4.5 stars rounded up. This really was a delightful book that left me smiling.

Was it perfect? No, of course not. No such thing as a perfect book. The magical vibes were real though. Which made the parts where reality slipped in that much worse. There are definitely sad/dark moments scattered throughout.

The light is stronger than the dark here though. The main characters aren't the most fleshed out ones I've read, but they are adorable and I was rooting for them all.

The ending hinted at a sequel. I'm not sure if the story really needs one or if the hint was meant to be taken seriously, but I know for a fact I'd read it - or whatever else Meg Shaffer comes up with next.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

What if you had two choices for your life:
1) Set in the “real world” with your family - good and bad - with ordinary day to day activities.
2) Set in a place of pure fantasy, with a Queen, unicorns, and Bright Boys, who may try to kill you.
Which would you choose?
Does your answer change if you don't like your home life?

For two boys, Jeremy Cox and Ralph “Rafe” Howell, they got to experience both worlds. Their families thought they were dead, after going missing during a hike. But they were actually living their best lives in a place called Shanandoah.
Eventually the two returned, but one had no memory of his time away. Why? You'll learn later and it only adds to the mystical nature of the story.

When a woman, Emelie Wendell, asks for help finding her sister, Shannon, the boys reluctantly agree to help for one specific reason, which I won’t share.
What I will say is this story was a perfect blend of fiction and fantasy. I loved how the author created a magical fairy tale element and emerged the three into this other world.

Besides fighting bad guys, this story explores the highs and lows family can bring, and how love can blossom, in the most innocent of ways.

While I didn’t expect this story to have the perfect fairy tale ending, it gets pretty close. Overall, this was a charming and immersive read. A great escape for all with an open mind.

This book was out of my comfort zone because I don’t read fantasy and not much YA, which I feel like this is (although characters are older most of the time). But when it was described to be like Narnia, with humans in a fantasy world, I thought I’d give it a try. I’m really glad a did – I read it in less than 24 hours! The story itself was great but it also has “storyteller” chapters with a narrator like a fairytale and some of those chapters made me chuckle out loud – such fun! It’s not like books I normally recommend and don’t know that it’s everyone’s cup of tea, but I hope everyone will give it a try and let it bring out their inner child’s imagination. And bonus, there’s a recipe for an apple cake at the back that sounds delicious.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the complimentary copy of this book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

Two boys who went missing and returned went back to find another missing person. They encounter a life where they are royalty but must fight for good over evil.

When I first read the description of The Lost Story I thought it had so much promise. C.S. Lewis and The Narnia series was a favorite of mine as a chid and is well loved by many. The story just did not come together for me. While it is a fast read, the build-up took an extremely long time and then not very much happens. The characters don't feel like they have a lot of depth and there is a TON of dialogue - not a lot of "showing" and a lot of "telling" left me struggling to imagine this world and the people who lived in it. The book felt very "YA" which isn't a problem, I do love a good YA, but this just did not work for me. This is, of course, just *my* opinion and there are a lot of people who are loving this book.

I loved The Wishing Game and how magical it felt. The Lost Story is maybe even more magical. I instantly fell in love with these characters and their story. It was fun, heart warming, and cozy. It was touching, a little heartbreaking, and just full of wonder.

Jeremy and Rafe’s story was one of love and friendship. Of being there for each other even while being a part. Emilie was such a ray of sunlight and positivity. Her honesty was refreshing and her just looking for family was such a good addition to this story.

I just wish there was more. The way this ended made me think that there is room for a sequel and I really hope there is. I want them all to be reunited again and explore more of the magic in this story.

4.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

Wow. This was amazing! This was magical, heartbreaking, healing and so beautifully written. This is perfect for readers that grew up loving the worlds of Narnia and the Land of Oz. I loved The Wishing Game and this second novel from Meg Shaffer didn’t disappoint! This is available on July 16th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reading that this was inspired by C.S. Lewis's Narnia books was one of the things that drew me to this book, but the story itself sounded right up my alley too. It started out well. I was intrigued by the beginning with Emilie meeting Jeremy. Once they teamed up, I found their dialogue a little awkward and unnatural sounding. Once they went to convince Rafe to go along, I thought Emilie's ferocious defensiveness about Jeremy came a little too soon after just meeting him. Jeremy's secretiveness was extremely frustrating, but I did think it made sense once I knew why he wouldn't tell Rafe anything. It took over a third of the book for them to cross over into Shanandoah, and once there, it felt like a child's idea of how fairy tales are supposed to go, kind of like someone took a packet of Instant Fairy Tale, added water, and stirred. At about the 80% mark, I found out why the story feels like this, and I appreciated the cleverness of it. I'm not sure it was enough to make up for feeling like I was reading subpar work for a good chunk of the book.
Once the characters split up, I cared a lot more about Jeremy and Rafe's story than I did Skya and Emilie's. I wasn't a huge fan of Emilie for a lot of the book (she seemed like a cutesy caricature), and I liked Skya even less. There couldn't have been a story without either of them, but I wasn't sad the author spent more time on Jeremy and Rafe. I did like Emilie's wish at the end.
I know some reviewers didn't like the Storyteller Corner sections, where the reader is addressed directly. I actually liked them and thought it was a fun way to make the book stand out from similar stories. It seems like this may be the start of a series. I wonder if they will continue to have Storyteller Corners. People who have read the book will point out how I'm being inconsistent for liking these sections. They would be right, but I'm O.K. with it.
I went back and forth with this one. I was moved by Jeremy and Rafe's history and not so moved or convinced by their relationship with Skya, probably because all that bonding happened off page.
I don't know if I'd read another or not. The author left room for more, but this might be enough for me, and it ended in a good stopping place for folks who decide not to continue.

A wonderful story about imagination, loyalty, friendship and family. I can’t decide if this is an adult book or a YA book, but I think that’s partly why I liked it so much. It reminds adults that we are kids at heart and how powerful our imagination can be. It’s a great adventure story that is rooted in adult themes. A great summer read.

Magical Realism

I don't quite know how to classify this book - it's YA, it's NA, it's a fairy tale and it's contemporary. Whichever category you put this novel in - it's all around lovely.

Rafe and Jeremy have been friends since high school. They got lost in the woods for 6 months and when they got home Rafe had no memory and Jeremy didn't give any answers that made sense. They have lost touch for 15 years, but a young woman looking for her sister brings them back together. Can Rafe handle knowing the past? What if the "reality" isn't real?

Shaffer's created world is fantastical! She did an excellent job of making Shanandoahland come alive. It's fully formed and makes sense enough for the story to have movement.

I really enjoyed this magical tale. The only complaint I have is that sometimes the writing and plotting became very juvenile. It's a created reality, so anything she writes can happen - there were times that it felt ham-handed or too abrupt. These are very minor complaints. I didn't like this as much as Shaffer's debut novel, but it was still great.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

As a huge Narnia fan and a West Virginia girl, I was hooked from the very beginning. This book is absolutely amazing, and I loved every second of this world.

The story begins with an intriguing premise: as boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a 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 later Jeremy, who is a missing persons investigator meets Emilie whose sister went missing in the same forest 20 years prior.

As the quest to find Emilie’s sister begins, Jeremy's secrets start to unravel. Rafe and Jeremy must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories. Alongside the headstrong Emilie, they must return to the enchanted world they once called home—for only then can they reclaim everything and everyone they’ve lost.

My only complaint is that the characters, who should be in their thirties, are written much younger than I would expect. I do think this book could be marketed as young adult. Nonetheless, this minor issue did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. Shaffer's storytelling is captivating, and the blend of mystery and fantasy kept me enthralled from start to finish. The Lost Story is a must-read for anyone who loves immersive fantasy worlds and compelling characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (Fiction)

Synopsis: Fifteen years ago, Jeremy and Ralph disappeared in a West Virginia state park. Six months later they turn back up, Ralph doesn’t remember anything and Jeremy isn’t talking. Now, Jeremy has a gift for finding lost children. He has been asked by a girl named Emilie to help find her sister who was kidnapped in the same woods the two boys went missing. Only Jeremy knows the truth about the magical realm they travelled to, and he knows that is where they’ll find Emilie’s sister. In order to find her, Jeremy needs Ralph’s help. As the two boys confront everything that happened fifteen years ago, will they grow back together? Or will they continue to live as far apart from each other as possible?

My Thoughts: I loved this book! I literally read it in one day. I loved it. Meg Schaffer’s debut novel, The Wishing Game was one of my favorite books last year, and I can guarantee that this is going to be one of my favorites from this year. I really loved the Narnia-esque parts of this book. I also loved the love story, especially since I wasn’t expecting it. I truly really loved this book. And Meg Shaffer is becoming an auto-buy for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an early copy of the book to review. All opinions are my own.

If you like The Wishing Game or the Chronicles of Narnia, you’ll like this book.

What a wonderfully written book! I could genuinely tell that it was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia, as it doesn't shy away from it in the narrative. It, somehow, felt like it was a classic in its own right.

If you ever wondered what happened to the children who visited Neverland, Narnia, Wonderland, or any other fantastical realm separate from our own - then this might be the book for you.

Did the children stay, or did they return home? No, this isn't Alice going mad, but this does involve people feeling lost and incomplete. (Also, be warned that it does include some things that might be triggering.)

The "big bad" was an obvious plot choice, yet I don't think its resolution was meant to be the primary takeaway. I'm not even entirely certain I fully comprehend the depth of this narrative. I feel like its something to the extent of "Love and magic are all around us, and you can never be lost with either as your companion." Granted, I don't think that explanation did the story justice.

