Something Wilder
Lily Wilder, daughter of a notorious and absent treasure hunter, scrapes by leading tourists on staged treasure hunts through Utah's red-rock canyons using her late father's hand-drawn maps, hoping one day to buy back the family ranch. Ten years after he left her, her first love Leo Grady signs up for one of her trips with a group of friends. Leo wants another chance, while Lily wants nothing to do with him, until the trip goes badly wrong and they have to work together to crack her father's final clue. Kirkus describes a romantic adventure built around a real treasure hunt.
About This Book
Something Wilder is a contemporary romance novel by Christina Lauren, first published in 2023 by Gallery Books. It runs 416 pages. Readers can expect second chance, first love.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Second Chance
- Length
- 416 pages
- Format
- Trade Paperback
Where to read or listen
Get Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- When a staged treasure hunt in the Utah canyons goes awry, an estranged couple is forced to collaborate on a real-life search for a hidden fortune.
- Fans of romantic adventure
- Readers who enjoy second-chance tropes
- Adventurous
- Features Second Chance
This may not be ideal if…
- The nature of the conflict depends on past history which may leave some readers feeling disconnected from the early emotional stakes
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Equal, forced into cooperation by circumstances.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High tension, moderate angst.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult contemporary romance readers
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Lily Wilder scrapes by leading tourists through the Utah red-rock canyons on manufactured treasure hunts, using her absent father's old maps. Her life is upended when Leo Grady—her first love who left ten years ago—shows up as a tourist in her latest group. While Leo hopes for a second chance, Lily is reluctant to engage. However, when their excursion takes a dangerous turn, the two must set aside their past to navigate the treacherous landscape and follow the clues to a potentially real treasure.
Central Conflict
Lily must reconcile with her past and cooperate with her estranged first love, Leo, in a survival situation while pursuing her father's final treasure clue.
Setting
Utah's red-rock canyons
Strengths
- Engaging premise combining treasure hunting with relationship conflict
- Strong atmospheric setting
Consider before reading
- The nature of the conflict depends on past history which may leave some readers feeling disconnected from the early emotional stakes
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 4, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Christina Lauren
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Gallery Books
- Format
- Trade Paperback
- Length
- 416 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781982173418
Something Wilder: quick answers
- Who wrote Something Wilder?
- Something Wilder was written by Christina Lauren.
- When was Something Wilder published?
- Something Wilder was first published in 2023 by Gallery Books.
- What genre is Something Wilder?
- Something Wilder is a contemporary romance novel, with second chance, first love.
- How many pages is Something Wilder?
- Something Wilder is 416 pages long (Trade Paperback).
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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