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Call of the Camino
From the bestselling author of In an Instant comes a deeply moving novel following the transformative journeys of two women walking entwined paths on a legendary route across Europe a generation apart.
Reina Watkins lost her father when she was eight. Seventeen years later, she still carries that grief. When her budding journalism career takes an unexpected turn, it leads her to the ancient five-hundred-mile Camino de Santiago in Spain. Now she finds herself embarking on the same pilgrimage that her father made at her age, unaware of how profoundly it will change her.
Back in 1997, Isabelle Vidal is a teenager on the run. Fleeing from her boarding school, she heads straight for the Way of Saint James. She’s heard the Camino will provide. And so it does, in the form of a handsome young American and the promise of a new life. But it could all fall apart if her troubles catch up with her.
One woman is coming to grips with her past; the other is grasping for her future. But as each treads the same hallowed trail, it will knot their destinies together in a most miraculous way.
Reina Watkins lost her father when she was eight. Seventeen years later, she still carries that grief. When her budding journalism career takes an unexpected turn, it leads her to the ancient five-hundred-mile Camino de Santiago in Spain. Now she finds herself embarking on the same pilgrimage that her father made at her age, unaware of how profoundly it will change her.
Back in 1997, Isabelle Vidal is a teenager on the run. Fleeing from her boarding school, she heads straight for the Way of Saint James. She’s heard the Camino will provide. And so it does, in the form of a handsome young American and the promise of a new life. But it could all fall apart if her troubles catch up with her.
One woman is coming to grips with her past; the other is grasping for her future. But as each treads the same hallowed trail, it will knot their destinies together in a most miraculous way.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2025
9013 people are currently reading
15630 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Redfearn
10 books2,323 followersSuzanne Redfearn is the award-winning author of Six novels: Hush Little Baby, No Ordinary Life, In an Instant, and Hadley & Grace, Moment in Time, and Where Butterflies Wander. In addition to being an author, she’s also an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants: Lumberyard and Slice Pizza and Beer. You can find her at her website, www.SuzanneRedfearn.com, on Facebook at SuzanneRedfearnAuthor, or on Instagram at SuzanneRedfearn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,044 reviews
June 3, 2025
Call of the Camino by Suzanne Redfearn is a wonderfully paced novel of exploration, self discovery and faith! The story follows two women walking the Camino de Santiago a generation apart. Each one’s walk was their own but experience so much similarly with the help of friends along the way. Both find out more about themselves than they ever expected from the journey.
I absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed every character big and small and the way Suzanne made each character important to the story. I loved the way each destination and every walk was beautifully described. This made me feel apart of the journey and drew me in to want to continue. It was very apparent that Suzanne took much time in her research of this novel. I greatly enjoyed the mystery with each passing chapter and how these women walked the Camino in essence together. Though there was technically only 2 POVs, I found it extremely unique that we were given a third through journals.
I always enjoy Suzanne’s book but this story made me want to take apart of the adventure in a way I’ve never experienced before. I was throughly submersed in Spain and only wish I could have more of the amazing characters. I would highly recommend this novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this ARC for my honest review.
To be published September 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed every character big and small and the way Suzanne made each character important to the story. I loved the way each destination and every walk was beautifully described. This made me feel apart of the journey and drew me in to want to continue. It was very apparent that Suzanne took much time in her research of this novel. I greatly enjoyed the mystery with each passing chapter and how these women walked the Camino in essence together. Though there was technically only 2 POVs, I found it extremely unique that we were given a third through journals.
I always enjoy Suzanne’s book but this story made me want to take apart of the adventure in a way I’ve never experienced before. I was throughly submersed in Spain and only wish I could have more of the amazing characters. I would highly recommend this novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this ARC for my honest review.
To be published September 30, 2025
June 7, 2025
Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this story! I don't usually like going back and forth between timelines, but with the story not only does it work, it makes the story better. I loved all the characters and I was very pleased with the way the story ended. I also loved learning all about the Camino pilgrimage! As a long distance runner and hiker, I can't imagine doing that without any training like Reina did. I love Suzanne Redfearn and this may be her best book yet. read it! you won't be disappointed.
I loved this story! I don't usually like going back and forth between timelines, but with the story not only does it work, it makes the story better. I loved all the characters and I was very pleased with the way the story ended. I also loved learning all about the Camino pilgrimage! As a long distance runner and hiker, I can't imagine doing that without any training like Reina did. I love Suzanne Redfearn and this may be her best book yet. read it! you won't be disappointed.
September 27, 2025
Reina has long wanted to follow in her parents' footsteps and walk the Camino. And when a chance comes, she takes it—better yet, it's a chance to one-up a work rival. So off she goes in the present day...and meanwhile, in the 90s, another woman is setting off on her own, rather different, journey.
When I was preparing to walk the Camino, more than a decade(!) ago, I read everything I could get my hands on—which turned out to be almost exclusively memoirs plus the occasional more academic book. It's only recently that I've been seeing more Camino fiction, and I can't tell you how much joy I've gotten from that.
I didn't really check the details on this one before picking it up (because really, did I need to know anything other than Camino novel?), so it took me a moment to get used to the two timelines (I had it in my head that the book was about a few middle-aged friends walking together...I was wrong), but once I got used to that it was all go. One of the characters is from Andorra, which was a delight; I once went to Andorra la Vella as side trip from Barcelona, but I don't think I've ever read anything set there.
Some of the plot points didn't feel necessary to me (a few too many near-death experiences), but what I really loved was the way Redfearn's own experience on the Camino, and her respect for it, comes through. You don't have to have walked the Camino or really know anything about it in order to appreciate the book, but if you are familiar with the Camino, you'll recognize a lot of the moments Reina experiences here.
A minor note if you read this and are thinking about walking the Camino yourself: the Camino does not take a minimum of 33 days, as Reina claims; I walked from SJPdP in 30 days, I knew other people who walked the same distance in less time, and there are any number of starting points and routes that take different amounts of time. Don't let Reina's confident but ill-informed estimate put you off if you don't have a month or more!
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
When I was preparing to walk the Camino, more than a decade(!) ago, I read everything I could get my hands on—which turned out to be almost exclusively memoirs plus the occasional more academic book. It's only recently that I've been seeing more Camino fiction, and I can't tell you how much joy I've gotten from that.
I didn't really check the details on this one before picking it up (because really, did I need to know anything other than Camino novel?), so it took me a moment to get used to the two timelines (I had it in my head that the book was about a few middle-aged friends walking together...I was wrong), but once I got used to that it was all go. One of the characters is from Andorra, which was a delight; I once went to Andorra la Vella as side trip from Barcelona, but I don't think I've ever read anything set there.
Some of the plot points didn't feel necessary to me (a few too many near-death experiences), but what I really loved was the way Redfearn's own experience on the Camino, and her respect for it, comes through. You don't have to have walked the Camino or really know anything about it in order to appreciate the book, but if you are familiar with the Camino, you'll recognize a lot of the moments Reina experiences here.
A minor note if you read this and are thinking about walking the Camino yourself: the Camino does not take a minimum of 33 days, as Reina claims; I walked from SJPdP in 30 days, I knew other people who walked the same distance in less time, and there are any number of starting points and routes that take different amounts of time. Don't let Reina's confident but ill-informed estimate put you off if you don't have a month or more!
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
July 1, 2025
This is a story about two young women, a generation apart. A coincidence, fate, or perhaps a god puts them on the trail of the Camino de Santiago—a magical, body- and soul-wrenching journey. Reina and Joan/Bella each have their own reasons for walking the Camino, and each approaches it differently. As they continue their journey, the story unfolds, revealing how the Way transforms them.
Even though the story didn’t fully grab me, I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the Camino—and most importantly, the camaraderie. What matters most while walking, apart from good shoes, are the people. The author captures beautifully how strangers meet by pure chance, and how, step by step, a bond forms—growing into a lifelong, meaningful friendship.
