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Wanderlove #1
Without Borders
For Annie London, a month in a Central American rainforest means handing out mosquito nets, giving medical aid, and teaching children about the birds and the bees. With any luck, it will also land her application in the “accepted” pile at a top tier medical school. But as soon as she steps off the plane, Annie realizes her bug spray, feeble Spanish, and medical supplies won’t help her deal with her new feelings for Felipe—her best friend's older brother, who's much hotter than she remembers, and who also happens to be the doctor in charge of the trip.
Gawking “volun-tourists” may keep his family’s medical clinic afloat, but Dr. Felipe Gutierrez doesn’t have to like them. Or the way they make snap judgments about his practice and the people he cares for. But when his old crush, Annie, shows up to volunteer, her killer curves and kind smile fan the embers of a flame Felipe didn’t realize he’d been carrying. A flame that makes him question all his preconceived notions.
As ideas and cultures clash, Annie and Felipe must decide how far outside their comfort zones they are willing to go—both for their work and for one another.
Gawking “volun-tourists” may keep his family’s medical clinic afloat, but Dr. Felipe Gutierrez doesn’t have to like them. Or the way they make snap judgments about his practice and the people he cares for. But when his old crush, Annie, shows up to volunteer, her killer curves and kind smile fan the embers of a flame Felipe didn’t realize he’d been carrying. A flame that makes him question all his preconceived notions.
As ideas and cultures clash, Annie and Felipe must decide how far outside their comfort zones they are willing to go—both for their work and for one another.
242 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2016
6 people are currently reading
1417 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Heger
6 books135 followersAmanda Heger is a writer, attorney, and bookworm. She lives in the Midwest with two unruly rescue dogs and a husband who encourages her delusions of grandeur. She's also certain that Amy Poehler is her soulmate, and one of her life goals is to adopt a pig and name it Ron Swineson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
March 24, 2016
Without Borders had me laughing from the first chapter and finishing with a full heart. The attraction between Felipe and Annie is hotter than a month in a Nicaraguan jungle. Heger's debut is poignant and crackles with a wry, authentic, relatable voice that will appeal to anyone who's ever felt like a twenty-something fish out of water.
PS: How do you not five star a book that has the line "I lost my vagina."
PS: How do you not five star a book that has the line "I lost my vagina."
December 21, 2016
You guys probably know by now that romance books aren't my thing. But given the trash fire that has been 2016, the fact that the bookish community on Twitter has been a clusterfuck over the past week, and the fact that I'm behind in my Around the World in 80 Books Project, I figured I'd pick this one up and give it a go when I saw April shelve it last night.
And honestly? IT WAS DELIGHTFUL.
The gist of it is that a 20-something girl doesn't do so great on her MSATs, but wants to get into medical school at Brown. So she goes to Nicaragua for a month to work for the clinic that her high school best friend's family runs. And then she gets there and discovers that her best friend's older brother is the doctor at said clinic. And OH NO, HE'S HOT.
The relationship between Annie and Felipe is adorable and funny and sweet. The friendship between Annie and Marisol felt authentic. The pranks between Felipe and Juan were delightful. And yes, it's a white-girl-goes-to-developing-country-to-boost-her-med-school-application story. But Felipe's frustration at the American "volun-tourists" that he has to deal with, who swan in to make themselves feel better about the state of the world and forget all about Nicaragua the second they hit air conditioning was great. Yes, Annie's Spanish is pretty crap, but she actually TRIES - she never resorts to talking louder and slower to make their patients understand her.
It's a fast, adorable little romance book, and the ending actually made me go "Awwww!!!". And it was a breath of fresh air after all the big-name-award-nominated literary fiction dealing with war that I've been reading over the past few weeks for my Around the World in 80 Books Project.
And honestly? IT WAS DELIGHTFUL.
The gist of it is that a 20-something girl doesn't do so great on her MSATs, but wants to get into medical school at Brown. So she goes to Nicaragua for a month to work for the clinic that her high school best friend's family runs. And then she gets there and discovers that her best friend's older brother is the doctor at said clinic. And OH NO, HE'S HOT.
The relationship between Annie and Felipe is adorable and funny and sweet. The friendship between Annie and Marisol felt authentic. The pranks between Felipe and Juan were delightful. And yes, it's a white-girl-goes-to-developing-country-to-boost-her-med-school-application story. But Felipe's frustration at the American "volun-tourists" that he has to deal with, who swan in to make themselves feel better about the state of the world and forget all about Nicaragua the second they hit air conditioning was great. Yes, Annie's Spanish is pretty crap, but she actually TRIES - she never resorts to talking louder and slower to make their patients understand her.
It's a fast, adorable little romance book, and the ending actually made me go "Awwww!!!". And it was a breath of fresh air after all the big-name-award-nominated literary fiction dealing with war that I've been reading over the past few weeks for my Around the World in 80 Books Project.
June 13, 2017
This was a nice easy read for me.
Annie has gone to spend a week assisting a health team in the rain forest area of Central America. She will be with her old school Mari and her brother Filipe, the guy she kissed when she was 17 years old.
Annie has applied to attend Brown's University and really needs the experience of this trip and a letter of recommendation to help her get accepted.
Annie and Filipe still have the attraction between them that they had as teenagers and it simmers away during the 30 days she is in is company.
Annie finds the trip more challenging than she thought it would be and sees / experiences many things that are not within the realms of her moral compass and she struggles a lot with this.
There wasn't too much angst and it was a sweet second chance, falling for your best friend's brother romance.
Annie has gone to spend a week assisting a health team in the rain forest area of Central America. She will be with her old school Mari and her brother Filipe, the guy she kissed when she was 17 years old.
Annie has applied to attend Brown's University and really needs the experience of this trip and a letter of recommendation to help her get accepted.
Annie and Filipe still have the attraction between them that they had as teenagers and it simmers away during the 30 days she is in is company.
Annie finds the trip more challenging than she thought it would be and sees / experiences many things that are not within the realms of her moral compass and she struggles a lot with this.
There wasn't too much angst and it was a sweet second chance, falling for your best friend's brother romance.
April 14, 2016
Oh, Felipe. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1. Your selflessness 2. Your quiet and brooding attraction for Annie that you fight so hard 3. The way you interact with children 4. You're hot 5. You have an amazing accent. 6. *spoiler* 7. *spoiler* 8. *spoiler*
I guess to see what else there is to love you'll have to read. You'll love him, too! This book took me on a journey and introduced me to parts of the world I may never see but fell in love with. And the romance was a wonderful slow build that made me love the characters even more. The secondary characters were rich and helped to bring the story to life. And now I can't wait for the next book!
I guess to see what else there is to love you'll have to read. You'll love him, too! This book took me on a journey and introduced me to parts of the world I may never see but fell in love with. And the romance was a wonderful slow build that made me love the characters even more. The secondary characters were rich and helped to bring the story to life. And now I can't wait for the next book!
February 19, 2016
I loved this book. Loved it. Beautiful writing with warmth and wit. Complex, likable characters. Heger's debut rocked my world.
This book hooked me from the blurb and kept me going until the last page. I love the fresh setting of the story and the dynamic, diverse characters. The setting is so beautifully written that I felt like I’d been to Nicaragua (I have not.) It’s rich and authentic from the scenery to the people.
Heger is one of the wittiest writers I’ve read. Her humor is sharp and fun and will have you laughing out loud at all the right parts. It’s great craft when an author can slip in lines like: “My vagina!” and it totally fits in the plot/scene. Seriously. It’s not a throw away line for a cheap laugh. Heger proves throughout the story that she is a master of comedic writing for the situation.
But WITHOUT BORDERS not a comedy. It’s a beautiful story about opening your mind and opening your heart. Throwing away preconceived notions and stereotypes and letting the beauty of people from other cultures into your life. Acceptance and love.
Annie and Felipe were real, believable, and so DAMN cute. Every interaction made the proverbial butterflies in my stomach flit around. I couldn’t wait for them to get together. And can I get a “Hell yes” for Dr. Felipe? Thank you, Ms. Heger, for writing a multidimensional diverse hero. Felipe was kind, intelligent, and brooding…which adds up to so super sexy.
