I haven't read a CLo book in a while and when I saw that this was going to be a Romancing the Stone type story, I was all in.

I liked Lily and Leo well enough. They're both good people who are still heartbroken over the break up and trying to just muddle through life. I liked the history they had and how CLo showed their connection and feelings in the past as well as the present. Nicole and Walter were the best and I could have done with a million more scenes with them.

Plot wise, it was okay. The romance part of it felt like an afterthought to the treasure hunt and I didn't expect that. I enjoyed the puzzles and double crossing and bad guys, even if I did find myself skimming here and there (although, the last couple of chapters and epilogue were great.)

Overall, it was a fun and quick read, but also felt more like women's fiction than a rom-com; however, I will forever love these two ladies and will always read whatever they put out.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

(Review for BookTrib.com) For those who have been waiting for a National Treasure or an Indiana Jones-style mystery nestled within a romantic comedy, wait no longer! Something Wilder (Gallery Books) by Christina Lauren will satisfy all your nerdy, puzzle-craving desires. (It did mine.)

I’ve been a fan of Christina Lauren’s since I read My Favorite Half-Night Stand. I love the way they develop characters in an ensemble romance. I especially love that, with each novel, they flirt with the line between romance and romantic women’s fiction, producing a great story with depth rather than trying to meet genre criteria. With a built-in HEA, Something Wilder lands solidly in the romance genre, but its intricate plot offers a depth that is signature Christina Lauren.

CANYONLANDS EXCURSION LEADS TO AN UNEXPECTED REUNION

Something Wilder begins with heroine Liliana Wilder — everyone calls her Lily — in a financial bind, struggling to keep her business as an Outlaw Trail adventure guide afloat. At least, until she can get enough money to buy back the ranch where she grew up. Hero Leo Grady has just been wrestled away from his office desk where he creates un-hackable algorithms to take part in a bros’ annual vacation — the bros being his friends: Bradley, his best bud; Walter, the emotional softie; and Terry, the sort-of, not-really friend who’s a jerk and a half.

Because it’s Bradley’s turn to plan the trip this year, Leo has no idea where they are going. Even when they arrive in nowhere, Utah (actually, the town’s name is Hester), he’s unsure what they’ve signed up for until a woman named Nicole tells them they are about to be cowboys on an adventure for the week, searching for Butch Cassidy’s famous stash of gold from his various bank robberies.

But what really throws him for a loop is what, or rather whom, he sees the morning of their adventure. It’s none other than Lily Wilder — his ex-girlfriend, whom he hasn’t seen in 10 years. She was supposed to be on Wilder Ranch in Laramie, WY, with her famous father, Duke Wilder, an archeologist and treasure hunter (cue the Indiana Jones theme). Instead, she’s here with business partner Nicole and Duke’s journal, leading tours into the mountains of Utah. When Leo and Lily meet again they realize two things: they’re still very much attracted to each other, and they have a lot of ground to cover (pun intended) in the coming week.

SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE MEETS ACTION-ADVENTURE PLOT

My first attraction to Something Wilder is that it’s a romance, and on that front, Christina Lauren doesn’t disappoint. The tension between Leo and Lily is palpable, but the author doesn’t draw it out or rely on miscommunication (probably because there is so much good story). In fact, Leo and Lily revisit their 10 years apart, exploring why they stopped talking early in the book. With things out in the open, they use the rest of the novel to rebuild their relationship … and things get a little steamy while doing so. So, if the awesome action-adventure plot doesn’t have you hooked, the second-chance romance will.

While an undercurrent of adventure runs throughout Something Wilder, a story twist halfway through the novel propels the action-adventure mystery plot to the forefront. I found that, even though I was rooting for Leo and Lily to be together, I was invested in trying to solve the mystery that unfolding around them. Riddles, twists and puzzles abound, making you feel like you’re in the red rock canyon version of National Treasure. The dangerous terrain of the Utah Canyonlands, paired with the myriad treacherous situations that befall this motley group of mostly novice explorers, would fit right into the next blockbuster action-adventure film.

The nerdy fun abounds in this novel (code-cracking, puzzle-solving math-genius Leo could easily be related to Reid from My Favorite Half-Night Stand). By the final pages, I was left feeling both satisfied with the ending and wanting more from these ball-of-fun characters.

