4.25 ⭐️

This book makes me want to go find a bunch of lesbians and go on a long backpacking trip. Although there was some cheesy and cliche parts, I really liked this book and I thought the romance was sweet. I also teared up a few times and fully cried at one point.

I wish there was more multi media (texts, blog posts, etc) in this book. It was one of my favorite parts of Alison’s other book, Kiss Her Once For Me, and it was lacking a bit in this book.

Overall, this was a lovely exploration of sexuality of a woman in her 30s. I felt it was very realistic and heartwarming.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a huge fan of Cochrun's work, I went into this one knowing I'd at least enjoy it. What I didn't know is it'd become my second favorite of her books. (First place will always go to The Charm Offensive.) EVERY STEP SHE TAKES is not just a book about walking the Camino de Santiago, it's a book about grief, self-discovery, and realizing that it's not too late to find love.

As someone who didn't realize they were queer until college (for a multitude of reasons), Sadie's journey is deeply relatable. When everyone around you assumes one thing about you, it's hard to really question if that's actually right for you unless you're around a bunch of complete strangers that know virtually nothing about you. The way Cochrun handled Sadie's Gay Panic™ and her journey of self-discovery with the grace and humor I've come to love from her books makes Sadie yet another protagonist you can't help but root for. You can tell the author really loves what she does.

From the beginning when Sadie is sat next to Mal on the plane, I knew it was going to be a good time. I mean, when you start a relationship (friendship or otherwise) by confessing that you might be a lesbian AND you're still a virgin at 35 (even though virginity is a social construct) because you think you're going to die during turbulence, come on. That's good stuff. Sadie's and Mal's relationship might have started off forced, but it turned out sweet and awkward and honest. I'm all for a slow-burn; especially when we get dual-pov and get to see both sides of the pining. We get to see how both characters help each other heal in ways they never thought they could. (Even if one of them was too stubborn to see it for a while.) Not only that, but we get to see the secondary characters from both perspectives that gives a whole new depth to the story. Everyone felt fleshed out and well-rounded.

The way Cochrun wrote the Camino setting makes you feel like you're right there with them (minus all the aches and pains). Her lived experience and connection to the trail really shines.

Overall, I absolutely adored this book. EVERY STEP SHE TAKES is a celebration of not only of self-love and acceptance, but of queer identity and finding the courage to embrace change and slow down a little. It's never too late to create the life you truly want.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
A Tender and Transformative Journey of Self-Discovery

Alison Cochrun’s Every Step She Takes is a heartfelt and introspective sapphic romance that beautifully blends emotional vulnerability with the scenic charm of a European pilgrimage. Set along Portugal’s Camino de Santiago, this story follows 35-year-old Sadie Wells as she steps away from her predictable life and into a whirlwind of self-discovery, grief, and unexpected love.

Sadie’s journey is deeply relatable, especially for readers who’ve experienced late-in-life revelations about identity. Cochrun handles Sadie’s “gay panic” and evolving sense of self with grace and humor, making her a protagonist you can’t help but root for

1. Her dynamic with Mal—her seatmate turned hiking partner—is sweet, awkward, and refreshingly honest. Their slow-burn romance is tender and grounded, never overshadowing the deeper themes of grief, healing, and personal growth
2. The Camino setting is vividly rendered, and Cochrun’s personal connection to the trail adds authenticity to the narrative
3. The secondary characters bring warmth and diversity, though a few lean into stereotypes and could’ve used more depth. At times, the pacing wavers, and some emotional beats feel slightly underdeveloped, which is why this isn’t a full five-star read.

Still, Every Step She Takes shines as a celebration of queer identity, self-love, and the courage to embrace change—no matter your age. It’s a story that reminds us that it’s never too late to rewrite your narrative and walk toward a life that feels truly yours.

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #atriabooks #everystepshetakes #alisoncochrun

This is the second Alison Cochrun book I've really wanted to like but just couldn't get into, so perhaps I am just not an Alison fan (except I loved The Charm Offensive, so I guess I'm always hoping for that high again). Sadie has always been the responsible one in her family. She's never left home, never done anything exciting, and never really figured out who she is. Her sister, meanwhile, is an adventurous travel blogger who is about to go do a famous walk from Portugal to Spain, El Camino de Santiago. But she injures herself right before her big trip, and Sadie volunteers to take her place. On her flight to Europe, Sadie gets a bit wine-drunk and nervous and ends up confessing to her seatmate that she thinks she might be lesbian. Naturally, that very same seatmate Mal is on the same tour as Sadie is, and naturally, Sadie and Mal are extremely attracted to each other from the get go but try to hold off on that attraction for their respective self-improvement reasons.

