A historical, literary mystery about mothers and daughters, set partly in the Lake District of England, home to Beatrix Potter? What else can a librarian ask for? I listened to this one, read by the amazing Julia Whelan and excellent Theo Solomon, and the narration really brought the story to life. I love that this is based on a true story and features so many real characters and events. Highly recommend as a perfect spring read!

Wow! This was a deeply enjoyable and emotional story spanning generations! I was drawn to the characters in this dual timeline story. The story takes you on a journey from South Caroline to the Lake District in England. The story is inspired by true events and the way Patti Callahan Henry wove her story around this was magical...I am experiencing a serious book hang over today!

If you love historical fiction, women's literature and family drama this needs to be put to the top of your TBR!
I had the opportunity to enjoy the eBook and then the audio version. The dual narration was perfectly executed and added another layer of enjoyment to the story. I highly recommend both!

Thank you Net Galley, Patti Callahan Henry and Atria Books for the opportunity to preview this novel. The opinions shared are my own.
The novel, eBook and audiobook are now available.

I have read several of Patti Callahan Henry's books and have always found her style of writing to be so charming. Her love for fairytales and woodland creatures are well woven into her books, and I find it very nostalgic for adults such as myself who loved Beatrix Potter, C.S. Lewis, and fairytales as children.

This book is a well penned historical fiction novel with a dollop of magical realism. The story is centered on Bronwyn, Clara, and Wynnie. Bronwyn is a child prodigy whose talent for the written word is noticed early on. She writes a bestseller book at a very young age, and her parents continue to push her to write a sequel. After her parents realize that her imaginations are far more than make-believe, they institutionalize her for a bit to "fix" her issues, leaving Bronwyn in a state of constant panic of being locked away. After the birth of her daughter, a tragedy occurs that causes Bronwyn to abandon her spouse and child along with a mystery of a sequel written in an untranslated language only known by Bronwyn. Her daughter, Clara, searches for her mother for her entire life and is contacted by an Englishman 25 years later about a mysterious stack of documents found in the library of his recently deceased father's home. When Clara believes that the documents are left by her mother, she ships off to England along with her daughter Wynnie to uncover the mystery of her mother's disappearance.

I loved the whimsy in this book that reminded me of my childhood, but there were heavy topics discussed surrounding child abandonment. This book had a strong premise and moved quicker than I expected. At its core the book was about a mother's love, the sacrifices we make as mothers, and forgiveness. There is romance in the story, but it is not the focus. The beauty of the Lake district along with the imagery presented in this book was engaging. I enjoyed the tie with Beatrix Potter.

A few critiques:

The historical event about the London fog was briefly touched on and easily forgotten. In reality, the event was a major disaster that caused thousands to lose their lives. I know this was not the focus of the story, but it was much more significant than a few days of bad air for asthmatics.

Clara's childhood trauma from her abandonment was wrapped up too nicely. Her mother left her with life-long damage, and she was expected to easily forgive and forget in such a short amount of time. The longing, the constant searching, and the grief of not knowing what happened were elements that were present in The Secret Book of Flor Lea that I wished would have been present in this book. I believe the emotional pull was lightly touched on in a few scenes but could have been stronger if the author had delved deeper into Clara's trauma and equally Bronwyn's trauma.

Bronwyn and Wynnie's insight into other-worldly things bordered demonic divination. This is not something as casual as make-believe but was touted as such. I had my qualms with this aspect and do not like to read books on the demonic. It's not a subject that I take lightly as a Christian. This was my main reason for not rating it five stars because it clashed against my core values. There was a point where it could have gone down a darker path and thankfully did not. I understand magical realism but Emjie and her influence was much more than childhood imagination.

Aside from the two criticisms, the book was a wonderful read. If you are a fan of Tolkien, secret languages, or Patti Callahan Henry's other books, you will enjoy this book.

Content warnings: mild language, closed-door romance, child abandonment, grief, brief mention of suicide, imagination that skirts a fine line into divination.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I simply love all the books I've read by Patti Callahan Henry and this one was no different. She is my new go to author for historical fiction. If you love a heartwarming stories and historical fiction then please check out this author as well as her other books.

I loved Patti Callahan Henry's prior book the Secret Book of Flora Lea a couple years ago and was thrilled to see new one being released. This time around, the story focuses on the disappearance of an author and young mother who had published a book at the age of 12 using an invented language. Now, 25 years later in 1952, the woman's daughter Clara receives a startling phone call from someone in London who has found a sheaf of papers and a sealed envelope addressed specifically to her.

