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The Lost Story
Win a free print copy of this book!
21 days and 09:04:35
50 copies available
U.S. only
Inspired by C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this wild and wondrous novel is a fairy tale for grown-ups who still knock on the back of wardrobes—just in case—from the author of The Wishing Game.
As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.
Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.
Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.
As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.
Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.
Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 16, 2024
About the author
Meg Shaffer
2 books2,647 followersMeg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and has been translated into 21 languages. Meg holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. She lives in Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,298 reviews
April 10, 2024
4.5 Stars!
In West Virginia, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing and vanished during an end of school field trip to Red Crow State Forest. They were gone long enough that people had stopped referring them as missing and now called them lost. They mysteriously reappeared six months later. They were in perfect health. They were taller, stronger with bright eyes and clear skin. How did they survive?
Fifteen years later Jeremy becomes a missing persons investigator and Rafe is a reclusive artist who lives in a cabin in the woods. He has scars inside and out and can't remember how he got them.
This book was such a delight!
The world where this book took me to was just amazing. It was so beautiful! Here is a sneak peak of the description of the Painted Sea. The shore off Painted Sea was swirled with colors, like a child had spilled their jar of rainbow sand everywhere. Pinks and Blues and Greens and Purples. The water was so clear that you could see through it like a window. Small Silver Dolphins and lazy rays played in the surf.
The trees in this world soared a thousand feet too tall. The trunks a hundred feet. These trees had leaves every color of Easter, pink and green and blue and yellow and white. They looked like the trees you might have scribbled as a child with fat Crayola markers to color one tree. Yes, these were a child's imaginary trees made real somehow.
This book was inspired by C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. This amazing novel is an adult fairytale. I loved her book, The Wishing Game and I loved this one even more. It was my favorite adult fairytale. I loved all the characters. They all were well done.
I want to thank Netgalley and Random House Ballantine Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In West Virginia, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing and vanished during an end of school field trip to Red Crow State Forest. They were gone long enough that people had stopped referring them as missing and now called them lost. They mysteriously reappeared six months later. They were in perfect health. They were taller, stronger with bright eyes and clear skin. How did they survive?
Fifteen years later Jeremy becomes a missing persons investigator and Rafe is a reclusive artist who lives in a cabin in the woods. He has scars inside and out and can't remember how he got them.
This book was such a delight!
The world where this book took me to was just amazing. It was so beautiful! Here is a sneak peak of the description of the Painted Sea. The shore off Painted Sea was swirled with colors, like a child had spilled their jar of rainbow sand everywhere. Pinks and Blues and Greens and Purples. The water was so clear that you could see through it like a window. Small Silver Dolphins and lazy rays played in the surf.
The trees in this world soared a thousand feet too tall. The trunks a hundred feet. These trees had leaves every color of Easter, pink and green and blue and yellow and white. They looked like the trees you might have scribbled as a child with fat Crayola markers to color one tree. Yes, these were a child's imaginary trees made real somehow.
This book was inspired by C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. This amazing novel is an adult fairytale. I loved her book, The Wishing Game and I loved this one even more. It was my favorite adult fairytale. I loved all the characters. They all were well done.
I want to thank Netgalley and Random House Ballantine Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2024
Whether it was chasing a talking rabbit down a rabbit hole into Wonderland, landing in Munchkinland and following a yellow brick road to the Emerald City, opening a wardrobe to step into Narnia with its talking lions and fauns, climbing up the Faraway Tree to ever-changing magical lands above the clouds, or being whisked away by a flying boy to Neverland with mermaids and eternal youth, I was always hooked by magic portal fantasy stories.
I think also what really got me was the leap from the mundane to the fantastical.
And it turns out I still apparently have a soft spot for these types of tales, judging by how much I enjoyed this book. It feels both familiar and refreshingly new, with:
• Found family,
• 🏳️🌈 MM romance, and
• What seems like a possibly neurodivergent female main character, at least in my interpretation, based on her quirks and traits, though it's not explicitly stated.
Plus, it's sprinkled with enough Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks references to make any fan swoon. (Disclaimer: Don't hate me, but they're not to my taste. But others might appreciate the references in this book more than I did.) You can listen to the music soundtrack compiled by the publisher for the book here.
Anyway, the story unfolds in a third-person narrative, alternating between the perspectives of FMC Emilie and once-estranged high school besties, MMCs Rafe and Jeremy. Together with Emilie’s antisocial pet fancy rat, Fritz, they form a motley crew on a quest for answers about Emilie’s vanished sister and Rafe’s missing memories of that time he disappeared for six months in a forest with Jeremy, which funnily enough, happens to be in the same place that Emilie’s sister went missing.
To be honest, the first 40% of this book felt like a bit of a slog. It was all foundational story set-up in the mundane real world, and I may have been a bit impatient for the magic to kick in. But no spoilers here—since it’s a portal fantasy, we know the MCs eventually step into another world. That’s where things really switched gears for me. I guess pan-dimensional red crows, cyclops owls, silver-skinned mermaids, unicorns and rainbow sand beaches in a kingdom that doesn’t take itself too seriously could have that effect.
If the above sounds a bit too whimsical, twee, or even like a psychedelic trip 🍄🌈🦄🦋 (and you’re not into psychedelic trips), then this might not be the book for you. However, it’s more than just a feast of vivid colours and cosy whimsy. At its core, it’s a tale of found family, deep friendships, enduring love, limitless possibility, healing, forgiveness and a heartfelt reminder that what’s lost can be found.
All things considered, this feel-good story left me both satisfied and charmed. Yet, don't be fooled, there is also profound depth and meaning. It’s a tale that balances heartwarming moments with serious and relevant themes. Be aware of the trigger warnings: Mention of prenatal substance abuse, domestic and family violence, mentions of depression, suicide, and mental illness, mention of the death of a parent/s, as well as an implied homophobic character. Spiders too.
This was my first Meg Shaffer/Tiffany Reisz experience, but won’t be my last! If you were enchanted by The House in The Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune or any other portal fantasy story, there is a decent chance you will be delighted by The Lost Story too. Highly recommended!
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books | Arcadia for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This book has been published and is available to read now.
———
Scrubbing my brain clean after reading eyeball horrors and teenage slashers with a Narnia-inspired tale. My heartfelt thanks to Quercus Books | Arcadia for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I think also what really got me was the leap from the mundane to the fantastical.
And it turns out I still apparently have a soft spot for these types of tales, judging by how much I enjoyed this book. It feels both familiar and refreshingly new, with:
• Found family,
• 🏳️🌈 MM romance, and
• What seems like a possibly neurodivergent female main character, at least in my interpretation, based on her quirks and traits, though it's not explicitly stated.
Plus, it's sprinkled with enough Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks references to make any fan swoon. (Disclaimer: Don't hate me, but they're not to my taste. But others might appreciate the references in this book more than I did.) You can listen to the music soundtrack compiled by the publisher for the book here.
Anyway, the story unfolds in a third-person narrative, alternating between the perspectives of FMC Emilie and once-estranged high school besties, MMCs Rafe and Jeremy. Together with Emilie’s antisocial pet fancy rat, Fritz, they form a motley crew on a quest for answers about Emilie’s vanished sister and Rafe’s missing memories of that time he disappeared for six months in a forest with Jeremy, which funnily enough, happens to be in the same place that Emilie’s sister went missing.
To be honest, the first 40% of this book felt like a bit of a slog. It was all foundational story set-up in the mundane real world, and I may have been a bit impatient for the magic to kick in. But no spoilers here—since it’s a portal fantasy, we know the MCs eventually step into another world. That’s where things really switched gears for me. I guess pan-dimensional red crows, cyclops owls, silver-skinned mermaids, unicorns and rainbow sand beaches in a kingdom that doesn’t take itself too seriously could have that effect.
If the above sounds a bit too whimsical, twee, or even like a psychedelic trip 🍄🌈🦄🦋 (and you’re not into psychedelic trips), then this might not be the book for you. However, it’s more than just a feast of vivid colours and cosy whimsy. At its core, it’s a tale of found family, deep friendships, enduring love, limitless possibility, healing, forgiveness and a heartfelt reminder that what’s lost can be found.
All things considered, this feel-good story left me both satisfied and charmed. Yet, don't be fooled, there is also profound depth and meaning. It’s a tale that balances heartwarming moments with serious and relevant themes. Be aware of the trigger warnings: Mention of prenatal substance abuse, domestic and family violence, mentions of depression, suicide, and mental illness, mention of the death of a parent/s, as well as an implied homophobic character. Spiders too.
This was my first Meg Shaffer/Tiffany Reisz experience, but won’t be my last! If you were enchanted by The House in The Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune or any other portal fantasy story, there is a decent chance you will be delighted by The Lost Story too. Highly recommended!
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books | Arcadia for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This book has been published and is available to read now.
———
Scrubbing my brain clean after reading eyeball horrors and teenage slashers with a Narnia-inspired tale. My heartfelt thanks to Quercus Books | Arcadia for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2024
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." - C.S. Lewis
I adored this book! It's a fairy tale for adults which was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia! It is full of vivid descriptions of a faraway enchanted land called Shenandoah. It's magical, enchanting, gripping, moving, and wonderful. I was swept away and loved every page! This book is full of deep friendships, adventure, love, lost boys, romance, family, and found family.
"Books may well be the only true magic." - Alice Hoffman
Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell were best friends who were missing for six months after entering a local state park. They came back taller, stronger, and healthy. Where were they? What happened to them during their time away? The inseparable friends find distance between them when Jeremy moves to live with a family member after their return. Rafe, who was always drawing, continues doing his artwork while Jeremy goes on to find missing people.
"A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." - Carl Sagan
Emilie approaches Jeremy to help her find her missing lost sister. Jeremy knows that he met Emilie's long-lost sister while he and Rafe were lost themselves. Jeremy remembers where they were and what occurred while they were lost, while Rafe has no memory. After being approached by Jeremy and Emilie, the three set forth for an enchanted land....
"Books are a uniquely portable magic" - Stephen King
I love Meg Shaffer's writing. I love being transported to Shenandoah. Ahh, to spend some time there. It was such an engrossing and lovely read. It's full of being lost, being found, and all the things that come in-between. The descriptions are lush and vivid. I found this book to be atmospheric and lovely. I adored the characters, their connections, their humor, and their vulnerability. This book had moments of humor and I found myself smiling throughout the book.
"Books are where the true magic happens." - Jen Wilde
What a lovely magical journey Meg Shaffer took me on! I know this is a book that I will be re-reading. I found this book to be beautifully written, well thought out, endearing, and hard to put down. This book is inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia but also reminded me of Peter Pan as well. If you have read Meg Shaffer's other book, The Wishing Game, you will love this book as well.
