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The Wonder of Us
Riya and Abby are: Best friends. Complete opposites. Living on different continents. Currently mad at each other. About to travel around Europe.
Riya moved to Berlin, Germany, with her family for junior year, while Abby stayed behind in their small California town. They thought it would be easy to keep up their friendship—it’s only a year and they’ve been best friends since preschool. But instead, they ended up fighting and not being there for the other. So Riya proposes an epic adventure to fix their friendship. Two weeks, six countries, unimaginable fun. But two small catches:
They haven’t talked in weeks.
They’ve both been keeping secrets.
Can Riya and Abby find their way back to each other among lush countrysides and dazzling cities, or does growing up mean growing apart?
Riya moved to Berlin, Germany, with her family for junior year, while Abby stayed behind in their small California town. They thought it would be easy to keep up their friendship—it’s only a year and they’ve been best friends since preschool. But instead, they ended up fighting and not being there for the other. So Riya proposes an epic adventure to fix their friendship. Two weeks, six countries, unimaginable fun. But two small catches:
They haven’t talked in weeks.
They’ve both been keeping secrets.
Can Riya and Abby find their way back to each other among lush countrysides and dazzling cities, or does growing up mean growing apart?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2017
60 people are currently reading
1450 people want to read
About the author
Kim Culbertson
9 books377 followersKim Culbertson is the author of the teen novels THE WONDER OF US (Scholastic 2017), THE POSSIBILITY OF NOW (Scholastic 2016), CATCH A FALLING STAR (Scholastic 2014), INSTRUCTIONS FOR A BROKEN HEART (Sourcebooks 2011), and SONGS FOR A TEENAGE NOMAD (Sourcebooks 2010).
She believes books make the world a better place.
Happy Reading!
www.kimculbertson.com
She believes books make the world a better place.
Happy Reading!
www.kimculbertson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
July 25, 2017
This didn't really do anything for me. I didn't care for the characters, in fact I found it difficult to differentiate between the two in the dual perspectives so that was an unnecessary element. It was just meh, disappointing overall.
November 9, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Teenagers Abby and Riya had been best friends since they were little children. They were never apart until the day Riya moved from her hometown in Yuba Ridge, California to Berlin, Germany with her family. Whilst Riya was getting to know her new hometown and school, Abby’s life was falling apart as her mum left her dad for another man.
With the two so far away from one another they tried to talk on the phone or Facetime as much as possible, but with resentment creeping in from both of them, their friendship started dwindling. Not wanting to lose her best friend, Riya has a brilliant idea and soon afterward Abby receives airline tickets in the post.
Riya has invited Abby for a two week all expenses paid tour of six European countries, there is only one catch, Riya cousin Neel is escorting them and he’s a bit of a stickler for the rules. There’s also the matter that Riya might have an ulterior motive for this trip too!
The Wonder of Us is a cute YA book that features interesting characters and vibrant cities. Throughout the book, the best friends visit Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Scotland, Iceland, and England. Abby is a history buff and loves everything from the past, especially The Seven Wonders of the World, so Riya tries to make the trip as interesting for her as possible, showing her new wonders that can be found in each city.
The main aim of the trip though is to try and become close again and repair the damage that has been caused between them, however, the girls seem reluctant to actually speak about what has happened and try to brush it under the rug, which over time causes more friction between them.
I really enjoyed the plot, visiting the numerous countries and learning so much about each of them. I do have a little problem with how much time we got to spend in each city. For example, we head to Florence, Italy for the first ‘Wonder’ and this takes up 66 pages. When we visit London, England this only covers 31 pages and lacks the detail that the earlier countries did. For each country we visited the number of pages dedicated to that country reduced. I would of love to of seen a nearly equal amount to each.
The book is told from dual points of view by both of the girls. Now I’m not normally one for dual or multiple narratives but for this book to work it really needed it. The chapters are told from alternating POV so you always know which girl you are spending time with.
Whilst the girls were typical teenagers and sometimes fun, sometimes moody, I really enjoyed getting to know Neel. He is one eccentric young man who is wise beyond his years, yet still, a teenager inside, even if he doesn’t like to show it often.
The book was great fun to read and shows you the importance of friendship and that just because someone is thousands of miles away it doesn’t lessen their feelings for their friends. It also shows the reader that sometimes you need to learn to stand on your own two feet and face the world.
Teenagers Abby and Riya had been best friends since they were little children. They were never apart until the day Riya moved from her hometown in Yuba Ridge, California to Berlin, Germany with her family. Whilst Riya was getting to know her new hometown and school, Abby’s life was falling apart as her mum left her dad for another man.
