Sweet and lighthearted read. It did not grip me as much as I would have liked it too, but still enjoyed it nonetheless. I could see many fans of C.S Lewis enjoying this read.

Beautifully written, poignant, and thought-provoking, Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan touched my heart and got me thinking about how stories are formed and shared. As Megs tries to find out how C. S. Lewis created his story The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, to satisfy her ill brother George, she strikes up a friendship with C. S. “Jack” Lewis and his brother Warnie. Jack tells Megs stories from his youth, and Megs then shares them with George as they ponder them.

“Sometimes I think things and I don’t even know why I’m thinking them. Like the thoughts are thinking themselves.”
“Can you explain how ideas come into your head?”

The combination of real and fictitious characters works well in this creative and entrancing tale. I enjoyed it immensely and I’m looking forward to reading more of Callahan’s books. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callhan tells the story of Joy Davidman and C.S. (Jack) Lewis. I absolutely adored that book so was thrilled when I received an early review copy of Once Upon a Wardrobe, another novel about C.S. Lewis.

The structure of the story is that George, a young boy with a heart defect, discovers The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and wants to know more about it. George’s sister, who loves him deeply, shares that Lewis is at Oxford where she, Megs, is a student. Wanting to do what she can for George, Megs gets to know Jack and Warnie and brings the tales that Lewis shares home to her brother.

Jack’s life story is beautifully told. There were very hard times and yet a man emerged who is so beloved by many. I won’t detail the biography so that readers can discover it for themselves.

George is preternaturally wise about life while Megs is perhaps less so. Over the course of the novel, she learns that her beloved scientific point of view and way of solving problems is but one way to look at the world. She and George are both deeply human, seeking, loving people with whom readers will enjoy spending time.

Those who have read the Narnia stories will eagerly read this title looking for the same insights that young George is seeking…to understand where the characters in the books came from, who they may have been based on and more. Will those answers be in these pages? You will need to read the novel to find out.

Those who have not read the Narnia books can still love this title. Its insight into a person’s life with all of its tragedies and peaceful moments are for all readers.

I give this one my highest recommendation. Ms. Callahan your talent for understanding Lewis and life are so impressive.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The year is 1950 and 8-year-old George Devonshire has just read a book that captivated his imagination entirely: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. He's terminally ill and doesn't leave his house except for trips to the hospital, but he longs to know where Narnia came from. Fortunately, his sister Megs is a student at Oxford, where author C.S. Lewis works. Unable to refuse the request of the little brother she loves so much, Megs attempts to find the answer to his question, even if Mr. Lewis isn't keen to give a simple answer.

Normally I save recommendations for a book for the end, but I think it's appropriate this time to start with that. I think that people who are great fans of C.S. Lewis, especially, but not necessarily limited to, the Narnia books, will appreciate this book more than I did. I didn't dislike it, but I don't think I'm quite the right audience for this book about how stories and myths affect our lives. Patti Callahan writes beautifully, but that is also lost on me, frankly. I do know that there are many out there who will get caught up in the prose though.

The book mostly revolves around George and Megs, but dips into fictionalized biographical vignettes of C.S. Lewis's life (or Jack, as he preferred to be called and as he is most often referred to in this book). It made sense to me that he shares with George, through Megs, shows how inspiration for a story can be found all through one's life, though it takes Megs the entire book to come to that understanding. This is apparently because she is a numbers person—math and physics are her life. She is too caught up in logic and a desire to turn everything into an equation to let imagination have a part. I'm a numbers and logic person too—not quite to the degree that she is, but enough that it was strange to me that she was so against imagination. I thought there was going to be a much deeper reason for why she was confused and questioning things so much, but it didn't come to that like I expected it to. The story on its own is sweet, but a bit more drama-filled and with a bit less of a clear conflict than I apparently prefer in my stories. There was a moment near the end, though, that was emotional and made me mentally cheer, and I love moments like that.

Overall, I think I just didn't really connect with Megs, who is the main character in the story. She's also the main narrator, which leads me to bring up my frustration with the format the author used throughout this book. Megs's POV was first person, present tense (I don't generally care for present tense books, but that's just personal preference). When Megs tells George stories from Jack's life, it switches to George's POV for a few paragraphs as he slips into the story. Those sections are third person, present tense. And then the actual stories about Jack's life are third person, past tense. All of this gets to be a bit jarring/muddling and sometimes just weird. I think these differences in perspectives could have been handled a lot more smoothly.

