An incredibly moving debut about an anonymous popular children's author with early onset dementia who is struggling to finish the last book in the series. Faced with a harrowing diagnosis and a spiraling ability to remember ordinary day to day things, Libby gets the idea to pair up with one of her young super fans, travelling to her small town with her loyal canine companion. What follows is a family drama, a heartwarming friendship and a beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption. Perfect for fans of books like The brilliant life of Eudora Honeysett. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

CW: suicide attempt, parental abandonment, depression

I fell in love with this heartwarming & quirky novel by Stephanie Booth. I enjoyed break from reality and adventure this book took me on.

The characters are relatable to anyone who at some point felt like they didn’t fit in. It was sad to read about Libby dealing with dementia but Booth was compassionate regarding this reality many will face in their life.

I loved the narration of this audio book by Mia Barron.

Thank you to NetGalley & RBmedia for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The book description attracted me to the book, but both of the main characters are all over the map and hard to understand and relate to. The famous writer with dementia (Libby) was sad. She was an odd person before and just got worse adding dementia on top of her already strange personality. So her part of the story was disjointed and hard to understand. . I assumed from the premise of the book that the child that helped her was a sane, well adjusted 11 year old. That is not the case - When the child is telling her part of the story I could not tell what was real and what she was imagining. Her story is sad as well. The narration of the story switches between these two main characters, so for me the book was hard to listen to..

Then on top of all of this - Peanut is looking for her biological parents. I was adopted and found Peanut and her attitude to be disturbing. My relationship with my adopted parent was amazing and I never felt a need to look for my "real parent". I feel like Peanut needed to go to counseling for many reasons.

This story was more about the series of books that Libby had already written than I expected. Most of the characters referred to what happened in the books about "The Falling Children" all of the time. So much that it made the book hard to follow and confusing, it felt like these children from the books were main characters in this story as well. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if there has been a lot less of the Falling Children. This book was just not for me.

Libby Lost and Found is a heartwarming and quirky novel that follows Libby, a reclusive author of an immensely popular children’s fantasy series, grappling with debilitating anxiety and the onset of early dementia. Writing under a pen name, Libby’s true identity is unknown to the world, and the pressure from her devoted fandom and demanding publishers mounts as she struggles to complete the series’ final book—only she’s slowly losing the ability to remember the story. Libby reluctantly teams up with an unlikely companion, an 11-year-old superfan named Peanut, whose heritage and backstory are as mysterious as Libby’s books.

Booth’s writing brings these characters to life with vivid charm. However, there were moments when the story felt a bit far-fetched, particularly with the parallels between Libby’s fantasy series and Peanut’s small town. At times, it was challenging to distinguish between what was real and what was occurring in Libby’s deteriorating mind, which made some parts feel confusing. While these elements added layers to the narrative, they also disrupted my enjoyment at points—especially towards the end, where the resolution surprised me but left me slightly underwhelmed.

I appreciated the creative formatting throughout, including news articles and search results, which gave the book a unique texture. However, the “world within a world” aspect—Libby’s fictional universe of the Falling Children—presented a barrier to entry that I found a bit too high. I think a slightly less complicated set up would have had better payoff for the reader this one demanded a lot of effort to get up to speed on.

Despite these minor frustrations, Libby Lost and Found is a beautifully written and worthwhile read. It’s a poignant story about memory, identity, and the weight of expectations, balanced with moments of humor and heart. If you enjoy stories with a blend of fantasy, real-world struggles, and book-within-a-book elements, this one might just be for you.

The audiobook narration was excellent, enhancing the immersive nature of the story, and it’s one that will stay with me long after finishing.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was like nothing I’ve ever read before! This book navigates through the world of a beloved worldwide phenomenon children’s fantasy book needing an ending and the authors steep descent into dementia. Thank you netgalley for the preview!

3.75 of 5 stars.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. And the first 2/3 of it! But something - can’t put my finger on what - fell flat in the final 1/3 for me.

Plot: Libby is the author of a successful and lucrative best selling book series but can’t figure out how to end the series after her diagnosis of early onset dementia. She finds 11 year old super fan Peanut to help her end the story.

Characters: This is a dual POV between Libby and Peanut and both voices are written very well. I thought Libby especially was written very well given the circumstances of writing a character with dementia.

Themes: Found family, health condition

Writing: although this deals with some sad issues it is full of humor. The writer brings some light to Libby’s mental state - Libbys point of view is funny at times but there is an undercurrent of the very real perspective and issues and loss that people who suffer dementia/Alzheimer’s may experience. I was a little confused by the ending and how/if Libby and Peanuts lives have ever intersected based on some comments Libby makes about the familiarity.

I thought the premise for the book was very interesting, and at parts, I really liked the book. I've never read a book like this. The characters were very interesting too, but the story seems a bit far-fetched. Overall, I felt there was something lacking- somehow I couldn't really get into it, and when I put it down, I didn't really want to pick it up.

I couldn’t put this book down! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc audio copy.

Having loved the world of Harry Potter growing up I loved the world of the Falling Children books. The story of the author dealing with her memories and the help she finds along the way was perfectly intwined.

When I found out the main character was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s I had to breath. My dad had this, so it was difficult at times.

Libby is a children’s author and she is unable to finish her last book. She ends up counting on a super fan and this story is quirky and heartwarming.

Thank you RB Media for the gifted audio. The narrator was phenomenal.

Libby Weeks hides under the pen name "F. T. Goldhero" and releases the most beloved children's book series in the world called The Falling Children. The time has come to write the final book in the series, but Libby receives a diagnosis that changes her life forever. Panicking, Libby searches online for book ideas to save the falling children from peril and bring them into their happy ending. It is there that she encounters Peanut, a child with a wild imagination and a love for the falling children that might surpass Libby's own love for them.

Thank you Stephanie Booth and RBmedia for the audio version of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are mine and mine alone.

This was such an unusual and deeply moving book. I adored the characters, even the ones with deep issues. They all had a redeeming quality that is endearing and makes you as the reader want more of their story. Although the plot of the book is unlikely and a bit far-fetched, the way the author writes her characters makes the story feel real and relatable. The characters aren't perfect. But they are doing what they believe is best, and that I can appreciate.

The only main aspect of this book that I did not like was the ending. It wasn't realistic and it didn't satisfy my reader's heart. I wanted Libby to receive the recognition she deserved. I also don't know how anyone would believe the series was written by a child. I wanted more closure for Libby and it just wasn't delivered.

I liked the audio version and the narrator was wonderful at voicing each character. If you are looking for a quirky and unusual book that also brings in the reality of life, this book is the one for you. I recommend the audiobook, but I also know that reading a physical copy of the book would help the reader notice more of the details as some got lost in the reading (probably because of my mediocre listening skills).

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced audiobook.

This one hit me in all the feels. This was such a heartbreaking and uplifting story. I just wanted to take care of Libby and while I knew the outcome couldn't be a magically cured character I still wished for it. Stephanie Booth did such a great job of putting the reader inside the head of a person going through the beginnings of dementia. A great debut novel.

An imaginitive and interesting premise for a story with raw and poignant underlying themes. Libby Weeks, the author of a famous children's fantasy book series, suffers from crippling anxiety and is diagnosed with early-onset dementia before she is able to finish her final book. Writing under a pen name, it feels as though her only real friends are the young characters that live inside her imagination. Despite the trail of post-it notes she has left for herself she can't remember how to save them from the eminent danger she left them in her last published chapter.

Libby's publisher is demanding a finished manuscript and the media is becoming enraged in their eagerness to know what happens to The Falling Children. One fan even offers a million dollar reward to the person who discovers F.T. Goldhero's true identity. And Libby, in a constant state of lost and confused, begins to feel unsafe. Now she must save the children and protect herself.

Hidden in the hordes of fan mail are relentless messages from eleven-year-old Peanut Bixton. Peanut seems to know The Falling Children better than Libby herself, and has passionate ideas for how to end the series. Desperate for her story to come to a conclusion, Libby decides to visit Peanut. There she meets some oddly familiar faces and seemingly falls into her own story where her magical world intersects with the real world. One where Peanut, with secrets of her own, plays a vital role. Falling is Libby's favorite word. It can convey danger and hopefulness.

And this is where things become disorienting — the blur between fiction and reality. Questioning everything and everyone. Difficult to discern what happened from what didn't, or who is there to help and who means to harm. In a way, bizarrely but brilliantly written to invoke empathy and protectiveness for both Libby and Peanut.

All of this is really brought to life by the imaginative audio narration, the perfect amount of infliction to generate emotion and make this story un-pausable.

I really liked the idea of this book. I enjoyed the characters, their interactions and what they have been through and what they are going through. I thought the topic around early onset Alzheimer's disease was incredibly well done and an important topic to cover. Aside from really liking the premise of the book and the characters, the rest kind of fell short for me. I thought it was very repetitive and not all that engaging. For much of the book, very little seemed to happen. I understand that given Libby's diagnosis, there won't be a ton that happens, but it just felt that a lot of the book did not need to be written. I felt that at times it was hard to determine if what happened was real or was part of the disease - it just did not fully connect for me in all parts. THat being said, it was incredibly creative and unique, making for an overall enjoyable read.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

This turned out to be much more poignant than I anticipated.

Libby is the author of a hugely popular children's series, although know one knows it as the publisher chose to keep the author a secret. She has one last book to finish in the series, but is losing touch with the children who are the main characters as she begins to experience early onset dementia.

Peanut was abandoned by her parents at birth, but found herself in the book series. Her life in fact has some strange similarities to the story line of the novels. An avid fan, she writes to the author daily with suggestions and encouragement to spur on the completion of the final book.

The lives of these two people unexpectedly and with great kerfuffle intertwine. The impact is also felt in the fictional world of the children.

I appreciated the way we can feel Libby's fear and confusion as she experiences dementia, the deep love Peanut has for the characters in the series, and the humanity of all characters in that each is deeply flawed. This was a great read.

This book has an imaginative and interesting premise - a reclusive author of a beloved fantasy series gets a diagnosis of early-onset dementia, and she has to race against the illness to complete the last book of the series. I did find the story engaging for the most part, but it was also very messy and chaotic - perhaps on purpose to reflect the deterioration of Libby's mental state. Ultimately, I just found the storyline more and more confusing and unclear, and not in a satisfying way. There were countless people in the book who were awful, and they never got their comeuppance. There were so many bad decisions made without any real follow-through, and the ending was just odd. I'm left still wondering what actually happened and didn't happen. If that's the point of the book, then I think it could have been executed better. Mia Barron did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for a digital review copy.

Thank you, RB Media, for the review copy!

Libby Lost and Found beautifully blends elements of fantasy with magical realism, paying homage to children's literature while exploring themes of grief, loss, and love. This story will resonate with fans of The Midnight Library, The Westing Game, and even The Wishing Game.

At the heart of the narrative is a beloved yet secretive author facing early-onset dementia, struggling to complete her story. Interwoven with this plot is Peanut’s journey of self-discovery as she seeks to understand her identity and uncover her past and future.

While the story is rich with potential, readers should approach it with an open mind regarding Peanut's complex, quirky character. Personally, I found Peanut to be sweet but struggled to connect with her voice, which made me feel overwhelmed at times, especially given her search for her biological parents.

Additionally, I encourage readers, publishers, and writers to consider the importance of inclusive language. I find it deeply troubling when discussions about foster children and adopted individuals reference a search for their "real parents." As an adoptive parent, I can attest that my child’s legal and loving relationship with me is very real. It's disheartening to encounter language that suggests otherwise, particularly in a narrative that often diminishes the significance of these bonds. Such terminology can detract from the enjoyment of a story, and I hope for more sensitivity in future works.

Libby is an author of an extremely popular childrens magical book series. She writes under a pen name, and no one knows her identity. She suffers from debilitating anxiety, aand is recently diagnosed with early onset dementia. Her memory is preventing her from writing the last book in the series. The fandom and her publishers are furious and putting her under a lot of pressure. But they don’t know that she is forgetting the story. Libby somewhat begrudgingly teams up with her number one fan, 11-year-old peanut, of questionable heritage.

heartwarming and quirky. The characters spring to life from the pages. Great on audiobook, this story will stay with you for a long time. I felt. I felt a parental protectiveness over peanut and an empathy for Libby.

in their attempt” to find the end of the story to “the falling children, the characters fall into their story themselves, and the magical world intersects with libby and peanut’s real world battles. Falling is libbys favorite word. It can convey danger and hopefulness.

for fans of the wishing game, the midnight library, life of pi and other magical realism. Book to be published October 15, 2024.

Thanks to @netgalley and @r__bmedia for the ARC.

#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #libbylostandfound

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the first few chapters of the book but got bored about 20% in to the story. I did like the narrator (Mia Barron) and I thought she had a wonderful voice.
Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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