t seen the movie/read anything about Titanic, you can probably skip this one. This is pretty much the same story, but absent most of the excitement.

I love shipwreck books (especially when the ship in question is an early 20th century ocean liner) and I’m generally not that picky about the quality. Unfortunately, this one still left a lot to be desired, despite the premise being quite promising.

The biggest problem with the book is that it lacks excitement at every turn. Even the moment of the shipwreck felt understated. Perhaps even more important for a reader like me, it lacked atmosphere in multiple situations (ocean liner/deserted island/Gilded Age Manhattan) that ought to have been slam dunks for description and feel.

The story largely fixates on Vida having conversations with herself about how she is/will be a changed woman. It’s not a terrible premise but the obsessive amount of text dedicated to it felt ham-fisted and like it missed the mark. On the deserted island, for example, Vida actually adapts almost instantly and far more competently than her fellow passengers. The idea of Vida growing up and “becoming” isn’t as simple as that, but it’s over-talked and underwhelming in the narrative.

The love triangle is boring and predictable, with each of the three participants acting as a stock character for their role: Plucky heroine learning to be less shallow! Superficially adventurous rich boy with a good heart! Intermittently pouty servant with an inexplicably magnetic personality!

All of this is a giant bummer, as I’ve loved all of Godbersen’s work prior to this. The Luxe series and the Bright Young Things series, as well as the standalone When We Caught Fire, are excellent and I’d recommend readers seek those out instead of this book.

Doesn’t it feel like it has been ages since we’ve gotten a book from Anna Godbersen? I remember back in the day, before I even read Romance or had a blog, I used to read Godberson when I strictly only read Young Adult books. So I was excited to see that she was coming out with a new series after this long time. Because of the nostalgia, I feel a bit sentimental toward this author and had some pretty high hopes about this new book.

BEAUTIFUL WILD keeps in touch with Anna’s signature style. It’s Historical Romance with a Young Adult focus. I definitely feel like she has the potential to write Historical Romance for adults. I’m not sure if she has, but I appreciated the fact that she uses the terminology well despite writing for a younger audience.

However, I did find this book to be quite slow. It didn’t grip me like I thought it would and I’m also not fully sold on the concept of the series either. It might be first-book syndrome so I am going to give book two a go to decide whether or not this series if for me. I also did kind of wonder about the cover since I don’t really think it matches the tone of the storyline, but maybe it’s not such a big deal for some.

So while I did have some high hopes, this one was a bit underwhelming for me. But I will try the next one out to see if the author can win me over with this new series.

Vida Hazzard dazzles in every ballroom she steps foot in, much to the delight of gossip columnists and the chagrin of her parents. A young woman that knows what she wants, who isn't afraid of a little impropriety, and who loves a challenge, Vida finds herself chasing down the most eligible, adventurous bachelor she meets: Fitzhugh Farrar. When the two meet up on the maiden voyage of one of Fitz's ships, disaster threatens to undo all of Vida's carefully laid plans.

Overall, I'd give this book a 3.5, but I rounded up since half stars really aren't allowed. In the beginning of the story I could barely tolerate Vida, but I did grow to like her in the end. She is set in the early 20th century, yet she has inklings of feminism that are admirable to see. If you want a more classic love story with the modern thread of not needing to be a damsel in distress, Beautiful Wild does fit the bill. My problem is that sooo many other YA books also do this, and I feel that Beautiful Wild doesn't do this as well as other stories. I was interested, but I also wasn't ever truly surprised by the plot or Vida's inner dialogue. This is a quick, fun read, but I don't see myself picking it up again.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of the Luxe series by Anna Godbersen, I was excited to begin Beautiful Wild. Vida is the type of character that I enjoy following throughout a story. I really liked seeing her change throughout the plot and the inner struggles she battles throughout the book. Should she behave how society expects for a lady of her wealth or should she forge her own path? The one thing I didn't care for was how choppy the plot was. I felt as though important events all of sudden happened without much detail or lead up. Overall, it was a good book and I would recommend it to readers who like adventure with a hint of romance.

I really loved Anna Godbersen's The Luxe series, so I was excited to check this new book out. It's historical fiction, which Godbersen TOTALLY excels at but I'm picky about. So I was very pleased to immediately love the main character, Vida Hazzard, as the book opens.

Vida's not your typical debutante - she's got a streak of spitfire in her, and her parents are concerned she's ruined her chances for a good marriage in San Francisco after attending a party and being chummy with Farrar second son Fitzhugh. The party is a celebration of the Farrar Line's newest ship, the Princess of the Pacific. And after Vida's performance at the party, her parents get them suites onboard so that (hopefully) Vida can snag Fitz in matrimony and fix her problem.

