See this review and more at my blog, The Scribe Owl!

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5/5 stars!

Didn't see that coming, did you? I had no idea that this would end up as one of my ever-elusive five-star reads. I mean, I was excited and all, but five stars? That was a pleasant surprise!

I am a huge fan of retellings. A couple of the reviews for Lost in the Never Woods talked about Peter Pan retellings being their niche, which was a little surprising to me. If you had said that a Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast retelling was your niche, I would have easily agreed with you. Now I need to find more of these apparently abundant Peter Pan retellings to read! Those reviews talked about how this is a basic Peter Pan retelling, but because I haven't read any other Peter Pan retellings, I have nothing to compare it to! I guess that worked in my favor!

Lost in the Never Woods walked the line between dark fantasy and levity perfectly. There were definitely dark elements, but there was so much fluff mixed in that just made my heart happy! Peter really is adorable, and I loved seeing Wendy loosen up and get some closure.

Wendy as a character was interesting to follow. When we are first introduced to her, she's closed off, distant, and grieving. Peter is a sharp contrast, full of light, joy, and fun. As Wendy's condition improves, Peter's declines, making them a study of opposites.

All in all, I loved this book! It snuck up on my heart and I need a physical copy now. I might also give Aiden Thomas's debut novel, Cemetery Boys a read now soon! Safe to say that it's been bumped up on my TBR!

LINK TO BLOG POST WILL BE ADDED WHEN THE MEDIA PACKAGE FROM THE BLOG TOUR ARRIVES.

I really enjoyed this one! I actually think that I preferred it to Cemetery Boys but I enjoyed both. The writing is simple but easy to read. I also really liked the mystery aspect- it made the plot super engaging and there were a few fun twists that I didn't see coming!

I really enjoyed all of the character's dynamics with Wendy. It was interesting seeing how her parents interacted with her while dealing with the grief of her brothers going missing five years ago. I also really liked the mutual pining between Wendy and Peter.

My main critique of this book is that Wendy sometimes did not feel as if she was acting her age. This made the book feel younger in tone, which is totally fine, but sort of unexpected when the protagonist is supposedly eighteen. However, this was more of an issue that I had at the beginning of the book as I feel like Wendy definitely grew into her character.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. I’ve been having some difficulty figuring out this review and how to rate it. I liked that it was a darker retelling of Peter Pan with some twists that made it feel very fresh. But, it’s a very slow start and while it picks up speed, I wouldn’t ever classify it as page-turner.

Peter is great and really carries this book. He’s whimsical and mischievous and everything you expect of his character. Wendy, on the other hand, is heavy. I sympathize with her grief and struggles, but I don’t feel like it equally balanced these two characters. Also, the relationship between Wendy and Peter felt forced without any real chemistry.

However, if you don’t mind slow books and enjoy fairy tale retellings, I think you’ll enjoy it. I personally just expected a bit more.

Thoughts and Themes: I was so glad to get a chance to read this one because of how much Cemetery Boys meant to me. I had started reading this one on e-book when Libro.Fm gave me an advanced listening copy so I switched over to audiobook. I had just started listening to this one when I saw other people’s reviews on it and their concerns but decided to read it for myself and I am so glad that I did.

I do not recall seeing any other Peter Pan movie besides the Disney one and I definitely have never read the story. It’s hard for me to talk about how much I enjoyed this book because the parts that I enjoyed come in the explanation of the story. That whole explanation was so great but it also would give you all some spoilers so I’m keeping that out of my review.

I think that even if you are familiar with the original Peter Pan story , this one is going to surprise you because of how different it is. I liked that this one has familiar characters so it feels nostalgic but the background story is differen.t I like the way this changes from the original story and I love the inclusion of Peter’s shadow as a potential villain to this story. This story felt a lot like revisiting movies from my childhood as I remembered watching Peter Pan with my parents. At the end of this story, I actually ran to my parents room to ask if I had gotten the original story wrong and if Peter Pan was supposed to be such a dark tale.

I really liked all of the tropes that were included in this story and there are moments that I was laughing and moments in which I was tearing up. I know that a lot of people had issues with this story not having queer characters in it but for me it was still a story that was written by a queer author. This story was so different from Cemetery Boys but it also has some similar themes and feelings to it. It still gave off the feeling of teenagers hiding something from the people around them to protect themselves and ultimately needing to save themselves.

Characters: I knew I would love the characters right as I started reading the story because how could I not love Peter Pan. He’s one of my favorite Disney characters so I love getting to read other’s interpretations of him. I also liked how this Peter grew up physically but mentally he was still a child, this aspect of the story made him so much more likeable and fun.

I was also really glad to see a different interpretation of Wendy and be heartbroken for her. I thought it was great to see Wendy dealing with her grief and to see PTSD play out in a character so young. I also thought it was great to see PTSD play out in a character for other reasons than what has been typically shown through media.

I liked that we got to see a glimpse of Jordon, Wendy’s best friend and see how she plays a role in this story. While we don’t really get to know her, I still liked the pieces that she is included in and the role she plays in Wendy’s life.

Writing Style: I actually read this one on e-book and listened to pieces of it on audio so I want to comment not just on the writing style but also the narration. The narrator on the audio version of this book is great and easy to listen to. I liked how they changed the voice for each of the character’s talking and how the tone shifted along with the pacing of the story.

I've read this book twice in as many weeks, and if that isn't an indication of the magic within these pages... I don't know what will convince you. Lost in the Never Woods is a dark and twisty fantasy retelling of Peter Pan that's ultimately about growing up too fast, processing trauma and loss, recapturing a bit of childhood wonder, and moving forward in life. This book is special and the mental health representation means a lot to me.

"Dedicated to every heavy heart that had to grow up too fast."

Heartbreakingly beautiful, Lost in the Never Woods will both rend your heart and bring a smile to your face. Wendy is a girl who grew up too fast, a foil to Peter's childish immortality, as Peter's effervescence brings magic back into her world after she nearly runs him over in the woods on her 18th birthday.

"But that's what happens when you grow up; you forget about the magic you've seen."

There is something almost effortless about reading Aiden Thomas' writing: it is quick and and easy to read while also vividly descriptive without overburdening the narrative. The book drew me in immediately, keeping me engaged and hungry for more. There is so much I absolutely love about this book but cannot discuss so I can keep this review spoiler-free, but this book sparked a lot of analysis on my part!

"The fading light of dusk tinged the trees a cold blue-gray. They were dense here, like they only got in the heart of the woods. There was a light layer of snow covering the trees and frosting the ground beneath her feet. Her wet clothes clung to her skin. The smell of moist dirt filled her nose."

I could feel myself in the woods, tension crawling in my veins as the stakes are raised and more is revealed about Wendy's missing memory and the current children's disappearances. This is a dark story full of grief and loss, and Wendy shoulders an immense amount of guilt for what happened five years earlier (and her inability to remember anything). But I love how strong Wendy is despite everything she's been through, how she is determined to move on and persevere.

"Shadows are made up of all the dark and bad parts of yourself. They feed off bad thoughts - fear, worry, sadness, and guilt [...] When you start getting consumed by those feelings, it gives the shadow power over you."

Trauma and loss have a way of hardening the soul, forcing them to grow up too soon, and Wendy found herself taking care of her parents at the age of 13. My heart broke for her planning grocery lists based on what she could cook for her parents, doing household chores, and feeling alone in her own house as her parents were caught up in their own grief. I just wanted to giver her a big hug.

As with Cemetery Boys, where the book truly shines is with the characters and their relationships with one another. Her best friend Jordan is a treasure among mere mortals and everyone deserves a friend like her. I am honestly so happy that Wendy has Jordan, this friendship being an anchor and hope for a better future.

"He was stardust and the smell of summer."

I adore how Peter brings magic back into Wendy's life and helps her reclaim some of her lost childhood so she can heal. Just, all the heart eye emojis. ALSO, I am pleased to announce we have another "hide a boy in the bedroom" scene from Aiden and it is just delightful.

"I want you to live, Wendy, not just endure."

Overall, I adored this book so much and it surprised me in the best of ways. I preordered this after reading the first page of my eARC, and just listened to the audiobook copy instead of writing my review. I think this is a story that will mean a lot to many readers

Audiobook Notes: 15/10 narration by Avi Roque; brought the story alive and sucked me into a re-read instead of writing this review. Worth it.

Lost in the Never Woods has secured Aiden's spot on my insta-buy author list.

Representation: anxiety and PTSD rep, Latinx rep (side character)
Content Warnings: absent and emotionally distant parents, alcoholism, child death, depictions of grief, loss of a loved one, memory gaps, missing children, obsessive behaviors, trauma, violence

eARC was provided to me by the publisher for my honest review. This has not affected my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon final publication.

This was such a dark and haunting retelling of Peter Pan. The themes of grief, mental health, and trauma were explored well throughout the story. The family dynamics and the dynamic between Peter and Wendy were fascinating and emotional.

This story develops with a frantic pace set from the beginning and keeps you wanting to read to find out how the pieces connect. The writing is great, I love the characters, and the plot was perfectly heartbreaking.

Rating: 4.5 / 5
“He was stardust and the smell of summer.”
“I want you to live, Wendy, not just endure.”

My review: 😭❤️😭❤️
Listen to "Us" by James Bay for a song that captures the vibes of this book well.

Book Details
-YA atmospheric Peter Pan retelling
-Written by the author of Cemetery Boys
-Publication Date: March 23, 2021
-Features mystery, suspense, and a little bit of pixie dust

I was ECSTATIC to get an advanced reader copy of this book, because I was so obsessed with Cemetery Boys. These books are very different, and I think that made it a bit harder for me to get into it at first because I had gone in not knowing what vibe to expect, but this book did not disappoint!

This novel was about mystery, suspense, and magic. But, most of all, it was about family and love and loss.

Atmosphere
Thomas does an incredible job of building the atmosphere in this novel. It is at times creepy, eerie, mysterious, and suspenseful. It also includes fantasy, magic, and some really fun interactions between Wendy and Peter!

Important Topics
While this is a YA and a fairy tale retelling, this not a light read. This book made me feel so many things! I 100% cried while reading. Much of the story addresses mental health concerns, specifically focusing on trauma, grief, and anxiety, as the initial premise is that Wendy’s brothers went missing years ago. These topics were handled so well throughout this book and I really appreciated seeing how they were depicted in a fantasy book.

This is by far my favorite fairy tale retelling I’ve ever read!


TW: panic attacks / anxiety, alcoholism, hospital scenes, health concerns, complex family dynamics, death / injury, gun violence, police interactions, grief / loss, trauma

I loved this take on Peter Pan! Wendy is still reeling from her and her brothers' mysterious disappearances. While Wendy made it home, her brothers remain lost - possibly forever! So life is pretty grim for Wendy; her father despises her for being a survivor, and her mother is distant and works long hours at the hospital. She has her best friend, and the memories of better times, and that's it.

So when Peter Pan of fairy tale story-telling falls on her car, and kids start disappearing again, Wendy is thrust back into the mystery of what happened to her and her brothers five years before.

No spoilers, but I loved how the mythology of Peter Pan and his lost boys are expanded in this novel! It was such a beautiful, satisfying read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

another amazing read by aiden thomas! i really liked that the ending wasn't too happy (if that's not too weird to say) all the while remaining true to the original essence of peter pan and the story / world.

I really love the idea of this, but the execution felt a little flat. It seemed like it was mostly just Wendy screaming at the dark for the first half of the book. I'll read something else Thomas writes because I thought Cemetary Boys had a lot of potential.

After absolutely adoring Cemetery Boys, I’m disappointed to say that Lost in the Never Woods wasn’t my favourite. I liked it! I just didn’t love it... it was atmospheric and dark and featured some fun plot twists... but I had issues with the pacing and as a big fan of Peter Pan retellings, I just didn’t think there was a whole lot here that hasn’t been done before. It’s probably on me, having gone into it with such high expectations after the author’s debut! I think it’s highly likely that other readers will adore this dark retelling!
Regardless, I did enjoy my read and I will definitely be checking out Aiden’s next book!!!

I'm sorry to say that this book just was not for me. I don't know the story of Peter Pan as I wasn't raised on Disney, so I was already unable to connect with the nostalgic part of me that loves stories connected from childhood. The plot fell flat to me, and I just wasn't able to connect with the characters.

There has been a recent controversy with people wanting this story to be more diverse. Before I say my next piece, I want to make it clear that marginalized authors in no way owe their audiences any diversity in their books. The harassment Aiden Thomas has received is disgusting, and completely offensive and dismissive of his work. That being said, I tend to enjoy books a lot more when they are LGBT as an LGBT person, and going in I had admittedly baseless expectations that this would be an LGBT book simply because LGBT authors usually stick to LGBT stories, and Aiden Thomas's debut novel was a story about a trans boy in an MLM relationship. I in no way expect diversity from Aiden Thomas, and as I've heard he wrote this story long before Cemetery Boys, probably in a time before queer rep was huge in the YA world, however since my expectations were maligned going in, I set myself up for disappointment. I'm not factoring this into my rating as it has nothing to do with the quality of the book, but am simply saying that this is a huge reason of why I did not personally enjoy the book.

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas is sort of a Peter Pan retelling, but more of an "after" story, as it's a YA interpretation. I was intrigued by that premise, and wanted to venture back to Neverland.

Peter's character is definitely whimsical, innocent, mischievous, with a little bit of growing-up charm. Wendy is a little more scattered than I'd imagine for what needs to fit in this plot. For the first half of the story, there really isn't much plot advancement - there's a lot of meeting in different places to talk, missed chances, redundant dialogue and action - which felt contrary to the urgency of the issues at hand. I also expected more of them actually being lost in the Never Woods, which only happened for a few pages here and there. The 5-year time jump between when Wendy last saw Peter and the present is a bit of a mystery, and doesn't fit with Peter's current aging issues. It was a little confusing.

I did appreciate the twist at the end, and the resolution of Wendy's family mystery. That was intriguing and unexpected. And the glimpse into what a family broken by trauma looks like was realistic and touching.

Sadly, this one wasn't a hit for me, but if it sounds intriguing - give it a try! I might be the outlier!

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Swoon Reads for providing me with a copy of Lost in the Never Woods in exchange for an honest review!

Listen, I screeched when the e-mail offering me Lost in the Never Woods landed in my notifications. I had recently read the three-chapter sampler & just knew that I needed this book in my life. Past Becca did not let me down; as soon as I finished reading the ARC, I pre-ordered a final copy (+ signed up for the pre-order incentives!)

Prior to reading Lost in the Never Woods, I was already a huge fan of Peter Pan — the concept of this character, along with its movie renditions, Kingdom Hearts appearances & collection of written re-tellings — all of it is golden. I did not think that Aiden Thomas’s characterization would make me love him even more, but here we are. He’s such a fun character with some of the best dialogue & his relationship with Wendy is chef’s kiss.

Speaking of Wendy Darling, Aiden gives us a protagonist that you can’t help but root for. A character we typically know as a little girl grows up in Lost in the Never Woods. We meet her as she’s preparing for her future, while also dealing with the loss of her brothers & trying to remember what happened when she disappeared. Aiden’s writing forced me to feel all of the emotions that Wendy had to deal with making me love this book on a deeper level.

Reading Lost in the Never Woods felt like an experience that I never wanted to leave. I loved being in this universe & getting to know both Peter Pan and Wendy. This retelling is definitely not as bright as the Disney cartoon; Aiden puts a few dark twists throughout the read which is perfect for those who love a bit of edge and horror-adjacent in our read.

Lost in the Never Woods is a book that I definitely recommend to those who love a bit of fantasy set in the real world, those who love fairytales & if you’re looking for a new ship to cry over.

This was such a fun and slightly dark Petwr Pan retelling! I actually had no idea what this book was about going into it, I just saw Aiden Thomas and simply had to read it! I'm glad I was able to as it was such a great read!

