Jeremy and Rafe were young boys when they went missing in a forest in West Virginia. They were gone for 6 months and then suddenly reappeared, giving no explanation of where they were or what happened to them. People eventually stopped asking them about it and moved on with their lives, glad the boys were home.

Fastforward 15 years, and Rafe can no longer even recall what happened to them during that time. Jeremy has become a sort of vigil-ante detective who finds missing children who are impossible to find, and he seems to have an uncanny ability.

Emilie Wendell reaches out to Jeremy for help to find her long lost sister. He believes he can find her, but he needs the help of Rafe. Together, the three of them return to the enchanted world in the forest where Rafe and Jeremy had disappeared to so many years ago.

I loved Meg Shaffer's first book, and so I found this one to be a little boring. It was very whimsical, and kind of a lot was thrown in there, from a Fleetwood Mac obsession, to random animals like unicorns and mermaids. The first 40% of the book is a lot of set up and honestly is a bit slow. The second half was better but I had lost interest in these characters by then. I think the book tried a bit too hard to be Narnia-ish.

I loved loved loved Meg Shaffer's debut book The Wishing Game and had high hopes for The Lost Story, but it fell very flat for me. I DNF'd it at 25%. I had no interested in the plot, the characters, or what was happening in the book. It may not have been the right time for me to read the book and I will try to pick it up again in the future, but for now it is a no go from me.

Thank you Meg Shaffer, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this story. It has a touch of mystery, a handful of fantasy, and a whole lot of love story—everything to make an incredible story. 5 stars.

Loved this. I’ve really enjoyed everything by this author. She’s an autobuy author for me. I love how every one of her stories is completely different from the others but you can still feel she’s the author. A very strong voice - one I really enjoy.

I just finished reading “The Lost Story” by Meg Shaffer, and I can’t wait to share how much I loved it! This book is an absolute gem. From the very first page, I was hooked by the enchanting narrative and the beautifully crafted characters.

The story follows a journey of discovery, both literal and emotional, as the protagonist unravels a mystery that has been buried for years. Shaffer’s writing is so vivid and immersive that I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing every twist and turn alongside them.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is how it seamlessly blends elements of adventure, romance, and self-discovery. The plot is full of unexpected surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat, and the emotional depth of the characters made their journeys incredibly relatable and moving.

If you’re looking for a book that will captivate your imagination and touch your heart, “The Lost Story” is a must-read. It’s a beautifully written tale that reminds us of the power of stories and the importance of uncovering our own truths. Highly recommend!

The lost story was unlike any story I have read before. It was a combination of "Princess bride", " Bridge to Terabithia" and "Narnia." The story reminds you how important imagination and friendship can be. This story reminds the audience that even when you have true scars from your past, they do not define and control you, but they do shape you into the wonderful person you are now. Though parts of the plot are predictable there are a few twists that you don't see coming. Overall this book was a nice break from reality and a good jump into the magical worlds many of us have hoped for.

The Lost Story allowed me to jump back to my days as a child when my imagination could run wild and create fantastical stories with just the stroke of pencil on paper. The Lost Story is just like that feeling but with more of a grownup narrative.

Best friends Jeremy and Rafe disappear in the West Virginia forest and despite all the search efforts and their parent's pleas, the boys remain unfound. Until six months later they emerge from the forest, looking overall healthy and clean, which raises more questions than the boys have answers. Fifteen years later, they are estranged, Rafe living as an artist recluse and Jeremy famous for his efforts to locate other missing persons. Emilie contacts Jeremy to see if he can help her locate her sister who went missing in the same West Virginia forest. In order to help Emilie, Jeremy must reunite with Rafe.

I loved the world that the author created in this book and the depth of the characters. I felt it was definitely open for a sequel and I (fingers crossed) can't wait to read it! If you truly want to get lost between the pages, then The Lost Story is one you won't be able to soon forget.

This is not your typical fairytale! The book is a modern twist on a magical place seperate from the real world. What I loves most is there was no princess searching for her true love! Although, there was still a love srory. The Lost Story was so good! I loved the characters and the history between them all.

An enchanting fairy tale for adults, inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia, with elements reminiscent of Lord of the Flies and Alice in Wonderland (at least for me) and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed The Wishing Game, so I was excited to read this one. I was not disappointed. The setting and the characters were described so well--I felt like I was right there with them! The pace was quick, and the storyline was intricately plotted. I look forward to seeing more from Meg Shaffer!

