Callahan is clearly fascinated by the great writer C.S. Lewis. This is her second novel that centers around the beloved author of the Narnia books. In this imagining, a young math student, Megs Devonshire, tries to help her seriously ill younger brother George who wants answers about the origins of the magical land of Narnia. In her search for answers, Megs meets and becomes friends with C.S. Lewis and his brother. During her visits with the men, the story of Lewis’ childhood and young adulthood unfolds.

Megs loves hearing the stories, but what she desperately wants is a response to George’s question: where did the idea of Narnia come from? As she returns home and shares Lewis’ tales, her little brother George savors each tidbit of information on the author. George’s enthusiasm is electric. He’s completely enamored of the characters and the setting, a true devotee of Narnia’s magic.

Callahan builds the tension as George’s health overshadows Meg’s burning need to discover the truth about Narnia. There is tremendous tenderness in the sibling relationship which mirrors the close bond between Lewis and his brother. Readers who love quiet stories that reveal inner feelings and family interactions, will snuggle in with this heartfelt novel and those who love Lewis’ fictional world will relish the story as it unfolds.

This book is fantastic. The characters come to life, and really do give a peek behind the coats! Callahan has delved into the actual archival pieces to inform her narrative. Another great historical novel on the books for us all!

"Where did Narnia come from?" This is the question that 8 year old George Devonshire asks his 17 year old sister. Megs know that her invalid brother is infatuated with his new book - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Therefore, Megs decides she must find the answer to this question before George passes into a new world of his own. Her brother's curiosity leads Megs to the author's home where she soon finds herself wrapped up in the stories of Jack Lewis and his older brother Warnie. Getting an answer to her brother's questions doesn't come at the speed or in the way that Megs might have first have expected. There are other lessons for her to learn along the way. I found this book to be a heartwarming tale of sibling love and devotion. I found myself getting wrapped up into the Lewis brothers' stories as much as the Devonshire siblings did. This book pulled at my heart strings and made me want to revisit The Chronicles of Narnia series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I knew I’d love this Patti Callahan book. She draws you in and weaves a wonderful story. Of course I read The Lion,, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a child. I really loved this peek into where Narnia came from! This was a magical book! I only wished I hadn’t read it so quickly!

What a treat this book was. This was an auto-buy for me. I love The Chronicals of Narnia and I love backstory.
I really thought this book was going to tear me apart and leave me broken due to the premise of the book, but the author left me with hope and the warm tinglies.
Trigger Warning of child death in the story.

I received this novel as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was an entertaining novel for all ages in all lovers of Narnia and CS Lewis. The perspective was great and I never lost interest throughout the whole thing. Highly recommend!

What is the last book or movie that made you cry?

In Once Upon a Wardrobe, Megs Devonshire is a seventeen-year-old math student at Oxford in 1950. Her seven-year-old brother George has a weak heart and is dying. He has just read a wonderful new book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. He knows that C.S. Lewis is a professor at Oxford, and he ask Megs to find out, where did Narnia come from? Megs follows C.S. Lewis home and is discovered sitting on his fence by his brother Warner. They invite Megs in and start to tell her the story of his life. What do all of these stories have to do with where Narnia comes from? Megs takes the train home on the weekends and tells her brother the stories of “Once Upon a Wardrobe.” Why can’t Megs get a straight answer from “Jack” Lewis?

This was a beautiful story. It was the story of the love between siblings, and how to deal with the end of the life of someone that you love. It is also the story of “Jack” Lewis growing up and how these formative years played into his writings. I felt for Meg. As a mathematician she wanted a direct answer – what is the meaning of the book? How can she save her brother? But life sadly is not a math equation with a direct answer. The book was sad and made me cry, but it also had a heartwarming ending.

I really need to read Patti Callahan’s novel about the wife of C.S. Lewis, Becoming Mrs. Lewis. There is a note at the end of the novel by actor Douglas Gresham, one of Lewis’ stepsons from his marriage to Joy. He fully endorses the novel and Becoming Mrs. Lewis. It was a nice surprise.

Favorite Quotes:

“Reason is how we get to the truth, but imagination is how we find meaning.”

