I really loved this, a magical story, so different to anything I've read before and that's refreshing. It's such an interesting premise, and I loved the trips and the jumps through time. Loved loved loved it.

I thought this was going to be a really great read that was full of intrigue but unfortunately the pace was just a bit off and I didn’t actually have any interest in finding out the reasons behind the main intrigue. I gave up halfway through sadly

A beautiful and thought provoking story Well written and thought provoking. What if you could only ever stay in one place for a few days? This is a book you will not forget. Stunning.

Not sure what I was expecting as I do enjoy a fantasy novel but this one really wasn't for me.

A spoilt 9 year old girl, turns into a 'beige' adult and has to keep travelling around the world to avoid a disease (or inner demon) ending her life. The plot didn't seem to follow any logical pathway, rambled a lot and the ending looked like it had been written for a different story entirely and I found that confusing.

I wondered if I was missing some deeper meaning as sadly, I just didn't 'get it'.

Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a huge thank you to Douglas Westerbeke, Random House UK, Vintage and Netgalley for what was originally provided as an Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone with their eye on this title, here is my personal review of the book to help you decide whether you are interested or not. All opinions offered are my own.

When I originally received this book, I was so excited to read it. I was intrigued by the curse that rested upon young Aubrey Tourvel’s shoulders. Having found a puzzle, or been found by a puzzle ball, to be more precise, she is unable to rid herself of the peculiar object. Shortly after this connection, Aubrey begins to bleed to death and found that she would suffer spasms and seizures if she did not keep moving from place to place. A bright, young thing, she realizes that she not only does she have to keep her stays in a location short, but she cannot return to a place that she has already been. Thus, she picks herself up and leaves her family behind to embark on many an adventure as she traverses the road alone.

The premise was amazing, and I was really excited to visit different countries. The blurb mentioned mountain peaks, bottomless wells, and libraries, giving the impression that the reader was going to also travel across a varied landscape. Sadly, I did not stay the journey and am at a loss as to why.

I loved the way the book was written. The words flowed on the page naturally and whether I read the words myself, or let the narrator tell me the tale, I enjoyed the language and overall sentence construction. I enjoyed Aubrey as a character, finding her brave, resilient, smart, and assured. I did miss the opportunity to get to know other characters but understandably, Aubrey was constantly running out on them.

I think my struggle was with the pace. Westerbeke is very descriptive, which meant Aubrey did not move as fast as I expected her and failed to keep up with my reading pace. I also became tired of the occurrence of the curse. It kept rearing its ugly head, Aubrey ran before she was too consumed to It lacked variation and felt like Groundhog Day. In the end, I stopped reading just beyond the halfway point. The book earns 3 out of 5 stars because there was a lot to love. It just did not all gel together well (for me).

I wanted to love this but it just wasn’t the book for me. The premise sounded interesting so I thought this would be a cosy mystery. It didn’t keep my attention so unfortunately, I’m giving a low rating.

I normally do not choose magical realism (I struggle with ambiguous events and unanswered questions) or slow-paced books, but A Short Walk Through a Wide World overcame those and sucked me in with its poetry. Part travelog, part coming-of-age, part romance, part adventure. It really had everything and it all hung together gorgeously. I found two concepts at the core of the book:
- How much do you actually see of the world and the people around you?
- What is it like to live with chronic illness?
If you're interested in examining either through metaphor and symbolism, I recommend reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was a fascinating and mysterious book that kept me reading and I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and the meaning of what was happening.
A great reading experience
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I very much enjoyed this quirky, original book; part magical realism/fantasy, part historical fiction, part travel adventure, it tells the story of Aubry, a young French girl who suddenly develops a mysterious illness. The only cure seems to be for her to never stay in one place for more than a few days. Aubry travels around the world, mostly alone, and meets interesting people and has some wonderful adventures. A refreshing and lovely change from most books I have read recently; recommended.

I wanted to love this book but I have to admit I struggled to stay focused. It was dreamy and mystical and written with great skill. I just felt disconnected and found my mind wandering. I think others will love this, just wasn't for me.

