This is my second book from Aimie so I knew I’d be in for a treat and I was correct!

In The Wandering Season, Veronica attempts to find herself by traveling to Europe to visit the places listed on her DNA ancestral report.

This was kind of an Eat, Pray, and Love story but especially the Eat portion as Veronica is involved in the food business. I’m not any kind of a foodie, but I’m telling you… My stomach would start rumbling after reading descriptions of the amazing food in this book. So. Much. Food!

Mixed in with the traveled places and food were visions of the past so you get a true feel of the history of each place Veronica visits. The locales were fascinating and now I want to do a trip recreating each of the places she travels to.

I truly loved each character in this story; Vero, her sister and best friend, her parents, the people she meets on her travels, but especially Niall. I was so very satisfied with the ending.

I can’t wait to see what Aimie writes next!

*Thanks so much to Aimie, Suzy Approved Book Tours, and Harper Muse for the gifted copy and for including me on this booktour!*

The Wondering Season by Aimie K. Runyan

A wonderful adventure, getting to know ourselves.

Veronica Stratton, a specialty food broker with a business on the cusp of brilliant success that would change the trajectory of her life, visits her parents in idyllic Estes Park for Christmas.

She’s fresh from a breakup with her longtime boyfriend, so she’s eager to reconnect with her beloved family in the mountains and forget about her troubles for a few days.

But with the holiday comes a DNA test from her younger sister that confirms her secret suspicions: she's adopted. Having the truth out in the open leaves her unmoored, despite her assurances that her biological parentage doesn’t really matter…

This will be the beginning to the most important adventure of her life. She will travel for four weeks to the four places that appear closer to her heritage. She’ll get to travel and even meet someone quite interesting! And not only that but Veronica will also travel with her little sister and a friend for a week sharing and forming new and exciting memories!

I love her visions and her time in the castle. It was my favorite part! And of course the idea of getting to know someone who actually shared her DNA.
Veronica always understood that her mom and that were hers forever, her sister loved her deeply as well. But let’s be honest, sometimes we all need to know where we really come from and that is completely understandable and I felt I had to respect her deeply.

I loved her journey and every part of Europe I visited with her! Enjoy this journey of self discovery and go get your copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

For the most part, I loved this book. Great story, felt unique, beautiful settings, great characters. However, I did not vibe with the flashbacks Veronica experienced and really wondered if they were necessary for the story. MAYBE I could see how they helped her learn a few things, but I just could have done without them. Otherwise, it kept me reading and was a very satisfying story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Veronica finds out one Christmas via a DNA test that she’s adopted and her family gives her a wonderful gift. It’s a trip to the see all the four countries that were listed on her DNA report so that she can get to know her culture. This also gives her the opportunity to scout food markets for her job as a food matcher. She helps restaurants and bakeries locate special items such as truffles or fancy fruits for their delicacies. I personally loved all the food references as I consider myself a foodie, and I really liked this part of the book.

There is a secondary plot where each city she visits, United States Veronica has a vision of her family that came from that area. This was like a dream sequence that she had and I really didn’t connect with this part. I liked the other part of the story of Veronica’s real life so much more than this part.

As an amateur genealogist, I was intrigued by the premise of this book. We go on a journey with the writer to find her genetic heritage. There are heavy themes of food, friendships, romantic relationships, and magical realism. I enjoyed the story, but it was all a little slow without any real spice or conflict.

Overall I enjoyed this book, following Veronica throughout beautifully descriptive areas in Ireland and Italy in search of her roots, enjoying and experimenting with the different foods as a struggling food broker. And the building friendship relationship with Niall was sweet and romantic. The of thing for me was the magical realism of meeting her ancestors. In my opinion, it was too strange and didn't really fit well with the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An intriguing story of a young professional woman, on the cusp of business success and a search for her past. Beautiful settings and experiences as she seeks truth. I enjoyed the story.

An unexpected present of a DNA test from her younger sister reconfirmed what Veronica had always known. Her adoption was never spoken of and kept a secret but she’d always known. Her parents were wonderful people and Veronica certainly did not want to open a can of worms. The present of an European trip highlighting places where her ancestry was most dominant led her to an adventure, which was strange and wonderful.