With the two so far away from one another they tried to talk on the phone or Facetime as much as possible, but with resentment creeping in from both of them, their friendship started dwindling. Not wanting to lose her best friend, Riya has a brilliant idea and soon afterward Abby receives airline tickets in the post.
Riya has invited Abby for a two week all expenses paid tour of six European countries, there is only one catch, Riya cousin Neel is escorting them and he’s a bit of a stickler for the rules. There’s also the matter that Riya might have an ulterior motive for this trip too!
The Wonder of Us is a cute YA book that features interesting characters and vibrant cities. Throughout the book, the best friends visit Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Scotland, Iceland, and England. Abby is a history buff and loves everything from the past, especially The Seven Wonders of the World, so Riya tries to make the trip as interesting for her as possible, showing her new wonders that can be found in each city.
The main aim of the trip though is to try and become close again and repair the damage that has been caused between them, however, the girls seem reluctant to actually speak about what has happened and try to brush it under the rug, which over time causes more friction between them.
I really enjoyed the plot, visiting the numerous countries and learning so much about each of them. I do have a little problem with how much time we got to spend in each city. For example, we head to Florence, Italy for the first ‘Wonder’ and this takes up 66 pages. When we visit London, England this only covers 31 pages and lacks the detail that the earlier countries did. For each country we visited the number of pages dedicated to that country reduced. I would of love to of seen a nearly equal amount to each.
The book is told from dual points of view by both of the girls. Now I’m not normally one for dual or multiple narratives but for this book to work it really needed it. The chapters are told from alternating POV so you always know which girl you are spending time with.
Whilst the girls were typical teenagers and sometimes fun, sometimes moody, I really enjoyed getting to know Neel. He is one eccentric young man who is wise beyond his years, yet still, a teenager inside, even if he doesn’t like to show it often.
The book was great fun to read and shows you the importance of friendship and that just because someone is thousands of miles away it doesn’t lessen their feelings for their friends. It also shows the reader that sometimes you need to learn to stand on your own two feet and face the world.
March 24, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! I'm a sucker for friendship stories, especially when they center around evolving friendships, and I think Culbertson did a good job with this one. There's also the added bonus of being set in some fun European cities to sweeten the deal!
May 24, 2020
I filmed a video in which I read this book and 4 other YA travel novels just like this one if you'd like to check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnzrX5dHnvA
What a nice surprise!
I dove into this book with hardly any expectations since I haven't seen anyone talk about this book, so this was a pleasant surprise.
I really enjoyed reading from both Abby's and Riya's perspective. Both characters are very different, and it was easier to understand what they were going through, especially since the book has its fair share of drama. Reading from both POVs helped me understand the reasoning behind a lot of the things the characters said to one another.
For some reason, while the story felt a little bit overdramatic at times, I never felt like the characters were childish. As I'm getting older, I feel like I don't relate to characters in YA contemporaries as much anymore, but Kim Culbertson managed to make me feel connected to both protagonists. Even though the characters in this book are younger than me, I understood their struggles and found them relatable.
I also really enjoyed the banter between Neal and Riya. It was a nice comic relief between all the drama, and their interactions made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you're looking for a cute YA contemporary set in Europe that is mostly about friendship, but also has a side of romance. I feel like this book is so underrated and I don't understand why!
What a nice surprise!
I dove into this book with hardly any expectations since I haven't seen anyone talk about this book, so this was a pleasant surprise.
I really enjoyed reading from both Abby's and Riya's perspective. Both characters are very different, and it was easier to understand what they were going through, especially since the book has its fair share of drama. Reading from both POVs helped me understand the reasoning behind a lot of the things the characters said to one another.
For some reason, while the story felt a little bit overdramatic at times, I never felt like the characters were childish. As I'm getting older, I feel like I don't relate to characters in YA contemporaries as much anymore, but Kim Culbertson managed to make me feel connected to both protagonists. Even though the characters in this book are younger than me, I understood their struggles and found them relatable.
I also really enjoyed the banter between Neal and Riya. It was a nice comic relief between all the drama, and their interactions made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you're looking for a cute YA contemporary set in Europe that is mostly about friendship, but also has a side of romance. I feel like this book is so underrated and I don't understand why!