Nine year old Aubrey Tourvel has an illness that can kill her. If she stays still for too long she could bleed to death...and so she walks the world. She sees magnificent sites, meets Marvellous people, and has the most fantastic experiences, guided by hidden libraries full of scrolls. Aubrey is unable to form relationships though, she can only stay in one place for three or four nights before she takes sick, and she has to start moving again....'I'd you can't make your life meaningful, make it extraordinary'...Go on a journey with Aubrey and rediscover the wonders of the world...Read it!

The story follows the life and travels of a girl called Aubrey Tourvel, who one day develops a condition after throwing a wooden puzzle ball into a well.
She has a mysterious disease that makes impossible to stop moving.
She can't settle in one place, she has to give up her family and constantly keep shifting, she can't stay in one place too long, a matter of days or she will start to bleed until she eventually would bleed to death.
Medical intervention cannot stop the bleeding.
Hence she lives a solitary life, only ever having temporary companions while travelling.
All she can do is try and find the best way to survive in a constantly changing landscape.
The premise and idea of this was fantastic but in all honesty I didn't find it as exciting as it sounded, very meandering and winding and just slow paced.
Found it a bit of a struggle to be honest.

I found the ideas behind this book so incredibly interesting. The idea that she cannot stop moving otherwise the worst possible scenario will be realised. At its core I feel like that is a message many of us can relate to. The impending doom we feel lurking if we do one thing wrong.

I had so much fun being whisked away on Aubry's adventures, Westerbeke has such a whimsical writing style! Aubry's constant pull towards libraries added such a warmth and a closeness between the story and the reader, we all find our solitude within literature. No matter what's happening in my life, you can find me stashed away in between bookshelves, the same can be said for Aubry.

Surrounding the core messages of human connection and what it means to survive, I really enjoyed this read. The same can be said for the book, as can be said for life, it's all about the journey!

This book was a fantastic read from start to finish. The story was engaging, and the characters felt incredibly real. I couldn’t put it down. Beautifully crafted gem of a book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for honest review.

I don’t know what to think of this one, the premise was good but something just didn’t work for me. I found it quite repetitive in places and really struggled to finish it and never wanted to pick it back up. It was interesting travelling the world with the main character but that was the only element I liked. I didn’t care for the main character whatsoever. I was really looking forward to this one as it is compared to Addie Larue which I adore but it just wasn’t for me, it was just ok.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I really loved how whimsical and magical this book felt whilst also being quite heart-warming. I did get completely lost in this, and fell in love with the main character.

I do think there needed to be a little bit more to the plot, but the vibes were definitely there!

What a brilliant book.
I raved about this to everyone after reading it.
So well written and thought provoking. It wasn't sad though, not dark. The author had the ability to lift the reader, so they were sailing along with the characters and not dragging themselves through the mud.
This didn't make me feel any less connected to the characters though. They were well-rounded enough to be able to float above them.
I'll be talking about this book for a long time.

I was spellbound with Weterbeke's beautiful descriptions of the world that Aubry travels through in her efforts to keep one step ahead of her disease that doesn't let her spend more than a few days in one place. (spoiler alert - it's not a short walk!)
Set in the late 1800s where travel wouldn't be commonplace for most but the world was changing rapidly and excitingly with the industrial revolution. The characters met along the way are full and rich in Westerbeke's description and you really feel that you are on the journey too. I would love to be lost in Aubry's library for a few days to recuperate from life.

I think I went into this with my hopes a bit too high as it was compared to Addie LaRue - I did love the concept of this book but I found it to be slightly repetitive at times and the pacing felt a bit off. I did like the magical realism aspects to this book though and it was a good adventure to get into! Ultimately, this is a book about the choices we make, about how we choose to live, who we love, and finding a place to call home - I will still be recommending this to people around me that I think would like it.

What a strange, yet wonderful story! The premise enticed me and I really wasn’t disappointed at all! It really is so unique but unputdownable! I will definitely be looking out for more work from this author!