The premise of the story was really interesting but I just felt like the first half of it dragged on for so long you didn't get to enjoy the time that they were in Shanandoah. More of the story should have been told there and about Rafe recovering his memories of his time there with Jeremy.

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I loved the relationship between the 2 boys. I adore found family type novels and this had just the right tone. Recommended to my reading group.

A Chronicles of Narnia retelling…. Hello, sign me up. “The Lost Story” offers a blend of magical realism and adventure, appealing to readers who enjoy fairy tale references and explorations of human connection.

What happens when you take the Christian allegory out of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, modernize it and add a little queer joy and some millennial/gen-z humor—I'm not lying I legit rolled my eyes at booping death on the nose? Meg Shaffer's The Lost Story is what happens and it was a delightful fantastical journey that I very much enjoyed.

The publisher reached out with a review copy in early 2024 and I finally got around to it just over a year later and it was worth the wait.* When I got to the passage that the publisher included in the outreach email I gasped and was like "THIS is why I requested it!" (I 100% did not re-read that email before starting this on vacation, I just knew exactly what it was and verified it afterward.)

The Lost Story takes place in rural West Virginia, but also in Shanandoah (not Shenandoah—the national park/forest) a magical world reached through doorways in trees. The two protagonists Rafe and Jeremy spent six months here when they were teens, and the world thought they'd been kidnapped or murdered. They only go back, or even consider going back, when Emilie contacts Jeremy, who has made a name for himself finding lost girls, to help her find her long lost half-sister who went missing in the same forest 5 years before they did.

The story picks up pace dramatically with their return to Shanandoah and we find out why Rafe can't remember anything, why Jeremy spent so many years staying away from Rafe, and what really happened around the time they went missing. Without giving too much away it was young love (whether they knew it or not at the time) being quashed by Rafe's dad and societal standards and once they escaped into Shanandoah they found themselves, with their roles reversed—Jeremy the posh well-off Brit becomes a knight and steward; and Rafe, poor and "redneck" from rural WV, finds himself a prince due to his prowess with archery—and each other in a fascinating magical society.

There's a light spoiler in the next two paragraphs, skip over if you don't want to see it. The third one is safe and is probably the biggest for me.


The three largest critiques I have of the book is that it was slightly too predictable, that I wish the reason for their having gotten lost in the woods and not coming home wasn't what it was, and that the narrator between chapters was less. The predictability is expected, with the genre and following in the steps of Lewis and even J.M. Barrie (or at the very least the directors of the films) in using real life characters as the magical villains. The one that bothered me was Jeremy and Rafe being forced to flee a final time from Shanandoah, but given when and how it was created it makes sense that what they needed wasn't there and the fact that Emilie stays and wishes for what she wishes for opens up their possible return and/or a sequel.

The other one I thought we'd left behind in the 1990s and early-2000s. I mean I know it still happens, society sucks and queer people are in danger everywhere especially these days, but the amount of joy that's reached in the end of the novel doesn't necessarily need that to be the why. It does to create the big bad, but Shaffer could've been more creative about it or come up with another angle, and she does lean more into the spousal aspect of it and reiterates that it was mostly emotional and psychological, but I just wish she'd have come up with something else.

The biggest critique by far was the interludes from the narrator. I get why it was there and it did make me laugh a few times (especially the "this isn't that kind of story" fade to curtains note when Rafe and Jeremy reconnected), but there were times when that came up that I just wanted to skip over it. Thankfully, for the most part they were very short and did add some information or color, but overall it felt like a crutch. That being said, when you find out the where and the why of what you're reading it makes more sense, I just felt there could've been more hints in that considering how predictable the story was at points.

Recommendation: I very much enjoyed this C.S. Lewis inspired story of queer love and sisterly affection. It wasn't at all what I expected and I was quite glad Shaffer left it open to a sequel in the end. There were parts I wasn't the biggest fan of (the predictability, the reasons behind the running away, the narrative intrusions), but the pros definitely outweighed the cons for me. Reading this definitely made me want to check out Shaffer's debut novel, The Wishing Game.

*I received a copy of The Lost Story via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Opening Line: ""

Closing Line: "" (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)

I have no clue why it has taken me a year to write this review. This book was just plain magical to me that I was left just wanting more. The story that was built made me want to run away to a fantasy land myself. The only reason why this is four stars is because I wish it was just a tad bit longer so we could connect more with the characters. While the world felt complete the characters felt a little lacking in certain places that I still can't put my finger on. Despite that this book has lived rent free in my mind for so long that I just can't help but love it.

"Joy is quieter than people think it is. Especially the joy of getting something you thought was lost forever."
~ Meg Shaffer,The Lost Story

Fifteen years ago, two boys, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, disappeared in the West Virginia forestland, then reappeared six months later without explanation.

Rafe, seemingly traumatized, became a reclusive artist with no memory of what happened. Jeremy, remembering everything, became a well-known missing persons investigator who has agreed to help Emilie Wendell locate her sister, who disappeared in the same forest.

Jeremy has held the secrets of those lost months from Rafe. Believing it is where Emilie's sister is now, he must share the truth with Rafe by returning, along with Emilie, to the magical place they once called home and retrieving what is lost...

"The Lost Story" is a story for adults, inspired by "The Chronicles of Narnia", that proudly stands up to the fairy tales of one's youth. It is beautifully written, engaging, and expertly weaves the right balance of brightness and darkness.

There is a sense of wonder and adventure you feel through Shaffer's storytelling and in the primary and secondary characters. Key themes explored are the strength of friendship, family and belonging, hope and resilience, and healing and moving forward.

