This book was AWESOME. Perfect for fans of Bruce Coville, CS Lewis, and the Neverending Story. A modern fairy tale, true crime junkie's fever dream,. The best book of 2024 so far..

This is the perfect book for the young and the young at heart (and any millennials hungry for a return to Narnia). Shaffer does an awesome job alluding to many of the fantasy genre’s best novels with clever nods to Oz, NeverEnding Story and many more. Despite the connection to the past, this story is uniquely modern and is gripping from page one. Hopefully many many readers will get their hands on this fantastic novel. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

I think I can be classified as an all-out fan of Meg Shaffer. I adored her book <i>The Wishing Game</i>, and I feel the same way about her newest release, <i>The Lost Story.</i> Both books are emotionally-gutting with intricate characters and innovative approaches to storytelling.

<i>The Lost Story</i> begins with a news story about two missing teenage boys in the wilds of West Virginia. After six months, the presumed-dead best friends emerged in good health and no trustworthy account of what happened when they were missing. One of them, Rafe, has no memory of the time at all; Jeremy remembers and says little, but as he grows up, he becomes a famed missing persons investigator. Rafe becomes an artistic recluse in the woods.

When a vet tech, Emilie Wendell, approaches Jeremy for help in finding an older sister she just discovered through DNA testing--a sister who vanished long ago--she has no idea the scope of the story she is within.

This is in many ways a fantasy story told within literary framework, and it works. It's an ode to the power of fantasy, but approaches it from a different way than in <i>The Wishing Game</i> (and I did appreciate the quiet nod Shaffer made to her previous book). There's a beautiful, banter-filled queer romance and a profound found family narrative that powers the book through the end. I was fighting tears through the last 10%, which was rather awkward as I was on an airplane and masked up. This book is just.... stunning. Deep. It delves into some hard topics around abuse, but overall is hopeful and resilient.

Wow I’m not sure I can love this story anymore. My heart strings are pulled, my emotions are stretched, and my wish for more is growing larger and larger.

Rafe and Jeremy went missing 15 years ago and after they were found lost contact with each other. Until Emilie approaches Jeremy to find her missing sister and Jeremy knows he can’t find her without Rafe’s help.

Together these three set out on an adventure no one expected, learning about themselves and each other along the way.

In Meg Shaffer style the twists are fun, the ending is satisfying, and the characters are your new best friends.

What a fun read! I went into this book completely blind, and I honestly think it may be more enjoyable that way. BUT if you would like a real quick synopsis read the following paragraph↴
15 years ago, two best friends, Jeremy and Rafe, get lost in the woods in West Virginia, and come back six months later unscathed. They claimed they were just lost, but is that what really happened? Nobody knows what happened to them, even Rafe because he lost his memories. Only Jeremy remembers, and he refuses to talk about it. 15 years later, Jeremy helps find lost girls and brings them home. One day, a girl named Emilie, asks Jeremy to help find her sister, who happened to disappear in the same woods he did 15 years ago... and the story takes off from there!

I absolutely LOVED the format of this book. The addition of a storyteller was so refreshing, and it just made me smile every time the storyteller took over the book for a moment. I had no idea this book was going to have fantasy elements in it, and I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know why, but I originally thought this book might be a bit dark? But it wasn't really. There were hard topics mentioned in this book, but definitely not by any means a dark story. I would say the majority of the book put a huge smile on my face.

I love a good story about friendship, belonging, and family. I think this story really encompassed those things well. I was a little thrown off by how attached Emilie was to a sister she never met, but I understood her wanting to have a home again, with someone she felt like she belonged with. Jeremy and Rafe's story was so bittersweet, and it absolutely killed me at certain parts (in a good way of course). There were so many "why's?" I kept asking throughout the book for them specifically, and then eventually finding out why and learning what they've been through broke my heart a bit.

I think I would consider this somewhat of a cozy read? The stakes were kind of high at some points? But also not? I'm not sure how to explain this very well, but at no point was I panicking for the characters in the story. This book was very whimsical, magical, and heartwarming, but it didn't quite make me feel for the characters enough. I tend to fall in love with characters hard and feel too much for them, but this one didn't have that strong pull for me. I still enjoyed them, but I didn't feel any attachment for them.

Overall, if you couldn't tell, I really enjoyed this read. This story ends on a note that makes me believe we might be seeing more of this world again? Possibly? Please? It was a cute magical story that I definitely want to revisit again in the future ♥

Thank you netgalley and Random House Publishing for the e-arc.

I adored this book! It's a fairy tale for adults which was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia! It is full of vivid descriptions of a faraway enchanted land called Shenandoah. It's magical, enchanting, gripping, moving, and wonderful. I was swept away and loved every page! This book is full of deep friendships, adventure, love, lost boys, romance, family, and found family. I truly wished to get lost in Shenandoah and spend more time there until I let go of my insecurities, fears, troubles, and stress, shedding my old whining self and returning to innocence, laughing like a child. The world-building, metaphors, and Easter eggs hidden in the book, with references to Gilmore Girls and Batman, made me giddy.

Loved this book! Was one of my favorite reads of the year so far! I will reccomend this to everyone!!!

Perhaps inspired by C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lost Story is sort of an adult fairy tale. When they were boys, Jeremy and Safe go missing on a school field trip to a forest. Six months later, they mysteriously reappear. Although Rafe has no memory of what happened the months they were gone, Jeremy know that they actually entered a magical world unbeknownst to virtually everyone. For years, Jeremy has kept this secret, telling no one about where he and Rafe were when they had disappeared. However, now that a young girl has gone missing in the same forest in which Jeremy and Rafe had disappeared, both come to the realization that they must somehow go back to that magical world to help find this missing girl. I must be an outlier here because I really wanted to love this book, but it just did not do it for me. Although the storyline was a good one, it just did not blow me away as I thought it might.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer was a five star read for me last year so I was excited to get my hands on her new one, The Lost Story. For the first half I was liking this one even better. The part that took place in the magical kingdom was really good too, but some of it fell a bit short for me so I lowered the rating to a four, still a very good rating for me. As a fairytale should, it ended on a good one, but as an adult fairytale it left room for the reader to think about what might happen next. Or maybe there will be a sequel?!?

After reading The Wishing Game I had to get this book. I love this author’s writing and story telling.

I’m from WV and I loved how well the state is represented it doesn’t include any stereotypes even in a joking manner from a character.

This is a slower pace story, but it’s a story I didn’t want to rush through. Throughout the story we have a narrator commenting on what is happening and there is an option to skip a chapter. I did not skip the chapter and found it helpful in understanding Jeremy better.

The world created in this story is magical and beautiful. I wish I could visit this world myself. I loved the characters and character growth and how the story develops.

The last 50 or so pages does lag, but there is quite if a bit story to still wrap up. It’s worth it. The ending felt fitting for the story.

I saw that nod to The Wishing Game in the story.

If you enjoyed The Wishing Game you’ll love this one. Both stories have some similarities, but not in a formula aspect.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Ok this is definitely not my usual genre, but it was fun to step into the world of adult fairytales. Unique and kept my attention!

[i] And it turns out you can’t have a fairy tale without anything bad happening in it. Fairy tales need heroes. Princes and knights need enemies. Life needs death. That’s the price of magic.” [/i]

After disappearing in the woods as boys, two men help a young woman find her missing sister—and a great magic hiding just beyond the trees.

Meg Shaffer’s greatest skill as an author for me is her dialogue. These characters have a great dynamic, funny and quippy. I loved the main three’s relationships with one another, though a fourth lead appeared later who needed a little more development for me.

I think some of the structure of this novel could have been considered a little more for the sake of pace and how to bring out the revelations in the most exciting way. Though the story begins with Emilie, she ends up being supporting cast for the men (and kidnapped twice!). But I loved the queer romance and could see the author in dialogue with her influences from childhood, which was heart warming. The West Virginia setting was fun too! Overall, a compelling if not always propulsive read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

‘All books are magic.’ And I really enjoyed this one! I’m a child of the 90s and anything that gives me that nostalgic Never Ending Story or Labyrinth feeling, I’m going to love.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romantic relationship.. I wish that, in general, in media, there could be more emphasis on friendships and the kind of love and loyalty between friends instead of there always being a romantic piece.
I really enjoyed the fantasy world. And the story was a very quick read with a lot of dialogue.

I’m into these adult fairy tales.. though the endings never cease to make me cry.
I’ll take more of this genre please!

West - By God! - Virginia! I loved this story!!!

This is a gorgeous fairy tale with Lost Boys, Bright Boys, hidden secret kingdoms, Queens and Princes and Knights and ROMANCE - The greatest gayest romance I've ever read!

My one teeny tiny gripe is the Ghost Town was a little too much like the Upside Down but less scary.
Also: what happened to the werewolf?!

There is heartache and sacrifice and pain and love and beauty and art in this novel. I am not doing this book enough justice in this review. Five stars all day ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kill all the spiders.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for this ARC!!!

