As a big fan of The Secret Book of Flora Lea, I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. The Story She Left Behind is another delight. It incorporates many themes from parenthood to the power of language and much more. The writing is beautiful, and the main story was inspired by a real author. I also was fascinated by the author's description of The Great Smog of London, something I'd heard about but hadn't appreciated its magnitude. I think this book would make a wonderful choice for book discussion groups. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Story She Left Behind.

I've never read this author before but the premise sparked my interest so I was excited my request was approved.

I really liked how the premise was inspired by real life events but I wished I liked this better.

First, the writing is great, but it's too wordy, too heavy, the narrative filled with exposition and filler.

Second, popular tropes in these genres are all found here; a single mother, an insta-romance between her and the main male character, and a precocious child.

Third, the pacing is slow and not much happens, not even when the mystery of Clara's mom is revealed.

I mistakenly thought deciphering the language and the book's sequel was an intricate part of the story but it wasn't.

Fourth, I didn't connect with any of the characters; there was no emotional connection and despite the beautiful writing, no warmth in the development of Clara and Charlie's characters.

I didn't even like Wynnie very much; does a precocious child really talk like that?

Fifth, not surprisingly, the ending is too pat; every loose end is tied up and everyone lives happily ever after.

Verdict: A beautiful story about words, choices, fear, grief, hope, redemption, family, & love. Loved the mystery aspect of the book as well.
I was so grateful to be an ARC reader for this book. Thank you Patti Callahan Henry, Net Galley and Simon Element, and Atria for the arc. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Inspired by the story of a real writer who wrote her first book at age 12 and created words of her own like British authors Roald Dahl invented Gobblefunk and J.R.R. Tolkien developed Elvish, Patti Callahan Henry’s latest book is The Story She Left Behind coming out March 18.

Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham created a dictionary of her invented words and took it with her when she abandoned her family--never to be heard from again--after a fire in their home injured her daughter Clara in 1927 in Bluffton, South Carolina. Shattered by the loss of her mother, Clara has become an illustrator of children’s books as she raises her own daughter, 8-year-old Wynnie, in Clara’s childhood home where her father still lives.

Bronwyn left behind a sequel to her work but without the dictionary of created words, little hope remained for ever translating it. In 1952, Clara is contacted by a stranger in London who claims to having found her mother’s handwritten dictionary in his late father’s home. Charlie Jameson says there are instructions that Clara must pick up an envelope addressed to her in person, prompting a getaway to London for Clara and Wynnie.

Unfortunately, London is experiencing the Great Smog, attacking Wynnie’s asthmatic lungs. Charlie whisks them away to his family home in the Lake District of England, right down the road from Beatrix Potter’s home. Clara gets more than the envelope and the dictionary: a chance to discover what happened to her mother and the story she left behind.

Patti Callahan Henry, a former pediatric nurse, is a co-creator and co-host of the weekly Facebook podcast Friends and Fiction. She won the 2019 Christy Award for Christian Fiction for her book Becoming Mrs. Lewis, a historical fiction novel. A full-time author, wife, and mother of three, she has homes in both Alabama and South Carolina.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting November 7, 2024.

I would like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Another great one by Patti Callahan Henry! The writing in this book is beautiful and the timelines woven together seamlessly. The characters in the book are all likable and the exploration of hidden languages an interesting part of writing history I enjoyed learning about. I very much appreciate the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book and highly recommend this to others.

Maybe one of my favorite books I’ve read this year! The storytelling was stunning and the imagery was just so beautiful. I loved every second of reading this & simply never wanted it to end. Everyone go buy this the second it comes out! It’s so worth it!!!

I LOVED the Secret Book of Flora Lea by this author so I expected to enjoy this book. It surpassed my expectations though, if I could give it 6 stars I would. The imagery is one of my favorite parts of her books she paints a BEAUTIFUL picture of the landscapes. I love a little love story amidst the rest of a book. The idea of forgiveness throughout is really compelling and convicting personally. I would recommend this to everyone that I know!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Ever since I picked up Surviving Savannah, I’ve been impressed by Patti Callahan Henry’s ability to understand and explore real human emotions. She doesn’t hide from complexity and instead skillfully navigates through how different people process, react to, and live with trauma.

In The Story She Left Behind, Callahan Henry introduces readers to Clara Harrington, an illustrator whose work is an attempt to help her find and make peace with the loss of her mother who disappeared in the middle of the night when she was just 8 years old. Clara now has a daughter of her own, Wynnie, and she struggles to understand what could possibly drive a mother to abandon her child. A mysterious phone call from London forces Clara to confront her complicated feelings, setting in motion a journey through twenty-five years of joy, longing, resentment, anger, acceptance, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

As readers learn more about Clara’s mother, Bronwyn, we begin to understand the challenges that women artists have faced throughout time, some literally having to invent their own language in order to have their voices heard. Bronwyn’s language is one of my favorite parts of the book in that she looks to put words to emotions and experiences that we’ve all had but that our “regular” language can’t seem to capture.

