This was undoubtedly one of the special second-chance stories I adore. Hubscher creates a captivating tale about love, ambition, and having the guts to take chances through witty banter, indisputable chemistry, and a large treasure hunt. I was on edge and in all my emotions while reading this book.

I love me a unique second chance story and this was definitely one of them. I adored this. I will be reading more of libby's books.

Devoured this on the beach in one day!

Treasure hunting, now and then timeline, Iceland, Florida, boats, forced proximity, adventure, friends/found family, parental abandonment, death of a parent.

A failed writer, Huck, is hiding out in Iceland waiting for inspiration when he bumps into his friend from boarding school, and his friend Stella. They are on a treasure hunt and it's just the inspiration he needs for his next book series.

Stella ropes her 3 friends into wild treasure hunts each summer and this summer is no different. except for the location, the dynamics, the well...everything. And Stella isn't good with change.

Huck joins Stella & crew the next summer while searching for a sunken ship off the coast of Key West. Except everything is different this time.
The slow burn, second chance romance is everything I ever wanted in a romance. The setting and premise is different than any other romance I've read and I love the adventure & self discovery themes.

Libby Hubscher’s Heart Marks the Spot is a swoon-worthy blend of adventure, romance, and second chances. Treasure hunter Stella Moore is used to chasing riches, but after a whirlwind romance and heartbreak with novelist Huck Sullivan, she’s determined to leave the past behind. That plan is derailed when Huck joins her latest expedition, forcing them to navigate not just shipwrecks and storms but their unresolved feelings.

With sharp banter, undeniable chemistry, and a high-stakes treasure hunt, Hubscher crafts an irresistible story about love, ambition, and the courage to take risks. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren, this novel is an absolute gem.

Libby Hubscher does it again with another 5 star read! I have loved each of her novels but this one may be my new favorite!

This is in my opinion the perfect contemporary romance read. Treasure hunter Stella meets NY Times best seller, Huck and their relationship is nothing short of magical fate and a love that brims with hope and understanding.

Apart from the romance the treasure hunting story line is a fun twist and the found family friendship among the tight knit group is the perfect mix.

This book had me in all of my feels and on edge that I could not put it down but also didn't want it to be over. It's fun, emotional and ever so lovely! 📖✨

Treasure hunter, Stella, and adventure author, Huck, meet by chance in Iceland. Stella is on the hunt and Huck is looking for inspiration to write again. They instantly hit it off and grow close. Stella lets him join the treasure hunting and after a rare find they share a magical night together. But come the next day Stella wakes up alone. A year later Huck is coming on her next adventure, this is last minute news for her. It seems like the magic between is still there. But why did Huck leave? And what’s to stop him for doing it again?

This was a super fun adventure romance. I loved that it started off quick with the romance. Page one the fmc and mmc meet. The adventure side was fun. I’ve never read books with treasure hunting before but this was exciting and super engaging. A good mix of adventure and romance. The reasoning for Huck leaving was a bit dramatic for me, but overall I really enjoyed this read!

Dual POV
Treasure Hunting
Second chance romance

This breaks my heart to write as I love Libby Hubscher but unfortunately her latest release is a Dnf for me.

I loved the idea of treasure hunting but I made it to the 50% mark and was still waiting for action, adventure or somethingggggg. The entirety of what I read was incredibly boring and the characters weren’t special enough for me to care about what happened.

However, I’ve seen lots of five stars so maybe I’m
Missing something; or just love her previous works too much

Modern day treasure hunting with romance? Yes, please! This story is well crafted and entertaining. I enjoyed reading about the two main characters and how their connection grows. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

This was a solid three stars, and probably my least favorite book from the author. I think this is definitely a "me: issue because I am overall not a fan of adventure romance. I also did not like being stuck on a jewel, gold, treasurer hunting adventure in these seas with a truly vile side character "friend".

The plot is Stella is a professional (?) treasurer hunter desperate to find the treasure her Dad had his heart set on. She has friends with real jobs and one who is a consummate party boy but has the wealth to bankroll their trips. They meet up for these hunts. The book starts in Iceland and Stella meets Huck at a bar, instantly smitten and discovers he's the writer of one of her favorite book series. He also happens to be a former schoolmate of the party boy friend. He has writers block and his drawn by Stella's manic, pixie girl adventurous spirit, so he joins their quest. Maybe there is something there?

Anyways, the book continues with the adventures and heartbreak and trauma bonding. Maybe I'm just not into romances this early in 2025?

🏴‍☠️✨ Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher ✨🏴‍☠️

If you love treasure hunts, forced proximity, second chances, and adventure fueled romance, this one’s for you! 🌊🔎💖

💔 One summer. One unforgettable night. One very public betrayal.

Treasure hunter Stella Moore is used to chasing riches, but when it comes to love? Not so lucky. Last year, she found both—hidden treasure and Huck Sullivan, the broody adventure novelist who swept her off her feet… then disappeared without a trace. 😤

Fast-forward a year, and every bookstore is screaming his name. His new, bestselling novel? Basically their entire story. 🔥 And now, on her latest expedition, guess who shows up uninvited, looking for material for his sequel?

👀 Huck. Freaking. Sullivan.

💖 What I loved:
✔️ High stakes adventure meets sizzling romance – think National Treasure vibes but way more tension 👀
✔️ Childhood friends turned found family crew – Stella’s squad is EVERYTHING 🏴‍☠️
✔️ The forced proximity & reluctant truce – being stuck on a boat together? YES PLEASE!
✔️ Top tier groveling – Huck has a lot to make up for, and it delivers

🙄 What frustrated me:
🚫 Huck, why did you do that to Stella?! 😤
🚫 The emotional whiplash – the back and forth hurt at times
🚫 I wanted more of the treasure hunt itself! 🏝️

This is an adventurous, emotional, and totally gripping second chance romance with high seas, hidden treasures, and heartache. If you love epic love stories with equal parts angst and adventure, this book marks the spot! 💘

Thank you to NetGalley, Libby Hubscher, and Berkley for the eARC of this book.

4.5 stars, rounded up. This is such a fun summer adventure rom-com, perfect for fans of Outer Banks!

This book follows treasure hunter Stella and novelist Huck; they first meet in Iceland where they have instant sparks, but Huck leaves Stella behind without explanation. To add insult to injury, Huck turns their encounter into a bestseller, not that Stella is willing to read it. Roughly a year later, the pair are forced together on another adventure hunting for treasure in the ocean.

I loved the high-stakes situations, cast of characters, and unique and entertaining plot! I felt that the elements kept hidden from the reader were revealed in a satisfying way that kept me interested and wanting to know more about what went wrong during the couple’s first encounter and the intervening period between parts 1 and 2 of the book.

I enjoyed this one a lot, but I do wish there would have been more time spent on the characters’ emotional connection and pining.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book is a captivating blend of adventure, romance, and raw emotion that pulls you in from the very first page. It’s not just a treasure hunt—it’s a journey through love, loss, and the hope of second chances. Stella Moore, a fearless and passionate treasure hunter, lives for adventure alongside her tight-knit group of friends. But when Huck Sullivan, the famous novelist who once swept her off her feet and then vanished without a trace, suddenly reappears in her life, Stella’s world is turned upside down. Their first meeting on Iceland’s black sand beaches was unforgettable, but his abrupt departure left her heartbroken. Now, a year later, as Stella sets off on another daring expedition, Huck is back, ready to write a new book—and maybe, just maybe, rewrite their story.

What makes this novel truly stand out is its rich, immersive storytelling and characters that feel so real you’ll swear you know them. Stella is a force to be reckoned with—strong, independent, and fiercely loyal to her friends. Huck, despite his fame, is deeply human, wrestling with his own demons. The chemistry between them crackles with tension, and their slow-burn journey back to each other is as gripping as the treasure hunt itself. Beyond the romance, the story delves into themes of ambition, trust, and redemption, giving it a depth that lingers long after you’ve finished reading.

The adventure is just as thrilling as the emotional stakes. From vividly painted settings to high-seas escapades, the book keeps you on the edge of your seat. The bond between Stella and her friends is so genuine and heartwarming, it feels like you’re part of their found family. Sure, some plot twists might feel predictable, but the ride is so enjoyable that it doesn’t matter. The story balances action-packed moments with tender, heartfelt scenes, and while the ending ties things up a little too neatly for some, it’s still deeply satisfying, giving the characters the growth and closure they deserve.

In the end, this book is a perfect escape—a mix of pulse-pounding adventure and a touching second-chance romance. If you love treasure hunts, emotional depth, and love stories that weather even the stormiest seas, this one’s for you. It’s a ride you won’t want to miss.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me this heartfelt and entertaining novel's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was suck a fun read!
Treasure hunter and writer, kinda a match made in heaven!
I’m normally not a huge of second chance romance but I liked this one (though I can’t say more without giving things away)
I would say the book is plot heavy but relatively low stakes. It’s an adventure book but not action adventure.
You’ll love the side characters and wish they had their own stories! Hell, I wish we had more of them in the book and got to see more of their dynamic.
The best part for me was the little tidbits about the locations!
I grew up in Virginia Beach and spent summers in OBX, I’ve been to Iceland, and now I live in Miami and go to the Keys!
Plus my husband was a seal and one of his specialties was diving so I know way more about it despite never doing it than I could ever want!
I really appreciated the author doing the homework to get the factoids right! That’s what makes a fun book great.

[Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!]

Stella Moore and her three best friends search for treasure every Summer. When Stella stumbles upon her favorite author, Huck Sullivan, at a bar in Iceland it feels like her luck has changed - especially when they discover a hidden treasure together. That is, until Huck disappears without a goodbye after he and Stella spend an unforgettable night on the beach.

A year later, after finally overcoming his writer's block, Huck has a new best-selling book (which was inspired by their expedition) that's everywhere. Stella, still heartbroken by Huck's actions, hopes to escape him when she and her friends go on their next adventure... only to learn that he's part of the crew. Forced together, Stella and Huck stumble upon a truce but that can only last so long when there are unresolved feelings.

