Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren Narrator: Patti Murin, Jon Root
Published by Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster Audio on May 17, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 368
Length: 9 hours, 27 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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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.
I always enjoy the books by this author. They bring the feelings and the fun. I appreciated the author’s notes prefacing this story. Who doesn’t love horses and treasure hunting?
Something Wilder is a second chance romance. A couple that met when young and then suffered tragedy and hardship to help their families. Lily’s mother left her treasure-hunting father. She was happy working the family ranch with her uncle until he died. Then it was just her and her father. Leo’s father took off and never really was part of the family.  Both of them had to step up in their families.
Lily is just getting by doing treks and treasure hunting by horseback in the gorgeous Utah wilderness. She is taking out a group of friends and to her shock it includes Leo who she hasn’t seen in 10 years. We get each of their points of view in alternating sections. Lily is smart and capable.  Leo is the smart one in his group. Both of them are kind and loyal friends. Things in the group take a dangerous turn when some members want to go hunt real treasure they believe Lily’s father found.
It’s thrilling and suspenseful when they finally go treasure hunting. It’s fun to watch them try to figure out the maps and clues. It’s heartwarming to see Leo and Lily bridge the years and have each other’s back.  The search may be a wild goose chase but it gives them time together.
Narration:
I have enjoyed Patti Murin on another audiobook by this author. I thought both Murin and Root did a good job with the voices. They narrated alternating sections in Lily’s and Leo’s points of view. I felt the emotions and it added to my enjoyment of the story. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
About Christina Lauren
Yes, there are two of us! Lauren (on the left) and Christina (on the right).
Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, O Magazine and more. Their third YA novel, Autoboyography was released in September, followed by a contemporary romance, Roomies in December, and their first Women’s Fiction, Love and Other Words in April.
Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.
Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you can find her at her desk, writing or watching BTS videos. She grew up in Utah and is absolutely not old enough to be the mom of a 17 year old (right??), thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
Glad you found this fun, too! It’s so different from their normal stories. Excellent review, Anne💜
Thanks Jonetta. I suppose it leans more towards romantic suspense but since I read that often it didn’t feel different to me. It was just a really fun book I enjoyed a lot with the excellent characters they always seem to build.
How fun!
Something Wilder was really fun for the most part, with the second chance romance strongly supporting the emotions of the main characters.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. I read an ARC, and unfortunately it didn’t really work for me. It moved a bit to slow for my taste.
I’m sorry you didn’t love it. I liked the two strong main characters and the fun of horses and the adventure of treasure hunting.
The setting had me sitting up and taking notice after camping out there a few times. I really must read this one. Thanks, Anne!
yes the setting was gorgeous. There was a great adventure in the wilderness.
I’m a sucker for any books about treasure hunting…especially if there’s a fun romance in it, too.
It was plenty fun. I liked the strong characters. The wilderness setting was also appealing.
I have only read one book written by this writing pair but I definitely want to read more. This sounds like it was a wonderful listen for you.
I really try to read all their books now.
Excellent review. I love their books so much. Can’t wait to read this one!
Thank you Suzanne. I have loved their books. This one is a little different and a lot of fun but also more suspense.
I just finished this earlier this morning! I loved it.
I’m glad you loved it too! It was a bit different than their usual but I thought it was great.
I have this on hold at the library. Can’t wait!
Thanks! I really loved it. Horses and treasure hunting, the suspense made it even a more layered romance.
I’m excited to get my hands on this one! Great review!
Thank you. I thought this was a bit different than their usual genre. It had more a suspense adventure element, along with the romance.