Ten years ago, Lilly and Leo were in love with stars and their eyes an entire ranch of possibilities to themselves. However their perfect world came crashing down when Leo got a call, pulling him away from the ranch and losing touch with Lilly forever. Now, Leo and his buddies unknowingly take their yearly trip to the mountains of Wyoming, where Lilly happens to be their guide. A simple, explorative trip turns in to much more, not just with Lilly and Leo but the secrets left behind from Lilly’s late father, a famous cowboy with secrets and schemes.

I typically love almost everything by them and they’ve created some of my favorite books, but this is definitely not a favorite of mine. The story was beautiful, so detailed and fascinating and well told, however I just think the content was not for me. The essence of the book is the Wild Wild West: stories of Butch Cassidy, treasure hunting, mountain life, and all-around cowboy tales. I wanted more passion and excitement and romance, which came a lot later as the focus shifted on the two main characters’ connection, however I just wanted much more of that much sooner. Still a must read if you’re looking for a unique tale.

Who among us didn't want to try something new during the pandemic? I can't blame Christina Lauren for wanting to branch out from their typical books, but unfortunately this just didn't work for me. I will read anything they write and will be back for their next book. Not deterred, but this one wasn't for me.

Every character in this book is an awful human being. They're mean or selfish or just flat-out cartoony. And normally I adore Christina Lauren collaborations but reading this was just so unpleasant. I don't like leaving negative reviews and it would be so much easier if this book were poorly written, but it's not. It's well written and well paced...but the characters make me want to continuously yell at them for being so mean and shallow.

The dynamic duo of Christina Lauren are back with what I think is their most exciting romantic comedy novel yet! The reader is taken to the open outdoors of Utah for a second chance love story with the addition of a treasure hunt! I was certainly not ready to see this become an almost thriller/action adventure novel but I had fun nonetheless. The romance between the two MCs were slipped into the overall premise very well and I was glad to see that they had the time just the two of them to air out their grievances for the miscommunication that led to their separation a decade earlier. My only qualm was the POVs switched between Lilly and Leo quite often within each chapter and it was difficult at times to decipher that this POV change occurred abruptly.

The more we saw Leo solve the codes and puzzles left behind by Lilly's father the more I felt like I was back watching National Treasure! I think this is going to be a big hit when it releases to the world later this spring, especially for readers who are well versed into the creative minds of Christina and Lauren. While The Soulmate Equation still holds the number one spot in my heart by these authors, I think Something Wilder has snuck into the second favorite spot!

Rating: 4-4.5 Stars

Lily Wilder is lost. 10 years ago her father, Duke, died, she lost her ranch in Laramie, and her summer romance with Leo Grady died as well. Now, she’s barely making ends meet as a guide in Utah when a group of men sign up took take her tour, and one of them is Leo.

What at first I thought was going to be a sappy romance of bare chested men on horseback turned into something, well, “wilder” with a full on treasure hunt for Butch Cassidy’s long, lost treasure. A great and fun novel! Well done, Christina Lauren.

Thank you @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the advance reader copy. Coming soon on May 17th look for Something Wilder and enjoy the adventure.

SO GOOD! Could not put this down and read it in one day! Loved the adventure, mystery, and romance. So fun!

I have loved the Christina Lauren books I have read in the past, so I requested this one as soon as I saw I could and was thrilled when I was approved to read the digital ARC.

The novel began by creating characters I immediately wanted to know about and definitely cared what happened to them. I am here for second chances for any couple who has faced and overcome difficulties. The irony of them meeting in their separate lives captured my enthusiasm even more.

And then came a plot twist that I didn't expect. And it became odder and more unbelievable. One of the things I've loved most about Christina Lauren books is that every time, surprising plot twists were absolutely believable and added to my enjoyment of her stories. Something Wilder disappointed those expectations. I could never let go of the sense of disbelief at the choices the main characters made to move the plot forward. Like, really? No, that simply shouldn't happen in real life.

Unfortunately, my disappointment colored the rest of the novel for me. I honestly would have DNF-ed the book if I had not already committed to reading it. Is my disappointment big enough to keep me from reading other CL books? Heck no. One miss among so many good ones happens. And I know the team writes diversely enough that this novel is bound to find fans. This one just didn't resonate with me.

