Heartwood by Amity Gaige

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 320 pages
Published: April 2025

I ran across Heartwood by Amity Gaige at the local Barnes & Noble. I found the cover art beautiful and the synopsis intriguing; however, I left the bookseller without making the purchase. The premise stuck with me, and I later checked my local library to request the electronic copy. As luck would have it, in just a few days, the library's copy became available for me to borrow. 

The story is about Valerie Gillis, a 40-something nurse who decides to hike the challenging Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. She nearly completes the challenge when she goes missing. The bulk of the novel alternates between the nurse, Beverly, who is the game warden in charge of Valerie's missing persons search, and Lena, a retiree who believes she holds critical information to solving the case. The novel moves at a steady paces as the reader follows the linear events to solve the mystery and learn Valerie’s fate. 

The search is the basic plot device of the novel, but there are underlying themes that add to its complexity. Overall, Heartwood is a layered exploration of mother-daughter relationships. Gaige’s thought-provoking prose through Valerie, Beverly, and Lena’s pondering captures the tenderness, tension, and misunderstandings of the complicated bonds between this familial relationship. The author writes with emotional clarity, offering scenes that are rich in description and meaning. Reading about these three focus female characters and the relationships they developed with their respective mothers made me reflect on the relationship I have with my own mother. 

Beyond that, the inciting action and following mystery are both compelling as the plot is based on a similar real-life story. Knowing this added a poignant layer to my reading experience. Despite the heaviness of its origins, the novel leans in to healing and offers a sense of hope, not in a tidy and unrealistic way, but in a way that honors resilience, forgiveness, and growth. 

About Books

“Lena knew that without books, there was nothing but time.” -p. 47

“A reader is never lonely.” - p. 106

Profound Thoughts

“How strange to shout the words, ‘I’m here!” and be left with no confirmation.” -p. 87

“The one who has the most to prove works harder, works until she bleeds, works all day and night, takes every call, dispenses with the weekend.” -p. 170 

“No, the real sorrow of human life is that we feel. That’s our affliction.” -p. 258

“Hate is just soured love. Fear is wounded love. Longing is homeless love.” -p. 302

Mother-Daughter Relationships

“Once you see that your daughter suffers, you must acknowledge that you are impotent and perhaps even insufficient as her mother and protector.” -p. 236 

“The real mother, the mother you get, you’ve got to love her, there’s no choice. She is the mother you needed. She gave you strength, either because she loved you well or because she loved you poorly. She gave you your mission. It’s the dream mother you have to let go of. The one you pined for, the one you thought your decency promised you. She’s the one you’ve got to bury. She’s a mirage. She’ll only break your heart.” -p. 273

Gaige does an excellent job of painting a realistic picture without make the novel too sad. She doesn’t shy away from the difficult aspects of family life, but she also doesn’t leave the reader in the midst of despair. Gaige carefully and thoughtfully guides the reader toward quiet optimism that is honest and human. 

I would consider this book a readalike to The God of the Woods by Liz Moore or Wild by Cheryl Strayed. 

Recommendation: If you are like me and enjoy a beautifully constructed sentence, an engaging story, and realistic emotional family dynamics between mothers and daughters, you might consider adding Heartwood to your list. This reflective story is an invitation to consider how we love, heal, and survive the hardest times; which is especially relevant right now. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.