Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC (audiobook).

Unlost by Gail Muller is a memoir of a woman who defied the odds and embarked on a life-changing journey along the Appalachian Trail. Muller, who suffered from chronic pain and was told she would be in a wheelchair by the age of forty, decided to challenge herself and hike the 2,200-mile trail that spans from Georgia to Maine. Along the way, she faced physical and emotional obstacles, but also found friendship, love, and healing in the wild outdoors.

Muller's writing is honest, engaging, and inspiring. She does not shy away from sharing her struggles, fears, and doubts, but also celebrates her achievements, discoveries, and joys. She paints a vivid picture of the trail, its landscapes, wildlife, and culture, as well as the diverse and colorful people she met and hiked with. She also reflects on her past, her relationships, and her identity, and how the trail helped her grow and heal.

Unlost is a book for anyone who loves adventure, nature, and personal transformation. It is a testament to the power of the human spirit, the healing potential of the wild, and the importance of following your dreams. Muller's story will make you laugh, cry, and cheer, and perhaps inspire you to embark on your own journey of self-discovery.

This audiobook was a pleasant one to listen to and it's inspiring. I read the book at the same time actually - it's funny, it's moving and it allows me to live through the experience. I got curious about the Appalachian Trail and enjoyed the audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for allowing me this advanced ARC to enjoy and listen too. I really really enjoyed!
As one who loves listening to adventures of hiking and particularly that of the Appalachian Trail and who has read and enjoyed Bill Brysons version of his journey, this was a completely different inspiring version.
As I am registered blind I benefitted & loved the fact that the author, Gail, narrated her own story superbly and with the inclusion of her own real time recorded excerpts during her journey, it really allowed the story to come alive & the reader was able to really connect with Gail's true feelings and thoughts.
it's very rare you hear females doing such challenges solo, but very unique to be alone with such health problems and physical restrictions.
I personally have my own health physical limitations and could therefore relate to the strength and determination this journey took. Without being to patronising I found this book to be both inspiring and brave. There were so many aspects of the trail expored which involved various characters along the way, some with kindness and some with fear.
Gails adventures were so varied too, some happy, some challenging, some amusing and some very lonely and frightening.
These were all gathered and portrayed to create a very unique informative, real life adventure and dare I say not one with a cliched happy ending! .
I thoroughly recommend this story and thank you for sharing your brave journey Gail. .I wish you well. R x

I enjoyed listening to this tale of a trek through the Appalachian Trail. I enjoyed the story and the author's tales, but I would have loved more descriptions of scenery and the trail itself. At times it did feel a little self-centred and a bit of a brag, but as an autobiography perhaps this is to be expected somewhat.

This was an easy listen. The narrator/author’s voice was appealing. Her stories from her inspiring hike were entertaining. If you’ve ever suffered from chronic pain or disability, there are snippets of wisdom that make you think about how you manage your own circumstances. I enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the gifted audiobook!

A memoir about Gail's journey along the Appalachian Trail, written in beautiful poetic language with interspersed flashbacks, Gail explores themes of self discovery, pain, strength, and human connection with beauty and humor and gracious self reflection. She is honest about her limitations and flaws which only elevates her tenacity and inspirational feats.

Gail narrates her own audiobook and her charming British accent just adds to the beautiful story and reflections she shares. Plus there are some interspersed clips of her recording her thoughts while on the trail that just add to the allure of her story.

Content warning: sexual assault, language

BOOK REVIEW
UNLOST by Gail Muller

QUOTE: “My body hadn’t ever really been my friend and this was evermore amplified when I was consumed with chronic pain later in life. I ended up detaching myself almost fully from my flesh. Things I did or things that were done to me were just ‘happening’ outside of my internal safe space, so that I wouldn’t feel my body letting me down anymore. And now, on this very day, I was flying to the other side of the world to willingly walk deep into thousands of miles of forest where I’d need to rely entirely on my body.”

SYNOPSIS: Gail Muller was told she’d be wheelchair bound by the age of forty. At forty-one, she embarked on one of the world’s toughest treks – The Appalachian Trail. An inspiring, uplifting and moving account of one woman’s incredible journey into the unknown and how she reclaimed herself in the process. (From Gail Mullers Website!)

MY THOUGHTS: hiking has been a big piece of my life, so I was really excited to have an opportunity to listen to this audio book before a womens hiking retreat I went on and have a mini book club with the other hikers (that mountain in the back of my picture is Mt Hood!) This memoir resonated so much more with me, because of the aspects of trauma, chronic & invisible illness, and assault. These experiences in her life are intertwined between the highs and lows of thru hiking the Appalachian trail. This book is moving, brave, funny, and truly reminds us that the outdoors are for everyone. Also, the cover is pretty rad! The audio book is narrated by Gail herself, and for an extra treat there are a few audio clips of when she was hiking!
Trigger warnings: mentions of drug use, physical/sexual assault.