Final notes:
1. Amanda Heger owes me new glasses. Read this book in one day. Started in the morning (then I had life stuff to do) and finished it in bed, where I proceeded to read until all hours of the morning and drop my iPad on my face. So yeah, couldn’t stop reading.
2. Pork Sword. That is all.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book hooked me from the blurb and kept me going until the last page. I love the fresh setting of the story and the dynamic, diverse characters. The setting is so beautifully written that I felt like I’d been to Nicaragua (I have not.) It’s rich and authentic from the scenery to the people.
Heger is one of the wittiest writers I’ve read. Her humor is sharp and fun and will have you laughing out loud at all the right parts. It’s great craft when an author can slip in lines like: “My vagina!” and it totally fits in the plot/scene. Seriously. It’s not a throw away line for a cheap laugh. Heger proves throughout the story that she is a master of comedic writing for the situation.
But WITHOUT BORDERS not a comedy. It’s a beautiful story about opening your mind and opening your heart. Throwing away preconceived notions and stereotypes and letting the beauty of people from other cultures into your life. Acceptance and love.
Annie and Felipe were real, believable, and so DAMN cute. Every interaction made the proverbial butterflies in my stomach flit around. I couldn’t wait for them to get together. And can I get a “Hell yes” for Dr. Felipe? Thank you, Ms. Heger, for writing a multidimensional diverse hero. Felipe was kind, intelligent, and brooding…which adds up to so super sexy.
Final notes:
1. Amanda Heger owes me new glasses. Read this book in one day. Started in the morning (then I had life stuff to do) and finished it in bed, where I proceeded to read until all hours of the morning and drop my iPad on my face. So yeah, couldn’t stop reading.
2. Pork Sword. That is all.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2016
I've been looking forward to reading Without Borders for a while now. There's a lot of repetition going on in new adult, and the premise of Amanda Heger's debut novel really interested me. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
Annie heads off to a remote area in Central America to pad her medical school application, hoping it will get her accepted to the school of her dreams. She knew she'd be roughing it, but she didn't know how much she'd learn, or that she'd meet the man of her dreams.
Dr. Felipe Gutierrez has had enough of the spoiled Americans who come to his country under the pretense of helping, only to spend the entire time complaining about the dirt and mosquitos. When Annie shows up, he's sure she's going to be more of the same, but it doesn't take him long to realize he's never met anyone like her before.
From the first page this story pulls you in, and it never lets up. From Heger's detailed description of the Nicaraguan landscape, to the vivid characters, Without Borders makes you feel like you are in the middle of the story. This book made me laugh, cry, and had me glued to my iPad all day long. I loved how Annie changed throughout the story, and how sweet and caring Felipe was to everyone he met. There were times I wanted to reach into the book and slap them both, but that's part of what makes it a good story. They felt real and so did the choices (and mistakes) they made.
If you love a good new adult romance, this is the book for you!
***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Annie heads off to a remote area in Central America to pad her medical school application, hoping it will get her accepted to the school of her dreams. She knew she'd be roughing it, but she didn't know how much she'd learn, or that she'd meet the man of her dreams.
Dr. Felipe Gutierrez has had enough of the spoiled Americans who come to his country under the pretense of helping, only to spend the entire time complaining about the dirt and mosquitos. When Annie shows up, he's sure she's going to be more of the same, but it doesn't take him long to realize he's never met anyone like her before.
From the first page this story pulls you in, and it never lets up. From Heger's detailed description of the Nicaraguan landscape, to the vivid characters, Without Borders makes you feel like you are in the middle of the story. This book made me laugh, cry, and had me glued to my iPad all day long. I loved how Annie changed throughout the story, and how sweet and caring Felipe was to everyone he met. There were times I wanted to reach into the book and slap them both, but that's part of what makes it a good story. They felt real and so did the choices (and mistakes) they made.
If you love a good new adult romance, this is the book for you!
***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2016
Annie London has agreed to spend a whole month in Nicaragua with her childhood best friend. They will be leading a brigade of doctors through the jungles to bring medical care to villagers in desperate need of care.
But Annie has an agenda of her own. She needs a letter of recommendation to get into a prestigious medical school to fulfill her own dreams of becoming a doctor and this trip is the perfect way to obtain it.
So she’s going to have to forego all of the comforts of civilization and open her heart and mind to a people that she doesn’t even know – and she’s going to discover her true self along the way.
Annie had a few vague memories of Felipe, with his floppy dark hair and perma-scowl. During the year his family had lived in St. Louis, he mostly stayed in the basement, blaring the television and playing guitar while the girls got ready for parties and football games. Annie never suspected that, six years later, he would look like some kind of sex god.
Felipe Gutierrez remembers Annie as the girl that he crushed on when he was just seventeen. Now he’s going to have to show her how to treat everything from a dislocated shoulder to an emergency birth.
But Annie isn’t anything that he expected. Not only is she incredibly beautiful and strong, she’s a natural healer.
Together they will endure the highest of highs and the lowest of lows – and then they will find out that loving someone sometimes means letting them go.
Last moments. He took a deep breath, and his throat went dry. There was no reason this should be so hard. No reason he should be so worried. No reason he should be so wrapped up in a girl who was leaving in a few days. “Annie?”
She didn’t respond, and he turned to look at her. The flashlight still lay in her palm, pointed limply at her feet, and the steady rise and fall of her chest told him she was already dreaming.
Felipe clicked off the flashlight. “I miss you already,” he whispered.
Without Borders is so much more than just another YA romance! It’s a story about losing yourself and then finding yourself again. It’s about discovering beauty in the small details of life and being stronger than you ever thought you could be.
Amanda weaves her tale with a journalistic flair that you feel right in your heart of hearts – and you’ll be forever changed in the end…
But Annie has an agenda of her own. She needs a letter of recommendation to get into a prestigious medical school to fulfill her own dreams of becoming a doctor and this trip is the perfect way to obtain it.
So she’s going to have to forego all of the comforts of civilization and open her heart and mind to a people that she doesn’t even know – and she’s going to discover her true self along the way.
Annie had a few vague memories of Felipe, with his floppy dark hair and perma-scowl. During the year his family had lived in St. Louis, he mostly stayed in the basement, blaring the television and playing guitar while the girls got ready for parties and football games. Annie never suspected that, six years later, he would look like some kind of sex god.
Felipe Gutierrez remembers Annie as the girl that he crushed on when he was just seventeen. Now he’s going to have to show her how to treat everything from a dislocated shoulder to an emergency birth.
But Annie isn’t anything that he expected. Not only is she incredibly beautiful and strong, she’s a natural healer.
Together they will endure the highest of highs and the lowest of lows – and then they will find out that loving someone sometimes means letting them go.
Last moments. He took a deep breath, and his throat went dry. There was no reason this should be so hard. No reason he should be so worried. No reason he should be so wrapped up in a girl who was leaving in a few days. “Annie?”
She didn’t respond, and he turned to look at her. The flashlight still lay in her palm, pointed limply at her feet, and the steady rise and fall of her chest told him she was already dreaming.
Felipe clicked off the flashlight. “I miss you already,” he whispered.
Without Borders is so much more than just another YA romance! It’s a story about losing yourself and then finding yourself again. It’s about discovering beauty in the small details of life and being stronger than you ever thought you could be.
Amanda weaves her tale with a journalistic flair that you feel right in your heart of hearts – and you’ll be forever changed in the end…
September 13, 2016
This book was not only a journey into the rainforests of Nicaragua but into the heart and soul. I loved this book so much and never wanted it to end. I found myself laughing and smiling a lot of the time. There is such humor in Heger’s writing that I felt like all of these characters were my friends or at least I wanted them to be my friends.
What I also loved about this book was the medical procedures that were described. I don’t want to spoil too much, but the delivery of a baby in a village is probably one of my favorites scenes out of the whole book. The care it took to write the scene is evident and I felt like I was there rooting for Annie and Felipe to deliver that baby. It was so powerful.
The love story between Annie and Felipe wasn’t always one of butterflies and rainbows. There was conflict that made their relationship more believable. The New Adult genre is one I am still discovering and this novel is one that I will be recommending to people that want something different, fun, and passionate. May I also say that this would be the perfect book to take along on a trip. You won’t be disappointed.
