What do you think?
Rate this book
Wandering Wild
She hates him. He needs her. Can they survive when all they have is each other?
Zander Rune was the darling of Hollywood until he fell from glory and was labelled a problematic bad boy. His public image needs fixing—fast—or he’ll lose the role of a lifetime, and all his dreams with it.
Charlie Hart is a regular teenage girl who despises everything Zander represents. But thanks to her scheming best friend and an ill-timed social media competition, Charlie finds herself pretending to be Zander’s biggest fan on a four-day reality TV adventure led by renowned survivalist Rykon Hawke.
When their trip goes horribly wrong, Charlie and Zander are left stranded in the wilderness. No Rykon, no film crew, no rescue. The only way they’ll survive is if they trust each other. But in order to do so, both will have to let go of the ghosts of their pasts, and just maybe find themselves—and one another—in the process.
Zander Rune was the darling of Hollywood until he fell from glory and was labelled a problematic bad boy. His public image needs fixing—fast—or he’ll lose the role of a lifetime, and all his dreams with it.
Charlie Hart is a regular teenage girl who despises everything Zander represents. But thanks to her scheming best friend and an ill-timed social media competition, Charlie finds herself pretending to be Zander’s biggest fan on a four-day reality TV adventure led by renowned survivalist Rykon Hawke.
When their trip goes horribly wrong, Charlie and Zander are left stranded in the wilderness. No Rykon, no film crew, no rescue. The only way they’ll survive is if they trust each other. But in order to do so, both will have to let go of the ghosts of their pasts, and just maybe find themselves—and one another—in the process.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 20, 2025
158 people are currently reading
27650 people want to read
About the author
Lynette Noni
32 books8,216 followersAustralian author Lynette Noni studied journalism, academic writing, and human behaviour at university before venturing into the world of fiction. She is the #1 bestselling and award-winning author of THE PRISON HEALER series, THE MEDORAN CHRONICLES, and the WHISPER duology. To date, her books have sold more than one million copies in over 20 countries across the globe.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 769 reviews
Read
March 11, 2025Final read-through done! Woo!
August 5, 2025
LN is a YA fantasy author, so seeing her pivot and explore the contemporary YA genre is... interesting.
im not against authors branching out - they shouldnt feel limited to only writing one genre if they dont want to - but i do think some authors storytelling style lends itself better to certain stories over others. and i think LNs writing suits YA fantasy more.
thats not to say this is all bad. because its not! i think it does a good job at discussing grief, how to be a good friend, and choosing what to do with ones life. all of these are great topics for the YA audience and the story represents them well. but everything else felt like it was either lacking something or just too over the top. and there really wasnt any in-between.
overall, even though i prefer LNs fantasy stories, i think the target YA audience this was written for will enjoy this so much more than my critical self.
↠ 3 stars
im not against authors branching out - they shouldnt feel limited to only writing one genre if they dont want to - but i do think some authors storytelling style lends itself better to certain stories over others. and i think LNs writing suits YA fantasy more.
thats not to say this is all bad. because its not! i think it does a good job at discussing grief, how to be a good friend, and choosing what to do with ones life. all of these are great topics for the YA audience and the story represents them well. but everything else felt like it was either lacking something or just too over the top. and there really wasnt any in-between.
overall, even though i prefer LNs fantasy stories, i think the target YA audience this was written for will enjoy this so much more than my critical self.
↠ 3 stars
![Profile Image for ari [semi ia].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1755568674i%2F180071670._UY200_CR33%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
July 7, 2025
5⭐
thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
now playing: stay - harrison goodell
spoiler free
13+
romance: 4/10 (one kiss, characters fall in love, characters fall asleep in each other’s arms)
cursing: 1/10 (hell and damn maybe once or twice)
violence: 3/10 (perilous survival situations)
other: alcohol, smoking, and drugs are not depicted on page but are mentioned, one minor character is nonbinary and is referred to as they, one homosexual married couple who are prevalent during the first half of the book
tw: loss of parents to drunk drivers, past, off page. suicidal thoughts and off page attempt mentioned. side character is in remission from tuberculosis
tropes: “i hate you” to “i love you”
first person, present tense
dual pov
all my friends have run away
– OVERVIEW –
lynette noni is my favorite author and for good reason.
all of her book men are the greenest of green flags,
her mental health rep makes me feel scene,
her writing paints a beautiful picture in my head,
i can be laughing one minute then literally full on sobbing the next
wow, this book truly was a work of art.
and for all of you who loved my brother’s review of the hunger games? he’s now reading this book so when he’s finished i’ll add his anecdote to the bottom (and to everyone who’s been saying he needs to finish the hunger games saga, he knows and he’s working on it)
i was actually screeching while reading this. sitting on the couch with my family while they binged the rambo movies they kicked me out bc i was being too disruptive lol
one thing i could’ve done less with is all the pop culture references?? like wdym charlie looks up white haired anime character with blue eyes and literally compares zander to satoru gojo?
cuz they got to that age
– PLOT –
an anime character and a chameleon walk into a restaurant…
thought i would too but i’m thinking way too deep
– CHARACTERS –
zander
⤷ my shaylaaaaa
i adore him 😭
(not as much as jaren, but only bc jaren had 3 books and zander has 1)
charlie
⤷ she’s such a girl boss. i love how she was emotionally mature and gentle but that only made her stronger.
she kept up with the guys in the wilderness well enough but her femininity wasn’t erased to compensate
ember
⤷ bestieeeee
summer and maddox
⤷ 😭💕 my children
everyone else
⤷ frick you
been four years of waiting on fear
now all i hear
– CONCLUSION –
i wish i could read this for the first time again
my father’s footsteps in the morning
the creaking of the porch swing
the voices of people that made me who i am
and built me up
– post-read –
i’m actually crying over this at 1 am
thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
now playing: stay - harrison goodell
spoiler free
13+
romance: 4/10 (one kiss, characters fall in love, characters fall asleep in each other’s arms)
cursing: 1/10 (hell and damn maybe once or twice)
violence: 3/10 (perilous survival situations)
other: alcohol, smoking, and drugs are not depicted on page but are mentioned, one minor character is nonbinary and is referred to as they, one homosexual married couple who are prevalent during the first half of the book
tw: loss of parents to drunk drivers, past, off page. suicidal thoughts and off page attempt mentioned. side character is in remission from tuberculosis
tropes: “i hate you” to “i love you”
first person, present tense
dual pov
all my friends have run away
– OVERVIEW –
lynette noni is my favorite author and for good reason.
