The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch

 

The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch 

by Laura Jensen Walker
10/20/26; 316 pages
Lake Union Publishing 

The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch by Laura Jensen Walker is a recommended feel-good cozy novel - for the right reader. It follows yet another solitary curmudgeonly senior citizen who discovers it is never too late to changes her ways.

Primrose Honeychurch, 70 year-old and a retired librarian, lives in Los Vegas in a rental house and is an endling. She has always loved books more than people, with her dear mother being the exception. After her abusive father died, her mother became ill and died before the two could take a long-planned trip, returning to Cornwall to see her family and the place of their birth. Primrose, who has recently received a medical diagnosis of her own, is now going to undertake that pilgrimage with her mother's ashes. She is also going to visit other destinations, including the famed Welsh town of books. Her trip has several surprises along the way.

This is yet another novel in the increasingly familiar trope of an intractable senior taking some chance and then miraculously changing their whole personality and world view. While on the trip, Primrose discovers among other things, that she is neurodivergent and maybe she doesn't mind jibber-jabbering as much as she claims. This is heart-warming, predictable throughout, eye-roll inducing, and very saccharine. T'aint realistic at all. Set a massive dose of disbelief aside. I understand I am an outlier here. Those who love emotional, bittersweet stories where the protagonist undergoes a transformative change will love this novel.

Admittedly the novel lost major points with me right at the beginning when Primrose unplugs a freezer which is making a bothersome noise at night, accidentally leaves the door cracked open, and discovers, later the next day, the smell of rotten meat. I might believe it was all thawed, or partially thawed, but rotten? Nope. Ain't going to happen that way. Sure she's in Vegas, but her house does have air conditioning, which we know is true later in the plot. Also, as a character, she is portrayed as especially judgemental, demanding, and rude at the beginning which makes her difficult to like.

The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch is a good choice for those who love transformative stories and can set all disbelief aside. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.