By Robyn Rossit
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren was definitely a highly anticipated 2022 read for me. Christina Lauren is the pen name of the writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. They write such fun romantic comedies that are the perfect escape! Something Wilder follows Lily, the daughter of well-known treasure hunter Duke Wilder. 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. A profession that, while it pays the bills, doesn’t get her much closer to her dream of buying back her family’s ranch. 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. Lily wants to keep things professional, while Leo, full of regret, wants to reconnect. 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.
Something Wilder is so different from the other Christina Lauren books I've read. It is action-packed and full of suspense. However, it is still done with their trademark romantic comedy flair. 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. I truly felt like I was on a horseback adventure and could easily visualize the canyons of Utah.
The story is told from both points of view of Lily and Leo. I enjoyed both perspectives equally. Lily is an inspiring female lead, tough and determined to achieve her dreams. Leo is a dreamer who put everything on hold to take care of his family. 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. It at times feels a bit too fast. What I love the most about Christina Lauren books is that even their side characters are well developed, and often the most hilarious characters. Nicole was a delight, and I would have loved a dash of her point of view. If there is one thing you can count on in a Christina Lauren book, it is witty banter.
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. While the reader is taken on an actual adventure, the emotional journey is woven in seamlessly.
Overall, I enjoyed the journey that Something Wilder took me on. It is a second chance romance full of fun and adventure. I will caution you though, this book may give you a serious case of wanderlust!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.