Thank you to @NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an e-ARC of this story! Below is my honest review.
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Jeremy Cox and Ralph "Rafe" Howell go missing in a West Virginia Forest as teenagers. After being gone for 6 months, both boys miraculously reappear with no explanation for where they had gone and how they had survived...

15 years later, Jeremy is famous. He is known world-wide for his uncanny ability to find lost or missing girls. Though he chalks it up to his time being lost as a child, he is widely sought after from many families. One day, Emilie Wendell reaches out to Jeremy to find her sister. However, there's a catch: her sister went missing in the same forest where Jeremy and Rafe disappeared 15 years ago.

Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie set out to find Emilie's sister, while also uncovering mysteries from the past.

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"Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is."

What happens when a writer places The Lord of the Flies next to The Chronicles of Narnia on her bookshelf? Magic. This was a book full of magic, mystery, and whimsy, while also navigating heavy topics of homophobia, abuse, and kidnapping. Though this is an #adult novel, it pays homage to fairy tales and fantasies of youth. Because it relies on the "fairy tale" formula, it is a tad predictable, but I found it a very charming fantastical story of a found family. There are moments where quips between the characters had me laughing out loud. I think that fans of Narnia will adore this one, and I can see this capturing the hearts of teens and adults.

The Lost Story is a charming story that managed to surprise me. I had thought it would be a twisted, fractured fairy tale that exposed the dark heart of stories such as the Narnia or Oz stories that many of us enjoyed as children. I expected a much more cynical take on the portal fantasy, especially with the current state of the fantasy genre.

However, The Lost Story is, instead, a hopefully and earnest story about the power of stories themselves—truth and fiction—and the meaning of home. While shaded with darkness, it ends up being is a sweetly optimistic story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

Jeremy and Rafe went missing in West Virginia as kids and mysteriously reappeared six months later.

It’s been fifteen years; Rafe is now a reclusive artist and Jeremy has become a missing persons investigator.

Jeremy alone remembers what happened during the six months they were gone, and it’s these memories that help him in his job. Now the time has come for the boys to confront their shared past, no traumatic the memories.


I absolutely loved The Wishing Game so when I heard that Meg Shaffer was back with a new book, I ran to request it on Netgalley as soon as I could. Then when I saw it was being compared to Narnia by heart began to flutter, but, then I started reading and I had to keep checking if this was a YA book or not, and no, it is not marketed as such. I really wasn’t expecting a YA read, and I usually have to be in the right mindset to read one, so I was fairly frustrated. This one would be perfect for my niece who is 12, so I guess it might even be considered middle grade. The pacing was on the slower side as well, so it was a slog to get through until the end, which unfortunately did feel rushed. I did find the setting of West Virginia to be magical. The snark of the narrator was also fun and did make me want to keep reading despite the other downfalls.

Thank you to @randomhouse and @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.

The Lost Story is a fun fairytale retelling (or multiple retellings) and I enjoyed the unique writing style of the narrator.

If you love fairy tales, found family, and deep character growth based off of childhood trauma, this book is perfect for you!

This story does manage to do a few new things with portal fantasy, which is remarkable in a genre that has such a long history and contains Narnia and Alice in Wonderland. I was able to predict several parts of the ending pretty early in the book, but there are times when knowing what is coming can be a comfort rather than a bore. This is certainly such a one.

People don't go into portals if they're not hurting, or looking for something, or if they don't have a bone-deep understanding that their pieces don't fit into the world around them. I would have jumped into a portal as a child and never looked back for an instant. Coming back isn't something I would ever have contemplated myself.

I don't think Jeremy and Rafe would have either except for certain circumstances, which I will leave for you to discover.

This book isn't an action movie. To me it feels calm and quiet and sturdy, like a brick under my foot on a road to somewhere important. It is an inner journey, a spiritual one, despite the physical journey that Jeremy and Rafe and Emilie undertake in the narrative. It is solid, and good, and I read it all in one night and woke up late this morning and had to write my review before the memories faded like Rafe's memories of the Kingdom of Shanandoah. (Note: It is spelled that way on purpose.)

Being from Ohio, it had never occurred to me that someone would be proud to be from West Virginia. Of course, I don't feel proud to be from Ohio. It is just a statement of fact. What I do understand, quite viscerally, is Rafe's awe and fear of his father. As the daughter of another fiercely proud Appalachian redneck, I understand completely the despair of realizing that you will never fit inside the rigid mold of paternal expectations.

If the gender binary had been a little less... binary, I think my dad and I would have gotten along. But I realized quite early on, as Rafe did, that my dad had expectations of my gender that couldn't be swayed (don't play in the dirt, matchbox cars aren't for girls, you can't have a pocketknife even if you you'd have practically been given one in the cradle if you'd only been born a boy). I knew he was intimidated and afraid of the aspects of my character that were different from and exceeded his own. I was a reader practically from birth, he had an 8th grade reading level and dropped out in 10th grade. I wasn't supposed to want to defend myself or make my own decisions or be smarter than him. None of that stopped me from being what I was. So, Rafe, I understand. Even if I don't understand being proud to be from West Virginia.

