I can always count on a Tracey Garvis Graves book to be something I'll enjoy and read quickly and this book was no exception. I thought the strong focus on personal growth and healing from horrible grief was a real strength of the book. Seeing Marshall and Wren go from total strangers to friends who confided in one another (sort of...) to lovers was really special. Overall, I felt like the first half of the book was stronger than the second. The second half brought in a trope I don't love - while it had a unique twist in this instance it's still not my favorite, and I found some of the MC's decisions questionable as well. I was still rooting for everyone's happy ending!

Bonus points for so much outdoorsy content and a unique focus on geocaching, something I've never seen in a book!

Tracey Garvis Graves has done it again!!

I have read several of her books at this point, and this one might be my favorite one yet. She always creates books with unique situations and settings (much of this one centers around geocaching in Oregon), which I am always eager to dive into head-first. The characters in this novel are both flawed and relatable, there is realistic and funny dialogue, some unexpected twists, and ultimately, you find yourself cheering for the ending both of these people deserve. While I would say this book falls under 'romance,' it also deals with some heavy topics, and I liked the depth that brought to the story.

I also want to give a shout-out to whoever designed this cover. It's cute and also grabbed my attention. I like the contrast of color to black and white in it. It feels perfect for this story ... things are not often black and white or as they might initially seem.

Read this book if you like: romances that aren't cheesy, stories that have an outdoorsy element, books set in the Pacific Northwest, stories that read quickly (I read this in two sittings)!

4.25 stars!

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and provide my honest review. All opinions are my own.

When Wren’s fiancé dies she heads out to Oregon to go hiking and find herself. There she meets Marshall, a psychologist looking for his own distraction.
✅ read if you liked eat pray love or wild
✅ she’s 34, he’s 36
✅ her fiancé died and she’s out in Oregon on a trip to essentially find herself
🌶️: yes, right about the halfway point

This is definitely more woman-centric fiction and a story about grief and life after loss than it is a romance. It’s a beautiful book, and I hope you will read it.

✅Skyline Chili shoutout. No I’m not making this up.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is the story of Wren Waters and Marshall Hendricks, two people who find each other amidst their own personal tragedies on a geocaching trip in Oregon’s Cascade mountain range. TTOLH is primarily told from Wren’s POV, however, a large portion of the second half of the book is epistolary, so we get Marshall’s POV as well.

I really liked that the conflicts that Wren and Marshall face are not with each other, but within themselves. Wren is struggling to come to terms with a profound loss that leads to a blindside betrayal and if that’s not enough, she’s hit with yet another life-changing revelation. Marshall is also dealing with profound unexpected loss.

Wren’s name is very apropos, at one point she say’s “I feel like the bird I was named after. ... the wren is a harbinger of spring and rebirth. I am being reborn. I am beginning to soar.” She also cries a lot, so Waters tracks (haha). Even though Wren and Marshall are both dealing with very heavy emotional trauma, TTOLH is a story of self-(re)discovery, hope, personal growth and moving forward.

Wren firmly believes “that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need.” If you are looking for an emotional, character driven story the universe is telling you to read The Trail of Lost Hearts. It might just be the sad yet uplifting story you need right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC of The Trail of Lost Hearts.

Having recently finished “The Trail of Lost Hearts” by Tracey Garvis Graves, I am happy to have had the chance for the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press!

I’m so happy to have been able to read this story, cuddled up in my comfy chair while Mother Nature had frozen fun outside. I settled in, ready for a love story, but this was so much more. Geocaching took me away on a unique adventure with this amazing healing of the heart(s) tale! Do I know anything at all about geocaching? No, absolutely not. Am I interested because of the information that I learned about the sport in The Trail of Lost Hearts? Definitely, yes!!

It’s always such a bonus when I learn something new while taking myself away between the pages of a book for a while. This story had outdoor adventure, a beautiful setting in the PNW, heart-break and also heart-healing of the best kind. Starting off along the trails of Oregon and then heading back to Ohio, was a journey that I’m so glad to have taken; and also, learned from.

Dear Netflix, I am sincerely begging you to adapt this book into a movie because it is just pure goodness, and I loved reading it. Filled with adorable moments of romance and friendship, The trail of lost hearts had me squealing and swooning at every page.

This storyline ebbed and flowed in a good way. The plot started strong with Wren and Marshall, then fell back a little bit to be more introspective as Wren got back to her new normal. The ending was beautiful, as was the character development, especially pertaining to Wren.

another home run from the author!

This book immediately grabbed me and didn't let go until I finished it.

I liked When and Marshall and her friends.

The story was captivating and I enjoyed the second chance and healing.

I finished the book with a warm glow and happy heart.

Definitely will sell at the store when it is published.

4 stars highly recommended


Thank you net Galley St. Martin's Press and the author.