This was such an interesting story because it's based on a real-life author who also mysteriously disappeared in 1939 never to be seen again after publishing a book and creating a new language at the age of 12. Through multiple POVs the story unfolds slowly and surely. We learn about the Great Smog of London in 1952 which killed thousands and forces Clara and her young asthmatic daughter out of London to the Lake District, not far from the home of the late famed author and illustrator Beatrix Potter.

I thoroughly enjoyed Clara and her daughter Wynnie and their story of self-discovery. The story is compelling, filled with beautiful prose and delightfully warm-hearted characters. I loved the mother and daughter themes as well as those of forgiveness, creativity, and found family.

Admittedly, there were parts in the middle that seemed to drag or were a bit irrelevant to the overall story. But the characters and the writing saved the day. Highly recommend this for fans of unique literary mystery and historical fiction.

This absolutely enchanting book made me feel all the feels. I was swept away by Henry's gorgeous prose and captivating story. The vivid descriptions of scenery made me feel as though I was really there.

Clara, a renowned children's book illustrator, goes through life wondering if her missing mother is alive or dead; hoping, but not knowing. Her mother, Bronwyn, went missing at sea off the South Carolina shore when Clara was just eight years old. Inexplicably, some papers of her mother’s show up in England twenty-five years later, and she and her young daughter go on an adventure to retrieve them, and hopefully get some answers about the mysterious Bronwyn. In their travels, they meet all kinds of interesting characters, and narrowly escape peril from the Great Smog of 1952.

Forgiveness is a main theme in this poignant, yet uplifting, story.

I highly recommend this book! The mystery is compelling, the characters are endearing, and the sense of atmosphere is tangible.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy through #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Family, love, heartache, forgiveness and healing are just a few of the emotions on display in The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry. When Clara’s mother disappears when she is eight, life as she knew it ended. The joyful times with her mother are gone but strongly remembered. Her mother, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, a famous writer, disappears after a tragic fire taking with her the sequel to her world-famous book and the special language she used in her book. Twenty-five years later a phone call from a gentleman in England sends Clara together with her daughter on a journey to discover the truth about what happened to her mother. Based partly on a true story, this novel is beautifully written with great character development and descriptive prose, especially of the Lake District. This is a family sage, a romance and a mystery rolled into one. The Story She Left Behind should not be missed. Read it.

I was so excited to get The Story She Left Behind as an ARC. I was even more excited to get access to the Julia Whelan narrated audio. I listened to as much as possible until I just had to know what happened. This is the story of a child prodigy author who disappears and leaves her daughter and husband behind. 25 years later, a phone call from England leads Clara (the daughter) on a journey to obtain her mother's lost papers and hopefully answers. What she finds is more than she ever imagined in all ways.

I loved how I kind of knew what would happen but also not at all. I love that it brought together pieces of real history that I could google but also was so light that I was in the story and not the history. I love a story with people and problems and solutions and heart and this was all the things.

I really enjoyed The Story She Left Behind, set in the early 20th Century. Clara Harrington's mother left their family when Clara was a young child after Clara accidentally started a fire in their house. Clara and her daughter, Wynnie, have moved back into her childhood home with her father after divorcing Wynnie's dad. Clara's mother, Bronwyn, wrote a children's book when Bronwyn was 12 years old, so many people were interested in what happened to her after she disappeared. Clara gets a phone call from Charlie Jameson, in London, who tells her he found her mother's papers which contain a language that her mother made up and wrote a sequel to the best selling children's book in, in his recently deceased father's library. Clara decides that Charlie is not a con artist and clings to the possibility of translating her mother's book and publishing it because Clara's ex husband had a gambling problem and gambled away any royalties she had from her mother's first book. Clara & Wynnie set out for London to get the pages and in the back of Clara's mind is the possibility that she can find her long lost mother. The story is told from Clara & Charlie's perspectives, and raises many questions about how women were treated in the 20th Century. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Atria books for an advanced ebook to review.

Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham was a child prodigy and a famous children's book author. She only ever wrote a single book, and a sequel has always been anticipated. But in 1927, 25 years ago Bronwyn went missing, never to be found or heard from again. She left behind the untranslatable manuscript of her next novel, her 8 year-old daughter Clara and her husband. She was assumed dead. Then out of nowhere she gets a call from a man named Charlie in England who claims to have a letter from her mother intended for her and a stack of words and definitions that went missing with her mother. She decides to take a chance and travel to London to get answers and maybe finally learn when happened to her mother 25 years ago.