Maybe that's why this book feels so solid and sturdy to me -- it's built so much like my own foundation, how could I think otherwise? I didn't get to run away to a kingdom of unicorns and magic where I could be a knight. Not even for six months. But I would have. Oh, I would have.

Oof. This was my most anticipated release of 2024 and I'm so disappointed.

Like many of the other reviews, the concept is amazing but the execution of the plot was chaotic and stale. The beginning had me hooked and I didn't mind the interjections of the narrator - I really liked the breaking of the 4th wall. I started getting bored pretty quickly around the 30% mark. Most of the book I was waiting for things to start happening, then it does in like a split second. I had no interest in the characters and I wish Emelie was more of a main character since I felt that's how it was set up in the beginning. The characters just seemed very juvenile and like the whole thing was written by a 9th grader (no offense to you 9th graders lol).

If you're going to be bold enough to compare your story to Chronicles of Narnia, it needs to deliver. That was the sole reason I picked this up! So disappointed.

Meg Shaffer writes stories that are made for anyone who grew up in fantasy worlds, and wished they could find themselves in one. This is a love letter to children who wanted to run away to a fantasy land and never come back, and also to those who feel lost and need someone to find them.

When Emilie decides to go looking for her long lost sister the only ones who can help are a pair of boys who were also lost once. They have a secret that will lead to adventure, and to lost people finding themselves.

I recommend this for anyone whose inner child needs to get lost in a fantasy world.

I received a free copy from Random House through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I would give this 3 stars, maybe 3.5?

It DOES given Narnia vibes, but I think comparing it to something like Narnia made my expectations too high going in.
It was a little too YA for my liking, and it was fairly predictable. It was a relatively enjoyable read, and given how it ends I would expect to see a sequel; which I would likely read to see how certain things play out. Sooooo take that as you will.

It had some fun and whimsical moments, but lacked any real depth. Not trying to be overly critical, but it just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. Not bad, not great; but I do think it will be an enjoyable book for some. Dare I say, I might just be a little too old for this book? 🫣

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC.

The opener of the publishers description for The Lost Story was like catnip to me: “Inspired by C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this wild and wondrous novel is a fairy tale for grown ups…” Lewis inspiration: check. Fairy tale: check. For grownups: that’s where I have some quibbles.

I love a fairy tale for grownups. In my review of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust earlier this year, I lamented that there aren’t more of them. But The Lost Story read more like YA and even sometimes middle grade than an adult novel. I love middle grade and YA, but what I love even more is a book with a strong sense of what it is and what it is trying to accomplish. I didn’t have that here, and the mushy middle after the strong start didn’t help. I couldn’t decide throughout what I thought of the gimmick of the storyteller breaking the fourth wall, but I definitely didn’t like the big reveal at the end. It felt unnecessary and too convoluted. I did love the West Virginia setting and the descriptions of its beauty.

TL;DR: The Lost Story has some great elements and imaginative storytelling, but I think the author is trying to cover a bit too much ground without a clear sense of purpose.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

The Lost Story felt like a fairy tale for adults. I absolutely loved the setting because West Virginia is probably the last place that comes to mind when you think of fairy tales. I adored the narrator and the writing style of this book. It truly made me feel like a kid again. I was excited to open this book each day and slip away into fantasy land. It follows two boys that went missing when they were 15. Now they are adults but only one of them remembers what happened when they were “lost.” In my humble opinion this book was perfect from start to finish.

After Meg Shaffer’s first book The Wishing Game became one of my favorite reads of 2023, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her second novel, The Lost Story.

The books starts with two young boys being found in a West Virginia state forest after being lost for 6 months. The magical story of where they were during that time is slowly revealed to you as they return to the fantastical land of Shanandoah. Rafe and Jeremy are on a mission to help find their new friend Emilie’s sister as they return to the forest 15 years later.

The first ~60% of this book was amazing and I honestly had trouble putting it down. I don’t know if I felt like the plot line slowed down around that point or if the pacing was just different, but the last third of the book was harder for me to get through. I loved the whimsy of this story (just like in The Wishing Game), but it didn’t give me that same nostalgic magic of childhood that it’s inspiration - Chronicles of Narnia - delivers. Overall still a great read and any future books by Meg Shaffer will automatically be added to my TBR list!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is a wonderful fairytale adventure. I read it all in one sitting, bringing me back to times spent under the covers as a child finishing similar books like the Chronicles of Narnia or Inkheart. I absolutely loved the characters and their magic journey of discovery.

Meg Shaffer does it again. Another amazing book that left me in tears for all the right reasons. The Lost Story follows the story of Rafe and Jeremy, two boys who were lost in the forest 15 years prior and then mysteriously found again one day by hikers. In present day, Jeremy is helping families find their missing loved ones when he comes across Emilie, who states that her half-sister went missing 20 years ago and she just wants closure on what happened to her. What happens next is a truly magical story. I can't recommend this book enough. A truly enjoyable, magical read.