September 17, 2017
tldr: i thought most of this book was really charming and sweet! i don't read a lot of realistic fiction but i really liked this. if you like stories about travel and friendship, this is for you. 3.5 stars (for the unnecessary romance that i felt overcomplicated things)
i totally gaybaited myself with this since logically (based on the blurbs, the cover, the fact that i hadn't seen it on any lgbt lists etc) i knew the two main characters wouldn't end up together, but! the title is THE WONDER OF US! that's the most romantic thing i've ever heard in my entire life! how could they NOT end up together?? very easily, as it turns out. other gay highlights: riya calls abby her 'true love', says she 'lights up [her] life like nothing else', compares them to a couple that's been married for 20 years, and gets really jealous when abby flirts with her (riya's) cousin, neel. multiple times when abby kisses neel, the first thing she thinks about is riya (also how could she NOT be in love with riya when shes the most beautiful dynamic interesting fun amazing person who's ever lived?). personally i think the book would have been stronger without neel's character (even if riya and abby didn't end up together) since the trip was supposed to be about rebuilding their friendship. i just felt like it didn't make sense to have someone else with them the entire time, when he obviously only existed to be abby's love interest. (i did like neel as a character, just not for this book)
i totally gaybaited myself with this since logically (based on the blurbs, the cover, the fact that i hadn't seen it on any lgbt lists etc) i knew the two main characters wouldn't end up together, but! the title is THE WONDER OF US! that's the most romantic thing i've ever heard in my entire life! how could they NOT end up together?? very easily, as it turns out. other gay highlights: riya calls abby her 'true love', says she 'lights up [her] life like nothing else', compares them to a couple that's been married for 20 years, and gets really jealous when abby flirts with her (riya's) cousin, neel. multiple times when abby kisses neel, the first thing she thinks about is riya (also how could she NOT be in love with riya when shes the most beautiful dynamic interesting fun amazing person who's ever lived?). personally i think the book would have been stronger without neel's character (even if riya and abby didn't end up together) since the trip was supposed to be about rebuilding their friendship. i just felt like it didn't make sense to have someone else with them the entire time, when he obviously only existed to be abby's love interest. (i did like neel as a character, just not for this book)
August 27, 2017
2.5 stars.
This was a pretty frustrating novel. The two girls were squabbling most of the time and I felt that Abby's reason for running off was absurd. You're friends will not be in close proximity to you for forever but that doesn't mean they aren't your friends. Yeah, Abby dealt with some shit and Riya could have done a better job at being a friend but damn girls life goes on. This was also another one of those books that has to cram a love plot in there. Just stop.
This was a pretty frustrating novel. The two girls were squabbling most of the time and I felt that Abby's reason for running off was absurd. You're friends will not be in close proximity to you for forever but that doesn't mean they aren't your friends. Yeah, Abby dealt with some shit and Riya could have done a better job at being a friend but damn girls life goes on. This was also another one of those books that has to cram a love plot in there. Just stop.
April 2, 2018
This was very cute! I finished it fast and liked the description of places they both visited.
I really liked the focus on complicated female friendships and growing up.
I thought sometimes the two characters were indistinguishable from each other which made it hard when it was a duo perspective book. It could also be a little repetitive: they went to a new place, they had a little argument, they flirted with boys. That happened almost every country they visited lol.
All in all this is a fab fun read, got me in the summer mood 🌞
I really liked the focus on complicated female friendships and growing up.
I thought sometimes the two characters were indistinguishable from each other which made it hard when it was a duo perspective book. It could also be a little repetitive: they went to a new place, they had a little argument, they flirted with boys. That happened almost every country they visited lol.
All in all this is a fab fun read, got me in the summer mood 🌞
March 10, 2017
Thank you, thank you, thank you Kim Culbertson for writing a book about friendship. The Wonder of Us is a beautiful, honest story of two friends at the beginning of the end of high school and what life might look like after graduation.
May 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
a little lore:
For my graduation, we were assigned a research project on something we were passionate about. I chose writing. you are then to go and find a mentor who can teach you about the topic. I didn’t know this at the time but they told me how one of the teachers was a published author and they would ask her if she wanted to be my mentor. she agreed and I met with Culbertson over zoom and she’s been editing a novel i’m writing! I’m forever grateful for this opportunity.
overall:
Originally, I was a little nervous if I would like this book. I don’t typically pick up contemporaries but OMG. I loved this. The whole thing. Ate it up. This novel is criminally underrated and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
plot:
I loved this plot a lot. I felt so immersed in all of the different countries it took place in. I was always able to visualize each thing and it felt so real. It was nice being able to travel though Europe while being in the comforts of my bed haha. The struggles that these characters faced felt so comforting and relatable. I have never read a book yet that focused on friendship and mending broken friendships. At first, I was like, “hello why is romance not the main plot?” but I actually loved reading about friendships so much. I did enjoy reading the small subplot of romance because who doesn’t? but the plot didn’t even need it to make it entertaining. I was very content with the dramas between Abby and Riya.
writing style:
The way Kim writes gave me so much inspiration for my own writing. It was so witty and fun but also so poetic and gorgeous. She could make some of the most mundane things sound so interesting. I wanted to highlight every single metaphor she wrote because they really hit hard. They felt as if they were thoughts I’ve also had before but didn’t know how to put them into words and perspective. Especially the ones about family and friend issues.