(For more reviews like this one check out sipreadlove.com)
What I also loved about this book was the medical procedures that were described. I don’t want to spoil too much, but the delivery of a baby in a village is probably one of my favorites scenes out of the whole book. The care it took to write the scene is evident and I felt like I was there rooting for Annie and Felipe to deliver that baby. It was so powerful.
The love story between Annie and Felipe wasn’t always one of butterflies and rainbows. There was conflict that made their relationship more believable. The New Adult genre is one I am still discovering and this novel is one that I will be recommending to people that want something different, fun, and passionate. May I also say that this would be the perfect book to take along on a trip. You won’t be disappointed.
(For more reviews like this one check out sipreadlove.com)
September 29, 2017
I went into this not knowing anything aside from the fact that it's set in Central America, which means it'll tick off another prompt in my #diversitybingo sheet.
And gosh, it was so adorable. I've never read a book with medical missions in it so this book really took me by surprised! The writing was great, the author successfully transported me in the rain forest of Nicaragua. The romance was so cute, I cant!!! Felipe is such a great male lead, he's very different from the brooding bad boy character that I often read about, it was refreshing. I also loved seeing Annie in this new environment, learning new things, and enjoying it. The side characters were also hilarious and I really enjoyed each and everyone of them.
This book definitely brought something new to the table. Highly recommend!
And gosh, it was so adorable. I've never read a book with medical missions in it so this book really took me by surprised! The writing was great, the author successfully transported me in the rain forest of Nicaragua. The romance was so cute, I cant!!! Felipe is such a great male lead, he's very different from the brooding bad boy character that I often read about, it was refreshing. I also loved seeing Annie in this new environment, learning new things, and enjoying it. The side characters were also hilarious and I really enjoyed each and everyone of them.
This book definitely brought something new to the table. Highly recommend!
February 9, 2016
**I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
What do you get when you mix a lush rainforest setting, a hot Nicaraguan doctor, plenty of awkward situations, and throw in a few dick jokes? This amazing debut romance by Amanda Heger.
Annie London's plans for spending a month traveling through Nicaragua in a medical brigade included seeing her best friend Marisol, improving her medical knowledge, and getting a stellar recommendation letter for med school; however, she never planned on falling for Marisol's brother, the head doctor responsible for everyone.
Dr. Felipe Gutierrez only tolerates obnoxious American tourists in order to secure donations for his family's medical practice. When he learns his sister's best friend will be one of them, he's conflicted; while he assumes Annie will be just as annoying as the other American tourists, he hasn't been able to shake the crush he's had on her since he was a teenager.
Along with prankster dentist Juan and reality TV star Phillip, the group sets off into the rainforest, traveling from town to town to bring medical care to local villages. Annie finds herself in over her head with the task of teaching sex ed (armed with a fuzzy stuffed uterus, some condoms, and a banana) while she deals with her growing crush on Felipe. But Felipe and Annie realize their new found relationship has a time line - when the month is up, Annie is set to return to America, and Felipe must continue his work in Nicaragua.
This was such a fun and heartfelt story. I really identified with Annie, and I loved watching her learn about Nicaragua with an open mind while still struggling to adapt to the drastically different culture. I enjoyed her personal triumphs throughout the story as well, when she is pushed out of her comfort zone - for example, during one scene when she is forced to deliver an emergency baby. And the fact that the whole story takes place camping in Nicaragua was awesome - it's not a setting I'd read before, and I felt like I was there!
There were a lot of hilarious moments and one-liners - and times when I felt so embarrassed for Annie I didn't know whether to burst out laughing or hide my face. Like when a boy gets up in the middle of her sex ed lecture and starts pretending to hump her with the banana!
Felipe was adorable, and I loved how sweet he was. For a chunk I was so upset wondering how this could possibly end happily, because I was so invested in the characters. One line near the end completely crushed me:
I actually really liked Phillip, and hope he ends up with Marisol in the next book (I'm also happy Marisol gets her own story, she was awesome!). I'll definitely be reading the next two books in the series!
What do you get when you mix a lush rainforest setting, a hot Nicaraguan doctor, plenty of awkward situations, and throw in a few dick jokes? This amazing debut romance by Amanda Heger.
Annie London's plans for spending a month traveling through Nicaragua in a medical brigade included seeing her best friend Marisol, improving her medical knowledge, and getting a stellar recommendation letter for med school; however, she never planned on falling for Marisol's brother, the head doctor responsible for everyone.
Dr. Felipe Gutierrez only tolerates obnoxious American tourists in order to secure donations for his family's medical practice. When he learns his sister's best friend will be one of them, he's conflicted; while he assumes Annie will be just as annoying as the other American tourists, he hasn't been able to shake the crush he's had on her since he was a teenager.
Along with prankster dentist Juan and reality TV star Phillip, the group sets off into the rainforest, traveling from town to town to bring medical care to local villages. Annie finds herself in over her head with the task of teaching sex ed (armed with a fuzzy stuffed uterus, some condoms, and a banana) while she deals with her growing crush on Felipe. But Felipe and Annie realize their new found relationship has a time line - when the month is up, Annie is set to return to America, and Felipe must continue his work in Nicaragua.
This was such a fun and heartfelt story. I really identified with Annie, and I loved watching her learn about Nicaragua with an open mind while still struggling to adapt to the drastically different culture. I enjoyed her personal triumphs throughout the story as well, when she is pushed out of her comfort zone - for example, during one scene when she is forced to deliver an emergency baby. And the fact that the whole story takes place camping in Nicaragua was awesome - it's not a setting I'd read before, and I felt like I was there!
There were a lot of hilarious moments and one-liners - and times when I felt so embarrassed for Annie I didn't know whether to burst out laughing or hide my face. Like when a boy gets up in the middle of her sex ed lecture and starts pretending to hump her with the banana!
Felipe was adorable, and I loved how sweet he was. For a chunk I was so upset wondering how this could possibly end happily, because I was so invested in the characters. One line near the end completely crushed me:
I actually really liked Phillip, and hope he ends up with Marisol in the next book (I'm also happy Marisol gets her own story, she was awesome!). I'll definitely be reading the next two books in the series!
March 24, 2016
How do I love this book? Let me count the ways...
Without Borders is one of those beautiful books that stays with you long after you're finished. Amanda Heger's writing is beautiful and lyrical, but not in a way that detracts from the story. She has a real talent for words. I found myself drooling over certain sentences and phrases.
Annie is hoping that by visiting Central America and working with the doctors tending to the people there, she might land herself a recommendation to a great medical school. What she doesn't plan for is how hard it is to see so many people in pain (for different reasons) or how attracted she'd be to her childhood friend's brother, Felipe (who also happens to be a doctor in the group).
Annie and Felipe's heat is palpable from the get go, as is their disagreement about how the other chooses to deal with the problems around them. To Felipe, Annie is just another American who won't be able to handle the conditions and will beg to go home. And to Annie, Felipe is just the stubborn brother of her friend, Marisol, who is far too closed-minded to her ideas.
One of the things I liked best about this book was the descriptions of Central America and the villages they visited, their sleeping conditions, and the travel to get from place to place. It's obvious this is something the author has done herself (confirmed in the acknowledgements). I felt like I was on the other side of the world with Annie and Felipe, and even when things got tough, I never doubted why either of them were there and I kinda didn't want to leave.
The romance went at a perfect pace, building as Annie and Felipe got to know one another, and eventually breaking their resistance. I was ridiculously sad when this one was over, and I need the next one yesterday.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to experience romance on the other side of the world, and who wants to take a journey through less than ideal conditions, but who knows love can show up in the most unexpected of places.
*** Thank you to Netgalley and Diversion Books for the ARC in return for an honest review ***
Without Borders is one of those beautiful books that stays with you long after you're finished. Amanda Heger's writing is beautiful and lyrical, but not in a way that detracts from the story. She has a real talent for words. I found myself drooling over certain sentences and phrases.
