It’s no secret: I’m a lover of the ocean…and travel…so when fellow ocean-loving, travel enthusiast, and author Karina Kennedy asked If I’d be interested in reading her new novel about a young woman by the name of Marina, I jumped at the opportunity!
What if you could just pack your bags and head off anywhere your heart desired? Where would it be? For Marina, the first travel adventure in this series begins in Italy.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Karina Kennedy about the recent publication of her book: A (not so) Lonely Planet for my podcast. I also had the pleasure of reading her terrific book before it was actually published. What a thrill! Honestly, this book was just what I needed: a terrific escape to Italy in the company of one sassy, independent, and fiery lady. And let’s not forget some steamy scenes that are lit!
Marina Taylor is in search of adventure and I will say this: she definitely finds it!
During our podcast conversation, Karina shares why she chose Italy as her first literary destination and also talks about her favorite things Italian which include: food, wine and the leisurely “work to live” mentality. She also recounted her travel memories and how time seems to slow down in this marvelous country.
This excerpt from the book beautifully illustrates this idea: “The wind whisks a cacophony of kitchen smells off his clothes and hair filling my nostrils: basil, fish, onions, wine, garlic, lots of garlic. I close my eyes and feel the cool wind on my face. Somewhere along the way, I stop worrying about getting locked out of my room, about the fact that I’m vertically spooning a complete stranger, about everything… This is the real magic of Italy. Italians have mastered the physics of slowing time down. The minute you stop thinking about what you just did, or what you’re about to do, the moment you’re actually in comes into sharp delicious focus.”
Another topic beautifully touched upon in the book is women’s empowerment and sensuality, as Marina vows to “date like man” and takes control of her own travel destiny. I found this message in the book to be incredibly empowering. I was cheering for her the entire time.
There’s nothing holding back Marina from traveling solo. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t perceive herself as traveling alone, but independently.
Another important topic we addressed in the podcast is sustainability, something that means a lot to me and is the topic of the blog and podcast. On a recent trip by the ocean, I was appaled by all the platic bottles I found near the beach and lying around on the roadside. Despite my best efforts to pick up what I could, I found the sight of all this trash to be heartbreaking.
Is Marina a sustainable traveler? The answer is yes! She recycles her food ( even though Italians don’t do doggy bags!) , would use a travel water bottle and shops in thrift stores.
Karina agrees wholeheartly and loves the idea of buying second hand clothes. In the podcast, she brings up a topic that I love: the fact that second hand clothes tell their own story and we can always daydream about who wore the item before us. Was it a sexy socialite? An adventure seeking bombshell? A mesmerizing, brainy actress? She also memtions ThredUp, an amazing online platform that sells incredible second hand finds, a giant online thrift store. I’ve shopped at ThredUP in the past and loved their wide selection and great prices.
There is so much to discuss about this jewel of a book but I do think that it’s best that you discover it for yourself.
If you’re looking for an amazing read this summer, I highly recommend reading A ( Not So) Lonely Planet. I guarantee that this book will cure any lingering feelings of loneliness! It’s a delicious romp in one of the most exquisite countries in the world with a smart, octopus-loving and independent woman. No passport required.
Follow Karina Kennedy’s adventures here:
Author’s Website
Author’s Wanderlust blog
Karina Kennedy’s Instagram page