characters:
abby: My favorite girlie!! She was very likable, even her flaws almost made me like her more. I felt that I related to her struggles a lot. Her character development was very enjoyable to read. I loved her little “history tidbits” and how she a little history/mythology geek.
riya: Riya is such a diva queen. I loved her just as much as Abby. They are such opposites and it made it very refreshing to see the difference between their POV’S. The two of them felt like the two sides of myself which I found very comforting. I love how ambitious and driven she is to achieve her goals even though that was partly what created a lot of their conflicts.
a little lore:
For my graduation, we were assigned a research project on something we were passionate about. I chose writing. you are then to go and find a mentor who can teach you about the topic. I didn’t know this at the time but they told me how one of the teachers was a published author and they would ask her if she wanted to be my mentor. she agreed and I met with Culbertson over zoom and she’s been editing a novel i’m writing! I’m forever grateful for this opportunity.
overall:
Originally, I was a little nervous if I would like this book. I don’t typically pick up contemporaries but OMG. I loved this. The whole thing. Ate it up. This novel is criminally underrated and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
plot:
I loved this plot a lot. I felt so immersed in all of the different countries it took place in. I was always able to visualize each thing and it felt so real. It was nice being able to travel though Europe while being in the comforts of my bed haha. The struggles that these characters faced felt so comforting and relatable. I have never read a book yet that focused on friendship and mending broken friendships. At first, I was like, “hello why is romance not the main plot?” but I actually loved reading about friendships so much. I did enjoy reading the small subplot of romance because who doesn’t? but the plot didn’t even need it to make it entertaining. I was very content with the dramas between Abby and Riya.
writing style:
The way Kim writes gave me so much inspiration for my own writing. It was so witty and fun but also so poetic and gorgeous. She could make some of the most mundane things sound so interesting. I wanted to highlight every single metaphor she wrote because they really hit hard. They felt as if they were thoughts I’ve also had before but didn’t know how to put them into words and perspective. Especially the ones about family and friend issues.
characters:
abby: My favorite girlie!! She was very likable, even her flaws almost made me like her more. I felt that I related to her struggles a lot. Her character development was very enjoyable to read. I loved her little “history tidbits” and how she a little history/mythology geek.
riya: Riya is such a diva queen. I loved her just as much as Abby. They are such opposites and it made it very refreshing to see the difference between their POV’S. The two of them felt like the two sides of myself which I found very comforting. I love how ambitious and driven she is to achieve her goals even though that was partly what created a lot of their conflicts.
January 6, 2020
This book isn't only trip around the Europe, it's a story about frienship. About two friends growing apart and how they deal with it, getting through the obstacles. It was beautiful and very relatable.
I do have to point out that while it is written from two point of views I did have a feelilng that most of the time it was about Abby. And while I really connected with her, I wanted more story about Riya. Even when it was her part it looked like that: what will Abby think, Why didn't Abby...? Only more to the end of the story I felt it was about Riya's life too.
I do have to point out that while it is written from two point of views I did have a feelilng that most of the time it was about Abby. And while I really connected with her, I wanted more story about Riya. Even when it was her part it looked like that: what will Abby think, Why didn't Abby...? Only more to the end of the story I felt it was about Riya's life too.
July 10, 2023
long story short, I got this book when I was young and read the entire thing and I’ve had it ever since and it always sounded good to re-read, especially considering I remember like two scenes from it, so I decided to read it again. This ended up being the best decision I’ve made. The way the story of what happened between Rhea and Abby while Rhea was In Germany unravels throughout the story is one of my favorite parts. I was glad that the author didn’t have Abby show up to Rhea and they were automatically best friends again. It took almost the entire story for them to, and even in the last chapter they’re still working through it. To me, this story really yanked at my heart every time something was revealed and it was really realistic and showed how the real world works. Both POVs were very fun to read from, but I definitely liked Abby’s POV better, and I loved the hint of romance that the author added into the book too.
May 22, 2017
Abby has had a difficult year in the wake of her parents' divorce. Her dad fell apart and the burden of taking care of him and the house fell to her. It's also been tough because her best friend Riya moved to Germany and they got into a major fight. Now she is in Europe on a trip with Riya (paid for by Riya's wealthy grandmother) where they hopefully will mend their broken relationship. When Abby first sees Riya again she realizes how much Riya has changed. She dresses like a sophisticated European and Riya is also keeping a big secret from Abby that could destroy their friendship for good.
