Thanks, Simon & Schuster, for the early review copy via NetGalley. (Available now)

Synopsis: “Paris, 1885: Aubry Tourvel, a spoiled and stubborn nine-year-old girl, comes across a wooden puzzle ball on her walk home from school. She tosses it over the fence, only to find it in her backpack that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she starts to bleed to death.
When medical treatment only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she realizes that it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. So begins her lifelong journey on the run from her condition, which won’t allow her to stay anywhere for longer than a few days nor return to a place where she’s already been.”

My thoughts: Take a series of mysterious doors that bridge space and time (like TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY), add in a mysterious and never-ending library (like MIDNIGHT LIBRARY) and an enigmatic, mysterious woman walking the earth alone for 50 years while cursed (like THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE). Then, make it convoluted, confusing, and overly long while mixing in uneven pacing and shallow character development. I finished the book last night and still don’t really understand what I read.

However, the premise was good, and considering this was a debut, I am optimistic about trying the author again.

I enjoyed this book but I’m not sure where the story was going. I would call the individual stories of her adventures were excellent and interesting, but the “whole” story of her life led to an uninspired ending for me. I needed more of an explanation of her “situation” which never came. I kept reading hoping that it would but unfortunately it never did. I’m writing this review being vague so as not to give any spoilers.

Great, great read. The intertwining story was so creatively woven. I was left wondering all along the way where Aubry would go next and where her life would end up. It was perfectly placed in time. This could not have happened during the modern age. This read definitely has a niche audience, but I am here for it!

While the story was okay, it just didn't seem to go anywhere. I kept reading to get to the epiphany, but that never came. I didn't feel much about the characters (although most were just cursory in passing), and I just didn't feel the point.

The sickness first arrives in 1885 when Aubry is a child in Paris. After discovering a mysterious puzzle ball that Aubry can’t seem to get rid of, she begins to bleed to death over dinner one night. When the only cure seems to be moving, Aubry begins her continuous journey around the world. Able to stay in each place for just a few nights before the sickness returns, Aubry has no choice but to spend her life exploring as much of the globe as possible.

From Paris to deserts, mountains, jungles, and a never-ending underground library that keeps popping up when she least expects it, Aubry shares her story and meets people who make a mark on her life. This is a story about hope, survival, connection, and never giving up.

The story is told in brief chapters that read like vignettes of the places Aubry visits, and I loved seeing the world through her eyes, meeting the people she encounters, and watching the world change and she moves through time. I enjoyed much of the book, but it’s a story that asks far more questions than it answers. The ending felt a bit random and disconnected from the rest of the story, and I didn’t feel that it provided any closure. Still, it’s a sweeping and beautiful story that those who love travel and elements of magical realism will enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was described as “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue meets Life of Pi,” two of my all-time favorites. I think that comparison is the reason this book fell a little flat for me. I enjoyed the concept and the overall journey, but I had a hard time engaging enough to keep turning the page. I ended up finishing the audiobook version after abandoning the ebook version and I think the narrator helped me get over the mid-book slump. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t set my expectations so high.

How do I describe this thought provoking book? When Aubrey is nine years old she begins bleeding from nose, mouth, everywhere possible, then soon develops excruciating pain and seizures. Her family rushes her to the doctor’s office, and the further she gets from home the better she gets. The doctor can find no cause of illness and sends her back home- where the cycle begins again. The family soon learns that Aubrey must travel to live, and cannot go to the same place more than once. So begins the tale of her life-long travels and experiences.

It is hard to imagine how the author was able to imagine this complex story, but he did an excellent job of weaving it all together. You will be thinking of this book long after you have finished it!

My thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

beautiful poignant story with nods to The life of Addie Larue. Filled with magical realism, this story is both awe inspiring and heartbreaking. Well written and entertaining, despite a few pacing issues. At the end of the day, it left me with much to ponder about - which i find is the mark of a good novel. Overall I really enjoyed this read and will be recommending it often.

In "A Short Walk Through a Wide World," debut author Aubry Tourvel crafts an enthralling tale of adventure and survival. From the streets of Paris to the far reaches of the Himalayas, Aubry's journey to outrun a mysterious curse captivates from start to finish. Tourvel's vivid descriptions and unforgettable characters breathe life into every page, while Aubry's resilience and determination inspire. This debut offers readers a compelling exploration of the power of perseverance and the beauty of life's journey.

When illness is your constant companion but you try to outrun it, it could take you on a trip of a lifetime. This is a well written adventure where wisdom and experiences are gained through Aubry’s curiosity and need to continue on. This is a unique book that kept me wondering what was around the next bend.

Though this book has a great premise (and excellent comp titles), I had some trouble connecting to the story and felt it slogged along a bit. I also wasn't wowed by the prose, and believe the magical realism could have been more effective if I'd understood it a bit more. All in all, a decent adventure story, but not one that totally drew me in and probably not one I'll be recommending highly to our customers.

An interesting and strange story. Be ready for an adventure. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This book was so good! Aubrey was an amazing main character, and I loved working my way through her life and learning of her many adventures. As with any life, there were good times and bad times, but she always kept going, which I think can be a message to us all, in a way.

