Book Review: Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

When romance takes a detour through the wild, wild West.

Honestly, I didn’t know what I was signing up for when I cracked open Something Wilder. I was expecting a classic Christina Lauren rom-com: flirty banter, a second chance at love, maybe a little steam, and a lot of heart. Instead, I got a Western adventure. Shootouts. Broken ankles. Hidden treasure maps. Desolate terrain. I mean… I tried to keep up, but the twist into a full-blown action novel caught me off guard. And I think that’s what made this a slower read for me.

What kept me turning the pages, though, was the romance. Lily and Leo’s dynamic was everything I love about second-chance stories. They recognized each other early, admitted their history without dragging it out forever, and had the kind of honest, emotional conversation most fictional couples take 300 pages to get to. I loved that we got to see their relationship rebuild slowly, layer by layer, in between horseback rides and dodging bullets.

One of the biggest surprises was Leo himself. On the surface, he’s the soft city guy you assume wouldn’t last a minute in the wilderness. But he held his own, which was both unexpected and endearing. I love a man who surprises you—in real life and in fiction.

The book’s tone leaned more toward “Western action-adventure” than romance, and honestly, that genre blend threw me a bit. If you’re going in expecting a straight rom-com, you might be in for a shock. But if you’re open to something a little different, like a love story wrapped in treasure maps and survivalist energy, you might find it fun and refreshing.

Would I recommend it? Yes—but not to my typical romance readers. I’d hand this to someone who normally reads action or adventure and is looking for a story with heart. It’s a little Indiana Jones, a little Sweet Home Alabama. A love story with a side of dust and danger.

Happy reading!