Review: Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Are you a Global Vagabond? 

No, but 18-year-old Bria wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists are hardly the key to self-rediscovery.

So when Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspoken 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 through Mayan villages and remote Belizean islands, they discover they're both seeking to leave behind the old versions of themselves. The secret to escaping the past, Rowan's found, is to keep moving forward. But Bria realizes she can't run forever. At some point, you have to look back.

Review:

As soon as I first heard about Wanderlove, Kristen Hubbard's new book, I knew I had to read it, because not only did it sound incredible, but it also involved something I especially love: traveling. Just as my luck would have it, Wanderlove was absolutely, one hundred percent incredible. Not only because it included a distinctive voice as well as a slow building yet swoon worthy romance but also because its descriptions of Central America as well as Kristen's drawings were beyond superb!

Wanderlove had so many amazing things going for it, and one was without a doubt the scenery as well as descriptions that followed. Traveling is something I love, and while I haven't had the chance to do much of it myself so far, I love to live vicariously through the adventures of others, especially when they are as well as developed as Bria's. It was always amazing seeing Central America through Bria's eyes, especially when her drawings involved!

Talking about Bria, I simply adored her! From the very page, she managed to fully capture my attention with her distinctive and sweet yet somewhat sarcastic voice. I especially loved seeing her fully bloom into her own person throughout the book. As the story first opens, Bria is someone who is completely lost. She doesn't know where she's going. She doesn't know why she's fallen so out of touch with herself as well as her art, but with some hoping, she wishes this trip will be able to get her back on track. Does it? Does it not? You'll have to read to find out!

In addition to Bria, I loved the secondary characters in this one, specifically Starling and Rowan, two outspoken and mysterious siblings who invite Bria to travel with them instead of her group. Starling and Rowan were what truly made this story fly with their adventures as well as their interactions with Bria. However, what I loved most about the siblings, though, was how different they were from each other. Starling was someone who lived by the seat of her pants. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind or do what she wanted. Rowan, on the other hand, was always a mysterious throughout the book. However, he was sarcastic and sweet as well as sown worthy. I especially loved seeing Rowan and Bria interact because it always managed to bring out a laugh or two to say the least!

The plot in this was also lots of fun. I loved seeing their adventures unfold as well as seeing what made Rowan, Starling, and Bria the way they were, because not only did it cause for more understanding, but it also provided some twists and turns. I also especially loved the ending! It was the perfect amount of closure yet openness to say the least!

In all, Wanderlove by Kristen Hubbard is an amazing book, one that has quickly become an absolute favorite of mine! I seriously can't wait to read Hubbard's upcoming as wells her first one, which I've heard is pretty incredible as well.

Grade: A+

Wanderlove (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) will be released March 13, 2012!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley