From the New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project comes a story of taking chances and learning to love again as two people, one mourning her husband and the other recovering from divorce, cross paths on the centuries-old Camino pilgrimage from France to Spain.
“The Chemin will change you. It changes everyone…”
The Chemin, also known as the Camino de Santiago, is a centuries-old pilgrim route that ends in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Every year, thousands of walkers—some devout, many not—follow the route that wends through quaint small villages and along busy highways alike, a journey unlike any other.
Zoe, an artist from California who’s still reeling from her husband’s sudden death, has impulsively decided to walk the Camino, hoping to find solace and direction. Martin, an engineer from England, is road-testing a cart of his own design…and recovering from a messy divorce. They begin in the same French town, each uncertain of what the future holds. Zoe has anticipated the physical difficulties of her trek, but she is less prepared for other challenges, as strangers and circumstances force her to confront not just recent loss, but long-held beliefs. For Martin, the pilgrimage is a test of his skills and endurance but also, as he and Zoe grow closer, of his willingness to trust others—and himself—again.
Smart and funny, insightful and romantic, Two Steps Forward reveals that the most important journeys we make aren’t measured in miles, but in the strength, wisdom, and love found along the way. Fans of The Rosie Project will recognize Graeme Simsion’s uniquely quirky and charming writing style.
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“The feeling of camaraderie between strangers from around the world brings a warmth to the narrative, making it personal, real, and inviting. With wit and wisdom, Simsion and Buist have crafted a novel that will have readers wanting to walk a Camino of their own.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Read-out-loud laughter begins by page two…This novel is perfectly timed.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“An insightful study of loss, grief, and the possibility of romance…It’s easy to imagine walking the Chemin along with Zoe and Martin as they encounter other pilgrims along the way.”
— Library Journal“Husband-and-wife team Simsion and Buist have collaborated on this heartwarming tale of grief, forgiveness, healing, and determination. The eclectic cast of characters…adds zest to an otherwise introspective journey in search of inner peace.”
— Booklist“The hype is justified.”
— Washington Post on The Rosie Project“Filled with humor and plenty of heart, The Rosie Project is a delightful reminder that all of us, no matter how we’re wired, just want to fit in.”
— Chicago Tribune on The Rosie ProjectBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Graeme Simsion is a former IT consultant and the author of two nonfiction books on database design who decided, at the age of fifty, to turn his hand to fiction. His first novel, The Rosie Project, was published in 2013 and translation rights have been sold in over thirty-five languages.
Anne Buist is the chair of the Center for Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne. She has over twenty-five years’ clinical and research experience in perinatal psychiatry, and works with protective services and the legal system in family cases. Her novels featuring forensic psychiatrist Natalie King are Medea’s Curse and Dangerous to Know. This is her first novel cowritten with her husband, Graeme Simsion.
Penelope Rawlins’ voice work has encompassed many accents and ages in recording audiobooks, animation, computer games, English language tapes, and corporate commercials. Among her numerous audiobook narrations are The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory and Fox Friend by Michael Morpurgo. Her narration of Tom Rachman’s The Rise and Fall of Great Powers earned her an AudioFile Earphones Award.
Simon Slater is an English actor and composer. His film credits include Dealers and Entrapment. His work as a theatrical actor includes a five-year run in the musical Mamma Mia! as Sam Charmichael. Slater has made guest appearances in several television series, including Heartbeat, Birds of a Feather, Doctor Who, Inspector Morse, Lovejoy, Monarch of the Glen, and Where the Heart Is.