When I got approved for my ARC of Something Wilder from Net Galley, I gasped with excitement. I've become such a Christina Lauren fan in the past few years and was thrilled to read their newest release a few months early, but I'm sad to say I was a bit disappointed with this story.

Something Wilder is really more of an adventure story than a straightforward romance, which isn't a problem for me, but I found a lot of the events along the way to be pretty over-the-top in a way that sort of drew me out of the story rather than in. I didn't ever buy how Leo and the guys he came on this trip with could ever have really been friends in the first place, which ultimately hindered my enjoyment of the story.

The Lily/Leo dynamic was nice, but I think their relationship still took a backseat to the larger scavenger hunt story. This definitely won't be in my top Christina Lauren books, but I'll continue to look forward to anything they put out.

It's like National Treasure and Sahara and Fool's Gold had a baby and I loved every page it. Not to mention the misunderstanding conflict between the mc's was cleared up early, quickly, and believably. Overall just OODLES of fun.

Even with the description I underestimated the adventure in this story. I was expecting a low key romcom. What I got was a story mixed with mystery, adventure, friendship, enemies, love, treasure and second chances. For those wanting a low key romcom this might not be the book for you—but you would be missing out.

I’m genuinely shocked I didn’t DNF this. It got better between like the 1/2-3/4ths mark and then I was confused immediately after. I can’t tell if this was supposed to be a thriller or an attempt at one. Christina Lauren is one of my absolute favorites so I really hate how flat this fell for me.

I am a huge Christina Lauren fan and they are auto-buy authors for me! Something Wilder lives up to the hype and expectations, but is so much different than anything else they have written. This novel is love story wrapped up in a Western-style quest through the treacherous and unforgiving backcountry of Utah after an annual friends' adventure trip goes wrong.

The authors do a fantastic job of world-building and the setting - dusty, unpredictable, and dangerous - plays an integral role in the plotline. The characters are complex and I particularly loved the strength of the female characters. The heroine, Lily, is determined, capable, and strong, which is the perfect match for beta hero, Leo, who is gentle, kind, and intelligent. As usual, there is plenty of chemistry and electricity between the hero and heroine. This is a suspenseful second chance romance filled with twists and turns. It is cinematic in scope and will have appeal for a broader audience than their usual romcoms/romances. If you are usually a "girly" romcom reader, this is much different, so adjust your expectations accordingly. Highly recommended!

CW: assault, gun violence, rated R

Advanced copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I adored this book SO MUCH. It was such a non traditional romance story, but I am *here* for it. Featuring a treasure hunt, second chance love, camping, laugh out loud moments, beautiful scenery and a great supporting cast (for the most part—IYKYK) I liked all the twists and turns this story provided! I did not see any of those coming!

Romance was an underlying theme in the story but it wasn’t the main focus. As a romance lover, I’m was okay with that, because the other parts were SO good (others might not feel the same way). Leo and Lily are both such strong and different characters. I loved watching their story unfold as they sorted through emotions from the past and navigated the present. I appreciated the communication between the two; there wasn’t any immature conflict. Also, Leo is a new book boyfriend. Swoooon.

Honestly I kept envisioning the location in my mind and I wanted to be there so bad. While a few parts of the story are a little…could that reallyyyyyy happen?, I throughly enjoyed the plot!

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and adventure! I can’t wait to read what they write next!

More great writing from Christina Lauren with some really surprising twists. Second change romance which wasn't my favorite but good characters.

This is the first Christina Lauren book that fell short for me. They tried something new with this adventure plotline but I wanted more romance and less adventure.

This book is absolutely excellent. I am a huge Christina Lauren fan and have read all their books, so I thought I knew what to expect. I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen and I loved every second of it. Definitely one of my favorite books they’ve ever written!

This is an excellent book involving love, adventure, and treasure hunting. I’m couldn’t put it down and read it in one day. I highly recommend!

This was my first Christina Lauren book! I can’t believe this was my first! What have I been waiting for! On top of being my first book written by Christina Lauren, this is my first 5 star read this month! I can’t think of a better way to start off March. This story follows Lily Wilder and Leo Grady on an adventure that will change their lives forever. Lily adventure takes pace in the rock canyons of Utah. Christina Lauren’ description of Utah makes me want to experience the early morning dawns, the scenic horse back rides, and sitting my the fire drinking hot chocolate. This story contains action, romance, and surprise twist galore! I honesty could not put this book down! If you havent already go pre order this book coming out May 17.

A second chance romance centered around an adventure! I’ve read everything Christina Lauren has written and I will say this is different from their usual romance but phenomenal none the less. I loved the bit of romance and adventure elements woven throughout the novel. The setting and backdrop of the Utah desert and mountains provided a stunning visual for this second chance romance.

