Romance, Travel Fiction, Little bit of mystery. This book was cozy and heart-warming. The protagonist is a specialty food broker and her love interest, who works as a caretaker in an old castle, is also enthusiastic about food. Which means the book is full of long discussions about mouth-watering dishes and dining spots.

"I'd find the best marbled filet mignon in the region, aged and tender, broiled to medium rare in cast iron. I'd top the steak with fresh butter infused with black truffle oil. And that beautiful fresh truffle there? I'd just barely warm it in a skillet to release the flavors before arranging them on top of the whole thing. Id pair it with duchesse potatoes and sautéed Brussels sprouts. To drink, I'd go for a low- acid red to avoid undermining the truffle. Maybe a Châteauneuf-du-Pape or a Côtes du Rhône if the vintage is right." - The novel is full of conversations like this.


If you love travelling, this book is a going to a very amazing read for you

Thanking Netgalley and Harper Muse for the e-ARC

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Muse for the ARC of this delightful book by Aimee K. Runyon. After taking a DNA test, that she receives as a gift, and being confirmed that she is adopted, Veronica embarks on a research holiday to discover her ancestors, and their origins. She encounters some interesting characters tied to her past, and that discovery allows her to move on with her life.

Veronica is a kitchen muse who can barely pay her bills. She tells herself she loves it though. Suddenly her boyfriend of 4 years breaks up with her and she finds out she's adopted. Her sister and best friend design a trip for her where she's to spend a week in Ireland, France, Italy and Denmark. Her ancestry report she is ties to these places. She starts on her adventure and has visions while she is there, visions of her ancestors. A great read!

This is a sweet novel that I will recommend for fans of women's fiction. Veronica is adopted and goes on a search for her birth mother. It's a familiar premise but Runyan executes the story beautifully. She sets each scene with just the right amount of detail so that the reader feels they are there with the character. I especially enjoy her descriptions. Veronica's journey kept me interested all the way through. The delicious food is another bonus! Ultimately, this is a feel-good read with cozy vibes. The message - don't settle for less than you deserve - is an honorable one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It had a great amount of travel stories, and I love a book that has the character discovering themselves and their past through travel. It is always fun to read and see a character in a book grow that way and see how different cultures and perspectives will alter them. It was a beautifully written book!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This book had the power to take me on a grand adventure.

My inner leprechaun REALLY wanted to love it; I was emotionally packed and ready!

It ended up being a road trip, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it wasn’t what I was psyched up for (knowing the author’s fantastic historical fiction) and I ended up slightly disappointed.

Why?

Two reasons.

One, I’m not a fantasy lover and the ‘visions’ that emerged in her first destination turned me off. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for leprechauns. Perhaps it was ‘how’ the thread played out that lead to my disinterest in the plot. Does my panache for facts and historical fiction hamper my ability to make room for fantasy elements? Perhaps.

Two, I didn’t connect to the characters. I liked Veronica’s motivation, but her backstory had no emotional resonance for me and her drive wasn’t active enough for me to become emotionally invested. I couldn’t imagine myself being friends with her despite acknowledging how she sees the world through food and how she uses it as a form of self-care.

Things I did enjoy:
☘️ the gorgeous cover and the itinerary
☘️ the idea of wandering Europe
☘️ the focus on self-discovery
☘️ I was intrigued with the DNA and adoption thread
☘️ the foodie references and the visceral reaction to them
☘️ sensory detail
☘️ a foodie character
☘️ unravelling secrets of the past

Keep in mind that I don’t read fantasy and am not drawn to contemporary novels when you give weight to my opinion!

I was gifted this copy by Harper Collins Focus and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I really enjoyed this book! If only we all could experience a trip like this one! It includes really wonderful relationship dynamics, between family members, friends, and a romantic interest, that are both relatable and inspiring. I can’t say too much without spoiling something, but the stories of the women in this novel really showcase the strength and tenacity of women and remind you not to settle for anything less than what you deserve (which is the absolute best there is) which I really needed a reminder of. If you’re a foodie, there’s plenty of mouthwatering food descriptions that will definitely inspire you in the kitchen. Overall, a very cozy, feel good read.

Such a lovely story of family and friendship with a touch of mystery and magic! Unbeknownst to Avery that her sister, Veronica, is adopted, she gives her family DNA kits for Christmas. Avery feels dreadful she’s brought this family secret out in the open. So with the help of Veronica’s best friend, Stephanie (both amazing supports to Veronica throughout the book) they send Veronica on a trip to the places where her family roots are strongest. In each place, she has visions or “echoes” of her past ancestors which leave her full of questions. This journey of self discovery helps her to follow the dreams she has been suppressing. My favorite part of the whole book was her visit to Ireland where she meets Niall, the caretaker of a castle she stays in. Feelings soon develop as they discover they have much in common. I love this quote from him, “I refuse to believe we live in a world where happily ever after doesn’t happen. Sure, it’s not wrapped up pretty in a bow. And it takes a bloody lot of work to keep it up. Every day you have to wake up and choose to make that a reality over and over again.” The descriptions of the food throughout left me feeling famished and wanting to taste each dish, and I was excited to see a few recipes at the end. I also loved the tie in to the shop, which she visits at the very beginning of her journey, at the end of the book which left me with a happy sigh of contentment. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book has a little bit of everything I like in a satisfying story – a foodie theme, a likeable protagonist, a realistic romance between two mature adults, and a travelogue with evocative descriptions of interesting places. What it did not have I also appreciated – no enemies-to-lovers trope and no overwrought drama.

