While the reader is taken on an actual adventure, the emotional journey is woven in seamlessly. The theme of forgiveness is very much present throughout the story, both with Lily and Leo’s relationship, but also in the strained relationship Lily had with her father. If there is one thing you can count on in a Christina Lauren book, it is witty banter. Nicole was a delight, and I would have loved a dash of her point of view. What I love the most about Christina Lauren books is that even their side characters are well developed, and often the most hilarious characters.

While I usually put reality aside when reading a romantic comedy, I did wish there was a bit more development in Leo and Lily’s relationship together. Leo is a dreamer who put everything on hold to take care of his family. Lily is an inspiring female lead, tough and determined to achieve her dreams. The story is told from both points of view of Lily and Leo. I truly felt like I was on a horseback adventure and could easily visualize the canyons of Utah. It is marketed as an escape from reality, and it certainly succeeded in not only taking the reader on an adventure, but also in adding a mystery to solve along the way. However, it is still done with their trademark romantic comedy flair. It is action-packed and full of suspense.

Something Wilder is so different from the other Christina Lauren books I've read. From there the trip takes a turn for the worse and they end up on the adventure of a lifetime, forced to work together and confront their pasts to go on a real-life treasure hunt.

Lily wants to keep things professional, while Leo, full of regret, wants to reconnect. When a former love, Leo Grady, ends up on one of her tours by chance with a group of his friends, Lily and Leo have different ideas of how to proceed. A profession that, while it pays the bills, doesn’t get her much closer to her dream of buying back her family’s ranch. While a childhood of neglect left Lily uninterested in treasure hunting, when her father passes away and leaves her with nothing, she uses his coveted maps to guide tourists through the canyons of Utah on staged treasure hunts. They write such fun romantic comedies that are the perfect escape! Something Wilder follows Lily, the daughter of well-known treasure hunter Duke Wilder. Christina Lauren is the pen name of the writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Something Wilder by Christina Lauren was definitely a highly anticipated 2022 read for me.

Something wilder book cover