When best friends Jeremy and Rafe reappear after 6 months missing in the forest of West Virginia, there’s no explanation for where they’ve been. Fifteen years later, Rafe lives a life of solitude, hiding away from the media in his cabin with no recollection of what happened during the missing 6 months. Jeremy travels the world helping rescue missing people with his uncanny ability to find anyone who is lost.

When Emilie asks Jeremy for help in finding her long-lost sister, who went missing in the same forest that Jeremy and Rafe did, Jeremy knows that he must bridge the rift with his former best friend in order to return to the forest. The three of them venture into the forest and the magical realm where they spent 6 months of their youth. It’s a land of palaces and princes and magic, but it’s also a dangerous place where the characters must face trauma from their own pasts and reconcile what it means for their futures.

Written in the style of a children’s fantasy story but with adult characters and realistic dialogue, this novel was a clever adventure. Adult themes (like abuse and sexuality) are addressed in a way that feels moving but never heavy. I thought this story was a delight, and anyone who loved fairy tales as a kid will love this, too.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House – Ballantine for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

***Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I'm not quite sure what to say about The Lost Story. It was exactly what I expected while also surprising me in so many ways. The plot was engaging, and the whole thing felt very much like a fairytale. The story structure was unique, though, and I enjoyed all of the storyteller asides that were integrated throughout the text. The writing was easy to read with beautiful descriptions that never bogged down the forward momentum. Although, it did feel a bit choppy at times because of a lack of variety in the sentence structure.

The world-building was one of the weakest things about The Lost Story for me. So much of the first half of the story was centered around the mystery of what happened in the woods when the boys were young. Then the reader is hit with some heavy info dumping that explained many of the mysteries. The characters didn't really do much exploring to discover answers because one of them just spilled all the secrets at the first opportunity. It just felt forced and kind of underwhelming. I did like how the author described both worlds, though. They felt authentic, beautiful, and magical. I just didn't love how a lot of the information about the mechanics of it all was imparted.

I really adored the characters in The Lost Story. Rafe resonated the most with me. I wanted him to get his memories back so bad, and parts of his story made me super emotional. I loved getting to see his friendship with Jeremy rekindle, and the two of them had a very great dynamic. Emilie's search for her sister was engaging, as well, especially in the beginning. I do think her storyline took a bit too much of a backseat in the latter half of the novel, though. Rafe and Jeremy coming to terms with their past took up all the oxygen. However, I didn't mind it because I was moved by their story and their entire found family dynamic.

I loved how The Lost Story explored the power of a story, especially how they can be used for safety, healing, and finding oneself. Through the fairytale, each of the characters found something they had lost. However, I was not expecting the level of trauma in this story. Please be careful if you are sensitive to stories about dealing with the impacts of child abuse and abduction. The message is ultimately hopeful, but a lot of pain accompanies the healing, as well. So, just be mindful.

Overall, The Lost Story was a beautiful fairytale about the power of stories to heal and help find parts of oneself lost to the pain of the past. The characters were easy to love, and the plot was intriguing with a unique style of storytelling. The world-building wasn't always the best, but I did enjoy my time in each of the settings despite the minor imperfections. Therefore, I do recommend The Lost Story to anyone who enjoys magical realism and stories about stories. My final rating is 3.75 out of 5 stars.

With a respectful nod to the classics that have come before in the Portal Fantasy niche, The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer caught my fancy the moment I read the blurb. It has been a while since I was in the mood for such a tale, but The Lost Story had a way of winding me up in its magic from the start and keeping me turning the pages until the very end.

The Lost Story begins when Emelie tracks down the famous missing persons finder, Jeremy Cox, and persuades him to hunt for the older sister she recently learned she had. Emelie has social struggles, but she is good with animals. However, after the loss of her adopted mom, she is keen to find the last chance at a family connection and understands the emotional risk when the enigmatic Jeremy warns her about the West Virginia woods where her sister was last seen- and he would know since he’s one of the infamous Lost Boys who went into the woods and was missing for six months before coming out again.

I loved the mysterious tone the author created with her writing. There is an ominous feeling, but also a light and quirky one once Emelie sets out with Jeremy to rouse the third member of their search team to help. Rafe is the second Lost Boy and now a recluse who lives in the forest creating art based on his disturbing dreams. He remembers nothing of his time lost in the woods and resents that Jeremy, who does know what happened, has kept silent for fifteen long years.

But, as events push forward, Jeremy promises the silence is at an end. The narration is told from three main point of views with a linear plot thread and sprinkled with flashbacks that heighten the sense that something fantastical happened to these men, but also sketches in their backgrounds, characters, and relationship which all plays a strong role in what came after.

