My Thoughts
At First
Like with the previous titles that went by ‘The x of Lost x,’ the title grabbed my attention. Who were these lost friends? What information did this book contain? And then the blurb ensured I was going to read this one. An historical fiction set in dual POV between two timelines (one for each POV).

What I Loved
Everything! That is the truth. I cannot really find much to not like about the book. Even if I point out something, I will have to look hard for those issues and they will be minute grievances. For example, I would have liked to read a little more about some very specific events or people in the book. But even without those details I wish for, this book is definitely one to read.

CHARACTERS
Each character is well thought out and fleshed out (even that nameless stranger in one chapter who makes a brief appearance). While the main protagonists, Benny and Hannie, were both women I would like to befriend, I think I was awed by Hannie a tad more. But every character, be it those who helped Hannie and Benny on their journeys, or those who hindered them, is unique and memorable in this story.

THE DUALITIES
Each chapter ends in a cliff-hanger of sorts and since the chapters alternate between the timelines, we have to wait at least one full chapter before we can find out what next in that timeline. While the new chapter captures your interest right at the start and you are lost. So this book easily keeps you reading, and engaged.

I was awed at how effortlessly Lisa Wingate slips back and forth between the two POVs; each of which is spoken from two very different perspectives, and “awe-ingly” two distinct dialects.

While one timeline or POV often captures interests in such books, I found it a tough choice between these two as each one had its special something to ensure I enjoyed it. Lisa Wingate’s descriptions take us to both 1875 and 1987 Louisiana with equal ease, and we are right there with Hannie and Benny with every step they take.

THEMES
I truly loved all the themes that threaded the book into one beautiful story. Themes of family, friendship, making and strengthening new relationships, survival and strength, the power of community and kindness, and the wonders that sheer determination and persistence can bring about.

WHAT I LEARNED
By now I have realized that I truly love historical fiction; and not just those historical romances I devour periodically! And when a book teaches something I did not know at all, well, then it is like icing on the cake.

This book definitely fits everything I enjoy in a good historical fiction. It is truly well-researched and beautifully written. And while the fiction tugged at heartstrings, the facts totally opened me up to so much more. All those actual ‘Lost Friend‘ ads included throughout the book provided an effective, heartbreaking, and enlightening backdrop to the story and subtly highlighted the darkness that was slavery; and in a way shines light on what we need to do to make the world a better place.

And I also learned about the Carnegie Libraries, the women who helped found libraries and more for colored people, something more about the underground railroad, as well as additional historical facts.

Note: Check out The Historic New Orleans Collection website for more on the Lost Friends advertisements.

EVERYTHING ELSE
There is so much more I can say about this book. For instance, those connections drawn between those two timelines is fascinating and inspires me to go check out genealogies for myself.

And it is relevant, even with both those timelines in the past (1875 and 1987); especially in today’s Black Lives Matter environment to educate ourselves about our past and how we can use it to ensure things change.

QUOTES
Of course, those quotes I normally include; again, I had way too many but here are just a few (selected randomly)

-- “Laughter rings the rafters like church bells, constant, musical, the sound amplified by the rusty tin roof and showered down again”
-- “Sad thing when stories die out for lack of listenin’ ears.”
-- “Sometime, trouble can be like a cut of thread, all tangled up and wrong-twisted from the spinning. Can’t see the why of it or how to get it straight, but can’t hide from it either.”
-- “we work from see to can’t see every day ..”
-- “Be like holdin’ hope, in some way, wouldn’t it?”
-- “Few things are more life affirming than watching an idea that was fledgling and frail in its infancy, seemingly destined for birth and death in almost the same breath, stretch its lungs and curl its fingers around the threads of life, and hang on with a determination that can’t be understood, only felt.”
-- “I ponder how we can put a man on the moon, fly shuttles back and forth to outer space, send probes to Mars, and yet we can’t traverse the boundaries in the human heart, fix what’s wrong.”

And the Other Side
If I had to pick somethings I found could have been better, it would be the portrayal and progress of the relationship between Benny and Nathan, as well as a little more into Benny’s backstory (though things are revealed in the end).

In Summary
I loved how Lisa Wingate addresses hard issues gracefully, and smoothly blends fact and fiction to give us a book that is meant to be read and remembered. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, bringing tears and smiles as it teaches, informs, inspires, uplifts, and holds the readers’ interests from the very beginning to the end (and oh so cleverly too)!

This is a great book to read for discussions and as part of book clubs; check out the RandomHouse website for a wonderful book-club kit for this book.

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the digital review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Once again Lisa Wingate tells the story of a piece of history that I knew nothing about. While I loved what I learned while reading this it just didn't live up to my expectations. I am not sure exactly what it was I just had a really hard time getting into the story. It felt a little long and drug out at times and just made it really hard to connect with. It is a beautifully written book that really brings a piece of history not many people know about to life.

The following review was published on my blog (www.blogginboutbooks.com) on 09.17.20:

As a first-year English teacher, 27-year-old Benedetta "Bennie" Silva knows she pretty much has to take what she can get in terms of job placement. Still, she doesn't quite know how she's going to manage her first assignment at an all-black junior/senior high school in little Augustine, Louisiana. The kids, most of whom are impoverished and jaded, are just as skeptical of her as she is of them. In a desperate effort to engage them, she begins researching the history of a nearby plantation called Goswood Grove. When she discovers an incredible story about three young women who set out on a remarkable journey, Benny becomes obsessed with the tale, especially when she finds a connection between it and one of her students.

Over one hundred years earlier, in the days of Reconstruction, a trio of teens from Augustine hie off for Texas. Hannah is a freed slave searching for her mother and siblings, all of whom were sold off when she was only six. Lavinia is the spoiled daughter of Goswood Grove's master, who disappeared without a trace, leaving his plantation and family destitute. A mulatto, Juneau is Lavinia's Creole half-sister, who goes along reluctantly to keep Lavinia from getting into too much trouble. Along the way, the unlikely road trip companions will deal with perils of every kind. Can they learn to rely on each other? Will each of them find what they're looking for? Will any of them?

The Book of Lost Friends, Lisa Wingate's newest, has been criticized for being slow and lacking depth. While I can understand these complaints, I actually really liked the novel. It introduced me to a piece of Reconstruction era history that I'd never heard of—"Lost Friends" advertisements that helped families torn apart by slavery find each other again. Not only did I find this aspect of the novel fascinating, but I also enjoyed getting to know Hannah, Lavinia, and Juneau. Their journey to Texas and into their own pasts had enough drama and intrigue to keep me reading. All in all, I found The Book of Lost Friends to be engaging, interesting, moving, and thought-provoking. I loved it.

(Readalikes: Hm, nothing is coming to mind. You?)

Grade: A-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Book of Lost Friends from the generous folks at Ballantine Books (a division of Penguin Random House) via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This book was amazing! loved the differing perspectives and time periods that eventually came together. A time period and series of events I had never learned about so definitely eye opening. Another book that she knocked out of the park!

A dual timeline story taking place in 1980's Louisiana and the Louisiana of 1875, it is the story of one teacher seeking to inspire her students when most have given up on them and of three unlikely travelers searching for family.

After reading Wingate's Before We Were Yours, I was looking forward to reading this one. Unfortunately, it didn't have the same emotional impact. I found that I was not as interested in what was happening to Lavinia, Juneau Jane and Hannie other than in finding how it tied to the present storyline. Benny's story in the present was more interesting to me as it focused on how to challenge students who felt disconnected to their own lives and how a research project into the past helped them to learn more about who they are and where they came from.

The "lost friends" of The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is a historical reference to loved ones and friends lost to slavery. This quiet book pulls me and does not let go even after the last page. I turn the page looking for more of what happens to Hannie. Most of all, I appreciate this book for the sad history it introduces me to. The challenge and struggle of that history continue on.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/03/the-book-of-lost-friends.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

As I've come to expect from Lisa Wingate, though non-fiction (creative or otherwise) is not my usual reading fare, if it's got her name on it, I'm going to like it. What a brilliant way to weave the stories of the potentially forgotten. These are the characters of history that I do think about - the ones who don't land in the history books, but were some of the most affected by what was happening. And in her classic way, Wingate tells the story in such a way that you just can't put it down. Truly remarkable. The modern-day pieces struggled a little, with a shoe-horned romance and not a strong idea of where it needed to go and what it wanted to be, but still enjoyable. Definitely a good read.

