Book Perfume

Fall is in the air! The change in the seasons and the crisp weather make it the ideal time to get outside for a nice brisk walk–or the ideal time to cozy up with a blanket and a book and let the characters do the walking for you. No matter which camp you fall into, Claire Cook’s latest novel, The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step, has got you covered.

The third installment in this beloved series, Step by Step reintroduces us to budding health coach Noreen and her partners in walking (and talking), Tess and Rosie. While Tess is focusing on downsizing and Rosie’s attention is on her lavender farm (and on getting her dad and Noreen’s mom out of her house), Noreen feels inert, no matter what her step count says. Her romantic life is in shambles, her buyout package from her former employer is almost gone, and she has no idea what to do with the awkward display of very unique planters lining her driveway. Will signing her first health coaching client help or further complicate things? With the signature wit, heart, and inspiration we’ve come to count on in Claire Cook’s books, The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step will leave you laughing, feeling invigorated, and eager for more time with this fabulous trio from Marshbury.

The thing that is so enjoyable about Claire Cook’s writing is that it is so distinctively her own. Her characters are so quirky and realistic, her humor so real and relatable. I don’t know who among us hasn’t felt stuck in life without a clue of which way to turn, and that’s exactly what makes Noreen, Tess, and Rosie’s adventures such a joy to follow. They don’t have all the answers—at times, they don’t know where to begin looking for the answers—but on their better days, they lace up their sneakers, step outside, and march on. (And on her not-so-great days, maybe Noreen will end up with her leggings on backwards, eating Ben & Jerry’s while dwelling on everything. Who can’t relate to that? Especially in 2020.) As with the other books in The Wildwater Walking Club series, Step by Step is a wonderful ode to reinvention, to new beginnings, and to friendship more resilient than the rubber sole on a walking shoe. I loved every minute of it.

You don’t have to read the previous books to enjoy this one, but you will appreciate it even more if you start with book one and walk the full journey with the women of the Wildwater Walking Club. It may even inspire you to get outside and start charting a new path!

For more on the fabulous, always inspiring Claire Cook, visit clairecook.com and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step is available now at Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you buy your books!