As you can tell by my overly detailed description, I was so excited for the premise because it sounded so fun and interesting. And I did really enjoy the portions of the book focused on El Camino: Cochrun describes the scenery beautifully, and the meditative nature of the pilgrimage comes through quite well. But the actual story falls flat. I wanted to root for Sadie, but it was hard not to feel like she was kind of pathetic, and she and Mal felt strangely immature for two characters supposedly in their 30s. Mal's "tortured little rich girl" situation also didn't work for me, even though I did appreciate that Mal herself poked fun at that characterization. Additionally, I saw a review that said that in an attempt to be inclusive and representative, Cochrun created tokens of characters who have no real personality beyond their sexual orientations and identities, and I really agree with that. Basically everyone but Sadie, Mal, and the tour leader seems like they're just there for Sadie's journey, and although that's not necessarily a bad thing because Sadie is a protagonist, in this book it just felt like pandering and weird reductive stereotyping. The good people in this book felt so good, and the bad people so good, that it made everything feel a little unreal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book and especially Sadie's experience and journey. I love the exploration of finding yourself in your thirties and the idea that it's never too late to start a new phase in your life, explore your sexuality, etc. I found the book a little bit lacking in depth in other areas, however. For instance, it felt like Sadie's blogging on behalf of her sister was a bit of an afterthought. I would have loved to get more of Vi's feedback on Sadie's posts.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

All of Alison Cochrun’s books have been 4.5-5 stars for me ⭐️ I don’t know how she does it, but she consistently delivers 👏

EVERY STEP SHE TAKES is a sweet sapphic romcom about two women who are pushed to new heights while on an unforgettable adventure in Europe.

From the very beginning, on Sadie’s flight to Portugal, I knew I was in for a treat 🥰😂

I had never heard of The Camino de Santiago, so I loved learning about it! What a fun backdrop for a romcom about a character who is discovering herself.

The characters that were along for the journey added so much depth and humor. I loved their group dynamics and text threads 😂👏

Sadie and Mal had such great banter and it was so sweet how Mal guided Sadie through some key moments she missed out on in her adolescence!

I can always count on Alison Cochrun’s books to have emotional depth, swoony love stories, and characters that will stay with me 💙

When the adventure chaser with no roots says “I want the boring middle parts with you. February and Tuesdays. Ikea furniture and an entire cupboard full of Tupperware…” 🫠🫠

This book had such a great premise! After hitting some substantial turbulence on their flight, Sadie ends up coming out to the cute stranger sitting beside her. Sadie, a shy antique owner, has volunteered to help her injured influencer sister by completing her sister’s sponsored trip, the Camino de Santiago. But things get more complicated when the cute stranger (MAL) ends up in Sadie’s group for the 2 week trek.

✨My thoughts✨

Alison Cochrun has the unique ability to make each of her stories feel singular but familiar. Her stories are tender, heartfelt, humorous and insightful; her characters are lush and expansive, allowing the reader an intimacy to truly get to know them.

This story is a love letter to late bloomers whether that be in finding your sexuality, life purpose, career, etc. The FMC’s are in their mid to late thirties and still figuring things out. I always find it refreshing to see this depicted in novels.

While Mal and Sadie’s relationship develops fast from their forced proximity, they also are laying the groundwork for a strong emotional foundation. I think you learn a lot about another person while traveling with them, so it is easy to see how feelings can grow quickly. The Camino is both mentally and physically exhausting, pushing participants to challenge themselves in many ways.

I rated this book 5 stars because I adored Sadie and Mal. I have a soft spot for wallflowers (because I was/ am one) and FMC’s who are a little bit broken and hide behind a rakish, golden retriever exterior; this book has both! This might be my favorite by Alison, but I’ve enjoyed all her books. Thank you to @atriabooks for an early digital copy 🫶 I added this to my shelves immediately thanks to @pangobooks

Read if you enjoy:
-A quirky meet cute
-Kissing for science
-Contemporary rake/ wallflower dynamic
-Stories with complicated grief and family dynamics
-Exploring new cities through books (I had no idea what the Camino de Santiago was prior to this book, but what an amazing adventure)
-Dual POV (I enjoy getting a glimpse of the inner thoughts of each character)

Every Step She Takes is an amazing journey of self-discovery, coming out, and queer joy. As we follow our main characters, Sadie and Mal, down the path of the Camino, we learn that it’s never too late to start anew.
Beyond the extensive pop-culture references, there is real heart and soul to these characters.