Two boys disappear in their local woods and reappear mysteriously six months later. Fifteen years after that, a woman named Emelie's is trying to find her missing sister and goes to them desperate for help. What unravels in The Lost Story is a lovely combination of fantastical and real-world issues. Shaffer is adept at blending those seamlessly and creating a magical, heartfelt story with childhood trauma at its center. I enjoyed it as much if not more than her first book, The Wishing Game. The fantastical elements and the relationship between the two boys were the highlights for me. I'm happy to see a sophomore success for this author and will definitely pick up her future books.

I think fans of The Wishing Game will also enjoy The Lost Story but portal fantasy fans should also give this a try. The Lost Story released on July 16, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy.

Anything Meg Shaffer writes turns to magic. She has a way of crafting stories about the imaginary while giving entirely human emotions and thoughts. I didn't love this as much as The Wishing Game, but the bar was set so high from that book. I think if this had been Meg's first book, it would have been so delightful and lovely - it's just hard to compare when the Wishing Game was THAT good. Either way, I'm a fan of her books and will read anything she puts out.

One day in Virginia during a field trip two boys go missing in the woods. Six months later, after they’ve been presumed dead, these boys walk out of the woods. 15 years after, Jeremy uses his fame as a once missing child to promote his service for finding missing girls. Rafe, the other missing boy, lives in the woods and is a recluse. Neither have spoken since they left the hospital after their recovery. Now they must reunite to help Emilie find her sister who went missing 20 years ago from the same forest. But these woods hide more than children, it hides magic.

Okay. I grew up loving Narnia , that was my childhood series. And this is described by the author as an homage to that and other classic fairytales. And it shows! Omg I loved so much all of the nods to 80s and 90s fantasies and the “weird” children who spent their time imagining their lives in a fantasy story far far away. The characters were so endearing, and the trio have a great dynamic. Some may say the start of the book is slow, there is no magical land until 60% in, but I actually loved the first half more than the second.

There is magic, unicorns, sword fights, villains, and love. I highly recommend this book to anyone who grew up daydreaming about wandering into their own wardrobe and finding a magical story. I think knowing less going in allows you to better enjoy the journey. Just read it, trust me. There’s a Labyrinth reference.

Meg Shaffer’s The Lost Story takes on a whimsical yet emotionally charged journey, following two boys who return from a mysterious disappearance in the West Virginia forest, only to face their past again as adults. Shaffer weaves a fairy tale that is part adventure, part exploration of trauma and identity. Think The Chronicles of Narnia, but for adults/advanced readers.

While the novel’s premise promised me a magical escapade, I think the true heart of the story lies in its emotional depth. Shaffer balances the fantastical with real-world struggles of healing and forgiveness. Sometimes the fantasy elements took a bit of a backseat to the personal drama, and the pacing could be rushed (particularly in character development), but the story still has a lot of charm.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

To start off this review: I have no idea why this was classified as women’s fiction. The woman character is, in my humble opinion, not who the story is about. She is more there to facilitate the story of the two male characters. And also get a happy ending of her own.

See, her mom just died and she is not handling it well. Grief is hard. It is an event and it is something that is difficult to navigate.

The two men characters are old childhood friends who got lost in a national forest as teens and then came out. Now one helps find people who’ve been lost.

That’s when our “MC” finds him. She wants him to help find her older sister who was kidnapped before she, the MC, was born and she’s certain she’s alive.

So, what did I like about this book? In my notes, I wrote that it was like eating chips. Easy, simple, and you don’t realize how many you’ve had until you look in the bag. I didn’t realize I was halfway through the book until I blinked and my eyes starting burning.

Meg Shaffer has a way of writing that lulls you in with a comforting simplicity. And I mean that as a high compliment. Not all writing needs to be convoluted, not every conversation needs to be filled with polysyllabic words that require a dictionary to understand.

I loved the way the magic was done. I loved the Chronicles Of Narnia of it all.

What I didn’t like was that there were not trigger warnings or content warnings. So I’ll provide them.

Child abuse. And quite awful at that.

Spoiler ahead, warning for child abuse.

One of the characters, the one man who can’t remember his time in the forest, is gay. And his father took an electrical cord to his back one night and just whipped him.

It was awful. I would have appreciated that warning because it was so jarring to come across.

Ok, triggering portion over.

I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it, but make the decision for yourself given the triggering content.

I’m giving it a 4. It was a good read.

Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell get lost in the woods of West Virginia, but they end up in a magical world called Shenandoah. There Rafe and Jeremy explore the world, go on quests, and have fun, but they know they can not stay forever. They both come back looking healthier than ever and that raises some suspension. Unfortunately Rafe doesn't remember their magical time there, and Jeremy won't tell him what happened in the 6 months they were gone. Now on unspeaking terms, 15 years later, we find Jeremey is living his life and helping find lost people. Emily approaches Jeremy to have him help her find her lost sister, Shannon, who went missing in the same woods as Jeremy and Rafe. This leads to an epic adventure, the reuniting of lost friends, and a new relationships being formed.

I really enjoyed this book, and have become a big fan of Meg Shaffer's writings. I will be recommending this book to my patrons that love a good fairytale. If possible I would love for Shaffer to expand on this book and write a sequel.

Narnia for adults! Finally someone recognized that maybe adults need fairytales more than the kids. Adults also need that escapism where you can ride your mighty horse as a knight, eat apples that will light you up from inside, and live happily ever after. This book definitely made me happy especially during the tough days of work.

Two boys were lost in the woods in WV, at least that's what people thought of them. When they came out of the woods 6 months later in better shape than they entered there, people had questions. One of the boys was spirited away to England by her mom and the other went back to his home to his secretly scary dad and powerhouse mom. Years later these two boys now men decided to help a girl who was looking for her big sister. They weren't doing this because they wanted find one more missing women but because this missing woman meant everything to them.

I really liked the chapter dividers where narrator directly talks to the reader in a playful manner. It was to have that adult conversion while what goes on between two dividers can be somewhat childish. I loved the way how this fairytale was written, what was its starting point, and what could be in the books for the future.

Jeremy Cox and Race Howell went missing for six months in Red Crow State Forest. When they were found, neither boy could give any details about their time away or what happened to them.

Shortly after their return, Jeremy returns to the UK with his mother, promising to come back to the States but never returns. Rafe, an artist and part time handyman, lives with an unsettling feeling that something is missing. Before the death of his father, he often lost large chunks of time, driving in his sleep toward the forest where he was lost.

Jeremy is a private investigator with uncanny abilities to find missing women and girls. One day, a young woman named Emilie Wendell asks him to help find her missing sister. She went missing in the same forest where Jeremy and Rafe were lost, and Jeremy knows he can never return there unless Rafe comes with.

The three must return to Red Crow State Forest and confront what really happened in the past. The time for secrets is over.

The Lost Story is filled with references to Narnia, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan. It’s a fun puzzle to spot all the fairy tale references throughout the story. It takes all the troupes of the fairytale genre and uses them in predictable and recognizable ways.

It takes a long time before the fairytale aspects take place, though. I had expected the fantasy world to consume the plot, but this story is more about dealing with trauma, forgiveness and embracing your true identity. It wanted the whimsy of a fairy tale with the hard hitting trauma of a contemporary novel, and unfortunately for me, the blending wasn’t as successful as I’d have liked.

The plot moved so quickly we don’t have time to care about characters before many intense scenes happen. There were also little world building or setting details which made the world feel surface level.

I think if you are ok with character development that moves very quickly and you just want a fairytale vibes type of read, you might enjoy The Lost Story.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House for the arc. All opinions are my own.

“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.”

I really like that Meg Shaffer writes books for adults that bring back the magic of childhood stories. Her first book felt like a love letter to the series and authors that kept us spellbound as kids, and this one feels like a modern throwback to whimsical portal worlds like Narnia and Wonderland and Oz.

This book tells the story of two young men and what happened after they returned from the magical world. What happened when reality set back in, when they grew up, when they moved on. But can anyone truly move on from an experience so otherworldly?

I enjoyed the premise, the world building, and that one of a kind middle grade fantasy feeling that was somehow infused into an adult story. I do wish there had been a bit more depth and layers unpeeled in the friendships between some of the characters, because I love those deep found family relationships and craved more of the scenes with them. Overall I enjoyed this book and will definitely be readily awaiting the author’s next book!

As boys, best friends Jeremy and Rafe 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.

This was a delightful fantasy novel that made me feel like I was in the enchanted world myself. I love the characters and storyline. Adult fairytales have become one of my favorite genres and this one is now on my favorites list. It is heartwarming, whimsical and charming.

Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you love Narnia you are going to love this book! It takes you back to when your little and fills your imagination and makes your heart filled with joy!