There is something so magical about the right book finding you at the right time, and Every Step She Takes was the book I didn’t know my heart needed. Alison’s books are some of my favorite and I could not wait to read this latest release.

This story was beautiful in every single way and Sadie and Mal were such deeply human, relatable characters and so much of their journeys resonated with me personally. As someone in their late 30s who went through my own journey of self discovery around 35, I related to so much of Sadie’s experience and questioning. I am eternally grateful to characters like Inez for sharing such beautiful reminders like there’s no such thing as “too late,” that we can move at different paces on our journeys, and that we’ll get to where we’re meant to be at just the right time. This is something I needed to be reminded of and I know many other readers will find comfort and validation within these pages as well.

Within these pages is such a beautiful story of community and while these characters are fictional, the experiences are so real, and my heart was grateful to have found community and a soft place to land amongst this group.

This is truly a story for everyone, but especially for anyone feeling adrift or looking for a sense of belonging. Every Step She Takes will be making my favorite books of the year and I will be recommending it to everyone!

Due to her sister's injury, Sadie agrees to fly over to Portugal and walk the Camino. The plane ride over has some serious turbulence, and Sadie drunkenly reveals that she's a lesbian to her seatmate, the obviously queer Mal. Thank goodness she'll never see her again! Oh wait, Mal is actually in the same queer tour group, and of course they wind up being roommates at every hotel.

Meanwhile, Mal has a bad habit of skipping town after a breakup and immediately falling in love again. Sadie seems like the perfect candidate, except Mal is trying to do better and break this harmful pattern of behavior. Instead, she'll be her fairy gaymother in order to distract from her father's death and her recent inheritance.

This was extremely cute, and I loved the Camino as a setting for a sapphic romance. It's making me consider going once I've recovered from cancer! Mal and Sadie both come with baggage but fit each other so well, like Alison Cochrun is so good at. The queer found family of the trip was wonderful too. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARC.

This was cute but nothing special. I didn’t really feel super invested in the relationship between Mal and Sadie. I enjoyed the whole journey of self discovery thing that Sadie had happening and there were definitely some very sweet parts to the story.

I absolutely loved all of the side characters and the friendships that formed between the group members, and I loved the setting (makes me want to travel to Portugal!).

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy exchange for my honest review.

4 🌟

Tell me you didn't laugh out loud at the airplane scene! 😆

I really enjoyed Sadie in this book and her growth to self discovery. I had never heard of a Camino de Santiago tour prior to this book and while I'm not sure I'd ever want to take a trip like that, I think the setting was perfect for Sadie to find herself. I also loved the tease of the found family and the way everyone on the trip supported one another.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

4.5 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I loved the setting and overall vibe of this book! I learned a lot about the Camino and really enjoyed that it was clearly part of the author’s personal experience. This was a realistic portrayal of romance that I appreciated without being too dramatic, which is sometimes hard to do especially with tropes like fake dating. Highly recommend this for a transportive and fun romance, perfect for summer!

Thank you to the author, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading "Here We Go Again," Alison Cochrun became one of my must-read authors. Although I didn't enjoy this book as much, it offers another showcase of Cochrun's talent in writing wonderfully colorful and interesting supporting characters, which make her books worth reading and re-reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking this journey with Sadie, Mal, and the diverse and interesting group of travelers as they made their way along The Camino. I wish these relationships, these friendships, could have been the focus of the story. Sadie's journey accepting herself, and Mal's journey finding a way to stand on her own two feet, could have been the basis for a wonderful, supportive friendship. I might have given that story five stars. This book felt like the romance was forced, and got in the way of what could have been a great story of friendship and personal growth for these two women.

Before reading this book, I had no idea about The Camino, and while I will likely never experience that journey, I think I will come back and re-read this book after I learn more about The Camino, so I might enjoy the experience of the trip a little more.

#AtriaBooks #NetGalley

this was honestly one of the cutest, and actually funny sapphic romcoms i’ve ever read?? even with the book being on the shorter side, each of the side characters had depth, their own personality and story. there was so much representation of the queer community to be found within the pages of this book and it absolutely warmed my heart. i love how cochrun even played on the stereotypes in a lighthearted way that you couldn’t help but laugh at, even just a little bit (even as a queer woman myself).

the setting of the story was also very unique. i had heard of the camino de santiago before but knowing the author has actually walked it herself made it feel even more special, knowing we were somewhat seeing it through her eyes. the way that the villages, people and food are described makes me want to look into walking the camino myself. 😂

this was my first book by allison cochrun but i will absolutely be reading more of her work in the future!

𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘶𝘯, 𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 🫶🏻

4.5/5

I love when I pick up a romance novel and it has me really taking a good look at myself, reflecting and deciding I need some sort of change. It does not happen to me all of the time and usually manifests in small weird ways. This book manifested in a new pair of walking/hiking shoes….and a consideration of when I can take a few weeks long break from life here at home.

