I want to thank Atria books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Story She Left Behind, written by Patti Callahan Henry. I previously read Surviving Savannah by the same author and liked it very much.

“Inspired by a true literary mystery -“
This story begins in 1927.

“There are things that cannot be undone”

“We create words to define our life, and they begin to define us.”

Ms Callahan’s characters are wonderful, the real and the imaginary. The descriptions of the locations in South Carolina and England are perfect! This is a warm and fuzzy story. Makes you want to brew a cup of tea in a pretty cup and curl up in a big old upholstered chair in front of a fireplace..

The Story She Left Behind publishes 03/18/2025.
It begins a bit slowly and then you’re hooked!

4.5 out of 5. I discovered Patti Callahan Henry very recently and I am so glad I did. Once Upon a Wardrobe was adorable and the Secret Book of Flora Lea was such a good family saga mystery. This book is excellent as well very much in the vein of Flora Lea, with a family mystery to be solved, a disappearance to make sense of. I love how well she writes children and also child longing in adults. The alternate worlds she creates with her writing are gorgeous and are as intricate and wonderful as her actual story. A wonderful blend of narrative to involve the fantasy with reality to a way were they mesh with each other and the inform each other. I loved the slow burn relationship in this book and you are going to be a fan of how this ends. Highly recommended.

Sweet tale filled with loveable characters. A tad predictable. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book brought tears to my eyes several times and the description that suits it best is “tender.” It seeks out the tender moments in relationships - largely between parent and child but also between partners and other family members. It looks at loss, longing, and sacrifices made for the sake of others.

The author’s prose expertly captures the beauty and nuance of location. From coastal South Carolina to crowded London to the sweeping Lakes District of England, Patti Callahan Henry uses her words to paint a picture. And then there are the characters! Deep, thoughtful descriptions bring them to life on the page. From a vivacious 8-year-old with her own struggles to a mother in midlife to an older woman who recently lost her beloved husband, we readers get to feel what they feel through descriptions and dialogue.

This one has a bit of mystery, a bit of history, and a bit of love (both romantic and familial) woven in, propelling it to a five star book in my eyes!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

“The Story She Left Behind” by Patti Callahan Henry is an enchanting historical fiction based on the life of Barbara Newhall Follet. Barbara was a child prodigy author who started writing at five, created her own language, and published her first novel at twelve. She had a tragic life and at 25 walked away from her husband and vanished never to be seen again.
Ms. Henry has taken this story and created an emotional story of a mother of an 8 year old daughter who sets out on a journey to find out about her mother who abandoned her and her father mysteriously after a house fire in her home when she was eight years old. It’s an atmospheric story of hope, redemption and forgiveness. It also addresses the theme of parental abandonment and how far one will search for love.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Omg !!
What an amazing and magical story
I just love this authors books.
She is such a great story teller
This is a story about a young girl of only 8nyrs old that writes a book that is published when she is 12 yrs old
At 25 she goes missing and no one knows where she is
This is based on true facts with fiction mixed in to make it a wonderful book

There are some authors who truly just have a magical way with words, and Patti Callahan Henry is one of them. It's almost ironic to be talking about Henry's way with words when The Story She Left Behind is completely based on words as well. While set in the 1950's and coinciding with The Great Smog in London, I found this to be written in such a timeless manner that I often forgot that it was set in the past. In my opinion, this timeless quality (though very dependent on a specific event in time) is truly special to experience. There was not a character that I didn't enjoy, and I loved hearing *most* of the story in Clara's voice while still getting glimpses into some of the other main characters' perspectives that were interspersed as well. A very compelling read that drew me right in and kept me completely immersed until the very end.

So many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry. Another book ful of sweetness and magic from a much loved writer. I hated for it to end.

Adorium!!! I absolutely fell in love with this book . The setting in Bluffton, Sc was perfection. I visited a few years back and when I closed my eyes I could see the all details of that beautiful little town. Clara and Wynnie had a wonderful relationship . From the moment Charlie called her about the satchel I was intrigued with him. I believe it to be true that families come in all different ways and what a beautiful one this book showcased. Thank you for allowing me enter into this wonderful, creative, beautiful captivating novel.

Patti Callahan Henry’s The Story She Left Behind is a heartfelt journey about family and finding peace after loss. The story centers on Clara, whose life is forever changed when her mother, a talented author, disappears off the coast of South Carolina when Clara is just eight years old. This event leaves a lasting impact on Clara, shaping who she becomes.

Years later, Clara travels to London with her daughter, Wynnie, during the Great Smog, to learn more about her mother and the mysterious writings she left behind. As Clara seeks answers, she forms new connections with people who help her understand love, grief, and forgiveness.