Annie is hoping that by visiting Central America and working with the doctors tending to the people there, she might land herself a recommendation to a great medical school. What she doesn't plan for is how hard it is to see so many people in pain (for different reasons) or how attracted she'd be to her childhood friend's brother, Felipe (who also happens to be a doctor in the group).
Annie and Felipe's heat is palpable from the get go, as is their disagreement about how the other chooses to deal with the problems around them. To Felipe, Annie is just another American who won't be able to handle the conditions and will beg to go home. And to Annie, Felipe is just the stubborn brother of her friend, Marisol, who is far too closed-minded to her ideas.
One of the things I liked best about this book was the descriptions of Central America and the villages they visited, their sleeping conditions, and the travel to get from place to place. It's obvious this is something the author has done herself (confirmed in the acknowledgements). I felt like I was on the other side of the world with Annie and Felipe, and even when things got tough, I never doubted why either of them were there and I kinda didn't want to leave.
The romance went at a perfect pace, building as Annie and Felipe got to know one another, and eventually breaking their resistance. I was ridiculously sad when this one was over, and I need the next one yesterday.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to experience romance on the other side of the world, and who wants to take a journey through less than ideal conditions, but who knows love can show up in the most unexpected of places.
*** Thank you to Netgalley and Diversion Books for the ARC in return for an honest review ***
January 8, 2017
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kimberlyfaye reads.
Discovering books to love by new-to-me authors is one of my favorite parts about reading and blogging. If I hadn't fallen in love with the cover of Semi-Scripted on NetGalley, I might've never picked this book up. That would've been a huge shame, too. Thankfully that didn't happen and I'm happy I decided to buy and read the first book before jumping into that one. I wouldn't have wanted to miss this experience.
I'm not a world-traveler. Part of me wishes I was, but the other part realizes that I hate flying and prefer to stay relatively close to home — or visit places I can get to by car or train, so that's not exactly reasonable. I rely on books to give me a view into areas of the world I won't ever see for myself. When an author does as phenomenal a job with world-building as Amanda did here, I savor the feeling of being there... without actually having to do the traveling. ;) The vividness of the setting was, undoubtedly, one of my favorite parts of this book. But the characters and the storyline weren't that far behind.
I adored these characters. Annie and Felipe gave me all kinds of smiles, chuckles and feels. I loved how strong, smart and determined both of them were and, of course, I enjoyed that they had a bit of a history. Or, more specifically, Annie had what she believed was an unrequited crush on Felipe, who just happens to be her best friend's brother (another favorite trope!) — but we would soon come to find out it was anything but. I enjoyed reading along as they balanced the work they were doing with their budding romance. I think the author did a great justice to both.
I thought this was a great start to a unique new series! By the time I got around to writing this review, I'd already devoured the second book, Semi-Scripted, but I'm definitely interested to see what the future might hold for this series. There are so many great secondary characters — I'm looking forward to (hopefully) getting their stories at some point, too!
Discovering books to love by new-to-me authors is one of my favorite parts about reading and blogging. If I hadn't fallen in love with the cover of Semi-Scripted on NetGalley, I might've never picked this book up. That would've been a huge shame, too. Thankfully that didn't happen and I'm happy I decided to buy and read the first book before jumping into that one. I wouldn't have wanted to miss this experience.
I'm not a world-traveler. Part of me wishes I was, but the other part realizes that I hate flying and prefer to stay relatively close to home — or visit places I can get to by car or train, so that's not exactly reasonable. I rely on books to give me a view into areas of the world I won't ever see for myself. When an author does as phenomenal a job with world-building as Amanda did here, I savor the feeling of being there... without actually having to do the traveling. ;) The vividness of the setting was, undoubtedly, one of my favorite parts of this book. But the characters and the storyline weren't that far behind.
I adored these characters. Annie and Felipe gave me all kinds of smiles, chuckles and feels. I loved how strong, smart and determined both of them were and, of course, I enjoyed that they had a bit of a history. Or, more specifically, Annie had what she believed was an unrequited crush on Felipe, who just happens to be her best friend's brother (another favorite trope!) — but we would soon come to find out it was anything but. I enjoyed reading along as they balanced the work they were doing with their budding romance. I think the author did a great justice to both.
I thought this was a great start to a unique new series! By the time I got around to writing this review, I'd already devoured the second book, Semi-Scripted, but I'm definitely interested to see what the future might hold for this series. There are so many great secondary characters — I'm looking forward to (hopefully) getting their stories at some point, too!
April 2, 2016
***An ARC of WITHOUT BORDERS was graciously provided by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
WITHOUT BORDERS was on my Most Anticipated Books of 2016 list and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Amanda Heger's debut is a gift to readers: a unique voice, compelling story, and a budding romance set against the backdrop of the Central American jungle.
Annie London is a smart, flawed young woman, trying her best to get into a good med school, despite some poor MCAT scores. In an attempt to pad her med school resume, she embarks on a month long medical brigade traveling through Nicaragua.
During the trip, Annie is tasked with passing out mosquito nets and teaching a sex ed course. Armed with a giant plantain and a condom, Annie tries to overcome the language barrier and teach the villages she travels through how to practice safe sex. But, for Annie, that's easier said than done, considering she completely threw herself at the doctor in charge of leading the brigade. Strike one against getting that med school recommendation. Can anything else go wrong for Annie? Yes! Poor girl!
Enter Doctor Felipe. He's hot. He's brooding. And he's great with kids--oh my ovaries! With each page, Ms. Heger ratchets up the sexual tension between Annie and Felipe and it's steamier than the Nicaraguan jungle! Stolen kisses and quiet touches lead to the perfect "Awwww!" ending!
Amanda Heger is an incredibly talented writer. In Annie and Felipe, she's created characters that are alive and real; their character arcs are fabulous. I loved watching both of them grow and learn, and build a relationship with each other. WITHOUT BORDERS is unique, unlike so many New Adult romances on the market. I highly recommend Amanda Heger's debut, WITHOUT BORDERS. Get lost in the jungles of Nicaragua with Annie and Felipe, and they'll leave you with a serious case of Wanderlove!
WITHOUT BORDERS was on my Most Anticipated Books of 2016 list and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Amanda Heger's debut is a gift to readers: a unique voice, compelling story, and a budding romance set against the backdrop of the Central American jungle.
Annie London is a smart, flawed young woman, trying her best to get into a good med school, despite some poor MCAT scores. In an attempt to pad her med school resume, she embarks on a month long medical brigade traveling through Nicaragua.
During the trip, Annie is tasked with passing out mosquito nets and teaching a sex ed course. Armed with a giant plantain and a condom, Annie tries to overcome the language barrier and teach the villages she travels through how to practice safe sex. But, for Annie, that's easier said than done, considering she completely threw herself at the doctor in charge of leading the brigade. Strike one against getting that med school recommendation. Can anything else go wrong for Annie? Yes! Poor girl!
Enter Doctor Felipe. He's hot. He's brooding. And he's great with kids--oh my ovaries! With each page, Ms. Heger ratchets up the sexual tension between Annie and Felipe and it's steamier than the Nicaraguan jungle! Stolen kisses and quiet touches lead to the perfect "Awwww!" ending!
Amanda Heger is an incredibly talented writer. In Annie and Felipe, she's created characters that are alive and real; their character arcs are fabulous. I loved watching both of them grow and learn, and build a relationship with each other. WITHOUT BORDERS is unique, unlike so many New Adult romances on the market. I highly recommend Amanda Heger's debut, WITHOUT BORDERS. Get lost in the jungles of Nicaragua with Annie and Felipe, and they'll leave you with a serious case of Wanderlove!
August 31, 2016
I did not like Annie. I did not think she was well characterized and I did. not. get. her. She was contradictory and TSTL.
Beyond that this book just wasn't for me I guess. I do not enjoy embarrassing stories and that's all that happens to Annie in the first half. Within a few pages Annie arrives in Nicaragua, her luggage strewn everywhere, and Felipe returns her underwear and buys her a drink and she comes on to him not realizing who he is. She vomits on him, accidentally tasers him, gets bit by a toucan and needs stitches, and falls into a mud puddle. It was such one embarrassing incident after another.
