All I had to hear was "Peter Pan retelling by Aiden Thomas" to immediately be on board.
Lost in the Never Woods is about Wendy Darling who went missing and returned without any memories of what happened 5 years ago. Her brothers are still missing. When Wendy encounters a boy who insists he's Peter Pan, Wendy knows he can't possibly be the boy from her mother's stories. However, the boy insists he's Peter Pan and only Wendy can help him.
This was a really interesting take on Peter Pan. I really enjoyed how the author adapted Peter Pan and blended the details to make a fun and recognizable story.

I loved “Lost in the Never Woods” so much and didn’t want it to end!

I read “Cemetery Boys” by the same author last year and fell in love with the style of writing. In my opinion, the author went on another higher level in “Lost in the Never Woods.” Some of the passages were so profound and beautiful. Frankly, the author did a beautiful job of taking a classic tale like “Peter Pan” and retelling it in a modern, young adult crime fiction novel. “Peter Pan” is one of my favorite classics, but even I could not predict how the storyline would progress in this book.

Similarly, the characters are dynamic, mysterious, and profound! Wendy shines in the lead as she tries to figure out her strange drawings. Moreover, I loved her chemistry with Peter and felt they shared a heartfelt friendship. The author writes the grief and loss of the characters in a personal way that made me emotional. Some of my favorite moments are when Wendy and Peter stumble upon the waterfall or when they go to get ice cream. The moments they share put a smile on my face.

However, there were some little moments that I felt could be polished. For instance, I didn’t find Jordan’s role relevant to the plot. Moreover, I don’t think the author explained why Wendy starts seeing Peter only on her birthday. Nevertheless, that did not stop me from enjoying the story. The plot picks up towards the end that leads to a memorable climax.

Overall, “Lost in the Never Woods” is one of my favorite retellings this year. I hope the author continues to write many more beautiful books in this genre.

This dark twist on Peter Pan is a read for any fantasy lover. This is not my favorite genre but I still enjoyed the book because of the mystery aspect to the story.

Thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

Lost in the Never Woods was such a fun read! I loved Cemetery Boys so I was really excited for this one. It's full of adventure and mystery but also touches on sensitive topics. I really enjoyed the "Peter Pan & Wendy" aspects that were tied into a realistic plot with magical realism. I felt that parts of the story were drawn out, however, the plot moved along after slow spots and kept me engaged.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review this title.

Lost in the Never Woods is a Peter Pan retelling, which has definitely been done before, but it's always fun to revisit. Peter feels easy to characterize - manic pixie dream boy-esque, mischievous, child-like, innocent; I think that's the real strength of this story. Peter's character was whimsical and boyish, he really was like someone you'd have a dream about. Wendy, who is the main character in this story, is where it starts to unravel.

For the first 60% of the story, nothing happened. They just met up and talked in different spots. They also spent the entirety of the story in our world. I wasn't promised anything other than that, but I assumed from the title that they would at least be in a creepy magic forest if not actually in Neverland. So that may not have been false advertising, but I did misinterpret the title and cover and was disappointed because of that. The main plot/antagonist didn't show up until the 85% mark, which is unacceptable in my opinion, you can't expect readers to stick around that long without something other than dialogue going on.

There's also a 5 year time jump between Wendy and her brothers' disappearance and the events of this story, and what Peter was doing in the meantime is never really explained. I just thought it was weird.

If you are looking for any real magic or visiting of Neverland this is not the story for you.

First of all, thank you to Fierce reads/ Swoon reads and Net Galley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was never a huge fan of Peter Pan, but I really enjoyed Cemetery Boys so I was excited to dive in!

Wendy reappeared after going missing with her brother's John and Michael five years earlier, but they never did find her brothers, and now children are going missing. Wendy tells stories of Peter Pan passed down from her mom, and when driving home one day, a boy falls onto her windshield, calling her name. And he claims to be Peter Pan.