all of her book men are the greenest of green flags,
her mental health rep makes me feel scene,
her writing paints a beautiful picture in my head,
i can be laughing one minute then literally full on sobbing the next
wow, this book truly was a work of art.
and for all of you who loved my brother’s review of the hunger games? he’s now reading this book so when he’s finished i’ll add his anecdote to the bottom (and to everyone who’s been saying he needs to finish the hunger games saga, he knows and he’s working on it)
i was actually screeching while reading this. sitting on the couch with my family while they binged the rambo movies they kicked me out bc i was being too disruptive lol
one thing i could’ve done less with is all the pop culture references?? like wdym charlie looks up white haired anime character with blue eyes and literally compares zander to satoru gojo?
cuz they got to that age
– PLOT –
an anime character and a chameleon walk into a restaurant…
thought i would too but i’m thinking way too deep
– CHARACTERS –
zander
⤷ my shaylaaaaa
i adore him 😭
(not as much as jaren, but only bc jaren had 3 books and zander has 1)
charlie
⤷ she’s such a girl boss. i love how she was emotionally mature and gentle but that only made her stronger.
she kept up with the guys in the wilderness well enough but her femininity wasn’t erased to compensate
ember
⤷ bestieeeee
summer and maddox
⤷ 😭💕 my children
everyone else
⤷ frick you
been four years of waiting on fear
now all i hear
– CONCLUSION –
i wish i could read this for the first time again
my father’s footsteps in the morning
the creaking of the porch swing
the voices of people that made me who i am
and built me up
– post-read –
i’m actually crying over this at 1 am
April 7, 2025
Thank you Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
I really wanted to like this one. I am a HUGE fan of Lynette's Prison Healer series, so I've been dying to get my hands on another book of hers. But this wasn't it for me.
I did like the two main characters and their developing relationship, so their interactions definitely kept me going. Zander was the lifeblood of this story for him. His character in particular was really intriguing and relatable and I found myself really looking forward to his chapters.
And there were a lot of emotions, both with the main characters and their personal issues and the adventures they're going on. Definitely some heart racing moments and harrowing experiences.
But the whole premise of this book, or rather the way the premise was portrayed, did not land for me. Obviously we've seen books about two people getting lost in the wilderness and having to survive together, but some of the things that were happening in this book were just so unrealistic or straight up strange. Even though this is clearly fiction, I was verbally asking my Kindle what the hell was going on.
And the ENDING. I don't remember the last time I got such an ICK feeling from an ending, but this one gave it to me in spades. There is a twist that I absolutely hated and everyone just moved on and essentially didn't address it, and I cannot move past it 😣
A big disappointment for me but I still think others may enjoy it depending on how the ending lands for you.
I really wanted to like this one. I am a HUGE fan of Lynette's Prison Healer series, so I've been dying to get my hands on another book of hers. But this wasn't it for me.
I did like the two main characters and their developing relationship, so their interactions definitely kept me going. Zander was the lifeblood of this story for him. His character in particular was really intriguing and relatable and I found myself really looking forward to his chapters.
And there were a lot of emotions, both with the main characters and their personal issues and the adventures they're going on. Definitely some heart racing moments and harrowing experiences.
But the whole premise of this book, or rather the way the premise was portrayed, did not land for me. Obviously we've seen books about two people getting lost in the wilderness and having to survive together, but some of the things that were happening in this book were just so unrealistic or straight up strange. Even though this is clearly fiction, I was verbally asking my Kindle what the hell was going on.
And the ENDING. I don't remember the last time I got such an ICK feeling from an ending, but this one gave it to me in spades. There is a twist that I absolutely hated and everyone just moved on and essentially didn't address it, and I cannot move past it 😣
A big disappointment for me but I still think others may enjoy it depending on how the ending lands for you.
June 30, 2025
— 3.75 ★
charlie & zander were on a survival adventure in australia but I swear it felt like I was right there with them—not only were they struggling with surviving, but so was I, because they kept giving me heart attacks every two seconds. anyway, it was such a cute read—absolutely gripping & impossible to put down! I loved the romance aspect—it was so light, adorable & heartwarming. seeing charlie & zander open up to each other, learn how to trust one another, become each other's safe space & share deepest secrets brought me such a huge amount of pure joy. lynette noni did it again 🙂↕️ (jaren from the prison healer is still #1 tho)
⭑𓂃 ⌗ quotes
"life isn't about survival—life is beautiful, and it's meant to be lived."
"first you hate me, and then you try to get me naked? I might need a moment to catch up."
"charlie, what I need is you."
[...]
"I'll never forget you, zander rune. thank you for helping me dream again."
⊹ "you came back for me."⭑𓂃 ⌗ my thoughts
"of course I did." [...] "I'll always come back for you." ៹࣪
charlie & zander were on a survival adventure in australia but I swear it felt like I was right there with them—not only were they struggling with surviving, but so was I, because they kept giving me heart attacks every two seconds. anyway, it was such a cute read—absolutely gripping & impossible to put down! I loved the romance aspect—it was so light, adorable & heartwarming. seeing charlie & zander open up to each other, learn how to trust one another, become each other's safe space & share deepest secrets brought me such a huge amount of pure joy. lynette noni did it again 🙂↕️ (jaren from the prison healer is still #1 tho)
⭑𓂃 ⌗ quotes
"life isn't about survival—life is beautiful, and it's meant to be lived."
"first you hate me, and then you try to get me naked? I might need a moment to catch up."
"charlie, what I need is you."
[...]
"I'll never forget you, zander rune. thank you for helping me dream again."
August 28, 2025
SCREAMING!!!(derogatory)
Fair warning there will be spoilers in this review!