4.5 stars

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and listen to The Trail of Lost Hearts in exchange for my review. This is such an intriguing novel. It’s the emotional journey of two people willing to do the heavy lifting to work through their individual grief. I really enjoyed Wren and Marshall and loved watching their story unfold. Their initial meeting was unique - geocaching is new to me! It was an addictive read that I finished in a few days. I’ve read one other by Graves and remember a similar reading experience. I’ll be adding her backlist titles to my TBR.

Wren Waters is adrift in her grief after a couple life-altering events that have shattered her trust in men. With prodding from her best friend, she finally gets back out into the world and discovers a love for geocaching.*

During a solo geocaching trip to Oregon, Wren meets Marshall Hendricks, a kind and handsome psychologist and fellow geocacher who comes to her rescue in a dangerous moment. When he suggests they team up on their quests for the week, she finally agrees. She doesn’t know that Marshall is also grieving a major loss. Perhaps fate has brought them together?

As they get to know one another and Wren shares more about what’s happened to her, she finds a sympathetic and supportive friend in Marshall and a small spark of hope for the future. Unfortunately, the more she opens up and talks about her grief, the more Marshall seems to shut down about his.

As they grow closer, will Marshall ever let his guard down about his past? Furthermore, can they realistically have a future together? I’ll just say that things get very complicated on the path to those answers, but I enjoyed their journey!

This is my first read by Tracey Garvis Graves and it was such a touching and sweet story! It highlighted grief and healing in a way that felt genuine, which made me care for both Wren and Marshall. Their relationship was believable, and it was so refreshing to see two MCs with flaws and vulnerabilities. Their journey was messier, but also more relatable than a typical romance. I also liked that they were in their mid-thirties, which gave the story a welcome maturity.

My one and only complaint is that the dialogue occasionally felt oddly formal and unnatural to how people actually talk. This has happened for me before in books by Isabelle Allende and Jodi Picoult, where the author has important ideas they want to share about certain topics - in this case grief - but it sounds like exposition on that topic being awkwardly forced into dialogue. Thankfully, MOST of the time that wasn’t the case - it just stood out when it was.

All in all, I really liked this and would gladly read another book by this author! I recommend this to those who enjoy a gentle romance with emotional heft, and who don’t mind a little open-door spice!

★★★★

Wren needs to get away, and what better way to do that then fly across the country to the Pacific Northwest for an outdoor adventure. Wren's plan is to geocache, looking for hidden objects, and have some alone time which is much needed after overcoming the biggest mistake of her life. She runs into Marshall on the trail, and their relationship takes off. I really enjoyed the first half of the book as we followed along on Wren and Marshall's travels. We quickly learn about Wren's need to get away, but Marshall isn't as forthcoming about why he had disappeared from his life. And this is where the story takes a dramatic, somewhat surprising turn. Without revealing the surprise, the second half of the book is perhaps a little more introspective and emotional, which ultimately leads the reader to a satisfying conclusion.

If you are looking for a heartwarming love story that packs an emotional punch, this is the book for you. The author does a great job at providing a strong sense of place; she uses that to bring two people together who had significant obstacles to overcome en route to finding each other.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review.

I was so excited to receive a copy of Tracey Garvis Graves' newest release. I enjoyed Heard it in a Love Song and The Girl He Used to Know.

Wren Water's life has been upended by a life altering plot twist she did not expect. She has always believed that the universe will send you what you need when you need it and will she believe that this time?

Wren leaves her life in Ohio to go to the Pacific Northwest to geocache. She used to love being outdoors but in the last few years, she has gotten away from this hobby. Trying to center herself and find what the universe is telling her, she is off on her adventure.

Things do not start out as smoothly as she had hoped. The unexpected travel partner will change everything if Wren will open herself up to the possibility.

Marshall has experienced unimaginable grief and is on his own journey.

This is a story of two individuals who have experienced great loss and have to decide if they can open themselves up to love again. This story will stay with me for some time.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As someone who is transplanted from Ohio to Washington state, this story truly spoke to my heart. One thing I absolutely love about this location is the beauty and nature that surrounds you no matter where you go in the Pacific Northwest. This author truly captured the feelings and emotions that go into hiking and being one with nature.

The story to me felt more of a story of the journey of self discovery and growth rather than a romance. Wren had experienced intense emotional trauma and reading her piece together the broken pieces with each step she took felt empowering and captivating to read. This author did a great job by taking heavy topics but not having them overtake Wren's personality.

This book is a well written story that left me feeling uplifted and hopeful. It felt inspirational without the book’s story feeling too emotionally heavy or overwhelming. I felt that those going into this book expecting the romance to be the center of the plot would be disappointed because I felt this book centered more on Wren's personal journey. Don’t get me wrong though, the romance wasn’t lacking, it’s just not the center of the book.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.

