I fell in love with Meg Shaffer's storytelling in The Wishing Game and this book is even better! When I saw that it was available as ARC I immediately requested and cried a little bit when I was approved.

This story is just so cleverly written with the charm of our favorite fairytales and I really hope Meg plans on going back to this world one day, I'd love to see these characters again! I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for my digital ARC!!!

Children's fairy tales have a way of wrapping a dark story in light. Fairy tales for adults tend to lean into the darkness but allow a few rays of lightness to shine thru. The Lost Story deals with some heavy topics, abuse, homophobia, and traumatic repression, but it is a story of healing, of found family, and a love of stories. The story begins in a Recipe for a Fairy Tale and ends in a Recipe for Golden Apple Christmas Cake, but between the recipes we encounter several charming characters and get swept into their story and into a magical world. Whimsey and enchantment permeate the world of Shanandoah, where the characters are transported through a portal in honor of C.S. Lewis' Narnia books.
And his quote, "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." is an epigraph for the book. If you find that you are old enough, The Lost Story is definitely a fairy tale to start reading. And if you find that you want to return to Shanandoah when you finish, the ending hints that there may be a way...I hope the author and publisher find that way as I am looking forward to retuning.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books for this early and free copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book. I honestly have mixed reviews about it. I can’t decide whether I loved it or didn’t love it.
There were some elements I loved (the descriptive language and the relationships between characters) but ultimately it just did not live up to the (self-inflicted) hype. Maybe because I’m comparing it to The Wishing Game by the same author which is one of my favorite books of all time. Maybe my favorite book I’ve ever read as far as fiction goes. But I think even if this was her debut novel I wouldn’t have loved it.
It definitely sets it up for a sequel as far as I can tell and I will most likely read it just to continue the story and see what happens.
There were a lot of confusing small things in the story that kind of threw me off and I found multiple spelling and grammatical errors. Overall an okay book but had the potential to be so much better.
If you loved this book that’s amazing! It just wasn’t for me overall. So sorry to be saying that! Excited to see more from this author despite my feelings about this book!

*I did receive this as an eARC from NetGalley*

This book follows Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie. Rafe and Jeremy went missing as children in the Red Crow woods. They were found later in better condition than when they left, being taller, weighing more, etc. Fifteen years later, Jeremy and Rafe no longer talk. Rafe lives in his deceased father's cabin in the woods and Jeremy has the unexplainable ability to know where lost things and lost people are. Their only communication is postcards that Jeremy sends Rafe from his travels. Onto Emilie, she finds out that she was adopted and that she actually has a biological sister, Shannon, that went missing. She was presumed dead but Emilie hunts down Jeremy to see if he can help locate Shannon. Jeremy recognizes Shannon from when he and Rafe went missing. He is hesitant to help because of things that he will not disclose, but he knows he needs Rafe to bring closure to Emilie. This means going into the woods where they were first kidnapped. What happens next is a tale of sisterhood, friendship, magic, romance, closure, unlocking secrets, and leaves you wanting more.

I really did like the idea of this book. The synopsis sounded really cute and fun, but I just was not a fan of the execution of some of it. For example, the storyteller. I think that it is a really cool concept that helps move along the book, but I did get the ick from it at several points, and honestly if it was completely removed from the book, it would not affect the plot line at all.

I also was a little confused on Jeremy's point of view. He had to keep this big secret, but I feel like he was letting out hints left and right. Like a certain nickname that Emilie had, I knew what plot line that was going towards after the third or fourth time he said it.

I also was not the biggest fan of the "villain" in this book. Like, yes what the villain did was AWFUL, but I feel like there was so much potential for the "villain" to have growth and acceptance from his child in another way that was not making him the villain.

One thing I did really like was the description of the place in the woods. Rafe was seeing it for the first time, so it felt like we were there with them, and not just being told the information if that makes sense. I also liked the progression in character perceptions. Rafe at the beginning was this loner, mysterious, scary guy and by the end you see this immense growth and the feeling that he can finally be himself and do what he wants, which was so fun to read. I also liked that it was not too complicated to understand. Some fantasy books make me feel like I need to have a pencil and paper to keep track of all the plot points, but I liked how this book was complex enough to form a story with unique traits and abilities, while also being simple enough that the average reader could follow along. In the end I am giving it three stars because I liked the story, I just do not think it would be something I would reach for again.