I loved this book, until I hated it with enough fire to make a chili pepper weep. The premise sounded fun and I loved how sensitively the heavier topics of depression and grief were dealt with. As the wilderness adventure began I was enjoying the dynamics, even though the whole expedition was a little unrealistic. When Charlie and Zander end up on their own I literally said “Man, if this was a psychological thriller, there could be a crazy plot twist with this”. 😐😐😐
Lo and behold! That ending pissed me off. In a Truman Show style twist that violated the main characters privacy and trust in an unforgivable way, the emergency was faked and they were being live-streamed the whole time. Including when they were drowning, almost dying, and sharing their darkest secrets and most private thoughts. I was so disgusted that they just breezed past such a betrayal and forgave everyone that I almost stopped listening at 90%. And the agency said “It’s your fault because you signed the contract”! Fraudulent inducement is a thing, and they were in literal danger the whole time so the contract should’ve been voided anyway. I wanted the main characters to rage, fire everyone, then sue them all. But no, they were upset for maybe 2 pages. 😑
This would have been a 4 star read for me, but the ending made me so mad I couldn’t get past it. The narration was really good and the accents were decent. I definitely think Nikki Thomas and Heath Miller are talented and kept me engrossed till the plot twist.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the advance listening copy!
Fair warning there will be spoilers in this review!
I loved this book, until I hated it with enough fire to make a chili pepper weep. The premise sounded fun and I loved how sensitively the heavier topics of depression and grief were dealt with. As the wilderness adventure began I was enjoying the dynamics, even though the whole expedition was a little unrealistic. When Charlie and Zander end up on their own I literally said “Man, if this was a psychological thriller, there could be a crazy plot twist with this”. 😐😐😐
Lo and behold! That ending pissed me off. In a Truman Show style twist that violated the main characters privacy and trust in an unforgivable way, the emergency was faked and they were being live-streamed the whole time. Including when they were drowning, almost dying, and sharing their darkest secrets and most private thoughts. I was so disgusted that they just breezed past such a betrayal and forgave everyone that I almost stopped listening at 90%. And the agency said “It’s your fault because you signed the contract”! Fraudulent inducement is a thing, and they were in literal danger the whole time so the contract should’ve been voided anyway. I wanted the main characters to rage, fire everyone, then sue them all. But no, they were upset for maybe 2 pages. 😑
This would have been a 4 star read for me, but the ending made me so mad I couldn’t get past it. The narration was really good and the accents were decent. I definitely think Nikki Thomas and Heath Miller are talented and kept me engrossed till the plot twist.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the advance listening copy!
June 24, 2025
Charlie Hart and her best friend Ember, had been through a lot together, and now, Ember's favourite actor of all time - Zander Rune - had a competition going, where the winner would spend four days with him in the wilderness. A reality TV adventure led by survivalist, Rykon Hawke, owner of Hawke's Wild World. Zander had become known as Hollywood's "bad boy" and his image needed upgrading if he was expecting to hold onto his career. Charlie disliked him intensely, for reasons of her own, but was happy to fill in the forms for Ember. When the winner was drawn, and Ember had won, her excitement was tempered by her doctor's advice. Hence, Charlie took Ember's place - the Blue Mountains of NSW, Australia, beckoned - and Charlie finally met Zander in the flesh. Playing fangirl for four days would be easy - wouldn't it?
As Charlie and Zander, plus their guide, Rykon and his offsiders, headed into the vast bush of the Blue Mountains, Charlie wasn't sure if she was up for what was ahead. But the adrenalin rush, one after the other, as they rappelled, climbed mountains, scaled cliffs, squeezed through narrow gaps, kept them going, until tragedy happened. Suddenly Charlie and Zander were on their own...
Wandering Wild is another outstanding novel by Aussie author Lynette Noni which I thoroughly enjoyed. Action packed, heart-thumpingly scary, emotional and completely amazing, Wandering Wild sucked me in from the first page. I've loved The Medoran Chronicals, The Prison Healer series, Whisper duology - I've read all her books - and this was up there with the best. Highly recommended.
As Charlie and Zander, plus their guide, Rykon and his offsiders, headed into the vast bush of the Blue Mountains, Charlie wasn't sure if she was up for what was ahead. But the adrenalin rush, one after the other, as they rappelled, climbed mountains, scaled cliffs, squeezed through narrow gaps, kept them going, until tragedy happened. Suddenly Charlie and Zander were on their own...
Wandering Wild is another outstanding novel by Aussie author Lynette Noni which I thoroughly enjoyed. Action packed, heart-thumpingly scary, emotional and completely amazing, Wandering Wild sucked me in from the first page. I've loved The Medoran Chronicals, The Prison Healer series, Whisper duology - I've read all her books - and this was up there with the best. Highly recommended.
June 20, 2025
3.75 ?
so what i got from this book is,
╰┈➤ always read the full contract + if he looks like an anime character aka gojo irl he's the one !!
all the characters sucked literal crap aside from our two mc's and fmc's bsf. i said what i said.
𐙚˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡ ˚
so what i got from this book is,
╰┈➤ always read the full contract + if he looks like an anime character
all the characters sucked literal crap aside from our two mc's and fmc's bsf. i said what i said.
𐙚˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡ ˚
April 21, 2025
I actually don't know how to write a review for this book without spoiling it 😅 it is a young adult romance but it's more like trauma bonding. What the survival show directors did to them was really shitty. These poor teens had to endure so much 😭 I'm just satisfied with how it all worked out for them
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
My request has finally been approved 🥹♥️ tysm Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing. I'm so excited for this book 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
My request has finally been approved 🥹♥️ tysm Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing. I'm so excited for this book 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
April 14, 2025
I was not expecting a genre shift from Lynette Noni, but her contemporary romance Wandering Wild is just as good as her fantasy books.
I really liked how the relationship developed between Charlie and Zander. The forced proximity worked very well to bring these two together. They comforted and protected each other while they were in the wilderness. They became allies against all the crazy things the show was making them do and learned to trust and open up their hearts again. I couldn’t get enough of them.
I also adored the friendship between Ember and Charlie. They were each other’s ride or die and I wished we got to see more of Ember in the book. She really only appears at the start and end of the book. Same thing with Zander’s friends as well.
