Wanderlove in Sophomore Reading Challenge

Dec 02, 2010 tarawrawr rated it it was amazing

REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/2012/...

It’s very hard for me to express my awe and appreciation for Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. I studied abroad in London, I’ve been to Scotland and France, but I’ve only ever dreamed of backpacking like Bria did in Wanderlove. But after reading Wanderlove, and Kirsten Hubbard’s acknowledgements and bio – I’m going to make it a reality.

And in terms of Wanderlove itself – it really is fantastic, amazing, adventurous, moving, motivating REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/2012/...

It’s very hard for me to express my awe and appreciation for Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. I studied abroad in London, I’ve been to Scotland and France, but I’ve only ever dreamed of backpacking like Bria did in Wanderlove. But after reading Wanderlove, and Kirsten Hubbard’s acknowledgements and bio – I’m going to make it a reality.

And in terms of Wanderlove itself – it really is fantastic, amazing, adventurous, moving, motivating, and so many other awesome adjectives.

Bria Sandoval is the teen we all know and relate to – messed up over that boy in high school, let down by her friends and family, unsure of where her future lies…but rather than just mope, she decides to go to Guatemala. And it ends up totally different than she was planning on, but it changed her life. And that’s how travel should be.

Even without reading her biography, Kirsten Hubbard’s passion for travel and adventure really comes through on every page. And even if you’ve never really had the desire to go somewhere new, I think Wanderlove is sure to inspire you because there’s so much of Kirsten Hubbard’s intimate connection with the countries she’s describing. I was just kind of in awe when I finished reading Wanderlove.

And there is certainly no instalove in Wanderlove. The relationship between Bria and Rowan is slow-going, but amazing and deep and they have such a connection. And Starling. Can I please read a whole book dedicated to Starling, Kirsten Hubbard? Starling had so much depth and character.

How have I not mentioned the drawings? Kirsten Hubbard actually included sketches she drew of the stuff that Bria was drawing and it added such an awesome element to Wanderlove. I would totally frame the sketches too – especially the one of Rowan! Loved this aspect of Wanderlove so much.

Overall, I just truly, utterly, 100% loved Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. The story was inspiring and passionate, the drawings added so much the story, and best of all, it is so evident that Kirsten Hubbard truly loved what she was writing. Now, pease excuse me while I grab my passport and a backpack. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2011 Sasha rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya-qc-5, realistic, young-adult, everyone-loved-but-me, read-in-2012, 2012-publication

Wanderlove is the story of a girl, Bria, and how, in the summer between high school and college, she comes to her own beautiful self-discovery in South America with the help of a bad-boy who is desperately trying to be good.

No doubt about it, this is a coming of age story. Bria is trying to shed her old self behind and she’s determined to show everyone that she’s not who they think she is; she wants to be someome wild and daring – something she isn’t. But the question is, why? I mean, I get it – ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 02, 2010 Shanyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: src, read-these-pam

I LOVED Wanderlove. LOVED.

Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/02/revi... ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 02, 2010 Alexa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, own, favorites, diversity, 2012-reads, sophomore, contemp-challenge

♥!
I didn't want it to end. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2011 Hannah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-finished-copy, 2012, favorites

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard has been on my wishlist for ages - I have no idea why I haven't read it yet, since it sounds perfect for me and everyone loved it. But since I don't own a copy of Like Mandarin, and Wanderlove was on NetGalley, I decided to read this one first, even if the description didn't appeal to me as much as Like Mandarin's did. And even though I didn't know much about it when I first started Wanderlove, I ended up loving it!

Wanderlove was a little hard to get into at firs Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard has been on my wishlist for ages - I have no idea why I haven't read it yet, since it sounds perfect for me and everyone loved it. But since I don't own a copy of Like Mandarin, and Wanderlove was on NetGalley, I decided to read this one first, even if the description didn't appeal to me as much as Like Mandarin's did. And even though I didn't know much about it when I first started Wanderlove, I ended up loving it!

