*Digital ARC provided through NetGalley
As a devoted Christina Lauren fan, I knew going into this that I was going to have a good time and I was not disappointed! This book is so much fun and I can see why it's a book that they chose to write during these pandemic times. I mean, almost the entire book takes place outdoors! It's full of adventure, action, wild twists, and a truly swoony romance. If you're a fan of adventures moves like Indian Jones, Tomb Raider, and The Mummy, AND you like romance, you're going to want to pick up this book.
So here's what you need to know!
The Pitch:
Young lovers are separated for a decade and come back together by chance for an adventure of a lifetime. Emotions run high as Lily and Leo confront their feelings for each other while searching for treasure. There's twists, turns, betrayals, a car chase, coded messages, and kissing -all the good stuff.
Tropes:
Second chance romance -Lily and Leo (lovesick city boy!) fell in love young on Lily's family ranch and were separated by life circumstances and have come back together by chance 10 years later.
Treasure hunting -This is a real deal treasure hunting in the desert book! The group is looking for Butch Cassidy's haul which was the lifelong passion of Lily's father, the famous Duke Wilder.
Fated Mates -If a contemporary fated mates book exists, this is definitely it. These two were meant for each other and the idea that either of them could find happiness with other people is laughable.
Only one sleeping bag -Anyone else an avowed Fated Mates podcast listener and think immediately of Jen when they read this scene? Anyways, it's delicious.
My one critique of this book would be that I wish it was sexier. The tension between Lily and Leo is palpable and while there are a few sex(y) scenes in the book, I wanted more from them. It seems to be that the trend lately in contemporaries is to tone down the sex and it's a trend I hate. Don't get me wrong, the lack of sex doesn't detract from the book -the story is compelling, the action is fun, and the whole thing is compulsively readable. I finished it in two sittings and was laughing and gasping out loud the whole way. It's a rollicking good time. I just think that longer/steamier sex scenes would have added to it, especially because the chemistry between Lily and Leo is so intense. Don't just tell me how dedicated Leo is to her pleasure, show me!
Regardless, this was a delightful ride of a book and I would definitely recommend it to any romance lover and I would say it's probably a good book to give someone who's only just starting to read romance or who maybe has trepidations about the genre. Not all romance has a strong external plot and that can make the genre difficult for people who aren't used to it, but that's not the case with Something Wilder. So if someone you know really loves and Indiana Jones movie and wants a book rec, this could be a good way to go!
Something Wilder will be available for purchase on May 17, 2022!
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