Fate, or coincidence played a part also the “fey” part of Veronica, gave her a bigger insight into her history and people who may have been her ancestors centuries before. The story interspersed with culinary wonders in the regions she visited added another strand to the story.

A coming of age story this was a book I finished in one go. I also learnt of a new profession - a food broker.

The Wandering Season follows Veronica as she navigates who she really is. After receiving a DNA kit for Christmas, Veronica officially learns that she is adopted. The results highlight four different places her heritage may have originated from. Veronica's family plan a once in a lifetime trip to allow her to explore all of these places in the hopes of finding clues to her ancestors.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I'm so glad that I did. The narrator did such an amazing job with the many different accents throughout the book. The narration kept me intrigued and what made this book three stars instead of DNF'ing it.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the places she visited and all the food that she encountered. Definitely don't read this book while hungry. Overall, I felt like some parts of the story just didn't work for me. The first issue was that her sister gifted her the DNA kit. I just think that's such an odd thing to gift a family member who you think might be adopted.

The romantic story line between Liam and Veronica also fell flat for me. When we first met Liam's character, I couldn't tell if he was an older gentleman or a potential love interest. It was a very awkward love story to me. I loved that they connected over food but their romance was missing chemistry.

The paranormal flashbacks to her ancestors took me by surprise. I had to go back and re-listen because I couldn't figure out what was happening. It was so unexpected and I personally didn't think it worked with the story.

Veronica goes to spend Christmas with her parents and sister. her sister surprises her with a DNA test revealing she is adopted. veronica doesn't know how to handle the news. good story

In this heartwarming journey of self-discovery, food broker Veronica Stratton’s world is shaken during a Christmas visit to her family in Estes Park. A surprise DNA test reveals she’s adopted. Craving clarity, and with the support of her family and friends, Veronica sets off on a European adventure to explore the roots listed in her ancestry report—visiting Ireland, France, Denmark, and Italy. Along the way, she uncovers haunting glimpses of her ancestors, unexpected truths about her identity, and a possible new path that includes Irish chef Niall Callaghan—and maybe, a love worth risking everything for.

3 stars

Veronica has such an interesting job. As a food broker, she searches for the best real, whole, and delicious ingredients to elevate dishes and put restaurants on the map. She also helps her family's bake shop benefit from her findings. This love of cuisine and clean, fresh ingredients is a language Veronica and castle minder/tour guide Niall both speak fluently and is an easy way for them to find common ground as they bond on her first stop in Ireland.

I was imagining an Eat Pray Love adventure mixed with a young woman finding out who she is as Veronica traveled through Europe on the hunt for an understanding of where she came from, so I was really surprised by the paranormal visions. I'm not usually one for fantasy so this took me by surprise and a bit out of the story. Though this book didn't quite hit the mark for me, fans of Hallmark movies, travel and food lovers and understanding one's ancestry may really enjoy it!

This was primarily a book focused on a woman coming to terms with a major family revelation in her life, a big breakup, and the pressure of fulfilling potential. There were moments I felt the book was interesting, but unfortunately for me it didn’t hit me emotionally as much as I expected it to. In many ways, Veronica was quite stoic so perhaps that’s why the book came across as pretty cold for as emotional and heartbreaking the story really should have been. I enjoyed the visits of stories past, the interesting locals and the history, and the ease of reading the book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

I absolutely loved The Wandering Season! Veronica works in the restaurant industry and recently found out that she has been adopted. Her family chips in on a month long vacation for Veronica to Ireland, France, Italy and Denmark. Those countries were in her DNA so she went to learn about her ancestors. This was such a beautiful story and inspiring. It was very relatable and a sprinkle of magical realism made it fun! Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

4.25/5
If food, travel, love, self-discovery, and a smidge of magical realism is your vibe, then run (don't walk) to grab The Wandering Season!

Amie K. Runyan's latest novel will have you finagling reservations at the nearest Michelin star restaurant or dreaming of the quintessential European town.