The Camino is special, and Redfearn conveys that well.
Buen Camino, amigos!
Even though the story didn’t fully grab me, I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the Camino—and most importantly, the camaraderie. What matters most while walking, apart from good shoes, are the people. The author captures beautifully how strangers meet by pure chance, and how, step by step, a bond forms—growing into a lifelong, meaningful friendship.
The Camino is special, and Redfearn conveys that well.
Buen Camino, amigos!
October 4, 2025
4.5 ⭐️’s
I loved everything about this book the story and the characters captured me right from the first page.
I loved everything about this book the story and the characters captured me right from the first page.
September 6, 2025
Call of the Camino is a poignant and remarkable story. This dual timeline novel follows two women who embark on the 500 mile Camino de Santiago through the Pyrenees Mountains, decades apart. Isabelle is a young woman on the run, trying to reclaim her own life, as well as saving her family. Reina has an opportunity to further her career while making the pilgrimage, at the same time following in the footsteps of her father. Although their motives were very different, the lessons they learned, the friendships they made along the way, and their destinies were forged along that path. Their stories are poignant, filled with love and laughter, but also difficult and dangerous at times. I myself took a lot of their lessons and wisdom to heart, as I think many readers will do also. The Camino itself is grueling yet beautiful, spiritual at the same time it is mundane. I could feel their thirst and hunger, I ached for the blisters in their feet and their swollen knees, and I was in awe of everything they accomplished, all that they overcame.
May 27, 2025
Ah, the characters in this, I swear everyone of them.
How I really really liked them.
Even the tiny bit part ones, who don't have a word to say.
The feeling of camaraderie, and the bonding as you tackle the Camino.
I'm not rushing out to walk it though, I think Redfearn does a great job of painting the highs and lows of such a task.
Told across two timelines, I was always ready to hop back to the other one, to catch up with these friends.
Cracking story.
How I really really liked them.
Even the tiny bit part ones, who don't have a word to say.
The feeling of camaraderie, and the bonding as you tackle the Camino.
I'm not rushing out to walk it though, I think Redfearn does a great job of painting the highs and lows of such a task.
Told across two timelines, I was always ready to hop back to the other one, to catch up with these friends.
Cracking story.
September 13, 2025
4.5-5 ⭐️ This book intrigued me because I would love to walk part of at least of the many parts of the Camino. Great story, interesting story. If you’re a travel buff, it’s a must read!
September 8, 2025
I grew up hearing of The Camino Way but did not know much about it. This story woven beautifully between a woman and her parents is riveting! I couldn't wait to finish--the ending did not disappoint!
May 25, 2025
I enjoyed this sweet story that takes place on the Camino de Santiago, a hiking trail in Europe, I had never heard of, but am adding to my life bucket list. A perfect summer (or fall!) reading book! 9/10.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2025
Another excellent book from Suzanne Redfearn. Call of the Camino hooked me from the onset, and I never wanted to put it down. I devoured it in two days. There are two timelines, one in the late 90s and the other present day. In these situations, I usually prefer one over the other, but in this case, both were so compelling that I didn't want the chapters to end. I appreciated the short chapters though which made it even more readable. I watched The Way with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez years ago and have been interested in the Camino Way since then, and this book re-sparked that for me. It all came together so beautifully in the end. There was one character that I strongly disliked in the beginning but rooted for by the end. I love it when that happens. The beautiful friendships made along the way were so inspiring, as was the life lessons and self-discovery. Don't miss the author's notes at the end as they give more insight into the book as well.
October 14, 2025
An AMAZING journey!
Two women, a generation apart, walk the Camino de Santiago.
As they experience it, SO DO WE!
The hunger. The pain. The loneliness. And the camaraderie as well… because the bonds forged on this 400+ mile journey are ones that will stay with you for a lifetime!
Isabelle is a young girl who is trying to escape the war going on between families that are fighting… that can and do result in death. This is in the late 1990’s. As she travels the Camino she meets both friends and foe… and one man who changes her life…
Reina (Velma… if you know, you know…) lost her parents at a young age, but she remembers her Dad always talking about his journey on the Camino and how it changed his life. So, when the immediate, urgent assignment comes up in her budding journalistic career, she JUMPS on it…in hopes that she just might be able to out-do her rival in the company!
Both women experience deep, life-changing events along their journey, but…they also meet people who play significant roles in their journey! Friends, loves, even… family!
It is an emotional, heavy-hearted experience, but with so many light, sweet, beautiful moments as well! ❤️
Beautifully written, so much so that it makes me want to go on this pilgrimage for myself… because, after all… the life changing journey changed their very souls!!
And the ending…. Just… Perfect!!
4 1/2 bring-me-back-to-life-and-help-me-find-myself stars for me, happily rounded up to 5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This has already been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!!
#CallOfTheCamino by @SuzanneRedfearn and narrated nicely by @CynthiaFarrell and @MLSanchez.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BrillianceAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Two women, a generation apart, walk the Camino de Santiago.
As they experience it, SO DO WE!
The hunger. The pain. The loneliness. And the camaraderie as well… because the bonds forged on this 400+ mile journey are ones that will stay with you for a lifetime!
Isabelle is a young girl who is trying to escape the war going on between families that are fighting… that can and do result in death. This is in the late 1990’s. As she travels the Camino she meets both friends and foe… and one man who changes her life…
Reina (Velma… if you know, you know…) lost her parents at a young age, but she remembers her Dad always talking about his journey on the Camino and how it changed his life. So, when the immediate, urgent assignment comes up in her budding journalistic career, she JUMPS on it…in hopes that she just might be able to out-do her rival in the company!
Both women experience deep, life-changing events along their journey, but…they also meet people who play significant roles in their journey! Friends, loves, even… family!
It is an emotional, heavy-hearted experience, but with so many light, sweet, beautiful moments as well! ❤️
Beautifully written, so much so that it makes me want to go on this pilgrimage for myself… because, after all… the life changing journey changed their very souls!!
And the ending…. Just… Perfect!!
4 1/2 bring-me-back-to-life-and-help-me-find-myself stars for me, happily rounded up to 5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This has already been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!!
#CallOfTheCamino by @SuzanneRedfearn and narrated nicely by @CynthiaFarrell and @MLSanchez.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BrillianceAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
October 27, 2025
3.5⭐️'s. I enjoyed the descriptions of the beautiful sites along the Camino. However, the storyline of the alternating timelines felt disjointed throughout most of the book. The characters and the subplots were composed of a myriad of people that left me confused at times. By the end of the story, it pulled together but, it felt like too much of a struggle for me.
November 21, 2025
This book is about two women who hike The Camino Trail, 20 years apart. The Camino is an array of pilgramage trails that traverses Spain. I found the two female characters one-dimentional and unrelatable. The real hero of the story is the Camino: a destination that is full of history, deeply rooted in religion, a thriving trail community, all of which is wrapped up in a bit of magic.
September 6, 2025
I was sooooooo pleased to see one by this author in my Kindle First listing this month as the 3 I've already got by her were all easy 5*. However, I really do not like this in the least, I'm afraid.....I'm gutted about that. I gave up at only 9%....it is a really odd tale as it's set in 1997 and 2024 but is written like it's set in the late 1800s !! I had to keep trying to work out the dates and it's really peculiar but those ARE the proper dates !! Very strange indeed.
It has a beautiful cover, this one, so I hope she keeps it.
She annoyingly writes play dough not Play Doh and deserts not desserts which cost it for me.
But I really don't see family vendettas and all that stuff being something that exists in the 20th/21st century like this and just couldn't take it on board.
I'll still read more by her, though. You can't be a fan of EVERY book someone writes, just cos' it's them !!
