{ARC} Book Review ---> Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Wanderlove

By:  Kirsten Hubbard

Published By:   Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Published Date:  March 13th 2012

Pages:   Hardcover 335
Tags:  Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Travel, Central America, 

Why the Mad Scientist read this book:  Mad Scientist's first major hobby is travel right next to reading.

Day 1:   As soon as I see the blond girl bouncing down the aisle, I know she's heading for the empty seat beside me.

Concoction of a Review:

Wanderlove is the BEST book of 2011 & since it is not out until 2012 I have to say it will be the BEST book of 2012 as well!!!  As least for the Mad Scientist! 


Caution:
I am already full of Wanderlove but this book had me hit priceline and hostel.com before I was even done with the book just to see how much I had to save up for a month of hiking through Belize!  I have no doubt it will have you in deep desire to travel!!


Backpacking through any country is for the adventurous or someone looking to move on in their lives.  For Bria she is looking for a bit of both.  She recently turned 18 & was accepted into a fast track program for a renowned art school located in California, however, it is not the art school she had her heart set on.  Drawing is her passion yet she is at a impasse due to her crooked cross of an ex Toby.  *Grr* 


They did speak of traveling the world together.  Bria decided since she wasn't going with Toby she would travel with her two friends.  Except they backed out.  She is determined & books a herself a trip to Guatemala with a group through Global Vagabonds. *Cheers for Bria* 


Get ready for forest bugs, hostels, chicken buses, & rules to travel.


Bria runs into backpacker Starling and is envious of her way of travel.  Oh, so was the Mad Scientist.  Later on in a market her swoon worthy brother Rowan invited Bria to ditch her stuffy scheduled hand holding middle aged group to cross the lake and have dinner at a hostel.  Oh, the boy and his tricks.  Bria caught the last boat in so she was stuck at the hostel for the night.  From there it just unravels.  In Bria's favor I might add.  She needed some spontaneity in her trip!  *grin* 


Now that she is has thrown away 80% of what she brought to Central American but opting to keep the "gutterwater" colored crisp windbreaker.   *What are you thinking face!*  Next step: ditching the suitcase for a used with love backpack she hits the road with her new tour guides, Starling & Rowan.


Could you use just a backpack to get around?  As you can tell Kristen is a traveler of the world.  Only a person who has been on a water taxi would know to wrap it up... Otherwise risk smelling like wet moldy fish water.   Mad Scientist does not feel like a seasoned traveler but I know I want to cart the smallest amount of junk with me.  My one month in China... I only had a backpack.  It can be done my dears.  

Rowna's first travel rule: "The smaller the backpack, the bigger the ego."   --- I agree!


Here is how I picture Rowan:  As Samuel Larson...

Rowan is exactly the type of guy I run into on the road.  Well rounded and not perfect.  He makes a small amount to survive on by teaching scuba diving.  I don't know about you but I find that amazing!  Throughout the book he is reading all kinds of books, that alone should make any book lover fall for the long haired boy.  


Wanderlove is so easy to read.  It was smooth and had beautiful descriptions of the area. Character driven plot made me crave to know where and what would be next.  


An epic travel tale of friendship, culture shock, & self discovery is to be had in these pages.  Oh, & it is a escapist travel novel as well.  


 Mad Scientist really wants another book to follow this.  The end just makes me curious to know about their next travel adventure!   (Do I smell a series???  I might be dreaming.)  Even if their is not another destination I am ready to re-read this and relive Guatemala and Belize all over again!

*Free ARC from Netgalley which did not impede on my Mad Review.  It is completely honest and full of my thoughts on the book. *

5+ Kisses--->  A Proper Book Indeed!

I Recommend to Everyone!  LOVED this epic travel tale!!