I loved the rich descriptions of decadent meals and watching Veronica while away the days exploring quaint villages. Even the clothes sounded beautiful! The Wandering Season was cozy read I didn't know I needed!

Read this if you like:
• Cozy reads
• The Paris Novel
• Self-discovery stories
• International travel
• Drool-worthy food descriptions

Thanks to Harper Muse for the complimentary digital copy!

Interesting premise, but the writing lacked polish. There is a bit of magical realism in the book, but despite that there unexplained moments, such as understanding people speaking a different language. If it’s already magical there could have been just a short line explaining this.

The problems, unfortunately, did not end there. Too often, from the character’s POV, the reader is told something that the character would not know. Such as at a bakery in a city unknown to her she finds pastries that were made from recipes handed down through the generations. She does not know this, can only guess, but the wording in the book makes it seem she absolutely knew.

There were many instances where this type of thing occurred, and every time it pulled me out of the story. Also, many of the descriptions were not detailed, instead explained and used general words, such as modern and tasteful, well what exactly is that? It felt clunky and awkward whenever this occurred. Also, there was reliance on too many cliches, and way too many convenient coincidences.

Since this was an advance review copy I was reading, my hope is many of these things were fixed before publication.

Veronica, a specialty food broker, has her high school suspicions confirmed that she’s adopted when her younger sister turns up at Christmas bearing DNA kits as presents for the family. When her parents are unexpectedly upset, the truth is revealed, and Veronica shares what she has long guessed. Later, she is coaxed into going forward with the kit to discover her roots, maybe get a match with a relative, and ignore the fact that her parents never told her — apparently because of an NDA that was signed at her birth.

When the kit results come back, Veronica is then coaxed on an all-expenses-paid trip to four of the regions and countries that showed up in her DNA results: Ireland, France, Italy, and Denmark. She visits Ireland first, staying in a lovely old castle in the off-season, and making friends with the caretaker and his family. While there, she is presented with a couple of visions that seem to be related to the former inhabitants of the castle. A similar thing happens when she visits France, Italy, and Denmark. She also takes the time and chance to visit the local food vendors to potentially add to her wealth of food knowledge.

While this wasn't a bad book — it absolutely wasn't my cup of tea. This was very much akin to a Hallmark-esque movie with the B-team. The dialogue strained to be more than the straightforward, direct dialogue, the characters were pat and static, and the plot was dull and predictable.

I enjoyed, and had more tolerance for, the visit to Ireland than any other spot. Runyan spent more time on Veronica and Niall (the castle's caretaker) here and their budding relationship than at any other place. In fact, there was a steady decline in the time spent on the page for each location as she went.

If you are a person who loves to read about food being sourced, tasted, prepared, and eaten, then you may get more out of this than I did. It was a dominant part of the book, and probably the only consistent component of Veronica's character. I didn't love it, but I did love the uniqueness of her job and the possibilities it could open up for her.

Other things I took issue with include the complete and utter disappearance of her parents from the plot, mostly her mother, who honestly had more to answer for than Veronica was demanding of her. And then there was the sheer goodness of the characters. They were pillars of kindness and understanding — even when an apology was due, it was quick to come and sincerely meant and genuinely taken. They were all scoops of vanilla ice cream. Even the romance side of the story was unbelievably tame — a couple of kisses and I think they held hands?

This will probably work for people who look for this level of easy, light reading where they can vicariously visit other places with and through Veronica. In that, I think it succeeds. I am unfortunately not one of those people.

4.75/5 Stars
Okay, so… I don’t really care for paranormal stuff, and I’m also a bit wary of dual timelines. However, I have to appreciate how Runyan took these two things and somehow melded them together to add a different dimension to Veronica’s story. See, the fact that Veronica is the only one seeing these… “echoes” (as Runyan prefers to call them) means that they could be rationally explained by them being visions from her subconscious, such as dreams. Obviously, because these apparitions include people from the past – who apparently existed, albeit fictionally – that Veronica has apparently never heard of before, that makes this a bit unlikely.