"Every time you open a book, a little magic falls out.” – unknown
Beautifully written, magical, and enchanting!
Highly Recommend!
This was a buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well to see what she thought of this book!
4.5 Stars
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
I adored this book! It's a fairy tale for adults which was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia! It is full of vivid descriptions of a faraway enchanted land called Shenandoah. It's magical, enchanting, gripping, moving, and wonderful. I was swept away and loved every page! This book is full of deep friendships, adventure, love, lost boys, romance, family, and found family.
"Books may well be the only true magic." - Alice Hoffman
Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell were best friends who were missing for six months after entering a local state park. They came back taller, stronger, and healthy. Where were they? What happened to them during their time away? The inseparable friends find distance between them when Jeremy moves to live with a family member after their return. Rafe, who was always drawing, continues doing his artwork while Jeremy goes on to find missing people.
"A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." - Carl Sagan
Emilie approaches Jeremy to help her find her missing lost sister. Jeremy knows that he met Emilie's long-lost sister while he and Rafe were lost themselves. Jeremy remembers where they were and what occurred while they were lost, while Rafe has no memory. After being approached by Jeremy and Emilie, the three set forth for an enchanted land....
"Books are a uniquely portable magic" - Stephen King
I love Meg Shaffer's writing. I love being transported to Shenandoah. Ahh, to spend some time there. It was such an engrossing and lovely read. It's full of being lost, being found, and all the things that come in-between. The descriptions are lush and vivid. I found this book to be atmospheric and lovely. I adored the characters, their connections, their humor, and their vulnerability. This book had moments of humor and I found myself smiling throughout the book.
"Books are where the true magic happens." - Jen Wilde
What a lovely magical journey Meg Shaffer took me on! I know this is a book that I will be re-reading. I found this book to be beautifully written, well thought out, endearing, and hard to put down. This book is inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia but also reminded me of Peter Pan as well. If you have read Meg Shaffer's other book, The Wishing Game, you will love this book as well.
"Every time you open a book, a little magic falls out.” – unknown
Beautifully written, magical, and enchanting!
Highly Recommend!
This was a buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well to see what she thought of this book!
4.5 Stars
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 20, 2024
The fans of Wishing Game, what are you waiting for? Don't risk going blind to the magic Meg Shaffer offers in another book inspired by C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. It makes us believe dreams can come true at any time in our lives, as long as we open our hearts to embrace them.
I truly wished to get lost in Shenandoah and spend more time there until I let go of my insecurities, fears, troubles, and stress, shedding my old whining self and returning to innocence, laughing like a child. The world-building, metaphors, and Easter eggs hidden in the book, with references to Gilmore Girls and Batman, made me giddy.
The romance, friendship, and self-exploration blended in magical realism perfectly to immerse you in the secret lands of your mind.
The story revolves around three unique, one-of-a-kind characters: two young teenage boys, Jeremy Cox, a privileged English boy, and Ralph Howell (known as Rafe to Jeremy), a middle-class small-town boy with artistic talents. Bound by pure friendship, maybe more, they get lost in Red Crow State Park for six months, presumed dead. When they return, physically stronger, well-fed, and taller, nobody can explain what happened to them. Were they kidnapped? If so, how did they appear healthier instead of malnourished? Unfortunately, neither of them remembers anything about their disappearance. Especially Rafe, who shows signs of PTSD, short-term memory loss, and sleepwalking issues. After their return, Jeremy leaves town to live with his grandmother in England, severing ties with Rafe when he needed his friend the most.
Fifteen years later, we witness Jeremy becoming a celebrity for finding lost women and young girls, mostly in the spotlight, while Rafe develops his art in seclusion, hiding in his cottage. When the young, quirky, eccentric woman Emilie enters their lives needing help finding her lost stepsister, the two friends reluctantly unite to assist her in returning to Red Crow. Jeremy is convinced that they met Emilie's sister during their time lost in the woods, and only Rafe can find the way to this secret place. As they delve into their memories, secrets begin to unravel, allowing Rafe and Jeremy to piece together their shared past and embrace their future. But this is just the beginning of the story, isn't it?
Overall, I was hooked from the first page, enjoying the characters, the sacred love story, and the reimagining of the Narnia world. I look forward to reading Meg Schaffer's next magical adventure.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I truly wished to get lost in Shenandoah and spend more time there until I let go of my insecurities, fears, troubles, and stress, shedding my old whining self and returning to innocence, laughing like a child. The world-building, metaphors, and Easter eggs hidden in the book, with references to Gilmore Girls and Batman, made me giddy.
The romance, friendship, and self-exploration blended in magical realism perfectly to immerse you in the secret lands of your mind.
The story revolves around three unique, one-of-a-kind characters: two young teenage boys, Jeremy Cox, a privileged English boy, and Ralph Howell (known as Rafe to Jeremy), a middle-class small-town boy with artistic talents. Bound by pure friendship, maybe more, they get lost in Red Crow State Park for six months, presumed dead. When they return, physically stronger, well-fed, and taller, nobody can explain what happened to them. Were they kidnapped? If so, how did they appear healthier instead of malnourished? Unfortunately, neither of them remembers anything about their disappearance. Especially Rafe, who shows signs of PTSD, short-term memory loss, and sleepwalking issues. After their return, Jeremy leaves town to live with his grandmother in England, severing ties with Rafe when he needed his friend the most.
Fifteen years later, we witness Jeremy becoming a celebrity for finding lost women and young girls, mostly in the spotlight, while Rafe develops his art in seclusion, hiding in his cottage. When the young, quirky, eccentric woman Emilie enters their lives needing help finding her lost stepsister, the two friends reluctantly unite to assist her in returning to Red Crow. Jeremy is convinced that they met Emilie's sister during their time lost in the woods, and only Rafe can find the way to this secret place. As they delve into their memories, secrets begin to unravel, allowing Rafe and Jeremy to piece together their shared past and embrace their future. But this is just the beginning of the story, isn't it?
Overall, I was hooked from the first page, enjoying the characters, the sacred love story, and the reimagining of the Narnia world. I look forward to reading Meg Schaffer's next magical adventure.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
July 29, 2024
“All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room? A story written by a stranger and yet it seems they wrote it just for you or to you? Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper, not flesh and blood? Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.”
Last year The Wishing Game was one of my favorite reads and I’m glad to say that with The Lost Story, author Meg Shaffer does not disappoint.
Set in the (fictional) Red Crow State Forest of West Virginia, the story follows our three protagonists Emilie Wendell, Jeremy Cox and Ralph "Rafe" Howell as they embark on a quest to find out what happened to Emilie’s long-lost sister Shannon, who, when thirteen, went missing from the area decades ago. Jeremy and Rafe are no strangers to the forest, having been found six months after disappearing while on a school trip fifteen years ago. What happened to them remains a mystery to everyone except Jeremy. Jeremy and Rafe, once close friends, have been estranged since the incident. Jeremy makes finding missing girls his life’s calling and when Emilie approaches him for help in finding Shannon, he eventually agrees. Rafe is a loner, traumatized by the incident, but with no memories of the six months they were missing. Jeremy convinces Rafe to join the quest with promises that everything will be revealed in the course of their journey.
“Nobody wants to admit they’re lost.”
Inspired by C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this “fairy tale for grown-ups”, is a beautifully written story with endearing characters (human and mythical), vividly descriptive with superb worldbuilding, that transported me to Shanandoah with Emilie, Jeremy and Rafe.
A story of friendship, found family, love, sacrifice and courage with adventure and intrigue, emotion and humor, magical kingdoms, enchanted forests and mythical beings – sounds just perfect, doesn’t it? If you agree, this book is a must-read. I should mention that this story is much deeper than a fanciful tale for children, with several dark and sensitive themes, including abandonment, homophobia, child abuse, PTSD and mental health woven into the narrative. I enjoyed the dynamic between the three main characters and thought that the supporting characters (even the unlikeable ones) were also well thought out. The pacing is a tad uneven, but this did not detract from my overall experience. I did feel, however, that there was a tad too much going on. With so many subplots, it is to be expected that not all of them would be explored in equal depth.
Overall, I found this to be a charming and incredibly moving story that I would not hesitate to recommend. Read this one with your heart and you won’t be disappointed!
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on July 16, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Last year The Wishing Game was one of my favorite reads and I’m glad to say that with The Lost Story, author Meg Shaffer does not disappoint.
Set in the (fictional) Red Crow State Forest of West Virginia, the story follows our three protagonists Emilie Wendell, Jeremy Cox and Ralph "Rafe" Howell as they embark on a quest to find out what happened to Emilie’s long-lost sister Shannon, who, when thirteen, went missing from the area decades ago. Jeremy and Rafe are no strangers to the forest, having been found six months after disappearing while on a school trip fifteen years ago. What happened to them remains a mystery to everyone except Jeremy. Jeremy and Rafe, once close friends, have been estranged since the incident. Jeremy makes finding missing girls his life’s calling and when Emilie approaches him for help in finding Shannon, he eventually agrees. Rafe is a loner, traumatized by the incident, but with no memories of the six months they were missing. Jeremy convinces Rafe to join the quest with promises that everything will be revealed in the course of their journey.
“Nobody wants to admit they’re lost.”
Inspired by C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this “fairy tale for grown-ups”, is a beautifully written story with endearing characters (human and mythical), vividly descriptive with superb worldbuilding, that transported me to Shanandoah with Emilie, Jeremy and Rafe.
A story of friendship, found family, love, sacrifice and courage with adventure and intrigue, emotion and humor, magical kingdoms, enchanted forests and mythical beings – sounds just perfect, doesn’t it? If you agree, this book is a must-read. I should mention that this story is much deeper than a fanciful tale for children, with several dark and sensitive themes, including abandonment, homophobia, child abuse, PTSD and mental health woven into the narrative. I enjoyed the dynamic between the three main characters and thought that the supporting characters (even the unlikeable ones) were also well thought out. The pacing is a tad uneven, but this did not detract from my overall experience. I did feel, however, that there was a tad too much going on. With so many subplots, it is to be expected that not all of them would be explored in equal depth.
Overall, I found this to be a charming and incredibly moving story that I would not hesitate to recommend. Read this one with your heart and you won’t be disappointed!
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on July 16, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
March 8, 2024
4 stars★
🌌✨“Yes, in an infinite universe, wormholes have to exist. All possible worlds exist. In fact, there are no possibilities in an infinite universe, just eventualities.”🌌✨
This story follows around three characters: two teenage boys, Jeremy and Rafe .They share a bond of pure friendship, and maybe even something more. But things take a wild turn when they go missing in Red Crow State Park for six whole months! Everyone assumes the worst, thinking they're gone forever. But then, out of nowhere, they reappear, looking stronger, healthier, and taller than ever. It's a total mystery! How did they manage to stay well fed and in such great shape? Were they kidnapped? And why can't they remember a single thing about what happened to them? Poor Rafe, in particular, is dealing with memory loss and sleepwalking. To make matters worse, Jeremy up and leaves town to live with his grandma in England, cutting ties with Rafe just when he needs his friend the most.
Fast forward fifteen years later, and Jeremy is now a famous investigator specializing in finding missing girls and women. Rafe, on the other hand, has become a bit of a recluse, living in the mountains and creating incredible paintings and sculptures. Throughout all these years, Jeremy and Rafe haven't spoken to each other, nor have they uttered a word about what happened to them in the forest. Rafe genuinely doesn't remember, and Jeremy is bound by a secret he can't share, not even with Rafe. But now, the past is about to resurface when Emilie Wendel tracks down Jeremy and seeks his help in finding her long lost sister, who mysteriously disappeared in the same woods where Jeremy and Rafe were lost. The three of them join forces and return to the Red Crow Forest, diving back into a world of enchanting magic and breathtaking landscapes in their quest for lost memories and missing people. ✨🔍
Going into my first Meg Shaffer book, I didn't have any expectations at all. But let me tell you, if I did have any expectations, they would have been completely surpassed! The world building in this story was absolutely amazing. It was so immersive, like I could picture myself right there in that magical land. And the characters? They were so complex and captivating, I couldn't help but fall in love with them instantly! The way the author explored friendships and romance was truly exquisite. I give major props to the author for their incredible storytelling skills. This book had all those cozy fairytale vibes, with a queen, princess, knights, unicorns, sword fighting, mermaids, magical land and even a charming prince. Plus, this book tackled important issues like suicide, adoption, and family drama, which added depth and emotional resonance. And I absolutely loved the LGBTQ representation in here. The writing style had me completely hooked from the very beginning. And those moments where the storyteller directly addressed the reader. It added such a unique and engaging element to the story. But you maybe be wondering why wasn't this a 5 star since you loved it so much, well around 78-80 % marked i thought that story could have ended there imo and i just didn't get that 5 star feeling for this. But I would recommend this to anyone who loves whimsical fairy tales that have a mystery going on.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
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pre-review: i'm so excited to dive into this author's work for the first time. ready for the fairytale vibes this has to offer💙🪄✨i'm so excited to dive into this author's work for the first time. ready for the fairytale vibes this has to offer💙🪄✨
🌌✨“Yes, in an infinite universe, wormholes have to exist. All possible worlds exist. In fact, there are no possibilities in an infinite universe, just eventualities.”🌌✨
This story follows around three characters: two teenage boys, Jeremy and Rafe .They share a bond of pure friendship, and maybe even something more. But things take a wild turn when they go missing in Red Crow State Park for six whole months! Everyone assumes the worst, thinking they're gone forever. But then, out of nowhere, they reappear, looking stronger, healthier, and taller than ever. It's a total mystery! How did they manage to stay well fed and in such great shape? Were they kidnapped? And why can't they remember a single thing about what happened to them? Poor Rafe, in particular, is dealing with memory loss and sleepwalking. To make matters worse, Jeremy up and leaves town to live with his grandma in England, cutting ties with Rafe just when he needs his friend the most.
Fast forward fifteen years later, and Jeremy is now a famous investigator specializing in finding missing girls and women. Rafe, on the other hand, has become a bit of a recluse, living in the mountains and creating incredible paintings and sculptures. Throughout all these years, Jeremy and Rafe haven't spoken to each other, nor have they uttered a word about what happened to them in the forest. Rafe genuinely doesn't remember, and Jeremy is bound by a secret he can't share, not even with Rafe. But now, the past is about to resurface when Emilie Wendel tracks down Jeremy and seeks his help in finding her long lost sister, who mysteriously disappeared in the same woods where Jeremy and Rafe were lost. The three of them join forces and return to the Red Crow Forest, diving back into a world of enchanting magic and breathtaking landscapes in their quest for lost memories and missing people. ✨🔍
Going into my first Meg Shaffer book, I didn't have any expectations at all. But let me tell you, if I did have any expectations, they would have been completely surpassed! The world building in this story was absolutely amazing. It was so immersive, like I could picture myself right there in that magical land. And the characters? They were so complex and captivating, I couldn't help but fall in love with them instantly! The way the author explored friendships and romance was truly exquisite. I give major props to the author for their incredible storytelling skills. This book had all those cozy fairytale vibes, with a queen, princess, knights, unicorns, sword fighting, mermaids, magical land and even a charming prince. Plus, this book tackled important issues like suicide, adoption, and family drama, which added depth and emotional resonance. And I absolutely loved the LGBTQ representation in here. The writing style had me completely hooked from the very beginning. And those moments where the storyteller directly addressed the reader. It added such a unique and engaging element to the story. But you maybe be wondering why wasn't this a 5 star since you loved it so much, well around 78-80 % marked i thought that story could have ended there imo and i just didn't get that 5 star feeling for this. But I would recommend this to anyone who loves whimsical fairy tales that have a mystery going on.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
────────
pre-review: i'm so excited to dive into this author's work for the first time. ready for the fairytale vibes this has to offer💙🪄✨i'm so excited to dive into this author's work for the first time. ready for the fairytale vibes this has to offer💙🪄✨
July 16, 2024
📚🪄✨
"All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room? A story written by a stranger and yet it seems they wrote it just for you or to you? Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper, not flesh and blood? Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is."
📚🪄✨
Happy release day!! 7/16/24 🥰
꧁•⊹٭𝙰𝙻𝙻. 𝚃𝙷𝙴. 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚂.٭⊹•꧂
I mean... can we just take a min- THIS COVER!!! 🥹😍...k...moving along...
╰┈➤ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓫
As young boys, best friends Jeremy and Rafe go missing in Virginia State Park. Mysteriously reappearing six months later with no explanation as to where they were or how they managed to survive.
Fifteen years later, Jeremy is a missing persons investigator with an almost magical ability to find find the lost, while Rafe is now a reclusive artist living in a cabin in the woods. He bears scars from the time of their disappearance both inside and out but has no memory of what happened.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth behind their time in the woods. While the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. However, Jeremy has not filled Rafe in on what happened... he's avoided him pretty much since they returned from being lost and they're not exactly on speaking terms.
But these two will have to learn to get along again, because a young woman named Emilie needs help from the both of them to locate her sister who disappeared in the same area they did…
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
This was such a good story! I mean- SO GOOD! I loved each and every one of these characters!
This world came alive in my mind and completely whisked me away from my day to day stress! I needed to savor this story! I want to live there!!
Such a cozy feel good fairytale! This book made my heart sinnggggg!!! 🎤🎼
This book has it all- a queen 👑, a princess 👸🏻, a knight ⚔️🛡️, a prince 🤴🏻, unicorns 🦄, sword fighting 🤺, mermaids 🧜🏻♀️, a red crow ❤️🐦⬛ and a magical land ✨🏰.
I was immediately pulled into the story and it kept it's grip on me from page one until the end. It's so whimsical ✨, magical ✨ and reminiscent of stories I loved to read as a child- wink 😉. Specifically, Narnia and The Wizard of Oz. There's just something so captivating and mesmerizing about the idea of walking through a door and into another world.
With all of the fun and magic going on Shaffer also tackles some tough issues such as suicide, adoption, death, abuse, family drama.
I'm telling ya'll, by the time I got to the last few chapters I couldn't hold back the tears- I just loved this so much that I couldn't even contain them!
I also really enjoyed the interludes where the Story Teller steps in and gives us helpful information. Normally, I'm not a fan of breaking the fourth wall but this was done masterfully!
I'm such a die hard Meg Shaffer aka Tiffany Reisz fan and she just continues to solidify all the reasons why with yet another banger!! 💖🌷
Instantly a forever favorite! 💖
Already on pre-order! If you enjoyed The Wishing Game- you will LOVE this one!!
╰┈➤ 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓒𝓪𝓷 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽
🐀 LGBTQ Rep
🐀 Found Family
🐀 Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac references
🐀 A pet fancy rat
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Meg Shaffer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥰💘💐
Happy release day!! 7/16/24 🥰
꧁•⊹٭𝙰𝙻𝙻. 𝚃𝙷𝙴. 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚂.٭⊹•꧂
I mean... can we just take a min- THIS COVER!!! 🥹😍...k...moving along...
╰┈➤ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓫
As young boys, best friends Jeremy and Rafe go missing in Virginia State Park. Mysteriously reappearing six months later with no explanation as to where they were or how they managed to survive.
Fifteen years later, Jeremy is a missing persons investigator with an almost magical ability to find find the lost, while Rafe is now a reclusive artist living in a cabin in the woods. He bears scars from the time of their disappearance both inside and out but has no memory of what happened.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth behind their time in the woods. While the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. However, Jeremy has not filled Rafe in on what happened... he's avoided him pretty much since they returned from being lost and they're not exactly on speaking terms.
But these two will have to learn to get along again, because a young woman named Emilie needs help from the both of them to locate her sister who disappeared in the same area they did…
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
This was such a good story! I mean- SO GOOD! I loved each and every one of these characters!
This world came alive in my mind and completely whisked me away from my day to day stress! I needed to savor this story! I want to live there!!
Such a cozy feel good fairytale! This book made my heart sinnggggg!!! 🎤🎼
This book has it all- a queen 👑, a princess 👸🏻, a knight ⚔️🛡️, a prince 🤴🏻, unicorns 🦄, sword fighting 🤺, mermaids 🧜🏻♀️, a red crow ❤️🐦⬛ and a magical land ✨🏰.
I was immediately pulled into the story and it kept it's grip on me from page one until the end. It's so whimsical ✨, magical ✨ and reminiscent of stories I loved to read as a child- wink 😉. Specifically, Narnia and The Wizard of Oz. There's just something so captivating and mesmerizing about the idea of walking through a door and into another world.
With all of the fun and magic going on Shaffer also tackles some tough issues such as suicide, adoption, death, abuse, family drama.
I'm telling ya'll, by the time I got to the last few chapters I couldn't hold back the tears- I just loved this so much that I couldn't even contain them!
I also really enjoyed the interludes where the Story Teller steps in and gives us helpful information. Normally, I'm not a fan of breaking the fourth wall but this was done masterfully!
I'm such a die hard Meg Shaffer aka Tiffany Reisz fan and she just continues to solidify all the reasons why with yet another banger!! 💖🌷
Instantly a forever favorite! 💖
Already on pre-order! If you enjoyed The Wishing Game- you will LOVE this one!!
╰┈➤ 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓒𝓪𝓷 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽
🐀 LGBTQ Rep
🐀 Found Family
🐀 Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac references
🐀 A pet fancy rat
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Meg Shaffer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥰💘💐
Want to read
February 8, 2024Eeeekkkkk I’m so excited!!! I got this ARC!!!
April 26, 2024
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.
Once upon a time in the Red Crow State Forest of West Virginia, two boys, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, are lost in the woods for six months with no rational explanation except perhaps it’s just one of those rare miracles. Fifteen years on, Rafe lives a solitary existence and has no memory of those lost months whereas Jeremy does. He’s become a famous and successful missing person investigator. He’s hired by Emilie Wendell to find her missing half sister, Shannon, who disappears from the self same State Forest many years ago.The intrepid threesome, whose stories interlock, though not all of them yet know it, head to Red Crow State Forest to step into their pasts, into the unknown and into who knows what. Well, we all know how fairytales go, don’t we? Sit back, relax and just go with the flow.
Books are magic, well this one sure is. Fan-blooming-tastic and I LOVE it! This book is exactly why I read, to have an experience like this. I’ve read some great books so far this year and this one is up there with the best of them. Just like the original inspiration (CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia) the author transports the reader to another world allowing individuals to set aside any troubles and forget wide issues or concerns, and be enchanted by the beautiful, colourful prose. I love the tone throughout, but the little inserts between chapters are so clever and frequently very funny. There are some fabulous descriptions of places and of characters so you can visualise them with ease and just get swept along with the storytelling. The three main characters are so likeable as is Rafe’s mum, definitely a mum of the year. It’s an excellent fairytale, with Stevie Nicks, a read with a smile which entrances though it does have a dark side (every fairytale has to have a baddy or baddies) so sure not to stray into that.
Overall, it has all the ingredients you expect of a fairytale and it’s an excellent homage to the books that inspire it. It is imaginative, creative, funny and immersive. I highly recommend this even if this isn’t your normal genre and I can’t wait to read more by Meg Shaffer.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books, Arcadia for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
My 1600th NG arc!!!!
Once upon a time in the Red Crow State Forest of West Virginia, two boys, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, are lost in the woods for six months with no rational explanation except perhaps it’s just one of those rare miracles. Fifteen years on, Rafe lives a solitary existence and has no memory of those lost months whereas Jeremy does. He’s become a famous and successful missing person investigator. He’s hired by Emilie Wendell to find her missing half sister, Shannon, who disappears from the self same State Forest many years ago.The intrepid threesome, whose stories interlock, though not all of them yet know it, head to Red Crow State Forest to step into their pasts, into the unknown and into who knows what. Well, we all know how fairytales go, don’t we? Sit back, relax and just go with the flow.
Books are magic, well this one sure is. Fan-blooming-tastic and I LOVE it! This book is exactly why I read, to have an experience like this. I’ve read some great books so far this year and this one is up there with the best of them. Just like the original inspiration (CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia) the author transports the reader to another world allowing individuals to set aside any troubles and forget wide issues or concerns, and be enchanted by the beautiful, colourful prose. I love the tone throughout, but the little inserts between chapters are so clever and frequently very funny. There are some fabulous descriptions of places and of characters so you can visualise them with ease and just get swept along with the storytelling. The three main characters are so likeable as is Rafe’s mum, definitely a mum of the year. It’s an excellent fairytale, with Stevie Nicks, a read with a smile which entrances though it does have a dark side (every fairytale has to have a baddy or baddies) so sure not to stray into that.
Overall, it has all the ingredients you expect of a fairytale and it’s an excellent homage to the books that inspire it. It is imaginative, creative, funny and immersive. I highly recommend this even if this isn’t your normal genre and I can’t wait to read more by Meg Shaffer.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books, Arcadia for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
My 1600th NG arc!!!!
March 23, 2024
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again." - C.S Lewis
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
This is a fairytale for adults that you can get lost in.
For all those who loved the Wishing Game, you'll enjoy The Lost Story just as much.
Teenagers, Jeremy and Rafe, go missing one day while they're art Red Crowe State park. It's safe to say that everyone immediately thinks of the worst-case scenario. Out of the blue, 6 months later, they turn up with no memory where they were or how they got there. They claim that they have no idea what happened. All everyone knows is that they come back in better shape than when they left. With all the commotion and mysterious circumstances, it's safe to say that these boys would need each other more than ever now, but Jeremy goes to live with his grandmother.
Time passes, and our is now 15 years later. It's safe to say that these events helped shape these two men into who they are now. Rafe is more of a hermit but an artist, and Jeremy is an investigator for missing people. Jeremy seems to have quite the knack at what he does, too. Rafe and Jeremy still haven't spoken about what happened in that forest. Rafe bears scars but still has no memory. Jeremy has harbored a secret all these years, and he knows exactly what happened during their time in the woods.
Along comes Emilie looking for their help. Her sister has gone missing in the dame woods. Can Rafe and Jeremy get along and put the past behind them to help Emilie?
What a fun and mystical ride this was!! I could not put this down. I will now always buy Meg Shaffer's books blindly.
Thank you, Random House/Ballantine books and netgalley, for the ability to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#TheLostStory #NetGalley
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
This is a fairytale for adults that you can get lost in.
For all those who loved the Wishing Game, you'll enjoy The Lost Story just as much.
Teenagers, Jeremy and Rafe, go missing one day while they're art Red Crowe State park. It's safe to say that everyone immediately thinks of the worst-case scenario. Out of the blue, 6 months later, they turn up with no memory where they were or how they got there. They claim that they have no idea what happened. All everyone knows is that they come back in better shape than when they left. With all the commotion and mysterious circumstances, it's safe to say that these boys would need each other more than ever now, but Jeremy goes to live with his grandmother.
Time passes, and our is now 15 years later. It's safe to say that these events helped shape these two men into who they are now. Rafe is more of a hermit but an artist, and Jeremy is an investigator for missing people. Jeremy seems to have quite the knack at what he does, too. Rafe and Jeremy still haven't spoken about what happened in that forest. Rafe bears scars but still has no memory. Jeremy has harbored a secret all these years, and he knows exactly what happened during their time in the woods.
Along comes Emilie looking for their help. Her sister has gone missing in the dame woods. Can Rafe and Jeremy get along and put the past behind them to help Emilie?
What a fun and mystical ride this was!! I could not put this down. I will now always buy Meg Shaffer's books blindly.
Thank you, Random House/Ballantine books and netgalley, for the ability to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#TheLostStory #NetGalley
Want to read
March 1, 2024જ⁀➴
ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ: ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ.
ɪ’ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀʏ.🥲🥲
જ⁀➴
MY ARC GOT APPROVED!!
YAY YAY YAY!!🥹🥹🥹
ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ: ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ.
ɪ’ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀʏ.🥲🥲
જ⁀➴
MY ARC GOT APPROVED!!
YAY YAY YAY!!🥹🥹🥹
March 6, 2024
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." - C.S. Lewis
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abandonment, abuse, child abuse, child death, death, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, drug abuse, emotional abuse, grief, homophobia, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, sexual content, terminal illness, torture, violence.
There are no words for how sad I am that I didn't love this book. Everything about it seemed like it was created for me, but unfortunately the brilliant concept and the execution of said concept are two very different things.
The Lost Story was an overly ambitious novel, that attempted to fit an expansive story into 330 pages, whilst also struggling to ride the line between mature and whimsical. There were moments when this was successful, when the intention of the story was so clearly felt and realized that I knew I could have adored this novel if things had been different.
Unfortunately, they were not.
I struggled with the characters. I struggled with the dialogue. I struggled with the pacing. I struggled with the world-building or lack thereof (which gets explained at the very end, but by that point, it felt like it was being thrown in there so we didn't question the lack of world-building.) I struggled with the timeline (acting like the characters were there for years when it was only 6 months, felt weird). I struggled with the relationships between each of the characters. I hated the interjections from the Storyteller.
I say I struggled with many of these aspects because - for most of them - I could see what the author's intention had been, I could see that I would have liked them if they had been executed differently. As it was, attempting to create a contrast between the maturity of the characters and the magic of the enchanted world by having the characters say things like "Magical horses are whores for berries." did not work for me.
It made the story feel strangely like it was written by a homeschooled child trying to create an edgy story with how they think adults speak. (I can say that, I was homeschooled.)
This might be considered a spoiler so if you consider romantic relationships a spoiler, I wouldn't read this next paragraph.
Rafe and Jeremy's relationship was another one of those things that I could have loved if it was done differently. I appreciated the queer rep and how meaningful it was that the enchanted world was a safe haven for them to finally be their true selves. However. When the entirety of their relationship is built off of a year they spent together when they were fourteen (half of which one of them can't remember), and the reader is consistently reminded that they're a.) both nearly 30 and b.) how physical their relationship was at 14, on top of them being called brothers within the narrative... it made it really hard for me to feel much more than a topical concern for them.
This review is getting too long and at the risk of just becoming me ranting, which isn't what I want to do at all. Despite all of my criticism, this was an easy read and there were things I really liked about it.
I appreciate what Meg Shaffer was attempting to do with this book and I'm grateful for the ARC, but unfortunately, The Lost Story missed the mark for me.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abandonment, abuse, child abuse, child death, death, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, drug abuse, emotional abuse, grief, homophobia, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, sexual content, terminal illness, torture, violence.
There are no words for how sad I am that I didn't love this book. Everything about it seemed like it was created for me, but unfortunately the brilliant concept and the execution of said concept are two very different things.
The Lost Story was an overly ambitious novel, that attempted to fit an expansive story into 330 pages, whilst also struggling to ride the line between mature and whimsical. There were moments when this was successful, when the intention of the story was so clearly felt and realized that I knew I could have adored this novel if things had been different.
Unfortunately, they were not.
I struggled with the characters. I struggled with the dialogue. I struggled with the pacing. I struggled with the world-building or lack thereof (which gets explained at the very end, but by that point, it felt like it was being thrown in there so we didn't question the lack of world-building.) I struggled with the timeline (acting like the characters were there for years when it was only 6 months, felt weird). I struggled with the relationships between each of the characters. I hated the interjections from the Storyteller.
I say I struggled with many of these aspects because - for most of them - I could see what the author's intention had been, I could see that I would have liked them if they had been executed differently. As it was, attempting to create a contrast between the maturity of the characters and the magic of the enchanted world by having the characters say things like "Magical horses are whores for berries." did not work for me.
It made the story feel strangely like it was written by a homeschooled child trying to create an edgy story with how they think adults speak. (I can say that, I was homeschooled.)
This might be considered a spoiler so if you consider romantic relationships a spoiler, I wouldn't read this next paragraph.
Rafe and Jeremy's relationship was another one of those things that I could have loved if it was done differently. I appreciated the queer rep and how meaningful it was that the enchanted world was a safe haven for them to finally be their true selves. However. When the entirety of their relationship is built off of a year they spent together when they were fourteen (half of which one of them can't remember), and the reader is consistently reminded that they're a.) both nearly 30 and b.) how physical their relationship was at 14, on top of them being called brothers within the narrative... it made it really hard for me to feel much more than a topical concern for them.
This review is getting too long and at the risk of just becoming me ranting, which isn't what I want to do at all. Despite all of my criticism, this was an easy read and there were things I really liked about it.
I appreciate what Meg Shaffer was attempting to do with this book and I'm grateful for the ARC, but unfortunately, The Lost Story missed the mark for me.
July 27, 2024
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming and a tad whimsical
Young boys and best friends, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, disappeared in the Red Crow Forest and were found six months later. One of them knows what happened, while the other wants answers he cannot be given. Fifteen years later, Jeremy is a missing persons investigator and Rafe is a recluse.
Emilie wants to find her missing sister and contacts Jeremy. He knows where she is but it would mean going back to where they were during those six special months. As the trio embarks on a new adventure, they hope to find more than answers.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Emilie and Rafe with one chapter from Jeremy and occasional snippets from the ‘storyteller’.
My Thoughts:
After loving The Wishing Game, I was excited to this book. It is supposed to have a good dose of magic realism, which is my favorite.
The book started great. I liked the characters though the men seemed they didn’t always act their age. That could be explained by their mysterious disappearance (or so I told myself). Fritz was a cute addition too!
The bits by the storyteller were cute, though not all readers will enjoy such interruptions to the plot. I liked those, though.
The pacing is a bit uneven. The blurb reveals 50% of the plot. Or, it would be more accurate to say that the event mentioned in the blurb occurs at the midpoint of the story. Quite a long wait if you ask me.
The second half of the book is a lot different given the change in the setting. I initially enjoyed the setting despite the weird phrases that popped up from time to time. It sounded like teens wanting to appear cool by using ‘adult’ language (mostly for the guys). The conversation between the girls was good.
I hoped there wouldn’t be a love triangle, so to see the romance track develop differently made me very happy. While it was sweet, the vibes were off at times (). That said, I can’t deny it was rather sweet in some scenes.
The last quarter felt like it dragged on a little. I was ready for a HEA when we got a new development. Can see why it had to happen but I wouldn’t have minded a shorter and easier resolution. The ending is hopeful (HFN types). I did wonder if there would be a sequel though I think that won’t be necessary.
The world-building is patchy but provides enough details for the readers to imagine the setting. Considering the book’s length, I’m okay with what we get. I would have loved more of it (obviously).
The author’s note is charming, cute, and funny. Don’t miss it.
To summarize, The Lost Story is a bittersweet tale about second chances, healing, found family, love, and the power of magic (writing). While it didn’t wow me, I can’t deny that it made me smile many times.
(If you loved The Wishing Game, maybe go into this with lesser expectations).
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheLostStory
One Liner: Heartwarming and a tad whimsical
Young boys and best friends, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, disappeared in the Red Crow Forest and were found six months later. One of them knows what happened, while the other wants answers he cannot be given. Fifteen years later, Jeremy is a missing persons investigator and Rafe is a recluse.
Emilie wants to find her missing sister and contacts Jeremy. He knows where she is but it would mean going back to where they were during those six special months. As the trio embarks on a new adventure, they hope to find more than answers.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Emilie and Rafe with one chapter from Jeremy and occasional snippets from the ‘storyteller’.
My Thoughts:
After loving The Wishing Game, I was excited to this book. It is supposed to have a good dose of magic realism, which is my favorite.
The book started great. I liked the characters though the men seemed they didn’t always act their age. That could be explained by their mysterious disappearance (or so I told myself). Fritz was a cute addition too!
The bits by the storyteller were cute, though not all readers will enjoy such interruptions to the plot. I liked those, though.
The pacing is a bit uneven. The blurb reveals 50% of the plot. Or, it would be more accurate to say that the event mentioned in the blurb occurs at the midpoint of the story. Quite a long wait if you ask me.
The second half of the book is a lot different given the change in the setting. I initially enjoyed the setting despite the weird phrases that popped up from time to time. It sounded like teens wanting to appear cool by using ‘adult’ language (mostly for the guys). The conversation between the girls was good.
I hoped there wouldn’t be a love triangle, so to see the romance track develop differently made me very happy. While it was sweet, the vibes were off at times (). That said, I can’t deny it was rather sweet in some scenes.
The last quarter felt like it dragged on a little. I was ready for a HEA when we got a new development. Can see why it had to happen but I wouldn’t have minded a shorter and easier resolution. The ending is hopeful (HFN types). I did wonder if there would be a sequel though I think that won’t be necessary.
The world-building is patchy but provides enough details for the readers to imagine the setting. Considering the book’s length, I’m okay with what we get. I would have loved more of it (obviously).
The author’s note is charming, cute, and funny. Don’t miss it.
To summarize, The Lost Story is a bittersweet tale about second chances, healing, found family, love, and the power of magic (writing). While it didn’t wow me, I can’t deny that it made me smile many times.
(If you loved The Wishing Game, maybe go into this with lesser expectations).
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheLostStory
July 8, 2024
i thought this one was just okay. mainly because for me, the first and second half felt like two totally different books?!
this author also wrote THE WISHING GAME which was everrryyywhere last year. i haven’t seen too many people review this yet (just released + is a BOTM pick) and i myself went in pretty blind… but overall, i think readers will prefer her debut.
whats sad is this had so much potential and i was loving the first half. it totally sucked me in—two boys disappear for 6 months and are magically found but one can’t remember anything and one won’t talk about it. now one of them makes a living helping find people who are missing. it was giving MAJORRRRR Adrienne Young and THE SPELLS OF FORGETTING or THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW vibes (loved both of those sooo much) and i so wanted it to continue but it just didn’t 😫😫😫 the backhalf felt so awkward and almost extremely YA? the romance felt random to me too honestly.
i did an audio/physical combo of this one and enjoyed both. but tbh likely i would have DNF in the backhalf if i didn’t do majority on audio tho 👀
i loooove magical realism but again, something about the backhalf just didn’t work for me. maybe it was more “telling” then “showing”? it was hard to picture and feel the forest and magic.
ugh!! can’t win them all. thanks to PRH audio for the gifted early audiobook.
if you read this, LMK what you think!
this author also wrote THE WISHING GAME which was everrryyywhere last year. i haven’t seen too many people review this yet (just released + is a BOTM pick) and i myself went in pretty blind… but overall, i think readers will prefer her debut.
whats sad is this had so much potential and i was loving the first half. it totally sucked me in—two boys disappear for 6 months and are magically found but one can’t remember anything and one won’t talk about it. now one of them makes a living helping find people who are missing. it was giving MAJORRRRR Adrienne Young and THE SPELLS OF FORGETTING or THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW vibes (loved both of those sooo much) and i so wanted it to continue but it just didn’t 😫😫😫 the backhalf felt so awkward and almost extremely YA? the romance felt random to me too honestly.
i did an audio/physical combo of this one and enjoyed both. but tbh likely i would have DNF in the backhalf if i didn’t do majority on audio tho 👀
i loooove magical realism but again, something about the backhalf just didn’t work for me. maybe it was more “telling” then “showing”? it was hard to picture and feel the forest and magic.
ugh!! can’t win them all. thanks to PRH audio for the gifted early audiobook.
if you read this, LMK what you think!
July 27, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, and Meg Shaffer for an ARC of this book!**
Have you ever seen a movie you used to LOVE as a kid (but haven't seen in 20+ years) pop on TV...and you just feel COMPELLED to watch it?
Maybe you can't even remember WHY you loved it, but you DO remember quoting lines with your friends, and spending many a lazy Saturday afternoon in front of the screen, whiling away the summer hours. So with all of this nostalgia bubbling inside of you, you turn the aforementioned film on and settle in, ready for laughs and to have that same fun, carefree feeling that can only be found in youth.
But then, after about 20 minutes of watching, you start to wonder...I actually LIKED this movie? I actually watched it VOLUNTARILY? And worst of all...I honestly found these jokes FUNNY?
This sort of let-down, confused feeling kept washing over me as I made my way through one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, The Lost Story...and I kept wondering where on EARTH all of the cozy nostalgia I'd felt in the pages of Shaffer's last, The Wishing Game, had gone.
Shaffer once again dives into a 'retelling' of sorts...but this time, the book features nods to The Chronicles of Narnia. Two of our central characters did not exactly escape to a land of fancy through a wardrobe, but instead simply went from lost to found. Jeremy and Rafe's disappearance many years ago shook their community, until one day the two friends returned. The circumstances of their sojourn remain a bit of a mystery to Rafe and almost everyone else...except Jeremy, that is. Although he knows what REALLY happened during this weird and wonderful time, he isn't ready to tell Rafe OR the world...at least, not yet.
Many years later, he has used the strange experience as a launching pad for his career and has become quite well known as a missing persons' investigator. As one of the best in the country, he is in high demand...and when Emilie Wendell reaches out, she doesn't even know whether or not he will consider taking her case. Her sister Shannon is the victim in this case, and Emilie is so determined to bring her back that she's willing to go out on a limb to implore Jeremy to help her. But stranger still, Jeremy reveals that his own story and Shannon's may actually have something in common...a LOT, in common in fact. He believes Shannon is trapped in the SAME impossible realm that he navigated with Rafe so many years ago.
But to return to this weird and wonderful world will force Jeremy to dive headfirst into the cadre of secrets he has kept buried inside for so long...and revisit some painful memories that he has worked so hard to keep at bay. Secret feelings that he has been forced to keep inside now run the risk of being revealed...but can he handle the potential fallout? With Emilie and Rafe by his side, will our intrepid hero find the strength he needs to complete the quest and return Hannah to Emilie's side? Or will they all become inhabitants of this strange, wonderful, and unknown world...permanently?
I'm not even sure there is a universe where Meg Shaffer's sophomore effort could have lived up to her debut for me. When I tell you I wanted to curl up inside The Wishing Game and live there...it isn't much of an exaggeration. Her characters leapt off the page, the story was full of wit, charm, and whimsy, managed to be a balance of both gentle nods and references to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its own unique story. It still managed to live in a place of reality and straddled the line between the real world and a magical land with effortless efficacy. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of that book, but I HAD to buy a physical copy just to have it as part of my collection: it is just THAT special.
