You can always count on Patti Callahan Henry to deliver compelling novels with beautiful prose. The Story She Left Behind is no exception. It is a literary mystery based on the true story of a famous child author who goes missing at the age of twenty-five, and includes a historical fiction element. In this case, The Great Smog of London in 1952. The author, called Bronwyn in this novel, disappears when her daughter Clara is only eight years old. In 1952, Clara and her daughter Wynnie, set sail to London to try to see if some missing papers hold the key to translating her mother's last novel, which is written in Bronwyn's secret language, and answers for Clara as to why her mother left. It becomes a quest for discovery, longing, family, love, forgiveness, and creativity. You will love these characters and their adventures. Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Patti Callahan Henry for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful story! The London setting was so atmospheric and the writing is lovely. The characters are so well developed and the air of mystery that surrounds the book kept me reading.

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read it in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This might be Patti Callahan Henry's best book yet! I loved the author's poetic language and use of setting. And the storyline of a daughter trying to find her lost mother tugs at the heartstrings.

4.5 ⭐

Few authors fall under the "auto-buy" category for me, and Patti Callahan Henry is one. In her newest work, The Story She Left Behind, she has captivated me yet again with her stunning prose. 

Just as in her other books, Henry has combined fiction, history, and a touch of beloved literature from olden days, weaving them with her vivid storytelling into something altogether magical. She is a master at painting an atmospheric and rich setting that sweeps the reader away. I found myself wishing to grab my passport and visit this beautiful slice of England that sprung to life through these pages. True to form, The Story She Left Behind blends mystery, romance, and a piece of history, creating a full and well-rounded narrative that will leave lovers of multiple genres enamored by this story. This book truly has it all!

The Story She Left Behind is an enjoyable, whimsical tale about a child prodigy author who, after finding success and then enduring a variety of life traumas, disappears when her daughter is 8. Leaving behind only a manuscript written in her own made up language, Bronwynn is gone with the wind. Her daughter, Clara, now a mother to an 8 year old daughter herself, learns that her mother’s missing dictionary of made up words is found in the possession of a man in England whom she’s never met. The journey to obtain her mother’s dictionary leads her and her asthmatic child to London during the 1952 Great Smog and into a whirlwind mystery to uncover the truth. And maybe more.

I truly enjoyed this story. I did find myself having to remind myself that this is a whimsical fiction as the timeline for certain things seemed very fast, and the emotional reaction of certain characters to the information they learned seemed a bit disproportionate at times. I expected more emotion than what was written, yet at the same time, I feel the importance of what was being told outweighed the “reality” or the “logical” type of response one would give in those situations.

Regardless of certain faults, I did thoroughly enjoy the story. This was my first book by Patti Kallahan Henry, and I am forever grateful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read this book. I would definitely recommend this to friends for a light and very enjoyable read.

I was pleased to get an ARC of The Story She Left Behind as I had enjoyed the author’s earlier book The Secret Book of Flora Lea. What worked best for me was the writing about the natural world both in South Carolina and in Cumbria. Some of the magical realism seemed a bit childlike and I struggled to connect with it. There was also a lot of repetition of themes that could have been tightened up a bit. Sometimes it felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over. Overall, a pleasant story but not my personal cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well, Patti Callahan Henry did it again!
In my opinion, she wrote (and published last year) my top favourite historical fiction I read in 2023, and now she does t again: an adorable, heart-warming, cozy and lovely new story.
*I'll write a full review later*
But I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy historical fiction.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with a free eARC of this delightful new novel.

The story she left behind by Patti Callahan Henry is a beautifully written tribute to family and all it can endure,but not break. Based loosely on a true story, it follows Clara, whose mother disappeared 25 years before. She travels across the ocean from America to England to search for a dictionary of her mother’s made up language. She discovers the power of love and the sacrifices someone can make in the name of love
Thank you goodreads and atria books for the chance to read this wonderful book

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry is the fifth book I have read by her. What I love about her books is she takes nuggets from history and weaves beautifully captivating stories. I found it fascinating that this book is partly based on the child prodigy author named Barbara Follet who created her own language, and mysteriously disappeared. Thus, the creation of Bronwyn begins.

When Bronwyn left Clara her eight-year-old daughter with her mysterious leather-bound manuscript, the story spurned me on to find out why she left the cozy town of Bluffton, South Carolina without saying goodbye.
Years later when Clara receives an interesting phone call about her mother’s missing manuscript, the story takes you on a captivating journey to London to hopefully uncover the mystery surrounding her mother’s disappearance.