Something Wilder is an action packed romance novel unlike anything I have read before. I have been counting down the days till this was released and am so grateful to have received an advanced copy. I couldn't put this book down and read it in less than 2 days. I was really rooting for Lily and Leo throughout and felt their connection was genuine and believable. Their angst pulls at your heartstrings in all the best ways that Christina Lauren books always do. I tend to gravitate towards character driven stories vs plot driven, but was delighted and surprised to be sucked into this story's twists and turns. I didn't see the biggest twist coming and loved how it was all tied together. This book is great for fans of second-chance romance stories (my absolute favorite), adventure seekers and those who love touching family stories as well. A huge thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Christina Lauren for delivering another stellar novel!

Christina and Lauren did it again! The adventure in this book was so exciting and Lily and Leo’s story melted my heart!

I went in expecting second chance romance and lots of adventure and it ended up being SO MUCH MORE!! The grief. The caregiving. The love. And most of all, all of the obvious research that went into this book made it beautiful.

Fun read! Having read several Christina Lauren books in the past, I was surprised when I saw this was an adventure romance. The book was a break from the author duo's usual writing style and I thought it was a good story but perhaps a little over the top in parts. I enjoyed the adventure and setting of this book but would have liked more romantic connections between the two main characters. Two of my favorite books from this duo are Unhoneymooners and Soul Equation so I had high hopes for this one but it just didn't live up to my expectations. I will be looking forward to their next book with excitement and anticipation because I'm sure they will wow me next time!

4.5 stars!

Something Wilder is romantic, adventurous fun! The latest book by the prolific writing duo, Christina Lauren, is different than any of their other books I’ve read. The authors state in a note before the book starts that this book was written as an escape from the real world. It’s meant to be fun, and I could tell they had as much fun writing it as I did reading it.

As a child who grew up watching Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone films, I love a good treasure hunt story. Especially when it also has romance. So I had no patience when I was approved for an advanced copy, diving into this story set in Canyonlands National Park, Utah as soon as possible. Moab is also at the top of my and my mountain-biking husband’s bucket list, and reading Something Wilder made me even more eager for the trip.

Lily Wilder is the capable daughter of Duke Wilder, a famous treasure hunter, who seems to have loved the hunt more than the treasure, leaving her with nothing but his treasure maps when he passed away. She’s been using those maps to lead groups on fake treasure hunts to make ends meet for years. She’s shocked when her next group of adventure seeking men includes “the one who got away”, Leo Grady.

Leo is just as shocked, knowing how much Lily disliked her father’s treasure hunts. But when the trip takes a disastrous turn, they need to work together to stay alive—and maybe find some real treasure while they’re at it.

I adored Lily and Leo. She’s strong and brave and he’s unflinchingly devoted to her. Even though it’s been ten years since they were together, their chemistry jumped off the page. The romance was classic Christina Lauren—swoon-y and heart-racing—with kisses in the rain and some steamy tent sharing. The supporting cast was entertaining, as well, giving this motley team a more updated slant.

Like most of the duo’s books, Something Wilder would make a great movie, with plenty of hi-jinks and romance, set amid the red rocks of Utah. I hope this more adventurous type of love story is only the first of many for this talented writing team.

I really loved this book! At first, I was getting major flashbacks to Love and Other Words because of similarities in the couple’s situation. The story surprised me though, and was so incredibly different. It was action-packed and full of adventure. The main characters, Lily and Leo, are so sweet together. I love a second-chance romance and Christina Lauren does an amazing job writing them. I was so fully immersed in their world and couldn’t stop reading. I am so excited for this one to be released so that I can buy a physical copy. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for letting me read the advanced copy!

I love Christina Lauren’s books. This was a great fun read.
Lily Wilder has a rough edge to her ever since the love of her life ran out on her., now she has a dead end job of
on what used to be her dads ranch directing week long vacations city slicker style.. A job that comes naturally too her knowing the terrain and riding horses her whole life.
Leo and his buddies go on week long adventure trips every year., he certainly didn’t expect to find the girl, that he still moons over, around the same campfire as him
But there’s so much more to this story that we s filled with mystery, adventure and some pretty funny scenes. .
Definitely worth reading.,

This might be my favorite Christina Lauren novel! This book is so unique and different from other books they've written! THE MYSTERY AND PUZZLES WERE WRITTEN SO BEAUTIFULLY. It kept me thinking, without the answer being obvious.

As is standard with Christina Lauren books, the two main characters are adorable, compelling, real, and fun to read about!

This book is so fluffy, warm, and unique!