This was a magical little story in a small Oregon coastal town. I think Aiden Thomas' writing really improved since Cemetery Boys, but there were a few moments, especially with the villain of the story that the writing and dialogue was abit cheesy. But I really love this version of Peter, and I have a little crush on him.

Anyway, overall I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it! rating it a 4.5 stars!

I am so disappointed. I love Thomas and Peter Pan retellings so I was really excited for this book. It was the top of my list for early 2021 releases. Sadly this just really didn't do much for me.
Obviously Thomas is under no obligation to make all their book queer but I was really hoping this one would be. Cemetery Boy was so beautifully diverse and this book just felt so very straight. I know that's what most YA books are but that is exactly why this was such a disappointment.
Also this just felt so dry and predictable. Wendy was so boring and besides going missing and coming back she really didn't have much else going for her. Peter too felt like a caricature of Peter Pan. He was exactly what you would expect which just made him boring. I mean Thomas didn't even really try to change him.
Then their was the problem with the adults in this town, well everyone actually. No one acted like actual people. Five kids go missing all within a few days and no one does much but herass a teenage girl with almost no connection to the cases and proform a search party for later kids. Their are no curfews, no over protective parents, it all just felt so very fake and flat. The whole story felt fake and flat.
I really wanted to like this book and maybe its my fault for having such high expectations. I am sure plenty of readers will injoy this book. I think this book is more aimed at a lower end of the YA spectrum as well. Either way there are plenty of readers out there who will love this book I am just not one of them.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy.

I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!

I’ll preface this by saying I love Peter Pan, and I generally like Peter Pan retellings. I’ve also reas Aiden Thomas’s debut novel, Cemetery Boys, and it was amazing, if not predictable. So I was sooo excited when I learned that he was releasing a Peter Pan retelling. And I was lucky enough to win an earc of this book. I read it as soon as I had time, and I was conflicted on how I feel about it. It was significantly less predictable than Cemetery Boys, but there was also no diversity. It was a bit of a let down to go from Cemetery Boys with trans, gay, latinx, etc, representation to Lost in the Never Woods where our leads are white and cishet. It was really disappointing, but understandable when Aiden Thomas explained that this was actually his first book, before he knew he could write characters that are like him. Either way, it was a good story. I was not prepared for the direction it took, but I truly enjoyed this book, and I think it’s so worth delving into. Less diverse, but also less predictable.

Yes, I do actually give out 5 star reviews when I like a book and yes, this dark Peter Pan retelling deserves it.

I think one of the reasons YA is so beloved is because it covers such a vast and versatile time of life. Because protagonists straddle the line between not quite young, not quite adult, there's so a ton of material to work with and room to explore. Which brings me to Lost in the Never Woods. I love it, in part, because it's the quintessential YA coming-of-age story. As a senior in high school, Wendy is on the brink of adulthood, but when a lost boy shows up claiming to be Peter Pan, she has to decide whether or not to listen to that stubborn small part of her clings to a belief in magic and finding her long lost brothers.



This modern Peter Pan re-imagining is so well done. It's dark, twisty and a little bit creepy. The suspense slowly builds as readers follow Wendy on her quest to find Peter's shadow, the missing children and the lost Darling boys. The creeping sense of unease creates a Peter Pan story that's gripping and atmospheric. Thomas masterfully weaves a story full of tension and suspense that had me simultaneously wanting to reach the resolution at the end and wanting to savor every moment with Wendy and Peter. I didn't even bother trying to spot the plot twists or predict the Big Reveal™ because I was that hooked (pun-intended, kinda) on the story.

I'm not a huge fan of magical realism, but this is the perfect blend of fantastical and realistic fiction. It's Peter Pan retelling, so there's pixie dust and adventure and saving the lost children. But at the same time, Lost in the Woods is about very real things that come with growing up. It's a story about a family torn-apart by grief, a girl grappling with childhood trauma and a boy who's forced to grow-up even when he shouldn't. It's a book that explores the consequences of loss and the tension between childlike faith and the harsh pragmatism of life. As Wendy faces her fears and the Darlings struggle to rebuild their lives, we're reminded that even though Peter Pan might never grow up, we all have to. Thomas crafts this bittersweet story that acknowledges life is hard and sometimes Happily Ever Afters look a little different in real life. Speaking of, the ending was PERFECT. It's honestly what pushed this over the 4.5 star edge for me.