If I had to offer any criticisms about the book, I do think that much of the plot line is fairly predictable. It’s pretty easy to see where the story is going, so if you’re looking for more of a hard-to-untangle mystery, you won’t get that here. But what you will get is a compelling story of beginnings and endings, one that celebrates the power of love, sacrifice, creativity, and legacy.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

You should definitely read the author's note to see where she got the start of her idea for this book! I thought it was really interesting to see the characters change throughout the story and the author did a great job keeping suspense and surprise about what would happen next.

What a beautiful gift to the reading world - a book which celebrates evocation of words, the wonder of story, and the depths of motherly love.

Inspired by the true story of Barbara Newhall Follet, Ms. Henry has crafted a captivating story of love, fear, loss, and hope. The book opens in 1927 with an adult woman, once a celebrated child prodigy author, making a hasty decision to flee from her South Carolina home. She abandons her adored husband and beloved eight year old daughter, intending never to be heard from again. Move forward to 1952, where the abandoned child now cherishes a daughter of her own. The sense of abandonment has left a dull ache in the adult daughter's soul which was seemingly manageable after so many years. That is until she receives an unbidden call from England requesting her appearance in London and retrieval of her mother's papers, (which were previously believed to have been destroyed). This story is the emotional and physical quest in procuring these pages and connecting to her mother through her mother's written words.

This was such a captivating and enjoyable read. The writing is exquisite, the characters well developed, and the mise en scène cinematic in scope. Ms. Henry's research into the horrific London fog of the winter of 1952, was spot on and fantastically delivered. The characters' emotions were so well delivered that one could not withhold empathy throughout the read. The internal emotional conflicts were palpable. Quotes of T.S. Eliot's poetry were enriching and brought back warm memories of its recitation to this reader's ears. The inclusion of stories of Beatrix Potter enriched the story that much more. All in all this was a beautiful, heartfelt and affirming story - one which will linger in this reader's soul for many days to come.

I am grateful to Atria Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: ‎ Atria Books
Publication Date: March 18, 2025
Number of Pages:‎ 352
ISBN:‎ 978-1668011874

Another great book by Patti Callahan Henry!

The settings are beautifully detailed, the characters built well, the mystery woven in throughout the book nicely. Although I realized a big piece of the puzzle fairly quickly, it didn’t take away from the remainder of the story. As the authors note says at the end, Patti Callahan Henry moved some historical timing around to work with the story and it did work so well. The emotions of the characters were relatable most of the time, and they way they developed through the book was good. I loved the literature references - one of my favorite childhood books from the UK is mentioned! I would recommend this book.

It comes out in March - add a preorder to your Christmas list

Patti Callahan Henry could teach a master class about setting a scene. Every novel that I read of Henry's completely consumes me. I was right in the scene with the characters and didn't want the novel to leave because I didn't want to leave them behind. I love when I get this feeling with a novel. This is my second novel I've read by Patti after Flora Lee, which was one of my favorites last year. The Story She Left Behind deals with grief and love in such a specific way that I felt so connected to the characters and often forgot what time period they were in. The descriptions of the country house had me wanting to pack up for vacations and escape to the country side.

Overall, without spoiling anything, I'm glad the ending was the one I hoped for. I loved Clara as the main POV but also really enjoyed reading Charles chapters which I was surprised at since I normally don't enjoy reading a male POV. I thought the characters developed in a strong way, and I wanted more. I wish there was a separate addendum of all the words that were made up throughout the book. I even would have enjoyed seeing a dictionary. I was luck enough to get a pysical copy of the prerelease of Flora and the way that it was packaged got me thinking of how this book would be marketed.

I would highly recommend this to any reader looking to completely lose themselves in a world beyond the page.

Synopsis: This book follows the story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter's search for them both.

My thoughts: I went into this book pretty blind - I had not read any Patti Callahan Henry books and didn't read the synopsis or know anything before I started reading it. I am happy to share that this is one of my favorites for 2024. I feel very lucky to have gotten an early copy of this book. I couldn't put it down!

It was the perfect mix of intensity, romance, and flow. I loved every single character. The setting was magical and mysterious and just a breath of fresh air. The tension that I felt when the main character was trying to process hard emotions was palpable. There was just enough whimsy and magic that it didn't feel cheesy in the slightest. This book was a warm, wholesome hug that I didn't know I needed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the early copy!