Riya comes across as flighty and irresponsible and a little spoiled at times. She does care a lot about Abby and wants to be a good friend but she definitely has some growing up to do. I think Abby is more mature in a way because of what she's been through with her family. Riya seems like a younger, boy crazy idealistic dreamer in comparison. Of course Abby also likes their small town and doesn't want things to change while Riya is growing away from that and wants to see and experience the world. For Abby, their small hometown represents stability and for Riya she feels it is holding her back. She doesn't want to have the same exact life that everyone else is living. I think this is something teens can easily relate to as they prepare to graduate and possibly leave home for college or career. It is a time when friendships change and people sometimes do grow apart because they want different things.
Abby and Riya are not alone on their trip as they are chaperoned by Riya's older cousin Neel who is in college. Neel is British and can be a stick in the mud in Riya's view but he and Abby get along really well (cue the romantic sparks). Abby is really into history and the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, something she and Neel have in common. As someone who has loved history since I was a kid, I liked how Abby kind of geeked out on it. I love reading books about travel (especially set in Europe) so that appealed to me about this book and I enjoyed reading about the different places they visited.
While there is some romance the book really does focus on the friendship of Abby and Riya which I appreciated. The resolution of that part of the story felt realistic. I also liked how supportive Riya's parents and grandmother and Abby's dad are. It is nice to see positive portrayals of adults in teen fiction. I mostly enjoyed this novel, especially the travel aspect and the growth of the protagonists. It would be a great book to pack in your beach bag this summer.
Riya comes across as flighty and irresponsible and a little spoiled at times. She does care a lot about Abby and wants to be a good friend but she definitely has some growing up to do. I think Abby is more mature in a way because of what she's been through with her family. Riya seems like a younger, boy crazy idealistic dreamer in comparison. Of course Abby also likes their small town and doesn't want things to change while Riya is growing away from that and wants to see and experience the world. For Abby, their small hometown represents stability and for Riya she feels it is holding her back. She doesn't want to have the same exact life that everyone else is living. I think this is something teens can easily relate to as they prepare to graduate and possibly leave home for college or career. It is a time when friendships change and people sometimes do grow apart because they want different things.
Abby and Riya are not alone on their trip as they are chaperoned by Riya's older cousin Neel who is in college. Neel is British and can be a stick in the mud in Riya's view but he and Abby get along really well (cue the romantic sparks). Abby is really into history and the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, something she and Neel have in common. As someone who has loved history since I was a kid, I liked how Abby kind of geeked out on it. I love reading books about travel (especially set in Europe) so that appealed to me about this book and I enjoyed reading about the different places they visited.
While there is some romance the book really does focus on the friendship of Abby and Riya which I appreciated. The resolution of that part of the story felt realistic. I also liked how supportive Riya's parents and grandmother and Abby's dad are. It is nice to see positive portrayals of adults in teen fiction. I mostly enjoyed this novel, especially the travel aspect and the growth of the protagonists. It would be a great book to pack in your beach bag this summer.
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July 17, 2017This book takes a look into the friendship of two girls that are in different places. They've gotten into a big fight and their friendship hangs in the balance. The miles between them as well as their diverging paths in life only add to the trouble of working it out. Both girls have very different personalities but have been best friend for years.
What I liked. This story is primarily about friendship. It seems that too often YA ignores the importance of friendships so I'm glad this book takes a deep look at it. There was a lot character development as well. I also liked the road trip/adventure sort of feel. I liked that the author went deep enough with the characters that the girl who would seem superficial if you only look at her surface is actually shown to have plenty of depth too.
Neutral- There were a lot of historical and factual tidbits that will bore some and intrigue other readers. I also found that the journey through the places was so fast that it was hard to really absorb it. With that said, I imagine that's how it would feel if you really did go through these places that fast.
I was also neutral overall about Neel. He was super condescending at first with controlling tendencies so I was put off by him. Sure, as we get to know him he is more sympathetic but I still was never very attached to him. Plus, the whole storyline with him and Abby was very open ended and almost added for the sake of having some kind of romantic tension in the story. Honestly, it wasn't needed and I would have preferred it without. I'm not sure how I feel about he nearly complete open ending.
Which leads me to things that weren't my thing. As I just mentioned, the very small romantic subplot could have been left out. The girls got a little dramatic and the way they'd both take shots at each other when they got into a fight doesn't show a healthy conflict resolution style. You'd have thought they would have learned from their first big fight. The doors getting stuck on Abby schtick was kind of strange.
Overall, this was a good book about friendships and the directions they take. It dives in and looks at many things. Due to my being older, I think some of what missed is based on my age versus the target age of the novel. That's okay because I think it works for the intended age group.
What I liked. This story is primarily about friendship. It seems that too often YA ignores the importance of friendships so I'm glad this book takes a deep look at it. There was a lot character development as well. I also liked the road trip/adventure sort of feel. I liked that the author went deep enough with the characters that the girl who would seem superficial if you only look at her surface is actually shown to have plenty of depth too.
Neutral- There were a lot of historical and factual tidbits that will bore some and intrigue other readers. I also found that the journey through the places was so fast that it was hard to really absorb it. With that said, I imagine that's how it would feel if you really did go through these places that fast.
I was also neutral overall about Neel. He was super condescending at first with controlling tendencies so I was put off by him. Sure, as we get to know him he is more sympathetic but I still was never very attached to him. Plus, the whole storyline with him and Abby was very open ended and almost added for the sake of having some kind of romantic tension in the story. Honestly, it wasn't needed and I would have preferred it without. I'm not sure how I feel about he nearly complete open ending.
Which leads me to things that weren't my thing. As I just mentioned, the very small romantic subplot could have been left out. The girls got a little dramatic and the way they'd both take shots at each other when they got into a fight doesn't show a healthy conflict resolution style. You'd have thought they would have learned from their first big fight. The doors getting stuck on Abby schtick was kind of strange.
Overall, this was a good book about friendships and the directions they take. It dives in and looks at many things. Due to my being older, I think some of what missed is based on my age versus the target age of the novel. That's okay because I think it works for the intended age group.
July 1, 2018
I love a good summery book to get you in the mood for summer and with the current heatwave we are having here in the U.K there was not a better time to read this.
Riya and Abby have been best friends forever, they lived in California and have attended school together, they pretty much have been inseparable, that is until Riya tells Abby she is leaving and her family are moving to Germany. This hits the girls hard and they seem to drift away, after a few months they have little contact with each other. Riya knows that they both behaved badly but wants to fix their friendship, after all, it was once as strong as anything. Riya sends Abby a plane ticket to meet her in Italy and said she is giving her a holiday of a lifetime around Europe, something that her nan has paid for. Abby touches down in Italy and decides that perhaps Riya is right, she decides to enjoy her time away, but things don't go to plan.
This is a story about friendship and growing up a long the way. I had a slight problem with the narration of the characters, at times it was hard to identify who was speaking at one point and I had to go back to check which character I was reading, it would have helped if the voices were slightly different to aviod confusion.
This is a cute book, with a travel theme of two girls who are trying to repair their friendship but also knowing that sometimes people change. It didn't blow me away but it passed the time nicely in the garden.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Riya and Abby have been best friends forever, they lived in California and have attended school together, they pretty much have been inseparable, that is until Riya tells Abby she is leaving and her family are moving to Germany. This hits the girls hard and they seem to drift away, after a few months they have little contact with each other. Riya knows that they both behaved badly but wants to fix their friendship, after all, it was once as strong as anything. Riya sends Abby a plane ticket to meet her in Italy and said she is giving her a holiday of a lifetime around Europe, something that her nan has paid for. Abby touches down in Italy and decides that perhaps Riya is right, she decides to enjoy her time away, but things don't go to plan.
This is a story about friendship and growing up a long the way. I had a slight problem with the narration of the characters, at times it was hard to identify who was speaking at one point and I had to go back to check which character I was reading, it would have helped if the voices were slightly different to aviod confusion.
This is a cute book, with a travel theme of two girls who are trying to repair their friendship but also knowing that sometimes people change. It didn't blow me away but it passed the time nicely in the garden.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2021
Meh, I pretty much enjoyed the first half of this book, but half way through I found myself losing interest and skimming. I still got the gist.
I can say I could relate to both of the characters. I used to be a lot like Abby, but now I feel like I more resemble Riya. I'm more open minded to new things now and a little more self assured. I'm not as clingy and make friends a little more easily. Thank you Zoloft lol.
I give the book an extra star for the amazing locations. I love European travel and have been to many of the places they visited in the book.
I am kinda hoping for a sequel . I would like to see Abby go to college in London and pursue her relationship with Neel. After a year of growth during her senior year of course!
I can say I could relate to both of the characters. I used to be a lot like Abby, but now I feel like I more resemble Riya. I'm more open minded to new things now and a little more self assured. I'm not as clingy and make friends a little more easily. Thank you Zoloft lol.
I give the book an extra star for the amazing locations. I love European travel and have been to many of the places they visited in the book.
I am kinda hoping for a sequel . I would like to see Abby go to college in London and pursue her relationship with Neel. After a year of growth during her senior year of course!
March 25, 2018
I was surprised by this book. I thought it looked interesting, but after reading the first bit, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. It actually turned out to be a very good book. It really made me want to travel after hearing about all of the things Abby and Riya got to see in Europe. It had a good ending as well. I like the message that it portrays about friendship.