Another winner from one of my favorite authors. Beautifully written, her stories stay with you long after you've finished them. I read very fast yet always find myself savoring her words, re-reading and admiring picture perfect sentences. Such a wonderful writer. These characters go on a journey both physically and emotionally and you're rooting for them from page one. I so enjoyed reading about a healthy relationship between two grieving adults without the usual angst and miscommunication you find so often.

If you haven't discovered Tracey Garvis Graves, you're really missing out. Highly recommend.

I started The Trail of Lost Hearts expecting an emotional read. I was not expecting a page-turner, but that is what I got. Wren Waters, reeling from a one-two punch after the death of her fiance, has finally decided to reclaim her life. She starts by flying two thirds of the way across the country to go geocaching in the Pacific Northwest. She wants to be alone, until she finds herself facing even more punches from the universe. Fortunately, that's when Marshall enters the book. Wren and Marshall team up for the duration of her trip and end up in love (and in bed). So far, this is about what I was expecting.

But I expected the whole book to unfold within the confines of this trip. But that's not the story Tracey Garvis Graves wanted to explore; the scope of this tale is bigger.

As the trip comes to a close, and Wren processes her life up to this point, she realizes how much of herself she's been suppressing to stay with her late fiance. She realizes there were warning signs that all was not well in that relationship--signs she missed. Now, she's determined to live forward in a way that's more true to herself. So, when she realizes that Marshall is withholding important details about his past, she makes the hard call and ends the relationship at the end of her trip. And on the way home, she realizes the universe isn't done throwing curve balls at her yet.

The last half of the book follows Wren as she and Marshall try to put together who they have been, who they are, and who they are becoming. Although Wren's decision to edit important details from what she shares with Marshall in this process made me raise my eyebrows, ultimately the book is engrossing, the characters relatable, and the end satisfying. And the details of setting in the first half of the book are soul food for those who love nature.

This story pulled me in quickly and the first half was really enjoyable. I didn’t care for the plot twist at the mid point, but the character development and growth that had been set up to that point ensured that the resolution was still satisfying. The Pacific Northwest wilderness setting gave me some fierce wanderlust!

This was my first time reading this author, and I now look forward to seeking out more of her backlist!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me with an ARC to review! All opinions are my own. I enjoyed it!

A new favorite book from one of my favorite authors!! This was an incredibly moving friends to lovers story about moving on after heartbreak and grief and sees two strangers meeting while geocaching in the Oregon wilderness.

34-year-old Wren is still trying to get over learning that her recently deceased partner had a secret other family while mysterious Marshall is a psychologist running from his own grief and guilt over the loss of a loved one.

Together these two bond on the trail and gradually their friendship turns into something more until their week-long trip comes to an end and Marshall leaves Wren wishing for more. Heartbroken again, Wren returns home to discover that the universe has yet another surprise in store for her.

With excellent mental health rep, this book is great for nature lovers and anyone who enjoyed Cheryl Strayed's Wild or Katherine Center's Happiness for beginners. It was also great on audio narrated by Eric Meyers and Kate Handford.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy and the author herself for sending me a physical ARC copy through a giveaway. If you're looking for your next great read this spring look no further!

Steam level: some open door scenes

Two people, working through tragedy, come together to find a new way forward. I love Wren and Marshall together. They are both mature and able to talk through issues. This story is heartfelt and emotional.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

The beginning of this was great, the shared trauma and situation in which they met had me all in, I got the chemistry and I couldn't wait to see them grow and be open with each other. Then the twist happens and it just became super annoying. Wren continuously saying that she wants him to be open about everything with her and nothing can go further with them till that happens but yet she is hiding this secret FOR MONTHS?!?! while saying over and over I'm going to tell him I am, I know I need to tell him soon.....blah blah blah. I would have been fine if that twist happened even at the beginning and they dealt and became closer because of it, they way it came about and ended was so annoying (personally).

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Netgalley and the author for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Tracey Garvis Graves is an auto-buy author for me and reading her books are like a warm blanket wrapped around my shoulders; comforting and a welcomed addition.

The Trail of Lost Hearts was a book that I was looking forward to but ultimately, in the end, wasn’t one I loved.

Garvis Graves has a talent for writing characters we can root for, usually the female main character, but Wren in this story was hard for me to like. She might be written as a “strong woman”, but her lack of personality and her extremely poor communication skills/grudge holding skills are something I couldn’t grasp onto as a reader. Marshall was likable but I felt bad for him in the aspect that he kept trying to win over Wren (even though I know it’s THEIR story…) I saw it as more desperation on his part than romantic but only because I felt Wren was rude as a person.

The pacing was a bit off, too. I felt like it was two different stories in one book; one about geocaching and one about motherhood. The transition from one to the other was a bit clunky and I kind of wished the whole book was about geocaching and their longer adventures together with it instead of bringing a child into the middle of the book.

I think Garvis Graves is a writer I will always admire for her smooth storytelling and her books that let you get lost in them, but The Trail of Lost Hearts was a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.