Title: The Wild Woman’s Guide to Traveling the World
Author: Kristin Rockaway
Published: July 11th 2017
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
RRP: $19.99
Rating: 5
Objectively, Sophie is a success: she’s got a coveted job at a top consulting firm, a Manhattan apartment, and a passport full of stamps. It isn’t quite what she dreamed of when she was a teenager dog-earing pages in exotic travel guides, but it’s secure. Then her best friend bails just hours after they arrive in Hong Kong for a girls’ trip, and Sophie falls for Carson, a free spirited, globetrotting American artist. He begs her to join him on his haphazard journey, but she chooses responsibility and her five-year plan.
Back in New York, that plan feels less and less appealing. As Sophie recalls the dreams she’s suppressed, the brief international jaunts she sneaks in between business trips no longer feel like enough. Carson isn’t ready to let her go either, but as they try to figure out their relationship, Sophie realizes she may have to pursue her passions with or without him.
Mrs R’s review:
The Wild Woman’s Guide To Traveling the World is Kristin Rockaway’s debut novel. Told in the first person through Sophie, it is an exploration of choosing between the travel bug or settling down. With Sophie as my tour guide, I was able to visit Hong Kong and New York and at the end, my own country, Australia. Kristin’s attention to detail allowed me to immerse myself in the different cultures, both on and off the beaten track, that I am yet to explore. Especially the food! While Sophie did a lot of things I wouldn’t necessarily do as a tourist, I enjoyed having the chance to let my hair down with her.
Sophie was an intriguing character. I really felt for her because real life often gets in the way of our hopes and dreams. On the outside she’s the typical good girl with a sensible, well paid office job and a 5 year plan. Sophie’s whole life has been aimed at pleasing her grandmother and ensuring that she does not turn into the woman her mother was. A teenager that abandoned Sophie, never to be seen or heard from again. On the inside, she’s a girl with wanderlust that her job allows her satisfy to a small degree. Yet it’s not enough as Sophie is unhappy with her lot in life and unable to make changes. Until she meets Carson.
Carson was one good looking, lucky guy. He plans on travelling the world. I’ve met so many people when I go on holidays who do just that and I always wondered how they are able to achieve this dream. Carson does it with trust fund money that he was given at 25. His only goal is to spend it all until it runs out. The total opposite to Sophie, he takes each day as it comes with no future investments. I was seriously jealous of Carson and had to remind myself that 1. He isn’t a real person lol and 2. He got the money due to awful circumstances.
When these two meet one night in Hong Kong, it’s a case of opposites attracting. They are able to see another side to each another that has yet to be appreciated by others. Carson sees Sophie as wild and Sophie views Carson as a talented artist. When the time comes to say good bye, neither is willing to compromise who they think they are. Carson isn’t willing to give up traveling and Sophie won’t continue seeing the world with him. Deep down though, meeting one another has made them question everything they know about themselves. As mistakes are made, Sophie will turn her life upside down in ways she would never imagine and Carson will make compromises he wouldn’t have made in the past.
A timely reminder that dreams can come true if you work hard for what you believe in!
The Wild Woman’s Guide to Traveling the World by Kristin Rockaway was published on July 11th 2017 by Hachette Australia. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
To learn more about the author of The Wild Woman’s Guide to Traveling the World, Kristin Rockaway, visit here.