Personally, I sided with Abby more during Abby and Riya's arguments. The two friends have quite a lot to discuss after being apart for a year. They get into a lot of fights with one another. I think I tended to side more with Abby simply because I'm more similar to her personality-wise than I am to Riya. I like how the author organized the book around the Seven Wonders of the World. I think the book had a really good ending and says a lot about how friendships truly can last.
Personally, I sided with Abby more during Abby and Riya's arguments. The two friends have quite a lot to discuss after being apart for a year. They get into a lot of fights with one another. I think I tended to side more with Abby simply because I'm more similar to her personality-wise than I am to Riya. I like how the author organized the book around the Seven Wonders of the World. I think the book had a really good ending and says a lot about how friendships truly can last.
July 29, 2018
This book wasn't for me at all. Neither did i connect with the history geek Abby nor with Drama queen Riya. They both felt immature, selfish and boring to me.
The story didn't do much for me either. Even the writing style was too predictable.
I kept going and wishing that the story will pick up the slack as it goes. But it didn't happen at all.
My rating : 2/5
The story didn't do much for me either. Even the writing style was too predictable.
I kept going and wishing that the story will pick up the slack as it goes. But it didn't happen at all.
My rating : 2/5
October 28, 2017
3.5 Stars. I read this for my Teachers as Readers book club. A really nice take on a friendship. At times the girls seemed their age (17), and at other times their conversations and dialogue seemed between two much older girls. Overall it was a nice story about how friendship changes and evolves.
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December 11, 2018This book was great! It was touching and really touched on friendship and gave really good hidden lessons on friendship relationships. Although this book was long, you fell in love with Abby, Riya and all the side characters too. It also has a lot of history if you love that too! :)
August 6, 2017
An enjoyable book that was easy to get through.
October 13, 2017
A sweet and engaging novel. I found the shifts in perspective a little disorienting at times.
December 10, 2018
This book was not my type of book, and I did not realize it when I read the summary. Oh well, better luck next time.:)
March 8, 2021
Cute and lighthearted.
November 18, 2020
It's been a while since I read this, but the thing that endures is the idea that this two-week whirl through Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Abby. That was (and is) sad to me, because as far as I can tell there's no reason that Abby shouldn't eventually (once she has a degree, a job, etc.) have the financial resources to do some travelling on her own. But perhaps it also highlights the different attitudes towards travel, and time off in general, in the US and Europe—maybe the assumption for Abby is that she'll only ever have a few days off at a time, and then only rarely. (Which is...also sad.) I'm reminded of a phone conversation I overheard once—I won't get into it in detail except to say that over the course of the conversation, the woman I could hear tallied the costs and decided that she wouldn't be able to go to London a year and a half in the future because she wanted to do too many expensive things...without ever thinking about whether she could find ways to cut costs on the things that were less important to her and prioritise the things that were more important. (For context: she was thinking about a two-week trip; I was at the time planning a six-week adventure in Spain that ultimately cost me a third(!) of what she expected to need—they were very different trips, yes, and money stretches farther in Spain than in London, but her priority was being able to shop and eat at nice restaurants and take a weekend trip to Paris...and my priority was making the trip happen in the first place.)
Just...yes. Take opportunities to travel. But also make opportunities to travel, if that's important to you. Whirling through as many countries as possible in as short a time as possible is one way to do it, but...it's not the only way (or, I would argue, the best way) to do it.
Also: Riya is supposed to be of Indian descent, yes? (Can't speak for the model's actual ethnicity, but) Would it have killed the publisher to get a cover model who didn't appear to be a white girl who's spent a lot of time in a tanning bed?
Just...yes. Take opportunities to travel. But also make opportunities to travel, if that's important to you. Whirling through as many countries as possible in as short a time as possible is one way to do it, but...it's not the only way (or, I would argue, the best way) to do it.
Also: Riya is supposed to be of Indian descent, yes? (Can't speak for the model's actual ethnicity, but) Would it have killed the publisher to get a cover model who didn't appear to be a white girl who's spent a lot of time in a tanning bed?
May 24, 2020
A good book, nice to read when you wanna just kick back and get into a good harmless story (and who doesn’t want that sometimes?)
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August 15, 2021I’m not usually one for contemporary, but I love this book so freaking much. Here’s a list of what made me borrow this book from the library twice and devour it both times:
-travel. I mean hello, come on. Who doesn’t like a European travel novel???? It’s so beautiful and magical and 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰. And for some reason I’m having a really hard time finding others like this.
-friendship: another thing that CLASSICALLY, makes middle grade/ya fanatic when done right. Think HP, KOTLC, etc. And I love the friendship dynamic in this one so much. Opposites attract; practical, conservative, smart Abby and wild, carefree, and visionary Riya are nothing alike and it makes their friendship perfect.
