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Every City But Home: A Second Chance Romance Across Italy and Spain
She spent fifteen years building the right life. It took one calendar entry to realize none of it was hers.
On an ordinary Tuesday in Chicago, Sofia Reyes finds the appointment her husband never mentioned — the one he'd been keeping every Thursday for months. By noon, she has packed a single bag. By evening, she is on a plane to Rome with no itinerary, no plan, and no idea who she is when she isn't being whom everyone needs her to be.
What follows is not an escape. It is a reckoning.
Across Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Barcelona, Sofia walks through cities that ask nothing of her — and slowly remembers the woman she set aside somewhere between the wedding and the life that came after. A trattoria owner who looks at her like she is worth being looked at. A widow who teaches her to cook by feel. An architect named Marco who pays the kind of attention she stopped believing she deserved.
But the question that follows her across four cities isn't whether she can fall in love again.
It's whether she can finally come home to herself.
This is a story about grief, hunger, and the quiet courage of starting over — one city, one meal, one honest conversation at a time.
Book One of the Every City Series.
On an ordinary Tuesday in Chicago, Sofia Reyes finds the appointment her husband never mentioned — the one he'd been keeping every Thursday for months. By noon, she has packed a single bag. By evening, she is on a plane to Rome with no itinerary, no plan, and no idea who she is when she isn't being whom everyone needs her to be.
What follows is not an escape. It is a reckoning.
Across Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Barcelona, Sofia walks through cities that ask nothing of her — and slowly remembers the woman she set aside somewhere between the wedding and the life that came after. A trattoria owner who looks at her like she is worth being looked at. A widow who teaches her to cook by feel. An architect named Marco who pays the kind of attention she stopped believing she deserved.
But the question that follows her across four cities isn't whether she can fall in love again.
It's whether she can finally come home to herself.
This is a story about grief, hunger, and the quiet courage of starting over — one city, one meal, one honest conversation at a time.
Book One of the Every City Series.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 30, 2026
Meh
Listened to audio and was distracted by the number of times a sentence would start "she said..." and then be followed by "he said..." then "she said...". This occurred whenever there was a conversation.
It felt that it was either done by AI, or a grade schooler. It took away from the story which otherwise had potential.
Listened to audio and was distracted by the number of times a sentence would start "she said..." and then be followed by "he said..." then "she said...". This occurred whenever there was a conversation.
It felt that it was either done by AI, or a grade schooler. It took away from the story which otherwise had potential.
September 26, 2026
Transformation at the Right Time
I absolutely loved this book. The languid but specific meandering and repetitive learning, confirming and expanding upon that learning: Which supports the question “are we there yet?!” And the corresponding personalized answer, “I will get there , when I get there” ….a piece at a time, sometimes with long breaks.
This is the most lovely “coming to life” stories (versus “coming of age”, because age is irrelevant) I have ever read. I used all these common sayings because they have taken on new meaning after reading this story.
Beautifully descriptive both physically (locations) and psychically (emotional).
I have already bought the next two in the series before I was even a quarter into reading this one.
I absolutely loved this book. The languid but specific meandering and repetitive learning, confirming and expanding upon that learning: Which supports the question “are we there yet?!” And the corresponding personalized answer, “I will get there , when I get there” ….a piece at a time, sometimes with long breaks.
This is the most lovely “coming to life” stories (versus “coming of age”, because age is irrelevant) I have ever read. I used all these common sayings because they have taken on new meaning after reading this story.
Beautifully descriptive both physically (locations) and psychically (emotional).
I have already bought the next two in the series before I was even a quarter into reading this one.
May 2, 2026
I’m grateful to have received a soft copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those heartfelt reads centered around self-discovery, healing, and learning to choose yourself. I really loved the way Sofia portrayed the importance of self-worth and how sometimes choosing yourself is the most powerful decision you can make. The relationships in the book were genuinely adorable and added so much warmth to the story. Overall, this felt like an empowering and comforting read.
This book will especially resonate with women who are learning their worth and embracing self-love.
This is one of those heartfelt reads centered around self-discovery, healing, and learning to choose yourself. I really loved the way Sofia portrayed the importance of self-worth and how sometimes choosing yourself is the most powerful decision you can make. The relationships in the book were genuinely adorable and added so much warmth to the story. Overall, this felt like an empowering and comforting read.
This book will especially resonate with women who are learning their worth and embracing self-love.
May 8, 2026
A captivating story about the bravery it takes to start over. Every City but Home is a masterclass in the 'reinvention' trope, following a woman who trades a life of managing everyone else for a one-way ticket to Italy. It’s poignant, beautifully written, and serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes you have to lose your map to find your way.
June 22, 2026
So much more than a “romance novel”. I think that is misleading. It’s about being still, experiencing what is in front of you and discovering, or rediscovering, who you are. I finished reading it in a few days, turned it over that same day and reread it.
October 18, 2026
perfect
A fantastic work of art in so many ways. The honest and beautiful way the feelings unspoken of millions of lives out there, now and throughout history. Things sometimes dealt with, but so often accepted as their lot. Great work CoCo.
A fantastic work of art in so many ways. The honest and beautiful way the feelings unspoken of millions of lives out there, now and throughout history. Things sometimes dealt with, but so often accepted as their lot. Great work CoCo.
August 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this. A romance as much about cities as the couple. Lots of thoughts about thoughts. I'm looking forward two the next in the series.
August 18, 2026
being true to yourself.
This is a good book to read for people who have become lost in other people‘s lives. How she navigated her new life was very inspiring.
This is a good book to read for people who have become lost in other people‘s lives. How she navigated her new life was very inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews