This book is so well written and I fear it will be overlooked and missed because the topic isn't exciting or sexy. Stephanie Booth wrote a main character that felt so real it was uncomfortable to read. I hated being lost in Libby's mind. It was anxiety inducing to feel her panic as her memories slipped away. While that made it uncomfortable to read, it showed me how well written it was.
I loved all of the connections Booth tied together to make the Falling Children books seem more real and alive.
Even though I didn't love how they tied up the ending, I still enjoyed the journey to get there.

Thank you to the publisher for my arc!

Sadly i didn't enjoy this. the story seemed super boring and i didn't care about the characters.

Title: Libby Lost and Found
Author: Stephanie Booth
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.50
Pub Date: October 15, 2024

I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from SourceBooks and RBmedia respectively via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Heartfelt • Imaginative • Dizzying

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Meet Libby Weeks, author of the mega-best-selling fantasy series, The Falling Children -written as "F.T. Goldhero" to maintain her privacy. When the last manuscript is already months overdue to her publisher and rabid fans around the world are growing impatient, Libby is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Already suffering from crippling anxiety, Libby's symptoms quickly accelerate. After she forgets her dog at the park one day -then almost discloses her identity to the journalist who finds him -Libby has to admit it: she needs help finishing the last book.

Desperately, she turns to eleven-year-old superfan Peanut Bixton, who knows the books even better than she does but harbors her own dark secrets. Tensions mount as Libby's dementia deepens -until both Peanut and Libby swirl into an inevitable but bone-shocking conclusion.

💭 T H O U G H T S

The premise for Stephanie Booth's debut novel Libby Lost and Found sounded fantastic, with so many of my favourite themes. Additionally, the marketing team compared Libby Lost and Found to Lessons in Chemistry and Remarkably Bright Creatures (two books I enjoyed) so there was no denying I had incredibly high hopes going in. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.

Libby is the ultimate unreliable narrator. The way in which this book is structured and written makes it incredibly difficult to discern between the present, the past, and the fictional world of the books. What started out strong eventually becomes a dizzying and repetitive narrative. I would say throughout the majority of the book, it felt like something I'd read before (i.e. The Wishing Game vibes). It was as though the author spent time choosing elements from several other novels and just threw them together into her own book.

I typically love stories with intergenerational friendships in them. However, here that friendship isn't the central focus, rather more of a working in parallel situation. And I honestly didn't know if it was real or part of the series. Additionally, the romance was absolutely unnecessary to the plot and took away from Libby's character.

Mia Barron who narrates the audiobook delivers a solid performance. She switches up her voice and tone to distinguish between characters. I started out alternating between reading the digital copy with my eyeballs and listening to the audio, but around the two-thirds mark I switched to the audio because the story was more engaging that way

Before picking up Libby Lost and Found I'd predicted it would be a 5-star read for me since it included so many themes and elements I love (found family, intergenerational relationships, the world of books, etc.) That was definitely not the case and I was left feeling very disappointed. In my opinion, this was not the story it was marketed to be and as a result, it will struggle to find its audience. What started out strong, somewhere along the way it took a wrong turn and got lost. While it was not the book for me, I have no doubts anyone with a taste for more fantastical elements will enjoy it more.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• middle aged MCs
• book within a book plots
• stories about the underdog

⚠️ CW: dementia, panic attacks/disorders, anxiety, depression, bullying, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, overdose, child abuse, toxic relationship, abandonment, pregnancy

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Everyone has their own shit. Just in different flavors."

I don’t know what I just read…this book was all over the place. I understand that the author was diagnosed with dementia (not Alzheimer’s as the synopsis said) and she was having a hard time finishing the last book in her series, but it going back and forth between Peanut and her and with some snippets of her book, made it really confusing. This book was just meh for me…

Libby lives a pretty solitary life writing the world famous children’s fantasy series “The Falling Children” under the name F.T.Goldhero. The internet is blowing up wondering who this author is and when the final book in the series will be released. Unbeknownst to the world, and her publisher, Libby has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers and writing is next to impossible.
Through a series of events, she travels to meet an extremely precocious 11 yo. fan who believes the finale’ of the story will tell her who her birth mother is. I read middle-grade books so the frequent reference to what occurs in “The Falling Children” is SOP for me though some adult readers may have difficulty with the fantasy references. That said, the book is extremely compelling and, as you might imagine, heartbreaking and I recommend it highly.

Libby Lost and Found" by Stephanie Booth is an emotional and enchanting tale that captures friendship, love, family, and a touch of magic. From the first page to the last, I was drawn into its world.