This book came out Sept 7, so be sure to run and get a copy! Thank you to @netgalley and @threadbooks for the free audio book version in exchange for an honest review. And thank you @thegailmuller for bravely sharing your story.

#unlost #gailmuller #hikeoregon #girlswhohike #hike #apalachiantrail #bookreview #bookreccomendation #netgalley #threadbooks

Unlost is the account of Gail Muller’s trek along the Appalachian trial which spans across several American states. It’s a particularly difficult challenge for Gail because she suffers from chronic pain and as she is recovering from a traumatic event in her past. Not only that, she is for the most part completing the trail alone.

Having loved Bill Bryson’s “A Walk In The Woods” , I was excited to travel vicariously down the trail once more with “Unlost”.I listened to the audiobook as I went for my daily walks.

Having finished listening to the book, I am in two minds about it. Essentially I got what I was after - more information about walking the Appalachian trail, amusing stories from the fellow hikers Gail meets along the way and an inspirational story. I really enjoyed the excerpts of the live recordings made along the trail, They really made me engage with her journey, literal and spiritual. They were the heart of the action. I loved the stories and information about the trial angels - people who help out the hikers by offering lifts, leaving food packages and even organising a Thanksgiving dinner. I liked the sweary rants when all didn’t go to plan.

What I struggled with throughout is the author’s narration of her journey. There is no doubt about it, the author has accomplished an amazing feat and not only that but overcome a huge amount of adversity to do so. It is inspirational. It’s just that at times I found her turn of phrase irritating and at times it almost seemed like one humble brag after another. It seems silly to say an autobiography is a bit “me, me, me “ but it the narrative did feel too self involved at times.I would have liked the ratio to more weighted towards the journey.

All in all, I am glad I listened to the audiobook but not sure I would recommend it to others.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest opinion.

Gail Muller has spent a lifetime struggling from chronic pain, but decides to hike the Appalachian Trail despite her physical condition. The immense wilderness is nothing like her small town of Cornwall, England and this fact is appealing in many ways. Relying on her friend from home, and the kindness of strangers, Gail reaches deep to complete a journey that is more about her own self-worth than about its finish line.

The author narrates her own story, punctuated by actual voice recordings made while on trail. Overall, I liked Unlost, but the story is a bit repetitive. As Gail reaches certain points in her journey, she reflects on issues from the past. This background clearly has made Gail who she is, but the author spends a little too much time on her issues. Having read other memoirs about through hiking and the endurance it takes, Unlost is the best that I have read thus far. For this reason, I would recommend Unlost to other readers, especially those looking to hike the AT.

Disclaimer: I was given access to an Advanced Copy of the Audio for Unlost by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this book was entirely my own.

I just loved this book. Moving, funny and motivating. I have a real interest in the Appalachian Trail and this is the first British person I have followed the story of. I really felt the exhuastion, fear and elation of Gail's journey. I really recommend this.

I requested this because I love hiking but can't find the courage to do the big through hikes. I like to live vicariously through the people who do. I was not expecting to find a kindred spirit. Gail is so incredibly inspiring and funny. She is completely open and honest about her journey and it was so refreshing. I'll still probably never do any of the triple crown trails but her story has encouraged me to push myself beyond what I think I can do.

At 41, Gail Muller, a woman who suffers from chronic pain, decides to hike the Appalachian Trail.

I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Gail and has audio excerpts from when she was on trail.

Unlost is an inspiring story to listen to. Gail talks about her struggles in life and on the trail, the people she meets along the way and the lessons she learns.

I really enjoyed listening to this memoir and always enjoy when the author reads them. As someone who has also battled chronic pain, I found it incredible how she pushed through some really tough times.

Definitely worth a listen! I gave this book 4⭐️

i loved Bill Brysons book of the Appalachian Trail and was a little disappointed with this account. The writer is young and has a disability so i thought it would be more motivational than it was. An important element of walking these trails and pilgrimages is the stories and lessons you learn along the way that enriches your life. I guess she did learn some lessons so maybe this book is more a coming of age story for younger readers to enjoy. Needed more nature and descriptions of the beautiful landscape, sleeping under the stars and camaraderie. I did like the 'real life' recordings inserted throughout the book, they gave a feeling of energy and excitement. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

I was super excited when I saw this book. I have read a few books on the Appalachian Trail aka the AT and some other hiking books. There are a lot of hiking books out there, and they are not well written and sometimes painful to read, BUT this book was NOT that. Gail is a phenomenal story teller, and I really enjoyed this book. Many times when you read these books you can’t actually feel what the person is going through, but that was not the case with this book. I felt like I was right there with Gail from her struggles on the AT to her relationships with the people she met along the way. At first I thought she was crazy for embarking on the AT because she suffers from chronic pain, but she made it work, and I felt her pain and struggles and couldn’t stop listening as she went along her journey. I also loved listening about the local places she was stopping here in New England like Millinocket and Monson or her journey up my favorite mountain, Mt, Katahdin.