Wanderlove was a little hard to get into at first. I didn't care for Bria much in the beginning, since most of her personality and past isn't revealed until later on, and the plot moves slowly at first - not all that much happens until Bria ditches her traveling group to go backpacking with Rowan and Starling. I get that part is necessary for the story, though, and I loved everything about Wanderlove once the real traveling starts!

Once we find out some more about Bria and her past, I loved her as a character. She has a great voice - she's smart, quirky, funny, and unique, and her fears as well as her dreams are relatable. Bria's character growth is amazing, and it's portrayed so well.

The secondary characters are fully-developed and real. I loved Starling, and I was sad to see her not play a bigger role in the story, but it's the only way what happens can work, so I get it. Rowan is one great character. If a writer can get me to fall for a guy with a ponytail, I really can't ask for anything more. I wanted to know more about his past and I was kept guessing, but once the secrets did come out, I was a little disappointed - I was hoping for something even more scandalous.

The romance nearly killed me. It's so, so slow. That's not a bad thing, though - the author takes her time to let the characters get to know each other, to develop a meaningful relationship before getting to the romance, instead of jumping right into it like is all too common in the books I read. I really apprecaited that. The author builds up the amazing chemistry, the sizzling tension until you almost can't take it anymore - and that's when she finally lets happen what we all want to see happen. I love that she kept me waiting, and Rowan and Bria's relationship is so much more meaningful for it.

The plot is good. I love the whole idea of 'wanderlove' - such a beautiful word. I really liked the different layers of the story. At times, though, it moves a little too slowly for me - I'm just not used to that much description.

The writing is amzing, so beautiful. The descriptions of the scenery make it sound gorgeous. I'm not a particularly impulsive person, but this book makes me want to drop everything and go backpacking across Central America.

Another thing I loved about Wanderlove are the drawings. There are beautiful drawings in between the beautiful words, and guess what? They're also by Kirsten Hubbard! How much talent can one person have!? The drawings are amazing. I'm going to have to buy a finished copy of Wanderlove once it's released - I'm sure it'll all look even better in print.

With rich characterization, vivid writing, perfectly-paced romance and beautiful art, Wanderlove offers a unique contemporary YA story. If you don't quite dare to drop everything and go backpacking across Central America but would still like some of the experience, or if you're looking for a change from all that ista-love, Wanderlove is the book for you!

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo... ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 02, 2010 Princess Bookie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read2011

My Thoughts: Whoa, what a book! I haven't read Hubbard's debut yet but once I saw this I knew I needed to read it.

We are introduced to Bria who just graduated high school and will be starting college soon. For a while now the plan was to go on a trip with her two best friends but at the last minute her friends bail on her telling her she's not ready. Bria has been mopping around for a while now because of her boyfriend or should I say ex boyfriend. He and Bria really love Art and they were goin ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 21, 2011 Jessi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2012-sophomores

Bria's finally taking a chance--she's doing something just for her that other people don't actually think she has the guts to do on her own. However, a guided tour through Central America with a group of middle-aged, fanny-pack wearing tourists isn't exactly what she had in mind. Then she takes the ultimate leap and sets off on and adventure with backpacking siblings Starling and Rowan. Traveling this way, Bria just might find what she's been looking for all along...

No one seems to have seen th Bria's finally taking a chance--she's doing something just for her that other people don't actually think she has the guts to do on her own. However, a guided tour through Central America with a group of middle-aged, fanny-pack wearing tourists isn't exactly what she had in mind. Then she takes the ultimate leap and sets off on and adventure with backpacking siblings Starling and Rowan. Traveling this way, Bria just might find what she's been looking for all along...

No one seems to have seen the lake. But how could they have missed it? It was the color of a gas flame, so blue it nearly stung my eyes.

-p31, eARC

The characters in Kirsten Hubbard's sophomore YA novel captured my full attention from page one. Bria is trying so hard to break out of the shell that she's put herself in and find her way in a world that's disappointed her. She let a boyfriend and friends dictate who she thought she was and now she's struggling to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She's already abandoned her art school dreams and her friends abandoned their travel plans. Her journey is really unique and captivating. The side characters also added a lot of flavor to the story. From Rowan and Starling to the overbearing travel guide, Marcie, and the Swedish bad boy, Jack, each character has a special place in the story and thus Bria's journey.