This story tackles things like loss and mental health in such a beautiful way. I really connected with this story and hope others do as well.

Lost in the Never Woods follows Wendy Darling five years after she and her brothers, John and Michael, disappeared from the woods behind their house. And while Wendy reappeared six months after they all went missing, John and Michael never returned. Since that moment, Wendy has been wracked with guilt and grief, all the while hoping that her brothers were still alive...

...Thomas’s writing style is descriptive and beautiful. Lost in the Never Woods takes place entirely within the small town of Astoria, Oregon. The only time the characters are in Neverland is during Wendy’s flashbacks and nightmares. But despite the limited setting, Thomas creates such a vibrant and darkly magical world. This is especially apparent in the descriptions of the woods.

Thomas takes what could’ve been a very mundane setting and makes it unique. The woods almost feel like a character themselves. Whenever Wendy and Peter are in the woods, there’s such a creepy, ominous vibe. Wendy feels like the trees are watching her, whispering in her ear...

...Lost in the Never Woods is a must-read for fans of Thomas’s previous work, Cemetery Boys, as well as fans of the Peter Pan story. With memorable characters and beautiful worldbuilding, Thomas’s take on the story is fresh and new. Lost in the Never Woods will haunt the reader long after they turn the last page.


My full review is available at But Why Tho?

Unfortunately, I had to DNF at about 50% because I wasn't enjoying anything about this book--the characters were flat, the world-building was MEH, I'm not a Peter Pan fan. I'm sure I will be in the minority but this one was not for me.

Lost in the Never Woods has quickly become my favorite fairy tale retelling.

Wendy Darling was kidnapped when she was twelve, along with her two brothers, Michael and John. Wendy came home, six months later, but her brothers didn’t. She still carries around that guilt and fear five years later, when more kids start to go missing, just like her and her brothers did.

Everything is made more complicated by the return of a familiar boy. It’s not long before Wendy realizes the stories her mother told her about Peter Pan and Neverland may be more fact than fiction. Peter’s return coincides with the recent kidnappings. It turns out his shadow has escaped and is wreaking havoc. Wendy and Peter have to find his shadow before Peter loses all of his magic and the missing children are lost forever.

There is a good deal of nostalgia here. Given that Peter Pan is a classic fairy tale, it would be easy to just fall into one of those retellings and have nothing unique. Aiden Thomas does not fall into this trap. What he’s written is wonderfully unique, giving Peter and Wendy new depth in a modern setting. There is a lot of grief and guilt, and just a little bit of hope. What if Wendy can bring back her brothers? What if they’re not gone forever? She desperately wishes to have all that guilt removed from her shoulders. After all, they were her responsibility and anything that happened to them would be her fault. Especially considering everything changed after she returned and her brothers didn’t. Her parents are grieving, and so is she, and they don’t interact like a family should.

Wendy is a shadow of who she used to be, before she and her brothers went missing. Her little nuances of behavior, tied to her trauma, are on full display. Her anxiety and fear, which mount as more children go missing and as she and Peter come closer to discovering the cause, are at the forefront. Peter is growing up before our eyes. Whatever is going on in Neverland, his magic is limited, which means he’s aging. His worries and doubts become more apparent as he loses more of his magic. He becomes much more like a person, divorced from the myths and stories he came from. But his purpose remains the same: he is there to help the kids, to return them home and protect them from the monsters that go bump in the night. He’s so pure and good, even as his magic drains in absence of his missing shadow.

Even as creepy and ominous as the woods sound at times, I want to lose myself in them. They sound so wonderfully lush and beautiful. It’s not all the time that they are full of the whispers of the missing children, haunted by Peter’s shadow. And even then, there is a certain appeal to the woods. They are full of magic and secrets. No matter the fact that it isn’t safe to do so, I would love to wander about. They’re practically another character with how they loom in Wendy’s memories and the plot of the story.

Aiden Thomas brings Wendy and Peter to new life with his writing. It’s so gentle and warm and nuanced, with the absence of Wendy’s brothers woven throughout, affecting everything. Even with the looming mystery surrounding their disappearance, there is still hope. The plot takes us beyond the classic Peter Pan fairy tales, focusing on Wendy’s trauma from being kidnapped and the guilt she feels over returning when her brothers didn’t. It makes Neverland more ominous than many of the renditions I’ve read or seen. The dark atmosphere was always there but here, it takes an even more ominous turn.

