The premise of this book was great, but I found it so hard to follow. Very slow pace and the second half was tedious for me to read. The children’s book series Libby wrote didn’t make any sense to me and I skipped over most of those parts.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Though there were plenty of moments of trauma, sadness, and hardship faced by the characters, there was also hope, coping, and some humour sprinkled in. The concept of this story was thoroughly unique. It gave me a nostalgic ache for the books I obsessed over as a kid and reminded me that I still have those stories close to my heart, despite growing up.

My only critique was the ending. It wasn't quite as satisfying as I was hoping it would be, but I will spare the spoilers.

I look forward to the final published edition this October!

I was really hoping to like this book because I thought that it would be a great delve into the sadness that is dementia. I thought it might shed some light on the illness while still being enjoyable and not too sad. I found this book interesting at first but very hard to follow as the book continued. I wasn't sure at times what point the book was trying to make. I enjoyed a few of the characters, like Peanut, but some others were strange and hard to get a feel for.

Overall it was an interesting book that seemed a bit long and hard to follow due to the story within a story and dementia element. It was also a bit unbelievable.

LIBBY LOST AND FOUND by Stephanie Booth

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of this read.

*Possible spoilers*

3.5 rounded up to 4⭐️

A whimsical story set in a small town in Colorado, where a young girl named, Peanut Bixton, lives with her family. Peanut is enthralled with a fantasy series of books called, The Falling Children, written by F.T. Goldhero. The author and her books are famously known throughout the world. Libby Weeks, the author that goes by, F.T. Goldhero, has the last book to write for the series, and is struggling because of having anxiety issues, as well as, the onset of early dementia. Libby eventually turns to eleven-year-old Peanut Bixton, a devoted fan of hers to help her write her last book of the series. Peanut harbors dark secrets of her own and finds eerie similarities between her town in Colorado and the world in Libby’s books. Peanut also finds similarities in the characters of the book, to her own life.

I think this is geared more toward mature YA’s, but did enjoy reading it. Peanut is a precocious young girl with a vivid imagination and her parts are often very humorous. It is heartbreaking to see Libby worsening with her dementia. There are a few plot threads that I thought were unresolved and confusing. At one point, I thought perhaps the similarities between the town in Libby’s books and where Peanut lives, would somehow tie Libby and Peanut together in other ways than just the devoted fan. Some of the things in the book weren’t meshing for me or perhaps I wasn’t grasping it all. Not sure. I do look forward to what this author does next.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this arc!

Incredibly intriguing premise, but moved so very slowly for me. Because of this the writing got tedious at times. The plot picks up at around the 40% mark. Unfortunately I hate the 'cant stand up for myself' characters so I wasn't a massive fan of Libby even tho the depiction of her as a dementia patient was probably very accurate. Instead of charming, I found Peanut incredibly annoying. If you told me a six or seven year old was acting like this I would believe you but she ELEVEN. If was as delusional as peanut my parents would have had me admitted into the psych ward.

I did enjoy how everything was tied up very nicely in the ending, that was really satisfying.

This book was just ok for me. Maybe the fantasy aspect of her book writing wasnt for me. I think if you are a HP fan you will enjoy this book.

3.5 Stars


An ode to books, to the stories we love, those that remain with us even as the years pass.

This story revolves around Libby, a best selling author whose series of children’s books are revered by those who follow this elusive author, who prefers not to be revealed to the public. She prefers to remain unknown to the public, her only true companion is her dog. The general consensus is that this author is a man, which makes it somewhat easier. She is currently working on her latest in the series when her doctor advises her that she has early onset dementia.

When a young girl, who claims to be her biggest fan, comes into her life, the girl offers to help her with this book, to find the best way for it to end. After her doctor’s diagnosis, Libby is still reeling, desperate to bring this series to the perfect ending while she still has time, and so she goes to visit this girl and her father, and therein lies another form of magic.

There’s a sprinkling of some semi-dark moments, but overall this was a story with a lot of charm.


Pub Date: 15 Oct 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by SOURCEBOOKS LANDMARK / Sourcebooks Landmark

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of Libby Lost and Found by Stephanie Booth.
This is a book I didn’t know I needed in my life until I started reading it. It is magical, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. This is a novel that I did not want to stop reading, yet I didn’t want it to end. I absolutely adore Libby and Peanut and had such a fun time hanging out with them. This is a definite must read and I have already pre-ordered a copy for my library. I cannot wait to see what Stephanie writes for us to enjoy next!

"Libby Lost and Found" completely captured my heart. The story follows Libby Weeks, the brilliant yet reclusive author of a best-selling fantasy series, who is grappling with early-onset Alzheimer’s while trying to finish her final book. Yes, there were clichés, and sure, it asked me to suspend my disbelief a bit, but isn't that part of the magic of a good book? Despite its imperfections, this story made me feel, and that's why I love reading.

Libby herself was incredibly lovable, and every character seemed perfectly placed to complement her journey. Peanut, the spirited eleven-year-old superfan who becomes Libby's unlikely ally, brought an authenticity that worked so well for the story. With all her preteen sass and obliviousness, she added a layer of charm that felt just right. The ending may have been a little far-fetched, but it was also beautifully done, pulling all the right emotional strings.

I loved it all—every single bit of it.

Sourcebooks LandmarkThis book was soooo strange and ended up being way different than I thought it would be. It’s so much more about the wacky storytelling and Peanut’s character than Libby, which I didn’t expect. I also felt that Libby never really went through any character growth around her dementia, it was all just resolved nicely in the end. This story did intrigue me, but I don’t think I would necessarily recommend it to anyone. 3.5 rounded down!

🌈Queer rep: Secondary nonbinary character

I like the premise of the book with the main character dealing with a very important issue with age and/or early onset Alzheimer’s.

A very famous children’s series author Libby Weeks, who writes under the pen name of F. T. Goldhero, is unable to finish the last book in the “The Falling Children” series. Readers and fans are getting rather anxious and angry.

Libby gets desperate and turns to eleven year old fan Peanut.

This is their story helping each other out of their darkest secrets. Hopefully other readers like the ending and the big reveal towards the end.

I find the writing a bit repetitive in most parts and the second half a bit tedious for me to enjoy.

I love the cover and the characters so much!

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark, for the advance reading copy.

It took me a hot minute to fully get into the book. I was into it at first and then the Peanut chapters just seemed out of place? The changing POVs kept getting me lost but then I kept getting angry at Libby, and you realize oh hey this is the frustration and tough part of dealing with people with dementia, so it was meant to come.

Definitely a read for anyone who read the Harry Potter series as there are so many parallels, same with A Wishing Game.

3.5 rounded

This is so heartbreakingly nostalgic. If you’re the kid that stayed up on release night reading the entire HP book in one sitting this is for you. My heart broke for Peanut, a kindred spirit 😭 outcast clinging to a book series she loves finding a magical home within its pages. I had to sit it down and cry and stop reading for a day at one point.

Libby, oh Libby. You know how sometimes you can’t figure out why the hell a book is titled what it is? That’s not this. Libby finds herself in the depths of despair (you’ll get that even more after you finish) and she comes out with the best found family 🥹


While I do think there are several plot holes it’s still worth the read if you have ever felt alone and found a home within the pages of a book 🩷



**SPOILERS**
I’m not sure if I missed something along the way or misinterpreted a plot point? But this got extremely confusing. I was under the impression that Libby was from Blue Skies? How was the Fallen Children a copy paste of Peanuts story? Did I misunderstand the plot of that book or was it just the way Peanut inflated her own story because it was the way she found a home within the books?

Thank you for the copy. Sadly it didn't work for me mainly because I couldn't connect with the main character and the writing style. It might work for you if too much telling isn't a problem for you.

Thanks to NetGalley for allolwing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I am sorry to say this book wasn't for me. I thought it was completely different.

Endearing story of a children's author diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Sometimes depressing, but it is realistic.
The book seems almost geared to YA but IMO some scenes/issues may go too far for that audience. However, mature juniors and seniors (emphasis on "mature") would like and be able to handle this.
Plot is a bit trite and predictable (hence the YA feeling) but the sweet characters make up for that.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely adored this book. I haven't read such a heartwarming story in a long time!

Libby Weeks is a mega-famous author of a children's fantasy series called The Falling Children. No one knows who she is, and, as an introverted recluse, she likes to keep her identity a secret. The only problem? Libby has absolutely no idea how to end the series and save her children (or, more accurately, her characters) from the conundrum she left them in during the last installment. To make matters worse, Libby is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. She begins forgetting both small and important things, and she knows she must hurry to finish the story before she forgets herself—and the children—altogether.

Luckily, Libby has a number one fan, Peanut, who knows The Falling Children better than anyone. Peanut is a bit of a misfit herself, and she has found comfort in reading the series over and over and over again. So when Libby reaches out to Peanut for ideas, she is more than willing to help Libby find a way to save The Falling Children.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster, but I loved the each of the characters. I expect this will be one of the book highlights of my year!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

- loved the concept
- found the supporting characters a bit weird... especially the reporter
- loved peanut bixon and what she stood for and her beliefs although a little far fetched at sometimes, it was nice to see her be transported into a world of a novel
- the book could have been a YA but some scenes were not YA friendly
- good read, i think a lot more could have been done with the story within a story

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Stephanie Booth's "Libby Lost and Found"

Libby Lost and Found is a delightful story filled with heart. Libby is the author of the hugely popular series The Falling Children. But she can't finish the series because of her declining health. Having recently received a diagnosis of dementia, we see Libby struggle through tasks as she attempts to move through her daily life. Determined to finish the series, she makes the fraught journey to find a young girl who she believes can help her finish the book and most importantly save the children in the series. I fell in love with Peanut and can't remember the last time I read such a wonderful young character. Peanut and her brother by adoption Buzz truly become Libby's rocks. The author employed humor to keep the story light even when dealing with some dark and troubling issues. I felt engaged and connected to the characters and the story throughout. This is one I will be recommending often.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Libby is in trouble. As the writer of the world's best selling children's series, "The Falling Children", she is overdue with the manuscript for the final book in the series. She's written her three child heroes into a disastrous and deadly situation and is simply stuck as to how to rescue them so that fans will find the "happy ending" that they expect. The plot of her book follows along with her diagnosis of early onset dementia. She too has wandered into the deep dark woods of her memory and can't seem to find a way out. Her publisher insists on keeping her identity a secret, using the pseudonym, " F.T. Goldhero." Rabid fans are looking for a way to find the elusive Mr. Goldhero so they can force him to finish the last book in the series; there's even a million dollar reward for finding the author.
As Libby grows more confused and desperate, she contacts her number one superfan, Peanut Brixton, hoping that Peanut's memory of the stories' events will help her to finish the final manuscript. What she finds in Blue Sky, Colorado is more than the solution to her writer's block, she finds a way to finally belong in the real world instead of living through her characters in their fantasy world. Libby and Peanut together find what they've both been searching for - a family.