This is a unique retelling/continuation of Peter Pan. It mixes mystery, fantasy, and a bit of the thriller genre into one package. If you're a fan of Peter Pan and the theories that surround the story, this will be a fun read. I liked that this is a continuation of what happens after Wendy is back from Neverland for a while, yet Michael and John are missing. It isn't the usual retelling or reimagining, which keeps the story alive and new.

I have been looking forward to reading “Lost in the Never Woods” since I first heard of it. A Peter Pan retelling by an author I already liked? I couldn’t ask for more! And “Lost in the Never Woods” did not disappoint. While a darker story with themes of grief and guilt, it still held moments of the joyful magic unique to Peter Pan. I just finished reading the book a few moments ago, but I think it will stay with me for a long while yet.

I received a complimentary copy of Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas from Swoon Reads through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Lost in the Never Woods came out on March 23rd!

It's been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town. Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don't do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what's waiting for her in the woods.

I really wanted to love Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas! I love a good retelling, but I also want retellings to have a fresh twist on the original tale and I don't feel like we got that with this book. Lost in the Never Woods still has its positives: it's dark and the characterization of Peter was pretty perfect. The mystery of what happened in the woods when Wendy and her brothers went missing was intriguing and wrapped up in an interesting way. This is a good story about grief, but my expectations might have been too high. I hope others love this book though!

CW: grief, trauma, death of loved ones

I really wanted to like this. I loved the author's other title Cemetery Boys so I was really looking forward to their new title. Unfortunately what killed it for me was the pacing. The beginning was so slow, I had a hard time sticking with it. The writing was beautiful but I just wasn't into the story.

I read this back in March and been putting off this review for a while now.
I honestly don't have much to say about this book except that <b> it's just so painfully bland. </b>
It's not that there's anything <i> wrong </i> with this book. It's just that there isn't anything <i> impressive </i> about it. It's like someone tried to do the bare minimum work to deliver this as a creative writing project.
The magical elements are so small that this book could easily be advertised as 'YA Mystery with a touch of Magical Realism', besides they're super derivative. There's nothing new here that hasn't been said and done before. The main characters are interchangeable with any 'Brave Girl & Mysterious Boy' from YA literature. And the whole story feels very middle-grady. Like, this story is so bland it shouldn't even be shelved as YA.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I wanted to enjoy this book so much more than I actually did. However, this book seemed to drag on and wasn't really going anywhere until the end. The concept is great but the story just kept going and going. As a Peter Pan retelling, I expected more. The characters were really fleshed out and developed, which I really liked. I think Aiden Thomas has a storytelling craft that will continue to get better and I can't wait to see what he has in store in the future.

Side note: I need to use this review to GUSH about the cover. Absolutely. Stunning.

4.5/5 Stars

It's been years since Wendy returned home from the Woods, after she and her two younger brothers John and Michael went missing. Now other children are going missing, and people are turning to Wendy for answers about where they may be. Unfortunately, Wendy has no memory of her time in the woods or the whereabouts of her brothers. When a boy named Peter from her childhood stories appears in her hometown, she begins to regain some of her memories.

I didn't read Cemetery Boys, which everyone loved so much and has been so hyped up on booktube. I'm a sucker for retellings, so I was super excited about this one and it didn't disappoint! I love Peter Pan and was intrigued to see what changes were going to be made. I love how dark this book became as I kept reading. I loved the twist the author took with Peter's shadow, I was so invested in the story and what was going to happen to them. The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but picked up eventually. I think trauma and grief was handled in many different ways, and I liked the exploration of that in this writing. The characters were a bit one-dimensional, but I still enjoyed my time with them. I wasn't a big fan of the romance either, and wish it had been left as a platonic relationship instead. The storyline could have still been exactly the same but with a friendship base instead. Also.... can we take in that GORGEOUS cover?!

Beautifully written, unforgettable characters and a story that stays with you long after you finish it. Aiden Thomas’s works are brilliant, their writing is deeply impactful yet simultaneously just a darn good time to read. I will continue to pick up anything they create.

Delivers on exactly what you expect from a delightful LGBTQIA+ author like Aiden Thomas, an interesting story with an emotional heart. Well worth the read.

This is a dark retelling of Peter Pan. I was looking forward to read this since I found the storyline very interesting but unfortunately it failed to impress me.

First of all I think this book had no plot at all. The book is full of filler scenes and is quite repetitive. The pacing of the book is very slow and a lot of scenes could have been easily deleted without affecting the book. In the first half of the book practically nothing happened, the author just kept beating around the bush.

It did have a major plot twist towards the end but due to poor execution it didn’t have much impact.