This is a wonderful historical fiction. It has multiple timelines and will keep you reading until the end. If you like historical fiction you will like this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I love historical fiction, especially books that have parallel timelines. This book brings to light a very interesting story I new nothing about. I couldn't wait to finish it.

I am such a fan of both author Lisa Wingate, and the Historical Fiction genre, but what a gorgeous book!

I flew through the pages, and most loved the dual timeline and multiple POVS. I was just so fascinated by the fact that there was an actual column of the Southwestern newspaper in the late 1800s called The Book of Lost Friends.

I felt that the author did a great job to be sensitive to current events with injustice, and delivered a beautiful story.

Many thanks to netgalley and Ballantine Books for the gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own

I love historical fiction because it gives me a chance to experience a side of history I usually haven’t heard of.
I felt like the history was brought to life and I was rooting for the characters. I loved that there were strong women fighting for their rightful place in this world.

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is historical fiction at its best. Once again proving herself as a master of historical fiction, Ms Wingate shows her meticulous research and weaves it so beautifully into stories. In this case, little known stories about women looking for family after the Civil War. Readers of historical fiction will adore this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I am a fan of historical fiction and this title did not disappoint. I have been fascinated with the Civil War and all that goes with it for the past few years. I had never heard of the newspaper advertisements until this book came along. This is one of the things I love about reading historical fiction is that I can experience a moment in time from the past through the pages of a book. There are so many significant events that are being lost to time and forgetfulness. I appreciate that this author took the time to shed light on this tragic time in America's history to highlight that even with the bad, sometimes there are pockets of good mixed in. While the back and forth timelines can sometimes be confusing and overdone, The Book of Lost Friends does a good job of weaving the two stories together and helping tie in the genealogical connections as well. I have and will continue to recommend this book to my library patrons.

Lisa Wingate is a fantastic author, but I just wasn't interested enough in the subject matter to slog through the descriptions.

WOW! Just, wow. I loved Lisa Wingate's last book, so I was super excited to read this one. I started reading having done no advanced research into what the book was about at all. I just knew I wanted to read it because it was by Lisa Wingate. But then, oh man. I sobbed through the entire first chapter.

The Book of Lost Friends follows the story of Hannie, a former slave, who is freed from slavery as a teenager but has been separated from her family since she was a little girl. The book follows her search for her family. Meanwhile, in present day, Benedetta is a teacher in the town where the plantation Hannie was enslaved on is located. The story also follows her research into the plantation's history and how that affects the students she is in charge of teaching every day.

Just read this book. You won't regret it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book to review!

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review is my own opinion.

I am a fan of the author's previous work so i was thrilled to receive this for review. This is a heartbreaking book that features ads from slaves looking for their families to connect with . it shows us with great respect what these poor people went through having their families torn apart. It has great depth in showing the heartbreak and terror they suffered. It is not a uplifting read . Its food for thought and a teachable book . I do recommend this book for all who want to learn more about the struggle of the slaves and the abject terror they lived under . Very well done to the author.

Louisiana, 1875. Joined by necessity, three unlikely companions embark on a dangerous journey to Texas. Lavinia, a spoiled heiress to an impoverished plantation, and her illegitimate, Creole half-sister Juneau Jane make the trek out of financial desperation. Hannie, a former slave, searches for her mother and siblings, all ripped from her before the abolishment of slavery. Each carries deep wounds and heavy secrets that will both haunt and propel them as they travel west

Louisiana, 1987. First-year teacher Benedetta Silva has a student loan to pay. A subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the perfect answer. Then she lands in small, backward Augustine where outsiders pose a threat and leaving is unheard of. Benny finds she cannot relate to her underprivileged students, and her attempts to do so only seem to widen the chasm. But amidst the crumbling plantations, the threads of history weave a slowly fading but powerful story of three young women and their almost-forgotten quest.

I know I’ve found a superb writer when I become so engrossed in a tale that I forget it falls outside of my usual reading preferences. Lisa Wingate hasn’t done that once, but consistently with each novel of hers that I have read. Despite being outside my go-to genres, every year her book lands among my top reads. The Book of Lost Friends is no exception.

In the beginning, I struggled briefly to jump into the story, but before too long I found myself completely and utterly immersed. Wingate’s use of language creates such a deep and emotional connection in the reader that I spent the majority of the time on the brink of tears. Some of it did stem from sad events — one can’t talk about slavery and some of the other heavy topics and not expect sorrow — but most of the time it came from the sheer beauty and richness of her prose.

The characters and settings are so exquisitely crafted that they take on lives of their own. Putting down the novel not only proved jarring when the world around me didn’t match that of the book, it also left a gaping hole the size of Texas. My heart still searches for friends and places it believes exist, while my brain futilely tries to tell it that they can only be found within the pages of this novel.

As always, Wingate manages to bring to the surface festering wounds from history and teach us about the past while never losing sight of hope and the future. Whether you are a fan of women’s fiction and time slip novels or not, this is one book I strongly recommend.

Potential trigger warning: A rape does occur. While it happens off the page, the character does deal with the emotional, physical, and mental effects of the attack.

Heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. Interesting technique using two parallel narratives that really kept me interested in reading.

Enjoyed this story quite a bit. I love that there were actual ads in the story- it was heart wrenching but a great touch. This would make a great book club book!

4.5 stars rounded up.

“Dear Editor — I wish to inquire for my people. My mother was named Mittie. I am the middle of nine children and named Hannie Gossett. The others were named Hardy, Het, Pratt, Epheme, Addie, Easter, Ike and Rose and were all my mother had when separated....My brothers and sisters, cousins and aunts were sold and carried from us...and finally in Powell town, Texas, where my mother was taken and never seen by me again...I am well, but my mother is greatly missed by me, and any information of her or any of my people is dearly desired.” From “Lost Friends” column of the Southwestern.

Over the last several years, I’ve read many dual time frame novels and Lisa Wingate in her new novel, connects the time frames and stories and characters brilliantly, even though the narratives are more than a century apart. In 1875, a decade after the Civil War, in Augustine, Louisiana, Hannie Gossett, a former slave struggles to make sense and meaning of “the freedom”. The share croppers on this failing plantation have worked for years to keep the land they have toiled so hard for. William Gossett, the plantation owner is missing and holds the papers that give them their rightful ownership. This is Hannie’s quest until she come across in a church, ads placed by former slaves desperately seeking to find their lost family, mother’s, sisters, brothers separated when sold and finding her family becomes her foremost quest. Two of Gossett’s children, a daughter and his illegitimate Creole daughter are seeking the inheritance that they believe is rightfully theirs, but the papers are missing along with their father. Thrown together in an unlikely partnership these three young women set out on a harrowing journey to secure their futures.

In the second time frame in 1987, Benny Silva, comes to teach in Augustine, Louisiana. She seeks to make an impact on her unruly students, trying to get them to read, to learn. A project to get them to understand their legacy and ancestors is the spark that gets these students interested, when she finds “The Book of Lost Friends” , a compilation of the ads placed in “Lost Friends”column in the Southwestern Christian Advocate Newspaper.

While the book is comprised of these two narratives, the impact of story in my view is contained in each of these heartbreaking ads which appear at the beginning of many of the chapters, quoted from the original which did in reality appear in that paper. The injustice of it, the harsh, horrible treatment and the emotional pain of being separated from your children, your mother, your siblings, separated and sold to different slave holders will churn your stomach and knot your heart. This is a wonderfully told told story of identity, of family, of lives bound by blood, by land, by name, by the awful history of slavery. Recommended to fans of Lisa Wingate and historical fiction readers especially those with an interest in the post Civil War era.

“Dear Editor - I belonged to John Rowden of St Charles county, Missouri. I was called Clarissa. I was sold to Mr. Kerle, a planter. My mother was named Perrine. I was the youngest of mother’s first children. ...I was eight or nine years of age when sold. ...I am alone in the world, and it would be a great happiness to me to know that I had some living kinfolks...”
From “Lost Friends” column of the Southwestern.

I received a copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley.