Wednesday, February 24, 2016

#BOOK #REVIEW AND #GIVEAWAY "Girls Who Travel" by Nicole Trilivas


Description:
A hilarious, deftly written debut novel about a woman whose wanderlust is about to show her that sometimes you don’t have to travel very far to become the person you want to be…


There are many reasons women shouldn’t travel alone. But as foul-mouthed, sweet-toothed Kika Shores knows, there are many more reasons why they should. After all, most women want a lot more out of life than just having fun. Kika, for one, wants to experience the world.


But ever since she returned from her yearlong backpacking tour, she’s been steeped in misery, battling rush hour with all the other suits. Getting back on the road is all she wants. So when she’s offered a nanny job in London – the land of Cadbury Cream Eggs – she’s happy at the prospect of going back overseas and getting paid for it. But as she’s about to discover, the most exhilarating adventures can happen when you stay in one place…

Wise, witty, and hilarious, Girls Who Travel is an unforgettable novel about the highs and lows of getting what you want—and how it’s the things you least expect that can change your life.

My Take:
3.5 Stars!
This book happens to be about Kika telling us about the travels she 'had' in her past more so than her travels while she was doing them. Granted, she had to pick up jobs here and there to fund her immense wanderlust, which only makes sense, but it did catch me off guard because I was looking forward to this book being about her travels and not her working jobs. I thought that was a little off in the description of the book. 
You can have all the wanderlust you want, but you need to make sure you can afford it and not have to worry about getting jobs in-between like she had to. That showed more me a lot of immaturity, a person who is a ‘I want it now and I’m going to get it now, regardless. Had she planned her trips in the first place, she never would have had to worry about money.
I found the book humorous in a few places in the beginning of it only.
One huge thing that I just cannot understand this about this book is the fact Kika is billed as a foul-mouthed is an extremely 'I want it now', sweet toothed young woman, all the things you would NOT want kids around??? Although, aren't kids like this sometimes, too, so they may be a good fit? Kika is offered (an offer of a lifetime, for her right now because it's back in London) of being a "Nanny" (around children, and they soak up everything! Swearing around them is not going to get it!) is why this does NOT make sense! If she does talk as bad as this book reflects, then other people would pick up on this, and if I were looking for a Nanny, I would not want that type of potty-mouthed young woman around my children! This author completely chose the wrong profession for this character (WHAT was she thinking?) because I could not stop thinking about that! It makes no sense! Or am "I" the one at fault here for thinking swearing I know I am not able to control around anyone, and knowing my swearing is SO bad I need to ask my friends to help me not swear because it is so second nature to me that when my own mother comes to visit me those friends need to help keep me in check so I don't swear, so the character is offered a job as a Nanny??? (How long would a visit with your mother be? A few hours? And Kika is going to be a NANNY around children ALL DAY?) Please don't ask me to understand this because as a reader, I cannot. I cannot set aside my common sense for this, nor should I be asked to.
This mismatch of a young adult woman and her 'dream job' so she can stay abroad is the largest oxymoron I have ever read in a book. This is like puzzle pieces that don't fit together, never will, but you cram them together anyway. I'm sure some of you have had friends who swear like crazy, and when they try to clean it up they are not able to no matter how hard they try. Some words are not even swear words to her!
The other thing that appeals to her wanting to travel is her a friend who is a boy but could become so much more who lives abroad.
We learn of Kiki's travels as she tells us about them, not as she does them. We don't get to go and travel with her. I have to admit I made that mistake and thought I would be traveling with her, but no, it's this character's memories she tells us about, not as they happen.
The description of this book states ‘this is an unforgettable novel’, and I have to say I feel kind of bad saying this, but as I came back to write this review, well, it was forgettable for myself, and these end up being the hardest books to write reviews about. Thankfully, I have highlighted notes I am always able to go over (the great plus of an ebook for reviewing on!), and I have not had to do that in a LONG time!
I received this book for FREE from the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL, and NetGalley in exchange to read and write a review about this book. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.


If you would like to enter to win a copy of this book, please enter these few questions! Thanks!


GIVEAWAY is EXTENDED TO 3-6!





2 comments:

  1. Sounds like an interesting read. That's interesting what you said about the character having the wrong job. :]

    // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Carmen!
    Yes! Would you want a foul mouthed young girl watching/raising your kids with you? I HAD to laugh at that choice of jobs the author chose for this character to get her back in London! It doesn't make sense! I wonder if she thought of that at all, or even after? LOL!!! Thanks for stopping by!
    Laurie

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