“It means you figure out exactly what you want your life to look like, and I find a way to fit into it.”
If you loved Something Wilder by Christina Lauren, you’re probably on the hunt for more books that blend romance, adventure, and thrilling moments. This big-hearted book from the Queens of Romance offers a perfect mix of romance and suspense, making it a must-read for anyone who loves romantic thrillers and adventurous love stories. Whether you’re drawn to the gorgeous backdrops, the forced-proximity romance, or the blend of tension and chemistry between the characters, we’re here to offer you similar novels that deliver that same irresistible mix of passion and danger. At What We Reading, we’re rounding up the best books like Something Wilder that offer the perfect balance of romance, adventure and excitement. From heart-racing adventures to swoon-worthy romances, these books promise to match the laughs, lightheartedness and slow-burning love of Christina Lauren’s bestseller!
Something Wilder Summary
Something Wilder follows the story of Lily Wilder, an abrasive and adventurous woman who leads guided tours through the stunning Utah desert, offering high-stakes excursions to thrill-seekers. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her childhood crush, Leo, unexpectedly shows up on one of her tours. Years ago, Leo and Lily shared a fleeting romance, but it ended in heartbreak, and they haven’t spoken since.
As they reconnect, their tension-filled reunion soon turns into a wild adventure when a treasure hunt, hidden in the desert, pulls them deeper into a journey bursting with danger, laughter, and rekindled feelings. Both Lily and Leo must confront their pasts and the reasons they went their separate ways. Along the way, their chemistry and unresolved emotions threaten to derail their mission, and they must choose between walking away for good or giving love a second chance. With its mix of romance and adventure, Something Wilder is a captivating tale of second chances and self-discovery, set against a breathtaking backdrop of rugged landscapes.
The Unhoneymooners – Christina Lauren
First stop on our list of books like Something Wilder is another one of Christina Lauren’s most beloved works, The Unhoneymooners. Olive is dreading spending her sister’s wedding with Ethan, the groom’s best man and her sworn enemy. When the entire wedding party is struck by food poisoning on the back of some dodgy shellfish, the only two people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Now, there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.
Putting their loathing for one another aside for the sake of a free holiday, the pair jet off for paradise. But when Olive runs into her future boss, a little white lie she tells him suddenly lands her in an incredibly sticky situation. She and Ethan now have to play pretend as happy newlyweds. Only, the strange thing is that, as their time together grows, so too does her awareness that she doesn’t seem to mind playing pretend.
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The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska #1) – Sarah Morgenthaler
When Graham Barnett dubbed his diner ‘The Tourist Trap’, he meant it as a joke. Now, he’s stuck slinging reindeer dogs to a never-ending string of resort visitors who couldn’t interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every single time he looks over at her.
Two weeks in Alaska isn’t just the top item on Zoey Caldwell’s bucket list. It’s the entire bucket. One look at the mountaintown of Moose Springs is all she requires to fall head over heels. But, when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham’s world, she may just find there’s more to the man than what meets the eye, and far more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness. Similar to Something Wilder, The Tourist Attraction is an opposites-attract romance book set in a scenic, stunning, remote location.
Beach Read – Emily Henry
Augustus Everett is a lauded literary fiction novelist. January Andrews writes bestselling romance books. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They are total opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that, for the next three months, they’re living in neighbouring beach houses. Both are broke and chronically bogged down with writer’s block.
That is, until one evening, one thing leads to another, and the pair strike a deal designed to jettison them out of their creative slumps. Augustus will spend the summer writing something cheery, while January will write the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of a rom-com montage, and he will take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult. Everyone finishes their book, and absolutely no one falls in love. We promise. Hilarious and heartfelt, Beach Read is the perfect summer romance read if you loved Something Wilder.
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On The Island (On The Island #1) – Tracey Garvis Graves
When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job teaching T.J. Callahan at his family’s summer rental in the Maldives, she naturally jumps at the opportunity. T.J. has no desire to leave town, not that anyone has actually asked him. He’s almost seventeen, and is less than thrilled about spending his first summer in remission with his family surrounded by a stack of overdue assignments. Nevertheless, Anna and T.J. are on their way to the Maldives when their pilot suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean.
Making their way to the shore of an uninhabited island, Anna and T.J. are forced to work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met, but as the days turn to weeks and then months, the castaways encounter countless other obstacles in their struggle to survive. And, as T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.
Love & Gelato (Love & Gelato #1) – Jenna Evans Welch
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s renowned sunshine and fairy-tale landscapes. She’s only in the country because it was her dying mother’s wish for her to get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is go back home.
But then she is given a journal that her mother had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly, Lina is discovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires her, along with the effortlessly charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unveil a secret that has been buried for far too long. It’s a secret that promises to change everything she knew about her mother, her father, and even herself. One of the best books like Something Wilder, Love & Gelato, combines a romantic adventure with personal discovery, following Lina’s journey of self-growth.
The Perfect Escape (The Perfect Escape #1) – Suzanne Park
Nate Jae-Woo Kim wants to be rich. When one of his classmates offers Nate a ridiculous amount of money to commit grade fraud, he knows that the sudden windfall would be enough to help out his prideful Korean family. But, is compromising his integrity worth it?
Luck comes in the form of Kate Anderson, Nate’s colleague at the zombie-themed escape room they both work at. She approaches Nate with a plan: a local company is hosting a weekend-long survivalist competition, complete with a huge cash prize. Kate needs the money too, and it would solve all of Nate’s problems. If the two of them team up, Nate has a true chance of grabbing the grand prize. However, the real challenge may just be surviving the weekend with his heart intact. With high-energy situations and that sense of survival and adventure in the outdoors, The Perfect Escape is the perfect follow-up for anyone who loved Something Wilder.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
