As I trudged through the unimaginable fog, so thick it caused death in 1952 London, I considered giving up. I grew impatient and felt smothered. But then, that’s what made this book so compelling—I felt like I was THERE, living it, seeing it, breathing it.

Few books transport you to a place as wholly as The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry. Her descriptive writing transports you first to a small coastal town in South Carolina, then to the gritty streets of London, and finally to the wild beauty of the northwest Lake District of England.

Both a mystery and a family drama—with romance sprinkled in for a bonus—this book is one to be savored.
This book grew on me as I read it. I had to drop impatient expectations for a snappy, contemporary plot and fall into the story’s charming rhythm—like trading a car ride on the interstate for a gentle horse loping through beautiful trailways.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance review copy.

No one sweeps me away to another place and time like Patti Callahan Henry does! Henry’s writing is poetic as she captures the emotions of angst, longing and profound love among a story of mystery infused with a dusting of whimsical magic. Atmospheric and character driven, I was absorbed by the story and into the lives of these characters. Henry also incorporates some true literary characters and events into the novel.
The time is 1927 and Clara Harrington’s childhood is forever changed when her mother, Bronwyn, disappears. Bronwyn is a renowned author, who penned a book with an invented language at only twelve years old. The option of translating her sequel has disappeared with her.
More than twenty years later, a stranger from London reaches out to Clara. He has found papers from her mother to be opened only by Clara among his recently deceased father’s belongings. Quite skeptical but curious, Clara embarks on a trip to London with her young daughter.
Do not skip the author's notes at the end, as Patti explains what real historical event sparked this story in her mind.

4.5⭐️
This was whimsical fiction. Such a magical story with a bit of mystery.

Clara's mother was a child prodigy who published a fan favorite novel at 12 years old. As an adult, she worked on a second novel written in her secret made-up language.

Then, while Clara is still a child, her mother vanishes. She is left broken hearted and with a manuscript in a secret language she wants so badly to translate to understand where her mother has gone.

Years later, Clara receives a call from a stranger in England who has her mother's secret language dictionary and a note written by her mother that the contents are only for Clara.

She takes off for England in hopes of finding the answers she's been waiting her whole life for.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

Such an incredible, beautifully written story. I adored this from beginning to end.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I was completely captivated by this lyrical tale by Patti Callahan Henry. It’s a story of a mother’s love for her daughter, and there is truly no word in any language that can describe that love. You do anything to protect her. And it’s a story of a daughter longing for her mother.

Where do we find the answers to the hardest questions? Our deepest longings? This story is a puzzle with carefully placed pieces, and though at first you can’t see how they fit together, the picture becomes clearer with each chapter...each page...each word.

The author creates a world with such wonderfully detailed settings that I felt as if I had been completely absorbed into the book. She gives such life to her characters that they became real to me. I need my own invented language to find a word big enough to encompass all of the feelings I had while I was reading. I highly recommend this and can’t wait for her next book! 5 HUGE stars!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A magical, mysterious , enchanting , emotional beautiful story. Patti Callahan Henry writes such beautiful stories. I rushed through this book because I couldn’t put it down, but went back and reread most of it so that I could appreciate Henry’s writing.
Clara is a an art teacher in Bluffton SC in the 1950’s. She lives with her father and eight year old daughter Wylie. Clara’s mother, Bronwyn was a published author as a child, and she mysteriously disappeared when Clara was a child. Her mother penned a book that was cherished by children all over the world and when she disappeared so did the sequel to her book.
The sequel contained a secret language that Bronwyn created. Her language was what she needed to survive. The story delves into the true meanings of Bronwyn’s secret words, beautiful, heartfelt meanings.
Clara travels to London to retrieve lost papers of her mother’s that are discovered by the Jameson family. In London, so much is learned and found.
This story is about family, authors, artists, secrets, and words, and isn’t’ that what all readers love? This is just the perfect story, that will stay with me forever.
And the cover!! So beautiful!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. .

Before I even start, can I just say... WOW that cover!!! All the heart eyes. Probably one of my favorite covers from the last 5 years. As you read The Story She Left Behind, you'll see just how perfect it is.

I have been a Patti Callahan Henry fan ever since I found Once Upon a Wardrobe. I feel like The Story She Left Behind combines the magic and whimsy of Once Upon a Wardrobe with the dramatic family dynamics from The Secret Book of Flora Lea.

Clara and her father are abandoned by her prodigy author mom Bronwyn when Clara is just 8. Clara struggles with the sweet memories she has of her whimsical and eccentric mom and the anger she feels from being abandoned. Twenty-five years later, Clara receives a call from a man named Charlie in London that papers from her mom have been found in his deceased father's study and she must come at once to retrieve them. Clara and her 8-year old daughter Wynnie board a boat and head to England. Will Clara find the answers for why Bronwyn disappeared all those years ago?

