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Wanderlove Kirsten Hubbard Books

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Wanderlove Kirsten Hubbard Books

Reviewer's Note: I originally read this as a copy provided by the publisher, but I also bought my own copy of the book later. This is the original review I posted when I initially read the work.

Penning an extended review for "Wanderlove" intimidates me to an extent, because I don't know if I can write an apt enough description of how much I loved this book. The characters, the intimacy in the sense of place, the immersion I felt and the need to not want to put it down (even in points where I absolutely had to). It's among my favorite YA (though I would also argue overall) reads of 2012. I would highly recommend this for those who love coming of age stories, stories with a rich immersion within a different culture, and identification with characters that take a life of their own inside the pages of the work.

The story revolves around 18-year-old Bria Sandoval, a young woman who wants nothing more than to reinvent herself after graduating from high school. Having abandoned her artistic ambitions, left behind her ex-boyfriend, and ultimately feeling that she needed a drastic change in her life, she decides to go backpacking in Central America. Sounds fun, right? Only when she arrives to meet with her tour group - it isn't the experience she expects. It isn't until Bria meets the charming Rowan and his outspoken sister Starling that she decides to go rogue and embark on her own tour of Central America with them.

Both Rowan and Bria share a common thread - a need to get away from their old lives and reinvent themselves. Rowan works as an assistant diving instructor, keeping himself grounded after leading a rather wild lifestyle. Bria wants to get more out of her shell and transcend her boundaries. Both of them learn a bit about each other in the process, but realize that if they both want to move forward, they have to find some way of coming to terms with their pasts. The way that Hubbard depicts Rowan and Bria's relationship with each other, as well as Bria's coming to terms with the life she left behind and the choices ahead of her is sooo good. I mean, wicked good. There's a healthy blend of exploring the places that Bria and Rowan travel (conducive to Hubbard's real life experiences), a blend of exploring the strengths, weaknesses and experiences of each character, and beautiful illustrations that pepper the book in places. "Wanderlove" appealed to me in so many ways, these aspects included.

I think I developed a fictional crush on Rowan as well. I have a very small list of fictional crushes compared to most, my saying that I crushed (hard) on Rowan is no understatement. The image of him in the book matched exactly the image I had in my head of him (he's so cute, funny, and sweet, I'm not even sorry.) But I digress. :)

It's refreshing to see when an author can shape and show characters in a realistic way that helps the reader identify with them as the events of the novel come to pass. Bria's a bit of a lost soul having to come to terms with pains in her past, and deciding where she wants to go with her future. Rowan is a bit in the same path, though he's shaping his own path to redeeming himself from missteps that he's had, and re-establishing trust in his own relationships. It's not an easy road, but Hubbard compliments it with a healthy dose of humor that makes it all the more charming to read/see in action.

The locations of the work are provided in stunning detail, one that appealed to my inner desire to travel internationally in the future. In the depictions that Hubbard provides through Bria's voice, I found myself traveling right along with her and being in awe of the sights, sounds and life within her travels. I really, really wish there were more stories as vivid as this in literature in general, because its fascinating to see how a culture is perceived as its experienced for any viewer, whether novice or experienced.

Overall, this is one of the few books where, after putting it down, I wanted to pick it right back up again and read it. It was that good, and I wouldn't hesitate to add this to my own reading collection and encourage others to do the same.

Overall score: 5/5


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Wanderlove Kirsten Hubbard Books Reviews

Every once in a while you find a book that just touches you completely and hits you in such as way as you read to absolutely mesmerize you and keep you reading continually, neglecting all else until the book can be finished. Wanderlove, by Kirsten Hubbard, was that sort of book for me. Thank goodness I began this book on a lazy spring break day where I had no real responsibilities to pull me away, because I could not stop reading this book once i began. It had be looking back on my young adult years before and during college and wishing I had taken a journey such as the one Bria takes in this book. It was amazing!

This is the story of a young woman, Bria, who, during the summer before she is supposed to enter college decides to join an organized tour in Central America to see Mayan ruins. She is still basically in a state of mourning over a recent breakup with a jerk of a boyfriend, and despite his mistreatment of her, Bria cannot move on. She avoids the art that she had loved so much and also seems to avoid any activity that has any connection to this failed relationship. She joins this tour group with the expectation of meeting other people her age who can explore this exotic atmosphere with her. Instead she finds that she is with a group of retirees and older people who are looking for a safe and predictable experience.

In the midst of this experience that is turning out to be a huge disappointment for Bria, she comes into contact with Starling and Rowan, a brother and sister duo who are backpacking through the countries of Central America. They are doing this on the cheap, staying in hostels and riding filthy, borderline unsafe buses to get from place to place. Bria ends up joining them on their trip and experiences an entirely different side of the world she is exploring. Soon Starling leaves them, leaving Rowan to guide Bria through this unfamiliar landscape. Like Bria, Rowan is also trying to turn a corner in his life and is unwilling to share his personal demons with Bria. Despite the unwillingness in both of them to share the things that hurt them in their past, Bria and Rowan eventually form a good traveling relationship.

