I went into this with (maybe unfairly) high expectations; I read Cemetery Boys last year and loved it to bits. But this one didn’t have the magic or depth for me that the author’s previous work had.

Wendy’s all-consuming grief, and the exploration of her parents’ grief too, were the deepest & most real part of this novel. Naturally, the parts that dove into that were my favorite sections. I could definitely feel the loss in the Darlings’ home and their struggle to function and move forward was palpable.

But the chemistry between Peter & Wendy wasn’t quite believable - which is disappointing in particular because it’s meant to be a second chance romance and those two have a big past together already - and the magic/fantasy system didn’t make sense to me; it seemed surface level and just there to drive the book forward unnaturally. Given that Wendy + Peter and Peter’s magic are the 2 main elements of a Peter Pan story, that’s a let down for me for sure.

Maybe the lack of depth has to do with the fact that Wendy’s history is not given enough time. We as readers are meant to believe that she had a LOT of adventures in Neverland and that she developed a strong bond with Peter as a result of all of that time spent together and the fun they had. But any time Peter talks about their past adventures, it’s glossed over. Maybe that was a conscious choice by the author; because Wendy doesn’t have the details of her past, we as readers aren’t privy to them either. But it left me confused and skeptical of the motivations of Wendy and Peter.

Between the surface level plot, pacing issues, and forced romance, I was left underwhelmed. The word choice and use of language was top-notch though. And when all is said and done, I will continue to read Aiden Thomas’ future works for sure. If you enjoy Peter Pan retellings, then I would give this book a go so that you can revisit your favorite characters in a new way.

Lost in the Never Woods had a great premise. It is a Peter Pan retelling and so much darker than Thomas’ debut - Cemetery Boys. Unfortunately I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The story did not hold my attention and I had a few issues with the pacing.

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me but I think any lover of Peter Pan would really enjoy this book! I loved how it was more of a continuation than a retelling and really liked the aspects that linked to the original story. The part that was a little off was the thriller aspects and trying to figure out who was responsible for the missing kids, like was it Peter all along, the next door neighbor, who?! It also picked up pretty slow for me but that could just be because Wendy took awhile to remember and for us to really enjoy the interactions between Peter and Wendy. However, I loved the ending of this book and thought it was done very nicely although sad and happy the way things turned out for our two characters. Overall I was just not that into the book or was too interested in what was happening until the end.

For the past few years, Wendy and her parents have been torn apart by the disappearance of the Darling boys, John and Michael. Wendy and her brothers went into the woods behind their house one night . . . but only Wendy came out again. Even now, Wendy can't remember what happened. But her past seems to be coming back to haunt her. Eighteen-year-old Wendy is disturbed as children from her hometown start disappearing into the woods again and a boy named Peter—a boy that seems vaguely familiar—appears and claims to know Wendy from "before."

Sadly, while the premise of this book sounds intriguing, Lost in the Never Woods reads like a first draft.

Characters are pancake flat, the plot is riddled with holes, and the dialogue is cliché café.

Wendy's relationships with every other character—her "best friend" Jordan, her mother, her father, the head nurse, and Peter—are all caricatures. Here's just one example: Mr. Darling is only ever drunk, angry, or yelling at Wendy (who is a legal adult) about her safety. Aiden Thomas skirts around the obviously toxic relationship Mr. Darling has with his daughter, never hinting that it's a problem nor that it needs to be healed. All possible nuance for Wendy's father (and every other character) is lost to simplistic black and white, wholly predictable characterization.

The plot makes zero sense for so many reasons. Is it or is it not imperative that Wendy and Peter solve the mystery of the missing children? It seems more like Wendy and Peter are on a Friday night date night than on a race to save children's lives. The two take flirty detours to ice cream shops and pool parties, even when they know the dire nature of the children's situation. Their nonchalant attitude seems dangerously misplaced in a situation where children are being kidnapped and terrorized.