I had a few issues with the book though. There were some slow sections and a few of the tasks felt a bit repetitive. The ending was also rushed and I would have wanted more pages to resolve certain character arcs. And where is my epilogue!? I wanted to see Zander and Charlie happy together as a couple after surviving in the wild and I didn’t get that.
But overall, I had a fun time reading this book and I would recommend if you’re looking for an adventure-filled romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really liked how the relationship developed between Charlie and Zander. The forced proximity worked very well to bring these two together. They comforted and protected each other while they were in the wilderness. They became allies against all the crazy things the show was making them do and learned to trust and open up their hearts again. I couldn’t get enough of them.
I also adored the friendship between Ember and Charlie. They were each other’s ride or die and I wished we got to see more of Ember in the book. She really only appears at the start and end of the book. Same thing with Zander’s friends as well.
I had a few issues with the book though. There were some slow sections and a few of the tasks felt a bit repetitive. The ending was also rushed and I would have wanted more pages to resolve certain character arcs. And where is my epilogue!? I wanted to see Zander and Charlie happy together as a couple after surviving in the wild and I didn’t get that.
But overall, I had a fun time reading this book and I would recommend if you’re looking for an adventure-filled romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 17, 2025
2 stars . ⊹ ･ﾟ𖥔 ₊ ˑ
⤷ I was not the intended audience for this one but can acknowledge that it may? be enjoyed by others
⤷ I was not the intended audience for this one but can acknowledge that it may? be enjoyed by others
May 15, 2025
This released early in Canada and my library already got it in! Bonus!
This feels like a 3.5⭐️
I loved the premise of a teen survival story, celebrity romance, and set in Australia.
Charlie subs in for her bestie on this filmed fan experience where she has to go hiking with super famous actor Zander. Zander is trying to recover his image after a scandal so he needs Charlie to make him look good on this adventure. Problem is, Charlie doesn’t like him for a very specific reason that is uncovered as the story progresses.
I picked this up because I loved this author’s The Prison Healer trilogy and I wanted to read more from her. I really like her writing but she does tend to write a touch too many details in what the characters are doing that I lose interest a bit.
The plot was fun since she took liberties to make several disasters happen while they were in the wilderness and it kept me interested.
I liked the ending and the several redeemed relationships we got to see between the characters.
I dropped stars because I got bogged down in the details and Charlie was too stubborn for my liking.
Tropes & Triggers: celebrity romance, wilderness survival, trauma with driving under the influence and death of parents, male/male marriage with prominent side characters, mention of suicide, mention of teen cancer, one swear word otherwise no langauge, only kissing.
This feels like a 3.5⭐️
I loved the premise of a teen survival story, celebrity romance, and set in Australia.
Charlie subs in for her bestie on this filmed fan experience where she has to go hiking with super famous actor Zander. Zander is trying to recover his image after a scandal so he needs Charlie to make him look good on this adventure. Problem is, Charlie doesn’t like him for a very specific reason that is uncovered as the story progresses.
I picked this up because I loved this author’s The Prison Healer trilogy and I wanted to read more from her. I really like her writing but she does tend to write a touch too many details in what the characters are doing that I lose interest a bit.
The plot was fun since she took liberties to make several disasters happen while they were in the wilderness and it kept me interested.
I liked the ending and the several redeemed relationships we got to see between the characters.
I dropped stars because I got bogged down in the details and Charlie was too stubborn for my liking.
Tropes & Triggers: celebrity romance, wilderness survival, trauma with driving under the influence and death of parents, male/male marriage with prominent side characters, mention of suicide, mention of teen cancer, one swear word otherwise no langauge, only kissing.
July 31, 2025
i really liked this one until i gave it more thought. whole book takes place in less than a week, and they professed that they love each other??? cute in a book, cringey in really life
Want to read
December 1, 2024Haven't even finished the prison healer yet but I NEED this book
The cover 😍
The cover 😍
May 11, 2025
oh this was so precious!!
i love Lynette Noni's writing - she has never let me down, and this was no exception! this book was captivating and well-written, and i loved watching the two protagonists grow closer and begin to open themselves up and heal together. this is definitely a YA book, not for my strict adult readers, but i definitely recommend it to anyone interested.
i'm a sucker for a survival novel, and this gave me that thrill that i'm always searching for! i will admit that i was pissed as hell by one of the reveals at the end (personally, i thought it would have been incredibly violating, and i'm shocked how well the MCs took it), but otherwise i was swept up in this enjoyable, mildly dramatic, very adorable contemporary read!
i love Lynette Noni's writing - she has never let me down, and this was no exception! this book was captivating and well-written, and i loved watching the two protagonists grow closer and begin to open themselves up and heal together. this is definitely a YA book, not for my strict adult readers, but i definitely recommend it to anyone interested.
i'm a sucker for a survival novel, and this gave me that thrill that i'm always searching for! i will admit that i was pissed as hell by one of the reveals at the end (personally, i thought it would have been incredibly violating, and i'm shocked how well the MCs took it), but otherwise i was swept up in this enjoyable, mildly dramatic, very adorable contemporary read!
April 8, 2025
I love romances that are more focused on the individual characters and their growth rather than lovey-dovey. The personal problems add to the push and pull, making it more realistic and adds to my emotional investment.
Zander was the darling of Hollywood until he was labelled a problematic bad boy.
Charlie is a regular teenage girl who despises Zander and his publicity image.
The two are thrust together on a four-day reality TV survivalist adventure where two sunshine turned grumpy teens must survive the wilds and each other.
Lynette Noni can write contemporary YA as well as fantasy! Her characters always feel real and she is not scared to put them in turmoil - internal and external. Normally both at the same time.
I don’t know if I would classify this as a ROMANCE romance, but the hinting and teasing is there. And the expectation of course.
I also wish there was more time spent on the big plot reveal. It really frustrated me how it was handled and brushed over so quickly compared to the rest of the book. It has to do with a background friend of Zander’s and I won’t say more because spoilers.
The narration is great due to the accents and multi-narration for the dual perspectives.
Audiobook arc gifted by Blackstone Publishing.