So why exactly was reading this book such a drastically different experience for me? I think it all started with the opening (fittingly enough) where we are introduced to Emilie and her plight. I almost got the feel from the off that this was going to be more of a straightforward missing person's story, and while I was taken aback by this...I sort of liked it. I was HOPING the rest of the book was going to play in tandem with sort of a balanced duality, where we could see events in the real world unfold and have the events from the magical realm sort of play out almost alongside them, where the real world would sort of remain the focus, but the magical world would help in 'solving the mystery', as it were.
But what happened was sort of the opposite of that: Shaffer tried to have our characters live in the real world while they mostly reside IN the magical world...and for me, it just didn't work. We also find out that the center of this story is ACTUALLY a love story...so this muddles the central theming even more. After a while, it seemed more like it was Jeremy's world, and we were all just living in it...and I started to wonder WHY I as the reader should be so concerned with Emilie or finding Shannon at all. (By the way, talk about a character that doesn't truly get her due...I had to LOOK UP her name when writing this review because after a week and a half I couldn't even remember it!) 😣
We have a storyteller along the way (essentially an unnamed narrator who is revealed at the end of the book) who pops in between chapters for the sake of levity and sometimes brevity...but I also don't think this device provided the emotional impact it could have and I could have lived without it. When it comes to this one, it's all about the Fairy Tale...but I just didn't feel the fancy. The magical land of Shanandoah (which of course drove me crazy with its spelling) made sense and fit the mold well enough, but it just wasn't MEMORABLE and magical in the way Clock Island was to me in Shaffer's last book. (And for all you fans of Wishing Game, there is a tiny Easter Egg here too...one of the few moments I genuinely smiled while reading this one!)
I'm also not sure why this one draws so many comparisons to Narnia. I can admit it's been a while since I've read the books (and even a few years since I've watched the movies) but I didn't FEEL any of the parallels as strongly as I did in her last book to the source material. Shaffer mentions in her author's note that sort of the springboard for this one was exploring the idea of whatever happened to two of the boys from Lord of the Flies years after they got off the island...and I'll be honest, THAT makes a lot more sense as a parallel than anything relating to the Lion, The Witch, or the Wardrobe. This also seemed like a project that Shaffer has been working on intermittently for some years now, and it just had that sort of disjointed, rewritten feel. I didn't feel the rise and fall of the journey, and although this book wasn't as long as your typical fantasy tale (by quite a bit) it felt like I could have WALKED to Narnia and back in the time it took me to finish it.
And in the end, I think I might have felt better if, much like a fable passed down from years of old, this PARTICULAR story had simply remained lost.
3.5 stars
Have you ever seen a movie you used to LOVE as a kid (but haven't seen in 20+ years) pop on TV...and you just feel COMPELLED to watch it?
Maybe you can't even remember WHY you loved it, but you DO remember quoting lines with your friends, and spending many a lazy Saturday afternoon in front of the screen, whiling away the summer hours. So with all of this nostalgia bubbling inside of you, you turn the aforementioned film on and settle in, ready for laughs and to have that same fun, carefree feeling that can only be found in youth.
But then, after about 20 minutes of watching, you start to wonder...I actually LIKED this movie? I actually watched it VOLUNTARILY? And worst of all...I honestly found these jokes FUNNY?
This sort of let-down, confused feeling kept washing over me as I made my way through one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, The Lost Story...and I kept wondering where on EARTH all of the cozy nostalgia I'd felt in the pages of Shaffer's last, The Wishing Game, had gone.
Shaffer once again dives into a 'retelling' of sorts...but this time, the book features nods to The Chronicles of Narnia. Two of our central characters did not exactly escape to a land of fancy through a wardrobe, but instead simply went from lost to found. Jeremy and Rafe's disappearance many years ago shook their community, until one day the two friends returned. The circumstances of their sojourn remain a bit of a mystery to Rafe and almost everyone else...except Jeremy, that is. Although he knows what REALLY happened during this weird and wonderful time, he isn't ready to tell Rafe OR the world...at least, not yet.
Many years later, he has used the strange experience as a launching pad for his career and has become quite well known as a missing persons' investigator. As one of the best in the country, he is in high demand...and when Emilie Wendell reaches out, she doesn't even know whether or not he will consider taking her case. Her sister Shannon is the victim in this case, and Emilie is so determined to bring her back that she's willing to go out on a limb to implore Jeremy to help her. But stranger still, Jeremy reveals that his own story and Shannon's may actually have something in common...a LOT, in common in fact. He believes Shannon is trapped in the SAME impossible realm that he navigated with Rafe so many years ago.
But to return to this weird and wonderful world will force Jeremy to dive headfirst into the cadre of secrets he has kept buried inside for so long...and revisit some painful memories that he has worked so hard to keep at bay. Secret feelings that he has been forced to keep inside now run the risk of being revealed...but can he handle the potential fallout? With Emilie and Rafe by his side, will our intrepid hero find the strength he needs to complete the quest and return Hannah to Emilie's side? Or will they all become inhabitants of this strange, wonderful, and unknown world...permanently?
I'm not even sure there is a universe where Meg Shaffer's sophomore effort could have lived up to her debut for me. When I tell you I wanted to curl up inside The Wishing Game and live there...it isn't much of an exaggeration. Her characters leapt off the page, the story was full of wit, charm, and whimsy, managed to be a balance of both gentle nods and references to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its own unique story. It still managed to live in a place of reality and straddled the line between the real world and a magical land with effortless efficacy. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of that book, but I HAD to buy a physical copy just to have it as part of my collection: it is just THAT special.
So why exactly was reading this book such a drastically different experience for me? I think it all started with the opening (fittingly enough) where we are introduced to Emilie and her plight. I almost got the feel from the off that this was going to be more of a straightforward missing person's story, and while I was taken aback by this...I sort of liked it. I was HOPING the rest of the book was going to play in tandem with sort of a balanced duality, where we could see events in the real world unfold and have the events from the magical realm sort of play out almost alongside them, where the real world would sort of remain the focus, but the magical world would help in 'solving the mystery', as it were.
But what happened was sort of the opposite of that: Shaffer tried to have our characters live in the real world while they mostly reside IN the magical world...and for me, it just didn't work. We also find out that the center of this story is ACTUALLY a love story...so this muddles the central theming even more. After a while, it seemed more like it was Jeremy's world, and we were all just living in it...and I started to wonder WHY I as the reader should be so concerned with Emilie or finding Shannon at all. (By the way, talk about a character that doesn't truly get her due...I had to LOOK UP her name when writing this review because after a week and a half I couldn't even remember it!) 😣
We have a storyteller along the way (essentially an unnamed narrator who is revealed at the end of the book) who pops in between chapters for the sake of levity and sometimes brevity...but I also don't think this device provided the emotional impact it could have and I could have lived without it. When it comes to this one, it's all about the Fairy Tale...but I just didn't feel the fancy. The magical land of Shanandoah (which of course drove me crazy with its spelling) made sense and fit the mold well enough, but it just wasn't MEMORABLE and magical in the way Clock Island was to me in Shaffer's last book. (And for all you fans of Wishing Game, there is a tiny Easter Egg here too...one of the few moments I genuinely smiled while reading this one!)
I'm also not sure why this one draws so many comparisons to Narnia. I can admit it's been a while since I've read the books (and even a few years since I've watched the movies) but I didn't FEEL any of the parallels as strongly as I did in her last book to the source material. Shaffer mentions in her author's note that sort of the springboard for this one was exploring the idea of whatever happened to two of the boys from Lord of the Flies years after they got off the island...and I'll be honest, THAT makes a lot more sense as a parallel than anything relating to the Lion, The Witch, or the Wardrobe. This also seemed like a project that Shaffer has been working on intermittently for some years now, and it just had that sort of disjointed, rewritten feel. I didn't feel the rise and fall of the journey, and although this book wasn't as long as your typical fantasy tale (by quite a bit) it felt like I could have WALKED to Narnia and back in the time it took me to finish it.
And in the end, I think I might have felt better if, much like a fable passed down from years of old, this PARTICULAR story had simply remained lost.
3.5 stars
February 29, 2024
This started out with a great premise but the plot began to fall apart. The story became more telling than showing. The narrator is a bit jarring. It had a lot of promise but fell short. If you're going to compare your book to the Chronicles of Narnia, you need to deliver. This did not.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
August 1, 2024
Imagine if someone from your past showed up on your doorstep after fifteen years of silent treatment and asked you to go into the woods with them? Would you go?
Meg Shaffer's novels are proof that adults need fairy tales, too. I think I will read anything this woman writes. In The Lost Story, she offers the reader a hilarious cast of characters. Emilie (and her pet rat, Fritz 😅) is on a mission to find her sister who disappeared several years ago. She seeks out Jeremy, a man who vanished himself and reappeared six months later to become one of the most renowned missing persons' investigators of his time. Jeremy is reluctant to help Emilie, but he finally agrees on one condition: his old best friend Rafe must accompany him to the woods. The three make for a rowdy bunch, and I loved reading Rafe's journey to uncover his lost memories. While the ending was a bit abrupt and seemed to come out of left field, the novel had a lovely message. I am hoping for a sequel so we can see what the queen and princess of Shanandoah are up to.
Meg Shaffer's novels are proof that adults need fairy tales, too. I think I will read anything this woman writes. In The Lost Story, she offers the reader a hilarious cast of characters. Emilie (and her pet rat, Fritz 😅) is on a mission to find her sister who disappeared several years ago. She seeks out Jeremy, a man who vanished himself and reappeared six months later to become one of the most renowned missing persons' investigators of his time. Jeremy is reluctant to help Emilie, but he finally agrees on one condition: his old best friend Rafe must accompany him to the woods. The three make for a rowdy bunch, and I loved reading Rafe's journey to uncover his lost memories. While the ending was a bit abrupt and seemed to come out of left field, the novel had a lovely message. I am hoping for a sequel so we can see what the queen and princess of Shanandoah are up to.
February 23, 2024
I do love me a plot about magical realms accessed via hidden portals, and this is no exception. Also, I agree that “Rafe” is a much better pronunciation of the name “Ralph”, and it’s certainly what I would choose if saddled with the latter moniker. 😆
Anyway…I loved many things contained in these pages. It does have everything you need for a good fairytale, including the horrors of the “real” world. The characters are well-developed and multidimensional, and you will root for them on their journeys.
