Two friends walk out of the forest after being lost for several months, healthy but one remembers nothing and the other shares nothing. They return to the forest fifteen years later to answer questions and find a girl who was lost in the forest years before their initial disappearance.

Though there are heavy themes such as child abuse and death sprinkled throughout the story, it is rather lighthearted. It felt like reading an early YA book but with adult characters who had adult problems. That being said, I wish that it had been more. More saturated with description, more deep in the emotional experiences, more gravity to the stakes. It was a good book but it could have been a great one.

“All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room? A story written by a stranger and yet it seems they wrote it just for you or to you? Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper, not flesh and blood? Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.”

Rafe and Jeremy went missing when they were young only to show up six months later with no answers for the authorities or their families about how they survived the West Virginian forest. Years later Rafe is living alone with no memory of what happened during that time and Jeremy has become famous for his uncanny ability to find missing people, which is why Emilie knows he's the one who can help her find her sister. Jeremy remembers every magical moment of his time missing in a magical and dangerous realm, and believes that is where Emilie's sister will be found, but in order to get back there he will need Rafe's help.

This was cute and whimsical and like her last book Shaffer brought the magic to life on the page. I absolutely love the idea of a child's story coming to life in a way to protect from a bad situation and adored the friendships that were so very real feeling in this story. There is no doubt when reading this book that the worlds and the magic are real because it draws you in so deeply you can't help but believe that there is a bit of magic out there waiting to be found.

The Lost Story is a beautiful fairy tale for most ages which will not only tug at your heart and bring tears to your eyes, but also will have you falling in love with the most wonderful, strong, funny characters as they attempt to go to battle for each other against some very unlikeable enemies.

Where to begin...Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell disappeared in a West Virginia forest as teenagers. After many massive searches and attempts to find the lost boys, hope was lost. No clues were ever discovered. As mysteriously as they disappeared, six months later Jeremy and Rafe walk back out of the woods to the shock of the not only their parents, but the whole town. Rafe does not remember anything about his time in the forest, and Jeremy chooses to keep it that way.

Now, years later, the boys are men and have gone their separate ways. Rafe lives alone in a cabin and loves art, still with no memory of what occurred all those years ago. Jeremy is now a missing person's advocate who seems to have a gift for finding lost or missing people.

One day, a girl named Emilie Wendell walks up to Jeremy and begins pleading with him to find her sister Shannon, a sister up until recently she didn't know she had, who seems to have disappeared into the same forest as Jeremy and Rafe. A teenager, she for all accounts was a budding writer. She had been abducted. Her abductor had been found dead, but Shannon was gone.

Jeremy and a reluctant Rafe agree to take Emilie's case and thus begins a magical, fantastical journey as the three begin their quest to find Emilie's sister in the forest in which they too had disappeared. What happens to them all is for the most part, pure joy, and love and excitement. Yes, there are those who hate them and want them dead, but there are also those who want to make amends and protect them.

I will not say much about their journey, as I don't want to spoil the wonderous discoveries, funny situations and of course the danger they are in. What I will tell you is at the end of the story; I had tears in my eyes.

The Lost Story is a lovely, wonderous, imaginative tale with extremely lovable, quirky characters but is also filled with heart and soul. I am truly glad I was able to find this lost story! And hopefully it will go on for a long time!

Thank you #NetGalley #BallentineBooks #MegShaffer #TheLostStory for the advanced copy.

Chronicles of Narnia but make it gay? Yes please!

I found this to be very escapist-- it really draws you in and lets you forget where you are while you're reading. The two main leads pulled at my heartstrings, and I also found this to be very much an ode to books, which I will always love.

This whimsical adult fairytale has lost children, a magical land, family trauma, friendship - it really transported me into the magical books of my childhood. I love when characters become family, and I loved the fantasy world. There are certainly serious issues addressed in this book - it is, after all, for adults. (It may be good to check out the trigger warnings online.) But what I mostly remember about it is the sense of magic and wonder. If you enjoy portal fantasy, whimsey, found family, and a sweet story, I'd recommend this book.

I really enjoyed getting lost in this book. The magic in it was so comforting, the story sweet. A perfect book to read as an adult to bring back so much nostalgia.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.

What if there were follow-up stories about what happens to the children lost to magical worlds who return and have to grow into adulthood in the "real world?" This book explores just that.

Jeremy and Rafe were best friends and freshmen in high school when they disapperared in the forest for six months, returning with no explanation of what happened. Fast forward fifteen years, Jeremy makes a living finding missing girls and hasn't spoken to Rafe since he left the hospital after their return. He can't tell Rafe that while Rafe has no memory of where they were and what they did, Jeremy remembers everything. When Emily contacts Jeremy for help finding her sister who disappeared in the same forest he did but years earlier, Jeremy realizes it's time to go back to Rafe and return to the forest.

A magical story of a hidden world, created by a girl who wanted to escape her real life, and welcomed others like her.

The inspiration for this book was The Chronicles of Narnia. Sadly, I’ve never read that book, but I was still able to enjoy this book. It was wonderful and magical!

📣 a fantasy where two besties are reunited, the forest isn’t what it seems, & pretty much anything is possible

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what are your weekend plans? We’re fall festival-ing today & I’m freaking excited about it! Can’t wait to go explore a pumpkin patch!

Meg Shaffer’s The Lost Story didn’t go where I thought it would. It pretty much surprised me from the beginning on, & in the end left me with memories of a story that was lovely, unexpected, & all about love.

Jeremy & Rafe were the Lost Boys of West Virginia. Besties who have been separated for over a decade, they’re brought back together when Emilie asks Jeremy to find her sister. Jeremy leads the other two on a trip to a magical kingdom, where secrets are revealed & Rafe is confronted with the things he’s forgotten.

That summary is totally surface-level, & the actual story is hard to describe & much richer. There’s a romance in this story, & also a a web of friendship & connection that can cross different planes.

I think I wanted something more—this one’s a bit understated—but overall, TLS is an intriguing & striking book & I loved the West Virginia setting.

4.5 ⭐️. Out now!

CWs: abuse, violence, homophobia.

[ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of the ruins of a house.]

I found myself getting lost in the characters and really invested in the plot. However, towards the end of the book, I found myself uninterested in it all. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style from her previous book. These fairy tales were so interesting to me but this one wasn’t.

A Narnia-like tale for grown-ups, heavily influenced by Lord of the Flies, set in wild and wonderful West Virginia, plus elements of cozy fantasy—what a package!

I absolutely loved this! It was sweet, beautifully written, and the setting was fantastic. It was very reminiscent of Narnia and Peter Pan with the lost boys aspect.

The Lost Story is a fantasy adventure story set in the woods of West Virginia and could easily be read by all ages. Meg Shaffer does a wonderful job of building this world and bringing these characters to life. In the end,it seemed like there might be more to come. If so, I'm very much looking forward to reading it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

think for anyone who used to be a kid that desperately wanted magic to be real, books like this hold a nostalgic charm. It’s hard not to grin as the characters discover a fantasy world for the first time. I loved that the story wasn’t overly saccharine about the magic and the reasoning behind the issues of the world. It’s also always great to see queer love in genres that typically lean heteronormative. There were a couple aspects that didn’t quite work for me, and most of that stems from my constant desire for more depth. While some topics definitely lean more adult, the plot progression mirrors the stories it’s inspired by more and things resolved too easily for me. I still really enjoyed the time I spent with this story and I am willing to let my issues go for the charm factor.

After absolutely LOVING the Wishing Game, I was so excited to read The Lost Story. Sadly, this book fell short for me. I didn't feel a great connection to any of the characters and the story line jumped around a lot- making it hard to follow at times. I know that many people say that they loved the fairy tale, but I didn't get "fairy tale" vibes. I wish that I liked this book more because it was so promising, but it was not for me.

Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.
C.S. Lewis

I was immediately drawn in by the cover and was absolutely sucked in from the very first chapter. I ate this book up and finished it within 24 hours! The unicorns and mermaids, the narrator, the mysery of missing kids- this book has it all!

The goods: short chapters, the narrator (omg sooo good), the Gilmore Girls references, the Fleetwood Mac references, the cover, being able to relate to certain characters and of course Skya!

The bads: I can’t figure out the age group that this book was written for. It reads teenager/young adult but has older references that teenagers might not understand. I felt like the middle of the book kind of dragged on.

Jeremy and Rafe disappeared in to the forests of West Virgnia when they were 13 and were missing for six months. Some hikers came upon the two boys in the woods leaving many questions of what happened. Jeremy became well known for his abilities to find missing people. Rafe became reclusive, living in a cabin in the forest. The two did not speak for many years after their ordeal. Many years later, when Emily's mom passes away, she discovers she has a sister. Her sister also went missing in the forests of West Virginia, but she was never found. Emily seeks out Jeremy to assist her to find her sister Shannon. Emily becomes embroiled in a reunion between Jeremy and Rafe in the search for her sister. She learns some of Jeremy and Rafe's secrets including that her sister may be alive, but they need to take Emily to her. The Lost Story combines many of the fantasy fairy tales in telling the story as Jeremy, Rafe and Emily are transported to a different world to look for Shannon. Meg Shaffer has created a wonderful story that is not dystopian, but rather more like a fairy tale, There are many references to the WIzard of Oz, and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe which I loved. The Lost Story is a refreshing twist on the art of fairy tales.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Lost Story.

another magical fantasy portal hit. i loved it. the general vibes are cozy, but there 's also sensitive subjects underneath.

fifteen years ago, Jeremy and Rafe were missing for six months in a West Virginia forest. no one really knew what happened to them. fifteen years later, Jeremy is famous for his ability to find missing girls and women, wherever they are. Emilie, whose mother had just died, tried to seek Jeremy's help to find her half-sister who went missing 20 years ago, 5 years before Jeremy & Rafe's disappearance.

actually the setting and world-building weren't the ones that enthralled me to this story. but the characters! they're all effortlessly charming and their dynamics were good. . also the narrative was a bit unique, every few chapters there's this mysterious storyteller corner that gave the readers extra details and contexts to the story. magical, adventurous, tender, heartwarming. i'm definitely going to check Meg Shaffer's other books after this.

When I saw Meg Shaffer had a new book out I held my breath. I loved “The Wishing Game” and often my second experience with an author is disappointing. Oh me of little faith.

Loved this book, absolutely loved it. West Virginia, lost boys, amnesia, a very out-there and expressive woman in search of her lost sister, a pet rat named Fritz, hints of a fairy tale, MAGIC, and a rip in time. LOVED EVERYTHING about this story. I loved that so much of this story was kind in its treatment of so many important people and issues. I loved that humor and great dialog was inserted throughout the pages. I loved the references to “Stevie Nicks” and the admission that she “transcends space and time”.

Looking for a magical story that makes you feel good all over? This is is the story for you. A gazilliion thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Not as much as Shaffer's previous book (The Wishing Game), which was one of my favorites last year, but still a fun easy read. My biggest complaint was the beginning was kind of long, and then the magic part was too short. I think part of this was because the story was about re-visiting a magical land, not discovering it for the first time, but it was too much anticipation and not enough reward for me. The book was no predictable which I appreciated, I didn't ever know what was going to happen next. Some of the character development seemed a bit forced, but at least you eventually got to know everyone and their backgrounds,

This is an interesting read that brings back dreams of fairy tales for the adult reader.
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.
Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.