This dual storyline book drew me in right away! I found both storylines interesting and the characters fascinating. They connected in a fantastic way and the conclusion of this book was done just right.

The storyline from the past features Louisiana and Texas post-Civil War and still a very tumultuous time in this country. We have three unlikely characters thrown together on a quest to track down the head of the Louisiana plantation. One character is Lavinia, the spoiled daughter; next up is the illegitimate Creole daughter Juneau Jane; and finally, a former slave from the plantation, Hannie. These women set out on a dangerous journey to figure out what has happened to Mr. Gossett. Throw in dangerous men, marshals, soldiers, and river voyages and you have a journey to take with these young women.

We learn of the tragic past for Hannie – torn apart from her large family when she was very young as they were stolen and sold off at different auctions all through the south. This journey might shed some light and help her find some of those lost family members.

The modern-day story features a woman trying to carve a niche as a new teacher at an impoverished school in Louisiana. This town is already wary of strangers, Benny finds it tough to connect with her students who have little interest in books like “Animal Farm” and don’t see the relevance to their lives today. She starts to find a way to get them all interested in their family history and hopes to connect that to writing and literature, but it stirs up a lot of the past that some in town would like to see buried and forgotten.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, this book is for you! I loved “Before We Were Yours” and this one is just as good! Highly recommended.

One can hardly imagine being ripped away from loved ones and sold to the highest bidder. Sadly it was a common occurrence in the 1800s. The Book of Lost Friends is a touching story about those who endured such treatment and sought out to reunite with their kin after the Civil War. It is also a tale of underprivileged kids in the 1980s that have a love of history ignited by a naive first year teacher. The past and present are always entwined whether we want to admit it or not. This wonderful story illustrates that learning about our past can help us move forward into the future. Lisa Wingate is an amazing author whose writing gets better and better!

The Book of Lost Friends was one of those books that I could not put down. This historical fiction novel told the stories of two women, set in different time periods. Throughout the story, you start to see how the characters are connected. Hannie is a freed slave in 1875 looking for the family members she has been separated from. Her companions on her journey are Lavinia, the daughter of the family who owned Hannie, and Lavinia's half-sister Juneau Jane. The two are searching for the papers that will show their inheritance. The three women are unlikely traveling companions who encounter many dangers on their quests in the South during the time after the end of slavery.
The other part of the story is told by Benny, a first-year teacher in 1987. She lands a job in small Augustine, Louisiana at a poor, rural school. Desperately trying to gain her students' respect and to motivate them to learn she starts a project with her students to help them learn about the history of the people in their town. In a town that is not accepting of new ideas and people, this project is not always welcomed by members of the community.

Lisa Wingate’s newest novel intertwines three events, 1875 post war Louisiana and Texas; a newspaper column “Lost Friends” published by the Methodist Church in the Southwestern Christian Advocate during the late 1800s; and 1985 Louisiana. 1875 tells of the story of ex-slave Hannie and 1985 follows Benny Silva as she begins her first year of teaching English at an impoverished secondary school. Alternating chapters tell Hannie and Benny’s story with a “Lost Friends” column at the end of Hannie’s chapters. As with her prior novel Before We Were Yours Wingate manages to connect the lives of Hannie and Benny and in such a way that you do not want to stop reading the book until you find out the connection. I enjoyed the book and will recommend it to friends and family. It reminds us what slavery really involved and shows the racism and classism that existed in 1875 and 1985; and reminds us that it still exists today. A great read, I just wish I had leaned a little more about Benny Silva.

No one can find a story like this author, then turn it into a bestseller. Thus one will be a great book club pick! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!!

I am fascinated on how Lisa Wingate finds historical events and weaves them into wonderful stories. Lost Friends stems from people, mostly slaves sending their letters to be published in the SOUTHWESTERN newspaper. These are ads telling subscribers who they are and who they are trying to find, usually family members. It's social media before Facebook. Simply people trying to connect to loved ones.
Lisa weaves this historical item through Hannie Gossett, former slave from the 1875 to modern day Benedetta Silva, teacher in 1987. The story develops and in the end she tells how these people are related. It's an enticing tale woven in mystery, love and compassion.

