Megs Devonshire lives in a world of numbers and physics, but when her terminally ill younger brother asks her to trace the origins of Narnia, the magical land in his favorite book, her world is changed forever. George was born with a weak heart, and he doesn't have long to live, but Megs sets off on a magical adventure and into the life of author C.S. Lewis.

Once Upon a Wardrobe was a delightful surprise and makes for a cozy read. This is a heartfelt story and will especially touch those who have recently experienced a loss. Besides taking the reader on a emotional journey, I find I did not connect much with the story. I have never read any of Patti Callahan's books, so perhaps those who admire her work will like this one a little better. The book was beautifully written, but I had trouble getting to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own. .

First, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Second, I can't even BEGIN to tell you how good this book is!!! Meg's brother George has a heart defect and he won't live much past 8 years old. He spends his time in his room reading until he reads C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This book consumes his every thought. When Meg comes home from Oxford, George tells her about this amazing, life changing book. Oddly enough, C.S. Lewis is a professor at Oxford. George sends her on an a very important errand. She must ask Lewis "where did Narnia come from"? She sneaks onto his property and is found but starts an amazing relationship with C.S. (Jack) Lewis and his brother Warnie. He won't answer her question directly but only with stories. For the next several weeks, she hears a story from Jack and runs home to tell George. Gosh, I will be thinking about this book for a long time as well as how amazing CS Lewis was portrayed in this book. He had an incredible life! Even if you aren't into historical fiction, you must add this to your list! #OnceUponAWardrobe #PattiCallahan #Oct2021 #harpermuse

This is my first Patti Callahan book, and it certainly won't be my last. She writes thought-provoking novels with history woven into the prose. This is her second novel about C S Lewis, but it stands alone quite well. I truly appreciated Douglas Gresham's words at the end of the novel, because he provided an extra perspective on the story.
Once Upon a Wardrobe in a land not so far away and not very long ago, Megs made an effort to meet Clive Staples "Jack" Lewis to find out where Narnia came from so that she could tell her younger brother. While Megs was sitting on a rock on the writer's property, she met Jack's brother, Warnie, who invited her in and began a sweet relationship among the three of them.

Megs has a younger brother who has a serious heart condition that limits his physical life, but in no way hinders his mind. He has read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and he has questions about where Narnia originated and who Aslan was.

In meeting with Jack and Warnie, Megs got more answers than she bargained for, answers that made her think about her preconceived notions. She also got stories to tell her brother, George, and made his last few months so much more full.

In his afternotes, Douglas says that this is the kind of book you read once and then set aside to come back to later, because there are so many layers and then you come back and read it again to discover even more depths in the book.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a wardrobe to escape to when times are tough.

Harper Muse and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

There is magic sprinkled all through out these pages!
A sister will do anything for her terminally ill brother who doesn't have long to live.
When he develops a real interest in The Lion,The Witch and The Wardrobe she knows she must visit the Oxford don to find the answer of the creation of Narnia.
What she gets is not an exact answer as C.S. Lewis gives her stories of his life which she takes home to her brother. It sustains him making him happy but he wants more.
The more we learn the more we realize we are learning about ourselves , seeing hope and truth come alive.
Absolutely mesmerizing, I could not put this down until it was over.

Pub Date 19 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Such a charming book which weaves through the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It probably stands alone without the former, but having read the Wardrobe, it only enhances this book. I love how the author brings C.S. Lewis to life - and explains how his book came into being. Megs wants to know because she wants her little brother to have completion before his young death. But she gets so much more than a simple answer. Megs is left brained - logical, mathematical and yet that is not helpful with enchanting subjects like Aslan. This could be read on two different levels as we see C.S. Lewis transform from an atheist into a Christian.

