This was not your standard Christina Lauren affair - but had more adventure wrapped in. Loved the setting. Loved the duo of Lily and Leo. Overall fun storyline

Something Wilder is just that… WILD. There’s a lot packed into this novel. Romance, treasure hunting, shoot outs, etc. If you enjoy an action packed book with tons of crazy happenings, this is it for you.

I will say the one downside to me was that the plot felt choppy. Some of the things that happened felt very unrealistic. Like people would never choose that. And there was such an easy alternative for those dumb choices. That really took away from the story for me.

Overall, it wasn’t horrible and there were some enjoyable parts. The idea was incredible. Execution was 3/5.

I felt this story was very different than your typical Christina Lauren story. I loved the mystery and rooting for Lily as she went on this adventure; the physical one as well as the emotional one. However I thought the storyline with Terry was a bit much but maybe it was just something different and I wasn’t expecting that. Not my favorite but always entertaining.

Despite being the daughter of an infamous treasure hunter, all Lily Wilder has ever wanted is to own her family's ranch and live a simple life. When she meets Leo, all she wants is to add him to that plan and he says he's all-in. But at the end of a perfect few months, Lily's life falls apart almost all at once: Leo leaves suddenly to care for his mother and is never heard from again, her father sells the ranch without warning, and suddenly Lily is on her own with nothing and no one. But Duke Wilder's daughter is nothing if not strong and resourceful, and she uses his carefully documented journal to lead tourists on fake treasure hunts to pay the bills, dreaming of one day being able to buy back the ranch. Years later, fate unexpectedly brings Lily and Leo back together. Was Duke's search for a treasure all in vain? And will Leo and Lily be committing themselves to the same fate and one more heartbreak?

I'll be the first to admit that I've historically not been a huge fan of Christina Lauren's books. I liked The UnHoneymooners, but typically they're a bit too predictable and romance-y for me, @sorrywerebooked's resident prude. But when this one came across my desk courtesy of Gallery Books, I gave it a chance and I'm so glad that I did.

While Something Wilder does have the typical Christina Lauren energy to it, there's more depth than I expected. I loved the author's note about their research, and while there was obvious sexual tension and a second-chance romance at play, for most of the book I genuinely didn't feel like the romance was overdone.

The plot requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, but what fictionalized account of treasure hunting and the wild west doesn't?

This one is going to be a hit and I expect to see it in-hand at every beach and pool this summer. If you're a fan of Christina Lauren's previous work or contemporary romance in general, you're going to love Something Wilder.

This writing duo has high talent. This book is a case of "its not you, its me." I felt like I wasn't getting something with this book. I could tell there was humor and wit in this book but it was over my head and I just was not enjoying the over the top adventure. I have read other reviews and I know there is an audience for this type of book, but unfortunately it was a miss from me. I would recommend it to others who have not enjoyed their previous books and want something a little out there.

Such a fun book! Different than Christina Lauren's other books. I couldn't help but think I was reading an adult, more romantic version of HOLES.

This book is so much fun! Twists and turns, adventures, second chance romance. It's got everything you need for the perfect escape from reality for a bit!

What a ride! This book had everything I wanted in an adventurous romance. A few parts of the story seemed rushed but all was quickly forgotten in the next twist and turn of the trip! I loved meeting Lily and Leo, and their story was a welcome distraction that ended too soon!

UNPUTDOWNABLE.

This book was completely unputdownable for me! I stayed up until 2am finishing it in one sitting. And let me tell you, my heart was racing from (almost) the first page to the last. The adventure and landscape description was so beautifully written, and the twists and turns made me gasp and facepalm more than once! The second chance romance between Leo and Lily had me cheering so hard for them! I loved how mature their relationship is and their communication made me so happy.

Something Wilder comes out on 5/17 and y’all, this is a book you absolutely need to pre order and get on your TBR as fast as possible! I will be buying a copy because I NEED this gem my shelf!

Thank you @gallerybooks for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

A wild new adventure for Christina Lauren fans, with the usual second chance romance (my favorite!) but also a fun new setting and crazy plot!

