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.

Veronica is a fine food purveyor, amateur chef and food lover whose career is on the verge of taking off, but it’s to help other people succeed in their food ventures, not open her own restaurant. Ever since she was a teenager she has always secretly believed that she is adopted - and one Christmas after her sister suggests DNA kits for everyone her hunch is verified when her parents confirm it. Just off a breakup she goes to Ireland, France, Italy and Denmark in order to learn more about her biological roots. In each place she has visions of women in history and she wonders what her connection is to each other these women. She also connects with Niall, the owner of the inn in Ireland and she wonders how he plays into her future while she looking at her past.

I requested this book because I saw Runyan speak at my local JCC about food writing in fiction and I wanted to try one of her books. Let me just say the trifecta of food, family drama, and magical realism hit the right spot for me. I adored the food descriptions in the novel but I also loved the dabbling of magical realism as well. The narrator was wonderful for this one and I think I read half and listened to half, none of the flashbacks confused me when I was listening (which sometimes happens). This reminded me a bit of early Susanna Kearnsley novels and so I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to now read her backlist!

4.25 stars

Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the ALC to review

3.5 stars:

I expected this book to feel more historical but it was definitely a modern story. I was thrown off by the magical realism aspect of the story and I didn’t love those parts. I do have a renewed wanderlust after traveling around Europe with the main character though, so if you’re wanting to travel via a book then this one might be for you!

What an incredible read! The Wandering Season gave me major Eat, Pray, Love vibes—but honestly, I think I loved it even more. This story beautifully captures the journey of self-discovery through travel, culture, and food, and I was hooked from the very start.

The settings were stunning, from the charm of Ireland to the magic of France, Italy, Denmark, and beyond. Every destination felt alive, and the way food was woven into the story was just chef’s kiss—it made me both adventurous and hungry!

Caroline Hewitt’s narration was absolutely perfect. Her soothing and engaging voice pulled me in right away, making it such an enjoyable listen.

This book had everything I love:
✨ A heartfelt journey of self-discovery
✨ Breathtaking travel moments
✨ Romance
✨ A touch of ancestral magic
✨ Mouthwatering food descriptions
✨ A fantastic cat

If you love books that transport you, inspire you, and make you want to book a trip (or at least a dinner reservation), I highly recommend this one!

I have mixed feelings on this one. While I enjoyed Veronica’s journey to discover her roots upon learning she was adopted, I didn’t love the execution. I wished her journey had been rooted in more in research of her heritage rather than magical realism/visions.
I did enjoye the audio of this book and thought it was very well done.

This is one of my favorite books of the year so far. As an adoptee, I am always intrigued by books that feature people like me, so I had no doubt that I was going to read it, plus I am a big fan of this author's novels.
Veronica, the main character in this novel, takes a DNA test gifted to her by her sister, and it confirms her suspicions that she is adopted. She goes on a journey to Ireland, France, Italy and Denmark to see where her ancestors are from. She finds romance and explores what she wants to do with her life (she is a food broker but the question is if she wants to be a chef). She finds out some answers but has even more questions.
This book allowed me to be an armchair traveler (no small thing at the moment) and the descriptions of setting as well as the food in the locations allowed me to be elsewhere (and made me incredibly hungry). I wish the book had included a few recipes.
About the only reservation I had were about how the adoption was handled; Veronica seemed remarkably unaffected by it at times, especially since she found out when she was an adult. However, I was able to put that aside because the book was so enjoyable that I read it all in one day.
I also listened to part of it on audio. The narrator was good and I enjoyed her accents.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus and Harper Muse Audiobooks for providing me with the advanced copies of the text and audiobook in exchange for my unbiased opinions.

The Wandering Season is a charming and heartfelt story of identity, heritage and belonging. It had a bit of a feel of the Seven Sisters series, with the gentle romance, the journey to discover oneself through the past, and the magical realism/slight suspension of disbelief.

