The Story She Left Behind is loosely based on a true story. The novel uses events from the life of an author who invented her own language, wrote a book, and then disappeared as the bones for this tale. Here, it picks up twenty-five years later when the author’s daughter gets a call from a man claiming to have the dictionary of her mother’s invented language. Hoping to find answers either in the papers he has or by translating the novel she left behind, the daughter packs up her own asthmatic daughter and heads to London in time to suffer the Great Smog.

Patti Callahan Henry weaves a lovely story in exquisite prose. Her word pictures draw you into the setting and the people. Her characters are baffled at all the connections they have while still struggling to put together the pieces.

I enjoyed this story and would recommend to those who love beautiful writing.

Not family friendly due to a few mild curse words and a not quite closed door sex scene.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It made me feel a lot of emotions, exploring deep themes of abandonment, love, anger, and forgiveness. The author weaves these emotions together in such a compelling way that you can’t help but become invested in the characters and their journeys. The writing itself is absolutely beautiful—lyrical, evocative, and immersive. I found myself unable to put it down, as every page drew me in more and more. It’s a truly unforgettable read, rich in emotional depth and complexity.

Patti Callahan Henry has a remarkable talent for using words to create magical landscapes and emotional connections. I was swept away by her gorgeous writing and compelling story.

This is a tale of love, loss, and forgiveness wrapped in a mystery. The narrative centers on the disappearance of acclaimed author, Bronwynn Newcastle Fordham, best known for publishing a book at the age of twelve which utilized a secret language. Bronwynn’s daughter, Clara, was a child when her mother disappeared. Now a children’s book illustrator raising a daughter of her own, Clara is shocked to receive a message saying a dictionary of her mother’s language has been located which coukd be used to translate the writings she left behind.

Clara and her daughter, Wynnie, set out on an adventure seeking answers to the long ago disappearance. What they find is more than they ever expected.

I was completely mesmerized by the story, the characters, and the writing. I know I’ve read a special book when the ending leaves me both fully satisfied and wanting more. This is such a book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Once again Patty Callahan Henry has done it!
I don’t know how she can write such words that stir the soul!
A word that I had in mind to describe the book before I saw it used in the narrative is ethereal. The characters in this book are not quite of this earth.
I thought Clara was very careless with the satchel of papers and I was heartsick when the inevitable occurred. I had to stop reading for a bit and collect myself.
I’m sure I’ll be the minority in this opinion but I didn’t like Bronwyn, I found her to be selfish, shallow, and cruel. Forgiveness would not have happened if I was one of the characters.
Aside from that the novel captures the whimsy and wonder of words, wandering, and the world/

In 1927, Clara Harrington’s mother Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham disappears without a trace. Bronwyn had stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Fast-forward to 1952 where Clara is a children's book illustrator & single mom of Wynnie. She has never given up hope of finding her mom, although the chances decrease with every passing year. When a stranger named Charlie Jameson contacts her from London claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost language, along with a note addressed to Clara Clara is skeptical, but he manages to convice her of its validity. She & Wynnie arrive in London right as "The Great Smog" has taken over the city, making any siteseeing impossible, and wreaking havoc on Wynnie's lungs. Charlie takes them to the Jameson’s family retreat nestled in the Lake District, well away from the smog of the city. It is there that Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind.

This book is based on the life of child prodigy Barbara Newhall Follet, who also created her own language and penned her own novel at age 8. This book was so immersive, I felt like I was really there, watching it all unfold. This was not only a historical fiction novel, but also a mystery and a love story. I loved this book, and I think you will too.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

This was a beautiful story about love, loss, and forgiveness, with a family mystery expertly woven in. Loosely inspired by the life and disappearance of author Barbara Newhall Follett, this story follows a daughter’s search for the truth about her lost mother.

This was a great read and I could barely wait to find out how all the little coincidences along the way were going to come together at the end!

Three words to describe this book? Magical. Spellbinding. Heartfelt.

For fans of The Secret Book of Flora Lea, be prepared to be taken on another beautiful, emotional, slowly-unravelling tale of long-lost love. In The Story She Left Behind, we follow Clara and her daughter Wynnie in South Carolina in 1952. Twenty-five years earlier, Clara's imaginative author mother mysteriously disappeared, taking the sequel to her beloved novel with her. Clara is shocked to receive a phone call that a hand-written dictionary of her mother's lost language has been found - all the way in London. Charlie is just as shocked to find the dictionary in his late father's things. Clara and Wynnie travel to meet Charlie in hopes of unearthing the secrets of the dictionary and the connection between Clara's mom and Charlie's dad- and maybe to finally figure out what happened to Clara's mother all those years ago.