I listened to the audio version of this book, which Gail narrated, and she did a great job with the narration. I also liked how she included some actual audio from the trail. I would put this book right up there with Wild and A Walk In the Woods. It’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thank you to Bookouture Audio, Thread Books and NetGalley for the free copy of this audiobook.

CW: Rape, sexual assault

This is the true story of a woman who took the plunge and decided to hike the AT, despite a life of chronic illness and insecurity.

I listened to the audiobook version of this, narrated by the author, and found it an enjoyable and insightful experience. I particularly enjoyed the few audio clips included in between chapters from when she was actually hiking the trail. As a woman (and fellow teacher!) suffering with chronic illness, I also felt a lot of affinity with Gail as I listened to her fears and I definitely felt invested in her journey and success.

One thing that I particularly loved was the raw honesty in some sections of this book. Hearing the details of her brutal attack and the psychological scars it left was hard to read at points. However, such intimacy was ultimately incredibly rewarding as the reader truly felt the highs and the lows more deeply than if these events had been brushed over.

Overall, it’s a book of hope; that people, regardless obstacles, can work to improve themselves in ways that may seem impossible.

Self-narrated audiobooks can either be very good, or terrible. I've experienced very little in between. This book, with it's included audio clips from the trail, is definitely the former. Well done, Gail.

I loved how the addition of audio from the trail enhanced the feel of the book, immersing you in the environment and emotional state of the narrator at the time. (I look forward to future audiobooks adding this type of content and expanding on the unique features audio has to offer.)

People looking for a strictly trail diary, or a book about overcoming medical adversity might be disappointed with this memoir. Otherwise, it's an interesting combination of overcoming two difficult trials- the 2,000+ mile journey and chronic pain (with no understanding of the source to boot).

Sensitive readers should be forewarned of adult language, drug use, and general trail carousing.

The author’s Appalachian Trail journey began in Maine’s Baxter State Park and kept me company on my long solo drive to Maine this summer. I enjoy reading books about places I’ve been, and this trail cuts through New England states, where I’ve lived and could visualize towns and recall details from college ski trips.

The audiobook was narrated by the author, Gail Muller. Her British accent was delightful, and she excelled at pauses and pacing. Since this was a memoir in first person, she did not have to worry about using many “voices” to keep the characters straight. Her occasional attempt at replicating a Texas drawl always brought a smile to my face, even in bumper-to-bumper traffic! Real audio clips from her time on the trail were sparingly shared, and reminded the listener this was not a work of fiction.

Gail Muller honestly shared her chronic health issues and her mechanisms to manage this pain. More striking were the rarely discussed social effects of chronic illness. Going out on a ‘good day’ and worrying if your co-workers will think you’ve been faking your pain. Missing events because you don’t want to possibly hold the group back or have to leave early. These lead to a narrow and isolated lifestyle.

Isolation is part of a thru-hiker’s journey. It is expected and embraced. But the long Appalachian Trail also includes the quick development of intense friendships and small groups, which become “trail families”. These personal relationships helped the author examine some of her self-isolating habits at home. There was tension in the story, as friendships and romantic interests waxed and waned, health concerns increased, and the weather forced many delays. You will not know how far she trekked unless you listen to her journey. Happy Hiking!

This was an amazing memoir and audio book experience! I was already excited to read a memoir about a woman who hiked the Appalachian Trail at age 41, but Gail Muller shared so much more about her life, from overcoming chronic pain to her job working with autistic children, to healing from past traumas. She wrote about her thoughts on all these things in such an open and natural way, as they came up in her mind while preparing for and during her 2200 mile journey. I've read many stories of outdoor expeditions, but this one is uniquely personal, and the audiobook format added even more personality to her story. I love it when authors narrate their own memoirs as you can feel the emotion behind their words, and Gail Muller takes this one step further by including excerpts recorded during her hike as well. Her story is so engaging and her voice and narration of the audiobook are so perfect that it is hard to believe she's a debut author and narrator.

Was given a pre listen thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I loved this book so much. I was so invested from the very start. Probably because I could escape the current crappy state of the world to the AT through this book. Something I wish I could be doing. While I don’t know if an AT through hike is in my future I do hope to do parts of it via day hikes.
The book takes you on the authors journey and challenges tackling the AT and chronic illness and re writing her personal narrative in the process
Was sad for this one to end!

This audiobook was narrated by the author, and when it comes to biographies/nonfiction there is no better choice for narration! The author made her words come alive, and I enjoyed her story twice as much because of it.

Overall, an interesting and valuable book. Recommended!