Alison Cochrun’s ‘Every Step She Takes’ – A pilgrimage of healing and self-discovery

A highly engaging sapphic rom-com that invites readers to experience the transformative power of travel, Alison Cochrun’s “Every Step She Takes” is also travel fiction and a coming-of-age novel, even though the protagonist is quite a bit older than most.

The novel features Sadie Wells, a 35-year-old virgin from Seattle who is fed up with her entire life, particularly her nosy sister and mom who over-enthusiastically try to push potential husband material on her. Now she must question why the carefully selected prospects never light her fire.

When her bisexual sister can’t make a trip for her travel writing job, Sadie offers to go in her place. The assignment: join a lesbian tour group making the historic Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage over two weeks. They take the less-traveled route up the Portuguese coast (rather than the longer route from France) into Northwestern Spain.

On the turbulent flight to Portugal, Sadie meets the intriguing out and proud indigo-haired passenger seated next to her, Mal, not realizing Mal is on the same tour. Sadie has an inkling this chance encounter will be life-altering.

A former high school English teacher, Cochrun’s romantic fiction series has gained a devoted following. Previous works include “The Charm Offensive” and “Kiss Her Once for Me,” which won the Lambda Literary Award for best LGBTQ+ Romance in 2023.

  Journey of the heart
Cochrun’s depiction of hiking the Camino de Santiago is immersive storytelling at its best. She gives a real sense of the full experience, including conveying the serene beauty of the Iberian countryside and the easy interactions and camaraderie among the disparate fellow travelers from all over the world.

Established in 9th century, the Camino de Santiago began when the bones of St. James (Santiago) the Apostle who first preached the gospel in Spain were brought by the king from Jerusalem to Compostela and a cathedral was built in their honor. It almost certainly was an endeavor to ramp up Christian devotion against Muslim rule, and indeed the town of Compostela and its first cathedral were completely sacked by Muslim armies in 997 A.D. The current “new” cathedral was built in 1112 A.D. But from age to age the pilgrimage remains popular, attracting half a million pilgrims per year.

“Every Step She Takes” possesses a meditative, introspective quality that suits the subject matter. Cochrun delves into the spiritual and symbolic significance of the Camino, exploring how it serves as a metaphor for life’s journey. Sadie learns how to keep going despite difficulties like blisters and fatigue, be truly grateful, stop being afraid of self-discovery, and really reflect on her life and the paths she has chosen.

Without intending to be religious, quiet moments on the Camino allow Sadie to sense an awareness of feeling supported by the universe, which inspires her to take the power to be more intentional about her life.

Late bloomer
Another strength of the novel lies in its characters, who are gloriously true to life and relatable. Sadie, a late-bloomer lesbian, is full of questions and uncertainty, while Mal’s charm conceals a sensitivity and wise tenderness. Their chemistry is electric, and their relationship, whatever it turns out to be, is playful and real.

The narrative shifts in perspective between them, providing greater emotional depth and creating an addictive story as readers are drawn into Sadie’s world and her quest for healing.

Occasional lengthy digressions featuring minor characters at times feel cumbersome, breaking the momentum of the engrossing relationship forming between the central characters. Nonetheless, Cochrun is very good at using moments of uncertainty to showcase the transformative power of stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

This page-turner is a must-read for late-bloomer lesbians, and anyone navigating the messy process of self-discovery. In fact, the next book in the series, “Learning Curves,” is also being released this month. It also features Sadie and Mal, but its plot is firmly under wraps. As the title implies, it is likely about how to live and love authentically while being true to oneself.

“Every Step She Takes” by Alison Cochrun, Atria Books, $19
www.simonandschuster.com
www.alisoncochrun.com