Bookstagram Tiktok
Zander was the darling of Hollywood until he was labelled a problematic bad boy.
Charlie is a regular teenage girl who despises Zander and his publicity image.
The two are thrust together on a four-day reality TV survivalist adventure where two sunshine turned grumpy teens must survive the wilds and each other.
Lynette Noni can write contemporary YA as well as fantasy! Her characters always feel real and she is not scared to put them in turmoil - internal and external. Normally both at the same time.
I don’t know if I would classify this as a ROMANCE romance, but the hinting and teasing is there. And the expectation of course.
I also wish there was more time spent on the big plot reveal. It really frustrated me how it was handled and brushed over so quickly compared to the rest of the book. It has to do with a background friend of Zander’s and I won’t say more because spoilers.
The narration is great due to the accents and multi-narration for the dual perspectives.
Audiobook arc gifted by Blackstone Publishing.
Bookstagram Tiktok
Want to read
November 24, 2024OMG SHE JUST RELEASED THE COVER IM SCREAMING IM GOING CRAZY AHHHHHH
May 23, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
whoaaaaa an anticipated release that didn’t disappoint me?? 🤭 i LOVED this - the characters, the setting, the plot, THE ROMANCEEEEEEEEE 💖💖💖 SO GOOD! petition for lynette noni to write more romance novels 🫶
— rtc!
whoaaaaa an anticipated release that didn’t disappoint me?? 🤭 i LOVED this - the characters, the setting, the plot, THE ROMANCEEEEEEEEE 💖💖💖 SO GOOD! petition for lynette noni to write more romance novels 🫶
— rtc!
June 9, 2025
4 ✩
"You're gorgeous, Zander- that's no secret. But I hope you know it goes beyond your looks. What's inside you here"-I press a finger to his chest, right over his heart-"is more beautiful than what's here'-I move my hand up to his cheek, offering the gentlest of touches before lowering my arm again-"and if I can see that after just a few short days, then anyone who can't is an idiot." I hope his gaze as I finish, with quiet solemnity, "And they don't deserve you."
"I don't want to let you go. But I'm going to. Because you deserve to be happy, Charlie Hart. and I'd never forgive myself if I became the person who was keeping you from flying free." ☽ ‧₊˚ʚɞ
⋅˚⁀✩‧₊˚
spoilers ahead
Characters
Charlie
I loved Charlie's character development and growth. Watching her find her dreams, and what she wants to do in the future was very inspiring. It's always so nice to see a character finally put themselves first, find things they love, and make their dreams come true. And I must say, her 'galaxy' hair? stunning!! It was so cute how she let her best friend, Ember, choose what she gets every time she would go to the hair salon. Charlie is a strong and brave FMC. Who, even scared shitless, still put herself out there and faced the challenges of the 4 day survival adventure. From skydiving to rappelling down 300 ft cliffs.
Zander
Tall, hot, famous. Zander is the whole damn package. The book revolved around him going on the adventure to try to redeem his image. It did, but it was kind of sad reading about the truth of everything that had happened to him and his friends, and why he was labelled the 'problematic bad boy'. Not only did Charlie have character growth, Zander did too. And it was nice to know that all he went through in order to save his image worked, and he not only got to keep his role in the movie he was casted in, but he also got to have a relationship with Charlie.
⋅˚⁀✩‧₊˚
Thoughts
I really liked this book. And I learnt a hell of a lot about Australia and survival. I felt like the book was a bit slow in the first half. I did enjoy it, but not as much as the second half of the book. And boy, I loved the second half. The action, romance, and angst. Scrumptious. The challenges they overcame. Damn. Nearly plunging to their deaths, deadly snakes, terrible weather, unstable bridges. You name it. I love Lynette Noni and her writing. I love how she writes her plot twists, always making your jaw drop towards the end. And mine sure did. I was not expecting them to be played like that. Also, my damn goodness. The amount of time they almost died? Geez. Incredible writing, beautiful character growth, the perfect amount of angst. We even got a bit of a slow burn-y romance, which I loved. It was beautiful, seeing how much they related to each others problems, sharing an understanding between them. They may have only known each other for 4 days, but they still bonded and ending up falling in love. How adorable. The survival adventure thingy they went on was so fun to read about. The obstacle they faced, the bonds they made, the secrets they shared, the feelings that blossomed. That plot twist at the end? Never would have expected that. Though I was suspicious something was going on. Seeing all the problems solved in the end, Zander and his best friend finally talking to each other after 3 months of no contact. I teared up a bit, quite emotional. To have read another book where they go their own ways. AHHHHHHHHH!!! I hate when they do that. It makes me cry. But I'm so glad that they managed to find a way to be together and not have to worry about giving up their dreams. Perfect story, beautiful ending. 💜💙
⋅˚⁀✩‧₊˚
Quotes
"But then I found something that helped pull me out of the darkness. Not completely-just enough that I could breathe again. It was a distraction, but at the time, a distraction was exactly what I needed."
"What was it?"
"You.ᩚ"
I don't think twice before wrapping myself around him again, and for the second time tonight, I fall asleep on him. But this time I do with a lighter heart...And a smile on my lips.
⋅˚⁀✩‧₊˚
☽ pre-read
Another Lynette Noni book!! I'm very excited about this one.
Started: 8/6/2025
Finished: 9/6/2025
"You're gorgeous, Zander- that's no secret. But I hope you know it goes beyond your looks. What's inside you here"-I press a finger to his chest, right over his heart-"is more beautiful than what's here'-I move my hand up to his cheek, offering the gentlest of touches before lowering my arm again-"and if I can see that after just a few short days, then anyone who can't is an idiot." I hope his gaze as I finish, with quiet solemnity, "And they don't deserve you."
"I don't want to let you go. But I'm going to. Because you deserve to be happy, Charlie Hart. and I'd never forgive myself if I became the person who was keeping you from flying free." ☽ ‧₊˚ʚɞ
⋅˚⁀✩‧₊˚
spoilers ahead
Characters
Charlie
I loved Charlie's character development and growth. Watching her find her dreams, and what she wants to do in the future was very inspiring. It's always so nice to see a character finally put themselves first, find things they love, and make their dreams come true. And I must say, her 'galaxy' hair? stunning!! It was so cute how she let her best friend, Ember, choose what she gets every time she would go to the hair salon. Charlie is a strong and brave FMC. Who, even scared shitless, still put herself out there and faced the challenges of the 4 day survival adventure. From skydiving to rappelling down 300 ft cliffs.
