Walk Like A Girl: A Search For Self

by Claudia Esnouf

Claudia Esnouf went on a fearless, soul-searching odyssey to reclaim herself after the worst kind of heartbreak.

For nearly a year, she ventured deep into the wilds of the Caucasus Mountains, trekked through the spiritual heart of Nepal, and navigated the chaos of India—all the while battling inner turmoil. Along the way, she faced down a rampaging water buffalo, survived a freezing glacier crossing, and unknowingly camped in a minefield.

After returning to Europe, she embarked on the Camino Frances and, even after reaching Santiago de Compostela, refused to stop, walking the Camino Portugues as well—covering over 1,800 kilometers in eight months.

Walk Like a Girl is a testament to the strength it takes to keep walking, even when you’re not sure where the path leads.

Fans of Cheryl Strayed's 'Wild' will love Claudia Esnouf's vivid and poignant writing.

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2025

Reviews

[Magdalena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walk Like A Girl: A Search For Self isn’t just a travel memoir—it’s an immersive experience that makes you feel as though you’re walking beside Antonia, breathing in the air of distant landscapes and feeling the highs and lows of each step she takes. Claudia Esnouf has such a gift for description; the way she paints each scene had me completely transported, and despite not being someone who travels much, I found myself itching to dig out my passport by the end.

What really stayed with me was how layered and real Antonia’s character is. She’s strong and brave—not just in the physical sense of hiking through challenging terrains and unfamiliar countries, but also emotionally, in how she processes heartbreak, solitude, and self-discovery. I loved how she embraced both strength and softness: bringing her hair straighteners along on a hiking trip, allowing herself to cry, to connect with people and nature, and to move through the world unapologetically as herself. It was such a powerful reminder that femininity and courage aren’t opposites—they can walk hand in hand.

This book made me reflect on what it truly means to be “strong”. Antonia's story shows that strength can look like perseverance, independence, vulnerability, or even just taking that first step into the unknown. A truly inspiring and touching read—I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. It's a beautifully written journey that left me longing for adventure.

I’m a fan now and cannot wait to read Claudia’s next books and stories (and I hope we’ll have many more!).

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read a book like this one before about traveling the world and living out of a backpack 🎒. It’s been eye opening to read about the life some live with dreams of traveling! It was such a refreshing book and a nice escape from the usual thrillers/romance and fantasy books I often read. I’ve always wanted to travel the world but not like this, my type of traveling would consist of all inclusive hotels, hot showers, sunbathing and cocktails 🍹 😂 hats off to those that travel and hike with the bare necessities without knowing where you’re going to lay your head at night and what encounters you’ll come by day to day. I loved reading about the different places Antonia went to and the experience she had whilst on different trails and camel rides through the dessert. I was absolutely routing for Antonia throughout this book and willing her to carry on when she hit a few bumps in the road early on in her travels with her fiancé. I’m so glad she carried on and achieved her goals. This was an absolutely fantastic read and is now making me want to achieve something as great as this in my lifetime.

It really had been a pleasure to read! I hope to read more books like this in the future!

5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mel]

I've never read anything like this before, so when I was asked to read this book, I was interested in trying something I hadn't before. This story would resonate with lots of people who are at a stage in life where there's something they've always wanted to do, but they've never gotten round to it. This is a fiction book based on the experiences of the author and the challenges they faced during a year-long hiking experience that they had. The author didn't shy away from the difficulties that came with embarking on a trip like this and in the case of the main character in this book, the strain it can have on a person and their relationships. I liked that the main character set out to do something, and she didn't stop and give up on her dream despite setbacks and personal loss. The determination and strength shown by the main character are amazing, but they also show weakness as well, making the story relatable and honest. I think the story is well paced and well written and addresses obstacles and issues a lot of people will be able to understand or will have experienced themselves. Overall, I enjoyed this and would recommend it to people who enjoy stories about travel and self-discovery.

Thank you to the author for an e-book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW - Walk Like a Girl by Claudia Esnouf 🌍 🥾
*Gifted by author*
Due to be released on the 17th April 2025!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5

Walk Like a Girl is a true story about a female’s journey to find herself and her place in the world. It follows Antonia’s journey hiking through Georgia, Nepal and India where she has to deal with a personal heartbreak. She decides to carry on her journey through France and Spain with her new found freedom to try and help herself grieve and discover her true self.

