Something Wilder
Part three of my Glow Girl Summer Book Club. For the rest of the titles, click here. If you are looking for a free printable with book club questions you can use with your favorite book, click here.
And for ALL things reading, check out this full compilation.
Nothing wraps up summer like a little adventure! One of my favorite best friend author duos, writing under the pen name Christina Lauren (combo of their first names) published a new book this year and I was quick to grab it from my library.
Even though Something Wilder is a fictional book (and included disclaimers that the geographic details were often made up to fit the story), it’s actually because it’s fiction that we can relax our minds and fall into the story. Following the adventures of Lily and Leo and experiencing it through their perspectives gives us space to ponder some questions on our own. I love reading and I’m passionate about finding ways to know myself better and expand my personal growth journey, so I figure there’s nothing better than to combine the two and share them with you!
Family Relationships
Lily and her dad had a challenging relationship at times. They struggled to communicate with each other, especially later in life and it was complicated by her dad’s love language of communicating in riddles. Lily felt especially hurt when he sold the property she was so in love with without explaining it to her. And if that isn’t enough, Leo, the boy of her dreams leaves the ranch suddenly and then doesn’t reach out again.
Lily is figuring out her next move, as she’s living paycheck to paycheck and running adventure tours capitalizing off her dad’s legacy as a treasure hunter. Little did she know that her family’s history would catch up with her in more ways than one!
I really enjoyed this book and seeing how Lily kept finding ways to stick close to her dream, even when it felt like a lost hope. Choosing to stick it out this long really showed her tenacity, or stubbornness. As someone who is getting her own businesses going, it was helpful to see another person’s journey even through the eyes of a fictional character.
Reflection Prompt
When is a time that you have stuck with something far longer than most? What was the main factor in continuing to stick with it?
What passions do you have and what if you could translate that into a side hustle or a business?
Hidden Treasures
Leo and his friends picked this outing for their guys trip because they were interested in the legend of the hidden treasure. Things start to go awry when Leo’s friends start to believe in the legendary treasure more than Lily ever did.
Reflection Prompt
When is a time that someone has believed in you more than you have believed in yourself?
What is a ‘hidden treasure’ that someone has helped you see in yourself? How can you start seeing the treasures within you for yourself?
Want all of this and more as a printable guide?
Grab the printable book club guide that includes rediscover yourself quotes from the book and prompts to deepen your self-awareness.
Creative Solutions
Leo has a moment where he comes up with an answer to get them out of a tight situation. Most of us won’t ever be in quite that type of a situation, but it did require a creative solution in some very unusual circumstances.
Reflection Prompt
When is a time that you have come up with a unique solution when under pressure?
How you could you use that knowledge about yourself to help motivate you when you really need to get something done that seems impossible?
In Plain Sight
Lily’s dad left her some clues in some unusual places and sometimes hidden in plain sight. It was only through opening her awareness and allowing her mind to connect the dots that they even started this adventure.
Reflection Prompt
What is a problem you are wanting a solution for in your life? What clues do you already have, but you haven’t figured out how to connect the dots yet?
What lessons can you take from this book about working through a riddle and use in your life?
Power of Adventure
This book took us on an adventure into the wild west, capturing some of the magic of legendary stories and the belief that treasure is still out there, something that will change your life if you were able to follow the map and decode the clues.
Our own lives feel that way sometimes, that it is a mystery to figure out. In this book, Lily had her dad’s notebook with his hand drawn maps and special codes. In our own lives, we are left to develop our own notebook where we write down our collection of thoughts and knowings.
Journaling has been a helpful way for me to help navigate my own thoughts and feelings and come up with interesting connections and uncover answers to some of the riddles of life that I want to unravel. I hope that you’ll use the reflection questions here to start your own adventure of getting to know yourself better.
To go further into yourself, and into the riddles that Lily and Leo have to work out in their lives, I’ve created a guide to lead you. It includes a deeper look into the story to help you draw a clearer map for yourself and the questions posed here as a downloadable printable that you can use on your own or to liven up your next book club discussion. Combining the power of journaling and a good story, you can keep using the power of this story to help you learn more about yourself and let it lead you toward your next adventure in your self improvement journey toward living a life that lights you up.
And if you’ve read this book, I’d love to know what you thought by leaving a comment below. And if you have a suggestion for my On My List reading list, comment or send me a DM on Instagram.
This is the 3rd in the summer beach read book series, each with their own reader reflection guide. Check out One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle and the whole list here —> Glow Girl Summer Reading List
If you loved Something Wilder, check out one of my favorite Christina Lauren books, In A Holidaze.
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Stephanie Rose is a mom, wife, business owner and a forever student in finding ways to know herself better. She acts as guide for your own journey, sharing insights, tools and practices to help you remember your magic and live a life that lights you up. Sign up for her newsletter and check out her free resources.