The writing in The Lost Story is expressive and passionate and the world-building is quite creative as Meg Shaffer describes a magical land and the characters who are transformed by that magic. However, the uneven pacing, the stilted dialogue, and the interruptions to the action by the storyteller’s commentary detracted from the narrative. Not as good as The Wishing Game by this author, but enjoyable escapist reading nonetheless.

4.5 🌟

This book is a fairytale for adults.

Listen, if I could escape to the world Meg creates in A Lost Story, I would. This book was such a delight and I am declaring myself an official fan of Meg's. I loved the mystery, forbidden love and world creation in this story. If you liked The Wishing Game, run to pick up this book.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

A Lost Story by Meg Shaffer - eBook ARC
4 Stars!

Prepare to be swept away on a whimsical journey through time and imagination with Meg Shaffer's enchanting novel, "A Lost Story." This delightful tale weaves together elements of mystery, adventure, and a touch of magic, creating a captivating narrative that will leave readers spellbound from start to finish.

Set in a quaint English village nestled amidst rolling hills and ancient woods, "A Lost Story" introduces us to Emma, a bookish young woman with a penchant for uncovering forgotten tales. When she stumbles upon an old manuscript hidden in the dusty attic of her ancestral home, Emma embarks on a quest to unravel its secrets—a quest that leads her on a journey through time and across generations.

Shaffer's storytelling is reminiscent of a cozy afternoon spent curled up by the fire, where each turn of the page reveals new wonders and discoveries. The prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid landscapes that transport readers effortlessly between past and present. Whether it's the bustling streets of Victorian London or the quiet tranquility of a rural English garden, Shaffer's attention to detail brings each setting to life with warmth and charm.

Central to the novel's allure is its cast of endearing characters, each with their own dreams, fears, and hopes. Emma's determination to unearth the truth behind the lost story is matched only by her deep-rooted connection to her family's history, making her journey not just a quest for knowledge, but a personal odyssey of self-discovery.

At its heart, "A Lost Story" is a celebration of the power of storytelling itself—a reminder that within every forgotten tale lies a world waiting to be rediscovered. Shaffer seamlessly intertwines themes of love, loss, and the enduring legacy of the past, crafting a narrative that resonates long after the final chapter.

For fans of magical realism and historical fiction alike, "A Lost Story" is a gem waiting to be discovered. Meg Shaffer's ability to blend enchanting prose with a compelling plot makes this novel a joyous exploration of imagination and wonder. Whether you're seeking an escape into a bygone era or simply craving a heartwarming story that leaves you believing in magic, "A Lost Story" is sure to leave you enchanted. Pick up a copy today and lose yourself in its spellbinding charm.

⭐️⭐️💫

I enjoyed reading The Wishing Game and was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations. The writing felt juvenile, as if I was stuck in a young adult novel with unicorns and rainbows and some leftover Dementors from the Harry Potter series. The author seemed undecided about whether the book was a fantasy romantic comedy or a serious story of violence and abuse. Usually, authors blend these different tones seamlessly, but the transitions felt abrupt and out of place in this case.

While I understand that many readers found this book to their liking, I found myself on a solitary island of disappointment. It simply didn’t resonate with me.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC. I had high hopes for this book and I was left feeling very disappointed. The Wishing Game was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was very excited for The Lost Story — maybe too excited. I went into this with high expectations and they weren’t met. Had I read this with normal expectations maybe I would have enjoyed it more, if that makes sense. I’m not sure.

I had a lot of issues with this story as I was reading it. The biggest being that nothing happened until nearly 45% in. The main characters don’t enter the magical world, Shanandoah, until the reader is nearly halfway through the book. Once they finally enter Shanandoah, the place the reader has been anticipating for half the novel, it falls extremely flat. The world building was minimal and sorely lacking. You are introduced to this new magical world only to quickly be skirted away to the darker parts of it, making you feel like you’re not even in a magical world at all.

I also feel this novel lacked cohesiveness. I’m not sure it’s something I can explain in words, but if you read it, I think you’ll feel it too. It just didn’t flow at times, and it left me feeling frustrated. The characters were quite annoying as well (they’d say the strangest things), and I didn’t love any of them.

I did like how there were “storyteller” chapters where you have a storyteller narrating the story, but you don’t know who it is until the end. I also liked that the book was written in the format of a fairy tale. I enjoyed the Kentucky references, such as Bernheim Forest and Ale-8, since I’m a Kentuckian. But overall, I think this book tried to do too much in the second half, without doing near enough in the first. I can’t say I’d recommend this one. Read The Wishing Game instead.

4.5 ⭐️ magical and unforgettable! This was a nostalgic, well-written, and easy read! Devoured in 2 days! Recommend to any lover of fairytales who’s looking to escape into another world :)

In the dark, deep wood of Red Crow Forest in rural West Virginia, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell vanished for six long months seemingly without a trace. Upon their mysterious reappearance, neither of the so-called "Lost Boys" could recall what happened in the woods. And for fifteen years, life for Jeremy and Rafe continued that way as they drifted apart--joined only by the shadow of a memory of their disappearance.

When Emilie Wendell's sister Shannon disappears into the same woods, Emilie seeks out Jeremy because maybe, just maybe, one of the Lost Boys of West Virginia can help find her missing sister.

Without divulging too much of this magical plot, I'll say that I held high hopes for "The Lost Story" after Meg Shaffer's debut novel "The Wishing Game" landed in my top 10 books of 2023 list. In a similar manner, "The Lost Story" is a magical realism novel woven with threads of mystery and fantasy--all the pieces of what should be a Gaiman-like venture into far-off lands of missing children. What I struggled with the most in this novel was its YA-like, unrefined structure, characters, and dialogue. What set "The Wishing Game" apart for me last year was Shaffer's impressive ability to craft a very much adult story that still paid beautiful tribute to the inner child of readers everywhere. Unlike that, "The Lost Story" felt overly-fantastical, wrought with cliched elements untethered to each other, a self-aware storyteller appearing in interludes, and characters that simultaneously acted like adults and young children from one page to the next.

There are some authors that get adult magical realism down perfectly, and while Meg Shaffer has done it before, "The Lost Story" (while a quick and breezy enough read) could have connected so much more for me had it tried to do much less with its characters and concept. To readers new to her, skip this one and read her debut instead.

If you’ve ever sunk down into a book about a magical place people in great need are able to step into and find themselves, you’ll love this story.

Jeremy and Rafe were the best of friends who went missing in a forest only to reappear months later as different people.

Rafe can remember nothing but is haunted by wild dreams. Jeremy remembers everything but can’t tell Rafe and thus spends the next 15 years avoiding him as he instead focuses on helping find the missing.

Then he meets a girl looking for someone who went missing in the same forest he did and he has to reconnect to Rafe to find them.

And this a whole new story begins.

There’s romance, friendship, longing, belonging, family drama, magic, humor and more. Hugely recommend this one!

What a sweet, fun story for all of us who grew up wishing we could find our way through the back of the wardrobe to Narnia. I loved that it ended with so much hope and happiness. A little heavy on the romance (for me, who prefers little to none) but also plenty of magic and challenges to overcome. I appreciated the effort for broad representation across the characters. If there’s ever a sequel, I’d love to read it.

Meg Shaffer has once again given us a story that takes the reader back to childhood and a time of magic, adventure, princesses and princes, loyalty, and yes, fairy tales. A time when within the pages of our books the impossible was actually very much possible, good triumphed over evil, and the world was more like how we wish it could actually be.