4.5 stars...first off thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC of this book. I really enjoyed it...it was very sweet. The characters were all likable and well developed, the plot was whimsical and adventurous. The world building of Shanandoah was superb. I want to go there! There was found family, love, magic, mystery, a trigger warning moment(abuse). All in all I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it when it releases.

I really liked this one! Very magical and fun to read. The writing was descriptive and enjoyable!

Thank you NetGalley and Meg Shaffer!

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is a delightfully fun fairy tale full of quirky characters and adventure. After the recent death of her mother, Emilie decides she wants to find her biological sister Shannon, who has been missing since she was a young teen. Emilie seeks out Jeremy Cox, who is well known for being able to find missing people, to ask him for help. Jeremy agrees to help Emilie, but says they need the help of his old friend Rafe, as Jeremy and Rafe also went missing in the same area of forest Shannon disappeared into when they were teens.
I really liked this book, it was a fun read, and I loved the dynamic between the characters. The only complaint that I really had while reading, was that it did at times read more YA, and the characters acted much younger than their written ages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Lost Story in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a great mix of fantasy, adventure, love, and friendship. The characters explore a magical world similar to Chronicles of Narnia with a twist of working through past trauma while focusing on forging bonds for the future. It was a quick and easy read as well. Loved this line, "Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is." ✨️

Receiving the advanced copy of this book was like winning the lottery! The Wishing Game was my favorite book out of the 157 books I read in 2023, and once again, Meg Shaffer delivered with The Lost Story.

This book gripped me with the map. The world she created was magical and really did feel like a story written by a child living her best life. I loved the character development for Rafe, Jay, and Emilie. Their histories were believable and my heart was breaking for each of them. I felt like I was seeing through their eyes and experiencing everything they were instead of just reading it on the page. I found myself lost in their world, and it made The Lost Story that much better.

I think Meg did an incredible job with all the magical details including the unicorn pencil and Jay's ability to find lost things that want to be found, Everything was just so clever!

I'm desperately hoping for another book so we can continue the journey with the queen, princess, lord, and prince...and maybe some dragons waking from a slumber?

This book is a must for everyone who loves magical realism, wrote stories as a child, and wants to live out some of their daydreams. Another extraordinary book!

A recipe for Whimsy:
-pick up a Meg Shaffer book
-become enchanted
-read and enjoy

A perfect mix of dark and light, heavy themes with magical redemption.

Before I start this review I just want to confess that I was not a Narnia child. Knew of it? Yes. Actually watched/ read anything about it? No.

My unfamiliarity with Narnia aside, I really enjoyed this read.

Similar to The Wishing Game, in that it strikes a good balance of prose evoking a nostalgic style and a tone that reads for those who have aged out of fairytales.

No subversions here, everything is as a Fairytale demands. To some (like me) it's a welcome return to a style that I thought I'd aged out of. I was an Oz child through and through. Some people are going to find this

Those who relate to this book are going to fall for it HARD.

If you, like me, think about impossible worlds, fantastical creatures, the harmless threats of children's fantasies ane the harmful threats of adults' realities-

Do yourself a favor and read this book.

The feeling when you click with an author's imagination is perfection. When I finished The Wishing Game I knew Meg Shaffer and I share the same longing and fondness for the far-off fantasy lands of children's literature. The Long Story is another extension riffing on C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. Jeremy and Rafe disappear as teens, but only Jeremy remembers where they were: an enchanted land full of magic and adventure. They return 15 years to help Emilie find her missing sister who went missing in the same woods.

Meg Shaffer masterfully pulls tropes from the Narnia stories and reshapes them for an adult audience. The pain of growing up, the reason why we often escape into fantasy stories in the first place, is revisited in order to heal those traumas, and the main characters, Jeremy and Rafe, have much to address. The writing is absolutely lovely as it pays attention to the natural world and makes the struggles of Jeremy and Rafe feel so real. Plus the humor! Jeremy is a self-identified a**hole and sarcastic as hell.