Zander
Tall, hot, famous. Zander is the whole damn package. The book revolved around him going on the adventure to try to redeem his image. It did, but it was kind of sad reading about the truth of everything that had happened to him and his friends, and why he was labelled the 'problematic bad boy'. Not only did Charlie have character growth, Zander did too. And it was nice to know that all he went through in order to save his image worked, and he not only got to keep his role in the movie he was casted in, but he also got to have a relationship with Charlie.
⋅˚⁀✩‧₊˚
Thoughts
I really liked this book. And I learnt a hell of a lot about Australia and survival. I felt like the book was a bit slow in the first half. I did enjoy it, but not as much as the second half of the book. And boy, I loved the second half. The action, romance, and angst. Scrumptious. The challenges they overcame. Damn. Nearly plunging to their deaths, deadly snakes, terrible weather, unstable bridges. You name it. I love Lynette Noni and her writing. I love how she writes her plot twists, always making your jaw drop towards the end. And mine sure did. I was not expecting them to be played like that. Also, my damn goodness. The amount of time they almost died? Geez. Incredible writing, beautiful character growth, the perfect amount of angst. We even got a bit of a slow burn-y romance, which I loved. It was beautiful, seeing how much they related to each others problems, sharing an understanding between them. They may have only known each other for 4 days, but they still bonded and ending up falling in love. How adorable. The survival adventure thingy they went on was so fun to read about. The obstacle they faced, the bonds they made, the secrets they shared, the feelings that blossomed. That plot twist at the end? Never would have expected that. Though I was suspicious something was going on. Seeing all the problems solved in the end, Zander and his best friend finally talking to each other after 3 months of no contact. I teared up a bit, quite emotional. To have read another book where they go their own ways. AHHHHHHHHH!!! I hate when they do that. It makes me cry. But I'm so glad that they managed to find a way to be together and not have to worry about giving up their dreams. Perfect story, beautiful ending. 💜💙
⋅˚⁀✩‧₊˚
Quotes
"But then I found something that helped pull me out of the darkness. Not completely-just enough that I could breathe again. It was a distraction, but at the time, a distraction was exactly what I needed."
"What was it?"
"You.ᩚ"
I don't think twice before wrapping myself around him again, and for the second time tonight, I fall asleep on him. But this time I do with a lighter heart...And a smile on my lips.
⋅˚⁀✩‧₊˚
☽ pre-read
Another Lynette Noni book!! I'm very excited about this one.
Started: 8/6/2025
Finished: 9/6/2025
August 27, 2025
❀° ┄───╮
review
╰───┄ °❀
thanks to netgalley and publisher for this arc!!
~~~
guys I really did read it, but I forgot to write a review?! 😭😭💀
overall 4 ✨ tho. very trope-y with the forced proximity & enemies-to-lovers (from her side). def a cute rom-com! 🤭
❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
I refuse to talk about the fact that this has been in my possession as an arc for over 2 months now and I have not read it yet 🫣😭
review
╰───┄ °❀
thanks to netgalley and publisher for this arc!!
~~~
guys I really did read it, but I forgot to write a review?! 😭😭💀
overall 4 ✨ tho. very trope-y with the forced proximity & enemies-to-lovers (from her side). def a cute rom-com! 🤭
❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
I refuse to talk about the fact that this has been in my possession as an arc for over 2 months now and I have not read it yet 🫣😭
May 19, 2025
Thank you to Blackstone publishing and NetGalley for providing me the ark!
Oh my God??? This book was such a delight. I just finished my masters degree and education until the past month. I haven’t really been able to read and today. I literally just picked up this book and it is the best thing the most joyful thing I have read in a while.
First off the characters were so incredible. Xander is truly an icon a man for the people protecting his girl summer protecting his boy Maddox he is a king! Truly, like when I tell you, this man is so amazing. I mean it. Charlie is so relatable and like honestly I would be freaking the fuck out too if I was in the middle of the woods with a famous actor who is very much very closely tied to a lot of of my trauma. They were both just so cute and oh my God they’re going to Iceland at some point together!!!!!!
This book obviously is a little unrealistic when it comes to like the reality TV aspect of it and all that stuff and oh my God when that plot twist came, the scream I scrumpt!!!! Like literally breathtaking.
Also, I just really appreciate how this book handled discussion sexual assault and the challenges of dealing with trauma in the performance industry. Xander and Summer truly went through so much and so did Charlie and I just really think that this was handled with so much care and respect and I’m just I’m so proud of just all these characters these characters I like my baby and oh my God, Xander and Maddox need a fucking hug.
Is this book a little insta lovey? Yes. But I mean when you were trying to survive in the woods with a hot man girl, you’d be jumping on that I’m just saying.
This was so fun and I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a bit of fun and cute romance!
Oh my God??? This book was such a delight. I just finished my masters degree and education until the past month. I haven’t really been able to read and today. I literally just picked up this book and it is the best thing the most joyful thing I have read in a while.
First off the characters were so incredible. Xander is truly an icon a man for the people protecting his girl summer protecting his boy Maddox he is a king! Truly, like when I tell you, this man is so amazing. I mean it. Charlie is so relatable and like honestly I would be freaking the fuck out too if I was in the middle of the woods with a famous actor who is very much very closely tied to a lot of of my trauma. They were both just so cute and oh my God they’re going to Iceland at some point together!!!!!!
This book obviously is a little unrealistic when it comes to like the reality TV aspect of it and all that stuff and oh my God when that plot twist came, the scream I scrumpt!!!! Like literally breathtaking.
Also, I just really appreciate how this book handled discussion sexual assault and the challenges of dealing with trauma in the performance industry. Xander and Summer truly went through so much and so did Charlie and I just really think that this was handled with so much care and respect and I’m just I’m so proud of just all these characters these characters I like my baby and oh my God, Xander and Maddox need a fucking hug.