This book however, screamed inspiration to me. I guess that can happen when you find yourself experiencing some kind of life crisis. Later in life queer awakening stories are so wonderfully lovely and wholesome for me to read. Following alongside Sadie’s pretty intense transformation was magical - nothing but miles and what you can carry in your bag to come to terms with ones sexuality, first crushes, unloading the weight of everyone else’s expectations - even the expectations we put on ourselves because it’s been so hardcoded into us. Nothing but time to figure out what we dream about and how to chase those dreams.

Mal was tough for me, but it’s incredibly difficult to go through what she did while having unresolved issues. Everything feels one way today and in the blink of an eye, it’s an entirely different type of angry sorrow.

The journey is beautiful - it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, sometimes it’s blistered feet and 19 miles ahead of you tomorrow. Take breaks along the way, enjoy the stories in the scenery and from the people milling about, breathe. Life is too short, love yourself out loud and without shame. Let yourself feel your anger and your grief but don’t wallow in it on your own for too long, don’t lose yourself to it.

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley for this read!

I moved 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 (pub 09.02) up my TBR because the main character goes on a long-distance walking tour along Portugal’s Camino de Santiago. I am soon to embark on a long-distance walk along the Cotswold Way.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥:
First person POV
Dual POV
Side characters
Queer joy
Late bloomer
Found family
Self discovery


𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵:
This wasn't a bad read, but I didn't love it as much as previous books by the author. Perhaps it was "right book/wrong time' but I was a bit bored. I enjoyed the relationship between Sadie and Mal, but never felt their chemistry was legit. I would have been ok without the romance element.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. IT was nice to read a character dealing with so many life decisions later in life! Nice change of pace! Sadie has to come out of her comfort zone in so many different ways about so many different things, in addition to evaluating who she is and what she feels and believes. This was one of the most realistic characters I think I've read in a long time.

Of course, there's a romance - but that's in the summary, so no huge surprise there. I would have enjoyed the story without the romance, too, though. I think it could have been a wonderful friend story as well..

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eArc. I have recently had the pleasure of discovering some of Alison’s books earlier this year and was so excited to be able to read an advanced copy of her newest release. Alison’s writing is not heavy handed. It’s witty, it’s smart, it’s charming. You get to know her main characters well but her secondary characters pop off the page like real people as well. They’re all so charming in their own ways and are written so well that I’m never going to forget who is who. I also appreciate that though I’m not someone who is going to hike this trail, I get to learn all of the things about it like I am actually there. I love a book that is well researched. A must read for anyone in need of a good time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me an eARC of this book. I am so happy I had the privilege of reading the newest novel by Cochrun. Ever since I read her first novel, each subsequent one has topped the last. This was no exception. I fell in love with Mal and Sadie immediately. The individual journey's that Sadie and Mal were going on in their heads was so potent and real that it made me feel like I was on that journey with them. The descriptions of the Camino were so beautifully done, that now I want to take a pilgrim across one myself. I laughed, and I cried while reading, which is exactly what I want to be doing when I read a book such as this. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Oh- I just love Alison Cochrun. She is the queen of writing queer relationships that feel fully fleshed out. The scene in the airplane when Sadie comes out made me laugh out LOUD. This book gave me serious wanderlust, and I would love to find myself on the Camino one day. Admittedly, Sadie's personality began to wear on me, but I liked the two of them together. The last 10% was very satisfying. Can't wait to read more by this author!

This might be my favorite sapphic romance of the year (of all time?). From the starting scene where Sadie screams "I'm a lesbian" to an airplane full of people to every single quirky character in their Camino tour group family, this book had me laughing and crying and smiling and highlighting so much. I adore the two leads, Sadie and Mal. I appreciate that they are in their mid/late thirties, and that we follow both of their (metaphorical and physical) journeys to figure themselves out and what they want in life. Sadie's story of figuring out her sexuality late in life was the representation I love to see, and I think it was handled especially well.

I need to preface this by saying that I absolutely have been obsessed with Alison Cochrun’s work since The Charm Offensive and getting an ARC of this book was a literal dream come true.

That being said… Alison Cochrun will pay for her crimes!!

Because shut up this book was everything! Women in their 30s finding love. Found family. Healthy exploration of later in life sexuality. Positive queer representation across the board. Diverse representation across the board. Seriously, this book had everything and was everything.

I laughed. I cried. I laughed while crying. It was such a fun read and I will absolutely be adding this to my shelf because it was absolutely so good. I want a novella for this to see more from these characters.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book.

Rating: 4.5

*Possible Spoilers*

“Every Step She Takes” by Alison Cochrun is a sweet novel about growing up, changing, and letting go. I loved the backdrop of Spain, exploring its culture with the characters was fun, and added another level to the book. Mal and Sadie had satisfying personal growth journeys. I didn’t really vibe with either woman, and didn’t love them together, but I liked their separate development arcs.

