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.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

In the year of 1927, a well-known author disappears, leaving behind her family and the sequel to her children's book (about a child stuck between worlds) - except it is written in her secret language. Then, in 1952, her book is discovered in a library, and the daughter of the author comes to England to retrieve this book; she feels she will finally discover what happened to her mother and get answers to many questions. She brings along her daughter, and of course her daughter's imaginary friend. However, once in London, the mother and daughter must leave for the countryside for health purposes, and so follow the man who discovered the book to his family estate. They wind up getting more than fresh, healthy air, as they all learn of how their lives are interwoven and the answers to many questions. Another engaging book by this author, who can write mystery, love, grief, and redemption in such an effortless manner.

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

4.5 ✨ This book was an absolute delight.
Clara, an illustrator, named her daughter Wynnie after her mother, Bronwyn, who mysteriously disappeared years ago after writing a book and inventing her own language. Wynnie’s imaginary best friend, Emjie (a character from Bronwyn’s book) adds an extra layer of whimsical to the story.
In London, Charlie, grieving his father’s death, discovers papers belonging to Clara’s mother in his father’s library. This discovery leads Clara and Wynnie on a journey to London, hoping to uncover the mystery behind Bronwyn’s disappearance. What follows is a captivating journey filled with cryptic clues, a touch of romance and a charming blend of imagination.

Mystery and family secrets…family and friends…this talented author has written a page turner. Red herrings kept me guessing. An author…a story in an unknown language…more secrets…I could not stop reading. Love and romance…forgiveness…this story is mesmerizing…one of her best…realistic characters who come alive on the pages …thanks Netgalley

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry is a beautiful story about words, choices, fear, grief, hope, redemption, family and love, with a strong dose of mystery. Fans of Ms. Henry know that everything she writes will be beautifully crafted to draw the reader completely into whatever scene she’s describing regardless of whether she’s writing as Patti Callahan or Patti Callahan Henry and make the reader think about the characters’s situations, motivations and choices. The story of child author prodigy Bronwyn, her secret self and the effects her choices have on the lives those she loves will remain long after the last line is read. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.