Since I've already mentioned my recommendations for this book above, I'll close by explaining that I have read very little of C.S. Lewis's works. My experience extends to my very first reading of, so far, the first 2 Chronicles of Narnia books earlier this year. I can't honestly say for sure that how much Lewis one has read would make a difference in enjoying this book, but I do believe it would.

ONCE UPON A WARDROBE in a nostalgic story that begs to be read next to frosted windows with a steaming mug of hot cocoa in hand. This is a love letter to the power of fictional stories for the child inside us all.

Meg is a university student with a younger brother she delights in. George’s heart is slowly giving out and he may not have much longer to live. When George gets lost in the pages of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, it is his dying wish to know the inspiration for Narnia. Meg sets out to find answers for her beloved brother.

Patti Callahan has infused these pages with whimsy, heartbreak, and a little magic. The sibling relationship between Meg and George was so endearing! For readers who enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia, ONCE UPON A WARDROBE is a must read; it’s charming, and sweet, but above all it is hopeful.

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: October 19, 2021

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advanced electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a touching story! I just loved it. I'm a fan of CS Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia so just the title alone made me want to read this.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own.

“There is a light, a bright lantern light where all stories begin and end.”
Patti Callahan, Once Upon a Wardrobe

To say I fell in love with this story is a gross understatement. I adored it with every last sliver of my heart.

C.S. Lewis remains one of my favorite authors with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe one of my favorite stories to this day. Entering Jack Lewis’s world was a dream. An absolute dream. With it this whole story had a dream like quality. I felt like I woke up….back in NC (to my great disappointment 🤣) after turning the last page.

This story starts out with a young boy named George’s need to know where the story The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe came from. His devoted sister, willing to do whatever she can to make her brothers dream come true as he is not well, befriends Jack and Warnie Lewis. Through the lens of Mr. Lewis’s life we peak inside the wardrobe. Am I dramatic in saying I will never be the same….maybe. Is it still true? Absolutely.

I will continue to recommend this book for a very long time. Trust me. You need this novel on your shelf.

That was refreshing! I have not expected such a compelling story! Or just I say at least two stories?

Where is Narnia coming from? What makes the author write such a book, find these specific characters, allegories? I did not have any thought but it makes sense that kids are eager to know more and are asking even better questions than the adult. In this case, it turned out to be not only a story about the C.S.Lewis and his writing but also great sibling love.

At first, I was very sceptic but later on I appreciated this reading. I makes a magic in it. Not only this one coming from the imaginations and Narnia, but also the magic of everyday life.

Book not only for C.S.Lewis fans.

“You can love more than one book. It’s not like a husband.”

Meg is a math wiz. When her brother George falls in love with The Chronicles Of Narnia, he urges her to read it. While she is opposed at first, when he asks her to read it until he falls asleep, she quickly devours the entire book. George doesn’t have long to live, so when he asks Meg to track down the author who happens to be a professor at her school and find out where Narnia came from, Meg immediately heads to find out. What results is a beautiful friendship.

Omg George has my freaking heart. I just wanted to climb into his wardrobe with him and imagine the day away. While I totally did not relate to Meg with that crazy math brain, I just adored her too. The lengths she went for her brothers last request was just so heartwarming. This book is about love, loss, grief, hope, and most importantly imagination. It was such a wonderful read especially for those that remember reading and loving Narnia growing up!

A wonderful story that highlight CS Lewis' story through the eyes of a young college student and her brother. A story that will sweep you in to the post war years in England and leave you hoping for a sweet resolution.

I’m wiping away tears as I write this! I adore The Chronicles of Narnia, so I couldn’t wait to read this book.

Megs Devonshire’s little brother George begs her to find out how The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe came into being. In a series of interviews with C.S. Lewis and his brother Warnie, Megs’ own skepticism is transformed by the power of stories.

“But when the boy read a certain kind of story, or heard a very particular type of tale, he had the nudge of a memory, a thrilling kind of prescient joy, an echo or reminder of something more, of somewhere very important, of somewhere where it all began.”

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC!

