Well I loved this book. It’s pretty easy for me to love a book like this - a sweet story about self acceptance, learning to place boundaries, and love… It’s catnip for me. And I absolutely love romance books that are equally about a person’s growth and knowledge of themselves as it is about the love story.

It’s a forced proximity story with an endearing cast of characters. Our MC is a kind people pleaser who has never allowed herself to slow down and get in touch with who she really is and what she really wants. Our love interest is a globetrotting free spirit who - if we’re honest - has some troubles setting down roots. For ~reasons~. And all the supporting characters are unique and truly play a role in the story.

I think a lot of romance stories get caught in a story of two people becoming everything to each other, eclipsing their friendships and long lasting relationships. But in this one, the surrounding cast of friends and family aren’t just there for support and clarity, they’re there for growth and community.

Alison Cochrun has written another banger and it’s absolutely worth picking this one up for a heartwarming endeavor.

This was cute but I felt like nothing about it was stand out. I admire books with the story line of a newly "out" lesbian gaining her footing with a "seasoned & confident" lesbian. I think that alone inspires others who may be just getting their footing but the quickness in their "love" felt more like infatuation or the desire for love overshadowing actual falling in love part of the story. None the less the story was enjoyable & I am still one of Alison's biggest fans! <3

"'I think I made a huge mistake in coming here.'

'Good. It's time for you to make some mistakes.'"

What a sweet book that totally didn't almost make me cry at some points! Cochrun blends humor, romance, and reflection so well for both perspectives. The Camino was an amazing setting to introduce us to some diverse, well-rounded side characters who I would love a short story collection about, and showcases how strong Cochrun is at character-driven stories.

The dialogue was rich and witty, the pacing was great for a dual POV book, and while I as a bisexual woman can't relate to being a questioning lesbian, I think the main message of "it is never too late to discover who you are" was beautifully done. The encouragement that making mistakes and fumbling is the best thing warmed my anxious little heart. Also, the blog post format to show us Sadie's growth was really clever! (I do kinda wish I had read Cochrun's prior books to see if any of those commentors were cameos)

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an advanced digital copy! I really enjoyed this one, and if you liked The Pairing then this book is right up your alley.

I've been reading so many queer romances for pride month and this one was one of the best ones I've read so far!! I loved both characters and their experiences and it was so good

This was a nice book! I enjoyed all the characters, especially Stefano and Ro. I loved the representation throughout the book. The late bloomer storyline was well-executed, and I believed in Sadie and Mal's chemistry throughout. There were interesting family dynamics and the travel aspect of the story worked really well for me, personally. I had a fun time reading this one!

Alison Cochrun writes TOP-tier queer love stories, and although this one is more about falling in love with your true self, it did not disappoint! Sadie is on a passage of self-discovery when she ends up walking/hiking the El Camino and meeting a privileged, hot lesbian, Mal, who is a little rough on the edges. I loved the physical and spiritual journey these characters endured. Sadie's lists for the blog at the end were my favorite!

What to expect:
🏳️‍🌈 gay awakening
🏳️‍🌈 first love / virgin FMC
🏳️‍🌈 coming of age queer adolescence (but in her 30s)
🏳️‍🌈 found family
🏳️‍🌈 they have to kiss "for science"

Pub date is Sept. 2! ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed my time while reading this story. I think it was improved because I used it as my vacation book while I was visiting portugal. It was so much fun to see the things that I was learning about in real time mentioned in the book. While I didn't walk the Camino, there were still plenty of references you pick up just from visiting.
I enjoyed the aspects of the travel blog we got a few times throughout the story. I wish that there were more of them throughout the story. I liked the moments of reflection that they showcased our character going through.
The romance of the story was cute. I liked their dynamic for the most part. My complaint about the romance is that I am not a huge fan of the "Teach Me" trope. While it did make sense because one of our characters was discovering her sexuality later in life. I just felt like a lot of the time they were just using it as an excuse to lie to themselves.
I felt like both of their struggles were relatable. I liked them both as characters a lot.
I also really enjoyed the side characters on their tour and what they added to the story. I liked all the scenes where we got to see them interacting with others in the tour group.
Overall I enjoyed my time reading this one. If you are looking for a Sapphic romance, I highly recommend checking this one out.