After that I thought the conflict that comes up between Annie and Felipe was all of Annie's making and I was officially on Felipe's side. It's never good when I start exclusively siding with the male lead.
Beyond the story itself, I didn't understand why all the chapters oddly just seemed to cut off. It seemed like a good scene was being set up and then...
Beyond that this book just wasn't for me I guess. I do not enjoy embarrassing stories and that's all that happens to Annie in the first half. Within a few pages Annie arrives in Nicaragua, her luggage strewn everywhere, and Felipe returns her underwear and buys her a drink and she comes on to him not realizing who he is. She vomits on him, accidentally tasers him, gets bit by a toucan and needs stitches, and falls into a mud puddle. It was such one embarrassing incident after another.
After that I thought the conflict that comes up between Annie and Felipe was all of Annie's making and I was officially on Felipe's side. It's never good when I start exclusively siding with the male lead.
Beyond the story itself, I didn't understand why all the chapters oddly just seemed to cut off. It seemed like a good scene was being set up and then...
May 15, 2016
Omg I loved this I received this as an ARC for a honest review. I got so involved in the book while I was making dinner that I burnt spaghetti noodles. yeah I am that awesome. It was an amazing read.
June 25, 2016
What a great way for my friend Amanda to join the world of published authors. A fun romantic read - look forward to the 2nd in the series :)
April 12, 2016
4 "Life as it is in Third World countries" Stars
ARC via NetGalley
Thank you, Diversion Publishing!
As a resident of a Third World country with a history of poverty and violence, I was pleasantly surprised at how the author (an American who spent a summer in Central America) portrayed the rough side of Nicaragua and the problems of its people in a believable way. Not an easy task for someone who wasn’t born or raised in a place like that.
Before we jump into this review, let me clarify something. While you can easily buy an airplane ticket and book a hotel room from the comfort of your couch and go spend a week in Nicaragua with this incredible view…
Isla del Maríz (Guia Viajar Melhor)
Isla del Maríz (Guia Viajar Melhor)
…. that’s not what you’re going to read about when you get your copy of “Without Borders”. Nope. You’re taking a trip to a completely different place. You’ll be seeing the non-pretty side of things. Maybe, after you’re done reading, those people’s stories will touch you like they did Annie (the book’s main character). And maybe, just like her, you’ll want to do something about it.
See, the blurb sold me a romance book (hot best friend’s brother + old crush with killer curves + “flame”), but honestly that wasn’t exactly how I saw or experience this. Sure there was flirting and kissing, but the setting was a much stronger character and it took over. By the time the romance kicked in, Nicaragua and its people had already become the main reason I was turning pages.
Not that the romance didn’t help make things compelling... *winks*
Dreaming of a letter of recommendation that’d make her medical school application shine, Annie joined her best friend (a nurse), her best friend's brother (a doctor) and a couple of volunteers as they traveled through Nicaragua in a medical brigade. Her job was quite simple: hand mosquito nets, teach sex education classes, learn as much as she could and stay out of trouble. That last part would’ve been much easier if she didn’t wear her heart on her sleeve, and if Felipe, her friend’s brother, hadn’t grown up to be such a charming, handsome man.
Nothing annoyed Felipe quite as much as the Americans who joined his medical brigade every year. They were all “let’s do this” in the beginning, but as the days without a bath, proper accommodation and yummy food turned into weeks, the nagging usually started. They couldn’t wait to go back home and he couldn’t wait to get rid of them. Except this time the American joining him wasn’t acting like the others and he wasn’t counting the days to see her go. In fact, he didn’t think he wanted to let her go back to her country at all.
So, do you see what I mean when I say the book sounded like a straight-up romance? Boy meets girl and they fall in love. Except falling in love was secondary to Felipe and Annie’s adventures. It wasn’t nearly as big as Annie’s involvement with the people she met while they visited village after village. Not as important as Felipe’s work as he tried his best to earn the trust and treat the people living a reality so different from ours, that some of their habits shocked even me.
Annie’s personal growth was a much more compelling aspect than her feelings for Felipe. She was a likable character from the start, but as the story progressed and she got involved with the people she met, she made it even easier to connect and care for her. I didn’t feel like her interest in Felipe or her need to get the recommendation letter were the only reasons she was doing so well under pressure and dealing with all the problems they had. I believed she wanted to help, and in the end she did it in a way that impacted even more lives.
Felipe was also a more interesting character outside of the romance. Sure he was cute, sweet and all kinds of hot, but he was a man with a goal and it wasn’t getting in Annie’s pants (which took him forever, by the way). He was fighting for his people. He wasn’t in a hurry to leave his country or his position in the organization. Nope. He wanted to be even more involved. He wanted to make a difference.
Maybe that was why Annie and Felipe intrigued me more as individuals than as a couple. They were in a stage in their lives where making a difference was more important than finding a partner/someone to love. That happens to everyone. It also didn’t help that the ending felt a bit rushed. SPOILERS:
So, while the romance (which often is the most important part of the story for me) didn’t win me over, Amanda Heger’s solid writing, her ability to bring the setting to life, Nicaragua’s rich culture, and the main characters’ personalities and goals made this a compelling story that made me smile and tear up a little. For all of those reasons, I highly recommend it.
April 9, 2017
This was just what I needed while recovering (still) from an almost 5 month reading slump. It was cute and sweet, while also dealing with real problems and exposing the audience to a setting that was probably new to many, and I'm excited to read more of my diversity bingo picks as this turned out to be a great one!
June 1, 2016
Without Borders is aptly named, because it's a romance novel that soars beyond conventions.
The setup is one many twenty-somethings will recognize: young girl goes to volunteer in a developing country and gets her mind blown by the big, complicated world. But in this book she's paired with Felipe, the superhot Nicaraguan doctor who has a love/hate relationship with American voluntourists. He knows his foundation needs them to survive, but he also thinks they're condescending and frequently deadweight on his tough jungle treks. Now THAT'S a ballsy setup for a romance novel. The book pulls off all the promise of the setup and then some.
Sometimes Annie is tougher than Felipe ever expected, and sometimes she plays right into his cynical expectations of "THOSE Americans." But in every scene, you can so clearly see both sides of the argument that it's heartbreaking. Especially because these two are striking major sparks off each other and falling into a terribly cute friendship all at once. He sleeps on her (totally crappy) yoga mat because she didn't pack a hammock, and she teaches (totally awkward) sexual education classes to villagers in broken Spanish. Yes, there are teenage boys present. Yes, there is a plantain incident. And a vagina theft. But I won't spoil you.
I came for the romance, but I stayed for the rich setting, the culture clash, the suspense of the many dangers of off-the-map travel, and the hilarious supporting characters (the ex-reality star guy was a gem, especially as he was the comic relief you'd expect and became so much more as well). I loved that this book tromped all over romance novel expectations. Showers? Nah, dude, it's a jungle. Vomit? Yeah, well, again, it's the jungle. Just gonna happen. But somehow the frank acceptance of the realities of developing world travel didn't at all detract from the growing romantic tension. If anything, it made the characters and the world seem painfully real to me.
To me, this book is the best of realism and escapism in fiction: it swept me up in the setting and pulled me away from my daily life, but it felt like I was reading about real people, not Characters. I can't wait for more of this series.
The setup is one many twenty-somethings will recognize: young girl goes to volunteer in a developing country and gets her mind blown by the big, complicated world. But in this book she's paired with Felipe, the superhot Nicaraguan doctor who has a love/hate relationship with American voluntourists. He knows his foundation needs them to survive, but he also thinks they're condescending and frequently deadweight on his tough jungle treks. Now THAT'S a ballsy setup for a romance novel. The book pulls off all the promise of the setup and then some.
Sometimes Annie is tougher than Felipe ever expected, and sometimes she plays right into his cynical expectations of "THOSE Americans." But in every scene, you can so clearly see both sides of the argument that it's heartbreaking. Especially because these two are striking major sparks off each other and falling into a terribly cute friendship all at once. He sleeps on her (totally crappy) yoga mat because she didn't pack a hammock, and she teaches (totally awkward) sexual education classes to villagers in broken Spanish. Yes, there are teenage boys present. Yes, there is a plantain incident. And a vagina theft. But I won't spoil you.