After 10 years of miscommunication or silence, Lily and Leo reconnect in a dangerous hunt for treasure. Christina Lauren skillfully captures the awkwardness of that second chance love, their struggle to rebuild their lives together, and the betrayal they face from the people closest to them. Their romance is believable, and we root for their happily ever after. The only misfire in this enjoyable read is the characters’ reaction to the death of another character. They seem to move on from that tragedy pretty quickly. Grab a copy and enjoy their quest for love and hidden treasure.

I always look forward to a new Christina Lauren book and was happy to hear that Something Wilder was coming out soon. A second-chance romance along with a treasure hunt made for a fun adventure. Without including any spoilers, I did find that I had a hard time moving on after THAT happened but all in all enjoyed this one.

Oh my gosh this book. I absolutely adored it. Probably my new favorite Christina Lauren book. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review. This story had everything: romance, thrills, surprises. The writing was so spot on to help me feel things about the characters and plot choices. I absolutely loved it. Cannot wait to read it again.

I will literally read ANY Christina Lauren book without reading a description. They are one of my top favorite authors. However, this book just didn’t live up to their others for me. It was still a fun book, but was just missing something. I feel weird writing a review for one of their books that isn't 5+ stars, but I want to be honest in my review. I'm still so thankful for the opportunity to read this. I will of course be ordering this for my library and still suggesting it to patrons. We all have different interests and I know others will enjoy this book.

I loved this book!!

I’ve been a huge fan of these ladies and when I saw this book I knew I had to have it.

This book was definitely different than what I was expecting. I haven’t read many books with horses and living on a ranch and such, but I loved how these authors did it. And the mystery and unexpected twists!!

Also can I just say how much I love Leo and Lilly? I loved their love. I was so happy they got a second chance and ended up together.

My first Christian Lauren book! I've heard so many great things about their books and I have to say I was not disappointed. This book is great for those who love romance and adventure!

Growing up, Lily's father had been more interested in seeking treasure and adventure than spending time with his daughter. Between consistently leaving her behind and selling the family ranch, Duke Wilder widened the already large gap between him and Lily. With nothing to fall back on after her father's death, Lily begins hosting "treasure hunts" through the desert to make a living.

The story begins with a new group of city slickers arriving for an adventure. Lily is stunned when one of the men on the trip is none other than the former love of her life, Leo. While Lily was still at the ranch, Leo had come to work as a farmhand. The two had connected and fallen in love, only to drift apart when Leo rushed home for a family emergency, never to be heard from again. As events begin to unfold, Lily and Leo get thrown into an actual treasure hunt across the Utah desert. Could Duke Wilder have ACTUALLY found the long-lost treasure of Butch Cassidy? The twists and turns of this story will keep you on your toes as Leo and Lily wander caverns and trails on their quest.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While some things were predictable, I honestly never knew what was going to happen next. Leo and Lily's love story was sweet but I would have liked a little more of their backstory. Of course, I'm a sucker for a good love story so it may have been perfect for someone who isn't as into romance. The puzzles and riddles were very well thought out and definitely tricky! Those had to involve a lot of research! The adventure of the book definitely kept me on my toes, awaiting the next trick around the corner. All of the characters brought a lot to the table. I'm glad the story wasn't 100% focused on Leo and Lily because everyone else was so interesting as well. I definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more Christina Lauren books in the future!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Something Wilder wasn't a typical Christina Lauren book. It contained romance, treasure hunting, & etc. Lily Wilder is the daughter of an infamous treasure hunter. Leo, Lily's ex-boyfriend, shows up for one her treasure hunting tours. Thus begins the wild ride of treasure hunting and second chance romance.
#Treasure hunt ; #NetGalley ;#Something Wilder

Thank you so much NetGalley and Gallery for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Lily Wilder, is the daughter of famous treasure hunter, Duke Wilder. Alongside her best friends, Nicole, Lily runs a treasure hunting retreat for tourists. She’s more than ready to say goodbye to treasure hunting and finally buy her own ranch, and so when the last tourist group signs up, the last person Lily expected to see was her long lost love Leo Grady, the man who broke her heart 10 years ago.

The story follows Lily and Leo (and their friends) and They endure action, adventure, mystery, shocking twists, and the possibility of a second chance.

This was an interesting read. The book is more focused on the treasure hunting aspect of the book than the romance. I was left a little disappointed and bored throughout the huddle of the book. I wished we got to see Leo and Lily interact more and talk about their feelings and navigate relationships. However, I loved the banter and LOVED that there was no third act conflict (thank you C&L).