Henry does such an expert job of weaving different elements of her stories- Clara's mother's magical world, Clara and Wynnie's adventures, and Charlie's life in the English countryside. It was really interesting to visit London post-war and the author does a great job of describing the time period where the city was covered in fog.

As with Flora Lea, there's also a little bit of a book within a book, a magical fantasy that really pulls in your attention. I fell in love with Clara and Charlie and especially Wynnie, and I found the ending to be interesting and very relevant for today.

Reading this book felt warm, like basking in a ray of sunshine. Beautifully written, it held my attention from start to finish. This is exactly how I love my historical fiction reads. Thank you Atria for one of my most anticipated reads. I am officially a giant Henry fan! Read this if you want to find your next five star read!

The whimsical nature of the story and the bond between mother, Clara and Wynnie, her child make this a near cozy story. I loved the elements of believing in another world without getting deep into the nature of it. It’s a sweet story and will be a great spring read. The historical facts that are interwoven were very much appreciated and added to the story.

Ms. Henry certainly knows how to tell a story. I was enraptured by this one from the get go. I thought the ending was great and wrapped up the story with perfection. It’s a story of family, love, forgiveness and hope.

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry was given to me via ARC from the wonderful people at NetGalley and Atria Books.
I loved Patti Callahan Henry’s novel The Secret Book of Flora Lea and this book uses the same type of magical writing, twists and essence of family that her previous book used. One of my favorite things about this novel is how she weaves in beloved children’s stories like Beatrix Potter to tell her story.
This book centers around Clara, a woman whose mother ran away when she was young never to be seen again. Her mother, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, happened to be a very well-known author of a popular children’s book, so the mystery of her disappearance was all over the news and widely known known. When Clara gets a call from across the pond from a man stating that he found her mother’s lost documents Clara takes her daughter and goes to England for any kind of hope that her mother left her clues to why she left. From there the adventure is just getting started.
Honestly I thought this one was a little long at the end, but overall it was an enjoyable read that kept you hooked and wanting to know how it was going to all work out. Ms. Callahan did a wonderful job of tying together all of the loose ends to make this a satisfying read.

The Story She Left Behind
By Patti Callahan Henry
Release Date 3.18.2025

Thank you for the e-ARC @Atriabooks!
This isn't a fast read at least for me. No because I didn't enjoy it (quite the opposite,) but because I wanted time to immerse myself in the beautiful words and story that Patti tells so brilliantly.

A historical mystery based on the true story about Barbara Newhall Follett. Clara, a children's book illustrator is determined to locate her mother, a renowned children's book author that vanished after a house fire when Clara was only 8 years of age. What she has left of her mother is a sequel to her book written in a secret language without translation.

A story about three generations of women looking for forgiveness, a sense of belonging and answers. Additionally, there is an appreciation for the art of storytelling and never losing your imagination. I also found the history about authors using a secret language interesting.

The Story She Left Behind was truly magical. Patti Callahan Henry creates stunning narratives through her beautiful writing—-truly in the vein of the story itself. This book transported me to England. The smog infested streets of London or the serene lakeside of the English Countryside. The story followed the mysterious disappearance of a young prodigy author and the desire to find answers to long held questions. The way Patti Callahan Henry wove the story kept me riveted and I highly recommend this book to transport oneself to a magical world.

Captivating, comforting, & enchanting. Now I’m yearning to visit the English countryside & dive back into Beatrix Potter’s stories full of imagination. I love that I can always count on PCH for a lovely story that takes me on ann exquisite adventure. I received an advanced copy courtesy of NetGalley & Atria, but I will absolutely buy my own copy on March 18th.

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry has a very interesting storyline. It is based on one of the greatest literary mystery’s of our time. The story is fictional but it is based on an eight year old author, Barbara Newhall Follett, who published a magical book and then later disappeared, never to be found. This story is written about what might have happened to her. There are themes of abandonment and mental illness and there is also a very magical aspect to the book. While I really liked the characters and enjoyed feeling part of the very descriptive, enchanting settings, I feel something was missing for me. The story was a little to slow for me and I found myself skimming through much of the book. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was my first one by this author and it did not disappoint.

The story and prose used by the author weaved an amazing story that had the right amount of mystery, found family, family drama and romance.

I enjoyed the strong sense of place throughout the book, from South Carolina to London to the English countryside. The post-war environment added to the story.