It has a beautiful cover, this one, so I hope she keeps it.
She annoyingly writes play dough not Play Doh and deserts not desserts which cost it for me.
But I really don't see family vendettas and all that stuff being something that exists in the 20th/21st century like this and just couldn't take it on board.
I'll still read more by her, though. You can't be a fan of EVERY book someone writes, just cos' it's them !!
October 29, 2025
I had very little idea of what to expect from this book. I managed to finish it in 4 days because I couldn’t put it down. What a truly wonderful story. Inspiring and thought provoking. Suzanne Redfearn is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Do yourself a favour….
September 23, 2025
Absolutely beautiful story of two women from different generations walking the Camino and how their lives connect. I had no idea this hike even existed and now I am so intrigued! I love learning something new through reading and this is going on my top 5 of the year. 👏🏼
October 19, 2025
Loved this story, two young determined women, generations apart.
Told in two timelines, a story of resilience, families, friendships, self discovery, faith and love.
Told in two timelines, a story of resilience, families, friendships, self discovery, faith and love.
September 15, 2025
So hope to do a stretch of the Camino someday!
September 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this read. The author has done a fabulous job of wrapping a fictional story around real places and real events. The format has the story of travelers a generation apart hiking the Camino a generation apart. We learn in the author's notes that she did hike the Camino as a mature adult and so her fictional story has been influenced by her personal experiences. Well done! I will read more by Suzanne Redfearn.
May 19, 2025
4.5 a charming and thoughtful story of two pilgrimages a generation apart. Isabelle is on the run and finds the Camino the perfect place to disappear. Instead she is found by love and wonder. Reine's pilgrimage is for her job and the submission of an article that she is in competition with Matt, a colleague. The idea of fate, the magic of destiny is explored through the Daily ritual of walking. The author walked this trek and it shows in the details. A story of love, chance and sense of place. The chapters alternate between the two generations which makes it a little choppy at times. And there is some added elements to the story line that were unnecessary. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more.
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
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Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
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September 11, 2025
My Favorite Camino Book
My wife and I have walked seven Caminos. This novel captures the spirit and detail better than any other work of fiction on the subject.
Great read for those who have walked, those who are thinking of it, and those who never will.
My wife and I have walked seven Caminos. This novel captures the spirit and detail better than any other work of fiction on the subject.
Great read for those who have walked, those who are thinking of it, and those who never will.
January 5, 2026
Suzanne Redfearn wrote this book, in part, to bring back beautiful memories of the Camino for those who have experienced it. Though a work of fiction, that’s exactly what it did for me. Having walked the walk herself, she so clearly captured the beauty of the Camino. Reading it, I was reminded of my own experiences… the gift of meeting others you quickly care for and who are open to new experiences, the beauty of a shared simple life and routine, the feeling of everything being “right,” a wondrous sense of self, and the hope for gratitude to never leave. 5 stars for bringing pleasant memories, and the story itself was also a page turner. I should do another Camino, this time walk past Santiago and to Finisterre
October 3, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now.
I’ve long been fascinated by the Camino del Santiago, the 500 mile journey across Spain. I’ve seen movies about it and know people who have walked it. While this is a fictional book, I truly felt it captured the physical, mental, and emotional transformations that can happen along the way.
There are two stories told, a generation apart. Isabella is caught in a family feud and escapes to the Camino to delay a big decision. Reina is a journalist who volunteers to walk the Camino to write an article.
I liked the characters and could relate to them. The book is funny, poignant, and I learned a lot about the history of the Camino.
I’ve long been fascinated by the Camino del Santiago, the 500 mile journey across Spain. I’ve seen movies about it and know people who have walked it. While this is a fictional book, I truly felt it captured the physical, mental, and emotional transformations that can happen along the way.
There are two stories told, a generation apart. Isabella is caught in a family feud and escapes to the Camino to delay a big decision. Reina is a journalist who volunteers to walk the Camino to write an article.