Do I unconditionally love Christina Lauren books? For sure. Have Natasha and I been reading them since the original series which was... shall we say... less plot driven? Yes we have! So this is an author duo I have known and loved for a long time and continues to be a favorite for a reason. Out of their foray into more contemporary romance novels, I always rank Love & Other Words as my number one, with The Unhoneymooners as a close second. I would need to reread those to figure out where Something Wilder falls in that ranking, but what I do know is I have a new favorite.

This book is very different from their previous work and it just so happened I loved everything going on with it. It’s categorized as an “adventure romance,” set in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Lily runs an adventure horseback riding tour, where she leads groups through the desert for a week of fun, camping, and learning about Butch Cassidy folklore that she learned from her treasure hunting father. When Leo’s friend group picks this as their annual boy’s trip, no one realizes that Lily is Leo’s long lost first love! The book takes a wild turn when the group realizes there may be a real treasure hunt involved....

While I would not like to take the Something Wilder tour myself- a big no thank you to camping for a week- something about the Canyonlands setting, the puzzles and treasure hunt, and the sweet romance was just so good!! This was the most plot driven book they’ve written by far, and I want more like it! Also instead of one bed, this book gives us a new romance trope to love... one sleeping bag lol.

I always love Christina Lauren books and this one was no exception. I felt like they really took us on an adventure. I loved following the story of Leo and Lily, complete with mysteries to uncover around each corner. This plot was definitely more mysterious that other books by this duo and it was a welcome surprise. I whipped through it!

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Warning: there may be some slight spoilers ahead! I truly don't know how to discuss my reasons for disliking this book WITHOUT mentioning some specifics.

I was really excited to receive an ARC for this book because the last Christina Lauren title I read (The Soulmate Equation) was fantastic. I had read a couple of other titles by them and felt pretty optimistic, given that their most recent release was (in my opinion) their best. It seemed like maybe they were really honing their craft, finding their stride, etc etc.

And the premise for this sounded SUPER unique. I think it's becoming difficult to really cover new ground in this particular genre. And a rekindled romance amidst a treasure hunt sounded intriguing. As the novel opens, Lily Wilder is bitterly grieving the loss of her treasure hunter father, Duke, and the ranch he raised her on. In the years since, she's been forced into a sort of tour guide role, taking guests out onto a super tame, super scripted venture into the wilderness. However, when Leo, the ex-boyfriend that ghosted on her nearly a decade ago, shows up with a group of his guy friends, tensions stir. Sticking to the script becomes nearly impossible.

This is the part where I'm going to spoil some things. You have been warned.

Because this not only goes a little off script. There is a pretty identifiable shift in the narrative when things just start to become too bizarre to buy into. One of Leo's "friends" pulls a gun on everyone, steals Duke's notebook, and eventually falls off a cliff to his death. And then we're all supposed to care about the romance and the eventual treasure hunt. Meanwhile... a dude died. And almost no one seems to care. Granted, the guy was not a great character. You weren't meant to like him. However, he is still a human being that fell to his death. And not just that -- shortly after, ANOTHER one of the guys grabs the gun and holds one of the guides hostage. Only to be like, "Whoops. My bad. I got a little caught up." They all agree to just keep it moving. Leo and Lily offer us some forced proximity antics. And like the characters, the readers are just supposed to stop caring about the fact that an actual person died on this trip.

If, for whatever reason, that doesn't throw you off, I should mention that the focus is almost entirely on the treasure hunt, rather than the romance. And the romance that is offered? Doesn't make much sense. There was a slight miscommunication that is very quickly resolved. And then they continue to complain about non-existent problems that stand in their way. Again, as I'm reading, I'm like, "the problem is the dead guy..."

I think this premise could have had a lot of potential, but the execution was not to my taste. Definitely one of the weirdest romance novels I've ever read. Not something I'd recommend.

I loved this book! I am generally a fan of Christina Lauren's books and I think they are a great writing duo. This time around, they made a fun romantic adventure with twists that I didn't see coming (as I originally expected an ordinary second chance romance). It was a unique take on romantic comedy and I'm so happy I could read it in advance!! Thanks so much, Christina Lauren, NetGalley, and publisher!

Wow! I have to say that this is a fast pace, easy read. We can really use a book like this to get our minds off of what is going on in thew world. When I first started the book, I felt Lifetime Romcom movie vibes but Christina and Lauren really twisted the plot in a direction that I wasn't expecting. I was completely sucked into the characters and the evolving storyline. Get ready, this is not your average love story!

I had followed this author (these authors) for some time on social media so was happy to be able to get this book. It started off as a typical book with some romance and I thought I knew how it would go but it sure changed direction!

The story circles around Lily Wilder and her father, Duke, who had been a well-known treasure hunter. While growing up, Duke would always give Lily puzzles to solve and at his death, one more was left. However, before his death, Lily thought Duke had pretty much lost everything, leaving her penniless and without her beloved ranch. On top of everything else, Lily lost the love of her life 10 years before the story begins.

So, we find Lily operating an adventure-type experience in the desert based on her famous father's treasure hunts. She takes small groups of people into the desert where they spend several days unplugged from modern-day life riding horseback while they retrace the routes Duke might have taken in his searches for treasure left by famous bank robbers like Butch Cassidy and Sundance. The story picks up when a group of men show up for the weekend, their yearly guys' trip. This one, planned by one of the four, was different as the group had not been told exactly where they were going or what they were doing. The unknown part---One of the men was Lily's long lost love, Leo. How do you do your job without remembering the feelings you had, and maybe still have, about one of your clients?

Now, I will say this story took a turn with the guys and the "problem child" who did not want to follow the rules as set up by Leo and her co-worker/friend, Nicole. The twist in the story happened and to be honest, I had to step away from the book. I could not believe what was happening and what the characters were suggesting doing; I began to wonder about the authors of the book. I made myself get back to the book after time away and I am so glad I did, but wow, I just was not prepared for the events that followed. I was pleased with the ending of the book even though I was left with a question or two.

I am looking forward to trying more books by these authors, Christina and Lauren...aka, Christina Lauren. I do wonder if they all have these suspenseful moments.

I did receive this book from #NetGalley and #GalleryBooks. #SomethingWilder

This book was such a light, fun read. When Lily Wilder's dad sells their ranch out from under her, she is devastated. Not only is her home gone, but now she has no job and her boyfriend has disappeared. This book is set ten years later, where Lily is working as a treasure hunt guide using everything her dad has taught her. Of course, one of her customers happens to be her ex boyfriend. She leads him and his friends on this grand excursion that turns out to be not just for fun.

I have never read a book by Christina Lauren that I didn't love! This one was no exception. In addition to a poignant and steamy romance between Leo and Lili, the adventure, suspense, and unique setting of the Utah canyons made it a must read. Thanks for the opportunity to preview it!

Thank you so much @LeoPRNY & @NetGalley for giving me this physical ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 17 May 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Lily's father was a notorious treasure hunter, but when he died he left Lily with nothing but his coveted hand drawn maps or the red rock canyons in Utah. To make ends meet, Lily takes tourists out into the wilderness on treasure hunts, but she never expected that her ex-boyfriend would be amongst the group of tourists or that they would actually find real treasure.

WHAT I LIKED:
- that I trusted the authors enough to let me dip my toes into cowboy romance
- it read like a cinematic experience

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- too many action sequences in a romance for me
- the fact the initial romance crumbled because of miscommunication
- I'm not a history buff so I wasn't particularly enthused about learning about Butch Cassidy or his long lost treasure
- this book is vastly different to their usual romances

Y'all. This might be my favorite book so far this year. There is something about a "Wild West, lost in the canyons with no cell service and bad things are happening" vibe. This book was NOT what I expected and I'm so glad. This was a total suspense and thriller! But yes, romance still included.
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Lily is a total ranch girl/adventurer. She leads travel groups on a cowboy type excursion. Lily has never had issues until her ex-boyfriend shows up for a trip. And some weird shit starts happening. Think murder, lost treasure from outlaws, and deadly rock slopes.
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Loved this one! Thanks @netgalley for the early release!