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!