First of all, I love travelling. Any book with has any aspect of travelling is an instant tick for me! It was amazing to hear about all the different countries and terrains Antonia hiked through.

Antonia starts off with a dream and a pair of hiking boots a very heavy bag and of course her hair straighteners. She soon realises she is very unprepared both physically and mentally to achieve her dream but she never stops and this resonated with me, never stop to achieve your dreams. If you think you can do it, you will do it!

The strength Antonia had to carry on her journey through her heartbreak, being all by herself in such an alien country just speaks volumes! Eventually, Antonia makes it to her final destination and I could feel the relief and exhaustion through the writing! What a journey! The emotion in this book is unreal and it really gets you questioning the “norms” of life.

Beautifully written, I would love to read more books by Claudia! 🌍

[annasbook nookk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually enjoy these types of books; they're completely out of my comfort zone in terms of tropes, but when I read the blurb, I was drawn to the book.

Claudia's story was so alive and descriptive that I felt like I was right in the story with Antonia.

My heart is so happy for Antonia, going for what she wanted to do. Walking through the Caucasus Mountains-what an achievement!!

Despite her heartache, she continued on with the Camino Frances when I thought I had given up and wallowed.

I loved the book, had a serious side as well as banter, I couldn't help but laugh when she came face to face with buffaloes 😂😂

She walked thousands of kilometres and refused to give up, which is admirable. She was extremely brave!

I loved how she found herself while walking and found people who inspired her and made her think, too.

This wasn't just about Antonia walking; it was about her discovering her true self, determining what she wants out of life, and discovering what she is capable of—at least in my opinion!!

[Kamila · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s one of the books you cannot put down. Great story that takes you on a journey and you feel like you are there. I loved the way this was written as it was so easy to read that many books aren’t these days!

[Nav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walk like a girl by Claudia Esnof is a travel memoir.
Genre: Travel Fiction

My first ever book by her which she kindly sent me few months back!
What an incredible journey about Antonia whose dream is to travel around the world hiking/ trekking just like her grandfather used to. Listening to her fathers stories she too wanted to experience the adventure.

She meets Andy on one of the treks and falls in love. They explore Caucasu mountains, walk through Armenia, Azerbaijan, the famous Annapurna trail in Nepal. Until they meet Tom who is also on this journey on his own! Tom and Antonia start getting close as they share their passion of traveling. she loved his ways of living,thinking and all the freedom he envisioned.

She starts falling for him when Andy starts suspecting their friendship and starts arguing with Tom halfway on their adventure. When they get to Kashmir and the desert, Tom decides to leave and leave for good after they completed their trip to India

Andy decided to break off his engagement to go back to London once he arrived in Delhi /India with Antonia as he felt he promised he would make her ‘ travel dreams’ come true but now was time to focus on his career in London !

Antonia breaks down but she carries on to see the Camino / shrines in Spain as part of her last trip. She meets friends Liam and Eva and finally makes it back home with her dreams coming through! Her family is so proud of her adventure blog. She meets a lovely gentleman marries him and has two sons!! 😃

Themes of perserverence, trust, love, friendship and relationships are explored. To be physically and mentally strong is one powerful gift especially experiencing parts of the world you have never been to! Antonia was a star!

Rating : 4/5
Good reads: 4.63
Amazon: 4.8

[The-grateful-spoonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walk like a girl screamed at me because of the title. As a walker, hiker, and runner, I wanted to get straight to reading this. The book brought up some feelings that I can't escape. One of my biggest regrets is not travelling in my late teens / twenties, something me and hubby have discussed doing when our kids are older.  This book made me want it more,more, more, right now. As I read the book and I was there. I was seeing the views, smelling the earth and feeling the weather on me. I lived this story through Antonia and felt like I knew her. A journey of self-discovery is never an easy task, but what a way to do it. Nature is a healer, it healed me, and Antonia uses her walks to grieve, grow, find freedom, and find herself.

The chilain confession made me cry, and the Joie de vivre he said jumped out at me, so I had to Google it. Meaning -  enjoyment of life, cheerful enjoyment of life, a zest for living, and a positive, optimistic outlook. It encompasses the idea of finding happiness in simple pleasures and savouring the present moment, often with an enthusiastic and carefree spirit. we all need to live with joie de vivre,  everyday.

The longer the journey, the lighter the load.