"See, wanderlust is like itchy feet...It's when you can't settle down. But Wanderlove is much deeper than that...it's a compulsion. It's the difference between lust and love. ... Wanderlove is about forgetting hte bad things and focusing on the good. Out with the old and in with the new."

-p72-73, eARC

The combination of travel and art in this novel really captivated me. I adored all of the descriptions of the places that Bria went and Hubbard's writing really took me there. I felt like I could really "see" the places in my imagination and it gave me quite the itch to go back to Central America and travel like Bria, Rowan, and Starling. I've also found recently that I really enjoy art/artists in books (well, really, Graffiti Moon made me think that I might and this book proved it). There's something about that being included in a book that adds a layer that I really appreciate.

"But what I do know is this: you got to find your own places. The places you get, girl, the ones that stick in your heart. And if you're lucky, you find people to share them with"

-p239, eARC

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend that you check it out. It's worth every moment that you spend immersed in its pages and then some. The beautiful writing, settings, characters, and artwork make this a great springtime read (but be warned, it will probably give you or reignite the travel bug...). ...more

Like · see review

Dec 15, 2011 Bri Martinez rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, arc, swoon-worthy-boys, netgalley

Wanderlove, simply put, was breathtaking. This book tugged at my heart and just really resonated with me. It made me want to wander, and it made me want to love. I was captivated from the very beginning, and I have wholly fallen in love with this book.

Wanderlove tells the story of an 18-year-old named Bria Sandoval, who is desperately looking to escape her life in California. She has always loved art, but after a disaster of a relationship with her jealous boyfriend comes to an end, Bria finds h Wanderlove, simply put, was breathtaking. This book tugged at my heart and just really resonated with me. It made me want to wander, and it made me want to love. I was captivated from the very beginning, and I have wholly fallen in love with this book.

Wanderlove tells the story of an 18-year-old named Bria Sandoval, who is desperately looking to escape her life in California. She has always loved art, but after a disaster of a relationship with her jealous boyfriend comes to an end, Bria finds herself unable to do the one thing that brought her joy. In attempt to reclaim her art and find some independence, she spontaneously plans a trip to Central America with the Global Vagabonds. Unbeknownst to her, these Global Vagabonds are not the rugged, seasoned backpacking adventurers she thought they would be, but rather a group of older tourists sporting suitcases and sunscreen-white noses. When she comes across siblings Rowan and Starling, who just so happen to be backpacking veterans, she decides to live on the edge, ditch the group and her suitcase, and travel with them. Throughout their explorations and travels in the Central America, Bria learns more about herself, rediscovers her art, and finds love.

Hubbard has written an astonishingly beautiful story in Wanderlove. This book is so much more than a girl who finds love abroad, or a girl who matures and achieves self-actualization through her travels. Bria’s story made me feel so much, and there were honestly moments where I thought I was feeling too many feelings. The end of the story almost had me in tears!

As the main character, Bria was amazing. I understood her need to get away from the impasse at home and reclaim her love for art. I liked how when someone told her she could not do something, she was determined to prove to them, and even to herself, that she could. She is stubborn, and even a little snarky at times, but that is just who she is. It is almost scary how well I connected to her character. Her moments of wondering what the future holds for her resembled mine from a few years back. I had similar doubts and concerns, enabling me to connect and relate with her, and I got really invested in her story. Rowan was also perfect in his own way. Looking to escape a past chocked full of wrongdoings, he lives by his self-made policy of wanderlove: live in the present, look to the future, and never look back or dwell on what has already come to pass. He is adventurous, confident, and just downright swoon-worthy. While his demeanor says he’s uncaring, he is actually extraordinarily kind, and he is always there for those he cares for. I feel like nothing I say does him justice! I just loved, loved, loved him.