2.75 ⭐️ || Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for granting me the ARC!!
Despite the low Rating I have nothing to complain about. This book just wasn’t it for me and that’s okay.

While reading this book I couldn’t connect to the Characters and I think that is a big part of why I didn’t really like it. The Storyline was really cute especially the part of experiencing Sadie’s queer adolescence. I loved that this book took part while doing a Camino. I never had read something like this and I enjoyed myself while reading.
This book is a good cozy Summer read. The ending really got me, it was perfect!

Another beautiful queer romance from Alison Cochrun! Every Step She Takes is a funny, intimate, adventurous story about queer awakenings and finding love. Cochrun writes flawed, but lovable characters and this book is no exception. The ensemble of characters is very diverse in a way that feels authentic to the queer experience. Some stories about “late bloomers” can feel cliche, but Cochrun wrote Sadie and Mal’s story in way that felt exciting and new, but still earnest and familiar. Mal and Sadie's Connection was palpable and I loved how the two grew together throughout the story Easily another quintessential sapphic romance I’m adding to my book shelf!

Note: I was able to read this book due to getting an ARC that was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

rating — 4.25 out of 5 stars.

alison cochrun!!! i am four for four on enjoying her releases, and there are not many authors who can claim that kind of run. she’s always had such a solid grasp on in-depth character work, satisfying relationship development (and character development), and balancing those with a unique and interesting overarching plot. when i pick up one of her works, i can trust that it’ll be a good read, no matter what. i’m very pleased that this title is joining those ranks!

funnily enough, i actually spent two weeks in santiago de compostela as an introduction to my semester abroad almost a decade ago – while i didn’t complete the camino myself, i saw pilgrims nearly every day, and it makes me smile to think back on that time in my life and imagine sadie and mal among them. at that point in my life, i hadn’t admitted to myself that i liked girls, much less spoken it out loud to anyone else. sadie’s journey, while not identical to mine, still has shades of relatability for me in that way. no two gay awakenings are alike, and i certainly didn’t spring from the womb with an awareness of my own lesbianism, so i really do get her.

i do have one pet peeve about this – the POV switching. i absolutely enjoy multiple POVs, but i really prefer when they’re separated into their own chapters. in times of need, i can even get behind having POV switches when a new scene occurs. but having the POV switch in the middle of a conversation feels egregious, and it was jarring to have it happen multiple times throughout the book. i don’t like it!! it can take me out of the story, which is a shame when it’s one i’m enjoying. ultimately, though, i still loved the book, and as always, i can’t wait for whatever story appears next in the alison cochrun repertoire!

This book had me actively stopping reading at several different points to plan my own trip to the Camino, and I feel like that’s the highest compliment I can give!

This book is packed full of everything you could possibly want - a story of self discovery, a wholesome (but spicy) romance, and a beautiful setting.

If you like sapphic stories, European settings, lots of food, or just want a story to whisk you away, definitely pick this book up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sapphic romance by Alison Cochrun. This story follows Sadie and Mal and their journey as they walk the Camino de Santiago in Portugal. Sadie is grappling with the fact that she might be queer, as well as unpacking the family trauma she never actually dealt with. Mal is struggling to come to terms with the fact that her father, who was never accepting of her as a queer woman, has died and left everything to her. This romance is packed with self discovery, queer joy, and adventure. I had a fantastic time reading this book.

I adore Alison Cochrun's writing and "Every Step She Takes" is gleefully added to the canon of wonderful sapphic books for me. Mal and Sadie are charming and tender together, the Camino is emotional, funny, and fulfilling, and the character growth is practical and joyful.

While the first quarter of the book sets up anxiety and fear as the rulers of head and heart, the subsequent pages unfurl the why behind the what, making for tender revelations and inviting the characters to be vulnerable with others and themselves. While resistant, both Mal and Sadie arrive at where they need to be, when they needed to be there. As always, there are minor characters in the wings ready to call the MC on their bullshit and kindly help them to their better HEA. We all need a little help from our friends, and Alison Cochran's books never disappoint to have a queer found family waiting in the wings.