Veronica Stratton surmised she was adopted when she was a young teen but never mentioned it in fear she would lose her close relationship with her parents and sibling. Despite her seeming adjustment to this unspoken reality, it undermined her self-worth and her willingness to risk fulfilling her dreams. Veronica, now in her late twenties, and her family are confronted by the truth in a most innocent way, upsetting the balance in all their relationships. When her sister and best friend take the reins and plan a month-long “sabbatical” for Veronica, she sets off to visit the four countries she is genetically linked to by her biological roots. The result is a transformational journey that includes a bit of paranormal inspiration as well as a deepening of her sense of self.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable read and one I strongly recommend.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

It's another best book so far this year for me. I enjoyed this one immensely! I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. Wow!
I'm still thinking about this sweet story that has a little bit of everything to keep the readers' interest.
The descriptions of people and places were so vivid that I felt like I was watching a movie!
I deeply resonated with Veronica as I too am adopted. I think that's why I enjoyed this book so much.
My favorite stop on Veronica's journey was Italy. I've never been but thanks to this novel I got to go.
I will warn you though. The food in this book will make you drool another reason I loved this novel. Yummy! "Sigh" are two descriptions I can think of. Oh yes, amazingly wonderful lol.
5 stars from me for keeping me entertained. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a wonderful adventure. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Runyan never runs out of ideas. I was captivated by the protagonists journey to discover her birth mother. She travels near and far. A little mystery, romance and travel along with delicious recipes makes this one to read in one sitting.

A beautifully crafted story that seamlessly blends heartfelt emotion with relatable, authentic characters. Runyan's evocative prose and vivid settings immerse readers in a journey of resilience, love, and personal growth. It's a captivating and uplifting read that stays with you long after the final page.

I was hooked by the premise of this story and I started in with pretty high expectations. This novel had a bit of an Eat Pray Love vibe where Veronica travels to the different countries and finds romance and food etc. The first half the book is the best and I enjoyed it immensely. The ancestry twist is interesting and while there is humor there is a lot of heart between family and also friends. There is an adoption thread that takes unexpected twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. The last part of the book moved a bit slower for me but was still enjoyable. There is a little bit of a time travel element in the form of "visions" of the past. Is this realistic? Of course not. Yet, isn't this fiction? I enjoyed it because it is a unique idea and just imagine if you could see your ancestors from so long ago?! The food conversations and details are delightful and add so much to the story. Be warned, this book will probably make you hungry! Overall I found this to be an enjoyable read with some fresh character perspectives.

Four Stars.

"I received this book from NetGalley for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

THE WANDERING SEASON by AIMIE K RUNYAN is the story of Veronica Stratton’s wandering to four countries looking for members of her birth family, once the fact of her adoption is brought to light by a DNA test. On her travels, which are well described, she meets Irishman Niall Callahan, also a food lover, who is equally unsure of his future…
Veronica’s younger sister and her best friend, are an amazing support to her.
The descriptions are lovely and the romance sweet.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Harper Muse. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This book was sweet, but it definitely gave hallmark movie vibes for me in the way that hallmark movies are unrealistic to the point that I have a hard time relating to the story and getting into it. I was a loving it until the “fantasy” element was introduced about a quarter in and it definitely detracted from the story for me because I’m a pretty big skeptic and it just didn’t vibe for me. It especially rubbed wrong when she started telling everyone about it and not a single one of them questioned it…even the “skeptical” characters.

I also wasn’t super into the romance by the end of the book. For a book that was marketed as “romance” there’s literally barely any of it to speak of. I was pretty hooked on it for the first half of the book, but it felt like as soon as they acknowledged their feelings for one another, she just left him and never brought up texting/talking to him again until the very end of the book… and again, a very unrealistic ending for me.

On a positive note, I loved the writing and descriptions, especially with the food. I was drooling the entire time.

I think there is definitely an audience who will enjoy this book, particularly if you enjoy the hallmark channel lol. I just really need to be able to relate to the characters to feel immersed in the story and I honestly don’t think I would have made a single decision that our MC did lol.

Anyways, thank you to NetGalley for a free arc in exchange for my honest review.

Oh this book was phenomenal! I could not put this book down. It was such a beautiful written story. I had every heart string pulled. It was gorgeously put together. Well done Aimie!

The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse
Pub Date: 4-1-25

Thank you @netgalley, @harpermusebooks, and @bookishaimie for this eARC.

Don't we all, at one point growing up, wonder if we were adopted?

Veronica Stratton had just such a suspicion when she was fifteen and "pieced it together in sophomore biology class". The truth comes out years later when her sister, Avery, brings DNA test kits to their family Christmas gathering.

Following this revelation and the breakup of a four year relationship, Veronica - with the full support of her parents, sister, and best friend - hesitantly embarks on a four week trip to Ireland, France, Italy, and Denmark - the places represented on her ancestry results.

Veronica experiences "echoes" of her "foremothers" while spending a week in each country. She also meets, Niall, caretaker of an eight hundred year old castle in Ireland. As she's traveling in the off-season, Niall makes himself available to serve as her personal tour guide.

These four weeks offer Veronica a chance to examine her past and determine where her future may lead.

I enjoyed joining Veronica on her journey of self discovery across Europe. Add this to your TBR if you like stories of ancestry, family, food, relationships, and travel.

"I smiled at the idea of pausing a trip to Ireland to immerse oneself in Ireland through fiction and admired the commitment. I loved the combination of the ancient and the recent housed in one space. A cacophony of shapes and colors that somehow managed to produce a symphony of words."

#thewanderingseason #aimiekrunyan #harpercollinsfocus #netgalley