I absolutely loved the premise of this story, but the execution didn't quite live up to the potential for me. I so wanted to feel the magic I felt with The Wishing Game, but this book seemed to struggle with finding that perfect balance between whimsical and cozy and serious and mature. The combination drifted into awkwardness at times, especially in the second half.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery focused first half of this book and loved West Virginia as a backdrop with its hills and hollows and sense of the otherwordly. Unfortunately, the second half lost momentum and left me confused, not sure exactly what the story wanted to be. This one was a mixed bag for me, but I loved the author's first book and will definitely be looking forward to whatever she writes next.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me an early copy to read and review.

We read stories of children finding magical lands in their wardrobes, or being carried off into the realms of fairies, but what happens when they come home? What about the children who have nothing to return to? Or who, in the real world, find themselves to be a lesser version of who they once were? Much like Seannan McGuire's Wayward Children series, The Lost Story takes the traditional tale of children escaping into a fantasy land but gives it a darker, mature edge. The children are grown up, and fifteen years have passed since Jeremy and Rafe returned home after their six month disappearance. Jeremy remembers every minute that they were away, while Rafe remembers nothing beyond the night they went missing. And when Jeremy, now a professional rescuer of lost girls and objects, is hired by oddball Emilie to find her missing sister, he knows it's finally time to unite his past with his present...but only if he can convince Rafe to trust him and return to Red Crow Forest together.

Overall, it's a wonderful story. The writing was lovely and whimsical, and I loved the little asides from the sassy narrator. The nods to Narnia were many, but it wasn't I picked up the acknowledgement that I recognized the influence of The Lord of the Flies as well. After all, Jack and Ralph were just boys when they were forced into roles typically held by adults. So too were Susan, Peter, Edmund, and Lucy only children when an entire kingdom named them their rulers. What kind of impact would this have on them psychologically? Can one truly assimilate into normal life after such an experience?

It has some pretty heavy themes, including references to SA, suicide, and physical abuse. Like in most fairytales, the parents aren't perfect. Or even alive. And the children (now adults) still struggle with that trauma. It's a story about found family, first love, forgiveness, bravery, and most of all, healing. It reminds us all that there is always hope. That not every story has to end with sadness. And that even the smallest of rats can do deeds worthy of being honored. I am team Fitz all the way.

If I had to offer a critique, it would be that sometimes the banter was almost too...bantery. I had a hard time believing some of the dialogue, and the speed at which Emilie decided to trust these two strange men. But then, it is supposed to be a fairytale, so it was an easy thing for me to let go. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC!

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 stars

I truly love Shaffer’s writing. I was immediately sucked right into the story and it held my interest the entire time. She seems to be influenced by the Narnia series but I believe she does a good job of making it her own. I liked the characters, but thought the ending could have been a little more powerful (not sure if that is the right word…). But my favorite parts were the “storyteller corners” because most of the time talking to the reader doesn’t work well in my opinion, but this did! They made me laugh out loud and they were a good way to move the story along without anything dragging.

I will continue to read books by this author and would recommend this book!

4-4.5 stars. Imagine stepping into a new world by walking into a forest and coming out a changed person. This is what happened to Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell. Meg Shaffer crafts a story where 15 years later, Jeremy and Rafe are reunited in helping Emilie find her missing sister from ages ago. Jeremy has all the answers, but cannot share any of them, whereas Rafe has no memory of what happened. This quest brings them all together and opens their eyes to the realm of magic and myths and royalty that they’ve wandered into and what it means to have a found family that they would sacrifice everything for.

I love Meg Shaffer’s writing in the way that she tells a story and evokes emotion and compassion for these characters. Love is always their guiding language and the relationships are all well developed. I liked the fantasy element and all the endless possibilities that were presented, yet the main crew still remained so incredibly human. Jeremy, Rafe, Emilie and the queen formed their own nuclear crew The new roles that they assumed and lessons learned kept me turning the pages eagerly and even the narrating storyteller had me intrigued. If you’re in the mood to be transported to a new world and want to give an adult fairy tale a try, this one fits the bill.

When I saw that Meg Shaffer had written a book inspired by "The Chronicles of Narnia" I knew I had to read it. I was lucky enough to get an e-arc of this book!

