Title: Wanderlove
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Release date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte BFYR
Pages: 352
Source: ALA

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.

Honestly, if I could give this book a higher rating, I would.  This book reminded me why contemporary is my favorite genre.  Kirsten Hubbard’s sophomore novel is full of gorgeous settings, crazy adventures, fabulous characters, and beautiful writing.  I need to check out her debut novel, Like Mandarin.

First, the setting.  I have never really wanted to travel to Central America but after reading Wanderlove I’m torn between feeling like I have already been and dying to go.  The descriptions are so lush and detailed.  The animals, the rain forests, the ocean, everything is so easy to picture, it’s like you are right there alongside Bria.

Speaking of Bria: that chick is awesome!  She’s lost, sad, lonely, and her trip is not exactly going as planned.  However none of that slows her down.  She’s feisty at times but super shy at others.  Both Starling and Rowan bring out different sides of her and it’s amazing how it’s all still the same girl.  She’s so well-developed and well-rounded.  It’s impossible not to love her.  It’s also impossible not to want to slap her at times and hug her at others. Then there are Starling and Rowan.  For siblings, they are almost nothing alike. Starling is adventurous, outgoing, and a bit crazy. Rowan is adventurous too but his is much more tame and likes to spend time alone.  He’s very damaged but still totally perfect.  His flaws only make him better.

Now like I said earlier, I haven’t read Kirsten Hubbard’s first novel, Like Mandarin, so I don’t know anything about her writing other than that in Wanderlove.  If this is any indication, I will adore her writing.  It flows so smoothly and it’s beautiful in it’s simplicity.  It’s not overly rich and it’s so easy to take in.  I could read her writing for days with no breaks.

Another thing that makes Wanderlove unique and totally fabulous are the drawings.  There aren’t a ton of them but each one has a special meaning to the story and they are all gorgeous.  They not only add to the images of the setting already in the readers head, they also add a whole other side to Bria, a deeper look in her head.  It’s such a unique way to get to know a character.

Another thing I adored is the romance between Bria and Rowan.  It’s such a simple romance yet those two manage to complicate it quite a bit.  They both have issues but they also manage to help each other overcome those issues and bring out their better sides.  Their romance takes time to develop and it’s just so real.  It’s hard not to jump up and down in joy when things finally do go right for them.

Overall, Wanderlove has earned a spot on my favorites shelf and I look forward to rereading it many times in the future.  Kirsten Hubbard may make a world traveler out of me yet.  Now where can I find a Rowan?

Looking for more reviews of Wanderlove?
Shut Up! I’m Reading’s Review
365 Days Of Reading’s Review