“My dad didn't find me - I found myself. So that's when I figured out that the only person who could take care of me was me.

hi there world! it feels so good to finally write a book review -as well as just being here overall :) i hope many of you are still blogging. if i manage to stay consistent this time around I might also start doing korean show reviews too - as they have been my latest addiction for the past few months. no joke, i am hooked!

i swear this was supposed to be a very positive review...

i guess some things never change .

it took me months to pick this back up - but i'm glad that i did. wanderlove was such a rocky start for me. and it's a shame because the premise contains everything i love. i want to travel the world. heck, bria is pretty much living my dream. and this lucky gal has a hunky travelling companion to boot..so what can go wrong?




turns out a whole lot.

•   her boyfriend has broken up with her
•  her mates haven't been the same with her for a while 
•  her parents are a total fail who just don't quite seem to get her

so, due to this, she basically gives everyone the finger by going on this big adventure. although originally she has everything set out by the book, she changes her mind last minute when the opportunity of being spontaneous and very un-bria like comes her way through starling, a girl who couldn't be more different.

this book is about bria trying to find herself- but also about a hot guy and the two of them playing cat and mouse throughout. and you know what- it's actually pretty refreshing. they have this great chemistry that practically sizzles off the pages, which makes it so much more rewarding when they finally get their moment. I think my favourite moment of theirs is definitely at the party. she's being wild bria and finally letting loose, whilst he's being pouty rowan, which is followed by awesome and intense moments. tehehehe.

throughout the book, as our protagonist gets closer to rowan, they both find themselves struggling because both continue to block the other from getting 'too' close. bria doesn't want to talk about her crappy boyfriend that ruined all her chances at college or her friendships with her best mates. on the other hand rowan doesn't want her know about his dark past. Now guys, this dark past was wrung out for way too long.way tooooooo long!! and honestly, most of us either had already guessed it or weren't that bothered. ok, so he did illegal and bad things - but you are not that person anymore so what is the big fuss! i get that it might put her off him, but come on, are you really going to drag me along for 200 pages just to make a decision? meh

as for bria herself, i'm not sure if i liked her all that much. she is a highly judgmental person and loves to give herself self -reassurance by telling herself that she is better than others. there is too much of it in the book to ignore. i think she redeems herself in the last few pages but not quite enough to make me really forget those moments where she was kind of a jerk. i disliked how she looked down on her mate olivia for being a bit of a party girl - as well as how she so easily dissed her for sleeping around- and then was all like 'we're not really all that close like we used to be because of Toby'. no shit! you sure toby is the reason here? i think her problem is that she blames others too much rather than being a grown ass woman and admitting her mistakes. her parents don't see that she loves art. (boo hoo.) SO THEY ARE TO BLAME FOR HER ANGER. toby is the reason she can't get into the school she wants. her mates aren't there for her. how about YOU speak up and tell them what YOU want and need.

once i got into it i really got into it. apart from rowan being all dramatic about his past and whatnot, the only other thing I have a gripe about is Bria vs the author. the first thing i couldn't ignore was how alike the two looked. both love to draw, both are backpackers, and when you get to the authors note she mentions how many of brias experiences are her own. what am i supposed to make of that? so am i reading about bria or the author? it is way to similar for comfort. i really really wish authors would not do this because as a reader it ruins my whole reading experience.

i'd like to end my review on a positive note because there were parts where wanderlove was a really lovely and endearing book that was filled with little deep moments that made me relate and nod my head along to the protagonist. also, there is rowan :D