The story centers around Rafe and Jeremy who went missing for 6 months in the wilderness of West Virginia as teenagers. No one knows where they were or how they managed to survive those long months. Fifteen years after their ordeal, Rafe and Jeremy come together again to help Emilie find her long lost sister who vanished in the same West Virginia wilderness. Magic, mystery, heartbreak, and wonder await these three as the adventure unfolds.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It was whimsical, heartfelt, and cozy. I absolutely loved that this was set in West Virginia. I lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains for a short time and I can definitely imagine a magical world being hidden in those mountains and winding forests. At first I thought it was a little silly that the magical land was called "Shanandoah", (yes, with an a, not e) but after reading the book it makes sense for the plot. There were also a few times that I thought the world-building was lacking or that some of the "rules" of the magical world didn't make sense, but my hesitations were answered or accounted for during the course of the story. The book was also a little bit predictable, but I didn't mind too much.

I did not go into the book expecting a romance, but was so pleasantly surprised by the LGBTQ+ representation and beautiful love story between a certain two characters. They had great chemistry and their love story is one of the main focuses of the book. Although, despite the cozy nature of the book it did tackle important serious issues including parental abuse, suicide, and mental illness.

Overall, I would recommend this book those who loved Narnia growing up and want an adult fairy tale. This book (as well as Meg Shaffer's other book, The Wishing Game) feels like a love letter to fantasy books and it gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings at the end.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group— Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Story was an entertaining retelling of the Chronicles of Narnia. Shaffer takes readers to backwoods West Virginia. Here we meet Emilie, struggling a bit in the wake of her mother's passing. A famous missing persons tracker/personality is nearby and she decides now is the time to see if he will take up her long lost sister's case.

The first 40% of the book was the strongest for me. Unfortunately, this is also the part of the book were we are in West Virginia and not an enchanted forest. Readers follow three POVs: Emilie, Jeremy, and Rafe. There is also a narrator that breaks the fourth wall with is always entertaining. The narrator fills in some of the gaps in knowledge, can be a bit cheeky, but speeds things along when the story is "in the boring parts."

Shaffer did a nice job of crafting authentic personalities, strengths and weaknesses, with these three characters. Emilie and Jeremy's few moments of banter were always amusing. Once we hit that half way mark, any meaningful efforts to cultivate the friendship between Emilie and the two men ceased and I'm a little salty about it. Instead, the last half of the book is heavy on the action but weirdly sedate.

It felt like the author was trying pack in too much and readers weren't given enough time to soak in and get to know the characters and new world that were introduced later. Honestly, I feel like this story would have been strong if it was either longer or scaled up to a duology. There were so many fantastical moments that I wanted to see Rafe and Emilie experience. Once we hit mid-way, Emilie basically disappeared from the story and it was all Jeremy and Rafe. Also, the end twist was irritating and forced a "the end?" type ending and I wasn't in the mood for that.

If you have triggers, definitely check the warnings on this one. Off the top of my head: parental death (off page, discussed) abuse, neglect, homophobia, missing people, etc.

Overall, I enjoyed it but wish it had more character growth and relationship goodness to show why these people give a duck about each other. Also, lets experience the world and not zip through some of the mundane. Cozy fantasy has its place. That said, I'll definitely read more of Shaffer's work in the future.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is a fairytale, but with a modern twist. It is really unlike any story I have read before, and I loved jumping into this world that is partially based in reality and partially taken straight from the brilliant imagination of Meg Shaffer. It is easy to understand with enjoyable characters and contains a story that has a lot of depth and emotion, but leaves you feeling warm inside.