I loved the supporting characters in this novel. While a bit whimsical herself, Wynnie is a shining star. She is necessary to the plot (not just from why she and her mom leave London), but also for how Clara processes Bronwyn leaving. She seems like the one who binds everyone together. I could have done without the intensity of Clara and Charlie after just one week of knowing each other. I felt like it went too far too fast.

While I wouldn't call this historical fiction per se, I did enjoy the parts about literary characters and also about the London fog. This is one I will definitely purchase. 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

Special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC. All views are my own.

Where to even start…I loved this book for so many different reasons! The descriptive writing style is so well-done that I FELT that I was inside the story, set mainly in 1952 England. Yet- it flowed so well and was easy to read, not overly done. I wish I could transport to this magical place in the early 1950’s English Countryside and live there! There is a love story and a mystery and I was never bored or lacking of a need to find out what was going to happen next. I will be thinking about this book for a long time, and can’t wait to read more books by Patti Callahan Henry!

Before reading this book, I'd never read anything by Patti Callahan Henry, and I choose not to review the blurb for this one aside from it being a historical fiction. I'm so glad I went in blind, because this book truly captured my heart. It grabbed my attention and I couldn't stop turning the pages!
The story blends emotion, romance, and mystery so well that it kept me hooked. The setting was enchanting and atmospheric, offering a refreshing escape. I loved the lyrical writing and the detailed descriptions. The FMC was portrayed so genuinely-it was impossible not to feel what she was going through. I appreciated how she followed her own heart in the end. The touch of whimsy and magical realism added just the right amount of charm without feeling over the top. I loved how the story came together and how so many of the characters had secret/unknown ties to eachother.
Many thanks for the ARC provided by NetGalley and Atria Books!

This book is captivating, adventurous, romantic and heart-warming. I fell in love with the characters and their story. Each character was easy to like and root for. I enjoyed the mystery behind the plot and loved how the story ended up. If you are looking for an uplifting and enchanting historical fiction novel, this is one to absolutely add to your shelf!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Patti Callahan Henry is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I have particularly loved this one and the two before it. All three are magical reads. The author’s writing skills are exceptional. She has a way with words and descriptions that puts you right into the story. I absolutely loved the characters, especially Clara, Charlie, and Wynnie. I also like the way she takes something true that you most likely never heard of and uses the kernel of that truth to tell an enchanting story. I guarantee that this story will make you want to take a trip to the Lake District of England.

Wonderful, enchanting mystery! I am the enjoyed this book thoroughly. Highly recommended for historical fiction enthusiasts. Thank you to the publisher Atria for an advanced copy.

As a long time fan of Patti Callahan Henry, I jumped at the chance to read this book.
The pros: I love that she based this on a real mystery but added her own spin on it. I kind of knew how this was going to end up but I very much enjoyed the journey. The descriptions of both London and the Lake District were extraordinary and fueled my desire to visit one day. Loved the majority of the British characters and felt they were warmly yet realistically drawn.
The cons: Just a few characters bothered me. Unfortunately, one was the main character, Clara. I understand her desire to find her mother, but at times she gave a very obsessive vibe that was a bit jarring. Moira, one of the house staff, seemed much more familiar with the family than a servant would have been in that time period. The fact that she got into Charlie's father's things (on multiple occasions) and the family dismissed it as "sweet" and proof of devotion seemed problematic. Maybe this was used as a device to distract and make the reader think that Moira knew more than she did. It worked, because I viewed her with suspicion for most of the novel.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this story and loved learning more about the person it was based upon. This is a great read for anyone who dreams of the English countryside but can only visit through books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This book is the reason why I love historical fiction. The chapters dealing with the Great Smog of London were exceptional. It was like I was there, choking on the smoke, unable to see a foot in front of me, throat burning, and eyes.

I will say that I would have enjoyed a more complicated reveal. Something more shocking but still enjoyed it overall. 3.5 rounding up to 4 because their journey from London to the country home kept me on the edge of my seat!

"Inspired by a true literary mystery, New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter's search for them both.

In 1927, eight-year-old Clara Harrington's magical childhood shatters when her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Her departure leaves behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work. As the headlines focus on the missing author, Clara yearns for something far deeper and more insatiable: her beautiful mother.

By 1952, Clara is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Wynnie. When a stranger named Charlie Jameson contacts her from London claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother's lost language. Clara is skeptical. Compelled by the tragedy of her mother's vanishing, she crosses the Atlantic with Wynnie only to arrive during one of London's most deadly natural disasters - the Great Smog. With asthmatic Wynnie in peril, they escape the city with Charlie and find refuge in the Jameson's family retreat nestled in the Lake District. It is there that Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind.