Libby Weeks, the reclusive author behind the beloved "The Falling Children" series, faces an early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis just as her final manuscript is overdue. Enter Peanut Bixton, an eleven-year-old superfan with her own secrets, who joins Libby in an unexpected journey to finish the series. Their bond, formed through shared stories and personal struggles, is the heart of this narrative.

Booth beautifully navigates themes of identity, loss, and resilience. Her portrayal of Libby's diminishing memory is poignant yet compassionate, and Peanut's determination resonates with anyone who has ever found solace in a story. The epistolary touches add a unique depth, making the characters feel real and relatable.

This book is a testament to the power of stories and the connections they forge. I highly recommend it for readers looking for a heartfelt, imaginative, and inspiring read

In a time where I was having a hard time with books capturing my attention, this one was such a treat. This is the perfect escapist read for anyone looking for one.

This wasn't a bad book, but it really just wasn't for me. It was very unique and I don't think I've read anything like this before

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy, Libby Lost and Found is now out in the US.
Libby Weeks is a very famous writer of a children’s series, written under the alias F.T. Goldhero. The last book in the series is due out, and she has left her heroes in great peril, but there is a huge problem. Libby has just been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and she is struggling to remember her plots and write the ending that the fans deserve.
In order to get this done, Libby teams up with a superfan, a young orphan who relates to the books on a deep level. What follows is a warm drama, a heartwarming friendship and a beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption.

First off, title and cover art really drew me towards this book. Libby Lost and Found felt like a bit of Where'd You Go Bernadette and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - but with dementia. The Story follows Libby, a female author of a wildly successful children's series, in her 40's with early onset dementia. She enlists the help of a quirky 11 year old for help finishing the last installment in the series. Theres a lot of humor, a touch of mystery, and lots of love in this book. While I think the concept of the book was a unique idea, I felt almost at a disadvantage not knowing the plot points or the characters of her Falling Children book series. The characters in this book make so many references and quoted the series so many times throughout, that it made me really confused and disconnected. I was invested in Libby and her journey with the dementia, but I had a hard time wrapping my head around the series in the book since I wasn't provided with enough of a background. Charming nonetheless!

Very enjoyable and surprisingly deep book! You don’t realize that going into it but the overall takeaway is wonderful! It’s so interesting being in Libby’s head as the book progresses and then meeting Peanut. Very cool story line and plot. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book. I was hesitant to start it based on the reviews, but I absolutely loved it. I read this in one sitting and was intrigued from the very start. Each of the characters are so well developed. Peanut is adorable always talking in hyperboles.

I love the comparisons between Peanut and the Falling Children. Throughout the novel the novel, I went through so many theories on why they’re connected - they’re the same person, Libby is an aunt/family member, Peanut has multiple personalities, etc. It was so clever to leave us someone uncertain on the connection as Libby’s dementia causes her uncertainty. The part where Buzz mentions that Libby might have been there before and Rolf immediately taking to Buzz… it makes me wonder what their story is & if we’ll get a sequel with more details.

I’m still hanging on a couple spots.
The line where Peanut is in the hospital and tells Libby that only Libby can see her. I can’t tell if the author meant metaphorically or if there’s more to this.
Throughout the novel, I couldn’t figure out if Peanut was made up from Libby’s dementia OR if Libby was made up from Peanut’s dementia OR neither. The line where Nancee tells Peanut that she used to be her best friend until ‘you know’ & we never got clarity on what that is.

Overall I absolutely loved this! Hoping, hoping, hoping for a sequel!!

The premise of this book was great, and I had high hopes for it, but it ended up not being my cup of tea. I both read and listened to Libby Lost and Found trying to find my way, but each left me wanting in some way. I truly enjoyed the character of Libby as she works her way through the effects of early onset dementia as she tries to finish her last book, as well as 11-year-old Peanut who is a hoot and has her own struggles with her life and health. There were parts that I really enjoyed but also the story within the story never grabbed me and I’m torn about the ending. Thank you to Recorded books, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel wasn’t quite what I expected. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a YA or middle-grade book. The alternating POV between Libby and Peanut wasn’t my favorite—I found it confusing, especially with similarities to Blue Skies and The Fallen Children. I also found it somewhat anxiety-inducing. I would have preferred if the story focused solely on either Libby’s struggles with her dementia diagnosis or Peanut’s journey to help her favorite author finish a beloved book series. The crossover between these plots didn’t work for me, and I struggled to get into the story. My heart broke for Peanut throughout. While I knew this would be about an author, I didn’t expect the book and its characters to take up so much of the plot. Overall just wasn’t my cup of tea, but I think the author did a good job of bringing all of the characters to life. Many thanks to the publishers & NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I honestly did not make it very far in this title. When the author talked about Libby not finding her "partner" yet, it made me concerned about the agenda behind the book. So I quit.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview this title.

