Book Review: Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery
Release Date: May 17th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

WELL, THAT WAS DIFFERENT.

And I think I liked it?

I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense but I’m pretty sure this would fit well into that category. What started out as a general retreat into the back country for some R&R quickly turned wild. I was shocked when after those first few chapters things went in directions I couldn’t have even predicted.

The second chance romance was alright. I did like Lily and Leo. I’m glad they were finally able to discuss what happened all of those years ago, even if I wasn’t totally on board with it all. There’s a nice slow burn between them and I’m always here for a fantastic happily ever after.

All of the antics amidst the treasure hunt were really fun. I do like that this was very much an escapism type read. It was completely different than usual CL books and I leaned into the flair this story was handing out. Some of the final twists surprised me and I’m perfectly satisfied with how everything went down in the end. A good story, a wild chase, and another CL book I liked.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: open door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, death, parental abandonment, death of parent (off-page)