Christina Lauren's newest novel is unlike their previous books! A second chance romance while treasure hunting in Utah. I did enjoy the story, the characters are lovable, and the banter is so fun. However, some of the decisions that the characters make don't exactly make sense- without spoiling, that is all I'll say. The plot is creative and fun, so ignore that voice in the back of your head wondering why the character would do that and it's a great book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun book! A second chance romance plus treasure hunting, plus adventure, plus friendship, plus betrayal! This book was jam packed with action and a little romance.

Friends Leo, Bradley,and Walter go on their annual vacation and bring along Terry - more of an acquaintance and definitely a creep. This year was Bradley's choice, and they end up at a treasure hunting adventure outfit run by Leo's ex-flame Lily. Both Leo and Lily are shocked and all the unresolved feelings and attraction bubbles to the surface when things go super wrong on the trip.

I never know what to expect with a Christina Lauren novel, and Something Wilder was a great adventure rom com written in their unique voice. I loved the treasure-hunting plot, the chemistry between Lily and Leo didn't feel as fleshed out as other book's main characters, but it didn't take away from the fun of this one!

Pun absolutely intended, “Something Wilder,” is quite a bit wilder than your average romance novel. This was my first Christina Lauren experience so I didn’t know what to expect; it was more of an adventure tale with a nail biting treasure hunt than a romance. I would actually recommend this to people who say they don’t like reading romance because the second chance romance, was carefully woven between a high adrenaline scavenger hunt and the tension of there only being one bed… enjoyable and unputdownable!

Somewhere between 3-4 stars

Something Wilder was a lot wilder than Christina Lauren’s other books (pun intended), but it had a whole list of things you didn’t know you needed, all rolled into one.
Treasure hunting. Check.
Second chance romance. Check.
Misunderstandings. Check.
Car chases. Check.
Betrayals. Check.
Riddles, codes, and mysteries (oh my!). Check, check, and check!
And who can forget Sweet Potato, AKA Walter? CHECK!

The book follows Lily and Leo, who dated 10 years ago. Now, Lily owns a company that takes groups on adventures in the desert to find Butch Cassidy’s hidden treasure, using codes and riddles, and of course, her treasure-hunting father’s old maps. And who happens to be in the current group? Ohhhhh, you know. You know you know. 😊

I loved how wacky this book got. It started out pretty tame, but then you hit 30% and shit. Just. Hit. The. Fan. This story was hilarious, but there were some moments that I’ll admit were just a little too much.
On the flip side, there were definitely some lulls in the book, and I would get a little bored. It usually picked up pretty quickly, but it was a struggle for me since I couldn’t read this in one go and was picking it up and putting it down quite a bit.

I also loved the characters: Lily and Leo, Nicole, WALTER (I just loved him—honestly, where is the nearest Petco!?). I struggled with Terry a lot though. You’re supposed to hate him, which is pretty clear, but I hated him to the point that I was like WHY IS HE EVEN HERE! (There was a reason, but I wanted to push him off a cliff from Day 1).
The other problem I had with the characters was that Christina and Lauren may have leaned into the extreme of their personalities a little too much. Like you wanted to smack some sense into them, too much.

I loved the book, but I would’ve liked a little more balance to make it a five-star read for me.

This was over the top and ridiculous and kind of fun and overall, perfectly fine. Totally different than all the rest CLo books - it’s basically National Treasure with a sweet second chance romance. I love a good adventure story and while there were some over-the-top moments, it was exactly what I expected and I had bunch of fun reading it!

"Something Wilder" is a true second chance romance love story. This action packed novel takes readers into the Wild West on a hunt for treasure and along the way, an old flame is rekindled. It's a great story of love, friendship, and betrayal!

I grew up loving Romancing the Stone, and this is the closest book to that type of vibe. Yes, there’s a romance, but it’s almost secondary to the Indiana Jones vibe - such a fun read!!!

Wow. Christina Lauren can do no wrong!

Something Wilder is literally a wild ride — there’s second chance romance, adventure, a treasure hunt, and was so much fun to read with a lot of twists! And can we talk about how my emotions?!

Thank you, @netgalley for my advanced copy of this book. I can’t wait to get an actual copy for my shelves when it releases!

4.5 Stars

Christina Lauren books are always a hit or miss for me. I would rate this more at a 3.5, but rounded up to 4 stars. Something Wilder definitely drew me in from the start and I was exciting that I was so enjoying it. Lily and Leo were the perfect couple and I love all the antics throughout their adventure. The latter half of the book did seem to drag for me and I started losing some of that spark that I had from the beginning. (SPOILER ALERT) The one thing that in the story that felt unnecessary and disappointing was the betrayal Leo got from one of his best friends. Maybe it was for shock value, but I thought just having Terry's Lost Boys would be enough drama as is.

After 10 years apart, Leo and Lily are surprised to find themselves reunited. He left Lily at her ranch 10 years ago to care for his younger sister after their mother had been in an accident. Lily has spent the last 10 years hating for not calling. Lily is now an adventure guide, leading groups on trips through the desert. Leo shows up with a group of friends. The sparks are still there, but they both have resentment towards the other. How will they cope when forced together?