Is this book a little insta lovey? Yes. But I mean when you were trying to survive in the woods with a hot man girl, you’d be jumping on that I’m just saying.
This was so fun and I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a bit of fun and cute romance!
January 12, 2025
When you’ve read every book an author has written (14 whole books!), you expect that it’ll get harder for them to surprise you, and yet Lynette Noni just continues to outdo herself, every single time.
Wondering Wild may be her first foray into contemporary fiction, but don’t get too comfortable, because all the I-can-feel-my-pulse-in-my-throat action, and the I-actually stopped-breathing-till-it-was-over situations we’ve been trained to both love and fear are in this one, too.
Another brilliant work from an exceptional Aussie talent.
Wondering Wild may be her first foray into contemporary fiction, but don’t get too comfortable, because all the I-can-feel-my-pulse-in-my-throat action, and the I-actually stopped-breathing-till-it-was-over situations we’ve been trained to both love and fear are in this one, too.
Another brilliant work from an exceptional Aussie talent.
August 12, 2025
I wasn't sure what to expect with Wondering Wild because the this is not the author's normal genre but I think she did well writing this light and easy to read adventure novel. There are some heavy themes but it was handled well. I enjoyed the dual POV and thought it was executed well. is it amazing? no but I did really enjoy reading it even though it's definitely on the younger side.
June 1, 2025
1/06
90% trauma, 9% flirting, 1% romance
My expectations were a bit too high for this. I love The Prison Healer and The Medoran Chronicles a lot, but the contemporary style writing just did not deliver
2.85/5
✩──────────✩─────────✩
29/04
Have i read every other book by Lynette Noni?
Yes.
So am I going to read this?
Definitely🤭
90% trauma, 9% flirting, 1% romance
My expectations were a bit too high for this. I love The Prison Healer and The Medoran Chronicles a lot, but the contemporary style writing just did not deliver
2.85/5
✩──────────✩─────────✩
29/04
Have i read every other book by Lynette Noni?
Yes.
So am I going to read this?
Definitely🤭
July 1, 2025
I would describe this as a pleasant listen. For the age and life experience of the MCs (18+) this had a very young and often immature narrative voice. At the same time, these characters of Zander and Charlie had been through a heck of a lot of trauma and drama. This made their time together dramatic and the storyline in itself was traumatic.
The story took on a Bear Grylls type of survival show with a famous actor (Zander) trying to clean up his bad boy image and a fan, Charlie who won a competition. Both of them brought a bucket load of baggage with them which complicated their early and later alliance and friendship.
I thought the plot was far-fetched but interesting and the survival elements were a bit too much. How that show went wrong was risk management hell!
I didn't struggle to finish the book but I didn't love it. I wanted to see more maturity in the characters and a plot that felt more easy and relatable to invest in. I definitely prefer Noni's fantasy offerings.
Thank you Bonnier Books for the eARC.
The story took on a Bear Grylls type of survival show with a famous actor (Zander) trying to clean up his bad boy image and a fan, Charlie who won a competition. Both of them brought a bucket load of baggage with them which complicated their early and later alliance and friendship.
I thought the plot was far-fetched but interesting and the survival elements were a bit too much. How that show went wrong was risk management hell!
I didn't struggle to finish the book but I didn't love it. I wanted to see more maturity in the characters and a plot that felt more easy and relatable to invest in. I definitely prefer Noni's fantasy offerings.
Thank you Bonnier Books for the eARC.
May 16, 2025
This is a cute YA romance survival story. It’s a little cheesy, but I suppose I’m sensitive to sappy stuff because I normally avoid books with romance as the main plot. However, I’m a sucker for survival stories, so I gave this a shot. I will say that it is a little plodding and takes a long time to get to the part where the main characters are stranded. There are a lot of sweaty palm moments, though, especially in the latter quarter of the novel. I’d pretty much be dead several times over.
Overall, I’d give this a 3.5. It held my interest, and it’s really cute, but it’s not something I’ll reread.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Overall, I’d give this a 3.5. It held my interest, and it’s really cute, but it’s not something I’ll reread.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 9, 2025
| TikTok | IG |
A bad boy actor and a former fan (and current hater), embark on an adventure in Australia in an attempt to salvage his reputation, but like all good romance novels things take a turn and romance ensues.
If a book is described as an adventure romance I’m probably going to read it, add in that this author wrote The Prison Healer, a series I throughly enjoyed and of course I needed to grab this one.
I’m not a huge fan of contemporary YA, but this was certainly a good time, and is the perfect book for those that enjoy the genre.
What’s to love…
- celebrity MMC
- found family
- heart pounding adventure
- great banter and tension
- themes of grief, loss, family and friendship
- dual POV
What’s not to love…
- the pacing was just a bit off for me, a little slow to start and a lot packed into the ending.
Adjusted rating for intended audience vs personal enjoyment.
Intended audience (YA or contemporary YA lovers): 4.5⭐️
Personal enjoyment (or adults who typically don’t enjoy contemporary YA): 3.5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
A bad boy actor and a former fan (and current hater), embark on an adventure in Australia in an attempt to salvage his reputation, but like all good romance novels things take a turn and romance ensues.
If a book is described as an adventure romance I’m probably going to read it, add in that this author wrote The Prison Healer, a series I throughly enjoyed and of course I needed to grab this one.
I’m not a huge fan of contemporary YA, but this was certainly a good time, and is the perfect book for those that enjoy the genre.
What’s to love…
- celebrity MMC
- found family
- heart pounding adventure
- great banter and tension
- themes of grief, loss, family and friendship
- dual POV
What’s not to love…
- the pacing was just a bit off for me, a little slow to start and a lot packed into the ending.
Adjusted rating for intended audience vs personal enjoyment.
Intended audience (YA or contemporary YA lovers): 4.5⭐️
Personal enjoyment (or adults who typically don’t enjoy contemporary YA): 3.5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
May 12, 2025
4 Stars ✨
Clean YA Adventure/Romance
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for this advanced audio arc of Wandering Wild in exchange for an honest review.
Zander was once an A-list young actor, but one night may have ruined his reputation for good. With his career hanging in the balance, his agent is forced to do damage control to clean up his image. Zander has agreed to do a reality tv show out in the wilderness in Australia, the catch- he will have to work together with one of his fans. Charlie is just a normal teenage girl who can’t stand Zander. Due to her best friends scheming, Charlie finds herself being Zander’s biggest fan on their four day adventure through the wilderness.
I really enjoyed this story! It was unlike any of this authors other books. The characters were likable and the romance was sweet and clean. Wandering Wild explores themes of trust, forgiveness, love and growth. I really enjoyed the way it handled perceptions of others and how true character can really be shown in times of adversity. It’s a simple story, with high stakes adventure- and a twist that will make your heart drop.
Audio 🎧 5/5 Stars ✨
Narrator :
Nikki Thomas and Heath Miller
The narration of this book was great. It was so nice to listen to a book with a different accent. Nikki Millers Australian accent was perfect for this story. Her voice, along with the vivid descriptions really gave it a unique Aussie vibe. Heath Miller also did a great job with Zander’s character. I would definitely recommend the audiobook.
Content ⚠️
-one use of the word SOB
-kissing only
-death of parent
-mention of alcohol and drugs (someone tells a story about a Hollywood party)
Clean YA Adventure/Romance
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for this advanced audio arc of Wandering Wild in exchange for an honest review.
Zander was once an A-list young actor, but one night may have ruined his reputation for good. With his career hanging in the balance, his agent is forced to do damage control to clean up his image. Zander has agreed to do a reality tv show out in the wilderness in Australia, the catch- he will have to work together with one of his fans. Charlie is just a normal teenage girl who can’t stand Zander. Due to her best friends scheming, Charlie finds herself being Zander’s biggest fan on their four day adventure through the wilderness.
I really enjoyed this story! It was unlike any of this authors other books. The characters were likable and the romance was sweet and clean. Wandering Wild explores themes of trust, forgiveness, love and growth. I really enjoyed the way it handled perceptions of others and how true character can really be shown in times of adversity. It’s a simple story, with high stakes adventure- and a twist that will make your heart drop.
Audio 🎧 5/5 Stars ✨
Narrator :
Nikki Thomas and Heath Miller
The narration of this book was great. It was so nice to listen to a book with a different accent. Nikki Millers Australian accent was perfect for this story. Her voice, along with the vivid descriptions really gave it a unique Aussie vibe. Heath Miller also did a great job with Zander’s character. I would definitely recommend the audiobook.
Content ⚠️
-one use of the word SOB
-kissing only
-death of parent
-mention of alcohol and drugs (someone tells a story about a Hollywood party)
July 1, 2025
★★.5
i was so excited for this one 🥲💔 first Lynette Noni book did not deliver - I'll try and keep an open mind for her other ones tho. RTC
i was so excited for this one 🥲💔 first Lynette Noni book did not deliver - I'll try and keep an open mind for her other ones tho. RTC
January 9, 2025
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss for the DRC!
Lynette Noni crafts a deeply tender story in her contemporary debut, 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥. As a fan of Noni's 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘳 fantasy series, I couldn't have been more excited for her signature tense, high-stakes scenes and heartfelt writing that I knew would translate into the young adult contemporary genre.
𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 follows famous actor, Zander, as he attempts to mend his public image with an appearance on a survival show with a disgruntled fan, Charlie, who is only there to please her best friend. As the trip goes awry and the pair have to rely on each other for survival, romantic feelings begin to develop.
The first quarter of the book was difficult for me to enjoy as it's typical setup for a contemporary romance - we meet each character and catch a glimpse into their struggles, and since it's a young adult novel, this background felt a bit immature and difficult to relate to. (I am above the target audience, so this is just a me problem, not a book problem!)
However, once Zander and Charlie jump (literally!) into their wilderness adventure, I was hooked! I loved the tense, high-stakes survival scenes and tender romantic feelings that begin to develop. Zander and Charlie are both complex, thoughtful characters, and I admired their strength and growth throughout the story.
I wasn't expecting the exploration of grief and very real-world problems which makes 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 an easily relatable reading experience. Readers are sure to grow and reflect on life experiences alongside the characters, and there's something very intimate about an author achieving that. I was able to see a side of myself in Charlie that had struggled with loss and grief at 19 years old, and that remains a comforting experience.
It's a quick read, and by the end I wanted more of Zander and Charlie alone together and less of the dialogue with friends or scenes with the crew. That's a sign of a job well done, and I'm sure these characters will stick with me for a while!
Lynette Noni crafts a deeply tender story in her contemporary debut, 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥. As a fan of Noni's 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘳 fantasy series, I couldn't have been more excited for her signature tense, high-stakes scenes and heartfelt writing that I knew would translate into the young adult contemporary genre.
𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 follows famous actor, Zander, as he attempts to mend his public image with an appearance on a survival show with a disgruntled fan, Charlie, who is only there to please her best friend. As the trip goes awry and the pair have to rely on each other for survival, romantic feelings begin to develop.
The first quarter of the book was difficult for me to enjoy as it's typical setup for a contemporary romance - we meet each character and catch a glimpse into their struggles, and since it's a young adult novel, this background felt a bit immature and difficult to relate to. (I am above the target audience, so this is just a me problem, not a book problem!)
However, once Zander and Charlie jump (literally!) into their wilderness adventure, I was hooked! I loved the tense, high-stakes survival scenes and tender romantic feelings that begin to develop. Zander and Charlie are both complex, thoughtful characters, and I admired their strength and growth throughout the story.
I wasn't expecting the exploration of grief and very real-world problems which makes 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 an easily relatable reading experience. Readers are sure to grow and reflect on life experiences alongside the characters, and there's something very intimate about an author achieving that. I was able to see a side of myself in Charlie that had struggled with loss and grief at 19 years old, and that remains a comforting experience.
It's a quick read, and by the end I wanted more of Zander and Charlie alone together and less of the dialogue with friends or scenes with the crew. That's a sign of a job well done, and I'm sure these characters will stick with me for a while!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 769 reviews