"The Lost Story" is Meg Shaffer's sophomore novel, and I enjoyed it even more than her debut novel, "The Wishing Game". Her storytelling is quite magical!💫

4.25⭐

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books and Meg Shaffer for the DRC via NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Meg Shaffer is such a brilliant author and has done it again with this beautiful novel. I could not put it down and didn’t want it to end. I felt like I was transported to a different place as I read this stunning work of art.

This book is a nice, mildly entertaining diversion. I liked the real world characters, though our view of them seemed very youthful. The fantasy characters felt flat and contrived. The whole fantasy world feels mostly purposeless and convenient, with too much deus ex machina throughout. The relationship between the two sisters seems very unlikely, and artificially poignant. The relationship between Jeremy and Rafe is the only one that feels real, if not entirely likely (they were 14?), and moving, and is enough to give the otherwise fluffy and bland story some weight. It seems inconceivable that Jeremy would have abandoned Rafe, and then, finally, understandable why he did.

Meg Shaffer has penned one of my favorite stories I’ve ever read (and they’re just a few) that still makes me think of the characters. The wishing game is the reason this book was one of my most anticipated reads! I do have to say I this book had a high bar set and sadly it didn’t matched all the feelings from The wishing game. However the story was lovely and the characters were funny and I did enjoyed reading it, but it just so different from TWG. This might be a case of it’s me not the book.

Meg Shaffer has once again crafted an enchanting and heartwarming story with The Lost Story. From the very first page, I was swept away into a world of adventure, nostalgia, and the kind of storytelling that lingers in your heart long after you turn the final page.

The novel follows an emotionally rich journey, blending elements of classic fantasy with real-world struggles. Shaffer’s prose is beautifully immersive, painting vivid imagery that brings both the characters and their world to life. The themes of resilience, love, and the power of stories resonate deeply, making this book an absolute treasure.

The characters are wonderfully layered, each carrying their own burdens yet finding solace and strength in the magic of storytelling. The relationships feel genuine and poignant, reminding us of the importance of friendship, hope, and believing in the impossible.

Shaffer’s storytelling is reminiscent of the best fairytales—filled with wonder, adventure, and just the right touch of bittersweetness. Fans of The Wishing Game will find themselves equally enchanted by The Lost Story.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This book is a must-read for anyone who loves books about books, stories within stories, and the kind of magic that only great storytelling can bring. I can’t wait to see how readers fall in love with this one!

I am very thankful to have been gifted a copy of this book; however, at this point this book will be moving to my DNF shelf. It sounds like something I would have really enjoyed, and will happily come back and re-review once I am in a better mindset for the book.

After reading The Wishing Game I was very excited to have the opportunity to read and review The Lost Story. Boy oh boy was this story different, but not in a bad way. I went in blind and was shocked to find we were diving into a world in the woods of West Virginia where people “go missing”. This adult fairytale takes you on an adventure like no other.

Magical realism turned full-on Narnia-like fantasy – in a world where the Chronicles of Narnia actually exist – with distinctive characters and a hell of a lot of heart, this book had a slow start that eventually swept me away beyond my wildest imaginings.

Dark, yet soulful, heartbreaking and eternally optimistic, The Lost Story follows a young woman who seeks out famed finder of missing people, Jeremy Cox, in hopes of locating her long-lost older sister – a sister that, happens to have disappeared in the very same national park in which Jeremy and his childhood best friend, Rafe, also disappeared and then REAPPEARED months later.

Coincidence much?

What follows is a magical foray into the imprints of trauma, the loss and then rekindling of childlike innocence, and far too many tears from yours truly to count.

I can’t say anything more without saying everything, but this one just worked for me. Right book at the right time.

And I highly suggest you give it a go.

Content warning: child abuse, kidnapping, violence, death of a parent, homophobia.

This book was firmly in my wheelhouse. I love a novel that explores the repercussions of a visit to a Narnia-esque fantasy realm. I enjoyed the relationships between all the characters and the slow roll out of the backstory. I will be recommending this to others.

This was one of the best books I've read in the longest time. I gave a more indepth review on my instragram. I gave this 5 stars.

I wasn't sure what to expect here, but I fell in love with this book from page one, and that deepened with each page turn. Absolutely amazing.

I DNF'd this book. I couldn't get into it, I really tried. But as my first ARC it was just very difficult for me to relate to the characters. Overall I was scared to not post this review. So as late as it is, that was the reason I never wrote back.

A whimsical fairy tale full of magic, adventure forgiveness, hope and healing. More suited to YA, the plot is imaginitive and well written.

One of my favorite reads this year!! I've always favored reads that have a portal to a magical land - especially if that land can solve some of the real life problems of the travelers. This read does that and more!

I considered this as one of the reads for my grands - since I actually do have a wardrobe they've been using as a Narnia portal their whole lives - by the similarity to CS Lewis' world it suggested. However, there are darker and more troublesome aspects that this grandmother doesn't want to have to explain away. I'd categorize this more for mature YA or adults who dig magical worlds with all the trimmings.

As for me and my house? We are those kind of adults, and highly recommend this read to any kindred spirits.

*A sincere thank you to Meg Shaffer, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheLostStory #NetGalley

After having read Meg Shaffer’s previous book, The Wishing Game, this was such a disappointment to me. A lot of emotionally challenging aspects included: abandonment, child abuse, domestic abuse, kidnapping, grief, mental illness, etc. Touted as a fantasy, it dealt with too many adult issues to be considered in that genre. But even considering that, it was written as more of a young adult book because it was very juvenile. I did not connect with the characters. And the comparison with the Narnia books is not realistic.

But, there are plenty of 4- and 5-star reviews, so I would encourage you to decide if you would be interested in reading this book. Sadly this one did not work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

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