The lost story is truly a fairy tale for grown-ups. 15 years ago, two boys went missing into the woods with a friend. They returned but never spoke about what happened and drifted apart. As adults, they are brought together to help find a missing girl who also disappeared into the woods. They are transported back to their pasts and to a whole world beyond our sight-similar to narnia, wonderland, and oz. They must find the missing girl and help to save that world just as they did 15 years prior.

A fun, imaginative, and different read for the summer months! Shows that adults can still have fun and adventure too!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Meg Schaffer is a delightful storyteller, this book is filled with magic and has a fantastical setting. It gave me vibes of Peter Pan if he has awakened in Narnia. Two teens lost in the forest of West Virginia for six months. One remembers nothing, the other remembers everything. A story of escape, grief and love.

This was a really entertaining and unique story. The writing style really worked to draw the reader in and I thought the author handled the more serious topics with care. There are some heartbreaking and painful moments, but there are also many hopeful and beautiful moments as well. I loved how the story unfolded and I’m always a fan of books about books. Yes, not everything in the plot made the most sense and the twists weren’t all that twisty, but the heart of the story was so pure. I loved all of the characters, especially Rafe and Jeremy.

I mainly listened to the audiobook of The Lost Story and Jorjeana Marie did such a fantastic job! She’s a new to me narrator, but I loved the different voices she used to bring this story to life.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars

CW: death of parent (past), grief, kidnapping (past), physical and emotional abuse (past), homophobia, fighting/violence, life threatening injury, mentions of: being lost in the forest, poachers, suicide (past, secondary character), stroke (past, secondary character), schizophrenia, & depression

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for providing this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Overall Rating: 4.25 / 5 (rounded down to 4)

Warnings: Child Abuse, Physical Abuse, Homophobia, Death of a Parent, Suicide, Cancer

“The Lost Story” is an entertaining twist on the classic fairy tale, combining all of its elements in a way that makes for a completely new type of story.

I would recommend this book to those that are fans of well developed characters in a story that emphasizes found family and finding one’s own happiness.

My favorite aspect of this book was how loveable each of the characters came to be. At different portions of the story I found myself rooting for each and every one of the main characters, hoping that they could learn what they needed to find their own happily ever after. What I think helped sell the characters to me was how the relationship dynamics developed throughout the story. It felt natural to me how they all came to grow close and to form the support system that helped them each grow.

What held me back from a perfect rating was the pacing of the plot. Some of the major plot points I was able to call out a bit early on, but was still interested enough in the characters to see how it all came together. However I felt it was a bit heavy handed on forcing the characters to make a decision that I don’t think they would have otherwise made. I understand why the story took that turn in order to create some tension, but it felt like the crux of the moment had come out of nowhere.

Despite that, I did still find this a very enjoyable read. I would definitely read future works by this author. They know how to build a fully fleshed out setting, how to create characters that are memorable, and how to write really enjoyable and witty dialogue

I 👏🏻 LOVED 👏🏻 THIS 👏🏻 BOOK 👏🏻

Is it a perfect book? No. But it was perfect for me.

Reading this book felt like immersing myself in an old beloved fairytale. I’ll be thinking about Jeremy, Rafe, Emilie, and Skya for a long time.

My only complaint is that I wish there had been more time in Shanandoah, but who’s to say there won’t be more one day? I sure hope so.

TW: kidnapping, homophobia, violence

***Spoilers****

So this book really gave me Fairytale by Stephen King crossed with Peter Pan (and a few retellings of Peter Pan or return to neverland) more than even Chronicles of Narnia.

I think more so Peter Pan because the origin of that tale focused on the lost souls of children who had died young, and much of this story seems to draw on that, and it also made me question the reality of the story. How much of this is real/happening and how much of this might be in a character’s mind? Particular when Jeremy himself wondered whether he made it up upon discovering his hereditary history with schizophrenia. Reliablity of the narrator and of the characters is something that even upon finishing the book, I’m not sure whether the world of Shenandoah is real or make believe.

I wanted to read this book after having read the author’s debut novel, and ended up really enjoyed this book, albeit for different reasons than I loved the Wishing Game. This was at times a heartwarming and feel good read, and sweet although a bit anticlimactic, with the main climax/confrontation being a but predictable and making the book feel more awkwardly paced. I really enjoyed the story though, and it was a nice modern take on being lost and found, finding your home in a person or people, and confronting the traumas that harmed you so you can heal and accept yourself.

Also love that she dropping in that little Easter egg of the Clock Island stories 💖

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Ballantine Books for the ARC!

Once upon a time there were two young boys, best of friend; their names were Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell. One day the two boys went off into area called the Red Crow State Forest where they mysteriously disappeared for six months. Rafe remembered nothing and Jeremy provided no explanation as to how their survived or where they were.

Fifteen years have gone by neither have seen or talk to each other since that day. Jeremy is a famous and successful detective in finding missing people. Rafe has withdrawn to his father’s cabin in the woods, he still remembers nothing about the six months that he went missing.