And how many times have you heard a villain cackle and say, "Looks like you'll never see your precious [insert romantic interest] again"? If you read Lost in the Never Woods, you'll get to hear that original little phrase again. It's this unimaginative speech that makes up the majority of the story.

Lost in the Never Woods had the potential to be a winner. Unfortunately, it really wasn't. The book was sorely disappointing, especially since I've heard such good things about Aiden Thomas's first book.

I can't recommended this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK REPORT for Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

Cover Story: Optical Illusion
BFF Charm: Let Me Love You
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Retelling
Bonus Factor: Oregon
Anti-Bonus Factor: Absent Parents
Relationship Status: Maybe MFEO?

Content Warning: Lost in the Never Woods includes elements of repressed childhood drama, kidnapping, grief, and death.

Cover Story: Optical Illusion
This cover reminds me of those "is this a crone or a young woman or both" optical illusions from the days of yore. It's a very clever use of the woods and darkness, however, that ties really well to the story within. It's also a great use of illustration that doesn't (thankfully) look like the many, many illustrated covers that are out in the world right now.

The Deal:
Five years ago, Wendy Darling and her brothers went missing in the woods behind their house in Astoria, Oregon. Wendy returned, six months later, but had no memory of what happened to any of them.

When kids start to go missing again, people turn to Wendy. She doesn't have the answers, but when a strange boy named Peter—someone she thought a figment of her imagination—shows up and asks for her help saving the children and returning her shadow, Wendy realizes that there's more to the gaps in her memory than she'd ever imagined.

BFF Charm: Let Me Love You
Wendy has a best friend, Jordan, who's always been there for Wendy, no questions asked. But when kids start to go missing again, and Peter shows up literally out of thin air, Wendy feels herself closing off from everyone, even Jordan. I'm sure she'd do the same thing to me, if we were friends IRL; it can be hard to open up to friends who might not believe something magical is happening, even if they are the most open-minded of folks. But I'd still love to be her friend, and not only because of the magical elements of her life. She's a strong, passionate young woman with a lot of (well-deserved) confidence that is lurking just below the surface. Let me help bring it to the forefront, Wendy!

Swoonworthy Scale: 6
I'm a shipper at heart, so I was hoping for something more between Wendy and Peter. And I knew from the start that there was something there, but it was hard for me to lean into that chemistry, particularly because Peter's depicted as a young teen at the start of the book. Peter eventually matures as part of the story, which makes it a bit easier to understand their connection, but I couldn't help but feel a bit like Wendy was interested in her little brother's friend, which dampened the swoon. Their age difference, which at most was 4–5 years, would matter little later in life, but when it's early high school vs. an 18-year-old, it's a struggle.

Talky Talk: Retelling
For those who didn't put the Wending Darling/Peter/missing kids connection together yet, Lost in the Never Woods is a Peter Pan retelling. But it's a retelling that leans heavily toward the horror genre; Peter's shadow is a much more malevolent entity, and the lost boys/kids are … something else. The original tale of Peter and Wendy lends itself nicely to that darkness, and Thomas does a great job of setting up a reveal that both fits the original and feels totally new (and surprising). Wendy is also a sympathetic character who deals with trauma and grief in a really believable, albeit heartbreaking, way.

It took me a bit to get into the story, however. The writing, at the start, was a little clunky and overly tell-y. But I'm chalking that up to the version I read being an ARC. The story certainly grabbed my attention and kept me reading, making it easy to overlook my early struggles with the book's flow.

Bonus Factor: Oregon
I've never been to Astoria, home of The Goonies Wendy and the Darling family, but it's close enough to where I grew up that I was excited to see that the book was set there. And then someone drank a Dutch Bros coffee, which made me grin. I'll never not get suckered into feeling home state nostalgia, y'all.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Absent Parents
The Darling parents used to be fabulous, but since their incident—and only Wendy's return—they've shut down. I can't blame them, and I have no doubt that I'd likely do something very similar if I were to lose two-thirds of my kiddos. But it broke my heart to see how alone Wendy felt, and how much their distance was driving home her feelings of guilt.

Relationship Status: Maybe MFEO?
It took a minute for us to click, Book, but as soon as we did, I knew we had something unique. You're a bit too broken to start something serious right now, but I'm content to be here waiting and see what the future might bring us.

Aiden Thomas manages to sprinkle a bit of pixie dust on Lost in the Never Woods.
It’s been five years since Wendy returned from being lost without her brothers. Her family doesn’t know what happened to her, the cops asked every single question they could think of, and even Wendy herself can’t remember anything that happened. Five years since it all went down, until suddenly children start going missing again, and Wendy’s past comes back to haunt her.

Let me start off by saying that Peter Pan is one of my favorite fairy tales. I used to dream about going to Neverland all the time and have watched the Disney movie countless times. So when I heard the news of the book from Aiden Thomas, I was immediately on board. And while reading it, I was extremely happy to see that Thomas got the voice of Peter spot on. Especially towards the beginning. There was just one tiny problem.

I’ve been a huge fan of Aiden Thomas ever since I first read Cemetery Boys, their first published book. I loved how magical they made the world and how magical the words felt as I read them. My problem, and I wouldn’t exactly call it a problem, with this book was that the magic was almost lost. The way the story was told was at this half way point between being grounded and being magical. It tried really hard to not stray too much to the other side but almost lost itself in the middle of all that. It wasn’t a huge problem, nor did it take away from the book at all, but it was more of an expectation I had going in.

Another drawback for me was some of the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out at times. Often we see main characters refuse to ask anyone for help because they feel like no one would understand. But this seemed like one of those moments where if Wendy had talked to her best friend, Jordan, things would have been a bit more simple. I understand why it wasn’t done this way, but it was almost frustrating, which was the point.

There were also times when I would’ve loved to see certain characters interact more, such as Peter and Mrs. Darling. We got hints and tidbits about a story that could’ve been so magical, but all it did was tease us with bits and pieces.

Aside from that, I immensely enjoyed the story itself. I thought it was a great sequel moment that expanded on the original tale, and made it even darker than normal. I enjoyed seeing Peter and Wendy interact all these years later. And I really enjoyed how Thomas wasn’t afraid to go places. Certain scenes made me gasp as I read them because I just wasn’t expecting them to happen. The ending scene in particular was one of those moments, and made for one of the better parts of the book.

Lost in the Never Woods was the first book that Aiden Thomas wrote, but the second one they published. Which makes sense because I think they definitely found their rhythm and magic after this one was written. Not to say the book was bad, because it wasn’t at all. I’m definitely going to find myself remembering it at random times, but it just wasn’t my favorite. With that being said though, I can’t wait to see what else Thomas comes out with next.

I really wanted to love this book.

I absolutely adored Aiden Thomas’ debut novel, Cemetery Boys, and was very intrigued by the premise of this Peter Pan re-telling. The writing is beautiful, but the book is very slow paced and just never hooked me. Someone else might love this novel, but it wasn’t for me.

This is a unique retelling/continuation of Peter Pan. It mixes mystery, fantasy, and a bit of the thriller genre into one package. If you're a fan of Peter Pan and the theories that surround the story, this will be a fun read. I liked that this is a continuation of what happens after Wendy is back from Neverland for a while, yet Michael and John are missing. It isn't the usual retelling or reimagining, which keeps the story alive and new.

I have been looking forward to reading “Lost in the Never Woods” since I first heard of it. A Peter Pan retelling by an author I already liked? I couldn’t ask for more! And “Lost in the Never Woods” did not disappoint. While a darker story with themes of grief and guilt, it still held moments of the joyful magic unique to Peter Pan. I just finished reading the book a few moments ago, but I think it will stay with me for a long while yet.

I received a complimentary copy of Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas from Swoon Reads through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Lost in the Never Woods came out on March 23rd!

It's been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town. Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don't do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what's waiting for her in the woods.

I really wanted to love Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas! I love a good retelling, but I also want retellings to have a fresh twist on the original tale and I don't feel like we got that with this book. Lost in the Never Woods still has its positives: it's dark and the characterization of Peter was pretty perfect. The mystery of what happened in the woods when Wendy and her brothers went missing was intriguing and wrapped up in an interesting way. This is a good story about grief, but my expectations might have been too high. I hope others love this book though!

CW: grief, trauma, death of loved ones

I really wanted to like this. I loved the author's other title Cemetery Boys so I was really looking forward to their new title. Unfortunately what killed it for me was the pacing. The beginning was so slow, I had a hard time sticking with it. The writing was beautiful but I just wasn't into the story.

I read this back in March and been putting off this review for a while now.
I honestly don't have much to say about this book except that <b> it's just so painfully bland. </b>
It's not that there's anything <i> wrong </i> with this book. It's just that there isn't anything <i> impressive </i> about it. It's like someone tried to do the bare minimum work to deliver this as a creative writing project.
The magical elements are so small that this book could easily be advertised as 'YA Mystery with a touch of Magical Realism', besides they're super derivative. There's nothing new here that hasn't been said and done before. The main characters are interchangeable with any 'Brave Girl & Mysterious Boy' from YA literature. And the whole story feels very middle-grady. Like, this story is so bland it shouldn't even be shelved as YA.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I wanted to enjoy this book so much more than I actually did. However, this book seemed to drag on and wasn't really going anywhere until the end. The concept is great but the story just kept going and going. As a Peter Pan retelling, I expected more. The characters were really fleshed out and developed, which I really liked. I think Aiden Thomas has a storytelling craft that will continue to get better and I can't wait to see what he has in store in the future.

Side note: I need to use this review to GUSH about the cover. Absolutely. Stunning.

4.5/5 Stars

It's been years since Wendy returned home from the Woods, after she and her two younger brothers John and Michael went missing. Now other children are going missing, and people are turning to Wendy for answers about where they may be. Unfortunately, Wendy has no memory of her time in the woods or the whereabouts of her brothers. When a boy named Peter from her childhood stories appears in her hometown, she begins to regain some of her memories.

I didn't read Cemetery Boys, which everyone loved so much and has been so hyped up on booktube. I'm a sucker for retellings, so I was super excited about this one and it didn't disappoint! I love Peter Pan and was intrigued to see what changes were going to be made. I love how dark this book became as I kept reading. I loved the twist the author took with Peter's shadow, I was so invested in the story and what was going to happen to them. The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but picked up eventually. I think trauma and grief was handled in many different ways, and I liked the exploration of that in this writing. The characters were a bit one-dimensional, but I still enjoyed my time with them. I wasn't a big fan of the romance either, and wish it had been left as a platonic relationship instead. The storyline could have still been exactly the same but with a friendship base instead. Also.... can we take in that GORGEOUS cover?!

Beautifully written, unforgettable characters and a story that stays with you long after you finish it. Aiden Thomas’s works are brilliant, their writing is deeply impactful yet simultaneously just a darn good time to read. I will continue to pick up anything they create.

Delivers on exactly what you expect from a delightful LGBTQIA+ author like Aiden Thomas, an interesting story with an emotional heart. Well worth the read.

This is a dark retelling of Peter Pan. I was looking forward to read this since I found the storyline very interesting but unfortunately it failed to impress me.

First of all I think this book had no plot at all. The book is full of filler scenes and is quite repetitive. The pacing of the book is very slow and a lot of scenes could have been easily deleted without affecting the book. In the first half of the book practically nothing happened, the author just kept beating around the bush.

It did have a major plot twist towards the end but due to poor execution it didn’t have much impact.

I found the main character Wendy one dimensional and I found it hard difficult to connect with her.

Also, the romance between Wendy and Peter felt forced and rushed. I think it was not needed at all. I wish if the author had maintained a friendly relationship between them.

Overall I think it was a lackluster retelling, which lacked creativity and originality. I think it would have worked better as a short story. I do think some readers will enjoy reading it.

My process of reading this book basically went: "Okay, I'm into this, I don't think I'm the target audience, but - OH MY GOD???"