I feel like this novel was an attempt to impart some ethereal wisdom that I was supposed to appreciate, but all I can say is, "What the hayl did I just read???!!!" Clearly, I was not intelligent enough to understand what the author was hoping to promulgate. Honestly, it took me FOREVER to finish this book... like 2 months😱!!! I just couldn't get into it, but I never gave up! The bloody scenes were just too much for me to stomach, and such a strange way to move the plot along. The frustration of Aubrey never being able to escape her unbidden reality only ended up frustrating me.

This book was likened to Addie LaRue, which is the reason I chose to read it, but I must respectfully disagree. Whereas I absolutely adored Addie LaRue, I muddled through this one. I feel terrible being so forthright about my feelings with regard to the book because I know this was the author's debut and he poured his heart into it, but I must be honest, it just wasn't for me.

However, don't discount it just because of my opinion - if your thing is magical realism with moments of horror, and a tinge of mystery, this might be your cup of tea! But beware of a nonlinear and confusing (for me) storyline that will leave you with many unanswered questions.

Truth be told, I just don't think I was the target audience, so Ima go rinse my palate with something light and lovely.

Many thanks to partners, Avid Reader Press & NetGalley for this gifted review copy! So sorry I didn't love it y'all🙈.

I wanted to love this book, but just found it too slow and drawn out. I never really felt I knew Aubrey or what made her tick. Also the time jumps could be confusing. By the end, I didn't have any answers to the questions I started with.

This is an interesting concept that I think would work much better as a short story. In its current form, the plot is a bit meandering and repetitive. I struggle with flashback books in general these days, but I found this one particularly hard to follow because I would lose track of when the main character was experiencing something in real time vs. telling the story of past travels. There are moments of this that were very cinematic and impactful, and I found some of the side characters delightful, but I only finished this a week ago and I've already forgotten a lot of the details as well as most of the ending. I used to say that magical realism was my favorite genre, but too often authors use this descriptor to avoid explaining or justifying elements they throw in to make the book cooler. I really felt the frustration of that here. I wish I had gotten more from what is clearly meant to be a profound story full of life lessons, but I don't really think this one will stick with me.

Nine-year-old Aubry Tourvel is spoiled and picky. When she comes across a peculiar wooden puzzle ball on her way home from school, she doesn’t take it home. But somehow it ends up in her bag anyway. And when her two sisters decide to sacrifice items that mean something to them to an odd well in hopes of making the world better, Aubry takes her new puzzle ball with the intent of helping someone. But at the moment she should toss it in the well, she just can’t do it.

Soon after, she starts bleeding and spasming. Aubry is in terrible pain, and her parents are horrified. The doctor can’t find a description of what she’s experiencing in his literature. But as she and her family leave Paris, she immediately recovers. Soon, she finds that she can only stay in one place for three days at the most until the strange disease returns. From that time on, Aubry is constantly on the go. For years, she primarily walks … around and around the world. She finds ways to provide for herself and gets help from kind strangers. And she cannot stay long to enjoy friendships or lovers. The illness kicks in within several days if she doesn’t go somewhere she has never been before.

The book’s description says this: “A spellbinding and inspiring story about discovering meaning in a life that seems otherwise impossible, A Short Walk Through a Wide World reminds us that it’s not the destination, but rather the journey—no matter how long it lasts—that makes us who we are.”

I confess that I didn’t quite feel that throughout the story. It went in some strange directions and seemed at times to be saying that, but at other times not. The message felt muddied as the story meandered. The penultimate section of the book felt like a fever dream, honestly, and one whose meaning I wasn’t entirely sure of either. The conclusion was interesting, and I liked how it tied together some important elements. However, I still did not feel quite satisfied. I had hoped for more from the book, and it’s possible I’m just being dense, or that I’d benefit from a good discussion with other readers. Either way, it just wasn’t quite for me.

Happy publication day to this debut novel! I requested the arc of this book due to the comparison to Addie LaRue and Life of Pi. I think those are excellent comparisons, but this book is something all its own.

We follow Aubry. At eight years old she develops an affliction - she must constantly keep moving, and she can't ever stop or she will die horribly. She also can't ever return to the same place.

The story is told in a nonlinear fashion, with Audry relating anecdotes to the people she meets on her journey about her past. The book takes pains to let us know how old Audry is in each story, so I never felt confused by the timeline.

There are a lot of themes to explore here, and I won't spoil them. This was a solid debut novel. It is magical realism, which doesn't always work for me, but in this instance I did not mind it. Don't expect explanations, as is usually the case.

Recommended to those who like magical realism with a literary twist. Four stars!

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Very unique and interesting book.

The characters were interesting, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of some detachment from our main character. I got confused with the timeline, and just didn't feel like enough was fleshed out as the story progressed. It was slightly hard to get invested in and stay with it. Overall, a good read for those who like these types of stories.

As someone who adores books set in far-flung places and rich with imaginative detail, A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke was an enthralling read. The story of Aubry Tourvel, a young girl cursed to endlessly journey to stay alive, is both heart-wrenching and mesmerizing. Westerbeke's debut novel brilliantly captures the sense of wonder and isolation as Aubry travels through a world filled with mystical libraries, ancient lands, and unforgettable encounters. The vivid descriptions and the deep emotional currents running through Aubry's relentless quest for survival and meaning make this book impossible to put down. It's a spellbinding reminder of the beauty and challenges of life's journey, perfect for anyone who appreciates a blend of historical adventure and magical realism. Highly recommended for a unique and compelling read!