A young woman by the name of Emilie Wendell pursues Jeremy to help find what happened to her half-sister, Shannon who was kidnapped and went missing in the Red Crow State Forest
twenty years ago. While the authorities believe Shannon died Jeremy know she is alive but will need Rafe help.

As these three travel back in the Red Crow State Forest, back into the enchanted world they once disappear into, Jeremy and Rafe will need to dig deep into their memoirs revealing secrets, piecing together their past in hopes of healing their future.

As a fan of The Wishing Game I was excited to read The Lost Story but something was just lost on me. Although I thought the telling of the story was creative, I often found the writing to be rather juvenile. I do feel that this story, although describe as a magical realism and fantasy, it was also a story about friendship, choosing who you love, and family whether there are blood or chosen. I really do feel this book is geared for a young adult, especially one that enjoy stories such as The Chronicles of Narnia

Thank you, Meg Shaffer, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Overall, I really enjoyed Meg Shaffer's sophomore novel. There's something about Shaffer's writing that sucks me in. For me, the book really came alive when our main characters Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie venture into the land of Shanandoah (I wish we had spent more time in that world!).

I also really enjoyed the clever use of Storyteller interstitials. These narrative devices are sprinkled throughout the book, serving as a delightful nod to the reader.

Right now this is maybe a 4.5, but I could see myself rounding it up to a 5 as I continue to stew on my rating.

** I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book's description was intriguing but its reality was so much better.

The story unfolds beautifully. The characters are nuanced and their trauma feels real. As the reader you are sucked into the story and ready for the adventure.

I hope there are books to follow!

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the eARC!

What a fun and heartwarming story! This started off in a way I was absolutely not expecting but I loved the direction it went. Definitely suspend reality when reading this book but the characters and whimzy of it all were so fun! I would have given it 4 stars but the ending chapters absolutely solidified it as a 5 star for me.

Emilie's sister is missing. Who else better to find her than a couple of men who, fifteen years ago, went missing in the same woods as her sister? However, Jeremy and Rafe haven't spoken since they came back from the woods, and only Jeremy knows the truth about what happened. The answer may be more magical than anyone would have expected.

I loved The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer and was so excited for her new release. This book did not disappoint. Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia, this book is comforting and heart-wrenching while taking you to another world, literally. The narrator chapters were such a fun inclusion and helped fit a story that could have easily been much, much longer into an easily bingeable book. I recommend if you like books about magical lands or missing persons, or books that will probably make you cry.

This book was a delight to read. It was a beautiful story of the power of childhood imagination and magic to heal. The relationships between these characters show how others can support and heal each other. Jeremy and Ralph (Rafe) disappeared as teenagers, and returned mysteriously several months later. Jeremy leaves immediately after their return, and Rafe doesn't remember what happened. Fifteen years later, Emilie connects with Jeremy in search of her sister who disappeared in the same area as Jeremy and Rafe had. This leads to the reunion of Jeremy and Rafe as the three of them set off on an adventure to find her lost sister.

I adored this book. The use of a narrator's voice was done perfectly. It provided just the right amount of referential fairy tale elements to maintain the whimsy. I also loved how we became reacquainted with the situation through Rafe's perspective, since he didn't remember anything. It was a well developed story of how powerful love is, and the value of imagination for people of all ages. Meg Shaffer's has given us a chance to return to the magic of fairy tales and childhood innocence in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for providing an eARC for my review.

I read The Wishing Game, Meg Shaffer’s debut, last year and thought it was an average read. The synopsis for The Lost Story sounded very interesting and I wanted to see if her writing improved in her second book, but unfortunately I had many of the same criticisms.

Firstly, I was captivated from the beginning and enjoyed the mystery aspect. Like The Wishing Game, I thought the setup had a lot of potential and I was excited to continue reading. However, the story really flatlined for me around the halfway point and I struggled to keep picking up the book. I normally enjoy whimsical fantasy, but the plot fell apart and never picked back up. I loved the Narnia books, but this loosely inspired adult adaption does not compare in the slightest.

From a character perspective, I really liked all three MCs, but I needed more from them. If a story is not plot-heavy, I expect more in-depth character development and this didn’t quite deliver. I can tell the author did try to make the characters more three-dimensional, but like the plot, they also stagnated midway through the book.

Overall, this book wants to be a fantastical, whimsical story with developed characters and relationships, but it’s not able to deliver on those promises.

I am not normally a big fantasy/fairy tale reader but this was such a fun book to dip my toes into the genre. This book was so creative, surprising, and I loved the way everything tied together. The writing style was witty and humorous, and I truly felt enchanted with the characters. I especially loved Emilie’s quirky sense of humor.

I would definitely recommend this to readers who want something a little magical and fantastical but who don’t normally read high fantasy. I’m definitely excited to go pick up Shaffer’s previous novel, The Wishing Game, which has been sitting on my shelf since last year.