Something Wilder is a light second chance romance perfect to get lost into. It’s a very easy and fast read and overall I enjoyed it. I felt the chemistry between Lily and Leo was lacking for me and I just didn’t fall for them as a couple like I wanted to. The mystery was fun and chapter 10 definitely threw me for a loop - it made the whole book a lot more interesting. I also enjoyed the twists at the end. Overall, this isn’t one of my favorite Christina Lauren books, but I’m happy I read it!

✨ A weekend vacation adventure turns into a scavenger hunt for treasure and a reunion of lost love.

💜 Lily and Leo had a heartbreaking separation. So when Leo shows up for a cowboy adventure with 3 friends, he discovers the leader is none other than long lost love Lily. Couple that with the legend of Butch Cassidy's treasure and this book is un-put-down-able.

💥This book was one of my most anticipated of the year and literally kept me engaged all the way through. Lily and Leo have such a beautiful connection and following Lily's experience through this book was especially so fulfilling. there are puzzles, dangerous situations, and some really nice twists. I love it and can't wait to read again.

My face at the end: 🤓

🍪 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from @Netgalley and Gallery Books.

💯 For more details on the books we read, be sure to follow me on TikTok (@zaineylaney). I will give you a list of reasons to read! Or join us on Youtube (@zaineylaney) for our monthly wrapups and snap book decisions.

Something Wilder was an action packed adventure! The authors note from the very beginning made me laugh out loud and I could easily see myself watching this story unfold in the movie theater someday! While it was lighter on the romance then some of their other books, if you're looking to get lost for a few hours and have a ton of fun then this may be the book for you!

She wanted to hate him. She wanted to resent this man forever. But how could she? Whether he was aware of it or not, he was looking at her like she was the prize at the end.


I loved the premise behind this story! A guy’s getaway where each year one of them plans their adventure, yet the others truly don't know the details of what they're going to be doing. How fun! And as fate would have it, Leo Grady ended up on a horseback riding, camping, fake treasure hunting adventure ran by his ex from ten years ago, Lily Wilder. Lily's father was a notorious treasure hunter and she had been using his maps to take tourists on adventures. And while it payed her bills, she desperately wanted to be able to buy back the ranch she grew up on. While guiding Leo's group on their adventure, their whole trip went sideways and left them realizing that there may just be a true treasure out there after all!

He nodded, smiling at the fire. “That was one crazy fucking day.”
This made her laugh, and he looked up at her, pleased at the sound. Her heart tugged.


Leo and Lily had a short yet bright and passionate relationship ten years ago. It didn't seem like either of them were able to get over their past, or how things fell apart between them. So when they saw each other again, feelings were still there yet there was a huge world of hurt. I'm so glad this story didn't drag out their talks about what happened in the past. I was thankful that wasn't an issue! Iin that latter half of the story I loved feeling the passion between them! But by then I was rooting for their second chance happily ever after and for them to just stay alive!

Hope was a dangerous drug, and Lily was standing at the precipice between two worlds: one that promised everything she ever wanted in life, and another where she’d have to figure out how to make the life she had into the life she wanted.


Something Wilder focused more on the adventure then the romance for the first part of the story. So I was ecstatic that the latter half added in the romance and even some passion in the pages. By 62% I was more than hooked and if I could I'd give that last part all the stars! While I guessed quite a few things, it didn't take away from my enjoyment with how the story unfolded. And that last part was so action packed and nonstop, that it was impossible not to smile, gasp or put down this book! With being in the wilderness, treasure hunting while solving puzzles and life and death situations, this story was a lot of fun!

Never in all her life had she imagined her own death, but if pressed, she’d say what anyone who was at least part optimist probably said: she expected to die when she was old, after a long, happy life. She absolutely did not expect to die in the Green River, chasing her father’s lunatic dream.


Something Wilder wrapped up beautifully and I loved getting to know what everyone was up to and that some of the characters definitely got their happily ever after! I think so many people will adore this story and I'd love to watch it as a movie. If you adore action, adventure and romance, then definitely check out this book!

Wow, I was totally surprised by Something Wilder. I've read a ton of other Christina Lauren books and this one was totally unique. It felt more like a romantic thriller than a typical romance book. I really liked the main characters and the treasure hunting storyline. This one kept me very engaged throughout and I couldn't wait to figure out what would happen with the treasure and Leo and Lily.