-it’s not rainbows and unicorns. The hardest thing that happens is NOT choosing whether to get the trendy blue tank top or designer denim jacket at the mall. Uh-uh. This book deals with real stuff, and it doesn’t always work out perfectly (don’t worry, there’s a happy ending) like real life. And the characters act like REAL PEOPLE. Like I’m pretty sure I will come across Abby and Riya in Sacramento some day. Thank you, Kim Culbertson.
-the writing. By combining aforementioned life-is-real-and-hard point and this author’s incredible writing style, we get this beautiful, deep, rich, amazing, fun novel that is neither too fluffy or depressing. I love the little metaphors and mini-philosophies she adds in (usually in Abby’s chapters) and the way she addresses the dark parts of history, as well as made me laugh out loud more than once. See what I mean???
-this book isn’t perfect, but for a contemporary ya, it’s pretty clean, which I appreciate.
So yes, as the blurb on the book says, “I would follow Riya and Abby anywhere.” 😍
-travel. I mean hello, come on. Who doesn’t like a European travel novel???? It’s so beautiful and magical and 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰. And for some reason I’m having a really hard time finding others like this.
-friendship: another thing that CLASSICALLY, makes middle grade/ya fanatic when done right. Think HP, KOTLC, etc. And I love the friendship dynamic in this one so much. Opposites attract; practical, conservative, smart Abby and wild, carefree, and visionary Riya are nothing alike and it makes their friendship perfect.
-it’s not rainbows and unicorns. The hardest thing that happens is NOT choosing whether to get the trendy blue tank top or designer denim jacket at the mall. Uh-uh. This book deals with real stuff, and it doesn’t always work out perfectly (don’t worry, there’s a happy ending) like real life. And the characters act like REAL PEOPLE. Like I’m pretty sure I will come across Abby and Riya in Sacramento some day. Thank you, Kim Culbertson.
-the writing. By combining aforementioned life-is-real-and-hard point and this author’s incredible writing style, we get this beautiful, deep, rich, amazing, fun novel that is neither too fluffy or depressing. I love the little metaphors and mini-philosophies she adds in (usually in Abby’s chapters) and the way she addresses the dark parts of history, as well as made me laugh out loud more than once. See what I mean???
-this book isn’t perfect, but for a contemporary ya, it’s pretty clean, which I appreciate.
So yes, as the blurb on the book says, “I would follow Riya and Abby anywhere.” 😍
June 20, 2018
The book was divided into seven wonders. The wonders were the cities that Abby and Riya visited on their Grand Tour: Florence (Italy), Zurich, Berlin, Edinburgh, Iceland, London, and lastly they went back to Yuba Ridge (Abby's hometown).
Nice concept of travelling and the Grand Tour. It made me develop a desire to visit these cities one day.
The history tidbits by Abby, though some were interesting, but it became a bit too much in the end (guess i'm not a history person). Besides the Grand Tour, there was a lot of underlying drama between Abby and Riya which i did not particularly enjoy.
Nice concept of travelling and the Grand Tour. It made me develop a desire to visit these cities one day.
The history tidbits by Abby, though some were interesting, but it became a bit too much in the end (guess i'm not a history person). Besides the Grand Tour, there was a lot of underlying drama between Abby and Riya which i did not particularly enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2018
I enjoyed this book, even though there were a couple of things I would have liked to be different.
I went into this book expecting more details about the places they were visiting, but we got so little. This book could have been a little bit longer with more descriptions and things about the cities.
Also, we have two problematic main characters. Both of them need to change but they don’t realize it till the end of the book.
Lastly, I think the romance was a little bit forced, as if the author thought she had to rush the feelings.
All in all,it was a nice reading.
I went into this book expecting more details about the places they were visiting, but we got so little. This book could have been a little bit longer with more descriptions and things about the cities.
Also, we have two problematic main characters. Both of them need to change but they don’t realize it till the end of the book.
Lastly, I think the romance was a little bit forced, as if the author thought she had to rush the feelings.
All in all,it was a nice reading.
December 10, 2018
This book is amazing. Riya is a social butterfly who likes to have things go her way, and Abby is a #historygeek who is dealing with a lot of grief. They go on a Europe tour, creating their own Seven Wonders and patching up their damaged friendship. All in all, I loved it and recommend it to anyone who loves traveling and friendship.
March 10, 2017
I love, love, love this friendship story. It tackles some heavy topics while still being fun and adventurous, and I want to go to every single place that Riya and Abby went to on their trip. (I'm also a little jealous of them, but I'll get over it.
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