I enjoyed this- a lot- it was fresh. Something different. Everything I read lately feels the same, but this was not. Plus, I have always had a penchant for the west and cowboys. (Pretty sure if stems from my love of the Little House series as a kid...) The only thing I did not care for- the treasure hunt was first and Leo and Lily were second. I feel the relationship and their interaction were lacking somewhat.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very different book then their usual. It was cute but i felt like there wasnt alot of chemistry between the main characters. The story was sort of all over the place and the ending was underwhelming. It was a dun plot but too predictable & left me feeling subpar.

I've read most of Christina Lauren's books and I've enjoyed a fair bit of them. However, this one was really disappointing.
Lily Wilder, with the help of her best friend, is leading a wilderness adventure for tourists. Her father was a famous treasure hunter and absent parent. Now that he's gone, Lily uses his old maps for her business when she takes tourists into the desert. Then Leo, Lily's old flame, turns up with his friends to take part in her fake treasure hunt. Lily and Leo are now out in the wilderness without having seen eachother in years. However, there's a lot more going on with the other members of Leo's group.
The book started off great. I loved the first 100 pages where Leo and Lily realize that they will have to spend time together. However, the story falls apart pretty quickly after that. The characters make ridiculous and poorly considered decisions throughout the book. I hope that Christina Lauren's next book will be better.

OH MY GOD. Christina Lauren are paying homage to old school adventure romances with SOMETHING WILDER, but they are also paving a new way for contemporary romance to have high stakes, fun, and huge risks. The twists and turns in this were so truly delightful--I gasped out loud over and over again that they kept making narrative choices that I would only expect to find in an old historical romance. SOMETHING WILDER is, I hope, an example of a new era of contemporary romance in which drama is high, misogyny is not tolerated or excused, and the love story is HEARTSTOPPING.

This copy was kindly given to be by Netgalley and the publisher to read for review. All opinions are my own
TO HELL YOU RIDE

I am thoroughly obsessed with the west. I have traveled out there twice in the last few years and can't wait for my trip in this fall to, can you guess where?.... canyonlands Utah!! This book just stocked my fire of excitement to go back out there- much like Lily, it has captured my heart and I don't know if I can keep leaving it to return to the East Coast. I am a strong enemies/hate-to-love romances so second chance isn't something I pick up often and I really enjoyed it in this one!!
The action, betrayals and adventure and the feel of the wild west that comes alive in the pages of this story were exactly what I was looking for. I want to go on a Wilder Adventure with them.

Fun. Adventure. Romance. What more could a girl ask for! Leo Grady and Lily Wilder fall in love and spend five months living together on Lily's family ranch. They are torn apart by one life changing event after which both are left wondering, why? A decade later, fate will bring them together when Leo's friend plans an adventure trip to Utah to follow the Outlaw Trail and hunt for Butch Cassidy's treasure. This book was honestly refreshing for it's adventurous take on romance. The story of Lily and Leo being brought together will warm your heart and keep you on the edge of your seat.

This book is about a long lost treasure and a long lost love. Lily Wilder is a strong female character in this book! She makes a living leading people through their very own treasure hunts. In her latest trip she comes across a man she met many years ago. This adventure is one they will always remember!

Christina Lauren does it again! Just like past novels, this books sucks you in on the crazy adventures of Lily Wilder as she heads out on a missions to find her fathers buried treasures. This book, complete with twists and turns leaves you wanting to read more and see if you can solve the mystery of Dukes money yourself. Highly recommend and would make a great book club read!

This book was FUN! I am no stranger to this duo's writing, and Something Wilder definitely did not disappoint. Because Christina and Lauren are my auto-buy authors, I didn't even bother to read the plot. Oh boy, was I surprised! Horses, adventure, lost treasure, betrayal, complicated love history--all the things I adore! Oh, and I can't forget to mention the one tent situation!!! And the kissing in the rain! Okay, I'll stop now.

Something Wilder is unique and fun, and I loved it! Lily Wilder, the daughter of a notorious treasure hunter, has made adventure her full-time job, as she takes groups on fake adventure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. But then a group of men from the city show up, and in that group is her past lover, Leo, who is more than ready to reignite their spark, and of course a lot of mayhem unfolds. This book made me want to go on an adventure! It was funny and at times it felt a little outlandish, but in the best possible way. It felt like an old western meeting up with a contemporary romance. I loved that Leo was the romantic and that while it wasn’t a grump/sunshine, I liked that Lily was more of the grump in this. She’s guarded and so strong and I loved her character. I loved the moments of vulnerability for her and her excitement. Second chances are some of my favorites and I loved the approach this story took, only showing the past them in the first chapter. It was fun and a little angsty and just a really unique story. I loved the treasure hunt, and I loved this cast of character. Lily’s employee Nicole is so loyal and such a firecracker and I loved her contrast to Leo’s friends, especially Walt. This book really is just a joy to read. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, writing duo Christina Lauren can do no wrong!