Patti Callahan is a brilliant writer, and what a joy her new book, Once Upon a Wardrobe, is to read and to behold. I thoroughly enjoyed coming along for this journey through Ms. Callahan's interpretation of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Imaginative, creative and beautifully written, this book explores possible answers to the questions "what exactly is Narnia? and how did Mr. Lewis dream this all up?" With Ms. Callahan's perfect gift for story-telling, Once Upon a Wardrobe will capture the reader's attention and take everyone who reads it along for this thrilling and joy-filled ride. I know this book will be an instant classic once it hits the shelves in October, and I'll go even further in proclaiming that it would make an exceptional movie for the big screen. All of the characters are deeply thoughtful and genuine and the glorious setting takes your mind to beautiful and faraway lands of dreams and fairytales. Thank you NetGalley for this gorgeous book that will hopefully soar on eagle's wings through the literary world.

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Having read a few of this authors books I was totally delighted to get an early copy. I have to say this is one amazing book its powerful magical and outstandingly beautiful all wrapped up in one parcel this beautiful lady (Patti callahan) brings C S Lewis back to life I honestly can't praise this book enough and highly recommend ❤.

“The stories that thrilled him were echoes of the world that waited for him.”

What can I say about this book? It was perfect. The author captures the magic and wonder of Narnia (and some other beloved stories), alongside a great story of her own.

I am a huge fan of C. S. Lewis. I love reading his biographies and learning about his creative process. I love learning about how important imagination is to him. It is important to me too, so I really love reading about his life. I have read so many books by him and about him. I wrote three essays in college using his stories, letters, biographies, and autobiographies to craft these essays. I read Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan, and I loved learning more about Joy Davidman, so I could not wait to read this next novel that dives into Lewis’ world again. The cover to this novel draws me in, and I really could not wait to dive into this story. Being familiar with many of Lewis’s biographies, I really knew what the story was going to be about. The story is basically a split-time novel. We have the present day story where Meg is visiting Lewis and his brother, Warnie, then flipping back to telling the past stories to George. While the writing was good, I felt like I was in England, which I have never been, and enjoyed that the story takes place during the winter in England. As an avid reader of Lewis’ life, I knew pretty much all of the stories that Meg told George. Nothing new there. Not that I did not mind this. It might be a great way to introduce new readers to Lewis life. Another thing that bothered me was that Callahan really did not explain the real answer to the change in Meg and George’s life at the end of the story. It was hinted out, but never told out right what it was. Also, the last chapter was very confusing. I did not really know whose perspective the chapter was in. Overall Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan is a good introduction to fans of Lewis’ Narnia series but really not much else about his life. I think a physical copy is still needed in my library.

I received a complimentary copy of Once upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan from Harper Muse Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

This is an excellent and fascinating book! It is a special treat fir fans of C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” series.

Book title: Once Upon a Wardrobe
Author: Patti Callihan
Publisher: Harper Muse
Publication Date: 19 October 2021
Review Date: 9 July 2021 on Goodreads (4 stars)

<i>Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Muse for an advance copy</i>

<b>Reason is how we get to the truth, but imagination is how we find meaning

It is only for lack of imagination that you are bored</b>

We can't always explain how stories change us, but we always feel it - that feeling of joy. This is a beautifully written book, containing amongst other magical gems, the extraordinary gift of love between siblings. You must read it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for my copy of Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan in exchange for an honest review. It publishes October 19, 2021
I absolutely devoured this book! It was so readable, and I could only put it down with sheer willpower. I loved Becoming Mrs. Lewis, so I was very enthusiastic to see that Patti Callahan had another Lewis-themed book coming out.
A fun thing is that I'm just about finished with a slow reading of Narnia, (a chapter a day), so it is all fresh in my mind, and I was able to see little hints and clues sprinkled throughout this book. What an absolute treat.
I also loved the characters, Megs and George. Their sweet relationship, and all that went on between them. It was so wonderful and honestly inspiring.
If you're a Narnia nerd, (like me), you will definitely love this. If you've only seen the movie, or read the first book, you'll still love this, it's just that good!

I would like to begin by saying thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for providing me an ARC of Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan, in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t think I have ever described a book as lovely. There are many more but that would be the first one to come to mind when describing Once Upon A Wardrobe. Along with captivating, beautiful, heart-wrenching. A book that I wish could have lasted forever.

