🏕️ What’s it about?

Wren is heartbroken and on a quest to escape from her pain. After taking a fancy to geocaching, she decides to fly out to Oregon solo and do some hiking and caching out there. But she meets Marshall out on a trail when he helps rescue her from a truly terrible situation. The two eventually agree to partner up on their geocaching vacations. But the more they are together, the more they realize they are both struggling to cope with some difficult situations in their past.

Wren knows she needs a man she can trust, but Marshall isn’t sure he can be that for her.

💔 My thoughts:

This one is so emotional. Whew.

I loved both Wren and Marshall so much through all their personal trauma. And even when they didn’t act like I wished they would, I still care deeply for them—and that’s a sign of excellent writing.

And I adore a good female friendship, and Wren has that in spades.

Wren and Marshall also made me want to go geocaching—I loved that it was so central to the story.

This book does hit with one emotional punch after another, so going expecting to feel all the feels. (I mean really, so many feels).

Overall a captivating and enjoyable story.

😍 p.s. I LOVE that Wren was from
Dayton and that Skyline Chili makes a couple of appearances in the book!

🎧 The audiobook is expertly narrated by Kate Hanford with some interludes by Eric Meyers—both of whom do an excellent job.

I’m emotional. Something about this story really hit me hard. Maybe it was my love for nature, maybe it was just having my own baby, but it was such a beautiful read. At times I wanted to cry for Wren and others I wanted to cheer her on. I was so invested.

Not very many authors I’ve personally read write about romance and nature, this story combined both and I LOVED it, especially being a PNW native. My heart was happy from page one. The narration was fantastic as well. I was absorbed!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced audiobook for review.

This book was beautifully written but I was bored most of the time though.

A woman dealing with her grief just happens to meet a psychologist while hiking? Seems a little coincidental, but okay. I just felt like I was listening more to therapy sessions and not really connecting with the characters themselves and so I just couldn't get super invested in the story or them.

I loved the narration though!

Wren Waters has just had a terrible tragedy occur in her life. She is incredibly broken up about it and decides to become a bed bound human burrito to wallow in her grief. He best friend shows up on the door one day and forces her to go on a hike with her where she discovers geocaching, the sporting activity of finding outdoor caches by GPS. Geocaching becomes the only activity that seems to get Wren out of the house and out of her head and she books a one week vacation in Oregon to continue to heal her heart. On her first hike on a loop trail she is accosted by two ruffians who mean her harm. Fortunately the handsome hiker Marshall Hendricks she had passed by earlier comes to her rescue and dispatches the two and saves Wren's day. He offers the idea of joining up and geocaching thru Oregon together as he is a local and on vacation. With some misgiving Wren agrees and as the two get to know each other and each others buried hurts they both begin to heal. I personally love geocaching and the thrill of finding that hidden object in the middle of nowhere. It's a fun sport and it gets you outside in nature which can be very healing. I liked both Wren and Marshall and was happy they wanted to work through their respective pain together. But it's not always easy to open ones self truly to another and the two must find a way to move forward, either together or not.

This is not exactly a romantic comedy or even a romantic dramady, some of the characters even laugh about that it might even be a romantic tragedy, but however it can be categorized it is a great story and a lot of fun to read. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen/read an ARC of this novel. I really enjoyed it.

This was a beautiful story. The story of finding one’s way to healing and the fact that it looks different for everyone. It’s also the story of standing up for what you want and deserve and accepting nothing less.

I am a huge fan of TGG, and she did not disappoint with a sweet story. TGG has a gift for writing characters that I would love to meet in real life. Wren and Marshall have been dealt some life-altering blows. They meet as they attempt to bury their grief on solo expeditions of geo-caching. BTW... that is a new term to me. I found myself fascinated by it. I highly recommend this fabulously written and narrated book. I can hardly wait until TGG's next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

“The Trail of Lost Hearts” is the story of Wren and Marshall, two brokenhearted people who meet while geocaching in Oregon. Set on a solo quest, Wren initially rejects Marshall’s attempt at hiker small talk. But when Marshall saves her further down the trail, she is grateful and agrees to partner up with him to find more geocaches. The two set out on a geocaching adventure in the Pacific Northwest and quickly bond over their similar situations.

This was my first Tracey Garvis Graves book, and I will definitely be reading more! The first half of the book was my favorite. I really enjoyed Wren and Marshall’s hiking adventures, and I now want to try my hand at geocaching. Their relationship was believable, and it was refreshing to read about two characters who seemed so genuine, with real problems and flaws. Their healing journey was very touching and made this story a tear-jerker. After their hiking expedition ends, the story takes quite the turn with a huge and unexpected twist. I did not like this half of the story as much, but I cared so much about Wren and Marshall that I kept reading. Overall, a heartwarming and emotional story with excellent character development, a fun plot, and a picturesque setting.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kate Handford and Eric Meyers. They did such a great job setting the tone of the story and bringing out all of the emotions of their characters. Really enjoyed this one on audio!

I appreciate this audio and the physical arc from St. Martin’s Press, and I really wanted to love this one! It was just a little too slow and difficult to get into for my tastes.

What a great modern day love story filled with self discovery. I truly think that this is a story for everyone to listen and read. Best audiobook I have listened to so far this year!

This book took me on an emotional journey. I felt really connected to Wren and Marshall right from the first chapter. They are two people who have been through terrible traumas and still want to do better and be better. They are just better together. It’s a beautiful story.

I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy thought provoking, deeply emotional stories. Make sure you have your tissues ready.

And this is why we should never judge a book by its cover!! 👏🫣🤪

I’m officially a big TGG fan!! Her stories are just so emotional + beautifully crafted and this is no exception! 🥹

✨two wounded hearts coming together
✨the ULTIMATE character growth
✨geocaching! (I had no idea this was a thing - super cool!)
✨great on audio
✨later in life characters (I feel like everything I read is characters in their 20s?)
✨MATURE ADULT COMMUNICATION - we love to see it!!
✨overcoming grief + anger

I don’t want to say too much about the plot but if you’re looking for an emotional + inspiring romance that’s more than just a romance - put this release on your radar!! 🫶

Follow Wren and Marshall on their journey of self discovery as they deal with devastating losses while taking a geocaching adventure. This is an emotionally driven story that is beautifully written— with delicately realistically written details showing a heartrending growth of the characters. I loved the slow burn of novel as the characters go through their self exploration — I felt their emotions so deeply — the writing was so beautiful and heartwarming. The narrators were great — I loved how the story was read it really was beautiful to listen too .

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this ARC. This is my honest review .

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Macmillan audio for an advance listening copy of The Trail of Lost Hearts in exchange for an honest review. My god you guys, this book was everything I wanted and more & I can’t recommend it enough! First off, the theme of geocaching is something I’ve never seen in books so that was super fun! Wren was the perfect main character and we followed her through so much (grief, loss, gains, etc) in this book. I also absolutely adored Marshall and how their paths intertwined. The narrator did a fantastic job making the characters and their stories come to life!! You absolutely need to get this book on your radar and pre order it, I’m definitely adding a copy to my library! You can pick this one up on March 26th!!

This book was so far fetched. The attackers in the woods....um call the police once you are rescued. Same plot point could have been made by her falling and hurting her ankle or something. Then the chemistry/tension. It went from like 2-10 way too fast. Was pretty unbelievable. I like the premise but the events in the story seemed forced and a little cringeworthy.

•Read if you loved: HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS. 🥾

Wren and Marshall are two lost souls who find the courage to love again after extreme heartbreak.

Reading THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS was like going on an adventure. Our MC’s meet on a hike while geocaching in Oregon and the author writes rich, atmospheric scenery. I’ve never wanted to explore the PNW the way I do now, after reading this. It’s like the outdoorsy version of Eat Pray Love.

We journey through their intimate experiences of grief and heartache, self discovery and reflection. Wren and Marshall find comfort and support in each other, even when they’re apart. It was so sweet to see their relationship blossom and there was even a little open-door spice. 😉 I loved hearing Marshall’s perspective through his emails to Wren.

This is an emotional, engaging and hopeful read! The audiobook narration is GOLD. If you’re a sucker for FRIENDS TO LOVERS + SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE like I am, you’ll eat this up! I’m a huge fan of her previous book - THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW - so if you haven’t read that one yet, definitely add it to your list.

This one started out slow but overall was a cute story. Wren Waters is no longer engaged to the love of her life. The only thing that gets her out of bed every day is geocaching. She decides to hit the road on a journey to find hidden treasures and ultimately, find herself. Given her track record, she’s leery of men in general but when one man, also on a path to find himself, saves her from a life threatening situation, Wren must decide whether to trust Marshall and join forces or risk her life by going solo. The road trip begins as two strangers on a mission to find themselves, but as their journey progresses, so does their friendship.

After a devestating personal experience, Wren Waters is determined to have a solo vacation to reset herself. Unfortunately, her first experience on the trails of the Pacific Northwest is a terrifying one. Accosted by two men while she's walking alone, Wren immediately realizes she's in way over her head. As her mind spins and looks desperately around for a way out, another solo hiker comes to her rescue. Marshall Hendricks hears the altercation in the woods and immediately jumps in, fending off the creepy men and guiding Wren down the trail. When the staunchly solo hikers realize they could probably both use a friend, they decide to adventure together. Following their stories both together and separately, 'The Trail of Lost Hearts' takes you through a sweet story of love and loss.

This story was so adorable. It managed to be thoughtful without becoming preachy or overly spiritual, spicey without being really explicit, and cute without being eye rolling. The characters are likeable but more deeply flawed than in most rom-coms which I think helped to make the story feel more real. I also loved that they picked a pretty niche hobby (geocaching) to propel their journey forward, it seemed to give the first half of the book a clear direction that didn't seem forced.

I am shocked that this is not already being made into a movie! I pictured people like Rachel McAdams and Joshua Jackson. I would actually go to theaters to see this one.

The Trail of Lost Hearts AUDIO by Tracey Garvis Graves is a romance of the highest level. The two, Marshall and Wren, were unlikely companions. Wren was in Oregon geocaching as a balm for her wounded heart. Her fiance had died in a car wreck only months earlier. There is more to the story, but suffice to say her heart is broken. At the first trailhead she meets a pleasant enough man, Marshall, but they continue on separately. They come together again as Marshall comes upon her as she is about to be raped by two rough-looking men. They got out of that fix and went back to, coincidentally, the same motel, and agreed to meet for dinner. There they agreed to continue on together. Wren was still recovering from her near miss and Marshall seemed like a nice guy. As the week wore on they became more involved. Wren told Marshall her story, he did not reciprocate. When Wren got on the airplane she made a discovery that changed her life.

The book was mostly told from Wren’s perspective; she spent a lot of time in her head, but she had reason to. Wren was lucky to have a job that could be done from anywhere, and at any time of day. It made the following time so much easier. She was an upfront woman, strong in her own way, with supportive parents and friends. Marshall was a clinical psychologist who owned a condo on a lake and his won boat. He had his own problems for which he had been seeing a therapist, but knowing Wren forced him to find a different therapist: one who could actually help him. It took months for the two to get together; both had things to work through. It was a complicated romance but one that was worth the wait. That two people with such problems would come together is unlikely, but it read as realistic. It was a pleasant journey as the two worked things out.

The narrators were Kate Handford and Eric Meyers, although in memory, Handford carried the bulk of the burden and she was excellent. Meyers did not seem to have the right voice for Marshall, at least in comparison to Handford’s Wren. It was an inspiring listen with a terrific book at its base. Thanks to Graves, Handford, and Meyers for brining it to life.

I was invited to listen to The Trail of Lost Hearts by MacMillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #MacMillanAudio #TraceyGarvisGraves #TheTrailOfLostHearts

I tandem listened and read. The narrator absolutely brought this one to life and was the perfect voice for Wren. I also loved that there was a male narrator for Marshall during the epistolary parts. I get engaged in the story the entire time and felt sufficient emotion and inflections from the narrators. I’ll highly recommend audio to my fellow readers when I talk about this book!

Wonderful book! This was the first book in a long time that I couldn't put down. I listened to the audiobook and Kate Handford's narration was perfect. I was captivated from the first chapter and enjoyed following Wren and Marshall's story of love, loss, grief, and new beginnings. The hiking adventures and the slow burn of going from friends to lovers was nice; however, I could have done without a chapter or two in the middle. The plot twist added another level to Wren's character and the story of healing on both parts was well written. 

While we often focus on being in the wrong place at the wrong time, this book is a good reminder to also think about the times we were in the right place at the right time. The universe will always give us what we need. 

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was the 2 middle chapters that I feel we didn't need. This was my first book by Tracey Garvis Graves and I look forward to reading her other books. 

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ARC of "The Trail of Lost Hearts" in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.