I thoroughly enjoyed Veronica’s ‘wandering’. The desire to experience the places of her ancestors was both relatable and interesting, and I loved the way she experienced each country through their food. The visions felt a little disconnected from the story and seemed to break the flow, though I did enjoy the perspectives they provided. I also liked the way that Veronica’s world expanded through travel, to a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion.

I enjoyed this both as an ebook and audiobook, and would recommend both. The narrator did a wonderful job of capturing quite a large and varied cast of characters, with a wide range of accents. The production beautifully captures the meandering pace and flow of the writing, creating a sense of relaxation and adventure that was delightfully immersive.

Overall, this is a light, heartfelt, cosy, and whimsical read, perfect for anyone looking to do a little ‘wandering’.

Thank you Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

A Memory of Lavender and Sage was my first read from Aimie Runyan and I knew from the first paragraph that I loved her writing. I'm happy to report that The Wandering Season was just as lovely as I was expecting. I recommend for those looking for woman's fiction with a dash of romance and whimsy. Bravo to the narrator for perfecting so many different accents to bring this story to life. Can't wait for more from this author!

This book had a lot of promise at the start, but ultimately fell flat maybe 30% into it. I was initially drawn into idea of her traveling to find out her ancestry, however the story felt slow and lost.

Veronica Stratton, a professional in the food distribution industry, returns home to visit her parents for the holidays. During this festive time, she learns a life-changing secret. Although Veronica had an underlying suspicion about her origins, she never felt inclined to ask. With her mother's support, she decides to take a leave from her job and journey to Europe to explore her heritage. In addition to uncovering the truth about her family, she aims to find new partners for her business.
This delightful novel takes readers on a captivating journey through Ireland, France, Denmark, and Italy! I was enthralled by Veronica’s journey of self-discovery and her exploration of the family she never knew existed! The writing, narrative, and character development make for a touching and engaging experience.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review.

Can this book please be made into a movie? The whole time I was listening I was captivating and it would make the perfect movie. The settings, the plot, the characters it was worked exquisitely well for me. I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I have. It’s amazing. I am now looking for all of her prior books

If you are a fan of Under the Tuscan Sun, you will certainly enjoy this gastric journey! Thank you @harpermusebooks @uplitreads for an early finished copy of @bookishaimie ‘s new release, THE WANDERING SEASON, out April 1, 2025.

This novel is a gastric tour of my favorite countries: Ireland, Italy, France, Denmark. We travel along as Veronica seeks to discover her heritage and ancestry after an awkward holiday DNA test moment with her family. [anyone think about 23andMe as soon as you read that?? Talk about TIMING! ha!]

I liked that the novel moves at a slower pace, as Vero discovers the beautiful nuances of each country, including the local people. I really liked Niall Callahan as a character- perfectly written. There's a touch of magical realism, as Vero has vivid, realistic dreams about historical figures having lived where she is visiting.

I actually really enjoyed this novel, and this is one you could grab and slowly enjoy during the spring season- watching Vero unfold into who she truly is, while the spring trees and flowers bloom into their new season.

2.5-3 ⭐️

The Wandering Season follows Veronica Stratton, a young woman in her 20s, as she learns that she is adopted. Her family plans a solo month-long trip to Europe for Veronica to learn about her heritage and explore where her ancestors came from. Will she find love along the way? Will she discover her true passions and finally act on a lifelong dream?

Does the synopsis sound like a Hallmark movie? Because that’s what I was reminded of while listening to this book. Overall, the story was predictable and enjoyable, but there wasn’t any oomph that made me want to continue listening. The bit of magical realism was a nice touch, but I think the story had too many positive coincidences and too many mentions of “dad’s American Express card” for me to connect and really care about the characters beyond the surface level.

I will say that the narrator did a fantastic job with the different accents. I may turn to this book if I need a light, easy, and happy story to read, but other than that I can’t see myself picking it up again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advanced copy of the audiobook.