Thoughts:
This is a fun, adventure romance that manages to tug on your heart. I really appreciated that we were able to see the 'before' portion of the relationship before the second chance happens. Thanks to the backstories we get for Stella and Huck, it's understandable why they made the choices they did. Even though they have an honest connection and a magical night in Iceland, I would consider this a slow burn romance.

You'll also find yourself feeling a fondness for the secondary characters. You'll laugh at their banter and cheer for their victories. When Teddy was out of sorts, I was genuinely concerned for him (but his ARC and his feelings towards the FMC felt a little out of left field for me). The ending of the story felt authentic for their friend/found family dynamic.

Quick Summary: A "searching for treasure" romance

My Review: Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher is a 2025 romantic adventure. It is scheduled for release in July.

About the Book: "A treasure hunter and the bestselling adventure novelist who broke her heart after one successful expedition reunite for a summer to search for lost riches."

In My Own Words: A thrill-seeking treasure huntress and her lively band of friends cross paths with a down and out writer, while out on an adventure. While a friendship of old is rekindled, a new connection of hearts is also made. When spirit breaking betrayals occur, can anything be done to salvage the wreckage of what was and of what should have been?

About the Characters:

Stella - > Strong, brave, adventurous, loyal, heart of a seeker, longs for something she has not yet known, flawed

Huck - > Haunted, insecure, open while still closed, good heart underneath, hopeful, flawed

Supports - > I loved the friend group. I appreciated their camaraderie. They each had a role to play, and at the end of the day, they deeply cared for one another.

My Final Say: The emotional arc in this novel was nicely done. I got choked up hearing the backstory of each of the leads. It helped me to better understand why they were the way they were and why they made the choices they made. I wanted to give both Stella and Huck a very big hug.

I loved the discussion questions that were included. It makes this ideal as a book club consideration.

Reasons I Enjoyed This Book:

Easy-to-read
Found Family
Friends to Lovers
Second Chance
Happily Ever After
Tear-jerker
Action-packed
Tension-filled

Other: Readers who enjoy stories with instant connections, second chances, treasure hunting adventures, and friends to lovers scenarios will really like this one.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Note: This would be a fantastic audiobook. Also, I would highly recommend it as a book club feature. There is so much material that could be addressed.

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The thoughts and opinions I have shared are my own and have been voluntarily submitted. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to review this work.

Stella es una cazadora de tesoros que, durante una de sus expediciones, conoce al escritor Huck, de quien es fan. Desde el primer momento, sienten una conexión inmediata y se llevan muy bien, tanto que ella lo invita a unirse al viaje. Él acepta, ya que siente atracción por ella y ve la oportunidad de despejar su mente e inspirarse, pues lleva mucho tiempo bloqueado y no ha escrito nada. A medida que pasan tiempo juntos, se vuelven cada vez más cercanos y terminan enamorándose. Sin embargo, un día, Huck desaparece sin dejar explicación ni despedirse, lo que destroza el corazón de Stella, quien creía que él era el indicado para ella.

A un año y medio de esa desaparición, Stella sigue destrozada, pensando que lo que vivieron no significó nada para él y sintiéndose utilizada, especialmente cuando descubre que el nuevo libro de Huck contiene muchos elementos de su expedición. Además, él quiere unirse nuevamente a su equipo para encontrar inspiración para su próximo libro. ¿Podrá Stella soportar convivir con Huck durante semanas? ¿Cuál es la verdadera razón detrás de su acercamiento?





Disfruté del libro, aunque en la segunda parte no me encantó que ella fuera tan comprensiva con él después de lo que le hizo. Sin embargo, con la revelación de lo que ocurrió la noche de hace un año y medio, entendí por qué la autora no hizo tanto escándalo por eso.
Me hubiera gustado que Huck luchará más ya que lo sentí tibio en cuanto a defender su amor, se notaba que amaba a Stella, pero al momento de decirle la verdad y luchar por ganarse su perdón quedo debiendo.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun adventure story! It ticked all the boxes for me: romance, a satisfying treasure hunting plot, and a great group of friends!
I will say that this is the first time reading a "second-chance" romance where we see the 'before' part of their story play out before the breakup, etc. The placing of that at the beginning of the story, rather than revealing it later on on, did throw me off a bit. I think it also affected my attachment to Stella and Huck's relationship, because I knew that they were going to have a pretty big breakup in order to set up the 2nd half of the story.
I also did feel that Teddy went from 0 to 100 and then issues were resolved pretty quickly and a little too cleanly.

Those things aside though, this is a really fun, summery read with a cute romance that will appeal to fans of Uncharted, Fools Gold, and treasure hunting stories!

Thanks for the advanced copy of this amazing book! I quite enjoyed the bond between all of the friends! The chemistry between the FMC and MMC was great! The twist at the end totally threw me. I never saw it coming! I personally didn’t love how it was rectified but it made sense for the characters! A good book for those who love a good romance and a good adventure!