Radical Sabbatical: A Hilarious Journey From a Stifling Rut to a Life Without Boundaries

Imagine having a chance to travel to the jungles of Costa Rica without ever leaving home. Now imagine while you are there, you meet a couple who take you on an exotic adventure of romance, thrill seeking and soul searching. Enter Laura Berger and Glen Tibaldeo, married authors of Radical Sabbatical whose beautifully descriptive writing style takes you right there with them. Follow what happens when they challenge the status quo of living for the almighty buck of Corporate America and leave for the uncertain opportunities of the Pura Vida of Costa Rica.We first meet Laura and Glen talking through this major life decision with the interpersonal skill and openness that would make even the best marriage counselor take note. A real-life story set in beautiful Pair-O-Dice Village, Costa Rica, the couple gives us a ring side seat as their new life throws some tough punches putting them in unbelievable situations on an almost daily basis. Do they adapt? Do they call it quits before they even begin? How does anyone really do something like this anyway??? The canvas is herein set for the authors’ figurative imagery, masterful humor and precise cultural representation. Images of Costa Rica and the pair's extraordinary existence jump off the page with clarity and authenticity. In this, their second book, the authors portray their love of life, community, and what it means to be truly human, all delivered in a laugh out loud style. The result is worthy of must-read status.

As someone who typically reads to induce sleep, Radical Sabbatical was hugely disappointing, as there were several sleepless nights. I simply could not put it down! Laura Berger and Glen Tibaldeo give a laugh-out-loud and all too relatable account of their unconventional move to Pura VIda, Costa RIca. Their descriptive and honest writing makes you feel as if you are right there with them throughout their intense and life-changing experience. Knowing that these two highly driven and previously conventional professionals abandoned the corporate world for an entirely new life feels possible.Glen and Laura's experience makes you wonder how any marriage could survive under these conditions?? But through their great senses of humor, adopting a free-flowing mindset and their deep love and respect for one another, they were able to prevail - coming out even stronger than before. They are the epitome of #relationshipgoals (I'm a millennial, hashtags come with the territory). For those looking to find themselves, have a greater appreciation for the small things or test the strength of their relationship, take a leap like this one! But read this book first. Remember if you need your eight hours of sleep, save it for daytime.

I ordered "Radical Sabbatical" because I met the co-author, Laura Berger, and thought to myself hey, this sounds like a really cool book. No expectations. Well, the moment the book arrived I found it impossible to put down. The tale of two corporate expats adjusting to life in a remote part of Costa Rica is told in a consistently vigorous and comic voice. The moments of relentless culture shock are funny and poignant, and they deeply resonated with me. The ultimate adventure in this book, of course, is not the encounter with Costa Rica but the encounter the authors have with themselves and their place in the world. For anyone who dreams of the easy life in a distant part of the world, "Radical Sabbatical" will serve as both inspirational and cautionary tale - likely a little of each. Consider this a perfect summertime pool-side read!

I LOVE this book! I feel like I am right there on the journey with Laura and Glen. It's the ultimate romantic comedy novel, with a heavy side of national geographic reality show - a lot of laughs (thanks to Glen's writing style), challenges and fun, friends and family all along the way. Radical Sabbatical is a light and fun read as well as one that brings up some big relationship ideas and life decisions and how to maneuver challenges - a wonderful balance of story telling and real life scenarios that I can hardly put down or wait to pick up after a work day. THANK YOU Laura and Glen for sharing your experience with us.

I always like to finish a book once I start it so plowed through this painful book while I kept hoping the next page was my last. Two totally unprepared, unadaptable, and unrealistic dreamers in way over their heads chasing some unattainable dream. There were many likable secondary characters and potential for some good scenes, interactions, and outcomes, but just couldn't connect with the sad couple and root for them.