It's hard to review this book without spoiling anything, and the twists are worth it to keep a surprise!

Thank you Random House Ballentine and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. When Jeremy and Rafe were younger they disappeared in a forest. No one knew where they were or what happened to them. Six months later they returned but Rafe doesn’t remember what happened and Jeremy isn’t saying. And before long Jeremy moves. 15 years later and Jeremy works on missing person cases meanwhile Rafe has become a recluse. But everything changes when Emilie’s tracks Jeremy down because her sister disappeared from the same forest they did. Turns out when they were missing Jeremy and Rafe had actually been in a magical realm and now they’ll return in search of Emilie’s sister. But will they like what they find? Can the missing memories be recovered? And what exactly does Jeremy know? This is such a beautiful story! Meg Shaffer creates such beautiful images that really allow the reader to visualize and put themselves there. I love the relationship between Rafe and Jeremy as well! Handling difficult vibes all through the lens of a magical world that has everything on would expect from fairytales! I absolutely adored this book! Plus there is queer representation!

I absolutely adored the first book by this author, the wishing game, so I was very excited to see a new book by her! I really did not think that it would live up to the first novel because I loved it so much… But this is my new favorite. The characters are so wonderful and I loved them both individually and as the fun ensemble they made together. The romance was perfect (!!) And believable - and it felt like the ideal fairytale for adults. If you are a fan of the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, I guarantee you will love this book as well.

Drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis's enchanting Chronicles of Narnia, Meg Shaffer's latest novel unfolds as a mesmerizing fairy tale, albeit with a distinct allure for adults who, in their heart of hearts, still entertain the possibility of magical realms lurking behind the mundane. At the core of this wondrous tale are Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, childhood friends whose disappearance in a vast West Virginia forest and subsequent inexplicable return six months later set the stage for a narrative rich in adventure, mystery, and the exploration of deep emotional landscapes.

This novel is a tapestry of themes—friendship, adventure, love, loss, and the quest for identity—woven with threads of magic and the ineffable. The story revisits the enchanted world of Shenandoah, a land of breathtaking beauty and peril, through the intertwined fates of Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie Wendell, whose sister's disappearance in the same enigmatic forest propels them on a quest fraught with danger and discovery.

Shaffer's prose is lauded for its vividness, painting Shenandoah with such detail that it almost leaps off the page, inviting readers to lose themselves in its magic. The narrative is both a journey and a coming-of-age tale for its protagonists, exploring themes of friendship, trauma, and redemption. Jeremy, with his unique abilities and tormented by secrets, Rafe, an artist grappling with internal scars, and Emilie, determined and brave, make for a compelling trio. Their quest is not just about finding what was lost but also confronting what was left behind: unresolved trauma and the truths of their shared past.

Readers and critics alike commend the book for its lush descriptions, atmospheric settings, and the profound connections between its characters. The humor, vulnerability, and humanity of the characters add layers of depth to the narrative, making it not just a fairy tale but a reflection on the complexities of life and relationships.

Yet, for all its magic and wonder, the novel also navigates darker territories—addressing issues like memory loss, suicide, adoption, and family dynamics—thereby grounding its fantastical elements in the gritty realities of human existence. The LGBTQ representation further enriches the tapestry, offering a nuanced portrayal of identity and belonging.

Despite its near-perfect execution, some readers felt the story could have concluded earlier, hinting at a pacing issue towards the end. Nonetheless, the overwhelming consensus is one of admiration for Shaffer's storytelling prowess, her ability to craft a world at once surreal and strikingly real, and her exploration of the human spirit's capacity for magic, resilience, and transformation.

In essence, Meg Shaffer's novel is a celebration of the magical power of books to transport, transform, and transcend. It is a fairy tale for the modern adult, reminding us that wonder and adventure aren't confined to the pages of a book but are all around us, waiting to be discovered. A highly recommended read, it is a book that invites return visits, promising new discoveries with each reading.