I found the main character Wendy one dimensional and I found it hard difficult to connect with her.

Also, the romance between Wendy and Peter felt forced and rushed. I think it was not needed at all. I wish if the author had maintained a friendly relationship between them.

Overall I think it was a lackluster retelling, which lacked creativity and originality. I think it would have worked better as a short story. I do think some readers will enjoy reading it.

My process of reading this book basically went: "Okay, I'm into this, I don't think I'm the target audience, but - OH MY GOD???"

Like I said I think I'm maybe a bit older than the target audience, but I really enjoyed this! Retellings are always hit or miss for me but this was a homerun. I was especially a fan of how much darker it is than the original, and I looooved the ending.

Aiden Thomas is a wonder and their writing just continues to amaze and astound.

Lost in the Never Woods, the sophomore novel from Thomas, is a dark Peter Pan retelling and modernization that truly has something to offer every reader.

Quick summary: it’s been five years since Wendy Darling and her two brothers went missing. It’s been five years since Wendy returned from the woods, alone. While Wendy and her brothers were missing for six whole months , she cannot remember a single thing from that time.
When other children in her town start going missing, Peter Pan, the character from Wendy’s mother’s bedtime stories, shows up and requires Wendy’s assistance, the town turns its suspicious glare upon her.

Things I loved:
-completely immersive atmospheric novel; you’ll be sucked into this world and it will consume you
-dark and twisty fairy tale retelling that includes enough of the source material to be easily recognizable, but still subtle enough and intriguing enough to be a compelling narrative
-the writing. It’s just good.

A unique retelling of Peter Pan, where Wendy returns home without her brothers, and without her memories. It has been five years since Wendy was found alone in the woods, after having been missing for six months. She still holds the guilt of being found without her brothers, and having no memory of what happened during those fateful six months to help locate them.

Wendy, now a teenager getting ready to go off to college, has started drawing strange pictures of a tree and a boy. The thing is, she is not drawing these pictures on purpose, if she lets her mind wander for even a moment she will look down to find she has drawn another image on whatever writing surface is in the vicinity, and it is getting harder and harder to hide the strange drawings. And what do they mean? She is pretty certain that the boy she is drawing is Peter Pan, a boy her mother used to tell stories about, and who Wendy now shares stories about with the children at the hospital where she volunteers. When a mysterious boy shows up, who looks almost exactly like the picture Wendy has been drawing, and who goes by the name of Peter, it can’t possibly be Peter Pan can it? But Peter seems to know Wendy, and more importantly know something about what went on during those fateful six months. So, in hopes of getting information about her brother’s whereabouts, Wendy reluctantly agrees to help Peter find his shadow, which has gone rogue and is kidnapping children.

I really really loved the direction this retelling went in. I don’t want to spoil it, so I won’t say what the “twist” was, but I will say I thought it was a brilliant idea and way of interpreting who Peter Pan is and what his purpose is. I really love retellings, and honestly feel this is one of my favorites I have ever read. It kept enough of the original tale to make it recognizable to anyone, not just die hard fans, while not going over the top. Yet it modernized and twisted the tale in that perfect way that all of us retelling fans are looking for when we read these kinds of novels.

It is important for me to address the portrayal of PTSD in this novel. As someone who suffers from PTSD I always enjoy reading about characters suffering from the same, particularly characters who obtained PTSD from something other than war. It used to be nearly impossible to find these types of books, but I’m excited that depictions of PTSD are becoming more prevalent in books for children and young adults, even if the disorder is never actually named (one step at a time right). Lost in the Never Woods is another example of a character who is very clearly suffering from PTSD even though it is never said that she has it. Wendy memory of the night her and her brother’s went missing and the six months that followed is completely wiped, this is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD, repressing all memories of the trauma. But, Wendy still feels an overwhelming sense of guilt about what happened. While both of these things make it clear she is suffering from PTSD we never delve much deeper into Wendy’s emotions and her mental health in this novel. And that is okay! The book was meant to be about Wendy reconnecting with Peter Pan and discovering what truly happened to her and her brothers, while saving the children in town who have gone missing. Wendy’s mental health issues were not at the forefront of the story, but they did play an important role.

Lost in the Never Woods was a top-notch retelling of Peter Pan. Thomas has created a unique and eye-opening version of Neverland that will delight most fans of the original. Teens, adults, and even children who can handle a little bit of a scare will all enjoy this novel about uncovering your personal mysteries, while solving someone else’s.

I am not usually a fan of fairytale retellings, but Aiden Thomas turns the story of Peter Pan on it's head in this lovely, dark continuation of Wendy's story. When Wendy was young, her brothers disappeared in the woods and now, many years later, suddenly other children are going missing. When Peter Pan shows up, she doesn't know what to make of him because she thought he was just someone who existed in her dreams and her mother's stories. Wendy must help Peter save the missing children while she discovers the truth behind the night her brothers went missing and fights to uncover the truth.

This story reminded me of the idea behind Elena K. Arnold's books, but without the graphic, adult content. The story goes beyond a fairytale involving missing children. This is definitely one to check out.

This was SUCH a good book, and such a good Peter Pan retelling! I have such love for the Peter Pan story as a whole, and this has got to be my favorite of the Peter Pan retellings I've read. It was so fun, the story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I loved how it played out. Peter, as a character, was so well done. Just the right amount of smug and kind-hearted, exactly as he should be.

The ending, though! The ending was absolutely incredible, and it ended on just the right amount of hope. It was all so well done and I'm definitely going to have to reread this soon.

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas is a dark retelling of Peter Pan. Coping with tragedy takes center stage as the story focuses on Wendy, now 18 and getting ready for college. We learn that she, along with her two younger brothers, disappeared in the woods near their home five years ago. Only Wendy returned after six months with no memory of events and the blood of her brother under her fingernails. A strange encounter reunites her with Peter, a young boy she recognizes as Peter Pan from her mother’s and her stories. Peter needs Wendy’s help to find his shadow, which she’s surprised to learn is something she’d done before. Added to this are the sudden disappearances of children from Wendy’s town. Tension is steadily increased, some might say too slowly, as the effects of Peter’s continued presence in Wendy’s world creates problems for both.
Aiden gently and tenderly explores the effects of trauma and coping as Wendy gradually regains her memories while making sense of Peter’s reappearance, attempts to discover who’s behind the string of recent disappearances, and eventually learns what happened five years ago. The characters lack some of the dimension found in Aiden’s previous book, Cemetery Boys. Wendy spends time alone and in her thoughts which is much different from the character’s situation in Cemetery Boys where the two mains were stuck with each other. Still, a good read for those who enjoy retellings that also tackle coming to terms with growing up too fast due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control.

So. This book. Such a fun read.

I absolutely love Peter Pan and really loved this retelling/continuation of the story. Adien Thomas, themself, has described this book as basically fanfic and, yes. Absolutely. It really does read like a fanfic--in the best way possible.

This is an exciting story about Peter Pan coming back into Wendy's life to get her help in defeating his shadow and saving missing kids. I loved Wendy's character and seeing how her life is marred by a tragedy that happened five years ago. And Peter. He is just the lovable, mischievous Peter Pan I adore.

As fun and exciting as this book is, though, it's not as strong as I was expecting. This is a VERY different kind of book than Thomas' last book Cemetery Boys. It's not as serious or as diverse. Still great writing, though, and I appreciate Thomas so much for pulling me into the world of Peter Pan once again.

So good!! I love how Aiden describes things. This book was amazing, such an interesting twist on Peter Pan. The characters, the intrigue... Just so awesome.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Aiden Thomas' first book, Cemetery Boys, and Lost in the Never Woods was one of my most anticipated releases for 2021. Unfortunately, I found it to be extremely underwhelming. A major problem with this story for me is that it is a retelling of Peter Pan and with so many Peter Pan retellings already existing out there in the world, reading this felt like beating the proverbial dead horse with a bat. I didn't find much about this book to be unique or add anything new to the world of Peter Pan. The characters were very flat with little depth; Wendy and Peter were one-dimensional and slightly bland. However, the way that grief and loss were portrayed was well done. I felt Wendy and her family’s pain and their struggles with overcoming their grief were realistic. The pacing of this book was so slow and I felt bored for the majority of the time I spent reading it. Wendy and Peter had no plans or sense of direction when it came to saving the kids to the pointed where it became quite frustrating because while Wendy kept worrying about them running out of time, she and Peter still had time to go swimming and get ice cream. The romance was very forced and felt weird because even though Peter was 19 in the book ( with Wendy being 18), Peter acted more like he was twelve. The reveal at the end about the true nature of Peter Pan and what Neverland was felt slapped on as a last-ditch effort to make this book more shocking and emotional. I think younger teens may enjoy it, or anyone who is really passionate about reading all of the Peter Pan retellings, but other than that, I would not recommend it to anyone.

A beautiful, lyrical and deliciously dark retelling of Peter Pan. As someone who has no memory of ever watching the movie and has certainly never read the book, I still thoroughly enjoyed this because Aiden Thomas' writing is just phenomenal