My only complaints are some minor plot holes and the sickening sweet romance. Thankfully it's light, but I still could've done without the descriptions of Peter's astonishing "deep cobalt with crystalline blue starbursts exploding around his pupils" blue eyes.

At the end of the day, this is more than a fairy tale retelling; it's an elegy to childhood, a tribute to those forced to grow up too soon, and it's absolutely stunning. I'm sticking the five stars because this book gave me lots of feelings...and left me with Kristoff's solo playing on loop in my brain.

Cemetery Boys was my favorite book of 2020 so I had high expectations for this one. First thing I need to say, is that if you are hoping for strong POC or LGBT representation like in Cemetery Boys, this book does not have that. I was pretty disappointed at the lack of any diversity in this compared to cemetery boys. But ignoring that, i still wasn’t a huge fan of this one. It wasn’t awful, but definitely doesn’t compare to aiden thomas’ debut. The pacing felt very off to me and i had a hard time getting into the story. This book felt very bland to me, it was just a very stereotypical ya book and nothing seemed new. And the ending felt very anticlimactic to me and I never got invested in it.

4 stars - It was really good

It’s been five years since Wendy and her brothers went missing in the woods and children are starting to disappear again. When she comes across Peter, a boy who she thought lived only in her stories, she realizes there's more to the disappearances than everyone expects.

This story was dark and very emotional. Wendy has spent the past five years with no memory of her disappearance or of what happened to her brothers. She was living a life filled with grief, depression, and anxiety. Peter crashing into her life changed everything. She slowly starts to regain pieces of her memory of Neverland. They team up to find the missing children and hopefully uncover the truth about her brother's wearabouts. Wendy was definitely a hurt and traumatized character who we see grieve and heal as she learns the truth. She is mistrustful of Peter at first but he slowly gains her trust, especially after she starts remembering Neverland.

Being in the human world, and with Wendy, has changed Peter. He isn’t the fearless little boy anymore. He feels insecurity and fear for the first time. I loved how protective he was of Wendy. It was very sweet. I really enjoyed seeing him change and grow up. The connection between these two is so strong and emotional it just captivates you and makes you want to keep reading.

While this book had a slow start, it quickly captivated me and I didn’t want to put it down. Aiden Thomas created a fascinating and dark retelling out of one of the most happy and carefree children's stories out there. This book was all about finding the truths and using them to heal and grieve. It reminds you to look for the joy in painful moments, in love during loss, and in hope during hard times. It's all about learning to live again. I just loved this unique retelling with all its darkness, pain, and hopefulness.

Trigger Warnings:
- Familial loss, grief, and trauma
- anxiety and anxiety attacks
- alcoholism (parents)
- night terrors and insomnia
- kidnapping

Five years ago, Wendy and her little brothers went missing. After six months, only Wendy came back alive but with no memories of what happened. Since then, when children go missing in her town, people start turning to her for answers but Wendy can't answer any of them.

Though Wendy has many people around her who have been with her since then, not many people know how she actually feels. The trauma and guilt she carries on her shoulders every day seems to drag her down. Then one night she spots the boy in her dreams lying in front of her.

So this is the first book I read by Aiden Thomas and I'm not disappointed. I haven't read Cemetery Boys (it's on my TBR) but I've heard many great things about it. Definitely going to check it out soon!

Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5)

I felt that the first 60% of the book was a little slow but I was immersed in the ending. I felt that Wendy and Peter shouldn't have spent so much time hanging out while time was running out. They instead could have used that time to plan what they were going to do to catch the shadow.

This book is darker than the normal Peter Pan story and scaredy-cat me definitely got scared when I read it before going to sleep. Personally, I wouldn't recommend reading it before going to sleep but if you can take it, go ahead.

