Something Wilder

Lily Wilder is barely paying the bills guiding tourists on fake treasure hunts through the treacherous red rock canyons of Utah when the man she once loved walks back into her life.

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 them, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love, but Lily draws a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.

Even out in the desert it’s impossible to ignore the heat of attraction, but when the trip goes horribly wrong, the group realizes the idea of hidden treasure wasn’t so crazy after all.

Finding themselves alone in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they trust each other enough to risk their lives and hearts for the adventure of a lifetime.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Gallery Books.

Book club questions for Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

How do Leo and Lily’s individual traumas contribute to their perceptions of each other? Have you ever misunderstood a friend, or felt misunderstood yourself? How did you overcome that challenge? Do you think Leo and Lily have healed enough by the end of the book? What do you think their relationship will look like moving forward?

Betrayal is a major theme in this novel. Discuss how Leo handles betrayal within his friend group, specifically Terry’s betrayal of the group when his real motive for booking the treasure hunt is revealed. Do you think Lily was betrayed by her father? Is betrayal ever acceptable if the ends justify the means? Discuss.

When we meet Lily at the start of the novel, she is struggling to make ends meet and she largely blames her father for her struggles. Do you think Lily is justified in feeling this way? Have you ever felt that a hardship you experienced was the result of someone else’s actions? If you were Lily, would you have stayed to make the business work? Or would you have moved on?

Leo and Lily come from very different worlds: country girl meets city boy. In a way, their respective backgrounds are a balm for each other’s souls—Lily thrives in found community, and Leo finds peace away from the urban jungle. Are you a city person, or a country person? What are the benefits of each, and how do the best of both collide to help our couple find balance in their happily ever after?

After the group believes that Terry has died, they decide that finding the treasure may be possible, so they continue their quest. How does the traumatic event of Terry’s “death” motive the group? Do you think if you experience a similar event, you’d be able to forge on?

At it’s heart, SOMETHING WILDER is an ode to old westerns and the classic American treasure hunt, but Leo and Lily end up un-earthing so much more. Aside from each other, what other “treasure” (mental, emotional, physical) do you think they discovered? Do you think the physical treasure was what Duke left behind? Or could it have been something intangible that Lily learned, or Leo discovered?

Leo’s interest in solving puzzles and deciphering codes is a unique skill set ends up being a major tool in his and Lily’s quest to find the treasure. What are your unique skills? Have the ever helped you solve a problem that previously felt impossible? How did Lily and Leo’s unique combination of knowledge and abilities make them the perfect people to find the treasure?

Lily and Leo spend the majority of the novel in the great outdoors, and eventually the physical side of their romance blooms during their adventures in this gorgeous setting. Do you think that nature can affect two people’s attraction to one another? How does the setting affect the relationships of all the characters throughout the novel? Have you ever had a romantic adventure where passion superseded your surroundings in a moment?

SOMETHING WILDER is an incredibly atmospheric read. With such vivid descriptions, it’s easy to see this adventure play out on a silver screen. Who would you cast in a film adaption of this book?

Something Wilder Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Something Wilder discussion questions

“This exhilarating, fast-paced, deeply emotional and sexy romance is required beach reading.” —Oprah Daily

"Something Wilder is magnificent. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a book — laugh out loud humor, rollicking adventure, and the swooniest romance. A perfect read!" —Sarah MacLean, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Day of the Duchess and The Rogue Not Taken

"The name Christina Lauren (a portmanteau for the writing team of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) is beloved by romance readers (and publishers) having become synonymous with sure-fire hits year after year. Dubbed by many advance copy readers as a sexier version of the movie National Treasure, heroine Lily uses the old, hand-drawn, fake treasure maps as a way to guide tourists on tours through the red rock canyons of Utah. But what if those supposedly fake treasure maps weren't so fake after all?" —Fortune

"This might be the ultimate beach read of 2022. Christina Lauren are back with this highly anticipated, super-fun romp packed with action, adventure, and a treasure hunt. The authors describe it as Romancing the Stone meets The Hangover, and you'll understand when you read it! It's a bit if a departure for Christina Lauren, but there's plenty of romance and banter to keep their fans satisfied (plus...one sleeping bag!). If you're new to Christina Lauren, stop what you're doing and read The Unhoneymooners, a perfect choice for a beach read." —Country Living

“Something Wilder is exactly what we all need right now…a true escape within the pages of a book, filled with adventure, rekindled romance, and second chances. Trust me, you’ll want to go along for the ride with Lily and Leo.” —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

“There’s nothing more fun than Christina Lauren. Something Wilder is a nonstop adventure romp that pulls you out of the humdrum everyday and turns its own pages in the swooniest, most delightful way.” —New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center

"The bestselling author duo returns with an unexpectedly dramatic contemporary romance. The tone veers from lighthearted rom-com to high octane romantic suspense as the danger ramps up and Lauren packs the plot with quirky characters, vivid scenery, and sizzling sexual tension. This tense, poignant romance is another sure hit for Lauren." —Publishers Weekly

“Funny and adventurous, Something Wilder is a rollicking good time, with desert shootouts, campfire kissing and literal treasure hunting. It's a perfect blend of action and romance, sure to appeal to Christina Lauren fans and new readers alike.” —Shelf Awareness

"Writing duo Lauren Billings and Christina Hobbs strike gold again in this thrilling contemporary romance set in Utah's Canyonlands National Park. Equal parts exhilarating puzzle-filled adventure and steamy second-chance romance, this cinematic wild-west rom-com is a must-have." —Booklist (starred review)

"Fans of Christina Lauren, known for their delightful rom-coms, may be surprised by this shift into the world of adventure romance. It should be a pleasant surprise, though, given that the story is fast-paced, exciting, and still full of that classic Christina Lauren swoon (in between the danger, occasional violence, and plot twists). Lily and Leo’s romance is plenty steamy, but the real star is the landscape, which is described in sweltering, dusty detail. A vivid escape that's perfect for romantic thrill-seekers." —Kirkus (starred review)

“A thrilling romp through love and the Canyonlands” —All Things Considered, NPR Utah

“Once again, Christina Lauren has presented a fresh, witty and totally original take on romance, adventure and coming home. A pure escape, Something Wilder is without a doubt their best novel yet.” —BookReporter

“Christina Lauren clearly hold the red rocks and canyons of Utah dear and describe them in loving detail throughout. Something Wilder is laden with suspense, intrigue and fun as its main couple faces down danger and learns to love again.” —BookPage