Thank you Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read an early copy of A SHORT WALK THROUGH A WIDE WORLD in exchange for my honest review.

A Short Walk Through a Wide World is perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (which I am raising my hand high here). Both are filled with such stunning prose full of longing, profound statements and ideas. Where The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue follows a woman who moves throughout her life destined to be forgotten by everyone she meets, in ASWTAWW, our main character, Aubry, has the unfortunate fate of not being able to stay in one place for too long without succumbing to a severe sickness. Therefore, she is constantly on the move, never given the chance to call a single place "home" or create long-lasting connections with anyone.

"She tells him of her travels, the inability to stay in one place...Others romanticize her illness. They imagine an eternal holiday, which is ludicrous, of course. Does anyone really want an eternal holiday? [...] In the end we are creatures of habit who prefer possession, security, the bonds of family. But where are Aubry's comforts? Where are her bonds? What are her routines and what, God forbid, can break them?"

I found ASWTAWW to be an extremely thought provoking read and it will sit with me for a long time. I love it when a book makes me think and contemplate the things that really matter in life.

The magical realism elements were an added plus. I loved the use of the library that opened these doorways for Aubry to travel through.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this five stars is I wish I connected more with Aubry's character on an emotional level. The story is clearly very emotional and thought provoking, but those aspects I mostly connected to in the overall themes of the book and not so much in the main character herself.

✨ Review ✨ A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke; Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio, Avid Reader Press and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Book of the Month's featuring this book made it catch my eye. Most simply, I'd describe this as a story of a girl who can't stop moving and must keep walking from place to place because she can never stay anywhere for more than a couple of days.

The book takes Aubry Tourvel from her home in Paris in 1885 as a 9yo on the run, constantly moving, as she traverses the world. She experiences great pain and loneliness but also experiences incredible beauty and uniqueness on her journey.

The first third of the book was gripping - full of magic, I couldn't put it down.

The middle third was still engaging but became confusing in places as timelines were harder to keep straight, and it felt like I, like Aubry, had wandered astray.

The final third was still interesting but caught me a bit by surprise in places as the story continued.

The audio narration was stellar and I appreciated how it took me on the journey with Aubry. Note that the chapters are often short and can jump timelines -- there's a short section at the beginning of each chapter to help you situate to the time and place. Pay attention to these!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The emphasis on storytelling, on the value of life and experiences and living well, and the constant movement were really a delight.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: magical realism, historical fiction, fantasy
Setting: all over the world
Reminds me of: Addie La Rue
Length: 11 hours 3 minutes
Pub Date: April 2, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ magical realism and historical fiction
⭕️ storytelling and books
⭕️ nested narratives in multiple times
⭕️ short chapters

Super interesting concept and idea for this story. I loved Addie LaRue so immediately requested and glad that I did! I liked the pacing and the concept and the characters. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

“She is practiced at the art of leaving. No loss of composure, no tears.”

“Perhaps her illness is a rejection of the sedentary life, her body rebelling against an inertia that mankind has, over the millennia, eased itself into.”

It is Paris, 1885 and we are introduced to Aubry Tourval, a headstrong, precocious nine year old. Soon after she finds a strange wooden puzzle ball in her backyard, she becomes seriously ill and begins to bleed out. After medical treatment fails to cure her, her parents move her outside the city and she recovers immediately. She discovers she cannot stay in one place for more than a few days at a time, so this begins Aubry’s lifelong journey, staying ahead of this dreadful disease. She travels the world many times in the next 60 years,
meeting scores of different people, finding romance and adventure, along the way.
This was a fun ride. An easy, narrative to follow, with plenty of colorful characters and places to visit on her serpentine voyage.

This was an interesting book, but it never really pulled me into the story. I am disappointed they used the Addie LaRue callout in the blurb because this isn't Addie LaRue. It was a good story, but the characters and the setting couldn't keep me sucked into the story like others do.

The first 30% of this book had me intrigued. I really liked the storyline. I wanted to know more about the illness and about why it chose Aubry... I had to DNF at 76%. I tried so hard to finish. The story just became so mundane and boring. I found myself no longer caring.

So I don't really know why I requested this. From what I've heard of The Midnight Library I would absolutely hate it and looking back at this book now the description throws me way off. I apologize to the author and the publisher, I'm sure that their audiences love this.

A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke. #NetGalley
This novel doesn't have a clear purpose. It tells the story of Aubry but you aren't sure of much of her background or if the sickness is a type of lesson/punishment. I wasn't sure if she qas taking in enough of the world atound her on her journey. Or could she not because she was in such a hurry to outrun her sickness.

Some times in her life are given with more detail and others are glossed over. I'm not sure the importance of either.

The way the sickness speaks to her and she to it, reminds me of the tose and the prince in The Little Prince.

I think this novel spends a lot of time on her journey without a lot of explanation of her 'goal'. Is it a lesson? Is she just trying to survive? Why DOES the library exist?

You're left with more questions than answers at the end and if I hadn't been expected to leave a review I probably would have abandoned the read before the halfway mark.

This was a lovely book. I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrator did a fantastic job of moving through this story and this world. I was very excited to find out a librarian wrote this.