Patti Callahan Henry’s writing draws you in, making Clara’s emotions feel real and relatable. The themes of family and acceptance shine through, showing how our past shapes our present. The characters Clara meets enrich her journey, highlighting the importance of relationships in healing.

(And I personally loved that this was a non World War II book! I love historical fiction, but sometimes feel like all I read are WWII themed books!)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read The Story She Left Behind!

I enjoyed this book as much as her prior one. It pulls at your heart strings and keeps you turning the pages.

Magical and immersive with Henry's trademark sweetness, THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND is another winner from this popular author. Fans of women's fiction look no further for your next 5-star read. With just the right amount of detail, Henry paints a beautiful picture so that the reader is brought into each vivid scene.

The connection between mothers and daughters is explored in this sweet story that never digs too deep but rather brings the reader gently along. Clara is probably my favorite character, but they are all good -- well-drawn and intriguing.

I do want to say that I am getting a little weary of dual timeline novels. I;m hopeful that this author's next novel will be one straight timeline. It's okay if that makes for a shorter book; attention spans are shorter these days, and sometimes a shorter book is what's best to tell the story.

While the plot of THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND does not shock in any way, sometimes this type of comfort read is exactly what we need.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

What a story! This was an excellent read, in true PCH fashion. It was a rich story full of family history, intrique, travel, beautiful scenic locations, and just enough mystery to keep you guessing how it was all going to play out. I am an avid follower of PCH on social media and the Friends and Fiction community and can't wait to listen to the episode where the group talks about this one. Thank you for the ARC!

A rich, fanciful story of secrets, mystery and family.
Endearing characters, lush settings, captivating storytelling.
My favorite book yet from the author!

With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster/Atria for this e-ARC.

This author has such a special way of drawing the reader into her stories. It's almost magical how she paints such a vivid picture with her words!

This magical, imaginative story isn't usually my genre but I really enjoyed the story. It gave me time to think about the words and experiences that we go through.

I really enjoyed the mother daughter bonds throughout the book even though they may be entangled with heartache, there is still so much strength there.

Charlie, Wynnie and Pippa were my favourite characters. I enjoyed how much they loved those around them.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

This book is historical fiction based on a child-prodigy writer who was hospitalized in a mental hospital because her mother believed she had psychological problems. She had life-long trauma because of the treatments. This book is not the type of book I usually read but it was a good book, maybe a little too long, but I did not ever feel it was a DNF. The author does a good job of describing the settings in the book and conveys emotions very well. I was sure I knew the ending of the book long before it ended. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was quickly drawn into this story about a woman's search for her mother, a quirky writer who had disappeared years ago, She and her daughter travel to the Lake District of England to look not only for her mother, but to clear up some mysteries about an enchanting book that she had written.

There are a few loose ends I couldn't follow--who was the gypsy woman who ran off with the satchel (was she significant?) And exactly who or what was Emjie? And why was the sequel never written? However, I enjoyed the book immensely and can't wait for her next one.

I felt so much from Clara whose mother abandon her when she was eight. Her father became her refuge and the stories left behind were not positive. The community had their take on what happened to the write/wife/mother Brownlyn.

Now Clara is a mother of an eight-year-old and is set on a quest to find out more about her mother’s past. This novel if magical, emotional and takes us on a journey surrounding their lives and what became of Brownlyn. Will Clara and her dad get the answers they hope or will it cause more heartache.

Patti Callahan Henry always takes us on an emotional journey in her books. The descriptions and details are rich and make you want to jump inside this story. A mothers love never dies, no matter what. Thank you Patti for sending us another wonderful journey with this novel. A must read.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for this gifted e-ARC. Off to pre-order now.

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry is a beautiful novel that combines mystery, family legacy, and the search for truth. The story follows Clara Harrington, whose world shatters when her mother disappears in 1927. The author captures the tenderness of Clara’s longing for her mother, with suspense and emotional depth. With its rich atmosphere, historical setting, and themes of loss and self discovery, The Story She Left Behind will leave readers reflecting on the power of the past and the enduring allure of untold stories.

As a child prodigy, Bronwyn wrote a book at the age of 12 after devastating consequences, she vanishes, leaving her daughter motherless. 25 years later, Clara receives a call from Britain stating that there’s lost papers of her mother’s. Clara sets off with her 8 year old daughter to retrieve them. What occurs is finding a lost family, acceptance and the act of forgiveness. Another wonderful novel written by Pattie. This left me with the interest of finding out more about the story behind this book.