Once Upon a Wardrobe
by: Patti Callahan
Harper Muse

Patti Callahan's writing is tender, eloquent, and heartfelt, as she shares this magical story about the discovery of Narnia. This is storytelling at its best, with the tale of Megs, George, and C. S. Lewis. The book is perfect for the holiday season or at any time of year. Callahan has the gift of truly connecting with her readers with her plots, characters and words, and this book is no exception.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Muse for the advance reader's copy of this book and the opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#OnceUponaWardrobe #NetGalley

Magic...is the word that best describes this book. Magic and love. Patti Callahan takes us on a magical journey thru the wardrobe and along the way shows us the power of love and the importance of the stories and imagination. Before reading this book I hadn't read anything by or about CS Lewis but that's going to change. One of the first things I plan on reading is Becoming Mrs. Lewis! Even though I was in tears at the end I loved this book and happily recommend it to anyone who believes in the magic of a good story.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful and sweet love letter to Narnia, it’s creator, and to all those who dare to imagine.

Oxford student Megs seeks out CS Lewis at university to help her get answers for a fundamental question posed by her dying young brother: Where did Narnia come from?

Megs has a head for numbers and logic, so belief and imagination don’t come as easy to her as they do to George, her ailing brother who, confined to his bed most days, must find adventure through books and his own mind.

The relationship between Megs and George is lovely and sweet, but it’s really Megs’ learning to expand her mind through her friendship with Lewis and his brother (as well as her (maybe more than) friendship with a fellow student) that is the foundation of the story.

The atmosphere is more wintry Oxford than Narnia itself, but this worked beautifully, and the tone (while sadder than I prefer), was gorgeously rendered.

As someone who doesn’t care much for tearjerkers I obviously did not love the ending, though it is what you have to expect going in, and the concluding chapters take place in a hopeful future. And I commend the author for handling a very sad moment thoughtfully and without exploiting tragedy.

If you love Narnia, Oxford, and all that goes with it, this is a lovely, cozy read that pairs perfectly with a crackling fireplace and a cup of tea.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan is beautiful historical fiction that answers the question, "Where did Narnia come from?" It provides glimpses into the early life of C. S. "Jack" Lewis and the origin of The Chronicles of Narnia series through the story of a young boy named George, his loving sister Megs, and one important question. While doing everything possible to fulfill her brother's dying wish, Megs meets people and concepts that will change her life in unimagined ways.

Ms. Callahan developed a strong relationship with the Lewis family while researching and writing her 2018 novel Becoming Mrs. Lewis which outlines the love story of Lewis and his wife Joy Davidson. Once Upon a Wardrobe incorporates first-hand research of Mr. Lewis’s life and contains an endorsement by Douglas Gresham, C. S. Lewis's stepson.

The writing is brilliant, a perfect blend of sharing history, creating wonderful characters, and evoking the cold and cozy settings throughout this tender tale. I haven't read the Chronicles of Narnia books, a deficit I plan to correct soon, and winter seems the perfect season. I loved this book even without reading the 'source material.' Readers with affection for The Chronicles of Narnia will find it deeply meaningful.

Many thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the review copy and to Ms. Callahan for writing this magical novel.

👩 Megs Devonshire is a student at Oxford. Her little brother George is severely ill, but he loves reading, writing and drawing. When he enters the magical world of Narnia, he asks Megs to track down C.S. Lewis, the author, and ask him where the idea for Narnia and its characters came from.⁠
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❤️ I liked:⁠
📚 The power of reading. "𝐼 𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝑒𝑔𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉'𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒾𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝓃𝓈 (...) 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓈 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈𝓃'𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝒾𝓈𝓉 𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁. 𝒜𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎". How many of you can relate to this? I can, for sure! I loved how, in this book, we discover the magic of reading, together with Megs.
🐉 One day you'll be old enough to read fairytales again. This is one of my favourite quotes by C.S. Lewis. Thanks to this book, you can fully appreciate its meaning. "𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒸 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓃'𝓉 𝑒𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓅𝒾𝓈𝓂. (...) 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜𝓁𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑒𝓃𝑔𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓃𝓈 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓇𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒. (...) 𝐼𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝓅𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹".
✍️ The power of writing. "𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓅 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒, 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉 𝒸𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒽𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝒾𝓁𝓁𝓈". Again, I couldn't agree more. Writing helps put things into perspective and get people through hard times.
⛰️ The descriptions. The way the author describes landscapes and journeys in this book is amazing. The reader is completely immersed in the English and Irish countryside.
👩👦 Brotherly love. Megs and George love each other so much. Their relationship is so intense and sincere that it actually made me cry.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6/5 This book is simply amazing. I ended up crying on a plane while finishing it. #netgalley and #HarperMuse couldn't have made me a better gift for my birthday! Please, please, please read it, you won't be disappointed!