Summary:
Jeremy and Rafe went missing for 6 months in a West Virginia state forest as teenagers, but come back in better shape than they left in. Many questions are raised, especially when Rafe comes back with concerning scars and no memory of what happened, and Jeremy refuses to tell anyone about the magical world they were transported to in those months, including Rafe. Fifteen years later, the former best friends are estranged. Jeremy is famous for finding missing people, women and children mostly, and is approached by Emilie to help search for her missing sister. Only Emelie has never met her sister, and she disappeared in the same forest the boys were lost in, just years before they were lost. Jeremy agrees, but knows they need to find Rafe, who has been a recluse for the past fifteen years, and get him to agree to help. However, since the boys haven't spoken for 15 years, this reunion is very complicated, and requires a lot of baggage to be sorted through before and on this journey. All three of them have something very important they are hoping to find along the way.

Thoughts:
This is one of the most unique concepts for a book that I have ever read. I love books with magical realism in them, but this story was taken to another level because it was more of a fairytale that partially takes place in the real world. There is a narrator that pops up occasionally that introduces the idea of the whimsey in the story and continues to push it along to make you feel like you're reading something you would find in an old fairytale. This was different than those stories, though, because there is a lot of depth to the characters, along with some trauma that provides more context to the story. This depth and trauma is covered well and adds an edge to the story that sets it apart from both fairytales and magical realism. The characters were lovable, the story took surprising turns, and the writing is so descriptive it is really easy to imagine everything that happens.

Critiques:
It is clear to me that this is an early work of this author. I think there are a few plot holes, or places where more description is necessary, but neither of those things was glaringly obvious or hindered my enjoyment. There was also a lot going on in the story, and sometimes all the different aspects took me out of the story, but I think it was all thought out well and was wrapped up nicely. There are some heavier themes in this story than what I was expecting, so I think those should be noted before the reader begins reading.

Final Words:
Readers will have a great time reading this whimsical story but will also find that it is grounded in reality with lots of deep emotional challenges. The characters are unique and lovable, and the plot is hard to predict, in the best way. I would recommend this to adult readers who enjoy fantastical fairytales, but also enjoy emotionally charged books. There is something this book can offer to a wide variety of readers.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

🌳🏰The Lost Story🏰🌳

✍️:Meg Shaffer
✨:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📱: e-arc thanks to @netgalley @meg_shaffer @penguinrandomhouse

✨my thoughts✨
Meg Shaffer where have you been?!? The wishing game last summer was one of my faves so I was overjoyed to get an ARC of her newest book and somehow this is even better?! I read this book in less than 24 hours because I literally couldn’t put it down. This is a grown-up Narnia-esque book. You will be transported to a different world where you’ll want to stay forever. It’s a fairytale told in the most unique way!

Pick this one up if you like….
🏰Fairytales
🏰Found Family
🏰Mystery
🏰LGBTQ+ rep
🏰whimsical & fun, nothing takes itself too seriously
🏰Storyteller/Narrator throughout

This books seems to be the first in a series, it’s not even published yet and I CANNOT WAIT for the next one! & if this isn’t a series then that last page was mean Meg 🥲

This book is out July 16, PREORDER IT NOW, you won’t regret it!!

Do you like fairytales?! I think Beauty & the Beast is one of my faves!

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is a captivating book that resonates with readers who crave a world filled with magic and wonder. This wildly imaginative tale transports readers to a realm where anything is possible, captivating their imagination and leaving them yearning for more.

I enjoyed Shaffer's first book so much. Picking this one up, I was nervous. Could Shaffer do it again? Absolutely. This was another incredible Narnia inspired story of life and adventure, loss and discovery, and love and belonging. I fell in love with this characters and the incredible world. It is amazing what one can do with a pencil. I cannot wait for Shaffer's next book!

The Lost Story is described as “a fairy tale for grown-ups,” and that’s why I requested this book. But, for me, it fell short of the description. Some of the plot lines felt undeveloped, as well as the backstory of the two main characters. The magical realism, which I’m a fan of, didn’t quite draw me into the story. The romantic relationship felt forced.
This novel is a short read; I read it while on a cross-country flight. To me, it read more like a YA novel. The depth of an adult fairy tale just wasn’t there for me.