I feel like Alison Cochran nails the cozy romcom feels every time. This was my third book by her and honestly my third favorite BUT still lovely and charming and would fill an easy romance itch I need scratched.

Every Step She Takes follows Sadie on her walk of Portugal’s Camino de Santiago with a group tour. Sadie ended up here, 35, single, and a Virgin, after her influencer sister hurt her foot and had to back out of the trip. Before leaving Sadie was on a date after date with men her sister was setting her up with but nothing was clicking. Sadie doesn’t know that this group tour she ends up on is specifically for queer women which forces her to confront a piece of her she’d pushed down for a long time and begins to explore with the help of her new friend, Mal.

Dang guys I loved this book was the very beginning. Something just hooked me immediately and I was tearing up at the end. The real and raw characters and their exploration of self identity and relationships really struck a chord with me. I loved the setting and learning about the Camino (which sounds like a truly wild experience). Even as a non-queer individual there was plenty to relate to in this story of relationships and self discovery. Truly a lovely story start to finish!

3 ⭐️. I found myself really struggling to sympathize with Mal -- it felt like she was an inherently bad communicator and acted out of spite. she gave off such Peter Pan vibes and had me thinking multiple times "awh poor little rich girl". I don't feel like her redemption at the end was finalized in the best way.

Sadie on the other hand -- no notes. she was a GREAT, relatable and complex character.

the other cast of characters had me cackling grinning ear to ear the entire time.

TY to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading Every Step She Takes, I now want to go with a queer group on the Camino de Santiago walk. I loved the quirky and diverse characters who went on this journey with the main characters of Sadie and Mal. I enjoyed the messiness of these two characters, their humorous interactions (the initial plane scene alone had me laughing so much), and how much they grew over the course of this story.

The book is told from two points of view, and it's helpful for readers that chapters have the character name to tell us whose perspective we are about to receive. I also thought that the blog posts that Sadie had to write about her experience on the Camino was a clever way to see her character development.

This book is definitely a good one for a reader who wants a coming-out later in life story, told with fun characters, minor frustrations, mild adventure, and relatively low spice.

Thank you to Atria Books for the chance to read and review this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is now my favorite book I've read from Alison Cochrun. The characters felt so real and relatable, I felt like I was friends with them- in a way, I am. I LOVED Mal, and I grew to enjoy Sadie too. I'm glad I was able to go on their adventure with them!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for providing me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

EVERY STEP SHE TAKES is a queer coming-of-age-later-in-life story - 35-year-old Sadie Wells has struggled in life (she runs her Nan’s antique store) and love (she went on 16 dates with men at her sister Vi’s prodding, and none of them went well). Also c/o Vi, the opportunity to do something big to shake out the questions drops into her lap - almost literally. Mal is Sadie’s hot Window Seat mate on a plane. ✈️

Sadie meets Mal (on the plane and on the trail) when she agrees to take injured influencer Vi’s place on a trek along the Camino de Santiago (200 miles through parts of Portugal and Spain). 🗺️

Maëlys (Mal) Gonçalves Costa is a trust-fund nomad who’s trying to figure out her own life - her rich father, Valentim Costa, has just died; she can’t seem to keep a job or a woman (and she’s the one who leaves - the jobs and the women); and she’s returning to the Camino de Santiago to shake out her own questions. 📍

Sadie and Mal, unaware that they are both signed up for the same journey, are seat mates on the plane, and a severe bout of turbulence has Sadie blurting her darkest secret (“I think I might be a lesbian!”) to Mal (and everyone). Since it’s told from the dual POVs, we quickly learn that they’re intensely attracted to each other (Sadie is Freckles in Mal’s mind), and after they realize that they are both going on the same literal journey, Mal offers to be Sadie’s Fairy God Dyke. 🧚🏼‍♂️

As it turns out, their fellow trekkers are all queer (Vi is bisexual), and we know that Sadie is in the right place after all. You can imagine that the close proximity, the conversations, the bed-sharing (they’re paired as roommates), and the mutual pining have, well, consequences for Sadie and Mal. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

As always, Alison manages to draw characters that are flawed but irresistible - we are rooting for Sadie and Mal individually and as a couple. And the cast of characters - their queer Camino crew - is incredible. Sadie, in particular, learns so much from each of them. They become friends for life.🤳🏽