I also really enjoyed the character development and second chance romance. Overall, I would highly recommend this one !

It’s no secret that Christina & Lauren are super loved, especially within the bookstagram community. They are known for their witty romance novels with swoon-worthy love interests & long-remembered romantic chemistry. SOMETHING WILDER has been one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2022 since last year when they announced it was in the works, & it DID NOT disappoint! 👏🏼

Genre: Romance/Contemporary Fiction
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ (4.5/5 stars)
Goodreads rating: 4.02
Steam meter: 🌶 (1/5)

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🐴Ranches + horseback riding
☀️UTAH
🏜Red rock canyons
🔍Puzzles/riddles/the game CLUE
📍Traveling
🥾Going on adventures
💛SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE

*Swipe for synop! Review is too long to include it*

While the romance was adorable, this one is definitely a stand-out amongst Christina & Lauren’s other novels. I went into it expecting the romance to be the front & center plot-line, but the romance was almost a secondary focus; this plot is very creative & the most unique of all of their books, IMO. I LOVED that it was full of so much travel-ish adventure! 😍

50% into it, while I was enjoying it, some parts were a bit unrealistic & I didn’t know if it was going to live up to some of the others I adore by CLo… however, once the totally unexpected TWISTS started hitting, I quickly found myself entranced in the story & dying to know how it was all going to unfold!

While I would say this one is more PLOT DRIVEN vs. character driven, I absolutely adored Lily & Leo individually, & adored them even more together. Their reunion, pace of their rekindling, etc. was all so sweet/pretty perfect.
I also think CLo did an amazing job of writing Lily & Nicole’s friendship - such a power duo!
& the progression of Lily + her dad…🥺😭

LOVE & OTHER WORDS remains my favorite CLo book (5 STARS), followed by THE UNHONEYMOONERS… but those would be hard to beat in my book. This is a close third, yall. So good, and SO much fun. Definitely a bingeworthy SUMMER READ for you to add to your TBR!!! What a perfect pool-side/beach read this one will be.☀️📖

Something wilder is a fun second chance romantic adventure. Main characters Leo and Lily haven't seen each other for ten years. A twist of fate brings them together as Leo and his friends are on trip with Lily and her friend, Nicole, have been assigned as guides. The story alternates points of view between Lily and Leo as we follow a bittersweet return to romance. There is some chemistry between the characters, but it's balanced and slightly tempered with the adventure aspect of the story. The side characters are a lot of fun, which is a nice surprise. In all, I really enjoyed the book. It is a fun rom com wrapped up in an adventure story.

This book is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and it did not disappoint. This is so different from what I usually expect from Christina Lauren and I loved every second of it. Lovers to stranger to lovers again? Yes. There’s adventure, a little suspense and basically the one bed trope. This book was perfect. Leo Grady is perfection. The twists and turns had me gasping because I didn’t see them coming. If you’re in the mood for a little bit of a thrill + romance, I think this book is perfect for you.

Thank you #Netgalley for the chance of an early read of #SomethingWilder

I love Christina Lauren! Very excited to read their newest book. Loved the treasure hunting setup and the western setting. Leo and Lily were such a wonderful couple - second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes.

This book got me out of my weeks-long reading slump and made me shirk all my other responsibilities in favor of devouring it.

Lily Wilder is the daughter of well-known treasure hunter, Duke Wilder. His love of the chase meant he was also an absentee father, and the reason Lily hates codes and all things treasure hunting. So how did she find herself leading fake treasure hunts for tourists, in the Utah desert…out of pure necessity.

Leo Grady is on his annual vacation with his best friends. Each year they take turns booking, and this year he has no idea what they’re doing or where they’re going. So when he opens his tent to see Lily Wilder, the girl he fell in love with a decade…and a lifetime…ago while working a summer job at Wilder Ranch, he thinks he must be dreaming.

On top of hashing out their past hurt and disappointments, the trip takes a turn for the worse, and it seems that the treasure they’re hunting might not be so fake after all. Things get seriously wild and crazy from that point, so hold onto your hats folks!

I live in Colorado, and have spent time in both Wyoming and Utah near places described in the book, so I found it easy to picture the locations and people. I could almost smell the red dust and the sage brush, and found myself completely immersed in the story every time I picked it up.