Like I said I think I'm maybe a bit older than the target audience, but I really enjoyed this! Retellings are always hit or miss for me but this was a homerun. I was especially a fan of how much darker it is than the original, and I looooved the ending.

Aiden Thomas is a wonder and their writing just continues to amaze and astound.

Lost in the Never Woods, the sophomore novel from Thomas, is a dark Peter Pan retelling and modernization that truly has something to offer every reader.

Quick summary: it’s been five years since Wendy Darling and her two brothers went missing. It’s been five years since Wendy returned from the woods, alone. While Wendy and her brothers were missing for six whole months , she cannot remember a single thing from that time.
When other children in her town start going missing, Peter Pan, the character from Wendy’s mother’s bedtime stories, shows up and requires Wendy’s assistance, the town turns its suspicious glare upon her.

Things I loved:
-completely immersive atmospheric novel; you’ll be sucked into this world and it will consume you
-dark and twisty fairy tale retelling that includes enough of the source material to be easily recognizable, but still subtle enough and intriguing enough to be a compelling narrative
-the writing. It’s just good.

A unique retelling of Peter Pan, where Wendy returns home without her brothers, and without her memories. It has been five years since Wendy was found alone in the woods, after having been missing for six months. She still holds the guilt of being found without her brothers, and having no memory of what happened during those fateful six months to help locate them.

Wendy, now a teenager getting ready to go off to college, has started drawing strange pictures of a tree and a boy. The thing is, she is not drawing these pictures on purpose, if she lets her mind wander for even a moment she will look down to find she has drawn another image on whatever writing surface is in the vicinity, and it is getting harder and harder to hide the strange drawings. And what do they mean? She is pretty certain that the boy she is drawing is Peter Pan, a boy her mother used to tell stories about, and who Wendy now shares stories about with the children at the hospital where she volunteers. When a mysterious boy shows up, who looks almost exactly like the picture Wendy has been drawing, and who goes by the name of Peter, it can’t possibly be Peter Pan can it? But Peter seems to know Wendy, and more importantly know something about what went on during those fateful six months. So, in hopes of getting information about her brother’s whereabouts, Wendy reluctantly agrees to help Peter find his shadow, which has gone rogue and is kidnapping children.

I really really loved the direction this retelling went in. I don’t want to spoil it, so I won’t say what the “twist” was, but I will say I thought it was a brilliant idea and way of interpreting who Peter Pan is and what his purpose is. I really love retellings, and honestly feel this is one of my favorites I have ever read. It kept enough of the original tale to make it recognizable to anyone, not just die hard fans, while not going over the top. Yet it modernized and twisted the tale in that perfect way that all of us retelling fans are looking for when we read these kinds of novels.

It is important for me to address the portrayal of PTSD in this novel. As someone who suffers from PTSD I always enjoy reading about characters suffering from the same, particularly characters who obtained PTSD from something other than war. It used to be nearly impossible to find these types of books, but I’m excited that depictions of PTSD are becoming more prevalent in books for children and young adults, even if the disorder is never actually named (one step at a time right). Lost in the Never Woods is another example of a character who is very clearly suffering from PTSD even though it is never said that she has it. Wendy memory of the night her and her brother’s went missing and the six months that followed is completely wiped, this is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD, repressing all memories of the trauma. But, Wendy still feels an overwhelming sense of guilt about what happened. While both of these things make it clear she is suffering from PTSD we never delve much deeper into Wendy’s emotions and her mental health in this novel. And that is okay! The book was meant to be about Wendy reconnecting with Peter Pan and discovering what truly happened to her and her brothers, while saving the children in town who have gone missing. Wendy’s mental health issues were not at the forefront of the story, but they did play an important role.

Lost in the Never Woods was a top-notch retelling of Peter Pan. Thomas has created a unique and eye-opening version of Neverland that will delight most fans of the original. Teens, adults, and even children who can handle a little bit of a scare will all enjoy this novel about uncovering your personal mysteries, while solving someone else’s.