Aimie K Runyan takes readers on a European vacation when the main character, Veronica, is sent to track down her familial history. After taking a DNA test, Vero confirms her adoption, and she travels to Ireland, France, Italy, and Denmark to the towns from her results. At each visit, she sees scenes from her ancestors' past. In Ireland, she bonds with the handsome castle-keeper.

Travel and food, I was very excited to get this early listen. However, I wasn't able to fully connect with the story.
1) The visions from the past were odd and did not flow well in the story. They screamed plot contrivance.
2) Veronica was so stubborn about NOT wanting to open a restaurant that she decided to do it later because her unique job was perfect for her. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind, but it was hard to invest in the resolution.
3) At the start of the story, there was no investment in her recently ended relationship, so seeing her start processing it during the story didn't carry as much weight as it should.

But, it was not all negative. I liked that Vero was not devastated to be adopted. She loved her parents. Once it was out in the open, she needed to process it, but her love and faith in her parents and family did not falter. And all the food descriptions, I wanted to eat all the things!


Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks, for the advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

A whimsical tale which I found too lightweight and frankly unconvincing. It rolls along nicely enough but I found the narrator’s attempts at accents and mis-pronunciation of names so annoying that I almost gave up on it. I didn’t find it rewarding enough to have made that effort worthwhile and,, even as lightweight holiday listening,, really cannot recommend.

Wow…..what an incredible journey this book has taken me on! I have been transported around Europe with Veronica and now feel rather bereft that the journey is over. I have come to really savour Aimie K. Runyan’s novels. Her writing is beautifully descriptive - I felt fully immersed in Veronica’s wanderings; I could vividly picture each location; I could taste and smell the culinary experiences. Veronica and her parents in particular, felt very ‘human’ with feelings, thoughts and emotions that are real and valid in relation to the adoption circumstances.

The audiobook is superbly narrated by Caroline Hewitt. The pace is perfect, allowing the story to flow and be understood by the listener. She beautifully brings every character to life with accents, tone and expression.

Whilst Veronica’s journey is a physical one to several European locations, her journey is also one of self-discovery and personal growth. This book has left me in no doubt that “a bit of wandering is good for the soul.” Oh and the ending is absolutely perfect! 5 stars and more!

Thank you to the audio publisher, Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this book seemed so promising, but ultimately was a letdown.
the MC was just straight up annoying with her woe-is-me and i'm-not-like-other-girls attitude towards everything. her sister and her best friend love fashion? i'm not like them. they have problematic attitudes towards food? couldn't be me. they all had unlimited money, but she thinks she is not like her sister (who lives in a one-bedroom apt in NYC thanks to the father's money), who feels no guilt to use her father's credit card. those passages really pissed me off, so it's not really women's fiction per se.
i also didn't really care for the romance sub-plot, which seemed forced.
the "visions" of her ancestors, though a very interesting plot point, just made no sense without context (why didn't other people question why she knew these things randomly?)
i did love the food descriptions, though. now i'm craving homemade vanilla and butter, oops.

Veronica adores her family, but for years suspected she might not quite belong. When her younger sister presents her with a DNA kit at Christmas, her suspicions are confirmed, and her parents tell her what they can about her adoption.

What follows is a month-long journey of self-discovery, set against the backdrop of some of Europe’s most renowned culinary destinations. As a food broker whose whole career is about sourcing quality ingredients for top chefs, this trip is more than enticing. The Wandering Season
offers a perfect mix of personal growth, adventure, romance, and delicious food. The book blends elements of magical realism exploring Veronica’s heritage with a feel-good narrative.

Caroline Hewitt does a particularly fine job of narrating a large cast of secondary characters with several different accents. Aimie K. Runyan’s latest is a great choice for anyone looking for an uplifting story that also digs deep into identity and belonging.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks, and of course the author Aimie K. Runyan for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Wandering Season is out on April 1st. All opinions are my own.