Yes, being lost (physically, emotionally, romantically, mentally) is a big theme in this book. Finding yourself is also a theme too. It deals with the importance of found family and following your instinct (and your heart).

This book really does a fantastic job of marrying a child's imagination with an adult's yearning. And, in truth, there does come a point in life where you find yourself revisiting your youth and rediscovering all that was lost to age/time. A new light is shined upon those memories and they propel you into the next chapter of life. The Lost Story captures that moment beautifully.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan of author, Meg Shafffer, for many years, spanning from her erotica work as Tiffany Reisz and now wonderful tales reminiscent of William Goldman’s The Princess Bride and Neil Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Road type vibes, like The Lost Story.

“Books are magic.”

Whimsical, humorous, I mean who wouldn’t want to boop death on the nose, and pure magic, if you like fairytales with a Queen and her castle, a lost Princess, a Princess, a Knight and even a mouse, check this out. You won’t regret it.

I loved Shaffer’s previous book, The Wishing Game, so I was excited to receive a pre-released copy of this book. I am a huge fan of C. S. Lewis as well. His books inspired the author of this book..
C. S. Lewis is a Christian author who beautifully describes God’s glory in his writings. All of the characters in his Narnia novels reflect parts of the gospel. I didn’t necessarily expect this author to do the same but I did not appreciate how she forced her political agend into the two main characters. Reading this made me, as a believer, very uncomfortable. I was not able to see a true relation to Narnia in this book. There was another world that they ventured to and there was a Queen and a knight etc. but that is really all the similarities I could find. I stopped 60 percent of the way through this book but felt like I was educated enough to leave a review. Thank you Netgalley for the early release of this book. I leave this review for others who are like-minded in their faith.

SUMMARY

Jeremy and Rafe were lost in the woods for 6 months. When they returned, Rafe had no memory and Jeremy refused to say anything about what happened. Fast forward 15 years and both men have lost touch. When Jeremy agrees to help a woman find her lost sister in the same woods where he went missing, he knows he will need Rafe by his side.

MY THOUGHTS

This one is being marketed strangely. It’s a YA M/M romance with fantasy elements that’s being marketed as an adult fantasy mystery. I’m sure the publishers have a strategy. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I flew through this one and appreciated the mystery elements that kept me curious about what would happen next. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning and the ending was abrupt, but it was still a great story. It was very different from The Wishing Game, but Meg Shaffer’s tone was still very strong.

It reminded me a lot of Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series. And I agree with the comparisons to Narnia and Oz.

Publishing on July 16th or you can get it early now through @bookofthemonth. Thanks to @netgalley & @randomhouse for the ARC!


Tw: child abuse (verbal and one scene of physical)

Grab this book. I urged you to grab The Wishing Game, and I'm telling you this one is a MUST for all of those adults like me who grew up with their head in a book dreaming of fairytales.

Meg Shaffer does it again for me. Her writing is so enjoyable, and her storytelling is perfect. I really didn't think she could beat her first novel, but I enjoyed this one even more. Have you chosen your BOTM yet? CHOOSE THIS ONE.

Meg Shaffer follows Emilie, Jeremy, and Rafe, flipping between their POVS and the little midchapters of a mystery storyteller, to help Emilie find her sister Shannon. Magic feels so real in these pages as Jeremy and Rafe return to Red Crow to help Emilie. This was truly Narnia for adults.

I did choose it as my BOTM, though, because I KNEW I needed a physical copy of this one.

I finished reading this two minutes ago and that two minutes was spent messaging two friends telling them to read it when it’s out.

I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

I loved The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. It was one of my top reads last year. So when I saw she had a new book coming out, I knew I wanted to read it and it did not disappoint. You know how sometimes, you remember a book for how it makes you feel? Meg’s books always leave me internally blissful, and wanting more. (Especially in this case where the ending maybe insinuates there will be another book to continue the story??)

It’s just magic. It’s two men who were considered lost as children, only to have been taken to a magical world which they then left and one literally had to forget everything and the other had to pretend he did not remember anything. In the ways of magic - they find the person they need to find to be able to go back, and deal with childhood trauma and relationship building again. My summary is horrible, I know. It’s hard to put into words how much I enjoyed this book and I know I’ll be rereading it soon.

An absolutely stunning follow up to The Wishing Game. I adored this grown up fairy tale. Meg Shaffer’s prose continues to get more lyrical and that much more enjoyable to read. It was such a delight. Though inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia, this story and idea stands uniquely on its own.

Seriously fantastic! I was sucked in from the start. Schaffer’s world building effortlessly transports you and makes you feel as if you’re there. I really enjoyed that it was a Narnia-esque world. This is definitely worth a read.