by Kirsten Hubbard
March 13, 2012
Goodreads Summary:
It all begins with a stupid question:
Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.
Review
Wanderlove might be one of the oldest books sitting on my shelf so it was definitely overdue for a read. Wow am I so glad I picked it up! I am usually not one to travel but the amazing descriptions has me wanting to go on an adventure too!!
What I Liked:
- the reality of travelling/backpacking: long bus rides, breakdowns, etc.
- the hidden gem of local spots Rowan shows Bria
- every location sounds gorgeous
- some super relaxing sights
- the flawed but very relatable characters
- Bria's journey to facing the truth about her relationships and letting go
- Rowan's hesitancy to share his past with Bria
- lots of character growths
- the awkward but natural tension between Bria and Rowan
- I both loved and hated the slow build up to the romance ;P
- Starling is an awesome big sister
- many fun and funny moments
- a wistful feeling
The Not So Much:
- the ending felt a bit rushed- I would've liked to see more of Bria and Rowan as a couple
- I so wanted to see Bria confront and give her ex a piece of her mind!
"Even when life turns out different than what you planned, it's always better to try and fail than to wonder what could have been." (p. 319)
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