The Lost Story is slow build with a long set up before the adventure side really gets rolling. There is a superb suspenseful climax and a situation that left the reader wondering how it would resolve. This is also a story that hits some themes hard, but also likes to wink and laugh at itself, too. There is romance, but the heart of the story is actually friendship and quest for acceptance and family.

The Lost Story hit the spot for a fantasy adventure with some mystery and romance. Recommended to those who enjoy Portal Fantasy with light LBGT romance.

Just like with The Wishing Game, Meg Shaffer’s sophomore novel THE LOST STORY again delves into bookish nostalgia. Here it’s a love of Narnia and portal fantasies, which I certainly possess. I appreciated Shaffer's take on what it would be like if the Pevensies went back to Narnia as adults. What would be the same? What would be forever changed?

The first half of this book is set in West Virginia, and the sense of place here was fully realized. It made me wanna visit! Unfortunately the second half, set in the fantasy realm of Shanandoah, was a bit rushed. I could tell that Shaffer had thought a lot about this world, yet she didn’t really allow it to breathe.

Another little quibble is the tone of the dialogue - the characters are all 30-something yet still talk like teenagers. Maybe there’s something there about arrested development, but I couldn’t quite tell.

Overall though, this is a quick and easy read I’d recommend for fellow Narnia fans.

A fantasy fiction story about two young men, Jeremy and Rafe, who were best friends but have developed feelings for each other. They went missing when they were teens, and only Jeremy can remember what happened. He also came back with the ability to find those who are lost. Then a girl named Emilie finds him, seeking his help to find her missing sister who disappeared before she was born.
It all leads to magic land that can only be found through a tree in a forest in West Virginia…
A book for fans of gay, LGBTQIA fantasy fiction and fairy tales.

The pacing of this one was really strange. The first 30% -to 40% or so was just expository lead-up that ultimately led nowhere in particular, and did not actually add to the story in any meaningful way, especially provided that the transportation back to the ~magical lost alternate reality kingdom~ was very... well... anticlimactic.

At no point did I find myself wanting to pick this up because the characters read so... clunky. I thought the one selling point was the romance, and even that fell flat. I did actually enjoy some of Emilie's "quirky" dialogue, though others may disagree and perceive it as cringe-y.

I also did NOT love the continuous attempts at breaking the fourth wall made by the author. I get the ironic element and the meta angle that she was going for, but it did not actually perform its function in quite the way she hoped.

Fairytales do exist, because Meg Shaffer made it so.

📖 ✨🍎 🧜🏻‍♀️ 🕯️🦄🐴 🫂🚪 🌳 🪄🎁

Here is what you need to know before you read The Lost Story. If you’re feeling alone, this book will be a friend. If you want the magic that a wardrobe once brought, you will find it in a tree. If you feel like you have to hide your love, this story will seek it out. And last but certainly not least, if you want to be read a story instead of reading it yourself… well have a seat and get yourself a treat. Maybe some golden apple Christmas cake (so what if it’s July). This book is a gift, and we are lucky to have this tale told to us.

What a fun story! I loved the depth of the characters as we learned more about the world they lived in and left behind. I'm a huge fan of the prose in this book, it was comforting as well as engaging. A perfect cozy read in my opinion.

This book was just a one of a kind gem. It is the perfect escapism blended with a beautiful fairy tale.

2 boys go missing for 6 months and when they return they are different. How different? Well their once inseparable bond is now destroyed as Rafe struggles with his mental health and Jeremy struggles with his newfound ability to find lost girls.

Years later Emilie is searching for her sister who happened to go missing in the same place Rafe and Jeremy did. Are their stories connected? Can Jeremy help find her sister?

The readers are then transported to a magical storybook land full of Bright Boys, magical unicorns and apples that fill you with sunlight. The imagery is masterful and made me want to get lost in Shannandoah. Meg Shaffer is a talented world weaver!

Many thanks to Random House Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC.

I hate when I read a book I loved, rate it 5 stars on my spreadsheet, and then don’t get around to writing a review until a couple of months later.

I still remember how much I loved this book, what’s not to love about a book inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia. A book that promises to be a grown-up fairy tale.

Two boys, best friends, go missing while hiking in a forest in West Virginia. They disappear for 6 months and reappear perfectly healthy. One boy doesn’t remember anything and one boy isn’t telling the whole story.

Since this is a fairy tale, you and I know that they had to have disappeared into a magic fairy tale land. A land with princesses, mermaids, and unicorns, but also danger.

When someone shows up who needs their help, they must return to the magic land.

Beautifully written, lush descriptions, relatable characters. Loved it all!

Meg Shaffer is continually impressive. I love a writer that can transport you in to the universe they've created in their mind, and Meg delivers time and time again. This story is beautifully written.

