Review : Wanderlove

Posted by Kay on May 18, 2012 3:14 am in 4.5 stars reads | 5 comments

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
Pages : 338
Genre : YA, Contemporary Fiction
Stand Alone
My Rating : 4,5/5

What it’s about :

Bria has a lot on her mind : a difficult breakup, a family she has a hard time relate to and a passion for art she decided to bury, however heartbreaking that was. It’s the summer between high school and college, and all Bria wants is to clear her head and reinvent herself.

When her plans to visit Europe with her friends fall apart, Bria decides to join an organized travel group in South America. There she meets Rowan and Starling, and leaves the group behind to embark on a spontaneous and life-altering journey.

My Thoughts :

I had read gorgeous reviews of this contemporary YA novel and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I cracked open Wanderlove ready to be either really pleased or really disappointed, but it took me only a few pages to know that I had in my hands a book I would love.

If you have read novels or memoirs about travel, then you already know that travel books are always more than travel books. They are journeys of self-discovery, transitions from past to future, eye-openers to the world. The beautiful sights and the unusual customs, however interesting or intriguing, are often nothing more than pretexts for the hero’s personal discovery. Wanderlove is no exception, and it succeeds in developing a complex character (Bria) while also painting an intriguing portrait of the places she visits. Never have I ever wanted to visit South America as much as I did after reading this book!

“No one seem 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.” (p. 31)

Wanderlove felt surprisingly intimate for a fictional tale. I know Kirsten Hubbard traveled a lot, so I would expect this intimate aspect comes from her own life’s experiences. Between excerpts from Bria’s journal, her drawings (which are also the result of Kirsten Hubbard’s talented hand), her lists and her narration, I felt I had a complete picture of who Bria was. She was neither perfect nor annoying with faults, but a good balance of both. I related to her for many reasons, even as an adult reader; it’s never easy to get over a broken a relationship, even a bad one; it’s not easy to feel different and disconnected from your family; and it’s not easy to give life to your passion, whether it’s art, writing, or anything else. I’ve lived through all this and still struggle with parts of it, and I found in Bria a character I could understand from a personal point of view.

It was interesting for me to see how I reacted to the book, too. I was in love from the first few pages, but in the end it didn’t shape itself into a warm, fuzzy feeling like I did for other books (think Stephanie Perkins or Sophie Kinsella) in the past. Bria’s story is more down-to-earth, and the impression I was left with was a more long-lasting one.

If I have to point out aspects I enjoyed less, I would say that I didn’t connect much to Rowan. I liked his slightly mischievous, humorous side, but the mysterious, ex-bad-boy part left me cold. The romance between the two is cute though, just not what I felt was the focus of the story. I was much more interested in Starling, who sadly isn’t a big part of it all.

I do believe many readers will appreciate this travel novel. I highly recommend that you read it in proximity to an internet access; seeking pictures of Bria’s itinerary is a must to fully appreciate the book!

Similar reading :

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Reading Wanderlove reminded me really early of 13 Little Blue Envelopes. While this one was a little lighter and cuter than Wanderlove, it shared a similar sense of adventure and discovery. You’ll discover a fun story that will take you all around Europe, with humor and charm.