I really wanted to know if Wendy’s brothers are still alive, after all these years. And if so, did they age? Do they remember what happened? I was waiting on the edge of my seat to see if Wendy would tell Jordan about Peter, or tell her mother about him. Wendy’s father was also a point of contention for me. He was always so angry and over protective of Wendy. He made me uncomfortable because of his anger and his insistence on controlling Wendy. You could say it was because he loved her and wanted to protect her. But I was wondering if he held the loss of his sons against her. He is but a man and probably not a bad man, but I don’t like how much of Wendy’s anxiety is caused by her father. It makes me nervous.

I enjoyed this retelling immensely. Despite the creepy factor, it made me feel so warm and comforted to read it. To read about Peter’s magic and how it made Wendy feel just wriggled its way into my chest and made it feel like home. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Aiden Thomas’s first book, of course. And also to anyone who likes a good magical mystery, particularly those based on fairy tales. It’s like reading fanfiction of your favorite childhood tales and I do love reading fanfiction. I would also recommend it to anyone who needs some help going through the grief process. Despite the mystery and stress and anxiety, Peter provides such comfort. He’s a force of good and it’s nice to imagine such a person in a world so full of horrible things. And even then, Peter has a shadow that can commit such evil. He’s a purely good person who is capable of dark thoughts and actions and, that, more than anything humanizes him beyond what aging ever could.

Five stars, always. Thank you to NetGalley and Swoon Reads for giving me an ARC of this book. It was a bright spot in my week of reading as I savored it for every last bit of magic I could draw from it in only one read.

content warnings: loss of family members, grief, severe trauma/ptsd, anxiety/anxiety attacks, compulsion, night terrors and insomnia, kidnapping, some descriptions of injury and violence

I’ve spent almost two months trying to find a remotely coherent way to articulate my feelings on this book seeing as most my reactions while reading amounted to “dude, mood” “wait what” “oh Damn” and “please can every character just get some therapy”. This book absolutely destroyed me emotionally. In the best way possible. Peter Pan has always been a favourite of mine and Cemetery Boys my favourite book of 2020 so when I found out about this adaption it shot to the very top of my most anticipated releases and did not disappoint. In fact it exceeded my expectations.

Wendy as a character is so loveable and her anxiety, fear and guilt are so real that I truly felt every emotional hit as they came. Pair that with Peter’s lightness, his unending love and need to care for others and you get this really sweet dynamic of two teens trying to do better and get each other through a really awful time. I truly think LITNW is some of the best written trauma I have seen in YA.

This is a book about trauma, grief and having to grow up too soon. Yet it balances these heavier themes with amazing moments of humour and fluff, and ultimately feels incredibly hopeful.

Anyway I think it's safe to say that Aiden Thomas is a favourite author of mine now and I absolutely cannot wait for his future releases.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5 Stars

Lost In The Never Woods is a Peter Pan retelling, but focusing on the five years after Wendy returns from Neverland. This is a YA Suspense Fantasy built off characters that we all know and adore from our childhood. Overall, it was a cute story that could be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike.

What I enjoyed:
🌲I love that it’s a fairytale retelling but based on the future
🌲 I enjoyed the suspenseful elements woven into the story
🌲 I loved Peter Pan’s character; he was the playful and mischievous character that you’d expect Peter to be
🌲 I enjoyed the touch of teen romance sprinkled in
🌲 The ending shocked me. I wasn’t ready for it to unfold as it did

What didn’t work for me:
🌲 The first half of the book was pretty slow moving, not much happened
🌲 Wendy’s character fell a bit flat, I didn’t find her very interesting
🌲 The towns reaction to missing kids seems unbelievable and bizarre
🌲 I’m shocked more about mental health wasn’t talked about, especially at the end
🌲 I missed many of my favorite Neverland characters in this book, the majority were never even mentioned