I was enough. I'd chased an adventure of a lifetime, faced fears, and had survived. I was stronger because of it. I was exactly where I needed to be. thank you netgalley

[Miriam Morgans · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝕎𝕒𝕝𝕜 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝔸 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝
By Claudia Esnouf

Blurb
Claudia Esnouf went on a fearless, soul-searching odyssey to reclaim herself after the worst kind of heartbreak.
For nearly a year, she ventured deep into the wilds of the Caucasus Mountains, trekked through the spiritual heart of Nepal, and navigated the chaos of India-all the while battling inner turmoil. Along the way, she faced down a rampaging water buffalo, survived a freezing glacier crossing, and unknowingly camped in a minefield.
After returning to Europe, she embarked on the Camino Frances and, even after reaching Santiago de Compostela, refused to stop, walking the Camino Portugueses as well-covering over 1,800 kilometres in eight months.

Walk like a Girl is a testament to the strength it takes to keep walking, even when you're not sure where the path leads.

My Thoughts
Claudia has written a work of fiction based on true experiences. Using her middle name, Antonia, as her lead protagonist, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her mighty adventures.

This book is...
🗺 Interesting
🧭 Adventurous
🏔 Risky and Dangerous
🌍 Has Brilliant Characters
🥾 Power and Strength
🎒 Strong female

This is a journey of self-discovery, and I enjoyed being invited to be a part of every step.

It's ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!🤓

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Walk Like A Girl: A Search For Self" is more than a travel memoir; it’s an immersive journey alongside Antonia as she navigates diverse landscapes and emotional challenges. Claudia Esnouf's vivid descriptions transport you into each scene, making even a non-traveller like me eager to dust off my passport.

Antonia’s character resonates deeply. She embodies strength and bravery not just in her hikes but also in her emotional journey through heartbreak and self-discovery. She beautifully balances strength and softness—bringing hair straighteners on a hike, allowing herself to cry, and connecting with nature and people. This reminds us that femininity and courage can coexist.

The book prompts reflection on what it means to be “strong,” illustrating that strength can be perseverance, independence, or vulnerability. It’s an inspiring read that I’ll cherish for a long time. I’m excited to explore more of Claudia’s work!

[Fran McBookface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this one last night after work and had it finished by bedtime!

Not my usual type of read at all but I found it fascinating - both the locations featured and the emotional and physical aspects of such an undertaking

While there are beautiful descriptions of stunning locations, Claudia also doesn't shy away from the hardships and privatations of the journey and is not scared to admit how underprepared she was to make such a trip

The impact of such an undertaking on Antonia (the main character), her fiance and those she meets is really interesting and the way the trip both broke and fixed her is particularly compelling.

Claudia has a really engaging, straightforward writing style and this combined with such an incredible true story makes for an excellent read. Absolutely recommend

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have travelled and backpacked quite extensively myself so was drawn to reading this book. I am so glad I did. From the Annapurna Trail to the Himalayas, the chaos of India to the peace and tranquility of the Camino Santiago de Compostela I feel I walked these steps too. The dust, smells, noise - a sensory overload but so extraordinarily exciting. This book is brilliantly written as a travel journal of sorts but also a personal journey of love, friendship, adventure and dreams. What a strong, independent woman in many ways. I enjoyed all of the book references and have made a note of a few I would like to read myself. I was left contemplating the notion that the longer the journey, the lighter the load, physically and mentally. I will definitely be recommending this book and it has reignited my own dormant inner travel bug!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Claudia’s stories from her travels. I love travel writing, especially about places I haven’t encountered much before, and the sections on the Caucasus were particularly interesting because they were new to me. I’ve also wanted to walk the Camino all my adult life; her account of that journey really brought it to life for me - I hope I’ll make it there myself one day.

The book is easy to read and well written. I especially appreciated how the unfolding breakdown of the relationship was framed alongside the physical journey itself; it gave the narrative an added emotional depth.

It left me with a lot to reflect on.. and perhaps gave me a gentle nudge to dust off my walking shoes and plan an adventure with some of those questions to accompany me on the journey.

[Vicckhy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Walk Like a Girl” pulled me in from the very first page. Claudia Esnouf takes you on a powerful journey across mountains, cultures, and emotional landscapes as she rebuilds her life after heartbreak. The way she writes about fear, courage, and healing feels incredibly real and hopeful.

