A Week to Remember by Ruth O’Leary Review

A Week to Remember by Ruth O’Leary, is a story with universal themes: healing, self-discovery, and the power of connection.

Synopsis: A Week to Remember

Three women. One ancient path. A journey that will change everything.

In this heartfelt and empowering novel, Ruth explores the lives of three very different women who find themselves walking the Camino de Santiago, each seeking healing, clarity, and a fresh start.

Meet the Women:

Paula, newly 60, is facing a personal crisis after a panic attack rocks her birthday party. With her friends settling into retirement, Paula’s hunger for adventure—not quiet comfort—drives her to question everything she thought she knew about her life.

Rachel thought she was building her dream future with her boyfriend Craig—until a devastating betrayal brings everything crashing down. With her heart shattered and her confidence shaken, she heads to Spain to find herself again and decide whether forgiveness is even possible.

Cathy is reeling from a life-altering event and consumed by fear. Inspired by her favorite film, The Way, she sets out on the Camino hoping that following in its footsteps will help her rebuild her courage and discover who she really is.

As these three women’s paths unexpectedly intertwine, what begins as a personal escape becomes a shared journey of connection, self-discovery, and transformation. Along the rugged beauty of the Camino, they’ll face past wounds, form unexpected friendships, and uncover the strength to rewrite their futures.

A Week to Remember is a moving story about the power of letting go, starting over, and discovering that it’s never too late to change your life.

Review: A Week to Remember

A Week To Remember is the second novel by Irish writer Ruth O’Leary after The Weekend Break, (read my review here) and follows the story of three strangers—Paula, Rachel, and Cath.

Who each embark on a personal journey by walking part of the Camino de Santiago, the famed Christian pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

Often, books that centre on three women tend to fall into familiar tropes—lifelong friendships hiding secrets and betrayals, or strangers bonding over dramatic revenge plots.

But A Week to Remember refreshingly avoids these clichés. Instead, O’Leary gives us a heartfelt story about three very different women who meet while walking the Camino and forge a friendship that helps each of them heal and grow.

Each woman brings her own challenges:

• Paula, approaching her 60s, is wrestling with the question of what comes next in life.
• Rachel finds her plans to start a dream business derailed by a personal betrayal.
• Cathy is struggling to rebuild her confidence after a life-altering event.

The novel is structured with alternating chapters from each woman’s point of view. While this format can sometimes fragment a story, O’Leary manages to keep the narrative cohesive. Several elements help to anchor the book:

The Camino

More than just a backdrop, the Camino ties the story together. The route’s natural beauty, the towns and villages the characters pass through, and the shared goal of completing the pilgrimage all lend a powerful sense of place and purpose to the novel.

The People

Although the focus is on the three main women, the supporting characters—whether they briefly seen in the narrative, or play a more significant role—add texture and richness to the journey, making the world feel lived-in and authentic.

The Friendship

What elevates A Week to Remember beyond a series of individual arcs is the bond that forms between Paula, Rachel, and Cathy. Despite their different backgrounds and struggles, their developing friendship transforms the novel which in the wrong hand could, have felt like three linked novellas into a unified and emotionally resonant narrative.

Conclusion

A Week to Remember is the type of novel which in my opinion meets the full spirit of women’s fiction—not simply because its protagonists are female, but because the story is deeply rooted in experiences, emotions, and perspectives that are uniquely shaped by their gender. If you were to change the genders of the three main characters, you’d need to fundamentally rewrite the book.

That said, A Week to Remember is a story with universal themes: healing, self-discovery, and the power of connection. Readers of any gender can find meaning in its pages.

All in all, A Week to Remember by Ruth O’Leary is a moving and rewarding read.

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Mark.