I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book. I’ve only read a couple sapphic romance novels thus far, but I really liked this one.

The two main characters, Sadie and Mal, were great and both relatable in their own ways. Sadie is a 35-year old woman unsure of her sexuality, and Mal is a 38-year old woman confident in her sexuality (but not in her ability to love someone long-term). This book was all about their journey to self-discovery as they do Portugal’s Camino de Santiago.

I love the overall theme that it’s never too late to live your own truth. Definitely looking forward to reading more from Alison Cochrun.

Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun is a touching story about finding yourself and love in unexpected places. Sadie and Mal's journey on the Camino is both emotional and relatable, especially for those who feel like they're on their own path in life. Cochrun's writing is engaging and brings the characters to life, making you laugh and cry along the way. The dual perspectives offer interesting insights into both characters, though I wished for a bit more depth in their stories. The side characters and the beautiful setting add extra charm to the book. If you enjoy travel, romance, and stories about personal growth, you'll enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

I cried reading this book and, while it shouldn’t come as a surprise because I am a very emotional lesbian, it speaks of how beautiful Alison’s writing is. I am honestly in love with everything she writes and I recognize myself so much in the characters and in their journey.

Being queer means that we live in an alternate timeline, that our milestones come at different moments and that we sometimes feel at a complete loss. Or at least, I know I do. I don’t fit in the box people set aside for me, and, just like Sadie and Mal, it’s hard to make peace with that.

This book made me laugh, cry and I think I might need to do a Camino.

I’ll also be buying a copy of this book for every person in my life.

I've loved every book I've read by Alison Cochrun, and this was no exception! To be honest the beginning felt kind of wild to me, but it ended up feeling relatively realistic to the characters (and sometimes you just need to suspend disbelief a little so that the romance novel premise can happen lol). But I just love how Cochrun writes characters and their relationships, and I was totally sucked into this story. The ending was great and none of it felt frustrating or unrealistic. Would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.

I'm usually such a huge fan of Alison Cochrun's writing and I was dying to get my hands on this one early, and I'm sad to say I wasn't as deeply in love with it as I wanted to be. It's not remotely a bad book, but it isn't one I wanted to spend a lot of time with.

Something about the characters never truly settled in for me. They felt archetype-y and stereotypical, and while a little cheese in a romance can be a good thing this felt over the top cringe fairly regularly. Their narrative voices felt more geared toward a younger reader who needs their hand held throughout the story, instead of an adult who can infer things in subtext. I wish I had vibed more with the characters because the vacation setting and the coming out story were something I really wanted to love, but I kept getting hung up on not enjoying Sadie or Mal.

Every Step She Takes is about Sadie Wells who has lived out everyone else's dreams (her grandmother's store, her mother and sister's support system, etc.) her whole life until her sister, Vi, breaks her ankle and is forced to give up her trip across the Camino, a long distance hike in Europe that's supposed to be transformative. Sadie agrees to go in Vi's place and write for Vi's travel blog. At first she's not sure why but as she starts her journey it becomes clear and she's in need of a metaphorical journey in her life. On this hike Sadie discovers her likes and dislikes, her sexuality, and her dreams. Meanwhile she meets Mal who has secrets of her own and needs to go on her own journey--for truth and healing--and they fall in love. But will it last beyond the Camino? Only time will tell. I really loved the parallel physical and metaphorical journeys the characters went on and the side characters were incredible, definitely a highlight. This was really fun to read in the spring when the dates in the book paralleled the dates in real life. What kept this from being five stars for me was that I wanted a bit more from the characters. I feel like by dividing it between Sadie and Mal I felt like I wanted a bit more of each, though I did really like the dual perspective. If you love travel, queer romance, or stories told in dual POV, I think you'll love this one. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Liked this book! Honestly read it in one day. It's a perfect summer read.


-Sadie escapes to a queer Camino tour for a life reset
-Mid-flight panic = drunk confessions to her hot seatmate
-Surprise: she’s on the same tour
-Long walks, late talks, & a slow-burn sapphic romance
-A heartwarming journey of healing, identity & unexpected love

I love Alison Cochrun's writing, and this book was no different! I think this story is so great, and the characters felt so real. Sadie's coming out "late" in life is something that I'm sure is very relatable to a lot of people, and I loved that she is 35 in the book and Mal is 39. So many main characters are super young so it was great to see some different representation.

Knowing that Cochrun did the Camino herself made me love the plot even more! I saw some similarities to The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, but even if you didn't love that book, you'll love this one.

A big thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of one of my most anticipated 2025 reads!

I have read all of Alison Cochrun's books and really love them all, but this one is my favorite by far! I loved everything about it and did not want it to end.

I love both Sadie and Mal -- for all their flaws and hang-ups, I was rooting for them so hard and was so happy to see growth in both of them.

I loved all the descriptions of the Camino -- I could picture it all so well, and it made me want to go walk it myself. I also loved the entire trek group -- they were so endearing, with so much personality. I would love spin-off books about each of them!

This book also deals with some big life issues -- figuring out who you are, dealing with the death of a parent, grappling with acceptance. I feel like all of these topics were dealt with in a graceful way and really added to the story.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys swoony romances or travel writing -- it is so good for both of those! I am so excited to read everything that Alison Cochrun writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Once I started reading, I could not put Every Step She Takes down. This story follows Sadie and Mal, both thirty-somethings (which I found so refreshing!) who don’t have life figured out, walking the Camino de Santiago. I fell in love with these FMCs and the found family walking with them. I laughed from the start and was giddy at the cuteness of their budding relationship and all the “practice”. I was rooting for Sadie and Mal the whole time, but especially as they discovered what was best for themselves apart from each other.

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Alison Cochrun and this is my favorite story yet. I will continue to recommend her to others. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher: Atria Books
Expected Publication: September 2, 2025

Alison Cochrun has done it again—Every Step She Takes is a moving, funny, and deeply affirming sapphic romance set along the sun-drenched Camino de Santiago, and I adored every page of it. Fans of The Charm Offensive and Kiss Her Once for Me will find familiar hallmarks here: wit, tenderness, rich emotional depth, and characters you wish you could hug (or at least hike with).

Sadie Wells is 35, stuck in a rut, and questioning more than just her job running the family’s antique shop. When her sister is sidelined by an injury, Sadie agrees to take her place on a two-week Camino tour across Portugal and Spain—without realizing it’s a queer Camino tour. Cue panic, especially when a wine-soaked flight and a bout of turbulence lead to Sadie blurting out her sexual confusion to her seatmate… who just so happens to also be on her tour.

Enter Mal: brooding, beautiful, emotionally unavailable, and heir to a wine fortune she never asked for. She’s reeling from the death of her estranged father and running from everything that’s ever asked something real of her—including her feelings. She doesn’t expect the freckled, nervous woman who cried about being a “lesbian virgin” at 30,000 feet to worm her way into her heart. And Sadie doesn’t expect to feel anything at all.

Together—and with the help of an unforgettable supporting cast—Sadie and Mal embark on a journey that’s more about what’s happening within than what’s beneath their feet. Their chemistry is slow-building but electric, and watching them explore vulnerability, identity, grief, and joy is as rewarding as the romance itself. The “practice flirting” trope? Hilarious. The late-in-life coming out arc? Tender and true. The fat rep? Done with care and dignity.

Cochrun’s writing is both cinematic and intimate. You’ll feel the heat off the cobblestones, crave every mention of wine and pastéis de nata, and laugh out loud at the group dynamics. The Camino becomes more than a setting—it’s a character in its own right, mirroring the interior terrain our characters are navigating.

There are a few small stumbles: some “issue” dialogue feels a bit on-the-nose, and I would’ve loved an epilogue to savor where Sadie and Mal end up. But that doesn’t take away from how full and satisfying the journey felt. If you’ve ever felt “behind” in your life or your queerness, this book will meet you where you are—with empathy, humor, and open arms.

Every Step She Takes is a beautifully told reminder that it’s never too late to rewrite your story—or fall in love with someone who helps you believe in a better version of it.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I am a fan of Alison Cochrun so my review may be the *teensiest* bit biased, but EVERY STEP SHE TAKES was every bit of the transportive, summer romance read that I was hoping for. AND more! (I am literally *this* close to booking a tour along the Camino de Santiago.) EVERY STEP SHE TAKES is undoubtedly fun and sexy, but what resonated with me the most were the ways in which Sadie, Mal, and the rest of the characters on Beatrix Tours navigated their own struggles throughout their walk along the Camino, addressing the themes of self-discovery, grief and loss, and above all: acceptance. Cochrun's new book is a delight, and your next summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book took me a minute to get into due to how often they mention brand names in the first 30 or so pages but once there on the Camino it becomes a lot better and the brand droping disappeared. I'm glad I stuck through through. I relate a lot to Sadie and aspire to be more like Mal (even if I am way broker then her). there relationship is quite cute and the end was vary funny and satisfying. contemporary romance isn't normally my thing but sapphic romance definitely is I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book a lot more then I tend to like contemporary romance and I think that comes from the fact it isn't a small town or typical beach vacation there constantly on the move and growing as character they are not the same people from start to end.

i feel so seen after reading this book. sadie and i have a lot in common. as someone who also came out later in life, it was so refreshing to see that in a book. i am still figuring out my sexuality and also feel like i missed out on major milestones in my teens and early 20s. this book made me realize that it’s okay to be on a different timeline that everyone else. i loved the unique cast of characters this book offered!

This was a cute sapphic travel romance! The characters are older than me, but I could still relate to them both a lot. I also liked the asexual conversation with another character, wish it had been explored a bit more. The ending was so fitting in relation to how they first met!

3.75 ⭐️ Received this ARC from NetGalley. Having read Kiss Her Once For Me, I was hoping for an instant grab. This book started off super slow for me, I wasn’t really excited to pick it back up and continue reading it until halfway through. That being said, I appreciated the deep dive into self discovery. I feel like women in their mid to late 30’s often lose themselves, or are trying to find themselves for the first time. This book can really resonate with everyone even if you aren’t LGBTQIA+.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Every Step She Takes follows Sadie and Mal, two complete opposite women who join the Camino tour, Sadie to help out her sister, and Mal to get her mind off yet another breakup.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book, particularly the other people walking the Camino with Sadie and Mal, like Vera, Inez, and Stefano. They really made the book special and it was so fun to read about all the shenanigans the group got up to as they completed the walk. The story was also very enjoyable and I loved the later in life coming out and how the group was able to build a sense of community despite being from very different walks of life.

I would’ve loved more of Sadie’s blog posts as they were such a fun read, as were Sadie’s sister Vi’s responses to them. I also had a difficult time with how unwelcoming and insistent the group was that Sadie was straight as well as the first time Sadie and Mal discussed having sex as it made Sadie feel much younger than she was and perpetuated some negative stereotypes.

However, the characters made this book a very enjoyable ride and I’d love to venture back into this world to see more of these characters and how they might interact in the future.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Alison Cochrun is always a blast. I am famously bored by travel narratives but I simply could not put this down. This is written in a punchy comedic style that surprised me after Kiss Her Once For Me’s jaded early-twenties first person narration, but it worked so perfectly with the cast of messy mid-thirties and above adult characters bagpacking through Europe. I was sputtering with laughter from the first chapter, and then burying my head in my pillow reeling from cuteness at the budding romance, and then genuinely getting some dust in my eyes when characters contemplated their growth throughout their journey. As expected from a Cochrun novel, along with the many laughs, Emotions were certainly felt.

The somewhat artificial spunky dialogue and riffing, as well as the insane legs Sadie’s anxious thoughts jump to are so entertaining in a way many contemporary romance novels aspire to, but few truly achieve. It’s eloquent, effortlessly skillful, but also peppered with pop culture references. Just delicious for my brain. Sadie quickly evolves from difficult to read (because of the sheer second-hand embarrassment) to incredibly loveable, especially as you see her through Mal’s eyes. Their conversation on fatness and fatphobia was very refreshing and authentic to the real adult experience. Sadie—but also maybe Mal—present really well as neurodivergent, which is also something Alison loves to portray.