And that is Vida's plan - but you know what they say about best laid plans, right? Vida meets Fitz's best friend Sal (who she initially writes off as a nobody) and then a Titanic-esque tragedy occurs; the Princess sinks and Vida, Fitz, Sal, and a few dozen other survivors end up on a deserted island.

Vida learns much about herself while in survivalist mode on the island, and when they are rescued and returned to the civilized society she used to love, she has problems fitting back into the genteel lady mode.

While slow in parts, I really enjoyed the story and the decisions Vida makes. Godbersen takes her characters on a wild ride in this book and it's very descriptive and fun to read.

I am a huge fan of Godberesen and always look forward to something new from her. What I like best is her witty ladies and their brazenness to defy their stations in life. Vida is no different as she reaches for the stars in choosing a suitor in Fitzhugh who is the only man she feels can match her in every way.

Godberesen’s characters feel real and true to their time. Although most girls in Vida’s position would be well mannered and reigned in, she is the one that stands out and appropriate consequences are held before her if she does not secure a husband. Fitzhugh is a great leading man as he embodies the rich, in charge, takes no nonsense demeanor that would be catch of the day. He is handsome as well and plays into Vida’s dreams quite nicely. Sal fills out the love triangle with his different take on life and mysterious ways and handsome features.

Of course, this is all thrown to the wind once they become stranded on an island in the middle of the Pacific. These characters begin a drastic change that makes for a great read and interesting thinking point. Vida’s changes are real to life as she learns to survive on her own and is able to think for herself. Her emotions about accepting herself and not caring what others think were relatable and pushed the barrier of the damsel in distress stereotype. Vida’s transformation was wonderful and watching the slow burn romance come to fruition was well worth the read.

I've been a huge fan of Anna Godbersen since I discovered the Luxe series and fell in love. Through the years, I've moved away from historical fiction, but I still love the royalty and the fancy dresses and the balls and so I still get a kick out of her work--especially now that she's focusing on stand-alones! Her latest one, Beautiful Wild, is quite the adventure. From the deck of a giant ship to an island to the ballrooms of NYC, the story of Vida Hazzard is one historical fiction lovers won't want to miss.

After a raging good night in San Francisco, Vida Hazzard, up and comer, board the SS Princess, a new top-of-the-line decadent ship found for Hawaii and then Australia--with her parents in tow--with the express goal of bagging the second son of the ship's owner as her husband. Her flirtation with Fitzhugh Farrar goes swimmingly, but she can't help but be intrigued by his assistant, Sal, too. But when the beautiful ship gets hit by another vessel, it becomes clear that this fairy tale will not have it's perfect ending. Stranded on an island while they wait for rescue, Vida, Fitz, Hugh, and a cast of characters from the ship will have to learn to survive and figure out what life will be like when they eventually return home.

This is a sweeping romance, a shipwreck, a deserted island, and a society story all rolled up. It's a pretty quick read, and really the only fleshed-out characters were Fitz, Vida, and Sal, so you don't have to worry (or enjoy, I guess) being bogged down with other people. The descriptions are gorgeous as always, the female characters are wiley, and this is a classically good Anna Godbersen book. Not something that will stick with me forever, but an enjoyable read for a couple days.

I love Anna Godbersen's lush, romantic writing, and this was no different. I'm always pulled right in to her historical worlds and characters' drama. I enjoyed the love triangle with Vida, Sal, and Fitz, and the whole shipwreck premise was so different and exciting. Overall a fun, angsty read that I would recommend to fans of historical fiction or romance.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book is a mix between the story of the Titanic and the show Lost. I would say it's pretty slow moving. The island portions of the book dragged on and it started to get pretty predictable. Vida was a great main character, but her arc wasn't anything extraordinary. In the time period of the book, she was extraordinary. However, it felt very typical of a historical fiction romance. The love triangle of the story was also pretty predictable. Fitz and Sal were what you could expect. One a very prominent socialite with the family and the money. The other is the socialite's employee/friend/paid exploring buddy. It's all pretty much what you can expect from a historical romance.

Although! I did enjoy it. It was an easy read and I felt like I could go through it quickly. If you pick up this book for any reason, do it because you like a good old heroine who is ahead of her time.

A mix of Titanic and Lost, this book provides such a fun and adventurous plot that kept me drawn in the entire time of reading. I absolutely loved this story.