Magical realism aren’t usually books I go for, but I couldn’t resist another Meg Shaffer book after The Wishing Game being one of my favorite books of 2023. This book is a little fantasy, a little romance and a little mystery all mixed together in Meg’s wonderful storytelling way.

Jeremy forced to keep the secrets of their travels from Rafe kept them apart for years. And for Rafe to discover a sister he didn’t know existed… It all really pulled on the heartstrings.

I flew through this book. Comparing it to Narnia is the perfect comparison.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantne for my ARC of this book.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in to this story, but by the end, I was hooked. The characters were well developed but I still want to know more about them and want to know what happens next to them! That's a sign of a good story...

The way the book started - looking for two lost boys versus the way it ended could not of been more different. It was a magical journey from beginning to end with many "a ha" moments in between.

My hope is that since the ending was left with many unanswered questions and details that there will be a follow up book to give us closure! I liked the book and look forward to more from this author.

Thanks to Random House Publishing - Ballantine, NetGalley and author Meg Shaffer for this digital ARC.

I have always been a big fan of stories that start off in our mundane world and leap into the fantastical. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis was one of my favorite books growing up. The idea of being able to leave my boring life behind is just so exciting to me, and Shaffer did not disappoint.

I really enjoyed switching P.O.V.s as well. I like seeing the story from multiple perspectives, and I think Shaffer did a good job at this. I felt that the characters were relatable and each had their own interesting story to tell.

My only complaint was that the first 40-ish% of the book seemed to really drag, but that could be due to the fact that I was too excited for the fantastical part to begin.

• Family Dynamics • Magical Kingdom • lgbtqia+ • Strong Female Characters

TW: Talk and some small description of child abuse, mention of suicide, and substance abuse.

This book was absolutely phenomenal. It was the perfect amount of realism, fantasy, hard truths, and wishes come true. I love the story and character development; it was beautifully done!

As young teens, Rafe and Jeremy go missing for six months. Upon their return, Rafe doesn't remember anything and Jeremy disappears with his mom. After years of being apart and leading very different lives, they come back together to help Emilie find her long lost sister. Their journey isn't easy, mentally, physically, or emotionally, however it is beautiful.

Highly recommend this book. It will go on my comfort read shelf for sure!

I loved the author's previous novel, but unfortunately this did not live up to the expectations I set for it. The character dialogue felt very adolescent and while the setup was intriguing, it was not enough to keep me reading.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

I was drawn to The Lost Story because of the synopsis, I was instantly captivated by the premise. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with the story and the characters and ended up skimming the end of the book.

Oh my heart, this is the book I’ve been waiting for since I finished The Chronicles of Narnia all those years ago. I’m going to go read it again.

I have always loved Narnia, Peter Pan and other imagination stories that involve stepping into another world. This book was easy to read and find yourself lost in. There were heavier topics included than I expected like the relationship the boys had to their parents, adoption, and missing children, but overall I enjoyed the story and the friendships/ relationships between the characters.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Stars: 2 out of 5

I was very excited about this book because the blurb gave me the same vibes as the Wayward Children series by Seannan McGuire, and I loved the first few books in that series. Unfortunately, this didn't live up to the expectations.

One of the reasons is that the story takes too long to get going. We don't travel to the magical world until almost halfway into the book, so everything before then is set up. That would be fine if the pacing of this section wasn't so sluggish. I found myself yawning and wanting the author to get on with it on more than one occasion.

My other issue is that I didn't particularly like the writing choices in this book. The interruptions by the "Narrator" were extremely off-putting and yanked you right out of the story every time they were inserted between chapters. 

Another issue is that I couldn't connect with any of the characters, so I wasn't invested in their stories. This is particularly true for Jay and Raif. The author sets them up as these star-crossed lovers destined to be together but separated by circumstances, but that didn't work for me. Call me old and cynical, but I find it hard to believe that Jeremy would pine for his high school sweetheart for 15 years after the fact. I mean they were 14 when everything happened and were only together for 6 months. Are you telling me that he couldn't move on? Yeah, not buying it. Same goes for Raif who didn't even remember those 6 months or that he was in love with Jeremy. 

And I might have been okay even with that if those two characters were interesting. As it stands though, they behave like they never left their teenage years, even though both of them are in their thirties in this book. I'm sorry, that's not how thirty-year-old people in general behave, not unless they have serious developmental issues. Which I could understand in Raif's case, because he had amnesia and carried a hidden trauma because of that all those years, but Jeremy seems like a well-adapted individual who traveled the world and saw plenty of good and bad stuff. What's his excuse for behaving like a hormonal teenager? That's why I feel like this book reads like a young adult book, even though it's not marketed as such.

I have nothing much to say about Skya or Emily because they serve more as plot devices than actual people, so their characterization is non-existent. 

My biggest issue with this book is that this fairy tale has no "teeth" - nothing truly bad happens to any of the characters. Everything is too easy and harmless. At no point in this story was I worried about the characters or the decisions they had to make. And since the stakes aren't all that important, nothing feels earned. Good fairy tales know that there is darkness as well as light in the world, and that to have heroes, there needs to be dragons. Heck, Skya even talks about that in the book! Unfortunately, the author loved her characters too much to truly make them suffer, so her dragons were nothing more than tame lizards, easily defeated.

PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Meg Shaffer’s The Lost Story is a captivating follow-up to The Wishing Game, blending heartfelt storytelling with magical realism. The story showcases, with its 20 - 40 year old cast of characters, how you are never too old to be sucked into a magical wonderland. The perfect book for those, like me, who still secretly hope that one day, an owl will deliver us an acceptance letter, or our closet will open to a winter wonderland.

Told through the lens of an omniscient storyteller, the chapters bounce between the main plotline and the storyteller's personal opinions. Shaffer’s bold narrative style mixes the casual tones with profound allegories, offering a whimsical and deeply emotional reading experience. By creating a magical realm where the characters can exist authentically, Shaffer crafts a poignant commentary on the enduring struggle for queer liberation and the universal longing for a place to belong. One can thus infer that the moral of the story, as all good fairy tales have a moral, is that people are not born with hate, hate is thrusted upon us - but it can be untaught.

Ultimately, The Lost Story is a tale of self-discovery and belonging, celebrating the enduring power of wonder and the chance to rediscover lost parts of ourselves. A must-read for fans of nostalgic magic and richly layered stories.

Thank you to Meg Shaffer, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for pre-approving me to receive an electrical Advanced Review Copy of The Lost Story. I especially would like to thank Megan Whalen from Random House Publishing Group for reaching out to me regarding the novel.

This is Lost Boys, Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe into a mythical magical realm. Fifteen years ago, Ralph and Jeremy vanished during a school trip to West Virginia. When they returned mysteriously stronger and healthier six months later, Ralph, renamed Rafe by Jeremy, had no memory of their experiences. Jeremy promptly moved to England with his mother, severing ties with Rafe. Fast forward 15 years: Rafe is an artist grappling with mental health issues, and Jeremy, is now known for finding lost children, especially girls, Jeremy knows he must find Rafe when is hired by Emelie to locate her missing sister, Shannon, who had disappeared from the same forest a few years before the boys. The trio embarks on a journey to a magical yet perilous realm, confronting themes of love, friendship, family, and forgiveness along the way. With its focus leaning towards the YA genre, This book was not for me maybe because of the fantasy perspective or the YA genre. "The Lost Story" blends contemporary fantasy with heartfelt human drama. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

Having recently finished the previously published The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer, I am happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine!

"But you don’t really need a magic pencil to write a magic book. All books are magic."

I went into this story with high hopes and ready for anything and everything to happen. The details and settings grabbed me right away; I was there with the characters in West Virginia and Shanandoah. I was humming along to Landslide for a bit. There were so many wonderful visions of another world to absorb. And then… the dialogue! What a constant distraction and disappointment that became for me. Even in this world of imagination it felt so ridiculous and forced. If only the magical unicorn pencil could have had the power to edit some of that dialogue to make more sense to me here in the real world.

Delightful story of two boys who go missing for six months then return. As an adult, one helps find other missing people, so when Emily comes asking for help to find her sister, lost in the same woods he was, he knows he needs to return to find the truth. This sounds like a mystery/thriller, but it's more of a charming fairy tale as the boys were in a magical land. I loved this book with its great characters, fun setting/plot, and fantasy elements.

The Lost Story* is a magical, heartwarming tale that feels like stepping into a dream. Meg Shafer's writing is enchanting, with vivid descriptions and a story that celebrates the power of creativity, resilience, and human connection. The characters are endearing, and the plot unfolds like a puzzle, keeping you invested until the final page. Perfect for fans of whimsical, feel-good novels with a touch of mystery and magic. This book is a delightful escape!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I was drawn in to the story at first, but found I was never able to fully connect with the characters and ended up skimming the last parts just to know what happened.

I ATE this book up and left no crumps. The intricate intertwining of fairy tale and reality was expertly done. I was left feeling for the lost boys and what they endured and also helping their "Wendy" find her missing sister. This book was exquisitely written and I am anxiously waiting for Meg's next novel

The Lost Story
Meg Shaffer

Jeremy and Rafe were best friends when they went missing only to reappear six months later. They go on to live their lives for the next fifteen years, one becoming an investigator and the other an artist. When another girl goes missing in the same forest, they know the frightening dangers that the magical realm holds and they know they must help.

This book really surprised me, it was a beautiful heartwarming story. I loved the way the boys, or men, came back together in order to help the girl. This is a must read for me personally.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for my honest opinions.

Read this in hardcover as a pick by Jenny Lawson's Fantastic Strangelings bookclub. Dark Narnia vibes with secrets and lovely characters.

Oh this was a good one! This author always has the most unique stories told with voices that are so different than the norm!
A great story with great characters!