I love a book about books but for some reason, this one didn't hit for me. I think the story within the story became a little confusing and the ending was a bummer. I didn't dislike it but I really wanted to like it more than I did.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy to review.

I didn’t devour this book until just over the half way mark and not sure why it took me one month to read despite the fact I was enjoying so many parts of it. I got lost in the flow of the story a few times and skipped over the plots of The Falling Children. A good read all in all

***Booth cushions the blow of the main protagonist's early-onset Alzheimer's with a zany romp, lots of love for books, and heartwarming, unexpected friendships.***

Elaborate mythology swirls around the mysterious author of the blockbuster fantasy series The Falling Children, which was written under a pen name, F. T. Goldhero, and fans dream up fantastical stories about the writer and his life. He is often assumed to be living in outrageously wealthy fashion in a European castle.

But the real-life author behind the books is unassuming Libby Weeks, holed up in her apartment with her dog. She is private, isolated, lacking in self-esteem--and when she was starting out, she naively signed away most of her rights to the millions the series later garnered.

Now Libby has hit a writing wall. She's allowed the falling children to work themselves into a seemingly impossible conundrum that is sure to lead to their deaths, and she can't determine how to extricate them. She's months late delivering the newest installment of the series, and her publisher and fans are losing patience, to the point that online message boards, then newspapers, begin printing threats and promises to unveil the author's true identity and force a conclusion to the books.

But Libby receives a devastating diagnosis that changes everything: early-onset Alzheimer's. As she's reeling from the news and considering her potential legacy and the fate of the falling children, she becomes obsessed with finishing her book...but she's going to need some help.

Enter superfan Peanut Brixton--who may be even more familiar with The Falling Children books than Libby herself. Libby sets out with her dog on a quest to seek Peanut's wisdom...but she's starting to lose the plot of her own life, and the loner is in need of support that's far greater than writing inspiration.

The cover of Libby Lost and Found struck a light-fiction chord for me. The tone of the book is often playful--but dark humor often surrounds Libby's diminishing memory, and countless who's-on-first types of conversations occur as a result. This is a zany romp, as Libby's determination to push on to an ending for her series combines with her lack of commanding details around the mission she has set out on to cause upheaval at every turn.

The story is a quick read and somewhat of whirlwind. It often felt like a young-adult story because of the significant focus on young Peanut and her own challenges. Libby Lost and Found holds a tragic illness at its center, with lots of heart and redemption softening the blow.

I received a prepublication copy of Libby Lost and Found courtesy of NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark.

Libby Lost and Found is Stephanie Booth's first book.

𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝
𝐁𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏𝟎.𝟏𝟓.𝟐𝟒

I’m amazed that this is a debut novel! It is an imaginative, intelligent, and emotional story within a story—a true book lover's delight.

Libby Weeks is the author of the ultra-famous fantasy series The Falling Children. However, she hides behind the pen name F.T. Goldhero for her privacy. Libby lives a very lonely life, save for her dog.

The publisher and fans worldwide await the series's final installment; the children need saving. But Libby has just received a devastating diagnosis: early-onset dementia. Who will save the children now?

Enter Peanut Bixton, an eleven-year-old superfan of The Falling Children series. She has probably emailed F.T. Goldhero a million times about saving the children. But when Libby sends the wrong email to Peanut, their paths collide, and the results are nothing less than magical.


We talk about hugging books, and this one deserves it. Not only is the story of The Falling Children beautifully woven throughout, but Libby and Peanut’s unlikely friendship and unique connection is incredibly heartwarming. Both have hardship and heartache, yet they find solace in books and stories. I felt a gamut of emotions while reading this, but my heart was full when I closed the book.

𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿𝑖𝑏𝑏𝑦 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑!

Thank you @bookmarked and @stephanieboothwrites for this gifted book and ebook via Netgalley.

Thank you, #RBmedia, for the gifted audiobook. It was enchanting and I highly recommend it to audiobook lovers.

This book was so sad. So so sad and depressing from the start to the end. I stuck with it because I wanted to see how things ended and I thought things would turn around. I had some ideas for directions it might go. It did not. It stayed sad. I have learned this year that if a book is described as heartwarming, it probably isn’t for me and this wasn’t an exception. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook.