Such a beautiful story. Heartbreaking and a crazy ride that you won't want to put down. Wren is a main character you can root for on this roller coaster ride of a story.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a TGG fan since I first read On The Island and I was very excited to check out her latest book.

I want to praise the main characters for having open communication. There is no "miscommunication trope" in this romance and I am HERE for it. It makes the characters seem like actual grown-ups.

The story does read a little like a soap opera. Some parts were a little too cheesy for my tastes, but I still loved it.

I think my main criticism of the book is the cover - I really do not like it and I don't think it accurately captures the vibe of the book at all.

I would recommend this novel to TGG fans. Nothing will ever top On The Island but this was a lovely, thought-provoking book with intelligent main characters.

I quite enjoyed The Trail of Lost Hearts. I especially liked that the beautiful Pacific Northwest is a supporting character which allows the two geocaching leads to connect and begin breaking free from their individual griefs. I was a bit dubious about the way that the female lead chooses to handle the big surprise which comes mid book, but very happy with the way her fellow victim ultimately responds to the request. It was also good that there is time for both leads to finish processing their losses before reconnecting - so they are each a catalyst for the other moving forward but time is given for the healing.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley expected release date March 26 2024. This is an unpaid review.

This is a somewhat subdued read. It full of heavy hearts. Heavy broken hearts. Wren meets Marshall while out on a geocaching adventure. She is trying to cleanse her mind so she can restart her life after a devastating incident. He is pretty much doing the same, and for similar reasons. When he crosses her path on a hike, she gives him the cold shoulder, wanting to continue her journey alone, but after he recuses her, she thaws a little and the two start to become better acquainted. Becoming friends even... moving into lovers territory. She opens herself up to him, telling him all about her past, and the reason she is on this trip. Unfortunately, he doesn't open up so easily, which is a huge red flag for her, after her previous relationship. Despite his closed off nature, he's a good and kind guy that is always looking out for others. This book is about grief and healing, and moving forward. It's also about trust, and opening yourself to love again. There are a few surprises. You may laugh now and then, but it's mostly that emotional heartache that you feel throughout. Just when you get over something, something else is revealed that tears you apart again. There is a small amount of sexual content, but nothing 'smutty.' It is written from Wren's POV exclusively.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

I started reading this book and did not expect the roller coaster of emotions I had while reading it. Wren and Marshall took me with them on a geocaching adventure that will stay with me for a long time after finishing this book. There are things that happened in the story I did not expect.
The author knows exactly how to write to make a reader eager to turn the page and get deeper into the lives of the characters.
Thank you NetGalley, Tracey Garvis Graves and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Trail of Lost Hearts. This is my personal review

I had never read a book by this author and I will definitely be reading others.
Wren and Marshall are both grieving losses due to tragedies. Wren the loss of her fiancé in a car accident and Marshal the loss of his brother, which I will not reveal the cause of because it would be a spoiler.
The have separately embarked on hikes with the goal of geocaching to help them deal with their grief. They meet briefly on the trail and go their separate ways. Due to an incident on one trail they decide to team up and continue their adventures together. Slowly they get to know each other and reveal the details that lead them to where they are now.
To me, this was a novel that had real people dealing with a real life issue-grief- that both brought them together but also kept them in their own worlds. The characters were very well developed as was the plot with a couple of twists.
I both laughed and cried and thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I went into this book knowing close to nothing about the plot (I just like the author!), and I enjoyed this one! The main character’s internal monologue wasn’t my favorite and I would’ve like a little more nuance, but I did appreciate the plot twists!

The first 50% of character building was realistic, especially in regards to how people can process shock and grief. Smack in the middle I couldn’t suspend reality enough to enjoy the rest. I’m definitely an outlier with this one.

Oh get ready for an emotional five star adventure!
While dealing with two types of grief, Wren is on a geocache quest in Oregon to reclaim her life, when a dangerous situation lands her in the protective arms of handsome psychologist Marshall. Like Wren, Marshall is on a similar quest and suggests they team up to work on geocaches in Crater Lake, Eugene, and Bend Oregon as they will be better together. With the promise of protection and the allure of finding more caches, Wren accepts hesitantly accepts the offer. With each new location and hike, Wren opens up to Marshall and they begin to have fun on and off the trail together, you almost forget they just met and that both will soon parting ways to their respective homes. Is it a fling or a potential for the future? I cannot say much more without spoiling much of the plot, but this is a book about personal growth, overcoming grief, being vulnerable to your biggest fears, oh and some lovely romance. I was initially drawn to this book because of the hiking adventures in one of my favorite places in the world, but ended up falling for the heartbreaking, redemptive journey Tracey Garvis Graves leads us through. I also want to give geocaching a try.
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this new book by Tracey Garvis Graves. She tackles some tough subjects, including in loss. The main character, Wren, is hit with two terrible situations in her life and she finds herself escaping out West to do some geocaching. Sometimes life puts the people we need in front of us when we need them and this book deals with that idea. It was well written and an enjoyable read with a little spice and a lot of heart. Thank you negalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is the third book I've read by Tracey Garvis Graves and I absolutely LOVED it! Too bad it will not be available until five months from now, as I want everyone to read it right away! It has the perfect autumn feel and is so cozy and genuine. It felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold day.

Wren and Marshall were wonderful characters and I will miss them now that I am done. I felt so bad for what Wren was going through and then I learned more about what happened in Marshall's life and I wanted to reach through the pages and hug him. The banter and chemistry between Wren and Marshall was incredible and I just really wanted things to work out between them.

I've never gone geocaching and it's not really my kind of thing, but Tracey made it sound more interesting than I was expecting it to be, so kudos to her on that!

Overall, this story is just full of heart and I still think about it often. Fans of Allie Larkin will love this novel too! I still need to go back and read On the Island, as I'm always hearing so many great things about that one too. I will make that one of my 2024 book goals!

Movie casting suggestions:
Wren: Britt Robertson
Marshall: Sam Claflin
Stephanie: Tristin Mays
Rob: Matt Barr
Shayla: Laurence Leboeuf
Wren's mom: Mariel Hemingway

Get ready for a heart-wrenching, earth-shattering roller coaster with Wren and Marshall that will take your emotions on a wild ride! Grab your napkins and tissues, my friends, because this tear-jerking, angsty love story is about to unleash a torrent of ugly tears that you won't be able to hold back. Brace yourself, because this story has the power to shake you to your core!

Meet Wren Waters, a thirty-four-year-old who seeks solace in the art of geocaching during her hikes. Armed with a geocache app and a determination to find hidden objects, this is her lifeline, pulling her out of bed each day and diverting her mind from the recent loss of her fiancé in a tragic car accident. The same man who shattered her beliefs in happily ever afters, trust, and honesty.

However, her hiking escapade takes a dangerous turn when she's confronted by two menacing individuals who threaten her safety. Enter her unexpected savior, the knight in shining armor she had earlier rejected for a casual conversation. This man is Marshall Hendricks, who has recently lost his brother and is seeking his own escape from the struggles of life. Marshall offers to team up with Wren to find the remaining caches, leading to an unplanned camping trip that neither anticipated.

As they encounter danger and uncertainty during their journey, Wren begins to see Marshall in a new light. The companionship she had resisted may be the key to a safer adventure. Little does she know that their shared quest will unearth their dark pasts, fears, and secrets, setting off a chain of events with profound consequences. Wren's life is about to take a dramatic turn that she couldn't have predicted after their hiking expedition.

This novel takes you on a poignant journey of self-exploration, grief, and recovery, offering promises of inspiration and impact. The slow-burning romance between Wren and Marshall is deeply heartwarming, sincere, and truly beautiful.

"The Trail of Lost Hearts" by Tracey Garvis Graves is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that takes you on a journey of love, loss, and self-discovery. The characters are beautifully crafted, and the story is filled with both heartache and hope. Graves's writing will tug at your heartstrings and keep you engaged from start to finish. It's a must-read for those who appreciate poignant and evocative storytelling.

“Heartbreakingly amazing” are words uttered by Wren in this incredibly touching story, describing her life: and they are the perfect words to describe this book. The Trail of Lost Hearts is about two people, Wren and Marshall, who are reeling from grief, looking for a way to mend their broken hearts, not expecting to find happiness in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. I loved every word and emotion of their journeys, both together and apart, and I was in full-on tears by the it was over. Author Tracey Garvis Graves has gifted readers characters with so many layers, with so many things for us to ponder, so much for us to love. This book of rebirth and new beginnings is a joy—even the hard parts—because sometimes the hurdles, the misfortune, the sadness, and the brokenness lead to a present and a future that are brighter than the things in the past that we mourn.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I have ready every book by this author. I really enjoyed this. I liked the idea of having to rediscover yourself after tragedy strikes. I wasn’t so sure about the plot twist at first, but it grew in me and could see how it was relatable. I recommend this book.

Tracey Garvis Graves hasn't disappointed me yet. A charming read with a story of loss and grief finding it's way to peace and happiness. I wasn't quite sure about a story that had a big focus on geocaching, but it worked. A quick read, I really enjoyed this one.

Wren Waters has been dealt two life-altering blows by the universe, and embarks on a solitary journey into the outdoors looking for answers. She's decided to go geocaching in Oregon for a week. Marshall Hendricks is a psychologist who's also dealing with his own problems. When he and Wren first meet, Wren rebuffs his attempts and small talk, but after a scary encounter later, they decide to team up.

What follows is two broken people helping each other find themselves, and a platonic friendship turning into a slow burn. Beautifully written and diving deeply into grief and recovery, this gem is a must-read if you enjoy women's fiction!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

I will never say no to a Tracey Garvis Graves book. That is a good thing because I might have skipped this book had it been written by someone else and I would’ve missed something special. Two people met when neither of them are close to healed from the wounds recently inflicted on them. Not the best time to feel the spark of a connection but we get to see them open up to each other and each help the other on their journey to the other side of their grief. A really lovely and emotional story that I was wholly captivated by.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third Tracey Garvis Graves, and what I have come to love about is that she writes love stories and feels in different and unique ways. Trying to rebuild her life after some really big hard life stuff, Wren heads out for a solo geocaching adventure. Along the way, she meets Malcolm who is navigating some "stuff" of his own. What I liked about this one was the overlay of emotions through the relationship of Wren and Malcolm. There is some hard stuff and heartbreak, but there's also hope, and that's so often what you want out of a story like this one. This was a just an all-around delight of a read with real feels in so many different (and at times unexpected) ways. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this March 2024 release!

The characters were well written and relatable, all parts of the storyline felt believable and true to what would happen outside of a fictional story. Surprised by the number of twists for fictional romance.