There is a romance in this story, and although I absolutely love romances in stories and liked this one very well, I have to say that the romance is not what drove the plot at all. This was a travel story, and the magic of the story was in the descriptions of the people and scenes of the Central American scenes that Hubbard describes throughout the novel. I could practically smell the nastiness of some of the dirty buses and hostels that Bria found herself in. I could feel the sweat rolling down my body as Bria thought of the high heat and humidity she experienced. The descriptions of the sand on the beaches and the feel of the mud and water between Bria's toes seemed so real. Even the sounds of the rain forest as Bria lay listening at night came alive for me. It was just beautiful to read. I found myself wishing that I could take just such a trip to experience the real world of ordinary people in the world, not just the sanitized tour versions that are advertised.

As Bria finds herself entrenched in this new environment where so much of the complications of modern life are stripped away, she discovers who she is. Rowan helps her to let go of the hurtful actions of her ex-boyfriend and embrace the things she loves the most. She came on this trip in a way to escape and throw herself into activities that have no meaning and therefore have little risk of harming her emotionally. Instead she finds out how to take charge of her life and let herself find joy in the things that matter to her. It was a great journey to read about. I was so happy to have gotten to tag along vicariously as a reader.

I liked that the themes in this book weren't portrayed as being crystal clear and easily overcome. I like that Bria and Rowan were both flawed in their own ways, and as the novel ended they were still flawed. But they were better, and they had plans for the future that allowed each of them to find comfort and power in one another. Life isn't always pretty, but it isn't this hopeless pool of sadness and disappoint that would require us to avoid any connections to others for fear of being hurt. Instead, life is full of potential, both good and bad, but as we embrace the people and activities we love we can find our own joy as we navigate the waters. That is the message I got after reading this book. It is a book I will read again, I am sure. Maybe next time I'll take my time and enjoy the scenery even more. This is a beautiful travel story, as much a love story involving the countries, lifestyle, and people of South America as it is a love story of two young people who discover each other in the midst of it. I highly recommend this book!
Reviewer's Note I originally read this as a copy provided by the publisher, but I also bought my own copy of the book later. This is the original review I posted when I initially read the work.

Penning an extended review for "Wanderlove" intimidates me to an extent, because I don't know if I can write an apt enough description of how much I loved this book. The characters, the intimacy in the sense of place, the immersion I felt and the need to not want to put it down (even in points where I absolutely had to). It's among my favorite YA (though I would also argue overall) reads of 2012. I would highly recommend this for those who love coming of age stories, stories with a rich immersion within a different culture, and identification with characters that take a life of their own inside the pages of the work.

The story revolves around 18-year-old Bria Sandoval, a young woman who wants nothing more than to reinvent herself after graduating from high school. Having abandoned her artistic ambitions, left behind her ex-boyfriend, and ultimately feeling that she needed a drastic change in her life, she decides to go backpacking in Central America. Sounds fun, right? Only when she arrives to meet with her tour group - it isn't the experience she expects. It isn't until Bria meets the charming Rowan and his outspoken sister Starling that she decides to go rogue and embark on her own tour of Central America with them.

Both Rowan and Bria share a common thread - a need to get away from their old lives and reinvent themselves. Rowan works as an assistant diving instructor, keeping himself grounded after leading a rather wild lifestyle. Bria wants to get more out of her shell and transcend her boundaries. Both of them learn a bit about each other in the process, but realize that if they both want to move forward, they have to find some way of coming to terms with their pasts. The way that Hubbard depicts Rowan and Bria's relationship with each other, as well as Bria's coming to terms with the life she left behind and the choices ahead of her is sooo good. I mean, wicked good. There's a healthy blend of exploring the places that Bria and Rowan travel (conducive to Hubbard's real life experiences), a blend of exploring the strengths, weaknesses and experiences of each character, and beautiful illustrations that pepper the book in places. "Wanderlove" appealed to me in so many ways, these aspects included.

I think I developed a fictional crush on Rowan as well. I have a very small list of fictional crushes compared to most, my saying that I crushed (hard) on Rowan is no understatement. The image of him in the book matched exactly the image I had in my head of him (he's so cute, funny, and sweet, I'm not even sorry.) But I digress. )

It's refreshing to see when an author can shape and show characters in a realistic way that helps the reader identify with them as the events of the novel come to pass. Bria's a bit of a lost soul having to come to terms with pains in her past, and deciding where she wants to go with her future. Rowan is a bit in the same path, though he's shaping his own path to redeeming himself from missteps that he's had, and re-establishing trust in his own relationships. It's not an easy road, but Hubbard compliments it with a healthy dose of humor that makes it all the more charming to read/see in action.

The locations of the work are provided in stunning detail, one that appealed to my inner desire to travel internationally in the future. In the depictions that Hubbard provides through Bria's voice, I found myself traveling right along with her and being in awe of the sights, sounds and life within her travels. I really, really wish there were more stories as vivid as this in literature in general, because its fascinating to see how a culture is perceived as its experienced for any viewer, whether novice or experienced.

Overall, this is one of the few books where, after putting it down, I wanted to pick it right back up again and read it. It was that good, and I wouldn't hesitate to add this to my own reading collection and encourage others to do the same.

Overall score 5/5