I had to request The Book of Lost Friends from NetGalley, as Before We Were Yours was a definite favorite of mine a couple of years ago (my top read of 2017 to be exact). It definitely had a lot to live up to and Lisa Wingate did not disappoint.

The Book of Lost Friends follows two storylines--Hannie, a former slave in Louisiana, not long after the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation, and Benny, a first year teacher who has come to rural Louisiana to teach at an impoverished school. Hannie is attempting to track down family members who had been sold during slavery, via The Book of Lost Friends, a newspaper column send to preachers in the south, while accompanying her former owners who are in search of their father. Benny, while trying to connect with her students, begins discovering the history of her town, back into the days of slavery and how it all connects.

The book was truly enjoyable, not quite on the level of Before We Were Yours, but still a great read. The storylines in the more present-day chapters left a lot of questions unanswered (relationships between characters especially) that could have easily added several more chapters to the book. However, the post-slavery story was exceedingly well-done, and one I could have read as a book unto itself.

A four-star book of breath-holding mini-stories that moves from the 1840s to 1987 about slavery and family. The author uses huge time-jumps that ultimately connect some of the slave families pulled apart when they were sold one or two at a time. Those who could remember their family names became a storehouse of relatives' names and places until they could find them. The Book of Lost Friends was that storehouse of names and places used in advertisements of a magazine/newspaper with subscribers from the network of black church preachers in the latter half of the 19th century. How that Book began and how it survived is the story.
Exciting cliffhanging scenes drive the reader to find out what's next in the amazing journey of a freed young black girl alongside the story of a freshly minted teacher trying to help her struggling students while fighting deep dark secrets from being revealed.
I highly recommend this story written by an excellent writer and researcher.

I am confident that the Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is a story that will stay with me for a very long time. Wingate includes actual advertisements from those looking for their "Lost Friends" after the civil war. Southern Newspapers ran these advertisements, and they were read aloud in churches with the hopes of reuniting friends and families torn apart by slavery. I had unfortunately never heard of these advertisements, and they made me feel both horrified once again for those that endured the pain and heartbreak of separation from those they loved (amongst the endless other evils of slavery), and also hopeful that the heart will never stop longing for it's missing pieces.

1875: Hannie was very young when her family was cruelly sold off in pieces and she's spent the rest of her young life clinging to the memories and the hope of finding them again. She meticulously stores their names in her brain, noting the details she remembers from their last whereabouts. Hannie is so brave, interesting and wise beyond her years, and I just fell in love with her. Throughout the story, she consistently shows great character by doing what she believes is right, even when it's not what is safest or most beneficial for her. Hannie goes on such a journey, alongside two unlikely travel companions, and made my heart nearly explode a few times.

1987: Benny is a new English teacher in an impossible situation. She does her best to connect with her students, but their lives in Rural-Louisiana, in a high school that even the school board has basically written-off, leave little for them to feel hopeful about, let alone motivate them to do well in school. Benny befriends her landlord Nathan Gossett, who also owns the vacant plantation, Goswood Grove, and with a little unexpected help from one of her students, they uncover some priceless historical information. Benny also enlists the help of some respected members of the community (I love Granny T. and Sarge!), and her classes go on an incredible journey to make the history of their town and families come alive.

Glows:

I love learning about Hannie's period of time, even though it's also heartbreaking. The characters are engaging, and at times terrifying. I really enjoyed the adventure the three women were on, even though I was often very nervous about what was going to happen, or at times really sad about circumstances. I thought the different accents/dialects were well-done.

The 80's time period was also written well and kept my interest. I connected with many characters in this book and was really rooting for their growth and happiness.

Grows:

One thing that bothered me was the names for the groups of students in Benny's story. I really didn't like the term "swamp rats," even though I KNOW these were likely common terms, and I've heard terms like "mall rats," and "street rats" (Aladdin!) before. I still don't like it.

I know books can't go on forever, but I would have loved to know a little bit more about Benny especially before the end of the book. We get hints of her story, but not much that makes us truly understand until the very end.

