Queue "Dreams" by The Cranberries~

🎵"...Oh, my life is changing everyday
In every possible way
And oh, my dreams
It's never quite as it seems
'Cause you're a dream to me
Dream to me..."🎵


My favorite kind of fairy tale has been released to the world - in audiobook, too! If you know me, then you know I love all things food, travel, family, and books, and Aimie K. Runyan has combined all of these perfect ingredients into a delicious story, leaving me wanting more.

I loved every minute of following her FMC, Veronica, who is not just a food broker, but a food matchmaker, as she navigates her journey of self-exploration after a long-term breakup AND the results of an ancestry report.

Runyan whisks her readers from the slopes of Estes Colorado to little culinary treasure trove towns in Ireland, France, and Italy (as well as brief stops in Copenhagen and NYC), all the while Veronica searches for her origination story. In true 🧚‍♀️ fairytale fashion, there is magic, a castle 🏰, and yes, even a chivalrous suitor 😉. There are even fabulous recipes included! I really loved this novel, as well as the narrator, and having read several of her backlist, I can easily say this is my favorite to date!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper for a copy of this audiobook.

The narrator.did a fantastic job. It was very easy and soothing to listen to.

The main character has known she was adopted for years. However her family didn't know she knew until her sister gifted the family DNA kits. Then off she goes to visit the lands her and ancestors are from. This book had potential. I felt like it could have been researched more and more editing to put the story together better. It was a good story but it was captivating. It didn't grasp my attention very well.

I really enjoyed the narrator—she was excellent at capturing the various regional accents. I liked this book; it offered a lovely adventure of self-discovery and self-love. It's a light and entertaining mix of travel, magic, and romance. That said, while I did enjoy it and would give it 4 stars, I don’t think it’s for everyone. At times, it felt a bit tone-deaf to the current financial struggles and economic realities. Personally, I found it required a suspension of disbelief when it came to the overall cost of the lifestyle and privileges enjoyed by the family and the FMC.

I have to admit I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! After reading the description it peaked my interest along with the beautiful cover. But I truly fell in love with Aimie’s writing. The way she described the scenery and painted a scene was amazing. After Veronica learns she was adopted, her amazing sister sets up a month long trip to Europe to all of the destinations that the DNA kit said her ancestors were from. There was self-discovery, friendship, family, food and even a little romance. Her love and description of food and impeccable ingredients had me wanting to discover new foods! She even sees echos of old souls and visions of the past on her journey, which I felt was a really cool part of the story. But the real gem of this book was Niall’s character. I just loved how sweet he was 🥹 the narration really brought the story to life and I felt that Caroline Hewitt performed the accents so well! I definitely need to look into more books that she has narrated.

The Wandering Season was a lighthearted novel about a female restaurant consultant who, after taking a DNA test and learning about her ancestry, embarks on a month-long vacation through Ireland, Italy, and Denmark to visit the countries of her predecessors.

Veronica is a mid-twenties female who is reeling from the end of her long-term relationship with her boyfriend and her ambivalence about her career path. Her family gifts her the vacation of a lifetime, in which she visits three countries, and the novel includes detailed descriptions of these places and their unique cuisines. There is also a magical realism element as Veronica begins to have "visions" of her ancestors throughout her trip. Overall, I enjoyed this charming story of self-discovery and romance.

Recommended for those who enjoy the following:
*Magical realism
*Wanderlust
*Food porn
*Books that include recipes
*Adoption theme

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks, Harper Muse for advanced audiobook and e-book copies in exchange for my honest review.

Veronica does a DNA kit and has suspicions confirmed that she is adopted. The Kit indicates that She is of European descent so she decides to travel to four different locations to learn more about her heritage.
There are a lot of things going on in this book. It has paranormal aspects that were not expected and seemed random. I think the book would've benefited from them being left out completely. The locations that were chosen also did not feel connected. It all felt like it needed more research and more editing to make it click better together.. So it had all of this going on and then we through in a romance on top of it which felt like an after thought. they did not have much chemistry. The best part about their relationship and this book in general was the food. the conversations about food and the different discoveries.
I think this book needed more development. It felt like it was trying to be too many things.