“Some babies are born closer to the end of their story than others, and this little boy was one of those.”

“With stories, I can see with other eyes, imagine with other imaginations, feel with other hearts, as well as with my own. Stories aren’t equations.”

Overall, Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan is a beautiful and unique story. I highly recommend it.

Book Source: A Review Copy from NetGalley and Harper Muse. Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the third book I’ve read by Patti Callahan, having previously read Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs.Lewis.

In this book we see Oxford college student Megs spending time with her ailing 9 year old brother George who wants to know answers about his favorite book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It comes to pass that she is able to meet with the author himself and pose questions to him that her brother has posed to her. In her visits with Lewis, he relates stories from his life, which she records in a notebook and reads to her brother. In the process she also meets a good friend, Padraig, who ultimately takes Megs and brother George on a life-changing adventure. What she learns and how her life is changed is the substance of this well-written book.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

This story begged to be told and I’m so happy that Patti Callahan gave us this. I love The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe; I use it in my classroom every year. Giving me a background into Narnia, imagined or not, is more than I could ask for.

What I loved:
✨The writing is so beautiful. The author’s words weave a tale that is so full of imagery that I closed my eyes and easily envisioned the Kilns, George’s wardrobe, boarding school, all of it.
✨The chemistry of the characters was probably the best part of the story. CS Lewis (Jack) and Meg’s easy friendship was so nice to read. Meg’s relationship with George was beautiful (I keep using beautiful but I’m out of words to describe this book!).
✨ I love how the characters show us how important books and stories are. Several times throughout the book various characters make references to a book being important, or a story being more than a story. This was a wonderful tribute to the books we all grow up loving and learning from, not just the Narnia books.

There’s honestly nothing I disliked about this book, except maybe that it wasn’t long enough. I wanted more, and would love to read more about these characters. I would love to see Meg and Padraig grow into themselves as adults. This in no way means that the characters were underdeveloped in this book. Quite the opposite actually: the characters are SO real that I’m just not ready to say goodbye yet. This book was wonderful.

I was so very lucky to receive an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

*Review posted from my Instagram

What a beautiful book. Please read it.

“Maybe we are each & everyone of us born with our own stories, and we must decide how to tell those stories with our own life, or in a book.” ~Meg

Being terribly behind schedule, I read this superb title on a plane whilst on an adventure of my own -- seemed appropriate. It was. The story is beautiful and heartwarming, while being oh so real and heartbreaking.

Despite the serious subject at the core of the book, George’s illness, the tone somehow conveys wonder, if not joy. Everything is captured spectacularly and presented brilliantly. The lessons are both inscrutable and laid out in plain words and I feel I barely scratched the surface.

So many incredible and detailed reviews have already been written and I cannot possibly say it any better than they already have. Thus, I shall simply toss my hat in the air and join the resounding cries of Brava! and Well Done! and Good Show! and so forth.

I will forever relish the journey of my first read. However, there shall be many more chances for me to delve into the deep philosophy between the lines (and right there on the page) contained in Once Upon a Wardrobe. This title is destined for my permanent library.

This book is one of the many reasons I love and appreciate the ARC titles provided by #NetGalley and #HaperMuse. Many thanks to them and to #PattiCallahan for penning this glorious tome.

After finishing "Becoming Mrs. C. S. Lewis", I knew I wanted to read "Once Upon a Wardrobe". I enjoyed this book taking place during the 1950's. The story was based on sibling love. Meg is the big sister to George. George is a 8 year old homebound and dying. He has one request "Where did Narnia come from?". While at college, Meg seeks out C. S. Lewis where he is teaching at a nearby men's college. A friendship develops as C. S. Lewis fills Meg with stories of his life. Meg then would bring these stories home to her brother. Throughout the book you have a sense of pure love and what the World expects from us. After reading the book, I purchase and listened to the audiobook. The narration was very well done.

Thank you #NetGalley, #HarperMuse, #PattiCallahan and #FionaHardingham for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

"Once Upon a Wardrobe" was not at all what I expected. This novel combined aspects of fantasy, historical fiction, romance, and spirituality. The story turns upon Megs and her younger brother George. Megs attends Oxford as a maths major, and George suffers from a weakened health condition, with a predicted short life span.George is enamored of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and implores Megs to ask the author where the story came from. Megs sets out to accomplish this task for her brother before his time on earth runs out.