This author has illustrated this story beautifully with her words. I could picture every landscape and scene perfectly. I hope this will be optioned for a movie if it hasn't already. This was a wonderful story of family and tradition and finding beauty and acceptance in being different.

A mother, daughter, and granddaughter brought together by a book and a mystery. Clara's mother leaves her when she is nine and Clara is left with questions: Why did she leave? What happened to her? When her mother's imaginative dictionary is found in England, Clara and her daughter Winnie travel there to find out how it got there.

Another wonderful book by Patti Callahan Henry! She knows how to pull you in right from the beginning. I love how she took the disappearance of author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham and put her spin on it. The story has all the feels dealing with loss, love and family. I highly recommend this book. Thank you #NetGalley, #AtriaBooks, #PattiCallahanHenry, #TheStorySheLeftBehind for the advance copy for my honest review.

Patti Callahan Henry's latest book, The Story She Left Behind, is a worthy successor to her most recent bestseller, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. Clara Harrington and her precocious but fragile 8-year-old daughter, Wynnie, are living in Bluffton, South Carolina with Clara's father. An artist and successful children's book illustrator, Clara is nevertheless counting her pennies after her ex-husband drained their bank account with his gambling. She also still mourns the loss of her mother, Bronwyn, who had published a magical book at the age of 12 to great acclaim and later abandoned her husband and child without a trace.

When Clara receives a phone call from a stranger named Charlie in England, everything changes. He claims to have found a mysterious satchel in his recently deceased father's library, containing a glossary of words that Clara's mother had invented and which could lead to the decoding of the long-awaited, never published sequel to the first book. Instructions in the satchel indicate that Clara must come to England to pick it up herself, and there is also an unopened letter addressed to her. In 1952, Clara and Wynnie somehow find the money to make the long journey to England, only to find Wynnie's health threatened by the biggest and most deadly fog ever to occur in London. Aided by Charlie, they finally make their way to England's beautiful Lake District, which leads to . . . everything.

Anything further would be spoilers, and you need to discover them for yourself. The book's summary calls Henry's writing "lyrical," and I can't think of a better word. Place descriptions, musings, dialogue--it's all beautiful and a delight to read. The characters of Clara, Wynnie, Charlie, Clara's father, Bronwyn (in flashbacks), and Charlie's mother are deeply explored and lovingly portrayed. There are many surprises and twists as well. It is a lovely book, with a lot to savor and enjoy.

I loved every minute of this book. I was drawn in immediately from the beginning of the story. I just now finished. I took my time with this book because I wanted to savor the story and to keep remembering the characters. They sure are memorable.
I think what kept me invested was the secrets that kept emerging throughout this wonderful story.
Another reason to keep going was the mystery! I love a good mystery of why, when, what, who and where.
I really enjoyed in getting to know each character.
I hated to say goodbye to them for I feel like they're my friends now.
This author will be added to my list of favorites. I can't wait to see what she writes next!
5 stars fir another adventure from this author!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱 “The Story She Left Behind" by Patti Callahan Henry

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expected publication March 18, 2025

A historical fiction novel based on the real life of Barbara Newhall Follet. Barbara was a child prodigy author who started writing at five. She created her own language, and thus published her first novel at 12 years old. She had a rough and tragic life until age 25, when she vanished, never to be seen again.

The novel changes Barbara to Bronlyn and readers get to see the grief a young girl goes through searching for her mother. Clara's mother was something of a myth, as she vanished by sea when she was only 8.  Her father became her refuge and when her husband got too deep into gambling, Clara ran home to NC with her young daughter. 

It is 1952, Clara is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Wynnie. Out of the blue, a stranger named Charlie Jameson contacts her from London claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost language. Clara is confused and beyond skeptical, after all these years, but she decides to take the chance for some answers. Wynnie and Clara cross the Atlantic, and just happen to arrive in London during one of the deadliest natural disasters—the Great Smog. The city descends into chaos and with asthmatic Wynnie, Clara listens to her new friend Charlie, and they escape the city, finding refuge in the Jameson’s family retreat nestled in the Lake District. It is here in this tiny countryside village that Clara finds the courage to uncover the full truth about her mother and the story she left behind.


Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of this book

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Patti Callahan Henry is one of the most beautiful writers out there today. This story captured my heart from the first line until the last page. I read extra slow to savor every gorgeous word.

Clara has spent w5 years wondering what happened to her mother when she vanished one night. Is she dead or alive? She gets a call that some of her mother’s papers have been discovered in England and contain the secret language she created that is needed to translate the sequel to her wildly popular book.

This book takes us from Bluffton SC to London and to the English countryside for an unforgettable story. I can not recommend this book highly enough. Patti has done an outstanding job with this book and this may be my favorite book of hers to date!!!