I found Sadie a little woe-is-me. She’s quick to throw up her hands and declare her life hard, which it is, but it reads like White girl whining. I related to some of her anxiety struggles, like not wanting to be pushed beyond her comfort zone. Sadie saying that she needs Mal to have sex with her gives me the ick. I know that she wanted to explore her newly accepted gayness, but it kind of sounds pathetic, and also, Mal had already said no. Consent is covered appropriately after that, but the interaction still left a bad taste in my mouth. I did like Sadie’s journey of self-acceptance and the idea that even a tiny step forward is a step. The focus on her Queer story being hers, that she can rewrite her story or simply add more chapters, reads a bit like a Queer acceptance pamphlet. I would have preferred a little more nonchalant exploration.

I think that Mal has some interesting character traits and development. The twist on the classic “butch lesbian with daddy issues runs at any mention of a serious relationship” trope was interesting. Instead of running from connection, she runs toward it, and constantly faceplants. I like that Cochrun explored a different angle of familial trauma. Mal is constantly craving for someone to love her, but at the same time, she’s scared out of her mind to be abandoned again. She made some progress near the end. I loved the friendship she built with her stepmom. They will never be besties, or exactly family, but they see each other in an honest lens. I did not love how Mal bought half the stuff from her ex’s (Sadie’s) Etsy store under a bunch of fake accounts. That’s kind of icky.

I don’t see the two women lasting very long, even with their attempt at growth. I can see them reverting back into unhealthy habits and doing irreparable damage. I would not want to be in the room when they fight, yikes. Also, I was told a little more about their chemistry than shown.

My favorite part of the book was the Queer joy. I absolutely loved the wacky weirdo group of Queer travelers that become family to Mal and Sadie. The sibling bickering and the pool of different Queer perspectives made traversing across Spain so vibrant. I felt like a part of their little family while I read.

I will say: the amount of name-branded items in this book is crazy. Sometimes a water bottle and a protein bar can be just that: a water bottle and a protein bar. The brand name drops felt a lot like a Netflix movie with too many brand sponsorships. There’s also an awful lot of drinking in this book. I get that Europe equals bougie wine, but when your meet-cute is getting drunk on a plane, and you stop for a beer every chance you get, it’s too much.

While I didn’t love this book for the romance, the Queer joy is like a cozy booky hug. It’s nice to see Queer people being happy, or learning to be happy. The couple wasn’t my cup of tea, but the friend group was hilariously enchanting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Not quite 4 stars...

I am not a romance reader. When I enjoy a romance/rom-com, it's always because there are deeper themes at play, and the romance is often a bit secondary. I also don't love all the tropes, and miscommunication/a stupid third act breakup makes me NUTS. But last year, I LOVED Here We Go Again, and when I heard on a podcast that Ms. Cochrun had a new book coming out, I literally stopped in the middle of trail run to request it. It did not live up to Here We Go Again for a few reasons, but for the most part, I still really enjoyed it.

In this book, we follow Sadie, who is a 35 year old responsible, stable workaholic, who has never been in a romantic relationship, and after being set up on way too many dates by her well meaning sister, is beginning to wonder what's wrong with her. When the opportunity unexpectedly arises to go on a guided walk of the Camino through Portugal, she jumps at the chance to escape for a bit, but she ends up running toward much more than she bargained for. After one of the most hilarious meet cutes ever, she falls into a guided hike for queer women (and one confused man) alongside Mal, another woman running from (0r toward) many difficult issues.

What I didn't love: this seemed much more like a traditional romance to me. There was so. much. pining. I felt like from 25%-75% I was reading the same scene over and over again, and found myself skimming. I had also really hoped to get more "self-discovery" inner dialogue as Sadie and Mal walked the Camino, which is known as a journey for finding yourself. Or at least, a little more depth instead of the same repeated thoughts.

But then there's what I loved: the first 25% and the last 25% were chef's kiss perfection. This book was funny- so funny!- and the cast of characters was fantastic. It was one of my favorite ensembles ever. And man, Ms. Cochrun writes so well about mental health. Not necessarily mental illness, or trauma, but truly being mentally HEALTHY, and the work it takes, and how you can't have healthy relationships or full lives until you take care of your own stuff. And so why this was an average of probably closer to 3.5-75, the first and last were 5 stars, and I will absolutely read what she puts out next.

4.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!

I really really enjoy Cochrun’s books, like a lot. There is always a good mix of romance between the characters, but also plot and character growth with an equal amount of care and attention. I ate through this one especially.

I’m not sure what else to say! I loved both Mal and Sadie’s characters, and I very much appreciated their journeys of self-growth. I also loved having a side aroace character!!!! I’m always thrilled when I stumbled across a character I share an identity with, and the brief explanation to aid the reader is awesome. Any means to help spread the understanding of the aroace identity!!

This was such a fun read! I definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good queer contemporary romance.

This book was lovely. I loved all of the characters on the tour group, and it was easy to root for the main characters. If you liked The Pairing by Casey McQuiston you will likely enjoy this book too! This made me want to book my own Portuguese Camino trip immediately.

Alison Cochrun's latest book shows a maturity in her storytelling and writing skills that was starting to show itself in her last work. I felt even more in league with this cast of characters than in any of her previous works. I look forward to reading what she does next as she keep developing these intriguing journeys. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.