Brilliant. Adult portal fantasy that doesn't fall into the trap of trying to be "gritty." It's full of wonder, heart, all the types of love that can exist, and the desire to protect what matters. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Even if all I could do was read for five minutes, I was pulling it up on my Kindle to keep going. It made me tear up a few times as well.

While there is at the end the possibility of more, I don't mind if there's not. It leaves room for my imagination, and that's it's own kind of magic.

With nods to The Chronicles of Narnia and even Alice in Wonderland, The Lost Story begins with an intriguing premise. Two fifteen-year-old boys are lost in the woods for months. When they return, one cannot remember anything and the other refuses to talk about it. Fifteen years later, they meet again when a sister is searching for her lost older sibling. Can the three find the lost older sister? Can they discover what really happened in those woods so long ago?

I absolutely adored the first half of The Lost Story. It begins as the perfect fantasy that is only superficially anchored in the real world. Then, screech, it turns into a politically correct young adult novel about love is love and parents are so judgey. I kept reading because I was hoping it would return to the excellent fantasy that it was in the beginning. No such luck, unfortunately. 3 disappointed stars.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

The Lost Story is the most magical wonderful book I’ve read in a long time. It’s a story of two boys lost in the woods for six months who come back and don’t remember what happened. Fifteen years later, because of a girl gone missing in the same woods, the two boys reunite and return to the same woods where their story was lost.
This begins a magical, wonderful, beautiful adventure into this land of love, strength and beauty. @meg_shaffer has yet again created a beautiful place for everyone to feel at home.

Firstly, Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for letting me have a chance to read the eARC.
Unfortunately, I pushed myself to the 61% mark of this and had to DNF.
I really LOVED The Wishing Game by this author, but this book did not live up to what made that previous book special.
In my opinion, the description/summary for this book is not the best. You really don't get “Narnia” until about 40% in. The beginning is a lot of trying to establish Rafe, Jeremy and Emilie. Which I believe is done poorly because I never cared about them. Emilie asks Jeremy to help find her sister, they are strangers, but yet they just somehow get closer within pages. She wouldn't be that comfortable with a man she just met, and only knows from solving missing cases on TV. Dialogue was an issue with me in her previous book, but I was able to get passed it because the story was well written, this book I couldn't. It just felt very unnatural.
There is also a mlm romance that I am interested why that was left out of the description, only saying they were “best friends”. Wouldn't it be more interesting if we knew they had been together and now suddenly in the first chapters are in their own secluded places?
I think because we knew ahead of time that it was “inspired by Narnia” it took the mystery of where the boys, now men, went missing. That is what should have been the part left secret. Imagine discovering “oh wow they found a portal” or wondering if it was like “Jumanji”. Jeremy could have dropped his hints in nearly the same way and the reader could have been surprised or intrigued.
As someone who reads fantasy a lot, the little bit I got into seeing Shenandoah, it needed more work to explain the magic world. I'm not sure if Shaffer wanted to lean heavily on characters more, but it seems to me like it wasn't fully decided what the focus was. I think if you are a character reader this will maybe work better for you, because it is a lot of dialogue between characters and not a lot of description or action.
Overall, I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy this as much as The Wishing Game. I think some readers may enjoy this more than I did. I am a heavy fantasy and thriller reader and this is much more slow paced and character focused/driven.

I give this book 4.5/5 stars.

I highly recommend it as a late summer or early fall read!

I like this book. The story is so good, and the characters are interesting. The story pulls you in from the beginning, and while the pacing is a little slow, I enjoy the book nonetheless. The narrator gives you a Princess Bride vibe, which is very fun. I would love to read this as part of a book club or buddy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Best friends Jeremy and Rafe went missing as teens in a West Virginia forest for 6 months; emerging with no explanation as to where they were or how they survived during their time away (and why they appear well fed). 15 years later Rafe is an isolated artist while Jeremy spends his time and his uncanny ability finding missing girls and children - they do not speak and Rafe has no memory of their time in the woods while Jeremy remembers everything but will not share the experience with anyone. One day Emilie seeks Jeremy out to find her sister who has been missing in those same woods for 20 years - something about this girl triggers Jeremy and now Jeremy must get Rafe so the three of them can enter the woods together (because in airy tales, things happen in threes). The former lost boys must now confront the woods and the secrets they left 15 years ago.

This novel was great to listen to because it grabbed me immediately, but I didn’t want to miss too many details so I did read over half of it. I really loved all of the relationships in the novel and for me the relationships made the story. I thought the author created a great world and appreciated that she made sure there were flaws in the world (as there are in any world), but I felt there was something a bit juvenile in world and therefore in the story itself and had it been marketed as a YA novel I think I would have been fine with it but since I was expecting to read an adult novel I was a bit disappointed. I have also read The Wishing Game (which I quickly read after this one) and I feel the same about that one too, if I had a teen who read I would give them to him and I bet he would love it.

3.75 stars (rounded to 4)

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC to review