Although this novel presents itself as a fairy tale for grown-ups -- and a very effective one -- the magical land at its heart, Shenandoah, turns out to be the creation of a thirteen-year-old girl. A very gifted, troubled thirteen year-old girl, who was kidnapped several years before the start of this novel. When her younger stepsister (separated by adoption) hires a noted missing-persons expert to find her, he turns out to have his own experience of being lost -- and his own connection to Shenandoah. He also has an artist friend who was lost with him in Shenandoah, but no longer remembers the experience. He does, however, remember how to get them all to one possible entrance.

And we're off!

This was a truly delightful reading experience -- though, like all authentic fairy tales, The Lost Story holds its share of darkness. There is plenty of death and more than a little abuse in the back stories of these characters. The artist -- who turns out to be more than a friend to our missing-persons expert -- has unfinished business with his father. The sisters only want to stay together. No one wants to leave Shenandoah, although it offers little of the security of twenty-first century America. As the plot winds tighter, however, it becomes increasingly evident that wishes do not always come true in this enchanted place. Can a rewrite fix it?

As in Meg Shaffer's previous novel, The Wishing Game, the characters here seem slightly off-center from our reality. This doesn't get in the way of them being immediately sympathetic. There are also several pop culture referents (Stevie Nicks, Firefly, Trapper Keepers) which may not hold up well over time. The spirit of true storytelling, though, is another matter -- and The Lost Story has that in spades.

Recommended for anyone in need of medicine for melancholy.

I loved Meg Shaffer's previous novel, The Wishing Game, but this book fell short for me. The pacing was too slow, and aside from the presence of a magical world, it just felt like not much....happened? The storyline felt flimsy and directionless; lacking an overall adverse situation to overcome, which would have propel the story forward. Also, The Lost Story was a disappointment when it was marketed as being likened to the Narnia series, which it pays homage to but can't touch with regards to creativity and character/plot development.

I did enjoy the narrator breaking the fourth wall with interjections. And Rafe and Jeremy's backstory of friendship was lovely.

Overall, a few nice points but skip it if you're hoping for another Wishing Game.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Despite finding the fourth wall breaking storyteller interludes hokey as all hell, I ended up really enjoying the rest of this book! A nice accessible contemporary fantasy that I think could bring in new adult fans of the genre who haven't read one since childhood.

Jeremy Cox and Ralph/Rafe Howell disappeared in the Red Crow Forest together as teenagers, not reappearing for over 6 months. This book takes place 15 years after they disappeared together, Jeremy makes a living finding lost girls/women and Rafe has hidden himself away protecting wild game as a recluse in the wilds of West Virgina. Emilie, our 3rd main character, tasks Jeremy with helping her find her missing half-sister, Shannon, who disappeared in the same forest as Jeremy and Rafe 5 years prior to their disappearance.
This is a book for lovers of fantasy and fairy tales where all is not logical and explained, and overall is very enjoyable and hit the mark for me, minus a few minor complaints. The main conflict is presented as this life-or-death moment, but for me lacked true tension and fear for the success of the main characters against the Big Baddie. I think it was nearly there but just missed the mark for me on that, but everything else was well fleshed out and well written. The characters and their backgrounds were well developed and felt distinct from each other. I previously very much-loved Meg Shaffer's first novel and this is absolutely a worthwhile sophomore entry.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

This book was so fun!
I loved that there was such a different premise to the book, unlike any storyline I have heard before. I definitely get the Narnia influence, and loved to see the uplifting tale of sisters reuniting and healing something in each other.
I found myself in tears at the beauty of some of the storylines' forgiveness plot(s). It is a refreshing thing to read.
I would LOVE to see a sequel to this one; kind of a "where are they now?" arc.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an opportunity to receive a copy of this arc. To say that I screamed when I was accepted would be an understatement. Meg Schaffer’s debut The Wishing Game was one of my favorite books last year and I knew that I wanted to read another book from her. This one did not disappoint. We follow Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell 15 years after they go missing in Red Crow State Forest in West Virginia as they help Emilie Wendell find her missing sister. It forces Jeremy and Rafe to confront their past, each other, and their demons to return to where they were lost to find not only Emilie’s sister but also themselves.

I loved this book so much. The magical and whimsical elements are present in this book. I could vividly picture it in my head. I felt giddy and was smiling from ear to ear. I enjoyed Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie. Reading about their journey, personally and with each other, was fun to read about. Meg Shaffer, in my opinion, has the ability to transport you back to feeling like a kid with curiosity, wonder, and to have a fun adventure. I will say that I wish the ending was maybe another like 5-10 pages to fully wrap the story up. The Storyteller narration was cool and kept me guessing.