In The Wandering Season, readers accompany Veronica Stratton on a literal journey of self-discovery after her infant adoption is publicly acknowledged. While dealing with a recent breakup and pondering her relationships with her beloved parents and sister, she goes on a month-long European trip to visit the countries of her ethnic origins. Will she find far more than she ever anticipated?

I enjoyed wandering the globe with Aimie K. Runyan as my tour guide while listening to the audiobook narrated by Caroline Hewitt. Several times I thought the plot was headed in a predictable direction, but Ms. Runyan always surprised me, enhancing my connection to the story. I like touches of magical realism in novels, but those in The Wandering Season felt abrupt until I understood that they were components of Veronica’s heritage.

Read this if you enjoy:
- a unique twist on the ‘surprise DNA results’ trope
- descriptions of delicious food and the sources of the ingredients
- traveling from the comfort of your favorite reading chair
- touches of magical realism that provide glimpses of earlier eras

Thank you to Harper Muse and Uplit Reads for the review copies of this novel. All opinions are my own.

The Wandering Season audiobook was an enjoyable escape with a fabulous narrator who was successfully able to cover multiple accents - Irish, Italian and a few more in-between. The storyline had likeable characters and they all added to the charm of Veronica's story of family, ancestory, love and a touch of the unknown.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for my ALC.

Thank you so much to Harper Muse Audio and NetGalley for this ARC of The Wandering Season!!

This book was so wonderful. It had magic, romance, and delicious food. I really enjoyed this take on time travel. It was interesting getting to know about the different women she was connected with. The love story felt a bit random, but I’m always here for some romantic elements. This definitely made me want to travel through some small towns in Europe and find out about my ancestral history.

The audiobook was so good for this as well. The narrator’s accents were spot on and it made for an enjoyable listen.

#TheWanderingSeason #NetGalley

Aimie's books always bring on a lot of emotion with a thought-provoking theme and intriguing settings. I liked the exploration of unexpected DNA results and the idea of visiting ancestral homelands. The magical realism is a nice touch as is the romance found along the way. The culinary descriptions are incredible and as a truffle lover I was salivating as she created an amazing meal with them. I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and it's very well done and a delightful way to enjoy this well-written nod to family.

Unfortunately this story did not grab me. It had odd pacing, some dialog too forced, and the family's reaction to Veronica knowing she was adopted was extremely tidy and just seemed too unrealistic. I did not finish the book.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Finding yourself with a little magical realism thrown in. This is bundled in a book with a lot of travel and food. Ireland, France, Denmark, and New York.

I enjoyed the parts about sourcing of food and all about Veronica’s job.

Finding out she’s adopted causes Veronica to go on a grand journey to learn a little more about her heritage and her true passions in life. She meets a dreamy man in a castle and works to stay connected to her adopted family.

Caroline Hewitt is a lovely narrator for this roaming tale. She brings Veronica’s ups, downs, indecision and discoveries to life.

THE WANDERING SEASON by Aimie K. Runyan is a beautiful story about a woman learning about her roots and ancestry through travel and adventure. If you’re in the mood for an armchair vacation around Europe, please give this book a go!

The opening chapters of this novel stole my heart as the beginning is set in Estes Park, Colorado, aka my favorite place on earth. My family and I stay there quite often as it’s extremely close to Rocky Mountain National Park, and that’s our favorite park EVER. The author described the surroundings and scenery perfectly—especially the twisty and exciting drive from Denver on Highway 36. It felt like I jumped inside of the book and was a passenger in the car—major flashbacks!

I’ve read a handful of Runyan’s novels in the past, and they’ve all fallen under the historical fiction category. With her latest, the reader receives a nice little genre mash-up, which is always a huge plus. It’s mostly women’s fiction, but has sprinkles of magical realism, mystery, and romance.

