Title: Something Wilder
Author: Christina Lauren
Publication: May 17, 2022
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Romance, Fiction
Pages: 379
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession…or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Frankly, Lily would like to take him out into the wilderness—and leave him there.
Leo Grady knew mirages were a thing in the desert, but they’d barely left civilization when the silhouette of his greatest regret comes into focus in the flickering light of the campfire. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.
But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime.
REVIEW:
Full disclosure! This is my third Christina Lauren book in the past 30 days. I’m obsessed! If I were to review Something Wilder by Christina Lauren in one sentence I would say an absolute must-read that gives you romance, mystery and humor in one go!
Typically the books I have read so far by Christina Lauren are full of romance! Something Wilder had romance, but it was a fun mystery as well with lots of twists you don’t see coming! It was the perfect mix of romance and mystery. I loved Lily and Nicole. Their back and forth banter as long time friends was fun to read. I felt a connection to Nicole because she reminded me a lot of me. Leo’s character was very personable too and his friends had me laughing out loud a few times. I also felt Christina Lauren did a good job making you feel strongly about certain characters. You loved some and you strongly hated others.
Once we got closer to the end it was twist after twist of things happening and shocking moments where my jaw dropped. I’m a fairly untrusting person and I didn’t not see the end coming. If I were Christina Lauren, I’d give a go to writing a mystery. They totally had me.
Something Wilder is probably my favorite book by these authors so far. It had everything I love about books and gave me a lot of really great feelings. I couldn’t stop listening. Plus I love the visuals in this book being in Canyonland National Park. It’s not somewhere I’ve ever heard of and the scenery could be pictured by the descriptions. I could feel the dirt and smell the fresh air. I’m adding it to my list of places I want to visit! It takes a great author to give you visuals like that.
I cannot say it enough, but if you love a really good romance with funny, compelling characters that will you keep you turning pages faster than you can read, then Something Wilder is for you. I am already looking for my next Christina Lauren read. They are in my top five favorite authors from now on!