Wow. This was a clever, unexpected, endearing, and engrossing story. I love that the inspiration comes from Narnia! The beginning immediately hooked me. I really liked the addition of a storyteller who interrupts the story to explain a plot point or foreshadow something. I also liked that they break the fourth wall and talk to the reader as if they are in the same room.
There were lots of plot twists and surprises! My jaw actually dropped open multiple times. This is a book you won’t be able to put down and when you finish it you will be craving another fantastical story by Meg Shaffer. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books, and Meg Shaffer for an e-ARC of The Lost Story.

I was so excited to see that Meg Shaffer created another book, The Lost Story, with a Narnia-esque re-imagining. I knew from reading The Wishing Game last year that whatever I thought might happen in this book was unlikely to be what actually happened because Meg Shaffer manages to change my mind and throw me off for a final result in a story in a way few authors do. I really enjoyed this book and I loved the individual start to every Chapter that felt like internal author dialogue to set up a scene change or just to give reference, it was so cute and I loved it.

I thought the romance between the two MMC's was perfect and the backstory for their initial disappearance realistic based on the location and community they came from. I felt that there was something special about the found family, magical place of West Virginia that only Meg Shaffer can paint. It was truly a wonderful book and kept me waiting for more. I will absolutely continue to be a Meg Shaffer reader for future books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this eARC.

Shaffer’s last book was written for the adults who, as kids, disappeared with a middle grade fantasy novel and weren’t seen again for hours. This is another book for bookish kids who grew up into book loving adults. Where Clock Island and middle grade fantasy was the inspiration for The Wishing Game, this was fairy tales and fantasy.

The Lost Story has lost family, found family, trauma, fantasy, and a bit of a love story. It’s accessible, compelling, and beautifully done. I wanted more meat in certain places but that may have impacted how much it would feel like a fairy tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would recommend it for anyone bookish in your life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Meg Shaffer for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Lost Story.
This wonderfully descriptive setting of a new adult fairytale reminds me of a combination of Narnia and The Wizard of Oz. I can imagine a children's book with beautifully colored illustrated pages to go along with this story. As well as a blockbuster movie to entice us all. This is a heartfelt story of friendship, family, good vs evil and there's no place like home. The plot moves quickly through enchanted lands and the characters are well developed. I love all the references to books and the arts and the omission of technology and computers.
I especially enjoyed the storyteller corner which adds commentary from an unknown source that encourages us to take a break and think about what has occurred and what may be in the future.
This is a feel good story, somewhat predictable but takes you on an enjoyable journey away from reality and our everyday lives. Can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

First off, thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OUTLIER ALERT!!! The Wishing Game was one of my favorite books this year and remains one of my ALL-TIME favorites!! Naturally, I was eagerly anticipating this second novel and was overjoyed when I got approved for the ARC. So, believe me, no one is more crestfallen than I am that it didn't work for me this time. The idea of a tribute to cherished fairy tales set in a Narnia-like world sounded incredibly promising. However, the story didn't quite live up to its potential for me. The Lost Story features two main characters, both fourteen year old boys, who develop an intimate relationship and fall in love in their alternate world. The author's choice to reimagine Narnia in a more contemporary way, which doesn't align with my personal beliefs on this topic, was disappointing. While I adored The Wishing Game, unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed escaping into this magical world of a fairy tale that I did not want to end! I loved the characters, the plot, the story line, I LOVED everything about this book. Reading this e-book, I felt like I wanted to be in the story with the characters, I wanted to laugh, cry, celebrate with Rafe, Jeremy, Emilie, and Skya, as I grew to enjoy them throughout the story.

I really enjoyed how there weren't a lot of characters to keep track off and remember. Reading this book felt like I was giving the story a hug and I instantly looked forward to what was going to happen next whenever I picked up where I left off.

I would recommend this story to whoever likes fantasy/magical realism. This will be probably my favorite book that I had read in 2024 and I will most likely be buying a physical copy when it is for sale.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a E-ARC of 'The Lost Story' by Meg Shaffer.

3.5-4 stars

Shaffer has created an interesting world giving us a captivating story with an overall feel good message of love, inclusion, forgiveness, and found family. Very much inspired by C.S Lewis and the Narnia series, 3 people are whisked away to a magical world that feels more like home than anyplace else.

Honestly, I feel like this book is geared a little more toward young adults than adults, just based off the dialogue and banter between the characters. It came off a bit juvenile to me. I enjoyed it, just wasn't quite the story I was expecting. It has to be challenging to create enough world building in a fantasy land for just one book, so bravo to the author for getting it done.