However, and this is very much a personal preference, I immensely dislike when a character breaks the fourth wall, at least in a book. It’s just one of my pet peeves, and it makes me groan inwardly whenever I see it being done. Let the story speak for itself. I opine that this could have done without the narrator entirely. Also, I guessed a twist right away, so I would’ve liked that to be a little more hidden.
With that said, I still had a lot of fun reading this, and I would happily read about more adventures!
4.25 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC! All opinions are my own..
Anyway…I loved many things contained in these pages. It does have everything you need for a good fairytale, including the horrors of the “real” world. The characters are well-developed and multidimensional, and you will root for them on their journeys.
However, and this is very much a personal preference, I immensely dislike when a character breaks the fourth wall, at least in a book. It’s just one of my pet peeves, and it makes me groan inwardly whenever I see it being done. Let the story speak for itself. I opine that this could have done without the narrator entirely. Also, I guessed a twist right away, so I would’ve liked that to be a little more hidden.
With that said, I still had a lot of fun reading this, and I would happily read about more adventures!
4.25 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC! All opinions are my own..
April 1, 2024
I loved The Wishing Game by this author and was excited to see her new book being released. This was a fun reimagining of The Chronicles of Narnia.
I loved the relationships between all the characters, especially Jeremy and Rafe. The banter could be snarky, but in a teasing, loving kind of way.
This was a wonderful story, but it had an abrupt ending. It leaves you with the feeling that the story continues and you think you know what will happen, but it isn't actually written out. For this type of story, I would have preferred it to be a little more wrapped up.
As expected, this story was enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves an easy, whimsical fantasy read. I can't wait to see what Meg Schaffer comes out with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved the relationships between all the characters, especially Jeremy and Rafe. The banter could be snarky, but in a teasing, loving kind of way.
This was a wonderful story, but it had an abrupt ending. It leaves you with the feeling that the story continues and you think you know what will happen, but it isn't actually written out. For this type of story, I would have preferred it to be a little more wrapped up.
As expected, this story was enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves an easy, whimsical fantasy read. I can't wait to see what Meg Schaffer comes out with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 3, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Two best friends, Ralph and Jeremy vanish in a forest in West Virginia. Only to magically reappear six months later with no explanation about where they were. This however was only the beginning of their story. Fifteen years later, a girl named Emilie seek their help in finding her missing sister. Along their search we embark on a magical and magnificient journey full of wonder, laughter, hope, and love.
Meg Shaffer is a whimsical wizard. Her writing is what dreams are made of, and you can not help but to get lost in her writing. A magical storyteller whose writing keeps you hooked and gives you the cozy and comfy feeling that I look for when reading. Writing that helps you escape reality and force you to imagine and dream. Readers should definitely give this one a go, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and Random House Publishing for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.
All this time, I've been lost without you, and you were the only one who could ever find me.
Two best friends, Ralph and Jeremy vanish in a forest in West Virginia. Only to magically reappear six months later with no explanation about where they were. This however was only the beginning of their story. Fifteen years later, a girl named Emilie seek their help in finding her missing sister. Along their search we embark on a magical and magnificient journey full of wonder, laughter, hope, and love.
Meg Shaffer is a whimsical wizard. Her writing is what dreams are made of, and you can not help but to get lost in her writing. A magical storyteller whose writing keeps you hooked and gives you the cozy and comfy feeling that I look for when reading. Writing that helps you escape reality and force you to imagine and dream. Readers should definitely give this one a go, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and Random House Publishing for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2024
I’ve never read The Chronicles of Narnia because by the time I discovered the series, I was already too old for fairy tales. Fortunately, I’ve now reached an age where I'm old enough to read them again, and while I keep saving Narnia for the future, I’m always drawn to books inspired by it.
The Lost Story has all the elements a fairy tale needs: princes and princesses, knights, magic, special animals, villains, unicorns, found family, romance, second chances, redemption, and, of course, a happy ever after.
This story has one of the most gripping beginnings I’ve experienced in a while, and I was ecstatic to dive into it. We follow Emilie, who, in search of her big sister, contacts Jeremy, a formerly lost boy with a special talent for finding girls in need. From there, we are introduced to a cast of lovable characters, learn their stories and secrets, and enter a magical world full of wonder and Fleetwood Mac.
For no particular reason, I was expecting this to be a fairy tale for adults and was anticipating something a bit darker. However, this is a fairy tale for everyone, which is exactly as it should be 😊.
I would like to thank Quercus Books | Arcadia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review
The Lost Story has all the elements a fairy tale needs: princes and princesses, knights, magic, special animals, villains, unicorns, found family, romance, second chances, redemption, and, of course, a happy ever after.
This story has one of the most gripping beginnings I’ve experienced in a while, and I was ecstatic to dive into it. We follow Emilie, who, in search of her big sister, contacts Jeremy, a formerly lost boy with a special talent for finding girls in need. From there, we are introduced to a cast of lovable characters, learn their stories and secrets, and enter a magical world full of wonder and Fleetwood Mac.
For no particular reason, I was expecting this to be a fairy tale for adults and was anticipating something a bit darker. However, this is a fairy tale for everyone, which is exactly as it should be 😊.
I would like to thank Quercus Books | Arcadia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review
August 2, 2024
This Son of Adam who still covertly checks the backs of wardrobes in antique shops for hidden doorways to Narnia...THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!!!
Two boys go missing in rural West Virginia. They are gone so long the police give up the search. Long pas when hope expired, they are found not just alive, but thriving...but they don't know what happened...
Fifteen years later one of the boys makes his living finding missing girls by applying psychology and his experience in being lost himself to the search. The other remains in West Virginia and loathes his former friend. An enticing case brings them back together, a missing girl in the very forest the two former friends were once lost in themselves. A forest which hides a secret that longs for them to remember...
It took everything in me to keep this review spoiler free whilst still hopefully enticing more and more readers to this wonderful story. I hope you all enjoy your time walking these pages as much as I did. Now I am off to check some more wardrobes. Cheers!
Two boys go missing in rural West Virginia. They are gone so long the police give up the search. Long pas when hope expired, they are found not just alive, but thriving...but they don't know what happened...
Fifteen years later one of the boys makes his living finding missing girls by applying psychology and his experience in being lost himself to the search. The other remains in West Virginia and loathes his former friend. An enticing case brings them back together, a missing girl in the very forest the two former friends were once lost in themselves. A forest which hides a secret that longs for them to remember...
It took everything in me to keep this review spoiler free whilst still hopefully enticing more and more readers to this wonderful story. I hope you all enjoy your time walking these pages as much as I did. Now I am off to check some more wardrobes. Cheers!
Read
February 13, 2024Ordinarily I raise a couple of eyebrows and side-eye any reference to Narnia as inspiration for a fairy tale, as I'm pretty much over C.S. Lewis being constantly bashed over the head with the Susan Stick (as if she couldn't find her way to Heaven via another route besides Narnia, if she wanted to), but I'm so glad I took a chance.
This is a lovely, generous, unpredictable fairy tale, gay-friendly, human-and-magical-animal friendly, complete with a queen, knight, magic, and a Storyteller. I loved the voice, the pacing, the characters. This isn't coming out until July, and almost anything I say would be a spoiler, so I'll leave this review short and unsatisfactory, and perhaps return to it after the book comes out.
Because I'm sure I will read it again; the surprises were a delight, but I relished the writing so much that knowing what is to come will just give me that delicious sense of anticipation of a good reread.
This is a lovely, generous, unpredictable fairy tale, gay-friendly, human-and-magical-animal friendly, complete with a queen, knight, magic, and a Storyteller. I loved the voice, the pacing, the characters. This isn't coming out until July, and almost anything I say would be a spoiler, so I'll leave this review short and unsatisfactory, and perhaps return to it after the book comes out.
Because I'm sure I will read it again; the surprises were a delight, but I relished the writing so much that knowing what is to come will just give me that delicious sense of anticipation of a good reread.
July 15, 2024
The Lost Story" echoes the spirit of "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe". Fifteen years ago, Ralph and Jeremy vanished during a school trip to West Virginia. When they returned mysteriously stronger and healthier six months later, Ralph, renamed Rafe by Jeremy, had no memory of their experiences. Jeremy promptly moved to England with his mother, severing ties with Rafe. Fast forward 15 years: Rafe is an artist grappling with mental health issues, and Jeremy, is now known for finding lost children, especially girls, Jeremy knows he must find Rafe when is hired by Emelie to locate her missing sister, Shannon. Shannon had disappeared from the same forest a few years before the boys had.
The trio embarks on a journey to a magical yet perilous realm, confronting themes of love, friendship, family, and forgiveness along the way. With its focus leaning towards the YA genre, "The Lost Story" blends contemporary fantasy with heartfelt human drama.
3.5 stars.
The trio embarks on a journey to a magical yet perilous realm, confronting themes of love, friendship, family, and forgiveness along the way. With its focus leaning towards the YA genre, "The Lost Story" blends contemporary fantasy with heartfelt human drama.
3.5 stars.
July 25, 2024
I had read Meg Shaffer’s debut
The Wishing Game
last year and absolutely adored it. That story was an imaginative, bookish take on
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
that was both charming and endearing. This time around, with
The Lost Story
, Shaffer takes her inspiration from another children’s classic,
The Chronicles of Narnia
, while also paying tribute to fairy tales and the world of make-believe in the process.
In all honesty, I don’t have words to describe how I felt reading this beautifully written story – one that drew me in from the very first page and I never wanted to end. This was such a fun, delightful, charming story – truly a fairytale in every way, from its structure (with its storyteller who begins the story with “once upon a time” and ends it with “happily ever after”) to its magical, make-believe world consisting of castles and unicorns, heroes and heroines, knights in shining armor, villains that disappear and reappear in puffs of smoke, animals with the intelligence of humans, huge thousand feet trees with leaves in every color of the rainbow, etc. – yet on the other hand, this was also a very “adult” story that dealt with some very real and difficult issues (such as abuse, discrimination, bullying, for example). Just like in a fairy tale, there was a deeply profound and meaningful moral lesson buried underneath the fantastical elements, but everything blended together so seamlessly that, at times, it was easy to get lost in the tale itself. There was so much to love with this one: the characters were wonderfully-rendered and I actually loved all of them (Rafe, Jeremy, Emilie, Skya, as well as all the supporting characters) from the moment I met them within the first few pages, but I especially loved the way the characters interacted with each other; the descriptions of both the real and fantasy worlds were breathtaking and so well done that I definitely felt like I was completely immersed in a different time and place; the humor was also wonderfully done and there were so many scenes that had me laughing so hard, I started getting stomach cramps; most important of all however, was the underlying “lost and found” storyline (especially the one involving Rafe and Jeremy) that was both powerful and moving.