Confession: "The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer was my favorite book of 2023. I can't remember the last time a book captured my heart and brought me to so many (happy) tears. Needless to say, I was so excited for more from this author, and "The Lost Story" did not disappoint!

I don't want to give too much away, but will say that Shaffer created a lovely modern fairy tale with characters that pop off the page. I fell in love with Rafe, Jeremy, Emilie, and Skya. I particularly loved the boys' journey together. The way real-life conflicts were woven into this fantastical story was beautifully done. And the dialogue/banter was so much fun! These felt like people I know, and I wanted nothing more than for them to reach their happily ever after. (Also, as a proud West Virginian, I appreciated all the references and positive light shed on my home state!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy, and to Meg Shaffer for writing another great book!

Another great take on childhood literature from Meg Shaffer! Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine books for the ARC. All opinions are my own and scheduled publication date is July 16 2024.
The story is loosely based on the idea of the Chronicles of Narnia (which I have not read). Jeremy and Rafe are 2 boys living in West Virginia. They are lost in a state park called Red Crow for months and then emerge from the forest. It is not clear what happened to them and Rafe has no memory of anything that happened. Jeremy is taken back to England by his mother almost immediately.
It turns out that Jeremy has a gift for finding lost people and he is approached by Emilie who learned after her adopted mother's death that she has a biologic sister. Unfortunately that girl was kidnapped as a teenager by a pedophile. The pedophile is found dead but the girl is never found.
The story of the 3 (Jeremy, Rafe and Emilie) looking for the lost sister is truly magical. The world they find themselves is in so imaginative and intriguing. What a delightful strong sense of place in both worlds- the real West Virginia and the Red Crow world.
The characters are well done and believable. They are easy to root for.
There are strong elements of romance as well in this fantasy novel.
A great book for all those who loved children's books with their fantastic imaginative worlds!
Can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!

One of my top books from last year was The Wishing Game, so I was very excited for Meg's new one. The idea of this book seemed right up my alley, but sadly, it just didn't hit for me. It took me forever to read this, and at some points, I was not excited to pick it up.

I loved all of the Easter Eggs and references; Meg writes fantasy worlds so beautifully, and she makes me want to get lost in them. One of the main things that didn't work for me was how long it felt like it took to actually get to the magical world. There is magic throughout the book, but my favorite part of fantasy realism books is the fantasy part!

If you liked The Wishing Game and The Chronicles of Narnia, there is a chance that you will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

I truly did enjoy every aspect of this story. There was an interesting adventure, a great group of characters, and wonderful world-building in both the real world and the fantasy world.
The character development was very well done. Each character had their own turmoil, big or small, to get through. Right in the beginning we meet our boys and learn quickly “what happened” to them without knowing what truly went on in those woods. They go home and now have to live their lives and try to get back to any semblance of normalcy. Fifteen years later we learn, that things can never and will never just be normal. Not when you were in a beautiful fairy tale.
I loved the way Meg wrote each world. I have been to West Virginia for a camping trip and it truly is as she described. It’s a different world in those mountains.
The nod to Nárnia and creating a fairy tale world full of wonder and whimsy, I was transported. I enjoyed it immensely.
The hard part for me was remembering who I was reading about in the aspect of their ages. There were times when I thought wait they’re not teenagers, they’re grown adults. I enjoyed the reading and the story, but just not the it seems like they are still young teenagers. The dialect sometimes was very young. I imagine it would be as if maybe they are in this fantasy land and because they never truly were able to return to normalcy they stayed in a young fanciful mindset as they grew up.
As a whole, it was a very fun read with a great pace. You could easily devour it in a few days if you wanted or you could let it linger a little bit more.
Also, you must listen to Ludovico Einaudi’s Primavera! It is beautiful and the whole album just fits so lovely with the story.

“Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.”
The most perfect book for those readers who lived their books as children. Strongly influenced by The Chronicles of Narnia; the author still creates a unique world that you just want to immerse yourself in; and characters you just want to find their happiness in life. A must read for all book lovers!