And while it might seem surprising for Sadie to get together with her first conscious lesbian crush and for Mal to get together with a “baby gay” late bloomer whom she’s “advising,” it really, really works. They help each other with their own soul-searching, which makes sense. They are soulmates. 💞

The way the novel weaves their individual hang ups and family issues with the challenges of the Camino and getting to know each other is so well-done. The love story - Mal’s inability to turn away from Sadie even though she “knows” she should and the ever-present butterflies Sadie feels with Mal - makes perfect sense in the end. And getting there makes for an un-put-downable read that is at once intriguing and satisfying. 🦋

Alison’s characters learn that, while we might think we’re living in “the boring middle part,” it’s all important. And there’s no “boring middle part” in this book. Add food, wine, dancing, and the blasting through of heteronormative BS and you’ve got yourself an amazing read. 💪🏽

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

Every Step She Takes had some lovely moments, especially in the backdrop and themes, it’s hard not to enjoy a slow-burn queer romance set along the Camino de Santiago. The premise is strong: a group of queer women on a walking retreat, each carrying their own emotional baggage, finding connection along the way. Sadie and Mal’s chemistry starts off promising, and I did enjoy watching Sadie find her footing, both in her queerness and in her self-confidence.

That said, the emotional beats didn’t always land for me. I found myself wanting more depth in the romance- it felt like it rushed past the vulnerable parts and settled too quickly into “we’re in love now” territory. The conflict and backstories between the characters hinted at something richer but weren’t always explored fully. Some of the side characters were colorful, but a few bordered on one-dimensional, especially in the way they treated Sadie during her coming-out arc.

Still, Cochrun’s writing is warm and immersive, and there’s something charming about the atmosphere she builds. If you’re looking for a breezy queer romance with some heartfelt moments and scenic vibes, this one will hit the spot- even if it doesn’t quite reach the emotional highs of The Charm Offensive.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

When her influencer sister breaks her toe and can't go on her walking tour of the Camino del Santiago, perpetual people pleaser Sadie agrees to take her place. But of course, it ends up being so much more than a walk: it's a journey about discovering herself, her identity, love, and some really excellent pastries.

Once again, Alison Cochrun has come for my THROAT with her latest novel, and I can't even be mad about it. I think it's possibly my new favorite of hers (which is impressive, since I've made a tradition out of rereading Kiss Her Once For Me every December). I knew that this was the book for me once Sadie described herself as a collection of anxiety disorders held together by Wellbutrin and romance novel audiobooks - but I loved this book for more than just Sadie. The whole cast of characters are people you want to root for, complex in their own ways, and beautifully earnest. It's not a book about found family, exactly, but about the way that you can develop deep, meaningful relationships with people who might not stay in your life forever - and it was worth it nonetheless.

There's coming of age, and then there's also queer coming of age, and one of the things I love about that in particular that's explored so well here is that coming of age can happen at anytime. It is never, ever, too late to be who you are. There is something so hopeful and comforting in the message that you are not too late, you're not behind, that everything can still fall into place. I think that's something particularly poignant for queer folks experiencing their "queer adolescence" as Sadie does, but I think it's also something that can speak to a broader audience as well.

Alison Cochrun once again delivered her signature mix of laugh-out-loud and heartfelt moments - I literally did laugh out loud during the airport scene, and I also had my heart broken. (But don't worry, it was mended later.) Every book she writes makes me feel seen in a slightly different way.

Maybe the real Camino is the friends we made along the way. (No, but actually.)

Honestly not my favourite by this author although I'm starting to think I maybe just don't like Cochrun's books that much anyway. I find the characters really annoying for my taste and I was constantly waiting for the POV switch just to wish for the other one anyway.

Sadie has the pushiest family ever, forcing her on dates with men she’s not into, and basically making her feel bad for working hard to keep her inherited antiques business afloat. So she takes advantage of her travel blogger sister’s injury and goes on a walking tour of the Camino. But of course, having never traveled before, she freaks out during some rough airplane turbulence and word vomits onto her seatmate Mal and is totally embarrassed. Bonus, Mal is also on the Camino tour and has her own issues with a recently deceased estranged father and an inheritance she doesn’t want. It’s a wild ride of self-discovery and learning to let go of all your hangups along this trip, plus a great cast of side characters along the way. Awkward Sadie learns to be a lot less awkward and we get to journey right alongside her discovering her newfound queerness.

Loved this a lot. The Camino was a great backdrop to the story and I loved the cast of characters. Beautiful character development for our FMCs. Another great read from Alison Cochrun!

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book! I love the characters, their growth, all of it. And it makes me want to walk the camino!