If you liked The Wishing Game or you just want to transport yourself to a fantastical faraway land, I would highly recommend this book when it comes out on July 16th.

This was one of those books that I stayed up too late to read, and then couldn't sleep for another hour because I was so crushed it was over.

Meg, I beg you, make this a series!!!

My only criticism was how short it was. I could have easily spent pages more in each situation. More details on each interaction would have made my heart happy, if only because I just want to sink deeper into this world and know more about these characters.

You can tell that CS Lewis and Narnia was an influence here, and I adored it. Those books and movies were favorites of mine growing up! Plus, I grew up in Maryland, another of West Virginia's neighbors that has its own Appalachian stories, so the idea of a secret world in the woods wasn't even far-fetched for me. The Appalachian Mountains hold stories far too deep and far too old for us to comprehend, and I'm content to let it filter into our worlds as it sees fit. This might as well be a true story, for all I'm concerned!

I adored Meg Schaffer's The Wishing Game, and this was yet another 5 Star Favorite for me! I'm ready for more, more, MORE!

Thanks to NetGalley, Mag Shaffer, and the publisher for the ARC! The Lost Story debuts on July 16th, 2024!

I loved this book and it was another magical book. Having read and loved The Wishing Game, by Meg Shaffer, I was very excited to dive into her newest book.. The Lost Story is a fairy tale for grown-ups, a wonderful escape into the magical world of Shanandoah. It is about the beauty of childhood imaginations, the magic of far off lands, and relationships lost and found. The main characters are Jeremy Cox, a privileged English boy, and Ralph ("Rafe) Howell, an artistic boy from the other side of the tracks. After a traumatizing event, they disappear in Red Crow State Park for six months, presumed dead. Then they mysteriously return, physically stronger, well-fed, and older, with no explanations. Upon their return, they lose touch, both struggling emotionally, especially Rafe who is suffering from PTSD and chooses to live in seclusion while Jeremy moves to England with his grandmother. These long lost friends are brought back together when a lonely young woman named Emilie reaches out to Jeremy to help find her recently discovered sister who has been missing in Red Crow State Park for 20 years. The three find their way to the magical realm of Shanandoah, which is filled with mystical creatures as well as dangerous ones. What follows is an adventure fit for the most vivid childhood dreams. There is love, conflict, found family, friendship and forgiveness. It is a lovely read!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing group for this ARC.

Meg Shaffer has struck GOLD yet again with The Lost Story! Her debut novel,The Wishing Game, was my favorite novel in 2023 and The Lost Story is my #1 of 2024, so far.

Shaffer weaves her fairy tale effortlessly and combines elements of Lord of the Flies and Chronicles of Narnia. Through the adventures of Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilia you can clearly see glimpses of both novels she drew inspiration from, which makes my literary heart so happy!

Emilia wants nothing other than to find her missing sister and she enlists the help of Jeremy, a former “lost boy” himself. Jeremy drags in Rafe, who was lost with Jeremy 15 years ago. When both turned up 6 months after they went missing, Rafe with no memory of his time away, everyone was flabbergasted and suspicious. They have to decide if they are up for heading back into the very place they went missing to help Emilia.

This novel is a true fairy tale, as it says it is. I will forever read anything Meg Shaffer writes. She’s 2/2 in my book!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Meg Shaffer is back after her wildly successful debut "The Wishing Game," and as someone who adored that novel, no one is more excited than I! Growing up, the Chronicles of Narnia was an absolute obsession of mine so when I saw she drew from the classic series as inspo for this book, I could not request the ARC fast enough!

Jeremy and Rafe were such complex characters but made to feel relatable at the same time. I LOVED this setting, the wild West Virginian forests and mountainsides playing second fiddle to this well-crafted plot. I am struggling to review it because I don't want to ruin a single detail for prospective readers, but Shaffer seems to have somehow gotten exponentially better in her sophomore effort. I tore through this and would absolutely re-read it. The mystery, magical realism, and emotional depth of the story was just A+++++.

3.5 stars
This was a fun, easy read that I enjoyed. The story was unique and I thought the writing was wonderful and descriptive enough to build a thorough picture of the world. Some characters were well-rounded while others fell a little flat to me. Jeremy and Rafe felt more real and realized. Rafe was really a bright spot in the story. His character arc was heartfelt and I loved that. Emilie started fairly strong but got lost about halfway through. Skya needed more. The story was exciting for the first half and pulled me in, and then the second half felt very very predictable. Overall, this book was very easy to read and I enjoyed meeting these characters and spending time in this world with them.

The Wishing Game was my favorite novel of 2023, but this just didn’t quite hit the same. I’m rounding up to 4 because it’s a well-written and original story, but it’s a bit too fantastical for me. I liked the magic realism of TWG, whereas this feels like straight fantasy. It also felt like it lagged a bit in the middle and the climax/need to return came rather abruptly. I’ll definitely check out this author’s next work, though.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Four stars! This is a grown-up, gay, Narnia, and I loved it! Brilliant characters and world building.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying I enjoyed this book. The concept was odd and fun, but I lacked connection to the characters. Additionally, this lacked the spark of Shaffer's previous book.

⭐️- Jeremy and Rafe went missing in the Red Crow State Forest at the end of a school field trip. They are eventually found months later, both healthier than when they left and neither will talk about what happened. 15 years later, Jeremy becomes a missing person expert and meets Emily, who is searching for her sister who separately went missing in the Red Crow State Forest.

And so begins a magical adventure full of mystery, love, hope, and personal growth.

Best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell were missing in Red Crow State Forest and reappear six months
later. No one knows where they were or how they survived. Fifteen years later, Rafe is a recluse and Jeremy
is a missing persons investgator.
Emily approaches Jeremy in her pursuit of finding her sister who vanished in the same forest. He agrees to help
her only if Rafe joins the search. When the three head off to the forest, the secrets of the boys' disappearance
will be revealed and what happened to Emily's sister. A story of magic ,friendship and loyalty.
#TheLostStory #Ballantine #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and Random House Publishing for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Two best friends, Ralph and Jeremy vanish in a forest in West Virginia. Only to magically reappear six months later with no explanation about where they were. This however was only the beginning of their story. Fifteen years later, a girl named Emilie seek their help in finding her missing sister. Along their search we embark on a magical and magnificent journey full of wonder, laughter, hope, and love.

Meg Shaffer is a whimsical wizard. Her writing is what dreams are made of, and you can’t help but get lost in her writing. A magical storyteller whose writing keeps you hooked and gives you the cozy and comfy feeling that I look for when reading. Writing that helps you escape reality and force you to imagine and dream.

Let’s start off with the first thing I said after finishing the book “I think I went in with too high of expectation since I loved The Wishing Game so much. BUT, I still really liked the book.”

It’s a story of two boys who go missing as teenagers and are found six months later hardly worse for wear. The story truly begins 15 years later, Rafe is a recluse artist while Jeremy is known as the guy who finds missing girls. Jeremy is found by a girl, Emilie who wants Jeremy to try and locate her missing sister, who disappeared in the same woods where Jermey and Rafe were lost.

Why didn’t I give this a five-star rating? Well, the ending was a little…abrupt. For being a standalone book, I didn’t feel like I got a solid ending. It did take me a little to get into the book, but just go back to my first reaction to the book and that could explain it.

I recommend those looking for an easy read and a story that will make you want to spend more time in a far away place called Shenandoah.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Meg Shaffer does it again!!

I was so excited to get an ARC from NetGalley because I declared "The Wishing Game" as my favorite book. Before Meg Shaffer, I would say I was not a fantasy fan...but that would be an understatement. Not only did I enjoy this, but it was as amazing as I hoped it would be!

Meg has a way of telling a story that leaves no loops left open, making sure every question or aspect of the story you picked up on is resolved. The imagery and characters she creates are addicting. My only compliant is that I wish she could put out books more quickly- I would read them all. I can't wait for this one to come out to purchase a copy and share it with all my book buddies.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I was not expecting to like this as much as I did but of course I had to read a book touted as Narnia for adults - I loved it. To me it was much more like Inkheart which I loved back in the day - I haven't quite felt magic like that since reading The Lost Story. I'm excited to read Meg Shaffer and see what else she's got.

The Lost Story is young adult truly, no sex scenes, swearing, etc - which was extremely refreshing. I didn't know what I was getting myself in to and was pleasantly surprised on this modern Fairy Tale take. You know it's great fantasy when you want to visit! The characters are all likeable which is so hard to do. Emilie could have easily been obnoxious since quirky is so overdone these days but I grew to like her and find her endearing, each character is fleshed in and has depth. They're complex but the story is never confusing.

The Narrator between the chapters was off putting to me but I ended up liking it in the end.

I can't recommend this enough for fantasy lovers!