I really liked the concept and story, and especially enjoyed reading about Aubry traveling the world. Aubry’s relationships throughout the years were interesting to read about as well. I struggled with the pacing in the middle of the book. I’m still trying to process the ending and all the symbolism, but I do like the concept of libraries and books being another way to travel the world and gain knowledge.

BEST DEBUT NOVEL OF 2024! Such a beautiful story, I can't wait for the next journey Westerbeke takes us on! Definitely an author to watch!

This started off with much potential. It drew me in and the initial stories of travels were truly interesting but ultimately, it felt endless, similar to Aubrey’s life. I wanted to give up but at the same time wanted to know the reasons behind this journey. After I was through 60% of the book it just became work to get through it and I started skimming the stories just to finish the book. The conclusion was just okay, but if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t. Beautiful writing but other than that, I can’t recommend.

At age 9, Audry Tourvel learns she has an unusual disease which requires her to keep moving every three days and not go back to a place that’s she’s been to. Or she will bleed to death. So she travels the world mostly on foot or by boat many times during her lifetime, starting in Paris in 1885. Of course she meets all kinds of interesting people, sees beautiful places, learns how to survive, misses her family. It’s an odyssey

This is a well-written, immersive story that I really enjoyed! It has a very unique premise and I was invested in how it was going to end. I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Douglas Westerbeke, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review!

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC.
This was overall a fun and interesting read. I enjoyed being on the journey with Aubry even if I didn't understand it completely. I did like the storytelling here. I didn't mind the jumping around because it gave a great tone to this story. The frustration was palpable, and I wanted to know what was next for her. Towards the end, I did feel like I wanted more insight into the magical realism aspects because I started to find myself getting lost. I am not sure I understood the ending at all, even with reading it multiple times to try and figure out what I missed. I almost wish it had ended a bit earlier with the (minor spoiler ahead) dust part. IYKYK. Overall, not a bad book and I was impressed with how this woman was written. I would try this author again in the future.

I've really gotten into magical realism in the last few years, so I was super excited to read this one! It reminded me a lot of Addie LaRue and Midnight Library, and I was here for it! I loved Aubry as a character and was fascinated with her adventures. Despite the book comparisons, this story was still completely unique and interesting. I look forward to future books from this author!


"Scholars may study, historians may research, readers may read, but nobody knows mroe about today, this very day, than the person who lives it."

"A Short Walk Through a Wide World" was advertised as a cross between "Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" and "Life of Pi." And yes, I totally see it. But, if I had to pick two books to compare it to I'd probably choose "Addie LaRue" and "The Starless Sea." (Life of Pi is a lot about permanence while A Short Walk is a lot about transience, ok?). "A Short Walk" follows Aubry across her life as she travels from place to place across the globe, never able to stay in one place for more than several days. And while it reminds me of these other wonderful books, it's also entirely its own.

I loved the lush and evocative descriptions of everywhere Aubrey traveled. If you like travelogue style books, you'll be a fan of this one. I also loved the depth and complexity of the characters Aubry meets in her travels, albeit briefly. This book really drives home the point that everyone you meet has a story, and even the seemingly minute can be extraordinary.

I enjoyed the non-linear storytelling for the most part. While this was certainly a book that was meant to feel windy in its plotting, towards the end it felt a little too drawn out. There were several points where I thought we were in an end sequence and then the book kinda just kept going. I found the (actual) end sequence a little confusing, but this may have been intentional. However, it felt like the book was trying to clue readers into something the entire book with bits and pieces of lore that was never fully explained.

Overall, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to what else Westerbeke writes!

3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a fairy tale for adults. A bewitching fantasy for the reader that keeps seeking out the answers. Once I started, it didn't let go of me. I read it in bursts because the path was a little slow at times. That's the reason for the three stars, rather than four. I received a complimentary digital ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Avid Reader, Simon & Schuster. This review is my own words.

When I first started this book, I thought it was just a version of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE that just didn't live up to its predecessor. However, as I look back on it, I'm enjoying it more for its own merits.

I really enjoyed the fantasy aspects of this book, and I'm okay with the fact that we didn't really get an explanation for any of it. I really enjoyed the role that books and libraries played in the plot as well. I thought the premise was unique despite what it's being compared to. I thought the stories that were told and the characters we met were well-executed and interesting to read about. There were a couple of things that weren't my favorite that I'll list real quick:
Even if it was purposeful, the jumping timeline was very confusing to place and organize mentally
Pacing was a little slow at times and plot points felt repetitive
Because of the nature of the plot, we don't get a lot of relationship building or depth to the characters we met.
Most of the plot points covered during Aubrey's journey were based around male love interests, and I find that a little disappointing given that she's travelled the whole world and met countless people.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, and I'd recommend it to people who find the synopsis interesting. I don't know if I'd recommend it over THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE, but it was still a fun read.

I was so excited for this story. The premise is a girl forced to wander the earth to outrun her mysterious illness. She meets interesting people and tells her story. She experiences grief and joy and passion, but all in bits and pieces. But about 2/3 through the book, the story changes and her illness becomes personified. It felt like the author couldn’t decide which story to tell and as a reader it felt a bit like bait and switch. I was disappointed and really struggled to finish reading.