Overall, Lost in the Never Woods was an interesting book that takes on a dark retelling of Peter Pan. I liked how the story has just the right amount of differences from the original but also similar in some aspects. For those that love dark retellings, this book will be perfect for you.

This modern retelling is a lot of fun and a great addition to the YA retelling genre. My only big complaint was that the pacing felt a little off. It felt like it took a long time to get to the main conflict and then ended and resolved too quickly, but otherwise a fun read!

Wow do I love this retelling of a classic story. The author truly takes you to another place with mystery and intrigue that leaves you wanting more and more. This book was one I never knew I needed.

LOST IN THE NEVER WOODS by Aiden Thomas is a beautiful Peter Pan remaining that tackles the loneliness of grief, the heartache of loss, and the consequences of choices we all must face in difficulty. We see almost every character deal with grief, shame, and heartache. Thomas paints a beautiful, if gut-wrenching picture, of the breakdown of a foamy after tragedy and how our individual demons can affect the community. But at the same time, we see in Wendy how resilance and love can save more than just ourselves.

Characters are well-fleshed out and feel complete. More impressively, the twists and turns and reveals of the plot keep the pages flipping even if the narration is struggling.

ARC received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Retellings are some of my favorite to read and this was no exception. I greatly enjoyed the twists and turns this one took from start to end. The ending really did make me leave wanting more which is always a sign of a good book. My one and only complaint is that the start was a tad off for me. It took me a while to get into the story but once I was in I was sucked in completely. This will certainly be a book I remember for the next few years.

Lost in the Never Woods is a Peter Pan retelling following Wendy five years after her and her brothers disappeared into the woods, and only she came back.
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I really enjoyed this retelling! Retellings can be hit or miss for me, and this was most definitely a hit. Wendy was characterized so well, as was Peter. I thought the pacing was good, and overall thought the plot was just amazing!
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My favorite part by far though would have to be the atmosphere. It was so delightfully creepy, and the woods just took on a life of its own. The magic was also integrated nicely throughout the story.
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The only criticism I would have is that I did not care for the romance. I felt like it didn’t really fit in the story, and I just don’t love the fact of a hundred of year old love interest for an 18 year old, even though they look the same age.
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I would recommend this book for those who love retellings, especially the Twisted Tales series.
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TWs- grief, kidnapping, murder, blood, abduction, drinking as a form of coping
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lost in the Never Woods is a dark, eerie retelling of Peter Pan about children going missing in the modern day. It is a story about grief, trauma, and complicated family dynamics, but also a book about facing your pain and finding truth and healing. For those who have read Cemetery Boys, this is a very different sort of book, but I absolutely loved it and didn't want to put it down.

Wendy Darling has just graduated from high school and is volunteering with children at the local high school before college. Her home life has been difficult since her two brothers disappearance years ago. A day she has no memory of. Her mom used to tell them stories about Peter Pan, but he may be more than a myth. And children are beginning to disappear yet again.

This was such a great book. I don't want to spoil things but it had some truly chilling moments and a fantastic plot arc for Wendy. There are plenty of scenes that include nods to the Peter Pan film, which readers will probably appreciate. I thought the pacing on this was really great and it deftly handled issues of trauma, grief and depression as they can affect an entire family. Really amazing book and I look forward to seeing more from Aiden Thomas in the future. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings include child abduction, death, mild body horror, depression, parental depression and neglect, police interactions, mentions of serious medical issues, loss of loved ones, gun violence, symptoms of ptsd, probably others as well.

This was a great book It was a page-turner, and I loved the nostalgia of reading about Peter Pan and Wendy. It was the type of book where I had a good idea of where parts of the story were likely going, but I wanted to read to watch them play out. And there were still a few twists and turns that I didn't predict. There was a great friendship, a sweet romance and a good deal of heartbreak. Wendy was relatable and real and I was rooting for her. I do wish that we'd seen more of Wendy's bond with her best friend throughout the book.