Christina Lauren have taken a huge departure from their usual style by enfolding this second-chance romance in an action-adventure mystery set in the desert southwest. Ten years prior, Lily Wilder had just taken over her family’s Wyoming ranch with plans to run it with her new love, New Yorker Leo Grady. Her father Duke is a famous treasure hunter whose main focus has been to find outlaw Butch Cassidy’s hidden loot. This obsession led to Lily’s mother’s abandonment and her father’s casual neglect. So, no one is more surprised than Lily when, years later, she is running a wilderness adventure camp that offers horseback riding through the Utah Canyonlands with the added lure of finding (fake) treasure.

When Leo joins a group of friends on their annual trip, he finds himself face-to-face with Lily for the first time since disappearing from her life with no explanation a decade earlier. It’s obvious that they’ve both suffered heartbreak, and know that bitter truths will need to be revealed if they have any hope of forgiving each other and perhaps giving in to the attraction that still simmers between them. However, when the trip takes a sinister turn, the two find themselves fighting for survival while following a series of clues left by her father that will either lead to the actual treasure or cost them their lives.

It’s clear that the authors have done their research by how accurately they depict the barren, beautiful but dangerous desert landscape and offer a glimpse of the criminal element of the Wild West during and following the Gold Rush. As usual, they’ve done a masterful job of building tension in the couple’s relationship, in this case with the added element of terror. If you like your romances full of intrigue and heart-pounding thrills, you can’t go wrong with Something Wilder. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I normally love the romance that Christina Lauren brings to a book and second-chance romance is my favorite romance trope. However, this book fell a bit short for me. Lily is leading groups on fake treasure hunts that are based off a real treasure hunt. She doesn't particularly enjoy what she's doing, but it provides enough to get by. She and Nicole (who did not get enough "screen time") work together and are tough ladies.

Then a group of four guys books a hunt. One of the guys is Leo and neither connected the dots until they showed up. Lily and Leo dated for a few months... 10 years ago. Leo had to leave to take care of his mother and as a result of a miscommunication, both thought the other was just ignoring them. Yet somehow, they never got over each other... but also never picked up a phone or stalked on Facebook?

Anyway, ignoring that small detail, they fall for each other again. I feel like it wasn't a second-chance romance as much as an insta-romance that was deemed okay because they had dated a decade ago. It didn't really work for me.

The book also focused on the treasure hunt. I loved the description of the hiking and the camping. But, I thought the real-life treasure hunt and the drama that ensued was way over the top. In some cases it reminded me of an armchair detective that magically just solves the crime even though no one else can (a trope that bothers me to no end). I didn't love Lily's character and Leo's wasn't developed enough for me. Lily seemed to be this strong, no-nonsense woman... but then once Leo was in the picture, that faded.

Overall, I appreciate Christina Lauren delving from the tried-and-true formula of meet-cute, fall in love, have some drama that could have been avoided by communicating, get back together and this was a light, enjoyable read.

Adventure - wilderness - betrayal - exes - romance
If I could sum this up shortly, I would say: young country girl loves city boy, girl had high expectations for her life - girl becomes woman and all expectations were let down….in a happenstance situation where he ex is back, are the expectations back on the table or is it worse than before?

Lily Wilder was raised as the daughter of a famed treasure hunter and an absentee father, Duke Wilder, who left her with little patience for the job...or much money in the bank. But Lily is resourceful, and she now uses Duke's prized hand-drawn maps to lead visitors on fictitious treasure hunts through Utah's red rock canyons. It covers the bills, but it's not enough to allow her to realize her dream of reclaiming the beautiful ranch her father sold years ago, and it's certainly not enough to deal with the sight of the guy she once loved striding back into her life with a motley band of buddies eager to hit the trails. . Leo is eager to put the past behind him and rekindle his relationship with his one and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, stating unequivocally that it will never happen.

The book switches points of view between Leo and Lily which creates more romantic tension and furthers the storyline. In certain areas, Something Wilder differs from Christina Laurens previous work, but not in others. It's their first foray into a more "adventure romance," which I thought was a nice change of pace and one I'd want to see more of in the future. (It's a rom-com, to be sure, but it's a more realistic portrayal of what an adventure romance would be for any of us ordinary folk who found ourselves wandering the American Southwest in search of riches.) There's fantastic dialogue, great friend groups, and tension in this Christina Lauren tale, as in any Christina Lauren novel.

Another amazing book by Christina Lauren! This was a whole new adventure - an out in the desert kind of adventure. The characters were intricate yet relatable. The power of money and what it can do to you is something! I loved the unexpected romance.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!