This book felt so whimsical and magical. I had no idea about the very real author this mystery was inspired by, but I do think this was a very smart topic to base a book on. The atmosphere of this book was truly top tier. The author did such a wonderful job describing every setting in this book, and I truly felt like I was in the story. The other elements were also well done, the mystery, the character relationships, the pacing. oVer all it was a very enjoyable read, and a push to read more of this authors work.

This book was a lovely little escape. Exactly what I come to expect from this author. Great setting, fantastic details and a heartwarming story. It was a tad slow, and i had a hard time wanting to pick it up - but that was probably a mood issue and not that much to do with the book. Like I said, exactly what this author always provides!

As soon as I read the last word in this heartwarming tale, I hugged the book, sad that it was complete. Patti Callahan Henry draws you in from the start.
According to the author’s note, this book was inspired by a true literary mystery of another author, Barbara Newhall Follett.
This book is a tale of a lost mother, the book she wrote with an invented language and a daughters lifetime search for both. Author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham wrote a book when she was just twelve years old. She invented her own language when she was at a loss to find the best words to use in her book about an imaginary character, Ejmie.
When Clara, the authors daughter, is eight years old, her mother Bronwyn, abandons her and her father. They don’t know whether she is alive or dead. She left in the family boat which was later found deserted. Many years later, Clara, an artist for children’s books, receives a phone call from a man in London. Upon his father’s death, he has discovered a leather satchel with instructions to give it to Clara. Unsure of its authenticity, she decides to book passage on a ship with her young daughter Wynnie. Upon her arrival, she meets Charlie Jameson, who may hold the secret of her mother disappearance. Unfortunately, the great smog of London, cuts their trip short and they head to the country. What happens there is why you need to read this book.
The author writes with such rich prose, her descriptions of places, events, scenery, put you right there with Clara and Wynnie. Such beautiful passages and descriptions kept me longing for more. There is a mystery involved throughout and some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming.
This story is told from the perspectives of Clara and Charlie. While the chapters are short, I was quickly turning the pages for more. This book involves family ties, love, loss, abandonment, mental illness, searching for answers and forgiveness. The characters are so likeable, delightful and warm.
After reading this novel, I will definitely read more by this author. If you love historical fiction with rich language, then this book will be for you.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published on March 18, 2025

The Story We Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry is a beautifully written and deeply moving tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of second chances. With her signature lyrical prose, Henry crafts a dual-timeline narrative that seamlessly weaves together past and present, pulling readers into the lives of characters whose heartbreak and hope feel achingly real. The emotional depth of the story, combined with its richly drawn Southern setting, makes it impossible to put down.

What truly makes this novel shine is Henry’s ability to capture the complexity of human emotions—the regret of roads not taken, the bittersweet beauty of memories, and the healing that comes with forgiveness. The characters are flawed yet deeply relatable, making their journeys all the more poignant. This is a poignant, heart-tugging read that lingers long after the final page—a must for fans of emotional, character-driven fiction.

This was a lovely read filled with wonderful imagery and flowing words. The story of a family and their love for each other through events out of their control. Clara is an illustrator of a children's book and the daughter of Bronwyn a child author and is now missing. Her mother's disappearance has led Clara and her father to survive as best they can not knowing what has happened to Bronwyn. The intrigue of a call from a stranger with a letter addressed to Clara and a case of papers leads them all on an adventure to find the truth.
I would highly recommend reading this one. Thank you to the publisher for a pre-published digital copy.

I received an ARC of The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry from NetGalley. I wasnt sure what to expect from this book, it is the first book of hjers that I have read. I really enjoyed the story. It is a book about loving family and never giving up. Clara Harrington's mom left when she was young. Her mom made up a language to explain her perspective of the world, and wrote a book about it when she was only 12. When Clara is older with a child of her own, she gets a call from Charles Jameson, in London, who came across her mothers encryption code to the language. Clara and her daughter travel by boat to retrieve the papers. What she finds when she gets there is a whole new mystery, plagued by weather and other issues she struggles to figure things out with the help of Charles. I highly recommend this book.

I didn’t know much about this going in, but this was a beautiful story that touches on love, motherhood, loss, and forgiveness.

The writing that set the setting was fantastic. At times it felt like you were in a magical place, but a page later it felt very real, with fear or grief.

Based on a true author who suddenly vanished, the author created a story that pulled you in and had you rooting for Clara to find the answers she sought.

I’d recommend this to others and I’ll definitely pick up more from this author.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Yes she did it again! Taking a little nugget of a mysterious historical fact and weaves an intriguing story surrounding it. A mystery of why a famous author, beloved mother and wife just disappeared. Clara the 8 year old daughter never understood why and as a grown woman with her own child, she never would do such a thing to her daughter. But when she gets a mysterious call that someone in England has her mother’s missing papers, the only thing that her mother took 25 years ago. She embarks on a journey that is filled with memories, mystery, undying love, new love and so much more.
Thank you for this amazing story. Also to #NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own. #TheStorySheLeftBehind

The Story She Left Behind is a sweeping tail that carries you from Bluffton, South Carolina to London to the Lake District of England. It has beautiful imagery and writing. The mystery of what happened to Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham is what kept me invested in this book.

Here is a synopsis:
Clara had a magical childhood with her mother, child prodigy author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, until her mother abandoned her when Clara was eight. Her mother left no trace of where she was gone, so everyone assumed she had lost her life at sea. Twenty-five years later, a satchel containing the language her mother invented is discovered in London by Charlie Jameson after his father passes away.
Clara, who has dreamed of finding these words and her mother, travels to England with her daughter, eight year old Wynnie. Just as they arrive, the Great Smog settles on the city and the two girls have to depend on Charlie to get them out of the city for the sake of Wynnie's health. Once at Charlie's family home in Cumbria, secrets begin to unravel and the answer to what happened to her mother are within reach. Will she and Charlie be able to figure out how their families are so closely connected?

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I loved the mystery this story presented and answered. It is also interesting to note that Patti Callahan Henry based this off a real-life literary mystery. I will be honest, the pacing and chapter separations sometimes felt a bit off to me. I didn't always know if we were jumping time or just POV.

Overall, this was a good book that kept me guessing until the answers were finally revealed.

Thank you to Atria Book for this ARC provided through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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My review on Barnes and Noble is under the user name, lifebwthepages.

Author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea, Surviving Savannah, Becoming Mrs. Lewis, and more, Patti Callahan Henry now gives us The Story She Left Behind.

This captivating literary mystery opens in 1927 South Carolina as Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham unties the ropes mooring a small boat. With only a bit of money, a coat, a change of clothes, a notebook, pen, and a mysterious satchel containing “the words she’s spent her life finding and creating,” Bronwyn flees, leaving husband and eight-year old daughter Clara behind.

Set 25 years later, Chapter 2 turns to Clara Harrington, the abandoned daughter whose mother always seems to be “everywhere and nowhere all at once”—absence, presence, and mystery. Similar to her writer mother who disappeared, Clara has become a children’s book illustrator. Divorced and living again with her father, Clara now has an 8-year-old daughter of her own, Wynnie, named after the child’s missing grandmother.

Chapter 3 introduces Charlie Jameson as he discovers a leather satchel in his recently deceased father’s London library. Stuffed with papers, the satchel contains a sealed envelope with the words “For Clara Harrington only. Further instructions inside.” On closer examination, Charlie finds an unsealed note instructing that the satchel be handed over in person to Clara Harrington and providing Clara’s South Carolina address and phone number.

When Charlie calls Clara, she finds a way to travel to London with Wynnie. Although she knows nothing of the satchel itself, she knows her mother had been creating a language, and she has her mother’s second children’s novel written in that language, the unreadable story her mother left behind. Clara has hoped someday to translate this sequel to her mother’s now famous first book, an impossible task without the dictionary her mother had created of her fabricated language. Arriving in London just before the 1952 Great Fog, deadly air pollution caused by burning coal, Clara and Wynnie are forced to make the hazardous trip with Charlie to the clean air of North England’s Lake District where his mother Pippa has been staying in the family summer home. Questions fill Clara’s head. Why did Charlie’s father Collum Jameson have her mother’s papers? Does Charlie’s mother know anything about them? Why did her mother abandon her so long ago? Is her mother alive or dead? This is only the start. Clara begins experiencing coincidence after coincidence, feeling a mysterious connection with this family of strangers, a feeling shared by her precocious young daughter Wynnie.

Basing the novel on the story of a real writer who had written a book as a child, created her own language, and vanished, never to be found, Patti Callahan Henry imagines what might have happened and brings her imaginings to life in the frightening historic London Great Fog and in the charming villages of William Wordsworth’s and Beatrix Potter’s picturesque Lake District.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for an advance reader egalley of this sure to be popular new novel from Patti Callahan Henry.

Patti writes so beautifully! Her words always draw you in and make it feel as though you’ve been plopped down into the setting with the characters. There was a lovely mystery of a lost mother accompanying Patti’s usual romance sub-plot. My love of language and words is what I love most about reading, and this story really dives into language and how we describe what we feel and see!