The result of this quest for Megs is an enlightened view of fantasy and myth and their role in belief systems. During her interviews with C.S. Lewis, Megs gains wisdom and insight into the spiritual realm, an area not based on logic. In the process, she develops writing talents that previously lay hidden. She also meets a young man who guides her quest and finally becomes an important person in her life.

The point of view in this book alternates between Megs, George, and C.S.Lewis. The story incorporates aspects of the life of Lewis, while providing an analysis of possible meanings of the Aslan character and other features of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." The spiritual aspect of the story is gently conveyed through the plot and characters, as they are lead to new and eye-opening discoveries and growth.This book contains moments of joy and of sadness, as it winds to its inevitable conclusion. The romantic aspects of the story,,while somewhat sentimental, remain secondary to the key themes. The final chapter is a stunner.

While this is not an easy read, it is a very thoughtful one. I would encourage readers to continue on with the story if they are thinking about laying it aside. It is well worth the effort. One does not need to be familiar with the works of Lewis to appreciate this novel. However, those who are not familiar may be prompted to pick up the Narnia books and discover the mystical connections for themselves.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2022 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2022/01/readers-advisory-announce-2022-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

My love of Narnia made me eager to read Once Upon a Wardrobe. The book immerses you in the Oxford world of C. S. Lewis, but it’s as much about Megs and her little brother George as it is about Lewis.

It was a sweet story about siblings and the power of stories. Megs loves numbers and the definite answers they provide. But finding out where Narnia came from like George wants to know is not as clear-cut as one of her maths equations.

It took me a little while to get into this book. Drawing the premise (George’s desire to know where Narnia came from), Megs’ studies and relationship with her brother, and Lewis’s life together felt a little forced, especially at the beginning. But part of the reason it took me a little to get into the book was also my expectations. More than a story about C. S. Lewis, it is a story about Megs and George. Once I sunk into that, I enjoyed the story more. You do learn some about Lewis’s life—I would say the majority of it I was familiar with, but I did learn a few new things.

5 stars. An absolute masterpiece that I could not put down, and when I had to, I wanted to immediately pick it up and read it all over again! Such a joy to read!!

Many, many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely adored this book! This brought me a lot of feelings of nostalgia as I was reading. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was one of my favorite books as a child. I loved seeing CS Lewis through the eyes of a child. Reading this book prompted me to read Patti Callahan's other book "Becoming Mrs Lewis." I gave it 5 stars as well. Great book to read in the winter!

Loved this one! Megs is a student where C. S. Lewis is a tutor. Her ill younger brother loves The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and wants her to find out where Narnia came from. After Megs stalks the Lewis brothers she becomes their friend and they tell her amazing stories of their childhood. Callahan did an excellent job combing a heartwarming story with some biographical information on C. S. Lewis and a touch of romance. This would appeal to a wide variety of readers and I highly recommend it. I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I got to 44% and I am giving up. I just don't find the book interesting enough to continue. I will not post a negative review online. Thank you.

I love Patti Callahan and her books so I was very excited to read this one, This one wasn’t one of my favorites by the author. I'm usually not into fantasy books, and this one didn't grab me. I didn’t fall in love with CS Lewis or his stories. It seems he was a second thought to the story. I think my I was expecting something different, and was a bit dissapointed.

If you have not read this book, you need to add this one to the top of your list.
What a wonderful book to read especially if you love the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or if you just love those books that bring a warm feeling to you.

The story is about a young boy named George who has a terminal illness who falls in love with C.S. Lewis’ book. His sister, Megs, just happens to attend Oxford and is close to where C. S. Lewis lives. All George wants to know is where Narnia came from. Megs ends up meeting with C.S. Lewis and his brother to learn about his life and his family's life and the creation of Narnia through stories.

This story brought out the youthfulness and excitement of reading and visualizing what you read. Also, it was a slight reminder of how many different stories and experiences leading up to how stories are created and how we view them.