This was no doubt an emotional read for me – a roller coaster ride that had me laughing one minute and crying the next. At the same time, I also couldn’t help feeling a bit nostalgic and wistful due to all the memories that this brought back from my childhood – as an avid reader, I of course read everything I could get my hands on, but I especially loved fairy tales. One of my favorite books growing up was a special hardbound edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales that I had read so much that it eventually fell apart to the point that I was forced to get rid of it (which still pains me when I think about it even now). The fact that I essentially stopped reading fairy tales after that incident (plus my reading tastes after I became an adult were markedly different from what I used to read as a child), made the nostalgia feel even more poignant. Getting the chance to revisit this aspect of my childhood through Shaffer’s story was definitely a welcome escape from all the craziness that has been a part of my life in recent months.
I don’t want to say much more about this book because revealing too many details would spoil the magic. If you loved Shaffer’s debut The Wishing Game as much as I did, definitely pick up this sophomore novel of hers – it’s written in the same vein, yet also vastly different in many aspects. Even though I ended up loving this one just a tad bit more, both are amazing reads that I highly, highly recommend!
Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
In all honesty, I don’t have words to describe how I felt reading this beautifully written story – one that drew me in from the very first page and I never wanted to end. This was such a fun, delightful, charming story – truly a fairytale in every way, from its structure (with its storyteller who begins the story with “once upon a time” and ends it with “happily ever after”) to its magical, make-believe world consisting of castles and unicorns, heroes and heroines, knights in shining armor, villains that disappear and reappear in puffs of smoke, animals with the intelligence of humans, huge thousand feet trees with leaves in every color of the rainbow, etc. – yet on the other hand, this was also a very “adult” story that dealt with some very real and difficult issues (such as abuse, discrimination, bullying, for example). Just like in a fairy tale, there was a deeply profound and meaningful moral lesson buried underneath the fantastical elements, but everything blended together so seamlessly that, at times, it was easy to get lost in the tale itself. There was so much to love with this one: the characters were wonderfully-rendered and I actually loved all of them (Rafe, Jeremy, Emilie, Skya, as well as all the supporting characters) from the moment I met them within the first few pages, but I especially loved the way the characters interacted with each other; the descriptions of both the real and fantasy worlds were breathtaking and so well done that I definitely felt like I was completely immersed in a different time and place; the humor was also wonderfully done and there were so many scenes that had me laughing so hard, I started getting stomach cramps; most important of all however, was the underlying “lost and found” storyline (especially the one involving Rafe and Jeremy) that was both powerful and moving.
This was no doubt an emotional read for me – a roller coaster ride that had me laughing one minute and crying the next. At the same time, I also couldn’t help feeling a bit nostalgic and wistful due to all the memories that this brought back from my childhood – as an avid reader, I of course read everything I could get my hands on, but I especially loved fairy tales. One of my favorite books growing up was a special hardbound edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales that I had read so much that it eventually fell apart to the point that I was forced to get rid of it (which still pains me when I think about it even now). The fact that I essentially stopped reading fairy tales after that incident (plus my reading tastes after I became an adult were markedly different from what I used to read as a child), made the nostalgia feel even more poignant. Getting the chance to revisit this aspect of my childhood through Shaffer’s story was definitely a welcome escape from all the craziness that has been a part of my life in recent months.
I don’t want to say much more about this book because revealing too many details would spoil the magic. If you loved Shaffer’s debut The Wishing Game as much as I did, definitely pick up this sophomore novel of hers – it’s written in the same vein, yet also vastly different in many aspects. Even though I ended up loving this one just a tad bit more, both are amazing reads that I highly, highly recommend!
Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
July 4, 2024
I am disgusted with how misleading the description is for this book. I really enjoyed the author’s last book so I was excited for this one but it’s nothing like the description. This is a gay romance. Why leave that out? It just ensures you anger viewers who never would have read this and it doesn’t attract the readers who would want this. I don’t know how this is written by the same author as Wishing Game because this reads like really bad YA. It is pathetic to even have this book mentioned anywhere near C.S. Lewis. Obviously could not finish.
June 17, 2024
4.5 Stars
Do you want more magic in your life? How about some sword fights, romance, and gut-wrenching stories? The Lost Story is a wonderfully imaginative book! Emilie has hired Jeremy to find her long-lost sister. How can he tell Emilie that he already knows her sister . . . from when he lived in a hidden kingdom? One that he, alone, knows about.
You will walk away from The Lost Story, feeling satisfied by the love, loyalty, and friendship it contains.
For the most part, I adored this book!! All except the romance, which felt a wee bit clunky to me. But still, I couldn't put The Lost Story down!!
BIG thanks to both #BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of #TheLostStory. It has an expected publication date of July 16, 2024.
#MegShaffer #Magic #Fantasy
Do you want more magic in your life? How about some sword fights, romance, and gut-wrenching stories? The Lost Story is a wonderfully imaginative book! Emilie has hired Jeremy to find her long-lost sister. How can he tell Emilie that he already knows her sister . . . from when he lived in a hidden kingdom? One that he, alone, knows about.
You will walk away from The Lost Story, feeling satisfied by the love, loyalty, and friendship it contains.
For the most part, I adored this book!! All except the romance, which felt a wee bit clunky to me. But still, I couldn't put The Lost Story down!!
BIG thanks to both #BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of #TheLostStory. It has an expected publication date of July 16, 2024.
#MegShaffer #Magic #Fantasy
March 2, 2024
Oh, where do I even begin to express my love for The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer? This book swept me off my feet and plunged me headfirst into a whirlwind of emotions and wonder that I never wanted to end. From the moment I cracked open the cover, I was utterly captivated.
Let's start with the characters - Emilie, Jeremy, and Rafe. They're more than just characters in a book; they're like old friends I've known for years. Their struggles, their growth, their jokes - everything about them felt so authentic and relatable. And when they reunited to embark on this incredible journey to find Emilie's sister Shannon, it felt like I was right there with them, cheering them on every step of the way.
But it's not just the characters that stole my heart; it's the world Meg Shaffer has created. Shanandoah is a place of magic and mystery, brought to life with breathtaking detail and vivid imagery. I could practically feel the cool breeze on my skin and smell the earthy scent of the forest as I followed the characters through its enchanting landscapes.
And then there's the relationships - the bonds between Rafe and Jeremy, the sisters finding their way back to each other, and the enigmatic Storyteller who weaves it all together with his magic pencil. It's a symphony of love, friendship, and adventure that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you longing for more.
Honestly, I could go on and on about how much I adore The Lost Story. It's a book that manages to tackle heavy topics with grace and sensitivity while still whisking you away to a world of enchantment and excitement. It's a true masterpiece, and one that I'll be recommending to everyone I know for years to come.
Let's start with the characters - Emilie, Jeremy, and Rafe. They're more than just characters in a book; they're like old friends I've known for years. Their struggles, their growth, their jokes - everything about them felt so authentic and relatable. And when they reunited to embark on this incredible journey to find Emilie's sister Shannon, it felt like I was right there with them, cheering them on every step of the way.
But it's not just the characters that stole my heart; it's the world Meg Shaffer has created. Shanandoah is a place of magic and mystery, brought to life with breathtaking detail and vivid imagery. I could practically feel the cool breeze on my skin and smell the earthy scent of the forest as I followed the characters through its enchanting landscapes.
And then there's the relationships - the bonds between Rafe and Jeremy, the sisters finding their way back to each other, and the enigmatic Storyteller who weaves it all together with his magic pencil. It's a symphony of love, friendship, and adventure that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you longing for more.
Honestly, I could go on and on about how much I adore The Lost Story. It's a book that manages to tackle heavy topics with grace and sensitivity while still whisking you away to a world of enchantment and excitement. It's a true masterpiece, and one that I'll be recommending to everyone I know for years to come.
June 22, 2024
4⭐️
This book is so whimsical and fun and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! It is inspired by the chronicles of narnia in the best of ways but also is entirely its own story. I loved the queer love story, adventurous storyline, and whimsical world so much. This book did take me a bit longer to get into than I was hoping for. It has a pretty slow start and I struggled with the first half but the second half makes it so worth it! This author’s debut book was one of my favorite reads last year so she is certainly an auto read author for me now!
This book is so whimsical and fun and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! It is inspired by the chronicles of narnia in the best of ways but also is entirely its own story. I loved the queer love story, adventurous storyline, and whimsical world so much. This book did take me a bit longer to get into than I was hoping for. It has a pretty slow start and I struggled with the first half but the second half makes it so worth it! This author’s debut book was one of my favorite reads last year so she is certainly an auto read author for me now!
March 24, 2024
4.75. Meg Shaffer is one helluva storyteller. This is a mystical, magical, magnificent journey through doors of wonder, bewilderment and amazement and I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment.
The Wishing Game, Shaffer’s debut book, was one of my favorite books of 2023 and one of my highest referred books to friends. I went into this one a bit skeptical knowing how hard it is to surpass the expectations that her first book soared past for a second book. It couldn’t be as good as the first, could it?
It could. Another book that draws you in right away and you just have to go with it. Don’t think …. Just dream. Just believe. This book offers a great escape to a world where we all wish could be a reality. I loved Shaffer’s references throughout the book of Wizard of Oz, Chronicles of Narnia and even her own Clock Island.
Two boys go missing for 6 months and then come back home. This book picks up 15 years later. One of the boys has become quite the expert in finding missing persons. One has lived quietly in a cabin in the woods.
I plowed through this book in one day - it was that good. I cannot thank NetGalley, Meg Shaffer and Ballentine Books enough for allowing me an ARC. I absolutely cannot wait for her next book.
The Wishing Game, Shaffer’s debut book, was one of my favorite books of 2023 and one of my highest referred books to friends. I went into this one a bit skeptical knowing how hard it is to surpass the expectations that her first book soared past for a second book. It couldn’t be as good as the first, could it?
It could. Another book that draws you in right away and you just have to go with it. Don’t think …. Just dream. Just believe. This book offers a great escape to a world where we all wish could be a reality. I loved Shaffer’s references throughout the book of Wizard of Oz, Chronicles of Narnia and even her own Clock Island.
Two boys go missing for 6 months and then come back home. This book picks up 15 years later. One of the boys has become quite the expert in finding missing persons. One has lived quietly in a cabin in the woods.
I plowed through this book in one day - it was that good. I cannot thank NetGalley, Meg Shaffer and Ballentine Books enough for allowing me an ARC. I absolutely cannot wait for her next book.
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