Something Wilder

Written by Christina Lauren

Narrated by Christina Lauren, Patti Murin and Jon Root

The “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar) and New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners present a charming and laugh-out-loud funny novel filled with adventure, treasure, and, of course, love.

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 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 treasure hunt of a lifetime.

This page-turning adventure full of second chances, complicated relationships, and the breathtaking beauty of the American Southwest will take you on one wild ride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781797140063

Christina Lauren

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of longtime writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times, USA TODAY, and #1 internationally bestselling authors of the Beautiful and Wild Seasons series, Autoboyography, Love and Other Words, Roomies, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, The Unhoneymooners, The Soulmate Equation, Something Wilder, and The True Love Experiment. You can find them online at ChristinaLaurenBooks.com or @ChristinaLauren on Instagram.

Reviews for Something Wilder

[olivia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What in amazing book! Left me wanting more! You have done it again!

[Kelsie Jones · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a really fun book to listen to. I enjoyed the mystery/suspense element!

[Beth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh, man. This book was such a wild ride! I really had no idea what to think when I started this one. I've read CL books before, so I wasn't sure how the whole Goonies/Indiana Jones/Fool's Gold/Western rancher elements would work out in a contemporary romance, but it was fantastic!

Lily and Leo were a great duo with excellent chemistry. I get how people could not be totally sold on their romance seeing as how they were only involved for 5 months before being separated for 10 years. However, the angst/pining/longing/heat they had once they were back around each other translated well regardless of the time they spent apart, and it still was a very sweet second chance romance.

The overall story played out incredibly and had enough twists and turns to keep you invested the whole time. And that little plot twist closer to the end? Ugh, I was so upset but I loved having that in there. I liked how the book was balanced. Yes, it was a romance, BUT there was so much more happening with the treasure hunt/ranching aspects that really drew alot more of my attention.

Duke would have been an interesting character to see more of. I know it wouldn't have worked well in the story since the focus is on Lily and her journey of living with his legacy, but I still think even a prologue or something from his POV could have added just a little something extra to the mix. And it could have helped shed more light on their father-daughter relationship, which only would have boosted the story.

The side characters were very well written, especially Walter and Nicole! Couldn't stand Terry, obviously, but he was meant to be an unlikable guy from the start.

This one's got a little bit of everything: second chance romance, open-door romance, action, adventure, murder, mystery, horses, ranches, the Old West, and more. And if you'd like a twist on the classic one bed trope, get ready for one tent/one sleeping bag trope! I highly recommend, especially for adventure lovers who want a lil spicy romance thrown in.

[Lily · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had asked in a book group on FB for books with Stardew Valley vibes and this book was a fantastic recommendation!! I love this book so much, I can’t wait to read more from Christina Lauren

[Heather Smith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a great easy read to get me out of a reading slump. I got a little bit of anxiety with a few of their decisions but glad the decisions were made

[Gabriela de la Cruz · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Bueno para pasar el rato y salir de un bloqueo lector

[lauren lopez · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Wanted to like it so badly, it was difficult to connect to the characters. I kept hoping with every passing minute it would build the connection this story lacked. Just couldn’t get into it. Will have to try another book by this author.

[suzywells · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book! Unusual story! Kept me interested til the end!

[Franka · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nice, funny summer romance. Not what I was expecting from CL, but not bad! Looking forward to next one!

[Rachel Yoder · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I've liked a few other books by these authors, but some are a swing and a miss for me. This was one of those. It had potential with the plot and if you're into cute stories you may like this. For me, there wasn't enough witty banter and angst. I like a bit more intrigue and spice. I DNF ...read 1/2 the book and just wasn't holding my interest, nor was I feeling invested.

[Catalina garcia pimentel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved it! It has adventure, romance, and a touch of mystery and suspense.

[Oana Anton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A truly adventurous book filled with twists and turned. I recommend it.

[Lamanda Quiring · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I liked the narrators but I didn’t feel connected to the characters at all. So I wasn’t as invested in the romance storyline. The big plot points were good but then I’d feel myself getting bored at times. Overall this was okay.

[Andy Alvarez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the Awesome adventure, really great characters and love story too!

[Brenda Griggs · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was inventive, challenging and thrillingly romantic. Loved it!

[SerendipityReads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not my fave Christina Lauren book. I quite liked the H, and Walter…but the women in this book were almost entirely unlikable.

I understand that they were TRYING to write a book that read like an adventure movie, but, eh…just too many crazily unlikely scenarios for me.

It was interesting though, in terms of being something different.

[Imelda · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining but not christina Lauren’s strongest work. Some events in the story left me thinking “what a shame that these characters’ common sense were compromised just so the plot can be advanced” — especially when at least one of them is portrayed as logical and analytic.” The authors have a disclaimer in the beginning that it’s fantastical and adventurous, but some things should at least have stayed reasonably believable.
Great audiobook to put on during a long commute when you can afford to tune out of it once in a while.

[Kaylee Tuttle-Topping · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wasn’t expecting this to be as much of an adventure book as it was! And considering that is not my style- at all- I wasn’t sure this one would be for me. I really should have more faith in Christina and Lo at this point, honestly. They have never let me down thus far and I doubt they ever will.

[Allison Scott · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good story that hit on everything - wit, adventure, and romance.

[Yati Nunez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are a lot of mixed reviews on here regarding this book, but i recommended giving it a chance! If you enjoyed national treasure the movie, you will enjoy this one.

[Sable Stevens · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I just want to start by saying I LOVE Christina Lauren. All of their books are some of my favorites. This one was sadly a miss for me. It was a little cheesy. I don’t know if the audio version had something to do with that, but I just didn’t swoon over it like their other books.

[wanda sloan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

More of an adventure than I had patients for but in the end it was a good read.

[Khari Fletcher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really cute & sweet book, it did have a twist in the middle but I enjoy the book and was an easy read about two people finding their way back in an unexpected way.

[Bri Gutierrez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is hands down my favorite work from them. I loved the action/adventure they crafted and as always their story is fun.

[Clista Seals · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love a second chance romance, and a treasure hunt to boot! Excellent adventure!

[Elisa Leontovich · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Liked the treasure hunt aspect, it was a different storyline from the Christina Lauren writing duo. However the romance story portion was not as developed, perhaps not the main focus for this book

[Jenna Vaughn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a cute sweet story of first loves reunited. I enjoyed the adventure and the friendships and characters.

[Cheryl Morrell · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

So excited about the concept of the story but the foul language was too much to ignore.

[Grace Guevara · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

READ IT NOW
It was so good couldn't put it down