The Wandering Season follows Veronica as she navigates who she really is. After receiving a DNA kit for Christmas, Veronica officially learns that she is adopted. The results highlight four different places her heritage may have originated from. Veronica's family plan a once in a lifetime trip to allow her to explore all of these places in the hopes of finding clues to her ancestors.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I'm so glad that I did. The narrator did such an amazing job with the many different accents throughout the book. The narration kept me intrigued.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the places she visited and all the food that she encountered. Definitely don't read this book while hungry. Overall, I felt like some parts of the story just didn't work for me. The first issue was that her sister gifted her the DNA kit. I just think that's such an odd thing to gift a family member who you think might be adopted.

The romantic storyline between Liam and Veronica also fell flat for me. When we first met Liam's character, I couldn't tell if he was an older gentleman or a potential love interest. It was a very awkward love story to me. I loved that they connected over food but their romance was missing chemistry.

The paranormal flashbacks to her ancestors took me by surprise. I had to go back and relisten because I couldn't figure out what was happening. It was so unexpected and personally didn't think it worked with the story.

A food-matcher who is searching to learn more about her ancestors (after an adoption discovery) takes a quest across Europe. Readers who enjoy immersive settings with rich architectural and food descriptions will feel completely ‘present’ in this read.

From a historical castle in Ireland, to small village in France, across the Tuscan region of Italy, and a few snowy days in Denmark, before culminating in NYC this book is absolutely wandering in all the best ways. Along the journey, Veronica experiences visions or dreams connecting her to her ancestors’ lives and experiences, so readers should be prepared for that magical realism aspect. Along the journey, Veronica meets wonderful people, a potential new love interest, and grows closer to her family.

Audiobook narrator, Carolina Hewitt, did a phenomenal job with the diverse accents and cultural locations. She also did a great job capturing Veronica’s passion for foods and her nuanced emotional journey. This was the perfect audio book for my daily walks or commutes to work that always left me in an upbeat and happy mood!

Although I don't usually read books like this, especially the magical realism parts, it made for a pleasant listen on my daily walks. There were parts that weren't necessarily believable, especially the romance, the short shrift given to main character Veronica's sister and best friend, who were merely mechanisms to move the story along., and the ending. The book was greatly enhanced by narrator Caroline Hewitt, who is one of the best I've heard in a long time. Readers/listeners of this genre won't be disappointed.

When you mix food descriptions, travel, magical realism, and romance, along with supportive family and friends, it’s hard not to love this book.

The main character, Veronica, is a food matcher who always knew in her heart she was adopted. When a test confirms that, Vero’s sister with the help of Vero’s best friend send her on a month long European trip to learn about her heritage per the DNA results.

Veronica spends time in Ireland, France, Italy, and Denmark. At each stop she gets visions which are echos of the past.

I loved every bit of the culinary journey of each place, as well the people, and the snippets of those that lived in the past.

I also loved Veronica’s story which in part is her realizing what she wants to do for a lifetime career.

Based on the reviews, I enjoyed this much more than I expected. Lovely story of a young woman searching for both her roots and her future. Part family drama, part food tour, and a touch of time travel. What’s not to like?

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so fun and amazing. I really loved it and enjoyed Veronica’s story. The author does a great job handling the story with care and making it believable and the ending had me in tears! The audiobook narrator does amazing dealing with several different accents and really helped me get immersed in the story!

This was such a cute charming story about a girl named Veronica who finds out she is adopted and is thrown for a loop figuring out her past. She takes an extended vacation and travels to Ireland, France, Italy, and Denmark where she has "dreams" of different women in the past who are going through major life changes.

The story has themes of found family, a sense of belonging, home is where the heart is, and life is what you make it.

Things that didn't work for me:

Really weird that the parents legally couldn't tell her she was adopted haha and when she figured out as a teen (she didn't look like anyone in her family) she didn't say anything.

The dreams dynamic felt a bit too dramatic and disjointed from the story as it is ambigous why she had those dreams even by the end of the book. Especially it felt off with the last vision she ends up having regarding a specific family member.

Why did she NEED to go to Europe? She didn't really do any research there and was mostly there for vibes by herself that her younger sister fully planned for her... It seemed that she was literally incapable of making life choices on her own many times throughout the book. She was a character that needed a "nudge" to do anything.

Things I loved:

Niall. The cat. The aspects of her job as a supplier for restaurants. Descriptions of the markets. Descriptions how the houses almost seemed to have "agency"- really well done!

Overall three stars because while I did enjoy it, this is one I maybe wouldn't read again BUT I am glad that I did as it has been so highly recommended on instagram. I would say this is for fans of What the Wind Knows, The Story She Left Behind, and To Sicily With Love.

Thank you to NetGalley and to HarperMuse Audiobooks and HarperMuse for my gifted ebook and audiobook copies in exchange for my honest review. This made a stellar audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrator!

Did I pick this book because of its cover? Absolutely. It looked like the kind of place I’d love to travel to, and thankfully, the story delivered on that front.

The premise was fantastic—Veronica’s journey to the places her ancestors may have come from was such a fun concept. Traveling through Ireland, France, Denmark, and Italy, discovering incredible food and ingredients—it was easy to imagine being right there with her. The descriptions were rich and immersive, making this book a treat for anyone who loves food and travel.

However, one thing that didn’t work for me was the paranormal element. Veronica connecting with her ancestors in such a mystical way felt out of place. I would have preferred if she had uncovered her heritage through distant relatives or historical records rather than literal visions. Readers should definitely be prepared for this touch of magical realism!

Another thing I missed was the chemistry between Veronica and Niall. On paper, they were a great match—they bonded over food and travel, but the romance just lacked that spark. A little more passion or tension would have made their relationship and the book more engaging.

That said, I partially listened to the audiobook, and Caroline Hewitt did a great job, especially with Niall’s Irish accent! That was definitely a highlight.

Overall, The Wandering Season is an enjoyable read for those who love books about self-discovery, food, and travel. Just be aware of the unexpected supernatural twist!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks and HarperCollins Focus for the (audio) ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This novel had such an intriguing premise: a young woman's month-long adventure to 4 European countries (Ireland, France, Italy, Denmark) to explore her ancestry (as indicated by an online DNA test) after discovering a long-secret adoption. Throw in some foodie references, a bit of romance, and an ongoing wrestling and reconciling with her identity, and I was sold. But....there were just a few too many issues for me to really love the book.

Ultimately, it came down to these key challenges...
1) Extremely flowery writing - It felt a bit like the author had a thesaurus at the ready and strived to elaborate on every detail with cliched phrases
2a) A fantasy element that worked initially, but then felt extremely overplayed as she explored each country, without a lot of connection to her current situation
2b) I also had a strong desire for her to have more "flesh & blood" discoveries. In other words, meet some relatives!
3) Repetition in language and situations, particularly related to her insecurities - I grew weary of hearing about her desire to "make it on her own" (no Daddy's Amex for her!), questions about her recent break-up, everyone nagging her about opening her own restaurant, and others

Overall, it felt like the story could have benefited from a better editor, who stripped away some of the fluff, and let the big issues shine through.

I will say that one huge positive for me was the dialogue, which was extremely well-written, particularly in situations with "banter". That is not easy to do and the author nailed it. I would be willing to read more from this author just because of that. And, the narration of the audiobook was top-notch.

Please note: I received an advanced listening copy from NetGalley & Harper Muse Audio in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

This story is told in first person and follows Veronica who has a business that I found fascinating as a specialty food broker, though her family often pushes her to go to culinary school and run her own kitchen. She’s recently broken up with her boyfriend and visiting her family in Estes Park for the holidays when her beloved sister gives the entire family DNA kits for Christmas. Awkward pause when it turns out that she’s adopted.

After receiving her results, Veronica ends up traveling to Europe to spend one week in each of the four places on her ancestry report from Irish castles to France and the Italian countryside. When Veronica travels to her first destination, a castle in Ireland, she experiences echoes of the past within her room and other places that she visits on the estate. The story of a young woman struggling with the marriage of her father to a woman that would rather see her gone even if it means marrying her off to a brute.

I loved the stories told through echoes in this book. It gave me the feel of a historical fiction novel within a contemporary one even if I did roll my eyes at the coincidence of Veronica visiting the exact places that she needed to see what was necessary to move the story towards its connections. It came together beautifully. I enjoyed watching her grow as a character over the course of the book and admit to her avoidance of pursuing her dreams. I enjoyed all the supporting characters, especially the romantic interest, though keep in mind the romance is just a part of the whole and not the focus.

Recommended to lovers of travel, family history and magical realism. I also think it would make for a great book club discussion. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Caroline Hewitt. I found her voice for the characters to be so cozy and comforting, I was surprised that this was my first audiobook narrated by her. Definitely recommend this format if you’re an audiobook listener.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for a copy provided for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book!
As someone who loves to travel, it transported me away on an incredible adventure. The story is all about finding meaning and love in the most unexpected ways. It had me laughing, crying, and completely captivated from start to finish.
If you’re into tales that are both heartwarming and thought-provoking, this one’s a must-read.

I absolutely adored this book. It has everything you could want - cozy and heartfelt while also enchanting and magical. Such a wonderful story full of yummy food and beautiful surroundings, with a sweet little love story sprinkled in. I loved how the story unfolded and the self discovery the main character had was awe inspiring. The ending was simply beautiful. The quote, “Not all who wander are lost” definitely rings true. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job. I loved all the accents she did. 💚

I would like to thank Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

I wanted to love this book so much, but it just didn’t hit the marks for me at all. The magical realism (which I love!) completely took me out of this story. I would have preferred the main character to uncover portions of her past in a different way, like through townsfolk directly. And there was zero chemistry in the love interest portion of this story. Enough that it actually made me angry when the ending unfolded. It truly felt like this was supposed to be a “woman finds herself” story but had a very weak female main character who just did what everyone told her to do while acting like she wouldn’t bend to their will. Absolutely frustrating.

I’m just a puddle! Gah. this book was so beautiful! The plot and story were so engaging and inspiring! I loved the culinary aspect of the book as well! My dad is a phenomenal cook so I thought he would appreciate all of the food references too! I was constantly hungry while reading this! The romance was subtle but so sweet! The overall resolution was so heartwarming and enlightening! Please read this!

Title: The Wandering Season
Author: Aimie K.Runyan
Publisher: Harper Muse
Genre: Contemporary Women’s fiction
with a splash of Magical Realism

{Thank you @uplitreads + @harpermusebooks for the #gifted copy of The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan, out today 4/1. I paired it with the audiobook from @netgalley + harper muse audiobooks because I knew the narrator Caroline Hewitt would do a great job with any accents and I wasn’t disappointed!}

While this author has written rich historical fiction in the past, I think it’s important to know before approaching this story that it is definitely one that is leans more women’s fiction. The history comes in the form of a magical realism element. Whatever you want to call them—visions, dreams, hallucinations—I thought this was a fun way to tackle ancestry. And I personally love when an author doesn’t box themselves into one genre and follows a brilliant story idea.

Wanderlusts. Foodies. Dreamers. Romantics. This story is for you!

Ever since a high school biology class, Veronica had a hunch that she may have been adopted. Her rare red hair and green eyes just didn’t match the rest of the family. When her sister gives DNA tests as a Christmas gift, her parents confirm her suspicions and she begins unraveling her tangled family roots on a whirlwind European trip.

☘️ A castle in Ireland
🥖 A small village in France
🍕 The Tuscan region of Italy
❄️ A few days in Denmark
🗽 And finally NYC

Veronica may find out some things about her family along the way, but really she finds herself and a nudge to follow the dreams she’s had since childhood she was afraid to pursue.

When I finished this story the very first word that popped into my head was ‘Lovely’. This is just such a lovely story and I enjoyed traveling through the pages. I enjoyed this close family, sisters, a best friend, traveling and my gosh the food descriptions! Warning: this book will make you hungry!

4.5 stars

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
Great book!
I enjoyed it so much and the narrator is excellent.

What a refreshing read!

Veronica (Vero) has always wanted to be an acclaimed chef…since she was just a child. But those dreams kind of fell apart. She is now a top notch food/ingredients broker. She is well known in her Denver community, and has top restaurants reaching out to her to supply them!

On a much needed break, she travels home to see her family for the holidays. This is just AFTER a breakup with her boyfriend of FOUR years. One that she never saw coming!
So, she’s now at home and they are opening Christmas presents. Her younger sister, Avery, gives each of them a DNA test as a ‘fun’ type of present… just to see where they originally came from! But, her parents go ashen.

Veronica guessed, while she was in HS studying biology, that she had been adopted. After all, her parents are more of an Italian/Middle Eastern appearance… with dark hair and eyes. Where she’s a redhead with green eyes. She never broached the subject, and they didn’t either. So when she casually mentions that she ‘figured’ she was adopted, a conversation follows….

OK. So this is the opening! I’ll cut off from here, but…. I will say…. Her sister talks her into traveling to the places where her DNA shows she came from. If for nothing else, to just get a feel of the places!

And that’s where all the fun starts! Because Veronica starts to see and know things that she shouldn’t have any idea about!! 😮🫢

I absolutely LOVED this aspect of the book! And yes, I totally believe that stuff like this can and does happen!

There are beautiful Irish countrysides. An adorable Irish ‘tour guide/castle owner’. Great Italian foods! Terrific French pastries… and so much more!

If you enjoy a bit of magical realism mixed with a little romance and a dose of European culture, this one is definitely for you!!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

#TheWanderingSeason by #AimieKRunyon and narrated nicely by #CarolineHewitt.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperMuseAudiobooks for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
*** Release date is today, 4/1/25, so look 👀 for it on shelves now !! ***

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for my copy of The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan Narrated by Caroline Hewitt in exchange for an honest review. It published April 1, 2025.
First off, the narration was top-notch. All of the accents really enriched the story.
I loved the premise of this book, and the execution of it was even better. I fully enjoyed this book from start to finish and I can already think of several people I’d love to recommend it to!
I loved getting to travel, the foodie bits, and the family aspect. Just the right amount of romance, and overall, just a super sweet book.

Love this author. Again, another winner. She always weaves travel and good food and it's a wonderful experience. Really liked the characters and the narration as well. This storyline hits on DNA and adoption. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

I have been a fan of this author forever and I certainly enjoyed this one as well!

Veronica has arrived at her parents for the holiday season. She has broken up with her long term boyfriend and she is still working hard at her food broker business. Needless to say, she is avoiding answering all questions. So, when her sister gives everyone a DNA test, Veronica knows she is in for some more drama. She figured out she was adopted years ago even though her parents never told her.

With so much of her life in upheaval, Veronica is looking for an escape. Inspired by her best friend, she plans to go to Europe to see four of the places listed on her DNA ancestry report.

I loved how this author unfolded this story with each location. And all the roads lead back to a charming Irish castle keeper Niall Callahan. I could just picture all the unique locations and all the delicious food! This book will definitely make you hungry.

This is a wonderful tangled up family mystery you can read quickly and it will leave you wanting more.

Need a very good atmospheric tale about family secrets…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.