Told in Patti Callahan Henry's lyrical, enchanting prose, The Story She Left Behind is a captivating novel of mystery and family legacy that captures the profound longing for a mother and the evergreen allure of secrets."

I love literary mysteries!

A captivating historical fiction novel about a woman wants to solve the mystery of the disappearance of her mother twenty-five years ago. Readers will want to root for Clara, the protagonist, to find out what happened to her mother, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, child prodigy & author. Patti Callahan Henry's writing & perspectives from multiple characters help keep the story moving forward. Wynnie, Clara's daughter, shines throughout the story.

Novel touches upon a mother's love, mother/daughter relationships across generations, trying to begin again, and a journey to discover the truth.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story about a mother who disappears when her daughter was young, and. A tragic death is presumed. Then many years later, her writings have been found in England in a wealthy man’s estate after he passes. The daughter and her daughter then go to retrieve the papers and a marvelous journey ensues!

Patti Callahan Henry excels at atmospheric storytelling. Both the beauty of the Lake District and the eerie devastation of London’s Great Smog of 1952 are brought to life in this sweeping story about finding closure, understanding the past, and discovering the strength to move forward.

Clara Harrington, an illustrator, has spent her life haunted by the mystery of her mother’s abandonment. Her love for her daughter, Wynnie, is shaped by this loss, driving her to protect and nurture in ways she was never afforded. When an unexpected phone call pulls her to England, she embarks on a journey that may finally bring her the answers she’s been seeking.

While the story is moving and immersive, it does follow a somewhat predictable path. Still, with its blend of mystery, romance, and a compelling story within a story, it has something for everyone.

The nod to Nova Scotia is a lovely touch, and the cover design is simply beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC

Clara's Mom left her when she was 8 and was presumed dead. Years later when she has her own child, she is contacted by a man in England, Charlie Jameson, who says he has a letter for her and documents. Clara's Mom wrote a best selling novel when she was 12 and it was always rumored there was a sequel somewhere so she is not sure the call is legitimate until he gives her some info of the documents that leads her to believe they are real. She and her daughter, Winnie, journey via ship to London in search of answers only to arrive in the middle of a smog storm that causes Winnie's asthma to seriously react. Charlie whisks them off to his mother's country home but not before some of the pages are lost along the way. As they stay in the country, more and more reminders of her Mom are everywhere and Clara searches for the answers she needs to move forward in her life about her Mom but also after the end of her marriage. Another delightful story of love, loss, forgiveness and family that kept me engrossed in the mystery throughout by Patti Callahan Henry.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you @atriabooks for my #gifted ARC and thank you @simon.audio for my #gifted ALC of The Story She Left Behind! #AtriaPartner #atriabooks #simonaudio #patticallahanhenry #TheStorySheLeftBehind #juliawhelan #TheoSolomon

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟓★

Patti Callahan Henry had me hooked from the very first page. This book was absolutely whimsical, just like parts of where the book takes place. I must say, I was so invested in this story, and finding out more about Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, that I could not focus on anything but this book. When an author can keep you up reading until 3:00am, you know you’ve got yourself a great book. I love how this book so perfectly blended historical fiction, mystery, romance, and family drama.

It’s hard to write a review without giving much away, but this was such a delightful read about a daughter and her search for clues about her famous mother, who was an author, and her disappearance decades ago, along with the handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost language, which was used in her writing. It’s a story about loss, hope, and also forgiveness. It was truly such a beautiful story and one that I will not forget.

If there’s something I can always count on when I read a book by Patti Callahan Henry, it’s character development. I loved the characters in this book more than anything. From Clara and her daughter Wynnie, to the stranger in London, Charlie who reaches out to them with information about Clara’s mother’s lost language. Each character was so perfectly crafted.

🩷A Blend of Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance, and Family Drama
🩷Inspired by a True Literary Mystery
🩷Family Secrets
🩷A Whimsical Setting
🩷Lovable Characters
🩷Grief, Hope, and Forgiveness
🩷Dual POV

🎧I alternated between physical book and the audiobook, which was narrated by two amazing narrators: Julia Whelan and Theo Solomon. Wow! I was sold when I saw Julia Whelan was narrating, but I am now going to find whatever Theo Solomon narrates and listen to it, but I am definitely a fan! This book on audio was probably one of my favorites I’ve listened to in a long time! No notes. Just amazing. I highly recommend!

Posted on Goodreads on February 27, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around February 27, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on March 18, 2025
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