Mystery, adventure, romance, this book has it all. Plus, it had enough twists to keep me gasping, while also giving me the happy ending I love so much in romances. Plus, I was obsessed with codes and archeology when I was a kid. It was a slam dunk for me.

yeeehawwww I’m swoooooooned*

This is like a hotter version of Nicolas cages movie national treasure. I was like confused 7 percent in and then BAM there was a dude pointing a gun saying “u mf imma get the treasure and make so much money while you shitholes get stranded and die”. That didn’t actually happen but that’s what it sounded like it in my head.
This book was such an unexpected turn I was actually laughing because I was like “CHRISTINA LAUREN THERES GUNS, MURDER, AND ACTION WHATS GOING ON?”. But by far this was the best that I’ve read by them and I would totally reread it again.

Oh there’s also second chance romance which was HEATED🔥

Time to rewatch national treasure for the millionth time and watch them catch independence of declaration shit😘✌️ (edit: I meant Declaration of Independence, they both sound right tho🥲)

Something Wilder is an eccentric mix of Hallmark meets Indiana Jones with romance, action, adventure and mystery as the protagonists embark on a treasure hunt.

Lily and Leo were young lovers who thought they would be together forever when unexpected events pulled them apart and kept them apart after missed communication. When they reconnect, they have to work through the misunderstandings and the challenges of their very different lives as they go on that aforementioned treasure hunt. It takes some time to get the full picture. I liked both Lily and Leo, but felt like I wanted something more. There’s also a motley crew of friends and foes to love and hate. I was particularly fond of Walter. I won't spoil who I particularly hated.

Something Wilder was quite different from what I expected from the authors, but it certainly was fun with unexpected twists and turns and a tad on the wacky side. I did enjoy the read overall.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was an unexpected surprise, a rollercoaster of an adventure packed with unrelenting tension and a spirited treasure hunt gone rogue. Reminiscent of shows like “National Treasure” and “The Goonies,” with a sprinkling of romance, this was a “wild” ride with robberies, steamy scenes, and a cast of villains you’ll love to hate!

Lily Wilder is on the brink of losing everything. She wants nothing more than to own the ranch her father hated, but in order to get the ranch Lily has to go on one of her father’s famous treasure hunts. Little does she know that the treasure hunt will turn into a deadly endeavor that brings not only violence, but a second chance at love.

This book was a lot of fun to read! I went in totally blind with little to no expectations and I walked away completely satisfied. I felt like I was watching a modern day western movie play out in my brain. And the best part, Leo and Lily’s sexual chemistry is fire! I loved the steamy scenes hardcore in this one, there is a lot of longing and pining. This was just all around a really fun read and a good escape from their norm!

Got my hands on an ARC of @christinalauren ’s latest, and I’m so glad I did! I will read anything they write, and this one definitely intrigued me. I won’t say too much because I think that my favorite part was just seeing where the story went. ⁣
⁣
I think this one was awesome — it kept me engaged, and even had a little mystery/intrigue to it. Highly recommend reading it, and you can get your own copy right now because it’s out today 5/17!⁣
⁣
Read if you like:⁣
» ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Christina Lauren! 💕 ⁣
» ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Adventure ⛺️ ⁣
» ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ The Wild West 🤠 ⁣
» ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Second-chance romance 😘 ⁣
⁣
Thank you to @gallerybooks for my copy of Something Wilder!

Something Wilder was a unique and thrilling read, with adventure and intrigue successfully interlaced with a compelling romance. This book gave the readers a complete unexpected journey following Lily and Leo in a second-chance romance with the backdrop of the gorgeous scenery of the desert in Utah. Christina Lauren did an outstanding job of pulling the reader in to the romance, while also providing amazing puzzles and riddles to solve along with the characters as they went on the hunt to find the long lost Butch Cassidy treasure!

In Something Wilder, I would have liked to have seen a bit more depth in Leo's character. While we learned a lot about him and his relationship with his sister, we did not experience that relationship much in the book. I believe this would have made Leo a more compelling hero, especially coupled with the qualities Christina Lauren brought out of him throughout the treasure hunt.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance that are looking for something special as wells as people that want to experience the thrill of adventure!

3.5. Not my favorite Christina Lauren--it lacks the depth and wittiness of most of their other books, and there are some callous / out-of-characters moments and remarks that took me out of the story. The chemistry between Lily and Leo in their second-chance romance is solid, though, and the puzzle-solving adventure is a fun twist on the usual romance tropes.

TW: guns, blood, violence, death, sexual content, incel dudes

Lily Wilder is the daughter of a legendary treasure hunter, and now leads fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah, using her father’s maps. Her life is not what she wants it to be, but it gets turned upside down when Leo Grady, a man she once loved, unexpectedly shows up for a treasure hunt trip with his friends. While Lily leads his group on the hunt, something goes wrong. The group starts to wonder if the treasure is really out there. It’s impossible for Lily and Leo to forget their history while they find themselves on an unforgettable adventure.

Christina Lauren is my fave author duo. I think this is the most creative plot that I’ve read by them so far! Both romance and adventure are stunningly woven together in this binge-worthy story.

✨I love a good second chance romance trope, and this one was perfectly executed. You have math genius & city boy Leo, and adventurous Lily whose dream is to buy back her father’s ranch.

✨The riddles + puzzles to solve the mystery of the treasure hunt were so fun. I loved that Leo’s problem solving skills allowed him to figure out the clues.

✨There is horseback riding, camping, and survival in the canyons of Utah with no phones. I loved Lily and Nicole’s friendship and how they handled leading the group of men.

✨The characters were fully developed. Over time you learn more about Lily and Leo’s history and why their relationship ended ten years prior. Their chemistry was amazing. Lily is independent and knows what she wants. Leo is respectful and a dreamy book boyfriend!

✨I really loved that the story wasn’t only romance focused. Christina Lauren takes you on a wild ride in SOMETHING WILDER, and it’s one I won’t forget!

4.5 stars

I really enjoy Christina Lauren's work. I was looking at their book list after I finished this one and realized I have only not read 4 of their books (3 of which are YA which I haven't really been reading for the last few years).

Something Wilder was one of my most anticipated romance novels this year (Along with Book Lovers) and I'm standing by it being well worth the wait!

This was an absolute adventure of a read. If it was a movie, I'd compare it to Sahara maybe, or the 1999 The Mummy. There was adventure and a treasure and bad guys and romance. A summer blockbuster in book form. Each character added something different to the story, which I really enjoyed. There were so many layers to this book. It honestly felt a lot different than most modern day romances because of the multiple elements Christina Lauren added to the book.

There are two small reasons why I'm stating it's a 4.5 star read (even though I couldn't deduct it a full star on the rating scale). I really enjoyed the prologue of the story, but then something jarred me a little when I jumped into chapter one. It took me a few chapters to get into the characters completely. Almost like I had to play a little mental catch up. Also, it read very seriously in my head for a good chunk of the book. I think I went into it thinking it was gonna be a little more of a lighthearted romp (a lot of the blurbed quotes for the book talked about it being full of fun and laughs and things) but this might have been just how my mind read the narration so I didn't think the book deserved being punished for that. It could very well have just been my current head space.

One last thing: Walter deserves his own book, he is a sweet delicate little flower and he really should get a little redemption and a storyline of his own.

Lily Wilder is the daughter of a notorious treasure hunter, Duke Wilder. After his death, Lily is left with very little money, a lack of patience for tourists, a broken heart and her father's legacy and maps of his adventures. Growing up on a ranch as a child, Lily hopes to move back there. But not without having to save enough to buy it back. Now as an adult, she is left in the canyons of Utah, moving there after her father sold their beloved ranch and starting a new life - showing others who the great Duke Wilder was and a tale of lost treasure. To Lily's dismay, the man who broke her heart way back when, shows up with his friends for a weekend adventure. Leo Grady left without a word and left Lily while attending to family back home. But when Leo never came back, and without a say as to why, Lily was left with nothing but a broken heart. So when Leo is back, she has nothing but hatred for the man. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with Lily. But little known to Leo, Lily is strictly only about her business. After the groups trip goes horribly wrong, the group wonders if perhaps the legend of the treasure is actually true. But this requires Lily and Leo is confront their past and work towards their future.

This was not your typical CLO but in all the best ways! It was such a fun read and loved the action pack ride it brought you on. It was a slightly slower burn read, but it was such a sweet story in several different aspects that I didn't mind it. It was entertaining to the bitter end and I found myself laughing a handful of times. Lots of twists and turns, and oh the adventure! Add this to your TBR like, right now!