The chemistry between Bria and Rowan was excellent! Their relationship starts out rather rocky, with Rowan being a rather unwilling tour guide and Bria being standoffish. It takes a while for them to start opening up to one another, and very slowly, their relationship builds into friendship and then something more. I really liked how their relationship progressed slowly, for it made their feelings for one another seem real. They both have trust issues resulting from past relationships, and it takes them some time to feel comfortable around each other. They are also a great balance for one another. Rowan helps Bria become more audacious and adventurous while Bria shows Rowan the benefits of trusting someone and never running from the past. They really complement one another, and I loved watching their relationship develop.

It would be wrong of me to not talk about Hubbard’s prose and extensive details. This book is packed full of beautiful descriptions, more than I have ever come across in any book, and it provided a nice touch to the story. An artist pays attention to the little things, such as people, clothing, and even lighting effects, and these details just helped define Bria’s character and her love for art. The descriptions were breathtaking, and they made me feel like I was in Central America myself, experiencing and seeing everything as Bria did. Hubbard definitely has a way with words, and I think she is an exceptional writer.

Hubbard is also an extraordinary artist. There were a few of her drawings intermittently placed in the story, and each picture correlated to what Bria was drawing and/or feeling. These drawings added a nice touch to the story, and also helped bring out Bria’s love for art. I do not know much about art, but I thought the pictures Hubbard drew were AMAZING! I read the eBook on my computer, which was not the optimal way to view them, so I am looking forward to seeing how these pictures look in the ‘real.’

Overall, this book was one the best books I have read in 2012. It is a beautifully written story, set in some alluring areas in Central America, and you should not miss out on it. I have to say, this book really made we want to travel. I have never been backpacking before, nor really even cared to try, but I am rethinking that decision now. I really enjoyed this book, and I cannot wait to see what Hubbard has in store for us next!

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley ...more

Like · see review

Apr 29, 2012 Rachael rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, 2012, all-time-favorites, books-i-own, reviewed, 2012-favorites, signed

This review first appeared @ Moosubi Reviews!

In contemporary romances, it’s usually the writing style and language that really makes or breaks my experience. It’s not that the novels are necessarily badly written, but for the novel to really appeal to me, I need to connect with the language. That being said, Kristen Hubbard’s beautiful combination of sketches and artsy language made this the perfect weekend read for me.

Bria’s the type of character that’s probably the exact opposite of me – she’s This review first appeared @ Moosubi Reviews!

In contemporary romances, it’s usually the writing style and language that really makes or breaks my experience. It’s not that the novels are necessarily badly written, but for the novel to really appeal to me, I need to connect with the language. That being said, Kristen Hubbard’s beautiful combination of sketches and artsy language made this the perfect weekend read for me.

Bria’s the type of character that’s probably the exact opposite of me – she’s artistically talented (unlike me), pretty carefree (I do panic a lot…), and a lot more focused on the arts. Her love for her art really shines throughout the book, although it’s more hidden in the beginning because of certain circumstances. Still, I totally understood her emotions, and at times I did feel somewhat connected with her character!

Her initial relationships with Starling and Rowan were something new to me too. To be honest, I’m probably a pretty uptight person, because of the way I was raised and the environment around me. Starling and Rowan were just so carefree and forgiving, and their relationship was full of friendship and happiness. They definitely rely on each other throughout the book, and I enjoyed seeing their friendship (:

And of course, as I mentioned before, the language was absolutely beautiful! I’m not sure how writers do it, but it just seems so artsy :D It was also full of emotion and detail, but not too much that I would be bored, although I still connected with it. In a way, it was similar to my experience with Every Day by David Levithan (read my review of that book here).

Added to that were pencil drawings, which really amazed me :o During my short conversation with her, I learned a lot more about her personality and artistic skills, and that she drew every picture in the book. If you pick up a copy and flip through some of the pages, you can definitely see that the pictures are absolutely gorgeous, and they definitely helped convey the story.

My only complaint was the general structure of the plot. Some of the plot events did seem kind of cliché, especially the ending and beginning of Bria’s journey. If one took away the language and characters of the book, just observing the plot, it’s actually pretty simplistic. Nevertheless, I was captivated by the plot and read the book in one sitting.

Overall, Wanderlove was a great read, filled with fluid language and simple but elegant art! If you love travel or art, or are a contemporary or romance fan, I highly recommend this book!
...more

Like · see review