Sadie and Mal’s chemistry is devastatingly good. (Another Alison Cochrun moment.) I fear I am a sucker for a beautifully handsome masc on the domme side. And she’s rich. What more can you want from a fictional prince to sweep you off your feet? I’m (mostly) kidding—but a heavily romanticised “I can fix her” baiting love interest is what a lot of tradpub sapphic romances once lacked. Mal’s serial dater spin on the serial monogamist was very intriguing, and I loved her backstory and growth. (I know these are generally standalones but I would SO read a spinoff on the fascinating bi stepmom!)

As Alison loves to do, this novel is another love letter to demisexuality, this time in the style of another of my favourites, How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly—with a queer mentor figure against a late bloomer. I can see some folks aren’t a fan of this dynamic, but it will truly never get old for me. I love the rush of reading about an unbearable crush towards a singular, unattainably perfect person. There is no sexuality more prone to obsession than a demi. (One Last Stop by Casey Mcquiston also comes to mind in the yearning genre.) Maybe you can tell I was a nerd and listened to You Belong With Me like it was gospel growing up, but many of us were! It’s so addicting, realistic, touching. As in Kiss Her Once for Me, intimate scenes aren’t exactly fade to black, but they are quite minimalistic whilst cleverly retaining explicit overtones. I find that to be slightly atypical for today’s mainstream romance novels, and probably very friendly towards some subsets of aspec readers (sometimes me 🙋🏻‍♀️) who may prefer media that way!

The author’s love for the pilgrimage radiates off the pages. (It’s truly a rare phenomenon when a piece of media makes me crave physical exertion.) I adore romance books about slightly older characters that are past their twenties—It’s just comforting to know that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have everything figured out by then. Or even, that it may be *more* fulfilling to keep exploring when you’ve already got more life experience under your belt. (And, yes—things do happen for you at exactly the right time!) There are overall educational undertones to this book, much like YA, and several quotable moments. I enjoyed the sheer diversity of the group across gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality and spiritual/religious background. Ro’s little speech as a queer Muslim was very heartening, as was the little Bangladeshi NGO shoutout (woop woop 🇧🇩 There are indeed lesbians on the gay agenda back home).

In the age of the internet’s fraught identity politics and gatekeeping (especially from undercover white FARTs/TERFs lurking within fem, sapphic and women-aligned spheres), there’s some queer media that just grounds you. I think this assurance is especially important to see from cis, white, lesbian authors. The biggest message to take away from Every Step She Takes is that labels aren’t a big deal, and it’s normal to switch as you grow, settle on one that only feels “most” correct, or even forgo them altogether—but kindness, empathy, and community are non-negotiable and essential.

An easy breezy 5⭐️.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for an e-ARC!

It’s no secret that I’m an Alison Cochrun superfan. I read Kiss Her Once For Me every Christmas time. Here We Go Again instantly became my favorite book, and I haven’t shut up about it since I read it. And now I can add Every Step She Takes to my list of favorite sapphic fiction!

Cochrun writes my favorite characters in beautiful situations. In the book the main characters are walking the Camino de Santiago. I love the story so much that it had me wanting to do a Camino, never mind the fact that I’m chronically ill/disabled, and can only walk a tiny bit without my mobility aids. But that just goes to show how immersive the story is - I felt like I was living the experience!

I fell in love with both main characters and could see parts of myself in each of them. I was rooting for them the whole time, but also rooting for them to find what’s best for themselves individually.

I really hope Cochrun never stops writing because her books mean so much to me!!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

Atria eARC
I absolutely adore all of Cochrun's books, and this is no exception. It has me wanting to go on my own Camino journey. How easy it was to relate to Sadie in some ways. She's still figuring out who she is in her thirties, and the Camino was such an interesting way for her to deal with all of her feelings while also being physically stretched to all of her limits. I loved the group of characters here that were so richly developed. It was easy to picture them and they added so many layers to this journey, with everyone slowly discovering new things about themselves. And Mal. I just wanted to hug her. There was some deep feelings and grief here, and Cochrun was tender with her yet tough when she needed to be. I just adored both of these characters and how their relationship grew and changed during their journey. This was excellent, and I always look forward to what she does next.