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Wish I could begin this book again for the first time. It’s just wonderful. The dialogue is witty and real, the characters appealing, the scenery described so bountifully…one could almost feel the landscape breathing (and misting, and withering, and sky bluing)…would be a real boon for geologists too with all the enthusiasm for stone and rocks and earth’s shifting structures. I love this book

What a wonderful book. Beautifully written, with characters groping their way to love as they walk across the North of England from coast to coast. The walk sounds pretty bad (it’s not for me!) but it allows for time for the characters to get to know each other as they battle its adversities. The pacing is perfect - it was one of those books where I tried to slow down toward the end because I didn’t want it to end…

Michael Bradshaw, forty-two year-old, geography teacher, still lives in the same house he used to share with his wife. He enjoys going on solo hikes when he isn't working and is planning on taking a long coast to coast hike. Cleo Fraser, friend and fellow teacher, convinces him to make it a group hike and invites seven people including Anthony, Cleo's son and Marnie's godson, her husband, and herself.

The four additional people Cleo invites are Marnie Walsh, thirty-eight year-old divorcee, free lance copy-writer and proofreader who works from home and has no social life. Conrad, a handsome outgoing pharmacist, for whom Cleo was hoping would pair up with Marnie. Tess, an attractive athletic dentist, for whom Cleo was hoping would link up with Michael. Unfortunately, both Tess and Cleo's husband cancel at the last minute.

The weather was pouring rain on the second day of the hike therefore, Conrad, Cleo, and Anthony all bail and get a taxi to the next hotel. Sadly, once Marnie and Michael arrive at the hotel Marnie sees Conrad checking out because he has no desire to complete the hike.

Since it is still raining the following day both Cleo and Anthony decide to drop out of the hike and head home. Thus, both Marnie and Michael resolve to complete the hike.

I enjoyed the dry humor and the banter between Marnie and Michael throughout the book. For example, when both Marnie and Michael critique each other's Playlist. Also, both of them came up with witty theme names for the rooms at one hotel: "Plagues of Egypt", "Horsemen of the Apocalypse", "Fungal infections".