Before you start reading this book, I have one warning. Don’t read it on an empty stomach! Food is a major component to this story as the main character is a specialty food broker and her mother is a baker. The food references are plentiful! If you’re a foodie like me, you’re gonna love it! But yes, my stomach was growling the entire time.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Adoption stories
- Family dynamics
- DNA testing
- Sisterhood
- Female friendship
- Travel and tourism
- A touch of magical realism
- A hint of romance
- Mouth-watering food descriptions
- Gorgeous settings

Once again, Runyan has knocked my socks off and has solidified a spot on my list of favorite authors. I can’t gush and rave about her writing enough! 4/5 stars for THE WANDERING SEASON! It’s out now!

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.

2.5 stars
I appreciate the swing taken in this book, but it was a miss for me. I enjoyed the beginning of the modern day story in Denver and the start of the trip to Ireland. I was intrigued how the “visions” from her ancestors, mentioned in the blog, might fit with the present day plot. That part was the weakest for me. I also didn’t really feel the connection between Vero and Niall. The narrator was the saving grace of the book for me. I’ve liked the author’s other books and will give the next one a chance.
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley

This novel, narrated in the first person, spans a range of locations including Colorado, New York, Ireland, France, Italy, and Denmark. It blends contemporary travel with elements of magic and fantasy, adding an intriguing dimension to the storyline. One of the highlights for me was the culinary focus throughout the plot. The description of the delectable dishes she experienced on her journeys was captivating, and I thoroughly enjoyed the recipes included at the end of the book.

However, I found the overall execution to be somewhat clichéd and lacking depth. The writing often felt simplistic, and the predictability of the plot significantly diminished my enjoyment. Additionally, the conclusion seemed hurried and unsatisfying. I apologize for the critical tone of this review, but these were my genuine impressions of the work.

The Wandering Season is one of those books that sweeps you away in the best way. I really enjoyed following the Vero as she traveled through four different places in Europe—each destination brought something new, both in scenery and in her personal growth. It felt like I was right there with her, discovering these places and watching her piece her life together.

Aimie K. Runyan has a way of making travel feel both exciting and meaningful. The book isn’t just about the journey across Europe—it’s about figuring out who you are after everything you thought you knew changes. There’s a great balance of lighthearted moments and deeper reflections, which made it really engaging from start to finish.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fun, heartfelt adventure. Whether you love travel stories, self-discovery themes, or just a good, well-written escape, this book hits all the right notes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks | Harper Muse for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Wandering Season is a heartfelt and beautifully written story that lingers long after the last page!

Veronica's story pulled me in from the beginning. Her discovery, that quiet shock of learning she's adopted really moved me. I loved how a simple DNA test turned into a beautiful, winding adventure that spanned continents, cuisines and generations. It made me think about how the pieces of who we are can live in places we/be never been, in people we've never met.

This book left a mark on my heart. A beautiful read!

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.

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 storyline 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 relisten because I couldn't figure out what was happening. It was so unexpected and personally didn't think it worked with the story.

A food-matcher who is searching to learn more about her ancestors (after an adoption discovery) takes a quest across Europe. Readers who enjoy immersive settings with rich architectural and food descriptions will feel completely ‘present’ in this read.

From a historical castle in Ireland, to small village in France, across the Tuscan region of Italy, and a few snowy days in Denmark, before culminating in NYC this book is absolutely wandering in all the best ways. Along the journey, Veronica experiences visions or dreams connecting her to her ancestors’ lives and experiences, so readers should be prepared for that magical realism aspect. Along the journey, Veronica meets wonderful people, a potential new love interest, and grows closer to her family.

Audiobook narrator, Carolina Hewitt, did a phenomenal job with the diverse accents and cultural locations. She also did a great job capturing Veronica’s passion for foods and her nuanced emotional journey. This was the perfect audio book for my daily walks or commutes to work that always left me in an upbeat and happy mood!