The Canterbury Sisters by Kim Wright is a warm and deeply moving novel that combines a modern-day pilgrimage with the timeless tradition of storytelling, echoing the spirit of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Che Milan, a perfectionist and workaholic, finds her life in turmoil after the sudden end of a long-term relationship and the death of her eccentric mother. When an urn of ashes arrives, along with a reminder of a forgotten promise to take her mother to Canterbury, Che embarks on a pilgrimage she never expected to take.

Walking the sixty-mile journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral, Che joins a group of women, each with her own unique story and personal struggle. As they travel together, the women share stories of love, loss, and life’s lessons, each vying to tell the best tale of true love, in the best Chaucerian fashion. Che, who is used to living life at full speed, finds herself forced to slow down after losing her cell phone, giving her the opportunity to truly experience the world around her in ways she never has before.

As Che’s journey unfolds, she begins to open herself up to new possibilities and perspectives, gradually discovering the miracles that can come from unexpected places. This story is a beautiful exploration of healing, self-discovery, and the power of human connection, reminding readers that sometimes the greatest transformations happen when we least expect them.

Kim Wright’s writing is warm and insightful, capturing the emotional depth of her characters while weaving in humor and moments of genuine reflection. The Canterbury Sisters is a heartfelt tale of personal growth, a journey of both physical and emotional discovery, and an ode to the transformative power of storytelling and community. A perfect read for anyone looking for a story of resilience, second chances, and finding peace after loss.

At first I thought this was going to be a DNF. Che is pretentious and judgmental and the rest of the tour group aren't much better. But as this story continues I was quickly caught up into the stories and begin to become interested in the characters and the stories they had to tell. Each woman is far more complicated than they appear and each story brings out more about not only the storyteller but the listeners. Angelique was my favorite character but I felt like I connected to each one - even Che - by the end.

The cover drew me in. The story kept me reading. Perhaps I am reading this during the COVID19 pandemic, but I am drawn to books which relate the stories of the connectedness of people. This story of 8 women traveling to Canterbury, may be on the lines of _THE CANTERBURY TALES_ but I liked it so much more.

I was drawn by the cover and the concept of this book as I'm a big Anglophile and love anything to do with England, as well as a lover of classic literature. I thought this was a perfect book for a cozy rainy day and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it - now I'm planning my own trip to Canterbury!

I enjoyed this story of a group of women following an ancient pilgrimage to Canterbury. Each with their own story to share and their own reasons for paying pilgrimage.