REVIEW: Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher

In Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher, Stella Moore was born into a family of treasure hunters, so she carries on the tradition to this day, always on the lookout for her next adventure. She has one of the best crews around, made up of her long-time friends Teddy, Zoe, and Gus. But their years of searching for historic relics hasn’t exactly panned out. Yet. Stella had the feeling when she stepped foot onto Iceland that things were going to change. She didn’t realize it would bring the high of finally finding lost treasure but also the low of losing her newly found potential soul mate, author Huck Sullivan. Stella tried not to let his disappearance after their romantic night on the beach get to her. But a year later when he reappears after penning a novel oddly similar to their island excursion, she’s not sure she has it in her to be nice to Huck. As the expedition wears on, though, Stella has to admit the pull is still there between them. And she’s not exactly sure what they should do about it.

“I’m hunting for a treasure.”
“And how’s that going,” he asked, his voice low and full of intrigue.
I waved him toward me until our faces were only a whisper apart and made my voice quiet. “So far the only thing I’ve found is you.”

Huck has spent the majority of his life second guessing himself thanks to a childhood he’d rather forget. And after his (moderately) quick rise to fame for writing The Casablanca Chronicles which became bestsellers, he spent the last three years without a single story idea to pursue. Then Huck met Stella in Iceland of all places. Talk about serendipity. He felt like they were supposed to find each other that night. And even though he had no plans on leaving so soon, he had good reasons why he went home to NYC and began writing his next novel. The second trip Huck takes with Stella and crew is even more important. And not because they’re hot on the trail of a shipwreck from the mid-1700s. No, it’s because he knows without a doubt that this time if Stella will let him explain what happened last year, he’ll never let her down again.

“Listen, Stella, when you get to the end of the book, maybe we can talk? You could let me know what you think.”
“Why do you care what I think, Huck? Everyone loves it. It’s a bestseller. It’s not like my opinion matters.”
“You’re the only one who matters to me.”

A globetrotting adventure wrapped up in secrets, friendship, hope, and the promise of treasure, HEART MARKS THE SPOT should be in every romance reader’s beach bag this summer.

‘The only thing better than your own dreams coming true is witnessing someone you care deeply about experience their own.’

CW: View Spoiler »Child abandonment & verbal abuse, alcoholism, anxiety, panic attacks, love triangle (no cheating) « Hide Spoiler

HEART MARKS THE SPOT was another soul satisfying love story by Libby Hubscher. I was impressed with how convincing Stella and Huck’s connection was from the first time they met–in Iceland, no less–and with how Hubscher didn’t shy away from the messy aspects of relationships. Each character was flawed but relatable. And although I wanted to (lovingly) shake some sense into a couple of them at times, Huck, Stella, Teddy, Zoe, and Gus were compelling people who I would honestly love to sit down with and chat about their adventures.

The format of this double timeline, dual POV story made for an easy read. We started off a year ago when Stella and Huck met and it goes right up until the point where decisions were made that ultimately separated them. I loved how when the story moved into the present day, Hubscher layered in bit by bit the reasons why Huck left and why it hurt Stella so badly to think he bailed on her. Without giving away some of the surprises, it will be clear fairly quickly to readers that they both had some trauma in their past. And that it clouded every relationship and every endeavor Stella and Huck undertook.

The treasure hunting portion of the story was a lot of fun and quite intriguing. Each time Stella and crew went diving or explored a cave I half expected to see either Indiana Jones or Josh Gates appear. (lol) It was the constant hopefulness they all had about finding long lost pieces of history and the camaraderie they shared that warmed my heart. Stella might have been the one who did the bulk of the research and planned their journeys, but it was a group effort once they were on the hunt. And I adored seeing how her crew–and Huck, of course–protected and cared about Stella.

QOTD: Stella & Huck met while in Iceland, one of the places on my bucket list. What locations are on your list?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: July 22nd, 2025 | Berkley |

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.

Treasure hunter Stella Moore dreams of having it all—wealth, love, and a flourishing career—but knows she’ll never be that lucky. Every summer she and her childhood friends travel to search for hidden treasure, but she can barely manage her bills, let alone a relationship. Then, a chance encounter with alluring novelist Huck Sullivan during an expedition in Iceland has Stella thinking maybe her fortune has changed.

After his last book bombed, Huck hasn’t written a word. Joining Stella and her crew on an adventure seems like the perfect distraction from his problems, and when the crew finally uncovers hidden treasure, he is certain that he’s found more than just inspiration for his next novel. Huck and Stella’s undeniable connection gives way to an unforgettable night on a black sand beach.

After Huck disappears without a goodbye, Stella vows to put the heartbreak behind her—but that’s easier said than done when, a year later, every bookstore has a life-size cutout of her ex-lover next to stacks of his latest record-breaking bestseller. Good thing it’s time for another summer treasure hunt. Stella throws herself into mapping the path to a shipwreck off Key West, but the last thing she expects is an extra crew member showing up in search of material for a sequel and a second chance.

Stella and Huck are prepared for storms, sharks, sea sickness, even a tentative truce. But facing the feelings they buried and confronting the devastating truth about why Huck left is the only way to find what their hearts have been searching for all along.