I also personally really want to know what happened back at Goswood after Hannie and the other ladies leave. I don't know how it would make sense in the story, but I really want to know what Mrs. Gossett, Tati, Jason and John did in their absence.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed and would definitely recommend this book. Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group, NetGalley, and Lisa Wingate for an advanced electronic copy of this book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Ballentine and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. Once again, Lisa Wingate has written a great story based on true history. In 1875, Hannie (a former slave) is on a journey to find her lost family. In 1987, teacher Benedetta Silva is searching for a way to help her students connect to their ancestors and appreciate life a little more. The author does a wonderful job of connecting these two women and bringing their stories together. I really liked the "Lost Friends" advertisements throughout the book. This is a winner!

Much like “Before We Were Yours” this is a story that NEEDED to be told.... and Lisa Wingate did a beautiful job doing so. The dual time periods intertwined into one story was a plus. Highly recommended

After loving Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, I couldn't wait to read The Book of Lost Friends and was thrilled to receive an ARC from NetGalley. This book did not disappoint. It's written in two different points of view in two different time periods. Hannie is a young, ex-slave in 1875 and Benny, a teacher in Louisiana, in 1987. Each woman learns and grows through their journey during the story. The title, The Book of Lost Friends, is based on "Lost Friends" postings that were posted after the Civil War by ex-slave families hoping to find their loved ones that had been sold away while enslaved. This is another "couldn't put it down" book.

I do love Lisa Wingate and her previous books, but this one did not grab me. It seemed dry and repetitive...and I couldn't connect with the characters.
I do believe however that others will love the historical significance this story does bring. If you love history..do try it.

Lisa Wingate never disappoints. I was riveted by this books. What a fantastic description of the post-Civil War and the poignant search for family. The connection to modern day made it all the more interesting and an homage to history teachers.

Lisa Wingate does not disappoint! The Book of Lost Friends is a historical fiction novel that will move you, enrage you, and mesmerize you from start to finish. Inspired by real life, Lisa Wingate creates a storyline that you won’t soon forget. My favorite aspect to Lisa Wingate’s novels is the fact that I always learn so much! After finishing this 5 star novel, I researched more online because I was so blown away by this books premise! I highly recommend The Book of Lost Friends to everyone - a true must read!

This book is so heartbreaking. I cannot find the words to Express the level of hurt I felt in this book. Knowing that it was inspired by true events makes it even more heartwrenching. Wingate is an amazing writer and deserves all the praise. This is my first book by Wingate but I have Before We Were Yours waiting on my shelf.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

The chapters are written in alternating timelines. In 1875 we meet Hannie, a former slave.
1987, Benny a new school teacher, trying to get through to her kids, in a very rural area of Louisiana.

A great story and a slice of American history that should never be forgotten.

4☆

I loved this book. The story is riveting. I knew nothing about the existence of The Lost Letters. I plan on learning more about this topic

The book goes back and forth from 1875 with Hannie setting out to find the family in which she was separated and 1987 with Benny who has issues with her family as well.

The stories are woven together excellently and come together effectively in a great ending.

My favorite line in the book is “‘We die once when the last breath leaves our bodies. We die a second time when the last person speaks our name.” - very moving words!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends!

In 1987 Louisiana, Benedette Silva has landed a subsidized job at a poor rural school, a job she hopes will help pay for her large college debts, But when she lands in this tiny river town that is out of step. The people of Augustine Louisiana do not easily embrace new comers with new ideas. And Benny cannot even begin to imagine what life is like for her poverty stricken students, many of whom come to school hungry. But in this setting amidst snarled oaks and run down plantations, lies the history of three women from a century prior, and there stories just may change everything.


I give the Book of Lost Friends five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Wow, just wow! I just finished this book and have goosebumps. This well-written story of 2 women, of different eras, is poignant and gripping. Hannie Gossett, from Louisiana in 1875, finds herself looking for her family after the civil war. She has a harrowing journey in which she finds more than she ever hoped. Benedetta SIlva, is a teacher in Louisiana in 1987. On her quest to relate to her students, she unearths a deep history she did not know about. This history brings her closure to her past, as well as opening a future she could only dream of.

This story is a page turner and a must read!