I liked the characters and could relate to them. The book is funny, poignant, and I learned a lot about the history of the Camino.
October 21, 2025
I absolutely loved this. The story is of two generations, both walking the Camino de Santiago, but 27 years apart. It unfolds with each chapter revealing a bit more about their journey's in turn, and I found it a really beautiful and inspiring story. It blended historical facts into their spiritual journeys in such a way that it got under my skin and I found myself thinking about it whenever I wasn't reading it.
4.5*
4.5*
September 11, 2025
really a good read. one I'll read again:)
May 26, 2025
Book Review: Call of the Camino by Suzanne Redfearn
Suzanne Redfearn’s Call of the Camino is a compelling exploration of pilgrimage as both a physical journey and a metaphor for emotional and spiritual transformation. The novel interweaves the stories of two women—Reina Watkins, a journalist grappling with unresolved grief, and Isabelle Vidal, a teenage runaway seeking escape and redemption—whose paths converge symbolically along the Camino de Santiago. Redfearn’s prose is evocative, capturing the rugged beauty of the Spanish landscape and the profound inner shifts catalyzed by the act of walking. The alternating narrative structure, while occasionally disjointed, effectively mirrors the unpredictability of the Camino itself, where chance encounters and fleeting moments carry lasting significance.
Thematically, the novel excels in its portrayal of serendipity and the interplay between fate and choice. Reina’s quest to understand her father’s past and Isabelle’s flight toward an uncertain future are rendered with emotional authenticity, though some plot elements (e.g., Isabelle’s romantic subplot) risk veering into contrivance. Redfearn’s firsthand experience of the Camino lends richness to the setting, particularly in her depiction of the pilgrim community and the ritualistic nature of the journey. The novel’s blend of realism and subtle magic realism underscores its central message: that healing often lies in the unplanned detours.
How I would describe this book:
- A soul-stirring tale of two women whose lives intertwine on the legendary Camino—proof that the road less traveled can lead to extraordinary redemption.
- Redfearn’s vivid storytelling and intimate knowledge of the Camino make this a must-read for fans of transformative journeys and heartfelt drama.
- Like The Alchemist meets Wild, this novel celebrates the power of pilgrimage to mend broken hearts and rewrite destinies.
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advance review copy. This novel is a testament to the enduring allure of the Camino and its capacity to unite stories across generations.
Critique & Recommendation:
While the dual timelines occasionally disrupt narrative flow, Call of the Camino remains a poignant meditation on loss, resilience, and the unexpected connections that shape us. Recommended for readers of contemporary fiction, travel narratives, and character-driven stories with emotional depth. Redfearn’s ability to balance adventure with introspection solidifies her as a compelling voice in the genre.
Rating: 4/5 (A resonant journey with minor structural flaws).
Academic Relevance:
The novel could serve as a supplementary text in courses on narrative structure, pilgrimage literature, or trauma studies, particularly for its exploration of spatial and emotional liminality.
Suzanne Redfearn’s Call of the Camino is a compelling exploration of pilgrimage as both a physical journey and a metaphor for emotional and spiritual transformation. The novel interweaves the stories of two women—Reina Watkins, a journalist grappling with unresolved grief, and Isabelle Vidal, a teenage runaway seeking escape and redemption—whose paths converge symbolically along the Camino de Santiago. Redfearn’s prose is evocative, capturing the rugged beauty of the Spanish landscape and the profound inner shifts catalyzed by the act of walking. The alternating narrative structure, while occasionally disjointed, effectively mirrors the unpredictability of the Camino itself, where chance encounters and fleeting moments carry lasting significance.
Thematically, the novel excels in its portrayal of serendipity and the interplay between fate and choice. Reina’s quest to understand her father’s past and Isabelle’s flight toward an uncertain future are rendered with emotional authenticity, though some plot elements (e.g., Isabelle’s romantic subplot) risk veering into contrivance. Redfearn’s firsthand experience of the Camino lends richness to the setting, particularly in her depiction of the pilgrim community and the ritualistic nature of the journey. The novel’s blend of realism and subtle magic realism underscores its central message: that healing often lies in the unplanned detours.
How I would describe this book:
- A soul-stirring tale of two women whose lives intertwine on the legendary Camino—proof that the road less traveled can lead to extraordinary redemption.
- Redfearn’s vivid storytelling and intimate knowledge of the Camino make this a must-read for fans of transformative journeys and heartfelt drama.
- Like The Alchemist meets Wild, this novel celebrates the power of pilgrimage to mend broken hearts and rewrite destinies.
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advance review copy. This novel is a testament to the enduring allure of the Camino and its capacity to unite stories across generations.
Critique & Recommendation:
While the dual timelines occasionally disrupt narrative flow, Call of the Camino remains a poignant meditation on loss, resilience, and the unexpected connections that shape us. Recommended for readers of contemporary fiction, travel narratives, and character-driven stories with emotional depth. Redfearn’s ability to balance adventure with introspection solidifies her as a compelling voice in the genre.
Rating: 4/5 (A resonant journey with minor structural flaws).
Academic Relevance:
The novel could serve as a supplementary text in courses on narrative structure, pilgrimage literature, or trauma studies, particularly for its exploration of spatial and emotional liminality.
September 12, 2025
I found it quite shallow
I got to 83% and gave up. I could see that it would inevitably end up as a romance. What I found so shallow is the fact that it was "all about me." All about what each person learned about him- or her-self. Very dull and shallow. I was hoping for at least some true spiritual insight, such as, I don't know, maybe something more important than self? Ugh. A big waste of time.
I got to 83% and gave up. I could see that it would inevitably end up as a romance. What I found so shallow is the fact that it was "all about me." All about what each person learned about him- or her-self. Very dull and shallow. I was hoping for at least some true spiritual insight, such as, I don't know, maybe something more important than self? Ugh. A big waste of time.
January 15, 2026
Call of the Camino is more than a travel story, it’s a gentle exploration of what happens when a long walk becomes a chance to pause, reflect, and see life with fresh eyes. What struck me most was how the Camino itself becomes a kind of teacher: its landscapes, its rhythms, and the unexpected encounters along the way all open space for quiet self-examination.
The writing never rushes or insists on dramatic transformation. Instead, it lets small moments speak the way fatigue softens the edges of pride, or how kindness from strangers can feel like quiet affirmation. There is a calm honesty here that doesn’t try to explain everything, but simply shows what it feels like to be on that path, step after step.
For me, this book was a reminder that sometimes movement brings clarity not through revelation, but through patience and presence. It’s a reflective read, one that lingers after the last page without demanding applause.
The writing never rushes or insists on dramatic transformation. Instead, it lets small moments speak the way fatigue softens the edges of pride, or how kindness from strangers can feel like quiet affirmation. There is a calm honesty here that doesn’t try to explain everything, but simply shows what it feels like to be on that path, step after step.
For me, this book was a reminder that sometimes movement brings clarity not through revelation, but through patience and presence. It’s a reflective read, one that lingers after the last page without demanding applause.
September 28, 2025
Such a moving, inspiring, and uplifting story
I downloaded this book as my monthly kindle "first reads" . I often have a hard time deciding which to choose, but September's offering was different. I saw the title of this book and the cover image, and instantly knew it had to do with THE Camino and suddenly this month's book choice was an easy one. This story was nothing short of amazing.... once the realization set in of how these two story timelines are linked, I cried. For real. Books don't often move me to tears, but this one did and I'm so glad to have read this.
I downloaded this book as my monthly kindle "first reads" . I often have a hard time deciding which to choose, but September's offering was different. I saw the title of this book and the cover image, and instantly knew it had to do with THE Camino and suddenly this month's book choice was an easy one. This story was nothing short of amazing.... once the realization set in of how these two story timelines are linked, I cried. For real. Books don't often move me to tears, but this one did and I'm so glad to have read this.
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