George is a very young boy with a bad heart. He has read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and has become obsessed with it. He wants to know every detail that led C.S. Lewis to write such an amazing fairy tale. Megs is George’s older sister. She will do absolutely anything to make her brother happy. Including sitting outside of C.S. Lewis’s home, in the freezing cold, trying to figure out a way to ask him where Narnia is, what is Aslan, and who are Lucy, Peter, Susan, and Edmund?

This was a beautiful, emotional read that I wanted to hug upon completing it. A must read for fans of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this tells the story of a young boy, who is dying, and his sister. The sister begins a quest to find where Narnia comes from, per her brother's request. Deeply heartfelt and impactful, I give 5 enthusiastic stars to this lovely story..

I have LOVED the Narnia series since I was a young girl and have read The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe more times than I can count over my life. I have sensed the author Patti Callahan feels the same and so I trusted his story with her prolific pen and rightfully so! She transported me in to the lives of the devoted sister and brother and Lewis himself. It was a treat of a read and one I can see returning to as well. Also the cover is exquisite!! If publisher reads this please pass on my praise as it simply invites the reader to step in once again to the magical world!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy of Once Upon a Wardrobe in exchange for a fair review.
Where did Narnia come from? This is the dominant question throughout the book, as young George asks his sister Megs to find out at university, where CS Lewis works. In devotion to her brother, Megs, a student of mathematics and decidedly not literature, tries to unravel the mystery through a series of stories that Jack (CS) tells her about his life.
A little like a biography that unfolds in the format of historical fiction with a touch of magic, Callahan tells the story of Jack Lewis' life in snippets of stories that the reader is invited to relate to the books of Narnia. Through the journey of Jack's life, we are drawn to the relationship between the siblings and to George's own magic as a budding author and artist.
The story is sweet.. It flowed well enough and came to a satisfying conclusion. Fans of CS Lewis or Callahan will enjoy this novel as well. The authors note wraps up the book in a fine manner. The book is clean with no language or triggering situations. I would recommend this to patrons looking for a nice, clean read, especially those who like to learn the back stories of authors or the novels they write. Really enjoyable. 4*

What a wonderful story with all the feels! This is not my normal thriller that I read, and I absolutely loved it! I couldn't put it down. I have never read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but I have, of course, heard a lot about it and this definitely made me want to read it. The story about Megs sort of stalking the author, C.S. Lewis, to find out about Narnia also made me so curious about how his mind worked.. The author tells the story of Megs and her dying little brother George and their loving parents so beautifully that I could picture them. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will recommend to others! Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book!

I am a BIG fan of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It's one of my all time favorite stories. So, I was really excited to learn more about C.S Lewis. This book was not quite what I was expecting. It was very sweet and informative but it didn't quite do "it" for me. I think it's a lovely story and would definitely recommend it even though it was not "perfect" for me. The cover is stunning and there is a lot of wonderful information about the Lewis family!

Another great story written many Patti Callahan Henry. She never disappoints. If you love the Lion Witch and Wardrobe then be sure and read this one. She just has a way about pulling you into her stories. Thanks for the advanced copy from netgalley and the publisher.

‘Once upon a wardrobe not very long ago and not very far away ‘ C.S. Lewis’s life stories birthed the magical story of Narnia and now they have continued their magic through this book.
It is truly a story of stories.
‘Where did Narnia come from?’: this is the question that a loving sister longs to answer for her ill little brother. As seen through a child’s eyes, a (mathematician) sister’s eyes and the author’s eyes this tale illustrates the power of stories in our lives and the importance of storytelling and imagination.
For George, it is the story of his journey through life and taking the difficult parts and still finding beauty and meaning in the world.
Jack, Warnie, Meg, and Padraig are George’s main supporting cast of characters. I especially loved it when Padraig entered George’s world. He brought joy and brightened the story so.
Ms. Callahan has written an exceptional book.
The cover is striking and coveys the magical aura that seems to surround this book.
The note from Douglas Gresham at the end was a wonderful addition.
There are many beautiful quotes but for me these resonate the truth of the story.
“Dunluce Castle .... is the seed of a story where a Great lion appears, and it is the symbol of my brothers bravery.”
“There is a light, a bright lantern light where all stories begin and end.”

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.