The story is beautifully written with breath taking moments, stunning descriptions of the scenery, and moving moments of love, forgiveness, and redemption. Patti Callahan Henry has crafted another Five-Star read and I look forward to reading more of her books.

I love this author! Her newest book is based on a true story, a child prodigy who wrote her first and only story at age 12. Flash forward to the character when she is married and has a child and is leaving all behind. Why and what happened to her is the basic of this book. Wonderful characters, terrifc scene developments and a story that will make you cry in parts. A must read and a great choice for a book club.

I was completely blown away by this outstanding and enchanting novel!! Patti Callahan Henry never disappoints!! A wonderful interpretation of a real life author and the mystery surrounding her life

Thank you to NetGallley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this wonderful novel. Cannot wait for her next novel!!

Just Wow! Patti Callahan Henry has done it again. I hated for it to end! She took a small part of history and made me read it in a day. Her writing story pulls you into the story. I felt like I was there. I don’t want to give any spoilers so all I am going to say is when this book is released go get it! And if you have never read a Patti Callahan Henry book you are missing out. Just Wow!

I liked this book a lot! I loved the mixture of magical realism, romance, historical fiction, and mystery. I enjoyed the characters, the mother daughter relationship, and the pacing of this story too! I like the ending and how things all worked out!!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This story was captivating & delightful! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the gorgeous setting the touch of magic, a little romance and the mystery that didn't resolve until the last pages. This book is based on a real author/child prodigy who wrote & published book at the young age of 12 and then experienced some tragic events. It takes place during The Great Smog of 1952 in London and this natural disaster provided a lot of action in the plot! I loved getting glimpses into the creativity of authors and illustrators through these characters. I loved the beautiful yet challenging relationships between mothers and daughters that were central to the story. It was fun to see Beatrice Potter woven into the story, one of my childhood favorites! The character of Wynnie was absolutely precious. This author captured the imaginative spirit of a child so perfectly. Bravo! Historical fiction at its best!

This ARC was provided by Atria Publicity via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I Love this story. It's been 25 years and Clara is now a grown woman with a daughter of her own who is the same age she was when her mother, a unique woman and famous author of a book about fairies and make-believe, disappeared. Clara receives a call from a man in England who says he has something ONLY for her and that she must come get it, a satchel full of papers containing her mother's secret language. This could unlock the mystery surrounding her mother, why she left, what happened, and help her to decipher the sequel that her mother left behind. Across the ocean, and through a series of fortunate and unfortunate events, Clara and her daughter Winnie become ensconced at a country house with a family that may have a connection with her mother. There are so many Easter eggs and nuggets of delight in this story as the mystery unravels. Beautifully written, this story flows with magical moments of hope and joy. Many thanks to #netgalley #thestorysheleftbehind #patticallahanhenry for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I wanted to like this book and there were parts I did enjoy it’s just not what I wanted from it. I’m not even sure why I didn’t really like it maybe it’s just not the book I was meant to read at this time.

When Clara was 8 her mother, a child prodigy, abandoned her leaving only her stories, memories and secret language behind. Now Clara is the mother of an eight year old daughter, Wynnie. The story takes Clara on a quest to find the truth of her mother’s life and disappearance. Abandonment, acceptance, forgiveness, a mother’s love, a world of magical imagery,,secret languages, writers, illustrators, imaginary friends, endings, new beginnings. This story takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride with endearing characters. A must read.

Are you kidding me! The Story She Left Behind had me rapt in an attentive state of "what the heck is going to happen next?". I adored these characters and of course had to do a DEEP dive on google about the real person who inspired this novel, Barbara Newhall Follet. Henry can grab you into a story and let you marinate in it because her writing is just THAT good!

Link to full review coming soon.

Patti Callahan Henry writes the most charming, darling, and just heart pulling stories! I have never read a book of hers that I haven't been able to stop thinking about for months. I loved this story! Both of her books this past year should be made into movies, because they would instantly be top hits. She has a way of capturing her audience from the first page, and holding their hand and she guides them through these beautiful stories. Just such talented writing. I will forever be amazed by your gift of writing.

Just as magical as the other wonderful book I read by this author, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. I could not put this book down - I desperately needed to know how it ended! I truly don't know how Clara was able to continue after losing her mother that way. She seems like such as wonderful mom herself, and Wynnie is adorable. Then you throw sweet Charlie into the mix and you're rooting for the entire group to find answers to all of the burning questions. This book is such a beautiful story about family, love, with a mystery that connects every puzzle piece. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.