I came for the romance, but I stayed for the rich setting, the culture clash, the suspense of the many dangers of off-the-map travel, and the hilarious supporting characters (the ex-reality star guy was a gem, especially as he was the comic relief you'd expect and became so much more as well). I loved that this book tromped all over romance novel expectations. Showers? Nah, dude, it's a jungle. Vomit? Yeah, well, again, it's the jungle. Just gonna happen. But somehow the frank acceptance of the realities of developing world travel didn't at all detract from the growing romantic tension. If anything, it made the characters and the world seem painfully real to me.
To me, this book is the best of realism and escapism in fiction: it swept me up in the setting and pulled me away from my daily life, but it felt like I was reading about real people, not Characters. I can't wait for more of this series.
May 22, 2016
What a lovely book. Without Borders takes the reader deep into the rain forest of Nicaragua, where old prejudices are challenged and eyes are opened. We meet Annie London, an American pre-med student, who signs up for a month on a medical team run by old friends. Felipe Gutierrez remembers his old crush as a typical American girl, resenting having to take her, on any privileged American, out into the jungle.
From first page to last, this book was like a bath of warm water, flowing over me with its beautiful narrative of the landscapes of Nicaragua to the slowly building relationship between Annie and Felipe. When we meet Annie she's worried about her sick father, concerned she'll not get into her medical school of choice, and unsure of what awaits her Nicaragua. When she arrives with too much luggage, Felipe is convinced she's no different than those that came before her, yet his organization is dependent on Americans financially, demanding he tolerate their presence. Even so, he goes into each trip with a boulder of resentment on his shoulders. As Annie quietly proves him wrong, Felipe must question all of his previously held beliefs, while she learns that there are different ways of life besides the one she grew up in.
There is beautiful character development for these two characters. Surprisingly, it's Felipe who has the most to learn about himself, though it's Annie who encounters the bigger challenges. Felipe could have easily been an unlikable character, but Amanda Heger handles him with such care that the reader can see past his boiling resentment of the "gringoes" to his love of his country and fear that he'll disappoint his people. She makes it possible for the reader to even understand his terrible decision in a tough situation and that's just good writing-making a character sympathetic in an unsympathetic circumstance.
The romance is tender and almost a backdrop to the characters' individual journeys, though neither would get there without the other. The supporting cast is entertaining and play off the main characters nicely, especially Juan, the native dentist who carries a machete and loves practical jokes. I look forward to seeing more of them in this continuing series.
4 stars (I really liked it!) for Without Borders. Heat level: 3
From first page to last, this book was like a bath of warm water, flowing over me with its beautiful narrative of the landscapes of Nicaragua to the slowly building relationship between Annie and Felipe. When we meet Annie she's worried about her sick father, concerned she'll not get into her medical school of choice, and unsure of what awaits her Nicaragua. When she arrives with too much luggage, Felipe is convinced she's no different than those that came before her, yet his organization is dependent on Americans financially, demanding he tolerate their presence. Even so, he goes into each trip with a boulder of resentment on his shoulders. As Annie quietly proves him wrong, Felipe must question all of his previously held beliefs, while she learns that there are different ways of life besides the one she grew up in.
There is beautiful character development for these two characters. Surprisingly, it's Felipe who has the most to learn about himself, though it's Annie who encounters the bigger challenges. Felipe could have easily been an unlikable character, but Amanda Heger handles him with such care that the reader can see past his boiling resentment of the "gringoes" to his love of his country and fear that he'll disappoint his people. She makes it possible for the reader to even understand his terrible decision in a tough situation and that's just good writing-making a character sympathetic in an unsympathetic circumstance.
The romance is tender and almost a backdrop to the characters' individual journeys, though neither would get there without the other. The supporting cast is entertaining and play off the main characters nicely, especially Juan, the native dentist who carries a machete and loves practical jokes. I look forward to seeing more of them in this continuing series.
4 stars (I really liked it!) for Without Borders. Heat level: 3
May 17, 2016
Very fresh story with a great dose of reality. The setting of the Nicaraguan jungles felt so very real, I wasn't at all surprised to learn Amanda Heger had been on a brigade to Nicaragua herself. The descriptions are vivid and so very well written that you really become immersed in the world and culture of the story.
This will likely sound odd to say, but I kept finding myself reading with a Latin American/Spanish accent (this was likely helped by the fact that my brother-in-law is from Venezuela). For this reason, I would have preferred the character of Phillip to not be named Phillip since I kept reading it as "Philippe." That's my own fault, of course, haha. :)
The sprinkled Spanish throughout the book was generous enough to help bring you into the world, without being too much. I don't know much Spanish, like Annie herself, but I still understood quite a bit of it and literally laughed out loud at this line:
“¡Es rojo como una bruja! ¡Una bruja!”
Which brings me to the next thing that I liked: the emotions brought up throughout. This story was funny, touching, suspenseful, sad, and sexy. I had gone in expecting more of a romance with a Latin American angle, but was pleasantly surprised to find a story that was focused on Annie and Felipe as people than just as a couple. Most of their relationship is built up in a very natural way, without as many grandiose declarations of "You're The One." As a result of this, it's fairly tame in the steaminess department, but the depth of the bonding otherwise is so enchanting you don't mind. And, rest assured, it's not without some sexiness. Sex itself just isn't the focus.
The side characters all added some extra depth and stood on their own without feeling like plot contrivances. Marisol, Phillip and Juan are all great characters.
I liked this story and the character development quite a bit. The scene where the woman gives birth - just wonderful. It said so much about the characters and their growth, and made me smile.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
This will likely sound odd to say, but I kept finding myself reading with a Latin American/Spanish accent (this was likely helped by the fact that my brother-in-law is from Venezuela). For this reason, I would have preferred the character of Phillip to not be named Phillip since I kept reading it as "Philippe." That's my own fault, of course, haha. :)
The sprinkled Spanish throughout the book was generous enough to help bring you into the world, without being too much. I don't know much Spanish, like Annie herself, but I still understood quite a bit of it and literally laughed out loud at this line:
“¡Es rojo como una bruja! ¡Una bruja!”
Which brings me to the next thing that I liked: the emotions brought up throughout. This story was funny, touching, suspenseful, sad, and sexy. I had gone in expecting more of a romance with a Latin American angle, but was pleasantly surprised to find a story that was focused on Annie and Felipe as people than just as a couple. Most of their relationship is built up in a very natural way, without as many grandiose declarations of "You're The One." As a result of this, it's fairly tame in the steaminess department, but the depth of the bonding otherwise is so enchanting you don't mind. And, rest assured, it's not without some sexiness. Sex itself just isn't the focus.
The side characters all added some extra depth and stood on their own without feeling like plot contrivances. Marisol, Phillip and Juan are all great characters.
I liked this story and the character development quite a bit. The scene where the woman gives birth - just wonderful. It said so much about the characters and their growth, and made me smile.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
May 4, 2016
*** I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.***
Let me start by saying, I did not instantly fall in love with this story. For me it started off a little slow, and there was a point where I contemplated giving it the DNF. Side note, I try to stick with a story and see it through, especially when an author has entrusted me with a complimentary copy of their hardwork. All of that said, somewhere around the 25% mark, I really started to to love this story. I came to care about each of the characters. I could relate to Annie, her fears of being in a foreign country, wanting to make a difference in the lives of the patients her and the rest of "Ahora" were treating, all the while dealing with her feelings towards Filipe. I admired Filipe and his passion for helping the villagers he and his group treated, while at the same time battling his inner turmoil with not being able to run the program the way he wanted to. To me, this story was so much more than a romance. This story really spoke to me in a way that only a author who had actually been involved in a similar world health program would be able to draw experience from. I appreciate that this wasn't some simple hot and heavy romance between two people from different parts of the world. It's a story that brings to light what so many of us take for granted, Access to basic health care being at the forefront of this list. This story also had witty banter between all of the characters, some scenes had me laughing out loud, which my husband gave me the "are you crazy" look about.