This isn’t just a travel memoir. It is a reminder that sometimes the only way to move forward is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. A beautiful and inspiring read for anyone who loves true stories of strength and transformation.

[Michal Leon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving account of a young woman’s hunger to explore, to stretch her limits, and to grow beyond everything she thought she knew.

In Walk Like A Girl, Claudia Esnouf takes us on a journey filled with both wonder and devastation, pushing her body, mind, and spirit far beyond comfort and certainty.

Reading her story is a striking reminder of how often we deceive ourselves, how resilient we can become when tested, and how truth tends to reveal itself only in adversity—not when life is easy, but when it demands everything of us.

[Guy Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a journey, I was left exhausted but exhilarated by this walking Odyssey!

The emotion is as raw as Antonia's feet after a long day on the Camino, and it is this searing honesty that ultimately powers both her and the reader through some testing psychic country.

But there is wry humour and anecdotes aplenty to leaven this examination of how life's decisions don't always present themselves as simple forks in the road.

Looking forward to her next book!

[Mandy Mack karlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed...

What a great read ... vicarious armchair traveler! I did not want to put this book down, filled with adventure, I felt as if I were travelling myself and had met all the characters along the way, empathised with her heartache as well as her victory! If you enjoyed Wild you will love this read. Recommended.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Knowing this book was based on @Claudia.Esnouf.Author added validity to the events that happen in it. A story of self discovery and travel, the descriptions of every location were felt. It was an easy read and a nice change from the usual books I read.

Thanks to Claudia and Novel Tours for the review copy.

[Mandy Powrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walk like a girl, a journey of self discovery. The title says it all! A very well written detailed description of the highs and lows of travelling. I felt transported on the adventure along with Antonia. Along with cheering her on when she needed it most! A must read for the girls ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Peter Trizuliak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. Masterfully written, it reads like Kerouac and seamlessly blends together an incredible hiking journey and a love story many can relate to.

[Melodie Herbein · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read, meant in the best way. I definitely related to Antonia’s young adventurous and naive spirit, and empathize with a heartbreak that feels like it will end your world. Definitely worth a read if you’re in the mood for something light and entertaining without any pretense.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mainly always give memoirs 5* if decently written. It is the author's story (in this case mixed with a wee bit of fiction) and who am I to question that. I also recently met Claudia at Tidelines Book Festival and she was delightful 🩵

[karolina_teresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would not recommend.

[Gee Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read and so inspirational! Your adventures were incredible … I felt your emotions and that there is a beautiful life to live !!

[Shiksha Singhal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

Walk Like a Girl by Claudia Esnouf is a heartfelt travel fiction inspired by the author’s own experiences. It follows Antonia, a young woman with an adventurous spirit and a dream to hike across the world. During one of her journeys, she meets Andy, and the two fall in love. Years later, as Andy is on the brink of a major career promotion, Antonia feels a renewed urge to chase her travel dreams before settling down. Andy chooses to join her on the road, and their shared journey unfolds through vibrant landscapes, encounters with fellow travelers, and personal revelations.

As the trip progresses, Andy comes to the painful realization that he and Antonia are not truly compatible, leading to heartbreak. The story then shifts to Antonia's solo travels, where she finds healing, strength, and a deeper connection to herself. Her journey also brings about a change in her family, who come to understand and support her ambitions.

At its core, Walk Like a Girl is a story about independence, self-discovery, and the courage to follow your path—even when it means walking alone.

Review:

Walk Like a Girl is a compelling blend of travelogue and personal growth, capturing the emotional highs and lows of setting out into the world in search of purpose and identity. Claudia Esnouf writes with honesty and warmth, bringing authenticity to Antonia’s character—making her relatable, flawed, and quietly resilient.

The novel’s strength lies in its rich descriptions of the hiking trails, the diverse characters Antonia meets, and the emotional realism of a relationship that slowly unravels in the face of diverging life goals. Andy’s internal conflict and eventual decision add depth to the story, moving it beyond a simple romance to a narrative about choosing one's own path.

Antonia’s solo journey in the latter half is both inspiring and empowering. Her transformation from a woman uncertain about her place in the world to someone who embraces solitude and freedom is beautifully told. Esnouf also does a commendable job portraying how personal dreams can challenge traditional expectations, especially from family—and how support can arrive in the most unexpected ways.