Sign-In
Cart
Lost and Found. The Misadventures of a Relucent Trekker
Paperback
Publisher Price: $13.99
ISBN13: 9781036926779
Publisher: Donna Abel Publishing
Published: Jul 16 2025
Pages: 186
Weight: 0.56
Height: 0.43 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Samantha O'Sullivan, a fiercely independent thirty-two-year-old businesswoman, has built a thriving consultancy, SOS Management, fuelled by her late father's belief in her and her own relentless drive. But beneath her polished exterior and sharp wit lies a woman grappling with grief over her mother's sudden death, burnout from her workaholic lifestyle, and an unrelenting inner critic she calls Karen.
When a tipsy, ego-driven bidding war at a charity auction for Jersey Cheshire Home lands her a spot on a ten-day trek through Vietnam's rugged countryside, Samantha's life takes an unexpected turn. Trading her beloved Jimmy Choo stilettos for hiking boots, she embarks on a journey that's as much about self-discovery as it is about surviving the jungle.
With no natural aptitude for trekking, Samantha's preparation is a comedy of errors: early-morning walks in pouring rain, a humiliating swimming pool defeat by a woman walking laps, and a catastrophic poonami incident that leaves her mortified. Her training is further complicated by Karen's snarky commentary, workplace betrayals orchestrated by her former mentee, Lorena (aka the Lousy Dosser), and nagging suspicions of early menopause, prompted by a colleague's offhand remark and her own hypochondriac tendencies.
A disastrous attempt to find a walking partner through a misinterpreted personal ad yields 12,456 emails (many with unsolicited photos), forcing her to join group hikes where she meets James, a charming lawyer with a knack for spotting her Patagonia price tags, and reconnects with Kev, her ex and the one who got away, now a private investigator uncovering corporate sabotage at SOS.
As Samantha trains for the trek, she battles blisters, self-doubt, and the emotional weight of her losses. The Vietnam trek itself is a gruelling test of endurance, filled with mishaps like getting lost on a mountainside with Lorena, who she learns isn't the villain she imagined. Through heartfelt conversations, Samantha finds closure, forgives past grudges, and reconnects with her mother's memory.
The journey culminates in a joyous reunion with Kev, who flies to Hanoi after a drunken late-night call, sparking a rekindled romance and a proposal that promises a new chapter. Alongside new friends like James and his partner Richie, she discovers that getting lost in the chaos of life is the first step to finding love, purpose, and herself.
Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, Lost and Found: The Misadventures of a Reluctant Trekker is a vibrant tale of resilience, friendship, and transformation. Donna Abel's debut novella blends fierce wit, raw emotion, and the candour of a best friend's oversharing, making it a must-read for anyone who's ever stumbled, literally or figuratively, on the path to rediscovery.
Perfect for readers who love: Humorous memoirs like Wild by Cheryl Strayed, heartfelt stories of grief and healing, and laugh-out-loud adventures with quirky characters.Samantha O'Sullivan has it all together, on paper. A thriving consultancy and a voice in her head named Karen that just won't quit. When a drunken charity auction lands her on a trek across Vietnam, Samantha is forced to lace up her walking boots, face her fears (and menopause?), and take life one blistered step at a time.This laugh-out-loud and unexpectedly touching memoir explores grief, grit, and the glorious mess of getting lost to finally find yourself.
Key Themes: Grief, self-discovery, resilience, friendship, forgiveness, and second chances at love.
Length: Novella
Also in
Humor
I Can't Believe I Did That: The Game That Gives You Points for Sharing Awkward, Awesome, and Unforgettable Memories: Card Games
Katcher, Neil
Nadelberg, David
Other
The Science Magpie: Fascinating Facts, Stories, Poems, Diagrams and Jokes Plucked from Science
Flynn, Simon
Paperback
Fixing Flamingos: And Other Solutions to the World's Least Pressing Problems
Brown, Lucienne
Rea, Brian
Paperback
How to Be a Cat: (Cat Books for Kids, Cat Gifts for Kids, Cat Picture Book)
Swerling, Lisa
Lazar, Ralph
Hardcover
Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers: A Little Book of Whimsy and Wisdom from the Files of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
Hardcover
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself
Lawson, Jenny
Hardcover
Bake It Off: An Unofficial Taylor Swift-Inspired Cookbook for Every Era, from Breakfast to Midnights
Smith, Lindsey
Hardcover
Big Fan: Two Friends, 82,490 Miles, and the Wild, Wonderful Sports We Love
Schur, Michael
Posnanski, Joe
Hardcover
Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to '90s Sitcoms
Bennett, Geoff
Hardcover
Pardon My Book: Ten Years of the Best (and Worst) in Sports from Pardon My Take
Big Cat
Commenter, Pft
Hardcover
We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World's Greatest Sporting Event
Bennett, Roger
Hardcover
How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up: Big Lessons from Little Kids
Shapiro-Barnum, Julian
Hardcover
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Five Novels in One Outrageous Volume
Adams, Douglas
Paperback
There Are Moms Way Worse Than You: Irrefutable Proof That You Are Indeed a Fantastic Parent
Boozan, Glenn
Hardcover
The New Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Expert Advice for Extreme Situations
Borgenicht, David
Piven, Joshua
Hardcover
Wtf America?!: The Way Out of This Hell and Back to Democracy
Meiselas, Brett
Meiselas, Jordy
Meiselas, Ben
Hardcover
How to Talk to Your Cat about Gun Safety: And Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism, and Other Dangers That Threaten Their Nine Lives
Auburn, Zachary
Paperback
Not Today, Fascists: The Lies That Got Us Here, and the Truths That Will Reunite Us
Welch, Jennifer
Hardcover
Nobody Wants Your Sh*t: The Art of Decluttering Before You Die (New York Times Bestseller)
Condo, Messie
Hardcover