How magical, charming, and... a tad peculiar! The Lost Story is marketed as a retelling of The Chronicles of Narnia, but I'd lean more towards calling it Chronicles of Narnia-inspired. BUT, if someone had told me this was an Adventure Time retelling, I would say the description is spot on. If you're not conjuring up images of Princess Bubblegum, Marceline, Jake, Fin, and BMO while reading this, well, you're probably more mature than I am. But trust me, you're missing out on some whimsically magical (and hilarious) adventures that entertains adults just as much as they do children. Sure, there are some very cheesy moments, but the storytelling is absolutely wonderful!
Instead of a magical wardrobe portal to Narnia, imagine a magical portal nestled within a tree in the forests of West Virginia. And what's the name of this enchanted Kingdom? SHENANDOAH! Prepare to find yourself humming the John Denver song every few chapters—it's a delightful touch! I personally adored this book and even preordered my own physical copy. While The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer was good, The Lost Story is AMAZING! Pub day is July 16th! Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an eArc of this magical story.

If you’ve read or plan on reading it, and also love Adventure Time, my character casting is below:
1. Princess BubbleGum - Skya
2. Marceline the Vampire - Emilie
3. Jake - Rafe
4. Fin - Jeremy
5. BMO – Fritz

I absolutely fell in love with The Wishing Game, and I was worried that this might not meet the mark. But, I was beyond excited to read and fall in love with this story. Another beautiful, easy read that I devoured.

Thank you, NetGalley and Randon House for an ARC of The Lost Story. I enjoyed The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer and I enjoyed most of The Lost Story. The end felt much to rushed after most of the book being the build-up to figuring out what the heck was going on. Not my favorite and found myself mainly skimming. I did appreciate the West Virginia setting, but overall I did not enjoy this one.

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

Once upon a time, two boys – Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell – vanish in Red Crow State Forest at the end of their school field trip. After six months, their status changes from “Missing Boys” to “Lost Boys”. They wistfully reappear perfectly healthy – stronger, taller, eyes brighter. No one is sure how they survived.

Flash forward fifteen years, the boys who were once attached at the hip have not spoken since. Jeremy has become an infamous missing persons investigator and Rafe is now a reclusive artist.

This whimsical fairytale takes readers on a journey as Jeremy reenters Rafe’s life and the pair help a darling Emilie find her missing sister. The group is transported to the magical world of Shanandoah, where Emilie’s sister isn’t “missing” so much as “having found herself” in this enchanted kingdom.

This tale was utterly encapsulating, and I loved every moment. Inspired by “The Chronicles of Narnia”, I adored the enchanted story full of magic, family, friends, and love.

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.

Be prepared to fall in love with the characters and be truly transported into the beautiful world Meg Shaffer has created.

To “The Lost Boys” – I was enchanted to read you.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Release Date: July 16, 2024

Favorite Quote: And that is why the world has Holy Grails - not because the world needs Holy Grails, but because the world needs heroes.

Story Synopsis: Jeremy and Ralph disappeared in Red Crow State Forest for six months at age fifteen. When they returned, Ralph couldn’t remember anything and Jeremy was whisked back to England with his mother.

Fifteen years later, Emilie has just discovered she has an older sister—who happened to get lost in the same forest about five years before Jeremy and Ralph. Now an adult, Jeremy runs a business finding missing women and girls. Emilie seeks out Jeremy to help find her sister (or, her body) so Emilie has closure. When Jeremy realizes who the sister is, he and Ralph must reconnect and return to Red Crow and face their past.

Why does this book beguile? Meg Shaffer wrote The Wishing Game, which I absolutely fell in love with. I’m delighted to say The Lost Story is just as incredible. The Lost Story takes readers to a parallel world and bases her fairy tale in the wilds of West Virginia. Shaffer’s writing is captivating, her characters are relatable, and like any good novel, I was left desperately wanting more! This is the most perfect book that will leave you feeling wholesome, enchanted, hopeful, and light.

Rating: 5/5

I thought this book was very well written and laid out nicely but it did not grab me quite like The Wishing Game did. I loved the whimsy in it and some of the messages it sent.

“If you’ve never believed any impossible things before, now is a good time to start”

The Lost Story is a whimsical delight! Inspired by the Chronicles on Narnia, it is a love letter to all of us who have grown up but still believe in magic and fairy tales.

As teenagers, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell go missing deep inside a forest in West Virginia only to reappear many months later with no explanation for where they have been or how they survived. Fast forward fifteen years — Rafe and Jeremy, once best friends, no longer speak. Jeremy has become a famed investigator and finder of missing girls and Rafe, with no memory of what happened when he was younger, has become a reclusive artist who at times unknowingly wanders into the woods searching for clues. One day a woman approaches Jeremy and asks him to help her find her sister who went missing many years ago in the same mysterious forest. While Jeremy believes that he can help, he won’t do it without Rafe.

I have never read another book like this one. The story is incredibly creative and beautifully executed. I loved it so very much! Though lighthearted at times, Meg tackles many important and deeper themes with this book and does so in a way that captures the heart of what is important -- love, friendship, family and what it means to find a place where you belong. I was thoroughly enchanted with The Lost Story and can’t wait to see what Meg Shaffer comes up with next!