I always appreciate the emotional intelligence Alison Cochrun gives her characters - and capacity to grow,. Also, I delight in MC who are over 30 as it gives so much more to write, reflect on, and invite readers to do the same. That said, there's no age restriction to this book. I think everyone will find something to take away and leave behind, as Inez likes to say.

One of my favorite reads this year!

This book has me severely needing to go on a backpacking trip! It gave me a lot of nostalgia for the trips I took in college, all the amazing people I met and the moments of self reflection. While my trips didn’t lead to my coming out or falling in love like these two, it did give me such incredible memories. This book was really tender and beautiful and exactly why I love to read romance!

Who’s going to start up Beatrix Tours? Because I’m ready to sign up for a Camino!

Alison Cochrun is easily an auto-buy author for me. She writes romances where the chemistry jumps off the page, the storylines to sucks you from page one to last sentence, and leaves an emotional wallop on your soul. Every Step She Takes is no different. You have a late in life lesbian trying to discover who she is on a surprise LGBTQA+ hike through Spain. In Alison Cochrun's hands the book basically writes itself!

You can't help but love every character, flaws in all, and cheer on both Mal and Sadie as they trek through the country. While this isn't my favorite Cochrun book it's still high on my recommendation list.

Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun is an incredibly fun and funny book that follows two queer women on a physical, emotional, and mental journey on the Camino de Santiago, a religious/spiritual journey that these characters choose to take starting in Lisbon, ending in Spain. And wow, what a journey it was.

Alison Cochrun is an auto-buy author for me, and I was certainly not let down by this book. Mal and Sadie both feel like incredibly real, fleshed out characters who you can't help but root for. They both have their own struggles and flaws that they bring to the Camino and deal with over the course of the two-week journey. Along with Sadie and Mal we meet a host of other funny and larger than life characters who travel the Camino with them and also go through their own journeys and growth along the way. I really fell in love with everyone in this book, and I would love to read more about any one character in this book.

This book was also just incredibly funny. The first scene on a plane had me laughing out loud, which is not common for books, and that humor stayed throughout the entire book. This book was also very emotional, though. I felt seen by Sadie's journey, and inspired by Mal. As someone who really does not like walking for long distances, this book made me want to go on my own Camino, it was that good!

This was a quick, readable queer romance novel focused on finding oneself in multiple ways. When you read a romance, you pretty much know how it ends—what draws you in as a reader is how the characters get there, the setting, the character-development and writing style. This is where Every Step She Takes stood out to me. The characters are fun and likeable, the setting is lovely (now I need to take a walking pilgrimage in Europe) and the premise was unique and heartwarming (discovering one’s sexuality late in life). Great weekend read with a memorable story.

I really enjoy Alison's books. Most of the time the only trouble is I read them too fast and must wait for more. I especially liked this one because of the outdoorsy activity and late bloomer sapphic story.

Sadie thought she was just filling in for her injured influencer sister on a scenic walking tour—minor detail her sister forgot to mention? It’s a queer Camino tour. Which is a bit of a curveball when you’re just realizing you might be a lesbian. Oh, and that gorgeous woman from the plane? She’s Sadie’s roommate for the trip. Cue panic. And flirting.

Alison Cochrun delivers again with a story that’s equal parts hilarious, heartwarming, and hot-girl-hiking chaos. Watching Mal “help” Sadie practice being queer? Iconic. Add in a dreamy Spanish backdrop, a fabulous queer cast, and some seriously thoughtful convos about identity, comphet, grief, and late bloomers—and you've got a queer romcom that struts the line between feel-good and full-feels. Loved it.

I loved this book in all of its travel romance glory. It was at once a fun and flirty exploration of new places and new things, and also a deep dive into the hard things we have to think about when we finally have enough time on our hands. This story really hit the spot for me — a perfect summer read, a perfect pride read, good to take the edge off, but not without bite of its own.