🌳 The Lost Story by Meg Schaffer 🌳

Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5

💭 Thoughts:
The first half was great. I felt like the scene was set and I was ready to step into the magical world! But somewhere in the middle, I got lost in The Lost Story 😭 the pacing was off and the dialogue was immature for how old the main characters were. I think this would have been better as a YA book! I also would have rather had first person instead of third person with an interrupting storyteller narrator, but that’s a personal preference. I absolutely loved The Wishing Game by this author and definitely recommend that one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballentine for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Lost Story" filled my heart up to completely shatter it and then piece it back together again. I absolutely loved this book. I was initially drawn in by the cover and the description, but once I started reading, the story itself kept me coming back. One of my favorite things about "The Lost Story" is that it's a fantasy novel with mystery novel elements, which is something you don't see often in the fantasy genre. It read like a home-brewed D&D campaign, if you know what I'm talking about, especially with the character, The Storyteller. I think one of the most surprising parts was that the romance element is a LGBTQ+ love story. If you're not into that, this book is not for you. I however LOVED it and thought the moments where we get to see pieces of it shine through were heartwarming. There are, however, parts of this that might trigger certain people, so be warned that there is parental verbal and physical abuse, and homophobia. Just know that love wins in the end. The trope of found family is sttrroonnggg in this book and it hit me deeply as I consider most of my friends to be found family. Within the context of the book, I don't think the characters could have survived without each other and the bonds they all share. Each character is so critically important to the others, and it's those kinds of relationships and the fact that Meg Shaffer took the time to build them up just makes them so much better.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a twist on the stereotypical fantasy novel tropes. You won't regret it.

I requested this book thinking maybe this would be the portal story that would finally take me in. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. It wasn't terrible. I didn't' hate it, I just didn't love it. I am however going to set it aside to come back and maybe give it another chance at another point in life to see if it resonates differently.

This felt like Narnia mixed with Princess Bride? My favorite part? There are “chapters” from a “storyteller” as narration explaining the story in fairytale terms. Very clever and funny. Reminded me of the grandfather in Princess Bride.

Reasons it wasn’t a 5 star book for me:

✨ While this book was written as adult fiction, it felt very YA, and not just because it was a fairy tale, but because the writing and plot felt basic and juvenile.

✨ I had a hard time following who was narrating each chapter. There wasn’t a clear point of view and the characters were similar enough and relatively unexplored that it was confusing.

✨ The second they got into Shanandoah, they were in action mode. There wasn’t much explanation or exploration of the land other than there’s a queen, a prince, unicorns, bad boys, red crows, and all these other seemingly random fairytale things thrown together. It felt like too much and needed some editing and clear direction. I sorta get why it’s written that way, but I didn’t like it Not that I wanted to read 500 pages, but I would have understood it more and maybe enjoyed it more as well.

🫣 Basically, the author tried to do too many things in too few pages. It felt rushed to get to the action and not sussed out enough followed by the world’s longest non-epilogue epilogue.

In the end, I did have fun reading it, but it won’t be a favorite. I felt that way about Wishing Game as well so maybe the authors writing style just isn’t my favorite. Cute basic story, but the writing didn’t work and written too YA, though it wasn’t YA.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story! It kinda gave me Harry Potter for adults/ The Magicians vibes! There are some triggers relating to domestic abuse/child abuse but it’s not a main theme of the book. It was a wild ride and I loved the m/m romance aspect of the story! If you’re into fantasy and magical realms, be sure to check this book out!

As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.

Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.

Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.
This book was very good. I really enjoyed the way the writer described the magical forest and loved her depiction of the tender loving relationship between Jeremy and Rafe.
As someone who read, the Wishing Game. I really was looking forward to this book because of the author and I was not disappointed.
Thanks NetGalley for the book and my opinions are my own.

i sooo enjoyed this book! i loved the writing style and it kept me interested throughout the entire read!

I listened and read THE LOST STORY 3 hrs. round trip for back-to-school shopping. (Thanks to @simon.audio ) and on my Kindle sitting outside changing rooms. (Thanks to @netgalley ) Not a bad way to spend a Saturday. ⁣
⁣
WHAT WORKED: ⁣
An adult contemporary fairy tale with magical nods to Narnia.⁣
Chapters told from the ‘Storyteller’ perspective.⁣
A love story to home and West Virginia. (I’ve never been but now I really want to visit)⁣
Enchanting and endearing.⁣
Heavier themes blended throughout.⁣
⁣
WHAT DIDN’T: The dialogue felt very juvenile for characters in their 20s & 30s. I imagine it’s part of the fairy tale/magical world aspect, but the lack of maturity really came through on the audio. I found myself grabbing the print instead.

Really enjoyed this book!

Loved the characters and the references to The Chronicles of Narnia.
The world was so fun and I adored the romance.
I thought the writing style was interesting in this one and loved that the “storyteller” had a voice; it was super unique.

If you liked The Wishing Game, you will definitely like this! I highly recommend!