It is clear the author researched this time period and incorporated different real world events into the story.

If you are looking for a story about mothers and daughters, this book is for you.

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced reader copy.

#thestorysheleftbehind #patticallahanhenry

A big heartfelt thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for an advance reader copy of @pattichenry’s newest novel, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥,” which releases on March 18, 2025 and is based on the true story of author Barbara Newhall Follet’s mysterious disappearance in the late 1930s.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥” is a sweeping tale that, at its heart, is a story of the enduring power of a mother’s love. It is a story of love, loss, hope, and, ultimately, forgiveness. While much of the story takes place over the span of ten days in December, it feels neither rushed nor unnecessarily dragged out. If anything, it feels like a long hug or a hot cup of cocoa after a winter’s walk. That is to say, it’s cozy and gives you all the warm, fuzzy feelings.

It’s easy to fall in love with the characters and the setting, which feels like a character all its own regardless of which side of the pond the story is set throughout the novel.

This is a story that will appeal to all readers, whether they like mysteries, historical fiction, romances, or a touch of the magical. If you, like me, love all of these things, then this is a must-read! I can’t wait to read more from Patti Callahan Henry!

#bookstagram #books #booksbooksbooks #netgalley #bookgirly #bookreviews #arcreviews #newbooks #bookreleases

The Story She Left Behind is a heartfelt moving story of a missing mother and the effects it left on the family, especially a daughter. By Patti Callahan Henry this beautifully written story as only she can do with some answers coming to light long after the daughter is grown with a daughter of her own. A story that includes secret languages, issues of abandonment, longing, legacy, forgiveness and found family. The setting is haunting, the story one of love. a must read for 2025.

A beautifully written book which will pull you in right from the start. I did not want to put this book down! Patti Callahan Henry will take you from Bluffton, South Carolina, to London, and then to the Lake District of England. If you have not been to any of these places, her descriptions will make you want to visit all three! Clara Harrington’s mom, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappeared when Clara was 8 years old with a leather satchel containing a dictionary of a secret language Bronwyn developed for a published book she wrote at 12 years old. One day Clara receives a phone call from a Charlie Jamison in London who tells her he has just found this leather satchel with a letter addressed to Clara in his recently deceased father’s belongings. Clara and her daughter, Wynnie, go to London to try to find answers as to what happened to Bronwyn when she disappeared. You will learn about the Great Smog of 1952 and find yourself immersed into this magical story. Thank you to Patti Callahan Henry and Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

I love when a story can transport me to another place and time. Patti Callahan Henry's new book, The Story She Left Behind, will move you and make you feel like you are there.

"When Clara Harrington was 8-years-old, her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappeared off the coast of South Carolina. She left behind a manuscript written in her secret language that no one could translate.
Fifteen years later, Clara is an illustrator and raising her own daughter, Wynnie. Charlie Jameson, a stranger, calls from London saying he has discovered a dictionary of her mother's words while cleaning out his father's study. Clara heads to London looking for answers. Why did her mother leave? What is the sequel's story?"

Clara and Wynnie are in London during the Great Smog of 1952. They escape to the Country House belonging to Charlie's family in the Lake District. The journey is terrifying and Henry makes you feel every mile. All of PCH's descriptions of the Lake District make you want to visit this magical sounding place.
There are secrets (of course there are) that parents keep. And a big surprise near the end you'll probably guess but Henry's remarkable writing makes it wonderful.

This book is about forgiveness and acceptance and love. It makes you feel for so many characters. You will lose yourself in the story and the setting. I loved the ending.

Feels like it's going to be a top five book for the year. Fantastic historical fiction from Patti Callahan Henry. I expect to see lots of copies on the beach this year.

Thank you Netgalley & Atria Books for an eARC ❤️❤️❤️

The story goes that this super talented author abandons her husband and kid, leaving behind a ton of unanswered questions. Years later, her daughter gets a mysterious call from England and it sets her on this journey to uncover the truth about her family's past.♥️
I'm not even kidding, I was completely hooked from the start! Patti Callahan Henry's writing is insane - it's like she's having a conversation with you, but also painting this beautiful picture with her words.
One of the things that really stood out to me was how she explores the complexities of family relationships and the power of memory. It's like she's tapping into your emotions and making you feel all the feels.
And the historical details? Spot on! I loved how she wove in references to T.S. Eliot and Beatrix Potter - it added this extra layer of depth to the story.
I just wanted to share my thoughts on this book because I think you guys would love it! 😍