In conclusion, this is a quality story, that brings together romance, comedy and drama, while at the same time hitting on some very serious subject matter that makes you think about the bigger picture of what is going on outside our comfortable bubble we have all created for ourselves. Well done!!
Let me start by saying, I did not instantly fall in love with this story. For me it started off a little slow, and there was a point where I contemplated giving it the DNF. Side note, I try to stick with a story and see it through, especially when an author has entrusted me with a complimentary copy of their hardwork. All of that said, somewhere around the 25% mark, I really started to to love this story. I came to care about each of the characters. I could relate to Annie, her fears of being in a foreign country, wanting to make a difference in the lives of the patients her and the rest of "Ahora" were treating, all the while dealing with her feelings towards Filipe. I admired Filipe and his passion for helping the villagers he and his group treated, while at the same time battling his inner turmoil with not being able to run the program the way he wanted to. To me, this story was so much more than a romance. This story really spoke to me in a way that only a author who had actually been involved in a similar world health program would be able to draw experience from. I appreciate that this wasn't some simple hot and heavy romance between two people from different parts of the world. It's a story that brings to light what so many of us take for granted, Access to basic health care being at the forefront of this list. This story also had witty banter between all of the characters, some scenes had me laughing out loud, which my husband gave me the "are you crazy" look about.
In conclusion, this is a quality story, that brings together romance, comedy and drama, while at the same time hitting on some very serious subject matter that makes you think about the bigger picture of what is going on outside our comfortable bubble we have all created for ourselves. Well done!!
March 4, 2016
***Received ARC from publisher via NetGalley***
Rating: 4 stars
Lost and heartbroken over a recent failed relationship, aspiring medical student, Annie London, takes a trip to Nicaragua on a medical brigade for an experience of a lifetime. Though she tries to convince herself this opportunity is simply to beef up her application to her dream school, Brown University, there's no denying her growing interest in the doctor in charge of the trip and her best friend's older brother, Dr. Felipe Gutierrez. Meanwhile, the good doctor has always tried to keep the foreign volunteers at arm's length because he finds nothing sincere about their intentions. However, Felipe is finding it more and more difficult to stay away from Annie as the days go by, realizing his little crush had never really faded after all these years. And as the brigade draws to an end, they struggle to sort through their feelings towards each other, wondering if fumbling through linguistic barriers, cultural differences and geographical distance is really worth it.
Bless Amanda Heger and her writing skills.
This was such a great read. Apart from interesting characters and a very heartwarming plot, the vivid images of the different communities and the people that inhabit them made me feel like I was trudging through the Central American rainforest as well. The occasional bits of Spanish weaved into the dialogue made it even more vibrant too. And though this is packaged into a neat little love story, I appreciate how it gives a side of funny anecdotes, a glimpse into painful realities, a little bit of heart-stopping suspense, tons of butterflies in the stomach, and so much more.
I would love to quote a few lines, but I don't want to ruin the experience for other readers. Pick up a copy, and enjoy!
Rating: 4 stars
Lost and heartbroken over a recent failed relationship, aspiring medical student, Annie London, takes a trip to Nicaragua on a medical brigade for an experience of a lifetime. Though she tries to convince herself this opportunity is simply to beef up her application to her dream school, Brown University, there's no denying her growing interest in the doctor in charge of the trip and her best friend's older brother, Dr. Felipe Gutierrez. Meanwhile, the good doctor has always tried to keep the foreign volunteers at arm's length because he finds nothing sincere about their intentions. However, Felipe is finding it more and more difficult to stay away from Annie as the days go by, realizing his little crush had never really faded after all these years. And as the brigade draws to an end, they struggle to sort through their feelings towards each other, wondering if fumbling through linguistic barriers, cultural differences and geographical distance is really worth it.
Bless Amanda Heger and her writing skills.
This was such a great read. Apart from interesting characters and a very heartwarming plot, the vivid images of the different communities and the people that inhabit them made me feel like I was trudging through the Central American rainforest as well. The occasional bits of Spanish weaved into the dialogue made it even more vibrant too. And though this is packaged into a neat little love story, I appreciate how it gives a side of funny anecdotes, a glimpse into painful realities, a little bit of heart-stopping suspense, tons of butterflies in the stomach, and so much more.
I would love to quote a few lines, but I don't want to ruin the experience for other readers. Pick up a copy, and enjoy!
May 17, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is one of the better New Adult books I've read lately. I think this is because it doesn't rely solely on the relationship of Annie and Felipe to carry the story but on the things that happen while on the trip. It was more a story of a traveling medical clinic where two people fall in love than a romance that takes place during a trip, if that makes sense.
I really enjoyed reading about the experiences the group had as they traveled to bring medical assistance to the people of Nicaragua. Each experience felt real to me. I liked Annie and Felipe as well as the supporting characters. I didn't find places in the story that I felt were slow or that I was tempted to skim or skip completely. Everything flowed at a good, consistent pace.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading light romance, especially those who are tired of reading the same ole bad boy, broken girl stories. This book was an easy read that will put a smile on your face while leaving you wanting to go help less fortunate people.
This is one of the better New Adult books I've read lately. I think this is because it doesn't rely solely on the relationship of Annie and Felipe to carry the story but on the things that happen while on the trip. It was more a story of a traveling medical clinic where two people fall in love than a romance that takes place during a trip, if that makes sense.
I really enjoyed reading about the experiences the group had as they traveled to bring medical assistance to the people of Nicaragua. Each experience felt real to me. I liked Annie and Felipe as well as the supporting characters. I didn't find places in the story that I felt were slow or that I was tempted to skim or skip completely. Everything flowed at a good, consistent pace.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading light romance, especially those who are tired of reading the same ole bad boy, broken girl stories. This book was an easy read that will put a smile on your face while leaving you wanting to go help less fortunate people.
February 29, 2016
This gave an Insight to a place many people will never have the chance to visit themselves (me included).
Annie is intending to spend a month in the American rainforest where she will be getting some experience in health care. The rainforest isn't like helping out in a medical clinic it is so much more. It has culture and dangers unknown to developed countries.
She is spending the tour educating the locals in sex ed and giving medical aid. She will be with her best friend and her older brother.
Felipe has always had a crush on Annie but didn't realise his feelings may be reciprocated.
This is a romance novel with a difference.
4 stars out of 5. Worth the read if you are looking for something different.
Annie is intending to spend a month in the American rainforest where she will be getting some experience in health care. The rainforest isn't like helping out in a medical clinic it is so much more. It has culture and dangers unknown to developed countries.
She is spending the tour educating the locals in sex ed and giving medical aid. She will be with her best friend and her older brother.
Felipe has always had a crush on Annie but didn't realise his feelings may be reciprocated.
This is a romance novel with a difference.
4 stars out of 5. Worth the read if you are looking for something different.
May 19, 2016
The story of Annie and Felipe felt a little out of my normal New Adult comfort zone but I'm so glad I tried it. Both characters developed and grew on me as the story went on, and I loved the gentle romance of their story.
What I possibly enjoyed the most about this book though was the adventure that we were taken on as the characters travelled through Nicaragua, and the beautiful descriptions of the people and places they met along the way. I felt that the day to day details given of what happened in their clinic were enough to give further interest to the story without detracting from getting to know the central characters and seeing their relationship develop.
I'm really glad I was given the chance to read and review this book. Thank you!
What I possibly enjoyed the most about this book though was the adventure that we were taken on as the characters travelled through Nicaragua, and the beautiful descriptions of the people and places they met along the way. I felt that the day to day details given of what happened in their clinic were enough to give further interest to the story without detracting from getting to know the central characters and seeing their relationship develop.
I'm really glad I was given the chance to read and review this book. Thank you!
April 28, 2016
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Read and Review and I am so glad I got in on this one because it was just what I needed.
This book isn’t your typical “College Student in a Foreign Country” book. The plot is solid, the characters are funny, the banter is funnier and the connection between Annie and Felipe was perfect.
I always feel bad saying, “What everyone else said!” but it’s true! I’d just be repeating what everyone has written here. So I’ll say this: it’s worth the purchase, worth the read, and you’ll have a book hangover when you’re done (how’s THAT for a recommendation!)
Great debut novel! Well done!
This book isn’t your typical “College Student in a Foreign Country” book. The plot is solid, the characters are funny, the banter is funnier and the connection between Annie and Felipe was perfect.
I always feel bad saying, “What everyone else said!” but it’s true! I’d just be repeating what everyone has written here. So I’ll say this: it’s worth the purchase, worth the read, and you’ll have a book hangover when you’re done (how’s THAT for a recommendation!)
Great debut novel! Well done!
June 18, 2016
A cute book to read by the pool or at the beach. it's a quick read that is both witty and poignant. can't wait for the next in the series!
May 21, 2016
**I received a copy in exchange for an honest review**
Rating: 4.5 stars
"If you had a mustache as beautiful as mine, you would have an obsession too."
The concept of Without Borders totally drew me in with how unique it was especially in the NA book world. I was pretty much refreshing the page until sign-ups opened for a review copy and was absolutely ecstatic when I got a copy. This book did not disappoint.
Annie is an amazing character. She is depicted so honestly (see: whole reason for her going on the trip) and she has a wonderful relatable voice. Right at the beginning of the book, Annie has an embarrassing moment that is absolutely hilarious (for the reader) and was the first, of many, moments where I felt an emotional connection with the characters (in this case, sympathy for Annie).
Felipe is a wonderful character that we do hear a lot from as about half the book is told from his POV. I won't tell you much else about him and let you fall in love with him yourself. All I will say is the moment we meet him is my favorite moment of the whole book.
I found these two absolutely adorable! They have a lot of wonderful interactions but what I love the most is how theses two challenge each other in meaningful ways. We see them evolve and grow without doing a 180. I do think, however, they could have been developed a biiiit more.
The rest of the characters form an amazing cast that support, amuse and challenge the characters. I love how they all interact and how we get to know them even if they're not the MCs.
It has been a while since I read this book so I'm a bit unsure of the details of this but I remember loving the description in this book in general.
I had a minor issue with how Without Borders sometimes dithered between YA and NA in its content and how the characters acted. On the other side, I appreciate how less sexually-focused this NA book is because NA shouldn't just be equated to R18 scenes. It definitely doesn't pack any less of a punch emotionally.
As with many books with dialogue in a foreign language, not everything was translated into English or explained in other ways. This has the benefit of effectively putting the reader in the same position as the main character but is a bit frustrating for me, personally.
But this is more like a pet peeve for me and a lot of the Spanish/other foreign dialogue is translated if the meaning is not made obvious in other ways.
Moving along, the location is amazing. The exotic backdrop is absolutely fabulous and the, at times, gritty portrayal makes it even more amazing to be in because it seems more realistic. (I mean, there is no way the characters still smell like roses or even just a neutral smell after weeks of tramping through the bush. Plus, there is bound to be at least one person who will end up with a tummy bug of some sort).
Along the same lines, the respectful honesty is definitely a major selling point of this book.
Overall:
Rating: 4.5 stars
"If you had a mustache as beautiful as mine, you would have an obsession too."
The concept of Without Borders totally drew me in with how unique it was especially in the NA book world. I was pretty much refreshing the page until sign-ups opened for a review copy and was absolutely ecstatic when I got a copy. This book did not disappoint.
Annie is an amazing character. She is depicted so honestly (see: whole reason for her going on the trip) and she has a wonderful relatable voice. Right at the beginning of the book, Annie has an embarrassing moment that is absolutely hilarious (for the reader) and was the first, of many, moments where I felt an emotional connection with the characters (in this case, sympathy for Annie).
Felipe is a wonderful character that we do hear a lot from as about half the book is told from his POV. I won't tell you much else about him and let you fall in love with him yourself. All I will say is the moment we meet him is my favorite moment of the whole book.
I found these two absolutely adorable! They have a lot of wonderful interactions but what I love the most is how theses two challenge each other in meaningful ways. We see them evolve and grow without doing a 180. I do think, however, they could have been developed a biiiit more.
The rest of the characters form an amazing cast that support, amuse and challenge the characters. I love how they all interact and how we get to know them even if they're not the MCs.
It has been a while since I read this book so I'm a bit unsure of the details of this but I remember loving the description in this book in general.
I had a minor issue with how Without Borders sometimes dithered between YA and NA in its content and how the characters acted. On the other side, I appreciate how less sexually-focused this NA book is because NA shouldn't just be equated to R18 scenes. It definitely doesn't pack any less of a punch emotionally.
As with many books with dialogue in a foreign language, not everything was translated into English or explained in other ways. This has the benefit of effectively putting the reader in the same position as the main character but is a bit frustrating for me, personally.
But this is more like a pet peeve for me and a lot of the Spanish/other foreign dialogue is translated if the meaning is not made obvious in other ways.
Moving along, the location is amazing. The exotic backdrop is absolutely fabulous and the, at times, gritty portrayal makes it even more amazing to be in because it seems more realistic. (I mean, there is no way the characters still smell like roses or even just a neutral smell after weeks of tramping through the bush. Plus, there is bound to be at least one person who will end up with a tummy bug of some sort).
Along the same lines, the respectful honesty is definitely a major selling point of this book.
Overall:
April 21, 2016
When it comes to NA fiction, it's hard to break out of the stereotypical molds that most authors fall into. Amanda Heger, though, did exactly that...and did it phenomenally.
This is the story of Felipe and Annie. They've been friends since they were young, and have continued to stay friends, thanks in part to the friendship Annie has had with Felipe younger sister. Still, the distance apart never curbed the crush Felipe secretly had on Annie growing up. And now that Annie has traveled to Nicaragua to help with Felipe's traveling medical clinic, it's the perfect opportunity for him to finally make a move.
Well, if he knew Annie was interested.
Annie's got a lot on her plate. A bad break up, worrying about her sick father, and finding a way to earn a letter of recommendation, which should come from Felipe, her friends older brother. Yet from the second they meet up at an airport bar, their first encounter is far from friendly. Can you say scorching? (and yeah, maybe a wee bit disasterous too.) Annie doesn't recognize Felipe. Annie also comes on to Felipe, thinking he'd be perfect as a rebound. But then the truth comes out and the strain between them grows. Thus starts the beginning of a trip across the jungles of Nicaragua that will change both of their lives.
Through more downs than up, Felipe and Annie discover each other, and maybe even themselves. It's a beautiful, hilarious, and mesmerizing journey that will leave you feeling as though you're sweaty and stinking and breathless, living right there with them through this trip. Between the sex ed classes (hello bananas and uterus models) to baby delivery, to children underfoot, to corn tamales, and late nights in hammocks, this story will capture you in a way no other new adult book can. At least that's how it was for me.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend you read this book. It's everything and more...and the kissing? Yeah...I loved all the kissing. ♥
This is the story of Felipe and Annie. They've been friends since they were young, and have continued to stay friends, thanks in part to the friendship Annie has had with Felipe younger sister. Still, the distance apart never curbed the crush Felipe secretly had on Annie growing up. And now that Annie has traveled to Nicaragua to help with Felipe's traveling medical clinic, it's the perfect opportunity for him to finally make a move.
Well, if he knew Annie was interested.
Annie's got a lot on her plate. A bad break up, worrying about her sick father, and finding a way to earn a letter of recommendation, which should come from Felipe, her friends older brother. Yet from the second they meet up at an airport bar, their first encounter is far from friendly. Can you say scorching? (and yeah, maybe a wee bit disasterous too.) Annie doesn't recognize Felipe. Annie also comes on to Felipe, thinking he'd be perfect as a rebound. But then the truth comes out and the strain between them grows. Thus starts the beginning of a trip across the jungles of Nicaragua that will change both of their lives.
Through more downs than up, Felipe and Annie discover each other, and maybe even themselves. It's a beautiful, hilarious, and mesmerizing journey that will leave you feeling as though you're sweaty and stinking and breathless, living right there with them through this trip. Between the sex ed classes (hello bananas and uterus models) to baby delivery, to children underfoot, to corn tamales, and late nights in hammocks, this story will capture you in a way no other new adult book can. At least that's how it was for me.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend you read this book. It's everything and more...and the kissing? Yeah...I loved all the kissing. ♥
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