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

Megs Devonshire is on a mission to find the inspiration for Narnia as it is the one thing George, her dying brother, wants to know. She meets Jack (C.S.) Lewis and his brother who, rather than answer her questions directly, share the stories of their lives. Meg then shares their adventures with George and over time realizes that the stories are not just a gift for him, but a gift for her as well. She comes to find the beauty and meaning of stories and learns to appreciate how “...the story world and the real world run right alongside each other. Or maybe they are inside each other.” She takes time to notice details and grows into a storyteller herself. And she discovers that “the way stories change us can’t be explained, it can only be felt. Like love.”

This book was easy to delve into from the beginning. I found it to be an interesting way to explore the life of CS Lewis and to allow us to draw our own discovery of how Narnia came to be. It shows how difficult it is to find where a story starts and better to simply feel the process, enjoy the ride, and realize the interconnectedness of real life and imagination.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

This book is pure magic. As a child I loved the C.S. Lewis books. As an adult, I fell in love with Patti Callahan after reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis. Once Upon a Wardrobe grips you from page one and you will be moved by Megs and George’s relationship. This book captures both the magic of childhood and the reality of leaving it behind. It’s filled with nostalgia and wonder. Fans of C.S. Lewis and Callahan will savor every word. An enchanting and beautiful book!

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for this ARC.

One word.. EXQUISITE✨

Dear Patti Callahan ..
I'm writing to you to thank you for creating a truly enchanting piece of literature.
.....
The book had me within the first few lines "December 1950
Worcestershire, England"
Set in my home town of Worcester, citing places like "London Road" (where my mum lives!) I was immediately hooked.

A very poorly little boy named George has recently become obsessed with The Lion the witch and the Wardrobe, his devoted sister, our protagonist Meg Devonshire happens upon C.S Lewis at her Oxford college and seeks him out in the hope of finding out more about the origins of his inspiration for Narnia, to tell George.
Jack (C.S.Lewis) tells Meg snippets of his life story which in turn she tells to George, ..each instalment always beginning with Once upon a Wardrobe and giving insights into how Narnia evolved

This book is a rare stunning work of art. A book about a book, so beautifully told. I savoured every word. The settings, the storyline, the characters, the in-depth knowledge of C.S.Lewis all weaved together to create such a stunning masterpiece.

I absolutely didn't want this story to end

I'm so happy I have Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan on my tbr shelf.... I'm absolutely going to read that next as I'm obsessed with C.S.Lewis after reading this

Thank you to @netgalley
And @harpermusebooks
for ARC of this book
Pub Date 19/10/21

As a reader, there is always something enchanting about finding a book that has the ability to transport you back to the reason that you fell in love with reading in the first place - and this book is packed full of that particular brand of magic. Megs Devonshire is a student at Oxford, who is balancing her studies in the field of mathematics with traveling home to visit her terminally ill little brother, George. When George asks her to track down the author C.S. Lewis, who is a professor at Oxford, to ask him where the idea for Narnia and its characters came from, Meg does not realize the extent of the journey that she is about to embark on.

When Megs meets C.S. Lewis and asks him to share the origins of Narnia and the characters we all know and love - Aslan, the professor, Mr. Tumnus, and of course, Edmund, Susan, Peter and Lucy - she is at first frustrated when he will not answer her questions but instead begins sharing stories about his life. However, as their friendship blossoms, Megs discovers more about herself, the world, and a future without her beloved brother George.

This book was full of contradictions - it was simple yet deep, felt like both fiction and non-fiction, and is by turns hopeful and sorrowful. It brought me back to my love of the Narnia books as a child, and reminded me why I crave escaping into the unknown worlds that fiction can bring to us. I smiled through the tears as I finished reading this book, and I know that it will become a staple on my bookshelf and a constant recommendation when I'm asked what books I absolutely love.