On the other hand, had Runyan tried to tell these stories as separate timelines, or side stories, it would have been very difficult to connect them to Veronica’s present experiences. But without them, there would be far less of a path towards self-discovery for Veronica. What I’m saying, therefore, is that I forgive Runyan for these not-really-ghosts, since they do serve a purpose. And at least the only one witnessing them is Veronica herself, so who knows what she did or didn’t see, right? But kudos to Runyan for slipping this in, while not putting me off the novel altogether.

Okay, that aside, Runyan really does know how to tell a compelling story. I mean, I really wanted to know how Veronica would work out her problems, and if she’d find a way to start on a new path, either with or without the guy she meets on the first leg of her trip. Add to that the fact that this is told with more than enough culinary elements to make my mouth water at the same time, made this book even more enticing. As I’ve said in the past, I don’t mind a touch of romance in a story, as long as the female protagonist doesn’t deny herself and/or her own ambitions just to be with some guy. If it works out, great. If not, well, it just wasn’t their time.

Now, if you’ve taken a peek at my star rating below, you’ll see a full five stars. Calm down, because I’m actually giving it 4.75 stars, but graphics for that are still lacking (if you like, call it 9.5 stars out of 10). You see, she did have me choking up a bit near the end of the book, although no real sobs or tears (I’m a hard woman, I am). However, I had to take off a quarter of a star because of the “echoes” which had me pretty wary in several parts of the story. Even so, this is really a lovely read, and I can sincerely recommend it to lovers of coming-of-age stories that include a touch of romance along with some luscious culinary bits – including some recipes at the end (one of which I’d really like to try, if I could only afford the truffles). Bon Appetite!

The Wandering Season
Aimie K Runyan, author

I haven't read/listened to a book I haven't thoroughly enjoyed by Runyan.

This wonderfully crafted story follows young Veronica on a quest to discover herself and where her biological roots comes from. In doing so, her adoptive parents encourage her to take a trip. She journeys through Ireland, France, Italy and ends up in New York before returning home to Denver.

During her journey, Veronica finds her soul mate. She discovers they have much in common. Unfortunately, she realizes there is no future for them, as they live on opposite sides of the continent.

What happens next in New York when she meets her biological mother is phenomenal. Not only does she find the answers she sought but her biological mother and then her parents when she returns home to Denver provide her with the much needed encouragement to follow her dreams and desires

And she does.....

What a beautifully crafted storyline. I highly recommend it to everyone. A lovely feel good novel. A great weekend read! Pick up your copy now and enjoy!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for an advanced reading copy of the book.

European travel, castles, cottages, pastries, coffee, and gourmet meals - for the past several days I have been immersed in the beauty of all of these things in The Wandering Season. This story was rich with imagery and made for such a cozy read! If you love travel and great food, put this one on your list!

Veronica Stratton has just confirmed the suspicions she’s had for many years - she is adopted. Her younger sister sends her on a journey to see the places her ancestors lived - Ireland, France, Italy, and Denmark. Along the way Veronica meets a charming Irish castle keeper, learns more of her history, and begins to understand more of herself and what path she should take for her future.

I loved that Veronica was blessed with such loving adoptive parents and that she had strong family relationships. This would have been a 5⭐️ read for me but for two things. One part that I didn’t see coming was a bit of magical realism with visions Veronica has of her ancestors, which were not really my cup of tea. My main caveat though was related to a brief pro-choice leaning, which I found to be disappointing (see more below).

Thank you so much to @uplitreads and @bookishaimie for this #gifted copy of The Wandering Season! All opinions expressed are my own. The Wandering Season is available on 4/1/25.

📖 Adult fiction. Mild, very infrequent language. Clean romance (kisses only). Adoption. An apothecary in the long-ago past is looked on as sympathetic to the plights of women, sending a subtle pro-choice message as she offers to make a tincture for a pregnant woman. Another brief mention of terminating a pregnancy as an option.

Based on the reviews, I enjoyed this much more than I expected. Lovely story of a young woman searching for both her roots and her future. Part family drama, part food tour, and a touch of time travel. What’s not to like?

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.