I enjoyed this but it was a bit more soapy than I had been expecting. There were quite a few outrageous plot points but it still managed to be a heartfelt story.

Wow. I adored it! It is hard to describe my love for this book without spoilers, so I’ll remain vague.

At first I thought it was going to be too derivative of Strayed’s “Wild” or Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love”. But it turned out to bear little similarity to either. The characters were rich and nuanced, the dialogue beautiful and witty. I loved Marshall, faults and all, and applauded Wren for her choices and conviction. I cried, I ugly cried, and then I happy cried. This book is lovely and moving and I devoured it in record time. I couldn’t put it down! It will be a must-read for 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this free advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The book is full of emotions. The characters are so heartbreaking. I loved this book so much. The story gives you so much hope. Tracey Gravis Graves did it again. Amazing

4.5★ When Wren Waters is dealt not one but two major blows back to back, she embarks on a geo-caching journey as a way to process her grief. There she meets Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist dealing with own grief and turmoil. A friendship forms when the two agree to partner in order to help another achieve their goals, while staying safe from those looking to cause harm.

This book caught me completely by surprise. It pulled me in immediately as I learned about what Wren had endured, and kept my attention with the introduction of Marshall (soon to be everyone’s newest book boyfriend). I loved the way Graves tackles the long term ramifications of grief especially when it intertwines with guilt.

The characters feel so real and each handle their emotions in a very real way. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the emotional growth these characters show from where they started - both quite broken by life. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and felt all the other feelings a great book can bring about.

Read if you like:
•emotional love stories
•first person, single POV
•PCT setting (hiking)
•stories about overcoming grief
•happiness for beginners
•eat pray love

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy.

Such a sweet story. I enjoy reading this start to finish and honestly didn’t want to put it down. This is my first read by this author and I was not disappointed. I had not heard of Tracey before, but after this book, I’m interested to read her other stories.

The storyline was unique and not like your typical love story. Some of the events didn’t feel real to me but I say that not being an outdoorsy person in the way that Wren was. Wren has great confidence. I liked that the author wrote the story with time gaps in there. At first I thought that I was missing things but realized weeks or months had passed.

I will admit, I was a tad sad when I got to the middle of the book. I was not expecting that kind of event nor was I expecting how the book ended. Just goes to show that things always find a way to work themselves out in the end.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is the story of Wren and Marshall, two people that met on a hiking trail and had no idea that it would change their life. They both were running from the tragic events in their life, when they met on a trail while geocaching and decided to team up. This was such a great book I loved it! Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this arc, I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion!

A book that finally pulled me out of my reading slump! I loved every single second of this book. I've never read anything by Tracey Garvis Graves prior to this, but now have added all of her books to my TBR!

Wren and Marshall have a heart breaking, emotional, traumatic, beautiful story that kept me wanting more. I could not put this book down from start to finish, I absolutely loved it. This is exactly what the soul needs. 10/10

This is a beautifully written, heartwarming story about two grieving strangers, Wren and Marshall. Both decide to take a soul searching journey to the Pacific Northwest trails of Oregon and happen to cross paths a few times while geocaching.
Marshall actually saves Wren from a horrific encounter with two men on the trail, and this initiates the start of their journey together.

Marshall and Wren are equally likable and very relatable which helps me to truly connect with these characters. I was invested in them and I loved how they found comfort in each other’s company while working through their issues in a healthy and positive way. The adventurous setting also added to the emotional journey these two went through together.

This story had all the feels and some unexpected twists which kept me glued to the pages. You can’t help but root for these two, and hope they can find their happily ever after together.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm a huge fan of Tracey Garvis Graves and The Trail of Lost Hearts did't disappoint. I was rooting for Wren and loved the chemistry between her an Marshall. This was such a lovely story of love and self-discovery.

This review contains spoilers.

I was excited to read this book as The Girl He Used To Know was one of my top reads this year. This book unfortunately fell flat for me.

Wren goes through the traumatic ending of her previous relationship, and I enjoyed reading about her healing through the geocaching along with Marshall in the first half. She was realizing that her ex didn't check all of her boxes, his lack of honesty being his biggest red flag, and then she jumps into bed with Marshall before he opens up to her about any of the hurt he'd been dealing with.


Surprise pregnancy isn't one of my favorite tropes, but I can be won over if it's done well. For me, the pregnancy didn't add anything to her growth and healing or to her relationship with Marshall other than him deciding to put his fears aside and step up for them. I think if we had known about those fears before he knew about the baby, it would have flowed better, but as it was, even though it was the main plot point, it seemed superfluous.

The last issue I had was distracting to me from the moment we found out what happened to Graham, but I will admit is probably a bit nitpicky. It wasn't legal for people to pump their own gas in the state of Oregon (where the accident took place ) until August of this year (2023) so whatever the timeline in the book was, it doesn't add up to this conflict having even been possible.

I have been a big fan of Tracey Garvis Graces for some time. I found her when searching for Iowa authors. I love to support strong women from my home state! I was lucky enough to get an early copy of The Trail of Lost Hearts.

I went in blind, not knowing much about this story. Who knew I would come out with an interest in geocaching and in love with Wren and Marshall! And I can’t forget the setting, as most of the story takes place in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Tracey goes above and beyond in this one to really make you feel right there and it is breathtaking!

Wren and Marshall are both on individual journeys in search of comfort and healing following two unthinkable tragedies. This story is so much one of fate and being in the right place at the exact right (or wrong) time. I love that these characters are proactively taking positive steps toward working through their grief. Wren and Marshall are “real” and very relatable, and made me want to reach through my book and give them both a big hug.

I could not put this one down! I should be getting ready for my daughter’s graduation party tomorrow, but I could not tear myself away from this story!! My favorite read of 2023!

The Trail of Lost Hearts was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the first half of the story and liked the chemistry between Wren and Marshal. However, Wren became an increasingly annoying and hypocritical character to me after the halfway point in the story. Instead of her growing on me and becoming a fictional friend, I found myself wanting to give her a good talking to. She developed into a selfish individual who justified and excused her own actions while demanding different behaviour from others.
That being said, the writing was good, the chemistry was good, and I can see many readers of this genre enjoying the story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley

When I see a book by Tracey Garvis Graves, I am very excited because I know I will be reading a book with wonderful characters discovering important things about themselves, and this was no exception. After the sudden death of her fiancé in a tragic accident, Wren has wrapped herself in a spiky armor to keep everyone out and fallen into a deep depression. Fortunately a friend pulled her out and took her hiking where she discovered geocaching. I have known about this for quite a while but haven’t tried it myself although it looks like fun. Wren threw herself into it, and along the way she runs into Marshall, who is also geocaching. I won’t describe any more of the story because you need to discover it yourself as you read. I will just say that this lives up to all my expectations, and Graves has crafted another great book. The story will engage your emotions as it carries you along, and it explores the topic of grief and the different effects on different people very tenderly. There are times when you want to reach into the pages and shake a character and other times when you want to hug them, but you never want to stop reading even when you get to the end!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

What a beautifully crafted and inspiring love story! "The Trail of Lost Hearts" drew me in from the beginning with its heartwarming narrative. Wren, a sweet and intelligent protagonist, undergoes a soul-searching journey after a tragic event shatters her world. In parallel, Marshall, grappling with profound loss, sets the stage for their eventual meeting and the transformative impact they have on each other.

Tracey Garvis Graves skillfully dissects the intricacies of emotions, unraveling the complexities of characters as they navigate upheaval and tragedy. The author's exceptional storytelling vividly portrays the struggles of Wren and Marshall, offering a poignant exploration of their challenges.

The conclusion of the story is heartwarming and immensely satisfying, delivering the uplifting and triumphant resolution I had hoped for. Tracey Garvis Graves proves once again to be an incredibly gifted author, and I wholeheartedly recommend this beautifully written tale to all who appreciate a deep exploration of love, resilience, and the human spirit. Don't miss out on this captivating journey.

Additionally, there's something truly special about this story that resonates. The characters, both hurting from emotional upsets, cross paths while geocaching in the same area. Despite initial reluctance, a situation unfolds where he comes to her rescue, gradually fostering a believable connection. The characters' progression is portrayed authentically, with readers cheering them on as they work through the hurts they've experienced. The story captures the essence of how willingness to put in the effort can lead to positive results, adding depth to an already engaging narrative.

I am so excited for readers to get the chance to meet Wren and Marshall!

Here are some of the things I loved about this book:

*mature, wise main characters who aren't playing games but are ready to find love. Learn how to set firm boundaries from Wren!
*supportive and well-drawn ancillary characters that you grow to love, as well
*realistic plot twists that keep you turning the pages and wondering what the characters will choose to do next
*not only do you, as a reader, feel empathy for these characters, but they themselves are also full of empathy for others which is very endearing - just so rich with humanity and compassion!

I would read anything Tracey Garvis Graves writes next because I also adored her previous book, Heard It In A Love Song. If you are cynical about standard romance books, give these novels a try. There are romantic elements, for sure, but also so much more!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was my first time reading Tracey Garvis Graves, I really loved the book and her writing.
This was a great story of two “ lost hearts” that met by accident geocaching. I had never heard of geocaching so that in itself was very interesting. Add in these two people that have “ heartbreak” in common and you have a good book to read!.

Enjoyable until the twist. For me personally, I could not read any further. I really enjoyed the two main characters gaining trust of one another, hiking together, becoming intimate. Sad that I just couldn't read after the twist.

This one started off with a bang. It lulled a bit somewhere in the middle then raced toward the finish line.

I did enjoy the characters. They were so authentic that at separate times I didn’t like the MC’s. I mean this as a compliment to the author. The characters were written with flaws and I liked that the author let those flaws show. It made the characters relatable.

I enjoyed the highlighting of geocaching and spending time outdoors. It was a refreshing change from books I’ve been reading lately. There was enough detail to spark my interest without feeling like I was reading an instruction manual.

Overall, this was a pleasant book that pointed toward a hopeful future for the MC,s.

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves is the story of Wren, who after a surprising breakup, takes up geocaching to get herself out of the house. On a solo trip to Oregon, she meets fellow geocacher Marshall and they agree to hike together as friends. As their stories evolve, so does their relationship, but will either be able to let go of their pasts for a future together?

This novel was an unexpected gem and I loved the character development and unique situations that brought them together. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

What an absolutely beautiful novel. Grief is such a personal emotion and while we all experience it, *how* we experience it and *who* we experience it for can make the experience so vastly different. This book, like all of the books I've read from Ms. Graves, is emotional, yet subtle. Not the kind of book that brutally rips your heart out (I can't really do those), but still packs a punch and makes you really, truly feel for the characters. I absolutely loved it.