IF YOU COULD NEVER STAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Midnight Library and Life of Pi meet in this spellbinding novel of adventure, wonder and self-discovery.

Paris, 1885: Aubry Tourvel, a spoiled and stubborn nine-year-old girl, comes across a wooden puzzle ball on her walk home from school. She tosses it over the fence, only to find it in her satchel that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she is stricken by a mysterious illness.

When a visit to a doctor only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she discovers it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. So begins her incredible lifelong journey on the run from her condition.

From the scorched dunes of the Calanshio Sand Sea, to the snow-packed peaks of the Himalayas; from a bottomless well in a Parisian courtyard, to the shelves of an infinite underground library, we follow Aubry as she learns what it takes to survive and, ultimately, to truly live. But the longer she wanders, the more she understands that the world she travels through may not be quite the same as everyone else’s…

* As seen on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show Book Club *

‘Utterly engrossing... a world – worlds – to get lost in’
SHELF AWARENESS

‘Gorgeous… I savoured every page of this book!’
SHELBY VAN PELT, author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

"From a stint on a Greek fishing vessel, to a love affair on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, to solo sojourns in impossible libraries seemingly located outside of space and time... A hopeful tale of improbable friendships, whirlwind romances, and unexpected joy" - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A shining story...with exciting twists and prose that feels like legend, this is an essential read for anyone looking to renew their lust for life. Perfect for fans of Matt Haig and V.E. Schwab" - Barnes & Noble

"An epic adventure… rich with all the possibilities the world can hold" - People

"A one-of-a-kind love letter to nature, humanity, and the stories we all carry within ourselves. Westerbeke’s engrossing, assured debut will enchant fans of Erin Morgenstern and Alix Harrow" - Booklist (starred review)

"A wild romping adventure, a poignant tale of relationships and interconnectedness, and a compelling journey of self-discovery. A Short Walk Through a Wide World is utterly engrossing, a world - worlds - to get lost in... every reader will find something to love" - Shelf Awareness

"Enthralling... Capturing each moment of Aubry’s sweeping odyssey with extraordinary vividness, Westerbeke’s poignant epic speaks to the challenges of knowing oneself and others in a world of endless change. This is unforgettable" - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Readers of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab and Life of Pi by Yann Martel will fall in love with Aubry. Librarian Westerbeke’s debut is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys armchair travel and stories that open wide to embrace every experience" - Library Journal (starred review)

"An incredible, dazzling debut... I’ve never read anything like it" - Thoughts From a Page podcast