Review: Something Wilder

Title: Something Wilder 

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: 24th May 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 360 pages

Genre: contemporary, romance, women’s fiction, adventure

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

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.

My Thoughts

Something Wilder is a second chance romance with a wild west element thrown in. This involves an adventure based treasure hunting tour where the two leads come together for some rollicking good double crossing escapades and it is enormously fun to read. 

‘Maybe it wouldn’t hurt her to try to enjoy the adventure rather than quietly burning up over the possibility that her father hid treasure from her. She couldn’t change the past, after all.’

I have read other Christina Lauren books (Love and Other Words a firm favourite) and this one certainly hit the mark for me - just good fun escapism. What I truly liked about it was that there were definite layers that gave it more depth. Yes, it is over the top but it is the action and adventure mixed with the romance that make it a more well rounded story. There is mystery and real suspense at times with a somewhat darker theme which was unexpected. 

‘Holy crap. Suddenly, his life in Manhattan felt remote to the point of fiction. His days spent at a desk, sitting down every morning to create a new unhackable algorithm, home every evening to his little apartment, the constant rumble and hum of a city beneath his feet - all of it could not feel more foreign.’

With a narrative alternating between Lily and Leo, the reader is aware of all aspects and points of view. The cast of supporting characters are solid and I just loved Nicole! I was also totally onboard with the setting. I am not sure if that had anything to do with me just finishing the show 1883 (which I just adored and highly recommend) but I was so enraptured with the desert wilds and large open spaces - Christina Lauren captured all of this so beautifully. 

‘She loved this wild country, but she wanted a real house with kids and land for horses to run. She wanted to put down roots, but growing roots wasn’t easy in the desert.’

This is a wonderful tale of treasure hunting with laughs, mysteries and romance all mixed to provide a great fun read. There is much to enjoy in Something Wilder and I definitely recommend reading it. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

Title: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: 30 August 2018 by Hachette Australia/Piatkus

Pages: 320 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: romance, contemporary, romantic comedy

My Rating: 2.5 cups

Synopsis:

Most men can’t handle Hazel. With the energy of a toddler and the mouth of a sailor, they’re often too timid to recognize her heart of gold. New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Roomies, Beautiful Bastard) tells the story of two people who are definitely not dating, no matter how often they end up in bed together.

Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them...right?

My Thoughts

When I read Christina Lauren’s ‘Love and Other Words’, I was hooked! There was just so much to love about that book. So therefore I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this current release, described as a romantic comedy. Well .... sadly, I seem to be in the minority (at Goodreads especially) with my opinion, which I can only deduce is on account of my prudishness (which I would beg to differ). I just found this story was not in the same league as ‘Love and Other Words’, which was disappointing.

“She thinks you’re a pretty funny girl.” Pretty funny? Or pretty, funny? Is that a half compliment, or two solid ones? Either way, my eyes widen and I grin. “Your mom is pretty comma smart.”

Firstly to the positives. I like the family and friendship themes that run throughout the book, supportive and encouraging. I totally loved the way Hazel embraced her eccentricities and was determined to remain true to herself. Also, how true friends supported that (friendship theme) and highlighted how people or society in general often frown on those who think outside the box as being too kooky. There are some fun moments here and memorable moments to make the reader smile.

“You know how many guys like to date the cute wild girl for a few weeks before expecting me to chill a little and become more Regular Girlfriend ....  but at the end of the day ... being myself is enough. I’m enough.”

The problems I have occur when the funny blind dates stop becoming so funny. You know where this story is going and frustrating as it might be, it just didn’t continue to appeal to me stretched out over time. The ending itself was disappointing from the perspective of the easy way out was taken, or even the HEA inspite/despite it all. I also quickly got over the many steamy scenes and the lewd language; for me, they were detrimental to the overall package.

“A pipe burst, and normally I’d be making lots of terrible sex jokes about that but really, it just sucks.”

All up this is a funny romance read. You know the formula and where it’s going, Hazel makes an interesting, if somewhat over the top lead and Josh makes a great leading man. As I stated at the outset, I am in the minority, so if you are a Christina Lauren fan, you are sure to love this venture into romantic comedy.

“One more check of my outfit. I swear it’s not a vanity thing; more often than not, something is unbuttoned, a hem is tucked into underwear, or I’ve got an important garment on inside out.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.